DJ Holographic - Detroit Love Vol. 5

  • A snapshot of the Motor City from one of its most vital DJs.
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  • Planet E's Detroit Love compilation series, founded by Carl Craig, has become a kind of staple—and barometer—of Detroit's contemporary soundscape. Following in the footsteps of past curators like Stacey Pullen and Wajeed, DJ Holographic, real name Ariel Corley, has been emerging as a strong new voice in the Detroit scene, enough for Craig to take notice. Detroit Love Vol. 5 proves Corley's ability as a selector, and that she knows how to read a room—or in this case, a collective mood. Following a year of lockdown but on the precipice of something new, the feeling in the scene is one of both exhaustion and anticipation. What Corley presents on Vol. 5 is a pre-summer soundtrack that is joyful, breezy, and makes the body yearn to move. DJ Holographic's selections are varied, to extraordinary effect—there's a range of sounds and voices, yet the mix is extremely smooth and cohesive. She primarily serves up house with an eclectic ear for other genres as well: world music, funk, deep house, techno, and electro-leaning rhythms all find a home here. The mix's opening stretch is an example of Holographic's bold approach, announcing its arrival with an Afro-Brazilian heater from the Fela Kuti-inspired group Underground System. Corley then takes us down a bit after, easing us into her universe with the sumptuous deep house of Pontchartrain and the nu-disco of Shiro Schwarz. In general, her selections blend flawlessly: Biophonic's "Difficult People" into Majorettes' "Never Sleep" is a notable combination that builds anticipation until suddenly, we're in full-on jack mode. Rather than creating a clear emotional or sonic arc, DJ Holographic takes us on a body-focused journey that's natural and instinctive, as if she's guiding with her intuition. Segments flow easily from one moment to the next, and throughout the mix, there's a sense of both ease and celebration. After the mix's first crest, she guides us into a deeper zone. For example, Erika's track "Xenon Moon" is understated, murky and acidic. Just as Holographic makes room for the darker spaces, she also makes room for interesting rhythms. Rather than keeping it strictly four on the floor, tracks like Baronhawk Pointier's "Cirrus" and Jaco Matthews' "Detroit Frequencies" are layered with organic percussion. The retro synth work, soulful vocals, and unexpected percussion (e.g. tambourine) of DJ Holographic's own track "Faith In My Cup" echoes the versatility of her selections, and provides a dose of disco-infused house. The final selection from lesser-known Toronto producer WeTurnToRed is a strong but gentle sendoff: dub-tinged and deep, it leaves the ear satiated. While Corley is Detroit based and raised, not all of the artists on the mix are, nor are all of them well known. Detroit Love Vol. 5 seems less concerned with insularity and more with a widened, almost visionary lens. It's truly inclusive, and it's also an education in Corley's style and taste, which is both influenced by, and exudes, the soul of Detroit. All around, Detroit Love Vol. 5 is a statement for DJ Holographic, and further establishes her as a powerhouse in the landscape of Detroit's network of modern talent.
  • Tracklist
      01. Underground System - B.O.B. 02. Pontchartrain - Cirrus 03. Shiro Schwarz - Feel Your Body Move 04. Shaun Alan ft. Javonntte - There We Go Again 05. Juan Ramos - Fahrt Im Himmel (Let It Go) 06. Biphonic - Difficult People 07. Majorettes - Never Sleep 08. Julieten - That Thang feat. Jesse Smith 09. Francois Dillinger - Lost Loops 10. Chuck Daniels feat. Shaun J Wright - Feel You 11. Soul Clap & The Martinez Brothers - 11211 12. Hiroko Yamamura & Dani Ramos - Damn Right 13. Erika - Xenon Moon 14. Ramiro Bernabela - Windswept 15. Baronhawk Poitier - Temperado Tornado 16. DJ Holographic feat. Apropos - Faith In My Cup 17. Jaco Matthews - Detroit Frequencies 18. WeTurnToRed - Synapse
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