London-based electronic producer and DJ Sam Shepherd, better known as Floating Points, stepped up to the world-renowned decks at BBC Radio 1 to share his much anticipated Essential Mix this Thanksgiving weekend. The artist recently dropped his debut album, Elaenia, to resounding positive critical acclaim, so it was only a matter of time before fans got to hear the producer's skills as a mixologist as he proved himself as one of the world's biggest DJs on the world's biggest decks.
As Pitchfork notes, the artist introduced the mix by mentioning he has been "thinking about records that meant a lot to me, DJing in clubs through the last eight years." He also stated on his Twitter that his mix featured music he loves from around the world. The two-hour selection included everything from disco to techno, latin to jazz, and everything in-between.
Taking over the BBC Radio 1 @essentialmix in 30 mins. Music I love from all over the world - Hope you enjoy!!!
— floating points (@floatingpoints) November 28, 2015
The mix included songs from recent Essential Mix alumnus, Pearson Sound, as well as tracks by Gil Scott Heron, Gemini, Cortex, Carlos Walker and Kenny Larkin among others. Shepherd, of course, threw a few of his own edits into the mix. BBC Radio 1 posted an exclamation point-esque graphic on theirFacebook page and described the list of artists Floating Points played during his set in one word: "eclectic."
A list of artists played by Floating Points last night. Eclectic.Listen here: https://bbc.in/1ImPPJH.
Posted by Essential Mix on Saturday, November 28, 2015
The best Essential Mixes on BBC Radio 1 typically epitomizes an artist. Much like the new mix, the sonic palate that Shepherd has curated over the years really is best described as eclectic. Since making his debut on the scene in 2009, he has been sort of an oddball: when everyone was getting into dubstep, he was playing totally uncategorizable electronic music that was slower and funkier than bass music typically was at the time, incorporating elements of house and disco but not quite being either. He's been all over the electronic genre since the beginning, and his Essential Mix seems to reflect that.
You can listen to the new mix via the BBC iPlayer or download it here.
Earlier this month, Shepherd recorded a selection of tracks from his debut album in BBC's Maida Vale studios. Benji B dropped two tracks from the session entitled "Nespole" and "Argent," Fact Mag reports. You can listen to those tracks here.
