i included compilations in my top 20 albums list last year. that was lazy. given that it’s been a vintage year for the (ever dying, apparently) things, i thought i’d do a separate list this year. first couple are firm favourites and after that it’s pretty hard to decide.
teshno
'in germany, they can't say 'techno,' they say 'teshno'' ~ seth troxler [march 2008]
soul clap – social experiment 002 on no19 music
i sort of feel like i want to come to soul clap’s defense having been an early supporter of them. although i’m sure they aint losing any sleep over it (the only reason for that, of course, would be their ever fuller dj diaries – in your face, haters!) the boston pair seem to have evolved from funky funsters 18 months ago into – in certain circles anyway – popular whipping boys. i posit a couple of reasons for that…firstly people are still scared of dancing music with such overt emotion; music which is so openly accessible; so fun. i guess that’s not surprising given that the cold, inhuman and austere halcyon days of labels like minus is but only a couple of years behind us, but electronic music is all about evolution and context. as such, the world’s a much darker place now than it was then… financially, politically, environmentally… we now need our escapist weekend activities to bring us soul, warmth and joy, rather than abstract digital isolation. so just accept it or ignore it, but don’t get so wound up…
the other reason seems more clear cut – their edits: you either love them or loathe, which is fine, but it i put it to loathers that the edit is but one tool in soul clap’s box, so don’t write them off because of it. this mix proves the pair are also fine selectors (don’t forget, before you knew about them they were pro djs working department stores and the like in their hometown) – something which cannot be said of many modern acts where the actual art of crafting a dj set is ever more lost in amongst the ketamine and shitty club chat. it’s a mix for jonny white’s no 19 music that squeezes so much in it’s maybe a little too much, but only because almost every record included hits a sweet spot, and it’s a shame one or two get cut short in order to fit them all in.
as they like to do, the tracklist is rather kept in family, with efforts from sect, benoit & sergiot, no regular play, lee foss, deniz kurtel and art department all featuring. whether bubbling with vocal joy, dripping in sexual overtones or bumping along to hip house beats, the mix twists and turns down a number of paths without ever getting lost or becoming unbalanced. it’s pretty remarkable that, despite drawing almost exclusively on the work of their close friends, the mix is in no way homogenised or blunted. colourful 80s synths, new york disco basslines and modern twists on those themes are all put together with an innate sense of fun and take you through a full spectrum of sounds that never stray too far from a perfect dancing tempo, but which get never get bogged down in one place for too long. it makes for irresistibly sexy stuff.
special mention goes to the last track, a soul clap and art department collab, ‘glen and boo’, which manages to imbue a swaggering, skanking dubstep beat with as much soulful libidinousness as their usual house records: it clearly runs deeps in the duo. so, whether you like it or not, soul clap hit the mark they aim for better than anyone else and do it with love to spare. for that reason, they deserve a lot of respect.
new year’s eve by the djs
blog went dark – christmas got in the way – but is back with a selection of thoughts (admittedly intended for another outlet, offline for redesign) on new year’s eve from a number of djs across the world. happy hunting in 2011 everyone!
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
i’ve had a bit of a tradition with the wolf+lamb boys that i play for them at the marcy in nyc. we’ve had several amazing nye/nyd parties together. the best nye for me will be hopefully next year when we can do a visionquest nye.
and least favourite?
i had a few stinkers back when i first started djing 12 yrs ago, but i tend to forget those and remember the good ones, it’s better that way.
favourite tune to play at midnight?
this year it would be footprintz the things that last forever, forthcoming on our new visionquest label, it’s perfect for the ball drop.
have you any new year’s resolutions?
i have indeed, to spend more time with my friends and family.
what are your immediate projects in the new year?
i am returning to the studio to work on several different projects. i intend to write the music first and then see which label it fits after it’s done. i think that is the way to get the best results, no expectations, just write what comes out and go from there. we have a few visionquest remixes that will be out soon on cocoon, dfa and catwash. i’ll also be looking to finish another solo get physical and supplement facts eps.
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
best new years eve in recent memory was probably last year. shaun reeves and i were fortunate enough to have gigs together on nye in brooklyn for blk market and on nyd for droog in l.a. when you have to do a monster flight after a gig and then go play again right when you land it’s a bit tricky, so to have one of your best friends with you always makes it special.
and least favourite?
there have been a few crappy nye nights but one doesn’t really stick out in my mind like, “oh shit! that’s was the worst!” my worst probably would’ve been in high school at some point. chances are we went to some over-planned event that completely sucked and there weren’t enough girls…bummer
favourite tune to play at midnight?
i’ve never been one to cue up a specific track at midnight. i guess it would depend on where i am and what i’m doing. shaun and i were playing at midnight last year but i can’t remember what track was actually playing. slow hands did a pretty cool ‘auld lang syne’ edit. i guess i’ll go with that for now.
have you any new year’s resolutions?
the problem with new year’s resolutions is that i’ve never stuck with one once, ever. but next year i’d like to start exercising at some point and continue cultivating my moustache.
what are your immediate projects in the new year?
most importantly our label visionquest is set to launch in january. the first ep will be benoit & sergio. out soon is the supplement facts 025 with guy gerber, dop, varoslav, guti, greg paulus and myself. i have an ep & album coming with cesar merveille on circus company and visionquest respectively. i’m also working with tale of us, dyed soundorom, on a field recording project and on a solo album.
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
1999-2000. i have pictures of me and my boys smoking joints that are about as fat as your wrist. it was stupid. we were waiting for the y2k shutdown so we could go loot everything. it never happened.
and least favourite?
2000-2001. my friend was playing a warehouse in east detroit and got in a fight with some marine. he kicked the marine in the face so bad that we both had blood spatters on our jackets at breakfast. orange schnapps, cheap scrambled eggs, and the sense that something really fucked up happened.
favourite tune to play at midnight?
darude–sandstorm
have you any new year’s resolutions?
to keep moving forward and not worry so much.
what are your immediate projects in the new year?
a bunch of really awesome collaborations with some really talented people,
working with some new labels, being in a really cool documentary about independent
electronic musicians, and loving my dog even more!
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
2008 for sure. We had a residency playing swanky disco vibes at this super posh hotel in Boston and all our friends joined the cougar fest. Plus we got free hotel rooms with a window that opened up to the bathtub above the bed. Special shout out to our ex-girlfriends JK and MM for helping make it a night to remember.
and least favourite?
Maybe it wasn’t the worst, but last year was pretty rough. We had a super cheesy gig in Boston that included an endless stream of terrible requests. Then we took the bus to NYC to play at the Marcy, but it ended in a river of tears 5 minutes after we showed up. Fail.
favourite tune to play at midnight?
Slow Hands has done an awesome edit of Auld Lang Syne that’s perfect for the ball drop.
have you any new year’s resolutions?
No more feeding Gizmo after 10pm. He really turns into a gremlin.
what are your immediate projects in the new year?
Well most immediately is escaping back to Miami after two gigs up north (where it’s mental) in the UK on New Year’s day. Then we have our first official mix cd dropping on No.19 in February followed by a DJ Kicks, which we’ve done with Wolf + Lamb. We also have remixes of DJ Harvey and Robert Owens coming next spring and we’re working on our album.
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
sydney 2008/9 without a doubt, don’t usually care for fireworks but the show they put on there is an unbelievable sight , afterwards i played on the “spice afloat” boat party with radioslave around sydney harbour with the sun rising, the boat rocking, doesn’t get much better.
and least favourite?
hmm, never had a really bad one that i can remember, usually too leathered to care anyway!?
favourite tune to play at midnight?
played various tracks over the years, but westbam – oldschool baby (piano mix) is a good old school classic, never fails to go off and have a stream of people asking, what the fuck is that track with the piano. good happy vibes for nye.
have you any new year’s resolutions, what are they and why?
to look after my ears and protect them more. i had a recent scare with a perforated ear drum. i have the monitors far too loud, and need to start been careful
what are your immediate projects in the new year?
my debut album called traces due out on 2020 vision in feb. remixes by radioslave (out now) and art department to come soon.
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
my fav new year would of been in leeds a couple of years ago, i went to back to basics vs dirty disco at my house. it was all about the afterhours though.
and least favourite?
my worst was in blackpool where i’m from. i was still in the queue at 12 and when i managed to get in there was a power cut and so we were sent back outside where it started raining. it was horrible.
favourite tune to play at midnight?
you’ll have to wait and see…
have you any new year’s resolutions?
yeah to finish a lot of tracks that i need to finish, i like starting new tracks when i get a new idea. so i’ve got loads that need finishing. also to get back to the gym, i used to be really into my fitness when i was in the army and now i’ve let it slip massively.
what are your immediate projects in the new year?i
want to experiment with different types of electronic music from disco, house, new edits and techno. so not sticking to the same sound.
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
below 2008, it seemed like the courtyard in birmingham was going to explode!!!
and least favourite?
when i was too young to go out and had to listen to the raves on the radio whilst in a sulk!
favourite tune to play at midnight?
there’s sooooo many… but this year it will probably be a special sas edit that we’ve done just for the night.
have you any new year’s resolutions?
to take things up another gear with more music, more gigging and more parties!
what are your immediate projects in the new year?
i’m just finishing up a release for crosstown, sorting out the years releases on my label one records and some projects for some exciting labels
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
destroying shine in belfast by dropping plastikman, spastik to a packed main room is def gonna be hard to beat.
and least favourite?
we’ve been really luck and not had a bad one in over 10 yrs…
favourite tune to play at midnight?
can often depend on event’s that year, past midnight tunes have included tracks by james brown, prince, the beastie boys, and various house and techno classics..
have you any new year’s resolutions?
launching another label as extended play is getting into its stride now and fairly stacked with releases but we are getting so much great music sent our way.
what are your immediate projects in the new year?
start work on our new single and album project for riva starr’s snatch! records, dj tours in oz, asia and the states
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
probably the millennium, gatecrasher did a party in the don valley stadium and it was 25,000 people all in front of the same stage so atmosphere was really special.
and least favourite?
got hazy memories of one in particular where me and a mate in a bid to save money got raucously drunk before going out, then of course couldn’t get in anywhere. not sure where we spent the countdown but the night ended with me walking the 2 hour walk home, pushing my ko’d mate along in a shopping trolley. bad times.
favourite tune to play at midnight?
i suppose it’s compulsory to play something anthemic, i’d probably choose something like deniz kurtel mix of fables & fairytales for this year.
have you any new year’s resolutions?
just the standard ones really, ie doing less of something ‘bad’ and doing more of something ‘good’.
what are your immediate projects in the new year?
i’m on the case with various musical projects, though next year i’m looking forward to starting using real vocals. not my voice you’ll be glad to hear, i need to track down a good female vocalist with a lot of patience!
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
one of the great ones that come to mind was in sicily (2007?) with alexi delano and josh wink. we were all playing different parties, but somehow i met alexi for an amazing 3 hour dinner. then i went to go drink about 5 litres of wine with both him and josh. i think i ended up losing about 200 euro in bets with alexi about abba of all things. haha… classic! the party itself was pretty amazing…. i think. it’s a little cloudy there.
and least favourite?
same one… we realized the promoter had fucked over both the club and the booking agents for fees and flights the day after.
favourite tune to play at midnight?
i actually only djed once at a party on nye when it turned midnight. it was a house party thrown by my friend in his loft, and it was going into 2000. so of course i played prince’s 1999. you really can never go wrong with prince at a house party.
have you any new year’s resolutions?
this year is to finally learn more german. i’ve been going to germany for close to 10 years now… enough is enough!
what are your immediate projects in the new year?
include the much anticipated double pack oddmatik on clink recordings in addition to my album oddlantik avenue for cari lekebusch’s h-production label. oh! and we are re-releasing my classic track slowburn on weave digitally with some killer remixes in 2011 too!
what’s your favourite new year’s eve ever?
the best for me is playing in a big techno party or festival together with lots of friends. since i started to play every new year eve i can’t imagine a 31 december without gigs, i love to start the new year on the decks!
and least favourite?
the worst new years eve i think is to stay sick at home!
favourite tune to play at midnight?
i could start the year with a big pad intro or something like that 2 minutes before the midnight, and then after the countdown at midnight, insert a killer kick and bass!!
have you any new year’s resolutions?
for next year i hope to do better and better with my job, make good records and play a lot. that’s what i really want to do first!
what are your immediate projects in the new year?
for 2011 i’m going to work hard for drumcode, i will release a new ep for adam beyer in the first half and another in the second half of the new year. also i planned some new important remixes for strong labels like soma, tronic, bush etc.
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interview ~ soul clap
last year saw the rise of the w&l stable, a proliferation of sultry after-hours house, and a much needed injection of humour into the oh-so-serious world of underground electronica.
then, boston duo elyte and cnyce aka soul clap took things a step further: side jobs as corporate djs meant the pair had to play more accessible, well known music for the masses which, in turn, fed back into their ‘proper’ dj sets.