Friday, March 29, 2024
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Track Of The Day: Freddie Hubbard & Joe Henderson - Maiden Voyage
Credited to Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson. However, this is Herbie Hancock’s work and comes from one of my favourite albums evah! I suppose this was made when a lot of the second wave of seminal jazz artists were starting to level out and find even more interesting sonic routes. The suits have been ditched in films like these, and the dress is leaning towards ‘Miami Vice’, but that is just a slight distraction from the high degree of artistry on show here. You only have to read the comments to see how this music is working on a higher plane than most. Amazing, iconic, spiritual performances from everyone present.
Monday, March 25, 2024
Track Of The Day: Das Schloss Des Irrtums - Popol Vuh (SPV Recordings)
Some compositions come from nowhere to haunt you forever. Such is life, and also this particular piece. I can’t remember which part of the film it accompanies, nor if it is even in the film, or juyt present on the album. The fIlm itself, Herzog’s amazing reimagining of ‘Nosferatu’ I remember watching at Pete Hillis’s house on VHS shortly after it came out on the format, and being struck by its beauty and poetry. I was probably initially interested by Isabella Adjani’s presence, but soon got drawn in by the complete experience and Popol Vuh’s music is integral to this. There’s a, ahem, “dream-like” quality to it, and the fugue state sets in rather quickly once you realise you’re parcelled up in the experience. This particular track is a full-bodied gothic folk battery that has echoes of the middle ages within its walls. Something that feels essential to the story of what is essentially a time travelling being. An incredible piece from an incredible work. Another remake of which, I believe, is about to be released this year.
Saturday, March 23, 2024
ALFOS EBS46 - Sean Johnston (22-03-24)
The Something Else Muzka
Pull The Trigger Ft Aprico Quimbie
Mucky Pup Muzka
Pili Pili \[Coyote Double Drop Edit\] Jasper Van't Hof presents Pili-Pili
Balearic Jukebox - We Love Spacemen \[Master\]
The Fall - Blindness
Malibu Storm (Andrei Rusu Remix) Nic Arizona
What's Been Turning You On (System Olympia Instrumental)
Mon Oncle \[Cotton Bud Master\]
YUKSEK - Pura Onda (C'est pas l'oiseau jam Mix) feat. Julia Jean Baptiste \[2444 MAST\]
BabylonBlack\_VerdeHustle\_Dub
AcidMan Hudsons Choice & Franc Spangler
Golden Hour (feat. Jade PraiZe) (Edit) Dj Pippi & Willie Graff
Infinity Dalholt
Astronomy Duncan Gray?
Mirage (Jonny Rock Remix) Lost Souls Of Saturn
PETER GABRIEL - LOVE CAN HEAL - QUIET VILLAGE REMIX
Work For 7 Days Sex Judas feat. Ricky
REES - Mystic Daze (Downtempo Mix)
Floating The Flood (DALO Remix) Nic Arizona
Balam - Caravana Planetaria (Club Mix)
What's Been Turning You On (ASHRR SOUNDSYSTEM Instrumental)
CYRK – Fade 2 Gay Various Artists
Uj Pa Gaz - The Cove \[Cotton Bud Master\]
Wayne's World \[DEMO\] JoeLy
La Guardia De La Luz Feat. La Zorra Zapata - Tigre de Bengala 4424
A Little Love (Vinyl & Streaming Only)
Inner City Blues (Ben Gomori's Chuggy Pug Edit) \[THE EDIT\] \[BALEARIC\] Marvin Gaye
Chris Coco George Solar SIRS - Rumba Solar (SIRS Mix)
YUKSEK & DIOGO STRAUSZ - O Gato (Live Version) \[2444 MAST\]
Bullet of Dignity (Beyond The Wizards Sleeve Re-Animation)
Jorkes - Sissification Various Artists
C'mon Jordan
Früg (Edit) REES
Everything In It's Right Place-LV Edit
People Are Still Having Sex LATOUR
Mother Africa A.B.HABIBI
Gipsy (Prins Thomas Remix) Daughters & Sons
Radio Slave - The Lunatics (The Lunatics Club Mix) V3 PM
Guidance (original) Bandulu
Outta Limits (vocal dub) Mission Control
Helfy Mission A.B.HABIBI
Belly Dancer (Hotaru Edit) Hotaru
Searching 33 1 & 3 Queen
Virgo Mechanically Replayed (Dub) DJ Duke
Altered States (Ron Trent's Mothership mix) TRENT, Ron
Help Myself (Reconstructed By Carl Craig) Chez Damier
Transformation (Der Dritte Raum Remix) Transform
CYPHN10 - 02 - Emotive Technology - It's On \[m\] Emotive Technology
Lose Control (Tea With Quincy Mix) Dino Lenny
Patrick Cowley
The Beat Hifi Sean
Incognito (Original Mix) Justice
Papertrip Wallace
Volcano (Hercules & Love Affair (Dub) Daphne Guinness
Your Fault Raxon
Y.A.A.M. (Soulwax Version) Marie Davidson
Samuel L Session Feat. Elbee Bad - In The Dark (Sascha Dive's Into Darkness Remix) - 2 4424
Beskar Pitch Down Raxon
Cope (François K Remix) Dombrance
Rave Generator (Dancefloor Hit) TOXIC TWO
New Gold Dream/81/82/83/84 (German 12'' remix with Drums) Simple Minds
Love Will Find A Way Closing Mural
About Our Amore KOKO
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Track Of The Day: Freddie Hubbard - Straight Life (CTI)
Coming from the same general direction as much of what Miles Davis released around the same period, but not quite as abstract; Freddie Hubbard’s ‘Straight Life’ is the title track from the 1971 album. Not as rock influenced as what Miles was putting out, but a no less important fusion release. The musical roll of honour on this recording is up there with the best, and this video, recorded in 1975 with members of Return To Forever, is every bit as incredible. There’s clearly a strong latin spine running through this composition giving free reign to Airto on percussion and Chick Corea on keys, solidly underpinned by Stanley Clarke and Lenny White on bass and drums respectively All coalescing to highlight Hubbard’s horn.
Monday, March 18, 2024
Track Of The Day: Miles Davis - Concierto de Aranjuez Part 1 (Columbia)
As the day ends, this tune feels like it was composed for new beginnings.
Friday, March 15, 2024
Track Of The Day: My Friend Dario - Storm (James Bright Remix) (Nunorthern Soul)
Something to get your weekend off to what I hope is a good start. The type of track that Loyd Grossman would definitely think “has a nautical theme”. A dense, maelstrom of music, (fortunately), with deep cosmic vibes, this track is very definitely a scene setter and the electronic victorian gothic soundtrack to long walks along deserted beaches, preferably when the weather is menacing. Which is lucky, as I’m off to Holkham later on today. Lovely stuff.
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Track Of The Day: Oddworx - Sex And Non-Persons (Session Recordings)
One of the standout tracks from the Session Recordings oeuvre, whose linear bongoi beats crossed over into all manner of sets. It makes its presence felt on Terry Francis’ classic Essential Mix from 1998, as well as in the sets of Ricardo Villalobos which, according to Discogs, is responsible for pushing its price up. A great piece of minimal funk, the versatility of which marks it out as more than a dj tool. Shouts out to Steve and Lee for putting this one out.
Various Artists - [QR]D.081.TSM.24 (COD3 QR)
Title: [QR]D.081.TSM.24
Artist: Various
Label: COD3 QR
Cat Number: QR D 081 TSM 24
Genre: House/Techno
1: DJ Deep – What’s Going On
2: Avision – Hold No Groove
3: Deetron – Pulse
Laurent Garner oversees COD3 QR, a label whose motto is “music diversity is our strength”. Thus far, most releases have been various artist EPs which have observed this, while not necessarily straying too far from each other as far as respective genres are concerned. And this is an example of one such collection, with the deep, tribal leanings of ‘ ‘What’s Going On’, coming up against the techno loops of ‘Hold No Groove’ and then the more urgent and layered ‘Pulse’. There is a definite sense of progression throughout this release, intentional or not, and the tracks individually are extremely well -realised. It’s classic stuff though, genre – wise, and falls more into the functional category than anything else, very much doing what it says on the tin.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Track Of The Day: Paperclip People - The Climax (Re-worked) (Open)
One of the classics from Detroit that throws a curveball in amongst a lot of expectations and, in the process, comes to summarise what can only be described as a distillation of the whole house and disco experience. Carl Craig really was a unique producer and the brains behind so many key compositions. He had, arguably, already gone through his most fruitfully innovative period before this tune came out, by which time he was still only 25! Of course there were many more to come. However, it’s difficult to top this for sheer invention. All the disparate elements fall together like cards being shuffled. The bongoes, the guitar stabs, the kick, the bass, and the floating, gossamer light synth. Perhaps one of the most recognisable motifs of this period of electronic dance music, getting its chance to really shine in this version for around three minutes from 10:32. Truly spellbinding stuff.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Track Of The Day: D Mob - We Call It Acieed feat. Gary Haisman (FFRR)
Is it right to call this a novelty track? Definitely maybe, but it was adopted by ravers at the time and has one of the most memorable hooks ever. Its success definitely came as a surprise, not least to London Records who only coughed up enough to pay for a 2 minute video, the longer version being made later. I remember this coming on TOTP and, while it wasn’t a ‘Starman’ moment, it was certainly an unforgettable one. It reached number 1 in the US Billboard Dance/Club Play chart, and peaked at 3 in the UK, probably helped along by the predictable BBC ban, as it was seen to be condoning drug use. There’s nothing in the lyrics to support this, however. Which puts the ban squarely in the hysterical overreaction box. Great for sales though.
Saturday, March 09, 2024
Friday, March 08, 2024
Track Of The Day: DJ Healer - We Are Going Nowhere (All Possible Worlds)
I recently snaffled a copy of ‘Nothing 2 Loose’ and ‘Loops Of Infinity (A Rave Love Letter)’ after having received a very random email from All Possible Worlds. This piece of laid back trance comes courtesy of the former and is 12 minutes of perfection. I suppose the ‘O Superman’ like vocal will be the morsel that a lot of listeners hang on to in order to preserve some feeling of familiarity with what’s going on here. This is because what we have here is one of those tracks that has the power to alter the space time continuum. And it’s such an uncomplicated piece of music, isn’t it. The subtle harmonics do all the heavy lifting here and you’re carried along on a musical magic carpet. A track that should be played beginning to end, as nature intended. And then used wantonly to layer and enhance throughout the night.
Some Anonyomius Answers To Those Random Questions For A Work In Progress: 4
“The Book” Standard Questionnaire:
Have house and techno evolved as far as they can? No
Is it important to keep up to date with new product? Yes
If “house is a feeling”, are there any limits to what it can be? Err. Its also an attitude and culture! Aceeeeed!
Do you think that house/techno, etc, can survive without clubs? The music can but the social connection and culture will be lost!!! Forever :-(
If you are a DJ, etc . . .
How much of a typical set is composed of new tracks? 60-99% Possibly depending on how I feel and how many new tracks I have?
How far do you think a crowd can distinguish between what is old and new? Pretty well if its old school acid house classics?
What formats do you use? All but I prefer live and to have the ability of changing stuff on the fly..
When recording mixes, do you write track lists? Nope.. My mixes are mainly new live material that has just working titles for my reference.
If not, why not? Just explained above, Hello! LOL ;-) x
If you are a music lover:
How often do you go clubbing? Not as much as I would like..
Do you feel that a night club is a safe haven, an artificial construct or something else? Depends on where you go and who you go with.. It can be heaven or hell! I know which one I prefer! ;-)
Do you think you are treated well or badly when at a club? As stated above.. Hello again! ;-)
How much house and techno do you listen to in your free time? Enough, Then switch to something else depending on my environment and how I feel..
Where do you listen to it? Anywhere where there is a system!
In what form: specific tracks, albums, mixes? Too many to mention.. All of the good stuff! I try to avoid drivel.. ;-)
If you don’t go out but still consume the music and keep up to date with things in general:
How do you listen to music? All. Studio, Work, Home, Car, Headphones.. And occasionally hum a tune thats stuck in my head.. LOL
How much money do you spend on it and in what format? Not much these days. I make my own mostly.
How important is it to you? Quite.
Do you see it as an integral part of your lifestyle? What composing or buying records. The first very, the latter not so much.
How easy do you find it to describe the music you listen to? Pretty easily.
How much have house and techno evolved over the last 35 years, or since the inception of disco? Quite a lot but still haven’t matched some of the early works for creativity imo.
Why are we often “looking back in order to go forward”? To keep the standards high I suppose..
Do you think your musical taste has changed much over time? A little. Evolution and more tolerant to other genres mainly.
How? As above ^
If you are a music maker:
How long have you been making music? First synth in 1984. First release 1990.
Is this a full-time occupation for you? More like an illness.. ;-)
Are labels/genres important to you? Not really but of course having the support from an established label helps.
Do you listen much to similar music to what you make in your free time? Its good to check out the competition I suppose but not obsessively as you won’t find your own originality if you’re only trying to copy other peoples art and end up becoming a forger and there are plenty of those out there!!! Beware!
Thursday, March 07, 2024
Track Of The Day: Blake Saturday Night (Joshua's Vox) (Ideal)
It often feels surreal to listen back to some of these tracks and then see when they were released. 2001, blimey! Tracks like this pretty much took over at this time and were probably uppermost in a lot of people’s minds when it came to defining “tech house”. I suppose that’s pretty obvious as this tune pretty much nails it. House, a vocal, a more electronic feel and an augmentation of pace. And it’s not just another one of Joshua’s remixes either, a lot of which have a dubbed out feel. This is more strident and even though the vocal is paired down from the original, it is still allowed lots of breathing space. Whatever “tech house” was, it’s not what it is. In any case, it was simple. A coming together of anything from both genres that was suitable for dancing to and could be mixed together without a soundclash. Anything went, within reason. Not Balearic, but very close as far as the spirit of the moment was concerned. I’m talking in the past tense here, but shouldn’t be, as any discerning dance floor pushes this philosophy without having to think too hard.
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
Track Of The Day: Miles Davis - Shhh / Peaceful (CBS)
The first track off the first album of Miles Davis’ “electric period” (you can get some pills for that) and, a piece of music that is, imho, hard to top. Revolutionary at the time, as it fused both rock and jazz, and much better received by listeners to the former than the latter, ‘Shhh / Peaceful’ still has enough about it to mark it out as a piece of jazz, but that’s easy for me to say more than 50 years after its release. It’s also easy to understand how psychedelia was added to the mix and, subsequently, how it became so influential. More than anything though, its creation is part and parcel of Miles Davis’ willingness to reinvent himself and his determination to forge a completely new musical direction. The sound of the sunrising, simple as.
Doc Sleep - Cloud Sight Fade (Dark Entries)
Title: Cloud Sight Fade
Artist: Doc Sleep
Label: Dark Entries
Cat Number: DE-298
Genre: The Holistic Dance
1: Professor Eucalyptus
2: Lemon Zest
3: Pain Reader
4: Echo Azure
5: Water Sign
6: Cloud Sight Fade
7: Enchanted Static
After having released the more relaxed ‘Birds’ last year, Doc Sleep focusses more on the dance floor with ‘Cloud Sight Fade’, a varied and versatile feast of beats which, while functionally visceral, is deep enough to harbour introspection. I guess this is partly to do with the aura of the collection. The beats all have the attraction of being draped in some sort of tribal fug; something which is never more apparent than on a track like ‘Echo Azure’, which feels almost aboriginal. A similar ambience also emerges within ‘Water Sign’, whose heartbeat feels embedded within the Earth. The tempo is picked up on ‘Lemon Zest’ and ‘Cloud Sight Fade’, with the title track doing its abstract utmost to break the constraints of its context. The bookends each offer something tonally different, while restrained and portentous. ‘Professor Eucalyptus’ is a deep, atmospheric break beat symphony which paves the way for the more upfront ‘Lemon Zest’. And ‘Enchanted Static’ plays the collection out on a more solidified battery. In between, ‘Palm Reader’ is a piece of techno which feels like the accompaniment to being stranded in the eye of a hurricane. This is an album that has a consistently good sense of itself, as well as an intuitive comprehension of not only how to get feet moving, but also what is vital in guiding them to the correct place in order to do so.
Tuesday, March 05, 2024
Track Of The Day: A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray (François Kevorkian's Smoothie Mix) (Juice Box/Fontana)
I’ve always been confused by this release, as it’s credited to Lisa May and the release itself is ‘The curse Of Voodoo Ray’. There’s little to zero insight on Discogs, and the vocals on the original are credited to Nicola Collier. Anyway, there are zero vocals here, which was released around the same time as Francois K reemerged as a producer of some pedigree, (Not that he’d gone away. However, this release, along with the Floppy Sounds remixes that opened proceedings on his Wave label sort of reinvented him I think). This remix, like those he did of ‘Ultrasong’, has a spacey, minimal feel and continue to be unique and ahead of their time. Emphasising space and echo while driving forward with some momentum, this very overlooked version of a unique classic is some sort of template for a dub house experience.
Stevie Cox - Expansion EP (Optimo Music)
Title: Expansion EP
Artist: Stevie Cox
Label: Optimo Music
Cat Number: OMDD55
Genre: Multi Functional
1: Expansion
2: Slinky
3: The Golden Ratio (With Fossil Archive)
Or, to give it its full title, ‘Optimo Music Digital Danceforce 55-Stevie Cox-Expansion EP’. Both ‘Expansion’ and ‘Slinky’ were “made in one sitting after a really good Subculture night when I was feeling really inspired”. And this can be felt in the way the tracks, particularly ‘Expansion’ get the better of the artist. There is a real feel of spontaneity to ‘Expansion’, which threatens to veer wholesale into euro trance land, but emerges with its reputation intact, partly down to the enthusiasm it elicits, although ‘Slinky’ is the star of this particular show. It’s a piece of deep, stellar acid, the layers of which I’m still unpeeling. A fantastic piece of work that does everything right. What makes a good acid – inflected tune is restraint, and ‘Slinky’ has so much of it you wouldn’t mind if it was twice its length. ‘The Golden Ratio (With Fossil Archive)’ is the type of soaring drum and bass where the synths and added sonic embroidery carry the track every bit as much as the driving percussion. Definitely not a release to be easily pigeonholed, but one that shows off Stevie Cox’s undoubted versatility and preternatural understanding of the dance floor.
Monday, March 04, 2024
Some Anonymous Answers To Those Random Questions For A Work In Progress: 3
A1. I don’t play out much but usually all new (to me) tracks for each gig A2. some can, some can’t
A3. WAV files on TRAKTOR 3
A4. Yes
B1. Rarely, only to check good DJs , i am 55 yrs old
B2. In Norway where i live, nightclubs are over-policed by security, don’t feel safe at these , i work as a technician for a handful here, i wouldn’t pay for this for sure, so, artificial construct. Having done much of my real clubbing in London, it’s not the same anymore.....
B3. Here in Oslo,I have been treated badly a number of times even in my own clubs
B4. 1-2 hours per day on average
B5. Living room at night
B6. Both tracks and mixes, rarely albums
B7. Beatport, traxsource, labels like JUNO etc or on recommendation
B8. Laptop......Speakers daytime, headphones nighttime
B9. Hard to say, specifically $3 per track, so a set of 20, $60 , WAV files
B10. It’s everything, keeps me going
B11. Yes
B12. Electronic is the only encompassing term i believe, so not easily
B13. There is always new talent coming through but the new technology makes it possible for anybody to make a track, so the market is flooded with a lot of shite
B14. Classic records remain the same through time...inspiration innit? My 20 yr old record sell daily these days....i ́m amazed TBH
B15. Not really but i pick up new things/vibes, have gotten used to the scaninavian vibe here over the years (16), which in generally slower; slicker more disco-ey kinda vibe....a “genre” in itself i would say
C1. House? 30 years, music in general 40 years
C2. Not anymore, was in the 90 ́s, now just a hobby, but i do work in the music business full time as a technician and teacher
C3. just an indication really, great tracks found in obscure places are the best......”genre” i take lightly, it’s not that simple
C4. No
Peace out brother Paul x
Track Of The Day: The Poem - Bobby Konders - The Poem (Nu Groove)
First appearing on ‘House Rhythms’ on Nu Groove in 1990, before being rereleased on Desire Records in The UK under its own name, Bobby Konders’ ‘The Poem’ became an instant classic. ‘House Rhythms’, which also contains ‘Nervous Acid’ and Massai Women’ could also be a strong contender for most seminal house release ever. Set off by a reductive version of Mutabaruka’s ‘Dis Poem’, the track lets the bass and kick drive it into what feels like a very Marshall Jefferson influenced landscape; deep, humid and transcendental. After the spoken word, its most defining feature is probably the flute which, although it has a propensity to get noodly, works incredibly well. It doesn’t sound at all dated, and works its magic on many levels which probably helps it case to be considered one of the greatest deep house records ever.
C.A.R. - ANZU (Hardway Bros Remixes) (Ransom Note Records)
Title: ANZU (Hardway Bros Remixes)
Artist: C.A.R.
Label: Ransom Note Records
Cat Number: R$N39R
Genre: Chugtastic
1: Anzu (Hardway Bros Remix)
2: Anzu (Hardway Bros
Conqueror Knock Dub)
Kicking off meteorological spring here (whatever that means), with a pair of dance floor weapons courtesy of C.A.R. and Sean Johnston. The Hardway Brothers remix is quite a pacey piece of sacroiliac throwing four to the floor which, although it keeps its infrastructure intact, becomes slightly more abstract the longer it goes on. This leads to the dub, (as all roads do), which verily, does what it says on the tin. It’s also much more than a version of said track inasmuch as key elements are viewed through the looking glass and toyed with to the extend that they do become narcotically-effected facsimiles. Throughout both tracks, the vocal remains a distinguished and distinct feature, while the intensity of the listening experience is calibrated courtesy of the degree to which the many sonic embellishments present are leveraged according to their detail and ability to disorientate.
