SECURE SHOPPING
Aaron Coultate explores some of Europe’s far-flung electronic music outposts in the latest instalment of Scratching The Surface. Artists and labels from Norway, Greece, Estonia and Russia all feature.
Scratching The Surface Pt. 2
by Juno Plus on 19.03.2012 at 12:20pmCage & Aviary: What’s In A Name
by Juno Plus on 07.03.2012 at 10:31am
There’s a noble history of the eccentric and absurd woven into the tapestry of British music. It can be found everywhere, seeping into the charts or submerged in the underground, and it’s one of the reasons why these isles have contributed so much to emerging and experimental music forms. A subtle appreciation of the absurd can be found in the output of South London based duo Cage & Aviary, aka Jamie Paton and Nigel Hoyle, who combine a quiet obsession for analogue experimentation with loose, creative flair. “I think sometimes people get confused with the belief that absurdity means something can’t be serious,” says Nigel. “Sometimes absurdity, and things that don’t quite make sense, can be a good way of finding a new perspective, and it opens you up to new ideas. That’s what Cage & Aviary do – we try to find things which will elicit a response, any response, from the listener.”
Dekmantel: Smooth Sketches
by Juno Plus on 13.02.2012 at 14:31pm
Ask any house music lover what record label comes to mind when they think of Amsterdam and you’ll invariably hear two words in reply: Rush Hour. Yet a brief glance beyond the presence of one of Europe’s most revered electronic music empires reveals a city bubbling with talent; it’s here you’ll find the headquarters of techno specialists Delsin and M>O>S, hip-hop, funk and boogie influenced labels such as Kindred Spirits, and Dekmantel, the label and party run by Thomas Martojo and Casper Tielrooij.
Marc Kinchen: Under and Over
by Juno Plus on 14.11.2011 at 15:51pm
Marc Kinchen occupies a singular space in electronic music lore; on one hand he is revered by two generations of producers and house music aficionados, and on the other he has carved a lucrative career as a producer for a cast of pop musicians ranging from the risible to the revered: Diane Warren, Snoop Dogg, Pitbull and Will Smith to name just four.
His early – and often overlooked – career in Detroit included collaborations with friend and mentor Kevin Saunderson, before a move to New York in the early 90s saw him rise to fame alongside Kerri Chandler and Masters At Work, pioneering the city’s house and garage sound. His underground pedigree is undeniable: Julio Bashmore is one of many DJs still dropping the MK dub of “Freakin You” to wild shrieks, and earlier this year Omar S reissued 1994 classic “Given” on FXHE.
Indeed it’s difficult to underestimate Kinchen’s influence: Todd Edwards, known to many as the godfather of garage and a hero for producers on both sides of the Atlantic, is quick to credit Kinchen as a key influence in developing his sound. A true innovator of the dub mix in house music, his distinctive basslines and mastering of the cut-up vocal melody ensure MK dubs still burn brightly in 2011. Following a recent DJ tour of Europe to promote his new label (launched in conjunction with his brother Scottie Deep), we thought now was the perfect time to catch up with a certified house music legend.
Tim Sweeney: The beat goes on
by Juno Plus on 03.10.2011 at 17:31pm
Most journalists will tell you they treasure face-to-face interviews above all else: being in the same room as someone invariably brings out more colourful quotes than a phone conversation or the dreaded email communique. Yet being on the other end of the phone line to Tim Sweeney feels entirely appropriate – after all, his languid, friendly drawl is his most instantly recognisable feature. For the past 12 years he has hosted the weekly Beats In Space radio show from the student-run WNYU studio in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, building his slot into one of the most respected in the world of electronic music.
Label focus: Long Island Electrical Systems
by Juno Plus on 26.09.2011 at 15:02pm
In the space of less than 10 releases, Long Island Electrical Systems (or L.I.E.S, for short) has already established an enviable visual and sonic aesthetic. The first thing you notice about the label is the name – it immediately conjures images entirely appropriate for an imprint purveying the deeper, darker end of house and techno. Those who tuned in to the early L.I.E.S 12″s will not be surprised to learn that label chief Ron Morelli is a firm admirer of the raw electro and techno that emanated from Holland in the 90s (often referred to as the Hague sound); indeed it was the arrival of the Bunker Records crew on US soil that pushed Morelli’s musical taste in the direction of raw, analogue dance music. The recent appearance of Legowelt on a L.I.E.S 12 inch – making him the only non-New Yorker to appear on the label so far – testifies to that.
Launched in 2010 with the Roule Records-esque sounds of Malvouex (aka the fiendishly talented Jason Letkiewicz, a key figure in the L.I.E.S family), records from Steve Moore, Willie Burns, Two Dogs In A House (a side project for Letkiewicz and Morelli) swiftly followed. This month saw two more releases – a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it white label from Runaway’s Marcos Cabral and an ace EP from Steve Summers (another alias of Letkiewicz). A quick look into the label’s futures plans suggests it will not only maintain its impressive release but branch out into hitherto unexplored terrain. Aaron Coultate called up Brooklyn to discover the truth behind L.I.E.S – we also managed to procure a mix from Morelli which includes forthcoming label material from Terreke, Professor Genius, Max D, and Steve Summers.