SMS mix 20 - Blonde Ambition

Stop Making Sense's 20th exclusive mix falls into the hands of London party girl and Carnvial-loving promoters the Blonde Amibition DJs. And as you'd expect, it's choc-a-bloc with summer-friendly tunes...

Download: SMS mix 20 - Blonde Ambition

We caught up with the blonde herself to find out more...

Summer's coming, what's on the agenda?
"I'm planning on spending the rest of the summer bare foot frolicking in fields, dancing to wonderful music in this glorious summer we're having! Doing Lovebox, Secret Garden Party, Field Day, a load of lovely London gigs & warehouse parties, skipping off to play for you guys, then boarding a ferry to the Isle of Wight for Bestival to play before heading out to NY!"

Tell us about your latest projects?
"My latest & most exciting project is the my party 'Lovesick' which together my party partner launched at Cargo, Shoreditch last month...twas a huge success, being likened to something from a Bacardi ad, where party goers laden in fancy dress took to the tables, in a room full of hearts & bunting & burst out to the terrace dancing to the summer sounds of myself & our DJ's! The next installment is on the 7th August @ Cargo & we're also hosting all dayers at The Old Queens head, Islington under the same name. Fun times indeed!"

What current artists are you drawing inspiration from right now?
"Mystery Jets, Delphic, Friendly Fires, Loose Cannons. I love big carnival sounds, lots of percussion, music to make you feel good!"

What are you favourite/biggest tunes of the moment?
"I'm a big fan of 'Superbeat' by The Slips, Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP – 'We No Speak Americano', anything from Fenech Soler but generally enjoying anything with a summery beat!"

What can we expect from your show at Stop Making Sense?
"Exactly that...a show! Big bass-lines, big fun, massive sounds, a one girl carnival & a lot of gyrating on the decks!"

Who are you most looking forward to seeing play at the festival?
"Friendly Fires...if they bring their usual cow-bells, I'll be a happy girl!"

Any unusual festival tips?
"Always take a couple of pink wigs, an air horn & plenty of baby wipes..."

Allez Allez exclusive SMS mix for Vice

Our pals and blog heroes Allez Allez have compiled a typically diverse and crate-digging selection of dancefloor gems and oddities for an exclusive SMS mix for Vice magazine.

A celebration of summer and a sneak preview of what to expect from their beachside set at our debut Stop Making Sense festival this September, you can stream/download the set from here. Enjoy!

Tracklisting:

Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds - Bobo Boogie
Bruce Peninsula - Crabapples
James Luther Dickinson - O How She Dances
Dollkraut - Precious Fool
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult - Sexplosion
Joakim - Spiders (The Algorhythmz Remix)
Tiago - Motorcycles
Peter Digital Orchestra - Jeux de Langues
Missing Linkx - Got A Minute
John Talabot - Matilda’s Dream
Joe - Claptrap
Prince - Bob Jones
Dj Koze - The Gekloeppel Continues
Hirnsalbe - Strandspaziergang
Allez-Allez - Weird Science
Kindness - Swingin’ Party

FACT mix: Rebolledo

Anyone who has been following the exploits of Matias Aguayo’s Cómeme label, or attended one of his infamous Bumbumbox parties, will be familiar with the name Rebolledo.

The Mexican artist – whose sound is a pungent hybrid of house, techno, electro and avant-pop, suffused with Latin flavour – has earned a sizeable cult following for his singles ‘Bo Jack’ and ‘Guerrero’, and remixes for Aguayo, Zombie Nation and Von Spar have helped to raise his profile. Most recently Rebolledo has been collaborating with Superpitcher as Pachanga Boys and with ‘Pitch and Jörg Burger under the name The Three Lions – you can check out the first fruits of these two projects, the tracks ‘Power’ and ‘You’ll Win Again’, on Kompakt’s forthcoming Total 11 compilation.

You’ll be hearing a lot more from Rebolledo in the months ahead: he’s currently writing and recording his debut solo album.  In the meantime, be sure to catch one of his flipped-out live/DJ performances – the more travel-hungry among you will find him playing FACT’s boat party as part of our very own Stop Making Sense festival this summer.

Rebolledo’s FACT mix is a charming thing, anchored in house and disco but bucking convention at every turn; it features no less than seven of his own productions!

Download: FACT mix 166: Rebolledo

SMS mix 11 - The Worm

Describing themselves as "A twenty first century mix of Mali blues, reggae and garage.... Bassekou Kouyate and Bob Marley jammin on Mozart tunes in MJ Cole's studio in Bamako with Aretha Franklin, Aesop Rock and Dizzee Rascal", The Worm will be tearing it up live at our first ever Stop Making Sense festival in Croatia this September.

Inspired by old-school garage and Jamaican dancehall as much as African highlife, if you like Radioclit then you'd do well to check this lot out too - their exclusive SMS mix, a summation of their wide ranging tastes, is an absolutely corker, a perfect soundtrack for summer in the city...

Download: SMS mix 11 - The Worm

We caught up with the band to find out more...

Summer's coming, what's on the agenda?
"Standard missioning across the fields of the UK in a souped-up Toyota Previa with far too much sub. As well as SMS we've got a nice range of festivals - We'll be at Sunrise (Saturday 6th June, Triban stage, midnight) Glastonbury (The Hub, Thursday 6pm, Small World, Sunday midnight), Beat Herder (Friday 2nd July), Lovebox (Friday 16th July, 4pm, Jose Cuervo Stage), Secret Garden Party (Planet of the Antics, Saturday 24th July, 7pm), Grassroots Feastival (Friday 3rd September). We're also co-curating one of the big areas at Secret Garden Party (formerly Valley of the Antics, now 'Planet of the Antics') and we run our Wormfood parties at Passing Clouds every two months - next one Saturday 3rd July with Violentango from Argentina, plus The bPm....."

Tell us about your latest projects?
"Working on this Mixtape! We've been playing live shows as The Worm for 3 years now (percussion, violin, vocals and now laptop), but since getting more and more involved with programming and promotion, I (Andre) have started dabbling in the dangerous world of DJing under the nickname Bobby Gandolf......   I'm still RUBBISH at mixing but I rate my taste in music! So as well as improving the live mixing side of things, I've been working with Worm laptop wizard Nick Bentley to make a mixtape on Ableton that will showcase some of the sounds we like and also just to give people something nice to enjoy the summer!

"We're starting to play out as Worm Soundsystem/ Bobby Gandolf ft. Billy "Brassiere...We're also beginning to work on some production for other vocalists.... there are loads of amazing Jamaican MCs around Hootananny Brixton, where I put on nights, especially Clint, who sells the jerk chicken in the beer garden.... so we're starting to make some tracks to feature some of those guys...."

What current artists are you drawing inspiration from right now?
"Been getting into dancehall the last year or two, partly thanks to the amazing inspiration of The Heatwave. As well as being a phenomenal DJ and remixer, he is super on-it with the blogs and is always giving away tunes on his website and facebook. And they are always hot! Definitely feeling Busy Signal and the way he seems to embrace loads of different styles (like his remix of Sergio Mendes' 'Magalenha' which features on our mixtape). Also everyone bringing in credible global elements while maintaining a sound that can make a club crowd move.... people like RadioClit, Buraka Som Sistema, Toy Selecta, Renaissance Man....."

What are you favourite/biggest tunes of the moment?
"Been getting right back into the old-school garage of my teens. Remembering tunes like 'Neighbourhood' (on our mixtape as Zed Bias' 'I Feel Good' remix), 'Battle' (Wookie, also on our mixtape), MJ Cole's 'Sincere', etc. But there are still loads of amazing tunes which don't seem to have resurfaced. 'What You Want' (Industry Standard), 'The Dreem Teem Theme' (Dreem Teem), 'Closer Than Close', 'Masquerade', 'Gunman' etc. Looking forward to somebody giving those a 21st-century workover..."

What can we expect from your show at Stop Making Sense?
"A big rowdy mix of sweet African grooves, soulful female vocals, jumpy energetic percussion and plenty of bass." 

Who are you most looking forward to seeing play at the festival?
"We're only going to be there on the Sunday so not sure who we'll catch, but Radioclit have been a big inspiration for us, and I'm really feeling Toy Selectah right now! Always love Cal Jader and Russ Jones' DJ sets as well..."

Any unusual festival tips?
"Peanut butter and bananas go a long way. And it's always fun chopping things with an oversized knife. I have a ridiculously large kind of hunting knife which I always take to festivals, it's so much fun to chop cheddar with. Let alone spread peanut butter. Careful with the airport security though..."

Where will we find you at sunrise on Sunday morning?
"Unfortunately, at Gatwick Airport looking extremely bleary eyed after running a stage at the Grassroots Feastival near Cambridge, but looking forward to catching our flight and getting some much needed sunshine Croatia festival vibes!"

SMS mix 11 - Tracklisting

1. The Battle - Wookie (feat. Lain)
2. Insane - The Bug feat. Warrior Queen
3. You Got the Love - The XX/Florence and the Machine
4. I Feel Good - Zed Bias
5. To the Rescue - Prince Zimboo
6. Feel Me - Rod Lee
7. Kpako Solo - Boni Gnahoré
8. Body Baby - Pharoahe Monch (Count of Monte Christo remix)
9. Love on the Brew - The Worm (Lee Sparey remix)
10. Gangster - Mask
11. General - Buraka Som Sistema
12. Temperature/Sirens - Sean Paul/ Hard House Banton (Heatwave refix)
13. Take it Higher - Hotsteppa @ Funky Allstars
14. Bucovina - Shantel (Felix B Basement Mix)
15. Cumbia - Harry Choo Choo Romero
16. Up in Her Belly/ Magalenha - Busy Signal/Segio Mendes
17. Oy You Coy Girl - The Worm (Honey Weasel refix)
18. Nookie - Jamesy P
19. 1er Gaou - Magic System

SMS mix 10 - Rob Summerhayes (Warm)

Taking our venerable weekly exclusive mix series into double digits is one of London's premier party crews Warm, who'll be bringing their bass-heavy disco and house vibes to our first Stop Making Sense festival this September.

Their mix, by Warm resident DJ Rob Summerhayes, is pretty much an instant classic, a downtown NYC loft party style selection of old school classic house and new school Balearic disco with stand-out cuts and remixes from the likes of Lil Louis, Todd Terje, George Morel, The Juan Maclean and DFA's resident synth wizard Gavin Russom in his acid house Black Van guise (tracklisting below).

Download: SMS mix 10 - Rob Summerhayes (Warm)

We spoke to Warm's Ali Tillett to find out more...

Summer's coming, what's on the agenda?
"At the moment we have quite a few things coming up such as our Plastic People residency with Prosumer and Tim Sweeney in July and August and on top of that we have festival slots at Lovebox and V festival in Chelmsford as well as a few European residencies in the pipeline which we are looking to kick start very soon! Beyond that we have a monster line-up nearly finalised for Warm 11th Birthday in October which will also be the start of a quarterly residency at Corsica Studios."

Tell us about your latest projects?
"Working on some new events and line-ups for the Autumn / Winter which is nearly all done as well as working on European warm residencies and there is a record label in the pipeline. Also continually working on the agency with artists such as Horse Meat Disco, The Revenge, Mark E, Tensnake and many more..."

What current artists are you drawing inspiration from right now?
"At the moment the most exciting artists around that i continually keep checking are Kyle Hall, DJ Koze and Nicolas Jaar on the house / electronic front and then my fave band at the moment are Ariel Pink. All are currently on rotation on the ipod."

What are you favourite/biggest tunes of the moment?
Space - Deliverance (Justus Kohncke Remix) - Nang
DJ T - Gorilla Hug (Nicolas Jaar Remix) - Get Physical
Ame - Junggesellenmaschine - Innervisions
Zero 7 - Home (Motor City Drum Ensemble Remix)
Rocha - Feel The Love (Greg Wilson Remix) - International Feel
DJ Koze - Rue Burnout - Pampa
Moritz Von Oswald - Cocoon Dark Dub - Cocoon
Catz N Dogz & dOP - Deaf Wagrant (Selianka Edit) - Watergate
Matthew Herbert - Leipzig - Accidental
Al Tourettes & Appleblim - Mr Swishy (Linkwood Remix) - Aus Music

What can we expect from your show at Stop Making Sense?
"Everything and anything...lots of exclusives and sun drenched disco and house delights on our boat party to fit the mood perfectly and then we might get a bit darker for our club set...who knows...musically as much as possible crammed into the time....we will see."

Who are you most looking forward to seeing play at the festival?
"Definitely looking forward to seeing Theo Parrish, Kyle Hall, Carl Craig, Patrice Scott, Keith Worthy and Optimo."

SMS mix 10 - Tracklisting:

1. I'll Be Gone (Extended Original) - Mario Basanov & Vidis ft. Jazzu - Silence Music
2. Oh Love - Gadi Mizrahi - Wolf + Lamb
3. 6th Borough Project - White
4. The Poet - Housey Doingz - Wiggle
5. Happy House (Chateau Flight mix) - The Juan MacLean - DFA
6. Yearning (Original mix) - Black Van - DFA
7. Not Feeling It - Daniel Wang - Balihu
8. Robotic Hypnotic Adventure (Runaway mix) - Neurotic Drum Band - Wurst
9. Dance Dance Dance (Dixon Dixon Dixon mix) - Lykke Li - CDR
10. Club Lonely (Dixon Edit) - Lil' Louis - CDR
11 Let's Groove (Original Mix) - George Morel - Strictly Rhythm
12. Simple Things (Work It Out) Todd Terje Version - Shit Robot - DFA
13. Electric Feel (Prince Language Remix) - MGMT - CDR

SMS mix 03 - Cal Jader vs Latin Dub Soundsystem

So, here it is people...the third in our weekly series of exclusive Stop Making Sense mixes is an amazing, riotous soundclash of tropical street styles courtesy of Movimentos' Cal Jader and the appropriately named Latin Dub Soundsystem, both of whom will be mashing it up in a cumbian-dub-dancehall-tropical style at Stop Making Sense this summer.

Download: SMS mix 03 - Cal Jader vs Latin Dub Soundsystem (tracklisting below)

We caught up with the Cal and Corin (LDSS) themselves to find out more...

Tell us about the mix you’ve recorded for Stop Making Sense...
Cal: This mix is the first ever from me, The Sea and Cal Jader.
Corin: We both playout alot together, and thought it was about time we combined our forces as an entity. It's a real mix-up, ranging from more traditional Latin floor fillers, to Cumbia dubstep, with lots of exclusive mashups which you only hear when we're DJ'ing.
Cal: It was a chance to combine loads of stuff that i've been DJing out recently alongside a whole load of Latin Dub exclusives but with And it was nice to do it in the old mixtape style with just 1 or 2min excerpts from each track, so it's just a taster really.

Any exclusives or particular favourites on there?
Corin: Some of my favourites are the Cumbia deathface remix of MIS, and the Dub Killer Combo track. I'm a dub head, what can I say! Also on this mix is a raw mix of one the tracks which will be on the new Latin Dub album due out in the autumn, featuring Malena from Actitud Maria Marta, and a never before heard Latin Dub remix of one of the tracks I produced for Benjamin Zephaniah a while back.
Cal: Yeah very happy about the track with Malena on as she is a friend of mine and it was nice to hook that up and make the link with Argentina and the UK. There's two unreleased Frente Cumbiero (colombian / Argentinian new Cumbia crew) tracks which are total killers. And have to shout the one like Lorenzo for his Latin Dub productions Gnawa and his dub mix of Elvis Crespo's Suavemente.

What current artists are you drawing inspiration from right now?
Corin: At the moment I'm mostly studio bound, but drawing inspiration from some new old reggae I've just been given, not an easy task, and some of new Dubstep bits Daddy Skitz has just passed my way.
Cal: For the dancefloor Colombian act Systema Solar, Argentina's Frikstailers, loads of Cumbia stuff. Some great new material from revolutionary Venezuelan Salsa-Hip Hop act La Redonda. And the most interesting album i've heard lately is by Argentinian artist Axel Krygier (currently unreleased in the UK). And i'm constantly inspired by Fania Records stuff, people like Hector Lavoe, and tradtional Colombian stuff like Toto La Momposina.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing play at SMS?
Cal: Alongside the tropical rhythms of The Very Best and Toy Selectah i'm a big fan of Theo Parrish. Also one of my favourite bands from the London scene Longjon La Flecha are playing, highly recommended!

Any unusual festival tips?
Corin: My number 1 festival tip is bin bags. For everything. Trust me even in sunny Croatia, you can't go wrong with a couple of em on your person. And lots of gaffer tape, do with it as you wish!

Where will we find you at sunrise on Sunday morning?
Corin: I'm hoping that sunrise Sunday morning will find me floating in the sea, or up a tree, hopefully with some like minded souls! I love watching the sunrise, especially when you're off Daddy duties, bring it on, I say!
Cal: Asleep!

Tracklisting
JLG – La llave de mi Corazon (Latin Dub edit)
Captain Planet – Fumando
Immortal Technique – Unknown
Latin Dub Soundsystem - Gnawa
Major Lazor – Cashflow (Subskrpt remix)
Frente Cumbiero – Para Todas
Vampire Weekend – Cousins (Toy Selectah remix)
Arcade vs Spank Rock (Villa Diamante edit)
Hijo de La Cumbia – Tu, tu Quien eres?
Latin Dub Soundsystem – Runaway
Alika y Nueva Allianza – Dem Got No Love
Sabo – Currura
Sekreto– Gato (Hijo de La Cumbia remix)
Latin Dub Soundsystem - Quicksilver
Koala ft Paco Mendoza – Vengo
Ska Cubano – No me desesperes (Latin Dub Chan Chan mix)
Celia Cruz – Rumba (Latin Dub re-rub)
Manjinga 7 – Cumbia de Colombiana (Latin Dub edit)
Frente Cumbiero – Guacha Ride
Frikstailers – Mateina
Sonora Dinamita - Mover a la Colita (Edit)
Systema Solar – Quien es el Patron?
EC – Suavamente (Latin Dub Soundsystem remix)
Eric Bobo – Muevelo
EC – Suavamente (Latin Dub remix)
Sergio Mendes - Magdalenha riddim vs Busy Signal - Up in Your Belly
Sabo and Cassady - Muevete
Danny Lenn - El Horoscopo (Latin Dub edit)
Dub Killer Combo – Unknown skank
Bouzou Bajoo ft Top Cat – Killer
Zulu 9.30 – A los Son (Latin Dub bruk mix)
VV ft Julio Padron – Do Me Right
Debruit - Nigeria What?
Malente and Dex - Lions (Douster remix)
Schlatofbronx – Good To Go
Latin Dub Soundsystem ft Malena (Actitud Martia Marta) – Muevete
Mexican Institute of Sound – Cumbia (Deathface remix)
Benjamin Zephaniah – Uptown (Latin Dub mix)
Proyecto Secreto – Olivida Todo

SMS mix 01 - Russ Jones

The first in our weekly series of exclusive Stop Making Sense mixes from the great and the good playing at this year's festival is a genre-trashing, hip-grinding, ghetto-rousing, pan-global mash-up of street-born styles from Colombian cumbia to Balkan reggae via a fast-becoming legendary Mexican remix of Vampire Weekend, courtesy of the nifty eye-wear-sporting Hackney Globe Trotter himself, Russ Jones.

Download: SMS mix 01 - Russ Jones

Tracklisting:
01. Benjamin Zephaniah 'Slow Motion Radiovox'
02. Spiteri Spiteri 'Soul Inside'
03. Batida Dance Mwangolé 'Alegria'
04. DJ Mujava 'Mugwanti/Sgwejegweje' (Schlachthofbronx remix)
05. Gipsy Kings feat. Analogik Lions 'Malente & Dex'
06. Genghis Clan Vs Riva Starr 'Jump Up' (Mambo Jumbo remix)
07. Rubi Dan 'Funky Dip'
08. Systema Solar 'Sin Oficio'
09. Afrodita La Reina del Palenke 'La Cumbia del Pasoncito'
10. George Danquah 'Hot And Jumpy'
11. Bolga Zohdoomah 'Jingo'
12. Brassroots 'Misirlou'
13. Vampire Weekend 'Cousinz' (Toy Selectah Mex-More remix)
14. DJ Farrapo 'Swingy Mama'
15. Teleport Massive Feat. Zumbi of Zion 'Bassnectar Cozza Frenzy'
16. Mahala Rai Banda 'Balkan Reggae'
17. Willie Colón 'La Murga'
18. Trebol Clan 'Fuga'
19. Vampire Weekend 'Diplomat's Son'
20. Alika y Nueva 'Para Bailar Cumbia' (El Hijo de la Cumbia remix)
21. Sekreto 'Gota' (El Hijo de la Cumbia remix)
22. Corazon Enamorado 'Calixto Ochoa'
23. Juan Piña Y Sus Muchachos 'Abran Rueda'
24. Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars 'Jah Come Down'

We caught up with Russ for a few words about the mix, what you can expect from his Saturday afternoon beach bar set at Stop Making Sense and why sunrise is a quasi-religious experience, of sorts...

Tell us about the mix you’ve recorded for Stop Making Sense...
"I tried to record this mix five times live on my laptop but after too many crashes finally gave in to putting it together in Ableton - talk about pulling teeth! But I am really happy with the outcome and it's something a little bit different - a reflection of what I am playing in the clubs and on my radio show. Not all bangers but great and varied music from around the world both new and old."

Any exclusives or particular favourites on there?
"Where do I start? Love all these tracks or otherwise they would not be in the mix. Dj Farrapo's 'Swingy Mama' is pretty exclusive, 'Sistema Solar Sin Oficio' is a really big tune for me over the last few months. Love the two Vampire Weekend tracks. Toy Selectah's mix is a killer and Diplomat's 'Son' is great piece of modern pop. 'Slow Motion Radiovox' by Benjamin Zephanai is an amazing remix by what has to be one of the most talented producers out there at the moment, Corin from Latin Dub. Keep an eye on him, he is about to take right off. 'Soul Inside' by Spiteri is great piece of Latin rock reissued by Vampi Soul via London and Venezuela circa 1973. I've never put a rock track in a mix before but this one is a winner and it's well worth checking the album."

What current artists are you drawing inspiration from right now?
"All the ones mentioned above, Franco, Lucho Bermudez, Skitz, Bootlegumachine, Schlachthofbronx, Douster, all the releases on Soundway Recordings,so many amazing live bands in London- Yabaa Funk, Conjuto Sabroso, Los Chinches, Hackney Empire, Brassroots and it goes on..."

Who are you most looking forward to seeing play at Stop Making Sense?
"Never checked out Carl Craig before so that should be cool, Son of Dave always turns in a great show and to see The Very Best for the first time will def be something to look forward to."

Any unusual festival tips?
"Wellingtons? Think we will need them in Croatia? Would be unusual but best to be prepared. Once in a queue to get on plane with a guy who had his own life jacket. Did he know something I didn't? Not sure, but he was prepared!"

Where will we find you at sunrise on Sunday morning?
"Getting ready for Sunday mass. What else..."