TuneLab
Jody Wisternoff - Trails We Blaze
Jody Wisternoff’s 2012 'Trails We Blaze' mix is a deep house foundational text, a reminder of when melody and groove held equal weight in the underground. The vibe is that of a classic afterhours, smoke-filled and soulful, where every track feels like a secret handshake. Locked at an average 123 BPM, it navigates primarily through the 12A key, with ventures into 3B and 7A for emotional shading.
The energy is deeply rooted in the low-end (0.66), creating a warm, pulsating bed over which mid-range melodies (0.31) and occasional vocal snippets dance, with minimal high-end (0.03) for a smooth, rounded sound. Wisternoff’s mixing here is timeless—long, hypnotic blends that prioritize mood over flash. The tracklist is a deep dive: the opener 'How You Make Me Smile' is pure, jazzy deep house bliss; Gullen & Anders.’s 'Nostaw' remix is a driving, atmospheric gem; 'Back To Me' showcases Jody’s own production prowess.
The inclusion of 'Tinlicker & Robert Miles - Children' is a masterstroke of nostalgic recontextualization, and deeper cuts like Sounom & Sagou’s 'Everyday Moments' remix are for the true diggers. It all begins with the smiling warmth of 'How You Make Me Smile', journeys through percussive and melodic highs, and ends on the iconic, reframed euphoria of that 'Children' edit.