So im only a year late on this one....
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Monday, 30 January 2012
Imogen Heap - Just for Now (Gosteffects & Rule of Eight I'm God Remix)
....and now for something completely different!!
Friday, 27 January 2012
808 State - Pacific State
On route to see these guys live tonight had to share it with you guys, enjoy!!!!
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Lost in the Mix.
So as it’s now known that I have nothing to do, I was asked if I would like to dust off my turntables, sift through my 12 inches and add a mix tape to this very blog I'm now writing on. I did have a long hard think about doing this as I haven't recorded a session on the wheels of steel for ages, however in the end I decided against it. After listening to the other mixes on the blog from very talented people I decided I wouldn't have been able to face the laughter and jeering filling the comments boxes.
Not wanting to let a mate down I have instead decided to participate in another way, and after impressing the blog owner with my spelling and overuse of long words in the wrong context. I thought a small article (or bitter rant as I prefer) on how the very art and magic of mixing has changed within the dance scene. I felt this would be more appropriate, so here it is.
My love for dance music started many decades ago, well a few anyway (I’m not an old person but unfortunately I can’t class myself as young anymore). It was around 1994 that I started to take a serious note of dance music and when I first started making ‘Mix Tapes’. The old skool style of mix tape. Not a collection of songs skilfully put together via beat matching and perfect timing but solely via the use of a tape cassette recorder, a pause button and the radio. It was basically the start of music piracy and a lot better than the ‘Now That's What I Call Music’ compilations.
Recording a selection of songs from the Top 40 didn’t last long. Having a slightly older sister, I was then introduced to the essential mix. 2 hours of non stop electronic dance music brought to your bedroom/living room/garden by some of the best DJ’s in the world. I no longer had to use the pause button. But it was this weekly radio show that had planted the tiny seed in my mind of having my own turntables, which sat alongside a dream of being the best DJ in the world.
3 years later I was the proud owner of some Soundlab belt driven turntables. I was like a kid at Christmas (which would make sense as they were a Christmas present from my parents) and a total of 4 records of which to mix together. Having progressed in those last few years from just ‘House’ music I decided my music of choice was going to be good old Drum N Bass. Within twenty minutes of messing around I had realised that the professionals were indeed a talented bunch, and making two songs sound like one progressive track was a lot more difficult than first assumed. For the following months I became very familiar with the sound of herd of elephants in the middle of an active war zone. This is known as the Beat Clash.
Moving on four years and after a heap of practising and a set of Stanton turntables later, I was a competent DJ. I had confidence in the ability and power of my ears to match two songs together. With the speed and timing right, people could just continue to dance never knowing how that magic happened. I then finally became the proud owner of my Technics SL 1210s and my Allen & Heath mixer. In my bedroom I was king.
It wasn’t long after the new wheels arriving that I finally became a ‘professional DJ’ charging bars and clubs for my services and landing a few residences on the way. These were good years I would turn up with my heavy box of records, be given some free drinks, entertain the crowds with my live mixing get paid and go home. I did also notice though that whilst the majority of people would be happy to hear and just dance to the music, there was always others who would like to watch the DJ perform. They wanted to see the DJ at work, cueing up, working the mixer and swapping records. Just like I had used to. To people into the dance music scene Mixing is an art form.
Or rather, it used to be.
I haven’t DJ’d in a bar or club for around 5 years now but when I still go out (not that it’s a lot these days to be fair, being in hard times and all that) I still like to listen to the DJ’s and the music that they’re now playing (dubstep is trying to take over the world). The thing I find sad is that a lot of the places I now go don’t have a DJ any more. They have someone on a laptop. I know that technology is always evolving but it’s also taking away the talent and the personal aspect of it. I personally was never a fan of CD decks but they still worked in a similar way to vinyl, it still required a hand on approach and an ear for the music itself.
I know that I may open myself up for a bit of stick for this article but I just find the whole idea of DJing from a computer wrong. It defeats the purpose of you actually needing to be there to supply the personal touch a lot of people still want from a DJ.
It's just far too easy to get into it these days. The programs that you can use can beat match and sync almost anything together just at the touch of a button, all the ‘DJ’ has to do is download the latest tracks via itunes, an alternative online store or dare I say it, illegally. This can even be done half way through a set when the computer is doing all the 'mixing' for you.
The reason for this rant I suppose is that without listening to and seeing the Stars of the DJing world I would not have got into it myself. I fear that now when you go out and look over at the DJ box all you will see is the illuminated Apple logo on the back of a laptop and hear the same mix you hear everywhere else you go because a computer program has done it.
I just hope I’m wrong.
Well anyway I’m glad I’ve got that off my chest. I’m now off to download some torrents and have the computer make me a mixtape for my ipod.
Jay Lowry.
The Unemployment Diaries
Let us know what you think. Is DJing becoming a lost art or is it time we braced the technological DJ revolution?
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Soultec - Movements In Jazz EP (Phuzion Digital)
Gonna leave you with this one folks. A jazz fueled dnb ep from a new fella on the scene. Love his work check it out!
Electrosoul system aquatique
Masterfully produced and written, a massive tune in the Odyssey recordings camp. Pure musical vibes eminating through every kick, snare and bass that these guys release. Jazzy roller, enjoy!
Dub Phizix and Skeptical feat Strategy - Marka - Exit Records
Absolutely rude tune! Massive track from the manchester boys. Massive online hype about this tune had to post it!
State Of Mind ft. Nymfo - Roxy
This one has been making the hairs on the back of my neck stand one end as of late. Sweeping harmonies and basslines with somestospheric vocals and a killer electronic arpeggio running through this one. Great listen all round!
Aphex Twin - On
Well its been a long time since i've posted on here so here's a lovely piece by the master. Love the track and the video with it. Loving the stuff thats been put up over the last few weeks. Late night business commence!!!
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Monday, 16 January 2012
Vincent Bella. iPhone cover version series, No. 2.
He's back again, as promised, more beautiful iPhone Cover goodness. Really enjoying this series, still looking for tour dates in the UK, come back soon Mr Bella! Lovely stuff!
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Brand Nubian
Alladat release their debut single on truth underground records check it out on ninja tunes solid steel radio this weekend. word
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Vincent Bella. iPhone cover version series, No. 1.
Something a friend of mine sent, I really like this and if it's an ongoing series it'll be worth investing the time in. I've seen Vincent a couple times, the Yardbird stands out in my head more than any other, and he really is one of the best unsigned acoustic guitar players you'll hear. My understanding is that he's no residing in Hungary, which is a shame, but should he ever be gigging in the UK again he's definitely worth your time and money.
Enjoy.......
Enjoy.......
Monday, 2 January 2012
Sunday, 1 January 2012
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