Change Underground and Aidan McGlynn present a new podcast series, which showcases some of the shining lights from today’s scene. Here he takes you through the tracks on this month’s mix.

1. Chicola – ‘Jeedo’ – Sudbeat

We kick off this month with a track from one of the best releases of the year so far, from man of the moment Chicola. ‘Jeedo’ is housier than the other two tracks on the release, with mechanical percussion and a wobbly bassline. Hypnotic synths give the track plenty of forward momentum, while gentle, enticing chimes keep up the melodic sensibilities on show throughout Chicola’s EP. The breakdown is a reverberating, chiming delight, leading to a fantastic moment when the bass is reintroduced.

Release date: 18/1/16
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2. Dmitry Molosh – ‘Blizzard (Silinder Remix)’ – Classound

Silinder remixing Dmitry Molosh sounds like a dream on paper, and the reality doesn’t disappoint. This is Silinder at his moody, atmospheric, hypnotic best.

Release date: 11/1/16
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3. Flaunt – ‘Rave On (King Unique Remix)’ – Anticodon

Selador recently asked their followers which remixers they could excited about based on name alone, before hearing clips or anything. My answer: King Unique. A few days later, King Unique posted this haunting, bleepy, bassy version of Flaunt’s ‘Rave On’, which utilises the vocals really well. Next time I see his name on a release, I’ll know to get even more excited.

Release date: 11/2/16
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4. Arqana – ‘Destino (Michael A Remix)’ – Stripped

For my money, this is probably the Stripped family’s best release of the year so far. The original is excellent, with a breakdown that’ll raise the hairs on the back of your neck, and Michael A offers a characteristically brilliant rework, playing up the melodic themes while keeping the energy levels sky-high.

Release date: 1/2/16
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5. Peet – ‘Deeper Still’ – Mater

‘Deeper Still’ is just that, with Peet setting the mood with a motoring bassline, crisp percussion, and trippy synths, and a hypnotic, rippling, and constantly shifting lead absolutely kicking things into orbit. This is like a peak-time version of the Dr. Who theme – it’s spacey, melodic, and awesome. This is taken from the first release on Jimmy Van M’s new label, recently launched with Argentinean musician Diego Tuñón, and if it’s anything to go by, this is going to be an imprint to watch.

Release date: 8/2/16
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6. Habischman – ‘All I Dream’ – Selador

Habischman debuted on Selador last year with a remix of a track featured on our second podcast in this series, Quivver’s ‘Wait For Me’. I liked that remix, but it didn’t adequately prepare me for just how good his first full EP for the label is. ‘All I Dream’ gives a pretty good indication of how creative and distinctive the whole release is, with its memorable vocals, sparse bassline, weird timings, and building melodies.

Release date: 1/2/16
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7. Chicola & Sahar Z – ‘It Happened One Night’ – microCastle

More Chicola, this time seeing him team up in the studio again with Sahar Z, following on from their excellent collaboration on Lost & Found. All three tracks on this EP are really special, but it’s the dreamy, unique melodies that unfurl in the second half of the title track that really make it for me. I’ve given things a bit of a twist on this mix, though…

Release date: 12/2/16
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8. Habischman – ‘Dub Rumors’ – Selador

Couldn’t resist including a second track from this EP, particularly when I realized how well this one interacts with ‘It Happened One Night’. ‘Dub Rumors’ is my favourite from Habischman’s EP, with its lovely warm and uplifting organ themes working so well with its driving yet groovy basslines and percussion. This is a real treat.

Release date: 1/2/16
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9. Jorgio Kioris – ‘Pushin (Desaturate ‘Pushy’ Remix)’ – Balkan Connection

I was a big fan of Progress Inn’s sound, and I’ve liked Janko Dragovic’s output since he went solo as Desaturate at least as much. Here he is with a wicked, characteristically propulsive remix of Jorgio Kioris for the always excellent Balkan Connection.

Release date: 29/2/16
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10. Guy J – ‘Octavia’ – Lost & Found

‘Octavia’ is another dreamy, intricate progger from Guy J – if you liked ‘Dizzy Moments’, this is not going to disappoint, from its layers of glassy melodics and warm and twisty bassline, to the rising trancey main theme which shimmers throughout most of the track. The track delivers a final sweet rush as it comes out of the main breakdown, just for good measure, and it gives the mix one last high-point before it winds down.

Release date: 19/2/16
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