Jody Wisternoff & James Grant - Anjunadeep 09
For those of us who measure emotional journeys in chord progressions and bassline swells, the Anjunadeep compilations are a sacred text. Jody Wisternoff & James Grant's mix for Anjunadeep 09 CD2 is a quintessential entry, a deep and progressive house odyssey crafted for long drives and longer afterparties. The vibe is one of curated introspection, a twilight session where every melody feels personally tailored to your own nostalgia. Technically, it's a masterwork in dynamic range and pacing, starting at a cozy 121.8 BPM average and using the melancholic 3B key as its north star.
The energy arc is a slow, deliberate climb, with the mid-range (0.66 avg) doing most of the emotional heavy lifting, supported by a solid low-end foundation (0.31 avg) and restrained highs (0.03 avg). Wisternoff and Grant's mixing is famously smooth, employing long, harmonic blends that make the 39-track journey feel like a single, evolving piece of music. Key shifts into 7A and 5B introduce warmth and light at just the right moments. The crate digging here is impeccable: after their own poignant opener 'The Flame', they drop the driving, melodic techno of Thomas Schumacher & Victor Ruiz's 'Apollo'.
Northern Project's 'Kashmir' is a swirling, atmospheric bomb, and Erre's 'Always the Same Eyes (Andres Luque Remix)' is a deep, percussive treasure. The inclusion of Marc Marzenit's 'Perron (Wehbba Remix)' shows a sharper, techier edge, while Kora (CA)'s 'Nous' provides a moment of organic, tribal rhythm. The set builds from the introductory embers, finds a powerful, driving peak in the relentless 16 Bit Lolitas remix of 'Lie Alone', and then gently descends into the peaceful, blooming ambience of Leo Grünbaum's 'Bloom'—a perfect full tracklist for sunrise.