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R.I.P. Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009)

Sotek — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:46:15 PDT

Entertainer Michael Jackson died after being taken to a hospital on Thursday having suffered cardiac arrest, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. Paramedics took Jackson, 50, from his west Los Angeles home Thursday afternoon to UCLA Medical Center, where a team of physicians attempted to resuscitate him for more than an hour, said brother Jermaine Jackson. He said the famed singer was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. PT.

Jackson's legacy and music will last forever. R.I.P.

'King of Pop' Michael Jackson is dead [CNN]

Bernard Szajner - Some Deaths Take Forever

Sotek — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:00:00 PDT

In case you've missed it, French electronic composer Bernard Szajner's seminal 1980 LP Some Deaths Take Forever (what a great name for an album, huh?) has been recently reissued on The Boutique Label/LTM. Mixing dark electronic textures with melodic rock and industrial arrangements, Some Death Take Forever is a very emotional, deep and at some point rather disturbing musical affair, originally conceived and dedicated as a soundtrack to a short documentary by Amnesty International. Allegedly one of Carl Craig's all-time favorite albums, the 2009 digitally remastered edition also features three previously unreleased bonus tracks recorded in 1982. A true collector's item, if you haven't heard this masterpiece yet, you certainly should!

Buy: Amazon, Boomkat

"Welcome To Death Row":

Download: Petar Dundov - Live at Air in Tokyo, Japan (2009-04-04)

Sotek — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:30:00 PDT

Here's two hours of amazing techno from Croatian DJ and producer Petar Dundov for your listening pleasure.

Download: Uploaded.to [192kbps MP3, ~170 MB]

On Repeat: Humate - Love Stimulation (The Radio Slave Remixes)

Sotek — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:59:09 PDT

Great news! The long-awaited Radio Slave (aka Matt Edwards) remix of Humate's classic trance anthem "Love Stimulation" is out today on Flying Circus and available as digital download from Juno Download. I've been after this record for a while, so the wait is finally over. I have no idea if it's gonna be released on vinyl as well, but in the meantime you can grab the MP3s here.

"Love Stimulation" (Radio Slave Full Lenght Remix):

Burial & Four Tet - "Mot" & "Wolf Cub"

Sotek — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:45:00 PDT

Yup, the new and strictly limited two track vinyl-only collaboration between dubstep impresario Burial (aka William Bevan) and Kieran Hebden (aka Four Tet) is out now on Hebden's own label Text Records. By far one of the most hyped-up twelves of the year, it sure lives up to its hype: both sides sound exactly as you would imagine Hebden/Burial output to sound. "Wolf Cub" is by far one of the best track I've heard this year. Brilliant music!

Already out of stock everywhere from Boomkat to Juno, there's a few copies up for sale at Discogs. Don't delay or you'll be sorry later!

A: "Mot":

B: "Wolf Cub":

Recycling: Rod Modell - Sacred Geometry EP

Sotek — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:20:00 PDT

Released in late 2004 on Danish Echocord imprint (repressed in mid-2008), Rod Modell's (DeepChord, Echospace) Sacred Geometry EP features four dubby Chain Reaction/Basic Channel-themed cuts. Shockingly deep, vibrant and chilled at the same time, this EP remains one of my favorite Echocord twelves. Amazing stuff!

Buy vinyl: Discogs, Smallfish, Forced Exposure, Boomkat

Linkage: April 28, 2009

Sotek — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:40:00 PDT

Audion and Ryan Elliott head up Spectral Sound - Dear is joined by Ryan Elliott in taking over A&R for Spectral, where they will be directly involved in signing new artists that will continue to grow the label. [URB]

Records - A Vinyl Documentary - The video briefly covers the pressing process and makes an effort at explaining the various reasons why some people never let the record go and why more and more people recently have started to discover the greatness of vinyl. [Nylvi]

Moritz Von Oswald Trio prep debut LP for Honest Jon's - The Moritz Von Oswald Trio have already made several live appearances, but this summer London's Honest Jon's label will release their first recorded effort, an album entitled Vertical Ascent. [FactMagazine]

Reminder: Its a Record Store Day this weekend!

Sotek — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:01:00 PDT

Just a quick reminder to all you music freaks and record collectors: This Saturday (April 18) is a Record Store Day!

This is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, djs spinning records and on and on.

So go this weekend and buy some new records! List of participating retailers by state can be found here.

Linkage: April 13, 2009

Sotek — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:45:00 PDT

Phil Spector Found Guilty of Murder - Phil Spector was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of an actress at his mansion in 2003, after a night of drinking. [NYTimes]

Linkage: April 10, 2009

Sotek — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:30:00 PDT

Why France has the solution to online piracy - By proposing the creation and internet law, the French goverment is protecting artists' rights as well as those of internet users. U2's manager Paul McGuinness talks shit once again... pathetic. [Guardian]

Younger crowd digging vinyl's sound - In the age where MP3s and iPods have become the dominant musical formats, 33s, 45s and turntables are in the midst of a renaissance. [Courant]

Linkage: April 2, 2009

Sotek — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:45:00 PDT

iPods, First Sale, President Obama, and the Queen of England - President Obama reportedly gave an iPod, loaded with 40 show tunes, to England's Queen Elizabeth II as a gift. Did he violate the law when he did so? [EFF]

Black Magic - Vinyl invites affection, love and fetishism. It combines the magical and the earthy. There's something alchemical about seeing the music in the grooves, as tiny rugged peak and valleys. [FactMagazine]

Playing favourites: Sven Weisemann - In this edition of Playing Favourites, RA's Richard Carnes sits down with Berlin-based DJ/producer Sven Weisemann to find out what really makes him tick. [ResidentAdvisor]

Italo Hammers - These up-tempo tunes have driving synths, unintelligible lyrics and bubblegum choruses and instantly cause cheers to erupt on the dance floor when they hit the decks. [SpliceToday]

'First' Major Label Blog Launches... in 2009 - Seven years after the first MP3 blog arrived on the scene, EMI Australia has unveiled what it's calling "the first major label blog" in the world. [Wired]

Quote: Matt Edwards (Radio Slave, Rekid, Quiet Village)

Sotek — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:15:00 PDT

I'd just like to have a quick rant to all the people out there who think it's ok to share music without buying the proper legit versions. We [REKIDS] have been hit hard recently by this and I personally feel it's unfair to distribute stolen files, especially when the music isn't even commercially available. Think about how much time goes into releasing a record, from the creation of a track right through to the guys working in physical and digital distribution who sell the end product. Do you think it's fair to just steal the music from the writers and labels? We put a huge amount of effort into pushing new talent, and I would like to do my best to help the next generation of producers and DJs', but are the people out there willing to pay for this. Right now I think not and I'm feeling rather depressed.

—Rekids label honcho and prolific producer Matt Edwards addresses the sorry state of music industry and how illegal file-sharing affects his own label.

Quote: Paul Kalkbrenner

Sotek — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:11:00 PDT

My release schedule is slow for a reason. I enjoy success, but little steps are important too. The journey is as interesting as getting there. I like to enjoy every step, moving constantly upwards. I'm not in the studio much. I don't like music. I prefer silence, or I prefer reading books. I am best when I have no input. I respect people, DJs, who listen to thousands of records and select music to play or inspire them, but I am not like that.

—German DJ and producer Paul Kalkbrenner explains his rather slow release schedule.

A Chat With : Paul Kalkbrenner [Bodytonic]

Linkage: March 26, 2009

Sotek — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:50:00 PDT

Interview: Junior Boys - Singer Jeremy Greenspan talks about the making of the new record, and what exactly it means to be a Junior Boy in 2009. [FactMagazine]

Introducing : Tom Trago - Bodytonic spoke to the 26-year-old about learning the ropes on his mother's piano, combining disco and Detroit and what it means to be releasing his record on Rush Hour. [Bodytonic]

Luke Hess: Believe & Receive - Dub techno purveyor Luke Hess has only been producing for a short time, but he's quickly staked out a sound all his own. With his excellent new album due for release in May, Colin Shields finds out more about the man from Detroit. [ResidentAdvisor]

Download: Jonathan Lisle - Live at The Arches in Glasgow (2009-02-07)

Sotek — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:33:00 PDT

Here's a warm-up set from London-based DJ Jonathan Lisle (Bedrock, M Theory Records) recorded live at Colours' 14th Birthday at The Arches in Glasgow, Scotland last month (February 7).

Download: Direct (save as..) [192kbps MP3, ~145 MB]

Tracklist:

Slap - Minta's Dream - Macro
Robert Henke - Layer 3
Lawrence - Divided - Spectral Spund
Robert Henke - Layer 5
Ceephax - Cornwall - First Cask
Robert Henke - Metropol - Imbalance Computer Music
Ceephax - Ancient Ambient - First Cask
Robert Henke - Quad Planer - Imbalance Computer Music
Robert Henke - Shift Register - Imbalance Computer Music
From Within [Marcel Dettman Remix]
Ceephax - Ancient Ambient - First Cask
A Made Up Sound -Density - Solo Action Records
Round Round
Ceephax - Ancient Ambient - First Cask
Manuel Tuell - A1 - Workshop
Robert Henke - Convex - Imbalance Computer Music
Round Round
Slap - Night for Day - Macro
Pinch - Techtonic - Midnight Oil
Robert Henke - Metropol - Imbalance Computer Music
Slap - Minta's Dream - Macro
Ben Klock - Pulse - Klockworks
Mirko Loco - Miah - Desolat
A Made Up Sound -Density - Solo Action Records
T++ - Audio 1988 - Apple Pips
Hauntoligists - EP1 4
Hauntoligists - EP1 3
Hauntoligists - EP1 2
Robert Henke - Convex - Imbalance Computer Music
Robert Henke - Layer 9
Marcel Dettmann - Plain
Mala - Baby Paris - Deep Medhi Music
Crowdpleaser Oliver - Real love Mixdown - Wagon Repair
Claro Intelecto - When the time is right - Modern love
Luciano & Mirko Loco - Mousa Big Band - Desolat
Patrick Chardonnet - Percussion Track - Connaisseur
Ben Klock - Pulse - Klockworks
Marco Corola - Bloody Cash - Plus 8
Robert Henke - Convex - Imbalance Computer Music
Ceephax - Ancient Ambient - First Cask
Lets Go Juno[BartBmore Mix] - Rejected
Random Factor - Outlaw [John Tedjada Mix] - 2020 Vision
John Tedjada & Adrian Leviste - M Track 1 - Pallette
Luca bachetti - Afrikaans - Ovum
Kate Simko - She Said [Barem Mix] - Spectral
BrokerDealer - Soft Cell (Sami Koliviko Mix)