Here we are, the very last mix of the year. December has been a great month for tunes, we’ve blogged about tons of new releases, but we know it’s hard to keep track of everything, so here are our favorites from this past month in a neat little bundle. This month features tons of R&B vocals, spaced out instrumentals, and two rap interludes. Have a safe and happy new year, and enjoy the jams!

Tracklist:

AlunaGeorge – “We Are Chosen”
The Weeknd – “Montreal”
Azealia Banks & Lunice – “Runnin’”
Morris – “Rashida Jones”
Juj – “Floater”
Machinedrum – “Updowndownup” (Kristuit Salu remix)
Sinden feat Jesse Boykins III – “High Demand” (Brenmar remix)
Jonti – “Hornet’s Nest”
Stephen Farris – “Elevate”
Madi Diaz – “Trust Fall” (Down We Go remix by Jensen Sportag)
Throwing Snow – “Pyre”
Freddie Gibbs, Class Actress & Telli Gramz – “VCR” (Prod. by The Hood Internet)
Giraffage – “Moments”
Pressed And – Fire Shelf
Vortex Rikers – “Oceanic”

If you’re looking for more fresh jams, check out Dipped in November.

Slugabed is a U.K. based producer who has recently dished out a variety of new tracks on his soundcloud, most of which are free for download.  His beats are dense and wild, packing a crazy amount of textures, synths, and samples into down tempo hip-hop grooves. Keep an eye on his page for more releases, and you can catch him playing shows every now and then across Europe.

Even though it can be trite at times, I’m personally thrilled at the adoption of R&B vocals by the world of electronica. Sinden’s “High Demand” caught my attention, but it wasn’t until I heard the Brenmar remix that I was truly sold. The track is slowed down to the point where each beat takes on greater significance, and the lyrics feel even more tortured. Deep and dark is apparently the theme of the season, and I’m not complaining.

Senzu is an LA based collective who showcase forward thinking electronic producers through a free monthly mixtape. Their first two tapes were heavy on artists from the LA beat scene, but it now has expanded to include more producers from across the country and abroad. Senzu Volume III features top work from Juj, Knxwledge, Giraffage, and D33J, and I’m particularly fond of this new beat by Soosh. You can download the entire mixtape for free on their bandcamp.

Juj – Floater

Knxwledge – Pain

Soosh – Rainbow Hicups