
Claude Von Stroke’s Dirtybird imprint will celebrate five years with a monster 3xCD package, to be released in April.

Claude Von Stroke’s Dirtybird imprint will celebrate five years with a monster 3xCD package, to be released in April.

It’s been all about the DJ Charts this week, with amazing new selections from Claude VonStroke (vinyl/CD ), Groove Armada (vinyl/CD and digital), Kelpe (vinyl/CD) and Fuckpony (vinyl/CD) amongst others.
We’ve also got three new genre podcasts, namely dubstep, electro house and minimal.
Over at Juno Records, the 12” of San Serac’s return to the disco fold has been hot property, with the Morgan Geist remix on the flip a sure fire winter warmer, and the Matthew Burgress & Jolyon Green Originals Vol 4 limited edition CD has proved popular too.
Over at Juno Download, the heavyweight Goldie remix of Calvin Harris was always bound to be a hit. In fact it was a dominant week for drum and bass, with Blu Mar Ten’s album and the Critical Sound compilation topping the album charts.
And remember, we still have up to 75 per cent off over 10,000 7”s, 12”s and LPs in our autumn vinyl sale. Get in there quick because once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Happy hunting,
Juno/Juno Download

Claude VonStroke is a relentless innovator. Ever since songs like “The Whistler”, “Who’s Afraid of Detroit”, “Deep Throat” and “Chimps” were released, he’s carved a name as one of the most interesting producers in house and techno, combining quirky samples with irresistibly catchy beats. Bird Brain – his second studio album and worthy successor to 2006’s Beware of the Bird – combines house, techno and a myriad of other genres and influences – not least his San Francisco home – into a truly unique and original electronic album. He spoke to Juno Plus editor Aaron Coultate about nerdy bloggers, fatherhood and the influences behind Bird Brain.
Artist: Claude VonStroke
Title: Bird Brain
Label: Dirtybird
Genre: Minimal/Tech House
Format: Digital, CD
Buy From: Juno Records, Juno Download
At last the new album from the somewhat legendary Claude VonStroke of the San Francisco labels Dirtybird and Mothership is here. Remaining ever inventive, the clever production techniques used to make his inimitable breed of minimal tech-house are no disappointment on Bird Brain.
From the epic opening track, the aptly-named “Monster Island”, we hear an instant representation of the creative array of sounds he’s been perfecting over the last years, dipping into dramatically dark tones amongst wonkier tracks like singles “The Greasy Beat” and “Beat That Bird”. The disgustingly catchy
“California” and “Big ’n’ Round” mix bassy kickdrums whilst playing with echoing and rising vocals, while “Vocal Chords” terrifyingly pitches them in scales. Far from a one-trick pony, the album features the softly ambient “Aundy” and hip-hop tinged “Bay Area” whilst the end track is an almost percussion-less piece with subtle vocal samples.
Review: Flora Wong