Berlin's Achterbahn D’Amour are Johannes Paluka and Jurgen Albert, aka Iron Curtis and Jool. They released their stunning debut album 'Odd Movements' last month on Acid Test, matching emotionally-tinged funk with acid basslines and tinny drums from Roland's stalwarts - the 303 and 606.
Fortunately, they also found time to deliver the fiftieth mix in our series, Achterbahn D'Amour deliver an acid-fuelled 45 minutes of machine music, old and new. No tracklist, so get digging!
Since 2010, Perseus Traxx has been playing analog hardware and creating grooves that resist digital trends. Not only having released music on labels like Bunker, MOS, Photic Fields, Chiwax, Sequencias, and Future Flash, the producer is also known for his elaborate live show setup, which features a mountain of vintage and analog gear. He describes his work as 'electronic soul music' and is heavily influenced by the sounds Chicago and Detroit. Get some proper acid down ya, none of that fake shit floating around these days.
This mix sees Perseus Traxx hitting the decks to show us some material he's been feeling lately. A mix of classic Chicago and Detroit-infused house music, with touches of acid and some of his own productions to boot. Catalogue numbers are tracklisted below.
As we draw ever closer to the big five-o, the next offering in our mix series comes from the rapidly name Massimo Di Lena. You may have clocked his Hardlife EP which featured in many festival sets this summer. He’s recently uploaded two lost and found tapes of sandy techno which you can sample below. These were made in 2011 and many may think these are among his first output but this artist ain't new to the producing game. He's previously put out a number of releases on a variety of labels under his Massi DL alias - generally falling somewhere in the Minimal/Tech bracket.
The mix features erratic Techno and jackin’ House cuts whilst grooving through some exclusive forthcoming material.
For our latest podcast, we welcome Milan-based duo Hiver. Residents at Dude Club, their DJing style has turned many a head, with a strong selection across the board of disco, house and techno. They've also released a few records themselves, their most recent offering on Curle Recordings featuring a remix from Tobias.
Blue Aconite EP – Hiver[Curle]
From the podcast they've put together for us, it's easy to see these guys have a lot of talent. Starting off deep and dubby, the duo expertly notch the tempo up, serving up some rather grooving techno. It's a peachy one, this.
Marcellis re-emerged on Workshop Records last year with a solo 12" and a contribution to the various artists' release WORKSHOP15. An element of psychedelia revolves in his productions and also in the exclusive mix he kindly sent over. Immerse yourself for 65 minutes and look out for more material and potential DJ appearances from Marcellis later this year.
Next up to bat in our exclusive mix series is Presk. Last year the Dutchman released a string of solid EPs on labels such as Fourth Wave and Audio Culture but has been pretty quiet so far this year. Back in February he took his talents across the pond for a pumping reshuffle of Tazz's 'Piano Kinesis' on New Kanada but there's no news of any forthcoming releases as of yet. The mix comes in slightly shorter than usual at 50 minutes but packs a full punch with heavy, dancefloor ready jams throughout.
HH MIX #043 - Presk [download]
01. A Guy Called Gerald - Groove Of The Ghetto [Bosconi]
02. Delano Smith - Mariana's Song [Mixmode]
03. Panos & Sentenza - Tabletop Romance [Soweso]
04. Unknown - Untitled [???]
05. Roman Lindau - Pop Moderne [Fachwerk]
06. Felix Lenferink - Third Bouree (Frits Wentink Remix) [Fourth Wave]
07. Bobby Champs - Stanton Shuffle [WNCL]
08. Sei A - Hawk Tone [Kompakt Extra]
09. Tazz - Piano Kinesis (Presk Remix) [New Kanada]
10. Marcus Worgull & Osunlade - Reno [Innervisions]
11. Unknown - Untitled [???]
12. Will & Ink - First Fermat B1 [forthcoming Will & Ink]
13. The Oliverwho Factory - Before [Dolly]
For the 42nd instalment in our series of exclusive mixes, we’re proud to present producer, DJ, label owner and upcoming HH guest Semtek.
Goons - Semtek[Don't Be Afraid]
Benjamin Roth has been steadily knocking out some of our favourite music of recent years – idiosyncratic house and techno that nods to the past (without descending into artless re-appropriation) and embraces the future. His excellent Don’t Be Afraid label has played host to Mr. Beatnick, Photonz, MGUN and plenty others, too.
This 50-minute mix he landed in our inbox encompasses the likes of Shed, Rick Wade, Aaron Carl and a whole host of treasures we’re looking forward to hearng on the system when he gets to Leeds on Friday. Lovely stuff.
HH MIX #042 - Semtek [download]
01. Nick Dunton - Between Worlds [Surface]
02. Bleak - Noon Shape [Deeply Rooted]
03. BLM & Pawas - Online (Cally Remix) [Fear Of Flying]
04. Naoki Shiohara - Timeless [Metrolux]
05. Audision - Avenger [Mule Musiq]
06. Aaron Carl - Crucified (Vocal) [Styrax]
07. Rick Wade - Nothing To Fear (DBX Remix) [Harmonie Park]
08. Aardvarck - (Just Washed) That Pig (Extended) [Rush Hour]
09. Hazylujah - Dream Logic [Delsin]
10. Dan Ghenacia - Djebali [Freak'n'Chic]
11. Shed - Wax 50005 [Wax]
12. Claude Young - Impolite To Refuse (Esteban Adame's Deep Mix) [ICAN]
Check the Facebook event for our 1st birthday here.
For the 41st mix in our exclusive series we are proud to present an all own productions mix from Joey Anderson. The Inimeg label founder had a good year in 2012 with highly lauded releases on Deconstruct and UntilMyHeartStops demonstrating why he is more than capable of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Levon Vincent and Dj Qu. The mix combines sinister, haunting and beautiful soundscapes which effortlessly showcase Anderson's raw and unpolished take on house. Enjoy.
Our 40th exclusive mix comes from one of 2012's breakout acts, Pittsburgh Track Authority. The trio of Preslav Lefterov, Thomas Cox, and Adam Ratana use a plethora of analog synths, vintage drum machines, live percussion, and a healthy dose of EFX to make beautiful organic dance music that doesn't sound immediately dated like so much of the typical plug-in house saturating the scene right now. Along with spectacular analogue live shows (and DJ sets), they have released on Further, Uzuri, and Argot, and run the labels Machine Age, and Love What You Feel, as well as their in-house label Pittsburgh Tracks. Their upcoming Strenf EP will be released on Work Them Records later this year.
In recent months they have made a number of tracks available to download so we asked them if they were up for us re-hosting them for a limited amount of time. Get them while they're hot.
We are delighted to present this mix, a rough-and-ready excursion through the house spectrum, touching on deep techno and Afrobeat-influenced cuts, with both forgotten gems and some new and upcoming productions.
01. Scan 7 - The Resistance [New Kanada]
02. Robert Hood - Torque One [Music Man Records]
03. Ibex - Jericho [Ibex Music]
04. Irfan - The Moonmoth [Still Music]
05. Big Strick feat. Omar S - Family Affair [7 Days Entertainment]
06. Four Tet - Lion [Text]
07. EZLV - EZ LEE [100% Silk]
08. Mr. Mageeka - Vintage Malarkey (Karizma Remix) [Phuture Shock Musik]
09. Juju & Jordash - Loosey Goosey [Dekmantel]
10. Amir Alexander - Eyes Open Mouth Shut [Finale Sessions]
11. James Duncan - Shades Of House B1 [Real Soon]
12. Rick Wade - Your Love [Funky Chocolate]
13. Africanism - Les Enfants Du Bled [Yellow]
14. Afefe Iku - When Will You Leave [Raw Tune Cuts]
15. FIT feat. Gunnar Wendel - Roll Out [FXHE]
16. Revelation - Feel It (PTA Edit) [forthcoming Rotating Souls Records]
17. Colonel Abrams - Trapped [MCA]
For the 39th edition in our mix series, we present arnaldo. We also had a pretty extensive chat - enjoy.
Who exactly are you and what do you do for a living?
I’m William Smith. I'm Argentine born but was raised in Norfolk. I cut my teeth in Manchester and currently reside in London. Norfolk is a great place to grow and to die, but in between you need to make a tree and split.
In Manchester I worked for several years at Eastern Bloc Records (established 1985). I learnt and bought a lot working there.
I’ve been in London for around a year, and I work for a music consultancy company who compile playlists and music systems for venues ranging from bars, restaurants, cinemas, shops, blah blah blah. I also play for a few bars weekly. It’s great as it gives me two clear days off in the week to write and listen to music... I can’t write music at night so it works a treat for me. I also sacrifice most weekends so I’m that guy commenting from the bedroom on Facebook!
You mention DJing in bars... do you take requests?
Haha. I am known as a bit of a… hmm how to make this sound like I’m not one? I’m a bit of twat about it to be honest. I have been doing it for many years and have studied people’s habits quite closely... mating rituals too (not that I’m a peeping Tom or anything).
I have found the best response is a flat “no”, as if you budge a little they will ride you all night thinking you’re their “mate” or “bruv” if you’re down here in the south.
It’s not that I’m that arrogant twat who thinks he’s so cool… I’m in fact that quiet guy who does not want to talk to you whilst DJing. I always get people telling me to “cheer up” – my relaxed face must look grumpy to some.
Best example is when someone requests, you say “no” and go back to mixing, then a few moments later you turn and they are still there! I’ll say “yes?” and they’ll say “You’re so rude!” and it’s like “How so? You asked a question and I replied”... it’s not like we’re gonna grab a drink and talk about the gross national debt or how expensive the drinks are in here... or are we? Maybe I’m the bad person…
Tell us a bit about your production set-up. Cracked copy of Ableton and a few VSTs, right?
Ha… I have Ableton 8, I think, and it’s definitely not for me... I just can’t seem to get on with it. When I tried to make something that didn’t just use samples and “clips” I just came up with stuff that sounded like everyone else... I’m kidding, some of my most respected peers use it and it boggles me what they can do with it... I just can’t! I’m that guy that has to get someone else just to warp something for me haha.
My workhouse is Logic, I’ve used it from the start and find that it’s very quick and has a great ‘width’ of sound… you can really place sounds well in the stereo field. Obviously its width is nothing in comparison to using a desk and having separate outs running from a drum machine... then it gets WIDE!
I guess that leads us on to the tidbits I use out side ‘the box’. I have my boom machine (808) and my thunderclap machine (909), both made by Roland in the 80s, in addition to a 606. I’d really like a CR-78 too, one day. I also use an MPC and a filter bank (not a Sherman though).
Unfortunately synths are something I lack, but I’ve borrowed a few in the past and got some great samples, so that should keep me busy until the modular arrives, ha. I also do a lot of field recording with my DAT recorder and microphone.
I think that all aspects should be considered in this day and age - including Ableton. I personally think that you should try and use analog stuff if you can but then utilise the positive aspects of a DAW for processing. What I’ve done from the beginning is to get something raw and then get it screaming yourself… not just use a pre-made sample pack.
In the 90s the production process was often a lot more rough and ready and obviously equipment was limited... I have an early DJ Spen record (“Back When”) which phases quite badly… VIBES!
It phases?
What I mean is, his samples are so rough and ill cut… possibly he may even have two records mixing together. Phasing is when you have two identical sounds and they cancel each other out.
Love the record though. I just want people to understand my viewpoint, I’m not an “anti-sampling” kinda guy (most of my favourite records are sampled to fuck) - it’s just the way I go about things personally. Just try and do the work yourself and learn the techniques.
Ah it’s actually really funny, it was a fate thing.
Oh yeah?
I played with Julius (Steinhoff, one half of Smallpeople) and Lawrence at meandyou. in Manchester a few years ago. Then maybe two or so years later I was selling a record on Discogs and noticed the guy buying it was called “Julius Steinhoff” then checked the postal address and noticed it was the address of the Smallville shop in Hamburg!
I messaged him saying “Hi, I played with you at meandyou.” or whatever and then thought fuck it and copied and pasted my Soundcloud URL at the bottom of one of the messages. It was a punt but it paid off!
I should mention Greta Cottage Workshop too. I sent Matt, the label owner, a track after I bought his Mudkid record, which I really like.
I’m really bad at deciding on what to send and who to send to. I’m not one of those types to go around sending my music to 50-odd different labels – my music is too precious to be mass-sent like that.
"I don't make music for the masses, I make music for the small majority that listens" as the great Kenny Dixon Jr. once said.
Haha good words... similar to the slogan for Hendricks gin – “Loved by a select few”.
A lot of my stuff is just me trying to make things work and experimenting, especially as I’m not a trained musician - just a guy learning, and trying things out, more importantly.
Trial and error eh?
Yeah but I go down the error route for quite some way more often than not. I’d prefer to use the term ‘experimentation’, as ‘error’ means different things to different people.
It's all just subjective I suppose.
Ha, indeed. I’m not too fussed with what other folks think.
Best way to be. We loved your set at the Smallville night at Berlin's Loftus Hall in October. How did you find the experience?
HOT. As in degrees, I don’t mean that in a ‘Seth Troxler’ kind way.
Was a bit of a sweatbox in that place wasn't it?
Yeah. You know it’s 'close' when you have to wipe your hands just to be able to get traction on the records. Plus I had to take my hat off!
But the party was magnificent. I’m starting to really enjoy playing with Dan (Juniper) and Just and Julius (Smallpeople). Great people and great jocks.
Loftus Hall, Berlin 27.10.12 - arnaldo
How does playing in Berlin differ from a regular gig?
Germany in general is a great place to place to play I think, crowds always seem so appreciative. I’ve not really played many different countries so I can’t really give too much of an answer.
That was going to be my next question actually... so I take it that wasn't the first overseas gig you've played?
No, I’ve played in Germany a couple of times before. First at Tape in Berlin for a meandyou. party, then I played for a friend’s night at Morlox in Berlin and of course the release party for Smallville030 at Ego in Hamburg.
We Met In Manchester - Juniper / arnaldo[Smallville]
You mentioned meandyou. a couple of times. They've made some great bookings over the years. Are you still a resident for them?
Yes meandyou. have some magnificent guests. Yes I am still a resident but due to my other commitments it’s hard for me to take time off... with Dan (Juniper) and Pete (Joy Orbison) looking after things it’s all cool. Hopefully I should be able to make an appearance early next year.
I'm sure they're in good hands with those boys at the reins. Do you have a favourite DJ? Or one you particularly respect/admire?
Mark Turner. Basically I would love to put on a night and have Gerd Janson first followed by Mark. That there would be an interesting night with of A LOT of dancing. Weird as I have only heard him once but amongst others he played “Can U Dance” by Kenny ‘Jammin’ Jason, one of my favourite 80s house tracks. Yeah it’s a little cheesy, but it has a hook big enough to catch a whale.
Is this the Mark Turner that was a resident at The Orbit?
Yes he was but that wasn’t all he did... he sold records to the best in Eastern Bloc and also embarrassed most of the 'best' when it came to mixing records. If you get a chance to hear him in Leeds you need to go.
Quite the endorsement, I'll have to keep my eyes peeled. What's in the pipeline for Arnaldo? Any upcoming releases or gigs you'd like to plug?
Gig-wise I’m playing this pervert party called Arthouse or something (or is it bath house?) but that’s not until March 2013. That’s at the Deaf Institute in Manchester. It’ll be three people’s birthdays (including mine) that night so should be a great party. Also I need to do a podcast for them, been a year or so since they asked!
Release-wise I have a track on Blank Slate Sounds 001 - some great cats from the east coast of the US. It’s the new label from one half of Supply Records (B-Tracks, etc). That should be available around Christmas through Honest Jons and all good outposts.
Then I have a Greta Cottage Workshop EP out mid January, and then Blank Slate 003 after that at some point.
Plenty on the agenda then. Did you have anything particular in mind when you recorded this mix for us? Tell us a bit about it.
I kind of wanted to do something a little different to my recorded club mixes, and wanted to include some particular records I’d bought recently. It’s more of a “home-listening house” mix.
Three-quarters of the way though recording it, I realized a large chunk of the records I’d taken to Berlin were missing… I almost had to stop the mix ha.
You’d left them there?!
Yeah, only at my mate’s place. He’d noticed them knocking about but didn’t know who they belonged to.
Phew! Could have had a disaster on your hands.
Things got a little ‘emotional’ let’s say.
They tend to when such large quantities of vinyl are involved...
Yeah, some I really didn’t want to have to replace due to the prices being charged for them on that record listing website.
That fucking website.
I am always so particular and cautious with records as well. Happens to the best of us I suppose.
Out to arnaldo for taking the time to chat with us - we'll leave you with his aptly named 'slow but what's the rush' mix which he's very kindly recorded for us.
HH MIX #039 - arnaldo [download]
Get following on Soundcloud if you aren't already and keep your eyes peeled for those forthcoming releases.
Eerie label boss and purveyor of dark and dubby techno, Marco Shuttle, is up next in our exclsuive mix series. Notable releases from the Italian fashion designer turned music producer include his All Around the Fires EP for Clone and the unforgettable The Vox Attitude EP for the Farden records off shoot label VIDD.
The Eerie label was launched this summer with a nice 3 track EP entitled Modula and has been recently followed up by the There's No Point EP. If 'eerie' was what Marco was going for then he has hit the nail on the head with his latest release. Two haunting tracks that spread over more than 20 minutes, not for the faint hearted.
The mix that Marco has put together for us follows along a similar vein to our recent #.19.21.3.11.21.20 and Recondite mixes in the sense that it is definitely one for the late hours. A great mix from a great producer. Enjoy.
HH MIX #038 - Marco Shuttle [download]
01. Nulclid - Mewark [Art Tek[
02. Stoplight Loosejaw - Juju & Jordash [Dekmantel]
03. Earth Calls - Joey Anderson [Deconstruct]
04. There's No Point... - Marco Shuttle [Eerie]
05. A1 - Jeff Mills [Something In The Sky]
06. Fountain Of Life - Terrence Dixon [Tresor]
07. Dissolve (Dungeon Dub) - Crystal Maze [Bio Rhythm]
08. ...That's The Point - Marco Shuttle [Eerie]
09. Dr Blowfins Black Storm Stabilizing Spheres - Drexciya [Tresor]
10. Bad Schandau - El Mal [Ifach]
11. Buoyant Slight - Metasplice [Morphine]
12. Night - Funkineven [Wild Oats]
13. The Ace Of Spades - 2AM/FM [Spectral Sound]
14. The Final Frontier - Underground Resistance [Underground Resistance]
15. Rhythm Of The Night - Sex Worker [Not Not Fun]
Exclusive mix number 37 comes from the mysterious and unknown quantity #19.21.3.11.21.20. As you can imagine there is next to no information to be found on this anonymous Frozen Border affiliated producer. So we took the opportunity to ask him a few questions in an attempt to gain some insight into the man behind the number.
You only have the one release so far under your #19.21.3.11.21.20 guise. Have you ever produced under a different name, and if you have, do you feel that this alias allows you to explore other musical outlets or is it purely for the purpose of anonymity?
Yes I did and I still do. The #.19.21.3.11.21.20. is Frozen Border exclusive and of course those tracks are different, I would say a bit more relaxed and even more stripped down.
On the subject of anonymity how do you feel about the relatively
recent explosion of DJ celebrity culture? Do you feel remaining
anonymous helps keep the focus on the music?
Well I always try to keep the focus on the music. That's everything which counts for me. So for me in person, names doesn't play a big role.
Do you have any favourite clubs that you tend to go to and have you
seen any DJs/live acts recently that have particularly impressed you?
No I don't like to go out for having party. But I saw Skudge live last year, that was impressive. A real liveact with hardware.
Where do you draw your influences from? Are there any producers in
particular that you look up to, past or present?
Everything I recognize influences me in a way. Of course there are a few guys I look up to.
Can you talk us through your thought process behind the mix?
I've recorded it on a lazy Sunday and I wanted to record something different, not just a typical club set.
The mix that you've done for us is vinyl only, where do you stand on
the vinyl versus digital debate?
I like vinyls and CDs. Those are my weapons of choice. Everyone should choose his own but to be honest, to press sync buttons isn't a challenge - I don't like perfect sets, that's not human.
And finally, can we expect to see anything from #.19.21.3.11.21.20. in the near future?
Maybe.
Thanks for taking the time to answer a few of our questions and for recording the mix for us.
Without doubt #19.21.3.11.21.20's contribution to the series is one of our favourite to date, great selections that slowly and subtly build up to a crescendo before crashing back down at the last minute. A mix best served late at night with a decent pair of headphones. No tracklist on this one so get commenting on those track i.d's!
Next up in the series is the Leeds upstarts Voyeur who we introduced back in June last year. Their success story continues as they've just stepped up for a release on Kerri Chandler's new digital imprint MadTech Records. Previous to that was the remix of Bombay Bicycle Club which you can hear below.
How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep (Voyeur Remix) - BBC[Island]
This mix brings a slight switch up to recent HH mixes, exploring the techier side of house alongside a few deeper treats from the likes of Smallpeople, Gerry Read & Mike Dehnert. Enjoy.
HH MIX #036 - Voyeur [download]
01. Grace - Darling Farah [Civil Music]
02. Black Ice - Smallpeople [Smallville Records]
03. Callisto (Replika Remix) - Rick Leonard [Trendy Mullet]
04. Bozza - Gerry Read [Delsin Records]
05. Spinning Top (Detroit Swindle Remix) - Homework [Exploited]
06. Wanna Be There - Joyce Muniz [2020 Vision]
07. Three Feet High - Ethyl & Huxley [Saints & Sonnets]
08. Untitled - Voyeur [unreleased]
09. Ask Yourself - Homework [Exploited]
10. The L Word - Archie Hamilton [unreleased]
11. Isolateur - Mike Dehnert [Fachwerk Digital]
12. Hands Together - M. Senna & P. Zohdy [Black & White Orange]
13. Blame It On The Youth (Kerri Chandler Club Mix) - Voyeur [MadTech]
We look forward to where these boys go next with their productions - keep up to date with them on Soundcloud and Facebook.
It is a pleasure to have Toronto-based Basic Soul Unit provide us with the next mix in our exclusive series.
For almost 10 years now he has released a solid stream of quality music on some great labels, including Ostgut Ton, Other Heights and Creme Organization. His most recent release really helped cement the high calibre of material that he has been producing with two stunning tracks for Boddika's NonPlus imprint.
Black Ice - Basic Soul Unit[Midnight Shift]
Born in Hong Kong and growing up in Canada, BSU was immersed in a diverse multi-cultural city which was heavily influenced musically by Europe, NYC, Detroit and Chicago in the late '80s and early '90s. This wide spectrum of sounds is represented well here in the mix which, after a little atmospheric palette cleanser, kicks off with some deep disco vibes and slowly progresses through to deep house and techno.
HH MIX #035 - Basic Soul Unit [download]
01. Imugem Orihasam - Grey Level Version [New Kanada]
02. Pleasure - Ghettos Of The Mind [Fantasy]
03. Stargaze - You Can't Have It [TNT Unlimited Inc.]
04. Buari - Advice From Father [RCA]
05. Joe - MB [Hemlock]
06. Theo Parrish - I Can Take It (feat. Dwele) [Sound Signature]
07. Aybee - No Fiction [Deepblak]
08. Barker & Baumecker - Schlang Bang [Ostgut Ton]
09. STL - Your Turn [Smallville]
10. Gingy & Bordello - Body Acid (KiNK remix) [Turbo]
11. Funkinevil - Night [Wild Oats]
12. Jonas Kopp - Green Fingers [Deeply Rooted House]
13. Skudge - Vessel [Nonplus+]
14. Ken Kojima - Armando [Chiwax]
15. Mutabaraka - Poem (Irfan & Simbad mix) [unreleased]
Plangent Records has been an outlet for the deep workings of Berlin's Recondite. The four limited melancholic white labels found their way into the bag of Scuba whose clearly a big fan, leading to a remix of 'The Hope'.
On Acid saw Recondite explore the deeper side of the 303 for an album on Absurd. There's no jarring resonant squeaks here, just subtle tweaks of the Roland machine that allows for a real journey into the sparse analog abyss. Remixes came from Scuba and fellow acid experimenter Tin Man.
The latest release on Scuba's Hotflush Recordings showcases the tracks 'DRGN' and 'Wist 365'. 'DRGN' features bit-crushed sweeps and a prominent warped LFO drone as it builds, before dropping into dark territory with its minimal bass-line and beat. You wouldn't think it's peak time dance floor material, but DJ's such as Boddika have been championing it in their sets. 'Wist 365' is a dreamy 9-minute long workout. Various percussive rhythms lead the track, whilst chimes glimmer to create a shadowy atmosphere. It's gloomy stuff, but Recondite manages to create abstract beauty for Hotflush's 25th outing.
DRGN/Wist 365 - Recondite[Hotflush Recordings]
Here we're proud to present no.34 in the series, and our 3rd all-own-productions mix. If you can make a mix that sounds this good from start to finish with all your own music then you're definitely doing something right. Quality from start to finish...
Mix number 33 in our exclusive series is a real treat. A one hour live set from Hans Berg, the Swedish Berliner that has been bubbling up in the scene lately with prime cuts of House and Techno on labels such as Fullbarr and Kant Recordings.
Berg's latest release 'Machines' is a firm favourite of ours here at Hush House (featured here). The two originals off the EP, 'Machines' and 'Space Arp', are two unique tracks that are simultaneously experimental and polished. It is a credit to Berg as a producer that he is able to create tracks that take the listener out of their comfort zone whilst retaining an essence of familiarity. Unfortunately there's no individual preview on the internet but go hunt it down.
Berg doesn't DJ, he performs his music live, allowing him to bring an 'extra dimension' to the interaction with his audience. This extra dimension is clearly visible in our exclusive set, the live format enables Berg to explore and develop sounds and textures that he may otherwise not be able to.
HH MIX #033 - Hans Berg [download]
On an interesting side note, Berg works collaboratively with Swedish video artist Nathalie Djurberg. In this project he demonstrates how his musical talents extend past the dance floor and in to the art gallery. Check it here and get following on Facebook & Soundcloud.
Whilst the previous mix from Outboxx is still on heavy rotation it has had to be juggled with this next one from the up-and-coming Swedish badman Bleak. We like to switch things up and that's exactly what's on the agenda here. Prepare yourself for another quality piece of aural amusement.
Late Night - Bleak[unreleased]
Bleak's productions so far have gained praise from up and down the spectrum. Most notably DJ Deep whose Deeply Rooted House label has played a large part in recognising the talent. DRH aims to release "true to it's roots" house and techno which is exactly why two out four of this man's EPs have been given the boss' approval. He sits alongside artists such as Kerri Chandler, DJ Gregory and Ben Klock to name a few.
Teaser - Bleak[unreleased]
Our attention was first drawn when we clocked the sturdy, bumping 'Ekko' towards the end of last year. Since then we've been eagerly awaiting some more material whilst in the process of rinsing the first two EPs which were out on Sudden Drop. Suddenly 6 month wait was rewarded and two releases drop in quick succession. First came an effort on Traut Muzik featuring a beefy, if a little simple, Skudge remix - then the Disfunktion EP, a nails 4 track outing which you can currently pick up on repress at Juno.
Unknown - Bleak[unreleased]
We asked what else is lined up and here's the answer...
"Next releases will be on DRH again and Skudge, remixes for Markus Suckut's label SCKT, Pfirter, Deep Moves and Cinematic Records for the moment. A few releases that are not really confirmed yet so I can´t tell them for now"
This mix gets another very high rating from us. Ups and downs, melodies, rawness, it's all there. Best listened to at night in some decent headphones on a train/tube/coach/car. Somewhere where you can watch streetlights playing in your retinae.
HH MIX #032 - Bleak [download]
01. Emily's Smile (Sigha 'She's Still Smiling' Remix) - Commix [Metalheadz]
02. MM - ESHU [ESHU Records]
03. Sonic Rescue - Silicon [Frustrated Funk]
04. Global Communication - The Deep [Dedicated]
05. Diffraction (Markus Suckut Remix) - Truncate [Modularz]
06. The Fear Ratio (James Ruskin & Mark Broom) - Skana [Blueprint]
07. Going Nowhere Fast - Roberto [Affin]
08. The Lost Of A Love (Dub) - Sterac [:100% Pure]
09. Stop Thinking Increase Consumption (Makaton Remix) - Death Abyss [Rodz-Konez]
10. Maik the chicken - Modeselektor [Monkeytown Germany]
11. Binary Opposition (Ben Klock Process) - Ø[Phase] [Token]
12. Timeless Altitude - Secret Cinema [Music Man Records]
We proudly present the next in the series. This one's a big one. Probably our favourite mix of the series so far - it's that good! Outboxx are a Bristol-based duo plugging away at creating top quality music. All their releases so far are fantastic. Stand out EPs last year were on Idle Hands and Immerse. This year they have, probably their strongest release yet out on BRSTL - a limited, no hype, vinyl only label from... Bristol, and their latest, the Astro Girl EP which is out on Immerse again.
Dolphs Vision - Outboxx[Immerse]
If you missed their Boiler Room set recently, unfortunately there were some technical issues with the recording but they've managed so salvage a few minutes of it which features 'Brighten My Day' with the lovely Naomi Jeremy on vocal duties. Watch it here. We are pleased to announce that they will be joining us on Friday 21 September at The Garage in Leeds. More details soon come.
HH MIX #031 - Outboxx [download]
01. Outboxx - Aporia [Idle Hands]
02. Crackazat - Panick Aggressive [Futureboogie]
03. G-Transition - Morning Sequence [forthcoming Boe Recordings]
04. Maxamillion Dunbar - Lemon & Lime [Ramp Recordings]
05. Tony Allen - Moyege [Mark Ernestus Dub]
06. Theo Parrish - Nefarious Stranger [Sound Signature]
07. Pop & Eye - Being Boing [Editainment]
08. Andrés - Jazz Dance [La Vida]
09. James Mason - Nightgruv [Rush Hour]
10. Mr Beatnick - Beneath the Reef [Don't Be Afraid]
11. Outboxx - All The Right Moves [forthcoming Idle Hands]
The name EJECA first appeared on our radar late last year after a couple solid EPs on HellZone Records, since then the Irishman has had a torrent of releases, predominantly in the form of remix commissions and compilation contributions. However, heads really started turning after his addition to the vinyl only Tusk Wax series in May. Around the same time BICEP ended their outstanding Boiler Room set with 'You', the duo's collaboration track with EJECA forthcoming on an EP out on Aus Music next week. As the relatively new producer heads towards a surge in popularity, we thought we'd delve a little deeper into the world of EJECA. Here are a few questions and a mix for your listening pleasure.
You - BICEP & EJECA[forthcoming Aus Music]
When did you start producing and what were your main influences as you were growing up?
When I was about 10/11. I got a DJX Keyboard, it was so much fun , actually learn't a lot of it. Had a wee sampler on it and all. I used Cubase with it but got too confused (I still do) then went on to Fruity Loops.
Your output as Ejeca so far has been somewhere in the house/disco domain, have you ever, or would you ever, consider producing any other styles of music?
Haha, I've produced quite a varied amount of genres. Trance, Drum and Bass, Dubstep, IDM, Techno, House, Garage. I guess I get bored quite easily, but in my opinion you can learn a lot producing a new genre for a while, even if it's miles off the standard. I always like making more 'concept' type music, I've actually made a lot of albums of stuff with IDM and minimal type sounds that not very many people have heard.
Can you talk us through your approach to producing? What does your setup consist of?
A PC, Ableton and a midi keyboard. That's what it has been since I was about 10. I look at computer music magazines like porno mags, wishing I had 1k to blow on a hardware synth but i don't. In Ableton I would start in the loop mode just chopping and changing vsts and samples until I have about 5 tracks (drum, bass, synth, pad, vocals) that go well. In my opinion if you have a good 4 bar loop that has been playing for an hour and it doesn't annoy you you're probably on to a winner. As I've always produced on my own I've had to do my own A&R, in my opinion this is key as if your don't really like it then chances are others will be the same. Another tip is don't produce when drunk, 99% of the time it's pish(ed).
I Got What You Want (EJECA Remix) - Jet Project[Extended Play]
Over the last year you have worked on a lot of remixes, is putting your own stamp on someone elses track something that you enjoy doing? How does it contrast with making your own original productions?
I enjoy remixing, really see it as a challenge. Compared to making my own stuff at least i know someone else will hear it so I put full effort into it. Usually I will listen to the original and try to see what I can fundamentally change which will add to it - that could be adding alot of swing into a straight/quantised track etc.
Tusk Wax 5 was a vinyl only release, whereas all of your previous output was only available digitally. What style of djing do you favour and where do you stand on the analogue vs digital debate?
I had 1210s when I was 11, then bought CD decks too when I was about 15, then sold the lot when I was at uni/skint. I now DJ off a Traktor S2, and I think it's great. As I've sort of used everything I would say do whatever you want. I just love the idea of playing a track out that I made 2 hours before, if I was using vinyl I would have to wait 6 months for test plates before i could play it. I really see no difference between timecode, CD decks and controllers, they are all just controlling binary data. I agree there is a nice natural sub bass off vinyl records, but this is no match for the on the fly nature of Traktor and controller where you can drop in new loops, edit, samples, tracks and pre-program your own effects.
Your collaborations with Bicep have been very well received, do you see yourselves working together again in the future?
Yes, we all love 90s house and garage so I can see us making more end of night rave hits, probably 2013 as we are both busy enough with our own stuff.
Finally, can you let us know of any upcoming projects or releases that we may not be aware of yet?
I'm quite busy getting stuff arranged for various labels; Extended Play, House of Disco, Saints & Sonnets, Needwant and Kolour. Keep posted on my Soundcloud and Facebook.
Thanks for your time.
Make sure you download this mix below which features EJECA's very own unreleased version of 'You'.
DOWNLOAD
01. You (EJECA's Piano Version) - BICEP & EJECA [unreleased] 02. Absolute Drop - Spirit Catcher [Z Records] 03. Planet Patrol - Chris Carrier [OFF Recordings] 04. Ghetto Kraviz (Amine Edge Edit) - Nina Kraviz [Rekids] 05. Think It Over - DJ Steaw [Local Talk] 06. Reference One - 25 Places [Liebe Detail] 07. Home By Six - Nils Nuernberg, Florian Kruse, Karina Junker [Liebe Detail] 08. Twerk - DJ Funk & Zombie Disco Squad [Made To Play] 09. Fuzzy Border - Jay Shepheard [Lo:Rise] 10. Eva Mendes - Mosca [Hypercolour] 11. Dreamer - Livin' Joy [MCA Records]
As an added bonus we've re-hosted some recent free giveaways...
Wish - EJECA
Use The Body - EJECA
Twilight - EJECA
You/Don't EP is available via Juno and other outlets from Monday 16 July.
Next up in the series, with our second 'all own productions' mix, is Berlin based Cuetec. He loves all things deep and colourful from Jazz to Drum & Bass but this mix focuses mainly on slow, soulful house - perfect for the summer. When asked if he'd like to find another photo for the album artwork, he replied, "I like the cover artwork, as it fits somehow to my music that isnt always perfect". In this day and age with the dominant use of computers, producers' output is becoming too crisp and clean - music is art and it doesn't always necessarily need to be so exact, sometimes a little rough round the edges adds character.
Many of his productions/edits are available for free from his Soundcloud. We've zipped up our favourite 5 for you.
DOWNLOAD: Free Zip
1. Feels Good - Cuetec & Sarinha
2. Listening Pearls - Cuetec
3. I Am In Love - Cuetec
4. Strugglers - Cuetec
5. Still Sound (Cuetec Remix) - Toro Y Moi
DOWNLOAD: HH MIX #29 - CUETEC
01. Spacenight - Cuetec [Kubism Records]
02. Drops - Cuetec [Kubism Records]
03. Autumn Sun - Cuetec [Kubism Records]
04. Sleepless - Cuetec [unreleased]
05. Samal (Cuetec Edit) [unreleased]
06. Facing The Sun (Cuetec Edit) [Suol]
07. Stranger (Cuetec Edit) [unreleased]
08. Sleeping Beauty - Cuetec [unreleased]
09. After The Rain - Cuetec [unreleased]
10. Blue - Cuetec [Kubism Records]
11. Blue Moon - Cuetec [unreleased]
12. Axiom (Cuetec Edit) [unreleased]
13. Naked Dancer - Cuetec [Kubism Records]
14. Tokio Rush - Cuetec [unreleased]
