MDC Mix Archive

A previous guest of honor at H.A.N.D. as we debuted the series with a recording of his first class workings at Have A Nice Day a few years back - Piers Harrison presents us with yet another generous offering to our new mix series. One of the minds at Test pressing and 1/4 of team Soft Rocks, Piers' insightful relationship with music and dance floor culture has clearly led to a discerning understanding in a wide range of genres - kindly displayed in this pleasant excursion - listen carefully :)
@soft-rocks

Sound Metaphors Mix Series 04 : Piers Harrison

Trepanado is head honcho behind the multimodal brasilian powerhouse "Selvagem"; party series, record label and former DJ duo together with Millos Kaiser. The two have since parted ways and Augusto now runs everything by himself, putting out killer after killer. For 591mins., Trepanado stays true to his roots, starting on the jazzy, balnearico side of things, moving to the street soul brasil territory and taking a turn on the wild side towards the end (his own words). We're excited to have him contribute to this last series of carefully curated mixes, 2 hours that make for a conciliatory end with summer here on the Northern hemisphere. Enjoy!

Trepanado (Selvagem)

Drifting deep house from New York.

Tracklisting and download: https://bit.ly/XLR8Rpodcast_FrankAndTony

XLR8R Podcast

Tracklist & Download

XLR8R Podcast 844: Frank & Tony

London’s Customs duo are connoisseurs of finely crafted garage music, two life long devotees to the sound’s deeply swung rhythms and unifying dancefloor vibrations.

Finessing their take on all things garage (not garage) through their regular spots on Kiosk Radio and at London's Giant Steps, the guys join us with a swinging smorgasbord of 90s and early 00s records from the UK, dabbling in top notch garage and some of the sounds that anticipated broken beat and early grime productions. 

@customs_ldn

Q. What inspiration did you draw upon when combining for this mix, and what kind of setting might you imagine it being enjoyed in the most?

Guy: 

Firstly, thank you Myles so much for sharing this mix. Longtime fans of MDC! Both of us answered “driving” as the best setting, which is funny since neither of us drives. So maybe “riding” rather than driving. Lots of thoughts percolated for me on night drives to inner city Manchester a few months back. Definitely inspired by the All Bad Boy & All Good Girl archive work of Death Is Not The End, resurfacing the sound of Moss Side blues parties like Soul Control. Reading Ed Gillett’s new-ish book Party Lines also gave a push further into alternate UK dance histories, specifically Black club scenes and music that ‘swings’.

Tom: 

I’ve been bingeing on a bunch of old club recordings from the ‘speed garage’ era lately - sets from places like Club Koo and The Colosseum - and I think some of the energy from that early blend of UK and US sounds has definitely bubbled over into this mix.

Q. With the mix showcasing your shared appreciation for deep garage music and its many adjacent styles and offshoots, could you give us a brief insight into your journeys with the sound, and what years, artists or labels have you found to be responsible for the most timeless cuts in your record bags?

Guy: 

It was a nocturnal radio sound for me as a young teenager I guess, largely mysterious, coming largely from London when I was growing up in the north west. But the sampling of R&B vocals from stuff I knew made it immediately accessible. In more recent years, digging in London, I’ve tended to get most excited by either one-off/ white label riddles that are sometimes garage-not-garage, and also alias stuff from bigger name producers across bigger labels in the genre - G-Spot Records, Nice ‘N’ Ripe, Unda-Vybe etc. 

Tom:

I actually started out as a bedroom garage DJ, so it’s a bit of a full-circle moment for me. I had a mate at school who wanted to be an MC, and on Saturdays we used to hit up Music & Video Exchange to pick up whatever white labels we could find before heading back to his flat in Ladbroke Grove to practice a set that nobody would ever hear. Shout out to Nick The Greek, wherever you are! Twenty-something years later, I’m still finding exciting stuff from the same producers we loved back then - guys like Jeremy Sylvester and Mike Millrain who have these unfathomably deep back-catalogues.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your hearts, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

Guy: 

I’d call out 2. Artist Formerly Known as PP - When I’m Down, from 1998. Bit of a private press oddity from a producer who’s prolific but mysterious (the PP = ‘Persian Prince’). It’s a kind of rolling, morphing megamix type cut that samples Brandy - Best Friend but also features raw toasting style MC bits the likes of which you hear from the live party recordings in All Bad Boy & All Good Girl. The other is Colour 3 - La Femme, a beautiful, melodic white label that’s been so versatile for me since I picked it up from Crazy Beat in Upminster. Has worked a treat on sound systems like Giant Steps and after parties alike. 

Tom:

The penultimate track, Drivers Anthem, is a special one for me. Super deep and melodic production, but with that trademark UK bump on the bottom end.

MDC.299 Customs

This beautiful 4 hour journey with special guest Vio PRG was recorded right here in leisuretown last month. A true digger's delight, it's a sweet and tasteful blend of all the aspirational ingredients in an Offtrack mix - featuring rare gems in the styles of street soul, disco, hip house and balearic movers. Tap in.   

OT Radio 028: Vio PRG

A much loved figure within the American underground scene, California's Baby Leo has been consciously connecting body and mind from coast to coast, finding space for the unpredictable and the awe inspiring, hypnotising dancefloors with wildly eclectic DJ sets filled with energising twists and turns.

An innovator and sonic boundary pusher at his core, the Dripping festival Leo runs alongside Relaxer is a deep underground oasis in the woods of Sparta, New Jersey, and returns for it's third mind excursion this June, with Leo and DJ Plead combining this year for a hotly anticipated back to back. 

@djbabyleo

Q. The mix is truly a wild ride! What sounds or feelings did you draw upon when gathering inspiration for this, and what listening environments could you imagine it being enjoyed in?

A. This is the deepcast right? For this one, we’re going deeper than what I might usually do in a club. Some of these tracks came to me while laying blindfolded on the floor during guided high-dose mushroom journeys. Because this is a space of complete emotional surrender, many of these tracks became permanently embedded in my heart. Awe, fear, reverence, gratitude are all part of the recipe. The ideal listening environment is similar to how you might want to watch a movie - cozy, undistracted, and fully immersed in sound. Perhaps by yourself and hopefully something to return to and discover something new.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that are especially close to your heart, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. I think Untitled (How Does it Feel) by D’Angelo is my favorite song of all time. It feels amazing every time. The way energy builds and boils over is unmatched. I played it backwards.

Q. Your festival Dripping returns to the majestic woods of Sparta, NJ for its third year running in June, and I see you’ve got a special extended b2b set with DJ Plead planned which should be quite the mind-bend! How have you been preparing for that one, and what things might you guys be doing differently this year that you’re excited about? 

A. Preparation hasn’t really begun in any serious way, but we are both anticipating and very excited to play together. Especially at Dripping, I’m typically trying to push the energy forward for a fully explosive impact. I will usually do a lot of preparation for a set like this and plan certain sequences. In contrast, I’ve seen Plead play sets with incredible restraint, patiently working a crowd into complete hypnosis. I guess the thing about a back to back set is that it will take on a life of its own and just go where it needs to go. There will be less planning for this and more intuition, but mind-bending and heart-opening is certainly the goal and we haven’t discussed anything other than that.

Tracklist:

Avartuva nake - Esa Kotilainen
La Symphonie - Cute Heels
Marka - Carmen Villain
Portamento - Stine Janvin
Flusso I - Donato Dozzy
Winded - 7038634357
O Berimbao - Nana Vasconcelos
Polar Sun - Feral
Temples - Anunaku
Doubles - Untold
Drop it On The One - Untold
Wormhole Chant - Vector Trancer
Through The Cobalt Desert - Marco Shuttle
A Touch Of - Piezo
Andnowawordfromoursponsors - Kabeaushe
Shimming - Yor Kultura
Untitled (How Does it Feel) - D’Angelo
Hamburger Lady (Carter Tutti remix) - Throbbing Gristle
Guboo - Lights in a Fat City

MDC.309 Baby Leo

The Tartan Records boss and equally boss DJ Wallace signs off on his recent stint down under with a mix packed with deep sea dubs and bumping 00s techy rollers. Based in England, and having previously run a string of club nights in Edinburgh, Wallace is a proud tartan enthusiast with a full tank of punchy dubwise grooves in his sporran, with plenty of nods to his UK roots here over a glorious hour and a bit full of chunky d-floor burners. Let's have it!

@wallacejimmygs

Q. What sounds or feelings did you draw upon when gathering inspiration for this mix, and what listening environments could you imagine it being best enjoyed in?

A. It’s been a pretty bruising winter back here in the UK but we’d just had our first smattering of sunshine when I came to putting this mix together. I think that shift—the changing seasons and the first signs of trees beginning to bloom in my hometown (as pictured)—definitely influenced the first part of the mix. The middle section leans more into the kind of stuff I’d play out, but I wanted to bring things to a softer landing toward the end. There’s certainly an outdoor feel to the selections so maybe a listening environment to match but equally I love music’s ability to transport us from our current states so bang it on indoors and see what happens.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that you were especially excited to share, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. There’s a Steve O'Sullivan Dub early on which I recently found & it’s just a gloriously mixed and executed piece of dub techno. Towards the end another recent find by Argentinian producer Federico Molinari which to my ears sounds like a lost 80’s gem but was produced just last year. It's rare to hear a modern producer capture that classic vibe so authentically, without tipping into pastiche.

Q. You were just out here in Australia over the past weekend and from all reports the shows were on point! What kind of directions did you take people in during those sets, and how might the energy of your club sets differ from your mixes? 

A. Yes, so glad to have finally made it out here. Was a real joy to meet some lovely people in your scene and to get the chance to do my thing. Always revel in the challenge of playing in a new country as you’ve got to be on your toes to adapt but stay true to what you’re all about. I truly felt the warm Aussie welcome, so let’s call this mix a little parting gift to tide things over until next time x

MDC.310 Wallace

For this episode we welcome the extraordinary talents of Aaron J, Brooklyn's Sure Thing record label and podcast founder, known for hosting an immense list of explorative modern techno artists from around the globe. Altering our consciousness for the first time in 2023 with a particularly awe inspiring set at Sustain-Release, Aaron's deeply considered and intricate approach is something of sheer beauty, and coupled with masterful technical ability, his inspiring DJ sets allow for fully immersive dancefloor experiences. 

Here Aaron explores the softer edges of his expansive sound palette, meditative soundscapes and tranquil IDM converging in total harmony for what he describes as a 'recalibration of the senses'. 

@arn_j
@sure_thing

Q. What sounds or feelings did you draw upon when gathering inspiration for this mix, and what listening environments could you imagine it being best enjoyed in?

A. Of all the mixes I’ve put together over the years, this one definitely feels the most vulnerable. The months I spent thinking about and working on this mix accompanied an intensely busy time in my life, and the process helped me stay in touch with the simple joy of listening as a way of stepping back and letting things go. There is a direct connection here between the music within and the emotions that live inside me. At the same time, I’ve tried my best to mix this as transparently as possible, so that the act of DJing takes a back seat and allows the music to take center stage.

The inspiration behind the tracks I chose and the story of the mix is one of finding balance, so I hope listening to it feels like a casting off of the present day and a recalibration of the senses. I’d love for people to listen to the mix in a setting where they feel most protected from the changes and stressors of the outside world, whether that be sitting outside in nature or laying on a couch surrounded by the comforts of home.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that you were especially excited to share, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. There is a track in the mix by Autumn of Communion called “Goodbye PK” dedicated to the late Peter Kuhlmann, who many of your listeners will know as the legendary Pete Namlook of FAX +49-69/450464. It’s an immensely moving track that manages to convey both the tragedy of his loss and the depth of the beauty he left with the world, and I feel we’re so fortunate to have music and influences like this in our recent history. I included it early to set the tone of the rest of the mix, which is quite different than any I’ve done before, and to pay my respects to those who’ve inspired our scene from the very beginning.

Q. I was lucky enough to witness your set at Sustain-Release in 2023 and was in awe of your ability to practice restraint while steadily building up tension and energy in the set with such clinical and seamless execution. Is this part of the DJ craft something you spend a lot of time planning and refining?

A. That was such a life-changing moment for me, so I’m really glad you were there! You really nailed what I hoped to accomplish with that set, and I definitely spend a lot of time thinking about where my sets will begin, where I would like them to end up, and what sort of path I might take to get there. Understanding the minutiae of how a transition will affect someone’s state of mind and how to propel someone forward without jarring them back to reality is something I’m always working to improve on. That said, the upward trajectory is not always the most interesting one, and there are so many other ways of charting a course through a set that I hope to be able to explore. For the mix I’ve made for you, it’s not so much a set that builds energy as it is one that expands and contracts, hopefully in a gentle and purposeful way.

MDC.311 Aaron J

🌐 Refuge Worldwide is a radio station and community space based in Berlin-Neukölln.
➡️ More info, more music: www.refugeworldwide.com

Support us by becoming a member on Patreon for just 3€ a month: www.patreon.com/refugeworldwide

New Massage - Telephones & Raphaël Top-Secret - 04 Jun 2025

All 6 hours of Dave Harvey, Chez de Milo and Ellie Stokes b2b2b at the helm of The Love Inn as part of the Love International 10 year club tour

Love International 10 Years @ The Love Inn, Bristol

Thrilled to be welcoming NAP aka Daniel Rincón to series, the CDMX based DJ and producer with a unique gift for capturing the wonky, hedonistic feels of the after-hours in his signature extended mix styles. Packed with sleazy twists and turns, there's never a dull moment with NAP at the wheel! Electro-fied highway rollers masterfully sliced and diced for that maximum long haul recharge! @napmusick

Q. What sounds/feelings did you draw upon when gathering inspiration for this mix, and what environments could you imagine it being best enjoyed in?

A. I wanted to make a driving mix that featured a lot of vocals but in mutated and affected ways. Either as a centerpiece of the tune or via chops and sampling, the vocals carry a lot of the tension and thread of the mix which I wanted to balance across a mix of sleazy and dubby sounds. Perfect for a night drive or an afters with some bffs.

Q. Are there any songs in the mix that you were especially excited to share, and what is it about these tracks that resonate with you so much?

A. Blacklight Sleaze (Dyed Soundorom Remix) by Peace Division’. I put it earlier in the mix as it's a bit of a fire starter in getting the mix boiling. This track is also an example of the use of the human voice in a classic but psychedelic/ experimental approach; many voices swirling around atop a sexy driving groove. 

Loose Control by Dino Lenny. Been playing this one a lot and I’d like to make mention to it because it hits a lot of the things that I like when playing a peacetime burner; driving arpeggiated Italo style baselines without being too garish, some dramatic silence drops that make you think the track stopped and then the use of the human voice as a melodic element displaced from language. 

Heart Misses - Heart Misses. This one is definitely in the pocket of  sassy/ minimal sleaze tune which encompasses the vibe of many of the other tracks in the mix as per the concept I had. Perhaps this one is also an evolution of my digging from having been really into electroclash growing up and playing a lot of that stuff across my DJ experience. This hits the reference points of that sound I grew up up with but perhaps actualized? More reduced, minimal but still sexy, driving, irreverent and trippy. 

Q. Tell us about the projects you’ve been most immersed in since moving to Mexico City, I know there’s a few!

A. Oh man, lots of collabs since I've been here! All a by product of new friendships and amazing connections I’ve made while being here. Stuff is still percolating and getting finished but Im very excited to put out new collab projects with Primordial Oh, Reedbriefcase and Tristan Arp; whenever the time is right. On the other hand I’ve also put the finishing touches on a collab project with my friend Pablo Arangoiz who I started jams with when he visited Mexico 4 years ago. Since then we’ve been working on a thesis on a specific type of experimental cumbia forward pieces which we’ve spent a lot of time and care on. 

As far as ACA, Phran and I have a lot of things on the pipeline which will hopefully get some releases this year. It's tough to get a lot of the projects we want to do out when we live in different places but we’re damn excited about all of them and aligning on getting a digi release out from Venezuelan Miniteca legend ‘El Mago. We also got some homie comps cooking up and some sassy merch coming up.

On the Ambien Baby tip, Soph and I have been jamming a lot every time we have the chance to but again, not living in the same place makes it a bit hard to wrap stuff up. Still the past year has yielded a lot of sick fire starter jams that hopefully we can zinch up before the end of the year. We also have a collaborative sound piece we made with our friend Florence Scott-Anderton some years ago for a show she had at the ICA some years ago. This one is a very dear collab for all 3 of us and I hope we can get it out before the end of year as well. Lots of stuff coming up and cooking up!

MDC.312 NAP

🌐 Refuge Worldwide is a radio station and community space based in Berlin-Neukölln.
➡️ More info, more music: www.refugeworldwide.com

Help us stay on air by donating to our fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-refuge-worldwide-community-radio

Flight Mode - Alison Swing & Fantastic Man - 25 Jun 2025

Introspective mind realignment from the deepest depths, Mike Buhl engages the senses with poise and purpose, lifting the spirit while carefully dialling up the pressure over two-plus hours of tension filled hypnotic techno and soaring interplanetary rhythms. 

@mike-buhl

Q. What sounds or feelings did you draw upon when gathering inspiration for this mix, and what listening environments could you imagine it being best enjoyed in?

A. My inspiration was driven by the urge to showcase lots of artists who have been on heavy rotation over the years. Somewhat cliche, but it was really important to blend genres and energies that represented every aspect of what I listen to, am inspired by alongside how and when they were experienced. Tracks I’ve loved listening to on my own, while entertaining friends, during lock in record nights and those tracks designed to be shared in public spaces and events. 
 
Finding a cohesive path through those different styles, genres and energies was the adventure in this mix. Distilling a sonic mountain of records into something that flowed seamlessly and translated well when listening back in all of those moments felt most authentic. A mix best consumed while moving, sharpening that assignment, at the tail end of a dinner party as the vibe shifts to next gear or while embracing the magic of a lock in with the crew. 

This has translated into snapshots, across a timeline stitched together from records new and old, capturing a weekend drive, early floors through to closed doors, spilling onto the street, the afterhours and beyond. Almost two and a half hours of ambient ear candy, arm chair burners, peak melters and thought provokers that attempt to relive moments and feelings from our past years listening, curating and creating electronic music.

Q. I know you’ve developed a close kinship with some modern pillars of the dub techno scene, mastering and editing .VRIL’s 2025 Edit of his classic tune ‘UV’ and being tasked with closing out his recent Melbourne show. Tell us how that connection came about, and what other studio projects have you got bubbling away that you’re excited to share?

A. I first reached out to .Vril ahead of a past tour to Australia. His music resonated with me so much that I wanted to meet him for a coffee. Since then, we’ve hung out a few times, shared music, and bounced some tracks off each other. It was an absolute highlight, when he asked to be a part of reshaping ‘UV’ and he's kindly returned serve with a remix for my follow up EP, 'Modern Explorer II' on local imprint Denude. We’ve had some very early conversations around a collaboration next time he’s out here and I would really like to continue pushing creativity here.

In the background, I've been spending a good amount of time in my studio. Focusing on creating for myself and helping others. Improving my abilities as a mix engineer has been a big focus and I’ve been fortunate enough to work on a number projects with artists locally and abroad. Whether that be mixing, providing creative direction, arrangement work or mastering. I really love working with others and often find it more enjoyable than working alone. In saying that, I’m building a volume of new music that needs an outlet and will focus on that over the next few months.

MDC.313 Mike Buhl

I have contemplated the idea of production for a while and i have reached the point putting the first foot forward and just introducing myself to the production world. This is the first attempt at the production process. Its been on my mind for years and its my first attempt. Not studio mastered. Feedback appreciated. Regards.

ezzydj-God's Love (Original Mix)

Legent Music proudly announces the electrifying new single from internationally acclaimed house maestro Disco Ball'z - 'Do It Like That'. This sizzling track delivers the signature deep groove, punchy percussion, and floor-filling energy that have made Disco Ball'z a staple in the global house music scene.

'Do It Like That' is pure dancefloor chemistry - fusing irresistible basslines, crisp hats, and hypnotic vocal hooks into a rhythm that commands movement. Known for his consistency and raw club energy, Disco Ball'z once again proves why his name echoes across DJ sets and underground parties worldwide.

Disco Ball'z, whose career spans over two decades, has released on some of the most respected house labels and earned a reputation for keeping the classic house spirit alive while pushing the sound forward. 'Do It Like That' is no exception - it's a nod to the old-school groove, wrapped in a modern, high-impact production style that will ignite dancefloors from Chicago to Ibiza.

The release comes under Legent Music, a label committed to delivering timeless underground sounds to the world's most discerning ears. This collaboration marks another chapter in the ongoing partnership between Disco Ball'z and Legent Music - one that continues to push boundaries and define the pulse of the scene.

Do It Like That

PREMIERE: Kanette - Rocking In The Beat [Yesenia]

Traxsource Promo: 12/09/2025
Official Release Date: 26/09/2025

Kanette
Soundcloud | @kanetteofficial

Yesenia
Soundcloud | @yeseniamusic



MDC.299 Customs

Melbourne Deepcast

Recent comments

BF

Er Hier

Lucia Scholtus

Danny Bodega

Related tracks