Mix of the Week 22/8: Carl Cox - Live from The Rabbit Hole's Funkingham Palace - Glastonbury 2019
Last month at the annual Glastonbury festival, Carl Cox demonstrated why he’s a master at what he does. This week, he has released the near three-hour set for the public. This mix, specially mixed and mastered for at home listening, demonstrates two key things. Firstly, it shows Carl Cox’s expert pacing, maintaining interest and variation across multiple hours. Secondly, it shows Carl Cox’s eclectic range, grounding multiple genres and vibes in his own personal flavour.
Rhythm is the backbone of Carl Cox’s music and this mix exemplifies that. It is dance music, produced to get a sea of festival-goers up and moving. Too that effect, the kick and snare drums thump away at a consistent pace, varying as Cox increases and decreases the intensify. In the softer areas of the mix, the beat is firm but steady, allowing other layers like the high hat and some pads to come in over the top. As he turns up the heat, the snare tightens and the kick begins to boom. This grounds the entire mix in a strong techno sound, where Carl Cox works most comfortably.
With this underlying pulse established, Cox playfully explores multiple different electronic genres. Some of the tracks, like that around the forty-minute mark, are seeped deep in techno. This is seen in the dark reverb as it combines with haunting vocals and a series of electronic drones that aggressively rise to the high end. Other songs are brighter, introducing sharp guitar strums and darting keyboard work that move the mix more towards pop or disco. Other songs are bigger, introducing broad soundscapes and huge synth melodies that move the mix more towards house.
The crisp production work gives the mix an infectious beat that forces the listener to start moving. The energetic experimentation with instrumentation and tones enables variety and intrigue across three-hours. The two combine to highlight Carl Cox’s comprehensive talent as a DJ.
