Let me give you some context here. In 2004 I was located in Berlin for one year. I made my master at university in my hometown before my move, where I was studying German and English/American literature, and I had a focus on movie history. I arrived in Berlin trying to get a hook in film journalism, but apart from writing movie reviews for de:bug magazine it never really took off. Some friends from back home were working for de:bug, and since I was looking for a job they asked if I wanted join in. First I was an editor for their extensive section of reviews, then I started writing my own. I also made friends with other fine and interesting people, and I started to enjoy the Berlin clubs more and more also. In short, I was back in nightlife again. When I moved to Berlin I was ready to stop DJing, and now due to new DJ friends like Hunee, Stefan Goldmann or Gerd Janson I was persuaded and motivated to pick it up again. One of the regular nights that I really enjoyed and went to often was Inner City, a house night Dixon set up at the Weekend club. You have to understand that at that time house music in a more traditional sense was pretty much dead in Berlin, and Inner City put it back on the map. There was a common feeling of resurgence among regular guests like me, and slowly something evolved from it. The most prominent sign was the label Innervisions by Dixon and Âme. The sound of the label was actually a tad too slick for me, but it felt good to be part of something that was gaining momentum and had impact potential. In 2005 Dixon asked me if I could contribute a guest mix for the Innervisions label website, and I recorded this mix for the purpose. In hindsight I already knew that their career would take off soon, and it would have been wiser to do a mix that highlighted my capabilities as a club DJ, but my timing throughout my years as a DJ was mostly more determined by what I was just in the mood for than by what would most likely pay off well (later several of my booking agents were quite desperate about my urge to keep my freedom to do what I felt I should do rather than develop a signature sound that was easier to sell), so I wasted the opportunity and just mixed some personal downtempo and house faves. Is it balearic? I’d say yes, somehow, but who cares.
This mix contains some very deep techno gems, most of them from Detroit. It contains an example of a thing I still do when playing out: mixing several versions of one track into a whole. In this case Sueno Latino, a tune that I should have tired of ages ago, but never did. It is not entirely unlikely that I had an sudden impulse to do this and wrap all the other tracks contained around it.
Phortune – Unity Da Posse – In The Life House 2 House – Boom Sueno Latino – Sueno Latino Sueno Latino – Sueno Latino Paperclip People – Remake Uno Chez Damier – Help Myself E Dancer – Feel The Mood R Tyme – R Theme M5003MB – The Cosmic Courier Infra Red – The Verge Millsart – Humana Model 500 – Mind Changes Fallout – The Morning After Ron Trent – Altered States
Again a mix displaying a personal preference for techno with a decidedly funky groove, with some added prototypes from the 80s, before techno was called techno. I have no idea why I ended the mix with this particular Specials song, as the business was not yet called business techno then. But what a song!
Telex – Moskow Diskow (Carl Craig Remix) The Back Room – Definition Of A Track Altern 8 – Objective 326 – Falling (Mike’s Mix) Risque III – Risque Madness Kikrokos – Life’s A Jungle Reese – Bassline Abe Duque – What Happened? Larry Heard – Lamentation Cabaret Voltaire – Crackdown The House Factors – Play It Loud Mr. Lee – House This House Yvette – Pump Me (Derrick May Mix) Blake Baxter – Club Fantasy Yello – La Habanera (Carl Craig Remix) Speedy J – Rise Kraftwerk – House Phone C & M Connection – Bio Rhythms Heaven 17 – Let’s All Make A Bomb The Specials – International Jet Set
Mix containing some spaced out deep house/techno gems. For my standards the flow is quite gentle. For the chill moods in life. My secret weapon of choice on display here: the instrumental mix of Electribe 101’s else quite disturbing stalker tune “You’re Walking”, which is just sublime.
Larry Heard – DNA RNA Electribe 101 – You’re Walking Model 500 – The Passage Kerri Chandler – Digital Love Affair A Guy Called Gerald – Eyes Of Sorrow Maurizio – Domina Morris Brown – Past Subway Ground Master – Marble Arch Blak Beat Niks – I’ll Be There Solar House – Peace Of Mind Lovechild – Sweet Ambience A Bitch Called Johanna – Love Is My Bass Agent X – Urban Paradise Callisto – The Cimmerian R Tyme – Use Me Urban Culture – The Wonders Of Wishing
This mix contains a diverse set of club tunes, all united by their direct connection to dub/reggae influences. Particularly house is so great because it is able to absorb so many styles. And among those styles I consider dub/reggae as royalty. By the way, it is a crying shame that Skacid died so young. Bring it back, you revivalists!
Pepe Bradock | 100% Coton Moody Boys – Jammin KLF – 3 A.M. Eternal Ballistic Brothers – Prophecy Reveal DJ Delite – Music For The People Beatmasters – Ska Train Longsy D’s House Sound – This Is Ska Freedom Authority – My Sound Hustlers Vol. 2 – Unity Reel 2 Real – Conway Rockers HiFi – Push Push Ragga Twins – Hooligan 69 Scottland Yard – Reggae House Rebel MC – Comin’ On Strong Studio 2 – Travelling Man Dee Patten – Who’s The Badman Mutabaruka – Dis Poem ‘99 Ph-7 – Better Place Dreamhouse Feat. Ceasar – Jump And Prance Colourbox – Baby I Love You So
Der Journalist, Cartoonist und Schriftsteller Haden-Guest betreibt mit The Last Party eine persönliche Aufarbeitung New Yorker Nightlife-Kultur von der Eröffnung der ersten Disco Clubs Mitte der 70er Jahre bis zu den Großclubs Mitte der 90er Jahre. Schwerpunkt und Fallbeispiel ist dabei der Aufstieg und Niedergang vom Studio 54 bzw. dessen Betreibern Steve Rubell und Ian Schrager. Als eine Art mehr oder weniger beteiligter Chronist Tom Wolfe’scher Prägung und regelmäßiger Gast gelangt er zu detaillierten Eindrücken vor und hinter den Kulissen und schob damit eine Wiederbelebung öffentlichen Interesses an der klassischen Disco-Ära an, die dann auch Hollywood 1998 mit den Filmen Studio 54 und Last Days Of Disco aufgriff. Ein Blick in den Index offenbart augenblicklich, worum es dem Autor geht; musikalische Protagonisten und DJs stehen in einem ausgeprägten Missverhältnis zu all den Celebrities, die den Ruf der Discoclubs als Hort von Glitz und Glamour begründeten. Auf eine Schwadron von Anekdoten über Truman, Bianca, Liza und Andy kommen nur ein paar über Nile, Larry oder Richie Kaczor, immerhin der langjährige Resident DJ des Studio 54. Francis, Nicky, Walter oder Francois finden gar nicht erst statt. Die Musik als Soundtrack des Ganzen gerät sehr arg zur Hintergrundbeschallung. Dennoch gelingt Haden-Guest bei allem Namedropping eine authentische Darstellung des Promi-Faktors und der nächtlichen Exzesse, beides natürlich auch ein wesentlicher Bestandteil des Phänomens Disco. Vor allem am Beispiel von Steve Rubell und dem Clubkid-Killer Michael Alig erhält man interessante Einblicke in drogenvernebelte Hybris und dessen Konsequenzen, denn beträchtliche Episoden des Buches befassen sich mit den gerichtlichen Auseinandersetzungen der Nightlords mit den Behörden, welche letztendlich die heutige repressive Situation nach Guiliani vorwegnahmen. Haden-Guests snobistisch-abgeklärter Kolumnenstil transportiert den Hedonismus und die Skandale angemessen und sehr unterhaltsam und auf all die Dramen zwischen Samtkordel und Katakomben des Studios gibt es durchaus auch Einblicke auf die andere Seite der Discokugel, da er seiner Szene-Entourage auch in alternative Läden wie Mudd Club, Mine Shaft oder Hurrah’s folgt. Wenn auch sein Augenmerk eher auf Neil Bogarts Casablanca Records liegt, fällt dann eben auch Michael Zilkhas ZE Records ab. The Last Party ist folglich eine prächtige Sittenchronik, die bei allem Klatsch einen Gutteil an Disco-Wissen abwirft, ich wusste zum Beispiel vorher nicht, dass Kevin Kline bei Cristinas ‚Disco Clone’ den männlichen Part sprechsingt. Plattensammler und Kulturhistoriker mit dem Schwerpunkt DJ-Kultur müssen dennoch weitgehend woanders nachschlagen.
A mix with some early house favorites. I recorded it for a mix tournament initiated in the early anarchic phase of the Discogs message board, where I met some fine people I am still friends with today (ok, and some people who probably still hate me). So it was judged by brutal judges and I had fierce competition. And this mix won, which means at least the playlist and its jack factor was ok. Cheers to DJs Klaus Stockhausen and Boris Dlugosch, who who schooled me in this category. The picture is from a young local photographer who wanted to do a book about DJs. I forgot his name but the book never happened anyway.
Hercules – 7 Ways To Jack Farley Jackmaster Funk – U Ain’t Really House Risque III – More Than Just A Dance Mickey Oliver – In-Ten-Si-T Ralphi Rosario – I Want You Adonis – No Way Back Steve Silk Hurley – Jack Your Body 2 House People – Trax My Body Rocky Jones – Choice Of A New Generation J.M. Silk – I Can’t Turn Around Farley Jackmaster Funk Feat. Darryl Pandy – Love Can’t Turn Around Frankie Hollywood And Ricky D. – Feel The Fire Housemaster Boyz – House Nation Mario Reyes – Whatever Turns You On Raz – Amour Puerto Riqueno The Children – Freedom Christian Alexander – Body & Spirit
I must admit that I am definitely not as knowledgeable with jazz as with other music. I am not proud of it. But I often like jazz samples. The idea behind this mix was to assemble some tunes that do not try to be jazzy in terms of musicianship, but worked with jazz samples in an original way, and they are still properly kicking house tracks. Please try to no judge this as an example of my ignorance, but maybe as an indirect tribute to something I really have to catch up with.
Was (Not Was) – The Sky’s Ablaze Whirlpool Feat. Mel Tormé – Fly Hi Pal Joey – So Fine Shades Of Sound – Drunk Horn The Underground Crew – Page Street Fast Eddie Feat. Nesha – The Nite Life Black Orchid – Rockin N Rhythm Phortune – Ramsey’s Jazz House 2 House – Everybody Get Up Endangered Music – Ping Pong R2bling2 – Eskimo X Lazyboy – Believe It Twenty Twelve – The Cool Rebellion 3 Play – Summer Breezz Nature Boy – Tobago The Sindecut – Simple Jealousy Stacy Kidd Pres. The Underground Elements – Jazz Impressions The People Movers – C Lime Woman Mondo Grosso – Souffles H Johnny Walker – The Ghetto I.C.3. – Poverty K OS – Superstarr Pt. Zero Soho – Hot Music Stetsasonic – Talkin’All That Jazz Frank Cunimundo Trio – We’ve Only Just Begun
Recording during a hot August night in Berlin, but no summer vibes in there. I often like electronic music that is a bit dark, melancholic and tripping. The tracks I used here are all over the place in terms of origin, but apparently I was aiming at a certain nocturnal state of mind. I still love all these tracks but the really interesting odd one out: the remix of 4th Measure Men’s The Need by Johnny D and Nicky P aka Johnick, better known for slightly psychedelic disco house. But this tune is really someting else. Nearly psychotic, and pitch black.
Rhythm Workshop – R U Ready Johnny Dangerous – I Can’t Handle It (How Deep) Schatrax – I Hold You Precious Psyche – From Beyond Tronikhouse – Smooth Groove Suburban Knight – The Groove Intercity – Out Of Control Mr. Lee – I Can’t Forget Nature Boy – I’m On Fire Twenty Twelve – The Cool Rebellion 4th Measure Men – The Need Logarhythm – The Jungle Callisto – Breezin’ The Parallax Corporation – Anti-Social Tendencies The Wolfgang Press – Time Xon – Midnight Express Paris Grey – Don’t Lead Me Never On Sunday – Urban Rains Talking Heads – Drugs
Mix with moody Detroit techno sounds, with a few detours to early UK breakbeat techno and 80s electronics. This was most likely not meant for daytime use. The vibe is quite noir. Funky though!
DJ Dozia – Drum Attack Induceve – Papillon Yello – Heavy Whispers Vice – Mindmelt Low Res – Amuck Suburban Knight – Echo Location Blake Baxter – When A Thought Becomes U Black Odyssey – Sweat Outlander – Vamp (Remix) LFO – Probe Human League – Seconds Rhythm Invention – Chronoclasm Shut Up And Dance – Autobiography Of A Crackhead Shut Up And Dance – Derek Went Mad Suburban Knight – The Worlds Schatrax – Strings KGB – Stark Laurie Anderson – O Superman
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