For over twenty years, the DJ Kicks compilations have always been a great way to have a personal version of the set you heard from your favorite DJ that great night. Tiga, Booka Shade, and Four Tet have already logged CDs for !K7 records, and the newest one by Kode9 couldn’t be more up our alley.

Having been involved so long, it makes sense how 9 has such a firm grasp on what’s happening now, as well as the ability to change the direction in where it’s going. Multiple releases from Hyperdub, a book analyzing sound as a weapon, and DJ sets showcasing his style all are a testament to how he is unquestionably the spearhead of the left-field dance music we can’t seem to properly describe.

Unlike his recent mix for FACT, which showboated a knowledge for the best jungle tunes of the mid-90′s, Kode9‘s DJKicks compilation is rather a collection of the current happenings pulsating dancefloors. Always pushing things forward (new Ikonika, Zomby) and paying homage to sounds we know today unanimously, Goodman includes things like old DMZ anthems amongst the newest hypes.

9 already has the eyes and ears to dictate what’s to come for the sound as a whole and his label; and what better way to showcase that ability than with a widely-recognized DJ Kicks enterprise. Pick this up from your local shop, or if you’re from the countryside, here.

Kode9 – You Don’t Wash (Dub)

Boy 8-Bit x Justice x Amusement Park

I don’t think it’s at all preposterous to say that if there was one producer whose skills I would want, a leading candidate would be Boy 8-Bit. In fact, he just might be my pick. His versatility is ridiculously impressive and every song is something new. Lately he’s had a knack for creating longer, more melodic, 4 minute buildup-type songs (a la ‘Drumming Song’) and it’s doing wonders for him. His newest remix along those lines is that of M.A.N.D.Y and Booka Shade‘s newest track ‘Donut’. It takes about 4 minutes to build up but if you turn it off before then you’re making a big mistake. Go!

M.A.N.D.Y & Booka Shade – Donut (Boy 8-Bit Remix)