Big Tunes
The tracks you need to check this month
1 Midland
'Blush' (Graded)
A melodic peak-time techno instrumental, ‘Blush’ follows on from his truly Essential Mix for Radio 1 and keeps the momentum building nicely. Deep and brooding like Koze’s mix of ‘Tragic Kingdom’, this is his best jam since ‘Trace’ – and the bonus tracks are equally on-point.
Best mix There’s only one
Out Early May
2 Adesse Versions
'That’s What Friends Are For' (Numbers)
A worthy follow-up to Denis Sulta’s superb Annie Mac-endorsed EP on Numbers, one listen to this Soma Records-inspired track will make it clear that these ‘Friends’ are for raving with – and probably in Glasgow.
Best mix Original
Out Now on digital and 12”
3 Rodriguez Jr.
'Petropolis' (Mobilee)
Rodriguez Jr started his career with The Youngsters in the early 2000s on Garnier’s F Communications, and he’s clearly learned a thing or two about techno along the way. Sublime, Mathew Jonson-style madness for Ibiza and Miami: no wonder Tongy’s a fan.
Best mix Original; also check ‘Capitelle’
Out Now; album due later in the year
4 Cristoph
'Genesis' (Truesoul)
As well as winning the award for best house breakdown of the month, this percussive instrumental jam really does get better with every play. ‘Genesis’ is a great tripped-out 6AM moment. And once again, Truesoul make it back into Big Tunes.
Best mix Original
Out Now with an EP on VIVa in May
5 Cassius feat Cat Power & Mike D
Action (DJ Haus & Rushmore mix)
Cassius are back with a cheeky Gallic grin and two of the best house guests you could ask for. The original sees them back at their dancefloor best – but the mix for underground floors is DJ Haus’s.
Best mix Original & DJ Haus/Rushmore
Out Now, with their first album in 10 years, ‘Ibifornia’ dropping June 24
6 Flume feat Kai
'Never Be Like You' (Disclosure remix)
Having seen Flume in action at The Roundhouse last month, we can confirm that he is no slouch in the live production department: the crowd didn’t stop raving until the lights went up. This mix is a thank-you swap for a Flume mix last year – and it’s another winner.
Best mix Disclosure
Out Now
7 David August
'JBY' (Counter Records / Ninja Tune)
Peak-time pressure from David August here: the melodies spiral and sizzle, the vocals hover nicely in the middle of the mix and the minor piano chords come on like Sohn: in other words, this is destined for big things in Ibiza.
Best mix There’s only one
Out ‘J.B.Y. / Ouvert’ EP Out now on digital, 12” in May
8 Apollonia
'Mouche Tsé Tsé’ (Melchior Prod dub) (K7! & Apollonia Music)
Apollonia have a right to be proud of the mix package here: from The Martinez Brothers and Melchior Productions to Charles Webster no less – but this MPD mix is the pick of the pack.
Best mix Melchior Productions Dub
Out Now on the ‘Tour à Tour’ remixes, first two out now with third on April 29
9 DJ Bone
'Black Patterns' (Detroit)
This fierce piano tech-jazz instrumental ripped the proverbial rave roof off when Ryan Elliot played it at Village Underground – and it comes with equally excellent Deetron newbie ‘The Core’. This joint EP is the start of a new series of releases from Bone and Deetron.
Best mix Original
Out May 20, part of ‘The Storytellers’ EP
10 David Morales
'Don’t Go' (Rekids)
This vinyl-only release sees Morales return to his Red Zone guise (in the 90s he remixed everyone from Pet Shop Boys to Gotsome under this name). This blistering seven-minuter is pure NYC fire, with a nod to ‘Pump Up The Jam’.
Best mix There’s only one
Out ‘David Morales presents The Red Zone Project Vol 1’ is out in April
[Lead image: Benjamin Eagle Photography]
