Lost Gems with Matt Karmil

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Music

Following the release of his latest album ‘No Going Back’ on Studio Barnhus, Matt Karmil guides us through some lost gems.

Matt Karmil is an esteemed producer and DJ who has released a steady stream of music on the likes of Studio Barnhus, Smalltown Supersound, Endless Flight, Aus music and more.

He also works as a mixer, masterer and remixer who has assisted and worked with the likes of Bicep, Underworld, Mall Grab, Jayda G, DJ Koze, Neneh Cherry, Sofia Kourtesis, DJ Fett Burger, Matias Aguayo and Carmen Villain.

As such we would expect his musical world and remit to be pretty broad.

That’s why we have invited him to guide us through some lost gems. Some of the records which have helped inform his own tastes and progression. He describes as follows:

“Most of these tracks are taken from the Mo Wax label, which when I was coming of age, along with Ninja Tune and Warp, was a buy on sight label – when I was looking to compile this list, it became apparent that a lot of this material isn’t on streaming services, which got me thinking about what other tracks might have been lost in the digital revolution and how bizarre that is. I used to play most of these tunes when I was resident DJ at the Dragon Bar in Shoreditch back in 1998 until the early 00s – the moments where these tunes were the perfect backdrop were probably some of my favourites – Smokey Sundays / end of lock ins / B room setups.”

Buy the new album HERE.

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Matt karmil

LISTEN

Luke Vibert - Sharp A2

A truly stunning piece – kind of dark, super deep. Luke has put out so much excellent music under so many names over the years – I’ve so much respect for him, this is still quite possibly my favourite.

Luke Vibert - Sharp A2

A truly stunning piece – kind of dark, super deep. Luke has put out so much excellent music under so many names over the years – I’ve so much respect for him, this is still quite possibly my favourite.
Palm Skin Productions - Slipper Suite

Kind of a quintessential Mo Wax vibe – music that was absolutely the backdrop to my early / mid teens. It doesn’t feel like it’s in a rush, but moments of manic high attention to detail, beats and mangled jazz keep it feeling urgent too.
Dr Octagon - Blue Flowers (Instrumental)

A big fan of Dan the Automator – and the entire axis of Deltron 3030/Gorillaz/Lovage/Handsome Boy Modelling School – Dr Octagon, with Kool Keith front and centre, is the most straight up hiphop part of that branch – Bear Witness and Blue Flowers are true standouts. Listening again to the instrumental version really shows the solid and nuanced production. Stone cold classic.
U.N.K.L.E - The Time Has Come (Portishead Plays U.N.K.L.E Mix)

Actually shocked this isn’t on the streaming services, kind of unthinkable that this track basically doesn’t exist in 2024 – I truly lost myself in this track and vibe back in the day, reminds me of many many late nights.
Portishead - War Child

Not on Mo Wax, but certainly adjacent to it – a really broken and fractured track – classic Portishead amped up and poignantly destroyed right when it needs to be.
Antipop Consortium - Rinseflow

Again, not a Mo Wax track – but senselessly an orphaned track – I find this to be one of the most emotional hiphop tunes I’ve ever heard – 100% vibe. It’s one of those tracks that I’m annoyed with myself for not listening to more.
The Prunes - Cantona Style

A Perfect “triphop” track? Much like a lot of the material I’m drawn to from that time, quite simple production – but just very well balanced and every sound and arrangement choice counts – reminds me that in these days of infinite sound sources and track counts, it’s vitally important to only include things that are necessary or to at least check yourself when layering.
Tycoon To$h - Midnight

Such a standout and huge vibe in my life that I couldn’t resist including it – information about what Major Force was and where this music came from was kind of sketchy, but to me it sounded like it was from another world. Still love this as much, if not more, as when I first heard it.