Essential Mix Review: Todd Edwards breathes own air into ‘Random Access Memories,’ celebrates new lifeTodd Edwards

Essential Mix Review: Todd Edwards breathes own air into ‘Random Access Memories,’ celebrates new life

It’s no surprise that in lead up to the release of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories that Radio 1 would invite one of its many collaborators to take the deck for their own two hours of soulful house music. The lucky first nominee was Todd Edwards, and his very exciting Essential Mix premiered on the air last Friday. Todd Edwards is first and foremost a very legendary New Jersey garage and house DJ and sample-driven producer, but more recently he’s stepped into the limelight as one of Daft Punk’s collaborators both on Discovery for “Face to Face” and Random Access Memories’ “Fragments in Time.” He was inspired by Todd Terry, MK, and worked very closely with New York’s Nervous Records, remixing for St. Germain, Justice, Klaxons, and Dimitri from Paris.

In his own words, his mix is a celebration of Random Access Memories. His work with Daft Punk directly convinced him to pack up his studio and move to LA, where he worked closely with Thomas and Guy-Man not only on their new projects, but also on many of his own. They took him in, introduced him to new friends, and seemed to have made quite an impact on this pivot he’s taken in his life. This mix, in some ways, is a big thank you for being accepted into what his calls the “Daft Family.”

For someone raised on disco and classic rock, this mix was enlightening. Not only is his mixing smooth and controlled throughout, but instead of just throwing in unexpected samples from the heyday of New York house, he focuses more on rock roots. Kicking off the mix with Bowie, moving through RAM’s “Instant Crush,” and getting into a groove with a melding of Lindsey Buckingham’s “Big Love” to the ever-so-sweet vocals of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, it was clear he meant business from the start.

He motors through no fewer than 17 personal edits, but doesn’t forget these so called new friends he’s made: Poolside, LOL Boys, Disclosure, Rudimental, and Sam Smith all pop up on the mix. There’s also a curious “Unnamed Track” by Nameless, and exclusives from Surkin, a remix of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” and a collab remix of “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” with Prince. This mix is really, really not messing around.

TRACKLISTING

David Bowie – Let’s Dance (Todd Edwards Edit)
Daft Punk – Instant Crush [Columbia]
Pharaohs – Syzygy [100% Silk]
My Morning Jacket – Touch Me I’m Going to Scream, Pt. 2/Big Love (Todd Edwards Edit)
Poolside – Between Dreams [Poolside Music]
Giorgio Moroder – The Chase/Digital Love (Todd Edwards Edit)
Pharaohs – Miraculous Feet [100% Silk]
Giorgio Moroder – Evolution/Looking For Love (Todd Edwards Edit)
Chic – I Want Your Love [Atlantic]
Daft Punk – Get Lucky/Something About Us (Todd Edwards Edit)
LOL Boys – Changes (Todd Edwards Remix – Special Edit)
Atumpan – The Thing (Todd Edwards Remix)
Todd Edwards – Javid Khan
Nameless – Unnamed track (feat. Todd Edwards)
Jonah S. – Got My Mind Jazzed Up (Velcro Remix)
Todd Edwards – Hold The Faith [Body High Records]
Surkin & Todd Edwards – Mighty Love/My Girls (Todd Edwards Edit)
Jessie Ware – No To Love (Todd Edwards Remix) [PMR]
Disclosure – White Noise (Todd Edwards Unofficial Dub)
Donna Summer – I Feel Love (Todd Edwards Edit)
Daft Punk & Prince – Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger/Controversy (Todd Edwards Edit)
The Messenger & Todd Edwards – Guide My Soul [Nervous Records]
Todd Edwards – Saved My Life [i! Records]
Todd Edwards – Steal Your Heart [i! Records]
St. Germain – Alabama Blues (Todd Edwards Dub) [F Communications]
Todd Edwards – No Place Like London [Sweat It Out!]
Daft Punk – Face to Face (Todd Edwards Edit)
Rudimental – Waiting All Night (Todd Edwards Unreleased Vocal Mix)
Robert Lux – Fool Disclosure
Sam Smith – Lay Me Down (Todd Edwards Vocal Mix)
The Sample Choir & Todd Edwards – Break Smooth [Nervous Records]
Todd Edwards – Fly Away [i! Records]
Todd Edwards – Georgio by Moroder [i! Records]

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