Daniel Paul Cortez, aka Ghetto, is a Minneapolis staple. His deep crates and dynamic sets have earned him the reputation of one of the city's most versatile and visionary DJs. He is an important referent in techno and deep house scenes but frequently plays even deeper, delving into stacks of old soul, jazz, and disco when the gig allows for it.

He is one of my very favorite DJs, which explains why I've been asking him to do a mix for the site for about two years now.  Typically very busy with gigs and shy around recording devices, his sets have remained--for the most part--a Twin Cities secret, for local enjoyment only. But after much nagging, I finally got Daniel Paul to agree to put one down for ODDIOFILE.NET.

The results do not disappoint. This Guestmix is a rare glimpse into Ghetto's world, a mellow and melodic journey through the deep end of his record box.  It's a quiet and beautiful mix, contemplative and cinematic.

For me the set conjures vivid, pleasant memories.  The elegant chords take me back to the hush and solitude of Minneapolis winters.  The hollow soul of drum machines evoke the particular smell of basement clubs with sweaty dancefloors when it's below zero outside.  So here I am, awash in past experiences and vaguely nostalgic, remembering 4pm sunsets, warehouse parties, the sound of boots in fresh snow--so many things absent from my life now. I also find myself remembering house, the really good kind. The kind that made us first love the music. The kind so few seem capable of making these days.

There are so few DJs who can paint with records; Daniel Paul is one of them.  Thank you, Ghetto. 

ODDIOFILE GuestMix 04 • Daniel Paul's "ODDIOFILE Mix"

• 1. Marcus Todd - Y2k Funk - Kool Groove Records
• 2. Sean Grant - Untitled - Zestland Records
• 3. Untitled (Mike Huckaby) - Untitled - NDATL Muzik
• 4. The Lady Blacktronika & Mattski - All These Good Feelings (Dubbyman & Above Smoke Remix) - Deep Explorer
• 5. Daryl Cura - Wide Open - Eargasmic Recordings
• 6. KZR - Circus - NDATL Muzik
• 7. Moodymann -LT1 #2 - KDJ
• 8. Abacus - Erotic Illusions - Slip 'n' Slide
• 9. Glance - On One - STIR15 Recordings
• 10. The Rotating Assembly - Illumination (Reprise) - Sound Signature
• 11. Dished-Out Bums - A Glass Of Chianti - Yoshitoshi Recordings
• 12. J.T. Donaldson & Chris Penny - Changing Times (Pt. 1)- Juice Bar
• 13. Second Crusade - The Choice Is Yours (Rare Groove Mix)
• 14. Love Birds - Feel The Bird - Trax Of Interest
• 15. Ronny Jordan - The Law (Illegal After Hours Mix) - Island Records

 LISTEN | DOWNLOAD 

Musically, this has been a year of almosts.  I almost won the BBE Mixtape Competition, and was one of five finalists in the Bench WHP Competition.  But wait!  Just when you thought computer mixing and exhaustively rehearsed CDJ sets were going to take all the trophies, there's one competition left.

Despite sending in a mix that in my own estimation is "me trying to get by on just a couple big records" for the semi-finals, I just barely made the finals of the 2010 Bring The Heat Disco Battle (by a single vote) and might actually win something in 2010 OT.  My chances are worse than slim (I'm going up against a real disco badass, Mr. Sean Sounds), but at least I know the playing field will be level on this one.

Here are my sets from the first and second rounds.  (If you missed the contest, you missed the mp3s.)  Stay tuned for the finals in mid January.