This is episode 72 of a weekly series of content where I share music that inspires me, all genres, all formats.

TRACKLISTING:

GLC MIMS - Computer Head
Psychic Mirrors - Charlene
Motion - You And I
Jules - When Love Surges (Instrumental)
Joubert Singers - Stand On The Word (Instrumental)
Guardian Angel - Last Funk
Nu Genea - Marechià (with Célia Kamen)
Taxi - Will It Go Round In Circles
Mary Love Comer - Come Out Of The Sandbox (East Coast Love Affair Mix)
Isabel Roberts - Love Situation
Byrd Pressley - Something To Remember You By
Bridge - Baby Don’t Hold Your Love Back
Cabo Frio - She’s The One
Richard Jon Smith - She’s The Master (Of The Game)
Roubaix - Ain’t Nobody Better

[ INSIDE ] EP72

the greatest

PRE-ORDER - https://spacetalkmusic.bandcamp.com/album/traces-of-illusion-compiled-by-skyrager

Compiled by Skyrager // Artwork: Elvis Barlow-Smith

After a bit of down-time, Spacetalk Records returns with something special: a stunning compilation of obscurities, rare cuts and secret weapons compiled by label co-founder Danny McLewin under his Skyrager alias.

Although most widely known as one half of Psychemagik, McLewin has long been regarded as one of the UK’s most decorated crate-diggers – a DJ and record dealer recognised for his ability to unearth slept-on gems, private press obscurities and campfire-friendly curios. He’s already showcased his curatorial skills on a string of acclaimed and now sought-after comps – see Psychemagik’s Magik Cyrkles, Magik Sunrise and Magik Sunset Pt 1 & 2 – but Traces of Illusion marks the first time McLewin has put together a collection as Skyrager.
 
There’s no grand concept behind Traces of Illusion, though McLewin’s selections are universally tactile, sun-baked and effortlessly summery, evoking images of nights spent camped out in the Californian desert or beneath the vibrant canopy of an English forest at dusk. As you’d expect, there are no well-known anthems or ‘big tunes’ here, just an inspired selection of largely unknown musical nuggets oozing in quality.

There are plenty of highlights to savour amongst the 15 tracks on show, from the blue-eyed soul of Rebozhaze’s 1981 gem ‘Second Movement’ and the echo-laden Balearic boogie of Phil McDonnell’s glassy-eyed ‘America’, to the sublime brilliance of Japanese band Tao’s ‘Makin’ Love’, where sweeping violin lines and fretless bass catch the ear, and the bubbly synth sounds and shuffling drum machine grooves of Daniel Sofer’s Dewdrops’ taken from an Oberheim drum machine promotional 7”..

Everywhere you look across the compilation, you’ll find slept-on treats. There’s the seriously atmospheric, practically unknown leftfield synth-pop of YMA’s ‘Tempted’, the synth solo laden folk soul of Michael’s ‘Bluebird of Heaven’ – a cut originally written to be performed by a ‘contemporary Christian’ group in Texas, but instead released as a solo excursion – and the Terry Callier-esque brilliance of Gregory Paul’s ‘Sun’.

And so it goes on, with McLewin flitting between deep and tactile treats (the jazzy Rhodes solos, immersive chords and relaxed grooves of Teatron’s ‘Swing’), spoken word sporting acoustic Americana (Scott Fraser’s inspired 1998 cut ‘Communique’), undeniably Italo-esque (Brenda Kane’s ‘French Kissing’), sub-heavy dancehall-soul (Noel Stone’s impossible-to-find ‘Girl of My Dreams’), enveloping ambient jazz (Larry Yanez’s incredible ‘Xai Jua Jua’) and dub-flecked, synth-sporting prog rock (Bob Bath Band’s highly sought-after ‘Traces of Illusion’, after which the compilation is named). 

It all adds up to an eye-opening, head-soothing journey through the dustiest corners of McLewin’s record collection.

A1 Tao - Makin Love
A2 Larry Yañez - Xai Jua Jua
A3 Phil McDonnell - America
A4 Régis Tareau - Music Magic

B1 Reboshaze - 2nd Movement
B2 YMA - Tempted
B3 Daniel Sofer - Dewdrops
B4 Noel Stone - Dream Girl

C1 Brenda Kane - French Kissing
C2 Michael - Bluebird Of Heaven 
C3 Gregory Paul – Sun
C4 Rhythm & Bliss - Song Of Earth And Sky

D1 The Bob Bath Band - Traces of Illusion
D2 Teatron - Swing
D3 Scott Fraser - Communiqué

Traces of Illusion compiled by Skyrager

PRE-ORDER

Traces Of Illusion compiled by Skyrager - Promo Mix

Next up on Idle Cellars we have the very special, underrated and up and coming talent, Scandinavia’s best kept secret, Fritjof Drake.

Welcome to an adventure in the Archipelago where your cosmic guide will offer you an exclusive tour of dusty reggae 12 inches, LP’s, Street Soul, Boogie and Brazilian beauties he has scavenged up in the midsummer forest of Sweden. Possibly you’ve not heard many before but you can be sure to be blown away by this mind and body stirring, soulful selection.

Fritjof Drake:
I wanna give a huge shoutout to Danny for inviting me to this special mix series where I got to showcase a longer version of my balearic side in digging records. As well as drinking a glass of wine… I never realized it would come down to 2 hours and 46 minutes since I just kept on yo-yoing the discs from the sleeves to the turntables. Hopefully this mix will make you as hypnotized as I got when making it. Enjoy!

Check out his other mixes here: https://soundcloud.com/mrdrake

Fritjof Drake - Archipelago

Part 1 of a 5+ hour session recorded live on Friday, October 13th 2023 at BLK_SPACE Studios. First in a series of late night events curated by BLK_SPACE.

Toronto legends, Jason Palma & Alister Johnson, from start to close. Midnight to 6am. No edits on the mix, recorded live off the floor. 

PS: BLK_SPACE SESSIONS 002 goes down again on Saturday, November 4th, with Jason Palma and Alister Johnson gracing the decks once more... all night long. If you are in the Toronto area, limited advance tickets can be found below. 

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/blk-space-sessions-002-with-jason-palma-alister-johnson-tickets-748862817847?aff=oddtdtcreator 

Peace and Love,
BLK_SPACE STUDIOS

BLK_SPACE SESSIONS 001 - JASON PALMA & ALISTER JOHNSON / PART 1

This is a special one - the homie el sabu came through with his DJ mix debut, serving up a journey through South African sounds from the 70s up to the early 90's.

Numero 109 - South Africa Special w/ el sabu

Private press 1987 gospel heater from Memphis, Tennessee. Sounds older than it is, does a great job capturing that style. 

Recorded using the Nagaoka MP200 > Technics 1210 MK2 > E&S DJR400

A1 - The Brown Singers - Trying To Live The Right Life

Wholesale: distribution AT rushhour DOT nl

Samples / Pre-Order www.rushhour.nl/record/vinyl/2-organisms

//////////////

Hey,

After an interstellar odyssey of anticipation, CAL C (Callum Cockburn) bestows upon us his inaugural SPACEDUST EP, a pulsating gift to the dance cosmos. Crafted and pressed with care at the mystical enclave of Mother Tongue in Verona, this sonic voyage is a testament to Toronto's rhythm reveller. CAL C expertly blends the primal with the visionary, injecting a futuristic groove into the vibrant mosaic of contemporary music realms.

Cal Says.......

"Let it decompose in your record bag or rip it and let it rot on your record shelf! 🫠All your favourite diggin’ genres & sounds are here: SA boogie & bubblegum programmed on a megadrive FM chip inna NBA JAM style. Deep hausi breaks & gerudo valley silk guitar preset. Fantasy soca house with NHL 94 solo & crusty rave stab. Dubbed out tribal italia meets balearic downtempo…It’s all here!! Never digg again! 5 songs for the price of 1 record….CHEAP!!"

ARTIST: CAL C
TITLE: 2 THE ORGANISMS

LABEL: SPACEDUST SD004
FORMAT: VINYL 12” / DIGITAL
DATE: JULY 2024

GENRE: ELECTRONIC
STYLE: DUB, BUBBLEGUM, TECHNO, SOCA, HOUSE, DOWN-TEMPO, BREAKS, SA BOOGIE, RAVE, TRIBAL, BALEARIC

SIDE A
1. Calypso Hut (Ringbang Souse Mix)
2. Forest Navel

SIDE B
1. Pearl Green (97 Corolla Mix)
2. Fungi Bubblegum
3. Ayahuasca Icing

Details:
• Producer: Callum Cockburn
• Engineers: James Harris / Callum Cockburn
• Mastering Engineer: Robert Steenkamer
• Lacquer & Pressing: Mother Tongue, IT
• Art Side: Holden Coclough // Info Side: Callum Cockburn
• Distributor: Rush Hour, NL
• Number of Copies: TBC
• Release Date: June 2024

2024

2 The Organisms

CAL C - 2 THE ORGANISMS EP (SD004)

That new PICNICTYME summer groove. As a precursor to his first solo LP, Sea Monsters, PICNICTYME is releasing a collection of songs entitled Sirens. In Greek mythology, Sirens were the femme fatales of the sea who lured sailors with their enchanting voices only to lead them to destruction.

Produced by Picnictyme
Written and Performed by Picnictyme
CoWritten and background by The Librada 
Artwork by DJ Sober

Burnin Up

** UPDATE --- happy to hear that so many of you have listed to and enjoyed this edit - below you'll find an updated link for the download **

My edit of Beaten Space Probe's edit of Don Ray's 1978 record "Got To Have Loving" stripped of vocals and rearranged. 

Download available: https://www.sendspace.com/file/xpowk7

Don Ray - Got To Have Loving (Alberg Edit)

I love music and the manipulation of sound. 
Keep your eyes on this space - more music to come .
c o n t a c t  -> 
a l i s t e r @ a l i s t e r j o h n s o n . c o m

[ INSIDE ] EP72

Alister Johnson

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