Monthly Archives: May 2012

Variables

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Photo by Tamara Deike

Magda, Troy Pierce and Marc Houle are part of a rare breed who can tread the line between being über-cool minimal Berlin DJs whilst not being afraid to pack some bass and beats and funk into their sets. They understand that a crowd wants to be forced to move; to dance as if they can’t help themselves. The three had been using their label imprint Items & Things sporadically to release records by friends (including Jimmy Edgar), and then in Summer 2011 they decided it was time to relaunch and focus on their productions. Since then there has been a flurry of activity, including Marc Houle’s album Undercover in February this year, as well as the Various Items EPs.

So it’s time for a full-length collective compilation, and it comes in the form of a beautifully designed four-piece cream vinyl box-set Variables, out 13 July, featuring tracks by Throne of Blood‘s Populette, Click Box, Nyma and Madato, with Magda in charge of the accompanying mix CD (to be released along with the digital tracks on 27 July). Have a listen to the preview here:

Of course, it’s only fitting that a trio with an understanding that the key to success is all about the details should venture into the foray of party-organising. The concept behind their boutique Down & Out nights is “the intimate. The dark & dirty. The underground…Big music for sweatier spaces.” They take their decor seriously; transforming venues into something secret and new, including two parties at Sonar this year; Thursday 14 June Items & Things meets Get The Curse at Zt Hotel, and Friday 15 June Down & Out at City Hall.

So we’ll be seeing you on a sweaty, well-decorated Spanish dancefloor soon, and then we can re-live the moments forever on cream vinyl.

Going to heaven with the goodie-goodies

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There were a lot of male voices pumping from the speakers in Miami, either whispering seductively, shouting their message or rapping. I guess it’s the laid back bar culture dipped in American sun that lends itself well to the spoken word, and it appeared in many guises, including Jimmy Edgar‘s This One’s For the Children dropped by Russ Yallop in the darkness inside at Electric Pickle, and Amine Edge and DANCE’s Going to Heaven with the Goodie-Goodies, played by the lovely Heidi at DJ Mag’s Recession Sessions.

I came back to old blighty and did some research, and now am not only the proud owner of Jimmy Edgar’s new album Majenta, but am enjoying a trully excellent monthly fix of Amine Edge’s promo mixes, live sets (he has an extensive collection for download on his soundcloud page) and perfect timing: this morning he’s just sent out a podcast by him and DANCE for Runnin Wild.

The Frenchman has been releasing since 2007 and categorises his sound as ‘G House;’ Gangsta house with a nod to its hip hop origins (the Goodie-Goodies sample is from The Notorious B.I.G.’s Hold Ya Head). Another reason why the sound suited Miami so well, and I can’t help be a fan as it’s from the same camp as the Puente & Rosch style, although slightly faster on the BPM which gives it a bit more of a dancey feel.

An absolute tonne of his productions have been gracing the stores recently, such as his infamous edit of Nina Kravitz‘s Ghetto Kravitz, released on Rekids in April, and his Keep Me on My Feet EP, out on Nurvous also in April. DANCE is a good friend and frequent collaborator, and the two are working on an album for release later in the year.

So, I hear you say, what of Going to Heaven with the Goodie-Goodies? Well, we’ve got a release date of 11 June on Diynamic‘s sister label 2DIY4, so it won’t be long before you too can blow some dancefloors with it.

Hi, I’m Julio Bashmore.

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Fast cars, money, but no record label to truly call my own? This ends today…

The mighty Julio Bashmore has started his own record label, Boardwalk Records, and the first track is an aboslute beaut from the man himself, called Au Seve, BW001, out 2 July.

The more I listen to his ‘mysteriously swashbuckling house music’ Radio 1 show the more I like him and his laid back, dry Bristolian humour. His tweets are bloody funny too: see below “My brother’s haloumi self-portrait”

Here’s last night’s offering from the Radio 1 studios: Julio Bashmore, In New DJs We Trust, 17/05/2012

22 Hour Party People

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Let’s go… Nobody listens to techno! That’s not quite what we’ve heard… As usual there are hundreds of events gracing the capital this bank holiday weekend, but there’s seemingly only one monster party going down. At noon on Sunday, Café 1001 will open their doors for a mega 22 hour session and we’re very excited to be involved.

The guys behind VOID have stepped things up a little since we spoke to them back in July last year, just before they embarked on their all-day party at Public Life. By partnering with Twin Sister, extending their dancing hours and showcasing two of the biggest names in techno, Ben Klock (Ostgut Ton/Klockworks) and Tommy Four Seven (CLR), there is absolutely no doubt that they’re now an enormous force to be reckoned with.

Whilst Ben Klock embarks on a mammoth 6 hour set in the main room (4am-10am), we’ll be rounding up things up in the front room; doing our best to soundtrack sunrise over Brick Lane. Come and join us, this is going to be one hell of a party!

You can pop in and out for a daytime dance whenever you please, but you’re going to need a ticket after the klock strikes midnight on Sunday. There are still a limited number available on RA here, and at the moment there are due to be a few on the door too…

Get down early to avoid disappointment, this is going to be Mr. Klock’s longest set yet in London Town.

Main Room:
Ben Klock (Ostgut Ton/Klockworks)
Tommy Four Seven (CLR)
Kontrol Room (BCR/VOID)
Jay Clarke (VOID)
Randolph (VOID)

Front Room:
XI (UK) (Slash Dot Dash)
Tom Scratch
Tom Duncalf
Emily Goddard

With Support From:
Maker + Meyer, Billy Allen, Gareth Wild, Simon Brandreth, David Chung, Ashley Borg, Johnny Wrong