Some precious and inviting modern house music from Brussels-based artists Monoko (Tim de Fontaine) and Inkkø (Téo Hargain). The other day here in upstate New York, the weather broke above freezing for a couple of days–after having stayed close to 20 below for weeks. People immediately started calling it sweater weather, which at first blush felt outrageous to me, but after living up here for a few years now, I’m starting to agree. After such a brutal winter, as soon as a glimmer of sunshine makes its way through the clouds, I’m dying to get outside and shed my layers. A song like this gets me dreaming of those late spring afternoon parties outside, where the mild weather keeps everyone relaxed–and tracks with sort of easygoing spirit work a treat. This is out now for streaming and on bandcamp.

Monoko & Inkkø – “Making U” (mp3)

Next up is a set of tracks meant as a contemporary take on early-2000s big beat and breaks, submitted by Nastiest Below (Lewis Batstone, from somewhere in the UK, unsurprisingly). The A-side here does certainly carry notes of some of the earlier Basement Jaxx or Chemical Brothers records, whereas the B-side feels more referential of early trip-hop records that were essentially just melancholy UK hardcore records a few bpm slower. Both tracks do certainly evince a reverence on Batstone’s part for the music that came before him, and the production is sharp, so I expect he has other good stuff up his sleeve. No bandcamp for this, unfortunately, but thankfully I was sent the mp3s to post, so you’re not purely stuck with streaming options.

Nastiest Below – “All and More” (mp3)
Nastiest Below – “I Might Be” (mp3)

Last up tonight, a cut of hazy house from DJ DOT WAV (Jordan Alexander, who reps Nashville, Atlanta, and Kansas City, so take your pick). Based around a recognizable PinkPantheress refrain and some effective woodwind samples, this is nice sultry stuff that doesn’t make too much of a fuss and just does what it does. That’s really what a lofi house edit should do. No bandcamp for this one either, I’m afraid, but the artist was generous enough to let me share with you the mp3 here so streaming isn’t your only option.

DJ DOT WAV – “BOYS BE LYING” (mp3)