I’m an absolute sucker for house music that takes it back to the basics, so it’s no surprise that I’m infatuated with JLV’s remix of “Imagine.” Its rubbery lead-synth is an absolute head-nodder while the wonderfully simple percussion conjures up images of feet quickly moving on the dance-floor as strobes flash along in tandem. I love most avenues of electronic music, but tracks like this hit somewhere deep in my stomach and induces flutters like few other genres can, an effect that can be traced directly to an overwhelmingly uplifting energy.
If you’re in a room full of people on the same wavelength, there’s few comparable feelings to watching everyone around you shuffling along with a smile on their face. I’ll never forget hearing cuts like “Work Your Body” drop in a packed venue after an excruciating build-up that releases into pure bliss. In the future, I can very well see JLV’s “Imagine” remix directing audiences into moments of absolute jubilance too.
Imagine. Construct a concept within your mind on a micro or macro level. Allow it to expand as your mind generates in new directions, but don’t just imagine – create. Turn imagination into reality.
It’s not always feasible, but if you’re afforded the ability, don’t allow your colorful, unique ideas to sink back into the seeming nothingness they emerged from. Contribute to the world around you when possible. I’ve attempted to carry this out as an exercise lately; whether it’s a broad yet high-reaching idea at work or seemingly small idea around friends, I’ve found it to be beyond rewarding to introduce an imagination-generated idea to the world. Not only does it have the attempt to come to fruition, but other people are able to mold and add to the idea until it becomes not just a product of singular thought, but a collective project that emphasizes the raw, wondrous power of a motivated humanity.
Bronze Whale, Popeska, and Tom Aspaul imagined. Hear the jubilant results for yourself below.
Relax your mind, and folks unwind and be kind to a rhythm that you hardly find
And off we go, let the trumpets blow
Well hold on, because the driver of the mission is a pro,
The Ruler’s back…” – Slick Rick (The Ruler’s Back)
That’s right folks—the underground’s most eclectic, most uninhibited, most poetic, futuristic, most imitated, but never duplicated mixtape is back in action, and as expected from all tapes worthy of the name LMDM—in grand fashion. We don’t release for the sake of releasing here, our intention is always to be the best, offer the best and be real at every minute in the process. So if you’re wondering why the hold-up, it’s because life has been happening and we weren’t just going to put something out we didn’t feel. As long time readers know: we don’t fake it here…
I live by the funk, I die by the funk…” – Notorious B.I.G. (Machine Gun Funk)
The last time I saw Steph she was at her wedding. We know each other and connected years ago because of music, and here I am at her wedding—damn. How does this mixtape start Steph – “So you come a long way, huh!?”
It was so inspiring to be around so much love and family. It was an honor to see her take that step, to be there amongst her most-cherished because she is certainly one of mine. On behalf of the EMPT army, congratulations!
I represent the Space Age where all institution is up for revamp, examination, and ready to be destroyed or challenged, but one thing that stays true is the importance of family. Sure, there are corny people that abuse love and family itself, but when a group of people understand the bond and importance of blood and use that as support, there is literally nothing stopping them. Believe me when I say this, the people who run the world are the tightest families you’ll never know of. The institution is being destroyed on purpose because a world without people who would die for one other is easily malleable, but we can’t let that get diluted or forget it’s value. So why was LMDM on hold? Because Steph was building a family, you basic bitches!
But we still love you all & here we are, back with LMDM Summer and like I said earlier: it’s heavenly.
As usual there’s 360 degrees of styles uniquely bound by Steph’s masterful mind. Everybody knows that no two LMDM‘s are the same, and this one is no exception, so don’t take the title for granted.
This is truly a summer-tape perfect for all your hot weather activities. I think Steph spent her honeymoon in Thailand and Cambodia or something amazing like that. Or as Steph put it…
Pure, calm and escaping love ❤️”
I can easily picture myself with my close ones bumping LMDM Summer while chilling in an infinity pool somewhere in the middle of a forest or some futuristic shit like that. As usual, I highly recommend pressing play and letting the tape rock till it stops. The adventure is beautiful, it’s custom-made for the Space Age kids, for you. Enjoy.
Relax your mind, let your conscience be free. And get down to the sound of EPMD EMPT. – EPMD (You Gots to Chill)
I know I know, it’s the middle of March and we’re just releasing LMDM Fevrier, we’re naughty bloggers but I promise these delays will stop! We have a great team of writers but I personally work on LMDM so if I don’t get around to it, it just doesn’t happen. On top of that my life for the last two years has been a high speed race man, I haven’t had much help so it’s taking a while to figure out how to be freakishly productive while maintaining some resemblance of a life.
As many of you know I went from being a producer & blogger to the Creative Director of The Playlist Generation and it’s been no walk in the park. From selecting the music that plays at all The Standards, PF Changs, Intermix stores, Baccarat to brag about a few, the kid barely has time for much else. Part of the reason why I haven’t handed off LMDM is because it’s one of the few times when I can turn off and escape from being the curator and dive into someone else’s world. Sure I could go listen to some name brand DJ mix the same tracks everybody and their grandma is playing in sets but I like that boutique, custom made, one of one high touch type shit. You know that Space Age Bachelor Pad Music, Steph Lund type shit.
Like all the beloved tapes that have come before it, LMDM Fevrier is an adventure. This one is particularly beautiful and romantic, strictly for the space age lovers. The tape speaks to selectivity which in this age of over saturated everything is more important than ever. It’s so interesting how Steph manages to tell such unique stories every time, I know I’m preaching to the choir but this shit is fresh, don’t sleep folks. I won’t even pretend like I can rationalize the selections but just know that all things are considered a blend of styles and genres only Steph can mastermind.
I’ve had this one since the end of February but with SXSW and a ton of work I just haven’t gotten around to it. Besides that I wanted to make it using a new toy HP sent me a couple of months back, the ol’ Split X2. So yesteraday I went to a coffee shop, learned some new software and mixed the tape on a touchscreen, welcome to the space age. You know you’re doing something right when you get the cool young folks at corporations hitting you up about collaborations. Hopefully we can do more along these lines to build up this operation and offer you guys even more. Anyhow, press play on this beautiful thing and get that Monday feeling right, enjoy.
Tracklist:
Metronomy – I’m Aquarius (Panic Bomber Is a Taurus Bootleg Remix)
