Handing over a year’s worth of releases to todos and watching the magic unfold is always an exhilarating experience. His ability to craft a narrative from such a rich and varied palette is unparalleled, offering fresh insights into the music and the year behind us. A true specialist in narrative witchcraft, todos continues to redefine DJ mixes with such a limited palette to build from. This year’s selection posed an increasingly complex challenge, with its mix of tempos and styles, but it’s a testament to the incredible work of the ASIP artists in 2024, all tied together under the meticulous eye of our trusted selector.
The year began with new label signing Salvatore Mercatante, and his pin-point drum patterns and room-filled IDM. This was followed by an about-turn in style with a new label signing, Lihla, presenting her hypnotizing blend of spoken word and atmospheric multi-instrument talent. Lapsed Pacifist (who happens to be a good friend of todos' in the UK - another full circle moment for the label) presented his debut album, featuring 'rolling waves of lavender synths', which Pop Matters recently listed as one of its best ambient albums of 2024. Keeping things unexpected, we then presented another new artist, Theef, who released a selection of timeless deep techno cuts from a DJ mix he posted online in 2018. It was then a chance for one of ASIPs most cherished sounds to return, as Illuvia continued his monumental exploration into the deep expanse of ethereal ambient drum'n bass. By now, we were approaching the much-celebrated half-century catalog number, and who better than long-time label artist, Markus Guentner to bring it over the line, alongside eight other fantastic talents. Colombian producer OKRAA, evolved his living-and-breathing psychedelic electronics, introducing more breaks and electro to his palette, in a truly unexpected second album. And closing out the year, Hungarian artist swanasa, presented a taster of her sonic capabilities in a short EP, that shone a light on multiple approaches we hope to explore from her very soon.
Thank you for all of your support, comments, and encouragement this year. Here's to those who explore the unique, the nostalgic and the new, and those who forge their own way forward.
Join us on Friday 20th December, 12pm PST for the full mix premiere and Bandcamp listening party.
todos Continuous DJ mix tracklist:
1. swanasa - Swan Song (edit)
2. Lihla - Resonance
3. Markus Guentner - Father Of Waters
4. Lapsed Pacifist - Tragic
5. Markus Guentner - Utopian Fragments (edit) / Illuvia - A New Tomorrow (edit) / swanasa - AHO / Lihla - Becoming Human (edit)
6. OKRAA - La Gran Corriente
7. Salvatore Mercatante - Love Of Lies
8. Illuvia - Tectonic Shift
9. Markus Guentner - While Hunting Nightmares And Dreaming For Peace
10. Theef - Strange Nights
11. Salvatore Mercatante - How Many Hands
12. OKRAA - Para Desaprender (edit)
13. Theef - Odd Entity
14. Lapsed Pacifist - Almost Remembered
