Electronic Directory

2011: a year in techno

Kazuumi — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:00:13 +0000

Here’s our list of our favourite singles, albums and labels of 2011.

10 singles:

10 albums/compilations:

3 labels:

Rush Hour
Delsin
Clone

sect says it’s all for you

Kazuumi — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 06:00:59 +0000

London-based Sect Records create technoid grooves for the mind, body and feet. They draft in like-minded souls from elsewhere to help them out where necessary. The collective go darker and deeper than most, creating the sort of brilliant deep and techy grooves that resonate with your very soul. Disc one is the synthier of the two and features winners such as Jolka’s blissful "Two (Going On)" and D-Knox’s intense "I’m Sorry Remix". Disc 2 is a little less melodious and slightly more hard-hitting, where peaks include Casual Violence’s bewitching "Acceptance Of The Fact At Hand" and Fanon Flowers’ hypnotic "Invisible Life". It’s All For You is a winning technoid collection.

Sect will release It’s All For You on September 16th, 2011.

17/09/2011 Updated: There’s been a slight delay on the CD, but now it’s coming out on 10th October.

Tracklist:

CD1
- Sect Intro 1
- Ben Gibson – Clamour
- Jeroen Search – Section A
- D Knox – Dknox @ Dj Bomi
- Voidloss – In The Void Is Virtue And No Evil
- Jolka – Two (Going Up)
- D Knox – On My Way (J&T Re-Edit)
- Jolka – Life Is Changing
- D Knox – I’m Sorry Remix
CD2
- Sect Intro 2
- AnD – Granular
- Och – Tears
- Casual Violence – Acceptance Of The Fact At Hand
- Victor Martinez – Dav To Dub
- Fanon Flowers – Invisible Life
- Grovskopa – 56-04
- Casual Violence – Word And Form (Version II)
- Grovskopa – Atopic (Lag Remix)
- Grovskopa – 69-02
- Sect Outro 1

happy birthday soma – 20 years, 20 favourite records

Kazuumi — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:30:15 +0000

It doesn’t sound like too long ago, but the electronic music industry has come a long way since the nineties. Today, August 1st, 2011, marks twenty years of Soma Records. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it ?

On the 1st of August, 1991, Soma Records released its first record, "Eterna" by Slam / "I.B.O." by Rejuvination, a great track and great split release with some Detroit and/or Chicago-rooted dance music. Nowadays, Soma is, as they describe themselves, one of the world’s leading electronic dance music labels.

Slam – Eterna

Rejuvination – I.B.O.

So far, the label has managed to release more than 80 albums and over 300 singles, from the likes of Slam, Funk D’Void, Alex Smoke, and The Black Dog, to name just a few. The Glasgow-based label continues to wow the electronic music world with their music, without a doubt.

Happy Birthday !

Here’s our list of twenty of our favourite Soma tracks:

01. Dove – Fallen from Soma 2
02. Slam – Positive Education from Soma 8
03. Desert Storm – Scoraig 93 from Soma 13
04. Daft Punk – Da Funk from Soma 25
05. Skintrade – Andomraxess from Soma 27
06. Funk D’Void – Jack Me Off from Soma 29
07. Chaser – Sides of Iron from Soma 33
08. Maas – Look At Me Now, Falling (I:Cube Simple mix) from Soma 54
09. Envoy – Emotional from Soma 59
10. Funk D’Void – Herbie On Rhodes from Soma 66
11. Scott Grooves feat. Parliament/Funkadelic – MotherShip ReConnection (Daft Punk remix) from Soma 71
12. Silicone Soul – Right On 4 Tha Darkness from Soma 83
13. Master-H – Magic K from Soma 101
14. Slam feat. Tyrone Palmer – Lifetimes from Soma 107
15. Funk D’Void – Diabla (Funk D’Void’s Heavenly mix) from Soma 112
16. Schatrax – Mispent Years (Silicone Soul dub) from Soma 128
17. Alex Smoke – Don’t See The Point from Soma 165
18. Funk D’Void – Nineteen Ninety-Two from Soma CD23
19. Slam – Stepback (Christian Smith & John Selway remix) from Soma LP29
20. The Black Dog – Sleep Deprivation 2 from Soma CD83

ecdr podcast 30 – dimi angélis

Kazuumi — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 05:00:21 +0000

Dimi Angélis lays down this month’s Electronic Directory podcast.

Interview with Dimi Angélis by Kazuumi Ishii

What have you been up to recently ?

I spend a lot of time making music together with Jeroen Search, sorting out music for my DJ sets, listening promos, buying and listening new music online and burning CDs (which I hate…) and playing my DJ sets on the weekends off course.

Where and how was the mix recorded ?

The mix was recorded at the XT3 Studio in Amsterdam where I make all my podcasts as I don’t have two CD players at home… I used the set-up in the studio with 2 CDJ-1000 CD players and a Pioneer DJM-800 mixer.

Can you tell us a little about the mix ?

Actually there’s not much to tell about this mix. I mixed it on a monday evening with the same CD map I used the weekend before at some gig. For me it feels the same as a live gig on the radio or in a club. I start my set and see what’s happening. :-)

On June 25th you’re playing at the Awakenings festival in Amsterdam with Jeroen Search, what can we expect from your performance ?

At Awakenings festival we perform live as Counterpart and we are doing an energetic trippy and booming live set !

What’s up next for you ?

I have my DJ gigs and some very nice Counterpart live gigs as well. Also there’s a lot of new music coming up from me and Jeroen Search. 2 EPs on Traut Muzik, Stockholm LTD, and a new EP on Balans. Also we do some remixes for M_Grey, ESHU, Fluxus Records and Fach.

New Angélis & Search twelve on Traut Muzik hits shelves this month

Dimi Angélis & Jeroen Search – If Reshape EP [Traut Muzik]

Dimi Angélis and Jeroen Search have a knack of making urgent techno efforts that demand your attention. Omnia V2 does this courtesy of slamming beats and an infectious bass groove. If Reshape is a synth driven attack, while De Novo is all menacing bass work and pounding drums.

Tracklisting:

A1. If Reshape
A2. Omnia V2
B1. De Novo

Download Electronic Directory 30 Dimi Angélis Podcast

Direct download here or Subscribe to the podcast

Tracklisting

No tracklist available.

Download older podcasts below

www.myspace.com/dimiangelis

ecdr podcast 29 – jeroen search

Kazuumi — Tue, 24 May 2011 04:00:04 +0000

Jeroen Search digs deep for this month’s Electronic Directory podcast.

Interview with Jeroen Search by Kazuumi Ishii

What have you been up to recently ?

Most of the time I’ve been busy making tracks / remixes and preparing my livesets.

Where and how was the mix recorded ?

The mix was recorded with a mixer and 2 CD players, no vinyl this time.

Can you tell us a little about the mix ?

It’s a collection of tracks of which I feel it is interesting music, with some upcoming releases and remixes I did as well.

What’s up next for you ?

Got some great gigs coming up, solo and as Counterpart (w/ Dimi [Angélis]). Releases are planned this year: Dimi & Jeroen on Stockholm LTD, Traut Records and Balans. Remixes for MGrey, Strom Recordings and Eshu are planned. A new project is born, a coorporation with Markus Suckkut, we finished some tracks now so probably will have it released the year also. Just released is my " Destiny EP" on Coincidence Records. So no complaints on my side…

And for Counterpart ?

We’re playing a few festivals this year (Awakenings Festival, Welcome to the Future Festival), and we got some plans for a new release as well…

Download Electronic Directory 29 Jeroen Search Podcast

Direct download here or Subscribe to the podcast

Tracklisting

01. Dimitri Pike – Doubt 595 [Wildtek Concept]
02. Ozka – Hidden Roots [Mowar]
03. Grovskopa – Atopic (Delta Funktionen rmx) [Sect]
04. Jeroen Search – Periapsis [Coincidence Records]
05. Stefanowitz – Coccyx (Dimi Angélis & Jeroen Search rmx) [Strom Recordings]
06. HD Substance – Futurama Reversion [Software]
07. Mattias Fridell – Anomalous Arrangement [Unknown]
08. Agony Forces – The Noir Age (Exium rmx) [Lycaon]
09. K-Series – K209 (Metal mix)
10. Kenflow – Tasty (Jeroen Search rmx) [Lowend Community]
11. Dynamo – Berlin (Samulli Kemppi rmx) [Dyamic Reflection]
12. Markus Suckut – Tension [*unreleased]
13. Darko Esser – Clean State (Lucy rmx) [Curle]
14. Ness – Diagnostic Sequence [Prologue]
15. Nir Shoshani – Ripple (Surit rmx) [Aurora Music]
16. Dimi Angélis & Jeroen Search – Partitio (The Rumours mix) [Stockholm LTD]
17. DJ Emerson – Non Human Beat (Markus Suckkut Basement remix) [Micro.fon]
18. O/V/R – Post Traumatic Son (DVS1 Pessimist mix) [Blueprint]
19. Jeroen Search – Paper Space [Coincidence Records]
20. Exium – Syncho (Jeroen Search Dub mix) [*unreleased]

Download older podcasts below

www.myspace.com/jeroenschrijvershof

ecdr podcast 28 – vince watson

Kazuumi — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:00:18 +0000

In celebration of our fourth anniversary, one of our favourite producers, Vince Watson mixes up the latest Electronic Directory podcast.

Interview with Vince Watson by Kazuumi Ishii

What have you been up to recently ?

Such a short question with such a long answer !! I’ll make it shorter :)

New agent, new studio, new manager and new publisher. I’ve been getting my backlog of DJ mixes and radio shows done this month, as well as finishing an EP for a massive label, that will be announced soon. Next month I begin it all again… :)

Where and how was the mix recorded ?

I recorded the mix yesterday 22 Feb using my trusty CDJ’s and 1210′s. I used my hands to put CD’s into the machines and vinyl records onto the turntables, then used my best judgement to make them sounds good together as much as possible while in the back of my mind telling a story of some kind… And building the music up and up. The rest is magic… :)

Can you tell us a little about the mix ?

It’s a nice balance of different flavours. I’ve done a lot of radio mixes and interviews this year already, so it’s been nice to expand the CD wallet a little bit, bringing in remastered old music and edits that I’ve made of other people’s music. I wanted to just give a balanced example of the music that I love and make.

How did your residency at Tresor come about ? Can you tell us a little about the concept behind the event ?

I played there back in July for Alexander Kowalski’s Damage label night, and it was completely crazy. After I heard Future Beat Alliance’s single I offered to do an EP, and in fact ended up signing 2 EP’s, the next one is due on April 25th. The were revamping the club nights, and asked both me and FBA to be residents on Wednesdays once a month. We called the night Radio Drama, because that is my favourite FBA track. The night quickly grew to a 700 crowd, so we’ve had a break over february and on March 11th we come back on a Friday with Octave One Live. There will be more news on the Radio Drama night soon…

Do you have a crowd pleaser, if so what track is it ?

I have many of them…but I’m pleased to say that My Desire on Planet E just gets it every time. Even with no beats it gets an amazing response, so I love playing it…but it’s not an easy track to drop.

What’s up next for you ?

My relocation to Amsterdam is now complete, and I’m on fire in the studio at the moment, so with a new agent now in place were starting the touring again. Other than that I’ll be finishing off my numerous remixes on the go and getting all these EP’s finished for the big labels. I also have a very exciting collaboration with another high profile artist, an obvious evolution of work we have done before together…news about that later in the spring ! It’s going to turn heads…

Vince Watson debuts on Tresor

Vince Watson – Atom EP [Tresor]

Vince Watson opens his Tresor account with a couple of plump technoid efforts that should appeal to big-room jocks. The winner is the first cut, a punishing synth workout entitled Atom.

Atom EP is available for digital download as well: http://www.junodownload.com/products/atom-ep/1682092-02/

Vince Watson Music webstore opens

Right now "Tech House Archives" and "Complete Bio Collection" are available exclusively at www.vincewatson.com/saleshop.html

Download Electronic Directory 28 Vince Watson Podcast

Direct download here or Subscribe to the podcast

Tracklisting

01. Gas – Pop 2 [Kompakt]
02. Rod Modell – Harmonics of Ether [Echospace]
03. Vince Watson – Signals [Bio]
04. Vince Watson – Pyrotechnica [Promo]
05. Pawel – Mate [Orphanear]
06. Conforce – Land of the Highway [Meanwhile Sounds]
07. Scratch Massive – Today’s Sunday (Elegi remix) [Euterpe]
08. Duplex – Autosample [Frantic Flowers]
09. Commix – Smile [Metalheadz]
10. Manual Tor – Vabanque [Freerange]
11. Vince Watson – Love In F Minor (House mix) [Everysoul]
12. Octave One – Daystar Rising (Aril Brikha remix) [430 West]
13. Technasia – Sounds of K (VW edit) [FCommunications]
14. Vince Watson – Plantary [Bio Promo]
15. Psycatron – She Is Music (Instrumental) [Planet E]
16. Vince Watson – Kaleidoscope [Tresor]
17. Model 500 – OFI (Mad Mike remix) [R&S Records]
18. The Thirdman – Tangier [ART]

Download older podcasts below

www.vincewatson.com

2010: a year in techno

Kazuumi — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:00:21 +0000

Here’s our list of our favourite singles, albums and labels of 2010. It’s been a great year for music.

20 singles:

DJ Bone – My Sunday [Sect Records]
Sunday Morning is the best track of the year.
Will Sessions – Kindred [The Few Records]
Best Detroit record of the year.
Jolka – Five [Sect Records]
Five is a magic number, yes it is, it’s a magic number.
Space Dimension Controller – Temporary Thrillz [R&S Records]
Hieroglyphic Being – The Mysteries Of Life [Mathematics Plus]
Best Chicago record of the year.
Bvdub – A Silent Reign [Styrax Records]
Vince Watson – Love In F Minor [Everysoul]
Best Scottish record of the year.
Conforce – Grace EP [Delsin]
Best Dutch record of the year.
Urban Tribe – Loyal Opposition [Planet E]
Fabrice Lig – Digital Forest [R&S Records]
Best Belgian record of the year.
Iamthatiam – The Invisible Children EP [Fit Sound]
Spitzer – Roller Coaster EP [Infiné]
Space Dimension Controller – Journey To The Core Of The Unknown Sphere [Royal Oak]
Agoria – Grande Torino [Infiné]
Future Beat Alliance – Machines Can Help EP [Tresor]
Chymera, Dreamrunner [Outpost]
Grovskopa – Made Tomorrow [Sect Records]
Morphosis, Running Out [M>O>S Recordings]
Carlos Nilmmns – The BBQ (Edit 2) [Don't Stop]
D-Knox – Looking Through Your Eyes [Sect Records]

10 albums/compilations:

The Black Dog – Music for Real Airports [Soma]
Best album of the year.
A Guy Called Gerald – Tronic Jazz The Berlin Sessions [Laboratory Instinct]
Fabrice Lig – Genesis Of A Deep Sound [Fine Art Recordings]
Danton Eeprom – Yes Is More [Infiné]
Best French record of the year.
Urban Tribe – Urban Tribe [Mahogani Music]
Shed – The Traveller [Ostgut Ton]
Best German record of the year.
Darkstar – North [Hyperdub]
Best British record of the year.
Hatikvah – Synchronicity [Soma]
Various – Ninja Tune XX [Ninja Tune]
Martyn – Fabric 50 [Fabric Records]

5 labels:

Sect Records
Best label of the year. Everything they do is on the money.
R&S Records
Soma
Slam’s imprint is back on form.
Infiné
Delsin / Ann Aimee

r.i.p. aaron-carl

Kazuumi — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:00:26 +0000

A true musical legend, Aaron-Carl, has passed away. AC, we miss you but you will always be with us, in our hearts. Rest in Peace.

RA News: Aaron-Carl dies of cancer

late summer dj mix round-up

Kazuumi — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:00:11 +0000

Orlando Voorn, Intonation Vol 4: Orlando Voorn brings us a very musical selection of house and techno music.

Nomadico, KMS 061: Nomadico mixes up records from the KMS label.

Slam & Harri, Atlantis Mix part 1, part 2 and part 3: a two hour rollercoaster from Harri, Orde and Stuart.

RA.220 Harri + Domenic: another great set from Harri with Domenic.

Last but not least: Jeff Mills, All Tomorrows: Jeff Mills lays down an hour-long session of sci-fi techno music.

ecdr podcast 27 – fabrice lig

Kazuumi — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:30:35 +0000

In celebration of our third anniversary: this week’s podcast is a live set from Belgian techno prince, Fabrice Lig.

The biography of the Charleroi based techno producer, Fabrice Lig, is almost overwhelming. He’s left an impressive legacy over the last decade as an international DJ, club owner, label boss of his imprint Melodika Recordings, and as a remixer and recording artist producing the classic albums, "Walking On A Little Cloud", "My 4 Stars" and "Evolutionism". This year sees him achieve a first, the release of his first full-length in six years – Genesis of a Deep Sound showcases Ligny’s talent for all things deep techno. Electronic Directory caught up with Fabrice Lig to ask a few questions about the performance, the new album and his forthcoming plans.

Interview with Fabrice Lig by Kazuumi Ishii

What have you been up to recently ?

Many things. I decided to return to teaching; so it means preparing courses, teach by the week almost everyday, and I launched some multimedia projects to do, with my students ;-). As well as preparing some "music composing" courses for SAE, an international music school…I will try to explain how I compose, my techniques, my feeling on it. But in the meantime, I’m on different musical projects ; that e.p on R&S, that e.p on Subject Detroit, that remixes project for Third Ear with some excellent remixes from Mad Mike, Luke Slater, Marco Passarani, Fluxion, Sebastien San, Kiko Navarro, a live version of "The Soul is back"… I also worked on remixes for Kenny Hawkes, DJ Hell…and some others… So I tough to calm down a bit my schedule, but it seems it’s more diversified but as busy as before…

Where was the set recorded ?

It was recorded in Belgium, Brussels, in a small underground party setted up by my friend "DJ Trish [van Eynde]", our best techno DJ in Belgium.

Can you tell us a little about the performance ?

Hmm, was quiet good as it was a real old school techno audience, the real fans of DJ Trish and the Detroit orientated sound… So the people followed me from the deep side of the set to the strong and funky techno side I play sometimes. The room was dark and simple like we used to know a while ago. So it’s always a pleasure to play into that kind of environment.

fabricelig_live_motorcitysounds_2010.wmv

How did you choose the name Genesis Of The Deep ?

In fact it’s "Genesis of a Deep Sound". Because the concept was to explain how I found my own sound in the early days, before the albums on Raygun or F-Com. That’s why the album include some old tracks I made 15 Years ago (but unreleased)… For the real fans, it will be the key to understand from where I come musically and how I progressed to arrive to that Raygun and F-Com period… So it’s the genesis of my quest to the deep and funky techno. Into the CD box, the people will find a booklet where I explain a bit that story and a special tracklisting of tracks from my discography, and if they are following that tracklisting after they had a listen on "Genesis of a Deep Sound", they will have a better idea of my progression. (that booklet will be available digitally on iTunes and other digital stores too).

Was there any particular reason you went back into your archives and pulled out old material ?

I think you have the answer into the previous question…but to resume, I wanted to do it to give a chance to the real fans to have the complete story into their hands… My compositions from the early days to today. I would be happy to be able to get it from my favourite composers. (It’s always possible, but it’s never really structured and explained as I did here).

Aside from the album, what do you have coming up ?

Like I said before…R&S release (Digital Forest), Subject Detroit release (Hmong’s Dignity), Third Ear release (The Soul is Back remixes). DJ Hell "Wonderland" Fabrice Lig remix, I should receive a video clip of "Australow-P-Tek Funk" (Evolutionism album, the track with Ken Ishii), directed by friend Pedro Cali, and from what I’ve already seen from the video, it will be amazing… After that, probably a new 10" on Fine art, and then…I don’t know…It will depend of my inspiration…

Fabrice Lig releases his new full-length on Fine Art Recordings

Fabrice Lig – Genesis of a Deep Sound [Fine Art Recordings]

Fabrice Lig serves up a real gem that shows why he is such a well respected figure. Unlike many techno albums where monotony too often takes over, this album holds the attention from start to finish, due to the variety of styles and the intensity and quality of the music on show. Every track holds its own, but high points include the hypnotic beauty of "BC 98", the electroid magic of "Energy Machine", a gorgeous downtempo effort entitled "Cosmic Booty" and the sweet "Japanese Soul". "Genesis of a Deep Sound" represents a spectacular display of electronic emotion.

Genesis of a Deep Sound is also available on 180g heavyweight vinyl: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/394547-01.htm

Download Electronic Directory 27 Fabrice Lig Podcast

Direct download here or Subscribe to the podcast

Tracklisting

01. Ken Ishii & Fabrice Lig – Organized Green [70 Drums]
02. Soul Designer – Evolutionism [Third Ear]
03. Fabrice Lig – Innerblaster [Union Match]
04. Fabrice Lig – Digital Forest [R&S Records]
05. Soul Designer – Tech Do Brasil [FCommunications]
06. Soul Designer – Molecular Song [Third Ear]
07. Soul Designer – The Mother Funky Beat [FCommunications]
08. Soul Designer – The Soul Is Back [Third Ear]
09. Fabrice Lig – The Track [Versatile]

Download older podcasts below