You are a well respected music writer writing for publications like De:Bug, RA and your own blog (among others). Has music writing always been part of what you do, and what came first? The writing or the djing?
I write about music in public since the mid-90’s, and I started playing out in the late 80’s, so definitely DJing came first. My output as a writer has also been not as prolific as it turned out to be after I moved to Berlin in 2003. I knew Jan Joswig, the fashion editor at de:bug at that time, from former days in my hometown Kiel and he asked me to contribute. I started out writing reviews and then turned to features and especially interviews, some of which got quite some attention. So that eventually led to writing for other print and web publications too, like doing the “Playing Favourites” series for Resident Advisor, my “Rewind” series for sounds-like-me.com, Groove Magazine, and a lot of other media. The Website you’re referring to is not a blog in the sense that I write about everything that goes through my head, it is more like fragmentary online archive of my activities from the 90’s until now. Writings, Mixes, Gigs, the label, and a plethora of other things. It is not that I’m that vain to want everybody to know what I do and did, it is kind of a reminder for myself that others can follow if they like. Excuse the irregular updates at this point, but I slowed down all said activities a bit to have more time for my lovely wife and daughter, and I took up working at Hard Wax, too. Consider me well busy.
Can you please tell our readers what is D*ruffalo and who stands behind it?
I can’t possibly tell, at least not anymore. When D*ruffalo was unleashed 4 years ago, it was some sort of a media experiment initiated by a semi-anonymous collective of writers, producers and DJs based in several German cities, intended to be a platform to share love for what should be loved, free of any conventional restrictions. Soon some lack of love for what was deemed not as loveable showed up as well, but basically it was conceived to be the Fort Alamo of sincerity. Decidedly non-ironical, accidentally post-cool and fiercely anti-hype. At some point The D*ruffalo Hit Squad and the according Druffmix series was brought to life, to shine a light on music no light shined upon. But it totally spiralled out of control. I don’t know what it is right now, or if I am still a part of it even. But apparently D*ruffalo celebrates its sheer existence and the 50th Druffmix with a party at Berlin’s Soju Bar on February 11, and there are negotiations about a regular residency there. If the unpredictability and confusion of the D*ruffalo members allows. Which is probably unlikely, maybe. I can’t possibly tell.
You are running Macro Records together with Stefan Goldmann. How’s the process been running a label and what can we expect from Macro in 2011?
When we founded Macro we decided to only release music we find worth releasing, at the potential risk of longer stretches with no releases at all. But then the label took up so much momentum that we now have more releases lined up for this year than in the years before. March will see a new EP by the rather sensational Elektro Guzzi and Stefan’s magnificent “The Grand Hemiola” 2×12″, you can hear excerpts of both in the mix I recorded for you. We will follow that up in April with a live album by Elektro Guzzi and a compilation of the late works of the composer and conductor Friedrich Goldmann, Stefan’s father, who sadly and much too early passed away in 2009. We are also in the process of preparing several other projects for later this year, which are not yet ready to be unveiled, but well worth waiting for. We worked very hard to achieve a position in which we can do whatever we want, and as long as this strong support will stay with us, we will do just that. Expect the unexpected.
You’re known for your eclectic dj sets. What can you tell us about this set you prepared?
My sets, be it in a club or radio context, can be quite diverse, that’s true. But I don’t believe in eclecticism per se. Meaning, I don’t want to attract opposites just for the sake of it. If you neglect a certain coherence, structure and narrative you will end up sounding like a jukebox, however interesting it might be musically equipped. I like thinking of a concept when doing a mix, as subliminal or not it might be. With this one, I just intended to combine an experimental streak with a dancefloor functionality, while providing a glimpse of unreleased Macro material and tracks of artists I consistently admire, and tracks I still find as interesting as the day I first heard them. Which in the case of this playlist, was not too long ago. At any other time the set would probably have sounded differently, but this was what I then had in mind for this purpose and I hope it makes as much sense to the listeners as it made to me when I recorded it.
Stefan Goldmann – Mining The Vein / The Grand Hemiola Raime – This Foundry (Regis Version) Shackleton Vs. Kasai Allstars – Mukuba Special Theo Parrish Ft. IG Culture – Traffic Elektro Guzzi – Boom Room Margaret Dygas – Hidden (NSI Mix) Farben – Kursbuch 1&2 Son Of Sam – Nature Makes A Mistake (Âme Mix) Marco Bernardi – Klinsfrar Melode (Sprinkles Deeperama) WK7 – Higher Power (Hardcore PCK Mix) Pinch – Croydon House
A mix with some 90s house records I hold very dear.
Mr Fingers – On My Way (Pinky Blue Mix) Lovechild – Sweet Ambience (Deep Dub) Chez Damier & Stacey Pullen – Forever Monna Inner Soul feat. E. Scott – I’m In Need 4 U Sound Waves – I Wanna Feel The Music (Smooth Mix) Sensory Elements – Explain It Jazz-N-Groove – Do Ya (Marcs Lunch Pale Mix) Equation – I’ll Say A Prayer 4 U Debbie Gibson – One Step Ahead (Masters At Work Mix) Yohan Square – Love Of Life (Genesis Mix) Mark Rogers – Twilight For Some (Hurleys Twilight Mix) Subculture – The Voyage Joanna Law – Love Is Not Enough (Mix D’Ambience)
The Druffalo Hit Squad boldly went to wild places, persuaded a ridiculously famous high class DJ to contribute, emanated lysergically to the roots of lysergic, came out of the shadows and looked to the light, lived the pop life to a 4/4 beat, had a three hour tempo downer, went holiday reminiscing, went sailing, said yeah forever, kept waiting for it to come in a double feature stylee, were all drama, were humbly militant, made goth balearic, took eclecticism to the sewer, said that vocals matter, kissed the duke goodbye, called for last orders twice, shed a tear for Levi, danced the art school dance forever, cooked up a storm, gentrified the hood, raved Canada, raved UK, proposed a toast, made an urgent call, continued the mission to save hip hop, raved New York, cut some beards, cut some more beards, went down, went up, heard Frankie say “horny”, raved Detroit, raved Continental Europe, hailed BB one time, hailed BB two time, lit the lighter, raved Chicago, went a bridge too far.
Bangles – Eternal Flame Cube – Concert Boy Joe Jackson – Steppin’ Out Robert Palmer – Johnny And Mary Men Without Hats – I Got The Message Devo – That’s Good Toyah – Echo Beach Fehlfarben – Agenten In Raucherkinos Dislocation Dance – With A Reason Martha And The Muffins – Danseparc Shock – Dynamo Beat The Wirtschaftswunder – Junge Leute Lene Lovich – Lucky Number Yello – Pinball Cha Cha It’s Immaterial – Ed’s Funky Diner It’s Immaterial – Ed’s Funky Diner Freur – Doot Doot The Lotus Eaters – The First Picture Of You Matia Bazar – Elettrochoc Ennio Morricone – Metti, Una Sera A Cena Godley & Crème – Under Your Thumb Real Life – Catch Me I’m Falling Kamille – Days Of Pearly Spencer Au Pairs – Headache Electric Chairs – J’attends Les Marines Kim Fowley – Searching For A Human In Tight Blue Jeans Devo – Going Under Heaven 17 – Excerpts From Diary Of A Contender Pat Benatar – Love Is A Battlefield Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft – Als wär’s das letzte Mal The Woodentops – Last Time
This is a mix for all you big-heads out there who think disco music is lower than the irrelevant musical gibberish and tired platitudes that you try to impress your parents with…
We’re The Druffalo Hit Squad, we’re much cleverer than you and this is Druffmix 49.
Nick Heyward – When It Started To Begin Blue Rondo A La Turk – Klactoveesedstein David Byrne – Big Business Family 5 – Traumvers Yello – Base For Alec Human League – The Sound Of The Crowd Die Krupps – Goldfinger Soft Cell – Bedsitter Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Enola Gay Spoons – Nova Heart Hilary – Kinetic Human League – Dance Like A Star Vicious Pink – 8:15 To Nowhere Heaven 17 – We Live So Fast Electric Light Orchestra – Yours Truly 2095 Yello – Alan Rankine – The World Begins To Look Her Age Wilson Pickett – Groove City Lipps Inc. – Choir Practice Cut Glass – Without Your Love Richie – Trying It On Peter Jacques Band – Fly With The Wind Dislocation Dance – Show Me Spandau Ballet – Only When You Leave Mari Wilson – Let’s Make This Last The Associates – Take Me To The Girl Comateens – The Late Mistake The Christians – Forgotten Town Suicide – Dream Baby Dream
We don’t care where we go When we’re with you When we cry You don’t laugh ‘Cause you know us
We’re in you You’re in us We’re in you You’re in us ‘Cause you gave us the love Love that we never had Yes, you gave us the love Love that we never had
You and us don’t pretend We make love We can’t feel anymore than we’re singing
We’re in you You’re in us We’re in you You’re with us ‘Cause you gave us the love Love that we never had You gave us the love Love that we never had
Come so far where you think of last fall You can die but remain you and us We’re in you You’re in us We’re in you You’re with us ‘Cause you gave us the love Love that we never had Yes, you gave us the love Love that we never had You gave us the love Love that we never had
We don’t care where we go When we’re with you
Liza Minnelli – Rent Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home Talk Talk – Talk Talk Fashion – Mutant Mix Mechanik Vicious Pink – Spooky Vanity 6 – Make-Up Heart – Barracuda The Bollock Brothers – Save Our Souls Garcons – French Boy Blue Rondo A La Turk – Heavens Are Crying Associates – Those First Impressions Samba Soul – I’m In You Phyllis Nelson – Don’t Stop The Train Jimmy Ruffin – I’m Gonna Love Your Forever The Isley Brothers – It’s A Disco Night Edwin Starr – Twenty-Five Miles La Flavour – Mandolay The B-52’s – Roam Alphaville – Forever Young Sparks – Madonna China Crisis – Some People I Know To Lead Fantastic Lives The Church – Under The Milky Way Echo & The Bunnymen – Silver The Parachute Men – If I Could Wear Your Jacket…? The Velvet Underground – The Gift The Bollock Brothers – The Gift -2
Gloria Jones – When I Was A Little Girl The Raes – Don’t Turn Around Pink Lady – Kiss In The Dark Marlena Shaw – Touch Me In The Morning The Duncan Sisters – Sadness In My Eyes James Bradley – Wrapped Up In Your Love Latimore – Goodbye Heartache Patrice Rushen – Haven’tYou Heard Machine – You’ve Come A Lng Way The English Beat – I Confess The Pale Fountains – …From Across The Kitchen Table Bananarama – Really Sayin’ Somethin’ Shriekback – Lined Up Duran Duran – Girls On Film Zaza – Zauberstab British Standard Unit – D’ya Think I’m Sexy Yazoo – Goodbye 70’s Strange Advance – Love Games The Associates – Waiting For The Loveboat Bee Gees – E.S.P. Marc Almond – Tears Run Rings Deacon Blue – Real Gone Kid Kumano – I’ll Cry For You BearEssence – The Big Hurt Space – Save Your Love From Me Noel – Dancing Is Dangerous Le Jeté – La Cage Aux Folles Sheila B. Devotion – Spacer Fox The Fox – Flirting And Showing Flash And the Pan – Waiting For A Train OMD – She’s Leaving
Some newish techno cuts, mixed for the Italian Electronique.it podcast, now defunct.
Emika – Double Edge – Ninja Tune Skudge – Convolution (Aardvarck Remix) – Skudge Records D-Bridge – ZX81 (Shed Remix) – Fat City Recordings Ramadanman – Work Them (Swamp 81) Kode 9 – You Don’t Wash (Dub) – Studio !K7 Ikonika – Video Delays – Hyperdub Africa Hi Tech – How Does It Make You Feel – Warp Records Jared Wilson – Night Sky Jpeg – Lux Rec A Guy Called Gerald – In Ya Head – Perlon Head High – It’s A Power Thing (Power Cut) – Power House Baby Ford & Mark Broom – Bubblebath – Pure Plastic Surgeon – Floorshow Part II – Counterbalance Aux 88 – Electronic Underground – Puzzlebox
You saw us standing alone in the dark, Lost in the silence of our heart, Crying for angels, crying for light, Crying for someone tonight
No time for wasting, no time for truce, No time for innocent lies, Touch us like heroes straight from your eyes, Lead us to worlds far beyond
And we know it’s you for freedom, And we know you can fill the space in us
We need secrets in the dark, love in the shadows, Passion burning out from under our skin, Take us for a ride until the night time’s over, When daylight steals the magic of the dark
We’ll give no reasons and no border lines, Kill the fire that brakes the heart of love, No more crying for angels, crying for light, Crying for someone tonight
And we know it’s you for freedom, And we know you can fill the space in us
Vicious Pink – Cccan’t You See… Allez Allez – Wrap Your Legs (Around Your Head) Fehlfarben – Keine Ruhige Minute Killing Joke – Adorations Visage – The Damned Don’t Cry Quartzlock – No Regrets E.G. Daily – Love In The Shadows Debbie Harry – Rush Rush Freddie Mercury – Love Kills Hazell Dean – Evergreen Double Discovery – Can He Find Another One? USA European Connection – Come Into My Heart/Good Lovin’ Harlow – Take Off Midnight Powers – Dance, It’s My Life Gregg Diamond – This Side Of Midnight Liquid Gold – My Baby’s Baby Technique – Can We Try Again Buffalo Smoke – Stubborn Kind Of Fella Teri De Sario – Ain’t Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You Doris Troy – Can’t Hold On Tavares – Don’t Take Away The Music Jimmy Ruffin – Hold On To My Love Margaret Reynolds – Keep On Holding On Visage – Again We Love Psychic TV – Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Some new and old for the Bleep43 blog. I was still not subscribing to minimal. You know, when Harry Moseby was telling in Night Moves, that watching an Eric Rohmer movie was like watching paint dry. I laughed very loudly.
Farben – As Long As There’s Love Around Sensorama – Mode Wolfgang Voigt – Geduld (DJ Koze Mix) Raudive – Total Pure Phuture Past – Jam Packed Ex.or.zis.mus – Ex.or.zis.mus One Rob Mello – Scared Of Losing U (No Ears Dub) The Oliverwho Factory – Night Lights DJ Dozia – Drum Attack (w/ Ryuichi Sakamoto – Rain) 3 Tha Hardway – Hot Temptation (Drums 4 Ever Mix) Perbec Feat. Soulman – Come On With Me (Main Mix) The Track Stars – Computer Glenn Underground – Madzone Anthony Shakir – Sermon Herman Orphrey – Tabu Mount Kimbie – William (Tama Sumo & Prosumer Mix) The Soft Pink Truth – Gender Studies
Lost amongst the crowd On the torso’s pumping iron A man with a horn takes to the stage The drum beat cracks in time
Harder and bolder the bodies move Shoulder to shoulder skin feels smooth Hot, sticky, still so cool The crash of the anvil and the nightclub school
Watch the moving bodies As they react to the sound Feasting on the visions See the figures going round
Graceful and flowing the fashion shows Sensual and glowing the passion grows Pick your playmate still so cool The crash of the anvil and the nightclub school
Take it as it comes up Leave it when it’s done Put a number in your matchbook And call when you want fun
Living the nightlife to the end Giving the right life like a friend One more rover still so cool The crash of the anvil and the nightclub school
The Fugs – The Divine Toe (Part 1) Spinners – Are You Ready For Love Andy Williams – Love Story (Where Do I Begin) Beautiful Bend – Make That Feeling Come Again Space – My Life Is Music Spinners – With My Eyes Ruth Waters – Never Gonna Be The Same Carrie Lucas – Keep Smilin’ Jigsaw – Sky High Frankie Valli – Heaven Above Me Janis Ian – Fly Too High Susan Fassbender – Twilight Café Simple Minds – I Travel Sparks – Beat The Clock Bow Wow Wow – Love, Peace And Harmony Tuxedomoon – What Use? Visage – The Anvil Robert Görl – Darling Don’t Leave Me Torch Song – P2e David Van Tieghem – These Things Happen 400 Blows – Breakdown Frank Tovey – Luxury Tears For Fears – Change The Cure – Let’s Go To Bed Robert Görl – Mit Dir The Stranglers – Skin Deep Louise Thomas – Feels Like Love Hazell Dean – Searchin’ Olivia Newton-John – Xanadu ABC – When Smokey Sings Madness – Michael Caine Prefab Sprout – Life Of Suprises Joe Jackson – You Can’t Get What You Want Industry – State Of The Nation Miles Davis – Time After Time Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time The Fugs – The Divine Toe (Part 2)
Recent Comments