Ahead of the release of Bargrooves Deluxe we asked the Bargrooves selector Andy Daniell to highlight a few keys tracks off the album, to hopefully give you an idea as to why he picked them for the compilation. Here’s what he picked out…
Tracey Thorn – Why Does The Wind (Michel Cleis Remix)
I’m a huge fan of Tracey Thorn and have been since the Everything But the Girl days. She has a one of a kind voice. I’m also a huge fan of Michel Cleis’ work from La Mezcla, his River Ocean remix and more recently Litoral, so combining the two is a bit special. It’s a wonderful sparse record that lets the vocal speak for itself, with Michel slowly bringing in a few musical elements. It’s a record that needs to listened from start to finish; a musical cliché, but it’s a journey and I love it!
Jose Nunez feat. Shawnee Taylor - Yesterday
Jose has been killing it for years. His work over the last decade on Subliminal and beyond has always been great, but this one feels a bit special. Shawnee Taylor has really gone for a haunting soulful vibe and delivered an incredible song. Jose keeps the production tough but without losing the funk or soul. It’s a really dope track.
Tensnake – Coma Cat (Round Table Knights Remix)
What can I say about Tensnake’s Coma Cat that hasn’t already been said? It’s one of, if not the, tune of the summer and a record that never fails to put a smile on my face. I was over the moon with the Round Table Knights and the remix they delivered for us, giving a nod to their anthem Calypso on the always excellent Made 2 Play record and twisting up the Coma Cat riff into a dancefloor monster. For me, 100% essential.
Maher Daniel – 3rd Time Is A Charm
I first heard this record in one of Joris Voorn’s DJ sets from this summer in Ibiza and it really stood out to me. It turned up a month or so later on Joris fantastic label Rejected and I had to have it for the compilation. It’s got a wicked rolling, groovy vibe that just builds until breaking down into a dope old school piano riff before dropping back into that groove and rocking luscious piano stabs. I love this so much I’ve just asked Maher to do a remix for us here at Defected, so watch this space.
Treasure Fingers – Lift Me
I’m a huge fan of Treasure Fingers. I first bumped into this track on the Duck Sauce (Armand Van Helden & A-Trak) Mixmag cover mount CD, getting on for a year ago. From there I checked out pretty much everything Treasure Fingers had done and loved what I heard so I reached out and got in touch. From there I signed the Lift Me EP and asked him to remix Coma Cat. I’m a huge fan of the early 90’s Daft Punk, French Disco house scene and so this gives a great nod to that era and I love it. One of my favourite records in the last year.
Miss Divine & Jon Kong – No Grace
Bargrooves podcast queen and Defected resident Miss Divine and production partner Jon Kong have done a great track called No Grace for the Shapeshifter’s Nocturnal Groove imprint. It’s a very cool track giving a little knowing nod to Joris Voorn, but doing its own thing. It had to be included.
Freeform Five – Perspex Sex (Ewan’s Hi-NRG Remix)
I took a look backwards for this track and had a dig through the vaults. It’s taken from the stunning Classic Records catalogue (Derrick Carter & Luke Solomon’s label). Freeform Five have always done incredible tracks and this is no exception. I love the lyrics which are dirty as hell, but not as dirty as Ewan Pearson’s remix. He did something pretty special with this track. It’s classic yet instant if you’ve never heard it before.
Hot Toddy – Down To Love
One of the great things about compiling the Bargrooves compilations is I can use tracks from right across the musical spectrum, from soulful house, to disco, to chill out, to funk etc. I’m not one for genres, I just believe good music is good music. So being able to include this great track from Hot Toddy (of Crazy P) is very cool. It’s such a sexy, yet laid back track. It’s been on my iPod for ages and won’t be getting taken off for a long time yet.
Azari & III – Reckless With Your Love (Tensnake Remix)
Well wow, where do I start on this record…it’s just fucking incredible! In its original form I’d say it’s a very, very special record – retro yet fresh – so throw in man of the moment Tensnake, a cheeky snap riff and you have a hell of combination. The record is on Permanent Vacation records, who are leading the charge in quality disco and house at the moment.
Kaine feat. Kathy Diamond – Love Saves The Day
I shamelessly stole this tracks after hearing Tensnake use it on his In The House mix. Kathy Diamond is a huge talent and her vocals work so well with the rather epic piano chords. In fact, I think epic is a rather good way to describe this record in its entirety.
Dualton – Formula
Out of Germany, Dualton are doing some really, really good records at the moment, but this is my favourite. It has a similar vibe to DJ Rolando’s ‘Knights of the Jaguar’, with a really simple piano loop running through the track, but the way the guys have arranged the track and let it build and build is stunning. Simple but oh so effective!
2020 Soundsystem – Sliding Away (Johnny D Remix)
I feel like I’ve requesting this record for so many compilations but for various reasons I’ve never actually used it. I’ve rectified this serious error by using it here. 2020 are legends of the scene and Johnny D is a great talent. A super-cool groove, bouncing bassline with a great vocal. I think it’s the subtle keys in the second half of the track that really gets me. Love it.
Bargrooves Deluxe is out 18th October - click to listen & pre-order
