Catnap – Electro Classixxx

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I’m back with another DJ mix – this time it’s all about the 80’s!  Electro Classixxx is a non-stop megamix of 34 of the best electro jams from 1980-84, and is a great introduction to this massively influential genre.  According to British DJ and music historian Greg Wilson,

Electro is the missing link of Dance music. All roads lead back to New York where the level of musical innovation and experimentation throughout the early 80s period was quite staggering. It wasn’t one narrow style that never strayed from within the confides of an even narrower BPM range, Electro-Funk was anything goes! The diversity of records released during this period was what made it so magical, you never knew what was coming next. The tempo of these tracks ranged from under 100 bpm to over 130, covering an entire rhythmic spectrum along the way.

There was no set template for this new Dance direction, it just went wherever it went and took you grooving along with it. It was all about stretching the boundaries that had begun to stifle black music, and its influences lay not only with German Technopop wizards Kraftwerk, the acknowledged forefathers of pure Electro, plus British Futurist acts like the Human League and Gary Numan, but also with a number of pioneering black musicians. Major artists like Miles Davis, Sly Stone, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, legendary producer Norman Whitfield and, of course, George Clinton and his P Funk brigade, would all play their part in shaping this new sound via their innovative use of electronic instruments during the 70s (and as early as the late 60s in Miles Davis’ case). Once the next generation of black musicians finally got their hands on the available technology it was bound to lead to a musical revolution as they ripped up the rule book with their twisted Funk.

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time – 65:06  /// 149mb /// 320 kbps .mp3

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Catnap – A Fire In My Bones

This mix bounces a number of different musical styles off each other, building up steam into high energy dance party.  I was inspired by some fascinating interpretations of the blues by Kenny Larkin (in his Dark Comedy alter ego) and an Akufen track from the Blu Tibunl remix project.  Then after a short detour into the “heroin house” style, I got down to business with some jackin’ house and then electro from Riton, Beck, and a medley of classic Prince tunes.

Where do you go from there?  Ghetto house, Bmore breaks, and some straight up dance rock from folks like Blues Explosion, LCD Soundsystem, Blur, The Libertines, DJ Mujhava, and much more.  I did lots of edits throughout this mix and even threw in a remix of Juney Boomdata’s “Cookies” I did myself.

Listen here:

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137mb /// 60 min.  /// 320kbps

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Catnap – Anodyne

Anodyne is the latest Catnap mix, in the same vein as the Meow Mix series but drawing from the electro and techno side of things.  There’s some classic selections, like Rhythim Is Rhythim’s “Nude Photo” (1987) and A Guy Called Gerald‘s anthem “Voodoo Ray” (1988).  I finally worked Siriusmo‘s amazing track “Discosau” into a mix, as well as Dexter‘s sexy electro tune “D-Funked” and Boy Robot‘s poignant “My Heart’s Still Beating”.  Another favorite of mine in the mix is “Move Your Mind” by Kevin Yost, which reminds me a lot of “Halcyon+on” by Orbital.

Like its name sake, Anodyne starts out with some intense and glitchy selections before settling into a funky groove that later unfolds into lush, dreamlike techno soundscapes.  It will fix what ails you, or at least soothe the pain.

Listen here:

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74 min 35 sec ///  171mb /// 192kbps .mp3

Full Tracklist after the jump…

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Catnap – Meow Mix 4

The latest edition of the Meow Mix takes you to the beach!  In keeping with the Meow Mix tradition, it features lots of uplifting, melodic tunes with some Latin spice and a couple classic anthems.  It kicks off with a rare live jam by BT & Danny Tenaglia called “Blue Skies,” a longtime favorite of mine.  Other highlights include funky workouts  by Herbie Hancock and War, Aly-Us’s unforgettable “Follow Me,” Pete Heller’s “Big Love” and a little Daft Punk.  Bob Sinclair, Basement Jaxx, and DJ Gregory are all in the mix, too.

***Update***  I added six more songs to this mix on December 26th, 2010.  See tracklist for update.

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173mb /// 1 hr 15min /// 320kbps .mp3

Tracklist after the jump…

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Catnap – In the Valley of the Shadow of Dub

catnap_valleyofdubs

I mixed up some vocal dubstep and new school dub to create this mix.  A lot of dubstep bores me, but I’ve heard some amazing mixes from DJ Zhao, Squincy Jones, and Shiva that have shown me that it leaves a lot of room for creativity.  So I tried to bring mine, with tracks from Caspa, L-Wiz, Dr. Israel, Leftfield, Kode 9, Dubblestandart, Modselektor and more… like Lil’ Wayne and Peter Tosh.

I’ve been working on this one for a while, going through hundreds of dubstep tracks to find the few I really liked and that work well together.  It came together this weekend, reflecting  how I’ve been feeling… in the Valley of the Shadow of Dub.

Listen now:

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59 minutes /// 81.4mb /// 192kbps .mp3

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Catnap – Pimp Fiction 1998

PimpFiction_new

Here’s the second mix I unearthed in my dusty backups, a mixtape I made with my friend Zakee on a summer afternoon in 1998.  “Pimp Fiction” is a mash of good stuff, from 60’s and 70’s soul, blues, funk and disco gems to 90’s acid jazz, triphop, and rap.  It’s reassuring to hear such tight selection and I’m glad to be able to add it to this archive.

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time: 70:34 /// 165mb /// 256kbps .mp3

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Catnap – Tha Dub Wars 1997

The Dub Wars 1New Dubwars Back Final copy

I made this mix back in the summer of 1997.  I had my turntables out on my parents’ porch and I was getting irie late into the long nights, mixing dub and playing with my first FX box.  It was a wicked little steel box with just two knobs, effect and dry/wet.  All dub is timeless, or exists in a place outside of time, but the “old skool vs new skool” thing is because the tracks alternate between classic 70’s and 80’s jamaican dub to 90’s UK electronic dub.

This dub selection includes King Tubby, Michael Rose, Barrington Levy, Scientist, Michael Rose, Renegade Soundwave, and of course some Bob Marley and the Wailers.  Dig the dub and here and there, listen for me having some fun with my new toy.  Tracklist after the jump.

Listen now:

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time: 69:03 /// 126mb /// 246kbps .mp3 Continue reading