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Tech House, Progressive House, Electro, Breaks FWD Podcast. House, Tech House, Progressive House, Progressive, Minimal House, Minimal, Minimal Techno, Techno DJ Mixes and Live Sets.
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 (108mb)
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:32:48 -0600
Alland Byallo is a stalwart player in the San Francisco minimal techno scene, in part because he has been instrumental in building its very foundation. [KONTROL], a monthly event that Alland produces with four of his close friends, has brought in some of the hottest, most pivotal players in the techno industry including Ryan Crosson, Troy Pierce, Modeselektor, Alex Smoke, John Tejada, Dapayk Solo, [a]pendics shuffle, Radio Slave, Daniel Bell, Mossa, Isolee, Pan Pot, Audion and many more. In addition to throwing, designing, and playing SF?s most epic parties, Alland has built an impressive production resume and is released on Mo?s Ferry, Utensil, Gourmet, Liebe * Detail, Immigrant, Floppy Funk, Dirtybird, Siteholder uncut, Nightlight (his own label) and many more. What does this guy do with his free time? Alland grinds out graphic and flash design for a variety of companies including HP. I?m not sure what magic hat he used to pull out the free time to do an exclusive mix and interview for fwd... but we are certainly glad he did!
What tips do you have for promoters/do everything techno junkies that are just starting out in their area? How do you stay balanced and energized with all the different elements that take your time and energy?
It's a tough gig, but in the end you know you've got quality control. Who can do it all better than you can, right? Well, until you can afford somebody else you know is good, or until you collapse, this is pretty much the way you get by; just doing it all. You gotta love it though. You gotta be okay with being hungry a day or two, if need be. You're gonna lose some dough, sleep, maybe even people. If you're ok with that, there's a seat reserved in hell right here next to me! All jokes aside though, there's three things that save my life: 1) Apple Stickies, 2) waking up early every morning, 3) supportive girlfriend, friends, peers, associates. If I was to say I had a proper system, I'd be lying. Sometimes I wake up and I try to make some remix, and I just can't. I try to get some design work done, and I just have no inspiration. Some days all I can do is the administrative stuff, which is no easy task! So I just do 5 things here and there throughout the day until
I get things done. If it's a really rough day I might just have a spliff and some TV, maybe make a chart and shop for music. But when it comes to deadlines, luckily I work quite well under pressure. Ok I guess there's four things that save my life!
How has playing alongside all of the internationally acclaimed DJs at the Kontrol shows effected your playing and production? Have you learned any techniques or showmanship?
Honestly, I've enjoyed playing with almost everybody I've played so far. I'd say the thing I've paid attention to the most is just plain attitude. DJ'ing is a personal thing. I play tracks sometimes that I really enjoy, that my peers laugh at. But sometimes there's some something that grabs and I love it regardless. I guess what I'm saying is, I let the creative, the techiques, etc take a back seat. The thing that always sticks with me is how the talent was, personally. Was he a total dick or did he vibe really well and got what he needed (technical requirements and such) by being nice and just plain cool? I'll remember those kinds of things more than I'll remember how they juggled three decks, or whether or not they touched the plate to help with their mix.
What got you into the EDM business? What transformed you from observer to enactor?
Back in the day there was a mailing list devoted to DJ Shadow and his fans. It was called In/Flux, after one of his early tracks. I had listened to some house and lots of hip-hop and jazz before I joined the board. One day somebody had posted something about Boards of Canada. I really liked the name, and soon found out how much I love their music. That got me interested in more forward thinking artists. Long story short, we held a "mix-off" competition, in the spirit of Shadow. Basically everybody uploaded 3 samples. Then board members would use all the samples but their own to make an original track; the more creative use of samples, the better. This prompted me to take my noodlings in CoolEdit to the next level. I made tracks by time stretching waveforms solely with that app, cutting and pasting my way to complete crappy drum n bass and weird downtempo tracks. Actually, I only participated in the 2nd mix-off, but my track made the cut, and somebody pressed the winners to vinyl. I never did get a copy, though -- my fault. So, it pretty much all started there.
Do you associate with the creative release of graphic design or producing/DJing more? How are they different and how are they similar for you?
It's really one of those "the same but different" situations. They both let me do the same thing, express myself, set moods, etc. Sometimes I just wake up more interested in one than the other. It's been mostly music lately. I couldn't make any absolute statements about whether or not one satisfies me more. I just couldn't live my life happily without both.
What software/hardware/samples do you use and recommend for production?
Well, I'm a FLStudio fanatic. Absolutely love it. Huge fan of Native Instruments stuff like Reaktor, Absynth, FM8. I use FM8 quite a bit, and Reaktor mostly for effects. I really don't have any hardware, but I'm planning on getting a drum machine / sampler soon. Probably one of those red Electribe things. I'm really intrigued by the Machinedrum, but most of the music I hear made on them just sounds too cold and robotic. I need some warmth, some dirt. I have tried to use Ableton for production, not feelin' it at all. I think I might need some lessons or something, though. Maybe that'll get me. I did just get Reason, since I finally just switched to Mac after 23 years of using a PC in one way or another. I want to give it a shot and see what it can do. I use the AudioRealism Bassline Pro VST quite a bit too, and mostly Waves plugs. Tweakbench makes awesome free plugs too!
What is attractive about ?minimal? techno to you? How do you interface with the music psychologically?
Well, the whole "minimal" thing is funny. I mean half the shit they tag as minimal, really isn't. To me minimal is something like Plastikman, Norman Nodge, Basic Channel, Marcel Dettmann, Ben Klock, Sleeparchive, Mike Ink. That's minimal! I love the aesthetic. I like the idea of stripping away everything and seeing the light in details. It sets a mood, it really connects with something other than instant gratification, and any obvious response to obvious stimuli. What drew me to the sound was my parallel interest in deep soulful music, and edgy avant garde music. The soul, the groove... that satisfies my right brain. The production ethics, the details... that keeps my left brain busy. It just treats me right. Still, I don't see myself as anything of a "minimal techno" DJ. Most of what I've played over the years has had a very strong House influence. My buddy Joey says "it's all just fucking dance music," and thats how I treat it. I just insist on something a little more heady sometimes.
Are there any artists that you would love to collect for Kontrol and have not had the opportunity yet?
I don't think the list will ever stop growing. Let's see... first and foremost: Wighnomy Bros. The rest is in no particular order: DJ Koze, Ben Klock, Matthias Tanzmann, Marcel Dettmann, Jan Kreuger, Efdemin, Daniel Stefanik, Minilogue, Norman Nodge, Johnny D, Markus Fix, Digitaline, Sleeparchive, Pascal FEOS, Rino Cerrone, Frivolous, Mathias Kaden, Onur Ozer, Matthew Herbert, Carl Craig, Gabriel Ananda, Jason Emsley, Jasper (who now goes by Silent Servant), Laurent Garnier, Wolf + Lamb, Atomly, Jerry Abstract, Guillame and the Coutu Dumonts, Guido Schneider, Zip... I could go on and on and on. Luckily we've got a great lineup ahead! It's July now, our next show is the legendary Triple R (Traum), followed by Dominik Eulberg in September, a very special lineup for our LoveFest edition that I'll announce some other time, November brings Paco Osuna to the decks and we're finishing off the year with one of the most classy and soulful producers out there, Cassy. We're also teaming up with the Mezzanine for some satellite events, and we're proud to co-promote shows with artists like Booka Shade and, my personal favorite, Luciano. I'm sure there will be more fun stuff to announce as time passes. SF is hungry, and we're in the kitchen!
You run your own label: Nightlight Music. How did that begin, do you have any general comments about running it and what are your plans for its future?
I started it to release my own music and test out the digital sales model. Eventually, as I started producing more and got better at it, friends of mine became interested in swapping releases. That's how Brandon Plank, Joshua Collins, Brian Ffar, Dapayk and a few others got in the mix. It's been a challenge, and I took a much needed break for a little over a year. I lost a lot of great music during that time, and there are some great releases that never saw light because of the time off. Truth be told I really didn't know what I was doing, and the break did me well. I came back with renewed fervor, knew a lot more about the industry and what I wanted to do with this imprint. Things are now better than ever in terms of creativity, branding, PR, A&R, and just plain professionalism. I've got some great stuff lined up, including a collaboration by myself and Kenneth Scott, Kenneth's solo debut, and a gorgeous single by my friend Jessica who records as J.Phlip. Kenneth and J.Phlip are two of the most promising talents that SF has, and you'd be smart to watch out for them! The free download sublabel, NLMX, is scheduled to release music by Sebastian Herre and Moss Moss, both of whom are making many waves recently! Remix talent all around includes Clint Stewart, Suz, D.Diggler, Worthy, Monocle, Tanner Ross, Monoloc, Drumcell and Ambivalent. I might do something special for the 5 year anniversary next May, and I want to start a loops/tools sublabel as well.
How do you think the San Francisco EDM scene could improve and as one of its leading figures how would you seek to accomplish that change?
I honestly don't think there's much wrong around here. I mean every city has it's issues. It's flakes, it's haters, it's shadies, it's cheesies. But what keeps things going around here is how tight the community is. When a new promoter around here doesn't show up with respect to what has been going on here already, they don't get welcomed warmly. It's a family vibe here, and I think people insist on it staying that way. It's a friendly thing, not an exclusive thing. I would love to see more cross pollination between the house proper and the techy scenes. There's some, but I think the promoters are the ones with the issues, not the dancers. Fortunately, techno's picking up a lot of house notes now and vice versa, and I think that might resolve that little issue sooner than later. Personally I just try to show support as much as I can for EDM here in general, I try to keep open channels with everybody, and really just play the tunes that I think need to be heard. I try to throw different kinds of events, personally. But really my aim now is to expose sounds and artists I believe in to as many people as I can, be it by throwing events, helping artists find gigs while touring, releasing good music or just making a DJ mix to post on the net.
What does the rest of 2008 hold for you and all your projects?
Well, aside from all the Nightlight and [KONTROL] plans I mention earlier, we are really starting to develop our Bureau project. That's basically myself, Nikola Baytala, Clint Stewart of Auralism and Myles Egner of Platform, coming together at the amazing 222 Club for a night focusing more on House music, but with a creative, techy edge to it. Plans so far are to spotlight a few great LA DJ's on this one, and get these guys heard up here! Our first guest is the incredible Tony Watson. There's a guy that's inspired me as a jack-of-all-trades! He's also made one of my top tracks of all time: "Passages" on Ibadan. I'm also setting up my first tour of Europe right now, and that's shaping up quite nicely! I still can't believe that I'm playing at some of these amazing places! I mean, Panorama Bar, Propaganda, T Bar... I don't think it will be real until I put the first record on and shake my way through the first mix. There will also be a great little [KONTROL] showcase at Decibel Festival in Seattle. Other than that I'm looking forward to buying some gear and working on an album after the tour.
Do you have any comments about your mix for the listeners?
It's a fun mix, and while it starts a bit sparse and dark, the mix as a whole has a definite summery vibe to it. I hope you like it! I used Traktor Studio 3 to make it, as it's my new obsession thanks to my buddy Drumcell! He's an absolute wiz with it, and it inspired me quite a bit! There's some 3 deck action here and there, but mostly it's just a fun mix for a drive, the pre-party, or the afterparty.
Track List:
Phylyps Trak - ii/ii
Ion Ludwig - The Manipulator Of [Resopal Red]
Pedro - Floete [LAR002]
Qik - Aktress [igloo-rec]
The Armaberokay - Extradicken [Einmaleins]
Cabanne - Fraisheur [Minibar]
Daze Maxim - Spunaround [Kahlwild]
Heartthrob - Apprentice [Minus]
Mikael Stavostrand - At The Bottom [GS]
Berovic & Leicher - Owabi [Einmaleins]
Azid Child, Karlos Phazer & Soulrack - Go Hamilton (Microfunk Remix) [Cray1Labworks]
Boris Werner & Lauhaus - Revenge of the Nerds [Remote Area]
Matt Star - Hypno (Franco Cinelli Remix) [International Freakshow]
Matthias Tanzmann - Keep On [Moon Harbour]
Ricardo Villalobos - Africolaps [Perlon]
Pawas - Jazz Pants [Fear of Flying]
Macida Yayo - Sleepless Night (Miss Fitz Remix) [MONSTERecs]
Johnny D - If You Read My Mind [Deep Vibes]
(93mb)
Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:08:18 -0600
Daniel Mnookin is one-fourth of the quartet that is Siteholder records (Billy Dalessandro, Brian Ffar, and Paul Brown are the other three) and a rather accomplished Chicago based DJ and producer. Mnookin releases material on Siteholder both solo and with his partner in crime, Billy Dalessandro, under the acclaimed Slutbox alias. Known for his quirky and groove laden tech house sound, Mnookin's mixes are regarded as a special, all-business/no fluff treat for many.
How has the Chicago scene influenced your DJing and production- Do you play any differently when you spin outside of the windy city-
Honestly, despite being born, raised, and currently living in Chicago, the city doesn't really play a huge part of who I am as a DJ. In 1999 I spent a year living abroad in London, and up until that point in my life I was musically more involved in Indie-rock, playing guitar and bass in various bands. Back in 1999, most London pubs closed at 11 p.m., so if you wanted to stay out late night, you'd go to nightclubs. I lived downstairs from a DJ who would let me tag along with him anywhere and everywhere he went. Fortunately for me he had stellar taste in underground music, so I received a crash course introduction to house and techno. When I returned to Chicago in 2000 I would go clubbing, but paid more attention to touring DJs coming stateside from Europe than I did to Chicago and it's dominating house music scene.
With my production work, there's definitely an element of Chicago jack to the sounds I aim for in the studio. Overall, though, Europe plays a larger part in my sound than Chicago does.
In terms of what I play, while my overall style can vary, I wouldn't say it varies much based upon where I'm spinning. I suppose the only difference would be that in Chicago I tend to open for visiting DJs whereas out of town I tend to headline ? and any DJ who believes those two things are one and the same probably shouldn't be allowed in a DJ booth. ; p
What is your specialty within the Siteholder quartet- Are you known for a specific and unique sound-
Within Siteholder I find a nice balance between handling the business aspects of running a label and delving into the artistic aspects. On the business side of things I take care of such exciting endeavors as accounting. : p I also tend to be the one chasing down out-of-town DJs at clubs, making sure they leave armed with the latest Siteholder promos. The four of us all each have our own aspects of the label that best suit our talents, but those also overlap quite a bit.
Regarding my sound, it's still developing. If I were to choose a genre to describe what I do, I'd call it modern house with a techy flair. In regards to Slutbox, I think Billy and I are good at creating house and tech house tracks while maintaining a sense of humor. When you call yourself Slutbox, there has to be a certain bit of silliness to compliment the serious beats!
How did Siteholder get started and what elements do you attribute to its current level of rising success-
While the beginning of Siteholder is an ongoing debate between Billy and I, here's my version of things. I had always been a fan of Billy's earlier works on Forcetracks and Resopal, and had heard that he had moved back to Chicago from Italy?this was around 2004/05. One day I came across his MySpace profile online and decided to shoot him a message. He responded asking who I was and what I wanted. : p I replied that I was just a fan of his work and simply wanted to say, "Hi." He wrote back that we should get together for a beer some time. A week later we did and immediately hit it off. After that, we continued getting beers every Monday? it became a minor tradition. From time to time (and typically after a couple of rounds) Billy would mention starting a record label. While he claims to have been joking when mentioning this, at the time I thought he was serious. Personally, I wanted nothing to do with running a record label. All I had heard was horror story after horror story. I had had enough shady experiences as a DJ and figured there was no reason to possibly increase those numbers by some unknown exponential amount.
Fast forward by a few months. One morning while in the shower (where many of my "great" ideas have come to me?hehe?) I was thinking about the label idea as well as my DJ career. I was still playing quite regularly but felt that things would begin to get stale if they remained status quo. I figured why not start a label - worst case scenario is that I bludgeon my friends and the label fails. So that morning I arrived at work, hit up Billy online, and Siteholder was born. Next we decided to ask Brian to join as he'd always mentioned to me that he thought it would be cool to run a label. Finally, a little while after the label's inception we made Paul an official member since he was already doing all of our legal work for free ? we figured he was at least entitled to have his name on our partnership agreement and take a share of our meager earnings.
Regarding our success, a huge part of it is that we all have day jobs. We aren't a bunch of fools starting a record label with no real concept of what it takes to operate within the means of a successful business. There are aspects of each of our day jobs that have definitely helped turn the label into what it's become, although I think we'd all agree we still have plenty of room to grow. The final aspect that is an enormous part of our success is the simple fact that we all trust each other, no questions asked. Without trust, Siteholder would have been doomed to failure. Running a label is not all that different from being in a relationship, except there's no sex and there are four of us!
What artists inspired you to get into dance music, who are your all time favorite producers/DJs-
Back in 1999, I would regularly see DJs like John Digweed, Sasha, Danny Howells, Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, and a slew of others in London. Although I had no idea who they were at the time, these guys completely changed what I listened to and when I returned to Chicago I was a different person. My all time favorite DJ is Dennis Rodgers from NYC, and my favorite producer is Billy ? I've yet to witness another producer who can crank out such a vast amount of sick tunes on a such a consistent basis.
What hardware/software/sample packs do you use and recommend-
I do most of my production work at Billy's studio, although I do have plans to purchase Ableton and a midi controller in the near future (a.k.a. my next payout from Siteholder). In the past I've used Fruity Loops to get my tracks started, but plan to switch over to Ableton full time shortly. As for Billy's setup, you'd have to ask him about that as there's so much gear in his studio I wouldn't even know where to begin!
Tell us of your love for beer?.
To put it very simply, I love beer. Microbrews of all shapes and sizes. ESBs, Porters, Stouts, Lagers, Barley Wines, Pilsners, IPAs, Belgiums?I could go on and on. If they don't advertise on television or in magazines, I probably drink it. Fortunately I live down the street from Maproom (www.maproom.com), which Beer Advocate named one of the Top 5 brewpubs in the U.S., so I can always walk over there to try something new. In terms of breweries worth checking out, I'd recommend Bell's, Dogfish Head, Three Floyd's, and Capital Brewery for starters.
What are some core pieces of advice that you would give to people looking to start up a successful dance music label-
Don't do it! OK, well if you're really determined, find some friends/partners who you can really trust. I can't imagine doing this on my own. Be prepared to have high highs and low lows, and be prepared to make little (if any) money. It's a full time job that pays a sub-minimum wage salary, but if you have the drive along with some partners to keep each other in check, you just might succeed. Having amazing music is definitely an important part, but if you lack the business mentality then odds are you will fail.
Any social/political messages that you want to express that don't (or perhaps do) make it into your music-
Honestly, not really. For me, while I like to keep the beats serious, I also like to keep the music light?if you listen to the Pulitzer Prize winning lyrics I've written for some of the Slutbox tracks, you'll understand.
What does the rest of 2008 hold for you and Siteholder-
Work, work, and more work. We have our label's very first full-length artist album coming out in August. It's under Billy's Huge Hephner alias and is entitled "Nymphotech." I've put myself in charge of PR, so on top of my regular Siteholder duties I've also been busy hunting down magazines, websites, blogs, and any other form of media in hopes of getting some press for the release. We've taken what I like to call a "modern approach" to the house/techno album format, in that we're skipping a CD release. The entire album will only be available digitally. There will be 8 single tracks available on Beatport, but if you purchase "Nymphotech" as a whole you'll get one bonus track as well as a 30-minute mini-live set that Billy put together from tracks off of the album. Regarding vinyl, we're taking an alternative approach to the typical album release as well. Keeping in mind today's volatile vinyl market, we're releasing two separate three-track EPs (or album samplers, if you will), instead of a double-LP.
"Nymphotech" seems to be taking up most of our time at the moment, but we'll also be releasing one UnCut EP per month (except for August, which we're taking off to solely focus on the album), and also hope to crank another one or two Siteholder EPs (one by Brian, one by Slutbox) before the year is out. Other than that, I just plan on continuing to put long hours into getting the Siteholder sound out to more and more people around the world.
Any comments about this mix for the fwd.dj listeners-
It's been over a year since I last made a mix, so my first comment would be, "It's about time!" In all seriousness, though, this is my current sound ? modern house and techno. Hopefully if people like it enough I'll put together another one before 2009!
Tracklist:
1. Billy Dalessandro - Rue de Unz
2. Victor Gonzales - Heritage (Tyrone Remix) [Siteholder UnCut]
3. Baaz - Connect [Sthlmaudio Recordings]
4. Prompt - Toucan [7Noise]
5. Dance Dance Mania - Telephone [Brique Rouge]
6. So Inagawa - Batai [Trimsound]
7. Peace Division - Theory [Tsuba]
8. So Inagawa - Bashoku [Trimsound]
9. Dance Dance Mania - Storm In A Tea Cup [Brique Rouge]
10. Moritz Piske - Use-Abuse [Organic Domain Records]
11. Huge Hephner - Lotus Bomb [Siteholder Records]
12. Phage & Daniel Dreier - Unseen [Highgrade Records]
13. Simone Tavazzi - Wizard
(108mb)
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:18:30 -0600
I think that if I go to the middle of the deep desert and spelunk down to a cave near the center of the earth I may find an elusive clear skinned tribe of undiscovered people that have not heard of Jay Tripwire. If you enjoy dance music of the tasteful variety, you certainly have heard of Jay Tripwire (aka: Mr. Barcode or The Clones {w/Mazi}) or at least heard one of his tracks. Wire (as I will humorously refer to him) has been released over 200 times on over 50 labels, has played in over 100 cities and has sold enough physical pieces of vinyl in the last 20 or so years to build a wax castle? and live in it. Fwd.dj is extremely excited to have the pleasure an exclusive mix and interview from this humble and accomplished house veteran.
Save for your recent Mr. Barcode release on (Felinephonix Music) you have very noticeably narrowed your production and DJing to the "deep house" spectrum in the last 2 or so years (at least that's my impression). Is there any specific stimulus or logic that has lead to this decision?
Well, I've just streamlined names for certain sounds? there are alias projects out there I'm doing right now that are more tech in their sound. I have always made deep deep stuff from day 1 too, if u check on my records there was always a really deep cut on there, so it's not really anything new. Deep to me doesn't mean anything more than the literal term for "deep" which means the music has meaning and has a more eyes open approach to the feeling and emotion from it. Faceless club bangers just don't hold enough meaning for me; I'm looking for music with substance.
What does house music mean to you and why do you think this message/art form is important in this time period on earth.
House music is supposed to open our eyes and minds to the real world, house is often a catalyst to people becoming enriched with a wide array of expression and freedom, and by going out and celebrating our lives thru dance and social interaction we break the shackles and the oppression of our governments and cleanse ourselves of the corrupt messages that are constantly trying to brainwash each and every one of us.
What social/political/world messages are important to you (if any) and do you try to weave any into your persona/music?
Yeah I have become a few more levels up on the awareness scale the last few years ( I'm a level 14 house paladin with a +6 sword vs undead trance zombies and a +5 on all save vs spells on a 10d percentile), I have always had my eyes open to the world we live in but lately I have come to some ultra realizations about certain things, and have been doing some eps with not only the titles based on these awakenings but the music too is very true and not contrived, it has a spiritual sound to it without saying a word and comes deep from within me.
What software/hardware/samples do you use and recommend?
I have been a big fan of Logic in its various forms from Notator on the Atari to Logic Audio Series.
I use some out board gear and of course my +6 gloves of Elven of haste really help me work fast.
I'm not one to really recommend anything really; whatever works and feels comfortable is what I would recommend... I know cats who use Cubase, and even some dudes out there making big records on Fruity Loops... so it's all in the hands of the user.
What are your tips for creating bass lines (seems to be one of your strong points)?
Baselines are part of defining the groove, but making them actually sound good is also a credit to your studio monitors, if u have good monitors and have a lengthy list of 6 level bard and rogue spells, u can get a pretty good grasp on how the bass will image in a club and how much of the brown tone to put in.
Do you have any comment on the "minimal techno" scene?
Some of the music is really cool, I like how some of it has fused into a more intelligent hybrid of deep house, chordy techno and with those spacious stripped down drums. On the other hand some people are exploiting that sound for creating a cult based on recreational drug use of negative mind rotting chemicals and the introduction of some sort of cube for people to worship as a false idol. Haven't people seen hellraiser?? Usually those who interact with a cube in this manner are heading down a slippery slope into the darkness....
You're my space has an interesting blog about "indigo" people. Care to talk about that and how that belief impacts your music?
That was something I read that I posted, I didn't write it, but the meaning holds true to me and helps shed some light onto who I am and why.. .
Would you be so kind as to tell us the back story on your alter ego: Mr Barcode?
Mr_barcode was a creation of natural sleep deprivation, reading too many comics and the dark part of me that exists that wants become more machine than human in order to extend my lifespan at the cost of losing part of my humanity. Barcode also sees humans as slaves to the machine and brings that message to his music and warns humans about the dangerous path they are choosing.
When he performs he also wears a mask and swat team uniform to conceal his identity ( http://www.myspace.com/mrbarcode).
What does the rest of 2008 hold for you?
Alot more releases and remixes as per usual, DJing a lot and moving to Europe before the years end.
I am going to begin work on my 2nd Jay Tripwire album, I'm wondering if the 2nd album will revolve around sounds made only from objects made of wood...
Any comments about your mix for our listeners?
This is a live recording on 3xcdj 1000s.
Other resources:
http://www.myspace.com/jaytripwire
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Jay+Tripwire
(192mb)
Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:15:49 -0600
Adultnapper is the moniker of one Francis Harris, a veteran to the dance music scene and the production artist behind enough records to sink a naval destroyer. As Adultnapper, Harris explores the complex and dark elements of tasteful electronic music, for people who enjoy thinking and dancing? at the same time. He has enjoyed Adultnapper releases on a plethora of labels including Audiomatique, Dirt Crew, Mule Electronic, matter ? form, Intrinsic Design, SuperFreq, to name a few, with up coming releases on Clink and Nummer. Additionally, Adultnapper is featured exclusively on Ransom Note, a label created by Harris, for Harris, which chronicles a deranged story through each one of its releases.
To top the cake: Harris/Adultnapper is an extremely highly respected and in demand DJ and has played in some of the most high pressure clubs on the planet. LA, Ibiza, Berlin, London, Miami, New York are just some of the cities that have fallen victim to the Adultnapper tsunami.
Your biography references your transition from a dance music hating punk rocker to a full fledged completely immersed EDM producer/DJ. What elements of dance music appeal to you and how did that metamorphosis commence?
I suppose its really about the groove and any deep and psychedelic electronic sounds. My interest in dance music came from more electronica based artists like Mouse on Mars, Oval and Autechre. I got more into groove orientated music when I heard Eddie Richards play. It was house, but the sound was so unique, it intrigued me.
Your releases on Ransom Note tell the story of a maddened character going through a collection of experiences. Will you flush out the rest of the story behind those releases and the inspiration for them?
Hopefully if we stay alive as a label, the story will continue, but really it will not be the most conventional of narrative archs, as Adultnapper is in a way, schizophrenic, fully affected by the elements which surround him, all of which trigger thought patterns leading him into new directions. Basically, I would like to think of the character as an anti-hero of sorts, like a graphic novel character turned inside out.
How does your education and near PHD in philosophy influence your production?
Well I think any education we have affects the way we write music or communicate in general. If anything, my education, which continues, always leads me in new directions, which helps to stave off boredom and impending doom.
Your music production is fantastic! How did you consummate the skill level you currently possess? Did you take musical schooling or are you self taught?
I am mostly self taught, but have had the fortune of being around great producers like Alexi Delano and Erich Lee over the past years to show me the ins and outs of production. I think you just have to really learn how to listen.
What software/hardware/samples do you recommend/use?
My current set-up is a Mac G5 dual with a Pro tools digi 002, running Logic Audio with an Elektron Machinedrum, a Studio Electronics SE-1, a Nord Lead, a Casio Rz-1, a Korg Electribe Blue and Red, and two DBX 160x compressors.
Do you seek to engage in any subliminal trickery in your production?
If sampling is considered subliminal trickery, then yes!
Are there any elements that you seek to bring to your DJ sets that you feel are a specialty or are lacking from other peoples DJ sets?
I don't really like to comment on other peoples DJ sets, but I can only say that for me personally, its all about holding a tight groove while not boring people with 8 minutes of one house or techno track. I suppose I mix a great deal like a more old school techno dj but with a house groove.
There seems to be a strong drug influence to your work and your image. Do you care to address that?
I think there is a definite psychedelic element to my music. Its important to me that music tell a story and with my music in particular, that story is certainly not the story of white middle class Christian America.
Would you say that you utilize more creative imaginative story telling in your music or do you prefer to address spiritual/social commentary?
I think they are inseparable.
You have a excellent looking new release coming out on Steve Bugs Audiomatique label. Any comment on that?
Really excited about my upcoming EP this fall. It is one of my favorite productions called Madeleine with another deep chugger entitled One Room which will be remixed by Gregor Tresher. I think its one of my more important releases, so I am greatly anticipating its release.
What does the rest of 2008 hold for Francis Harris/Adultnapper/Ransom Note?
I've just started working with Geist Agency out of Berlin which is really exciting. I have some upcoming releases on Clink recordings (October), and Nummer ( July)., as well as a remix of Dave Brennan on Bombis recordings (July). and another solo EP on Ransom Note(November).
Do you have any comments about this mix for the listeners at home?
See you at the afterhours........and the after after hours. :)
Tracklist:
01. Axel Bauman - Hollywood [Ourvision]
02. Quarion - Play Your Part [Drum Poet]
03. Langenberg - Traffic [Sthlmaudio]
04. Peter Grummich - Therapy [District of Corruption]
05. Rhadoo - Bau [Cadenza]
06. Anja Schneider - Get Away [Mobilee]
07. Pan Pot - Ape Shall Never Get Away (Marco Ressman Mix) [Mobilee]
08. Tadeo - IO (Cassy mix) [Apnea]
09. Friendly People - Music is Improper (Buttrich mix) [Apnea]
10. Matthias Meyer - Tout Va Bien [Liebe Detail]
11. The Dose - Money or Love [Fumakilla]
12. Two Armadillos - Hamlin [Dessous]
13. Ordep Zerep - Done it Deep (GummiHz mix) [Kremodelik]
14. Damian Schwartz - 1568 [mupa]
15. Maresh - Slow Motion (mihai popovicoui mix) [Subsconce]
16. Macida Yoha - Sleepless Night (Miss Fitz mix) [Monsterecs]
17. Z@p - Talko Drums [Immigrant]
18. Solomun -No Comment [Dessous]
(113mb)
Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:19:52 -0600
It's been a while since I've posted up a mix so I thought I would put one together over the weekend. This mix features a blend of some awesome new tracks and some great classics. Check it out and leave a comment if you're diggin' it.
01. Minilogue - We All (Original Mix) [Cocoon Recordings]
02. Vaia - The Door (Original Mix) [Off Side Recordings]
03. Caro, Dapayk and Padberg - Khes (Digitaline Remix) [Mo's Ferry]
04. Dub Kult - On and On - (Guido Schneider Remix) [Raum Musik]
05. Chris Carrier and Masomenos - Giving (Original Mix) [Welcome to Masomenos]
06. Dualism - Setagawa (Original Mix) [Seta Label]
07. La Capria - Krog (Original Mix) [+0 Lab]
08. Slam - This World (Wighnomy Bros. and Robag Wrhume Bukkelfipps Remix) [Soma Recordings]
09. Christian Burkhardt - Doubledub (Original Mix) [Raum Musik]
10. Adultnapper - Clis (Original Mix) [Dirt Crew]
11. Olmo and Chembass - Episodio Piloto (Original Mix) [Fabrik Project]
12. Mr. Dee and Sergey PX - Deck Tech [Deepx Recordings]
13. Ntanos - 80% Cotton [Flumo]
14. Prompt - Evolve (Original Mix) [7noise]
15. Franklin De Costa - Beat The Bump (Franco Cinelli Remix) [Immigrant Records]
16. Spektrum - Freakbox (Villalobos Remix) [StopStart Records]
(103mb)
Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:54:30 -0600
FWD.dj is happy to present this amazing mix and interview by acclaimed producer and DJ, Martin Eyerer.
Martin Eyerer has been DJing for over 18 years in almost every possible place in the world and has over 60 releases to date. He is constantly ranking high on the top EDM charts in Europe and broadcasts his own two hour radio show to over 300,000 people once a week on Radio Sunshine Live (the largest dance radio station in Germany). His records have graced such labels as Kickboxer, My Best Friend, Trapez, Renaissance, Audiomatique, Ministry of Sound, Mantra Vibes, Great Stuff, Virgin Music, Boxer Recordings and too many more to name.
We might also mention that he runs both Kling Klong and Session Deluxe, two very successful techno labels. FWD is happy to interview someone with such legendary status as Martin Eyerer!
After a career as extensive as yours, do you have any more unfulfilled goals? If so, what are they?
The way things are going at the moment is really fantastic but, of course, it always can go even better. Basically, I am happy if all stays on the same level it is currently and I can work hard for continued success. However, there are still a few countries I haven?t played in yet (there are less as time goes on :-) ) and I want is to play in all of them! The next thing we are working on is assisting the younger guys from my network: artists including Stephan Hinz, Patrick Zigon and Dubnitzky.
I would like to see me labels and the artists I am working with all grow together and have the synthesis bring the whole operation to the next level.
I run my labels with some great corporations (Kling Klong handled by Great Stuff and Session Deluxe by Alphabet City) and they could not have set up the business any better so I am confident in our future.
What are your favorite countries to perform in? Favorite clubs?
Many people tend to ask this question but the truth is: I don?t really have a favorite club. More focus should be placed on the parties, as they can be special regardless of the club they are in. It?s generally the same with countries. However, I would mention South America for sure and China as they are fairly special to me. People there are really enthusiastic and open mined to the sound you bring.
What do you seek to provide to your listeners on your radio show (Session Deluxe)? What gives it the Eyerer touch?
I love to present music that builds a certain flow during my show. The good thing about radio is the option also to present deeper; more underground tracks. You have more options musically because your listener are often times in the car or house and not dancing in a club.
I also have the ability to showcase very high quality guests that bring the most cutting edge music.At this moment the show is on hold, it was too much being live every Sunday evening - I was just too strained after all that international traveling each weekend. I will get a new slot on Saturday evening beginning in August where I can prerecord the show so I can make it during the week.
What do you look for in the tracks you play and release on your labels? What makes a track really special to you?
It?s a hard question and often asked seeing as how many artists are trying to send me the appropriate demo material. Unfortunately, I must admit that I don?t really even totally know myself what I?m looking for in a track. It?s just when I hear a track I know in the first second whether I want to release it or not. It has to touch me somehow and I suddenly have to feel that I can?t wait to play it out. Basically, Kling Klong tends to be more peak time and Session Deluxe is more functional, underground and house influenced.
What hardware/software/samples do you use and recommend?
I am using a mixture of digital and analog equipment in my studio. The sequencer of my choice has been Cubase for many years; I use all Native Instruments software, UAD plug-ins on two DSP cards and a TC Powercore DSP card.
I absolutely believe in hardware reverbs, I use the Lexicon 480l and the Modell 200 in addition to some others.
Also, vintage gear like a Manley Vari/Mu or Amek and Filtek compressors makes its way into my production quite a bit.
I perform my mix down on a Neumann 16 channel custom made summing bus.
I also cannot forget a few of my synthesizers including the Roland tb303, 808, Virus TI, Machinedrum, Nordlead, etc.The UAD cards are a great choice for people looking to purchase great sounding VSTs at a low price, and I completely recommend them!
What advice would you give yourself 18 years ago based on what you now know in the electronic dance music business?
Try to find out early where your interests really are instead of spreading yourself too thin on a bunch of different projects. Focus on your primary goals and push forward! First learn the basics; maybe even read books about it (if we are discussing production) and the rest will come if you work on it.
What labels/artists do you hope to see rise in popularity? Who do you think is under credited for excellent their production or performance?
The main positive element of the digital revolution is also the main negative element. It?s so much easier to release music these days that the market it totally over saturated. Unfortunately, this makes DJs tend to listen to music by people that are already established and a lot of the younger guys tend to get passed by.
Do you ever seek to leverage your fan base and DJ status to promote social/political issues? What is important to you in those sectors?
I read about political issues regularly, watch the news and donate money to several care organizations but generally try to keep that out of my business operations.
What can we expect from Martin Eyerer for the rest of 2008?
A few remixes e.g. for Marc Romboy, Namito and a Marshall Jefferson Classic (Mushroom). Collaborations with Robert Babicz, Oliver Klein are in the pipeline and finally two singles of my album with new remixes by Patrick Chardronnet, Marc Romboy, Gui Boratto and Oliver Klein.
Tracklist:
01. Martin Eyerer - Furthermore (Word Of Mouth Album Track) [Kling Klong]
02. Marc Antona & Anthony Collins - Espirito [Microfibre]
03. Dubnitzky & Curly - nach eins kommt zwei (Andomat 3000 rmx) [Session Deluxe]
04. Ramirez - Hablando (Radioslave rmx) [CDR]
05. Guido Schneider & Andre Galluzi - Albertino [Cadenza]
06. Cle - Nomads (Matthias Tanzmann rmx) [Poker Flat]
07. Gregor Trescher - A thousand nights (Dubfire Dub) [Great Stuff]
08. Martin Eyerer - Barbers Pole (Word Of Mouth Album Track) [Kling Klong]
09. Marascia - Leggy [Session Deluxe]
10. Martin Eyerer - Telegonos (Word Of Mouth Album Track) [Kling Klong]
(206mb)
Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:22:04 -0600
Fwd.dj is proud to proud to present an exclusive mix and interview from one of Canada's finest and most unique producer/performers. Suz (yes that's the person) has enjoyed releases on Archipel, Italo Business, Unfoundsound, De'fchild productions, Pinksilver, (to name a few) and is certainly, to anyone paying attention, is a up and comer to watch. Known for fiercely unique remixes, original productions and her hybrid live/dj sets, Suz is a special treat for those who take the time to investigate now, before she's to big to talk to you?
Run us through your process when you begin a production. Do you start with a concept, the rhythm, sample modulation?
I wish I had one simple answer, but it's in my nature to complicate things. ;) I like to think of my process as organized chaos because my method of brainstorming can look very messy on screen. I'm most certainly a conceptual writer so my format is always established after I develop the theme. It's like a writer developing characters and his plot before he assembles his novel, or a painter choosing his colour palette before applying images to the canvas. Usually I will work with harmonious structures first. This can either be strings, pads, vocals, or a group of a certain kind (or a combination) of instruments, and these will carry the song. I choose harmonious structures first because I feel they set the tone for my concept, and once I have that, the rest of the elements seem to fall in place nicely.
Do you approach your music more from an emotional or mental place? What is the balance for you?
I can say that sometimes my emotions make me feel mental. Yes, yes, it's true! ;) Anyhow, moving along to my point, I'm unable to complete any means of artistry in a linear or in a robotic state of mind. Primarily, I do run on emotion. I rather feel ultimate highs and extreme lows than not feel at all. Human interaction is what transcends my creative ability. It is my catalyst. Good or bad, each person I experience has a place in my methods, and is a huge influence on my being. I think this is why my work has always taken on so many unique forms. Each song I've written so far has been about a person or a random encounter. So, just think about how many variable outcomes there are in life, and diversity in personalities -- it's totally endless. You can't deny that this world is a wacky yet beautiful place, and each moment that I pass through, I'm urged to create something to express it. The ONLY time I'm very cerebral is when I have to make sense out of something, so I usually reserve this part for assembly/ sequencing and mastering.
Are there any social/spiritual/political elements woven into your music? If so, what are the common themes and what are you itching to encapsulate in future productions?
My music will harbor spiritual, political, social, psychosocial, emotional? and any other aspect that's presented before me. Again, because the many colours of world are an inspiration, all hopes, dreams, and beliefs will transfer over to my creations. It's subject to the moment, and I'll utilize all that comes with it to express myself. My goal is to have the necessary skill to project these matters accurately and consistently in musical form.
Aside for your handy recorder what are some excellent places to get samples? What do you look for in your drum/noise samples?
Samples are found everywhere! I know, what a cop out answer, but it is indeed true. That's the fun part, sampling everything you can possibly think of! Music from all ages, movies, TV, radio, your own voice, your dog, your refrigerator, bathroom sink, old mattress, real instruments? I can go on and on. For random sounds I look for oddity. For familiar sounds I use my own voice and real instruments. Most of the time I like to cross-weave organic sounds with digital sounds to establish a balance between the two. So for an organic feel, I use my piano or for more of a vintage feel I'll dig up jazz, motown, classical, and hiphop samples. For digital sounds I love to play around with synthesizers, key notations and fx. The possibilities are endless just as long as you remember to remain experimental.
What hardware/software do you use and recommend?
For production I keep my software platform pretty simple. I alternate between Ableton and Reason plus an array of other midi instruments/plug-ins. The only hardware I use for creation is my piano. I recommend using any program that interests you, not just what is popular. I also recommend alternating and getting to know new software every now and then, as it will change the way you create. Sometimes we can get stuck in a method, so its good to redirect your brain and use your left hand if you're originally right handed (so to speak). I find this keeps you thinking, and this way you'll never become bored and your work will never become boring. We hear too much of the same thing these days, and I think its due to the similar programs and plug-ins people are using to create. Many spend their time trying to find a sound that was already found - we should be motivating ourselves to discover new peaks, and challenge ourselves to not stop at 'catchy'. As artists, we set the standard by what we release, therefore we should be encouraging every listener to become even more demanding with the evolution of music by giving them new, different, and personalized mind-stretching material.
I hear you like healthy food? do you have tasty any recipes to share?
Yes, I'm a bit of a health nut, but nuts are good, right? ? right?? (cough). I will share a recipe for raw keylime pie that has been in my mouth and probably all over my face for the past couple of weeks.
Key Lime Pie
Tart and sweet at the same time, it really hits the spot!
Makes one 9" pie, serving 8-10
Crust Ingredients:
3 C fine almond flour*
4-5 fresh medjool dates
2 T coconut oil
1/2 tsp. sea salt
Filling Ingredients:
2 small ripe avocados
1 banana
1 1/4 C juice from key limes (regular limes will also work fine)
1/2 C mango chunks
1/2 C agave nectar
1/3 C coconut cream concentrate or oil
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Preparation:
To make crust, place almond flour, dates, coconut oil, and sea salt in a food processor and blend until it balls up. Firmly press crust into pie pan and set aside.
To make the filling, process all filling ingredients in a high-powered blender such as a VitaMix until smooth and fluid. Pour into pie shell and freeze about 4-6 hours or longer. I like to serve this topped with a little shredded coconut and mango chunks or slices.
What goals have you accomplished so far in your electronic music career and which ones are next on the list?
As far as I can see it, I've already accomplished my original goals. I wanted to perform and compose music. It was as simple as that. I had no intentions to release any of my material or make a career out of it, it just happened naturally. It really was icing on the cake. For about 8 years I made a career DJ'ing and managed my own nightclub, and near the end of that term I realized how much I truly wanted to keep music as a hobby. It became tainted as soon as it became work (enter the politics and $$), and I never wanted to hate something that represented freedom, and brought me such endless joy. So I made a conscious decision to return to a light-hearted state, and my love grew even thicker, and I believe this carefree attitude also improved my skill (no pressure = no pain). My love and instinctual connection to music goes further than a funky noise or a groovy rhythm? to me it's about connections, cultures, love and hate, spirituality? life. It's about freedom of expression, and is the window into the individual personalities and civilizations of the world. My new goals do not hover only within electronic music, but in music as a whole.
Electronic music is a great love for me, but it most certainly does not compromise my musical interests. I grew up listening (and still do) to such a variety of musical styles, and none of it was found on Casey Kasem's Top 40's chart, rather in old motown and reggae records, classical and jazz, house/soul music, and classic rock and roll. I also grew up on the piano, semi-classically trained and I've recently developed a new goal to expand my knowledge and become re-taught, but in the jazz realm. I've been spending a lot of my time really listening to, and dissecting music by focusing on specific eras and the evolution of sound. My goal is to explore the world in a musical sense, and become sympathetic towards both the creative individual, and to the civilization in which they cultivated. I want to focus on the past, present and the future. The past is a product of the present, and an indicator to what the future holds, so it's imperative to understand where we (and music) came from in order to move in a forward direction. I'm really trying to become completely receptive, and as open minded as possible so this can reflect on my creations. I know in my heart that I will never stop creating music and I would like to give people and myself something timeless. I want to be constantly inspired and in return, an inspiration. But, to be an inspiration, one must first become inspired and there is no better way to become inspired than to absorb humanity in all its glory.
A long-term goal of mine is to record my inspirations through my research and experiences, and translate it into a conceptual project. I would like to complete an album. To be honest, I do not have a time frame for its completion, and I'll be happy to bank it out just before I go belly up. So you (including me) will have to wait and see.
How do you think the EDM scene could stand to change, are there any trends that are less than excellent?
I think the envelope needs to be pushed even further. As soon as we stop pushing, we will become comfortable and lazy, and that's when we start accepting sub-par material. Trends need to die if anything. Sometimes it feels like a fashion accessory, and next fall instead of EDM, it will be something else. Music should be timeless and open, and enriched with character and experience. If you really think about it, one does not have to try so hard to be different, if we all just discovered and embraced our own uniqueness, our musical styles would transcend just that. I fear that electronic music has been coined a certain way, where certain styles have lost its way. I find I have to dig much deeper to find meaningful music, whereas before it seemed simpler. But maybe that's just it - it became too popular too fast and we're swimming in over-saturated waters. Now everyone wants to be a DJ or wants to produce. Don't get me wrong, there are so many brilliant musicians out there, and I'm endlessly impressed and greatly inspired by their creations, but I find that some of the music that receives the most credit is not very deserving. The underdogs (aka smaller labels/artists) need more attention. So I guess my advice is to search harder and look in the nooks and crannies for the envelope pushers. Don't just download the Top 100 on Beatport - really dig for a concept. It's out there.
What does the rest of 2008 hold for Suz, any touring or releases?
2008 - steady as she goes. A few more remixes are coming out. One on Nightlight (Alland Byallo) this July, and another on a newer (and very exciting) label in Germany called Krautshop for an upcoming downtempo artist Taban Hayes. I've also been exploring my vocal side much more and have been collaborating with the very amazing Tom Ellis. We will be releasing on Musique Risquée (Akufen) this year. I've also been playing a musical role on the other side of things, working as A+R for Archipel (Pheek). I really love this side of the coin because it still provides me with the chance to participate in the musical realm, but this time by searching for, and promoting new and upcoming artists. I have no tours scheduled for 2008, but 2009 is another story. We'll see as time moves forward.
Any comments about this exclusive fwd mix?
This mix is very different from what I've put out so far. I was inspired to record a mix that was sexy, groovy, and very deep. It reminds me of summer - all the songs make me feel damn good. It's also recorded at 120bpm, and not at the usual 126-128? I seem to be slowing down with age. ;) It's recorded live/dj style, utilizing 4 decks, looping and layering. There are only a few parts where you will hear one track as itself. I wanted to leave the progression alone in these parts because the song themselves are sheer brilliance, and even I cant layer over them if I wanted to. It would have been sin! I hope you enjoy.
Tracklist:
1. AKA - Tom Ellis Ft. Suz [Ureleased]
2. Ohnh - Leif [Fear of Flying]
3. The Other Man -Von Haugwitz [Seta]
4. How Do I Know - Loco Dice [Desolat]
5. Doubledub - Christian Burkhardt [Raum]
6. Prime Expansion - Rick Wade [Yore]
7. Ghosts In My Machine - Milton Jackson [Freerange ]
8. Str8 Nasty - Dj Stax [Classic]
9. Omnipresent (Myers Briggs Rmx) - Luke Hess [Beretta Grey ]
10. Moscow Fighting - Subb an [Immigrant]
11. Go Deep - Adam S, Chris Special [Toolroom]
12. Olah - Tbbros [Klangscheiben]
13. Madeleine- Einmusik, Stimming [Dynamic]
14. Sui Generis Sven UK, Andomat 3000 [Cecille]
15. Mogane - Sety [Circus Company]
16. All By Myself - Joeski [Dutchie Music]
17. A Most Beautiful Day - After Tea [Hotfingers]
18. S-Factor - John Smorto [Minisketch]
19. 4 Minutes - After Tea [Hotfingers]
20. Quantum Process - Melt [Telepathy Digital]
21. Funky Moves - Ivan I & Jason Howell [Tarantic]
22. We Like Funk - Tom Ellis Ft. Suz [Musique Risquée]
(92mb)
Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:32:45 -0600
Kenneth James Gibson is the force behind [a]ppendics shuffle, KJ Gibbs, Eight Frozen Modules, Reverse Commuter, dubLoner, Electronic Music Producer, The Premature Wig, Bal Cath, and Furry Things. Between his almost absurdly massive collection of monikers Gibson has been released on almost every respected label in minimal techno existence including: Resopal, Underl_ne, Orac, proptronix, Mute, Mo's Ferry, Sunset Diskos, Leftroom, Friends of Tomorrow, Clever Music, Unfoundsound, Superfreq, Archipel, Ransom Note, Floppy Funk, Tidbit, Planet ? Mu, Tigerbeat, Plataeux, Hallucination, Tino Corp, Skor, Disco Inc., Force Tracks? (that's only about half of them). Additionally, he runs the fantastically acclaimed Adjunct Audio, which has releases a top notch bevy of techno and minimal producers. Notorious for his edgy, technologically savvy, and glitchy production Gibson is truly one of the most respected modern EDM producers, lives acts and DJs in the world.
Upon reviewing you're "my space" I notice quite a bit of political and social information including 9-11 "conspiracy" information and animal rights. Dare I say that you may be an EDM producer with an out spoken set of pertinent viewpoints? Do you have any comments on how that impacts your music or live shows?
Well i wouldn't say it impacts my music or live shows really....its more something to live by....for myself. I'm not the preacher type, but if something effects me I believe in sharing it - as someone else might gain some knowledge from it.
How have you managed to accumulate so many releases and pieces of quality music in such a small amount of time? Where do you derive all of the constant fresh inspiration?
I guess it depends what pieces you are talking about, I have been releasing electronic stuff since 1996 and before that with band stuff since 1994. So its actually been quite a while.... My first electronic releases were as Eight Frozen Modules and it was a mish mash of techno,dub,hip hop, ambient and electro....[a]pendics.shuffle sort of became my main project round 2003....but I'm still releasing under many of the different aliases such as Reverse Commuter, dubLoner, Kj Gibbs etc- but just at a slower pace.... but to answer the question - I guess I find inspiration from not wanting to be bored with music. There's so much shitty boring music out there - specially in the "minimal techno" world. I'm bored to death with most of it these days....so when I make stuff I tend to think about what wont bore me and hopefully it wont bore others.
How closely do your live shows match your original production? Do you aim to re-create the initial intricacies or aim more for simpler body-moving sequences?
Most of my LIVE sets are tracks all being remixed and re-sequenced for the live setting. I play lots of remixes of remixes as well. I do sometimes throw in a couple full tracks but always do something to them regardless....some parts of tracks just cant be recreated and you want to hear them large and in charge on the big system! People usually recognize one bit of a track - while its being mixed with another bit of a whole other track....thats the fun of playing live!
Do you perform your own mastering and mix downs? Do you have any tips or recommended modules?
I do all my own mix downs but when it comes to mastering i leave that usually to the pro mastering guys. Each label I work with has different people they work with in the mastering depo. With my label Adjunct, we use Dubplates and Mastering in Germany.
What other software/hardware/sample packs do you use/recommend?
Well....Cubase SX is my main tool for sequencing and editing. I also use Fruity Loops to make loops which will get sliced and diced in Cubase - along with loads of vst shit etc. I'm mostly software based these days except for my ASR-10 - which pretty much just gets used now for a midi controller and amplifier / fx when using guitars and TX81z - which hasn't actually been touched in quite some time.
You have quite a few interesting samples of people talking (especially women), where do you get all these samples and how do you decide what makes the cut?
Those are mostly my girlfriend! Shes done quite a bit now on my tracks....
What would you like to seem more/less of in the EDM community?
I would like to see more experimentation! and more musical ideas! less "minimal" ness and more maximum production quality, more weirdness!
What does the rest of 2008 hold for you?
I'm finishing up a Reverse Commuter full length release for Hallucination Limited - a label run by DJ Three. Theres 2 new [a]pendics.shuffle eps - one just came out on Ransom Note this last week and one on Lick My Deck in a couple months - also most likely a new one for Mo's Ferry soon. I have a new project called Men In Slippers with Mikael Stavostrand - that will see the light soon with the first release on label M500. I also just started a new collaboration with Stewart Walker and a new organic pop / classical / heady project with Brian McBride of Stars OF The Lid called Bell Gardens. There will be a bunch more touring as well!
Any comments regarding your fwd mix for the listeners?
Have fun!
Tracklist:
Persuasion - Throbbing Gristle - Industrial Records
Ralenti - Carola Pisaturo - Adjunct (adjunct 22 - out soon!)
Pingu - Men In Slippers ([a]pendics.shuffle and Mikael Stavostrand) w/ Katou - unreleased
Foundhaus ltd. - Tony Rohr - Clink
Tundra (Franco Cinelli remix) - Dilo and Gurtz - Adjunct (adjunct 18)
Knurrpause - Mathias Schaffhauser - Adjunct (adjunct 21)
Disturbing Idle - [a]pendics.shuffle - Lick My deck (out soon!)
Out There - Melchior Productions - Perlon
No Passport - DOP - Milnor Modern
Brain Pecker - Mossa - Complot
Spirit - Phuture - Strictly Rhythem
Tangerine Dream - Wahn - Polydor
(76mb)
Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:04:02 -0600
FWD.dj is proud to present a fresh and well blended exclusive mix and interview with internationally acclaimed super producer Patrick Zigon.
Patrick has released music on (inhale for enough breath) Treibstoff, Kling Klong, Great Stuff, Traum, Cocoon, Trapez ltd, Puzzle Traxx, Meerestief, Electribe, Session Deluxe, Tanzbar, and many more. Patrick also sports a feisty globehopping DJ schedule and has his own club night/residency ?Traumraum? (translation: Dreamroom) @ climax in Stuttgart and @ beatbox in Konstanz (Germany).
www.patrickzigon.com & www.myspace.com/patrickzigon
1. Why did you choose a career in electronic music? Will you tell us the back story
behind your love for EDM?
In mychildhood I really liked the early dance and synthetic music. In 1993 I went to my first Techno parties in the legendary Grodoonia Club in Zurich. Switzerland had a very strong underground scene that time. I was totally fascinated with what I discovered in electronic music, and I proceeded to party hard every weekend.
I quickly realized that simply partying would not be sufficient for me. In 1996 I bought my first turntables and started to play in small clubs...I really got completely addicted!
I had always planned to produce my own music. In 1998 started producing with my computer at my home studio, and since 2000 it?s been sole my profession, and I love to produce every single day!
2. When people leave a Traumraum night what do you want them to just have experienced? Are you trying to cultivate a specific feeling with those shows?
The Slogan of Traumraum is: Electronic Music without borders! This is exactly what I try to give to the party goers. One night you?ll get dirty and dark Techno-Music... and the next you?ll get deep soulful House, or everything may be combined in a single evening! Depends on the club, the guest-dj, and our inspiration in the moment. The people should come to our night without any specific expectations; the only desire should be good electronic music! Due to the hype of the modern scene it can be really hard to keep the people open minded, but I think we are doing a great job at it!
3. You have very smooth sounding tracks! What do you recommend for mastering and EQing for producers out there?
Well, firstly thanks for the compliment! It?s important to keep your production sounding clean right from the beginning so in the long run it?s easier to do the final mix-down. Nevertheless, I mostly spend one day per track just EQing everything to give every element its own space in the mix.
Post production ? Mastering is the most important thing aside from the initial production ? maybe even just as important!? It?s really easy to screw up the mastering... after mastering a well produced track can sound like crap, and a poorly produced track can sound great, depends on the person who does the mastering!
I leave my mastering to a very good friend of mine, in my opinion one of the best mastering guys on the planet, Baggy Bukaddor, well known for his productions on Traum and MBF, he?s a real pro!! Good thing about him is that he keeps the original sound, he only blows up the track, and gives it a great warm feeling? fantastic job every time!
4.What software/hardware/sample packs do you recommend?
I work with Apple so i?m really happy to use Logic Studio and the Bundles from Native
Instruments. Great Software with thousands of possibilities!
5. What process do you go through when you make music? Do you come up with a concept first, drums first, work on multiple tracks simultaneously?
Oh, it depends. I think I have started tracks with every possible strategy at some point. With a concept, without a concept, with a melody first, or with some drumming.... but generally I?d say I prefer to start with some grooves and drums.
One thing is really important for me: once I started to produce a track, I have to finish
it before I start with another one. Otherwise I?d take the idea from one track into another.
6. Who are your favorite producers?
Hmmm... difficult question! I have loads of favorite producers. If I listed them all I would need another two sheets of paper!
7. Are you ever planning on creating your own record label? If so, will it maintain
the Traumraum concept?
Yeah sure, one day, but a label is really a lot of work, more than ever in these days with the whole digital revolution! I?m currently completely focused on my studio production! But if I do start my own label it will definitely maintain the Traumraum concept!
8. Are there any elements of the modern scene or the minimal scene that you think
could stand to change?
I?m really happy with the modern electronic scene! Loads of talented people,
new clubs and festivals every year and the best thing: nearly everybody is playing good music! But there are also things I?m not totally happy about.
Producing music is becoming easier every day, so there?s also a lot of crappy music around. Releasing this music is a breeze via the digital labels? so we now have an Electronic Music Overkill!! I get about 10-20 mp3 promo mails everyday? and that?s too much. In my opinion, music is much more valuable when it?s on vinyl, even though I?ve used traktor scrach for about three years!
Also, the Vinyl Sales are faring terribly at the moment. For that precise reason I recently ordered my first vinyl in three years!! Playing digital is awesome, but it?s a very enjoyable feeling to hold your own record in your hand? even after 10 years producing!! So I hope I?ll still get my vinyls in 10 Years! Best thing is to combine vinyl & digital!
9. What does the rest of 2008 hold for Patrick Zigon?
At the moment I?m building a new studio. Really looking forward to finishing it and then starting to work on my debut-album and my live-set. Apart from this I have loads of
great gigs in different countries, which I?m excited to go see!
10. Do you have any comments to the listeners regarding your fwd mix?
Electronic music without borders ;) Cheerio!
Tracklist:
01. Andreas Sartori ? Pendant [Persona]
02. Rene Breitbarth ? Le Rhytme Korg [Dessous]
03. Roberto Rodriguez ? Ride With Me (Dub) [Compost]
04. Brauns, Gruber & Nürnberg ? Our Feeling [Lorna]
05. Jost & Klemann ? CC01 (Detroit) [Dial]
06. Chic Miniature ? Escandalo [Crosstown Rebels]
07. DJ Emerson ? Truckvolume (Abnormal Boyz Remix) [Micro.fon]
08. Hugo ? The Siren [Tuning Spork]
09. Phage & Daniel Dreier ? Korgi-Morgi [Highgrade]
10. Marco Carola ? Sensation [Plus 8]
11. Leif ? Squally Showers (Polder Remix) ? [Fear of Flying]
12. Christian Burkhardt ? Sweater [Raum...Musik]
13. Patrick Zigon ? Worumm [Sounderground]
14. Echonomist ? Transposition (And.Id Remix) [Two Faces]
15. Ynnad Zeugnimod ? No Name [Arcobaleno]
16. Homm & Popoviciu ? Ekutok [Freunde]
(94mb)
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:49:07 -0600
Christopher Bleckmann and Hannes Wenner are the super duo behind the hyper talented tech house force known as Misc. (Sender) and the minimal techno group, Niederflur (m_nus).
They also grind regularly on three other electronic music projects: Monophace (futuristic drum and bass), Clubsessel (downtempo afterhours club music) and Van Delta (every EDM style possible thrown into a synchronized kitchen blender).
Misc. has releases under a variety of high brow tech house labels including Force Tracks, Sender, Resopal, Kompakt and Klang. Niederflur is exclusively the property of Richie Hawtin's seminal label Minus, with four releases to date. Their other projects have garnered releases on Krush Grooves, Precision, k2o, and Gap.
Fwd.dj has the huge honor of catching Bleckmann and Wenner for a special interview and an ear popping exclusive mix!
1. How do you decide which moniker to make a track for at any given time? Do you let the creative process dictate which style you produce next or do you choose based on label/public interest?
Actually we didn´t produce any other style but techno for a while. Only lately we´ve been producing a few dubstep tracks some of which will be released as misc. on British label "Lost Souls" soon. But even between the techno we do as misc. and as Niederflur there is a different approach to be taken. Most of the times we would start a bunch of tracks for one project at a time and finish them in the same direction. But sometimes it also happens that we feel that a single track draws in another direction and switch. So it´s more of an intuitive/personal thing.
2. What bridged the gap for you between drum and bass and tech house/techno, what made you decide to get involved with the new production styles?
We´ve always been into different styles of electronic music. Drum&Bass was only the first to be released. We like to see the connection rather than the gap...
3. How does it feel to be released on one of the most prominent labels in the EDM world (minus), do you enjoy working with the label/Richie Hawtin?
Totally! When we first worked with minus it wasn´t the huge label it is today. At one point we thought we were finished with Niederflur and didn´t work on stuff for years. But then Rich himself asked us to contribute new stuff for the min2max compilations and that opened our minds and inspired us to work on the project again. We´re very pleased to be still on board and get the full support by the minus-crew for our sound.
4. Niederflur is completely based around the German underground subway system. Can you provide us with more information about that project, its inspiration and the music production?
Well, that was the start. The early series of 12" and the CD were really much inspired by the underground-machine-world. When we moved to cologne 10 years ago we couldn´t believe the robot-announcements for the stations had local accent. But they did. Having some early rave-anthems in mind, where the announcements were used as signal-breaks we decided to put that in a new context: very minimal techno. So we went around town by night with our sampler and captured all the voices, sounds and atmospheres we liked in cologne subway system. Back at home we cut that and worked a lot on the sounds to combine it with the minimal techno we had in mind.
Today of course our concept isn´t as strict anymore. We don´t really use these sounds anymore? but sometimes we drop an old sample somewhere in back of a mix!
5. What software/hardware/sample packs do you guys use when producing? Is it all the same for each style of music or are certain audio tools better for certain genres?
We are working with Cubase 4 for productions and Ableton LIVE! for playing live. The setup in Cubase is basically the same for all of our music but of course some synthesizers and tools are more important here and there...
6. What do you perceive to be the future of dance music to be? Do you have a clear vision for the scene and its progression?
Well techno and dance music in general are probably kind of another basic scheme of human music-listening just as Rock or Hip Hop is. So it´s definitely here to stay forever. There always be developments to different to one side of techno or the other , but we don´t expect a whole new revolution as the one 20 years ago. Maybe through digital performance tools surround productions will become a new standard both in (digital) releases and club performances. Surround speaker systems could add a whole new experience to electronic dance music. But we think, that´s still a long way to go?
7. Have you guys been considering any new monikers? If so what kind of music will they produce?
No, not yet? could happen, though.
8. What artists/concepts/events originally inspired you to produce electronic music? What artists do you think are currently inspiring the modern generation?
Probably it´s both the same. We consider ourselves as kind of 2nd generation. Before us there were all the Detroit heroes from Juan Atkins to Jeff Mills and of course Richie Hawtin. On the other side there was the German part with the Basic Channel guys, Wolfgang Voigt and others. When you listen to modern Techno it´s quite obvious that it is based on all these great artists from the past (and present, too)!
9. If you guys where going to start a new records label tomorrow and could have 5 dance music artist of your choice release music on it, who would they be and what would be the label's theme?
Well, if money was no issue at all, there probably wouldn´t be any dance-artists on our label, and we´d try out anything that we feel nobody tried out before! Cross-over every musical genre and every musical artist on the planet, no matter what cultural background or musical history until something new pops up, if that´s possible at all. Our concept thus would be: burn the money or give it to us, haha!
10. What does the rest of 2008 hold for you and your various projects?
We are happy to have a new Niederflur 12" on minus called "TYPO EP" out in july. The next MISC. release is the Lost Souls 12" which contains Techno and Dubstep tracks by us and great remixes by Perc and Headhunter. We did a remix of one of FUSE´s classical tracks for PLUS 8? and we have some stuff waiting to be released later this year we can´t talk about right now? so there´s more to come!
11. Do you have any comments about this mix?
This mix is a studio recording that features some older and newer tracks that we felt would go together pretty nicely?
since we always perform on stage without playlist or a fixed set-length, we just pushed the rec. button and went for it like we used to do on stage. And stopped at 66 minutes?
(97mb)
Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:17:47 -0600
Chris co-founded UK labels Advance & Sensei, producing & remixing tracks for both labels & appearing on various compilations.
After leaving the labels Chris took a bit of a break, then started producing under the name Mecanique, putting out tracks on Plastic City, Toolroom Trax, District of Corruption (Berlin) & Slave Recordings which gained me support from the likes of John Acquaviva, Josh Wink, Ashley Beedle, Sunshine Jones, Marcin Czubala, Ben Watt, Colin Dale, Alex Flatner, Rob Pearson, Nic Fancuilli & John Digweed. Chris has also has forthcoming releases on Plastic City, Evasive, Rebel Audio Recordings & Beatlejuice (Japan).
Jacksonville, the latest project by Chris, has only been up & running for around 6 months.
Many thanks to Producer, Label Founder and DJ Chris Lyth for his mix submission. All tracks on this mix were produced by Chris.
Tracklist:
B is for Box [Daredo Music]
Days Like These
Kinky John
Trix
Sepiatone
Inertia [District of Corruption]
Noise Box [Rebel Audio Recordings]
Velodrome [Beatlejuice]
Dusk
Off and Gone [Beatlejuice]
Gamma [Rebel Audio Recordings]
Shortwave Disco
(112mb)
Sun, 25 May 2008 17:52:57 -0600
Volume 2 of our FWD Thinking series is here. We went for a big room feel with this one. Check it out and post up some comments telling us what you think!
01. Sgnl Fltr - Nukh [Databloem Records]
02. Extrawelt - DistThemeNoMelo [Kompass Musik]
03. Marcos Coya - Ludico [GRHK]
04. Neurus - Monotono [GRHK]
05. Ron and Zap - Uhlenbusch (Flatmate Remix) [Hertzklopfen]
06. Good Groove - All Night Long (Schaffhauser Remix) [Multicolor Recordings]
07. La Capria - Forza [Newmind]
08. Narcotic 303 - Pulsar [Tool Tech Records]
09. Adam Kroll - Sir Lancelot und der Todesritt [Traum]
10. Carsten Jost - Divide Et Impera (K.Lakizz Remix) [Sender Records]
11. Christopher - Dunn Blame the Machines [GRHK]
12. Bardo - Claro [GRHK]
13. Marcus Hartmann - Chromosom 24 [Weave Music]
14. Benno Blome - Rumburak [Sender Records]
15. Marin Vicora - Lluvia [GRHK]
16. La Capria - Dark [Newmind]
17. Naudio - Smelly Dealer [Relay Recordings]
(56mb)
Sun, 25 May 2008 11:14:56 -0600
Some would accuse Florian Meindl of never sleeping...
At the tender age of 23 Florian Meindl has already released high impact records on traum, resopal, trapez, great stuff, pickadoll, klingklong, hell yeah, stilvortalent and many other prominent international record labels and has more records on the way from Mantra Vibes, Trapez and Herzblut. Alongside Oliver Koletzki, Meindl also assisted in the creation his own record label, Flash, which he manages and uses to release even more records, to no small degree of success. As though that work load was not sufficient, Meindl also traverses the world with a busy international DJ schedule. Fwd recently caught up with Meindl in his whirl wind to interview him and procure a copy of his latest promo mix.
Do you have any other work besides the music business or does it consume your existence?
I study music technology in London, which is very time consuming. In addition, I focus on music production, my record label, djing and other personal things... its hard but it works.
What factors initially got you into a DJ support position for the likes of Sven Vath and Richardo Villalobos?
I established myself in the local techno scene in Austria and got warm-up gigs first. At the time I was playing baby ford records, all the playhouse stuff and raum music records, etc.
When you're producing music, how much of your focus is on producing for the pure artistic expression and how much is for moving the floor?
The good thing is, getting the floor moving requires experimental and creative music. If it?s just a copy of something else the people won?t accept it as thankfully as new, fresh and innovative material. The problem is, sometimes it?s too far ahead of its time and hard for the audience to digest.
What software/hardware/sample packs do you recommend to get the optimum sound for electronic music?
It?s never wrong to get the experience of using the classic drum samples from an 808 drum machine, but the most important thing is to be confident with technical things like sequencers and synthesizers for the purposes of creative expression. A creative person could make a hit record out of game boy music or something; it really depends on your skills and your creativity. There are almost no limits in terms of software etc..... but for some people exactly this fact is precisely the problem.
How critical has being in an EDM hotbed like London or Berlin been for the fruition of your career?
London has been important because I learned very useful things in my university including the vernacular of the music scene. Berlin has been useful because of the people I met there, the working atmosphere and other experiences I made in this chapter of my life. Berlin is famous for its scene, but I?m actually not interested in going to different clubs and after hours. I?m more interested in other things there like the relaxed atmosphere for creative things etc. Some people act too much like tourists there, they are not aware of it but they destroy everything... they think they are cool but I don?t know if this is really important in life...
What inspired you and Oliver Koletzki to create your own label?
The fact that we had different skills which merged together within the label and the opportunity to release tracks which wouldn?t fit perfectly in other labels.
What are some of the challenges and joys of running your own label?
To develop other artists (for the future), having the artwork we want, having the music releases that we like, learning things about the underground music business and having our own platform which can be built up.
Are there any netlabels or little known labels that you respect and want to mention?
WHITE MUSIC is quite good and I think not so well known as they have only released two eps... another new label which I like a lot is dubfires new imprint SCI+TEC. Last but not least I have to mention the digital only version of FLASH called FLASH digital which had a quite successful record from KELLERKIND a couple of weeks ago! We try to build up new artists with FLASH digital and have some really good material coming.
If there was ever going to be a political or spiritual message to your music or career, what would it be?
Try to express the deepest things on your mind and assist its expression by developing your skills and doing your work at the most perfect way you can.
What is coming up in 2008 that is exciting for you?
I hope that the summer is going to be exciting, relaxing and that I can spend a lot of time with my friends. I?m also looking forward to the new techniques and skills I?m going to learn and my creative work in the studio.
Do you have any comments about the Trapez promo mix that we are hosting as a part of this interview?
I think this mix really has a special flow, I hope some people appreciate it a lot and have a good time with it. Dj mixes have always been very important for me when I grew up in Austria; I spent a lot of time traveling to school or to gigs etc and I was always listening to other dj sets. For some people who are engaged in a lifestyle or job they don?t really like it is so important to have the ability to listen to nice dj mixes and not just a selection of local songs during their hard times. I would describe it as a ?driving to the next rave in a car with mates warm-up set"
Florian Meindl - Trapez Promo Mix - Track List
gideon - nightfall (sino)
paco osuna - transheet (plus 8)
secret - promo (white)
florian meindl - subfocus (trapez)
secret - promo (white)
lutzenkirchen - nut trap (stil vor talent promo)
florian meindl - blast (trapez)
the dolphins - haze hard (sci+tec)
kellerkind - tomtom (flash digital)
fachmann - fachmann 2a (fachmann)
secret - promo (white)
Other Resources:
http://www.myspace.com/florianmeindl
http://www.myspace.com/flashrec
http://www.florianmeindl.com
(54mb)
Mon, 05 May 2008 01:01:52 -0600
This week we have a killer new minimal techno mix from Limaçon. Limaçon has been playing and producing music for over a decade and has releases on labels such as Poker Flat and Intrinsic Design. Check it out and leave some comments telling us what you think!
Seattle Mix Track List
[0:00] Franklin De Costa "Morgenlast" (Green Empire)
[3:12] Andomat 3000 "Frost" (Cadenza)
[4:45] B-Pole "Chameleon Dust" (Four:Twenty Rec)
[7:03] Tejada "Model 12" (Palette)
[9:13] Mikael Jonasson "Twenty Se7en" (Audiomatique)
[12:57] Red Robin & Jakob Hilden "SnapDragon" (Trapez Ltd)
[15:53] Giorgos Gatzigristos "New World Order" (Kompakt)
[19:27] Stephan Bodzin & Swoop "Black Market" (Craft)
[21:48] Kilowatts & Tanner Ross "Facemelt" (MotherShip)
[24:35] Stephan Bodzin "Vendetta" (Herzblut)
[28:51] Cari Lekebusch "Space Suite (Railyard)
[32:39] Square One "Vesuvius" Justin Martin Rmx" (Freerange)
[36:01] Gel Abril "Very Wrong-Patrick Zigon Rmx" (Be As One)
[38:45] Alex Under "Extrapezlo" (Trapez)
[41:33] Simon Baker "The Fly MyMy Rmx-Limacon Edit" (Connaisseur Superieur)
[44:13] St. Sebastian "Drunk Lover-MyMy Rmx-Limacon Edit" (Dessous)
[48:33] Andre Gardeja "Fresh Anjoulique" (Freizeitglauben Berlin)
[50:14] Justin Martin "Hoopty" (Utensil)
[52:33] Peter Corvaia "All or Nothing" (Circle) w/ DJ Godfather
"ElectroGhetto," "Get Yo Body On The Floor" & "U Know Whats Up" (Databass)
About Limaçon:
In the winter of 1997, Santa Cruz-native Christopher T. Lee fell in love with the first Nord Lead synth - and Limaçon was born. Over the ensuing decade, Limaçon has carved a solid international rep, first via live PAs and later with electrifying DJ sets, as an artist who puts the move back into minimal. In the last two years, Limaçon made the move to San Francisco and scaled down his imposing hardware arsenal in order to focus on studio work. And focus he certainly did. From the expansive dance-floor journeys of his live sets, Limaçon has honed his sound into subtle, finely structured glitch-house gems that linger in the ear long after the record ends.
Limaçon's debut record "Catch", released on Steve Bug's seminal Poker Flat label in 2005, brought the producer instant acclaim, selling thousands of copies in the first six months. "IMP," his sophomore effort on Resopal Schallware in April 2006, let him flex his tech-funk muscle, while his summertime follow-up on Intrinsic Design, "Muster Funk," took on a deeper, late-night vibe. Most recently, Limacon's three-tracker on Force Inc., entitled "That Hard," has been blowing up techy floors around the globe since it dropped almost a year and half ago.
As a producer pursuing both the warmth of house music and the machine edge of minimal techno, Limaçon slips perfectly into any set. "I love analog synthesis, which the essence of minimal techno. Minimal is about exploration, creating new sounds. But I try to keep that funk in my music, because at the end of the day, this music is for the dance floor. I try to keep a balance between something for your mind and something for your body, between experimenting with new sounds and giving people something they can grab onto."
(115mb)
Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:58:56 -0600
Here is a deep one for you guys that features a ton of atmospheric minimal house and tech house stuff put out on some killer net labels. I originally recorded this mix for a buddy of mine who was looking for some cool tunes to play at a sushi bar he runs.
Steve Edwards - Landscapes - Track List
Caja de Pelotas - En La Zona Del Silencio (CHMA edit) [Dreiton]
Sudio - Pulsed Deflection [Ideology]
Georg Neufeld - Deep Pleasure (M-Lito Remix) [White In Music]
Console - One More Day of Sorrow [Diplomatik]
Christoph Schindling - Diving [Dreiton]
Gaston Arevalo - Costabrava [Cyan Recs]
Ludwig Coenen - Spider Rows [Flumo]
Droog - Grgamrgatron (Kalope Remix) [Norbu]
Matthias Korr - Night Train [Auflegware]
Deep Haki - Birthday 2007 [Pozitron]
Uriel Asher - Enlighten [Stratospherik]
Kontext - Plume [Leibniz]
Xarfai - Fairytale Forest [Broque]
Baldo - The Beehive [Neovinyl]
Deep Haki - This Is My Place (Home Sweet Home) [Pozitron]
Baldo - Cicely [Neovinyl]
Uriel Asher - I Don't Know [Stratospherik]
Deep Haki - Abstractions [Pozitron]
(48mb)
Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:32:30 -0600
Hey guys! I hope you like my newest mix...I tried something a little bit different towards the end. Let me know what you think!
Tracklist:
1. Trentemoller-Miss You(Trentemoller Remix)[Poker Flat]
2. ChloE & Sasche Funke-Point Final[BPitch Control]
3. Minz-Chinese Drip[perspectiv records]
4. Spektre-Dark Horse(Audiofly Remix)[Dance Electric]
5. Pig And Dan-Monjon[Weave Music]
6. Jeremy P. Caufield-Swagger Saw[Dumb Unit]
7. Underworld-Crocodile(Huntermann Dub)[Underworldlive.com]
8. Claude Von Stroke-Beware Of The Bird[Dirtybird]
9. Lowfish-The Freezing[Satamile Records]
10. Ellen Allien & Apparat-Rotary[BPitch Control]
11. Reporter-Modern Conveniences[Antiritmo]
(83mb)
Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:57:30 -0600
FWD Entertainment is pleased to present this stompin' minimal techno mix by Victor Gonzales. DJ and producer in the Pheonix area over the last 8 years, Victor Gonzales uses a wide array of genres to keep things fresh. He is best known for his dark and hard style of music whether it be progressive, techno, tribal or minimal. His technical skills on the decks are only surpassed by his drive for producing. Victor currently has tracks signed to Siteholder Uncut, Reticent Recordings, Biohazard Digital, Mochico Primo, Wreckless Recordings, Binge Records and Solo Groove. I hope you enjoy this mix as much as I do!
Perfect Stranger and Pena - Ode Ao Sol (Moonbeam Remix) [Beef Rocords]
Solaris Heights - No Trace (Popof Remix) [Renaissance]
Phil Kieran - Missp (Pig and Dan Remix) [Cocoon Recordings]
Mark Mendez - Beneath Ou [Starter Records]
Maetrik - Choose Your Systems [Treibstoff]
Bumpin' Ugly - Work Me (Maetrik Remix) [Siteholder Records]
Alex Rai - Ciottoli (Sara Galli Blackout Remix) [303 Lovers]
Colin Hobbs - Coming Up (Christian Hoff Remix) [White Noise Recordings]
Sarah Galli - Underground [303 Lovers]
Simon Baker - Confused (David K Remix) [Viva Music]
Dub Funk - Mandala (Patch Park Remix) [Audio Therapy]
(86mb)
Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:07:43 -0600
Many thanks to Mark August from Amsterdam for this awesome tech house mix! Mark August has been featured on Poker flat, Connaisseur, Curle, Mezzotinto, and the Metisse record labels and his songs have been charted by Ame, Laurent Garnier, Steve Bug, Sacha, Ripperton, Miss Kittin, Monika Kruse, Dixon, Tiefschwarz, Karotte and many others.
heal yourself and move - theo parrish - sound signature
brother in love - losoul - playhouse
any day now (elektrovox rmx) - scott ferguson - deep vibes
custom made - mr G - proof
orgsa-sis - cecille
mecca dub - deadbeat - wagon repair
time fades away (stefanik vocal mix) - mowbray ramirez - four:twenty
needs and wants - robert hood - musicman
makes me wanna - prosumer murat tepeli - ostgut ton
su - ahmet sisman - unknown
percussion track - patrick chadronnet - connaisseur
agoe - manoo - earthrumental
coffeeshop in rotterdam (mandy terrace mix) - alexander robotnick - mule
sick note - mark henning - cynosure
More about Mark:
Mark August?s style drifts somewhere in between detroit, house, techno, deephouse, minimal and sometimes a little underworldesque progressive.
Mainly somewhere in between. At the late age of 21; Mark discovered quality dancemusic through some friends of his. It was Carl Craig's "69-Desire" on one late morning, after one of his first all-night- long-dance experiences that triggered the whole journey. It blew him away, and still does. This also was the time he had some spare money, and a friend suggested to buy an atari and a sampler; which, if he didn't like it to much, could easily sell again without losing to much money. The beginning of a neverending story.
Now music; and electronic music in particular, reigns his life. He got his inspiration from the whole of electronic detroit-music at first, after that all (electronic) music with soul. His first releases on Mezzotinto and Curle Recordings have been embraced and charted by the likes of Ame, Laurent Garnier, Steve Bug, Sacha, Ripperton, Miss Kittin, Monika Kruse, Dixon, Tiefschwarz, Karotte and various others.
Recently his track "Warm" got a second life on InnerVisions, label of Ame and Dixon, and he also got signed for various tracks on the prestigious Connaisseur label. When he goes live, be ready for something different; ? that may amaze in deepness but will rock you nonetheless.
(161mb)
Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:36:37 -0600
FWD is proud to present an exclusive guest mix from Tech House legend, Little Mike, of Phrunky fame. Don't let the name turn you off, there's only 7 or 8 real trainwrecks and half the tunes are pretty decent too. Thanks, Mike!
October - Homosapiens [Caravan]
Unknown
Minilogue - Hispaniola [Cocoon]
Anja Schneider - Unknown [Mobilee]
Matthias Tanzmann - Hotel Sapporo [Moon Harbour]
Dan Ghenacia - Cycles [Freak N Chic]
Umek - Unknown (Tigerskin Remix) [Unknown]
Holger Zilske - Spooky Kissing [Playhouse]
Unknown
Joris Voorn - Decay [Green]
Danton Eeprom - Comfessions Of An Opium Eater [Tsuba]
Szenario - Peaseasy (Raudive Remix) [Leftroom]
Thomas Schumacher - (I Forget) [Superstition]
Unknown
Supermayer - The Art Of Letting Go (Ewan Pearson Remix) [Kompakt]
Anthony Collins - Unknown [Tuning Spork]
Unknown
Matthias Tanzmann - (I forget) [Moon Harbour]
Unknown
I:Cube - (I forget) [Versatile]
(115mb)
Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:46:37 -0600
Ben Goodwin is an internationally released talent has been building a reputation in the studio and behind the decks for the last couple years. His latest release on Archipel (Canada) and his subsequent prior releases on Perc Trax (UK) and Biohazard (LA) all feature his trademark unorthodox minimal tech/idm funk in action. Behind the decks, Ben has held 3 club residencies in the Northern CA region in the last 4 years, has been featured on protonradio.com and has finally come to roost at FWD.dj, where he submits mixes and interviews. Ben is legendary for creating lengthy mixes of deep minimal tech house that features unique track selections which rest on talent and ingenuity rather than tried and tested mediocrity. FWD.dj is proud to present Ben's latest unedited cdj mix created specifically for FWD.dj this month.
Pigon - Beau Monde (Original Mix) [Dial Records]
Chica and the Folder - Souffle Sonja Moonear (Dans ma casbah Mix) [Monika Enterprize]
MyMy - When It Rains (Original Mix) [Playhouse]
Butane - Nowhere Kansas (Original Mix) [Rrygular]
Marco Farstenberg - Juni KK (Kollektiv Turmstrasse Vocal Remix) [Rotary Cocktail Recordings]
Every - Feelin (Original Mix) [Monofleur]
Roman Flugel - Mutter (Original Mix) [Klang Elektronik]
Luico Aqunilina - Magic M (Original Mix) [Cocoon]
Solomun and Stimming - Feuervogel (Original Mix) [Diynamic]
Reude hagelstien - Lingueglietta Wetterleuchten (Original Mix) [Lebensfruede Records]
Steve Bug - Cru Sauvage (Original Mix) [Poker Flat]
Dejonka - Memento (Original Mix) [La bien et La mal recordings]
Lutzenkirchen - A View To the Sea (Original Mix) [Tabula Raza]
Marc Romboy and Stephan Bodzin - Ariel (Original Mix) [Herzblet Recordings]
Phonogenic - Alpha Plant (Original Mix) [Cocoon]
Stephan Bodzin - Cucuma (Original Mix) [Herzblet Recordings]
(86mb)
Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:36:05 -0700
FWD is proud to present a special mix by none other than the Canadian minimal techno legend Pheek. This unorthodox mix contains a carefully combined set of 3 minute DJ tools arranged in a one hour journey and showcases the results of Archipel's (Pheek's flagship label) brightest producers in the recent "assignment 3" compilation. The contributing Archipel producers each offered up 2 three minute musical clips, one rhythmic and one ambient. The final result is found here, practically combined for the dance floor by Pheek himself. Enjoy!
Dualism - Ambient (Pheek remix)
Attentat - Black Dust
Le_Cantin - Quack Robot
Sebastian Herre - Ambient
Someone Else - Lip It
[a]ppendix Shuffle - Beats
Ten and Tracer - Texture
Jesse Voltaire - Aethyr
Dr.Nojoke - Kitchen
Kate Simko - Toolbeat
Marc Neyen - Beats
Alert - Primal Dark (Ambient)
Jesse Voltaire - Mildside (Ambient)
Cesare vs Disorder - Ambient
Tom Ellis - Beats
Kane Roth - Bouchel 1 (Beats)
Stefny - Atmos
Liebe ist Cool - Elfgarden (Beats)
Zentex - Scape 2
Kane Roth - Boucle 2 (Ambient)
Cesare vs Disorder - Beats
Stefny - Drrrumza
Tom Ellis - Nobeats (Featuring Suz)
Royale - Beattool
Plaster - Randori (Beat)
Dualism - Beats
Kexie - Signal (Ambient)
Pheek - Baba tool (Ototo Edit)
Ten and Tracer - Rhythm
Zentex - Beatz
Pheek - Carne (Beats)
Dr.Nojoke - Rome
(113mb)
Sat, 01 Mar 2008 14:08:25 -0700
Here's a new deep tech house mix from a good friend of mine, Brian Pfirrman, from Phoenix, Arizona. Enjoy!
1. Spirit Chaser - Coast(Original Mix) [Spiritlevel1]
2. Gavin Boyce - Sometimes its Me(Original Mix) [Nordic Trax]
3. Marcel Wave - 71 Aldie(Original Mix) [Freerange]
4. Unknown - Unknown
5. Nic & Lon - Metro(Original Mix) [Connected]
6. DJ Dean Smith - Tracks From the Vault(Head Beats) [Smooh Agent]
7. Martino - Chemtrails(Original Mix) [Smooth Agent]
8. 83 West - My Sound(Redux) [Soulstream]
9. Arnaud - Mi Amor(Instrumental Mix) [Funk La Planet]
10. Halo & Kemal - Lift Me Up(Halo & Kemal's Dubstramental) [MN2S]
11. Muzzail - Rouge [Prog City Deep]
12. Gavin Boyce - To The Roxy(Original Mix) [Nordic Trax]
13. After Tea - Bad Habits(Original Mix) [Bad Habits]
14. Babyfunk - The Hustle [Earthrumental]
(93mb)
Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:29:49 -0700
Here is an awesome Minimal Techno mix submitted to us by Mr Johnson from the Netherlands. The mixing is perfect and every track is better than the last. I hope you enjoy this mix as much as I did.
01. Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner - Don't Wanna Go [Moonplay Records]
02. Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner - Check My Own [Moonplay Records]
03. Milos Pavlovic - Da Sent Secrets [DBH Music]
04. Coffee Pot - Minorettes (Dingo Minimal Mix) [Recycle Records]
05. Alexis Cabrera, Guti - Muertita [Vekton Musik]
06. Marko - S 2 [Affin]
07. Alexis Cabrera - Underwear [Vekton Musik]
08. Santorini - Maggiolino Matto [Franz Franz]
09. Afrilounge, Mikdat - Maria Magdalena (Niko Schwind Remix) [Kassette Records]
10. Adrian Garza - Weisse Magie [Vekton Musik]
11. Moritz Piske - Scatfunk (Matt Star Remix) [Opossum Recordings]
12. Lektro - Picadilly Circus [Punkt Vor Strich Recordings]
13. Christian Duran, Julian Poker - Reset Volume 1 [Beat Freak]
(100mb)
Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:42:35 -0700
I decided to do something a bit different this time by going with some melodic tech house. I've been getting really tired of hearing the same electro stuff at the clubs lately, so this is my way of reminding people that there are some really great tunes that can rock a dance floor without being caked in electro cheese. As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated. Enjoy!
01. Richard Knott - Shallow Water (Sonny Wharton's Stripped Back Mix) [Revolucion Records]
02. The Gians - External Boxe (Minimal Mix) [FKJ Music Records]
03. 2 Smoking Barrels - Basses Loaded [Yoshitoshi Recordings]
04. DJ F.E.X. - Tahiti [Robotronic Recordings]
05. Dan Ghenacia - Cycles [Freak N Chic]
06. Dee Jay Cocoe - Webale Mukama Wange ft. Mukwenda (Fuckpony Remix) [Immigrant Records]
07. Gianni Bini and The System - Nothing (Nothing To Mix) [Checkmate]
08. Gionfriddo Brothers - Rhythm and Sound (Roger Torres Mix) [Infinite Beat Records]
09. Frederic De Carvalho and Slapstick - Pixelize (Expander Remix) [Absolut Freak]
10. Bjoern Bommersheim - Keep Me On [Layer3]
11. Quarion - Takin No Shorts [Perspectiv Records]
12. Dohr and Mangold - Sunrise 5.30 a.m. (Style of Eye Remix) [Joia Records]
13. Catz - Straitjacket (Andre Crom Autopsy Mix) [CatzMuzik]
14. Natalie Konan - Cuiraces [Carbon14]
(102mb)
Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:20:41 -0700
01. Style of Eye - Rockett (Plasmik Remix) [Tiny Sticks]
02. Jorge Savoretti - Subterraneo (Steph's Wokk Out Remix) [Igloo]
03. Noah Pred - Hot Pockets [Thoughtless Music]
04. Barem - Then They [Minus]
05. Siphon - The Green Room [FVF Records]
06. Marcin Czubala - I Am You (Daddy's Edit) [Mobilee]
07. Mark Ramsey - Trick Nut [Noir Music]
08. Donk Boys - Okdesuka [Siteholder Uncut]
09. Piatto - Roipnol [Italo Business]
10. From Karaoke to Stardom - Uppers Downers Screamers [Rrygular]
11. Alex Young and Artech - Minimalesk [Strike Recordings]
12. Sonodab - Boomer [MindTrip Music]
13. Emix and D. Lewis - Violet (Eivissa Mix) [Acid 80 Italy]
14. Holgi Star - Star and Sternchen [Rompecabeza]
15. Audion - Fred's Bells [Spectral Sound]
(53mb)
Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:28:33 -0700
Hope you like this Minimal/Electro house stomper!
Tracklist:
01. Audiofly & Scarlet Etienne-Kambuca[Kickboxer Germany]
02. Lee Van Dowski & Tsack-Asem[Soma Quality Recordings]
03. Giorgio Gigli-I Can't Breathe[Dumb-Unit]
04. D. Lewis And Emix-Fercam[Acid 80 Italy]
05. Enveloops-This One[BP Cult]
06. Emanuele Inglese-Camden Road(Andrea Bertolini Remix)[Stereo
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