New Cross Music Crawl/The British Class - 28th August 2014

New Cross Crawl/The British Class by Johnni Lightning on Mixcloud

On Thursday 28th August 2014 at 9.30pm at The Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6TY it will be the launch night of The British Class club night! This will be the after-party of the New Cross Music Crawl, which will be an amazing night of music. So to celebrate and promote this I have composed a 30 minute mix. Here's some details: Track 1: Billy & The No Mates - "Dreadnought" - One of the acts that will feature at the Crawl. A garage-rock/jams band. Track 2: Soundacity - "Mama Aura". This group is based in London, but their music is a fusion of Colombia, Andean music, nature, rock and digital sounds. Felipe Duarte will be performing an acoustic set on the night. Track 3: Edit/Select - "Palm" - This band will be concluding the Crawl at The Amersham Arms. They are an alternative/indie band from SE London. There is something uplifting about "Palm" which made me want to highlight it on this mix. It then segues into... Track 4: Basement Jaxx - "Where's Your Head At" - They are the band I have watched in concert the most. They are such a great example of British music. So diverse, so much energy. If you have caught them live, you'll know that this track is a real energy moment! Track 5: Audio Bullys - "We Don't Care" - There's a punky attitude to this track, in a similar vein to "Where's Your Head At?" I love the delivery of the vocals. Track 6: The Prodigy - "Breathe" - If you're going to make a mix of British music, you need The Prodigy! They're another act who have such an amazing live performance. "The Fat of the Land" was the first album that Keith Flint provided vocals on. It was also their international breakthrough album, reaching number 1 in America. Track 7: Plan B - "Ill Manors Remix" - Plan B in my opinion is the greatest British rapper of all-time. And an amazing singer. "Ill Manors" is amazing, but The Prodigy remix adds a little extra to it. Track 8: Boy Better Know - "Too Many Man" - So many times this is a sentiment I've felt in the club! The fact this track has a great sense of humour with a banging beat makes it quintessentially British! Track 9: Calvin Harris - "The Girls" - There is a kind of Benny Hill feeling to this track, the way the different types of girls are listed. But it's an example, when British artists do tracks about getting lots of girls, it's done in a playful way! Track 10: Cooly G - "What Airtime" - Highlighting the fact Britain has superb female producers this track is off Cooly G's Hyperdub album "Playin Me". The way I'd describe this track is dark UK funky. Track 11: Jessie Ware - "Running (Disclosure Remix)" Jessie Ware is one of those singers whose wonderful voice seems to have been featured in so many places recently, including on Disclosure's "Settle". I have a soft spot for Disclosure as they grew up in Reigate, like I did. Plus they make amazing music! So there it is. An explanation of my mix. The British Class launch night will be a great night. Make sure you come down to The Amersham Arms to check it out!

Songs of 2013 - Disclosure - White Noise

This has been a great year for Disclosure, with a number 1 album, festival crowds going mental, awards galore and this brilliant single "White Noise". Disclosure's success has served as somewhat of an antidote to some of the predictable chart fare that has been thought of as Electronic Dance Music, with loud synths and predictable build-ups/breakdowns.

The slinky synth line, rising up and down the scale, is a great backbone to this tune. It feels like it constantly moving, propelling the tune along. Add to that the unique innocent vocals of Aluna Francis and the deep-house drums and bassline and you have a tune that's both sexy and anthemic. My personal favourite bit is the breakdown where Aluna's voice echoes saying "Back" and the bassline comes right to the forefront at 3:12 in.

I can't say that the video was what I was expecting, but there is something easily relatable about the security guard dancing in his own world with his headphones on. I know I have done this many times, especially to this track!

I saw Disclosure live in Brixton Academy in November and there was definitely a celebratory air to their performance. Both of them seemed ecstatic to be headlining a venue as historic as Brixton. They are coming back to London in February to play the even bigger venue of Alexandra Palace. It should be interesting to follow their progress over their years.

Disclosure feat. Aluna George - White Noise

A combination of two of the most anticipated artists of 2013? Sounds like it makes sense on many levels. I love the sound of Aluna's vocals. There is an almost childlike quality to them, with a sense of innocence to them. The main synth line is lovely and insistent, running consistently through the 4-to-the-floor beat. Once again Disclosure create something that is beautifully retro, but still future-looking. Their last single "Latch" has been classified Silver in the UK. It should be a great year for these two, and they have started it off with a banging track.

Disclosure - Please Don't Turn Me On

It looks like 2013 is going to be a big year for Disclosure. The release of their first album will be an interesting moment in dance music. And I think that is the case because they are bringing back the sound of 2step/garage. They are also from near where I live, literally 20 minutes away. They are barely into their 20's, but garage is such a Croydon sound I know they would have heard this sound all around them as they were young. I know I did! (Weirdly enough I ran into a mate of theirs when I was DJ'ing at a wedding over the summer in Surrey. Small world) So they have updated a classic by Artful Dodger, which in my opinion highlights who they are and what they do. I remember when Re-Rewind dropped and you would hear it everywhere. "Please Don't Turn Me On" wasn't such a big-hit, but it was more gentle. I always got the feeling from the lyrics that it wasn't going to matter anyway; they were still going to end up together, despite his pleadings. I love the classic four-to-the floor sound, combined with the synths that beautifully dive in and out. If Disclosure have success, then that could set the template for pop music for the next couple of years. Kind of like how David Guetta's success a few years ago is still being felt today. Hope 2013 is a successful year for Disclosure!