DJ Carl Michaels Presents:
10 Tracks for Bop-Tastic City Walks

Every month, Gayborhood DJ Carl Michaels puts together a mix of tunes especially for G Philly.

Wasn’t winter exhausting?  Sitting inside the house, watching reruns of Real Housewives of wherever, longing for a tropical vacation (Puerto Rico with Nene and Kenya?).  Well, we are here!  Spring is upon us.  It’s time to stretch those legs.  Get out of the house, walk around the city, smile at strangers, walk the dog, sit at an outdoor cafe.

To accompany your spring perusals, here is my boppin’-around-the-city playlist for April. I hope these tracks put an extra spring in your step.  I know they are keeping me moving.

You can find the playlist on Spotify, or enjoy each track in the videos and playlist after the jump.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azrKHpCwvm0&feature=kp

“I Took A Little Something” by Florrie Feel-good, fun, funky Euro disco house that you’ll have on loop for these beautiful spring days. Florrie (Florence Arnold from Bristol, U.K.) has a relatively small catalog as of yet, but if this track is any indication, you’ll be hearing a lot more from her. Production by inimitable French house magnate Fred Falke.

“Comfortable (Oliver Nelson Remix)” by The Knocks Catchy track from this NYC electronic duo which has been in the shadows producing for everyone from Rihanna to Marina and The Diamonds. Oliver Nelson’s mix takes the original feel-good male vocal track and adds some movement and lovely synth-stabs, making it a perfect choice for your spring weather playlist.

“Every Night I Say A Prayer” by Little Boots In a sea of electro-pop divas, Little Boots has always managed to prove her elegance and raw talent while maintaining the sophistication that others lack. This track is sparse and dramatic, allowing her voice to do most of the work. This one snuck out onto the charts last year, but is a timeless gem that will keep my dancefloors moving for a long time to come.

“Aaliyah” by Katy B (Feat. Geenus and Jessie Ware) Having been released in various forms over the past year or so, this is pure, dark, seductive, desperate, and super sexy pop music. Katy B is making herself well known for a unique sound that has caught the attention of DJs and industry folk around the world. Keep your eye out for this fiery redhead.

“Superlove” by Charli XCX Some call Charli XCX “punk pop,” probably because she won’t follow any real convention and successfully defies genre. “Superlove” is jump-up-and-down hipster party music, and I’m not ashamed that I don’t go a night without playing it.

“Tears” by Frankie Knuckles This list would not be complete without mention of the recent passing of the true Godfather of House Music, Frankie Knuckles. It’s not a stretch to say that no DJ who plays dance music would be doing so today without the music that Frankie pioneered at the original Warehouse in Chicago.  Everyone who appreciates just about any form of repetitive dance music owes this man their respect. He will be sorely missed. This is one of his seminal tracks recorded with the silky smooth voice of Robert Owens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pwOGbnlD5Q

“Brand New” by Pharrell (Feat. Justin Timberlake I love Pharrell Williams, but I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with his new album, Girl; if only because he’s been a bit overexposed as of late. But there’s a solid chunk of super-smart pop/R&B there, my favorite being this one, with the aid of Justin Timberlake, who is kind of perfect. Not sorry.

“Big Love” by Jamie Lidell Former Super Collider teammate Jamie Lidell has an unmistakable voice and an energy that jumps out of the speakers. Apparently directly influenced by Janet Jackson’s “Pleasure Principle“, Lidell delivers surprisingly accessible, sincere ’80s soul-pop.

“Sexy Love” by Kylie Minogue I try to keep this list fairly rooted in the underground for educational purposes, but my obsession with Kylie is real and I must mention her new album, Kiss Me Once. With a near-perfect array of songs to choose from, I chose this one for the chart, mostly because it has that smile-y vibe that Kylie has perfected. That said, I am sure to overuse just about every track from the album. Gird your loins!

“Only Yoo” by Pink Skull Pink Skull is a Philly institution. These guys have been cranking out sick and twisted tracks of all genres for over a decade, and this one shows them moving toward a more dance-y sound. “Mudsharking“ is a skeleton dance party on acid. Check them out on Spotify for the full effect.