Whatever Sessions – 39 – Hark & Dan – Best of 2013 by Hark1karan on Mixcloud

Originally posted here.

This is a show were we played our favourite songs, artists (& record label music). To be honest it’s very hard to put together all the years’ best music without leaving out so many good tunes. What makes it difficult for us is the amount of music and genres we listen to. Either way this is what we came up with after a 2:15hr session. It was originally 2 and half hours, due to technical’s we had to chop off 15min. In that 15min you missed out on Omar Souleyman and Vybz Kartel. Everything played in those show was enjoyed by us throughout the year and could possibly be big in 2014. Who knows! That’s not our concern, we just listen to whatever is about. The tracklist reflects the strength of sounds in 2014.

Regardless to say it has been a great year for hiphop. All types of hiphop. I personally didn’t know where to start. All I can say is big up Chicago, Detroit, Miami and New York (just about hanging on). These cities have been churning out solid rappers, covering an array of sounds and issues. One to watch for 2014 is definitely Mick Jenkins. A friend describes him as the next Mos Def. Check out ‘Waters’ and ‘Martyr’. We’ve included some of the strong hiphop contenders and missed out many, either way I’m sure hiphop will continue to flex its dominance in 2014 and dilute the mainstream sound. 

The sound of Grime really did miss out in our session. This wasn’t on purpose. Grimes had a strong year once again. Strength to strength. Grime basically has two fractions now. The original road man style vs the new wave. Apparently the new wave is gonna have a big year in 2014. I enjoyed the first grime take over on Boilerroom (big up D Double E). Also dub wars and Lord of the Mics are still going strong. Faze Miyake had a strong 2013. He’s part of the natural evolution of grime/dubstep and not that other new wave. I feel he is going to have a bigger year in 2014. I’m hoping the new wave will grow to have its own identity this year as well.

As for clubbing, raving and live music experiences, ‘electronic music’ has been King in 2013. Everyone (I’m generalising) loves house in 2013. There are a million different scenes and sounds. It has all collided really. All variations from house, techno, acid & electronica are blurring the boundaries. Representing the influence of the internet and MP3 culture (the same can be said for hiphop). This has accelerated the diverse tastes and mix of cultural identities, particularly here in London. It is safe to say that ‘EDM’ is doing well. Just want to shout out Berlin, Amsterdam, LIES & London for offering such diversity.

Shouts out to dancehall and bashment forever inspiring London and the world without even knowing it. Hopefully Vybz will be released this year. Definitely want to hear more Soca from Bunji Garlin. Additionally we can’t forget the impact of Afrobeat on London’s musical culture. Out to my boy FUSE ODG (aka Richard) for taking afrobeat to the mainstream with his hit Antenna. He made us proud and everyone from our class in school. 

I have missed too much out. I’m not an acclaimed writer. I just play the music and help you experience life through sound. So I will just quickly mention a few things. Thanks to Dj Rashad & Spinn for strengthening the sound of Juke/Footwork. Out all everyone still listening to heavy metal, jazz, folk, your time will come this summer, trust me. Indie music will be dead for another year. And a massive thanks to music lovers experimenting with new sounds and doing music ‘THEIR’ way to create beautiful sounds.

My prediction for 2014 is simple. We will see a continuing growth of new-wave/hybrid sounds, that will be ever more difficult to pin down into one genre, and separately we will see many of the traditional genres reinvent themselves to accommodate the sporadic nature of the internet generation/audience.

We will continue to support music and vinyl coming from the heart in 2014.

As always thank you for listening! Peace and love to you all. Bless!

Tracklist

1. Kelela – A Lie (Prod Bok Bok)
2. James Blake – Retrograde
3. Kali Uchis – What They Say
4. Toro Y Moi – Rose
5. Jai Paul – Str8 Outta Mumbai
6. Sampha – Too Much
7. Arctic Monkeys – Hold On We’re Going Home (Drake Cover)
8. Julianna Barwick – Look Into Your Own Mind
9. FKA Twigs – Papi Pacify
10. Inc. – 5 Days
11. Thundercat – Heartbreaks & Setbacks
12. Kelela – Do It Again
13. The Stepkids – Get Lucky (Daft Punk ft Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers)
14. Jessy Lanza – Kathy Lee
15. Bunji Garlin – Differentology
16. Black Hippy (Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul & Jay Rock) – U.O.E.N.O (Remix)
17. A$AP Ferg ft Shabba Ranks, Migos & Busta Rhymes– Shabba (Remix)
18. A$AP Ferg ft French Montana, Trinidad James, Schoolboy Q & A$AP Rocky – Work (Remix)
19. Piff Gang – Smokin’
20. Rakting – 100
21. King Louie – Goldie Wit Da Pimpin (Remix)
22. Danny Brown ft Charli XCX – Float On
23. Joey Bada$$ – Hilary Swank
24. Chance The Rapper ft Ab-Soul – Smoke Again
25. Earl Sweatshirt – Chum
26. Tyler The Creator – 48
27. Action Bronson – Triple Backflip
28. Dawn Day Night – Alcoholic Dance Flow
29. DJ Rashad – I Don’t Give A Fuck
30. Kode 9 – Uh
31. Floorplan – Never Grow Old
32. Loefah – Veal
33. Bobby Browser – As Far As I Know
34. Dusky – Nobody Else
35. George Fitzgerald – I Can Tell (By The Way You Move) Paul Woolford Remix
36. Lukas – Narwhals
37. Leon Vynehall – Brother
38. Motor City Drum Ensemble – Send A Prayer pt.2
39. Florian Kupfer – Feelin
40. Crazy P – Virtuality
41. Todd Terje – Strandbar (Disko Version)
42. Doc Daneeka ft Ratctcher – Walk On In
43. Shy FX ft Liam Bailey – Soon Come
44. Ciara – Body Part
45. Roc Marciano ft Action Bronson – 456