Good morning. I had vague thoughts of writing a mini-essay on consumption and curation in the hazy period between sleep and wake at about 5.45am, but who's going to read that anyway. Enjoy the tunes. I tried to incorporate more light this week, an antidote to many months of angry twilight.

Jacob Mafuleni & Gary gritness - Atuka Mhondoro 808
I got a small mbira as a kid and let me tell you, it's hard to play. This is a super collab between two very different artists, mbira master Jacob Mafuleni and house polymath Gary Gritness, in which the beautiful mbira sounds and attendant vocals of Zimbabwe meet understated 808 rhythms. 

Kareem Ali - Space Tapes
Gorgeous house here, along similar lines to some of Fred P's stuff, particularly his album5 from last year. Sumptuous synth patterns, gorgeous muted trumpet, spacey vibes throughout.  

Boreal Network - Itasca Road Trip
As I was listening to this patches came back to me, and that's because I wrote about one of the tracks several years ago for Truants. This is a vinyl reissue of a tape that came out last year on Illuminated Paths. The tape is massive and most of it can be heard here, but go cop that wax, if you so choose. It's very BoC, but I like that.

HOVE - Journey to Arendal
Really dreamy, vibey house this, blissful sunsets and beach parties with yearning melodies straight from the early 90s. When those flutes hit, you'll melt.

New Brvtalism No. 046 - Raica
I've listened to this almost every day for the past week. Swirling echoes, frosty vistas, decaying scrub that gives way to mind-expanding moments of glory. This may sound overblown, but try listening as the sun rises and avoiding thoughts of such grandeur.

MUTEKLIVE099 - Project Pablo Live @ MUTEK Montréal 2015
When you listen to as much dark gloopiness as I do, the off glimmer of sunshine is more than welcome. This is particularly delightful, a live set from Mood Hut man Project Pablo at last year's MUTEK. Beautiful dancing melodies, warm, balmy chords and synths, it's breezy and energetic, calming yet pumping at the same time. It sounds timeless too.

Labareda Vol I
Labareda Vol II
New label Labareda is kicking off with a double compilation of music from Portuguese female artists, with part one focusing on "ambient, sorcery and entities of 8 talented magical beings", and part two going for "10 energising tracks full power on. 10 powers of 10". Snippets only for now, but a lot to enjoy.

/ / // - 25
Don't let the slashes fool you, I believe the artist's name is in fact Imaginary Phrases. This is an utterly gorgeous beatless synth jam

Low Jack - Six In The Morning
Utterly stomping low-key banger from this Frenchman, forthcoming on Modern Love.

Dilloway Nace Side A Track 1
I'd never heard of Aaron Dilloway until the recent reissue of his Psychic Driving Tapes on TTT, but I've been following him keenly since, especially after listening to his interviews with Organized Noise a few months ago. I haven't even started to dig into his back catalogue as it's so vast and he's so busy and productive I'd have to give up everything else for I don't know how long. Anyway this collaboration with Bill Nace (the group is called BAND, from their initials) is the latest thing of his to impress me. Strange noise, for which terms like "alien electricity" don't seem out of place.

St Patrick's Day is over, Easter approaches, the year trundles on.