Easter Mix and Detritus & Jamie Jones, Robert Babicz Words

The last of the chocolate museum photos. Funny how they look just like my kids and their mates . . .

This week's show featured a Dave Kelso showcase, as well as a running interview with Dave throughout the show:


Puritan Fist – Two Lone Swordsmen (Rotters Golf Club)
I'll Lick Your Spine (Repeat Repeat mix) – Let's Go Outside (Pnuma)
Milo's Groove – Robert Babicz (Systematic)
Mouth to Mouth (Whorenando's Couch to Couch mix by Konrad Black Edit) – Audion (Spectral)
U Are Like Sunray – Davide Squillace (CMYK)
Hi Tech Dreams – UR (Submerge)
Thujon – Daso (Connaisseur)
Aura – Motorcitysoul (Stir15)
Boul de Gum – David K (Freak n' Chic)
Boney M Down – Lindstrom (Eskimo)

Dave Kelso:

Matt Lowe's a Soldier
Patience
Untitled
Blimpdk
Absences Doesn't . . .
Chris Jones is a Soldier
Engnag

Extrapezlo – Alex Under (Trapez)
Long Green – Brett Longman (Clever)

I'm getting sent a bit of stuff these days, so I think it's time to open a reviews column. I've reviewed stuff on this blog in the past, and I've got links to the reviews section of Resident Advisor on the right of this page, but now I plan to stick stuff on this page regularly. So here we go . . .

Get Lost 2
Jamie Jones
(Crosstown Rebels)

Rising star of the London techno underground, Jamie Jones, whose main claim to fame up to now is having been behind Freak n' Chic's biggest seller "Amazon," steps behind the decks to show us what he's made of. Anyone expecting a mix in the vein of label head Damien Lazarus will be surprised, as Jamie forsakes the full-on for a deeper, more introspective groove. A friend of mine, who will remain nameless, once described the experience of listening to a Jamie Jones set similar to hearing "a homosexual Terry Francis," and it's not surprising why. I can only assume that the 'homosexual" was mentioned due to the depth and warmth of Jone's sets (don't know what I'm getting at here, to be honest), and having heard Terry spin on many an occasion, I can definitely understand the comparison.

Anyway I digress. This cd weighs in at sixteen tracks, five of which come from the Rebels stable, one is a forthcoming release from Jones himself, "Panama City," whilst others come from producers on fire, (and Jones favourites) Jennifer Cardini and Shonky, the perennial Dennis Ferrer, sometimes Seasons artist Franck Rodger and Larry Heard (feat. Mr White). These deeper tracks nestle comfortably together with the more jacking fare of Jeremy Caulfield and Sebbo (it's when these tracks meet that the mix peaks) while another Jones staple, Plasmik contributes another future Rebels track, as well as a Ripperton remix.

Minor quibbles aside (the inclusion of five Rebels tracks, a piece of strategic product placement?), this is a good mix that is more than the sum of it's parts. It's not going to set the world on fire, but in these days of instant gratification it's good to hear something that demands a bit more patience from it's intended audience, patience which is ultimately rewarded.

A Cheerful Temper
Robert Babicz
(Systematic)

Acid house/techno veteran Robert Babicz comes up with the goods for Marc Romboy's on form Systematic label. This is an unashamed club trax album that both moves and evokes. It's fair to say that this music has a frozen, epic feel to it that could only have been produced in a European environment but what makes it stand out is Babicz's experience in production, which gives this collection a head start in the sound quality department.

There's also a range of moods evident in the compositions that is rare in this format. The album is well programmed and the different pieces add and subtract from one another on a variety of levels. Not just in keeping up a momentum that alleviates any boredom, but also in subtly varying the dynamics and the underlying perspective from track to track. "Warsaw" jumps out of the mix, and appears three dimensional compared to "Neoreplicator" which comes before. "Imperial Star" is an updated version of Robert's massive club hit from 2005 "Battle Star" (Punkt), and is more restrained and linear than it's predecessor.

All in all this is a strong album that preserves the essence of the dark, sweaty dancefloor with only a single strobe for company. It's as sophisticated as club music production gets, and that's not because of the compositions themselves, all of which are strong, but due to the care and attention to detail implicit throughout.


And finally I thought I'd get my act together and do a mix. Download it here . . .

Here's a tracklisting.

Intro: Sleep Characteristics
The Siren (Jahcoozi's Marc Jacobs Handbag remix) – Unknownmix (Playhouse)
Kungstradgarden – The Persuader (Svek)
Galaxy 82 – Makossa and Megablast (Gstone)
State of Mind – Motorcitysoul (Lo-Fi Stereo)
Magic – Harry Axt (Grand Petrol)
Save Me – Marc Antona (Micro Fibres)
Zapped – Johnny Fiasco (Cajual)
My Definition – The Martinez Brothers (Objektivity)
Species – Redshape (Present)
Gravelifter – Foremost Poets (Soundmen on Wax)
Meteor Im Eis (Guido Schneider remix) – Tom Clarke (Highgrade)
Violet – Nick Hoppner (Ostgut Ton)
When the Funk Hits the Fan (Mood ll Swing When the Dub Hits the Fan) – Sylk 130 (Ovum)
Dopamin – Robag Wruhme als Ralf Olsen (Freude am Tanzen)
Hi Tech Dreams – Underground Resistance (Submerge)

Done with two Technics 1210s, two Pioneer CDJ 200s, and an Allen and Heath Xone:32 on Easter Sunday 2007 at Chateau Corey inna Babraham. The first of a monthly cut out and keep series.

Horseplay Live Set: 31/3/07

Get Le Jockey and Tom Akam's set here.

Bear with me on the audio. It's the first one I've done and I need practice!

More to come. A mix from yours truly next week. The excitement is palpable.

Horseplay at The Box Tree 31/3/07

. . . and a good time was had by all. Great crowd at The Box Tree last Saturday. However, the postion of the decks behind the bar and the speakers/monitors down the other side of the room meant that proper mixing was impossible. Before you go on about “bad workmen blaming their tools . . .” the sound was shite from where I was playing and it's made my decision not to post up my, Dave Kelso's and Sam's sets very easy indeed. We wrestled with insurmountable odds and didn't do too badly, but glitches are present so I'm not putting them up for download. I will try and get Jockey and Tom Akam's set up by the end of the week.

Chart to come very soon . . .

Machines Playlist 24/3/07 & Competition & Other Musings

A good show last night. No guests but after the shenanigans of the night before at The Junction I wasn't really in the mood to interact. I think I spoke a bit too much over and in between tracks, and my voice definitely sounded a bit huskier than usual, but apart from that a highly enjoyable couple of hours. The night before had seen the arrival of “Kill 'Em All Let God Sort It (or is it them?) Out” in Cambridge. I arrived during just before The Righteous Rockers took to the main stage. Before them some band were playing. The first thing that struck me was how the sound had improved since my last visit. Anyway there I was busy lapping up The Righteous Rockers dj set when Harry Sword commented on how shit the sound was, and when I said it was a vast improvement on the last time I'd been, and how I was enjoying the music, that too was derided for being cheesy by Priory resident The Fish.

The upstairs room opened at 11:30 for The Priory and was rammed from the start. I wa up there for the duration making occasional sorties downstairs. At 2 I wandered downstairs for the rest of the night and Erol Alkan was opening his set. First track I caught was “Let's Dance” by David Bowie, causing me to rewind a couple of decades to when The Tube played the video of said track as a “worldwide exclusive. It was a bit of a big deal a it was something of a change of direction/beginning of a new era (the end?) for Bowie. I always preferred his Iggy Pop penned follow up “China Girl” though.

Anyway, here's the playlist for Saturday's show:

Auf Dem Hot (Freaks Funk That Disco 2006 re-do) – Kalabrese (Stattmusik)
Disco Sick – Alexander Robotnik (Hot Elephant Music)
Temptation – GummiHZ (Mobilee)
Stolen From The Jake (Droido remix) – Gary Beck (Fine Art Recordings)
La Fee Verte – Daso (Connaisseur)
Merman – Sian (Karmarouge)
Cuckoo (Motorcity Soul remix) – Brett Johnson (Freerange)
Cult Copy (Dexter's Dikke Cult Copy mix) – Aardvarck (Rush Hour)
Eirtanz – Touane (LAN)
Summer In The Wood – Mudd (Rong Music)
Hybrid – Mauler (Trapez Ltd)
Jewelsweet Grove (Kiki remix) – Jesse Somfay (Audio Invaders)

Ralph Lawson Fabric Radio Mix:

Escape – Paul Woolford aka Bobby Peru (20/20 Vision)
It's So (Will Saul remix) – Content (Simple Records)
Metro Transit – Sebo K (Get Physical)
Let Me Dance – Martin Landsky (Poker Flat)
Title Unknown (Jesse Rose remix) – Soho Dolls (Label Unknown)
Pecan – Microfunk (Remote Area)
Gravity (Peter Dildo remix) – Sasse (Moodmusic)
8 Bit – Mike Shannon (Cynosure)

And the competition question, to win two copies of the excellent new Mudd LP “Claremont 56” (Rong Music) is the stunningly simple

Which city is the home to Rong Music?

Please reply by leaving a comment on this blog and don't forget to leave all contact details. Alternatively, you can reply to paulcorey1@yahoo.com or to machines@209radio.co.uk. The competition will be kept open until the 10/4.
And finally, as mentioned before there is to be a party at The Coldham's Lane warehouse complex/industrial estate/fucking impossible place to find your way out of in the middle of the night when you're pissed. I received this email from Mr Tom Hallmark towards the end of last week, and it's so dramatic I just had to reproduce it word for word.

"Yes it true, Flex will happen on July the 14th Hosted
by me Davo and Pickles. Mr C has confirmed (payment
being a mattress), Le Jockey, Alex pickles + Tom
Hallmark back to back, Ian P, not sure if Mark Henning
is booked yet, also trying to get Jane Fitz of peg
down but shes unsure of her commitments.
All the best mate
T"


And before I forget, another reminder that the latest Horseplay Records party at The Box Tree is this coming Saturday 31/3, featuring yours truly, Sam I Am, Dave Kelso, Tom Akam and of course Le Jockey. TTFN.


Oh, and another thing. Reading matter at the moment is the excellent
“Paris The Secret History” by Andrew Hussey. Andrew obviously has a liking for the seedy side of life and wastes no opportunity to include sex, drugs and as many grisly execution details as he can in his wonderful tome. He acknowledges a debt to Peter Ackroyd's “London The Biography” and having read the latter I can say that “Paris . . .” so far stands up well to it. Excellent stuff and just the thing to take the edge off all the miserable twats on my bus every morning.

Machines Are Funky: 24/3/07

Something I don't normally do is preview my radio show on this blog, normally because I forget, so in an attempt to remedy this, here's a blurb for Saturday's broadcast.


On this week's emission I'll be giving two lucky listeners the chance to win Mudd's new cd on Rong Music “Claremont 56” and featuring a Ralph Lawson Fabric mix. As well as this , you'll be exposed to plenty of wonderful new music, the like of which I can scarcely contemplate.

Check the 209 or show link at the side. The Lawson mix will be the Fabric radio promo one. I wasn't too impressed with the actual release, which wasn't bad but just didn't stand out. I've also recently taken delivery of "Get Lost 2" mixed by Jamie Jones on Crosstown Rebels and "Boogie Biytes 3" by Modeselektor on BPitch. The Jamie Jones is definitely more up my particular strasse, but more on that sometime soon.

Will be checking out Erol Alkan and local heroes The Priory at "Kill 'em All . . . " at The Junction this Friday 23/3, and playing the latest Horseplay Records party at The Box Tree on the 31/3 along with Le Jockey, Sam I Am, Tom Akam and Dave Kelso. I've also just heard that there will be another party at the famed Coldham's Lane warehouse on the 14/7, nearly a year after the last one. DJs on the night will include Le Jockey, Mark Henning and Mr C (apperently becuase he's bought a mattress off the venue owner and decided the best payback was to spin). I'll believe it when I see it, but anyone with more authoratitiive knowledge on this matter is welcome to leave a comment.

Bottom Heavy Photos

You can see some photos from last week's Bottom Heavy here. Thanks to Doppler for the link.

The Bottom Heavy Jinx

The Bottom Heavy jinx struck again last night. I've now missed the last two due to events beyond my control. I suppose last night was in my control, but when you've just become a father and your partner has the impression (rightly or wrongly) that she's doing everything and you're gallivanting around town without a care in the world, discretion is called for. I hope you had a good birthday Largo. Sorry I couldn't be there. So no photos of Trevor Rockliffe, etc , on the blog today. Still, not to worry. I've got another ancient Mayan carving from the Bruges Museum of Chocolate for you.

Been listening to loads of stuff recently. Very impressed with “Claremont 56” by Mudd aka Paul Murphy on Rong. Opened the show with a track from it last night. Psychedelic disco/soul is how I'd describe it. If I was a wine critic, I'd be saying stuff like “I'm getting The Mamas and The Papas on my palate, with an explosion of The Byrds combined with Arthur Russell . . .” which is nice. I've just reviewed “Fuse Presents Steve Bug” on Music Man for Resident Advisor. If they accept it it'll be linked on the right. If not I'll put the review up here within the next few days. It's very good by the way. Got myself a copy of the new “Get Lost 2” mixed by Jamie Jones on Crosstown Rebels, more on that later, and Fabric have just sent me the new “Fabric Live 33” mixed by Spank Rock. A good few days intensive listening coming up.

It's been a lovely day here inna Babraham. So lovely in fact that I'm going to barbecue half a leg of lamb and make a gratin Dauphinoise to accompany it. Mustn't forget the red wine. How's about a Bordeaux 2005? Still a bit young, but widely regarded as one of the best years in living memory; no such luck. It's a Corbieres from Budgens in Sawston. A few more days like today and little Marcel's crying will be easier to bear.




This week's show was originally going to feature Kittenflux and Subculture stalwart Dave Kelso. He ran into a spot of bother on the day of the show though, so Ed Sexton of Badger Attack bravely stepped into the spotlight at short notice. Thanks again, Ed.

The first part of the show featured a two part interview with Ed.

Speilplatz – Mudd (Rong)
Material World – Comtron (Rush Hour)
Let Me Dance (Sebo K remix) – Martin Landsky (Poker Flat)
Revoltec – Sven Weissmann (Styrax Leaves)
Jazz – Brendan Moeller (Third Ear)
Flower – Fuckpony (Get Physical)
Dig Your Own Rave – Zander VT (Memo)
Berghain – Aril Brikha (Kompakt)
Verde Confeti (Pan Pot remix) – Damian Schwartz (CMYK)
Swoon (Shonky remix) – MIA (Substatic)

Ed's Mix (Badger Attack Fireside Favourites)

Scarlito – Mikael Weill (Karat)
Bash the Bishop – Sweet n' Candy (Dumb Unit)
Am I Bothered Though? - Mark Henning (Found Sound)
Ruby Darling – Mossa (Morris Audio)
Tanz der Polymere (Hemmann & Kaden remix) – Misc (Sender)
Black Worm – Funk d'Void & Phil Kieran (Soma)
Positive Education (Richie Hawtin's Stripped mix) – Slam (Soma)
Strip Down – Glimpse (Glimpse)
Two Bags of Grass – Loway (Dorigen Music)

Thanks also to Axel for being the Duty Manager at the studio for my show.

It's now about four hours later and I've just had dinner. The lamb was cooked to perfection and the gratin, despite having a bit too much liquid, was also very good. I'm sitting in front of the tv with
Marcel, who is starting to make gurgling noises, watching some football. I was playing the Jamie Jones mix cd and came downstairs a couple of tracks from the end, sounded good. Easy to hear/see why certain people in the know have compared him to Terry Francis. The Spank Rock cd is yer typical mash up. Well executed but not really my cup of tea. Some more detailed feedback to follow. Have a good week.

Stratospherik Chart

I thought I'd put a few words down about a new net label run out of Barcelona called “Stratospherik.” It's three releases old at the moment and while what it produces isn't necessarily ground breaking it's certainly good, deep techy house and absolutely gratis. The releases are, in chronological order:

In an Empty Room/Threshold – Clarke Cassidy
LaidMeBack/Dainty Day – Stratoliner
Mindnone/Nippondark – Clarke Cassidy

I'm a big fan of mood setting music that does exactly what it says on the tin, no strings attached. If you've ever wondered why, in The F Word, uberchef Gordon Ramsay almost always gets his arse kicked when he challenges someone to make a better dessert than him, it's because he insists on being too clever. He puts secret ingredients in his brownies that completely ruin the flavour and the expectation. He creates something else which, while tasting nice isn't what was wanted. I want my roast potatoes to be crispy on the outside, fluffy inside and seasoned simply with some sea salt, black pepper and maybe a little flat leaf parsley on top (oh, and don't forget to use goose or duck fat in the oven with them if available). I've never been able to understand most titles in techno or house. It's all about evocation I suppose, but I definitely think that Clarke Cassidy's first double header contains more than a hint of the words used. One of my favourite titles of any piece of music has to be “Condor to Malaga” by Jeff Mills. Whether the music fits the title or not, I feel like I'm flying over the Med when I listen to that track. Likewise, I'm having a dainty day when I listen to Sratoliner's track of the same name. The stylings are almost oriental in this one and it lays down a metronomic groove that takes it up a notch from it's predecessor “Laidmeback.” By the time we've got to the third release “Mindnone” we've come full circle and we're back with Mr Cassidy's kick drum. Listening to these three in order does give one a sense of symmetry. Stratoliner injects some uncertainty and drugginess into the proceedings and this flows over into “Mindnone” which is toughened up by an off key bass that harmonises with a disembodied vocoder. “Nippondark” is perhaps the most overtly sinister of all the tracks on offer here, with it's rumbling, industrial sub bass and busy Duracell bunny-like snare drum. You can find all these tracks here. I've no idea who made them, but that shouldn't stop any one wanting to inject their sets with some darkness from snapping them up pronto.

Here's a chart. Didn't have time to do one last month, what with babies being born and all that. Again, what you read about might not be amazingly recent, just the stuff that I'm playing at the moment.

My Rendition – The Martinez Brothers (Objektivity): I've written enough about this one already. Click on the link opposite to read my full Resident Advisor review.

Tranquillite – Jens Zimmermann (K2): A lot going on here, and a bit of a departure for K2. Disembodied Gregorian chants and a murkiness keep this one going through a miasma of unsettling but rhythmic percussion.

Whenever – Dolly la Parton (Bemysheep): First came across this one on the Marco Carola Fabric mix cd. It's Alex Under at the controls and the Robert Hood-like harmonics that he's taken a notch or two higher are dribbling in and out of the driving beat.

Czeslawa – Ben Klock (Ostgut Ton): The stamp of Robert Hood again, more noticeable on “Warszawa” than “Czeslawa.” It's debatable whether Klock and his ilk really realise that they are making something derivative (and I mean that in the nicest possible way) because this stuff sounds so fresh. “I remember (adopts the voice of a venerable old reptile) buying “Minimal Nation” on Axis in the mid 90s and they all thought I was mad.”

Dig Your Own Rave – Zander VT (Memo): Named after the legendary T Bar Sunday daytime knees up of the same name. Melancholy and optimistic simultaneously.


Galaxy 82 – Makossa & Megablast (GStone): Not an imprint that usually crosses my path, but I've got the good people at Phonica to thank for this one. Asking what a certain record on the wall was, I was given this to accompany it, as they were both from the same label. My original request didn't cut it, but this one more than does. An early evening crowd pleaser as well as and end of night floor shaker.

Alone on Mars – Redshape (Present): I'm really checking everything by Redshape at the moment and not being even slightly disappointed. Classy Detroit-inspired but entirely European techno. Not nosebleed but tear-jerking.

Housemusic/State of Mind – Motor City Soul (Lo Fi Stereo): Classy 21st Century house that houses more than it techs. “State of Mind” is the one for me. Underpinned by a bass line you've definitely heard somewhere before, a keyboard stabs away insistently bringing the track to a hands-in-the-air climax. Check the recent remixes for Fuckponydelic on Cocoon and for Dani Casarano on Connoisseur Superior which are both superb.

Viellees Canadiennes EP – Luci (Titbit): Montreal's Luci comes correct with a four track EP that peddles what is basicaly a leftfield version of what used to be called “funky house” but, thanks to K sounds a little bit more warped than your average four to the floor. This EP reminds me of Brett Johnson in parts and is suitably wonky enough to keep things interesting.

No Model No Tool – Luciano (Cadenza): Double pack from Luciano that contains something for everyone. It's the two elongated workouts “Keridos” and “Saulitude” that are the only ones I'm bothering with though. The smaller tracks on disc two all have their place, but would only work as layers on the dancefloor.

Detritus

I've been up to my eyeballs in shitty pampers, cute little one-piece pyjama suits and bodies, and pooey baby smells. To top all this, I've been up every two or three hours breastfeeding. How, you may ask, am I able to blog with the chaos expanding all around me? Well it's not easy. I've also found time to review some new stuff forthcoming on Soma, Titbit & Motech as well as writing a mini-epic for Resident Advisor on the subject of The Martinez Brother's release on Objektivity “My Rendition.” I've been a busy bee, and being pregnant has only been the half of it. Oh, and before I forget, here's a repeat of the competition Ques
“Nobody's Perfect
Part Two.”

What was the name of the single that Andre Parker made with DJ Godfather and DJ Assault?

Answers to this blog please. Leave a comment and full contact details. Because of my mind being obviously elsewhere these last couple of weeks, I've almost certainly forgotten important details in the question, such as when the single was made. Therefore this competition is open until the next show, which will be on the 10/3 featuring local boy genius and member of the Kittenflux collective, Dave Kelso. I thank you.


This week's show featured an interview with Doppler of the ARU DJ Society. He also selected the second half of the show.

First half incorporating Doppler interview:

Hypnodelic -Francois Kevorkian (Wave)
Dwarfzilla – Luci (Titbit)
The Weight – The Black Dog (Soma)
Electron Push – Silicon (NSC)
Alia (Gary Martin remix) – DJ 3000 & Gerald Mitchell (Motech)
Warzawa – Ben Klock (Ostgut Ton)
Ring of Fire – Mark Henning (Trapez)
Moonbeam – Eclipse (Traum)

Doppler's selection:

A Chico Rythmico – Locodice (Cadenza)
Kreuzberg Krunk (Inside Out mix) – Tony Rohr (Clink)
Der Senat – Paul Kalkenrenner (Bpitch)
Exciting Ride – Bodycode (Spectral)
Akul – Umek (Audiomatique)
Kaliber 10.1 – Kaliber (Kaliber)
Bring The Beat Back – Pascal FEOS (Level Non Zero)
Pintare – Sami Koivikko (Spectral)
Heka Bright Side – Daniel Vigorito (Nusi de Orion Minimal Music)

Birth of a Corey

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Marcel Emile Oscar Corey was born at 4:23am on Tuesday 13th February 2007. The three christian names are because we couldn't make up our minds what to call him. I've just returned back to work from paternity leave and slowly getting used to the routine. Sleep has been a luxury, but not as much as for the wife. I found time to go to The Priory last week with Paul Woolford, which was nice, so that's why there's a mix of photos. Not in the mood to write a lot now. Expect a chart by the start of next week, along with a show playlist. I hope to be having Doppler, of the ARU DJ Society and resident of local night "Minimal Theory" guesting, so tune in for that. It should be a good 'un.

Guess where I am? I'm in the food hall of Addenbrooke's Hospital while Emmanuelle's upstairs in the delivery suite waiting for a midwife to come and induce the baby. It's a hive of activity in here with everyone eating crisps and food better suited to anywhere but a hospital. Anyway, as you can imagine I've got things on my mind at the mo' so I'll just post last Saturday's playlist and be on my way.

Click on the show link in the links list. The archive isn't up yet, but should be by tomorrow.

Prima Materia (edit) – Alex Smoke (Soma)
Anne Will (Vicenzo remix) – Move D (Liebe Detail Spezial)
Die Alpenstrandaufer von Spiekeroog – Dominik Eulberg (Traum)
Skydive From Venus (Deetron remix) – Detroit Grand Pubas (Detelefunk)
Magik – Harry Axt (Grand Petrol)
Asha – Pantha du Prince (Dial)
Fluteorgie – Hug (Kompakt)
Sukkin Mutik – Davide Squillace (Ovum)

In The Mix:

Home, Stop, Welcome (Andrew Weatherall remix) – Repeat, Repeat (Soma)
Voodoo Ray (FK remix) – A Guy Called Gerald (Fontana)
Driven (Jamie Jones Pacific mix) – Estroe (Connaisseur Superior)
Galaxy 82 – Makossa & Megablast (G Stone)
Bosch – Richard Wolfsdorf (Research)
Time – Christian Vogel (Tresor)
State Of Mind – Motor City Soul (Lo Fi Stereo)
My Rendition – The Martinez Brothers (Objektivity)
Playing Games (Rob Mello's No Ears mix) – Galen (Utensil)
Olympia – Shonky (Freak n' Chic)
Blue Bayou – Marc Houle (Minus)
Olanto (Lee Jones remix) – Jacopo Carreras (LAN)
The Human Bond – E Dancer (KMS)

Expect a mix to be posted for download within the fortnight, and some baby photos too.

The Time Is Nigh . . .

The Time Is Nigh. . .

I am on standby. Every night I turn in I am painfully aware of the fact that it could be all hands on deck at any time now. Emmanuelle may face the call of nature. Reproduction waits for no one. The ambulance could may have to be called and all hands will be on deck. So far so good but at the very least, the baby will be induced a week today. At least I'll know when it happens if it happens on time. Cryptic eh? Anyway, earlier ijn the week I popped down to London for the evening and got taken out to an excellent Japanese restaurant. I love the food, but am not an expert so it was that at my ripe old age I was initiated into the ways of sashimi and varieties of sushi that I thought were mere myths. I've also been filling my time reading about, amongst other things The Children's Crusades. This was bonkers and would make a great film, however, due to the current political climate, I don't think I'll be putting my money behind it just yet.

Got a show this week, pre-recording it on Friday. No guests, just me, but there'll be a new mix on it which I'm really looking forward to putting together. I wanted Tom Hallmark, who would have guested on the show that was cancelled last weekend, to guest but he's tied up. He'll be on sometime in March I hope. Doppler from the ARU DJ society will be with me on the 24/2 I hope, and Dave Kelso soon after and Mark Henning. Other dates for your diary include The Priory with Paul Woolford on the 15/2, and Erol Alkan with The Priory at "Kill 'Em All Let God Sort It Out at The Junction on the 23/3.

As far as I'm concerned I need to get out more, and that means journeying down to fair Londinium for as many knees-ups as I can manage. I'm working on getting my arse down to the T-Bar on a regular basis and immersing myself in the hedonism and fornication that goes on thereabouts. Meanwhile I'm liking the new deeper direction electronic music seems to be taking itself in. DJs such as Jamie Jones, Matt Styles and Geddes are mixing things up rather nicely and blazing a trail for others to follow. In truth what they're doing isn't any different from the halcyon days of tech-house, but the current direction seems fresh and there's a buzz in London at the moment which has been nicely amplified by the many after parties, and parties in their own right, at places like Kubicle and the T-Bar and of course Mulletover. I for one am looking forward to some interesting excursions in the months to come.

The Show Didn't Go On

Still feeling frustrated because a couple of days ago my show was cancelled. No duty managers has volunteered to man the station and as Saturday night is probably the most difficult to cover I was bound to suffer eventually. In case you're wondering what I'm on about at the studio there has to be somebody on duty while shows are being broadcast, we're all volunteers at 209 and we all try to give our time when we can, unfortunately there's always a black hole Saturday night, which effects my show, "Kids Love Rhymes" the hip-hop show that comes directly after and runs from 9-11pm, and "Drums Wide Open," the drum and bass show which runs on alternate Saturdays. If anyone from Cambridge is reading this and would like to lend a much-needed hand, drop by Citylife and 209 at The Howard Mallett Centre, check out contact details on the 209 website, the link is on the right of this page.

The upshot of this is that I should be able to pre-record my next show (another thing which is getting more difficult as the studio is almost constantly occupied). I'd resigned myself to not being able to do the 10/2 as I'll be becoming a father again around that time. Expect maudlin photos of a fleshy embryo when that little event takes place.


Meanwhile . . .


First chart of the New Year and I'm feeling a bit stale, but is the music?

Home Stop Welcome – Repeat Repeat (Soma): Included for the Weatherall remix, which pitches things a bit lower compared to the original, (which didn't stand out on the album for me). This one makes for the ideal set opener and has a nice bass to draw the dancers in.

Sideways (Andre Kraml remix) – Miss Yetti (Gold und Liebe): Since “Dirty Fingernails” I've always kept an eye on Herr Kraml's output. This is a driver that will raise the stakes in any set. It's a squelcher.

Wet – Steve Bug (Poker Flat): The Bugman keeps up his usual high standards with this moody wild-pitch inspired builder.

Just Dazing – Falco Brockespeir (Substatic): A metronome of a beat keeps time and underpins a very synthetic woodwind section (that's what it sounds llike to me anyway). One to make you think of wide open spaces.

Dirty (Woody remix) – Autotune (Fumakilla): The mix from label boss Woody wins the day due to it's increased syncopation. Phage and Daniel Dreier also contribute to the package, and have nothing to be ashamed of, but Woody wins.

Olanto (Lee Jones remix) – Jacopo Carreras (LAN): The usual hot joints from Exercise One's thoroughbred stable. Jacopo Carreras sounds like a medieval latin troubador but with Lee Jones on remix duties he's brought kicking and screaming into a funk-soaked twenty first Century.

Horse Nation Amended – Heartthrob Vs Troy Pierce (Minus): Of course this is a remix, and little has been done to the original, but what could you do to a track as perfect in the first place? Like the Glimmer's recent Fabric cd opening remix of “Same Old Scene” by Roxy Music, Heartthrob has taken the best bits and amplified them. Simple really.

Jam On It (Claude VonStroke & Galen's Disco Kryptonite mix) – Newcleus (Deeplay Soultec): A bit different and all the better for it. Jacks along like David Brent with crabs.

Where Is Didier Lambing? - Sarah Goldfarb (Triebstoff): Where indeed. Tech house (remember that genre? It's coming back with a vengeance) par excellence. The mysterious Sarah from Marseille does it again.

Take This – Jurgen Paape (Speicher): Gives John Dahlback a run for his money. Nothing ground-breaking but pushes all the right electro buttons. A jagged beat cutting through the crap.

Too Posh to Push?

A date has been set, cs on the 8/2. Ah well, at least I shouldn't be running around in the middle of the night. I'm here at 209 towers duty managing for Harry's show, "Drums Wide Open," then it's back home to watch the mighty Reds dismantle Chelsea. Mourinho looked very resigned to things during his post-match comments. If the Arse beat the Mancs tomorrow, then things could start to get interesting. Lovely goal by Pennant.

Start As You Mean To Go On

Saturday's show was good fun. Jonny Davies, aka Le Jockey, came down and played some new stuff he's been working on. "Gibba Lia" stood out as the best track and it's rumoured to be coming out on Clever Music. He also played a few tracks that have been kind to him over the last year or two. Ed of Badger Attack dropped by to say hello accompanied by a couple of friends, and the whole thing went off very well. I've still got to upload that recording from last week's Horseplay party, but I'm not sure if I possess the technology. Why can't everything fall nicely into place without me having to worry about it?

Halfway through the last book of Murakami short stories
"Blind Willow Sleeping Woman." Much better than I thought it would be. I didn't read "Kafka By The Shore" but after gorging myself on him three or four years ago I thought the novelty had worn off. Obviously there's a time and place for these things, and I'm really enjoying this latest collection of short stories. Can't wait to finish so I can finally get around to "In Pursuit of the Millenium . . . "


Machines Playlist: 12/7/07

Shari Vari - A Number of Names (Puzzle Box)
The Creator (12" edit) - Cobblestone Jazz (It Is What It Is)
Jam On It (Claude Von Stroke and Galen's Disco Kryptonite mix) - Newcleus (Deeplay Soultec)
Horsenation Amended - Heartthrob vs Troy Pierce (Minus)
I'm the Red - Le Jockey (CDR)
Trauermusik (Alter Ego mix) - Partial Arts (Speicher)
Save Your Saviour (album edit) - Octogen (Soma)
Hotfork Buffet - Mark Henning (Einmaleins)
Gibba Lia - Le Jockey (CDR)
Bounce It - Reynold (Morris Audio)
Hankofloppe - Wighonomy Brothers (Freude am Tanzen)
Say So - Ryan Crosson (Trapez Ltd)
Just Like That (Alex Under mix) - Random Play (Puzzle Trax)
Walk - Hemmann & Kaden (Milnor Modern)
untitled - Le Jockey (CDR)
Zu Fun - Extrawelt (Border Community)
Where is Didier Lambing? - Sarah Goldfarb (Triebstoff)
We Like Moroder (Divider remix) - Jupiter Black (Clone)

A Nice Beginning

Back in Cambridge after having been on holiday, first in Bruges and then back up home in Wallasey at me Mum's. It was good to get back in the swing of things and bring the New Year in belatedly with a short set at The Box Tree. Dave Kelso started proceedings, followed by yours truly, Tom Akam doing a live set, a bit of Le Jockey with The Priory's Sam rounding off the proceedings. I left about twenty minutes before the end with a splitting headache, but managed to record a good three hours; all of my set plus Tom Akam's, with Dave Kelso's last half hour and Sam's first. Le Jockey's mini set also got immortalised. I enjoyed it, but didn't choose the right records for the occasion and had the impression that I really banged it, the Dominik Eukberg mix of Shane Berry's "Fillertet . . ." (Trapez Ltd) really stretching some cerebellums, along with the by now ubiquitous Audion remix of Hot Chip's "No Such Thing." Apart from anything else though, I perfectly timed my escape to the strains of 'Have you got anything like "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit . . ."' from someone I'd been observing out of the corner of my eye for some time and whom I'd marked down as a possible voice of dissent. In truth though, I didn't play that well, but check out the sets anyway. They'll be up asap (don't hold your breath).

Oh, and don't take the piss as far as my photography skills are concerned. Feel free to laugh at the freaks in the photos though.

Saturday's show was the last of the year and was started off by the track everybody's been caning, the Audion remix of Hot Chip's "No Such Thing." Like "Mouth to Mouth" it's not particularly quick off the mark and seems to plod it's way towards relative inconclusion and it could go on forever if given half a chance, but Matthew Dear does seem to be rewriting the sonic rule book through the inclusion of some quite mind-bending sounds in his recent work that seem to contract, constrict, expand and explode in complete harmony with an implicit discord. What the fuck am I on about? I know so make up your own minds. They do what it says on the tin though, and intellectualizing this stuff makes you sound like you've got a one-way ticket up your own arse, so listen up and get dancing.

Swanned along to the Box Tree straight after the show for Jonny Davies' Horseplay Records party and met a few heads. Robin, Justin and Ed from Baadger Attack were there, as well as Mark Henning, who gave me some advance promos of stuff to be released in the New Year, so expect one of those tracks on the first show of next year. Dave Kelso, who's had tracks played on my last couple of broadcasts, finally picked up his copy of "Fear and Lothian" by The Wee DJs, which he won at least six months ago, and also played an interesting set that veered from house in the shape of Natural Rhythm, to techno in the shape of Alexi Delano on Plus 8. Middle-age is coming to meet me with a scythe and knobbly knees, so I left at a very early hour. I'll be back causing mayhem next Saturday though, at The Geldart. Oh, and Jonny hopes that Horseplay will find a monthly home at the Box Tree. The next night there will be on January 6th 'o7, hopefully with yours truly manning the decks.

2Fiveonine - Octogen (Soma) is shimmering machine funk of the highest quality. It all seemed to make perfect sense when we were driving back from Calais last weekend and the post-industrial landscape of lamps on prehensile stalks stretched out as far as the eye could see above the platforms were the cross-channel shuttle was waiting for us to board. I've also taken delivery of Fabric 32 - Luke Slater (Fabric) which is better than I thought it would be. I didn't think it was going to be bad, rather the inclusion of a few of the last year's stalwarts (Full Clip, A Bit Patchy, Here, Mouth to Mouth) might have made it a bit predictable. Luke Slater hasn't been around this long and kept his street cred under wraps for nothing though, and it's an honest mix, in the same way as Dirk Kuyt is an honest centre forward, and Alan Curbishly's West Ham can be expected to play "honestly." In other words, it's all good.

As I write, Alan Curbishly's West Ham are leading the Mancs 1-0. Honestly . . .



Playlist for Machines Are Funky: 16/12/06

Listen to the archive here.

No Such Thing (Audion remix) - Hot Chip (EMI)
Intercity (3 Channels remix) - Johnny Wagner (Trenton)
Baboul Hair Cutting (Gui Boratto mix) - Agoria (Different)
Panic - Jamie Jones (Crosstown Rebels)
Soulsearcher (Passerani's Soulmix) - Octogen (Soma)
Snip Acid VIP - Oslek (CDR)
Asteroids - Dan Berkson & James What (Poker Flat)
Propain - My My (Playhouse)
Funkyhotpancakes - Leftside (CDR)
4304 - For Disco Only (For Disco Only)
Blue Buffalo - Phage & Daniel Dreir (Highgrade)
Just Wanna Get Down (Guido Schneider remix) - Audio Werner (Trapez Ltd)
Jingover - The Mole (Wagon Repair)
Separation - Gaiser (Minus)
Immediatism - Free Agent (CDR)
Rancho Relaxo (Jennifer Cardini & Shonky remix) - Anja Schneider (Mobilee)
Welcome to Zion (Sebo K & Metro remix) - King Roc (Simple)
Trust Me (Cowboy mix) - Kiki (BPitch)

And I almost forgot. Saturday's show featured a competiton to win Sven vath's latest Cocoon competition "The Sound of the Seventh Season." To win one of two comments leave a comment on this blog with full contact details and the correct answer to this question: Which other famous dj was Sven Vath filmed canoodling with recently?

The comp is open until my next show in the New Year. All the best.

The chart is only ever an indication of what I am playing at the time of writing, not necessarily of new releases:

Panic - Jamie Jones (Crosstown Rebels)
Trust Me (Cowboy mix) - Kiki (BPitch)
Intercity (3 Channels mix) - Johnny Wagner (Trenton)
Compilation 5, Bets & Bluffs - Various Artists (Poker Flat)
Tuning 4 (Boxer)
Harissa - Locodice (Cadenza)
5.1 - Moritz von Pein (Kahlwild)
Midnight Magic LP - Skatebard (Digitalo)
Back to Back Compilation - Various Artists (Mobilee)
Bought and Sold - AM/PM (Dreck)

They've been out for a while on import, but are just getting a proper release here:

Interstellar Fugigtives 2 The Destruction of Order - Underground Resistance
Galaxy to Galaxy. A Hi-Tech Jazz Compilation - Galaxy to Galaxy/Underground Resistance (Uncivilized World/Submerge)


While I was writing the above, news came through from Santiago of Pinochet's demise. Let's hope that old crab Thatcher's next eh?

Cock up on the hyperlink front. Click here to get at the archive for the last show.

Sitting In Front Of The Telly

Sitting in front of the telly having stayed in the previous night is not my idea of an ideal Sunday afternoon. I should have gone to Bottom Heavy last night but decided not to in the end. There are quite a few things coming up this month, not least Christmas, but bigger developments are on the horizon and an upheaval of major proportions is about to take place. Another kid and a new home (probably). I suppose it'll keep me off the streets. So, no photos from B.Heavy, but I'l be back for the next one, stronger and hungrier. A few things going on in Cambridge this month. On the 16th we've got a party for the launch of the just released "Oliver's Twisted/Stable Boy" by Le Jockey on Horseplay records. There's a strong quadruped association about this one. Jockey hasn't been making music long but his enthusiasm is an example to us all. For the last month he's been crisscrossing the nation with a box of 12" in his boot pushing his wares on unsuspecting record shops old school stylee. It has, at the very least gained places on both Juno's and Phonica's websites, which is nice. There's a little get-together of sorts at the Cellar Bar (I think) on the 14th, featuring Dave Kelso (track featured in last night's show, see below), Robin Howells, etc; and another Le Jockey evening at The Geldart on the 23rd. There's also a festive Badger Attack, but in Camden, not Cambridge, on the 22nd. The Priory are busy this month with the aptly named "Silent Night Silent Disco" featuring Sam I Am and The Fish as well as the Silent Disco DJ's taking p;lace at The Junction on the 9th. "Silent Disco" is so-called because the music will be relayed by modern technology through the headphones of the punters and not through a sound system. "Imagine the scene . . .1000 clubbers dancing to nothing-well apart from what they can hear through their headphones!" says the flier. 1000 clubbers! They had 18 for "Product a couple of weeks ago. 1000 in The Junction? For The Priory's sake I hope so, but I just can't see it somehow. Anyway I'll be in Calais on a booze and foie gras cruise. Future Priory dates for your diary are Touche in January and the excellent Paul Woolford in February. Can't remember the dates but it's normally the third week of the month on a Thursday. "Do the math . . ." as they say. I really want to see Wooly, but I know as soon as my back is turned that, providing it hasn't already happened, the sprog will drop. Time will tell. Here's the playlist from last night's show: Machines Are Funky: 2/12/06 Clap - Skatebard (Digitalo) The White Rose Dub - Silicon Soul (Soma) Tosehiw - Dave Kelso (cdr) Tongue in the Hole (Alex Under mix) - Molder (Audiomatique) Doradox - Tadeo (CMYK) Ultimate Desert Ambassador (Mike Shannon's View to Vodka remix) - Lee Van Dowski & Quenum (Soma) Deuteronomy Brown (I-F re-edit) - Walter Jones (Supersoul) Jim Masters in the Mix 1st Intergalactic Baptist Church - Underground Resistance (UR) The Club (Version 2) - Blake Baxter & Marc Romboy (Systematic) Looking in the Mirror - Mirage (Italians do it Better) Hober Mallow - The Model (Underline) Another Late Night - Gummihz (Mobilee) Midi Shower - Dave DK & Holger Zilske (Playhouse) This show will be available on the archive here, probably from 5/12 onwards, but check it before. Jim Masters mixed up a storm, thanks very much Jim. Hope everything went well last night and Colin Dale did you proud. Oh, and there was an excellent competition on the show. Two questions, one to win a copy of the new Galaxy to Galaxy compilation and one to win the new Underground Resistance cd "Interstellar Fugitives 2. The Destruction of Order" along with a dvd documenting the making of the album. For the Galaxy to Galaxy cd, the question is "How Many Members are in Galaxy to Galaxy?" For the UR cd the question is "Which three individuals are credited with forming Underground Resistance?" The answers will go into my metaphorical hat and be drawn out on New Years Day. You can enter by leaving a comment on this blog, but please leave your name and email address as well. Chart to follow before the end of this week.

Sitting in front of the telly having stayed in the previous night is not my idea of an ideal Sunday afternoon. I should have gone to Bottom Heavy last night but decided not to in the end. There are quite a few things coming up this month, not least Christmas, but bigger developments are on the horizon and an upheaval of major proportions is about to take place. Another kid and a new home (probably). I suppose it'll keep me off the streets.

So, no photos from B.Heavy, but I'l be back for the next one, stronger and hungrier. A few things going on in Cambridge this month. On the 16th we've got a party for the launch of the just released "Oliver's Twisted/Stable Boy" by Le Jockey on Horseplay records. There's a strong quadruped association about this one. Jockey hasn't been making music long but his enthusiasm is an example to us all. For the last month he's been crisscrossing the nation with a box of 12" in his boot pushing his wares on unsuspecting record shops old school stylee. It has, at the very least gained places on both Juno's and Phonica's websites, which is nice.

There's a little get-together of sorts at the Cellar Bar (I think) on the 14th, featuring Dave Kelso (track featured in last night's show, see below), Robin Howells, etc; and another Le Jockey evening at The Geldart on the 23rd. There's also a festive Badger Attack, but in Camden, not Cambridge, on the 22nd. The Priory are busy this month with the aptly named "Silent Night Silent Disco" featuring Sam I Am and The Fish as well as the Silent Disco DJ's taking p;lace at The Junction on the 9th. "Silent Disco" is so-called because the music will be relayed by modern technology through the headphones of the punters and not through a sound system. "Imagine the scene . . .1000 clubbers dancing to nothing-well apart from what they can hear through their headphones!" says the flier. 1000 clubbers! They had 18 for "Product a couple of weeks ago. 1000 in The Junction? For The Priory's sake I hope so, but I just can't see it somehow. Anyway I'll be in Calais on a booze and foie gras cruise. Future Priory dates for your diary are Touche in January and the excellent Paul Woolford in February. Can't remember the dates but it's normally the third week of the month on a Thursday. "Do the math . . ." as they say. I really want to see Wooly, but I know as soon as my back is turned that, providing it hasn't already happened, the sprog will drop. Time will tell.

Here's the playlist from last night's show:

Machines Are Funky: 2/12/06

Clap - Skatebard (Digitalo)
The White Rose Dub - Silicon Soul (Soma)
Tosehiw - Dave Kelso (cdr)
Tongue in the Hole (Alex Under mix) - Molder (Audiomatique)
Doradox - Tadeo (CMYK)
Ultimate Desert Ambassador (Mike Shannon's View to Vodka remix) - Lee Van Dowski & Quenum (Soma)
Deuteronomy Brown (I-F re-edit) - Walter Jones (Supersoul)

Jim Masters in the Mix

1st Intergalactic Baptist Church - Underground Resistance (UR)
The Club (Version 2) - Blake Baxter & Marc Romboy (Systematic)
Looking in the Mirror - Mirage (Italians do it Better)
Hober Mallow - The Model (Underline)
Another Late Night - Gummihz (Mobilee)
Midi Shower - Dave DK & Holger Zilske (Playhouse)

This show will be available on the archive here, probably from 5/12 onwards, but check it before. Jim Masters mixed up a storm, thanks very much Jim. Hope everything went well last night and Colin Dale did you proud. Oh, and there was an excellent competition on the show. Two questions, one to win a copy of the new Galaxy to Galaxy compilation and one to win the new Underground Resistance cd "Interstellar Fugitives 2. The Destruction of Order" along with a dvd documenting the making of the album.

For the Galaxy to Galaxy cd, the question is
"How Many Members are in Galaxy to Galaxy?"

For the UR cd the question is
"Which three individuals are credited with forming Underground Resistance?"

The answers will go into my metaphorical hat and be drawn out on New Years Day. You can enter by leaving a comment on this blog, but please leave your name and email address as well.

Chart to follow before the end of this week.

I love a good lecture me, but I'd really like to know how Dr David Starkey can stand with the backs of his hands facing the viewer . . . all the time! Don't take my word for it, watch his excellent and informative series "Monarchy," C4 every Monday at 21:00.

18 people turned up for Product at The Junction last Saturday, 18!!!!!!!!!!! (See comment for previous post).
You can't take anything for granted in Cambridge. Starved as we are of good house and techno, you still have to promote your arse off. The Junction would have had a much more respectable turnout with the right amount of advertising. I didn't even see a flyer.

Thanks to Alland Byallo who got on touch with me regarding an older playlist. It's no problem supporting your music Alland when it's so good. Just a reminder. I can't respond privately to comments unless contact details are included therein.

Did anyone see that war party of chimps cannibalizing a rival mob in the Ugandan jungle on "Life on Earth" last Sunday night? And to think they're our closest genetic relatives. Jeez!

I went to The Priory at The Fez a few nights ago. After the success of last months installment with James Lavelle I was expecting the place to be doing brisk business. It was doing business but not too briskly. The boys stumped up a lot of money for this one but the discerning Cambridge clubber decided not to show equal dedication to the cause and stayed away. XPress 2 played some of the best music I've heard in Cambridge all year. Maybe this was because we are starved of this kind of house fare that most other towns above and beyond a reasonable size take for granted, maybe it was becuase I have a lot of the records and it was an exercise in mutual good taste. In any case, it's difficult to find fault with the content when it gets off to such a good start. Ricardo Villalobo's mix of DM's "The Sinner in Me" being the case in point. A groove was laid down full of peaks and troughs and while, for yours truly, this is the only way to get the party started, it's not that common in Cambridge. I know I don't get out enough, but I do like to maximise my chances of enjoying good music when I do. Tunes like "Mouth to Mouth," "Give Me a K" and "Doppelwhipper" aren't heard often enough in clubs like the Fez, and that doesn't just go for Cambridge, but up and down the country.

A new night started at The Junction last night. "Product" is apparently promoted by some guys off an american air base. They've already put on parties in Nottingham at Stealth and last night brought Mr C and Audiofly to town. I didn't go but I hope it went well for them. Audiofly were promoting their new "Undulations 2" cd, which is very good. Colin Dale is in town for "Bottom Heavy" Jim Masters' and Largo's night which is now happening at the ARU Academy, having previously been at the Soul Tree. Hopefully Jim will remember our conversation Thursday night and sort out a mix from Colin for my next show, which will go out just before the gig. Other forthcoming highlights include a guest appearance and interview with Mark Henning, hopefully before Christmas, if not, shortly after. He's in Berlin next weekend, playing at the Panorama Bar at a Foundsound party, so I'll be hitting him up for a match report on that a few days later.

On a more academic note, I was recommended
"The Pursuit of the Millennium (Revolutionary Millenarians and Mystical Anarchists of the Middle Ages" by Norman Cohn recently. I'm just about to embark on it. Worth reading just for the story of the "pseudo Baldwin" alone I'm told.

This week's show includes an interview with George and Sam of The Priory, roughly somewhere around the Jeff Samuel track.

Take a Chance - Mr Flagio (Squish/ZYX)
Martyr (Alex Smoke Gravel mix) - Depeche Mode (Capitol)
Something Else - Pig and Dan (Pickadoll)
Mutation - John Tejada (Pallette)
Fizheure Zieheure - Villalobos (Playhouse)
Lukon (Michael Mayer remix) - Mikkel Metal (Echochord)
Shared - SWAT Squad (Galaktika)
The Cave - Jeff Samuel (Trapez)
Red Light (Guy Gerber mix) - Dominik Eulberg (Cocoon)
Structured Music - Stephen Brown (Subject Detroit)

Sam from The Priory in the Mix:

Warning Siren - Tiefschwarz feat. Matty Safer (Fine)
Washing Up (Tiga remix) - Thomas Andersson (BPitch)
Tech Weeks (MJ's TNT mix) - Milton Jackson (Tsuba)
Erotic Discourse - Bobby Peru (20/20 Vision)
The Dogs - Bassbin Twins (Marine Parade)
Mouseville Theme - Cirez D (Mouseville)
Doppelwhipper - Gabriel Anandaq (Platzhirsch)
Charivari - Thomas Barfod (Turbo)
Movin' Thru Your System (Dave Clarke remix) - Jark Prongo (Hooj Tunes)
Emerge (Dave Clarke remix) - Fischerspooner (Gigolo)

Quality over quantity always, but from this week posts will become more frequent as I attempt to tenuously link developments in modern electronic music to just about everything of any importance ever .

The first of November falls like an iron curtain across Europe. OK, that's enough of the cold war similes, but it's true. It's bloody freezing getting up for work at the moment. Anyway, I should have enough to keep me company during the long British winter. I've just invested in a pair of CDJ200s. I can't afford the more expensive CDJ1000s or even the 800s. The others may look better on paper, but I'm confident mine will look great once they're up and running. What do I want to be able to do with them? Mix and play back mp3s. The auxiliary bollocks is all embellishment as far as I'm concerned. They should be arriving tomorrow. Christmas has come early.

I had to get them now because I'm going to become a father again in February and the egg chamber will have to be constantly replenished with fresh nutrients.

Musically things have never looked better. I'm definitely one for living in the present while cocking a reverential snoop to the past. But the music keeps on surprising me and filling me with childlike wonder and excitement. That Detroit's influence is as strong as ever has been recently noted in these columns, labels like Delsin, Rush Hour and Styrax Leaves keeping the (european) home fires burning. What's also not gone unnoticed is the morphology inherent in a lot of current techno to stretch to infonity and beyond. Check Philip Sherburne's "The Month in Techno" (October installment) for more on this. He puts it more eloquently than I can. I just think that it's more evidence of the survival of "real" electronic trance and its teutonic heritage. Trance as an adjective, not as a disturbing plastic genre nurtured by the likes of Perfecto, etc . . . Anyway, as he says in his article "it's easier to understand . . . . if you can listen along. . . ."

Radioslave aks Matt Edwards is a more than ubiquitous presence these days, which could be tiresome where it not for the fact that practically everything he turns his hand to is excellent. Along with Ewan Pearson Edwards seems to be becoming the remixer's remixer, showing a depth of understanding across genres that you don't encounter every year, no matter every day. I bought his new mix on Eskimo "Creature of the Night" yesterday which, along with the forthcoming "Fabriclive 31 The Glimmers" nicely provides the mashup heads amongst us with some organised chaos for mid-autumn. Personally I like to make my own sushi while listening to this stuff as the collision of genres is nicely reflected by what's on my plate, an absolute fucking mess. My mum bought me a sushi making kit for my birthday last year (no, she's not upper-middle class and lives in Knutsford) and I ended up using it for the first time over a year later, last Saturday. You need a sharp knife to cut that stuff to stop rice ejaculation from nori. I don't keep Japanese style cutlery in the home though. I', a father with a strong sense of fear and foreboding and I don't want to be pinioned to my bed by Lilliputians demanding "hotwheels or death" on pocket money days. The sins of the father shall not be revisited on the father by the sons ta very much.

XPress 2 are playing the Fez for The Priory on the 16/11, which should be a good night out for all. Apparently they've insisted on two 1210s each and two CDJ100s each, which will make a grand total of six turntables and the same of CDJs. They'd better be good because they don't come cheap either. Sam from the Priory will be guesting on my next show, so his mental state will be interesting to assess. Will he have sweaty palms and be prone to speaking like Gareth Davies on crack? Only time will tell.

Also, with absolutely no promotion whatsoever and, therefore guaranteed to be poorly supported by native residents, The Junction are putting on a new night two days after The Priory, featuring Mr C and Audiofly. I sincerely hope it's packed to the rafters but looking at the amount of promotion the Priory have to do to get their crowd in gives me serious cause for concern. If any of the parties concerned are reading this blog, bring a few coach loads up with you, you're going to need them.

I'm still not online at home, which is limiting my output. I hope to have this sorted
very soon.



Playlist for "Machines Are Funky" 4/11/06:

People are People (Underground Resistance mix) - Depeche Mode (Capitol)
Ghouls (Claude Von Stroke's Beats from the Grave mix) - Luke Solomon (Rekids)
5am Little Surprise - Pheek (Archipel)
Web of Deceit - Primary Colours (Fair Park)
Ode to DS - Mark Henning (Multivitamins)
Refine the Warrior - The Model (Underline)
White Noise - Audiojack (20/20 Vision)
24-24 - Cabaret Voltaire (Some Bizarre/Virgin)
Flip Flop - Repeat, Repeat (Soma)
What's Wrong My Friends? - Ricardo Villalobos (Perlon)
School - Robert Hood (Music Man)
Da Funk (10 Minutes of Funk mix) - Daft Punk (Virgin)
Smoke on a Plane - Copacabbanark (Persona)

Marco Carola Fabric Radio Mix:

Red 20 - JPLS (Minus)
Offprint 1.2 - Gaiser (Minus)
Minidiscoslicker - Jay la Forge (Deepinrhythm)
Mitica - Pedron (Unknown)
The Tracks - Luciano (Cadenza)
Traitors of Africa - Femi Kuti (Restricted Access)
Entr'acte Music - Andromat 3000 & Jan (Cadenza)
Simply Driving Gold - Daze Maxim (Hello)
No Fit State - Audion (Spectral)

(Check the link above from 7/11/06)

Chart: 11/06

The chart is only ever an indication of what I am playing at the time of writing, not necessarily of new releases:


Prelude to Foundation EP - The Model (Underline)
Squints LP - Repeat, Repeat (Soma)
My Friend is a Sea Horse (Radioslave remix) - Kissogram (DefDrive)
The Tussincussion (original mix) - Justin Maxwell (Pallette)
Bird Flu - Jens Bond (Highgrade)
Sleepy Hollow - Ame & Stefan Goldmann (Innervisions)
What's Wrong My Friends? (Perlon) & Fizheuer Zieheuer (Playhouse) - Ricardo Villalobos (for not giving a shit)
The Line In Between - Jussi Pekka (Frozen North)
Ghouls (Claude von Stroke's Beats from the Grave mix) - Luke Solomon (Rekids)

Mix cd of the month:

Immer 2 - Michael Mayer (Kompakt)

Others worthy of a mention:

Sci-Fi Hi-Fi Vol. 3 - Alex Smoke (Soma)
FabricLive 31 - The Glimmers (Fabric)
Creature of the Night - Radioslave (Eskimo)

I'm trying to be a little bit more regular so what happens? I only go to me old queen's for a week with my lad and have to put everything off for a week innit. Anyway, here's the last playlist a week late.

Machines Playlist: 21/10/06:

If You Give Me - John Dahlback (Pickadoll)
Give Me Your Love (Tango Terje edit) - Curtis Mayfield (Supreme)
Sea of Sand - Guy Gerber & Shlomi Aber (Cocoon)
Satisfaction - Mr Pauli (Viewlexx)
Kookaburra (Gabriel Ananda remix) - Heckmann & Kaufelt (AFU)
Full Clip - Martin Buttrich (Planet E)
Lovelight (Soulwax Ravelight remix) - Robbie Williams (cdr)
Why Must - Repeat, Repeat (Soma)
Far Away (Jennifer Cardini & Shonky remix) - Mlle Caro & Frank Garcia (Crosstown Rebels)
We Love Mutronics (Keithy Boy remix) - Two Lone Swordsmen (Rotters Golf Club)
Buckets - Alland Byallo (Liebe Detail)
The Porcupine - Latex (Rebelone)
Doin' It (Daniel Wang remix) - Putsch 79 (Clone)
Anghor Wat - DJ Dex (UR)
Track 3 from "No More Vampires" - Osvaldo (Underline)
Pink Dust - Redshape (Styrax Leaves)
Untitled from "Multiplicaciones" - Alex Under (Apnea)

And, as always, I gave away more free things. This time it was a couple of copies of the latest installment of "At The Controls." James Holden did vol.1 earlier this year and M.A.N.D.Y. have just done vol 2. The question that can win you a copy of this double cd set is piss-easy.
What is the name of the label, named after an Olivia Newton-John classic, that M.A.N.D.Y. record on? Interested, then leave a comment after this piece, with full contact details.

Like I said, I was on family business last week so I took advantage to go to Manchester and attend the third Saturday of the Warehouse Project which featured a Detroit love-in courtesey of Los Hermanos, Octave One, Suburban Knight, DJ 3000 and Robert Hood. Jamie Liddell, the Unabombers etc were to be found in the other room, but I didn't ant to pass up some prime Detroit cuts so I kept my eyes firmly fixed towards the stage where the big "UR" screens were flickering, tried to take some photos - see amateur efforts above. I had a good time, but this was no thanks to the inferior sound quality of the venue, which at one point reminded me and my mates of a large scale school disco. The sound did seem to pick up when the djs were playing sets and, inexplicably seemed to get better the more the night wore on. This was unfortunate for Los Hermanos who came on after Mr Scruff and Mark Flash who must have lost weight gesticulating to the sound men. I said "inexplicably" because I've never understood what's in it for the audience to have successive acts sound better than each other, and I doubt the Detroit lads need to compete with their egos. Having said that, it could simply have been a situation trying to get progressively better due to the sterling efforts of the sound engineers. Another thing that annoyed me was deciding to get some laughing gas only to find that it had sold out. Anyway, as said before I had a good time and that's the most important thing, but I think it could have been better.

I've heard the new Repeat, Repeat album on Soma. It's called 'Squints" and it's a wobbly, off-kilter collection of tracks that pushes techno in the right direction. Dave Congreve, half of Repeat, Repeat is one of the country's best djs but it's a long time sonce I've heard a set by him. If anyone has any links to online mixes by him, please drop me a line to machines@209radio.co.uk.

Oh, and I took Hector, one of my boys, to his first match, a 4-3 victory for the mighty Reds against Reading in the Carling Cup. A full house, seven goals (all sublime from the Reds), a comeback from Reading that had nerves frayed, he won't forget that in a hurry.

Saturday's show was a blinder if I do say so myself. Here's a full playlist:

Tubular Bells (Cosmic mix) - Champ's Boys Orchestra (Supreme)
Beat, Zen, Square Zen and Zen - From Karaoke To Stardom (Rrygular)
No Sleep (edit) - Dinky and Jorge Gonzales (Horizontal)
The Contemporary Fix (Serious Syntoms version) - Lindstrom (Feedelity)
Like A Pen (Heartthrob remix) - The Knife (Rabid)
India In Me - Cobblestone Jazz (Wagon Repair)
Bluten Sim Dem Grossen Schillerfalter Fremd (Adam Beyer "Mad Eye" remix) - Dominik Eulberg (Traum)
You Can't Do Disco Without A Strat - Andy Weatherall (Rotters Golf Club)
CSide (DBeat remix by Silicon) - Octogen (Soma)
Idea - Barem (cdr)
Movin' Like A Train (Smith n' Hack remix) - Herbert (K7)
Model 1601 (Fairmont remix) - Marc Romboy (Systematic)
Rekorder 07 (Rekorder)

Rub-n-Tug Fabric Radio Mix:

Les Djinns (Trentemoller remix) - Less Djinns (Get Physical)
Hot Gloves - Swag (Dialect)
Liberate - Force Of Nature (Libyus)
Voyage - Kris Menace (Compuphonic)
Grey Clouds (Bassthedub mix) - 20/20 Soundsystem (20/20 Vision)
Delayer - Cosmo Vitelli (Cliche)

There were a couple of competitions on Saturday's show. Here's the breakdown:

First comp:
First prize, a pair of tickets to see A Guy Called Gerald at the Warehouse Project, Manchester on the 27/10, plus "Proto Acid - The Berlin Sessions" cd - A Guy Called Gerald (Laboratory Instinct).


Second prize, a copy of "Proto Acid - The Berlin Sessions" cd.



Full line-up



Question: A Guy Called Gerald's main claim to fame is as the artist behind which acid house anthem from the late '80's?

Second Comp:
Prizes, two copies of In Flagranti's debut cd "Wronger Than Anyone Else" (Codek)

Question: One of In Flagranti's influences, (according to the press release), Patrick Cowley, remixed which famous disco track by Donna Summer?

Both of the competition cds were reviewed on this very blog by yours truly in the summer. If you want a gander, plunge into the archives.

Meanwhile, those very kind people at Fabric sent me an advance copy of Marco Carola's new mix cd, due out in the UK on the 13/11/06 and a month later in the US. It's really very good too. Mr Carola manages to keep things taut, bass-driven and funky throughout, without compromising his musical integrity. Listening to this cd made me think of sweaty railway arches and messy after parties. Marco used to be known for the three-deck pyrotechnics beloved of Jeff Mills, with a similar loopy disposition, but this mix while being unashamedly techno has house's best interest at heart too. The inclusion of artists such as Chris Carrier and Marek Bois are testament to this, and the likes of Fraktion, Marc Houle, Audio Werner and Dolly La Parton (Alex Under) help take things a stage further into the stratosphere. The mix kicks off proper though, with the second track by Erik Otanabe. There's a misprint on my press release, so I don't know the track name, only that it's probably an Eclat and Prudo remix on Minisketch.

Here's a full track listing:

Io - Matt John (Underl_ne)
Eclat & Prudo (Alfa Romero mix) - Erik Otanabe (Minisketch) (don't think this is the real track name)
Sure Shot - Chris Carrier (Adult Only)
You Got Good Ash (Gabriel Ananda remix) - Marek Bois (Trapez)
I am . . .You! (Someone Else remix) - Fusiphorm (Found Sound)
Nakuta - Timo Antilla (Frozen North)
Cilindro - Barem (Found Sound)
Snowman - Mathias Kaden (We Are)
Cretine - Paco Osuna (Plus 8)
Acidrop - Fraktion (Resopal)
Kicker - Marc Houle (Minus)
Onandon - Audio Werner (Perlon)
Whenever - Dolly La Parton (Be My Sheep)
Pecan - Microfunk aka 2000 and One and Dave Ellesmere (Remote Area Records)
Change - Details (Loose)
Newbe (Heartthrob's Are U Gay remix) - Dario Zenker (Esperanza)
Escarabajos - Ernie (Signs Of Authority)
Plunder - Alex Smoke (Soma)

For all those in and around Cambridge this coming Sunday, the 8th, check this line-up out at The BoxTree


Patrick Cavaliere(Burning down the house) 2-4
le jockey (Horse play) 4-6
Alex nichols (Flex) 6-8
Tom Hallmark (Flex) 8-10
Largo (beiek, bottom heavy) 10-12

This is being organised by Tom Hallmark and Largo and will hopefully do very well.

A quick correction of the info referring to The Warehouse Project. The
venue for The Warehouse Project is now called
The Old Brewery (formerly Boddingtons).

God, forgot to do a chart for the first time in a while. I must keep up the obsessive good work by not only covering last month, but this month too. Expect a similarly fastidious post again, on the same subject, before the end of October.

Full Clip - Martin Buttrich (Planet E)
Fillertet (Dominik Eulberg remix) - Shane Berry (Trapez Ltd)
Mouth To Mouth - Audion (Spectral)
India In Me - Cobblestone Jazz (Wagon Repair)
Automatic - Mathew Jonson (Wagon Repair)
Blueten Sind Dem Grossen Schillerfalter Fremd Remixes - Dominik Eulberg (Traum)
No Sleep - Dinky And Jorge Gonzales (Horizontal)
The Porcupine - Latex (Rebelone)
Swallow (Derrick Carter remixes) - My Robot Friend (Soma)
My Bleep (Luke Solomon remix) - Radio Slave (Rekid)
Donnerstag - 909 Disco (cdr)
Timeless - Pascal FEOS (Level Non Zero)
Like A Pen (Heartthrob remix) - The Knife (Rabid)
The Alchemist - Stephan Bodzin And Mark Romboy (20/20 Vision)
6 X 6 - Donnacha Costello (Minimise)
Long Term (Monoblock mix) - Scout (Archipel)

On this weeks "Machines Are Funky" there'll be two competitions to win two copies each of the new A Guy Called Gerald cd "Proto Acid The Berlin Sessions" and In Flagranti's "Wronger Than Anyone Else." Also, the cream of new electro, techno and house featuring new music from, amongst others, The Knife, Barem, Isolee, From Karaoke To Stardom, Cobblestone Jazz/Matthew Jonson and many, many more

In addition to the "A Guy Called Gerald" cds, I'll also be giving away a pair of tickets for his night at The Old Boddington's Brewery, which is part of
The Warehouse Project.

Here's the all-important date and line-up:

Friday 27th October

SEQUENCE presents
A GUY CALLED GERALD [ LIVE ]
BEN SIMMS & TYREE COOPER [ ACID HOUSE SET ]
[ NEW ADDITION ]
MODESELEKTOR [ LIVE ] [ VISUALS BY DIE PFADFINDEREI ]
DREXCIYAN DJ STRINGRAY [ DETROIT ]
JIMMY EDGAR [ LIVE ] [ WARP RECORDS ]
Sequence DJs

Should be brill! Listen to the show of the same name on 209 Radio this coming Saturday night, 7-9pm, for full details.

I wasn't happy with Saturday's show. Truth be told, I'm becoming more and more cantankerous about everything in general and nothing in particular. I'm currently a hybrid of Victor Meldrew and J G Ballard, someone I'm really starting to warm to. I've got into Ballard rather late, but after the excellent South Bank Show last week, better late than never. I'll be starting "Kingdom Come" this week.

Anyway, I digress. Saturdays show was quite strong content-wise, but not so strong in the mixing dept. I decided to do a short mix but completely forgot that one of the turntables was quartz-locked, which made mixing impossible until I realised what the problem was, thus an Ableton-inspired take on modern mixing, only with turntables, which should have cut and chopped and scratched its way through about ten tracks in thirty or forty minutes became a few tunes sequed together without my weary tones to add interesting facts.

I was out on Thursday 21/9 at the Fez to check out Justin Robertson. I couldn't stay for all his set, but liked what I heard, apart from the general sound, which seemed to distort very easily. It wasn't anything like as clear as I'd heard when I saw Adam Freeland there in July. The crowd was down to. A pity because Mr Robertson is an excellent and constantly unsung DJ, as well as being a quite credible recording artist. A member of "Loinrock" as it said on the flier. Cue visions of amorphous tuna steaks belting out tunes in a parallel universe. Next up is James Lavelle on October 12th. The week after I may be up in Manchester for one of the Warehouse Project dates, the 21/10 sees Los Hermanos and Suburban Knight both live, as well as Robert Hood's Grey Area. Should be good watching a cross-section of the minimal maestro's brain and spinal column flopping around in a formaldehyde-filled DJ bubble. Hope he plays "The Pace."

Further dates for your diary in Cambridge Techno City. Jim Masters tells me that Green Velvet and Rolando could be playing "Bottom Heavy" at The Soul Tree. Mr Velvet next month I think, Rolando maybe before Chrimbo. James Priestly could be at Luke Mallia's (Smutt's) night at The Fountain on Regent Street. Tom Hallmark and Largo are starting up a new Sunday afternoon/eveningthing at The BoxTree and Ed of Badger Attack is currently searching for a new venue with Kittenflux's Dave Kelso. Incidentally, Kittenflux and Pacemaker supposedly had a party in the Grantchester meadows last night. I hope some farmcore featured. Who cares as long as they kept Mary Archer awake all night.

Playlist From "Machines . . ." 23/9/06:

Selection One - Shed (Soloaction)
Vorrei Tanto - Avida (Creme)
Lingugliietta Wetterleuchten - Ruede Hagelstein (Lebensfreude)
Square Up (John Tejada mix) - Jimpster (Buzzin' Fly)
Ruhestorung Plattentau (Oxia mix) - Markus Lange (Craft)
An Indian Continuum - Miskate (Einmaleins)
Track 2 - Artist Unknown (Submerge/UR)
Untitled (from "Multiplicaciones 2) - Alex Under (Apnea)
Tron - Stephan Bodzin (Systematic)
Tanz Der Molekule (My My mix) - MIA (Sony)

Mini Mix:

Catacombs (Soup mix) - Dana Kelly (Strictly Rhythm)
Seek And You Will Find - Shinedoe (100% Pure)
Gomma Elastica - Gummihz (Mobilee)
Fahrrad Control - Touane (Persona)
Lone Romantic (3 Channels mix) - Mariel Ito (Connaisseur)
Street Knowledge - Tobias (Logistic)

Just Don't Stop The Dance - Elbee Bad (Get Physical)
Love and Dancing - Justus Kohncke (Kompakt)
Perfume (Quenum mix) - Sierra Sam (Surprise)
Above The Influence (Oliver Koletzki mix) - Citizen Kane (Regular)

I should post a chart later this week.

Oh, and before I forget, I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets pissed off very easily at the goons who are employed as "security" at clubs. These people stop me going out as often as I'd like, and then seem intent on treating me like a fifteen year-old once I'm out. The twats tried to charge me to get into the Fez on Thursday night. Even though I was clearly on the list their minimised intellects insisted on doing battle with my colossal cerebellum. Next time I go I'm taking Robert Hood's Grey Area with me.

Went to see Carl Craig last night at The Soul Tree and very good it was too. I'm having trouble recalling specific details though, but I can confirm that, amongst other tunes, he did play "Strings of Life" or something that sounded like it anyway. I think he edited it live. "Quelle surprise" I hear you say, but his set wasn't quite as predictable as I'm making out. It was a good night, but not quite as well attended as Derrick May last Mayday bank holiday. Mr Craig used Ableton and CDJs, not laying his hand on one piece of vinyl. Thanks to Jim Masters and Largo for bringing him here and for supporting him well.

Had a text off the mad Irishman this morning proclaiming "This is the real deal." Anxious to find out more, I hastily called him to discover that he was lost in a k-hole in the T-Bar in Shoreditch having just heard Matt Styles play a set and starting to appreciate Jamie Jones, whose style he described as "homosexual Terry Francis," or something similar. I was astounded to get anything coherent out of him at all, although the conversation was typically one-way, something that he took pains to advise me of. It was both illuminating and vitriolic. "Faith" got a coating for their treatment of those privileged enough to be on the guest list, as well as pulling Damian Lazarus off the decks thirty minutes early in order to end the night with some "classics." Music these days needs edge, it's boring otherwise. We want it deep, scary and full to the medulla with narcotics. Happiness, who gives a toss? If I want to be happy I'll get my Ballimorey dvd out. I want to be scared shitless while I'm dancing. I see a new genre emerging where electro and minimalism combine to great effect to create something not unlike the "darkcore" mentality that used to be prevalent in drum and bass. The scene needs its "Mr Kirk's Nightmare." Who's going to come up with it?

Here's the playlist from last Saturday's (26/8/06) Machines Are Funky:

Science Fiction (Paperclip People edit) - Carl Craig (Blanco y Negro)

Livin' It Up - Ada (Areal)

Like You (Supermayer mix) - Gui Boratto (Kompakt)

Jonny Davies Interview Pt 1

Get Pony - Fuckpony (Get Physical)

Willie And The Hand Jive (Todd Terje re-kuff) - Rinder and Lewis (Full Pupp)

Just A Woman - Audion/Ellen Allien (Spectral)

Loose Lips Sync Ships - Audiofly and Scarlett Etienne (Kickboxer)

Rekorder 6.1 (Rekorder)

Man In A Box (Chardronnet remix) - Cosmic Sandwich (MBF)

Jonny Davies Interview Pt 2

Jonny Davies Live Set (30 minutes approx)

(No tracklist but the last track is called "Oliver's Twisted")

The Equalizer (Morgan Geist Graphic mix) - Junior Boys (Domino)

My Nightlight (Dapayk remix) - Alland Byallo (Nightlight)

Newbe (Heartthrob's Are You Gay? remix) - Dario Zenker (Esperanza)

Ravers Suck Our Sound (Carl Craig remix) - La Funk Mob (Mo' Wax)

These are not exactly new, but they are a true representation of what I've been playing recently.

A Thing Of Beauty Is A Joy Forever - Technasia (Technasia):

Detroit via France and Hong Kong. Euphoric excellence.

Dump Truck - Cobblestone Jazz (Wagon Repair):

Matthew Jonson continues to impress. Just when you thought there might be something he can't turn his hand to, he goes out and makes hypnotic techno with live instruments. Bleepy and evocative.

Street Knowledge - Tobias (Logistic):

Veteran of a thousand mix cds. This track has popped up everywhere recently. Simple driving techno with a cliched vocal sample that does exactly what it says on the tin to devastating effect.

Rekorder 6 (Rekorder):

Rekorder are purveyors of disturbed, stark minimal electro. If you like it, you'll buy it. The man from his k-hole, he say "yes!"

Crazy (Paradise edit) - Rude Hagelstein (Less):

This has been out for a year or so, but I've only recently found out what it is. First heard it as the opening track off an Ivan Smagghe live set from October '05. Vocals are used to good effect to cause fear in the heart of the listener. This is the type of stuff they play to you in purgatory when they're pretending to be "nice."

My Nightlight (Dapayk remix) - Alland Byallo (Nightlight): Remix of a track that first surfaced a couple of years ago. Dapayk is the master of sleaze.

Mandolina (Robert Babicz remix) - Felix Houzer (Out Of Orbit):

Every set needs a few spinal columns to support its more outlandish extravagances. This is one good set of vertebrae.

Far Away (Jennifer Cardini and Shonky remix) - Mlle Caro and Frank Garcia (Crosstown Rebels):

One step beyond the previous track mentioned. Space is the place as far as this production is concerned. It's as interesting for what happens between the beats as the music itself.

Newbe (Heartthrobs Are You Gay? remix) - Dario Zenker (Esperanza):

God knows why the remix is called what it is. What am I supposed to be thinking of when I listen to this track, muscle marys in chaps with their arses showing? I hope not. It reminds me of a gang of frogs on a tightrope actually, and it's ace.

Oliver's Twisted - Jonny Davies (to be released on Pacemaker): Support your local talent alert. Jonny's come quite far in a short amount of time and will only get better. This is the only track by him that has a name at the moment, so it gets an honorary inclusion.

Mix CD of the Month:

Fliederlieder - Tobi Neumann (Cocoon):

In an already over saturated market this mix shows control, purpose and thought. Have yet to hear Magda's, and I've heard that Cassy's is excellent. But Tobi rules for the moment.

I've started to feel a bit disconnected from events lately. The family's gone on holiday and there hasn't been much going on, apart from the "Flex" party a couple of weeks ago. I'm alone and it's no fun. You always look forward to it though. Those non-commital days, full of endless possibilities which dissolve before you as you choose a life of sloth to appease your burnt-out self.

Anyway, its a far from desirable state of affairs. The radio show is in need of some serious attention too. Events have overtaken me. I'm going to be a father once again and, while I'm looking forward to it, the economics of the situation aren't too appealing. Still, I've got a good Dominik Eulberg mix on at the moment and "The Chase" is pulsating away around me. "Hit those filters!"

Good show last night, everything went smoothly and, although I'm still unable to mix on-air,(only one turntable in the studio at the moment, we're having a raffle to raise money for a new one, as well as a new mixer), production values have to be kept high and track selection, and, more importantly when not mixing for two hours, programming, has to be impeccable. Not everyone may agree with me when they see the playlist, but I think things went well.

Click here to get the archive for the last show.

A few good nights out to be had in the coming weeks. First is Erol Alkan's visit to The Fez this Thursday, the 17th, playing alongside Priory ressies Sam I Am and The Fish. Bank Holiday weekend kicks off on Friday night at The Fountain on Regent's St wit the visit of Baby G of Eskimo Records from Belgium, support comes from Luke Mallia (Smutt) and Pete Lever. A little bird told me that Tim "Love" Lee will be popping in to lay for an hour as well. On the Sunday we've got the "It's a Bit 2 Fishy" boat party on the Thames. Ressies Pete Lever, Largo and Jonny Davies are to be joined by guests from Madrid and Rome. Finally back in Cambridge, the one and only Carl Craig plays "Bottom Heavy" at The Soul Tree, supported by Jim Masters and Largo. Miss that one at your peril.

I'll try as soon as possible to get back to more regular posting, but not being online chez moi for the past two and a half months does take its toll. More photos are coming too, although I'm going to have to try and borrow a camera for this Thursday at The Fez. A chart will be in place, I hope, by the end of the week. Keep it locked.

Playlist From "Machines . . ." 12/8/06

Are You Ready? - In Flagranti (Codek)

Pee On You - FPony (INeedAFreak)

Free For All (Soundstream mix) - Rhythm & Sound (Burial Mix)

Sub-Atomic - Mathew Jonson (Cocoon)

Chicken Feed - Bushflange (Offshoot)

Marching Powder + The Strip - A Guy Called Gerald (Lab. Instinct)

Z Program (Mark Henning remix) - JPLS (Clever)

Uhu - Goldfish und der Dulz (Boxer)

Marble House (Rex The Dog remix) - The Knife (Brille/Rabid)

Shammy - The Wee DJs (Touchin' Bass)

Transparenza - Mayer/Voight (Kompakt Extra)

Convolution + Subvariety - In Flagranti (Codek)

Mio Bel Figlio Lucca - Octogen (Soma)

My Fellow Boppers - Felix The Housecat (FFRR)

Some Polyphony - Petter (Border Community)

Skitzoid + NightFlight - A Guy Called Gerald (Lab. Instinct)

Moon Rays - Suburban Knight (UR)

Boy From School (Erol Alkan's extended rework) - Hot Chip (EMI)

Let The Music Play - Shannon

I still don’t know how I got home from it, must be getting older I suppose, and I didn’t even stay that late. I’m talking of course, about the great ‘Flex” party held last Saturday night in a warehouse off Coldhams Lane in Cambridge. I spoke and blathered to and at people I knew and some I’d never seen before. It’s a real novelty to have this sort of gathering in Cambridge, but it still took nearly an hour to get home, due in no small part to me getting lost on the way out of the industrial estate where the venue was situated. So drunk was I that I staggered around in circles for about forty minutes, going down every dead end I could. Should have made amusing viewing for the security staff I suppose.

Here’s a long overdue chart for July:

Sub-Atomic – Mathew Jonson (Cocoon)
Black Dog – Pan-Pot (Mobilee)
Like You (Supermayer remix) – Gui Boratto (Kompakt)
Living It Up – Ada (Areal)
Cellophane – Davidovitch (Kompakt Extra)
Static C – Peter van Hoesen (LAN)
Twirl – Brtschhitsch (Ostgut)
Black Cat, White Cat – Eriko Tanabe (Titbit)
Some Polyphony – Petter (Border Community)
We Share Our Mother’s Health (Radio Slave remix) – The Knife (Brille)

Can’t be arsed writing anything educated about these, as I’m still hungover from last night.