Friday 18 December 2009

Genre deconstruction: UK Funky

Until about two weeks ago, the genre of UK Funky was ashamedly unbeknownst to this writer, and searching the web reveals limited press coverage. Ok, it's not a brand new genre but like most can be considered a mutation or evolution of dance music; take a house template then carefully add some meaty r&b, and infuse with your choice of rhythms - whether that be afrobeat, soca, latin, garage or extremely bass heavy.

2008 appears to mark the genre's advance into clubbers' consciousness, via underground clubs in Lahndahn. Now, although it is a 'funky' music based on house, artists are quick to ascertain the difference to funky house.

Listen to the vids below for a very basic introduction to the difference in sounds:

Roska - Climate Change (UK Funky)


StoneBridge Feat. Therese - Put Them High(Funky house)


If you want to break it down into the technical similarities / dissimilarities we'll a) be here all day, and b) will end up further away from any definitive conclusion than when we started. The quickest breakdown relies on the general 'feeling' of the track, and which elements are emphasised most: here it is clear that UK funky is far more 'urban' and grime/garage influenced than traditional funky house, and certainly leans heavily on tribal percussion.

Hands down the number one resource for indulging your interests is ukfunky.com, with a forum moderated by the freshest UK funky artists; mp3 store; charts; videos; latest news, as well as being the home of UK Funky Records.

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Free Tunes Pt III

Like the Back To The Future franchise... but much better

Rogue Robots

Rogue Robots aka UK talent, Gareth Salmon and Lee Nazari, are a recent formation, existing for slightly over a year. The following title track is released on the 'Bass EP', also featuring new beats 'Rhythm Machine' and 'Speak and Spell', out on Mode 2. Grungy electro with robotic inspiration and dnb style breakdown!

Bass (Mode2)



The track is also featured on the following mix for download!

Tracklist

1. Jayforce feat. Emp - 'Rhymes Delight'
2. Defunct! - 'Fokkin Lekker'
3. Santiago & Bushido - 'Make Me Feel'
4. Hardrive - 'Deep Inside' (Harry Choo Choo Mix)
5. Will Bailey - 'What's Your Game'
6. Electrixx - 'Tetris'
7. Calvertron - 'Doo Doo'
8. Costello - 'Girls Speak Louder' (Donique Mix)
9. Rogue Robots - 'Rhythm Machine'
10. Rockwell D - 'You Can't Cool'
11. Rogue Robots - 'Bass'
12. The Doxis & Plumo - 'Nordlicht' (Jelo Mix)
13. Disco of Doom - 'Warpig'
14. Audius - 'Body Body' (Calvertron Mix)


Deekline

Deekline + McKie - Don't Smoke 09 Mega Mix
- download link

Garage revival for 2000s wonder Deekline, with a release on Rat Records - grab it on vinyl.

Tracklisting

1. Deekline- 'I Don't Smoke' Original Mix
2. Deekline- 'I Don't Smoke' Deekline + Tim Healey Mix
3. Deekline- 'I Don't Smoke' Utah Saints Mix
4. Deekline- 'I Don't Smoke' Crissy Cris Mix
5. Deekline- 'I Don't Smoke' Deekline and Ed Solo Vs System Mix
6. Deekline & Dustin H Feat. Sportio - 'Apple Bottom'
7. Kid Congo – 'TBC'
8. Krafty Kuts – 'Shake it to the Ground'
9. Stanton Warriors – 'Raw'
10. Deekline & Ed Solo – 'Forgot About the Booty'
11. Deekline & Tim Healey feat. Bounty Killer – 'Bring it Back'
12. Egypt – 'In the Morning' Deekline & Ed Solo Remix
13. Jonny L – 'Oh Why' Deekline & Ed Solo Relick
14. T-Bone, MC Kie & Sparks – 'Fly By'
15. MJ Cole – 'Mad Man'
16. Rye Rye – 'Bang' (Wide Boyz Mega Mix) Stanton Warriors Remix
17. David Guetta & Afrojack – 'Toyfriend' Deekline & Dustin Hulton Edit
18. Krafty Kuts – 'Shake Your Hips'
19. Skream – 'Burning Up' Herve / Stanton Warriors Edit
20. Felipe Avelar – 'Automatic Break'
21. Savage feat. Porscha – 'Swing 2009' DJ Chaos Remix
22. Sub Focus – 'Rock It' Stanton Warriors Re-Rub
23. Ivory – 'Hand Grenade'
24. Ivory – 'Hand Grenade' Excision & Datsik Remix
25. Ed Solo – 'Egyptian Horns'
26. Deekline & Ed Solo – 'Felix Hustle'
27. Uncle Al – 'Hoes in the House'

Ellis D (Rhythm Section)

The decade of 2000 has been all about the revivals; dusting off old records, cleaning up the artists, and kicking them down a stage for your approval. There's been terrible mistakes (Spice Girls - why, Take That - why, Dollar - for fuck's sake...) but dance music is rather more forgiving, primarily because unless you were stationed in the hot beds of activity in the early days, the artists and even tracks were faceless and nameless. The cult of celebrity did not swathe them, and they made music relentlessly, often for what we could consider a tuppence in comparison to the bulging bank balances of the mainstream. When dance artists return, they tend to appear as if rejoining the party - people smile and nod, and ask what they've been doing, where they've been, before proffering a space behind the turntables. Perhaps I'm looking at this through rose-tinted glasses, but I do feel there is a definite degree of respect rather than distrust.

Enough havering, check this out: early 90s hardcore breakbeat group Rhythm Section are releasing a series of remixes of their 1991 rave classic, 'Coming on Strong', featuring Caper (dubstep rinse), Slum Dogz (dnb wash), Black Noise (electro-house scrub) and new takes from original members Rennie Pilgrem, Ellis D and Nick Newton (with the exception of 4th member, Ritchie T). The nine track LP is out on RSR over Jan / Feb 2010.

The original clinged to the Kiss chart for 18 months; here's a taster -




But wait, I said free tunes didn't I? Ellis D has put together two DJ mixes, taking you on a trip down old skool lane.

Ellis D – Old School Ibiza Mix (Download link)

Tracklist

1. Kariya – ;Baby Let Me Love You For Tonight'
2. C&C Music Factory – 'Everybody Dance Now'
3. Patti Day – 'Right Before My Eyes'
4. Twin Hype – 'For Those That Like To Groove'
5. Doug Lazy – 'Let It Roll'
6. Young MC– 'Know How'
7. Doug Lazy – 'Let The Rhythm Pump'
8. Toni Scott – 'That’s How I’m Living'
9. Stevie V – 'Dirty Cash'
10. True Faith – 'Take Me Away'
11. Airtight – 'Give It Up'
12. Danny D – 'Found Love'

13. Everybody – 'Fpi Project'
14. Alison Limerick – 'Where Love Lives'

Ellis D – Ultimate Old Skool 92 DJ Mix (download link)

No tracklist - it's all white label promos!


Boom Monk Ben

Glasgow's Boom Monk Ben has compiled another ace mixtape for your aural pleasure (mmm, aural), taking in dubstep, jazz, classic soul and a genre I will very shortly be featuring in my next blog post: UK funky. Diplo, Malente, Roska, GreenMoney, N*E*R*D, The Heavy and Rusko rub shoulders amongst a 20-track strong mix.

Boom Monk Ben's Ain’t Misbehavin’ Mix is available (right here) or at his Mixed Bizness blog, where more mixes and downloads can be procured (for free!)

Tracklist

1. Fever Ray - 'Seven' (Martyn Remix) (Rabid)
2. Gucci Vump - 'Sha! Shtil!' (L-Vis 1990 Remix) (Institubes)
3. Roska - 'Tack Tiles' (Roska Kicks & Snares)
4. Warrior One - 'The Machine' (Promo)
Les Rhythmes Digitales - 'Disco 2 Disco' (Tease) (Wall of Sound)
5. Diplo & Laidback Luke - 'Hey!' (Southern Fried)
6. Trevor Loveys & Sinden - 'Organ Grinder' (GreenMoney Remix) (Cheap Thrills)
7. Malente & Dex - 'Lions' (feat New Kidz (Exploited)
8. The Big Pink - 'Dominos' (Switch Remix Instrumental) (Promo)
9. Fast Eddie - 'Yo Yo Get Funky' (Nick Thayer Remix) (Giant Pussy)
10. Zinc - '128 Trek' (Bingo)
Masters At Work - 'Work' (Acapella) (Tommy Boy)
11. N*E*R*D* - 'Everyone Nose' (Amen Crackhead Remix) (Unreleased)
12. Dead Prez - 'Hip Hop' (Flufftronix Remix) (Unreleased)
13, Bassnectar - 'Cozza Frenzy' (Z-Trip Hellarazor Remix)
14. Shorterz 99 - 'Enigma Groove' (Bigger Than Barry)
15. Starkey - 'Leak Riddim' (VIP Mix) (Slit Jockey)
16. Joy Orbison - 'Hyph Mngo' (Hot Flush)
17. The Heavy - 'How You Like Me Now' (Joker Remix) (Counter)
18. Rusko - 'Sound Guy Is My Target' (Sub Soldiers)
19. James Brown - 'It’s A Man’s World' (Regrooved By Parker) (Good Groove)
20. Fats Waller - 'I’m Saving My Love For You' (Mix n Blend’s Phats Wilder Bootleg) (Unreleased)


Glasgow's Slam don't just rinse Pressure every month; they also run Return to Mono at Sub Club, cornering themselves two of Glasgow's best clubs for their brand of house and techno. Digging through the archives I came across these gems - new and old podcasts from four RTM events, resplendent with the finest names in dance music. Perhaps I've saved the best 'til last here... drink in those playlists and decide!

Monopod Four - Download here

Tracklist

1. Pink Floyd - 'Speak To Me' - Columbia Records
2. Nathan Fake - 'Cohead' (Steve Barnes-Panorama Remix) - Traum
3. Shen - 'Forgotten Grove' (Original Mix) - Native State Records
4. King Tubby - 'King Tubby's Badness Dub' - Burning Sounds
5. Black Uhuru - 'Destination Unknown' - Island Records
6. Lofi Soundsystem - 'De Lion's Den' (Original Mix) - Echospace US
7. Intrusion - 'Tswana Dub' (Phase 90 Restructure (Edit)) - Echospace US
8. Neuroton - 'System 1' - Neuroton Music
9. Jim Rivers - 'By Any Means' (Paul Loraine Remix) - Four Twenty Recordings
10. Gorge & Andre Hommen - 'Hakunyo' (Original Mix) - Plastic City
11. Silicone Soul - 'Language Of The Soul' (Nivek Tsoy Remix) - Soma Records
12. Stefano Testa - 'Manettas Fine Food' (Brothers Vibe Remix) - Rebirth
13. The Mountain People - 'Mountain008.1' (Original Mix) - Mountain People
14. Gorge & Nick Curly - 'Hafenstrasse' (Original Mix) Systematic

Monopod Three - Download here

Tracklist

1. Andre Lodemann - 'Dark Edge' - Room With A View
2. Kane Roth - 'Yearning' - Serie Noire
3. Patrick Specke - 'Hoolas Dancin' - Desolat
4. Prompt - 'Crystalline' - 7 Noise
5. Kabale Und Liebe - 'Una Y Nada' - 100% Pure
6. Tapesh - 'Brighter Day' - Rebirth
7. Soul Minority - 'Retroplex' - Elevation Recordings
8. Castlebed ft. Durand Ross - 'Save the Last Dance' (Davidson Ospina Dub Mix) - Ospina Digital
9. ? - Cuba Quest - ?
10. Marc Miroir - 'T Bone' - Paso Music
11. Cesar Merveille - 'Tribute' - Cadenza
12. Lauhaus - 'Back to Ipanema' - Cocoon
13. Steve Lawler - 'Distrait' (Nick Curly & Gorge Remix) - Plastic City
14. Soul Minority - 'Ball of Confusion' - Kolour Recordings

Monopod Two - Download here

Tracklist

1. Intrusion - 'Under The Ocean' - Echospace
2. Deepchord - 'Grand Bend' (Echospace Dub) - Echospace
3. Neurotron - 'The Power To Be' - Neurotron Music
4. Neurotron - 'Up Mission' - Neurotron Music
5. Neurotron - 'Under The Surface' - 3rd Wav Music
6. Intrusion - 'Tswana Dub' (Phase90 Restructure) - Intrusion
7. System 1
8. Maurizio - 'M4' - Maurizio
9. Ekkohaus - 'The Healer' (feat Mensa) - Morris Audio
10. Sebo K - 'Moved' feat. Prosumer Efdemin (Remix 1) - Mobilee
11. Prompt - 'Elephant' - 7 Noise
12. System 2
13. Arnaud Le Texier, Emmanuel Ternois - 'Almoravids' (D'Julz Remix) - 2020Vision
14. Varoslav & Okain - 'Woawoa' - Tsuba
15. Las Vegas - 'Yama' (Original Mix 1) - Mupa/Net28
16. Thodoris Triantafillou - 'Suspicious Behaviour' (Nick Curly Remix) - Budenzauber Recordings 17. Peace Division - 'Eh Oh Um' (Christian Burkhardt Rmx) - Tsuba

Monopod One - Download here

Tracklist

1. Reggae - '1' - Unknown
2. Reggae - '2' - Unknown
3. Reggae - '3' - Unknown
4. Sequential Dub
5. Agnes - 'Que Pena' - Perspective
6. Keep Focused
7. Mountain People - '007.1' - Mountain People
8. Carlos Sanchez - 'Ethinas' - Superfancy
9. Okain - 'Blackrock' - Quartz
10. Jamie Jone - 'Summertime' - Crosstown
11. Varoslav + Okain - 'Woa Woa' - Tsuba
12. Hermanez - 'Goaldcoast' (Lauhaus Mix) - Miconn
13. Livo + Roby - 'Diverse' - Cecille Numbers
14. 20 20 Sound System - 'Sliding Away' (Johnny D Dub) - 20 20
15. Darius Syrossian - 'Nyra Nyra' - Viva
16. Catz And Dogz - 'Omanko' (Italoboyz Mix) - Mothership
17. Spencer Parker - 'Zanzibar' (Nick Curly Mix) - Saved
18. Jon Jon - 'Meanwhile' (Kollektiv Turmstrasse Mix) - Baalsaal

Monday 7 December 2009

Exclusive mix download from Patrick Walker


Hot from the local techno scene, Patrick Walker (Forward Strategy Group / Isodyne) releases this exclusive free mix on Fairtilizer fresh from the Leith FM soundwaves last Friday.

New, unreleased Forward Strategy Group material (soon to be released on Perc Trax) nestles amongst Silent Servant, Steve Stoll, Regis and Function. With already 4 downloads in Kazakhstan (techno knows no boundaries), dash ahead of the Europe and US crowds with this direct download: Click here for goodness.

The mix is entitled 'Balancing adjustment imperatives' and full tracklisting is here for your geeky pleasure.

regis // solution
milton bradley // dystopian vision
damon wild // warchild
function // the balance of power substance
function // the balance of power regis mix
michaelangelo // andromeda 13
O / V // killing european sons b1
forward strategy group // combat code a1
dz zank // subvoice 21 b1
portion reform // condition
steve stoll // proper 30 b1
portion reform // shift worker
microwave prince // death counter
charlton ravenberg // backwards
orphx // cracktest edit
damon wild // catalyst
mike denhart // vorwaerts
beast tamer // b1
O / V // killing european sons a1
forward strategy group // combat code b1
smear // burunda // charlton remix
ch-signal laboratories // scale 1
beast tamer // a2
damon wild // bloodhound
deuce // guttering
surgeon // dry b2
silent servant // demonstration
silent servant // la noche
martyn // vancouver
t++ // audio 1995 8 2
henry and louis // rise up pinch remix
equalized // 001 a1
wax 20002 // a1
james juskin // solution
peter van hoesen // casual care // samuli kemppi mix
function // the balance of power

Saturday 5 December 2009

Major Lazer and Eric Wareheim


Shouts to Graphite North for his 'major LOLZ' in the direction of Major Lazer video, which I'm currently still trying to kick into a category, but what can you expect when Diplo and Switch hook up. Not sure how I missed out on this when they first collaborated and released their debut album 'Guns don't kill people... lazers do' in June earlier this year, but as far as I can tell/make up it was a conspiracy to shush out the delightful bizarreness.

As you can see from the picture opposite, Major Lazer is more of an animated character - a one-armed Jamaican commando (limb lost in the great zombie war of '84) who spends his time slaying the cast of ghouls from Buffy aided by a rocket-powered hoverboard (very Back To The Future II).

The partnership also brings together Downtown Records and Diplo's Mad Decent, becoming their first joint release. Recorded in Jamaica, their debut included Nina Sky, Mr Vegas, Mr Lex, Santigold and more with ragga, reggae, dancehall, dub, electro, booty, techno, trip-hop... and I've no doubt they'll continue to suck in other genres along the way as they progress.

Part of the bizarre feel also comes from their work with Eric Wareheim to produce the two cartoonesque videos for 'Pon de Floor' feat Vybz Kartel (embedding disabled) and 'Keep it Going Louder' feat. Nina Sky and Ricky Blaze:


For some people, that's a line-up of exes. Music is just ever too God's Kitchen for me to not start haplessly laying into it, but let's enjoy it for how it works with the video and start thinking about who he should do a video for next... Mariah Carey, the Sugababes - I want to see more melted faces.

Now, while I can't show the better of the two songs, 'Pon de Floor', you'll hopefully have gone, checked it out and returned for more mind-crushing insights; altogether this isn't music to last the generations, but it is the kind of instant gratification, non self-obsessed, tongue in cheek tunes and visuals we can all do with at least 32 times a year. If you didn't discover it the first time, have a quick mind wank with it just now.

Sunday 29 November 2009

Edinburgh and Glasgow Hogmanay Clubs 2009/10

A decision more difficult than writing your Xmas wishlist has ever been, the venue for your New Year celebrations takes time to mull over and get just right. Spend it at a houseparty; take in as many clubs as possible; choose your favourite and stick with it - picking your first born's name could be easier.

I'm not going to make it any easier by highlighting how much is on, starting with Edinburgh and Glasgow with more updated as the events are announced!

The Capital (Edinburgh to me and you)

Musika, The HMV Picture House, Thurs 31st December
10pm – 5am, advance tickets £29.50 / More thereafter
After Mylo plays out the City's Hogmanay he heads over to Musika for the official Edinburgh after party for an intimate 1500 people. Keep an ear out during his DJ set for hints of his second LP, released in 2010. Another Musika favourite, James Zabiela will compete for attention with either his breakbeat skills or by repeatedly flicking his mane of hair into other player's line of sight. Local talent comes from Dean Newton, Derek Martin, Alan Dobson, and Neil Bartley.
Top tip: If you purchase tix from St James Centre Customer Services Desk there is no additional booking fee charged.

Volume!, Sneaky Pete's, Thurs 31st December
10pm – 5am, advance tickets £5+bf / more thereafter
Volume!, For just about the only dubstep you're going to get in Edinburgh to bring in 2010 - like the Dude - Volume! abides. Twist in hip-hop, dnb, jungle and Baltimore with their new underground home in the heart of Edinburgh's bowels, and you'll joyfully shatter your kneecaps with the thundering sounds of Termite, Morphamish (Urge Mode), Kidill AKA Smooth Rider (Noizteez/Red Alert), Jonny Faith (Headroom-Australia), WolfJazz (StepBack) and Robtheft (Beta).

Departure Lounge, The Caves, Thursday 31st December
10pm – 5am, £24
Fancy squeezing dance music of the world into one room? From the Edinburgh Samba School to the dub monster of Big Toes Hi-Fi Soundsystem, the Haggis Horns to the Banana Sessions, and Astroboy, Jimenez and Mr Zimbabwe.... all continents get a look in at Departure Lounge, the meeting place of many nations. Afro, latin, european, house, we could be here for days just listing it!

Confusion is Sex, The Bongo Club, Thurs 31st December
11pm – 5am, £10 advance
Not for the faint-hearted, Confusion is Sex mixes burlesque, art, latex [no thanks, I'm allergic :( ], glitter and disco, house, pop, techno and much electronics! If you're there for the tits, they're unveiled 4-5am by Daiquiri Dusk, and at some point upstairs by the Freaky Brides.

Balkanarama, Studio 24, Thurs 31st December
10.30pm-5am, £tbc
Featuring Black Cat, DJ Grandma Staflash, Alejandro Toledo and Magic Tombolinos, Balkanarama brings you beats from the Balkan and gypsy punk coupled with belly dancing and Turkish food!


Glasgow

Death Disco, The Arches, Thurs 31st December
9pm - 5am, £28
The regulars and the club-curious have been baying for the full (and first ever) NY line-up of Death Disco, and here it is! Deep breath - Erol Alkan (playing the feted 12am slot), Aeroplane, Rex The Dog (Live), Mark Moore, Sammy Jo (Scissor Sisters Tour DJ), Den Haan (Live), Acid Girls, Burns, and the Fanklub Deejays, all set to a backdrop of New York City as the venue undergoes some serious decor change courtesy London-based artist collective Ebony and Ivory. The Statue of Liberty, Hudson River, the East Village, Coney Island... there's even speak of candy floss and fuck me do I love candy floss. Music for the evening follows the very traditional onslaught of disco, electro, italo, rock and anything that makes the spine tingle. Might want to adopt some tongue-in-cheek leg warmers to fit right in with the late 80s / early 90s theme!
Top tip: Reminder for ya's - a free DD tote bag and a XXXas ticket for £5 when you buy a ticket for their New Year show

Melting Pot
, The Admiral, Thurs 31st December
10pm-4am, £20 / £18 advance
Melting Pot love them some Greg Wilson, so it's fitting he appears during his Credit to the Edit Vol. 2 tour (Tirk) to help them count down the seconds. Wilson's name is practically interchangeable with the Hacienda club and the electro boogie sound in the UK, and he continues to showcase the sound to this day. Also on hand is The Revenge (Jicomusic), the Dance! Dance! Dance! DJs, Jamie Thomson, and Melting Pot Residents Andrew Pirie and Simon Cordiner to tip in the afro, house, disco and more... it'll be a - and I hesitate to say it for the pun factor - Melting Pot of sound.
Top Tip: No booking fee when you book through Aspecto (0141 248 5349)

Optimo Espacio, The Old Fruit Market, Thurs 31st December
10pm-4am, £28
Only Optimo seem to have picked up on the last-year-in-the-first-decade-of-the-21st-century theme for Hogmanay, and have fittingly bequeathed their party the title, “Celebrating the End of the Decade”. And they’re doing it in style in the less traditional venue of The Fruitmarket, complete with access to a swanky balcony. Guests for the event include Hudson Mohawke, Glasgow’s very own Warp star; back from the front lines of gigging with Peaches and Hot Chip, it’s Drums of Death playing a home game in rave; and on the newly set up bar stage, the No Wave successes Divorce and The Niallist perform live for your pleasure. JD Twitch and JG Wilkes complete the line-up for an it’s-anyone’s-guess evening of dance music, slaloming its way through the genres.

Numbers & Ballers Social Club, Stereo, Thursday 31st December
11pm-late, £15 advance
The two clubs which personify Glaswegian urbanism are joining forces in a ‘that was the year that was’ showcase of their favourite 2009 artists across two floors. Guests include Dorian Concept (Affine / Kindred Spirits) playing live, Planet Mu’s Brackles (Apple Pips), Guido, the Numbers and LuckyMe DJs and visuals from Retina Glitch. Both Ballers and Numbers have got their hands on the keyboard genius that is Dorian Concept at earlier events, and needed to hear his Trilingual Dance Sexperience once more time; Brackles (a FWD>> regular) meanwhile is a darling of the dubstep / future garage sound and RnB head, Guido (Purple Trinity) of Peverelist’s Punch Drunk label. The Numbers and LuckyMe DJs will play the bar for a hyper hyper party party.
Top tip: Free stuff! They’re giving away free, unspecified (as yet) stuff on the night!

Spectrum, Blackfriars Basement, Thurs 31st December
10pm-3am, £12 / £10
Electro, electro, electro! Yes, they're playing electro at Spectrum with the residents for NY.

Tictactoeclub, Templeton Carpet Factory, Thurs 31st December
2pm-2am, £26
In perhaps the oddest venue yet, the Tictactoeclub takes over the Templeton Carpet Factory (apparently modelled on the Doge’s Palace in Venice) for a 12 hour party with Matthias Tanzmann(Circo Loco / Moon Harbour), Broken & Towie (No Dough),Harvey McKay (Soma), Andrew Doran (Tictactoe), Simon Stokes, Daniel Hedley (Hotbox), Bobby Wilson (EQd), and Terry Whyte (Optik). It should perhaps be noted at this point that they haven’t produced carpet at the factory for nigh on 50 years, but we’re sure it will be comfortable on the feet nonetheless!
Top tip: There’s an afterparty running till 4am – no much details here but it’s located at the Big Joint, Whiteinch, and the club have mentioned coaches to whisk you away after the bells!

Sub Club NYE, Thurs 31st December
10pm - 4am, £20 advance
To be honest he looked like a Jean Paul Gaultier sailor last time I saw him play at the Sub Club with Daniel Bell, and I really hope he looks like that again this time: Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts (live) will join Ralph Lawson and Harri & Domenic (for what I think is a Subculture NYE party, but details are scant at present). With the addition of residents Harri & Domenic then it’s exceedingly likely the latter subtext is true and top-notch house will be flying off the decks!

THIS POST IS DEFINITELY NOT COMPLETE, BUT WHY DENY YOU WHAT IS? KEEP READING FOR MORE CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS TOMORROW - I HAVE THE WORDS BUT NOT THE CAPACITY

Local artist love


In a bid to sate your need for tunes, assembled into a clever mix by the hands of a local artist, Lo-quality Music is pleased to bring you 'Some Smartass Pawns' by Production Unit of Marcia Blaine School for Girls fame. Click the links above for info and beats!



Tracklist:

1.  Flying Lotus - Bad Actors
2. Koushik - None In Mind
3. Mike Slott - Knock Knock
4. Erykah Badu - Soldier (acapella)
5. Quasimoto - Axe Puzzles (instrumental)
6. J Dilla - Love Movin feat Black Thought
7. Aloe Blacc - Find A Way
8. Karriem Riggins - 12s in 8
9. Harmonic 313 - Cyclotron
10. The Pharcyde - Passin Me By (acapella)
11. Dabrye - Evelyn
12. Fulgeance - Rubiscube
13. DJ Design - No Games (instrumental)
14. Slum Village - Players
15. Guido - Way You make Me Feel
16. Harmonic 313 - Wobbz
17. Ward 21 - Anti-spy
18. Steely & Clevie - Nightcrawler riddim
19. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - Marcus Garvey
20. Production Unit - Dem Sirens
21. Brandy - What About Us? (instrumental)
22. Roots Manuva - Witness (acapella)

Thursday 26 November 2009

December 2009 Club Listings: Edinburgh

If you're a sucker for the masked look you'll love Devil Disco Club's Masked Dance Party on Friday 4th December with live music from Digital Jones. The Devil Disco Club DJs will also be attendance for the throw-down of cosmic, Italo, boogie, New York, and electro disco, with a dash of proto-house, soul and rap to get the feet hot-stepping.
Time tbc, £5 / £3 before midnight

Here's some tasters from October's Devil Disco Club:

PEAK TIME SET
http://mixcloud.com/hobbes
http://soundcloud.com/hobbes

WARM UP SET
http://mixcloud.com/erikdaviking

The very next evening the groove continues at Cabaret Voltaire with Honey Dijon at Ultragroove, alongside Gareth Sommerville, Nick Watson, Lel Palfrey, and Carina Ramos. Dijon last played Ultragroove in spring 2008 with a Chicago house (and further) set, and since then has been playing for the fashion crowd. Couldn't stay away from Edinburgh's underground for too long though, and she returns to show the boys how it's done. 11pm-3am £10/£8 b4 12am/£5 students. Ultragroove will return on Saturday the 19th for the Christmas Classics Party with Craig Smith, Gino and Gareth Sommerville, with hip-hop twists and soulful funk. 11pm-3am £8/£5 b4 12am/£5 students

And if you're like me, you'll love a free party - one with flushing toilets, a bar, and bigger speakers. Volume caters at Sneaky Pete's on Saturday 5th December after losing their home at Ego./ Luna earlier this year. The bi-monthly residency will rumble the Cowgate with dubstep, jungle, dnb, and bass, bass, and more bass. Special guest for the event is Victor Q (Axis / Nu-Fire).
11pm-3am, £0

Edinburgh is a bit front-loaded so far on the December side of things, but more will be posted as it is announced.

Free Tunes Part II


What's that? You want free music? Aye, alright, get stuck in!

From Glasgow's Cotton Cake club comes their remix of 'Bangkok' by Boris Dlugosch - check it out on Soundcloud where many more Cotton Cake tracks are located, or take a swift click here for another high res 320kbps version.

Next we up have tracks from across the French channel courtesy of 69db on Dub Technic, including 'Youpi' and 'Look To The Positive' and a free improvised 'mix'.
69db looking all moody

Wednesday 25 November 2009

December 2009 Club Listings: Glasgow

First up in the month we have not so much a club event, as a club venue event - the SWG3 Fundraising Dinner 2009, on Thursday 3rd December. Not for the moth-pocketed however as the point is to give money! Starting with a champagne reception in the +44 141 Gallery to view an exhibition by fashion designer Pam Hogg, before a tour of the building, and then dinner and entertainment, including an auction and live music. The deal is you pay £200 for a seat, and £2000 for a table of ten, with tables hosted by Colin Barr, Martin Boyce, Robert Carlyle, Kelly Copper Barr, Pam Hogg, Jim Lambie, Scott Myles, Optimo, Lauren Tempany, Hayley Tompkins and Deryck Walker. So it's basically a fight to sit next to Optimo and drool. Given that SWG3 is home to over 120 artists and works as a non-profit, multi-disciplinary arts space, fundraisers like these are important, especially for the development of creative spaces for music and live arts. If you haven't winced at the price tag then put some thought into supporting local venues! Get in touch (work@swg3.tv) quickly as seats need to be reserved by 27th November.

The next evening, head on over to The Arches for Supernova featuring Popof, James Harcourt and Hell Boys for rubbery electronics, throbbing techno and no-fucking-about house. 10.30pm – 3am, £12 advance

Speaking of Optimo, JD Twitch joins Andrew Divine for Divine!'s 19th Birthday Party on Saturday 5th December at the Victoria Cafe, Glasgow School of Art. Soul, funk and psych your way through 19 years of memories (if you're the hardcore attendee) or check it out for the first time! Twitch will celebrate with a 60s and 70s psychedelic set, which can also be caught here. Extras: Free mix CDs with rare Divine! 'vinyl excavations' available on the night. 11pm-3am, £5 / £6

Ballers Social pwns Friday 11th December at Stereo when Seiji (Sonar Kollectiv) and Shortstuff (Blunted Robots / Planet Mu) tear up the basement with beat delights. Seiji has provided a solid platter of beats for many DJs with 2007's 'DJ Tools', including Glasgow's own Benji B, Hudson Mohawke and Mweslee and Shortstuff's twisted dubstep and garage blend can soon be heard on a new Fabric complication, but catch it in person first! 11pm-3am, £5 before 12am / £7 thereafter


UPDATE: Given that the Arches will be taking a quiet break while part of Glasgow is ripped up in 2010, they're certainly cramming in the line-ups to please fans. Starting with Death Disco on Saturday 12th September, GRUM, Brodinski, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Filthy Dukes DJ set, We Have Band (live) and more tbc will tout a mixture of filthy electro, disco and rock to add dirt and sparkle to your night. As an added bonus there are DD canvas tote bags for the first 200 through the door, so you can do your environmental shopping in true clubbing style. Also handy for carrying ruined clothes or your brain after a hard night's dancing.
10pm-3am, £14 / £7 with half price pass or £5 with a Death Disco New Year ticket

The following Friday 18th, White Label does exactly what is says, showcasing the best up and coming DJs from the Glasgow area; Hologram Hookers (live), Tw-onko and Pasty, Rebecca Vasmant, Kill the Kid, and Michael Watters take to the stage for your critique, support and enjoyment. Minimal, techno, electro, house and more.
11pm - 3am, £8 or £6 (b4 11.30pm) on the door / £5 advance

Colours rake out the club groovers for their Winter Party on Saturday 26th with Armin Van Buuren, Gareth Emery, Dave Seaman, Paolo Mojo and Hacienda Classics with Graeme Park, Jon Mancini and Boney. Time tbc, £31 + BF

Mamasan is keeping the dancin' regular as oat bran suppositories with 4 upcoming nights this month to suit many tastes. First on the 11th, it's a Glasgow label showcase by Seinan Music, with four hours of house, hip-hop, techno and electronica. Seinan is formed by Sei A and Gary Logan. Next up is Dance Dance Dance on the 18th with funk, boogie and house, then Diskodanser on the 19th with cosmic sounds, italo, funk, and sleaze to whet your appetite. Finally Glasgow house label Tronicsole host their own event with resident Hiro. 11pm-3am, £prices vary

Off The Record host their last night at The Soundhaus on Saturday 5th, and did I mention it's their 7th birthday? To celebrate Sei A (live), Andro, Animal Farm residents, Simon Stokes, and Mr Copy are visually backed by VJ Scotchtape, bring a mix of sounds from labels such as Soma, Darkroom Dubs, Turbo, and Missive. 11pm-3.30am, £8/£7 members

Hawnay Troof (Chicks on Speed) spins with Streets of Rage and The Niallist (he is a busy boy) on Sunday 6th for a rather early Xmas party with Cry Parrot, the 'diy collective for colourful gigs'. Head on down to the Black Sparrow basement for electronica, dance-punk, and just plain, titillating noise, and before you do, click here for two Cry Parrot compilation albums featuring local artists to download and listen on yer way. 8pm-late, £4

Huntleys and Palmers Audio Club celebrate their 2nd birthday (six days shy of a Christ-like birth) with Four Tet '& friends' on the 19th. This is the last H&P for a while as they jet off to fix sea turtles, or some other thing - they didn't specify - but before that they wish to welcome you with open arms, free Sambuca, (maybe) some H&P biscuits, and previous party posters for the fanboys amongst you. 11pm-4am, £11.50 incl. BF

Never under Pressure, the Arches stalwart returns on Saturday 19th with Gaiser (live), Lee Van Dowski, Optimo, Dusty Kid, Vince Watso, and Harvey McKay. There will absolutely be no fucking country line-dancing - this is all balls out house and techno; some shades of minimal, funky electronics, deep and glitchy. 10pm-4am, £ 13 advance.

Stay tuned for more listings, and the Hogmanay round-up.

NB: This post will be continually updated

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Hell is huffin'


... poppers, I thought at first. I was revving up for a slating; donning some shades, lighting a fag, cracking knuckles and readying myself to set aboot it - and then it goes and starts toying with my secret liking for the dark side of the 80s (and aye, I have that compilation album, I bought that album).

DJ Hell feat. Bryan Ferry should be a combination you only see in nightmares, and lo and behold when Ferry's creepy uncle lounge singing and Hell's furious masturbation of the synth snake recreate the vision of enfant terrible...

Except, it doesn't go that way - Ferry's voice builds in grandeur and lament, Hell flips open the cage door to his electro behemoth, and the beats steadily tick off the cheese factor. From the heart-tugging melancholics to tonal chord steps for the kind of graduating descent we all love to hum to, 'U Can Dance' is an unashamed invitation to squiggle around in lace and leather. I won't hate you if you love this....


and I'll probably just continue jigging behind closed doors.




Released 28 January 2010 on International Deejay Gigolo Records with remixes from Carl Craig, Tim Goldsworthy, and Simian Mobile Disco.

Free Tunes!


... Courtesy of Ninja Tune, Scuba, and new signing Emika.

Blending Kate-Bush-lovin', Portishead-thinkin', and La Roux-dabbling, dark, staggered pop, her first EP features one original track ('Drop the Other') and three remixes by Scuba and GeRM.

And I largely have an uncontrollable urge to give away someone else's free dubstep.

So, in the run-up to the Emika's 'Drop the Other' EP out on Jan 18th 2010, Scuba's 'Vulpine Remix' is available free to download at the link below. It's a swap-your-email-address-for-the-track deal, so fair's fair and no sweat on legality or agressive ISPs.

Clicky clicky

Thursday 19 November 2009

Arches closing for 2 months

In case you hadn't heard, or weren't sure why there was a noticeable lack of listings for Glasgow's infamous Arches venues aka the tunnels of sound (and super-tight security) will be shutting its doors for Jan and Feb 2010 while two platforms are added to the Central railway station.

Pressure and Inside Out will move to the O2 Academy, while Colours and Death Disco will take the two month break and return in March 2010.

Downer for the clubs, but better for Ayrshire and Inverclyde fans who will be able to take better advantage of transportation to Glasgow city.

The Arches

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Jammer... it up your arse

Thanks to the honourable Production Unit for his cough in this direction. Brought to you with production by Toddla T and overwrought vocals from Jammer, this shits directly onto your face on January 11th 2010, so be sure to contract some sort of viral ear infection which may help deflect this offense to the grime scene.


"Give back the video monkey to Modeselektor!"

Or maybe I don't understand grime, but Big Dada don't always make bad decisions like this. From the annoying, loutish chant of 'I'm a party animal' to the bland laydee oohs, it sounds like it tried to make the beast with two backs while Toddla T was wiped out on GBL.

Quite frankly I'd rather truck it down to Maccy D's and have the Blackout Crew play me their selections of donks.

Intro in the ductions

The declining economy has served a steely boot to much of the freelancer community, and this logically impacts upon the range, quality and depth of content across print and online publications. So, fed up of staring at my wall in impotent rage and telling the cat about all the music and clubbing (especially in the Scottish quarters) that is being lost to the email trash can with no suitable outlet, I'm making my own blog / dumping ground for thoughts, ponderings, listings and tips.

Stay tuned for more on dance music, self-indulgent musings, and essential Scottish club listings (though I may raise a glance to further afield whenever I have time / it isn't mind-numbing shite).