A 2CD combo of remixes by the mighty Playgroup aka Trevor Jackson for a multitude of artists plus a couple of his own tracks; including the DJ Kicks- exclusive cover of Depeche Mode track 'Behind The Wheel'. Out through Peacefrog - another right-on-the-spot compilation from this sheer quality label.
I remember he was compared to the DFA guys, as his selftitled LP and the 'Losing My Edge/ Beat Connection' 12" made an impact at about the same time. I've always considered this unfair; to my ears Jackson's aesthetics form a more concise proposition than DFA's (whom he also outranks production-wise). It works better for me that he's more focused on the hallucinogenic qualities of dancefloor music than in junk-punk aggressiveness; but that's a matter of taste, as always. Merging house, acid, disco, fat electro and heavy funk, putting the holy Bass over all - this is serious stuff for clubbers, don't get tricked by the hype following him at the time. The only producer/ remixer/ DJ to be compared with him has to be Ewan Pearson (for whom I keep another soft spot in my heart).
I believe Trevor Jackson influenced the evolution of today's music rather more than what he's credited for. Find out why here.
Playgroup - 2004 Reproduction. The Remixes
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
Reproduction
Totes Rennen
From Supposé, the same label that brought us this recording by Albert Hofmann, also comes the first Ester Brinkmann CD.
Similar only to other Brinkmann works of the era and to certain W.Voigt projects, it consists of groovy clicks and thumbs produced and looped by Brinkmann's decks while philosophers (and Blixa) hypnotically state rather serious sounding phrases - alas, unintelligible to us non-speakers of the german language. Still the concept is powerful and the music is minimal techno in the purest germanic sense - a very good Brinkmann record not to be missed by fans (it must be a bit rare).
I've also included a Scanner/Brinkmann collaboration in the .rar, I think I found it as a freebie in one of Scanner's sites.
Ester Brinkmann - 1998 Totes Rennen
Info here.
Cinemix
On the same ground with the previous post, this is a compilation of music from french movies of the '70s remixed by contemporary artists. Some info on the project can be found in the discogs info page.
I had no clue at who the composers were when I bought it (Morricone is one of them, actually) - and I haven't heard the original material. But I'd noticed remixes from many names I liked (Carl Craig and Swayzak on beat mode, Christian Morgenstern, Luke Vibert, etc) so I had to have it. Most remixers come from the freestyle scene, french or otherwise, so you get a lot of breaks, be it straight hip-hop, drum'n'bass or loungey funk. Special appearances by Berlin-based crazies Mocky and Kitty-Yo's Gonzales & Taylor Savvy must also be noted as the weirdest of the bunch - but we wouldn't expect less, right?
VA - 2003 Cinemix
Info here.
We love Ennio
And now for something completely different.
Summer is closing in rapidly (at least for the northern part of the globe...) and I felt I needed a change. I went through my 'freestyle' section and found these. They're a tribute to the work of Ennio Morricone in two parts, released through Compost Records. Practically all Compost artists and some very special guests (check label's info on the project here) are remixing mostly well known Morricone themes. A serious approach by all artists involved certifies that the outcome doesn't degenerate in a mere chill-out compilation - after all, Compost is a serious label whatever anyone might feel about 'lounge'. Remix styles range from breakbeats and deep house to ambient and ethnic stuff, with the occasional deviation into acidic electronic areas, while International Pony (*) compose a tribute in one of their typical excursions into pop.
If you're looking for pounding techno or glitchy cuts, this is not the right post. Here, it's all about the music: the familiar melodies, the retro sounds, the memory of watching Leone movies in open air venues during summertime when I was six. For most of the younger ones this might not mean much; but then neither Kraftwerk might, in that sense. I consider Morricone's soundtracks to be orchestral pop music, instrumentals for the masses with films as the carrier medium, so it's got to have some effect on many people. The modern packaging (=remixing) could just make it more approachable - unless you're already familiar with the composer's work and you're a purist.
People who liked the Combination Traffic compilations (*) should definitively give these a try.
VA - Ennio Morricone Remixes Vol.1 2003
Here.
Info here.
VA - Ennio Morricone Remixes Vol.1 2003
CD1 - CD2
Info here.
Raise This Flap
DSN are Deep Space Network, or else the Source label owners David Moufang and Jonas Grossmann.
Another late era Source record (see also *); deep, mature, complex electronics for the soul and the mind alike.
DSN - 2004 Raise This Flap
Info here.
Tora Bora
I've mentioned TokTok several times before (*).
I consider them to be a true band, in the rock/pop sense of the term; meaning they're more than one person, they come out of their bedrooms and they're performing live. They seem to have a punk background, with their DIY sensibilities and the pure lust for raw energy in their music (P.S. I just read they were connected with the Spiral Tribe family). Subsequently, it seems more fittting to put them next to, say, Neue Deutche Welle bands instead of techno stars like Westbam (...) or Ellen Allien (whom they fully supported in the early days of BPitch Control), even though they coincide with the latter.
The cover should prepare you for what you're about to encounter. Containing some of the harder stuff that I've heard from TokTok, it draws equally from the rawest from Chicago and from Berlin's early techno sound. Drum machines, synths and samplers played live, producing seismic beats causing destruction, nonetheless always given with a sense of humor and playful manners. Techno, hardcore, acid and piano house thrown in the blender. Most of the tracks are funky yet bruising; but when they're deviating they really blow the roof off - check 'Bora Bora', 'Sixpack' or 'Urod' (using swing piano samples long before everyone I know).
I'd recommend it without a second thought to every techno fan with a rough ear and an open mind.
TokTok - 2002 Tora Bora
Info here.
Play the ZokFrog.
[Las Vegas]
Another one from Harvest.
One of those collaborations that journalists tend to characterize as "made in heaven".
In this case, they're 100% true.
Burger / Ink - 1996 [las vegas]
Info here.
Elvis is The King.
