Nicolas Jaar

Essential Mix

BBC Radio 1

Very quickly the internet was abuzz recommending Nicolas Jaar’s Essential Mix (it’s free to download). Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 1 just before Christmas, 2012, Jaar’s entry to the mix series would win the Mix of the Year accolade.

So, it’s old news now – a couple of months later – but I’ve been hooked on this 2-hour mix. It opens with Angelo Badalamenti discussing David Lynch’s directions for how he wanted the score for Twin Peaks to sound and from there it moves through late-night groove and neo-classical, via film scores and gospel music to arrive at remixes of Feist, Beyonce and Marvin Gaye.

Here Charles Mingus rubs shoulders with *NSYNC and it might be the only place you hear The Electric Prunes, Aphex Twin and Keith Jarrett in a row (particularly in that order).

I’ve been listening to this mix several times a week since I got hold of it last month. It’s my favourite album of the year this year so far. Except it’s not an album. It’s a mixtape. Download it now and play it on your iPod. Oh, and here’s a full tracklisting for you.

I just wanted to add to the list of people crowing about this. So consider this a recommendation if you’re not already on board with Nicolas Jaar and his Essential Mix.