Finn Johannsen – Artcast 127 & Interview

Posted: February 9th, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Interviews English | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Hello Finn, pleasure to speak to you. What did you have for breakfast today and what does an ordinary day your life look like in these times?

I made myself a sandwich with cheese and Salame Milano, with a bit of of French dressing. I did not start baking bread or similar. I am happy with what I can get at the supermarket, and I have plenty around. I am a nocturnal person, my daughter too. But as soon as she is asleep I often watch a movie or a series with my wife and when my wife is asleep as well, I head over to my study to work, listen to music or read. If I have no meetings scheduled the next day I do not have to get up that early so I mostly stay up late. Once I get up I fix myself a small breakfast, read the news and then start working again, correspondence or whatever else needs to be done. I try to have that finished until my wife and daughter come back from work and school, and then we have lunch. Then either work, homework and spending some time together. I did not get infected so far, but I am aware that it will happen eventually. I am not afraid of it and vaccinated, but I try to avoid it as good as I can because I do not want to spread it further. So apart from occasional meetings for work or with friends and getting necessary things for our household I am mostly staying in. I have read Joseph Heller’s Catch 22 yet again, and I agree with its protagonist Yossarian that there are plenty of people out there conspiring to kill me, and I am determined to not let them. To stay fit I use a rowing machine on a daily basis.

Speaking of “these times“, we are now almost two years in this pandemic, clubs open, clubs close, some have to close forever, some are able to survive, but nobody knows yet what price the scene, the clubs have to pay. How have you been keeping up with the ever-changing situation and how do you wish to be supported by the government in “these times“?

It is of course very frustrating. We worked very hard to keep Paloma alive, and when we were allowed to open again it felt like a reward for all our efforts. Then after just a few weeks it was all over again, and it was total letdown. I will not complain about the governmental support. It was kind of remarkable how chaotic it was organized though, and in many ways the pandemic also affected the previously indestructible myth of German efficiency very severely, but at least we had support, other countries were not as well off. Generally, I was not as optimistic as others about how the pandemic would progress, but I was very disappointed that this winter turned out to be even worse than the one before, especially because I feel that this situation could have been avoided by more timely and efficient measures. I was sure from the start of the pandemic that clubs would be way down the crisis management priority list, but I get angry when people not do their best to bring this to an end, and if it was only to show solidarity with others more affected by the situation. I was not exactly surprised that parts of our society would only care about their own good, but I was surprised to what extent. What optimism I had when the vaccinations began to roll out faded as soon as I realized that a good and necessary deal of the German population would refuse it. These days, I stick to the actual facts in the news that seem reliable and valid for how things will potentially develop, and I try to keep away from all the opinions flying around that do not help one bit to change this for the better. I do not want to discuss the pandemic anymore with people who mostly only display their own selfishness, or cowardice, or doubt, or fear. To fight a pandemic of this scale is a group effort, and I am really tired at this point of those that do not want to act accordingly. What effects all this will have is still speculation, as we are absolutely not through yet, but I am sure politics and the economies will eventually recover but there will remain a trauma, in terms of both physical and psychological conditions, and not anybody will be able to overcome it so soon. The price to pay? We all will pay a price. But better to pay a price than to die.

How does the uncertainty these days influence your booking behavior for the Paloma?

Well, you make the best of what you can do, and you try to act responsibly. We had to cancel a lot of dates, and when we learnt that we can open again we tried to catch up with all those cancellations first, instead of starting from scratch with everything. But we were expecting to open sooner, and when we could not do that we had to postpone and reschedule whole monthly programs, a process that we are unfortunately in again right now. But we were in constant crisis management mode since March 2020 and after all this time we would surely not give up now if we are not forced to do so. Of course there is also always some level of uncertainty when you book for a club, and now that level was quite enormous, but we are a good team and we prevailed, so far. It is frustrating that we also had to cancel some gigs again for now, but we will try to make them happen at a later point, which will be a challenge too. Other than that you also have to adapt in ways that you were not used to before. For example we priorized DJs that had no other income like a day job or similar, which was not a point before DJs had a regular income from playing out. Or we were very strict to meet all the Corona restrictions at the door, and bookings fell through because the DJs did not have the necessary documents to enter the club, and other DJs were not fully vaccinated or not intending to get vaccinated at all. The majority of DJs understood and respected that we were so strict though, only a minority did not. This also applies to our audience. Most guests were glad that we did our best to make our club as safe as possible, and brought up the patience for all the according door proceedings.

Following the question before, do you think that in general clubs’ bookings have or will change due to the pandemic and do you wish for a renaissance of the local DJs taking over club nights instead of international ones?

There was a divide in DJ culture in terms of fees and gig count before the pandemic, and I have this theory that it will grow. There are top tier DJs that fly around the world and earn silly money, mid tier DJs that can live from DJing, but with a certain level of uncertainty, and low tier DJs that already needed other sources of income before to make a living, with way more uncertainty. Now the low tier DJs switched to other sources of income for good because they had to, more than before. Either they were just starting out to get a reputation, or they were satisfied with just playing out. Of course the current situation is a blow, but they might be able to carry on, even if it requires to start all over again. The top tier DJs either did not interrupt their program anyway during the last two years, or they now benefit from the situation, because most bigger clubs are so in debt since closing that they probably play safe and book only headliners they think will guarantee a full capacity. In this case the mid tier DJs are worse off, because they are caught in the middle. They do not pull enough people to fill the bigger clubs and they are too costly for the smaller clubs. I really hope I am wrong, but as soon as the clubs could reopen last year, you could well observe this pattern. And this of course also applies to these hopes that the local scene will play a more vital role. Doors were open again, and you could often see that DJs were flown in again, the DJ middle class was kind of diminished and some local DJs did not get more than the function of a cheap filler. I do not really think that there will be a renaissance of local DJs. I suppose as soon as bookings can be regular again, most clubs will fall back to old habits, or even worse. Of course there are clubs like Paloma with a limited size and accordingly limited budget, and they will always book local talent because they cannot afford regular and costly travel logistics. But they do not determine the business, and they also might not be able to pay your rent.

When speaking of club culture in the northern hemispheres of Germany people speak of the “three Ps’ – meaning the Pudel club in Hamburg, Panoramabar and Paloma. In a nutshell, what unites these three nightlife institutions and ideally how can clubs cross-fertilize each other?

I must say that I have not heard of these three P’s in unison before, but I think it is rather flattering. Pudel and Paloma sure are comparable in some ways. Both have a hub function in their local scenes and support a local network and fresh talents, and their musical agenda is similar in terms of quality and content, the size is similar as well, as is the attitude, and both share the same graphic designer, the wonderful Alex Solman. Panoramabar sure is a different and bigger thing, and a whole other status, but I think what unites all three clubs is that they are all very special places. I had memorable nights in all three both as a DJ and as a guest and that is probably the most common denominator. The best way to use similarities is of course to work together, which we do, particularly with Pudel, with which we have regular exchange. But we do not only invite DJs from the Pudel network to Paloma, we also have nights with Panoramabar DJs, regular ones and residents. I have a whole lot of respect for both clubs, each in their own way, and I think we can all benefit from each other, and we do.

Let’s leave the club topic behind a bit. When speaking of you and looking at your vita the word versatile is basically inevitable. You DJ, you run the label Macro with Stefan Goldmann, you do the bookings for the Paloma and Monarch clubs, you used to write for various magazines and you worked at famous record store Hard Wax. How have all these different approaches to music helped you to overcome the past months and what’s your preferred field of working?

Well, music is just really very important to me. I listen to music every day, and even more in the last months than usual, which really helped me to stay sane. Everything I do for a living is connected with music, and as you mentioned I do and did a lot of different things. Music just makes me happy, and what makes me even happier is when I am able to spread music that I think is worth more attention than just mine. My preferred field of working is always the one that helps me to achieve that best. DJing was the first and is still vital in that aspect, the label allows me to explore ideas other than just my own, as does the booking. I do not write as much anymore as I did in the past, but if it is a good topic and I can find the time I still enjoy it. I could also support a lot of music at Hard Wax for some years, but I took up booking while I was still working at the store, and I had never done booking before, just getting booked myself, and at some point I realized that I could provide said support more efficiently with the booking, so I decided to leave. But it is all kind of in flux, and always has been. I have been fortunate about opening doors, so there might be another step in the future. But I am really very happy with what I am doing right now.

What two other attributes suit your character and how do they support the before mentioned field of working?

I would say I am curious. I can be very enthusiastic, but I also lose interest quite quickly. I can be quite thorough if I am interested enough. I do not like routine. All of these proved to be quite helpful in terms of creativity.

Coming back to your versatile being, musically you are also quite versatile. Firstly, would you say that musical versatility is something that comes with age as at some point people stop being as stubborn or nerdy? Secondly, what does the first thing you pay attention to when listening to new music and add to your “playlist“?

Hm, I am often suspected of being a nerd, my glasses do not help there, but I do not really feel like one. Of course I am aware that I know way more about music than the average listener, but for me that is a natural process. I just listen to so much music that it would be plain weird if I would not gather some knowledge about it. And I like to learn about the context of what I am hearing, and I can save the information in my memory, which is the same with literature or movies. The versatility sure is a result of both my wide interests, and my longterm occupation with being out to discover. As anybody else, I have some preferences, you can identify them all if you follow me, but I could never stop with what I already knew and then just maintain it. Basically I am open to anything in terms of creativity, if I investigate it and it is not for me I just move on to the next, but so far I never felt like stopping. Maybe that is the stubbornness you were suggesting, in my case. What I pay attention to first while at it is probably ideas, and a an artistic signature. Mostly I am hoping for something completely new to me, sometimes I am content with a fresh approach to things I already know and like.

Have you noticed a change in taste over the pandemic due to the fact that clubs were closed or open for not so long?

My listening behaviour patterns kind of strengthened. Even before the pandemic I listened to less club music, because it was all around me anyway. That kind of music did not quite solely become a commitment connected to work, but it was heading there. I began to reserve my time off work for other music, sounds that do not have to fulfill a purpose of being useful with what I am doing for a living. Apart from checking music styles I had not explored before I am also always willing to revise verdicts I made on some point about music I checked earlier on, or even whole genres. Sometimes you are not in the mood to get it, sometimes you are just ignorant, sometimes it does not feel right at the time. And taste should not be too static, else you just miss out. I do not mind if music clicks with a delay of even years, if it clicks. What I also had to notice is that the older you get the more you look to your past. I revisited some music of my youth, and it still clicked too.

What have been your three favorite musical findings over the past weeks?

1) German trap or drill music is much smarter than I thought. 2) I may read as many books about Krautrock as I can get a hold of, but I will never like the bulk of it more. 3) I will probably never have the patience for ambient music.

What has kept your relationship with electronic music passionate and what was one of the tracks that made you fall for it in the first place?

I love how much music that was created years ago still sounds like the future, and is still being processed. I am convinced at some point it will all implode and make way for something completely unheard of, and I am looking very much forward to completely not getting it. But I will sure try to. As for love at first listening probably I Feel Love by Donna Summer or Das Model by Kraftwerk, off the radio as a kid. Boring as it may be, I am old enough to claim that, though it probably was Popcorn by Hot Butter. Honourable mention: LFO. I used to claim in several heated debates that LFO was the first electronic music that really sounded like the future. I still stand by that.

What’s a musical extravaganza you’d pay for if money was not a thing?

It might be more an availability issue than money, but I would love to dance to Klaus Stockhausen at least one more time, all night long. Paloma would be a fine place for that, but any place would do. He is still the best DJ I ever heard, and I heard many.

Speaking of money, a lot of renowned artists played at the MDLBeast Soundstorm festival in Saudi Arabia a few weeks back. Does money deprave some people’s character that they play for controversial governments or is this simply the price the scene has to pay due to the pandemic development over the past months/ years? What is your opinion on that topic?

I think it is problematic to single out that event as an indicator for all that is wrong in club culture. Of course that festival was quite questionable, but then again so many events are, if you take a closer look. The more money is flying around the more it is likely that the source of the money is questionable. But it is a business. As long as there is a market for it, it will keep happening, and it happened before so many times, out in the open as with that festival, or not. I was surprised by a few names on the lineup, but I think on a certain level there just are some skeletons in the closet everywhere. Not that there are necessarily no or less skeletons on a lower level, mind. I must admit that it does not bother me too much, it is like a parallel universe for me. I know some people from earlier on who achieved that status, and they made their decision for success, and now they have a business to run and the according obligations, and others may need more and more money because they also spend a lot of money, for whatever. Of course this kind of circuit is decadent and the money is obscene, but there are so many alternative ways of doing events. If you feel this is depraved, you may support the other, or do your own. But you will find depraved characters everywhere you go.

Which of your morals could you never throw overboard or are non-negotiable?

I am no saint, and I made my mistakes. But I try to neither hide nor repeat them. But I am really allergic to hypocrisy, especially if it is a strategy.

After so many years in the scene/ business what piece of advice would give to your younger self?

Do what you really want to do, but do never behave like an idiot.

What’s a superpower you wish you had and how would you use it?

I would love to be able to make everything that is fun healthy. I would use it all the time, everywhere, and for everybody.

Original source: https://torturetheartist.net/2022/02/09/artcast-127-interview-finn-johannsen/

Black Moon – Reality (Killing Every…) (Instrumental)

Lord Finesse – Actual Facts (Instrumental)

Diezzle Don & Tha Governer – Hood Thing (Instrumental)

Kool Keith – Sex Style (Instrumental)

Heltah Skeltah – Place To Be (Instrumental)

Supernatural – Buddah Blessed It (Instrumental)

Paul Nice & Joey T. – Born Invincible

Diezzle Don & Tha Governer – So Now You Know (LP Instrumental)

Heltah Skeltah – Da Wiggy (Da Wiggstrumental)

I-Cue – Pass It Around

Group Home – Express (Instrumental)

Cocoa Brovaz – Drama (Instrumental)

Joanna Law – Love Is Not Enough (“We 3” Dub)

Krumb Snatcha – Gettin Closer To God (Instrumental Version)

Big L – Street Struck (Instrumental)

Shabazz The Disciple – Crime Saga Spiritualmental (Death Be The Penalty – The Sequel)

Fat Joe – Firewater (Instrumental Version)

Edo G. – Acting (Instrumental)

Finsta And Bundy – Sunnyside (Instrumental)

Black Moon – I Got Cha Opin (Instrumental)

Diamond & The Psychotic Neurotics – You Can’t Front (…It Is Real) (Instrumental)

Jeru The Damaja – Come Clean (Instrumental)

Mobb Deep – Extortion (Instrumental)

Biz Markie – Studda Step (Instrumental)

The Nonce – Mix Tapes (Instrumental)

O.C. – My World (Instrumental)

Showbiz & AG – Spit Beats

Mobb Deep – Blood Sport (Instrumental)

Smif-N-Wessun – Bucktown (Instrumental)

Trends Of Culture – Who Got My Back? (Instrumental)

Wisdom – All Star Jam (Instrumental)

Mobb Deep – Animal Instinct (Instrumental)

Rob Swift Feat. Cracker Jax – Nickel And Dime (Instrumental)

Smif-N-Wessun – Let’s Git It On (Instrumental)

Smif-N-Wessun – Wontime (Instrumental)

Major Stress – Stuy Beats (Instrumental)

Goodie Mob – Goodie Bag (Instrumental)

O.G.C. – No Fear (Instrumental)

MC Shan – Shan & The Queens Connect (Instrumental)

Special Ed – Freaky Flow (DJ Premier Remix) (Instrumental)

Heather B. – If Headz Only Knew (Instrumental)

Pizzicato Five – This Year’s Girl #2

CRU – Wreckognize (Instrumental)

Jhelisa – Friendly Pressure (Cool Breeze Instrumental)

China Black – Searching (Heavy Tactic Dub)

Mad Doctor X – Believe In Your Stealth

Jesus Loves You – One On One (Massive Attack Dub)

Bassline Feat. Lorraine Chambers – Back To Bass-ics

Lord Finesse – Hip 2 Da Game (Instrumental)

Edo G. – Dedicated (Instrumental)

Erick Sermon – Welcome (Instrumental)

Smif-N-Wessun – Stand Strong (Instrumental)

Concrete Mob – Boiling Point (Instrumental)

Masta Ace Incorporated – Sittin’ On Chrome (Instrumental)

Group Home – Supa Star (Instrumental)

King Midas Sound – One Ting (Dabrye Remix)

Fresh 4 – Smoke Filled Thoughts

Method Man – All I Need (Razor Sharp Instrumental)

Wu-Tang Clan – Can It Be All So Simple (Instrumental)

K-Otix – 7 MC’s Pt. II (Instrumental)

Lord Finesse – No Gimmicks (Instrumental)

Showbiz & AG – Full Scale Beats

Just Ro – Confusion (Instrumental Version)

The Pharcyde – Y? (Be Like That) (Jay Dee Remix Instrumental)

Ras-T – Ill Nig (Instrumental)

Imam Thug & Tragedy Khadafi – The Bridge 2000 (Instrumental Mix)

Mad Lion – Double Trouble (Remix Instrumental)

Rock The M.C. – Don’t Stop The Hip Hop (Dub Instrumental)

Warren G – I Shot The Sheriff (EPMD Instrumental)

Five Deez – Time Is Night

Paul Nice & Joey T. – Dance Of The Drunken Mantis

Big Willie Smith – Keep It Real…Represent ’96 (Inst.)

Spooky & Billie Ray Martin – Persuasion (Inward Mix)

The Brotherhood – Mad Headz (More Edz Remix) (Instrumental)

Stereo MC’s – What Is Soul (Instrumental)

Dr. Octagon – Earth People (The Earth Planet Mix)

Shabazz The Disciple – Conscious Of Sin Spiritualmental

AZ – Uncut Raw (Instrumental)

Brothers Of The Mind – Rough & Tough (Nitetyme Instrumental)

Big Noyd Feat. Mobb Deep – Recognize & Realize: Part 2 (Instrumental)

Shara Nelson – Inside Out (Underdog Mix)

M People – Search For The Hero (Smith & Mighty Dub)

Leta Davis – Joey’s Groove

KRS-One – Questions & Answers

Mobb Deep – Survival Of The Fittest (Remix Instrumental)

Heather Park – I Miss You b/w Shook Ones

Mobb Deep – Give Up The Goods (Just Step) (Instrumental)

Gabrielle – Because Of You (Delta Dubwize)

Goodie Mob – Soul Food (Album Instrumental)

Ice-T – The Tower (Album Instrumental)

Dan Wicked – Puerto Ricans On The Rise (Original Street Version)

Five Deez – Chilly Most (Instrumental)

Reborn – Right To Be (Epic Mix)

Smith & Mighty – Anyone… (Dub Mix)

Massive Attack – I Against I (Instrumental)

Lenny Dennis – Lovin’ You

LL Cool J – Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings (Remix Instrumental)

Latin Alliance – Know What I’m Saying (Pal Joey Instrumental)

Ice-T – New Jack Hustler (Stress Mix)

Chill Rob G – The Power (Instrumental)

Company Flow – Infokill (Instrumental)

Micranots – Exodus (Instrumental)

Vordul Mega – Neva Again (Instrumental)

Mobb Deep – Get Away (Instrumental)

Nick Wiz – Darkside beat 84

Deltron 3030 – Things You Can Do (Instrumental)

Dr. Dooom – I Run Rap

Vakill – Flows U Can’t Imagine (Instrumental)

Nick Wiz – Fall Back

Pete Rock – Walk On By beat

D.I.T.C. – The Enemy (Instrumental)

Showbiz & AG – Time For (Instrumental)

Masters Of Illusion – Back Up Kid

Dr. Dooom – Apartment 223

Kool Keith – Sly We Fly

Showbiz & AG – Stand Strong (Instrumental)

Chubb Rock – The Mind (Instrumental)

Kool Keith – In Your Face

Pudgee – King Of New York (Instrumental)

Lord Finesse & O.C. – Ya Better Recognize (Instrumental)

Ghostface Killah – Camay (Instrumental)

Tragedy Khadafi Feat. Capone – True Confessions

Freestyle Fellowship – Can You Find The Level Of Difficulty In This? (Instrumental)

Showbiz & AG – You Know Now (Instrumental)

Dr. Dooom – Neighbors Next Door

Showbiz & AG – Ain’t No Fun (Instrumental)

Analog Brothers – 2005 (Instrumental)

Mobb Deep – Party Over

Stieber Twins – Hash

Stieber Twins – Fahrenheit 72 (Instrumental)

Dilated Peoples – The Main Event (Instrumental)

Cora E – Next Stop New York (Instrumental)

Stieber Twins – Allein Zu Zweit (Instrumental)

Cora E – Hip Hop Gibt Mir ‘N Titel (Instrumental)

Nick Wiz – Still Low

Mobb Deep – Eye For An Eye (Instrumental)

Kool Keith – Plastic World

Analog Brothers – Analog Annihilator Vrs Silver Surfer (Instrumental)

Mobb Deep – Right Back At You (Instrumental)

GZA – I Gotcha Back (Instrumental)

Showbiz & AG – Check It Out (Instrumental)

Dr. Dooom – Leave Me Alone

Kool Keith – Still The Best

Cora E – Tracks Ohne Refraingesänge (Instrumental)

Lootpack – Lost Art (Instrumental)

Cora E – Lügen… Ihr Kriegt Mich Nie (Instrumental)

Aceyalone – Microphones (Instrumental Version)

Stieber Twins – Tausend MCs (Instrumental)

Asheru And Blue Black – Dear You (Instrumental)

Mobb Deep – Trife Life (Instrumental)

Clipse – Mr. Me Too (Instrumental)

Masta Ace Incorporated – Livonia Ave.

GZA – Cold World (Instrumental)

Mobb Deep – Q.U. Hectic (Instrumental)

7L & Esoteric – Operating Correctly (Instrumental)

Killarmy – Street Monopoly (Instrumental)

Showbiz & AG – Under Pressure (Instrumental)

All Natural – The Return Of The Avenger (Instrumental)

Nick Wiz – The Melody

Masta Ace Incorporated – Bellmont Ave

Foreign Legion – Full-Time B-Boy (Instrumental)

Deltron 3030 – Virus (Instrumental)

Mobb Deep – Where Ya Heart At

The Roots – In The Music (Instrumental)

Masta Ace Incorporated – Pitkin Ave.

7L & Esoteric – Mic Mastery (Instrumental)

Masters Of Illusion – Time 2 Get Right

Masta Ace Incorporated – Sutter Ave.

One Be Lo – Decepticons (Original) (Instrumental)

The Unspoken Heard – Nigga Like Me (Eye Level Instrumental)

Masta Ace Incorporated – Stone Ave.

Lone Catalysts – 3 Yrs (Instrumental)

Mobb Deep – Let A Ho Be A Ho (Instrumental)

Masta Ace – Don’t Understand (Pump It Like This) (Instrumental)

D.I.T.C. – Internationally Known (Instrumental)

Grand Agent – Know The Legend (Instrumental)

Mobb Deep – Adrenaline (Instrumental)

Masta Ace – Good Ol’ Love (Instrumental)

P.O.S. – Crispin Glover (Bonus Instrumental)

Masters Of Illusion – U Want Freestyle?

Lupe Fiasco – Dumb It Down (Instrumental)

Smut Peddlers – That Smut (Instrumental)

DJ DSL – Coming With The Sound

Mobb Deep – Quiet Storm (Instrumental)

Slum Village – Get Dis Money (Instrumental)

2020-05-27 Finn Johannsen – at Mutant Radio, Tbilisi

Posted: June 1st, 2020 | Author: | Filed under: Mixes | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

D.S. Building Contractors – One For The Burglar

A Certain Ratio – Spirit Dance

Kraftwerk – Musique Non Stop

S-B-M & MC Tunes – Back To Attack

Shades Of Rhythm – Exorcist

Eric B & Rakim – Follow The Leader

Designer Imposter – Good News (Pink Alert’s Good News Remix)

Larry Heard – DNA-RNA

Electribe 101- You‘re Walking (Ambient Groove Mix) 114

Model 500 – The Passage

NSRB-11 – 685-471 2

K-S.H.E. Vs. Juzu aka Moochy – Morning Grow (K-S.H.E’s Melancholy Grow)

Anthems: Moroco, Köln (1982-1986)

Posted: December 21st, 2017 | Author: | Filed under: Interviews English | Tags: , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

So what were Germans actually dancing to before Techno? Of course to as many different styles as in other countries. But a good glimpse at what was getting down in West Germany before house music happened was the club Moroco in Cologne. Located at Hohenzollernring, the club ran from 1982 to 1986, and both the club interior and its crowd were determined to look as posh as possible. In contrast to Post Punk counterculture, the materialistic 80s decade manifested itself in the culture of the “Popper”, foppish youth dressed up to display as much wealth and taste as they could. But what distinguished the Moroco from other similar clubs across the land was its status as favourite leisure and inspiration spot of the Kraftwerk members. Carol Martin, credited as CGI artist on their “Computerwelt” album, was a resident DJ at the club and guides us through the sound of the Moroco and how it was connected to the Kraftwerk canon.

James Brown – It’s Too Funky In Here (Polydor, 1979)

Be it Kraftwerk or Miles Davis, everybody seemed to be inspired by James Brown. Bootsy Collins, whom Kraftwerk also cherished, started his career with him. „Boing Boom Tschak“ is also a tribute to Bootsy’s concrete bass.

Earth,Wind and Fire – Fantasy (CBS, 1978)

Funky, emotional and wonderful to dance to until today. I went to see them with Kraftwerk by invitation of the concert promoter Fritz Rau at the Phillips-Halle in Düsseldorf. It was a magnificent show with perfect sound and effects and all of a sudden the bass player was hanging 20 metres up in the air.

The Gap Band – I Don’t Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head) (Mercury, 1979)

Danceability was typical for Moroco, and you could play this anytime. There was a nine minute extended version of it, so the DJ could leave to „wash hands and powder the nose“ and when he returned the floor was still as packed.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rewind: Lerosa on “Electric Café”

Posted: October 3rd, 2016 | Author: | Filed under: Interviews English | Tags: , , , , , , , | No Comments »

lerosa

In discussion with Lerosa on “Electric Café” by Kraftwerk (1986).

There was „Computer World“, then the „Tour de France“ single, then a silence of several years. I was impatiently waiting for their next move, and it kept getting renamed and postponed. Then the first thing I heard at last was „Boing Boom Tschak“. I thought that was pure genius. I suppose you were already a fan before, too. How did you experience that comeback and what did you think of it?

My first encounter with Kraftwerk was when I was 14, the video for „”Musique Non Stop”“ premiered on MTV Italy, with its groundbreaking CGI it was unique at the time. The only similar music I might have had come across then was probably Art Of Noise’s „Close To The Edit“ and Herbie Hancock’s „Rock It“. I didn’t have access to a lot of music as I had no older clued-in sibling nor were my parents into music, perhaps bar my mom who loves her Charles Aznavour and Lucio Dalla, so to be honest I had no idea who these guys were but I was blown away. To me this was new music from a new band! Sometime later I made friends with a guy from Bolzano who told me to check out the „Breakdance“ movie to see Turbo do a routine to „Tour De France“, a freaky song with electric pulses that sounded like a bike chain. After a few months of looking for it I watched the movie, and heard that, too. A year later on holiday in Rimini I shoplifted „Autobahn“ and „Radio Activity“ and I loved both but also not understood them very well as they packed a lot of references to more experimental music I wasn’t quite well versed as a 16 year old. It wasn’t until much, much later that I finally heard „Computer World“. I don’t think I have heard the first two albums yet. I think for a lot of kids back then “Musique Non Stop” was their first meeting with Kraftwerk. Like a lot of people I was a bit disappointed with „Electric Café“ at first. I thought the A-Side was a wonderful statement, but the B-Side lacked the same consequence. I liked the sounds, but I was not that impressed with the tunes. But it has grown on me immensely, starting only shortly after.

Is this album perfectly flawed, a good example for an album that does not lose its impact due to shortcomings?

I think after getting the 12“ for “Musique Non Stop” and eventually finding the LP I too might have been not very enamoured with B-side with its cringey songs (in English, that’s the version I had). It was too much like the music on Italian commercial day time radio and I was being drawn to these new sounds, Hip Hop and early House, that were starting to seep in through the late night radio stations and occasional afternoon clubs we had in Italy for 14 to 17 year olds. I wanted to hear this new Rap music and these new weird electronic House beats, I had no time for the „Telephone Call“ etc. Nevertheless I was charmed by them as the melodies and arrangement were very catchy.I am not sure if I ever thought of it as flawed; it felt like a cohesive whole, just one where I failed to connect the dots, which is how I normally felt whenever I heard something new that really alienated me, say Peter Gabriel „IV“. I just always thought I didn’t know enough to understand it rather than thinking, „oh this is a bit shit“. I think it is insecurity that made me look at it with respect rather than try to judge it as an album. I don’t think I owned many albums back then at all.Whichever way it is, the B-side songs eventually have become the ones I play most often, especially „Telephone Call“, which I love very much. And likewise I love a lot strange pop albums like Peter Gabriel’s „IV“, or Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s debut album or indeed „Who’s Afraid Of The Art Of Noise“.

Ralf Hütter had a severe cycling accident that slowed the work on „Electric Café“ down considerably. Do you think the flaws of the album are there because they rushed proceedings to not lose more momentum?

Who knows. I’d like to think that this was delivered the way it is quite intentionally to showcase the connection between the new sounds and beats of the A-side and the more traditional songs on the B-side, all held together by the electronic sounds. I think I always looked at this record like that; as a sort bridge between the old and the new.

The working title of the album was „Techno Pop“, and they even renamed the album later on. But isn’t the B-Side more Techno Pop than the A-Side? Could’t they have made one album that was pop, and one that was pure rhythm?

Well, I am sure that back then I probably wished the same, I would have loved more of the A-side but in hindsight maybe that would have really made it too niche and austere an album to their ears, coming as they were from a mixed background of musicality and experimentation, I suppose they were trying to find a balance on one record rather than being too pragmatic and split it into two separate entities.

I once imagined that „Sex Object“ was actually a first glimpse of a whole other concept album that was neglected, just for the lack of a better explanation why it was included. Especially the lyrics seemed to clash with their usual man machine infatuation, they are very human. As are the lyrics of „The Telephone Call“. How human are Kraftwerk?

I think they are very human and that’s why they are so popular to this day. Their appeal goes way beyond the mere “electronic music” tag, it doesn’t rest on the laurels of introducing a lot of complex machinery to music. They articulated the new relationship between humans and the technological world with sounds that managed to be extremely human and extremely non-human. Quite the trick. Read the rest of this entry »

Hot Wax: R.I.P. Mark Bell

Posted: October 13th, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Texts English | Tags: , , , , | No Comments »

When I first heard LFO, I instantly thought this might be the first music to really challenge the legacy Kraftwerk left behind. Meaning, a legacy based on game changing achievements in sound and ideas, and much else beyond. I never really felt the need to revise that first impression in the years to come. Hardly any music of that era has aged so well, and still sounds so unique, and particularly Mark Bell followed it up with a whole lot of comparably superior music, either as collaborator, or on his own. I always had this feeling he might drop a release that would shatter a whole scene again, at any given point. But now he very untimely passed away. There will be young, determined and insanely talented producers again, but Mark Bell’s legacy will be really difficult to match. R.I.P.

5 Remixe

Posted: June 23rd, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Rezensionen | Tags: , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Inner Life

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (The Garage Version) (1981)

Schon die 1970er-Version von Diana Ross war ein Klassiker der frühmorgendlichen Sleaze-Phase legendärer Clubs und DJs, aber erst die vom Disco-Wunderproduzenten Patrick Adams betreute Interpretation legte das ganze hymnische Potential des Songs frei. Von Jocelyn Brown geschmettert, klang die Musik nun tatsächlich im gleichen Maßstab wie die Naturgewalten im Text, und Larry Levan legte in seinem Remix noch etliche Schippen drauf. Ein unsterbliches Denkmal, für ihn, die Paradise Garage, und Disco überhaupt.

Kraftwerk

Tour de France (François Kevorkian Remix) (1984)

Ein sehr beeindruckender Zwischenstand, den Kraftwerk in das jahrelange Warten zwischen “Computerwelt” und „Electric Café“ setzten. Kevorkian gelang es in seinem wenig später folgenden Remix, die fragile Schönheit der Melodie zu bewahren, die noch auf Jahrzehnte die Fernsehbilder über den Lieblingssport der Düsseldorfer begleiten sollte. Aber er unterstrich auch  mit wenigen, aber wirksamen Akzenten die Physikalität des Themas, und brachte den Track in die hedonistischste Höchstleistungszone, den Club.

Nicolette Larson

Lotta Love (Jim Burgess Remix) (1978)

1978 gab der Disco-Boom derart dominant den Takt vor, dass Plattenfirmen selbst Neil Young-Songs singenden ehemaligen Neil Young-Backgroundsängerinnen einer Tanzflächenbehandlung unterzogen. Glücklicherweise erhielt hier Jim Burgess den Zuschlag, der genau wusste mit welchen subtil-eleganten Mitteln man tausende von hyperemotionalen Tänzern durch den Morning Music-Engtanz geleitet. Und zwar so genau, dass zwischen den Second Hand-Preisen der Original- und Remixversion ein erhebliches Preisgefälle besteht.

Nightmares on Wax

Aftermath (LFO Remix) (1990)

LFO ließen von der schon sehr guten Originalversion nicht viel mehr übrig als das Vocal-Sample von Main Ingredient und ein paar verteilte Soundschlieren, und addierten dazu die Grundelemente, die sie in der Frühphase von Warp Records so originär und konsequent einsetzten, dass sie eine ganze Weile als die einzig legitimen Nachfolger von Kraftwerk gehandelt wurden: möglichst hohe Frequenzen (Bleeps), möglichst tiefe Frequenzen (Bass), und dazwischen ein nicht mehr menschlich klingender, psychotischer Maschinen-Funk.

Musikexpress 7/11

The Flying Lizards – The Flying Lizards

Posted: November 11th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Rezensionen | Tags: , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Die Sound-, Konzept-, und Stilideen der klassischen Post-Punk-Zeit, auf unzählige Veröffentlichungen auf Klein- und Großlabels verteilt, bilden einen solchen Riesenwust von Referenzpotential, dass die nachfolgenden Generationen mit der Aufarbeitung kaum hinterherkommen. Diese Bemühungen gehen schon seit den 90ern voran, und immer noch gibt es neue Aspekte, die es aufzugreifen lohnt. Erst konzentrierte man sich bei Electroclash auf die eher übergreifenden Hits, Mode, und Performance, dann folgten die Spezialisten und gruben bis in die entlegensten Winkel nach Vergessenem, Unveröffentlichtem, und möglichen Wiederveröffentlichungen. Und nun geht Techno allerorten zu seinen alternativen Wurzeln zurück, und man beruft sich eher auf Throbbing Gristle denn auf Kraftwerk, grieseliges Grau statt knalliges Neon, Haltung statt Pose, Konzept-Elitismus statt Pop-Gegenentwurf. Bevor man sich in diesen ganzen Verhältnismäßigkeiten verheddert, kann man aber auch einfach auf die Flying Lizards zurückgreifen, die auf einem Album eigentlich alles anticken, was die Musik in diesem Kontext so großartig macht: respektlose Pop-Dekonstruktionen etwa, möglichst desinteressiert von einer blasierten New Wave-Schönheit interpretiert (“Money”, “Summertime Blues”), Tschingderassabumm-Speed-Opern (Mandelay Song), zweckentfremdeter Rock ‘n’ Roll-Klassizimus (“TV”), verqueres Songwritertum (“Her Story”, “The Window”) oder Dub-Labortests (man beachte die brilliante Abfolge “The Flood”, “Trouble”, Events During Flood”). Man kann David Cunningham nicht wirklich einen unterschätzten Künstler nennen, aber was er hier mit u. a. Steve Beresford, David Toop, Vivien Goldman, Deborah Evans und Mitgliedern der Pop Group und This Heat verantaltet, ist wirklich außergewöhnlich. Das Nachfolgealbum “Fourth Wall” ist nicht so zerstreut, aber ähnlich genial, und ist eine merkwürdige, aber gern genommene Samplequelle für Detroit Techno (z. B. “Steam Away”). Das dritte Album “Top Ten” erschöpfte sich etwas in der Idee der gelangweilten Schepper-Coverversionen, auf den B-Seiten der Single-Auskoppelungen “Sex Machine” und “Dizzy Miss Lizzie” tummeln sich aber sehr bemerkenswerte und einflussreiche Proto-Techno-Wildheiten (“Flesh And Steel”, Gyrostatics”). Cunningham ist natürlich sowieso ein überragender Produzent von Palais Schaumburg, General Strike, This Heat bis Wayne/Jayne County & The Electic Chairs, anerkannter Avantgarde-Haudegen und, ich vermute mal vermutlich unfair, derjenige, der Michael Nymans Musik u .a. für Peter Greenaway zur Erträglichkeit dirigiert hat. Und dank Staubgold zum ersten Mal auf Vinyl im Erscheinen begriffen ist “The Secret Dub Life Of The Flying Lizards”, eine Sammlung von Dub-Aufnahmen von 1978, mit Jah Lloyd auf Jamaika aufgenommen. Ich finde das braucht man alles, wenn nicht mehr.

The Flying Lizards – The Flying Lizards (Virgin, 1980).

de:bug 11/10

Interview: DJ Harvey

Posted: October 27th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Interviews English | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 32 Comments »

You’ve been away for a quite a while now.

Yes, almost ten years since I left England. The reason was not by my design. I was enjoying America so much that I overstayed my visa. If I was to leave, I would have not been allowed back for another five or ten years and I was planning on making my life there. And only a year and a half ago I got married and applied for my green card. And I now have the green card, and my work visa and my right to travel and re-enter the States. So here I am, back in the world. I recently completed a big tour of Japan and I’m on a major tour of Europe right now.

You got married and still it took such a while to get your green card?

Well, actually the process is a lot quicker now than it used to be. From the time I put my application in it was actually only four months until the card came through. Since 9/11 the background check is a little more stringent, but the whole process is now centralized, instead of the department in Washington, and the department in Detroit and so on. There’s one computer, and if you fit the criteria then it’s all good.

So you spent all those years of your self-imposed exile just playing in the States?

Yes, but on a regular basis. America is a big place. And I have a regular circuit. Starting on the Northeast coast, Detroit, Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, Miami, then skipping over to the other side, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boulder and Seattle. And that’s not even including Hawaii. So that’s plenty of work, even if I do that once every couple of months.

But your main bases are Hawaii, Los Angeles and New York City?

Basically yes. My most regular gigs would be there.

Would you say that these are also the cities where your music fits best? Is there a better scene for what you play?

Everywhere I play people come to hear me play. I regularly play in Miami for the Winter Music Conference and Art Basel, that’s my two gigs a year mainly there. Towns like San Diego and San Francisco have a scene, too. Most of the places have a scene as such. It’s not the biggest scene, but with all the internet communication and stuff like that it’s small but healthy.

And since you are allowed to travel again, is it some kind of relief and you accept many gigs abroad?

Not really. It is nice to travel and just to have the freedom. I haven’t been around for ten years so it’s nice to pop out and go to Japan and Europe again. But I don’t plan to spend the next ten years on the road. There are a lot of opportunities, basically everywhere I ever played before plus twice as many places again.

How does it feel to get out again? Has the scene changed in the meantime?

I don’t think it has changed at all.

Is that disappointing?

No, that’s not disappointing at all. I always had a good time. There are certain focuses on particular kinds of music over the years, whether it’s Electroclash, or Minimal, or Drum ‘n’ Bass, but in general the dance music scene still goes bang bang bang between 110 and 130 bpm. And I don’t really see boundaries between the so-called genres. I play the music that I like, whether it’s a Techno record, or a Disco record, or whatever. I think more than the music has changed the people have changed. Kids that weren’t born when I was DJing in the mid 80’s are now in their mid 20’s, there’s a whole new generation of people who have come through as well as the survivors from the old school. The formula of a dance party is still very similar. I suppose communication via internet had an impact. Even though I have been away for ten years people know exactly what I have been doing. It’s not like I completely disappeared during that time. The networking has made sure that my influence via production or gossip has been maintained.

I think the internet helped to keep your status alive. All you did was thoroughly discussed on specialist websites and message boards. I guess this is quite different to how it was before.

Yeah. Scenes used to be localized, and now it’s globalized. Which is good and bad. If something fresh happens in a small area it doesn’t have time to develop, it is instantly global. Early Punk or Hip Hop had two to five years a hardcore scene as such. Whereas now, as soon as there’s a bright idea it’s everywhere in the world and everyone’s had a piece of it before it maybe manages to have a big foundation.

Nowadays it might also be easier to get influenced by another DJ, or even to imitate somebody. In pre-internet days you could maybe get your hands on some mixtape, but it was difficult. Maybe you read about DJs, but you never had the chance to hear them. And now you can download tons of sets from legendary DJs, and from legendary clubs, too.

Yeah. I think that’s good and bad, too. These days I don’t let people record my sets. I suffered from heavy bootlegging. And a lot of the time when I play it’s for that moment. Maybe you’re sitting in your car, listening to a set, but you have no idea of the atmosphere or the climate at the moment when the record was being played. The tape might sound bizarre or disjointed or strange and it might not particularly work in the car or the boutique or at home. But at the particular moment, that was the right thing to do. So I try and keep my sets for the people who were there and it’s for memory banks only.

So you think it gets watered down?

It’s a double-edged sword. Sometimes there’s a little bit too much access. Some of the mystery is gone. If you think of DJs like Ron Hardy, I’ve only see one small grainy photograph of him, and you wonder who this guy is and what his character is. If you want to find about me, just hit Wikipedia, DJ Harvey images, and you know what I look like, my style. But there is a little mystery to who or what I am and I quite enjoy that. Luckily the personal appearance still counts for something. Because they have had absolutely everything besides me physically. And here I am, in the flesh, I actually exist. I’m not just this digital entity. Read the rest of this entry »

Rewind: Rusty Egan on “Low” and “Heroes”

Posted: September 20th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Interviews English | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

In discussion with Rusty Egan on “Low” and “Heroes” by David Bowie (1977).

I assume you got into the albums “Low” and “Heroes” at the time they were released, but were you already a fan of his before that?

Yes, since Ziggy Stardust.

David Bowie was always famous for continuously reinventing his career, but did this phase particularly appeal to you?

Bowie’s Berlin Years I believe were the foundation of The Blitz Club playlist. Via Bowie I found Kraftwerk, and that lead to Neu!, Can, Cluster and Krautrock as it was called, Bryan Ferry then led to the work of Brian Eno, and his Ambient series …all this music lead to the basis of my collection. If you join the dots Bowie, Eno, Iggy, Kraftwerk, Mick Ronson, Lou Reed. Read the rest of this entry »

Rewind: Richard Zepezauer über “LFO”

Posted: September 6th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Interviews Deutsch | Tags: , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Im Gespräch mit Richard Zepezauer über “LFO” von LFO (1990).

“LFO” ist eine dieser Platten, die sich ganzen Generationen ins Gedächtnis gebrannt haben. Was war Dein “erstes Mal” mit dem Track?

An mein erstes Mal mit dem Track kann ich mich gar nicht so genau mehr erinnern, ich war damals 13/14 Jahre alt. Ich bin mir nicht mehr ganz sicher, ob ich es im Radio bei BBC gehört hatte, oder ob ich es quasi nachrecherchiert hatte, weil ich davon gelesen hatte, ich glaube es war im Radio gewesen.

Ich kann mich aber noch sehr gut an das absolut überwältigende Gefühl erinnern das entstand während ich den Track zum ersten Mal hörte. Als Musikliebhaber ist man ja irgendwie immer im Sisyphos-Modus auf der Suche nach dem perfekten Stück Musik, und bei dem Track hatte ich für eine kurze Zeit das Gefühl da ist es! Wie es halt so ist, hielt sich das absolute Gefühl nicht so lange, aber es ist bis heute einer der ganz wenigen Tracks geblieben, der für mich persönlich dem sehr sehr nahe gekommen ist und bis heute immer wieder neu auf die alte Art zu begeistern weiß. Der Hörgenuss war schon ziemlich vollgepackt, denn davon mal abgesehen dass „LFO“ von LFO mit seinem unwiderstehlichen melancholischen Futurismus eine Vielzahl von Gefühlen beim Hören aktiviert, wurde bei dem Track damals als Bonus noch ein Aha-Erlebniss mitgeliefert, denn so etwas hatte man wirklich noch nie vorher in dieser Form und Intensität gehört.

Hattest Du Warp Records damals schon als ein Label auf dem Radar, bei dem sich spannende Entwicklungen anbahnen würden?

Ja unbedingt! Ich war zwar noch kein fanatischer Fan dieses Stils der Bleeps und Clonks, aber Releases wie die Forgemasters “Track With No Name” oder DJ Mink “Hey Hey Can You Relate?” oder auch Nightmares on Wax mit “Dextrous” bzw. “A Case of Funk” haben bei mir schon früh die Kinnlade fallen lassen und zählten zu meinen damaligen Lieblingstracks. Trotzdem passierte damals in so vielen Bereichen elektronischer Club Musik Neues, dass zumindest ich, mit dem Wissen eines 13 Jährigen, das Potenzial des Labels schwer einordnen konnte. Es war eine Zeit, in der ununterbrochen eine revolutionäre Aufbruchstimmung bemerkbar war. Man konnte aber rückblickend schon erkennen das trotz schneller, von der Presse initiierten “Bleeps & Clonks” Hype-Schlagzeilen, etwas mit mehr Substanz als ein Zeitgeisttrend dahinter steckte. Read the rest of this entry »

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