DJ mixes for grown ups
You can only listen to people playing guitars and singing deep and meaningful lyrics for so long. Every so often you need some good old fashioned repetitive beats and piano breaks. So it’s off to the DJ mix counter we go.
Somehow these I never quite have the right time and place for two hours of northern european banging techno (the gym, maybe - but that’s another matter). So, what you want is something a little more subtle.
Tom Middleton’s 3 CD The Sound of the Cosmos is now a few years old but was probably the best DJ mix I’ve bought. Still has pride of place in the car stereo.
Anyway, he’s got a (not so) new one out: The Trip which mixes up in his word “electrohopsoulhalljazzpunklounge’n'basscovers“. Two CDs: one party; the other chill with everything from Pigbag and the Thompson Twins to the Theme from Star Wars and Vangelis. All mixed effortlessly. DJ magazine named it their album of the month: but don’t let this put you off…oldies will appreciate it too. If anything, it’s a little too 80s for my taste…at times it feels ever so slightly “Stars On 45″. Still it’s perfect for parties. If you ever go to any.
Also in this vein, if you can get hold of any of the Eskimo mixes from Belgium - well, just do. Again lots of 80s/90s stuff all mashed up. I’ve just ordered Eskimo 4 (only a year late). It’s normally better to try Tunes as they tend to have them in stock while you can be waiting weeks for Amazon to deliver.