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.

A funny thing happened to me the other day. I received two artist album cds that each contain tons of tracks. They were “Wronger Than Anyone Else” by In Flagranti and “Proto Acid The Berlin Sessions” by A Guy Called Gerald. What made their receipt all the sweeter is that they are both brilliant.

‘Wronger . . .” weighs in with a hefty seventeen tracks, but Gerald’s has twenty four. I was only familiar with one In Flagranti track beforehand, the pitched up excellence of “Just Gazing” which is one of the tracks that opens Ivan Smagghe’s brilliant “How To Kill The DJ Vol.1” (Tigersushi). All the tracks are quite short, no longer than three to four minutes and incorporate a huge amount of decadence and sleaziness. From the medieval italo synths that open the album on “Are You Ready” (which could have come from any amount of places off either of IF’s two brilliant “Mixed Up In The Hague” compilations) , to the electro disco of “Incarnation,”the hillbilly techno of “Eight Consecutive Life Terms” and the euphoric funk of “Escapade,” there is no filler. This is essentially a compilation of earlier released tracks from the previous eighteen months, plus some other stuff. There are no gaps between tracks so the cd sounds like a meticulously – programmed unmixed dj set. There’s Gary Glitter in there too in “Futile Attempt.” I hope that doesn’t put you off though. It’s excellent.

“Marching Powder” kicks off “Proto Acid . . . “ and from then on in we’re in the miasmic world of A Guy Called Gerald. Gerald actually started his recording career in my home town, bringing out his first album “Hot Lemonade” and I think early editions of “Voodoo Ray” on Wallasey label Rham records. His mid-nineties album “Black Secret Technology” was by far the most futuristic take on drum and bass up to that time. So futuristic in fact that in my opinion it bore little resemblance to the genre it was pigeonholed in. It was one of the best from that decade and difficult to improve upon. Not that I think he’s been trying to do that with ‘Proto Acid . . . “ Coincidentally it plays like “Wronger Than . . .” with minute, or no track breaks, but I suppose for the most part the tracks mix into each other, acting as continuations of those previous, (a mix of sorts, if you will.) And, like In Flagranti, he’s gone for a collection of tracks that are aimed squarely at the dancefloor.

I think Gerald’s lp is superb as well. It’s upfront and raw. He called it proto acid because “ . . .it’s how I feel house/techno music would have sounded if the whole rave thing hadn’t happened in England.” Well, I guess we’ll never know, and if my aunty had a dick she’d be my uncle. Then he goes on to say “ . . . when I say proto acid I’m saying this stuff has a direct lineage to Chicago and Detroit in the mid-to-late eighties.”
That’s undeniably true, but it also sounds very European. To me it’s a more polished version of what I have always understood to be played at high volume in muddy fields across Europe at the many raves that still flourish there, France’s Teknivals, to name but a few. It’s better for the polish though.

Buy them!

Wronger Than Anyone Else (Codek) – In Flagranti: released 18/9/06
Proto Acid The Berlin Sessions (Laboratory Instinct) – A Guy Called Gerald:
released 29/8/06

So, I finally went to the Fez last Thursday. Sam and James from the Priory were playing supporting Adam Freeland. I had work the next day, so didn’t make it to the end, but enjoyed myself while I was there. What to say, good, lively crowd for a Thursday night but more to the point good club and sound. Sam and James played till midnight and then came Adam Freeland. To call him a breaks dj would be missing the point I think. He’s a meticulous set programmer and encompasses a lot more than most. Anyway, I liked him and I’m not a great breaks fan, so you get the point. I also heard he got married last week in Ibiza, so congrats!


The latest episode of “Machines Are Funky” was aired to the world last night from 209 Towers in the heart of Cambridge, and once again I found myself on the receiving end of some technical problems. I must be a jinx. I’d decided to do a mix for the second hour which, in the end, only lasted about forty minutes because the clutch went on the remaining Numark deck, the other one having gone during another one of my shows a few weeks back. I noticed a lack of control with the offending article as I was mixing in my second track but managed to keep things together until the power cut during my penultimate tune. As luck would have it this happened during a breakdown which mimics the effect of a record slowing to a standstill (something I fondly recall Laurent Garnier often doing when I used to go and check him at his monthlies chez The Rex). I picked my spot and cued the last track in.
Listen to the archive here.

Oh, and next month Erol Alkan’s coming to town for the Priory. Better report and pictures will ensue, plus I’m going to try and get an interview.

Here’s the playlist for Saturday’s show:

Sea Hunt – Patrick Cowley (Megatone)
Free For All (Soundstream mix) – Rhythm and Sound (Burial Mix)
Crackzilla – The Aquanauts (UR)
Dime Bar – Mark Henning (MMR)
The Brainwasher (Erol Alkan’s Horrorhouse dub) – Daft Punk (Virgin)
Got You On My Mind – DMX Crew (DAR)
The Vineyard (Peter Ford remix) – Florence (Eevolute)
Numbers and Notes – Octagon (Soma)
It’s Obvious – Quiroga (Titbit)
Fire (Swahili Meets Mozart mix) – Silent Phase (Transmat/R&S)

In the (mini) mix:

Cellophane – Davidovitch (Kompakt Extra)
“Give Me” (No Ears mix) – Rob Mello (Disco 45)
Man In A Box (Chardronnet mix) – Cosmic Sandwich (MBF)
This Never Works – Fraktion (Resopal Red)
Seeing Through Shadows – Locodice (Minus)
Mystical Rhythm (Naz remix) – Vince Watson (Alola)
Black Cat, White Cat – Eriko Tanabe (Titbit)
Static C – Peter van Hoesen (LAN)
Twirl – Brtschhitsch (Ostgut)

Back to being Smashey and Nicey:

Stacks and Stacks – Marc Houle (Minus)
You Got Good Ash (Gabriel Ananda remix) – Marek Bois (Trapez)
Underdog – Dinky (Horizontal)

Machines Are Funky Playlist: 1/7/06

I had to do this show just after England lost to Portugal in the World Cup quarter-final. Normally the affairs of the national team don't involve me too much, but I was well fed up.

Solomon’s Prayer - Luciano & Thomas Melchior (Cadenza)
Repeat Offender - Derailleur (Dust Science)
Theme From Murder Capital (The Ride) - Lonny & Melvin (Kraft)
One More Hour (Mark Henning remix) - Aaron Hedges (District of Corruption)
Electrolatino (main mix) - Senor Coconut (Multicolor)
Simpler - Marc Houle (Minus)
Dial Zero (Modeselector remix) - My Robot Friend (Soma)
Mardi Gras - Crowdpleaser & St Plomb (Mental Groove Ltd)
Cult Copy (mix 2) - Aardvarck (Rushhour)
C1 - Dandy Jack & The Third Leg (Perlon)
Dance of Energies - Jaquar Woman (Dust Science)
Let’s Break - Sound stream (Sound stream)
Wake Up (Mark Henning remix) - Todd Bodine (Immigrant)
L’Nuit (Dominik Eulberg remix) - Pier Bucci (Crosstown Rebels)
Klaatu Barada Nikto - Scape One (Pnuma)
Version 4 - The Separatists (Soma)
Somewhere - Geddes Vs Audiofly presents Rekleiner (Moodmusic)

Will McClaren turn out to be a Sven Mini Me?

This is well overdue, but better late than never.

Uhu – Goldfish And Der Dulz (Boxer Sport)
Disposable Elvises EP – Krikor presents Mix and Match (Omerta)
Tandem EP – Hemmann & Kaden (Freude am Tanzen)
This Never Works – Fraktion (Resopal Red)
Silverbird Casino EP – Villalobos/Schwarz (Diamonds & Pearls)
Zukunft – Crowdpleaser & St Plomb
Serotonin Smile – Renato Figoli (Gumption)
In My Song – The Mole (Wagon Repair)
You Got Good Ash Remixes – Marek Bois (Trapez)
Espirit – Miskate (Alphahouse)

So I made the journey over to Barca for Sonar weekend. Arrived Thursday afternoon and left Monday morning. Stayed with friends (thanks Olivier & Valerie) and partied on the beach. We didn’t club at all but went out every night to parties organised by cousin Mathieu, who is currently working for Andy Cato of Groove Armada fame. This blog is long overdue, and I’ve forgotten the minor details, but the first night it belted down, we went to a restaurant, ate fideoa (I think that’s how you spell it. It’s squid ink spaghetti, cut small and served with loads of seafood in a paella dish thingie), and I saw the biggest cockroach in my life which crawled across the backs of two women after flying off Olivier’s back. I thought it was an Atlas Moth at first. I suppose it had been blown over from Africa and came back to Earth during the storm. It was huge and when I get my new computer next week, and have a bit more time, I’ll post some pictures of the beast it most closely resembles.
Anyway, I digress. Friday night Olivier, who records on Fiat Lux as Exotica, was due to do a pa. We took a taxi filled with his gear (which was almost fifty times more massive than Alex Smoke’s the next night) down to the beach. Scarlett Etienne was playing when we arrived, but not for too long, we maybe caught about twenty minutes of her set. After her Quiroga of Titbit records from Italy played. He was very good so I chatted to him and he’s sending me some stuff to play on my show. A very nice man indeed. Olivier then stepped up, but was beset by technical problems almost from the start. He had to stop after about twenty minutes of constant tinkering with his equipment. I’m still not sure what the exact problem was, but maybe there was too much humidity? His equipment worked fine when we got it back to the flat. Olivier, post a comment and remind me what exactly went wrong. Next up were Audiofly who played a solid set after a slow start.
The Saturday, saw Rolando play. I’ve been told I was harassing him, but at least I kept on my feet, unlike Olivier who crawled into bed early. Spoke to Lars Sandberg (Funk d’Void), who lives out there and is a friend of Olivier’s, Valerie’s and Mathieu’s. Met Dave from Soma who gave me a few cds. Thanks very much to him for them.
On the Sunday Alex Smoke played, and was excellent, but it only went on for half an hour. Elmer Schubert had been on before him, and was excellent too, but any mood which had been carefully built up came crashing down when Andy Cato got on the decks. The crowd loved it, but I didn’t, and he played for a long time. I sound like a right miserablist, which isn’t true. The crowd loved it, and it was a good party, but I didn’t enjoy the music. Big tune after big tune very British house. Not my cup of tea.
I had a great time though. Also got to the Kompakt party and caught a bit of Michael Mayer and Koze’s sets, Get Physical were another hundred metres or so further on, everyone kept dancing all weekend, great paella (as always ) at Olivier and Valerie’s . . .roll on next year!

I've just come back from Barcelona with bad post-traumatic party disorder so I thought I'd post this asap. More posts within the week, including photos of some of my exploits

Playlist for last Show:17/6/06

Chimps – Claude Vonstroke (Get Physical)
Breathe – Wee DJs (Touchin’ Bass)
Burn The Elastic (Chris Duckenfield mix) – Violet (Radio Rhythm)
Budapest (Joakim Italo dub) – Poni Hoax (Tiger Sushi)
Sangita – DJ 3000 (Mo-Tech)
Freeze – KCL Project (Octopus)
Moppal Kiff – Wighnomy Brothers (Freude-am-Tanzen)
Humanoid – Stakker (Westbury)
Open Your Eyes – Bruno Pronsato (Philpot)
Base – Wee DJs (Touchin’Bass)
Curveball – Mark Henning (Einmaleins)
Bounce Your Body, Gabi – Undo (Factor City)
A Bit Patchy – Switch (Dubsided)
Switch The Light – Fuckponydelic (Ineedafreak)
Death Is Not The End – Shut Up And Dance (Shut Up And Dance)
Rien ne vas Plus – Phage and Daniel Dreir (Highgrade)
Say It – House of Black Dress (Fresh Meat)
Le Jockey CDR

A ducks-eye-view of Strawberry Fair.

So, Strawberry Fair was on Saturday, and 209 broadcast from the Arts Tent for the whole day. “Machines . . . “ went out at its usual time, 7-9pm, with Pete Lever (local Cambridge dj and all-round nice person on the local scene) providing the guest mix between 8 and 9. Playlist for the first hour below. I didn’t get Pete’s tunes on paper, as I was producing for him at the time and had to keep focussed on the mixing desk. He played some good stuff though, fragments of which are listed.

Was in Paris last week and bought the new mix cd on Kill The DJ, “The Dysfunctional Family” which is mixed by Chloe and Ivan Smagghe. God it’s slash yer wrists, suicidal stuff. Ivan’s shaved off his beard and looks like some sort of defrocked medieval court jester. Sleeve notes refer to his “gender being fucked-up . . .” or something like that. Various comparisons between “gender” and “genre,” make for an uncomfortable listening experience. That doesn’t mean that I don’t like it though.

I’m writing this from the computer at work for the next few weeks, as the domestic one has broken down. Posts will not be as frequent as I’d like, but it’s Sonar next week, and the show is going every two weeks from now. A new powerbook in July methinks, and then things will really take off.

Oh’ and big thanks to Pete for organising the afternoon at the Standard on Mill Road yesterday, Where I played, from 4 to 5.

Machines Are Funky: Playlist 3/6/06

Ride The Pony – Fpony (Get Physical)
The Poke (Your Turn To Work Me Mix) – Adonis & The Endless Poker (NME)
18 Years – Crowdpleaser & St Plomb (Mental Groove Ltd)
Boy From School – Hot Chip (EMI)
Nutshell – Graziano Avitabile (Italic)
Minus 61 In Detroit – David Holmes (Go Discs)
Transparenza – Mayer/Voight (Speicher)

Pete Lever “Interview”

Narcotic Syntax Track off “Superlongevity 4”
Rodeo – Und (Trapez Ltd)

Pete Lever Mix from 8-9.

Pete played a wide array of tracks, starting off with Metro Area 4. I didn’t get my act together and make a list, so you’ll have to tune in here.

Finally, check out another excellent Philip Sherburne article from Pitchfork, this time on what it means to be minimal.

I’ve seen the future and it works. . . .







Chart: May’06

Switch The Light/Pee On You – Fuckponydelic (INeedAFreak)
Now I’m Weak EP – Tolga Fidan (Vakant)
Sun & Ice - The Field (Kompakt)
Duckbeats 2 – Chris Duckenfield (Odori)
Elektronische Musik – Interkontinental 5 – Various Artists (Traum)
Superlongevity 4 – Various Artists (Perlon)
Interstellar Fugitives 2 – Underground Resistance (Submerge)
25 Bitches Pts 1 & 2 – Troy Pierce (Minus)
Stecker EP – Styro 2000 (Bruchstuecke)
Say It – House Of Black Dress (Fresh Meat)

I want more vocals, even snippets would be nice.

I’ve heard a few mix cds this month, none of which have really done it for me. “Bugnology 2” by Steve Bug (Poker Flat) is particularly disappointing. No. 1 was excellent.

Oldie of the month:

When The Funk Hits The Fan (Mood II Swing When The Dub Hits The Fan) – King Britt Presents Sylk 130 (Ovum)

Cambridge is the new Berlin!

A couple of days ago I was sitting in the window of Café Brazil on Mill Rd when who should walk in but Mark Henning. He had a heavily bandaged hand, and told me that he was just getting his life in order (probably a little dramatic, that) after having left his job. He was also looking forward to playing Jena tonight, for Freude-am Tanzen, and Watergate in Berlin tomorrow, which he described as probably “the biggest gig of my life.” Due to go on around 4am tomorrow, he should catch Berlin at it’s most lively. Hope it goes well for him.

A word about Legends at Cambridge City FC. Badger Attack was supposed to be on tonight, but was cancelled yesterday by Legends. No licence and a complete lack of organisation is the answer I’m afraid. Unfortunately there isn’t much else in Cambridge. The scene up to now has been building up a nice bit of momentum over the past year, but now it is in danger of gathering moss. I know that Jonny aka “Le Jockey,” is amongst a secret cabal charged with building a sound system for the place, so there is yet hope.

A chart will be posted over the next couple of days, as well as any other news deemed worth mentioning. Watch this space.

Oh, just to make sure there’s something cheerful to kick off with. Great Cup Final yesterday. The man above was the difference.

There is a terrible shortage of decent venues in Cambridge. A fact underlined by the cancellation, earlier this week, of The Priory’s May Ball. Originally scheduled for last night on Cambridge City Football pitch, the soiree, organised through the ubiquitous Legend’s Bar, had been flyered for a month and was due to take place under a marquee on the football pitch, not in the bar. Of course, the venue forgot to ask the groundsman until a few days before. When asked the groundsman probably said something like “a marquee on a football pitch that we almost certainly can’t afford to re turf filled with 400 or so sweaty ravers, are you mad?” And so I received a text on Wednesday telling me it was off. This is the turd on the cake, following on, as it does, from the first Obvious being double-booked, and the last Badger Attack having no bar and closing an hour early. We need another venue, and quickly.

Tonight we’ve got Josh Wink at Bottom Heavy. Following on from Derrick May two weeks ago, another heavyweight of the one’s and two’s makes his way to Cambridge to star in Jim Master’s and Largo’s Sunday night shebang. Mr Wink has, in my opinion, always been a better dj than producer, and has always maintained a high, twisted standard behind the decks. He’s in town to promote his contribution to the Ministry’s “Sessions” series. Should be good.

Some labels which are doing it for me at the moment: Einmaleins, Mobilee and Foundsound. Many more of course, but these three are ones that I check all the time and seem to have forged their own sound, each of which offers a subtle twist on the minimal blueprint. More label spots imminent.

Photos:
Dread at the controls

George and Sam. George, my mum always closes her eyes when she's having her photo taken.

Karl robot dancing and repairing hardware in the heat of the moment.

George, your foul-mouthed host, and Sam.

Holly and Phil from "The Scene."





Tourette’s Can Afflict Us All

Yesterday was the first full broadcast day for 209 Radio from our new premises, The Howard Mallett Centre in Cambridge. My guests were Sam, organiser and resident dj at the Priory, and Priory promoter George. We arrived around an hour before we were due to go on air. Phil and Holly were busy seamlessly presenting “The Scene,” so we relaxed and I took a few photos. Little did we know what carnage would soon erupt around us.

We took to the studio a little before 7 pm to get a feel for the place. The familiar surroundings of Karl’s living room had been replaced by the more pressurised, but ultimately more professional environment of the broadcasting studio. The show started well, and came together seamlessly for the most part. I made the competition questions as awkward-sounding as possible, (translations at the end of this article), but apart from that, and Sam’s sweaty palms, the show was going swimmingly.

Then all hell broke loose. I’d already loaded the cd containing James’ (The Fish, and Sam’s Priory djing partner) mix for the second hour of the show. However, on coming back to look at the cd display and to pfl (pre fade listen) the cd to check the levels, I saw that the display read “no disc.” Stress crept out from nowhere and myself, George and Sam began frantically looking for the missing cd, turning everything over in the studio in the process. The problem was that I’d absent-mindedly left the microphone channel open and anyone listening could hear me putting Gordon Ramsay to shame in the swearing steaks as we searched high and low for the missing medium.

Pete from Loop Soup had just come back from playing some gigs in Greece and switched on his computer. He phoned the station to tell us what was happening. Karl appeared at the studio door, ashen-faced, pointing at the mixing desk and open mic channel. Emmanuelle, my partner, was listening at home, and my kids were rolling around the floor laughing at my pain. Needless to say we quickly brought the whole episode to a hasty close, but were was the cd?

Well, the cd player, compressors, etc, are all set up on an angled rack at around 15 degrees. What had happened was the cd had actually slipped back over the sliding door and into the mechanism of the player. Luckily I had enough records to keep us sailing on an even keel, so while Karl opened up the player to extract the cd, I played on. Nero came to mind. You couldn’t make it up.

As soon as Karl got the disc and rebolted the cd player, he put the disc back in to play, and guess what happened? Yep, I went to open the cd tray again and nothing came out. It had slipped into the machine again. We didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Karl had to go through the whole sorry process again. I got to complete my impromptu mini-mix on the station’s new decks, which were fine, and that was that. Of such events are broadcasting history made, but I do feel a bit of a tit. To compound my evening, my bus didn’t turn up, I got soaked, and had to shell out £13 for a cab. I was seriously pissed off when I got home.

Competition questions. Reply to machines@209radio.co.uk, or by leaving a comment below. Please don’t forget to leave your contact details.

To win two copies of the new Ellen Allien and Apparat LP “Orchestra of Bubbles” (to read an excellent review of this album by Philip Sherburne, click here)answer this insultingly simple question.

What is the name Ellen Allien’s label?

To win two wristbands (winner and guest) for the Saturday part of London’s
Encompass festival, answer this even more insultingly simple question.

In which city is Soma Records based?

Good luck y’all.

Playlist for Machines Are Funky: 6/5/06

The Dance – Rhythim Is Rhythim (Transmat)
Ghostrider – Lars Wickinger (Traum)
Urban Wind – Matt John (Perlon)

Priory Interview Pt. 1

5.3 – Rekorder (Rekorder)
Ride (Der Schmeisserlovelysplinetmix) – Aswefall (Kill The DJ)
Noite de Carnaval (Matthew Herbert dub) – Cibelle (Crammed)
The Dance (Mr Negative remix) – Thugfucker (Was Not Was)

Priory Interview Pt 2

The Intergalactic Baptist Church – Underground Resistance (UR)
Intimacy Girl (Someone Else remix) – Heartz4 (HelloRepeat)

Hastily-arranged Minimix:

El Encuentro – Alex Under (Plus 8)
Silent Shout (Troy Pierce Barado en Locombia mix) – The Knife (Brille)
Frequentraeger (Pan-Pot remix) – Misc (Sender)
Finger Food – Phage & Daniel Dreier (Higrade)
Fancy (John Tejada remix) – Suxul Music (Suxul)
Cannon Shakedown – Lansley & Brockespeir (Substatic)
The Cat’s Pyjamas – Sweet n’ Candy (Einmaleins)
Rotums Kanoner – Steady Cam (K2)
Fueron Dos Y Volvio Uno – Damien Schwartz (CMYK)
25 Bitches – Troy Pierce (Minus)