James Lavelle - Early Hours (DJ Mix) for Apple Music

[Kee]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CfgQbsaqro_

A forefather of UK dance music and early trip-hop, James Lavelle is typically asked to spin at club tempo. But here, on his exclusive Early Hours DJ mix, the Mo’ Wax founder changes gears. “It was important to me that I approach this as a DJ mix rather than a playlist, taking the listener on an emotional and intimate music journey,” he tells Apple Music. “I wanted there to be multiple layers and space for listeners to go deep if they want to. After everything we’ve been through recently, I wanted the music to be optimistic, mindful, and reflective, but also familiar and comforting, with added bounce.” Inspired by sprawling warm-up sets and after-hours jam sessions that span many genres and moods, he began with an initial batch of 150 tracks and edited them down until he found the right flow. Although there is a fair bit of nostalgia—marked by classic cuts that shaped the early-’90s Mo’ Wax sound, including Nightmares on Wax’s “Nights Interlude” and Massive Attack’s “Blue Lines”—Lavelle still has his finger on the pulse of contemporary music. The mix features boundary-breaking tracks from experimentalist Kelsey Lu, R&B/soul singer Cleo Sol, and Jungle’s 2021 LP Loving in Stereo. For all the UNKLE heads out there, there’s also an exclusive Rōnin remix of the group’s 2017 song “Farewell.” Listen to the mix to hear all of Lavelle’s selections and read on for his thoughts on a few choice tracks.

music.apple.com/us/album/early-hours-dj-mix/1631508077

[Bester]

Yes, listened to this today. It was pretty nice.

[jimmyjrg]

...read on for his thoughts on a few choice tracks.

Lauren Auder, “in god’s childlike hands”
“I recently discovered this track through Virgil Abloh, whom I knew and worked with over the years. It was used in a short film introducing his final Louis Vuitton menswear show. I love the beautiful and optimistic way the track builds, and its hypnotic layers. It evokes an image of inner strength, endless possibility, something superhuman—like the start of an old superhero film. It felt like the perfect introduction to this journey.”

Against All Logic, “This Old House Is All I Have”
“I love the production on this track by the extremely talented Nicolás Jaar under his Against All Logic alias. It reminds me of a modern take on Endtroducing..... and is the sort of track I would have loved to release on Mo’ Wax. It samples ‘Doin’ It Right’ by the brilliant 1970s soul artist Mike James Kirkland, which I also included.”

Photek, “Into the 90’s”
“Photek is one of the original innovators of drum ’n’ bass, and this track, which was released on Goldie’s Metalheadz label in 1994, is another favorite. Around that time, drum 'n' bass artists started doing more downtempo tracks, and this is of my favorite of that era. It uses the classic beat from Tom Scott and The L.A. Express’ ‘Sneakin’ In the Back,’ an archetypal downtempo break that has been sampled a lot over the years. I wanted to [feature a mix of] some of my favorite records that use this beat, and included Massive Attack’s ‘Blue Lines,’ Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Art of Peer Pressure,’ and Beverly Glenn-Copeland's “La Vita.” The latter was originally recorded in 2004 but only released recently.”

Such a great mix, and an interesting selection for sure.

[dirtchamber]

realise i'm probably being stupid but what's the extra verse on Blue Lines please?

[Costello]

Jul 7, 2022 19:08:39 GMT dirtchamber said:

realise i'm probably being stupid but what's the extra verse on Blue Lines please?

Not entirely sure it belongs. I suspect James mixed it in from some other track. Happy to be wrong.

[dirtchamber]

Jul 8, 2022 5:23:48 GMT Costello said:

Jul 7, 2022 19:08:39 GMT dirtchamber said:

realise i'm probably being stupid but what's the extra verse on Blue Lines please?

Not entirely sure it belongs. I suspect James mixed it in from some other track. Happy to be wrong.

No that's what i thought just wondered who it was/where it's from. Fits well.

[joethelion]

I think that's the Kendrick track, he mentions it while talking about Photek's "Into the 90's"

-> I wanted to [feature a mix of] some of my favorite records that use this beat, and included Massive Attack’s ‘Blue Lines,’ Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Art of Peer Pressure,’ and Beverly Glenn-Copeland's “La Vita.” The latter was originally recorded in 2004 but only released recently.”