I suspect that for most fans of electronic music, there was a trigger song, band or album. It’s not like you hear this stuff on the radio — certainly not where I grew up in Calgary. College radio played hard-core techno on Friday nights, but to me it was (and remains) totally inaccessible.

My song was Orbital’s “Halcyon + On + On” from the Hackers soundtrack (at least, that’s where I heard it). I’d listened to a bit of other stuff, but that track blew my mind. I promptly went out and bought In Sides, and never looked back. Over the years, I collected every other Orbital album as well. Long before I dreamt of being a DJ, I imagined building new sounds out of “I Wish I Had a Duck”, from Snivilization. Layer upon layer of electro-squish and samples, Orbital created an imaginary world in the confines of that song.

Years later, I found myself searching for an opening track to complement Layo & Bushwacka!’s brilliant “Saudade”, and I reached for “I Wish I Had a Duck”. Orbital’s best work still resonates, and in a way this mix brings me full circle.

Sidenote: if you’re an Orbital fan, be sure to check out Paul Hartnoll’s solo album, “Ideal Condition”. Justifiably moving away from the core Orbital sound, he manages to find some brilliance in cinematic work and pop collaborations.

Tracklist:

1. I Wish I Had A Duck – Orbital
2. Saudade (Remix) – Layo & Bushwacka!
3. Rej (A Hundred Birds Remix) – Ame
4. When I Listen 2 This Sound, feat. ZM (Alex Celler Mix) – Nikola Gala
5. Builder (Kris Menace Re-Edit) – Eva
6. Anime (Sequential Remix) – Hernan Cattaneo, John Tonks
7. North American Scum (Kris Menace Remix) – LCD Soundsystem
8. Affectation (Dousk Dub Electro) – Chris Nemmo & Andree Eskay
9. One & Only – Jimmy van M & Nick Warren
10. Tornado – Habersham
11. Discopolis (A Hundred Birds Remix) – Lifelike & Kris Menace
12. Tease – James Harcourt
13. One Day (Spiritchaser Terrace Mix) – The Craftsmen

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It seems silly that it’s been so long since my last release, a problem that’s rectified by In Completion. My first set with the new Mixmeister Fusion software, it’s a lot closer to my live sound than the studio sound of previous mixes. The tone is mellow overall, but you’ll find a few barn burners stuffed in there as well. Enjoy.

Tracklist:

1. Tripswitch – Indigo
2. Ormatie – Glossow (Funk Harmony Park Remix)
3. Jody Wisternoff – Nostalgia (Remix)
4. Funk Harmony Park – Crystal Sky (Hernan Cattaneo & John Tonks Remix)
5. Jaytech – Starbright (Jaytech Touch Your DJ Mix)
6. Above & Beyond – Good For Me (King Roc Dub Mix)
7. Dominic Plaza – Korny (D-Nox & Beckers Remix)
8. Jaunt – Travelling
9. Benz & MD – Signals
10. Achillea – The Seeress Prophecy (Micah’s Premonitions Remix)
11. Jaytech – Manipulator (Parallel Sounds Remix)
12. Tsewer Beta – Marl 1 (You’ll Never Guess Remix)

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Since I posted part three first, it only makes sense to continue in reverse-chronological order. Part two cuts straight to the chase, delivering dance-able beats from the first track before diving into some funky house and then carrying through the progressive melodies to the 80th minute. Like the rest of the Mission Sessions sets, it’ll fit onto a single CD if you care to burn it.

Tracklist:

1. Espen – Along the Edge (Peter McCowan’s Heliobacter Mix)
2. Suicide Sports Club – I Don’t Know (feat. Dead Rabbits) (King Unique Mix)
3. Exhibit A – G Minor (Soul Avengerz Mix)
4. Colder – To the Music (Instrumental)
5. Kings of Leon – Milk (Stretch and Vern Edit)
6. Big – A Promise (Dousk Vandalismic Mix)
7. Def E & The Beginerz – Wipe Your Tears Away (Punkrok Remix)
8. Junior Caldera – Black Mamba
9. Robimon – Aquatic
10. Sayes – Dolphin Ride
11. Matt Rowan & Jaytech – Tomorrow
12. Macca – I’d Rather Be Alone (Dub Mix)
13. Espen – Along the Edge (Original Mix)

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In January, I started a project called “Mission Sessions”, an open-ended series of mixsets in a similar vein — strong, dancable progressive house, each set under 80 mins so it could be burned to a CD. Of course, these projects always take longer than you expect, but that’s the nice thing about not having a deadline.

Today, to mark the live launch of brokendigits.com, I’m happy to release part three of the series, appropriately entitled “mission sessions 003”. The name comes from the Mission district in Calgary, where I moved in January. Overlooking the city, the sets capture my moods and tastes as the year has progressed.

Tracklist:

1. Banco de Gaia – Kara Kum
2. Wally Lopez and David Ferrero – Ca C’est Paris
3. Basek and Jeff Bennett – Free Float (Subsky Mix)
4. Kris Menace – Jupiter
5. AFK – Lush (Matt Rowan and Jaytech Mix)
6. Ray and Peter – Next Chapter (Derek Howell Mix)
7. Micah – Epidemic, Part 2
8. Dousk – Estrange
9. Kirk Degiorgio and Esoterik – Starwaves (Spirit Catcher Mix)
10. Jody Wisternoff – Cold Drink, Hot Girl
11. Paolo Mojo – 1983
12. Starecase – Vapour Trails (Matt Rowan and Jaytech Mix)
13. Satoshi Tomiie – Glow (Spirit Catcher Mix)

I’ll be re-releasing parts 001 and 002 on this website shortly, along with some older mixes I’ve made over the past few years.

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On May 12, thanks in no small part to my good friend Jeremy, I landed my first live gig. I played for just over two hours on a small stage at the Art Gallery of Calgary for a local magazine launch party. It went off fairly well — I don’t think most people were expecting to come out and dance, so it was good to get a vibe going and to see some people on the dance floor.

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