OK, so that’s not a picture from Ibiza (it’s the South of England). But go with it and enjoy some lovely Balearic style downtempo from Cheap Monk x David Briales. Cheap Monk and David Briales are both from Spain. Cheap Monk is a producer based in Madrid and David Briales is a guitarist and composer from Malaga in Southern Spain. And their new track Ostro is just the ticket if you’re still suffering, like me, a Northern European winter. Ostro the thing is a warm and humid wind, southern and midday. Sometimes it brings rain (more here). The artists say of the track that it is “an endeavour to b ..read more

Sticking with the electronica tracks today with two offerings, one each from boerd and Barstool Astronaut, both of whom have appeared here before. boerd (pronounced bored) is Swedish musician/producer Bård Ericson. He’s appeared here half a dozen times over the last decade. His new track is 600 Lumen and it’s a wonderfully light and illuminating track (boom, tish). 600 Lumen is a mix of almost folktronica downtempo mixed with breakbeats. The beats have been kept light so they don’t over balance the track. It’s engaging, wistful and utterly cute. boerd says it “came to life in my cabin in ..read more

Allez les bleus. Off to France we go with Dropout Marsh for some Broken Beats mixed with Chill and a soupcon of IDM on horizons from his EP of the same name. Dropout Marsh is Jon Krey from Montpellier, France. He’s been making music for the past 20 years and this EP clearly has a familiarity with the electronic sounds of the mid to late 90s. Horizons, our featured track, is a really uplifting piece. There’s something about its boundless optimism that can’t but help raise a smile. It mixes some acoustic guitar-type sounds with some brilliantly executed broken beats. They rattle around and roll ..read more

It’s Ambient but with a strong lofi pop twist today courtesy of Wizard Death, and Yajin x Nyumee. Los Angeles based Wizard Death returns after an absence of less than two months with new track Intro, taken from his forthcoming beat tape. Intro has a lovely organic feel, not least from the bird song that twitters away in the background. WD says, “This track features a recording of the birds chirping outside my window during Springtime in Mid-City LA.” The music is a slow chilled flow of melodies and keyboards. It’s all totally laid back. The beats are what give it an almost pop appeal from the ..read more

The weekend forecast is for light cloud, heavy cloud and rain. Sun? Not so much. It’s therefore a pleasure to be reminded that the sun will reappear sometime. Here’s Apta with Sun. Apta is from Manchester, UK and has the loveliest biography, “Apta works in Piccadilly Records in Manchester, one of longest running and respected record shops in the UK, if not the world. After work he makes music, and whilst sleeping he dreams about synthesizers and guitars.” Synthesisers and guitars is what 20 is all about. It is a distillation of what was originally two six track EPs (Home and Sun) but ended up ..read more

The rather wonderful Andrew Rothschild is back with a new beautiful downtempo track, Lotka. Andrew Rothschild is starting to rival Bonobo for the quality of his downtempo. He mixes electronics with folk and traditional instruments, as well as a dash of neo-classical. It’s a heady concoction. Lotka is, I think, a reference to Lotka paper made in Nepal and used by monasteries and the government for important texts. It is prized for its attractive texture, the durability and strength of its fibre and its resistance to insects. This track manages to mix sacred and secular, old and new. There’s a ..read more

I want you to get up from your chair. Colorado’s Andrew Rothschild returns with the damn funky Get Up (Radio Edit). This is an edit of a track from his recent Transitions album. The track mixes some quite forward hip hop beats with a rich dark feeling. That’s offset by guitar that is by turns contemplative and angry. It’s a thrilling, exhilarating, life-affirming noise. It swirls around in a wild untamed manner. It’s the chaos of life as it’s lived. Described as bluestronica this is brilliantly realised tangible energy. Plug yourself in ..read more

Let’s take a little electronic trip this Monday afternoon with La Payara. La Payara is Colombian producer Claudio Tantimonaco. Apparently, he’s influenced by Dengue Dengue Degue, Nicola Cruz and El Remolon (whoever they are). The track is Pez Psicodélico (tr. psychedelic fish), taken from the Conciencia EP. There’s a wonderful mix of folky guitars, cumbia vocals and electronic trippy psychedelia. This is a lovely downtempo sound suitable for smokey outdoor fires. Wonderful tune in which to lose yourself. Blurb: La Payara is a new project by Colombian producer Claudio Tantimonaco. Heavil ..read more

A couple of contrasts for your Saturday morning from Nick Shades and Woochia. Both downtempo but delivering contrasting emotions. Nick Shades first. Endless Abyss is as dark as the title implies. It’s a treacle dark struggle in ambient molasses. All manner of shades of black and very dark grey do nothing to light your way. A brilliantly emotive stripped ambient tune. But don’t play this late at might after a few too many depressive drinks. Download for free on The Artist Union: theartistunion.com/tracks/4dcc5e After all that bleakness, Woochia’s Train comes as a welcome relief. A little guit ..read more