Codekontrol World Blog

101 with Ramon Tapia: being "El Carlitto"...

2011-09-30T01:41:00.000-07:00

Ahead of his highly anticipated performance at tonight's Episode III of Technicolour at EGG club London, we caught up with one of the most loved and appreciated new talents of excellent house music. With new mixes and remixes appearing constantly on his Soundcloud page and already with a Strictly Rhythms Compilation under his belt, Ramon Tapia is on fire!

Get some sun screen then, sit tight, hit the play button and enjoy Codekontrol's 11 questions on "being El Carlitto"
Latest tracks by Ramon Tapia

[code]: Hi there Ramon, and welcome back to sunny London tonight as we roll film and music for Episode III of Technicolour: London’s Cinematographic House Music Experience! How are you and where does this interview find you?

Ramon Tapia: I'm doing great, hanging out on my sofa now after a long weekender; and also had a long long day at the airport :)

[code]: How has summer 2011 been for you and where have you spent it mostly?

Ramon Tapia: I've been touring in Mexico, Brazil and many festivals all over Europe so it has been quite amazing. Wish i'd also had some vacation :P

[code]: :) How has your release schedule been throughout the year since your landmark release for “Strictly Rhythm” last December?

Ramon Tapia: Yes, the Strictly Rhythm release was huge for me with a lot of worldwide exposure; afterwards I wanted to keep it a bit easy on releasing so i did just a couple of originals and remixes on labels like 100 % Pure, Remote Area, Soma, Snatch and so on …Dj wise its been hectic flying from one side of the globe to the other…but yeah...I'm definitely not complaining :D

[code]: For the readers of our little journal not yet familiar with the Ramon Tapia discography, please give us five of the most seminal RT releases throughout the years. (I know this is not going to be an easy ask :)

Ramon Tapia: hahaha your right! defo' not easy :) But lets try...

1. Strictly Rhythm compilation Vol 6

2. Ramon Tapia -Combustian -100 % Pure

3. Ramon Tapia - Back To the Bush -- Monique Musique

4. Silicon Soul --Right on ( Ramon Tapia remix ) -Soma

5. Ramon Tapia ft Neka --Tanzgefuhl - Gsr

[code]: Speaking of productions, we’ve been checking your Soundcloud page quite frequently (...daily :) for the past couple of weeks and there's always great new music showing up on there! Listening to the stuff you were doing two three years ago on Herzblut or Flash Records it is also different. What is the sonic direction you find yourself getting your groove on from these days? Also tell us more about the process of Ramon Tapia the artist getting to the “today point”

Ramon Tapia: thanks for the good words guys :)
Well these days music is evolving so fast, I try to keep my sound but evolve together with the times…which is not easy… in the beginning when I started making music there was a lot of the minimal sound around which I also did. Then, on my first album on Great Stuff i tried to go wide in the spectrum, from house to minimal to techno!

And actually, today, I still stand for that…there are so many cool things to do with music that it would be simply stupid for me to get stuck in one thing. Don't get me wrong, I think if other people prefer doing so, it is their right to do so, for me, I just love making music in all of its glory!

My main influences come from everywhere and i try to work that in most of the records i do :)

[code]: We read in your biog you’ve been living in Belgium for quite a bit of time and that this is the place where Ramon Tapia the dj first made his appearance. But was actually Belgium the first place where your love for music found the right environment to blossom and to change your life for ever? Or have you always been musical, even before Belgium?

Ramon Tapia: Well...I have indeed started djing in Belgium and before that when I was still living with my parents I would be mostly playing around with my sisters' record player ( and broke it eventually :) or be and playing cassettes that my sisters were coming back with from their trips to the electronic music clubs in Belgium and Holland... .

[code]: Surely your crush on gabba and other more exotic such sounds must’ve come from that scene. Tell us more about the time and space when this happened. Do you ever feel any “heartaches” for those days? Did you ever let such sounds (unconsciously maybe) into the music you’re making now?
(errrmm..new Ramon Tapia live show?!? Don't thinks so :)

Ramon Tapia: Hmmm, well in those days it was all about that kind of music, which I followed like a sheep :)). I surely don't regret any of it, I did it as part of my exploration of new things and new sounds in every sense of the word…that it simply was my time to explore these extremes. We were all a bunch of kids going to big raves to watch the big hardcore dj's and tried to be like them …wearing expensive trainers, etc. etc. I think in that it was maybe in that time when I first got the feeling to want to be a dj. Now going to the question of if I use those sounds nowadays …I think i don't...but maybe others say i do :)

[code]: For the past couple of months, if not years even, house music and techno to some extent have slowly but surely morphed into a more organic, jazzy, (heavily) Latinised sound. Many new producers have got their lucky break by combining such grooves with the 4/4 beat.
Ramon, you are by definition a Latin spirit, do you feel that this heritage has had an important influence in shaping your sound today? How do you make the most of it as part of your sonic palette?

Ramon Tapia: It really has!!!
I do love funked up beats, not neccesairly latin, but definitely FUNKY; but yet other styles influence me too. I try to bring a bit of everything into my musical spectrum, hoping that the fans follow me in these "new territories". As far as I'm aware they do!!!

[code]: Coolio, so tell us more of what’s in store for the remaining of the year from the Ramon Tapia production house

Ramon Tapia: Well, let's see...here we go:
I've just released a fresh new record with my good friend Sandy Huner on Remote Area and will do a solo record later this year on the same label …I'm releasing a record on the label i'm doing with Hermanez, Aella Music in Oktober, I'm also starting my very own record label which will feature for the first few releases mostly own productions (name to be announced soon), I'm also expected to do a release on Skint Records and... much much more!

[code]: Tonight's London colourful event which you and Alex Bau of CLR are headlining (in different rooms), TECHNICOLOUR Episode III promises a surreal house music experience of sound and cinematography.
Give us a hint on what will your chosen sound be for the event.

Ramon Tapia: From funky to techy sounds in the widest sense of the word. That is Ramon Tapia!

And finally

[code]: What is the future for gabba?

Ramon Tapia: :))
Gabba is still there ...but it fused more into hardstyle… it'ss like a mixture of hardcore beats with truancy synth leads …. But, you know... for me they simply don't make the Gabba records like they used to :P

[code]: Thanks Ramon, looking very forward to your set tonight at TECHNICOLOUR Episode III It's probably the right time for you to hit the airport. We wouldn't want you to miss your plane by any chance :D

Catch Ramon Tapia headlining the BASEMENT STAGE at tonight's
Technicolour Episode III event at EGG, London

Also, keep touch with Ramon Tapia’s very busy release and gigging schedule through:

Facebook
Beatport
Resident Advisor
Soundcloud

101 with Alex Bau. A heart to heart talk with a 100% techno legend!

2011-09-28T03:38:00.001-07:00

There are really few artists like this guy: "techno" flowing through every vein of his body. He has actually lived through much of the growth and development process of German techno. Believe his every word, Alex Bau knows music history. Enjoy!

[code]: Hi there Alex, it is a great pleasure to have you over again in sunny London as we roll film and music for Episode III of Technicolour on 30th September at EGG. Although it is over a year since your totally blasting set at the Ready Made party, it strangely feels like it was yesterday!

Time flies it seems...but just to get things right from the start:
There hasn’t been one day we haven’t missed you! :)

How are you these days Alex and where does this interview find you?

Alex Bau: I am quite ok, just returned from a three gig weekend in Italy which was just great. Actually Thursday was Munich, but during „Oktoberfest“ there are so many Italians, it feels almost like being in Italy :) Rome and Naples were great too.

[code]: Italians are to be found everywhere where music and fun occurs :))

Oke, give us a status update on the “Alex Bau 2011 situation”: new releases, memorable gigs, forgettable nights = the whole deal please! How has the year been for you and where have you spent it mostly?

Alex Bau: The year has been great so far, unfortunately not too many releases this year which is related to the fact that I was moving house, intense touring and also some technical issues computerwise. I also had to finish a row of remixes for many people, so I ended up with only two „own“ releases on DMOM and UK`s Sleaze Recordings, but both have been received very well and are sure shots in my sets always!
And of course I „helped“ Wayne Sidorsky on his debut 12“ „Abgesang auf Minimal“, which also was accompanied by a nice video, telling the story of the lyrics even without speaking german :-)

Gigwise the whole summer was kind of washed away by the rain, at least the Open Air`s, but luckily 9 out ot 10 gigs were just supergreat!

[code]: Nice little Wayne Sidorsky video :))
Looking at the many many places you’ve travelled around the world only this year, you must’ve seen and heard many new things about techno. What’s the health state of the techno scene around the world right now?

Alex Bau: I think that Techno hasn`t been that vital for years! The last years have been dominated by only minimal and techhouse mainly, it was hard to play solid and even good techno simply because people were afraid of using the word, but after starting in 2010 I think techno is much more accepted again by a broad audience.

[code]: That is very good news! Are there certain countries that impressed you a lot and how? Does that compare to the scene in Germany right now? Or maybe Germany in its young techno days?

Alex Bau: It`s funny that techno seems to be a kind of universal language somehow. Wherever I am booked to play, people there seem to understand 'from the go' what they can expect musicwise, and this results in a super positive vibe, the only difference is that that size of this „microcosm“ is different from country to country. Generally speaking, the acceptance for underground electronic dance music in Europe is much higher as elsewhere, but it does exist everywhere on this planet.

[code]: Speaking of Germany, recently we’ve had a chat with some good friends from the east Side of town (Ostfunk) about Berlin, funk and even Sven Vath’s eyeliner (:). Many artists are hearing the “Berlin Calling” and run to respond to it. What’s the vibe there? Is it really that good as we’re hearing?

Alex Bau: I can not say too much about it as I did not see the movie and I am not really into the latest productions of Paul Kalkbrenner. I loved his very old tracks, back then on Bpitch Control, which were real, proper techno. It appeared to me as he was the only real technoartist in Bpitch at the time. Well, he has changed an developped, and if this is what he feels right now it`s all good, but not my cup of tea.

[code]: In your opinion, what is the new sound of German techno and whose productions capture that feeling best right now?

Alex Bau: When it comes to german techno everybody speaks about the guys from Berlin and Berghain who have a big influence on the technocircuit of course. And indeed they do; a lot of groundbreaking stuff, but they are only one part of the thing I call „Techno“ and I think that they are part of a cycle as very much from their sound is based on the the vibe that Basic Channel created back in the beginning of the 90ies. Generally I don`t think in national categories, I am fine with every good track, no matter if it comes from Germany, UK or The Fidji Islands. As long as there is enough bass and a present kick, I am starting to get interested.

[code]: Techno from Fidji...hmmm, interesting :)
Without being too indiscreet Alex, could you give us your top five heaviest tunes right now?
The ones that you know when you’ll play the whole place will simply explode!

Alex Bau: That`s a hard question, because it changes every night! Sometimes it`s one track, sometimes another...Luckily I find my own productions leaving the crowd really going wild and happy, especially the new stuff which is not out yet like one remix for the label „Cabaret Groove“ or another tune I did by including some samples from a big 80ies hit and my track „Bullet in the heart“ from 2007.

[code]: Speaking of productions, you’ve been flying the techno flag high and mighty for some time now. You are greatly regarded as a global techno ambassador and innovator. What is the sonic direction you find yourself taking these days? Also tell us more about the process of you getting to the “today point”.

Alex Bau: As many people call my sound „dark and powerful as well as full of bass“ I think there is maybe a connection to my musical education which includes also New Wave and Electronic Pop back from the 80ies and 90ies. I loved and still love the sound of acts like Depeche Mode, Anne Clarke, Front 242, Tears for Fears, Joy Division or also the Cure and many more of this age. This, combined with my affection for the sound of Basic Channel, which I just mentioned, but at the same time, the quite melodic Eye Q and more club orientated Harthouse label from Sven Vath in the early 90ies are probably my main influences.

These days I find myself experiencing more and more, trying to bring back some „colour“ into my productions, which means I'm also using synths and sounds again more intensively compared to the past years time in which I focussed a lot on treating samples and noises or drum and grooveelements.

[code]: Do you still feel there is a place for the minimal sound of techno? Or that has simply been killed for now?

Alex Bau: Of course there is, as long as it is good! I think people simply got sick of 100 copies of „Minus“ or „Richie Hawtin“ or another „Ricardo“.
I mean, they are the forefront, heads of their very own style, and many artists forgot to try to think about what they really want to say with their music. They choosed the easy way and just did what was hip.
Now many turn to techno again, and I think it`s ok, because the crowd, the audience are not so stupid as some artists think. They exactly realize if the Dj they're listen to is authentic or not. But minimal is only one attribute of Techno in general. Remember tracks like „Quo Vadis“ from G-Man or music from Daniel Bell back in the early 90ies. Minimal was not new this time around...just badly copied without some very few exceptions. I would even call some of my productions „minimal“, for example one my most well known tracks on CLR „Summer in Moncton“ has less than 10 elements and was done within 3 hours! 1 bassdrum, 1 kickdrum, 1 clap, 1, snare, some hihats, as bassline and the bleep, that`s IT! Isn`t this minimal too?
Yes, it is, but does it sound minimal? No!

[code]: Tell us more of what’s in store for the remaining of the year from the Alex Bau production house

Alex Bau: As I already mentioned there will be some remixes coming out until end of the year which I promised and which I have to finish before starting new own tracks.
I am in talks with a well known techno label for a new release, but probably only by next year, we are in September already... however, what`s for sure, in November the „Wasabi Tunes – live in Buenos Aires“ DVD will be released which is not a normal boring livecut of a set I played; but more something like a documentation about my trip there. Very authentic as I filmed a lot on my own, but very interesting at the same time as it shows what`s all related to the job and the 90% of the time you're on travel and you don`t spend on making music.
Check it out, it's quite entertaining :D

And finally

[code]: Can techno music ever go mainstream?

Alex Bau: If it`s mainstream, it has nothing to do with real techno :-)

Thanks Alex. It's been great having you on the interview chair for our 11 bullets! Looking forward to your set at TECHNICOLOUR EPISODE III
Keep touch with Alex Bau’s very busy release and gigging schedule through:

Facebook
Beatport
Resident Advisor
CLR page

Alex’s latest release is out now on Sleaze Recordings exclusivelly through Beatport http://www.beatport.com/release/sibling-rivalry-ep/674165

A summer night's dream: 101 with Anthony Costans aka Tonybar

2011-09-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a couple of hours of (cold and windy) September sun to put you straight into "melancholy mode". Wouldn't we do anything for one more month...scratch that, one more week of summer...Well, we did bring a bit of summer back here at Codekontrol HQs. In sound at least. We sat down with the one man who simply defined the summer 2011 sound for us and got the full lowdown in 11 questions. Ladies and gentlemen...Tonybar!

Tonybar @ ThekeyRadio 8/06/11 by Tonybar

Following a good couple of excellent releases on Picknik, Release Sustain and own label Unomi Records, the name Tonybar is now one that resonates of an original “funk and grind” house, if there ever was such a thing.

Tony’s productions would very well fit somewhere in between an 80’s Chicago warehouse sound and a deep techy Café 1001 groove of our days. His sound speaks to the body in a language that everyone can understand and yet keeps a certain mystery, atmosphere or as the French would call it a certain “je ne-sais quoi”.

The reason we brought the French into discussion is not to talk of their cuisine or their important role in developing disco, but because for Tonybar, France is also the place that changed everything, that turned his life around onto the right path: the music path."

[code]: Hi Tony or Tonybar as “daddy” Beatport calls you. So which one is the right one?

Tony: You can call me Tony... i turn into Tonybar behind my laptop but both are correct :)

[code]: But is Tony Bar your real name? And if not how did it come about? (typing Tony Bar in Google, it gives “Tony Blair” as a possible search suggestion :))

Tony: The first time I heard this name it was in my house in France , some friends were touched by the place when they first came to visit me, it reminded them of the BAR 25 in Berlin ...so few drinks later they called the place “the Tony Bar”
About ''Tony Blair'', no resemblances should be taken there :D

errrmm, Naaaah!

[code]: Yeah, Google is weird sometimes...We’ve read on your Myspace biog that Montpellier (France) has a special meaning for you, and also that now you are living and creating music in Berlin. How did the switch happen? And do you miss Montpellier in any measure?

Tony: Montpellier has a very important place in my story. I lived a dozen years there and musically there, in Montpellier is where it all began, with my homies. I still have a lot of my friends there today, friends that I considere like my family.

Now I am based in Berlin. The move for Berlin was an idea of my friend Mikolai, who, quite quickly, convinced me to follow him there. Things then chained together and one thing leading to the next, in our circle of friends some have rallied to the cause and some months after...we were there: Five music makers living together, studios in every room, parties, after parties!! Creativity floating in the air we breathe!

[code]: How do you find Berlin as a place to live? To create? How is the scene there?

Tony: Berlin is the perfect city to live. It is rare to feel this feeling like I do here, in Berlin; an overwhelming feeling of being at peace. People are so respectful of each other just by being open and ready to help others. I sometimes feel that this kind of sentiment has greatly disappeared in France, for example...
Creating in such an environment like Berlin is also “perfect”, because at the end of the day what you feel often resonates in your work so it’s all connected. And of course it’s really awesome to have this massive scene just outside your apartment from where you take influences and inspiration. That's pretty unique.

[code]: I know this will be a controversial observation, but I think we all agree that French dance music has repeatedly influenced dance music worldwide. Be it through Cerrone’s and Moroder’s disco or Ettienne de Crecy’s acid grooves, Cassius’ house or the Daft Punks and Ed Banger Crew of our days, the sound of dance music seems to be deeply imprinted into the French DNA. Do you feel that your French heritage has had such an important influence on shaping your sound today? Do you enjoy having this influence as part of your sonic palette?

Tony: It's hard to include everyone but some of the French artists have inspired me consciously or not. But I feel in my case it's more the old discs soul of my parents and those funk and hip hop of my sisters that I grew up musically with...

[code]: Now that we’ve reached the “inspirational sources” chapter, who are the first three names that always spring into your mind when searching for new beats?

Tony: I really love Subb-An and Adam Shelton; I find them extremely innovative in their many projects. I’m as well currently attacked by the virus named John Tejada!!!

[code]: Now with the summer fever definitely gone (at least here in London that is the case :), what five tunes had been making the Tonybar playlist in the hot season?

Tony:

Mikolai -She's Mine (Picknik)
Sierra Sam & Marcus Vector - Anyone feat Jonny Cruz original mix (Toys For Boys)
Dora - Who's Pimping Who (Remake music)
Anthony Constans- Restons En La (Serialism)
Snoop Dogg Feat. Wiz Khalifa - This Weed Iz Mine (Priority Records)

[code]: Now that we just hit that weak nostalgic chord mentioning the word “summer”, we've seen that your schedule was very busy all along, with plenty of gigging to go around for everyone living in either Berlin or Montpellier. I know I don’t only speak for myself when I say that we’d really love having you on our side of the channel for a couple of gigs! How well are you accustomed to the London scene?

Tony: Some gigs are planned for the coming months, so keep an eye out! You’ll see me more months this year... And as you guys know lots of my friends are based there: Release Sustain, Picknik, the Familly Serialism, and my Cable Street guyz as well... I’ll want to see them more!

[code]: You’ve played alongside some very original names on the house and techno scene, who’s been your favourite up until now and why?

Tony: If I’d have to pick one, I would say James Taylor. I’ve listened to Swayzak’s “Dirty Dancing” album maybe one million times!!! And it was amazing to me to be at his side during one of my first performances.

[code]: Your latest release on Picknik, “Reve du Cuir” for us is just a pure expression of the summer just gone: a laidback, funky and immersive sound. Tell us more about it please...

Tony: “Reve de Cuir” is actually its my first artist EP. It’s made up of a couple of tracks: Da Switch, Funky Chronicles with two remixes from Delhom & Charly and Canary
I wrote “Da Switch” after a short stay in London and after what I believed I knew it would react well with the crowd there. So, now you telling me this is quite funny...:) Funky Chronicles came a little later and I really liked the association of these two tracks...they have little touch of madness.

Tonybar - Funky chronicles by picknik

Tonybar - Da switch by picknik

Da switch (Canary Fontaine remix) by picknik

Da switch (Charly Delhom Da Other Switch remix) by picknik

[code]: Thank you very much sir Tony :)

Keep touch with Tony’s music and gig schedule through:
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/tony.bar
Soundcloud http://soundcloud.com/tonybar
Myspace http://myspace.com/tonybarunomi

Tonybar’s latest release “Reve du Cuir” is out now on Picknik Records exclusively on Beatport: http://www.beatport.com/release/reve-de-cuir/378136

"Techno is dead, Long live Techno!" 101 with Alpha Channel

2011-09-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

Where is the funk these days in techno?
Whatever happened to the sound revolution and vision of its Detroit fathers and apostles? Well, hard to say with certainity, everybody's "killing" or "saving" techno these days, sometimes in a space of less than a few days

"Techno is dead, Long live Techno!"

"But this is media" you might say, "it has to make and brake its subjects so that it keeps the ball rolling". Hear hear thy techno brother! hear hear!

Just that these days the ball feels sometimes like it may roll a bit too fast and somewhat out of control; looking around it seems like we're adjusting more and more to a Tofler's Future Shock society, where people do quite strange things when faced with extreme (and rapid) change.

Whatever Atkins and co. heard in the early days of the Detroit sound, today is just as potent, if not even more so

Well the best way to find out such sacred stuff is to go in the middle of it and start asking questions: 11 to be exact. We carefully planted our hi-end sound recorder switched on in a middle of a techno field and did our best to capture some discernible sound.

We received a loud and clear signal from our Alpha Channel. Freshly out with a new EP on Solid Tracks and prepping his funk loaded heavy minimal artillery ahead of this month’s Technicolour Episode III gig alongside CLR's very own techno rebel Alex Bau, Alpha Channel's signal is getting more and more frequencies added to the spectrum. This is what we managed to record:

Alpha Channel - Minimal Effort - minimal techno mix by Alpha-Channel

[code]: Hi Alpha, how are you these days and where does this interview find you?

Alpha Channel: Currently stuffing my face with pizza after a rare day of relaxing, I ‘m really good right now :)

[code]: How has 2011 been for Alpha Channel? From start to right now.

Alpha Channel: Tons of stuff has happened this year, thinking back to where this year began with the massive NYE event in Romania seems more like 2 years ago! Well, let’s see...Romania, Sardinia, The Egg and Brixton Jamm (right here on London shores), recently a bit of Spain;

and of course the daily grind: tunes, mixes, remixes, releases, podcasts and tracks and then work!

Seriously though I have been flat out by now and life only seems to get faster! What I can remember has been awesome; there has been too much going on to comment on everything and all. But the gigs have been nuts, from going to Romania for the very first time and smashing Zebra Club at -20 Celsius outside(!!!) to playing alongside Hobo in Sardinia to playing London constantly there hasn’t been any of it I would change. Well maybe the flight back from Sardinia.......add to that some mental house parties and basically I’m “Sheening” it up.

Also my productions have been hitting the right note on the dance floor lately, coming as a much fought for “validation”. Just hearing your tune being played on the club’s sound system and seeing people get their freak on to YOUR TUNE, makes you feel so.... aaaaagh!! It’s totally mad, i love it!
I still feel like the best is yet to come and that I’ve really just began to hit my stride with regards to my productions. I’m looking forward to making the jump across into playing more of my own music and finding new ways of playing live that are closer to the ideas flowing around in my head and truer to the sound that I’m trying to create.

[code]: In a few words, tell us what does Alpha Channel stand for?

Alpha Channel: How many words is a few? ...........basically I like the concept of there being an idea space in which all creative things exist.

Everything comes from everything else though, so you always have a base where you start from and then twisting and remodelling things, ideas; borrowing, recombine and re-channelling concepts into something new, something that wasn’t there before, in the idea space.
And then you start all over again...

[code]: Listening to your music, there is an acute sense of funk, even hip hop riding on the notes of many of your tracks. Probably the truest expression of that can be heard in your latest EP Techalot, which is freshly out on Solid Tracks. Care to elaborate on these relationships and connections?

Alpha Channel: When I first started DJing (many moons ago...:) I actually played hip hop and breaks; so I guess what you’re hearing now is the influence of those forming years coming through in the music I make today. But I really don’t think any music is just one thing.

Techno for instance can be many things and I really get my kicks out of exploring these “many things” and I’ll always try to make things different by taking new approaches and including different influences, not just the same ones over and over again. The approach changes every time with my mood and with what I’m listening to that week or whatever; like right now I’m in a bit of a Giorgio Moroder phase and going a bit disco, so, I have no idea how that will bleed into what I’m working on right now.

In the past I had tried to adhere to one sound or style or thought, but I found that it just didn’t work for me. So now I just do things, like I’ll work on a dubstep track or a nu disco tune and eventually it will mutate into something that I love or I’ll rip just one part out of it and remix that and have that be the basis for an entirely new track. This does tend to leave me with a lot of unfinished ideas...but also I find I get a lot more good ideas from working with less boundaries and less/no direction than I used to. That must also come from just working on tracks more often nowadays, I’ve gotten to a point where I am able to identify quite quick when I’m hitting upon something good.

I did initially think that this would lead to a very disparate and random sound to my productions and that if I were to try and mix them together that they wouldn’t fit at all. But having recently finished a podcast with only my own tracks and remixes I was very pleased to find that I had a sound, distinctive and identifiable even though I had given myself total freedom in terms of the sounds and samples that I used.

[code]: Production wise: old school or new school, analog or digital, loops or recording your own. Give us the whole Alpha Channel creation masterplan!

Alpha Channel: If I had the cash: ALL ANALOGUE. But I don’t so...I’m digital right now. But I am saving up for my First Moog, I want the Minimoog Voyager!

I have wet dreams about it...:)

[code]: Also heard that Alpha Channel is “scratching that itch”. Should we expect some DMC trickery when we see you play live next?

Alpha Channel: No those days are basically gone! I don’t practice anymore, but I used to be into turntablism quite a bit.

[code]: Last time we saw you play a couple of weeks back when you were playing on the same bill with Yoda at Jamm in Brixton! Must’ve been quite an interesting experience. Tell us more about how the whole gig came about and how it went. The whole experience!

Alpha Channel: Yeah it was cool, I played that gig as a part of Designer Thugs which is a side project I have with my mate Christian we just Dj and have fun and play whatever we feel like playing and really b

ounce well off each other, I enjoy doing that as sometimes when I play in a club I can tend to take it all a bit too serious. So doing Designer Thugs breaks the spell and reminds me to have fun with it.

[code]: This week-end just gone it was Jamm again; opening for Phil Hartnoll (Orbital). Now that September is here it’s straight on to Episode III of Technicolour with CLR’s techno rebel Alex Bau in the main room. What are you prepping for the occasions? (sound, performance, hairdo )

Alpha Channel: Again, Jamm was good fun and a way to not think about the complete madness that occurred that week in London with the riots and the looting and general crazy shit. Then as you say Technicolour III with Alex Bau is next. I’m trying to get a couple of new tracks finished up and I’m proper looking forward to rinsing this night out! It’s been a little while since I played The Egg and I remember the sound system is sick. Funktion One if my memory serves me well :D. If I have enough time I’m going to make the switch to a live set up which will be wicked and also a good way of seeing how strong my nerves are, I might bottle out though, as I have fallen back in love with Traktor and just spinning tunes in a more traditional style.

[code]: Until now, who did you feel was the best fit for you playing live? Also who would be your “dream team” on a line-up where your name is written

Alpha Channel: Best by far was warming up for Alex Under (also happened at The Egg last year). Alex is one of my all time favourite producers. I remember seeing him about 4 years ago at Fabric and it’s still in my memory as one of the best nights out I’ve ever had so to warm up for him was very special; it was also my Birthday that weekend: all planets had aligned just right!

Playing with Hobo out in Sardinia was really awesome too. We had an amazing steak for dinner then hung out together all night, he’s a really sound dude and I had an ace time chatting all night and all the next day as everyone else spoke Italian and not much English. We were pretty much stuck with each other. There are tons of people I would love to play with in the future. Some of the names that instantly spring to mind are Minilouge, John Tejada, Gaiser and Mathew Jonson…………but the list could go on and on.

[code]: Who do you consider to be your mentors? Guiding you and inspiring you when you need most. Do you believe in such a concept?

Alpha Channel: I work by myself so I’m not sure I have any mentors really. That may be a good thing or a bad thing but I have too many time constraints to work properly with anyone else over a long period of time.
I basically make tracks and then play them to my brother and my mates and everyone I can and listen to what they have to say and watch their faces when they’re listening to it to see if they smile. Then once I’m happy with the faces, playing tracks out at gigs is the best test of all.

And finally

[code]: What’s your reply to chicks coming on to you and asking you if you’re in any way related to Richie Hawtin? There is some resemblance...

No one’s asked me yet, I guess I would take it as a complement (?) But they’d have to be taking the piss. Either way I’d still laugh my ass off (Laughing hard and blushing)

You can check out Alpha Channel 's latest EP Techalot Out Now on Solid Tracks exclusively through Beatport
http://www.beatport.com/label/solid-tracks-records/13278

Alpha is also playing live on 30th of September at Egg Club London at
TECHNICOLOUR: The Cinematographic House Music Experience
EPISODE III

Techalot #10 - for the short attention spanned:

2011-08-24T05:39:00.001-07:00

This Week.....Stanton SCS.4DJ, OCTAPAD SPD-30, M-Audio Venom, Realtime Music Visualization With TouchDesigner and Ableton Live Compression Basics

Stanton SCS.4DJ - Digital DJ Mixstation:

Fully integrated computer, software and controller. The SCS.4DJ is a controller in its true form, but it also has built-in software that makes it able to simply stand alone without any computer. You just need a source with music like a USB Stick. A very good buy if you're simply looking to get a standalone DJ unit for playing digital media. No more computer issues. Just plug and play.

OCTAPAD SPD-30:

Not a new product but I only jut found it and it is very cool none the less. The size of a briefcase, the Octapad offered drummers and percussionists the equivalent of an entire electronic rig in one self-contained unit. The SPD-30 blends the world’s most essential sounds with the latest triggering technology in a road-tough package that’s ready for the most demanding performers. It has support from people like Pan-Pot have recently been seen using it in their live sets.

M-Audio Venom -12-Voice Virtual Analog Synthesizer:

The M-Audio Venom 49-key synthesizer combines the character of classic analog synths with modern digital processing to deliver an aggressive, infectious new sound. Wet your appetite with the included presets, then sink your teeth into creating original sounds—from atmospheric and subtle, to angry and downright nasty. Easily tweak parameters from the intuitive top-panel interface, or explore endless sound design and configuration possibilities with the included software editor.

Realtime Music Visualization With TouchDesigner:

Some cool visuals based of an old idea - This project explores ‘the possibility of synesthesia in the format of audiovisual performance. The audio triggers the mechanism of lines that flows according to the frequency spectrum.’ Creating a visual representation of the sound. Like most music players have done for ages but a lot better looking.

Ableton Live Guide - Compression Basics:

I can't embed the video for this but here is the link

In this episode Peter introduces Compression , and talks about the four key elements of a compressor - Threshold, Ratio, Attack and Release.

That's it...Enjoy

Mark (",)

Going deeper underground: 1on 1 with Sub Secret

2011-08-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

We live in strange times folks. As I'm just about to publish this I'm looking out the window and although not even 7 PM the time looks like it's closer to 10 PM on a typical August eve.

Then again who can count on the weather anyway?! It changes as often as my woman changes moods after a long week-end me being mostly out.

But that's another story...

Let's get back to the beginning of this thing. If it so happens that we both share the same overcrowded, dirty and sometimes overpoweringly beautiful London, you probably have been through quite a few happening in the last few weeks.

Pretty scary shit, i'nnit? Felt a bit like in the very first rows watching Watchmen, huh, have you?

Well i did, and in fact also re-watched the damn film only for the 10th time again. But you know what, it gets better and better with every watch. Rorschach is one tough little motha'! Still not really digging the chick playing the chick superhero role...but that's just me probably, I like my superheroes with a ty bit more darkness to them.

Speaking of superheroes, if you're somewhat into our events or our music (and you should be!) you would have noticed a slightly different pair of individuals rocking out some really good and well crafted melodic techno. They like to put their white masks on when out and about on Saturday nights, the same time when they make use of their heavy artillery of good pumping techno.

They are Sub Secret and they're not your average Joe dj

I thought this to be just the best time to get our very own sound vigilantes onto the uncomfortable interview chairs and fire up 11 questions at them on the who, what, when and the where? As the interview took place in a darken room, they took their masks off for us and laid everything on the table. Here’s the result:

[code] Hi Stephen, hi Mark! How are you guys and how does this interview find you?

  Stephen: Good thanks - Riding the rollercoaster of life. 
  [code]: Rollercoaster of Life?!?
  Mark: Haha Yeah I think we have both started to realise that we have become a little obsessive about what we do, to the point where our personal lives suffer at times. Music really is a curse and a blessing lol. 
  [code]: You guys are known to the techno world as Sub Secret, “two masked sound vigilantes” with super musical powers. I remember I’d first saw you guys rock EGG last year, full masked gear on, bouncing off the walls and thought to myself I need to know more about these dudes: what’s the story and the meaning for the masks? At one point I was actually considering getting my own version of a Sub Secret mask...but that’s another story. So, what IS the story?
  Stephen: It all started at a Halloween party we did. We put the masks on for a laugh and while on stage realised we hadn’t took them off! 
  Mark: Yeah something clicked and and it just felt right.
  Stephen: Maybe we just realised we could scream and shout and no one would know that it’s us doing it, just these two other “personas”. We do like to scream and shout :)
  Mark: Ha ha Yeah and we are really not that pretty so maybe it's better all round :)
  [code]: Lol! So where do Mark Standerline and Stephen Fewings fit in this story? What are their roots?

Stephen: Well, that is where the music starts playing.

S+M: both sing "Tradgady"
  [code]: What?
  Mark: Ha ha ha we have been through quite a lot together to be honest, lots of highs and lows.
  [code]: So how did it start?
  Stephen: Well i guess it all started at Uni. We had a lot of friends in common and there were a lot of house parties. 
  Mark: Hehehe true. After Uni we went our separate ways but a few years later I was moving to London and Steve was the only person I knew. Steve helped me get a job in London and things started.
  Stephen: We both DJed and decided to start putting on some parties that did well, and the next step felt obviously right..... producing music together!
  [code]: Speaking of productions, Sub Secret creations oscillate from breath taking deep techno runs like “Rambo” or “Side Clap” to heart ripping melodic trips, such as “Wir Schauten Nicht”. How do you guys approach music making? Do you care much about if it fits a certain genre or sound?
       Slide Clap (Dark) by Sub Secret



     Sub Secret_-_Wir Schauten Nicht by Sub Secret



  Stephen: No, So long as it has a four/four beat and within 123-128 we are fine. 
  Mark: Everytime we write something it is different really. Sometimes it’s waking up in the morning with an idea, other times we will have a small sample we want to use but no idea where it will go; and some other times we just find a new trick in Ableton or Reason and see where it takes us.
  Stephen: Melody is very important to us so that tends to lead the way.
  [code]: Who, what, when and where do you find inspiration for making music?
  Mark: Everywhere really. We have taken different paths so there are a lot of influences. 
  Stephen: I played in bands for years, whereas Mark was always more into electronic music. It is great because we would be listening to music and one of us will be going “WTF is this?!?” – Well actually only when I play music, Mark has shit tastes lol.
  Mark: I would defend myself but I do have some awful stuff in my collection that I secretly love. 
  Stephen: We spend all day listening to things, stuff that people share or just doing random searches and seeing what we find. Suddenly we will hear something and off we’ll go.
  [code]: We know that recently you’ve taken on the controls of Codekontrol’s Mind Ability and are managing the label on a day to day basis, practically being Mind Ability. How did you guys decide to take this road? How does it fit in with Sub Secret’s everyday existence?
  Mark: Well we have kind of been there from the start, we met Monokode (CJ) when we were running our Sub Secret Parties and he was just starting the labels (Mind Ability, Minimal Force, Solid Tracks and Picknik). 
  Stephen: It always felt to us that Mind Ability was the label that was the perfect match for our sound and so when we were offered to take over running it we jumped at the chance.
  Mark: It’s a lot of work trying to manage everything, but for us it is like a dream coming true! This is what we both wanted for so long that now we are here it’s a bit of a dream.
  Stephen: Sometimes we stop and think about where we are and feel a bit shocked but we just keep looking forward and thinking about what we can do next and how we can push ourselves and Mind Ability one step further.
  [code]: What can we expect from Sub Secret and Mind Ability in the remaining days of 2011?
  Mark: For Sub Secret - There are a few EPs in the pipeline due to be out over the next few months; one on Minimal Force with some AWESOME remixes from Alpha Channel and Min_s’s Click Box, and another very special EP we have done for Mind Ability. Plus you can expect some more remixes wearing the Sub Secret seal to be appearing soon.
  Stephen: Sub Secret are about to head off to Barcelona to play some parties over there so we are working hard to get Mind Ability organised for the next few months with some beautiful stuff planned from Duncan & Pantos, Fra-P and Ali Nasser.

Gig wise, Renato Pezzella  and ourselves will be representing Mind Ability at the Technicolour Episode III party with  Ramon Tapia & Alex Bau on the 30th September at Egg; We’re also gearing up for a very first Mind Ability showcase at Tresor in Berlin on the 11th of Novemeber , That we are very excited about!
  [code]: Besides the sound of your music, we can suspect that the masks you wear every time you play out are an expression of a certain outlook on life and everything else. Are we close to the truth? What is the truth?
  Stephen: VERY! The white masks represent the nullification of EGO. We are all one, the same consciousness. We hide our faces so that we can lose our individualism. 
  Mark: We often hand out masks to other people in the crowd, so everyone can do the same: lose their everyday identity and just BE! 
  [code]: Hmmm, that is slightly alternative...Speaking of which, the past week has been a black one for London.. In a city most loved for its openness and tolerance, deplorable and regrettable things have taken place. Do you feel that is a sign of the times we live in? What does authority mean today?
  Stephen: You really want to do this one now, here??!!  

Mark: They say you should never mix music with politics, so its probably better to leave this one out!
  Stephen: All I want to add is, we all know that this is what is wanted by the establishment so they can further their totalitarian Police State.

Mark: If you watch the mainstream media, listen for the Keywords that are repeated over and over on the news. Its called neuro-linguistic programming! It something definitely worth having a look into.
  Stephen: LOL, We're not all doom and gloom! But we like to think of ourselves as perceptive! **Gives a wink** 
  [code]: “They...are watching you” (verse from Sub Secret's latest EP) direct reference to such ideas or just pure coincidence?

Mark: Yes

Stephen: **utters “Police State” while slurping from his coffee cup**

S+M: *Both smile*
  









And finally:
  [code]: What is the role of a masked sound superhero today?
  Stephen: Well, coming from a band background myself. It was quite apparent in the early days of gigging, that the audience listen with their eyes first. So, after moving into the electronic/clubbing world, I soon became bored of seeing boring DJ's, that stand behind the desks and "maybe"' once in a while would look up and acknowledge the crowd...Masked DJ's are nothing new, but for us it just feels right... The response we get when having those masks on, WOW! Everybody wants a picture, which can't really be bad Y’know?!? I mean, even if they really don't like the masks, they will remember the performance, and through it, they will remember us, Sub secret!
  Mark: I see us as more like Robbin Hood characters but with Techno as our currency, rather than money.

[code]:

Thanks guys, you've been great; undoubtedly the most alternative we've interviewed this far. It's been a real pleasure. Now you can return to save us from shit music and help us fight that damn EGO!





Sub Secret are gearing up for a busy autumn 2011. Sub Secret's latest EP "They" is out on Mind Ability Records also featuring remixes from Alpha Channel, Dirty Dan & Lanski and Mario Reder. Check it out on Beatport

Techalot #9 - for the short attention spanned:

2011-08-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

This Week..... POCOPOCO, The Tron Beat Jazz Controller, FM8 Tutorial, Studio Drummer, Vintage Machine: Buchla 100 Modular Synthesizer

POCOPOCO

Erm.... It's a controller.... It's erm... different. Just have a look for yourself. Then if you like it watch a live performance.

The Tron Beat Jazz Controller

I love this and yet at the same time think that it is very very shit. I love that fact some guy who is obviously a bit of a nerd has created his own controller using open source software and made something amazing tailored to his own performance using as many different bits of tech as he can - Accelerometers, pressure sensitive triggers and a display that is sent to his phone. So why do I not like it... Well he just looks like a bit of tool using it really.

FM8 Tutorial: Creating Unique Basslines Using FM Synthesis

Dubspot deliver a very good introduction to the FM8 and how to use it. Personally I started playing around with the FM8 a while ago and then stopped when I got bored of the sounds but this video gives a very good idea of how to use it to get aggressive basslines...even if the guy is a little patronising at times

STUDIO DRUMMER

NI are back and this time their gift is Studio Drummer. "The ultimate realization of a drummer in software" - Giving you three expertly sampled, world-class drum kits, and over 3,500 exclusive, hand-played patterns with top-class effects from Native Instruments’ new Solid Mix Series and Transient Master built-in.

You have total control over your drum sound. "It’s the drums, the studio and the drummer in one easy-to-use package."

Vintage Machine: Buchla 100 Modular

Nerds enjoy...Eric Chasalow gives a demonstration of the 1963 Buchla 100 synthesizer in the Brandeis Electro-Acoustic Music Studio (BEAMS). The original Buchlas did not have a keyboard (at least one that we would recognize). The input devices were an important aspect to that system, They were all capacitance-sensitive touch-plates, or resistance-sensitive in some cases, organized in various sorts of arrays.

You can find the other two parts here

It's impressive but I think I will stick to VSTs for now.

That's it...Enjoy

Mark (",)

Techalot #8 - for the short attention spanned:

2011-08-09T06:13:00.000-07:00

This Week.....Vestax PAD-One, X1 Sample Deck Mapping, Xtreme Mapping, Numark NS6 and Vintage Gear Demo of the Roland TR-808

Vestax PAD-One:

The Vestax PAD-One is a solid robust MIDI pad controller, compatible with various DJ & DAW software it can be used to control any kind of MIDI device, including synthesizers, samplers, drum machines. Similar to the Korg Nano range It's small and versatile with a handy XY pad for modulation control. Not bad for £129.

New TRAKTOR KONTROL X1 Sample Deck Mapping and Overlay:

There are a couple of new tools for mapping controllers to the latest version of TRAKTOR at the minute. This first is the official solution from NI presented in this video featuring DJ Haus (No idea who he is). Basically it is a skin for the controller and predefined mapping for each sample deck. At the minute the skin and mapping come free when you buy a new controller but I am sure it will not be long before you can get it independently.

More details here

Xtreme Mapping :

Here is another solution to mapping your controllers from TRAKTOR. Xtreme Mapping 1.0 is an advanced editor of MIDI controller mappings for Native Instruments' TRAKTOR DJ software. It looks fast and easy to use but the downside is it is Mac only. It's available now from the App store for US$5.99.

Numark NS6:

A brand new all-in-one controller designed for Serato Itch. Robust and well built this is a professional-looking console designed to tightly tie to a 4 deck version Serato Itch. Although it comes with a TRAKTOR mapping and so could be considered an alternative to the S4 there are apparently sync problems that do not make it worth the effort. Personally for TRAKTOR it would not be my first choice but some may like it.

Vintage Gear Demo: Roland 808:

A bit of history for everyone, this video shows the drum instruments and the various functions of famous TR-808. No external effects, EQ or compression - Only the pure 808 sound.

That's it...Enjoy

Mark (",)

Techalot #7 - for the short attention spanned:

2011-08-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

This Week....Reason 6, Komplete 8, Teenage Engineering - OP-1 and Ion Piano Apprentice.

Reason 6:

So it looks like we have a few new software toys out this week.

Getting started Swedish developer Propellerhead have revealed details of the latest version of Reason.

Propellerhead has decided to ditch Record altogether, replacing it with Reason Essentials, a slimmed-down version of its big brother, Reason 6. The new effects include extreme compressor/distortion unit Pulveriser; an analog tape delay emulation in the form of The Echo; and Alligator, a three-band pattern gate designed for "complex rhythmic texturing."

All the existing Reason effects racks carry over to this latest version as you might expect.

A limited period of public beta testing has just begun, with the full version to be released later this year.

Komplete 8:

27 products, 11,000 presets and over 100 GB of samples.

KOMPLETE 8 includes the brand-new KONTAKT 5 updated and enhanced "to the very pinnacle of state-of-the-art software technology". REAKTOR 5.6 racks up alongside MASSIVE, ABSYNTH, and FM8 for the ultimate synthesizer array. Plus the very latest and greatest NI instruments and effects.

STUDIO DRUMMER the "groove powerhouse" looks one of the most exciting new toy with loads of scope for designing great sounding percussion.

Oh and there is a 240 GB Ultimate Version too (",)

Teenage Engineering - OP-1:

It's a synth, a sampler, a four-track recorder, an effects unit, an FM radio, a microphone, a MIDI keyboard / sequencer, and it wraps it all up in a portable unit with an OLED display.

It's cool, It looks nice and has some cool features like being able to use the mic to trigger the oscillators or moving the whole devise like a Wii controller and the screen IS very pretty but at US$849 the sounds coming out of it are not that great to make it something worth considering for me.

Ion Piano Apprentice:

Another week another ipad toy! This week have your very own piano teacher in your hands.

It's a 25 note keyboard with touch-sensitive keys that light up showing you exactly which ones you should be playing. The Piano Apprentice has an accompanying free app for your iPad, which docks just above the keyboard, showing you how and where you should be placing your hands.

For portability it can be powered by 4 x AA batteries or an optional AC adapter.

It should be available sometime in September for around US$100.

That's it...Enjoy

Mark (",)

Techalot #6 - for the short attention spanned:

2011-07-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

Audiopad:

First up is another of these unique ways of creating and composing music away from the standard DAW we have all become used to.

Audiopad is a composition and performance instrument for electronic music which tracks the positions of objects on a tabletop surface and converts their motion into music. One can pull sounds from a giant set of samples, cut between drum loops to create new beats, and apply digital processing all at the same time on the same table.

You can find out more on their webiste:

Pioneer DJM-2000 firmware update version 2.0:

Anyone lucky enough to have one of these mixers should be pretty excited about this as the new Pioneer update pushes the gap even closer together between DJ hardware and software

Major Changes are:

- Improved Beat Effect accuracy with the addition of the Quantize function,

- Updated reverb function for dynamic song arrangement,

- Broadened Noise adjustment range,

- Maximum volume of the oscillator" and sample in Sidechain Remix FX has also been increased as well.

Origin Keyboard:

Always excited by new electronic toys and this one looks pretty space age with a bevy of nobs and twiddly things to play with like a ultra sensitive 40cm ribbon controller, Modulation and pitch-bend wheels, 3-mode Joystick, 21 potentiometers, 33 rotary encoders, 81 switches.

Defiantly one for those with a few pounds in their pockets....Hit their site for more info

Laser Pitch Detection system turns your axe into a luminous, latency-free MIDI machine:

Apparently it has been an issue for a long time getting a good MIDI signal from a guitar without too much latency. The Laser Pitch Detection system aims to fix that problem with LASERS... Wooo. From the pretty poor video I guess it works pretty well and has the added bonus of adding some red light to your guitar.

Finally a handy video on some settings in Ableton's Live you might not know about...

Clear Ableton Live's Cache and Free up Hard Drive Space:

That's it...Enjoy

Mark (",)

1 on 1 with Andrea Oliva: Riding the good waves of electronic music

2011-07-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

You know, one of the best things about this job (interviewing artists) is that for the duration of the ten or eleven questions you've prepared, you are granted a passage to meet the people behind the name, in a free and open setting, where the shining club lasers and the heartthrobbing bass sound are not present.

Although you write the questions, you never really know what direction the dialog will take until you get the answers back. This makes interviewing for quite an interesting little job, if not surprising at many times. For me these dialogs are special, something resembling a yet unwritten story that keeps adding new happenings and taking new turns at every step.

I was very lucky to have on this instance an artist who I believe made the most of our eleven questions and kept the flow of the conversation just right and interesting.
Andrea Oliva is a name that you might have heard either in the close proximity of such labels like Cadenza Records, Viva Music, Saved Records or Be As One. With quite a couple of fine releases on these imprints and lots of gigging around the world, Andrea is now riding a very good wave!

Another possibility is that you might have heard Andrea being praised for his thoroughly Italian cooking skills.

Whatever the case, we thought we need to know more, especially as we'll be having Andrea over on our side of the Atlantic next weekend on the 29th for Episode II of Technicolour:Cinematographic House Music

Here's the uncut and open dialog that resulted from our interview with Andrea Oliva:

Klang Podcast #11 - Andrea Oliva by Klang on Mixcloud

[code]: Hi Andrea, how are you and where does this interview find you right now?

Andrea Oliva: I AM IN IBIZA RIGHT NOW. I HAVE PLAYED THE WEEKEND IN BERLIN & USHUAIA IBIZA; NEEDED A FEW DAYS OFF TO HANG OUT ON THE ISLAND DOING NOTHING :)

[code]: How have you been riding the waves of 2011 until now? How has this year been for you?

Andrea Oliva: I WOULD SAY THE WAVES ARE HIGHER THEN EXPECTED! I AM HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING!

[code]: You’ve released constantly on such great labels for the past few years!
How do you define the Andrea Oliva sound?

Andrea Oliva: I THINK YOU CAN’T REALLY “DEFINE” IT, THAT'S WHY I RELEASED ON DIFFERENT LABELS, LIKE CADENZA, BE AS ONE, HIDEOUT, SAVED... EVERY ONE OF THESE LABELS HAS ITS OWN SOUND... I THINK I HAVE A BIT OF EVERYTHING IN MY PRODUCTIONS. I AM HAPPY THAT THEY DON’T SOUND ALWAYS THE SAME; KEPS IT A BIT MORE INTERESTING DOESN’T IT? :)

[code]: It sure does. We've read in your biography that your Italian roots are still very much present in everythign that you do. We heard you cook a “mean pasta” :). Do you feel that maybe some of this Latin heritage can also be found in your sound? And that it somehow led you to join the Cadenza family, a true expression of Latinity in electronic music?

Andrea Oliva: Oh yes I LOVE COOKING! Especially pasta! I doubt this is the main reason why i got into the Cadenza family (:)), but your idea is nice...I guess it’s more because of the music; they never tried my pasta but they will...

[code]: Cadenza family, watch out for some killer Andrea Oliva pasta coming soon :)
Tell us Andrea, how did it all begin for you? What made you want to become a dj?

Andrea Oliva: It was long time ago, about 17 years! My best friends which were bit older than me, showed me how to dj and i never stopped since. I just kept on going ...

[code]: How much of the local influence (Switzerland) drove you in your dj career? Is Switzerland a fertile ground for electronic artists?

Andrea Oliva: A lot i would say! We have amazing clubs, artists & labels here.
Check this out: Luciano, Deetron, Mountain People, Mirko Loko, Lee van Dowski, Michel Cleis and I am sure i forgot many many other well known artists. We have labels like Cadenza, Drumpoet Community, Purple Music and more... clubs like Nordstern, Hive, Cabaret, Zukunft, Supermarket, Kaufleuten, Mad.... WELCOME TO SWITZERLAND!

[code]: Considering all this, how would you describe your approach to writing music?

Andrea Oliva: Its freestyle! I love the fact that a lot of things happen by a kind of wonderful mistake in the studio. I love to jam around with the machines and sounds, all of a sudden you have something you weren’t looking for basically but it sounds nice and it gives you the idea to continue on and create something around this sound... and on and on :)

[code]: Who do you consider to be your mentors? Guiding you and inspiring you when you need most.

Andrea Oliva: I have tooooo many! My family, my friends, other artists, roadtrips...

[code]: Looking at your London show leading the second Technicolour experience, which are your feelings towards it and what will we be hearing in your performance in terms of sound and story?

Andrea Oliva: Realy looking forward! you will hear a lot of new music! Goooood Vibes!

[code]: What releases are you preparing for 2011 and how would you describe the sound of what’s to come?

Andrea Oliva: Just a few days ago I’ve released an EP on CADENZA LAB. I will have 2 other EPs soon released on SAVED and BE AS ONE for this year, then I did a remix for SOWESO/WE DIG MUSIC. The long awaited CADENZA RECORDS release will be out in January 2012! I am also working on a collaboration with an amazing artist plus I am mixing the official compilation for Nordstern Basel with lots of fresh music!

And just one more at the fine here:

[code]: Do you do your weekly shopping with Luciano? :)
Andrea Oliva: Luciano lives 2.5 hours away from where I live, a bit too far to do weekly shopping together :)

Thanks Andrea, it was a real pleasure to have you on the 1 on 1 chair.

Catch Andrea Oliva leading the festivities for Episode II of Technicolour:Cinematographic House Music on 29th of July at EGG Club London.

TECHNICOLOUR Episode II
29 July 2011
EGG Club, London
//////////////////////////
Following the excellent launch of Episode I of TECHNICOLOUR: Cinematographic House Music concept, we return to EGG on the 29th of July for what promises to be a bigger, better and more colorful event.

The second episode in the TECHNICOLOUR series will bring more sound variety, more diversity and more visuals to excite and incite your senses. We will go one step forward in defining the TECHNICOLOUR experience as a truly immersive one, with house music at the core.
Full Line Up and tickets on:

TECHNICOLOUR FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=216148148418086

RESIDENT ADVISOR EVENT PAGE:
http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?265998

Techalot #5 - for the short attention spanned:

2011-07-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

Introducing DJ PowerTools – Sound Packs for Controllers:

DJ PowerTools are the world’s first sound packs designed for controllerists. Using cue points and effects, any DJ can play synth instruments inside DJ software and remix songs on the fly.

Basically they are designed MP3s to allow digital users extra toys to play with. Arranged by key each sample provides a sound arranged in the pentatonic scale so they are easy to play with and create interesting on the fly arrangements. Intended for Traktor and Serato Djs users that want synth and clip functionality directly in their software.

At the minute there only seems to be Dubstep packs available but I would expect to see more soon.

Numark iDJ:

So bad I had to share - It's a fisher price toy that you connect to an iPad and then you use to become the world’s greatest Deejay...Probably

It's £80 so would probably make a good gift for a child at a push but would you give a kid an iPad for this??

I could not find an official video so this was the closest I could get.

How to Make A Custom Audio Cable:

Another video from Djtechtools here and this one is probably a bit nerdy - A basic guide on how to make your own cables. If you have never done this before then you might be shocked how much a quick trip to Maplins could save you plus you can always put some pretty cool covers on your wires so they stand out in a Dj booth. Making you look less of a nerd and more of a really cool guy.

Say Hello to KONKREET PERFORMER:

say Hello to KONKREET PERFORMER from Konkreet Labs on Vimeo.

OMG look at all the pretty lights! I want it.

KONKREET PERFORMER is a first of a kind visual OSC (Open Sound Control) controller and visualizer for your DAW / Synth / Drum Machine / Sampler etc.

KONKREET PERFORMER aims to be used in the studio and on stage. It addresses digital music control and performance in a whole new and unique way -- be ready to explore multitouch to the extreme they say - although it looks like a pretty standard way of touching the screen to me.

Guides for using it with Live and Reaktor are already available on their website

Finally a couple of websites:

First is headline.fm a new way of promoting yourself and your music through the use of band bucks - Earned by creating an account, linking it to your pages (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter) and displaying music/promotions from other users. I have only just found it so not sure how good it will be but the idea is interesting for sure.

Lastly Bullseyehub. These guys got in contact with me last week and spent a bit of time going through what they can offer. It's a good service that can manage your mailing and phone contacts lists, large scale mail out, mobile adverts, and posts to lots of event sites automatically without the need to log in and enter the details on each. You can even set up timed status updates on Facebook and Twitter and drill in to who people are responding to your news. It's a paid service so you will need to contact them to find how much it will cost for the tools you want but as it is already being used by the likes of Defective Records and the Ministry of Sound, you can expect to hear more about them.

That's it...Enjoy

Mark (",)

Berlin Calling Episode II: 1on1 with Ostfunk Berlin 11 questions about Berlin, Funk and Sven Vath

2011-07-17T03:34:00.000-07:00

Loved the weather yesterday, didn’t you?!? London in full July blossom. Our sincere thoughts go to whoever bit the bullet and actually went to Lovebox…

Respect..?! ?

Well, today is Sunday and (hopefully) a different day. So this is probably the best time to consider getting out of bed and head straight to the coffee pot and then computer chair. Aaaaah, bliss! Sit yourself nice and comfy and whilst sipping that miraculous hot dark liquid, click play on this mix
Arena Badeschiff Match Hoffman (Shocked Musik) by Shocked Musik
and meet the Ostfunk Crew aka the headliners in the Terrace stage for Episode II of Technicolour: Cinematographic House Music

Coming from the (forever) capital of electronic music: Berlin, Ostfunk Records has been steadily growing for the past few years as a trademark sound on the scene. Working techno, house and freeform ethnic sounding grooves, Ostfunk sounds infectiously danceable and organically wholesome. We summoned our common (Google) knowledge of German-esse and asked a couple of questions. For everyone here in London that hasn’t yet had the chance to answer Berlin’s calling this will be a very good opportunity to do it!
Let’s find out more and brush up on our knowledge of Berlin Ost-Funk

[code]: Hi there Match Hoffman and Daniel Boon, otherwise known as Ostfunk Records Berlin or “the Berlin connection” how we affectionately called you in one of our previous posts. We’re delighted to have you guys over on our side of the Atlantic headlining for the second episode of Technicolour. How are you and where does this interview find you?

Ostfunk: Hi there; nice to talk to you and we are really happy to play Technicolour! This interview finds us very well and excited about coming to London in two weeks time. It all starter as a conversation with Cj when we were drawing up some collaboration ideas between Codekontrol and Ostfunk. After the party we did together at Tresor this is the next step. Working together with Codekontrol went great even if not without troubles here and so we're looking forward to continue our initial ideas

[code]: As if we were all meeting up for the first time at a friend’s after party, introduce us to Match Hoffman and Daniel Boon.

Ostfunk: :) Daniel Boon is one of the two founders of Ostfunk. He and Oliver Tatsch started the whole thing seven years ago and on the 12th of November we will celebrate the 8th anniversary! We’re preparing for an awesome party, we’ll be living it up with a couple of friends and artists: Martin Buttrich, Nick Curly, Anthony Rother just to name a few.
Daniel plays as all over Europe at the moment. His sound is what you might call “the Ostfunk sound”; powerfully good vibes with a lot of Berlin flavor in. We think you’ll enjoy it quite a bit.

Match Hoffman runs the booking agency and the label side of things at Ostfunk, in charge of a lot of artist bookings and getting the events up and running in due time.
He also plays music (:)), his sound is on the housier, deeper side of Berlin; Bar25, Arena Club kind of groove. At Tresor, you might experience Match breaking free and getting into more techier stuff...teching out really. We’re both really happy to party at Egg for the very first time

[code]: How and why did Ostfunk came to life? What is the meaning of Ostfunk?

Ostfunk: Ostfunk started as a small party brand in Berlin. We managed to avoid the “early death syndrome” so common in the starting-up promoter game and now, after almost 8 years Ostfunk runs the biggest events in Berlin, with more than 8000 capacity and we are working with the “Berlin Summer Rave” or “Nature One Festival” which has more than 60.000 capacity every year! In Berlin Ostfunk has regular events as Famielen Feier at Tresor (where you guys came and played as well :)) and "Gegenstrom". Also we have label nights and open air parties. We like doing these at Arena Badeschiff.
The meaning of Ostunk is quite simple but in English you have two explanations:
Eastern funk or Eastern radiowaves
Choose as you like! But as we all come from East Berlin we wanted everybody to know it and so we put Ost (East) in our Funk = OSTFUNK

[code]: What is the label’s proudest achievement right now? That moment that puts a big, thankful smile upon your face every time it comes up in conversations

Ostfunk: We've just released Marc DePulse "Lucky Punch" a great four track EP with some wonderful remixes from Marco Fender (Supdub/Trapez) and Mihalis Safras. The release is doing great all over Europe and getting a lot of plays which makes us all very very proud!

We’ll make sure we bring our latest promos and releases with us to Technicolour! Also in the next days we will release a new Lizzara and Tatsch EP with remixes from Umek, Daniel Boon and some deep house tunes from Match Hoffman.

[code]: From an aesthetic point of view, how would you describe the “Ostfunk sound”?

Ostfunk: The Ostfunk sound is a mixture between party rave underground techno und fluffy deep house....hahaha. We represent the party section of Berlin, we want to rock out at every event and we want the people to rock with us every time. I would openly say that the Berlin influence is impregnated deep within our sound DNA. You will surely hear that!

[code]: How does it fit in the overall Berlin soundscape? Also tell us more about the evolution of the Ostfunk sound since its beginnings and to right here, right now.

Ostfunk: I would have to say busy and ecstatic. We are very open to all kind of artists and sounds as are too our crowd. I think that’s what makes the typical atmosphere at our nights.
In Berlin you have all kinds of clubs and artists and we’re always trying to bring the best together for a typical Ostfunk party.

[code]: How about the Berlin sound? How is Berlin these days? Tell us about the transformations you’re seeing on the Berlin scene.

Ostfunk: At the moment we see many new and great artists showing up on the scene; also new promoters or party brands. This makes Berlin so alive. Every weekend there are great parties or clubs running somewhere in Berlin. A lot of new influences, a lot of new directions. As you can tell…We love Berlin! :)

[code]: Who else, besides you guys, flies the Ostfunk colours high and mighty? What artists are currently signed/ releasing on Ostfunk?

Ostfunk: Our philosophy is that everybody is welcome at Osfunk if the sound fits. Right now the inner circle is made up of friends; we’ve known each other for years and we all grew together with Ostfunk: Oliver Tatsch, Thomas Lizzara, Daniel Boon, Stereo Jack, Match Hoffman and Marc Depulse. A new face is Marco Fender, a very talented guy and we are so happy to have him.
And of course then there are all the remixers who share a similar passion for the Ostfunk sound; like Exercise One, Mihalis Safras, Lützenkirchen just to name a few. There are many others.

Also if there are any producers reading this, feel free to send us your promos if you feel you that Ostfunk could be right for you.

[code]: What are the feelings that London stirs up in you when mentioned?

Ostfunk: We are excited. Technicolour will be my third time in the UK and my very first time in London! It’s Daniel’s second time. We heard a lot of great things about the club and really hope to fire up a great crowd at Egg in Ostfunk style!

[code]: The Technicolour vibe promises to be a surreal experience, a colourful playground where the house music sound meets cinematographic imagery. What can we expect from the Ostfunk story for the night? Give us a little “trailer”

Ostfunk: Try mixing Berlin Calling with Trainspotting and that´s quite close to what we’re bringing to Egg. And why not end everything in an Odyssey 2012? ;-)

And one more at the end here:
11. What colour is Sven Vath’s eyeliner these days?"

Ostfunk: I have no idea about Sven…but Marusha’s is surely not green anymore!

From the series "Lights, camera, mic": meet Renato Pezzella

2011-07-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since we last chewed the fat together with Renato Pezzella.
It happened at Egg last December. If you remember it was the snowiest day in London’s modern history and we were all warming up to the electric chimney in the garden at Egg, dreaming about warmer times. Well, here they are now I guess, “warmer days” in full swing.
Now, Renato Pezzella is also in “full swing”. With his latest EP “Home Studio” freshly out on Beatport
Renato Pezzella - Home Studio Ep by Mind Ability Records
a full length artist album in the pipeline ready to launch and a constant gigging schedule on the sunny southern side of Italy, we thought this is a very good time to touch base with Codekontrol’s long time friend and artist Renato Pezzella. Lights, camera, mic, let’s roll!

[Code] Ciao Renato. How have you been? Tell us what's been happening in Renato Pezzella world?

RP: Ciao guys J! I’ve been constantly working on my sound, spending more and more time in the studio trying to capture the music, the feeling that I am playing out at nights. Guess I've been busy working on music that I deeply love, which in turn, has given the necessary grounds to experiment more with other types of influences.

In terms of releases, I've just put out the Home Studio EP on Mind Ability and now getting everything ready for the release of my very first artist album at the end of July.
Also just had another EP (Frequenze) on HSM Records, “Low Profile EP" on Cibi Caldi Records and "Caracas EP" on Arenaria Records. Plus several other remixes coming up!

[Code]: “Full swing” indeed! Also your label, Zenith Recordings is now in its fifth year of existence. How are things going there?

RP: I’m very pleased and thankful to say that Zenith Recordings is going quite nicely. Despite the adverse situation in the global record industry and this economic crisis that seems to not end (Aaaaaaaaaaagh!) we are still live, putting out music that we love and constantly looking to diversify, develop the sound.

[Code]: Any new talents signed to the Zenith imprint in 2011?

RP: Ooooh, yes! J There are some very good artists that I personally produce and who will be releasing on Zenith. Right now I like very much what Damolh33 and Oliver Bailey are making. They’re writing some really good stuff and I look very forward to releasing them.

[Code]: You spend many of your week-ends playing in Naples. How is the “Neapolitan vibe” right now, summer 2011? What do people listen in the clubs there right now?

Naples is a cosmopolitan (diverse) reality. There are a lot of events going on every weekend and for all musical tastes. This gives the opportunity to approach every new project I get involved with in the right context.

[Code]: Is your new EP "Home Studio" on Mind Records Ability to direct influence of the Neapolitan sound?

RP: No I don’t think so. On these tracks I entered the studio afresh and tried to be open-minded. Ideas that I had sounding in my head started working together in new and interesting ways...I think J

[Code]: Here in London, musical trends come and go faster than you'd have time to properly launch an artist.The sound changes from month to month. Do you see the same happening there, in Napoli? Or is it a more laidback and "groovy" process?

RP: In Naples, the process is definitely slower or “laidback” as you call it, then I think that original dj talent has to offer a fresh new sound in order to create a tendency/trend

[Code]: What was the process of creation for the new EP and why the title "Home Studio"?

RP: “The process” isn’t really what you would call “a process”. As I said these are musical ideas I had in my mind and I’ve just started experimenting searching to translate them into notes. And it all started in my home studio, hence the title :)

[Code]: What can we hear new inspirations on the tracks?

RP: The traces are different I guess, each follows its own sound but the EP in its entirety is pure tech house

[Code]: We're looking very forward to hearing you play your new tunes right here in London (maybe the weather will warm up as well with the bit occasion). Are you fond of the London crowd?

RP: I love London! I love the city because it gives you the opportunity as a dj to really play what you want and you feel that the crowd is always interested. There is this openness towards new people, new music new talent that I think you won’t find anywhere in the world.

[Code]: What other places are you playing right now and what’s the best gig for this summer that you can barely wait for?

RP: Well as it looks right now, I’ll be present in many more parties all around Italy, and I’m looking very forward to the super party I’m preparing for the launch of my artist album at the end of July. Expect a resounding fiesta! J More details coming soon…

[Code]: Oke Renato. Thanks for your words! We're hoping to see more of you here in London

Techalot #4 - for the short attention spanned:

2011-07-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

LOPAZZ performing with Novation's Twitch:

An alternative to the Traktors S4 brought to you by Novation. As expected it works with all the usual programs like Traktor and Scratch but can also be used for Ableton live. Cool stuff is the finger touch strips for scrolling and beatmatching, The slicer function and the 8 trigger pads for hot cues, loops and triggers.
Even if you are not impressed with the gadget it's still worth watching to grab a look at Lopazz's home studio setup. Offical video here.

Alesis Iodock:

If you are going to do the unthinkable and produce music on a iPad the Alesis Iodock solves the greatest problem you will ever encounter...How to connect a midi device? Yes you can use the usb connect on the camera adaptor with a bit of a fix but really how good is that? The Alesis Iodock is the first device that enables anyone with an iPad to create music using virtually any audio gear or instruments thanks to the MIDI In and out (DIN) and USB MIDI.
The video really sells it short but there is a more in-depth one here by a guy with a bad taste is synthesisers.

Axel Boman and the Radio Active Orchestra:

Something a bit odd but a great concept. Swedish art collective Kollektivet Livet pieced together interactive software that mutates ionizing radiation into polarizing music. Incorporating all 3,175 known isotopes, the Radioactive Orchestra allows users to tweak decay rate and scale resulting in a personalized, hipster head-boppin glitch-hop track.

Handy Sites:

Finally a couple of handy webistes, one for anyone wanting to create a music website without going to all the hassel of coding pages thanks to google sites. Easy templates and page creation make building a site fast and easy and it can be automatically be refined for mobile devises viewing your page. You can find an unofficial guide here

Another, thanks to podcomplex, with some guidance of what you should put on your site once it is made.

That's it...Enjoy

Mark (",)

Full June musical blossom at Codekontrol HQs

2011-07-11T09:46:00.001-07:00

Can you believe we're already halfway through July?!? Man, these summer days do fly by quite super fast huh? Well, hopefully we'll get some more of those scorching 30+ days until we have to wave goodbye to this year's summertime...

The month just passed meant for us here at Codekontrol HQ that we'd finally got around to finishing up and releasing some long awaited tracks. We hung up the party suits for a few days in favor of our shiny record producer hats.

....no there aren't any real hats. But yes, the tall one does look like our Duncan

We've had these tracks for a little while, all ready and willing to go to mastering and then on Beatport, all that was needed were the time and the financials to do it. So after a good start to the summer with the first Technicolour: Cinematographic House Music we felt like we had just the right ingredients do get these beats out.

First we had Tony Bar with his Reve du Cuir EP, an EP which for us simply defines summer 2011. You dig?
PKEP06_Tonybar__Reve de cuir by picknik
Tony's "Reve du Cuir" is OUT NOW on Picknik Records. Exclusively on Beatport

Very soon after we had to find the right visual expression for Booz's techno filled grooves "Lazy Days". What'you think?
Boozandthesheep - Lazy Days EP by Minimal Force Records
Out now on Minimal Force. Exclusively through Beatport
Lazy enough? :)

In quite a successive manner Renato Pezzella's "Home Studio" EP
Home studio ep by renatopezzella
and Mario Reder's "Canvas" finished up nicely what was for Codekontrol a month of full blossom musical creation.
Mario Reder - Canvas EP by Solid Tracks Records
Mario's Canvas EP is out now on Solid Tracks. Exclusively through Beatport

We're really loving the results, each is a different and individual expression of sound. Check them out on Soundcloud and get them through Beatport if you dig.
Find out more about these releases and future ones by keeping touch here for the following interviews with each of the artists.

What is social media...for you?

2011-07-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

Hah, bet you're like "C'mon dude, lmao! Is this some kind of trick or treat question?!

That's like, E Z!!!"

Truth is that I believe that the seemingly "EZ" question may have as many answers as there are internet connections out there. I think that for as much as we are all together part of "social media", also each and every one of us will use it in their very own, slightly different way. We all choose to use social media however it suits our interests, goals and personality.

Too much choice?

I've actually been meaning to do this post for quite some time, after so many times encountering both brilliant and also less than social media moments. Being online most of my waking hours, while at work and while off work has its perks I guess.

I, for one, am really trying to make the connections created online more about quality than sheer quantity. Not dissing numbers (totally), but I believe in the old adagio which says that "quality brings quantity". So for me social media has to mean quality, otherwise it's not really social (I apologize here and now to everyone that I might've overwhelmed with too many event invitations and the such :). For me, quantity comes second. But...I may be off the ball here, so that's why I've put the question up here. The more opinions the more accurate of a picture we'll have.

And another reason that got me to finally ask the burning question now is the growing sentiment that soon we'd have reach a right moment when we'll all be entering through the Social media 2.0 door.

And how does that look I have no concrete idea, but I'm guessing it will maybe have to be more social, more interactive and more real.

But then again, let's hear what you think. Open fire!

Serge for Codekontrol

Techalot #3 - for the short attention spanned:

2011-06-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

Introducing The Slim Phatty:

Moog’s new toy gives you a joyful bucket load of crazy fun and messed up noises. Descended from the iconic Minimoog Model D it's a monophonic, monotimbral, monaural subtractive synthesizer with analog circuitry throughout (So they say).

Native Instruments West Africa:

I just love Native Instrument sound banks so anything new from them is good with me. Drums please...

Fruity Loops Studio Mobile:

The first DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) I ever used is now available for Mobiles and Tablets. Not a fan of the idea of producing on a mobile but the nostalgia of Fruity Loops is too much to resist.

SoftStep KeyWorx controls:

The idea of the is awesome giving you extra controls when you run out of hands but the actual product looks a bit too Fisher Price in my eyes. Personally I would prefer to get rid of the arrow keys and have a whole block of kick pedals that I could assign.

Finally a couple of good reads for anyone wanting better sound from their tracks and studios:
Monitors and Studio Acoustics
Make your Tracks Bigger

That's it...Enjoy

Mark (",)

Techalot #2 - for the short attention spanned:

2011-06-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

Presenting SPARK Creative Drum Machine

A beautiful hybrid drum machine that mixes analogue emulation with digital functionality. Can either be run as a stand alone or integrated with Ableton / Cubase etc. A Really nice feature is the analogue tuning and tweeking of samples due to some super drum modelling technology. Also contains filters, tape oscillation and loopers.
More detailed demonstration can be seen here:

Presonus Studio Live Remote for iPad:

Normally I am against the use of the iPad for any sort of controlling of audio software, as i have never seen a app be as responsive or reliable as a physical device in a live environment. However for sound engineers working in at live venues this application could be an indispensable if you HAVE a Studio Live mixing Desk.
Excuse the overly excited presenter shouting "You're Awesome"

Novation Launchpad and Bach:

High Brown Optical Bubble Gum - Feel smarter as you listen to classical music and marvel at the pretty lights - Not convinced by the drum and hats though.

Beatport Beta
Beatport revamps itself with a new and Apple friendly HTML5 Webpage. First impressions of the site were not that great as it looked fairly standard and uninspired, but the more I poke around the more I like it. There are some really nice additions like the details of BPM and Key for each track you click on, Keyboard shortcuts and the wav image on the player is a definite bonus. Here are a couple of access codes for anyone wishing to check it out: TM7RWWMM & GXUFVFZV

That's it...Enjoy

Mark (",)

Techalot - for the short attention spanned:

2011-06-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

Plastikman Live Stage:

Kicking off let's begin with every bodies favourite supergeek megastar 'Richie Hawtin' talking through the tools and tech he used for the Plastikman Live stage tour:

Amon Tobin 'ISAM' Live:

Next up Amon Tobin takes his stage show to a whole another level using the same technology used for 3D Building Projections:
Amon Tobin 'ISAM' Live : Mutek Premiere (Official):

AudioTube:

AudioTube - A random video site I found with a limited selection of ORIGINAL videos from some Bpitch and other Old School artist like Prodigy and Basement Jaxx that are hard to find . Downside is Adele "Chasing Pavements" plays automatically when you open the site (but maybe that is a bonus for some?).

Pioneer DDJ T1:

This review of the new Pioneer DDJ T1 that just drove me mad - How do you review a brand new piece of DJ gadgety designed for Traktor? Get a well know DJ to show you how they use it in the wild? No no, Get some tool who is more interested in the finish of the product than what it does, Then have him badly mix two awful tracks while failing to understand the sync function, talking randomly about whatever is in front of him skipping over any unique features, like the finger slide track skipping. ...Rant over.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/pioneer-ddj-t1-review/
In Fairness the Offical Video is not even that much better:
Official DDJ T1 Video

About.me:

Think of this as a Digital Business Card available to everyone showing your Bio and links with a nice custom backdrop.- It gives a pretty slick one stop shop for people to find out about you and is attracting all media types from producers to artist to developers. One of the things I like is the The "Random Profile" Button which can bring up some interesting sights. At the minute they have some link to a printing company where they will offer you 50 free business cards (but you pay the P+P).

All about about.me from about.me on Vimeo.

That's it really.. only thing left is to say Thanks to Alpha Channel for letting me shamelessly rip of the name of one of his tracks (",)

Mark

Tips for musicians to increase audience 1.0

2011-06-09T13:47:00.001-07:00

Continuing from Alpha's question on our post last week, I searched for a few good tips to post about how new/independent artists can increase their reach and audience.
Well here it is, in video: http://www.artistshousemusic.org/videos/strategies+new+artists+can+use+to+gain+exposure+experience+and+a+fanbase

The advice talks about pop/rock musicians, but as you probably know, they are UNIVERSAL. check out the part about setting real goals for you everyday and see where you are right now. Questions or need more? just ask :)

Serge (for Codekontrol)

Electronic musician [i′lek′tränik][myoo-zish-uh n] – definition

2011-06-02T23:29:00.000-07:00

Hi to y’all out there starting-up musicians or musician lovers! As nowadays the lines between everything are constantly blurring, I’m sure there are quite a few of both around. Also it's good to remember that music at its roots has always been an amateur occupation, something to fall in love head over heels first and then actually consider the hardships and trials of a long term relationship with it. Damn you foolish heart…
This being said, chances are that you are experiencing some form of heartache right now and sometimes really think that this relationship is not quite what you had thought it out to be. Well, guess what, there are more of us than we’d like to admit. That’s why we thought that maybe this is a very good time to bite the bullet and start a bit of relationship counselling if you will.
You probably have a couple of questions that may need answer and god knows, we’ve got a few of those lying around. So we got Codekontrol’s very own music biz consigliere, Serge to face the music and get stuck in. This is the first post in, what we hope it will be an interactive series of music bizz discussions, where we all come together and find solutions to common issues.

Today we live in strange times; there’s more music being made and enjoyed today than ever before in all of human history. It is the easiest it’s ever been to pick up an instrument and dabble in sound experimentation. Ironically, there’s less and less of an opportunity than ever before to make a living from music. Recorded music that is…

As it has already happened so many times before in the music industry’s timeline, technology has changed the game. And just when you thought that CDs will replace vinyl and cassette, making it a ty bit cheaper and easier for the little guy to put out music, surprise: CDs are now becoming obsolete, replaced by freely available music. Now that surely is not a sustainable business model…or is it?

Welcome to the digital age; the age of instant and constant availability of (free) content. People are enjoying more content than ever before, but are not accustomed to paying for it. This in turn has started a chain reaction affecting everyone from the starting-up dj producer to the CEO of any of “The Big Four”. Ok, maybe the later will have to be thankful only with a Ferrari instead of a Buggatti.
A little while ago I’ve bumped into a very good observation on this chain-reaction we’ve just mentioned. I think it is quite a well informed and a thorough one, so I’m going to strongly recommend you check it out as well here.
So the digitalization of sound has undoubtedly changed things. Indeed it has levelled out access to production, some distribution and promotion, but the level is now “zero”, zilch, nada, free! And zero is a level that anyone can access.

The cat is now out of the bag and we cannot go back to how the things were. And for one, I think we shouldn’t. For all the romanticising about how things used to be, we are now here and we can do a lot more with a lot less! We should make the most of it. After all to quote someone I’ve read don’t remember where exactly: ” the biggest tragedy of a musician is not giving away his music for free, it is in his music not being heard by new fans every day.” No matter your views on free music, you know deep inside that is quite the truth. So what exactly does this mean for a starting-up musician really craving for the moment when he’ll give up the day job and make only music for living?

Ironically, the cure, as the cause, may lie within the 1s and 0s that bear your signature online. The internet is a very complex and extensive ecosystem. This is also what makes it very very powerful. Don’t treat this as just another channel. Treat it as THE channel!
You know, the internet is the very first medium capable of supporting every other ones already existing and more…loads more. Online you can now read, write, talk, publish, distribute, promote, sell, view, review, recommend, do radio, do TV, do journalism. And the list adds new stuff to it every day. A lovely and somewhat mad man who goes by the name of Kevin Kelly had seen things going in this direction for some years now. But, of course he’s a little mad and the majority of sane thinking peeps have chosen to not take him too seriously. Check out this video for what exactly he’s on about. (Ooooh, and please do check the stranded looks on the faces of his audience :)

Music and artists are now at the centre of what people do online. Used to be only porn, but now it's social media and music. Always remember this; it’s pretty powerful I’d say.
People now want and should have a direct channel to any artist they really love. They are looking for engagement not one way discourses, pulling in and NOT pushing! Everywhere you go, every conversation you engage in, will say more about who you are as an artist that your tracks do. Just remember the last time you used facebook to engage with one of your favourite producers. And they never replied to your message…What does that say about him/her? Would you still feel like saying he/she’s the greatest dude/chick?!

As a musician you are by definition an entertainer. So you need to entertain! That starts from within continues through your music and then comes right back at ya from people through word of mouth. Don’t think British variety show 1940’s, just think Kraftwerk, David Bowie, Sven Vath or Daft Punk. Their music has touched millions of people generation after generation. And will continue to do so. But take a step back and look at the whole picture. Can you really, honestly say it’s only about the music they’ve made…?

You, as an artist are there to offer people an escape from the routine of every day existence. Their every day existence is already filled with a multichannel, multisensory assault of sales pitches. You cannot afford to be another one of these. You don’t stand a chance! You know, just a trip down to my local sainsbury’s to buy food, and I’m already being bombarded with floor high billboards and buses carrying either the JLS new album, the new JLS branded soap or the new JLS chewing gum...opps. I meant condoms.

I’M NEVER GOING TO EVEN LOOK AT A YOUTUBE CLIP OF JLS!!! So help me God! And let’s not even mention the pretentious, Madonna inspired campaigns of little miss gaga.

For all their disputable artistic value, these guys and all those like them own this type of one way communication.
You cannot compete with them on their playground. And shouldn’t. There is no real fan connection in this. Cut out the repetition for a while and watch them fade away faster than you can say “What ever happened to X?!?” (see Amy Winehouse example).

You do have a real chance to make online YOUR playground. Be there, be real, be honest, be the different person that you really are inside. The people you want to reach are there already, waiting for you to do so. People want to be entertained man! They want to engage with you and get to really know you as a real or fantastic person before they start buying into you. And believe that they will. There’s a reason why such a high percentage of musicians will invariably be forgotten. They’re all doing the same thing: music, image, personality and more important fan engagement seem to be incredibly similar. A good song says “If everybody looked the same, we would be tired of looking at each other”.
For all the good and also the bad of the 21st century music business, now is probably the best time to take your musicianship seriously and start putting yourself out there more. Mix, remix, reach out to like-minded people, seek engagement and connect with your fans. We are all connected. Just think about it.

Personal opinions and questions very welcome.

Serge for Codekontrol

Introducing...

2011-05-19T12:32:00.001-07:00

Who is Ali Nasser?
Ali Nasser is “Omul care nu se duce” (the man who does not go)
He is also part of the new wave of Romanian techno and house producers that got everyone’s love from Audiofly, Steve Lawler, Dj Sneak, Nick Curly or Mathias Tanzmann. To get one thing straight from the go Ali Nasser is all about the deepest side of house, his mixes a blend of hypnotic beats and open dubby soundscapes. And no, we’re not just saying that in pretty words. Have a listen and see what your heart feels..
Ali Nasser promo mix oct 2010 by Ali Nasser

Ali Nasser is also a very open and friendly guy, probably one of the rarest occurrences in music nowadays. He seems to be deep into the music he makes and totally dedicated to putting on the best performance for his public every time. As he confessed to us over the phone he cares deeply about the songs he plays and can get lost for hours in a row looking for that right groove. He still buys vinyl whenever he gets the chance to and confesses to sometimes getting inspired while riding his bike through the park. With quality releases and remixes for Audiofly’s Supernature, BeCosen or Derivat Recs Ali Nasser must be riding his bike a lot these days! He’s part of the Sunrise family and very good friends of the [a:rpia:r] lads, and making new friends with every opportunity

Codekontrol: Hi there! Tell us please who is Ali Nasser and where does he come from?
Ali Nasser: Hey, I do not know him? Haven’t met him yet…:)! He is “omul care nu se duce” (the man who does not go)?

Codekontrol: You moved to Romania from the U.E.A. about 20 years ago. How has the Romanian scene change since you first arrived there?
Ali Nasser:.... definitely more colorful ... :)

Codekontrol: How and when was Ali Nasser, the electronic artist born?
Ali Nasser: The electronic artist? Well…surrelly must’ve been when I first put my hands on an MC 303 ... original! :))).

Codekontrol: What are your influences and inspirations in the music that you create?
Ali Nasser: Depends on the mood, I often get inspired by nature, and riding my bicycle ...

Codekontrol: What do you consider to have been the "tipping point" in your career untl now. When did Ali Nasser started becoming a recognized name on the Romanian house music scene? How about on the international one?
Ali Nasser: Hard to say, there would be more points on the Romanian angle: Club Web Bucharest, becoming part of the Sunrise agency and also the various productions I have released. And that then lead onto getting released international by Be_Chosen Supernature. These international releases have helped me a lot to advance!

Codekontrol: With all the favorable press gathered in the past few years by Romanian clubs and Romanian artists (Kristal Glam, Midi, RPR, Livio & Roby, Cosmin TRG, Silent Strike) what is the state of the electronic music scene in Romania today?
Ali Nasser: The condition is good and favourable...we have so many good artists, Bucharest has now become a kind of Berlin; new, talented people are appearing all the time...

Codekontrol: Do you see a time in the near future house for Rmanian artists being highly appreciated on the global electronic scene?
Ali Nasser: Yes, definitely! And not only to house music !

Codekontrol: How do you feel your coming…or should I say you return to London tomorrow, 20th of May at Egg for Technicolour party?
Ali Nasser: With a great impatience! Hahaha

Codekontrol: What will be the sound of Ali Nasser tomorrow night at Technicolour?
Ali Nasser: I think I'll adopt the same sound I play everywhere… deep DEep dEEp dEeP house

Codekontrol: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us Ali! A final message for us here in London?
Ali Nasser: FOR ENGLISH PRESS 1(ONE)

Introducing...

2011-05-19T00:37:00.000-07:00

Rosario Internullo is a controversial person.
A name that is both consecrated and respected on Romania’s house music scene as one of its innovators, but one that has also been at the centre of controversy and scandal. Looking at his career, where Rosario had started from and how he developed into one of Romania’s most influential house music pioneers, we might consider that the turbulences he’s been through are all part of the game, the life he leads, that of a pioneering artist. Challenging: yes; uncertain: yes; filled with controversy: definitely!

Arriving in a recently post-communist Romania at the end of the 90’s from Sicily, Rosario quickly fell in love with the young and hungry house scene there. The energy, the people’s unprejudiced love for music convinced him to stay and fight for good times. He started organizing the first ever Romanian afterhours in Bucharest at Karma club and many unforgettable events Kudos Beach, Mamaia. Everything was going only up at dizzying speeds for Rosario, but soon followed a period in which scandals, excess and controversy made of Rosario a daily appearance in the news. Media and people started taking sides and for a good few months forgot about the most important thing: the music...
Now, in 2011 the situation on the Romanian scene is quite different than what is was back in 1998. Most clubs in the country now resonate of the infamous 4/4 house beat and the people’s ecstasy screams on the dancefloor until the late hours of the morning.
Now, in 2011 Rosario Internullo is back on the stage full-throttle, this time for the right reason ... music.

Codekontrol: Hello Rosario, greatly loved yet controversial Romanian house music innovator!
How are you already five months in 2011? What began in 2011 for you?
Rosario Internullo: Hi and thanks a lot for invitation! thanks ah :)! I feel very good with how 2011 has started for me, from New Year's Eve onwards it has been very good. I have many projects throughout 2011 and most importantly many trips in Europe, which I love!

Codekontrol: Although originally from Sicily, you chose Romania, Eastern Europe as your cradle of music making and life. How did this happen? How were you treated by the audience there along the past over 13 years of music and parties?
Rosario Internullo: My move to Romania was a pure coincidence; a friend had brought me to play in a national tour in Romania. I took the chance and I started to know people here which grew into relationships. I fell in love with Romania, with the people’s raw energy and love for music, so I started to do afterhours parties, first of their kind if I remember correctly, at Karma Club in Bucharest. The audience received me very well and I think that was the main reason for which I moved here, energy was so positive and all we needed something new! I think we built something very good together, right? :)

Codekontrol: You are one of the first pioneers of Romania's house scene, and yet today, in 2011, you are still as influential as ever. Tell us a little about how the Romanian house scene evolved from her scanty beginnings in the late '90s until today? A comparison with the global scene?
Rosario Internullo: It was all very underground and slow burning until 2000. Then, in 2000, there was a boom, all clubs started to put on house nights. Many parties appeared in Bucharest and at the sea side, at Mamaia, then there were The Mission mega-events and then came the Sunrise ones. After that everything evolved quickly, promoters began to bring world famous DJs to do parties of thousands of people!
Today I can say that the scene in Romania is noted for and loved by many, yet I feel a loss in terms of smaller parties with smaller guests and local djs. And it's a real shame because the local djs are actually the ones who nurture and grow the scene. The world now wants top DJs, festivals and dozens of international artists on a single line-up. That in my opinion, is not so good and unless you have a very very rich line-up, your event can go wrong!

Codekontrol: Now with the controversies at the end of 2008 over and done with, how were the last three years for Rosario Internullo the dj and Rosario Internullo the man?
Rosario Internullo: That was surely not an easy period for me. Although I was used to public attention, in those moments I was on the lips of everyone, but not for my music. Because of that I lost many friends, I had even times of depression, but slowly yet surely ...I came back, got back to writing music, work on my radio shows and touring. That was my answer to all the bad press I got in those days and eventually it was the right one, and I returned back to normality.

Codekontrol: Your rise of you as a DJ is well documented. But how it all began? What made you want to become a dj?
Rosario Internullo: Whn I was still at school, teachers told me I had a musical ear, I loved music and I was buying vinyl and going to the local radio, whose owner was a friend of mine. After a while he gave me a show on the radio. Two years later I made the passage to the club. Since then I have done many things and visited many places, I grew and I became hooked on the house music feeling. And…here we are today!

Codekontrol: What do you consider to be your "tipping point" as an artist?
Rosario Internullo: I think what propelled me to a new level was the song "Sentimente" which was released on Desolat.

Codekontrol: What’s your perspective on the gig happening this Friday at Egg in London? Together with you on Technicolour’s line-up is one of the Romania’s new wave of house pioneers, Ali Nasser? It will be a night of Romanian as on the London sound so the entire line-up next to you two were made up of local names houseului London.

Rosario Internullo: I am very happy you guys invited me to do this gig. I love London, I lived there more than a year when I was 19 years. London was the first time when I had leaved from home in Sicily. In London my tastes changed, and my perspective on life. I think if I had not experienced London, then probably my present would have been very different and we would not be speaking here today.
As for Ali, I think he is a very good artist as a producer and as DJ! I'm glad he's with me at Technicolour. We’ve known each other for a long time and we always had fun together :)

Codekontrol: What is the sound of Rosario Internullo at Technicolour?
Rosario Internullo: I think I am a spontaneous dj, and this is one of the things people love about me, you'll see there that im live and breathe the world!

Rosario Internullo - Live @ Studio Martin (December 26-2009) by Mandarina 9 Bookings

Codekontrol: What are your plans in 2011? New releases, remixes?
Rosario Internullo: "This Love" EP will be released in Four:Twenty Rec. At the same time working on a project with a female singer voice, something a bit more elegant and classy, and another project is finishing the text for a song sung by me in Romanian.

Codekontrol: Which artists on the Romanian scene gets your attention in particular right now? Who do you see rising rapidly in 2011-2012? That if the world doesn’t end in 2012 :)
Rosario Internullo: There are many young talents in Romania but I think that BOg has the best chances at the moment!

Codekontrol: Thanks for taking the time to Rosario! A final message for us here in London?
Rosario Internullo: I thank you for the interview! What I can say is: Expect Friday to be a night full of colorful feelings!

Rosario Internullo will be headlining in the Basement Room tomorrow, 20th of May at Technicolour:Cinematographic House Music

Technicolour BASEMENT ROOM line-up:
Rosario Internullo (Desolat, Relations)
Fabio Agostini b2b Philip Row Live
(Nachstrom Schalplatten / Naked Lunch / Kazima Rec)
Charles Thomas-Espionage
Deep S (Relations)
Gabriel Chip (Codekontrol Crew)

It’s a Romanian riot! Well, Google says “Italian”…!?!

2011-05-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

Weird, even freaky I might say, is Google’s reaction to what I’ve just put into the translator. The text is a written piece containing the interviews of two of the Romania’s most celebrated and respected house music pioneers: Rosario Internullo and Ali Nasser. The occasion for the interviews is their guest performances at “Technicolour: Cinematographic House Music” on Friday the 20th at Egg. Remember Romania?!? That little bit of country on the Eastern side of town, the one being affectionately named by some as the “the new Ibiza”? It’s quite a name they’ll have to live up to…but we can consider they’re on quite a good path right now. The [ar:pi:ar] crew (Raresh-Pedro-Rhadoo) together with Livio & Roby or Mihai Popovicioiu are only the most resounding names from the Romanian scene, that even when in London or Berlin get a lot of love! Must be the looks…:)As you’d expect the text is written in fully flavored Romanian. But Google detects “Italian”. Google may not be that far off…

Now, Rosario Internullo and Ali Nasser are coming from the same Romanian house and techno upbringing, but most interestingly is the fact that neither of them was actually born there!
Rosario Internullo is originally from Sicily relocating to Romania at the end of the 90’s and Ali Nasser moved to Romania when he was only eight years old from U.E.A. Google must be keeping up with the RA feed then.

Looking at their achievements and influence, Rosario and Ali are the Romanian definition of a house music pioneer and a young prodigy respectively. Established in Romania in the late '90s, Rosario quickly climbed with dedication and passion on the barricades of what was at then a young Romanian electronic music revolution. Alongside djs like Jay Bliss, Pagal, DJ Vasile, Raoul, Livio, Rhadoo, Rosario Internullo was playing the new mutant sound called house, a sound that Romania had very few ideas for or comparison.
Ali Nasser is a name that is increasingly being sought after on line-ups in both Romania and the international house connoisseur circles. With quality releases and remixes for Audiofly’s Supernature, BeCosen or Derivat Recs, Ali Nasser makes deep, spaced out house, the core of Romanian underground electronic music. He’s part of the Sunrise family and very good friends of the [ar:pi:ar] lads, and also one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.

Playing the massive Sunwaves festivals on the Romanian seaside almost every year since 2003, Ali has been colaborating and sharing with Rhadoo, Petre Inspirescu & Raresh [ar:pi:ar], Audiofly, Nick Curly or Dj Sneak.
Technicolour is Rosario Internullo and Ali Nasser's their next destination and for the occasion we sat down with both asking more about who, what, how, where and when? Interviews to follow this afternoon! Watch this space!

Berlin Calling...Codekontrol

2011-04-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

Berlin Calling…
Friday, 8th of April, funnily enough 8.00 PM, at Codekontrol HQs, in London.
The phone’s been ringing off the hook for the whole day. In between morning work, reading and answering e-mails, organizing everything in boxes for the office move this weekend answering the phone seems to have lost some of its charm! CJ finally answers…It’s the Ostfunk crew, Berlin.

Codekontrol’s just about to send the first troops to the world’s capital of electronic music tomorrow, on Saturday. Berlin, the Mecca of everything and everyone electronic, the only place in Europe where you can have God and Jesus Christ on the decks on the same bill in one night, the place where every techno dj dreams to play one day. For Codekontrol the time has finally come.
The gig’s been on the books from the early days of 2011, but only getting closer to it actually brought the realization home: WE are going to BERLIN! And from all the clubs in Berlin, we’re doing TRESOR! And on the same bill with Hardfloor, the techno Gods! Trying to play it cool before such a gig is like trying to keep still in the middle of a Brazilian street carnival.

They say the devil is in the details, and you know what, it is especially true when you plan a gig outside your home playing field. How many times things get lost in translation and it happens that you realize just hours before the gig that someone forgot to book the hotel rooms for the artists?! Thankfully, our Berlin connection, the guys at Ostfunk have been absolutely spot on with everything over there. The way they’ve been taking care of things throughout the months building up to the gig speaks miles on how serious they are about what they’re doing.

Ostfunk Records Berlin is the brainchild of Oliver Tatsch and Daniel Boon. Ostfunk has been playing with breaking the minimal house and techno boundaries for over 7 years now. What they have achieved until present is an original mutant sound that resonates very well with the likes of Stephan Bodzin, Marc Romboy, Namito, Lutzenkirchen or Tube & Berger.

Fast forward, Friday the 22nd of April, let’s hear how it all went. Who better to ask than the man who actually felt Berlin dirt under his feet, Codekontrol’s Monokode:

“Berlin will be remembered, man. I just played Tresor man! T R E S O R!
‘I remember I had read about Tresor something like 15-16 years ago. And I was
dreaming about only being there! Instead i've actually played Tresor!

You know, the people, the vibe, the encounters I had there, just incredible! The way the gig went from beginning to end, the way the “usual” organizational problems were solved and dealt with, it was all under control at every point. It felt really good!

I mean I had a few problems in there. My headphones had broken during the flight and my time coded vinyl’s were bent. By all measurements I was pretty screwed! Luckily Match and Daniel (Ostfunk) hooked me up brilliantly in no time :)
But as you know troubles always come in pairs so when my set started i also had some problems with Traktor. I felt like I was just about to diiiiiiie!
But the crowd just jumped in with their phones and lighted up the back of the mixer so I could finally hook up my Traktor right! They were amazing, nothing like that ever happened to me anywhere else in the world.

Seeing Hardfloor bang it at Tresor was awesome! It was like a trip back in time; I remember I first saw them in Naples at Le Dune Club when I was just about the necessary age to get in the club. Their deep and bouncy groove, sometimes getting a little acidy making your hairs stand up as you feel the rush coming over. Everyone on the dancefloor went literally crazy, me included 

The Sunday was pretty much relax, staying in the whole day in the hotel sleeping.
Woke up in the evening around 8pm to go and grab a bite. That was Sunday. Monday I had a very good time hooking up with Namito and Siamak, we had a lovely late lunch in this restaurant the sun was on and so strong… awesome!
After, we went to check out Namito's studio which was few meters away. Can you believe in my walk there i met PIER BUCCI and HEARTTHROB?!?! I couldn't. It was just unbelievable. But that was Berlin for me, first time playing there but hopefully again…soon!"

Compiled and edited by Serge for Codekontrol

People really listen to the music after 5 AM.

2011-04-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

I can still smell the traces of the weekend just passed in my clothes…a thick, smoky cigarette stench which only after about three washes fully loses its repulsiveness. I’ve been spending the past two weeks in Romania, one of the last places on Earth where smoking is still freely allowed inside clubs; I can safely assume that the cigarettes conglomerates are making a killing around these parts…

Romania is still a country still largely in the early days of clubbing, where a raw energy and a real hunger for escapism feed a slow burning youth rebellion against the old establishment and ancient prejudices. As Romania is my birthplace, I get around this far side of Europe quite often.

I was born in Bacau, Romania some time ago. I left this town almost a decade ago, even before realizing that I will forever be in love with music…London took care of that chapter.For you out there, just to explain Bacau is one of the Romanian cities of about 100k inhabitants purposely created by the communist government around only one type of industry; as they did with everything! After the communism fell, it became a town forever defined by mass unemployment and derelict industrial scenery. I’d always feel that it had just the right ingredients for nurturing a healthy techno scene; which in the end it actually did.

Bacau is the place where the now infamous Romanian technotrotters Rhadoo, Petre Inspirescu & Raresh started playing in their young days, when they weren’t even called [ar:pi:ar], and they were probably just preparing for their GSCE’s. Couple of years late here they are, now filling up 2,000 people capacity warehouses in London, Berlin or South America.

Everything started at Zebra Club. Situated in the city's culture and arts house, Zebra is Bacau's clubbing institution, if there is one here.
I remember sneaking to my first club event here when I was barely 15, falling head over heels in love with loud pumping music and the clubbing vibe. Probably the girls in there had also something to do with this.
So every time I get to come back to my roots for a couple of days I make it my top priority to get down at Zebra and see what’s on offer at the weekend. So the weekend just passed I did it again. Headlining were Livio & Roby and Rhadoo, two of Romania’s most valuable techno exports. Warming up were Cezar and Zotist, both names that play alongside the [ar:pi:ar] crew on a regular basis.

The night started slowly and by 3 AM people were still coming in, moving about, getting their drinks and hugging their hugs. The music went from the slower, more laidback grooves of Cezar around 11.00 up to a more progy and techy sound from Livio & Roby. Quite a few pleasure shouts and hands in the air all throughout! Just as we were getting closer to 4.30 the vibe suddenly got deep, spacious and thumping: The real, strong techno sound of Rhadoo. Suddenly it seemed that everyone had found their place and pace. Peak time felt purely amazing, people hungry for good music, showing nothing but love; everything else unimportant, second to the music.

The crowd kept going on and on until the sun was well up in the pure blue skies outside. If there’s one thing I love about the Romanian scene is having these kind of moments, moments which in my opinion really define clubbing. Not the big names on the line-up, not the topless dj, not on what gear you’re spinning your tunes, but all about the music.
Sometimes I look at the major mess this country is still in after more than 20 years of economic and social turmoil and ask myself if somehow, through a strange and ironic twist of history, Romania could recreate some of Britain’s early rave days madness right here, right now?

Serge for Codekontrol

Happy Easter! Egg-cellent times are out there. Get'em!

2011-04-21T23:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter everyone!
Yeap that means you too. God saves all! no exceptions!

Alright, so let’s make one thing clear from the go: this post isn’t going to be a masked attempt to convert your sinful party animal soul back to the good Christian way of life. Nor is it going to be any supersmart blog stunt to get 1,000,000,0000 clicks from people Googling for for Easter wishes.
It’s just about simply wanting to wish you all a Good and Happy Easter!...and the loudest nights yet this year >:)

As legend has it, wherever you may be in the next few days, having loved ones around you helps.

But as you’ve been planning to hit LaLa Land over the weekend, some good partners in crime is probably of more what you need. A traditional…but slightly hyper visit to family HQs to get your share of seasonal food and parental design for life ideas awaits you on Sunday.
But take your time, it’s barely Friday now :)

London defo’ has no shortage of good times starting this very Good Friday:
http://www.residentadvisor.net/events.aspx?ai=13
And as next Monday seems to have done a drag transformation into Sunday, there is PLENTY to do on Sunday the 24th, which will actually become Saturday….so that makes today Thursday?!?
WTF, I digress :))

Ok, so if that’s not you cup of tea…than dear friend, you are surely a little weird and may not be the easiest to please…oooh wait, that’s us...

As we all live and breathe on British soil, we have a reasonably good idea of how resourceful the British press can get, especially on such extraordinarily, once-a-year, get really silly moments. Here’s what The Telegraph have to propose to you after some very strict editors have approved the list: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/3355893/50-things-to-do-this-Easter-weekend.html
…personal favourite is surely number 4. No wait, it’s 8! …Ooooh, 15’s pretty damn good as well!
And if 50 things are not enough, than you might have a better chance with 101..? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3663817/101-things-to-do-this-Easter.html
Slightly more options…Egg-cellent!

Serge (Codekontrol)
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"Shlomi Aber gets Jaded", or was it "Jaded gets Shlomi Aber"?

2011-03-30T04:52:00.000-07:00

Did you feel it?
This past Sunday officially marked the first day of the British summer. Sun shining, birds chirping, kids running about literary everywhere, London could’ve been easily mistaken as the peaceful family town that so isn’t.
All your weird and never before seen together neighbours out in the park; all smiley and friendly, slightly worried though as soon as you’d gotten closer to their precious kites...like they weren’t totally at ease with you handling this “hi-tech” and very sensitive flying apparel with a rollie dangling from your lower lip; or maybe those mat black sunglasses you were wearing to hide the visible traces of the last 24 and something hours of sleep deprivation must’ve done the trick.

If that’s the case, than you probably have a good idea what Jaded is and what it does to you on a Sunday morning, right when you should probably still be asleep...if you were to be your neighbours. But you’re not and that means you know that Jaded is, without a doubt, THE London afterparty on a Sunday morning.

Now let’s see how we’ve reached this conclusion here...
Two weeks ago Codekontrol had the massive honour of bringing over on the London shores Shlomi Aber For those of you who haven’t yet danced their worries away to any of Shlomi’s massive tracks released on Ovum, Cocoon or his own imprint Be As One, this guy is Israel’s version of the “techno prodigy” concept.

A very talented Dj and producing his trademark seductive tech sound, Shlomi Aber has got the dance world buzzing about his tracks and live performances; be it Sven Vath, Carl Craig, Pete Tong or Francois K. Charisma, energy and soul are what Shlomi Aber’s music brings to the table.

But let’s get back to our little story. As the day started with a veritable good feel, we had all hoped for the night to turn out into the mega way it deserved to. Unfortunately the Gods didn’t smile on us this time... many unexpected things happened at the last minute, like a certain Chilean God arriving in London on the same night (much respect!) and a few other massive techno asteroids blowing up very close to where we had set up our little camp. But what can you do; as a promoter, things like this will happen, many times beyond anyone’s control. We learn from mistakes and never repeat them again, move on and work on. But also unexpectedly good things can happen...very good things!

In the early hours of Sunday morning of the same weekend, the lovely peeps at Jaded were just about to open their gates to welcome the growing funky mob of ravers growing outside at Cable, just around the corner from our tent. Stopping by to say hello, Krista and Raymundo, the head honchos at Jaded, made an offer we just couldn’t refuse: us all from Jack’s over to Cable for the afterparty. Must say Shlomi did take the lead and skilfully lead us all into temptation.
What followed was a 7 hours feast of house beats and loooooooads of drinks ....and an unexpected Shlomi Aber 3 hour impromptu Jaded set!!! The crowd at Jaded went simply MAD for it!

http://soundcloud.com/elite-music-management/shlomi-aber-live-air-ade

It was so good to see a club packed with lovely people smiling, embracing each other, together tasting every beat coming through the speakers. Bliss!
If you haven’t done it already make sure you get Jaded as soon as possible as they are truly the place you want to be on a Sunday morning. That or the bed, if you were to be your neighbours...:)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jaded/11164733282?ref=ts

The next one is... you’ve guessed it, this coming Sunday and it probably will be a very good one. On the line-up:
Room One: Jonas Kopp / Gareth Wild / Raymundo Rodriguez / VJs Oblivious Artefacts
Room Two: ViVa Music presents Harlem Nights Afterparty Bearweasel / Nyra / John Barber
Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137511042980962
Peace!

Learning To Write Again and Shlomi Aber plays London exclusive set tomorrow, Saturday the 12th of March

2011-03-11T03:55:00.000-08:00

It’s been a while...I know, a very loooooooooooooong while. Not one to find excuses, I can really say it’s been a tumoltuos last couple of months with ups and downs of unexpected magnitudes; just like any heart accelerating, nerve stretching rollercoaster should be. You take the good, learn from the bad and move on, that’s what you do.

In Codekontrol’s case, moving on means getting on with organising events with headliners that make going out something to live for during the week. It surelly makes us, all here at Codekontrol HQ forget about the troubles and tribulations of promotion and put a really big smile on those faces with visible signs of sleep deprivation.

But first thing’s first: We want to wish you all a wonderful spring...best one you’ve had so far! With much love and loads of joy! Life’s beautiful no matter the season, but spring just makes it all the more damn sweet, wouldn’t you agree? Sun has been shining daily over London, trees are now in bloom, and as usual everyone on the street just seems a little bit different in the best way possible. So why don’t we do our part and give you something pretty amazing: An exclusive Shlomi Aber London Performance right here at your doorstep (London Bridge) and right now (Saturday, the 12th)!!!

Yes, none other than Israel’s most valuable techno export, a charismatic and very talented Dj and producer, a pioneer in every sense of the word. With a trademark seductive and exciting sound, Shlomi Aber is well known and loved for charting releses on his own successful imprint, Be As One, but also on Josh Wink’s seminal Ovum.
The dance world has been buzzing about Shlomi for a while now; be it Sven Vath, Carl Craig, Pete Tong, John Digweed, Richie Hawtin or Francois K, all championing this techno prodigy;

We have had the pleasure of spending the NYE this year with Shlomi in Romania where he headlined at our FATE party there in front of about 1,500 people. We all had the best time rocking into the early afternoon of 1st of January 2011. A realy cool guy and a party animal, one of those people you see enjoying every minute of his crowd. A self confessed „DJ before everything else”, hooked to the adrenaline rush he gets when performing, Shlomi Aber playes techno music „with soul”, music that connects instantly to everyone with a heart. Whatever he’s doing, it’s really working and he’s got our full attention and also of guys like Pete Tong, who’s a big fan of Shlomi’s productions that most of the time he’s playing firsthand.

Frankly, we felt that Shlomi hasn’t been exposed to the London scene as much as he deserves and so we decided to do something about it!
We’ve teamed up on this with the great peeps at Brickbeat London, good friends and team mates we could say, these guys have been forging their constant presence onto the London scene for a long time. Without their help and support, this gig wouldn’t have really happened. Arianna & co: You rock!

We caught up with Shlomi Aber just ahead of his comeback on British shores to ask a few questions :

1. How is Shlomi Aber feeling about 2011 three months into the year?

Very good! I’m quite excited about 2011 as we have some great things lined up and some very interesting projects. You can expect a lot of exciting stuff from me, including a remixes album on Ovum Recordings with new remixes from Josh Wink, Chris Liebing, Steve Lawler, Nic Fanciulli, Marcel Deetman, Kenny Dope ( MAW), Timo Mass and more ….

2. How do you see the techno scene evolving worldwide at the moment? Do you think it is changing and adapting to the times or have the clubbers embraced techno as the soundtrack of their lives?

I think both in a way, the scene is always in movement and new things happening, it’s not a secret that the economic crises hurt some of the clubs around the world quite hard, but I’m happy to see that people all over still want to go out, dance and listen to underground music.

3. Your ascension to the higher ranks of worldwide techno is well known and documented. How had it all begun? What made you want to become a dj?

The funny thing is that it was too early to remember. I’m into electronic music since I was 12-13 years old; it’s just something that has always been part from my life.

4. What was your big break?

I’ve been doing music for a long time, but the big break was only 6 years ago with tracks like “Tel Aviv Garden”, “Freakside” and “Sea of Sand”

5. How do you see yourself more: as a dj or producer?

Firstly a Dj, no doubt! I love the studio but playing in front of a crowd is the only thing that can make me orgasm... besides sex… :)

6. Jazz is one of the sounds that “haunt” all your productions. It is also regarded as the truest expression of the human soul. How does that fit with making music electronically?

As much as my music may be classified as techno or house, I still see it full of soul and feelings. Jazz is a soul music and I’m a big fan of everything with soul in it.

7. Pete Tong’s been playing some of your new material on Radio One lately. What is it? Should we expect a new Shlomi Aber EP/album coming out?

Yes, Pete’s been playing my new track that has just been released on the great "Objectivity" label; Pete is a close friend so he is always getting most of my stuff before the rest.

Also very soon you can expect my new single on "Be As One" alongside Dj Sneak.

For the very first time in London this year, and for the very first time in a warehouse-type event, Shlomi Aber (Ovum // Cocoon // Be As One // Renaissance) is landing in London this Saturday to blow our minds.
If you haven’t got your tickets yet...DO IT! It is going to be massive, and it is going to be a sell out!

The warm up beats on the night will be provided by Alpha Channel [Minimal Force// Solid Tracks], Gabbi Lopez [Release Sustain//Wavetec//Archipel], Altino aka Kid AM [Release Sustain//Brickbeat] and Krikerz [Codekontrol].

Do you want more??!?! We’ll give you more:
Official Afterparty by the best afterhours crew in London::::::Jaded @ Cable, just around the corner from Jack’s, with us & Brickbeat London plus Jaded resident and London’s afterparties darling Mark Henning, Antonio De Angelis and Raymundo Rodriguez headlining and Codekontrol & Brickbeat resident

Find More Infos Here

I’d say this is defo something worth writing and talking about....Wouldn’t you agree?

Serge for Codekontrol Crew

Find More Info:

Shlomi Aber Live@ Air, ADE by Elite Music Management

Ready Made Review

2010-06-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

READY MADE 31.05.2010

All our expectations were obviously right. At full capacity, the crowd spread up into the three rooms in a nice and sleazy way. Even though the atmosphere was very warm everywhere, Room 2 was especially vivid. Steexon and Mario Reder cooked the perfect built up for the tech-bomb that was Alex Bau. After him, everything else wave down in gravity as it was meant to. Frino, Boozanthesheep, Pezella and Krikerz just had it on the table already but they followed up the line intelligently. Hooray! For the whole dj crew and the dancers in the sound space who made it unforgettable.

Room one was delicatessen. Luca Genco opened the night with a housey oriented set with Mediterranean touches. Driven warm up spot on, Genco bounced the danced floor away and made everyone ready to go. Fra P and Claudio PRC made it hot for the Highgrade guys, who did not make anyone disappointed. Jens Bond was original and organic, and Daniel Dreier showed us why He’s known as one of the best djs in the electronic scene. His polished technique together with his music choice were bound to be a success. And so it was. Highgrade’s brain, Tom Clark and his back catalogue constituted one of the strongest build ups ever, to finally drop the sound bloom in the hottest moment of the night. Wordless. Our own and loved Etain, was encharged of taking control afterwards. She did the job big time.

Room three kept up the quality on the techno side. Opening was Classic, followed by Alpha Channel who created the perfect audio spectrum for what it was coming later. Ahmet Sendil did not break the development up either, driving the night to the final point. Serious minimal techno coming from the Sub Secret guys sound palette, was the climax that brought the night up to the end.

Gardenwise, the Highgrade crew came into the decks once again in order to complete the after hour delight. Picknik founders Monchhichi Boys were meant to close up the party, but due to unforeseen circumstances the outdoor area needed to be closed. Vey shameful, because this guys had a lot to offer to the dancefloor.

One of the best parties of the year so far. Stay tuned. Stay Codekontrol.

Vicky Horses

Mediakode

Mikolai goes Picknik

2010-06-16T05:09:00.000-07:00

PKEP004 - MIKOLAI - Sexual Quality Ep
Picknik Recordings

Nowadays there’s an overload of new producers that work hard (or not necessarily) to get a good spot on the electronic scene. After djing all around London and Paris and having shared the booth with super sized talents (Oxia and Sarah Goldfarb amongst others, Mikolai is definitely entitled to get one of those premium spots. It was two years ago when Mikolai started his production adventure, and soon after he got released in both of the Argentinian labels Mischevious Music and Miniatura. He explores house, techno and deep in a way that no many artists do and remains dramatically unique. Constantly avant-garde, Mikolai’s view on electronic music blooms vibrating and feeding the crowd.

Mikolai is now releasing this Sexual Quality Ep as a fourth instalment on the London based digital label Picknik recordings, with three cuts that give a challenge to gravity. He breaks down the melodies and sounds into thousands of small pieces and creates a beautifully chaotic soundscape. Genuine, fresh and simple, ideally spring oriented, Sexual Quality is a warm experience for your ears.

The first track, I just wanna say that is a fresh and surprising approach to organic house, dressed with jazzy trumpets and groovie vocals that finally result in a genius deconstruction. Old school vocal explosions fill the track all the way up to the end, waving percussions and colourful kicks.

Tum Koné comes next in the row. By means of adding infinity of variably traced bass lines and keyboards, this time Mikolai develops his track towards acid house reminiscences at the final break down. Gentle and ductile, Tum Koné is the perfect soundtrack for an after hour movie.

Last but not least, we come to Sweaty bitch, the cut that closes up the release. Mikolai brings out his cosmic weapons this time to build up the perfect ending for this Sexual Quality Ep. Disco touches and background keyboards that draw a final picture for what is a great job coming from a new electronic promise: Mikolai.

Tracklist:

1. I just wanna say that
2. Tum Koné
3. Sweaty Bitch

Julia Victoria Lozano Campos

Ready Made Preview

2010-05-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

READY MADE

People who live in London are used to have big parties on a bank holiday. However, that does not necessarily imply “quality”. I have experienced some dramas by getting excited about a massive bank holiday Saturday night and therefore get really disappointed by: a commercial line up for a touristy crowd and a weird atmosphere. Luckily this time we are gonna be able to enjoy one of the best parties of the year with a massive line up, some “music connoisseur” crowd and a wicked soundsystem. Ready Made is coming from the hands of Codekontrol, one of the most awake promotors in town. Featuring Highgrade records, top label in the electronic scene celebrating its 10th anniversary tour, Ready Made counts on Codekontrol own djs as well to make from this night a very unforgettable one. Heading the line up are the Highgrade main brain and owner Tom Clark and the well renowned Daniel Dreier, who is apparently one of the best djs in the Planet Earth. Jens Bond will be also joining the night, togheter with the Codekontrol crew djs: Etain, Monchhichi Boys, Luca Genco and many more…
The infamous Egg in Kings Cross is the chosen place to host such a superb installation.
As I suppose you don’t wanna miss a night like this, I recommend to get there early in order to get some goodies (doors open at 10 p.m) because is looking very busy in all the networks already and at least two thousand people is expected. For the fair deal of £15 on pre-sale you can enjoy one of the best dance experiences of the year. No disappointment. For real.

SET TIMES

Room 1
10.00 - 12.00 Luca Genco
12.00 - 01.30 Fra P
01.30 - 03.30 Claudio PRC
03.30 - 06.30 Highgrade guys
06.30 - 08.00 Etain

+ Garden
07.30 - 10.30 Highgrade Guys
10.30 - 12.00 Monchhichi Boys

Room 2
11.00 - 12.30 Steexon
12.30 - 02.00 Mario Reder
02.00 - 04.00 Alex Bau
04.00 - 05.30 Frino
05.30 - 07.00 Boozandthesheep
07.00 - 08.30 Renato Pezzella
08.30 - 10.00 Krikerz

Room 3
12.00 - 01.30 Classic
01.30 - 03.00 Alpha Channel
03.00 - 04.30 Ahmet Sendil
04.30 - 06.00 Sub Secret

Vicky Horses
Mediakode

Mario Reder Goes Mad This Summer

2010-05-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

MAEP 004 - Cutty Sark Ep

Mario Reder

Originally from Naples, Mario Reader grew up playing piano and discovered electronic music when he was 16. He set up a small analog studio and moved to London in 2004, when he started playing at several parties around the city that never sleeps. In August 2009 Mario released “Frederik”, his first EP on the label Menomale records and In October 2009 He Releases Opposite Forces EP
on Minimal Force Records . Now Reder is on the talk again because of his recently released “Cutty Sark Ep” on the London based label Mind Ability records.

“Cutty Sark Ep” is a very serious piece of work which at the same time contains a big dose of humor. Mario Reder has the gift of creating versatile sounds and orquestrated atmospheres. The magnificence of his tunes balances with the funkyness of his rhythm, and for sure is bound to be a big “YES” on the dance floor this summer. The EP contains the original track from Mario Reder plus two other reamixes from Alex Kenji and Roby Mannarini.

The original Master and Commander is a straight to the businnes track: made for big dance floors the sound gets expanded around and fill up the space with strong beats. Perfectly able to work as a bomb in the after hours set or peak time, Master and Commander sounds like a classic tech house hype already!

Next to follow is the Alex Kenji remix. Keeping the same groove but taking away some of the vocals, Kenji makes a slightly retro approach to the original one. Horns and orquestra sounds seem to take us out for a trip on the Balkan countryside. The synths compress themselves into accordion movements, which give a very dynamic texture to the track.

In contrast to Alex Kinji, Roby goes a very different way by slowing up the tempo and adding out of the blue bass lines that makes you feel warm and tingly inside. It works. Percussions sound much more powerful and sexy, the atmospheric vocals and the synths love each other in harmony… Bravo Mannarini!

Hefty Releases On Solid Tracks Records

2010-03-02T02:58:00.000-08:00

Panphobia was formed as an exploration of the darker sounds of techno and minimal, four tracks that fill the room with deep bass and bouncy, hard beats. A perfect way to introduce one of the newest additions to the Codekontrol Crew: Hefty.

Achluophobia:
This dark minimal tech track is driven by its relentless thundering beat and hypnotic rhythm. Dynamic and ever shifting, abstract percussive elements build and build while spooky eerie sounds play tricks on the mind. Deep, dark and deadly.

Myxophobia:
A simple yet effective bassline keeps this track grooving along, while the other almost viscous organic sounds build around it creating a pumping dark minimal track with plenty of bounce.

Monophobia:
Moving into a more raw techno sound while maintaining minimal qualities this evil techno track unleashes wave upon wave of dark and hypnotic sounds to assault the senses. Its grumbling bass and stomping beats build to eerie breakdowns leaving this track completely void of light.

Coulrophobia:
Undulating bass, trippy unnerving sounds and sinister vocals make up this techno track,. Full of menace it drives along with relentless determination only pausing to introduce the next haunting element. A real carnival of darkness.

Exotic Beats For Etain On Mind Ability Records

2009-10-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

Coffee EP sees Etain the London based world travelled producer/DJ return to mind ability with a certain finesse to her style.

With her recent venture on solid tracks ‘Ink Feet’ Etain brought it up a notch only to bring it down again and keep the crowd enticed in her ever evolving production style.
Her solo project brings out the versatile sound of tracks such as ‘Desiderio’, (her previous single on Mind Ability) that we all know and love, this is an exotic collection that makes a fine addition to the ‘Mind Ability’ Label and the ever changing world of minimal.

Java
A warm and summery work of crisp production, driving latin percussion, an underlying catchy synth line percolating effortlessly throughout only to yet deliver a well balanced baseline giving this track all the elements of pure diversity making it a perfect blend for all seasons.

Costa Rican
A bouncy Minimal Tech House track with a euphoric Latin percussive element building throughout, techy highs and a warm sensual bassline takes the groove through a pattern of evolution
constantly building and dropping, ‘truly seductive’ are the words that come to mind.

Costa Rican Decaf
Is a scaled-down tribal version with a reworked quirky percussion, toned down smooth bassline and catchy rhythm, making this track special, a soulful sunrise set filler for any crate.

Mario Reder And the "Opposite Forces" On Minimal Force Records

2009-09-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

Minimal Force is back with brand new material. For the eagerly anticipated third release by three of our new up and coming artists featuring Mario Reder with remixes by Alpha Channel and Roby Mannarini. The ‘Opposite Forces’ EP borders on mixture of deep driving techno beats, combined with clicky minimal under-tones and massive electronic soundscapes all brought together through the vigorous arrangements and complex multilayering, that is achieved with a sense of ease.

The EP begins with Mario Reder’s ‘Reeject’ an off-beat groove with deep spacey pads, rumbling basslines, soft tones and delicate melodies alternating throughout. The slippery percussion helps to build the tension to this definite late night belter.

The second featuring track ‘OneSevenOne’ starts where ‘Reeject’ left off. It constantly builds with the help of the deep steady driving bassline, filling up the spaces with a twisted electric pad which builds and builds, the raw drum sounds add to the wonky minimal madness to get your ass shaking all over the place

Alpha Channel’s remix of ‘OneSevenOne’ sees the EP take a new direction propelling you into the driving wobbly bassline, the momentum never lets go, accelerating into thin slicing percussion surrounded by a trippy vocal and effects throughout.

The second remix is of ‘Reeject’ featuring Roby Mannarini, unfolding us deep into a hypnotic allure of driving beats, a tech infused builder loaded with bleeps and electronic grunts building with a sense of urgency and breaking down and swallowing us up into nocturnal synths.

Latin Grooves For Sub Secret on Mind Ability Records

2009-06-03T03:44:00.000-07:00

A melodic Epic Ep by ‘Sub Secret’ Featuring ‘Fabricio’. Drawn from the inspiration of Hollywood movie soundtracks, ‘Para La Manana’ is a dedication to the writers of movie musical compositions that bind their childhood memories.

.“5AM” is a trumpet driven strumpet, that paces? its way through a stripped down off-step baseline that that terrorises the very foundation of the ground that you dance on. “Schizo?’clock”, the ?5AM remix? takes a lighter tone with playful Glockenspiel and horn melodies. A lovely warm bass wobble accompanies a strong kick and snare that create a blip and a skip in your step. “Que Dicas 5AM?”,the track by new up and coming talent Fabricio compliments the EP superbly with rolling snares, crisp Highs and a quirky vocal breaking into a delectable mexican guitar, which will really keep you jamming till 5AM.

Total Compression on Minimal Force Records

2009-05-08T03:55:00.000-07:00

The latest work of the Neapolitan born artist Joseph Ala is greatly anticipated

he underground London based DJ has been secretly working on outstanding material for his debut solo EP for Minimal Force Records. All three tracks are crafted for dance floor mayhem, bouncy, groovy and perfectly balanced. 'Crossover" EP is a tribute to the old sounds, with a fresh touch and a creative and personal look into the future of underground electronica.

Dump- A well balanced and masterfully equalized club groove, that will satisfy even the most jaded of club-goers.

Customized- A groovy and intelligently arranged cut, with a driving background beat with tech house undertones.

Planet Funk- A powerful bass line, classic textures and percussive goodness THIS IS PLANET FUNK.

http://www.mfrec.co.uk