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Transition 296
Another great show this week – the first half of John's segment has some stunningly beautiful and ambient music that will stop you in your tracks. His second part focuses on the latest batch of tracks currently rocking the floor globally.
For a change of pace this week’s Transitions opens with a beautiful piece of ambient electronica as Kompakt's longstanding affair with Tokyo producer extraordinaire Hiroshi Watanabe continues. Graduating from Berklee College of Music with a major in composition Hiroshi has been producing music since the mid 90's and DJ'd at the likes of Twilo and Womb, although Watanabe is best known for the 'Kaito' project dedicated to (and named after) Hiroshi's 3 year old son - Japanese translation 'KAITO' means: 'The one that is able to explain the universe'. Also a very talented photographer, his son Kaito graces most of the projects artwork.
To accompany 2009 masterpiece "Trust" [Kompakt CD 74] Kompakt Digital have added a batch of 11 beatless versions/remixes in the "Trust Less" digital package as well as pressing the "And That Was The Way" EP which John pulls a very special interpretation from deep dubbed out Detroit/Chicago minimal project 'Echospace' (aka DeepChord's Rod Modell & Souldubsounds owner Steven 'Soultek' Hitchell) who use vintage analog equipment (Roland Space Echo, Echoplex, Korg tape delay, vintage signal processors, noise generators, Sequential Circuits 8 bit samplers) to create their soundscapes
For the 'Dub' Echospace take the tracks finest elements re-assembling "And That Was The Way" with a deep ambient groove and tender reverberating chords for a 12min 58sec masterpiece. If you like this, make sure you check out Echospace's 'Shinjuku Sedative' and 'Transcendental State' versions.
Next up is the first of two tracks from Mercuryserver's very own first lady of prog Chloe Harris. Chloe has made great strides of late in her musical career. On the Dj'ing front she has recently toured South America and, after supporting Diggers over the New Year, Ms Harris has hit 2010 with a bang, providing a stellar Transitions guest mix that has set the bar incredibly high for future guests. Label wise Choe has established Further Records, and on the production front she's been remixing, producing and composing - no wonder her [ms] post rate has diminished !
Tenostrng is a cleverly arranged piece of deep ambient Tech vs Prog-tinged house - the sort of tune you could see the likes of Hernan playing to really set the groove and develop the night. This tune warrants recurring plays so you can discover and unlock the fine embelishments & nuances hiding within.
Catalonia's Marc Dosem came to many’s attention last summer when Joris Voorn turned 2008's 'Beach Kisses' into a smash. Following his 'Silent Drop' EP [SINO 20] Dosem collaborates with close friend Bension for his second release on Hong Kong label 'Sino'. Having started working on music in the past this looks to be the first of a more regular collaboration ahead of the duo's upcoming label ‘Soundfate’. Dosem describes Bension as 'a music surgeon, always focusing his talent on creating little sequences and minimalistic sound-loops, complex frequency layers and experimental sampling. The result is a hypnotic techno core which I used to develop the whole tune and add some extra energy'.
Chloe's second track 'Tpick' is described by John as 'really really cool track'. Again we are in deep house territory, although the flourishes and beautiful layers that Chloe adds are inspired, giving Tpick an introverted deep vibe alongside the melancholy melody. Again, this one seems perfect for an eclectic DJ like Hernan, so it’s no wonder that South America has taken Seattle’s Princess of Progno to their hearts. Based on these two tracks Chloe’s music is really capturing people’s imagination – so keep a close watch on the exciting developments from Further Records and Chloe’s B-sides shows.
You can also check out more of Chloe’s work on Soundcloud:
http://soundcloud.com/chloeharris
After the break Diggers picks up the pace via DJ/Producer duo Audiofly (aka Luca Saporito & Anthony Middleton) whose combined talents focus on experimental music, a 'deadly, dirty, jackin tech meets electronic house'. Audiofly released "Sweeter Than" on single-sided vinyl [SPNX010] last year. It’s been dusted off and given the long overdue remix treatment, but not just by any old Tom, Dick or Harry. Audiofly have called on big guns, brothers and music lovers Ali and Basti Schwarz (aka the seriously in demand DJ/Production duo Tiefschwarz) for a fantastically minimal, dark and disorientating affair that’s sure to be hitting a dance-floor by you very very soon.
Tigerskin (aka Alex Kruger) is one of the most prolific and respected artists releasing electronic music these days. His debut for Steve Bug’s Audiomatique imprint points towards his eclectic love of house and techno (release note below should definately wet the appetite).
'Lead cut ‘Everybody Likes Ollie’ whirls and skips across a liquid platinum backdrop of silky smooth grace and ecstatic wonder. Part tough pumping house, part disco, part future techno, it’s an anthemic track that throws the listener right in the middle of an epic, mind-blowing main event! Uplifting spaced-out synths sing and climb, augmented by funky percussion patterns and classic strings stabs. Pure quality, as if we expected anything less from this producer !'
This tune begs to be played out on a great sound system to be given its full justice - unsurprisingly this cut has been getting a great reaction in John's recent shows and it's easy to see why.
Martin Dawson (aka King Roc) fresh from his fantastic San Paulo Nights EP collaboration for Bedrock, goes solo with more dance-floor friendly fireworks. 'Dub Freedom' has the glorious synth-work that we’ve come to expect from Mr Roc, alongside a very nice soulful hook and some great driving percussion that that drives the tune along. This has all the key elements of a Digweed staple and I can foresee this being dropped early in the night, as Diggers takes over the floor and lays the foundations for another marathon set.
Booka Shade return with the second single from their forthcoming album with the ‘Bad Love’ EP that includes an extended vocal mix and instrumental dub mix. Plus the digital version includes a remix from London’s Tim Green who has been putting out releases for Cocoon and is set to follow up this remix with his debut for Get Physical entitled ‘Old Sunshine’ which looks set to be Tim’s biggest release to date.
We end with the remix of an unusual track from Denmark c/o Techno producer Mike Sheridan and young pop-rock songwriter Mads Langer. The original of “Too Close” features in hit TV show The Vampire Diaries (Season One Episode 8 ). I don’t know if Diggers is a fan of the series, although he’s been known to watch DVD box sets like ‘Lost’ in his downtime and has supplied a couple of soundtracks including the animated Spiderman series.
Never fear, the ‘Chain Dub’ of ‘Too Close’ is nothing like the poppy original - this monster is definitely more suited to a dark edgy underworld and is about as far removed from the original as you can get. This perhaps illustrates the art of remixing at its finest – as in the hands of relatively unknown producers ‘The Chain’ (Dan Foat & Nathan Boddy), elements of the original are stripped and morphed into something completely new, innovative, inspiring and special. If you like this, The Chain’s 2009 R & S debut (Letting Go/Geo) received great feedback from likes of Hernan, DJ Hell, Luciano, Nick Warren, Slam and Agoria.
http://soundcloud.com/the-chain
This week’s guest remix is a treat as Berlin’s DJ T (aka Get Physical co-founder Thomas Koch) who has had a major influence of the electric scene over the past 20 years. He also provides the latest instalment of the Fabric series (Fabric 51).
John Digweed - Transitions 296 (Kiss100) 2nd May 2010
01. Kaito - And That Was The Way (Echospace Dub) [Kompakt KOM 208]
02. Chloe Harris - Tenostrng [Further Records FUR010]
03. Bension & Dosem - Northern Response [SINO 2010]
04. Chloe Harris - Tpick [Further Records FUR010]
05. Audiofly - Sweeter Than (Tiefschwarz Remix) [Supernature SPN016]
06. Tigerskin - Everybody Loves Ollie [Audiomatique Recordings AM040]
07. Martin Dawson - Dub Freedom [Also Ran Music ALS007]
08. Booka Shade - Bad Love (Tim Green Remix) [Get Physical Music BOOKA01]
09. Mike Sheridan & Mads Langer - Too Close (The Chain Dub) [R & S Records RS1002DB]
DJ T Guest Mix (Kiss100) 2nd May 2010
01. Kink - Bitter Sweet
02. C.j. Jeff - Got To Be
03. Mugwump - Stanza
04. Dop - Dein Verlangen (Kalabrese Remix)
05. Luna City Express - Mr. Jack
06. Dj Assassin - A Face In The Crowd
07. Loco Dice - Definition
08. Ike - Diskadenz
09. Mathew Dear & Seth Troxler - Hurt (Martinez Remix)
10. Mr. C, Sycophant Slags & Adultnapper - Keep Off (Wighnomy Brothers Remix)
11. Riva Starr - Tribute
12. Sis - Barbarossa
13. Ultramarine - Hooter V1.25 (Carl Craig Rmx)
DJ T Bio
Thomas Koch aka DJ T. has been a vital part of music and club culture for more than 20 years, during which time he has built up a reputation in a range of different capacities: DJ, label owner, producer, event organiser, club operator, publisher and journalist. In 2005, he relocated to Berlin, where he’s been living and working ever since.
Blame it all on the disco ball. Born in 1969 in the city of Dusseldorf, at the tender age of nine Koch succumbed to the seductive charms of black wax. By this time, his family had moved to Frankfurt, and disco had reached its zenith; Koch’s parents plied him with early vinyl compilations, triggering what would become a serious and lifelong collecting streak. T.’s burgeoning obsession went beyond disco and hi N-R-G – Village People, Donna Summer and Evelyn Thomas were soon followed by early rap music (via Grandmaster Flash) and finally – from 1983 – electro funk and its seminal protagonists Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, Newcleus and Mantronix. Their tracks had everything Koch craved: glam, funk, beats and bass. They were the soundtrack to a new dance culture. For Koch, this was love at first sight and he decided to take up breakdancing. Until this day, many of DJ T.’s own productions preserve the musical spirit of this period. Some loves do last forever.
Koch’s career on the decks began with trial stints at private parties back in 1986, which were soon to be followed by his first professional gigs at his own nights in Frankfurt club Nouvelle a year later. He adopted the pseudonym DJ T. – a moniker he retains to this day. Early fare on his turntables: black music in all its variants. Spinning at a range of different clubs in and around Frankfurt, T. soon found himself swept away by the powerful acid house wave that hit the city with the opening of Sven Väth’s Omen in 1988. Koch switched to straight beats to move the crowds with early house, EBM and techno tracks, followed by his first residency at Frankfurt’s seminal Music Hall.
Throughout the 90s, he played almost all of the city’s essential clubs, including extended stopovers at Plastik, Dorian Gray and The Box. By now, Frankfurt, one of Europe’s foremost epicentres of electronic dance music, has become indelibly linked with the name DJ T. Towards the end of the millennium, after a decade of experience organising major events and club nights, Koch felt the urge to make his own vision of a club come true. In 1999, he, Patrik Dechent and others opened their own venue Monza, an intimate and cosy little club situated right in Frankfurt’s city centre. In his capacity as DJ and the one in charge of the club’s overall musical direction, Koch played a decisive part in shaping the profile of this hot-spot as well as that of its Ibizan satellite events for the next five years. Impressive names like Steve Bug, DJ Hell, Ricardo Villalobos and Tiefschwarz were among the venue’s welcome and frequent guests. Run without Koch since 2004, Monza continues to claim its place among Germany’s foremost clubbing locations; operating from its Ibizan offshoot, his former partner Dechent strives to extend the club’s sphere of influence all over the globe.
Moving back in time: In 1989, Koch founded the influential German-language magazine Groove. To this day, it remains Germany’s most important and high-quality publication for the electronic aspects of life, alongside De:Bug. According to Koch, it was all about “creating a magazine that would meet my own needs. I assumed there were many others with similar needs out there.” And history proved him right. Besides serving as Groove’s publisher and editor for fifteen years, he has also contributed to anthologies on club music, among others Localiser 1.0 and Techno.
In 2002, Koch and friends decided to start their own label, Get Physical Music. Within ten single releases the label had gained a worldwide reputation, its popularity and fame spreading well beyond its Berlin base – reaching 4 in the annual Groove reader’s poll of their favourite labels in 2004, Get Physical also claimed the coveted ‘label of the year 2005’ award from British clubbing bible DJ Mag. Ever since, one would be hard-pressed to find a single techno/ house DJ around the world who does not reach for at least one Get Physical track when things get hot.
Featuring six seasoned veterans of electronic music and club culture, the label collective also includes DJ and production team Patrick Bodmer and Philipp Jung (otherwise known as M.A.N.D.Y.) as well as producers and studio owners Booka Shade (Walter Merziger, Arno Kammermeier, Peter Hayo). Focussing on A&R, among other responsibilities, Koch tirelessly scours the scene for new talent and takes care of those already signed and their current productions. And yet, besides all these other activities, Koch still finds the time to pursue his own artistic endeavours.
2000 saw the release of his first production with ‘Monsterbaze’, a Steve Bug co-production on the latter’s Pokerflat label. To this day, in addition to releases on Moodmusic, 20:20 Vision, Pokerflat and Kindisch, Koch has put out a total of sixteen 12’’ singles on Get Physical. In 2005 he unleashed his first album Boogie Playground, a reverential and reference-laden piece of music paying homage to T.’s own past and all those strands of early club music that had shaped his future path. Conjuring the moods that gave classic funk and electro as well as disco, italo and acid house records their good name, Boogie Playground wrapped them all up in contemporary sound design.
In addition, Koch’s talents as a remixer have not gone unnoticed. His interpretations of acts like Spektrum, Mylor or Newcleus plus remixes for labels like ArtofDisco/ Yellow, 20:20 Vision, Simple and Naked Music have moved critics and crowds alike. In 2006, Berlin daily TAZ commented on his first commercially available DJ mix, Body Language Vol. 2: “Koch combines tracks from the most varied of genres...triggering the most disparate of euphoria-soaked locations, he touches on the different waveforms of twenty years of party bliss”. Whether somewhere in Europe or on one of his extensive tours of North and South America, Australia or Asia, T.’s sets are invariably stirring and extraordinarily varied. Koch is most certainly no ‘style fascist’, but rather something like a bass and groove-addicted club historian with a firm grasp of the contemporary. His sets turn 25 years of electronic music history into one fine, homogenous blend, reminiscent of expansive narratives that transform the significant links between genres and ages into a truly physical experience. Yet despite all this inherent party spirit, Koch also knows how to send 6am crowds into veritable danceathons – as anyone who’s heard him play at Watergate, Panorama Bar and Bar25 will attest.
Coming out in June 2010
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