It’s Friday again, and that means you’re breaking beats with the best. Kick back, put on your headphones, and ready that middle finger in case your boss comes around and wants to know what you’re doing. It’s Friday Favorites.
Chris Downar
Disclosure feat. London Grammar – Help Me Lose My Mind (Original Mix) [Island]
Disclosure’s outstanding album Settle closed with the powerfully emotional track, How Me Lose My Mind. London Grammar’s vocals are exceptionally beautiful, and the lyrics are deeply moving; I immediately fell in love. The tune is easily my favorite track on the album, and I can’t stop listening to it again and again. Listen to more from their LP here on our review or buy it in full here.
Josh Bennett
Zebra Katz – DRKLNG Mixtape
Zebra Katz should win an award for all of the sexual barriers he’s breaking down in hip hop along with gender-bending cohorts Mykki Blanco and Big Freedia. He’s clearly getting big name attention–Busta Rhymes makes an appearance on this Pitchfork-premiered mixtape on a remix of Ima Read, informing us “ima take that b*tch to my fortress; I’m a headstrong n*gga, I’m a taurus.” Vogue house, minimal, and trap round out the sonic palette of this fierce group of tunes. Download the DRKLNG Mixtape on iTunes.
Ilenia Cangelosi
David K – Meet You (Thomas Lizzara Remix) [Toka Beatz]
I fell upon this track in a set last year, and the soft spoken vocal and beautiful minimal chords left me mesmerized, but I couldn’t for the life of me find it. Sorting through music a few months ago, I found it accidentally. Finding gems like David K‘s Meet You (Thomas Lizzara Remix) is why music keeps me going.
Jesse Champagne
Ultraista – Gold Dayzz (Maribou State Remix)
It doesn’t get much smoother than this silky remix from London-based duo Maribou State. Just about everything the group puts out is money, but this track definitely stands out. Jazzy, mellow house at its finest. Just close your eyes, and drift away.
Jewelz & Scott Sparks – White Sun (Original Mix) [Flamingo]
Sometimes, less is more. Jewelz & Scott Sparks have mastered the artistry of creating big room tracks with nothing but the bare essentials, and, quite frankly, it’s better than all of that clustered synth work and commercial big room we’re all accustomed to hearing nowadays.
Nathan Codd
TYR – Focus (Original Mix)
TYR is killing the bass scene right now with his funky basslines and exquisite production. The finely-tuned Focus is no exception. Put this one on when you’re plotting something mischievous… or acting on said plans. Download here.
Matt Heidkamp
Grizzly Bear – Gun Shy (Original Mix) [Warp]
The Governors Ball starts today, which means I’ll be standing in the muddy fields of Randall’s Island in water shoes and a poncho listening to some borderline electronic indie darlings. Among those are Beach House, Yeasayer, Crystal Castles, and Grizzly Bear, one of the most awesome bands on the planet.
Jeremy Rathbun
Seba – Nightrider (Technicolour & Komatic) [Nu Directions]
Sporting some amazing vocal manipulation, Technicolour & Komatic’s remix of Seba‘s Nightrider is a liquid journey that cannot be missed. Squeezing every ounce of emotion from the track, the duo focuses on the addition of crisp percussion and repetition of the addictive vocals. Smooth as silk.
Chris Porter
Plan B – Prayin’ (Breakage’s Bad Week Remix) [679]
Breakage is always bringing a deep vibe on his tunes, and his remix of Plan B’s Prayin’ is par for the course. Released back in the summer of 2010, this is still one of the best rhythms ever to come out of a computer.
