All we wanted to do was create something that gave back to the listener.

It initially started as a discussion between Tom (Attentat) and myself about recording a mix together. We had played several gigs as a duo over the last twelve months, but for some reason none of those shows were recorded, and Tom said, “let’s just put a recording together”. Simple enough, but as we started to brainstorm and dive into the mix, we both came to the conclusion that we wanted to take the time to make something better than we’d ever done in the past: in terms of artfully crafting a mix.

One mix which we will always refer to in such matters is the Resident Advisor Podcast #219 recorded by Cio D’or at Panorama Bar in the summer of 2010. Although it is almost 5 years old, which in techno and electronic music is almost an epoch, it is such a transcendent mix that it will never get old to us. Like a chess player, Cio D’or thought three to four “moves” ahead of time as each track was perfectly slotted for each mix in the podcast. And it made me think that there are two types of deejays; not vinyl versus digital or old school versus new school, but chess versus checkers. The DJ’s whom we admire, and whom we we will employ for this series as the chess players: those that think several moves ahead of each mix, beyond playing Track A into Track B, but thinking out Tracks A through Z and impeccably placing each song, each note in between.

In essence, this new series is for those of you who spend long hours at work, listening to mixes to get you through the day; to make the week go by faster. This mix is for those of you who take long commutes daily by train, by car, by bus and by foot. These tracks are picked out to be more than just filler in your day.

We hope you enjoy this new series as much as we enjoyed making, selecting, and posting the chapters for you!

Twitter: @_yaqubian

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