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Transitions 286
Some great tracks on this weeks show and a very fine guestmix from Ripperton - hopefully there's something for everyone.
T286 gets underway with last week’s guest, Madrid's Luis Junior and his sublime Colache EP (released last Monday on Bedrock Digital). Having founded Abysoma Records to release chilled works such as" Neibum "or" Re Atalsina" Luis has also produced a more progressive sound that’s been very well received by the likes of Sasha and Hernan following a stellar remix of Baboop last year.
Bedrock brings Luis to wider audience, with some really eclectic electronica. “Colache” is a canvas of contrasting shades, filled with overflowing uplifting melodies interwoven with a beautiful yet dark and poignant theme evoking elements of Susumu Yokota's "Sakura" album (an influence behind parts of Sasha's airdrawndagger). The upbeat Film Translation Remix drives the tempo and bass a bit more, adding rhythm and greater energy translating Colache to a clubbing environment .
Next up are a big fav of Diggers - innovator Matthew Dear (aka Audion) is an in-demand DJ|producer|remixer, having worked with artists such as Chemical Brothers, Hot Chip, Ellen Allien, Dubfire and Sasha. Dear also produces for Richie Hawtin’s Minus imprint under the moniker False and for respected minimalist label Perlon as Jabberjaw - he's also the founder of acclaimed label Spectral Sound (sister imprint to Ghostly International). The one constant in Dear’s work has always been his ability to stay one step ahead.
Audion is Matthew’s dark alter ego, responsible for pulverizing techno anthems like “Mouth To Mouth” and a sound that has captured the imagination of DJs including John Digweed, who dropped this to devastating effect at Bedrock legendary 10th Birthday and Heaven. “Instant in You” is another slow-burner, showcasing Audion’s ability to match restraint and patience, with the relentlessly shifting hook lines that encapsulate that trademark Audion sound and dark creativity, as voices start prowling around the edges of the beat and the snares pick up pace with a very cool, almost disorientating effect - “Instant In You” is another piece of pioneering techno.
Taken from Ada’s “Adaptations“ romantic tech classic “Lovestoned” (with vocal support by Raz O'Hara) is given Gui Boratto’s lush magical touch. Somehow Gui’s remixes always manage to make all great things from the original a bit greater and even more melodic and beautiful.
Next up is Future Beat Alliance (aka Matthew Puffett) who has been producing great tracks for over a decade and worked with the likes of U.N.K.L.E. (including the intro track for James Lavelle's GU37 Bangkok and remixing "Heavy Drug" |"Inside"). FBA’s stormingly progressive “Crying Sine” screams out for a large sound-system so that this big production can be given its full justice. Unsurprisingly this has been a key feature of John’s recent sets, drawing a great crowd reaction.
Mr Stylus Trouble should need no introduction, having laid down some great productions and given us the definitive/timeless take of Moby’s "Southside” (another true Bedrock 10th Birthday moment). Pete Heller's newy on his Phela Recordings imprint (est.2004 as a vehicle for his own productions and those under his "Stylus Trouble" pseudonym) is some dark driving techno that has already been road-tested at Bedrock Benefit to a fantastic dance-floor reception.
Acclaimed and very much in demand production duo| DJ’s|remixers|Get Physical Music founders M.A.N.D.Y. already have a great body of work behind them. Regularly featured on Transitions M.A.N.D.Y. return fresh from the success of their Renaissance Mix Collection with an über cool & contemporary update of “Silver Screen (Shower Scene)” that has been causing "havoc" on the dance-floor each time Diggers has dropped it. Felix Da Housecat's 2002 sleazy dance-floor stormer (based around elements of Madonna’s Vogue) originally came out via the City Rockers label established by Phil Howells (ex-head of A&R at FFRR/London). This is a serious track and Felix’s work hasn’t sounded this good since Sasha was standing on the corner watching cars go by.
Also being very nice chaps, M.A.N.D.Y. were kind enough to reply to my enquiry about where this track is signed to - hey, those discographys and tracklists don’t make themselves you know ! They take a fair bit of work and I never let an “unknown” or “unsigned” catalogue slip in unless I hit a brick wall. Anyway, although the original release came out on City Rockers it looks like the label itself may now be inactive. M.A.N.D.Y. “Good question - I think they never got back to us or didn't do a proper release with it - bit of a shame.” Too right guys ! But congratulations on another top top remix.
Following on from last week a further taste of Martin Landsky's "Werkshau" EP gives is a taught & tense groove via “Monitor One” - futuristic tech house cut with a staccato bass hook dripping funk, before we get "Six Days" from Denver's Chuck Lepley (Harlem Records | Little Mountain Recordings) came to our attention though Steve Lawler’s “Lights Out 3” for Global Underground.
We close with Berlin based Montreal native Guillaume Coutu Dumont who has earned himself an impressive reputation of late, with well received productions for labels such as Oslo, Circus Company and Musique Risquée. Mr. Coutu Dumont’s latest effort, entitled “The Pussy Shepherd EP” (not sure about the title!), further highlights the talents of this highly esteemed producer. Already championed by Sven Väth and invited to appear at Sven’s immensely popular Cocoon night for amnesia (ibiza) last summer the accolades keep rolling in. “Raw” is further evidence that a warmer analogue sound is coming back into electronic dance music ... and long may that continue.
This week we have another unmissable guest mix (the quality had been very very high of late with Marco Bailey, Chloe Harris and Luis Junior all warranting repeated plays) – Ripperton has earned himself a great reputation as a producer with some fantastic tracks (“Farra” was a real highlight of Satoshi Tomiie’s Renaissance Master Series and Joris Voorn’s Resident Adviser Podcast ). The even better news is that Ripperton has an artist album out on Joris’s frighteningly cool Green imprint – Ripperton gives you a real flavour of “Niwa” here, which has already received rave reviews.
As always, both mixes are available now in your ever so reliable [ms] download section
Next week’s guest is King Unique.
John Digweed - Transitions 286 (Kiss100) 21st February 2010
01. Luis Junior - Colache (Film Translation Remix) [Bedrock Digital Beddigi-04]
02. Audion - Instant In You [Spectral Sound SPC-85]
03. Ada feat. Raz Ohara - Lovestoned (Gui Boratto Mix) [Kompakt KOM206]
04. Future Beat Alliance - Crying Sine [Spectrum Recordings SPEC1008]
05. Pete Heller - Tune In Drop Out [Phela Recordings PHL010]
06. Felix Da Housecat - Silver Screen Shower Scene (M.A.N.D.Y. Remix) [Unsigned Promo]
07. Martin Landsky - Monitor One [Poker Flat Recordings PFR110]
08. Chuck Lepley - Six Days feat. Cajardo [Phrunky Recordings Phrunky016]
09. Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts - Raw [Musique Risquée RISQUEE020]
Ripperton - Guest Mix (Kiss100) 21st February 2010
01. Tall Trees - Broken Friend (Chairman Of The Board Remix) [Unknown]
02. Teul - Drink On Me [Profile]
03. Tom Demac - The More Thing Change (Agnes Wales Beatdown Reshake) [Nrk]
04. St Plomb - Niki [Down]
05. Ur - Transition (Acapella) [Underground Resistance]
06. St Plomb - Niki [Uptown]
07. Kate Simko - Lost In Time (Dop Remix Extracted Loop) [Eklo]
08. Tricksky - Lost Dub [Sonar Kollectiv]
09. Ripperton - Des Promesses De Couleurs (Masaya Acapella) [Green]
10. Nina Kravitz - I'm Gonna Get You [Rekids]
11. Kot - Anthem (Acapella) [Umm]
12. Blonde & Deutshmann - Milanese (Quarion Sicillia Profonda Remix) [Falkplatz Limitiert]
13. Alex Q - Mejis (Chaton Remix) [Mina]
14. Agnes - Que Pena (Acapella) [Perspectiv]
15. Blagger - Gracefully Yours [Perspectiv]
16. Ripperton - Random Violence (Joris Voorn Green Remix) [Green]
17. Brooks - Iwanchu [Laus Music]
18. Unknown - Get It Right [Unknown]
19. Ripperton - Farra [Green]
20. House Of House - Rushing To Paradise [Unsigned]
21. Ripperton - Prends [Perspectiv]
22. Unknown - What To Say (Roman Fluegel Remix) [Versatile]
23. Rejected - Lets Go Juno (District One Remix) [Rejected]
24. Ripperton - The Hill (Exclusive Niwa Vinyl Mix) [Green]
25. Nicolas Jarr - Time For Us [Wolf And Lamb]
Ripperton Biography
Real name - Raphael Ripperton
Moniker(s) - Ripperton / Rayon / Lazy Fat People / Headless ghost
( www.ripperton.com | www.myspace.com/raphaelripperton | www.perspectiv-records.com |
www.myspace.com/perspectivrecords )
Ripperton was born in the 70's, one of the most exciting times in music, which would explain his passion for soul music, his 12 inch vinyl collection which knows no bounds and his nickname (think of one of the best female soul singers of that time). Growing up as a teenager to the rhythms of Tony Humphries, Djaimin and Kid Bachelor, working in the well-known Lausanne record shop, Tracks, and generally drowning in all that was vinyl, Raphael started DJing in the early 90s.
Soon after, thanks to the MPC3000 and good analogue synths, he began producing. His first releases came under the names of Soul Merge and Reasons, the latter won the Diesel U Music awards in 2003 and then led to the setting up of his first label, Lovearth Records. He gained outstanding popularity with his project Lazy Fat People that was signed to labels like Border Community, Wagon Repair and Carl Craig's Planet E, as well as new successes as a solo artist known as Ripperton.
Ripperton has enjoyed working in the studio with fellow Swiss producers, such as Sthlm Audio and Plak Records. He's also released tracks on Dessous, Systematic, Rekids, Liebe Detail, Connaisseur and many more top labels, and delivered remixes for Laurent Garnier, Beanfield, Steve Lawler and the exceptional Radiohead. Very popular with artists such as Steve Bug, James Holden, Joris Voorn in their compilations over the last few years.
In 2006 he started the well-known underground label, Perspectiv Records, which brought out some fresh talent from Switzerland and around the world and nurtured interesting interactions with amazing producer like Tobias, DJ Koze and Isolée, all highly respected by Raphael.
His long-awaited LP is due out in February 2010. Called "Niwa", this modern piece of music mixes different kinds of sounds from varied horizons and will be released on the Dutch 'Green' label owned by friends Joris Voorn & Edwin Oosterwal.
Touring around the world the last decade, Ripperton spins the melodic and lush end of House, Minimal & Techno. Definitively one of the most creative Swiss DJs of today, Ripperton is a perfect electronic music chameleon.
Ripperton – Niwa – Green (GR102CD)
Release date: February 01, 2010
Tracklist
01. A Simple Thing
02. At Peace
03. Ecotone
04. The Sandbox
05. Echocity
06. L'Ardo
07. Farra
08. I Know My Place
09. A Simple Interlude
10. Des Promesses De Couleurs
11. Leonor's Lanugo
12. Random Violence
13. A Train To Nowhere
14. Solastalgia
The long awaited and highly-anticipated debut artist album from Switzerland’s Raphael Ripperton will be released in February 2010 on Joris Voorn and Edwin Oosterwal's Green label. Joris was so impressed when he first heard Niwa that he signed it immediately, and anyone who knows the exacting standards of quality that Joris sets for himself and his artists, this was an exceptional move. Then again, this is an exceptional debut!
Known for his first-class quality releases on countless respected labels such as Ovum, Rekids, Dessous and his own imprint Perspectiv, Ripperton has established himself as one of the most highly regarded and exciting artists around. Now with Niwa, he demands your full attention, nothing less will do. The time Ripperton has invested in the production of his debut album, the growth process of each and every idea, is deeply engraved in each of his compositions. Two years in the making, every season of the year appears to synthesize it’s own particular sound. Each song represents a period of Ripperton’s life coming together as a diverse yet harmonic whole.
Raphael Ripperton is a delicate kind of guy. A lot of the sounds out there don’t move him, and for him, music doesn’t have to be reinvented to be authentic. To Ripperton originality is more about a certain signature, a unique gesture indicating that something exciting and different is going on inside the music. It’s about a small shift in consciousness, opening up one’s mind to unfamiliar views on new symmetries and hidden patterns. Ripperton is a truly reflective artist. None of his tracks are cobbled together in one go. Nothing is rushed. It isn’t a race. Not if one’s goal is to reach a point of completeness, to create a consistent expression of one’s
personality with your debut album.
In Japanese Niwa means garden. The concept of what an album should be is really taken seriously here. With Niwa what you open your ears and emotions to isn’t just another loose bundle of tracks. All the single stories, element by element, are constantly fusing together into a greater whole. This is Ripperton’s world. He draws on all the influences that have journeyed with him as a passionate musician on life’s long and winding road. Influences far beyond dark booming warehouse parties abound, and are just as likely to conjure up vivid images of dewy Lausanne sunsets. Folk tinged downbeat experiments peacefully co-exist with delicious jazz blueprints and sublime ambient soundscapes, sitting in harmony with deeply hypnotic house grooves.
The opening track, A Simple Thing, with its delicate mood immediately hints at the joys that lie within this album. An accordion, gentle stripped down beats, deep dub bass and the longing beauty of a wordless song. At Peace, featuring the achingly sensual vocals of Christina Wheeler, unfolds from this beginning as a bittersweet lament. It is not until Ecotone emerges with an energetic emotive Detroit bassline that the dancefloor is hinted at. The album’s mesmerising exotic journey has only just begun as Ripperton’s garden blossoms into all kinds of colours and shapes. The Sandbox is arranged around the loped refrain of an African children’s choir and features a quirky squeaky rhythm pattern that, combined with delicately picked guitar motifs hint at a vision for future electronic folk music.
“Something is different. Can you feel it? Something is missing? Where is the soul now?”
An astonishing jacking bassline erupts into Echocity, before diving deep into the downtempo looping angelic reprise of L’Ardo with its lush acoustic beauty. Farra unwinds into a deeply hypnotic melodic synth exploration of joyous simplicity, as Ripperton prepares to conjure up ghosts in the machines with the dislocated head twisting radio broadcast that is I Know My Place, followed by A Simple Interlude which returns to the source of the album’s opening theme as the wheel turns ever revolving and soothing the soul. This is only a temporary lull as Des Promesses De Couleurs lifts the mood to a hip swaying groove and Leonor’s Lanugo explores deeper grooves, building towards the intensely uplifting emotive piano motifs of Random Violence, before dropping back to A Train To Nowhere and it’s Detroit dub club sway, which heralds the return of Christine Wheeler for the thoughtful finale of Solastalgia.
That, ladies and gentleman is quite a journey! Mere words cannot do justice to the beauty of music. This is an album that begs to be returned to over and over and over again. It is a creation of timeless ageless beauty. Ripperton’s Niwa is the first exceptional album of 2010.
www.myspace.com/greenassociation
www.rejected.nl
Finally a quick mention for the Aussie’s – John is off on his hols down under. Of course the guy can‘t simply relax with a Jackie Collin’s book on a sun lounger ... instead he’ll be hitting this new CDJ2000’s across Australia alongside a fantastic line-up.
Finally ... keep an eye out for this - I can vouch for this going down rather nicely in the clubs:
Some great tracks on this weeks show and a very fine guestmix from Ripperton - hopefully there's something for everyone.
T286 gets underway with last week’s guest, Madrid's Luis Junior and his sublime Colache EP (released last Monday on Bedrock Digital). Having founded Abysoma Records to release chilled works such as" Neibum "or" Re Atalsina" Luis has also produced a more progressive sound that’s been very well received by the likes of Sasha and Hernan following a stellar remix of Baboop last year.
Bedrock brings Luis to wider audience, with some really eclectic electronica. “Colache” is a canvas of contrasting shades, filled with overflowing uplifting melodies interwoven with a beautiful yet dark and poignant theme evoking elements of Susumu Yokota's "Sakura" album (an influence behind parts of Sasha's airdrawndagger). The upbeat Film Translation Remix drives the tempo and bass a bit more, adding rhythm and greater energy translating Colache to a clubbing environment .
Next up are a big fav of Diggers - innovator Matthew Dear (aka Audion) is an in-demand DJ|producer|remixer, having worked with artists such as Chemical Brothers, Hot Chip, Ellen Allien, Dubfire and Sasha. Dear also produces for Richie Hawtin’s Minus imprint under the moniker False and for respected minimalist label Perlon as Jabberjaw - he's also the founder of acclaimed label Spectral Sound (sister imprint to Ghostly International). The one constant in Dear’s work has always been his ability to stay one step ahead.
Audion is Matthew’s dark alter ego, responsible for pulverizing techno anthems like “Mouth To Mouth” and a sound that has captured the imagination of DJs including John Digweed, who dropped this to devastating effect at Bedrock legendary 10th Birthday and Heaven. “Instant in You” is another slow-burner, showcasing Audion’s ability to match restraint and patience, with the relentlessly shifting hook lines that encapsulate that trademark Audion sound and dark creativity, as voices start prowling around the edges of the beat and the snares pick up pace with a very cool, almost disorientating effect - “Instant In You” is another piece of pioneering techno.
Taken from Ada’s “Adaptations“ romantic tech classic “Lovestoned” (with vocal support by Raz O'Hara) is given Gui Boratto’s lush magical touch. Somehow Gui’s remixes always manage to make all great things from the original a bit greater and even more melodic and beautiful.
Next up is Future Beat Alliance (aka Matthew Puffett) who has been producing great tracks for over a decade and worked with the likes of U.N.K.L.E. (including the intro track for James Lavelle's GU37 Bangkok and remixing "Heavy Drug" |"Inside"). FBA’s stormingly progressive “Crying Sine” screams out for a large sound-system so that this big production can be given its full justice. Unsurprisingly this has been a key feature of John’s recent sets, drawing a great crowd reaction.
Mr Stylus Trouble should need no introduction, having laid down some great productions and given us the definitive/timeless take of Moby’s "Southside” (another true Bedrock 10th Birthday moment). Pete Heller's newy on his Phela Recordings imprint (est.2004 as a vehicle for his own productions and those under his "Stylus Trouble" pseudonym) is some dark driving techno that has already been road-tested at Bedrock Benefit to a fantastic dance-floor reception.
Acclaimed and very much in demand production duo| DJ’s|remixers|Get Physical Music founders M.A.N.D.Y. already have a great body of work behind them. Regularly featured on Transitions M.A.N.D.Y. return fresh from the success of their Renaissance Mix Collection with an über cool & contemporary update of “Silver Screen (Shower Scene)” that has been causing "havoc" on the dance-floor each time Diggers has dropped it. Felix Da Housecat's 2002 sleazy dance-floor stormer (based around elements of Madonna’s Vogue) originally came out via the City Rockers label established by Phil Howells (ex-head of A&R at FFRR/London). This is a serious track and Felix’s work hasn’t sounded this good since Sasha was standing on the corner watching cars go by.
Also being very nice chaps, M.A.N.D.Y. were kind enough to reply to my enquiry about where this track is signed to - hey, those discographys and tracklists don’t make themselves you know ! They take a fair bit of work and I never let an “unknown” or “unsigned” catalogue slip in unless I hit a brick wall. Anyway, although the original release came out on City Rockers it looks like the label itself may now be inactive. M.A.N.D.Y. “Good question - I think they never got back to us or didn't do a proper release with it - bit of a shame.” Too right guys ! But congratulations on another top top remix.
Following on from last week a further taste of Martin Landsky's "Werkshau" EP gives is a taught & tense groove via “Monitor One” - futuristic tech house cut with a staccato bass hook dripping funk, before we get "Six Days" from Denver's Chuck Lepley (Harlem Records | Little Mountain Recordings) came to our attention though Steve Lawler’s “Lights Out 3” for Global Underground.
We close with Berlin based Montreal native Guillaume Coutu Dumont who has earned himself an impressive reputation of late, with well received productions for labels such as Oslo, Circus Company and Musique Risquée. Mr. Coutu Dumont’s latest effort, entitled “The Pussy Shepherd EP” (not sure about the title!), further highlights the talents of this highly esteemed producer. Already championed by Sven Väth and invited to appear at Sven’s immensely popular Cocoon night for amnesia (ibiza) last summer the accolades keep rolling in. “Raw” is further evidence that a warmer analogue sound is coming back into electronic dance music ... and long may that continue.
This week we have another unmissable guest mix (the quality had been very very high of late with Marco Bailey, Chloe Harris and Luis Junior all warranting repeated plays) – Ripperton has earned himself a great reputation as a producer with some fantastic tracks (“Farra” was a real highlight of Satoshi Tomiie’s Renaissance Master Series and Joris Voorn’s Resident Adviser Podcast ). The even better news is that Ripperton has an artist album out on Joris’s frighteningly cool Green imprint – Ripperton gives you a real flavour of “Niwa” here, which has already received rave reviews.
As always, both mixes are available now in your ever so reliable [ms] download section
Next week’s guest is King Unique.
John Digweed - Transitions 286 (Kiss100) 21st February 2010
01. Luis Junior - Colache (Film Translation Remix) [Bedrock Digital Beddigi-04]
02. Audion - Instant In You [Spectral Sound SPC-85]
03. Ada feat. Raz Ohara - Lovestoned (Gui Boratto Mix) [Kompakt KOM206]
04. Future Beat Alliance - Crying Sine [Spectrum Recordings SPEC1008]
05. Pete Heller - Tune In Drop Out [Phela Recordings PHL010]
06. Felix Da Housecat - Silver Screen Shower Scene (M.A.N.D.Y. Remix) [Unsigned Promo]
07. Martin Landsky - Monitor One [Poker Flat Recordings PFR110]
08. Chuck Lepley - Six Days feat. Cajardo [Phrunky Recordings Phrunky016]
09. Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts - Raw [Musique Risquée RISQUEE020]
Ripperton - Guest Mix (Kiss100) 21st February 2010
01. Tall Trees - Broken Friend (Chairman Of The Board Remix) [Unknown]
02. Teul - Drink On Me [Profile]
03. Tom Demac - The More Thing Change (Agnes Wales Beatdown Reshake) [Nrk]
04. St Plomb - Niki [Down]
05. Ur - Transition (Acapella) [Underground Resistance]
06. St Plomb - Niki [Uptown]
07. Kate Simko - Lost In Time (Dop Remix Extracted Loop) [Eklo]
08. Tricksky - Lost Dub [Sonar Kollectiv]
09. Ripperton - Des Promesses De Couleurs (Masaya Acapella) [Green]
10. Nina Kravitz - I'm Gonna Get You [Rekids]
11. Kot - Anthem (Acapella) [Umm]
12. Blonde & Deutshmann - Milanese (Quarion Sicillia Profonda Remix) [Falkplatz Limitiert]
13. Alex Q - Mejis (Chaton Remix) [Mina]
14. Agnes - Que Pena (Acapella) [Perspectiv]
15. Blagger - Gracefully Yours [Perspectiv]
16. Ripperton - Random Violence (Joris Voorn Green Remix) [Green]
17. Brooks - Iwanchu [Laus Music]
18. Unknown - Get It Right [Unknown]
19. Ripperton - Farra [Green]
20. House Of House - Rushing To Paradise [Unsigned]
21. Ripperton - Prends [Perspectiv]
22. Unknown - What To Say (Roman Fluegel Remix) [Versatile]
23. Rejected - Lets Go Juno (District One Remix) [Rejected]
24. Ripperton - The Hill (Exclusive Niwa Vinyl Mix) [Green]
25. Nicolas Jarr - Time For Us [Wolf And Lamb]
Ripperton Biography
Real name - Raphael Ripperton
Moniker(s) - Ripperton / Rayon / Lazy Fat People / Headless ghost
( www.ripperton.com | www.myspace.com/raphaelripperton | www.perspectiv-records.com |
www.myspace.com/perspectivrecords )
Ripperton was born in the 70's, one of the most exciting times in music, which would explain his passion for soul music, his 12 inch vinyl collection which knows no bounds and his nickname (think of one of the best female soul singers of that time). Growing up as a teenager to the rhythms of Tony Humphries, Djaimin and Kid Bachelor, working in the well-known Lausanne record shop, Tracks, and generally drowning in all that was vinyl, Raphael started DJing in the early 90s.
Soon after, thanks to the MPC3000 and good analogue synths, he began producing. His first releases came under the names of Soul Merge and Reasons, the latter won the Diesel U Music awards in 2003 and then led to the setting up of his first label, Lovearth Records. He gained outstanding popularity with his project Lazy Fat People that was signed to labels like Border Community, Wagon Repair and Carl Craig's Planet E, as well as new successes as a solo artist known as Ripperton.
Ripperton has enjoyed working in the studio with fellow Swiss producers, such as Sthlm Audio and Plak Records. He's also released tracks on Dessous, Systematic, Rekids, Liebe Detail, Connaisseur and many more top labels, and delivered remixes for Laurent Garnier, Beanfield, Steve Lawler and the exceptional Radiohead. Very popular with artists such as Steve Bug, James Holden, Joris Voorn in their compilations over the last few years.
In 2006 he started the well-known underground label, Perspectiv Records, which brought out some fresh talent from Switzerland and around the world and nurtured interesting interactions with amazing producer like Tobias, DJ Koze and Isolée, all highly respected by Raphael.
His long-awaited LP is due out in February 2010. Called "Niwa", this modern piece of music mixes different kinds of sounds from varied horizons and will be released on the Dutch 'Green' label owned by friends Joris Voorn & Edwin Oosterwal.
Touring around the world the last decade, Ripperton spins the melodic and lush end of House, Minimal & Techno. Definitively one of the most creative Swiss DJs of today, Ripperton is a perfect electronic music chameleon.
Ripperton – Niwa – Green (GR102CD)
Release date: February 01, 2010
Tracklist
01. A Simple Thing
02. At Peace
03. Ecotone
04. The Sandbox
05. Echocity
06. L'Ardo
07. Farra
08. I Know My Place
09. A Simple Interlude
10. Des Promesses De Couleurs
11. Leonor's Lanugo
12. Random Violence
13. A Train To Nowhere
14. Solastalgia
The long awaited and highly-anticipated debut artist album from Switzerland’s Raphael Ripperton will be released in February 2010 on Joris Voorn and Edwin Oosterwal's Green label. Joris was so impressed when he first heard Niwa that he signed it immediately, and anyone who knows the exacting standards of quality that Joris sets for himself and his artists, this was an exceptional move. Then again, this is an exceptional debut!
Known for his first-class quality releases on countless respected labels such as Ovum, Rekids, Dessous and his own imprint Perspectiv, Ripperton has established himself as one of the most highly regarded and exciting artists around. Now with Niwa, he demands your full attention, nothing less will do. The time Ripperton has invested in the production of his debut album, the growth process of each and every idea, is deeply engraved in each of his compositions. Two years in the making, every season of the year appears to synthesize it’s own particular sound. Each song represents a period of Ripperton’s life coming together as a diverse yet harmonic whole.
Raphael Ripperton is a delicate kind of guy. A lot of the sounds out there don’t move him, and for him, music doesn’t have to be reinvented to be authentic. To Ripperton originality is more about a certain signature, a unique gesture indicating that something exciting and different is going on inside the music. It’s about a small shift in consciousness, opening up one’s mind to unfamiliar views on new symmetries and hidden patterns. Ripperton is a truly reflective artist. None of his tracks are cobbled together in one go. Nothing is rushed. It isn’t a race. Not if one’s goal is to reach a point of completeness, to create a consistent expression of one’s
personality with your debut album.
In Japanese Niwa means garden. The concept of what an album should be is really taken seriously here. With Niwa what you open your ears and emotions to isn’t just another loose bundle of tracks. All the single stories, element by element, are constantly fusing together into a greater whole. This is Ripperton’s world. He draws on all the influences that have journeyed with him as a passionate musician on life’s long and winding road. Influences far beyond dark booming warehouse parties abound, and are just as likely to conjure up vivid images of dewy Lausanne sunsets. Folk tinged downbeat experiments peacefully co-exist with delicious jazz blueprints and sublime ambient soundscapes, sitting in harmony with deeply hypnotic house grooves.
The opening track, A Simple Thing, with its delicate mood immediately hints at the joys that lie within this album. An accordion, gentle stripped down beats, deep dub bass and the longing beauty of a wordless song. At Peace, featuring the achingly sensual vocals of Christina Wheeler, unfolds from this beginning as a bittersweet lament. It is not until Ecotone emerges with an energetic emotive Detroit bassline that the dancefloor is hinted at. The album’s mesmerising exotic journey has only just begun as Ripperton’s garden blossoms into all kinds of colours and shapes. The Sandbox is arranged around the loped refrain of an African children’s choir and features a quirky squeaky rhythm pattern that, combined with delicately picked guitar motifs hint at a vision for future electronic folk music.
“Something is different. Can you feel it? Something is missing? Where is the soul now?”
An astonishing jacking bassline erupts into Echocity, before diving deep into the downtempo looping angelic reprise of L’Ardo with its lush acoustic beauty. Farra unwinds into a deeply hypnotic melodic synth exploration of joyous simplicity, as Ripperton prepares to conjure up ghosts in the machines with the dislocated head twisting radio broadcast that is I Know My Place, followed by A Simple Interlude which returns to the source of the album’s opening theme as the wheel turns ever revolving and soothing the soul. This is only a temporary lull as Des Promesses De Couleurs lifts the mood to a hip swaying groove and Leonor’s Lanugo explores deeper grooves, building towards the intensely uplifting emotive piano motifs of Random Violence, before dropping back to A Train To Nowhere and it’s Detroit dub club sway, which heralds the return of Christine Wheeler for the thoughtful finale of Solastalgia.
That, ladies and gentleman is quite a journey! Mere words cannot do justice to the beauty of music. This is an album that begs to be returned to over and over and over again. It is a creation of timeless ageless beauty. Ripperton’s Niwa is the first exceptional album of 2010.
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Finally a quick mention for the Aussie’s – John is off on his hols down under. Of course the guy can‘t simply relax with a Jackie Collin’s book on a sun lounger ... instead he’ll be hitting this new CDJ2000’s across Australia alongside a fantastic line-up.
Finally ... keep an eye out for this - I can vouch for this going down rather nicely in the clubs:
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