Luke Solomon Dishes Out 5 Sizzlin’-Hot Summer Tunes
My mouth is legit watering as I think about the high-grade heaters Luke Solomon has dished out over the years. Guy is a top chef in the house circuit, treating his output like a culinary master whose chief objective is to please your palate with the most delish grooves found on the music menu. The forthcoming Strictly Jacked mix compilation seems to sum up his taste in top tunes quite nicely (as far as jackers are concerned, anyway), and it should make clear why he was the obvious choice to chase down for a list of summer choons.
“With the summer well and truly among us, I’d like to present you with a list of tenuously linked, Chicago-tinged summer bangers that will help you survive any challenging festival situation,” says Luke. “These are all songs that remind me of my own summer rave ‘moments’ from the last 25 years. Said ‘moments’ are not necessarily associated with the actual rave itself—more the outcome of a special evening. Read at your own peril.”
Don’t wait for us to tell you to dig right in; this silly sausage soundtrack isn’t going to listen to itself.
Freaks “Discorobot” (No Ears remix)
My memories of summer-weather-infused rave moments are starting to dissolve into what is slowly becoming a senior mind. But the one moment that sticks right there with me is WMC Miami. It was a late one (cough); in fact, it was the morning after a late one. The gang decided to walk back to the hotel along the beach. I think the combined euphoria of being with my best friends in Miami and lack of sleep acted as some kind of anaesthetic with my feet. Two days later, four layers of skin peeled off the bottom of my feet, and I couldn’t walk for two weeks. This record reminds me of that moment.
DJ Koze “XTC”
I heard a DJ playing this whilst walking through Glastonbury festival this year. It was pissing with rain. I had forgotten my umbrella. I was soaked right through. The record contains a sample of a woman that sounds remarkably like Margaret Thatcher talking calmly over a simple euphoric groove. It took me right back to it pissing with rain and being soaked right through at Glastonbury in 1987 when the actual Margaret Thatcher was in power.
Freeform Five “Break Me” (Derrick Carter Remix)
So, here’s the thing: I was born with eyelids that are too small for my eyes. I have been known to fall asleep with my eyes open, which is quite a neat party trick, if I am honest. Sadly, on this occasion, it worked against me. Summer 2000, Cambridge, end-of-year ball: I was asked to DJ. I did. The party went on late. It was hot. I fell asleep in the sun. When I woke up, something was wrong with my eyes. It transpires that I pretty much burnt my eyeballs and was subscribed fake tears for a few months after. I blame it all on Anu and Nick DeCosemo from Freeform Five.
Marley Marl “Beyond”
Another Glastonbury summer moment. I played the aforementioned record with Rob Mello at our annual NYC Download residency. It was awesome as usual. I left the area, slipped in the mud, and pretty much ruined my post gig “high.” I decided to walk back to the car and head home and got the car stuck in the mud. I was rescued by four West Country portaloo cleaners, one of whom was a 4×4 professional driver. He rescued my car, and in turn a miserable mud covered me. My hero to this day.
2nd Shift ft. Heather “Something Else”
My visits to Chicago in the ‘90s were pretty much always in the summer. One visit in particular, I was accompanied by Uncle Len (aka Leon, former label manager for Classic). We had ventured to several raves, and I was starting to feel a little tired, so I went back to the hotel. I was awoken a few hours later by an incredibly sweaty Uncle Len. He was still feeling rather perky after his night out and decided that it would be fun to join the Chicago marathon on his way back to the hotel. So it was a rave combined with workout moment that still makes me laugh, with this song as the soundtrack.
Strictly Jacked! Mixed by Luke Solomon is out 24 July 2015 (digital) on Strictly Rhythm.
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