London-born and Tokyo-based, Max Essa has spent over two decades crafting lush, melodic soundscapes that blur the lines between balearic, cosmic disco, and ambient pop. Emerging in the '90s on Warp and Paper Recordings, he found his true artistic stride after relocating to Japan in 2008. Since then, Essa has become a central figure in Tokyo’s underground scene, curating events like Zim Zam Zu! at Bar Bonobo and releasing music on labels such as Music For Dreams, Hell Yeah!, and Is It Balearic?

Essa’s style is warm, escapist, and deeply cinematic-often inspired by specific places: Okinawan beaches, Mediterranean ferries, or late-night Tokyo rooftops. His releases, like Lanterns, When I'm Homeward Bound, and The Clean Trip (with David Harks), radiate nostalgia and serenity, wrapped in silky synths and timeless grooves.

Beyond producing, Essa curates, mentors, and connects cultures-compiling Japanese ambient gems on Oto No Wa, together with Ken Hidaka and Dr Rob, and spotlighting local artists through interviews and collaborations. Whether on record or behind the decks, Max Essa invites listeners into a world where emotion, space, and memory guide the rhythm.

More at https://soundcloud.com/max-essa

Max Essa - SOULMEEX DECKS 162

Manchester-based DJ/producer and flow-state devotee Joey T has been riding an impressive upward trajectory in recent years, securing regular spots with Luke Una’s É Soul Cultura. Sharing lineups with the likes of Maurice Fulton, Paula Tape, Sean Johnston, David Holmes, and Luke Una himself, he’s also marked a milestone with his debut at the legendary Pikes in Ibiza. This summer, Joey has been in constant motion, lighting up music-driven festivals and parties - from the much-loved É Soul Cultura all-dayer in Manchester to the tastemaker’s favourite Rotation Garden Party, We Out Here, and beyond - always bringing his boundless enthusiasm and deep dancefloor empathy to every set.

More at https://soundcloud.com/joeytmusicofficial

Joey T - SOULMEEX DECKS 163

The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever
Plastic Fantastic - Here Comes The Sun (Beatfanatic remix)
Mushrooms Project - Dirty Bolas
Thievery Corporation - The Glass Bead Game
John Cameron - Half Forgotten Daydreams
Flunk - Blue Monday
Robert Palmer - Can We Still Be Friends (edit)
Lady Blackbird vs Crooked Man - It Must Be Love 
Paqua - Akaliko 
Cymande - Coltrane

Music For Dreams Radio Show 16.8.25

tracklist / info
https://hellyeahrec.bandcamp.com/album/buena-onda-adriatic-beats-beyond

Hell Yeah's lovingly curated Buena Onda series is back with a new edition that focuses on Adriatic Beats & Beyond. It has been assembled by label head Marco Gallerani and features four exclusive new tunes that reflect his summer residences at a cosy beach bar on Italy's Eastern and Adriatic coast.

Marco moved back to his hometown of Ferrara after the pandemic and began spending more time at the local seaside, the famous Lidi Ferraresi. It's there, at Lido di Spina, that a friend runs Kai Beach Bar, a small spot where, every Thursday throughout August for the last three years, he has soundtracked afternoons and sunsets under the Buena Onda banner, more than a decade after the party first started in Berlin.

"The beat has become less Balearic, more Adriatic," he explains of the sounds that can be heard up and down the coastline. "There’s no sunset culture yet, but they like a groove for aperitivo. This selection reflects the music I propose there, a kinda sunrise to sunset trip."

The 13-track selection includes four exclusives: the first is Blende's 'Amor,' which is forthcoming on the label. Johan Blende is a Swedish producer, songwriter and DJ who weaves together modern dance with retro sounds of the 70s and 80s and debuts on the label this summer with his Recess EP. 'Amor' is a bubbly groove with a New Age wash and lo-fi pads full of charm.

Hell Yeah regular and Italian magic man Walter Del Vecchio aka Quiroga also offers a new Baia Club Ambient Version of 'French Kiss' which has a lazy acid line worming its way through dubby kicks and tabla drums, and his dreamy electro soother 'Cala Ventosa' also features. Secret Soul Society, aka South Wales's Cal Gibson, also tests a new EP with his 'Orange Surprise' blending off-balance rhythmic shuffles with starry cosmic melodies. The final exclusive is from Balearic Gabba Sound System, who flip The Vendetta Suite aka the legendary Gary Irwin's 'Della Notte' into a quietly epic cinematic closer with icy analogue beats and a warped bassline for dubbed out late night escape. His 'Island Hill Microdot' also offers some warped cosmic ambient house introspection.

Elsewhere, Michele Mininni features twice - once with Gallo's Tropical Hinterhof Remix of the suspensory ambient lushness pop 'Carousel of Tears' and once with the original percussive pressure and hip-house fusion of 'Urban Voodoo' from his Pop Archetypes LP. Buena Onda veteran Feel Fly comes through with an Estatico Danzante Remix of Pedro Bertho's 'Tornei' feat Mariana Gehring and takes us to the stars on twinkling keys, dusty breakbeats and steamy vocals that glow as warm as a setting sun.

Add in further groovy gems such as Bonnie and Klein's synth and vibes laced 'Horizon Avenue,' dreamy, breaks-driven downtempo brilliance from pub wave innovator Dawn Again, hints of Ibiza cool from Willie Graff's remix of Aura Safari & Jimi Tenor and some upbeat synth-laced house from label stalwart Luminodisco and you have a faultless collection of grooves for grown up dance floors.

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Buena Onda - Adriatic Beats & Beyond (Continuous Promo Mix)

Long time Dream Chimney contributor, DJ, Producer Dennis Kane is facing eviction and looking for support. https://gofund.me/7db0132b

We are hosting the original Disques Town podcast episodes and making them available to stream/download. Please consider donating to help Dennis. At the moment Dennis finds himself in a serious financial jam, and we are raising funds to help he and Roan stay in their home of 31 years.


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Originally Recorded Oct 19 2011

Darshan Jesrani is best known as one half of the recording group METRO AREA. (along with Environ records honcho Morgan Geist), their 2002 eponymously named album splashed down with tremendous impact and helped redefine electronic dance music. Darshan tours heavily, does great remixes, (too few if u ask me), continues his stellar work with Morgan, and is working on new material for his Startree label set to debut in 2012.

I have had the great fortune to have Dar as a close pal and partner in the Strobe Lodge parties since their inception in 2005. As a DJ partner Darshan has always brought the ridiculously good business, and a a collaborator he is consistantly thoughtful, gracious, funny as hell, and down to make the party happen. Look for a new Strobe Lodge party soon, and to check out more on all things Jesrani go to: www.environrecords.com, and also www.strobelodge.com

https://www.instagram.com/startreeny

Just a quick programming note - I thought this self evident, but people have asked - I play the first hour or so of the podcast and then the guest drops their set. Coming up we will have some double booked sets and I'll take those sessions off... ez DK

Disques Town podcast: Episode 3: Dennis Kane w/ Darshan Jesrani

Mix of the Week #601 is "From Garramilla To Mparntwe" by Gratts
Follow and include @gratts in your track ID requests

"The mix captures some of the energy of my last Australia tour after the release of my last record." - Gratts

Tracklist:
0. Bluemoon Productions - Dreams Acapella (Intro)
1. Ron Trent - Just Another Love Song (Rush Hour)
2. Gratts - Better Days (Fennec’s Better Nights Remix) (Be Strong Be Free)
3. Asa Tate Ft. Dariam Coco - 89 (Rhythm Section)
4. A.Wild - ReportDeluxe (Studio Barnhus)
5. Fennec - Jaunt (Studio Barnhus)
6. Medlar Ft. Kim Anh - Luv Interlude (Paranoid London Remix) (Delusions Of Grandeur)
7. Megatonk - Belgium (Good Block Edit)
8. DJ HMC - Life Support Systems (Juice Records)
9. Juan Sanchez - Foʞus (FORMAT Records)
10. House Master Baldwin Ft. Paris Grey - Don't Lead Me (Medusa's House Mix) (Future Sound R & R Records)
11. Ian O'Donovan - Stratosphere (Elektronik Zoo Sounds)
12. DJ Split - Thirsty Maxx (Shadow Pressings)
13. Kink - Disco Spectrum (Sofia)
14. Cinthie - Take Me Higher (Heist Recordings)
15. DJ Shaun D - Spacetune (Nyege Nyege Tapes)
16. Angel Ice - Je N'aime Que Toi (SSEdit) (Beat Box)

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✉️ DC Email list: eepurl.com/dN23Jw 🔈 Mix Archives: https://www.dreamchimney.com/motw 

⭐ More from Dream Chimney instagram.com/dreamchimney • https://dreamchimney.bandcamp.com • www.dreamchimney.com

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Mix of the Week #601: Gratts - From Garramilla To Mparntwe

Trujilo's Mix August 2025

Coyote - The Standard Solar Sessions

Subterranean Echoes

CHANGE (2015)

09-We Rise We Shine Feat The Voices Cie

"If you didn't know, Hell Yeah is the Italian label hell-bent on releasing the best modern disco(ish) you can find. Sometimes it's blissed out and Balearic, sometimes it's squelchy and down-right weird and sometimes it's the sort of elongated, tribal stuff that works dancefloors into a salacious frenzy" (Kristan J Caryl - DJ MAG January 2014)


Hell Yeah Recordings, a descendent of leading Italian dance label Mantra Vibes is an Italian-based electronic music label active since 2006. Releasing from Ferrara, Bologna, and Amsterdam and led by Marco Gallerani “peeDoo” (A&R), the label bases its philosophy on a diversity of artists and recording experiences tied together by a common vision of what defines quality progressive recording. 

With a sound as diverse as the artists it represents, Hell Yeah does not limit itself to the constraints of genre but packs a complex palette of sounds ranging from techno to minimal-nu-rave to electro-funk and tech house.  Artists as varied as Radio Slave, Santos, Umek, Oliver Koletzki, Congorock, 3iO, Crimea X and the mighty Balearic Gabba Sound System have helped establish Hell Yeah’s eclectic sound, a distinct take on party music loaded with a sonic Balearic feel good vibe that has made press around the world hail Hell Yeah as a label to watch, always

Hell Yeah aims to build upon its current reputation as a leading Italian Electronic Music play, overseeing the release of a series of progressive productions that straddle genres, defy conventions and blur barriers between listening and dance music. Stemming from Hell Yeah’s initial graphic identity formed by Neverending’s Rocco “the Boghe” Pezzella, new mind-bending web and label artworks from Italian artist Andrea Amaducci and the Berlin-based Ice Cream For Free collective promises complete visual as well as aural stimulation.

info/bookings: 
marco@pplayground.com

Buena Onda - Adriatic Beats & Beyond (Continuous Promo Mix)

Hell Yeah Recordings

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