Sunday, July 27, 2008

I Didn't know You Cared

Oh but I do, and to prove it, here are some more treats.

It's boiling over here in Suffolk, but my day has been interrupted by Hector, one of my boys, gashing his foot in the bathroom and having to go to hospital to get it stitched up. That little diversion has curbed my enthusiasm and made me lazy and apathetic. The music's there so I won't mince my words.



Clix (Recloose mix) - Brooks (Mantis)


Overlooked.





Bor Dlan Me mix sorcie la (I : Cube remix) - Kemit Sources (Versatile)


I : Cube's heart on his Detroit sleeve.





I Lke You (Restless Soul Peak Time mix) - Cassio Ware (Pan)


Fuck the horns off and this is almost perfect.




Kylie Said to Jason - The KLF (KLF Communications)


From cheese to the outer limits. The omnipresent sound of the second summer of love.




Love It Dub It (Joshua remix) - Iz and Diz (Silver Network)


Samples MC Kinky's & The E-Z Posse's "Everything Starts with an "E". An exercise in delicacy.




Sandwiches - The Detroit Grand Pubas (Throw)


First heard on a Dave Clarke Essential mix, and part of a comp 12" featuring an early Run, Stop, Restore effort. I'll post that too.


Do It Now - Dubtribe Sound System (Defected)


Big room hippy anthem. Ace!






Testfour - Sweet Exorcist (Warp)


Speaks for itself. The quintessential bleeper.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Machines Are Funky; 26/7/08


Here's last night's playlist plus full competition details.

Machines Are Funky: 26/7/08
First Heartbeat - Schatrax (Schatrax)
Loose - Julian Eustace (Static)
Electricity - Brendan Moeller (Leena)
Trim - Lee Curtiss (Dumb Unit)
Even - Baaz (Elevate US)
Super Pussy (Milton Jackson remix) - CBass & Mikobene (Elevation)
Dum - The Martin Brothers (Dirtybird)
Crazy Circous (Samim's Moonshine mix) - Mathias Tanzmann (Moon Harbour)
Bipolar - Eclipse (Alphahouse)

Tobi Neumann Guest Mix:

1. Dinky feat. Big Bully „she is moving“ Vacant

2. William Kouam „hard lovin“ Thirtyonetwenty

3. Cassy Britton „a peal form e“ Cocoon Comp. H

4. The Per Eckbo Orchestra „beat bravo“ Oslo Records

5. Unknow unknown ?

6. Djulz „yo momo“ – Shinedoe Rmx Intacto Records

7. Brett Johnson „sling blade“ Cynosure

8. Boris Werner „Sambosa“ Remote Area

9. Johnny D. „soleil“ Safari

10. Transformation „transform“ -

TobiNeumann&MatthewStyles Rmx It Sounds

I hope you like the cut and paste technique. This was how I got the tracklist, and I really can't be arsed sorting it out.

I've also got two copies of the recently released "Eyelights" mix cd with Dan Ghenacia at the controls, as well as the new "Secret Sundaze" mix with tonights decktician Tobi Neumann. To win a copy of each answer the following insufferably easy question.

Who are the Secret Sundaze residents, and which one of them has a recording career under what name?

Answers to corey.paul@209radio.co.uk and mark your email "Hardfloor Comp"
alternatively, leave a comment on my blog, machinesarefunky.blogspot.com in one of the comments boxes between now and the 9/8/08. In both cases leave full contact details, plus your email address if leaving a blog comment.

Good luck!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Machines Are Funky: 26/7/08

Not much to say about this weekends broadcast other than I've gone competition crazy. I've got two copies of the new Secret Sundaze mix, put together by Tobi Neumann, and two of the Freak n' Chic "Eyelights" mix, with label head Dan Ghenacia at the controls. Of course the music will be equally wonderful, with the second hour of the show given over to a Tobi Neumann mix.

Coming up on the next show there'll be a competition to win a couple of the new Soul Designer, aka Fabrice Lig, cd "Evolutionism" and the same of Luciano's "Fabric" jobbie.

Keep it locked.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Daniel Mnookin Mix July '08


Here's a link to a mix by Siteholder Records co-owner Daniel Mnookin, as well as an interview for you to peruse. Siteholder have recently been sending me their stuff, I reviewed their first full-length "Nymphotech" last week. They seem to be trying, with some degree of success, to update the shuffling "boompty" Chicago sound and give it a bit of edge. It's about time because I, for one, always thought it had a lot more going for it than most outside of Derrick Carter ever did. Funk in spades and an undercurrent of humour that more often than not manifests itself in the guise of tongue-in-cheek sleaze. Siteholder are currently the at the other end of the spectrum to the current crop of deep house specialists, providing a well-honed foil of fresh tomfoolery that complements more moody beats rather well.

Check out the mix and words here.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Philippe Autuori July '08 Mix


Here's a mix by recent Hypercolour recording star Philippe Autuori. As he says, "perfect for the summer."



1 Tom Demac The More Things Change Agnes Cardiff Remix - Hypercolour
2 Patrick Blasa This Silence - Stereo Deluxe
3 Philippe Autuori Everlasting Cigaret Dave DK & Holger Zilske Remix - Battle
4 Two Armadillos Hamlin - Dessous
5 Glimpse Julia - Hypercolour
6 Lazar Soul Tactics - Sthlmaudio
7 West Park Unit Bad Weed Grow Small - Future Classic
8 Argy & The Mole Cantstandlovegetaway - Poker Flat
9 Digs, Woosh & Mr Ski Free-Key Mix - DIY
10 Les Cerveaux Lents Le manège Hantée - Karat
11 Holger Zilske The Birds - Playhouse
12 Redshape Misc Usage - Delsin
13 Roy Davis Junior Join His Kingdom Demon Remix - 20000 ST
14 Session Victim No Friends No power - Realsoon
15 Ron Trent Space Ridims - Prescription
16 Mazi & Duriez This is not a follow up Peace Division Remix - Gourmet

Download here.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Machines Are Funky: 12/7/08 and Competition Question

Here's last night's playlist plus full competition details.

Machines Are Funky: 12/7/08

Kiss of Abana - Sven Weisemann (Mojuba)
Captain Storm - Anton Zap (Underground Quality)
Doll Eyes - Till von Sein (Morris Audio City Sport Edition)
Enquiries - Thatboytim (Nice & Nasty)
Soul Tactics - Lazar (STHMLAudio)
Pillow Head - Bearweasel (Murmur)
Doiicie A - Minilogue (Minilogue)
Unpublished Sound - Takasi Nakajima (Logos)
Ferocia Anima - Animaltek (Treibstoff)
Eiszauber (Motorcitysoul mix) - Solomun & Stimming (Diynamic)
Soca Soul - Varoslav (Supplement Facts)
Doubledub - Christian Burkhardt (Raum Music)
I Hate The Grid (Exercise One remix) - Oel & Polygon (Upon You)
JacknCoke - Hugh Hephner (Siteholder)
Seeing Mine Owning Me - Benjamin Fehr (Catenaccio)
Cristal - Nekes (Oslo)
Renewal (Shaka's Breakout mix) - Breandan Davey (Corner)
Plastic People - Santiago Salazar (Ican Productions)

I've also got two copies of the recently released "Tales of the Unexpected Vol 3" double mix cd with Hardfloor at the controls. To win a copy answer the following insufferably easy question.

In what year and on what label was Hardfloors "Acperience" released?

Answers to corey.paul@209radio.co.uk and mark your email "Hardfloor Comp"
alternatively, leave a comment on this blog in one of the comments boxes between now and the 26/7/08. In both cases leave full contact details, plus your email address if leaving a blog comment.

Good luck!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Machines Are Funky: 12/7/08



Summer often represents a slowdown were new musical product is concerned, but I've been as inundated with new tunes as ever. New music from Lazar, Christian Burkhardt, the new collection on the Logos label straight out of the Macedonian electronic underground, Bearweasel, something from Dublin's Nice and Nasty records (I haven't decided what yet) and loads more.

I'll also be giving away two copies of the latest "Tales of the Unexpected CD" mixed by Hardfloor.

Keep it locked.


Machines Are Funky: 7-9pm BST 105FM in Cambridge

209radio.co.uk globally

Click on the link, in the links.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Hardcore 'til I Die?



While waiting in the queue for my flight back from Barcelona at Girona airport a couple of weeks ago I became aware of the fact that I was surrounded by tons of ravers who were all still twatted. This was obvious because they were all dancing twitching and gurning against their collective will. This tickled me in a post-ironic way because I hadn't so much as had a sniff while I was out there. It's everywhere you're not.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

A New Beginning . . .

I really should try to feedback on stuff a lot more regularly and, while I'm at it, could I make a request? If my blog is credited with feedback when it's been given then it's good for both me and the track being reviewed. I'm on a publicity drive as of tonight. Mentioning your sources is polite isn't it?

Some good stuff has come my way recently and it's been ages since I wrote a chart, so that'll return at the end of this month. Meanwhile I've been the recipient of some great stuff from, amongst others, Morris Audio, Murmur, Freak n' Chic, Nice and Nasty and Siteholder. I shall now attempt to put some critical words together about this "stuff."



Title: Orpington EP
Artist: Bearweasel
Label: Murmur
Genre: Sparse Moodiness

Pillow Head
Wander Down
Wander Down (Dubshape mix)

Good solid mood-shaping release from Murmur who are gathering a reasonable amount of momentum as they hit their third release. Mid-paced glacial trance is the order of the day, that's trance as in adjective folks. "Pillow Head" sounds like slowed down wild pitch with an "ethnic" moan thrown in for good measure. "Wander Down" meanwhile, is a skeleton on which to hang your moods. 8-Bit's Dubshape turn in what for me is the most interesting offering with a mix that offsets a claustrophobic organic setting against industrial synth stabs. The best of both worlds.



Title: Hank Moody EP
Artist: Till von Sein
Label: Morris Audio Citysport Edition
Genre: Deep House

Privat
Hive
Doll Eyes

Groovy stuff from Herr von Sein that work on so many levels, rather like the Simpsons. "Privat" has a cavernous low end offset by high end synth stabs; it's a march for gay battalion and drives along at a pace that threatens to break free but never quite does so, reigned in, as it is, by its own sense of discipline. The percussion is crisp and all-enveloping and gives me the feeling of walking through a dense but friendly forest. "Hive" has the slightest hint of dub and then goes all wonky and strange. There's a healthy sense of imbalance here that only those who've strayed to the dark side can identify properly with. We've got a handclap on "Doll Eyes" which raises the tempo ever so delicately, but again there's a break which plunges the track into a vortex of uncertainty. All three offerings are relatively out there and unique.



Title: Logos Volume 1
Artist: Various
Label: Logos Recordings
Genre: Deep Techno/House


Tracklisting:
01. Niko Marks - Moods Of Man And Woman
02. Takasi Nakajima - Unpublished Sound
03. Itokim - Seven Days
04. Tatsuya Takenaka - Ukiyo
05. Ryo Shimizu - Finding Place
06. Alex W. aka Protector Hood - Morning Voyage
07. Goran Kan - Waves
08. DRS606 - Loving Jah
09. Samoil Radinski - Izvor 2
10. TR - Tecnewa
11. Igor Zotik - Sonika Flight (Samoil remix)
12. James Light - Planant Myspace

Forthcoming on the 15/8/08 from Macedonia's Logos Recordings complete with artwork from UR partner in ideology Abdul Qadim Haqq, I came across this as a consequence of it featuring a track by Itokim from Japan, someone I had already come into contact with when he released for Fine Art Recordings. OK, so Niko Marks' "Moods of Man and Woman" is electronic cocktail bar music but once over the first hurdle this collection really takes off. "Techewa" bowls along in an understated but powerful way, "Unpublished Sound" features a grinding percussive underbelly sprinkled with stardust, "Sonika Flight (Samoil remix)" is evocative and dramatic with a hint of snow . . . I could go on. This is a great release that oozes sophistication, class and a healthyattention to detail. A hommage to all things lush and atmospheric with a conspicuously strong nod in the direction of Detroit.





Title: Nymphotech
Artist: Hugh Hephner
Label: Siteholder
Genre: Updated Windy City House


1: Foreplay
2: My Money Your Body
3: Coffeeshop Chronicles
4: Black Potion
5: JacknCoke
6: Lotus Bomb
7: $ean Da Don
8: Quickie Bounce
9: Nymphotech



"I wanted to create a distinct style that combined the legendary sound of jackin' Chicago house with modern techno," explains Siteholder Records co-owner and world-renowned producer, Billy Dalessandro, when asked about his decision to create the Huge Hephner alias.

Huge Hephner, a name not easily forgotten, first gained notice in the electronic music world roughly a year ago, with "The Booty Drop" EP on Siteholder UnCut (Siteholder Records' digital sub-label). The release marked a clear departure from Dalessandro's traditional production style, implementing a distinguishable house vibe while still maintaining a forward-thinking techno feel.

Following the success of "The Booty Drop EP," Hephner took little time in preparing his first vinyl release for Siteholder, entitled the "Pimp Slappin'" EP. Building upon his prior success, the EP found its way into some of the world's top DJ's record bags. Up until this point, the individual behind the Hephner alias had remained a secret. However, following the critical acclaim of "Pimp Slappin'," it was only a matter of time until Hephner's true identity was revealed.

Merely one year later, Hephner ups the ante with the release of his debut album, entitled "Nymphotech." This full-length album marks the culmination of Hephner's young career with Siteholder Records - a label that techno legend Sven Vath claims is "putting Chicago back on the map."

Keeping today's volatile vinyl market in mind, Siteholder takes a unique release approach for their first full-length album. Instead of going the traditional double-pack route, "Nymphotech" will be released on vinyl via two separate three-track album samplers. The two remaining tracks will be available exclusively in digital format via Beatport. Those who purchase a digital copy of "Nymphotech" in its entirety will also get a free 30-minute live set by Hephner.

"After a successful digital EP and vinyl release, I really felt like it was time to put myself to the test by producing an entire album - the first I had ever done under an alias," Billy notes, "from the beginning I had always wanted to create a separate identity with an equally fruitful career to the one I've built under my given name... Huge Hephner has allowed me to do that and at a pace beyond anything I could have ever imagined!"

As Dalessandro prepares to hit the road in August for yet another European tour, Nymphotech is poised not only to ensure further recognition of the Huge Hephner name, but also push Siteholder Records into the few pockets of the planet it has yet to penetrate.

Of course the above is a press release and not my work at all, so what's Siteholder's first foray into full-length territory like? Well . . .

"I wanted to create a distinct style that combined the legendary sound of jackin' Chicago house with modern techno," . . .

I think he's done quite well where this is concerned. This is an understated masterclass in sophisticated shuffle and funky entrails. At first listen it might appear that there's not a whole lot going on, but each tune has its own subtleties and nuances that sets it apart from what's gone before. Personal faves are "JacknCoke," with its pronounced bassline that rises and falls together with a slightly off-key piano, "Lotus Bomb," which makes deft use of a clever little guitar lick throughout, "Sean Da Don," which grooves along nicely on a foundation of vocal samples and snippets and possibly the best track of all, "Nymphotech" which is a space-age journey through acid soundscapes and disorientating thoughts. This collection has funk in spades and I can only hope Derrick Carter and Mark Farina are banging this lot out.



More to come . . .

Saturday, July 05, 2008

It's Been A Long Time . . .

. . .I shouldna left you etc . . .

Here's the results of a recent scouring of the crates.




Time 2 Jack (Log Cabins mix) - Mark Farina (Music For Freaks)


Strictly limited output insofar as his recording career is concerned, when he does get his finger out Mark Farina shows his liking for quirky beats and obscure spoken word samples. This release on the sadly no longer with us MFF is a perfect example of his style.



Fantasize (Vocal Club mix) - Rob Mello featuring Cecile (Classic)


And we go straight from MFF to it's sister label Classic and, more specifically the very talented and singular, but incredibly underrated and slept on Rob Mello. Apart from a guest appearance on Damian Lazarus' "Lazpod" Signor Mello has been rarely spotted recently. This is one of his best and straddles the divide between refinement and sleaze.



Venus Fly Trap - Too Funk (Ferox)


The Classic/MFF connection is tenous here, with the only link being the fact that Classic label co-owner Derrick Carter remixed this track for the first Ferox "Adventures In Techno Soul" comp. A sparse, arid bleepy acid track with depth.



Back In Charge - Russ Gabriel (Soul On Wax)


Too Funk himself, Russ Gabriel, on one of two releases that came out on his own Soul On Wax label. Great gnarly funky house drenched in soul and atmosphere.



Groove la Chord - Aril Brikha (Fragile)


Needs no intro, does it?




Grab My Shaft - Louie Austin featuring Peaches (City Rockers)


Dirty old Austrian, Louie Austin in a sleazy duet avec Peaches. It's all about the sub-bass and synth.




I'll House You (The Gee St Reconstruction) - Richie Rich Meets The Jungle Brothers (Gee St)

As old as prostitution and still with everything intact.

"I Rise" (Main mix) - Ruben Mancias (Look At You)


Faggish vocal with a quiet, dramatic assurance underpinned by a plucked guitar that sounds vaguely west African. Mr Mancias, he say "I've never heard of me since . . . "



Dark Room - Ron Trent (Balance)


This track started off the recent Norman Nodge mox on Minimal Ssgs. Knew I had it so thought I'd post it. Classic RT deep elements on show. Timeless beats that are a little bit difficult to take seriously while watching "Goldmember."