Ghipwe/Enter the Echo remixes - Dadableep (Fear of Flying)

Read my RA review of Fear of Flying's latest here.

Machines Are Funky: 26/1/08

Got through some good stuff on this week's emission:

A Black Man in Space (Original mix) - Dennis Ferrer (Objektivity)
Soledad - Rodriquez Junior (Leena)
Enter the Echo (Tim Gregor remix) - Dadableep (Fear of Flying)
Mumbling Yeah (Locodice Tribute mix) - Kabale und Liebe feat. Daniel Sanchez (AreaRemote)
Turn Around (Cassy's Smooth mix) - Prosumer & Murat Tepeli (Ostgut Ton)
Supertubos (Matt O' Brien remix) - Plasmik (Connaisseur)
BV Anthem - Brothers Vibe (Deep Vibes)
Infection - Dyed Soundorom (Freak n' Chic)
I Am UR - Underground Resistance (UR)
Letters Reboot (Cadenza)
Custom Made - Mr G (O Proof`)
May I (Quarion remix) - Jamie Lloyd (Future Classic)
Future Bass - Phonogenic (Moodmusic)
Spanish Breakfast - Rone (Infine)
Vertical Smile - Andomat 3000 (Cecille)
Kill Your Radio Station - Underground Resistance (UR)
Radioactive - Paul Woolford/Bobby Peru (20/20 Vision)

Just on case you haven't spotted it, a link to the archive is on the right. It's usually available within 48 hours after being broadcast.

How Deep is your Pond

Here's a mix forwarded to me by Cedric Maison of the excellent Hypercolour label.

Tracklist:

Jay Haze, Big Bully & Sven T - Soul in a bottle
Common Factor - Get down #3
Luna City Express - Venus'
Laurent Garnier - The man with the red face [Svek remix]
Mille, Mr Hirsch - Push you [Lowtec remix]
Jimpster - Seventh wave
Jimpster - Square up [John Tejada remix]
Sebastian Bouchet - Changing Lanes (Jens Bond remix)
Stefan Goldmann - Sleepy hollow
Dennis Ferrer - Son of raw
Two Armadillos - Tropics
Efdemin - Bergwein
MyMy - Fast freeze
The Fix - Anaesthetic

Link here

Sources - Matt Styles

Here's a review I did for RA but they decided they didn't want it. I forgot all about it until today. I've decided to leave it as I wrote it unedited. A bit of a dispute arose over my use of the word "reggae." As far as I'm concerned it may not be Bob Marley or Gregory Isaacs, but there's definitely a reggae feel to the title track, and what's dub if not reggae?

Title: Sources EP
Artist: Matthew Styles
Label: Horizontal
Cat Number:
Genre: Difficult to Pigeonhole House

A: Sources
B1: Double Exposure
B2: 520

Brtschirsch's 'Hook Up' and Villalobos' remix of Innersphere's 'Phunk' are two of the more recent examples of reggaes all-pervading influence and ability to reinvent itself, and now we have 'Sources' from Matthew Styles' new EP on Dinky's Horizontal label. Styles, Crosstown Rebels label boss, Damian Lazarus' right-hand man and dark horse dj here takes his first, tentative steps as a producer. This EP comes out at around the same time as 'We Said Nothing' on Diamonds and Pearls and hot on the heels of 'Lady Judy' on BPitch so are we witnessing a spurt of latent creativity ready to burn out just when we need it most, or the beginnings of a consistent run of critically acclaimed output?

'Sources' is a reggae tune, pure and simple. From the off-kilter gurgles that open it up and sound like they came straight from Lee Perry's lab to the simple but oh so effective bassline that gets overlaid by a more synthesised brittle top end. I feel that this particular twist on house could only have come out of London.However, it's not exactly the type of mash-up that the UK dance scene specialises in. It's much more subtle than that.

'Double Exposure' is more stripped down in its approach and relies on a galloping but restrained bassline to drive it. Nothing groundbreaking, but it's competent and well wrought. It's my least favourite of the three on offer but don't let that put you off. '520' is an altogether more interesting proposition with its sinister feel of isolation and sense of space. It too jogs along merrily but has a feeling probably similar to being lost in a void. It's vaguely Kafkaesque but not quite as oppressive.


An interesting debut from Mr Styles and one that, despite its influences, sounds original and refreshingly eccentric. One that you have to read between the lines.

Infine 2008 & 2009

Infine is a label overseen by French techno titan Agoria. It's seven releases old, numbering Danton Eephrom, Francesco Tristano and Clara Moto amongst it's artists. The end of this month sees Apparat release his second ep for the label, while new artist Rone follows on in February. It's output is always interesting and the EPs released so far have shown variety and originality.

This from their MySpace:

EASY MUSIC 4 HARD TASTE PEOPLE ! International & eclectic music home based in Paris. Created by Agoria, to pulse with love & passion projects from all over the world and different genre. InFiné is open-minded and looking for new way of spreading music for the future!

Here's a few words about those two upcoming releases.

Title: Arcadia
Artist: Apparat
Label: Infine
Cat Number: IF2008
Genre: Floaty Electronica

A: Arcadia (Boyz Noize remix)
B1: Arcadia (Telefon Tel Aviv remix)
B2: Arcadia (Original Video edit)

The "Boyz Noize remix" is a tease. It's very well produced, will, no doubt, do some dancefloor damage but I have two particular issues with it. It's epic length (Radio Slave style 12 minutes and counting) and it's tendency to breakdown every other minute into melodrama, thus ruining any momentum. When it rocks it's a passable homage to all things French, funky and strident, but it's ruined by it's inability to decide what it really wants to do. The "Telefon Tel Aviv remix" is much shorter at just over three and a half minutes and uses the vocal cadences over a much more sluggish beat. It's almost like a lengthened breakdown from the Boyz Noize remix, with the vocal to make it more interesting. Finally the "Original Video edit" comes in. It's very similar to the "Telefon . . ." remix, but twice the length and with slightly tougher beats. All in all an interesting package with reasonable breadth but for me, lacking that extra special something. Will go down very well at the end of the night as that all-important last tune on the trancier floors.

Title: Bora EP
Artist: Rone
Label: Infine
Cat Number: IF2009
Genre: Atmospheric Melancholia

A1: Bora (Original)
A2: Bora (Vocal feat A Damasio)
B1: Flesh
B2: Spanish Breakfast

I really like the original of "Bora." It's just a monologue in French, and I've no idea who's speaking, but it reminds me of the much more monotonous voice in Coctaeu's "Orphee." In any case this is a strong EP that scores high on atmosphere and evokes a certain bittersweet melancholia. It's funny, after praising the variety of Infine this is an EP that presents subtle variations on the same theme, but then it's a good subject to experiment with. The instrumental expands on the vocal by amplifying the drama and ambience. It's trancetastic in a very sophisticated way, breaking down into an acid riff that reminds me of stuff that came out on Rising High a long time ago. "Parasight" by Balil springs to mind. "Spanish Breakfast" is a slightly different animal, being similar in general tone to "Bora" but starker and more wiry. Finally "Flesh" sounds like a cross between Captain Nemo on the Nautilus' organ and breaks, but they're very understated.

Two good eps, that while different, do have common ground. My favourite is Rone's, but Apparat is a comparitive old hand and while his EP isn't quite my thing, it's fair to say that it comes across as an equally sophisticated piece.

New Year Downloads and Machines Playlist: 12/1/07

Machines Playlist: 12/1/08

Here's the first playlist of 2008. Big things a comin' for some of these artists and labels this year.

Glittering Way - Itokim (Fine Art)
An Ill Collage - Bruno Pronsato (Hello, Repeat?)
Walkman - Johnny D (8-Bit)
Mismoplastico (Michal Ho Plastic Planet remix) - Virtualismo (Arcobaleno)
Emancipare - Petre Inspirescu (Arpiar)
Confessions of an English Opium Eater - Danton Eeprom (Infine)
Far Out - Sebo K (Mobilee)
Mind - Toketronic (Clever)
Trancized - Elektrodrei (Ostwind)
Acai - Jay Haze & Guido Schneider (Tuning Spork)
Walkabout - Nick Hogendoorn & Eelke Kleijn (Ork)
Bettfluchthemmung (Martin Czubala remix) - Stefan Tretau (Heimatmelodie)
The Rhythm, The Drum - Wipe the Needle (Deeply Rooted House)
The Road of Life (Quiet Village Sound Factory dub) - Francois K (Deep Space Media)
Glide Over - Miss Fitz (Raum)
Fat Cat - Guilluame & the Coutu Dumonts (Musique Risquee)
Red Coffee - Markus Enichson (Imprime)

So here's the first freebies of what I hope promises to be a great year. I'll also give details, when I can remember, of where I bought the tracks. I lived in record stores for about twenty five years and had some great times in them. I'm using the past tense because try as we might, it'll never be quite the same again.

Subject - Kou (Grass Green)

Old Bush sub-label and home to, amongst others, Terry Francis' and Nathan Coles' "Housey Doings." I'll post them in the future when I've found them. Until then, here's the pick of an obscure three tracker by Kou. Who he? . . .she?

Move My Body (Acid Jesus original mix) - Acid Jesus (Exploding Plastic Inevitable)

I first heard this on Darren Emerson's "Psychotrance" mix a log, long time ago. Originally released on David Holmes' Belfast-based EPI, it's Alter Ego don't y'know? Bought this from RoughTrade in Paris off a Mr Ivan Smagghe.





You Can't Stop the Groove (parts 1-4) - Coco, Steel & Lovebomb (Warp)

Not quite as good as 'Feel It' but not bad all the same. A deadly combination of staccato electronics and a rave diva assure this track's place in peak-time.


Take Me Back - Rhythmatic (Network)

"Electronic music with bleeps." Say no more, but don't forget the sub-bass.




Invisible Force - Industrial Bass Machine (Joey Boy)

Electro with robots on the sleeve, plus vocodered science-fiction ouija board vocals. Miami bass at it's finest. Grabbed at IQ on Lexington Street. I think Mr Dave Mothersole was behind the counter at the time.


The Bone remixes - Persuasion (Open)

Harvey and Hursty at the controls. No info on this, other than it's a remix. I've got Hurstey's copy (still) so it's a white label. Remixes by the original artist as far as I know. An afro-percussive cosmic monster.



El Ritmo de Verdad - Lego (Afterhours)

It's the vocal . . . Spanish over a woozy sax with a slow groove. Once heard never forgotten. Bought at Atlas.


Tech Trax Inc (Xplanatory mix) - Tech Trax Inc (Nu Groove)

First heard this on a Stu Allen show "back in the day." Rheji Burrell at the controls. A manifesto for a new world order with an oriental cyber backing. For some reason this reminds me of the city scenes in "Blade Runner." From Reckless on Berwick Street.



Red 3Tracks/5 Loops - Agent Cooper (Raw Musique)

Looped techno on a mysterious label by a mysterious artist with probably no connection at all to "Twin Peaks." Undulating builders to underpin the mix. I bought this in Paris when I was living there. From Guillame la Tortue's Salinas in Montemarte I think.

Rafi-Ki - Zap Mama (Goodtimes Abroad)

Bit of a weird one, this. Zap Mama are a little bit of everything. Read this from their MySpace page.

"AFRO EUROPEAN MUSIC MARIE DAULNE created the concept " ZAP MAMA " with an acappella group of women . afro-european (post colonial generation; Europe and Africa ) ZAP MAMA started end 1989 , 1990. ffirst album out in 1991. ZAP MAMA is a humanitarian ladies world first."

They need a better translator. Anyway, this comes on like afro house with what I would term almost folky vocals. For some reason I can't get Steeleye Span out of my head when I hear this. I've heard DJ Heather play this on an old Groovetech recording from a WMC gig about five years ago. Other than that it's quite an obscure track. Got this at Black Market.

Machines Are Funky: 29/12/07 with The Fish

This is a very late post because I've been at my Mum's for the last week. I saw Liverpool grind out a championship capitulating 1-1 draw against Wigan, but generally had a good time. Thanks to Kirsteen and Richard for New Year's Eve. More to come very soon. No mp3s this week as promised. Next week . . .

Double-Checked - Sascha Funke (BPitch Control)
Chew the Whale Fat - Le Jockey (Clever)
Root Rot (Shonky dub) - Marc Ashken (Leftroom)
The More Things Change (original) - Tom Demac (Hypercolour)
Rubber Swingo - Rodriguez Jnr (Leena)
You Make Me Struggle - Let's Go Outside (Soma)
In Order to Dance - Guido Schneider & Jens Bond (Upon You)
Arcadia (Telefon Tel Aviv remix) - Apparat (Infine)
Beyond the Dark (Galaxy 2 Galaxy remix) - Raiders of the Lost Arp (Nature)

Mix by The Priory's The Fish:

Sorry. Tracklisting currently unavailable