Berlin Calling...Codekontrol

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.

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!

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"?

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

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:

RA

FB

CT

Shlomi Aber Live@ Air, ADE by Elite Music Management

Ready Made Review

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

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