Mosaic Mix Series 053_Perrin

Steve O'Sullivan_MOSAIC · Mosaic Mix Series 053_Perrin

ALFOS EBS 15 - Sean Johnston (18-12-2020)

 

Tonka

 

The sad and untimely passing of Rev, a third of the legendary Tonka Soundsystem along with Choci and Harvey, was just another kick in the bollocks that 2020 has so far specialised in. I didn't know him personally, but definitely danced to his sets because I was a student in Brighton when he graced The Zap. Memories are very hazy, which is as they should be. I definitely took advantage of the pervasive substances . . . and thinking back to those days makes me realise that, like every frozen moment in time, they'll never come back, and will have to be appreciated for what they were and will continue to be in the minds of those who were there. Just like their protagonists.

I don't like to look back and say that "it was much better back in the day". Time marches on and things change and evolve. However, the videos posted here  encapsulate an innocence which, along with the previously posted 'A Short Film About Chilling', will never be captured in quite the same way again, no matter what. And when I see my kids, and I compare myself with them at their various ages and stages, I feel happy to have lived through such an era in my own way. I mean going to the gym does have some positives, but it’s not very mind expanding.

So I’ll be writing a post very soon on the originality of the British DJ. Nothing jingoistic or boasty, just a piece on why I think they deserve their own niche. For now though, here’s a glimpse into an age which I refuse to think is bygone.

I only came across these videos for the first time a couple of days ago via Twitter. There are more on the excellent "The Nearest Faraway Place", which I've linked to above.

Moving Foward Into The Past EP - Theiz (EPM)

 

Title: Moving Forward Into The Past EP

Artist: Theiz

Label: EPMusic

Cat Number: EPM87

Genre: Techno

1: Moving Forward Into The Past

2: Motor City Bliss

3: The Beauty Of Machines

4: Motor City Bliss (Carl Finlow Remix)

Theiz, returns after a long hiatus with an understated piece of work that is his first since 2005’s ‘Backyard Soundtrack Vol. 1’, an ambient collection which saw a digital only release. Of the four tracks here, both mixes of ‘Motor City Bliss’ stand out: the original being a piece of airy, Detroit-inspired stellar techno; the latter interpreted in a slower, more grinding electro fashion by Carl Finlow. ‘Moving Forward Into The Past’ is a subtle piece of beat driven ambience that has a nice whirly noise throughout and is made for walking down unlit streets. ‘The Beauty Of Machines’ picks up the pace, but not much, the groove’s lack of fluidity is interesting, as is its respiratory effect. 

The Shadow Acid Files EP - Shadow Acid (Exalt)

 

Title: The Shadow Acid Files EP 

Artist: Shadow Acid

Label: Exalt Records

Cat Number: Exalt 003

Genre: Techno/Breaks

A1: Brainforest
B1: Diode Ladder
B2: Another Chance
C1: Timescape (Extrawelt Remix)
C2: Seahawk
D1: Timescape (EP version)
D2: Loop 1
D3: Loop 2
D4: Loop 3
D5: Loop 4
D6: Loop 5
D7 Loop 6

The world of Shadow Acid is dense, pounding and sometimes claustrophobic. The flip side to that is an  deft use of eponymous flourishes that always allows the music to breath and, in doing so, creates space and new worlds. Once impetus has been gained a new species of music of the spheres is born with its focus on throwing shapes rather than chin stroking, you can do that too though. ‘Brainforest’ is thirteen minutes long, but doesn’t feel it, the whimsical flourishes of the 303 plotting its course as the crow flies. This sets the tone for the rest of the record. ‘Diode Ladder’ and ‘Another Chance’ squiggle their way forward with great vitality, while both versions of ‘Timescape’ are similar enough, but distinguished by the deeper bass of the remix. ‘Seahawk’ is the most radical tune here, going all out towards the end after having been quite placid before. And it’s bass and breaks which guide these tracks every bit as much as acid styles, coalescing to show off a dynamic sonic range. 

Gastronomic Delights: Boeuf Bourguignon

Gastronomic Delights: Boeuf Bourguignon

So a long time ago I did an imaginatively entitled series of mixes called ‘Gastronomic Delights’. These were all by me and each episode was named after a classic dish. (They are still preserved within these pages, but the links to the mixes don’t work anymore.) I liked that series because I’m sure they got this blog more traffic as passing trade would happen upon the name of the meal, follow the link and, probably unexpectedly, be introduced to some great music in the process. 

This mix marks the return of said series. It’s also the first mix I’ve done this year. I don’t know why this has been the case as I’ve been home a lot more, but the obvious change of routine hasn’t meant more time behind the decks. I also don’t have a track list for this, but I will try and retrace my steps over the next week or so.

Here is Michel Roux Junior’s recipe for Boeuf Bourguignon. I follow my own instinctive path to culinary perfection where this party on as plate is concerned. I don’t use brandy or the tiny onions, but would if I had either, just to see.

Boeuf Bourguignon

“Some recipes suggest marinating the beef for 24 hours or more, but I find this makes for a gamey flavour that’s not entirely true to the original. Like all braised dishes, this is best eaten a day or two after it’s made – simmer gently to reheat and add the garnish just before serving so that it’s bright and fresh. Boiled potatoes are the classic accompaniment but mash is more to my taste.” – Michel Roux Jr

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 bottle of red Burgundy wine

700g braising beef (chuck is good but cheek is best)

plain flour, for dusting

vegetable oil

1 onion, peeled and sliced

2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

60ml brandy

1 bouquet garni, made up of thyme, bay leaf and parsley stalks

400ml beef or veal stock (see below)

2 tbsp cold unsalted butter

salt

black pepper

Garnish

3 tbsp unsalted butter

12 brown-skinned cocktail or button onions (or small shallots), peeled

12 young carrots, peeled

120g smoked streaky bacon rashers or ventrèche, cut into thin strips

12 button mushrooms, wiped

juice of ½ lemon

Method

Pour the wine into a saucepan and boil until reduced by half. Trim the beef and cut it into 3cm cubes, then dust with flour. Heat a frying pan until very hot, add a dash of oil and brown the beef well on all sides. Do this in batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan. Preheat the oven to 160°C/Fan 140°C/Gas 3.

Once all the beef has been browned and set aside, discard the oil and add a tablespoon of clean oil, the sliced onion and crushed garlic. Cook until the onion is brown and caramelised, then put the meat back in the pan. Add the brandy, followed by the reduced wine, and simmer for 2–3 minutes.

Pour everything into a cast-iron casserole dish, then season and add the bouquet garni and stock. Bring to a simmer, skim well to remove any surface scum and cover loosely with a lid or greaseproof paper. Place in the oven and cook until the meat is tender – this should take 1½–2 hours, depending on the cut. Leave to cool, then take the meat out of the dish and set aside. Skim to remove any fat, then pass the liquid through a sieve into a pan. Boil until it thickens to a sauce, then add the meat. Cover and chill until needed.

To prepare the garnish, melt a tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and add the onions, seasoning, 2 tablespoons of the sauce from the beef and 4 tablespoons of water. Braise the onions until they are shiny and cooked through. Put the carrots in a pan with just enough water to cover and most of the rest of the butter. Season and bring to a gentle boil, then cook until almost all the liquid has evaporated and the carrots are tender and shiny with butter. Brown the strips of bacon in a frying pan. Sweat the mushrooms in a little butter until cooked but still firm and add seasoning and lemon juice.

To serve, gently reheat the boeuf bourguignon on the hob while you prepare the garnish. Add a couple of knobs of cold butter to enrich and shine the sauce, then garnish with the onions, carrots, bacon and mushrooms. Take the dish to the table for everyone to admire, then serve in wide bowls.

Corporal Pun EP - Begg (Null+Void Recordings)

 

Title: Corporal Pun EP

Artist: Begg

Label: Null+Void Recordings

Cat Number: NUL007D

Genre: Beats & Pieces

1: Corporal Pun

2: Crackin

3: Attenzione

4: Prelect

5: Sila

There’s nothing like a release that defies easy description to get the hyperbole flowing. Having said that, although this doesn’t fit into any specific category, what Begg has produced here does have a whiff of something whimsical, a tone which has been skulking in the background for a while now but hasn’t quite gone  full blown yet. It’s the music of synthetic nursery rhymes, some of which is how ‘Bagpuss’ might have sounded if sound tracked by Delia Derbyshire. ‘Attenzione’ and ‘Prelate’ debunk this approach somewhat, taking a more upfront route, the riddim being wonkier and punchier. The title track and ‘Sila’, however, bookend the beats with a more hauntalogical feel, while ‘Crackin’ is the sound of automatons gently coming to life and running riot in a toy shop before slowly sliding back to sleep.

Dekmantel Podcast 309 - Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy

dekmantel · Dekmantel Podcast 309 - Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy