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Transition 324
This week’s T is packed full of tough edgy techno as Diggers takes no prisoners. So turn things up to 11, sit back, strap yourself in, sit back & enjoy the ride.
01. John Daly – Long Distance [Drumpoet Community | DPC_033-1]
We start with the Zurich ‘Drumpoet’ imprint and Galway-based John Daly’s new emotive EP featuring 4 variations of deepness. John Daly (Wave Music | Plak Records) has become a highly respected producer with a style driven by his personality and versatility - the quality he provides speaks for itself.
Described as dub-techno ‘Long Distance’ has a balanced dark emotional groove and is a fine opening to the show. John Daly's deep 4 track EP has great feedback from the likes of Peter Kruder, Steve Bug & Loco Dice:
"Great EP. Like all the Tunes. Will play this." Peter Kruder
"Whole EP sounds like absolute top quality biz to me. Nice work once again." Jimpster
"Very nice EP by Mr. Daly!" Steve Bug
"Reach is great! Deep, warm and groovy!" Loco Dice
"Beautiful tracks all the way - love the dreamy atmosphere." Deetron
"This is fantastic - Long Distance is my fav ... but the whole thing is magic." The Revenge
02. D'Julz & Paul Ritch – Run [Quartz Music | QRZ014]
The temperature rises as Diggers brings through a more industrial tour-de-force as Parisian compatriots D’Julz and Paul Ritch combine, under the theory that two techno-heads are definitely better than one - 'Run' goes top heavy on the hard thrashing beats.
“Run is a big room techno track in every way. From the steady stream of reverb sent swirling out into the ether to the suspense-filled strings hovering over the track like brooding vultures, ‘Run’ is made for filling cavernous places and shifting the structural foundations of smaller ones. It is punctuated by loose, military style snares and a patch of vocal, clipped into incoherence and looped and pitched to resemble the effects of a pulsing strobe.” [Little White Ear Buds review]
Dubfire - “Great music here. thanks support.” – Mathias Kaden - “Big run!!!!!!” – Adam Beyer - “Great, will play and support.” – Ewan Pearson - “Tense, nervous techno. All mixes strong too. Love it.”- Radio Slave - “The original version is super cool.. heavy but rolling and I’ll definitely use this… also digging the Visionquest mix with it’s warm trippy vibe…10/10″ – Seth Troxler - “Pull the trigger till it goes click!!” – Josh Wink - “Had this for a bit from Julz and it rocks. Still like the orig best. But Visionquest remix is a nice alternative for me.” – Satoshi Tomiie - “Original is great and 200 and One mix is great for the peak moment I am sure.” – Sharam - “Paul Ritch at it again! LOVE IT. 2000 and One’s mix is rocking too. Full support.” – Varoslav - “Vat fat release for my men! I like the original and visionquest remix! Full support!” – Samuel L Session - “All tracks here are good! Will do damage.” – Orde Meikle – (Slam) - “Both brilliant producers – great trax – playing!” – Paco Osuna - “Nice tracks, will play full support!” – Brodinski - “Love that! The Original is DOPE! Perfect Groove. I will play it!” – Davide Squillace - “Great one from my french buddies!” – Gregor Tresher - “Big package, been playing Dylan´s Mix to great response over the last weeks. Killer original as well!” – Nick Curly - “Great release, support!” – Diesel – (X-Press 2 / MoS Radio) - “Run… this is growing.”- Mauro Picotto - “Big tune, love it!” – Timo Maas - “Original is cool.” – Pär Grindvik - “I’m all in for the original version! Huge, thanks!” – Bushwacka! - “The usual quality – slamming!” – Luca Bacchetti - “The original is a bomb! I’m into the Visionquest Remix too! Well Excellent productions!” – Marc Romboy - “Interesting and cool collabo! My support for sure!” – Sian - “Superb record! All killer tracks..” – Nick Warren - “Off the hook, i love it!” – Fergie - “All sounding sweet 2 the beat.” – Ryan Crosson - “Glad to finally have the master!!!!” – Joris Voorn - “Like the original and Dylan’s mix!!” – Monika Kruse - “What a dream team of producers and remixers! Full support!” – Kiki - “All mixes rock!” – Laurent Garnier - “Ruuunnnn yessssss!”- John Selway – “Ok I’m running…!! Great!” – C-Rock (Motorcitysoul) – “Wow, massive release, Detroit all around!” – Konrad Black - “All heavy bombs!” – Michel de Hey - “Can’t go wrong here with all these superstars ” – Deetron - “All mixes are really nice, love Dylan’s banger and the dreamy Visionquest mix. Original’s great too. Value package!” – Anja Schneider - “What can go wrong with this combination ? Support!!” – Shlomi Aber - “Been playing the original for few weeks now, smashed both Space Ibiza and Panorama Bar last weekend.”.
03. Alan Fitzpatrick – The Heist (Original Mix) [8 Sided Dice Recordings | ESD024]
Alan Fitzpatrick's rise continues on his own 8 Sided Dice - the biggest story in UK techno right now. Championed by Dubfire, Len Faki and John Digweed, it has been Alan’s partnership with Adam Beyer’s Drumcode label that has produced his most significant work in his debut album 'Shadows In The Dark' and two chart-topping EP's.
Embracing that style 'The Heist' combines new school production with old school sentiments via classic sounding stabs & massive rising tone builds - a real heads down driving number to get adrenalin pumping across the floors. Also keep an eye out for the standout Slam ‘Paragraph’ remix.
04. Planetary Assault Systems – GT (Function & Jerome Sydenham Remix) [Mote-Evolver | MOTE018]
The UK techno vibe continues as Diggers takes no prisoners c/o Luke Slater aka Planetary Assault Systems. One of the UK’s true electronic and techno pioneers Luke’s career spans 20 years and uses the P.A.S. alias for his harder edged techno output.
Planetary Assault Systems released the acclaimed 'Temporary Suspension' LP on notorious Berlin techno club Berghain's imprint Ostgut Ton last year. The hard driving 'GT' (with Function & Jerome handling remixing duties) embraces pounding drums, doubled up reverberated claps, insistent acid line & ominous chords for a contemporary feel. The chord sequence has been likened to Secret Cinema's 1994 classic ‘Timeless Altitude’.
05. Piatto – MC202 [Italo Business Records | ITADI119]
Pace is maintained thanks to the Italian Piatto brothers, who feature on Hawtin & Umek's playlists. Currently riding high in Beatport’s Techno Top 10 the banging 'MC202' went down a storm at John's recent Monster Massive date over in LA.
06. Sasha Carassi – Slice [Harthouse | HHD051-8-X]
Neapolitan Sasha Carassi (Drumcode|8 Sided Dice] is the founder of the renowned labels Globox, Capsula and Phobiq collaborating actively with top artists such as Mark Broom and Dustin Zahn. Here Signor C provides more stonking main room techno as the relentless pace of this week’s show continues.
07. Heiko Laux & Steve Rachmad – The Boatshow [Figure SPC | figure spc H]
Dutchman Steve Rachmad’s label CV read impressively (Cocoon | Systematic | Tresor | Music Man | Underwater | Saved] with his imagination captured by sounds echoing from Detroit & Chicago. Here he again teams up with Berlin’s Heiko Laux, this time for Berghain resident Len Fakhi's Figure SPC label. The results aren’t for the faint hearted, with the thunderous reverberating beats no doubt inspired by the infamous Techno mecca Berghain - the fine mid-section breakdown is a joy to behold. This is a track that definitely needs a state of the art sound system to give it its full justice.
08. Jerome & Jamie Anderson – Sketches (Psycatron Remix 2) [Outland Records | Trip058]
Outland Records is an institution in Holland and has been releasing quality House music since 1991. Following on from the recent release of Jamie Anderson’s outstanding collaboration with UK Deep House don Owain K in the form of ‘Voyager’ (Trip053), ‘Sketches’ is yet another mile-stone for the Outland label.
Originally released 5 years ago on vinyl, this collaboration between Outland store owner Jerome (aka Jeroen Krom) and UK Tech-House pioneer Jamie Anderson, receives brand new remix treatment from the producers-of-the-moment, Psycatron, fresh from their outstanding releases on Carl Craig’s Planet E and the almighty R&S along with remixes for Rotterdam’s Secret Cinema and Mutant Clan (Santos and Timo Maas).
Psycatron have developed a unique sound combining the energy of Detroit Techno with subtleties of House, guaranteed to rock the floor. Here Psycatron go for the peak hour jugular as their dense relentless drums give 'Sketches' a dark aggressive feel before the floating synths & melodies add warmth.
09. Guy J – Heliscope [Bedrock Records | Bed95]
Anyone that tuned in last week for his maiden guest mix or that has played the Bedrock Winter Sampler (links on John's Facebook page) will already be aware that Guy J is back with a bang. ‘Easy As Can Be’ featured on John’s recent Cavo Paradiso & B 019 live sets – now we get the title cut from Guy J’s forthcoming Heliscope EP. This up tempo number shows Guy's versatility with its driving beats + rotating theme giving an elevated feeling and sense that the room is about to erupt. With a Christmas appearance at fabric warming up for Diggers and follow up artist album out next year it looks like things are ready to take off.
John Digweed- Transitions 324 (Kiss100) 14th November 2010
01. John Daly – Long Distance [Drumpoet Community | DPC_033-1]
02. D'Julz & Paul Ritch – Run [Quartz Music | QRZ014]
03. Alan Fitzpatrick – The Heist (Original Mix) [8 Sided Dice Recordings | ESD024]
04. Planetary Assault Systems – GT (Function & Jerome Sydenham Remix) [Mote-Evolver | MOTE018]
05. Piatto – MC202 [Italo Business Records | ITADI119]
06. Sasha Carassi – Slice [Harthouse | HHD051-8-X]
07. Heiko Laux & Steve Rachmad – The Boatshow [Figure SPC | figure spc H]
08. Jerome & Jamie Anderson – Sketches (Psycatron Remix 2) [Outland Records | Trip058]
09. Guy J – Heliscope [Bedrock Records | Bed95]
Sebrok Guest Mix (Kiss100) 14th November 2010
01. DJ Koze – Blume Der Nacht [Pampa]
02. Lee Curtiss – I Can Hear You Arthur [Supplement Facts]
03. MRI – Shaun (Matt John’s Encore Remix) [Resopal Schallware]
04. Swayzak – Hausfrau [Logistic]
05. John Digweed & Nick Muir – Meteor (Maetrik Heavy Remix) [Bedrock]
06. Sebrok – Jefferson Ave [Ideal Audio]
07. Sebrok & Tassilo – Who Stole The Soul (Steve Lawler Remix) [Paso]
08. Johnny D – Love Or Leave Me (Johnny’s Power To The People Remix) [Cécille]
09. And.Id – Isalos [Mobilee]
10. Sebrok & Tassilo – Dr. Dub [Paso]
Sebrok Bio
http://www.myspace.com/sebrok
http://soundcloud.com/sebrok
Given what a vibrant and dense electronic music scene Berlin has, it's not easy to make yourself stand out from the crowd as a producer and to break out of the city's insular musical bubble. But such widescreen, mind-bending and sophisticated techno as that of local hotshot Sebrok was never going to go unnoticed on a wider scale.
Steadily rising through the ranks of the techno fraternity, Sebrok's ascent began in 2004 when he founded his own label PASO Music with fellow Teutonic talent Marc Miroir. He soon found his records getting love from electronic royalty such as Laurent Garnier, DJ Hell and Sven Väth, and as techno gradually came back into favour with crowds around the world over the next few years, his increasingly impressive productions started to pop up in more and more high profile places. David Squillace's MiniSketch label, Dubfire's scene-leading Sci+Tec, Nic Fanciulli's Global Underground compilation – all undoubted hallmarks of quality and cool. After years of grinding away and a risking everything (he ditched his successful job at MTV Networks to work on his creative passions) his gamble has quite clearly paid off. Alongside his role as one of the founders of hugely successful fashion label German Garment, he is widely recognised as one of the world's most talented up and coming techno producers.
Flying in the face of dumb, thoughtless dancefloor fodder, his tracks are constructed with intricate technical trickery, making your brain do aural double-takes as his carefully crafted grooves thump against your bones. It's music that ebbs and flows, grows and pulsates throughout its course and rewards those who give it their full time and attention. It's no wonder that UNKLE legend James Lavelle says of his work “sick....production is great, proper techno”, or that Joel Mull says his tracks “stand out from the crowd”, or that the likes of Carl Cox and Richie Hawtin are fully behind his music.
The proof is in the pudding though, as they say, and Sebrok will soon serve up his just desserts in the form of his debut album The Pain. “I always wanted to do an album” he explains, “but during my time at MTV, it was impossible to think about spending so much time making music. But as soon as i quit, the idea popped up again and I started working on it, which took me now all in all over a year.” He'll be releasing it on his beloved PASO Music, with 14 tracks spread thick over two discs, displaying both his production and remix skills – from hard-hitting thumpers to Balearic-tinged ethereal moments and even a daring fusion of techno and indie with German outfit Northern Lite.
“I would say what I did is not a listening album - more a dance album. As a DJ I wanna make people dance and party, and that´s exactly what I did on the album. Sure, it is a much bigger range then a normal 12" with 3 tracks - we have 14 new tracks plus several older tracks and remixes. It's something like a showreel of what I did in the last 2 years combined in a mix CD, plus a CD with new tracks only, including minimal stuff, prime-time techno, vocal tracks, a dub track and even one with a guitar. Everything I always wanted to combined on one release.” Working alongside talented producers and engineers like Pan-Pot's Tassilo, Jochen Schmalbach (who has produced with Tiefschwarz and M.A.N.D.Y.) and Dave Shokh (Monika Kruse, Karotte), he has realised his visions with a crisp, thumping, high-definition finish.
His latest PASO 12” comes with remixes from the hugely respected Steve Lawler and Mobilee Mastermind Anja Schneider, while his recent Ideal Audio is going down a storm with everyone from Josh Wink to Marc Romboy to Laurent Garnier. With the support of everyone who's anyone in techno music, Sebrok's star looks set to continue to rise throughout the decade. Dance music by numbers this ain't.
Just released on PASO Music , Sebrok’s debut artist album ‘The Pain’ has been receiving great reviews and is album of the month at Partysan BaWü.
This week’s T is packed full of tough edgy techno as Diggers takes no prisoners. So turn things up to 11, sit back, strap yourself in, sit back & enjoy the ride.
01. John Daly – Long Distance [Drumpoet Community | DPC_033-1]
We start with the Zurich ‘Drumpoet’ imprint and Galway-based John Daly’s new emotive EP featuring 4 variations of deepness. John Daly (Wave Music | Plak Records) has become a highly respected producer with a style driven by his personality and versatility - the quality he provides speaks for itself.
Described as dub-techno ‘Long Distance’ has a balanced dark emotional groove and is a fine opening to the show. John Daly's deep 4 track EP has great feedback from the likes of Peter Kruder, Steve Bug & Loco Dice:
"Great EP. Like all the Tunes. Will play this." Peter Kruder
"Whole EP sounds like absolute top quality biz to me. Nice work once again." Jimpster
"Very nice EP by Mr. Daly!" Steve Bug
"Reach is great! Deep, warm and groovy!" Loco Dice
"Beautiful tracks all the way - love the dreamy atmosphere." Deetron
"This is fantastic - Long Distance is my fav ... but the whole thing is magic." The Revenge
02. D'Julz & Paul Ritch – Run [Quartz Music | QRZ014]
The temperature rises as Diggers brings through a more industrial tour-de-force as Parisian compatriots D’Julz and Paul Ritch combine, under the theory that two techno-heads are definitely better than one - 'Run' goes top heavy on the hard thrashing beats.
“Run is a big room techno track in every way. From the steady stream of reverb sent swirling out into the ether to the suspense-filled strings hovering over the track like brooding vultures, ‘Run’ is made for filling cavernous places and shifting the structural foundations of smaller ones. It is punctuated by loose, military style snares and a patch of vocal, clipped into incoherence and looped and pitched to resemble the effects of a pulsing strobe.” [Little White Ear Buds review]
Dubfire - “Great music here. thanks support.” – Mathias Kaden - “Big run!!!!!!” – Adam Beyer - “Great, will play and support.” – Ewan Pearson - “Tense, nervous techno. All mixes strong too. Love it.”- Radio Slave - “The original version is super cool.. heavy but rolling and I’ll definitely use this… also digging the Visionquest mix with it’s warm trippy vibe…10/10″ – Seth Troxler - “Pull the trigger till it goes click!!” – Josh Wink - “Had this for a bit from Julz and it rocks. Still like the orig best. But Visionquest remix is a nice alternative for me.” – Satoshi Tomiie - “Original is great and 200 and One mix is great for the peak moment I am sure.” – Sharam - “Paul Ritch at it again! LOVE IT. 2000 and One’s mix is rocking too. Full support.” – Varoslav - “Vat fat release for my men! I like the original and visionquest remix! Full support!” – Samuel L Session - “All tracks here are good! Will do damage.” – Orde Meikle – (Slam) - “Both brilliant producers – great trax – playing!” – Paco Osuna - “Nice tracks, will play full support!” – Brodinski - “Love that! The Original is DOPE! Perfect Groove. I will play it!” – Davide Squillace - “Great one from my french buddies!” – Gregor Tresher - “Big package, been playing Dylan´s Mix to great response over the last weeks. Killer original as well!” – Nick Curly - “Great release, support!” – Diesel – (X-Press 2 / MoS Radio) - “Run… this is growing.”- Mauro Picotto - “Big tune, love it!” – Timo Maas - “Original is cool.” – Pär Grindvik - “I’m all in for the original version! Huge, thanks!” – Bushwacka! - “The usual quality – slamming!” – Luca Bacchetti - “The original is a bomb! I’m into the Visionquest Remix too! Well Excellent productions!” – Marc Romboy - “Interesting and cool collabo! My support for sure!” – Sian - “Superb record! All killer tracks..” – Nick Warren - “Off the hook, i love it!” – Fergie - “All sounding sweet 2 the beat.” – Ryan Crosson - “Glad to finally have the master!!!!” – Joris Voorn - “Like the original and Dylan’s mix!!” – Monika Kruse - “What a dream team of producers and remixers! Full support!” – Kiki - “All mixes rock!” – Laurent Garnier - “Ruuunnnn yessssss!”- John Selway – “Ok I’m running…!! Great!” – C-Rock (Motorcitysoul) – “Wow, massive release, Detroit all around!” – Konrad Black - “All heavy bombs!” – Michel de Hey - “Can’t go wrong here with all these superstars ” – Deetron - “All mixes are really nice, love Dylan’s banger and the dreamy Visionquest mix. Original’s great too. Value package!” – Anja Schneider - “What can go wrong with this combination ? Support!!” – Shlomi Aber - “Been playing the original for few weeks now, smashed both Space Ibiza and Panorama Bar last weekend.”.
03. Alan Fitzpatrick – The Heist (Original Mix) [8 Sided Dice Recordings | ESD024]
Alan Fitzpatrick's rise continues on his own 8 Sided Dice - the biggest story in UK techno right now. Championed by Dubfire, Len Faki and John Digweed, it has been Alan’s partnership with Adam Beyer’s Drumcode label that has produced his most significant work in his debut album 'Shadows In The Dark' and two chart-topping EP's.
Embracing that style 'The Heist' combines new school production with old school sentiments via classic sounding stabs & massive rising tone builds - a real heads down driving number to get adrenalin pumping across the floors. Also keep an eye out for the standout Slam ‘Paragraph’ remix.
04. Planetary Assault Systems – GT (Function & Jerome Sydenham Remix) [Mote-Evolver | MOTE018]
The UK techno vibe continues as Diggers takes no prisoners c/o Luke Slater aka Planetary Assault Systems. One of the UK’s true electronic and techno pioneers Luke’s career spans 20 years and uses the P.A.S. alias for his harder edged techno output.
Planetary Assault Systems released the acclaimed 'Temporary Suspension' LP on notorious Berlin techno club Berghain's imprint Ostgut Ton last year. The hard driving 'GT' (with Function & Jerome handling remixing duties) embraces pounding drums, doubled up reverberated claps, insistent acid line & ominous chords for a contemporary feel. The chord sequence has been likened to Secret Cinema's 1994 classic ‘Timeless Altitude’.
05. Piatto – MC202 [Italo Business Records | ITADI119]
Pace is maintained thanks to the Italian Piatto brothers, who feature on Hawtin & Umek's playlists. Currently riding high in Beatport’s Techno Top 10 the banging 'MC202' went down a storm at John's recent Monster Massive date over in LA.
06. Sasha Carassi – Slice [Harthouse | HHD051-8-X]
Neapolitan Sasha Carassi (Drumcode|8 Sided Dice] is the founder of the renowned labels Globox, Capsula and Phobiq collaborating actively with top artists such as Mark Broom and Dustin Zahn. Here Signor C provides more stonking main room techno as the relentless pace of this week’s show continues.
07. Heiko Laux & Steve Rachmad – The Boatshow [Figure SPC | figure spc H]
Dutchman Steve Rachmad’s label CV read impressively (Cocoon | Systematic | Tresor | Music Man | Underwater | Saved] with his imagination captured by sounds echoing from Detroit & Chicago. Here he again teams up with Berlin’s Heiko Laux, this time for Berghain resident Len Fakhi's Figure SPC label. The results aren’t for the faint hearted, with the thunderous reverberating beats no doubt inspired by the infamous Techno mecca Berghain - the fine mid-section breakdown is a joy to behold. This is a track that definitely needs a state of the art sound system to give it its full justice.
08. Jerome & Jamie Anderson – Sketches (Psycatron Remix 2) [Outland Records | Trip058]
Outland Records is an institution in Holland and has been releasing quality House music since 1991. Following on from the recent release of Jamie Anderson’s outstanding collaboration with UK Deep House don Owain K in the form of ‘Voyager’ (Trip053), ‘Sketches’ is yet another mile-stone for the Outland label.
Originally released 5 years ago on vinyl, this collaboration between Outland store owner Jerome (aka Jeroen Krom) and UK Tech-House pioneer Jamie Anderson, receives brand new remix treatment from the producers-of-the-moment, Psycatron, fresh from their outstanding releases on Carl Craig’s Planet E and the almighty R&S along with remixes for Rotterdam’s Secret Cinema and Mutant Clan (Santos and Timo Maas).
Psycatron have developed a unique sound combining the energy of Detroit Techno with subtleties of House, guaranteed to rock the floor. Here Psycatron go for the peak hour jugular as their dense relentless drums give 'Sketches' a dark aggressive feel before the floating synths & melodies add warmth.
09. Guy J – Heliscope [Bedrock Records | Bed95]
Anyone that tuned in last week for his maiden guest mix or that has played the Bedrock Winter Sampler (links on John's Facebook page) will already be aware that Guy J is back with a bang. ‘Easy As Can Be’ featured on John’s recent Cavo Paradiso & B 019 live sets – now we get the title cut from Guy J’s forthcoming Heliscope EP. This up tempo number shows Guy's versatility with its driving beats + rotating theme giving an elevated feeling and sense that the room is about to erupt. With a Christmas appearance at fabric warming up for Diggers and follow up artist album out next year it looks like things are ready to take off.
John Digweed- Transitions 324 (Kiss100) 14th November 2010
01. John Daly – Long Distance [Drumpoet Community | DPC_033-1]
02. D'Julz & Paul Ritch – Run [Quartz Music | QRZ014]
03. Alan Fitzpatrick – The Heist (Original Mix) [8 Sided Dice Recordings | ESD024]
04. Planetary Assault Systems – GT (Function & Jerome Sydenham Remix) [Mote-Evolver | MOTE018]
05. Piatto – MC202 [Italo Business Records | ITADI119]
06. Sasha Carassi – Slice [Harthouse | HHD051-8-X]
07. Heiko Laux & Steve Rachmad – The Boatshow [Figure SPC | figure spc H]
08. Jerome & Jamie Anderson – Sketches (Psycatron Remix 2) [Outland Records | Trip058]
09. Guy J – Heliscope [Bedrock Records | Bed95]
Sebrok Guest Mix (Kiss100) 14th November 2010
01. DJ Koze – Blume Der Nacht [Pampa]
02. Lee Curtiss – I Can Hear You Arthur [Supplement Facts]
03. MRI – Shaun (Matt John’s Encore Remix) [Resopal Schallware]
04. Swayzak – Hausfrau [Logistic]
05. John Digweed & Nick Muir – Meteor (Maetrik Heavy Remix) [Bedrock]
06. Sebrok – Jefferson Ave [Ideal Audio]
07. Sebrok & Tassilo – Who Stole The Soul (Steve Lawler Remix) [Paso]
08. Johnny D – Love Or Leave Me (Johnny’s Power To The People Remix) [Cécille]
09. And.Id – Isalos [Mobilee]
10. Sebrok & Tassilo – Dr. Dub [Paso]
Sebrok Bio
http://www.myspace.com/sebrok
http://soundcloud.com/sebrok
Given what a vibrant and dense electronic music scene Berlin has, it's not easy to make yourself stand out from the crowd as a producer and to break out of the city's insular musical bubble. But such widescreen, mind-bending and sophisticated techno as that of local hotshot Sebrok was never going to go unnoticed on a wider scale.
Steadily rising through the ranks of the techno fraternity, Sebrok's ascent began in 2004 when he founded his own label PASO Music with fellow Teutonic talent Marc Miroir. He soon found his records getting love from electronic royalty such as Laurent Garnier, DJ Hell and Sven Väth, and as techno gradually came back into favour with crowds around the world over the next few years, his increasingly impressive productions started to pop up in more and more high profile places. David Squillace's MiniSketch label, Dubfire's scene-leading Sci+Tec, Nic Fanciulli's Global Underground compilation – all undoubted hallmarks of quality and cool. After years of grinding away and a risking everything (he ditched his successful job at MTV Networks to work on his creative passions) his gamble has quite clearly paid off. Alongside his role as one of the founders of hugely successful fashion label German Garment, he is widely recognised as one of the world's most talented up and coming techno producers.
Flying in the face of dumb, thoughtless dancefloor fodder, his tracks are constructed with intricate technical trickery, making your brain do aural double-takes as his carefully crafted grooves thump against your bones. It's music that ebbs and flows, grows and pulsates throughout its course and rewards those who give it their full time and attention. It's no wonder that UNKLE legend James Lavelle says of his work “sick....production is great, proper techno”, or that Joel Mull says his tracks “stand out from the crowd”, or that the likes of Carl Cox and Richie Hawtin are fully behind his music.
The proof is in the pudding though, as they say, and Sebrok will soon serve up his just desserts in the form of his debut album The Pain. “I always wanted to do an album” he explains, “but during my time at MTV, it was impossible to think about spending so much time making music. But as soon as i quit, the idea popped up again and I started working on it, which took me now all in all over a year.” He'll be releasing it on his beloved PASO Music, with 14 tracks spread thick over two discs, displaying both his production and remix skills – from hard-hitting thumpers to Balearic-tinged ethereal moments and even a daring fusion of techno and indie with German outfit Northern Lite.
“I would say what I did is not a listening album - more a dance album. As a DJ I wanna make people dance and party, and that´s exactly what I did on the album. Sure, it is a much bigger range then a normal 12" with 3 tracks - we have 14 new tracks plus several older tracks and remixes. It's something like a showreel of what I did in the last 2 years combined in a mix CD, plus a CD with new tracks only, including minimal stuff, prime-time techno, vocal tracks, a dub track and even one with a guitar. Everything I always wanted to combined on one release.” Working alongside talented producers and engineers like Pan-Pot's Tassilo, Jochen Schmalbach (who has produced with Tiefschwarz and M.A.N.D.Y.) and Dave Shokh (Monika Kruse, Karotte), he has realised his visions with a crisp, thumping, high-definition finish.
His latest PASO 12” comes with remixes from the hugely respected Steve Lawler and Mobilee Mastermind Anja Schneider, while his recent Ideal Audio is going down a storm with everyone from Josh Wink to Marc Romboy to Laurent Garnier. With the support of everyone who's anyone in techno music, Sebrok's star looks set to continue to rise throughout the decade. Dance music by numbers this ain't.
Just released on PASO Music , Sebrok’s debut artist album ‘The Pain’ has been receiving great reviews and is album of the month at Partysan BaWü.
.... and his release schedule + he doesn't always get the chance to upload (very busy, in the studio, travelling, in a different time-zone). He also has the odd i-phone app gremlin :P
... did not understand very well
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