Finn Johannsen – Putzlicht Mix

I was deeply involved in the local subcultures in my small coastal hometown in the 80s. I did not know what I wanted to be, of course, but I know I did not want to be as boring as so many other people my age I met. So local subcultures seemed like an easy way out to be or at least act different. I always listened to a lot of different music at the same time but I opted to be part of the Two Tone/Mod scene. I liked the style and the hierarchical challenge. And well, the fashion was so much better than in other scenes. Of course the town was so small that you kind of were stuck with all the other scenes though, because the majority of other youths hated other youths who thought they were something else, and looked different (and better), and thus you were constantly beaten up. Given the many rules of conduct of “my” subculture many records I loved had to stay guilty pleasures, though I gained a lot of pleasure from them nonetheless (and still do). Now in the process of assimilation in Berlin I also realized how lots of 80s styles were already recycled for a while, like Post Punk, Synthpop, Electro or Italo Disco. I always was interested in context, so mixes like these were probably an effort to set things straight for myself. Never forget where you are coming from and so on. But probably they also reminded me that I was getting older too, and whether I should leave my years of being relatively irresponsible and unreasonable behind. The photo is a take on the Larry Levan story of him cleaning the mirror ball himself before the party, taken before a party at my flat.

Cabaret Voltaire – Just Fascination
Shriekback – Working On The Ground
John Foxx – Underpass
The Weathermen – Punishment Park
Impedance – Tainted Love
Dominatrix – Dominatrix Sleep Tonight
Yazoo – State Farm
The Fun Boy Three – Faith, Hope And Charity
Yellow Magic Orchestra – Behind The Mask
A Certain Ratio – Knife Slits Water
A.R. Kane – A Love From Outer Space
Yellow Magic Orchestra – Nice Age
Nitzer Ebb – Join In The Chant
Soft Cell – Torch
Liaisons Dangereuses – Etre Assis Ou Danser
Visage – Visa-Age
Suicide – Shadazz
Rheingold – Fluss
Godley & Creme – Under Your Thumb

Finn Johannsen – 2525

I had just moved to Berlin. I was 35 already and I had already experienced a lot (and had a lot of fun along the way) and thus did not fall for all the hype surrounding my new environment so easily. I was basically through with DJing then, as I had been playing out since the 80s and it kind of felt as it was a good time to let it go. I spent most of my time pondering what to do next and exploring the city. I went out quite a lot and made some new and met some old friends, but a lot of the music played at the clubs was not really my thing. So I did a few mixes to pass the time that kind of revisited favourite tunes I purchased and danced to during my youthful formative days in Kiel and Hamburg. I was still in love with music, but I was wondering if I might just turn into an enthusiast and make a living with something else.

Amnésie – Turas
Bobby O – Pump It Up
Hipnosis – Droid
Casco – Cybernetic Love
One Two Three – Runaway
Eberhard Schoener – Why Don’t You Answer
Visage – In The Year 2525
Sparks – Beat The Clock
Klein & M.B.O. – Wonderful
Tapps – My Wonderful Lover
Klapto – Mister Game
Max Him – Japanese Girl
Man Two Man – Energy Is Eurobeat
Divine – Shake It Up
Magnifique – Magnifique
Man Two Man – Who Knows What Evil?
Bobby Davenport – Time (Has Come Today)
Trans X – Living On Video

Interview: Miss Kittin

Wie bringst Du Unterhaltung ins Djing?

Ich langweile mich nie. Ich wechsle die Atmosphäre, spiele unerwartete Melodien und riskiere etwas.

Spielst Du Freestyle? Wie machst Du das?

Ja, ich spiele Freestyle. Nur einen Sound zu spielen ist öde und außerdem mag ich verschiedene Stilarten. Zum größten Teil benutze ich Minimal Techno gemischt mit Electro, House, Breakbeats und Anderem. Freestyle ist aber gefährlich, denn es muß harmonisch sein.

Ist Retro notwendig?

Nein, ist es nicht. Daß ist geschmacksabhängig oder man will sich damit an schöne Momente erinnern. Ich bin retro zum Spaß oder um zu überraschen, aber nicht automatisch. Read the rest of this entry »