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Listen to Checking It Twice, an exclusive festive playlist from Marian Hill

24 December 2014, 12:50 | Written by Laurence Day

Samatha Gongol and Jeremy Lloyd - AKA Philly electro duo Marian Hill - are well and truly into the celebratory atmosphere that arrives in time for holidays. While in the throes of eggnog-fuelled revelry and the odd mince pie or six, they managed to find time to create a special mix for Best Fit called Checking It Twice.

Not only that, but they've also provided a Track-by-Track guide as to exactly why these tunes made the cut. It features sumptuous noises from the likes of Drake, Purity Ring, Hozier and many more; need a break from the relentless tirade of sleigh bells (not the band)? Marian Hill have got you covered.

Check out their guide, and then find the mix below.

Flight Facilities & Christine Hoberg - "Clair de Lune"

JL: "Mmmmm this song is just so gorgeous. It has a unique atmosphere to it that you can just bathe in forever. I'd loved it for a while and recently played it for Sam and she has become OBSESSED. Such a lovely simple lyric too."

SG: "This song is wrenching to me for some reason. I love the pulsing synths. It reminds me of driving around L.A. late at night."

Usher & Juicy J - "I Don't Mind"

"This is our jam right now. Love the simple complexity of the chord progression - just two alternating triads but the bass underneath turns them into these juicy 7 chords. And that hook. Singing it all day."

Purity Ring - "push pull"

"This song surprised us in the best way - Purity Ring 2.0 right here. Same fascinating textured production with more forward pop-influenced melody that you can't get out of your head. Plus the chorus melody really pushes and pulls in it's contour. Dope stuff."

Drake - "Karaoke"

"We could never make a mix without throwing on a Drake track, so here's an old cut of his that we've been loving lately. Can't get enough of how seamlessly he slips between beautiful melodic writing and conversation hip hop lyricism. And the production on this one is still fresh and surprising years later."

Hozier - "Like Real People Do"

J: "We know we may be in the minority but this right here is our favorite Hozier song. I am also quite convinced that it's about a lonely zombie finding love. Sam and I actually argue about this a lot."
S: "It's not."
J: "It is."
S: "It's so tender, there's no way it's about zombies. If Hozier someday pronounces this is indeed about zombies, I'll be very upset."
J: "The precise genius of this song is that Hozier is painting a portrait of a human zombie, a zombie who deserves tenderness."

Ryan Hemsworth (feat. Dawn Golden) - "Snow In Newark"

J: "The sounds that begin this track are my favorite things. And the drums too, the acoustic natural feel of them. And the melody. And the lyrics. But really it's just all about those weird little lovely strange amazing vocal sample sounds."

BenZel & Ryn Weaver - "Touch"

"This track hits so hard and we love it. So into the stops and starts, there's so much space in the best way. And that final drop when the bass comes in... TASTY."

Yuna - "Someone Out of Town"

"This is an older one that we discovered recently, but it just has such an atmosphere to it - it's mesmerizing. Love the subtle changes in the little piano part on top of the mix. Good for driving/walking home at night."

Made in Heights - "Ghosts"

"Just such a great drum loop. Such a great vibe. We've been loving a lot of what these guys are doing, always simple and super tight."

The Weeknd - "Often"

"The other major jam of the moment. This is the song that when we're in the car on a way to a gig we turn WAY up and just let it knock. Those na na nas... and that 808 on the bridge... you can find us dancing around the apartment to this one."

Head here to absorb their party jams.

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