Poof! And just like that, August is over and we are on the downhill slope to the end of summer.
It's normally around this time of year, we scratch our heads at how fast the season has gone. A buzz would usually surround closing parties. Of course, that won't be happening this September. Summer 2020 has been anything but “normal”. Ah, what could have been...?
Aside from a handful of socially-distanced exceptions, we might not be hearing new music in island venues right now, but here are the releases from last month that tickled our fancy in other settings. In the bar, at the beach, by the pool, in the car or perhaps even at home?
Saffron Stone & Sam Beach | Own Thing | Solotoko | 28 August
One DJ who's been living her best life on Ibiza this summer, irrespective of Covid-19, is Saffron Stone. The young talent has stepped up to the plate at Ibiza Rocks' revamped Cuckoo Lounge. Here she is back on Sonny Fodera's Solotoko, this time alongside Sam Beach.
Scott Diaz | The Way You Feel | Grand Plans | 28 August
We last featured Scott Diaz under his garage moniker, Echelon, back in June. This time he returns to house on his latest release. Either way, he's been up there amongst the most productive artists during the pandemic.
Garnering heavyweight support, this could easily be a summer anthem under normal circumstances. Even so, it still deserves some love.
Darius Syrossian | Planet Jazz | VIVa Music | 24 August
Sparks fly when Steve Lawler and Darius Syrossian get together. We still have fond, if hazy, memories of VIVa Warriors' original run at Sankeys Ibiza in 2012. Their back-to-backs in the Basement on Sunday nights were the stuff of legend.
Now the long term peers link up again, as Darius continues his fine production streak on Steve's VIVa Music imprint. Jazzy.
Floorplan | Save The Children | M-Plant | 14 August
Father and daughter duo Floorplan are back with new music, following last year's Supernatural LP on Aus. Save The Children is deep, bassy and dance floor ready. It also contains a cameo from political commentator Dick Gregory. Let's call this protest music.
On the flip side, Robert Hood is on solo duties with The Struggle. Sampling Manika Mallory's stirring BLM speech, the acid-funk track harks back to Hood's days in activist UR.
Loco Dice & Eddie Fowlkes | Funk | En Couleur | 7 August
We're sticking with that Detroit street funk for our next entry, as Loco Dice hooks up with Motor City royalty Eddie Fowlkes on his new label, En Couleur. The D-Town Playaz EP hosts four tech house bombs, but Funk is the one causing us to move the junk in our trunk the most.
Nox Vahn & Marsh | Come Together (Matthias Meyer Remix) | Anjunadeep | 25 August
The name of this next track feels particularly poignant at this time. Imagine closing your eyes and swaying to this somewhere like Cova Santa - magical. Matthias Meyer's touch adds a beat, as our narrator soothingly informs us that the human world and the natural world are one and the same. Gorgeous.
Mollie Collins | Soundboy | Right Good Records | 21 August
Drum ‘n' bass' great young hope, Mollie Collins, is a producer who has really put the hours in at the studio this past 24 months. Now the jump up firestarter has released her debut LP, Musicality.
Whilst earlier singles were radio-ready featuring anthemic vocals, the album showcases her full scope. From hands-in-the-air euphoria, to its grottiest club cuts, Musicality covers it all. Of the 12 tracks, Soundboy occupies the middle ground on a wide-ranging offering.
Damian Lazarus feat Jem Cooke | Into The Sun | Crosstown Rebels | 21 August
Having spent the lockdown in the Italian Alps, Damian Lazarus has switched his focus to producing. Here's the second single from his forthcoming solo album, Flourish. Into The Sun is a swirling percussive ballad, brought together by Jem Cooke's hypnotic verse.
The new album explores themes of rebirth and renewal, which have been ever present throughout Damian Lazarus' career. Today they feel more relevant than ever.
Maceo Plex | Nu World | Ellum Audio | 31 August
After remixing Melawati last month and Coldcut earlier in the year, Maceo Plex makes a welcome return to his own label with an original.
All profits from Nu World sales will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which aims to combat voter suppression in the upcoming presidential election. Go Eric! Civic duties aside, the rugged bass, vocal cries and emotive synths are trademark Plex.
Faithless | Synthesizer | BMG | 28 August
Hold the press, Faithless are back!
Synthesizer is the first track taken from the new album All Blessed, which is due to arrive later in October. The legendary dance act have been on hiatus for ten years until now. Synthesizer contains punchy hi-hats, cascading arpeggios and a blissful vocal from Nathan Ball.
Directed by Strangeloop and produced by [namethemachine], the Metropolis-inspired video is set in a dystopian future depicting an army of robots in a city full of skyscrapers. Watch it in its full glory above. We can't wait to hear what else Sister Bliss and Rollo have lined up.
We'll be back at the start of October with our highlights from this month.
