DUNCAN Grant, aka CAIN, grew up in the Highlands, where he maintained an unlikely double life as a scratch DJ and competition-winning bagpipe player. More recently, he has started to produce electronic music that incorporates a dizzying array of influences from around the world, and has released records on the Fine Grains and Highlife labels. He has a new EP for Highlife and another for the Dubai-based imprint Boogie Box due for release in the next month, ahead of which we asked him to talk us through the five tracks he can’t stop listening to right now.
Tzusing – Under The Sun I Am Undefeated
This is definitely one of my favourites so far this year. I absolutely adore the way it creates an increasingly menacing and dystopian tone while its traditional instruments keep it feeling completely Chinese. It’s the kind of tune I would have been mesmerised (and terrified) by as a child.
Dhoad Of Gypsies – Double Flute (Algoza)
I came across this tune just recently, while I was putting together a mix for the Montreal label Multi Culti for their “Travellers” series. The music is from Rajasthan in India. I was amazed by how closely this resembles the Irish and Scottish whistle music that I grew up with. I’ve often talked about how closely related I think folk musics around the world often are, but I don’t normally come across examples as clear as this one!
Juana Molina – In The Lassa
I only discovered Juana Molina a couple of months ago, through her album Halo. It was one of the most exciting musical finds I have had for years. Every tune is absolutely incredible – so futuristic sounding, with delicate arrangements that sound quite simple and natural, but are deceptively complex.
Jun Kamoda – Blind Disco
This is such a wicked tune, exactly the kind of thing I like playing out. No real build up – just drops straight into superb rhythms. Impossible not to dance to this.
Alice Coltrane - Om Shanti
As a massive fan of Flying Lotus, I’ve been meaning to listen properly to Alice Coltrane for some time. I was so excited to find I absolutely love her music. This track is breathtakingly beautiful with wonderful harmonies. I think it is the ultimate, subdued and elegiac “end of the night” tune.
CAIN’s Raqis EP is out on Boogie Box on July 7, and the Sirin EP is out on Highlife on July 28
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