Pursuant to the oft-mention in my Sunny Delight post a couple weeks ago, I am finally kicking off Explorations, a series I’ve wanted to do for quite some time. Put together in the form of tribute mixes with very minimal overtures, this project’s purpose is to introduce people to a variety of niche artists they might otherwise have not been exposed to. The guidelines are fairly simple: Original works, remixes by (not for), collaborations and side projects are okay. Using tracks from full-length albums would defeat the purpose. The point is to showcase these artists’ lesser-known masterpieces — and believe me, there are many. Many of them have never had the opportunity to produce complete, cohesive works. Others who have, leave an unfailing trail of one-offs and remixes tragically overlooked. In my own little way, this is how I resolve such issues to fellow enthusiasts.

Up first is Digital Witchcraft, a fitting group as any to start this off. Loosely formed in 2000 by Marcus Bacalis and Ned Shepard, they released a small series of tracks through Opek Music and Institution Breaks. After a series of extremely well-received Featured Artist mixes and appearances, Digital Witchcraft was thrust into the mainstream limelight when their unreleased masterpiece ‘Fingerpaint’ was dropped by Way Out West on BBC Radio 1. While it went unsigned for nearly two years until Proton Radio formed a vanity label to rescue it from purgatory, Ned and Marcus slipped out a couple more releases and a pair of remixes, and Ned partnered with Sultan for a string of releases under the side project Jiva. Digital Witchcraft, from 2003 to 2005, was extraordinarily popular amongst progressive enthusiasts, and their relaxed, downtempo style made them the hot new pick for lounge and afterhours parties. I still vividly recall walking into Dark Room Bar in Chicago, hearing Blake Jarrell spinning Snowday, and feeling completely at home. Every track in this collection I consider near and dear to my heart.

It’s tough to tell what went wrong. Digital Witchcraft’s total material amounted to a half dozen original works, a side project and a couple remixes — barely enough to even make a mix. Was it promotion? Did the records just not sell? Were they impacted by the sudden closure of EDM Digital, who hosted and sold nearly their entire discography? Did the sound just not catch on? I can’t imagine why not. Not a single person I know — electronic musically-inclined or otherwise — has not found this work inspired, uplifting and utterly euphoric. The most tragic part of all this, is that save for sparse 12″ releases and the personal collections of zealous digital download buyers between 2004 and 2006, this stuff simply doesn’t exist. Being of the latter allows me the unique opportunity to present the following mix to you, in tribute to one of my favorite acts. Cheers to Ned and Marcus for their gift to the scene.

Running Time: 1:03:49
File Size: 146 MB @ 320 kbps

Tracklisting:

1. Pocket Universe/Fingerpaint [Opek/Proton]
2. Snowday [Institution]
3. Kaylee’s Blanket [Institution]
4. Jiva – Strange Dimensions [Bedrock Breaks]
5. Brindavan [Opek]
6. Dangerous Music [Looq]
7. Habersham & Numinous – Leaving Tifton (Digital Witchcraft Remix) [Blueprint]
8. Jono Fernandez – Deliver Me (Digital Witchcraft Remix) [Institution]