Over the last eight years Brazil’s Universo Paralello (‘Parallel Universe’) has grown from a small gathering of Brazil’s psychedelic trance movers and shakers to become the best New Years Eve party on the planet. Imagine seven days and nights of amazing music and culture set in one of the most beautiful locations known to man.
Located on Pratigi Beach, found amongst the last remaining stretch of the Atlantic Rainforest, Universo Paralello is paradise found. The venue is a coconut farm on the beach six hours drive south of Brazil’s original capital Salvador De Bahia. After being dropped off in a car park on the edge of the rainforest you are whisked through the jungle and dropped off on the edge of the world. White sand underfoot and camping under grids of coconut trees provide your home for the next seven days. With raw jungle on one side and the beautiful endless turquoise expanse of the Atlantic ocean on the other, as you step onto the beach there is no sign of modern life in either direction, just picture postcard perfect white sand beaches lined by coconut trees and jungle melting into the clear, blue sea making this one of the most experiential parties on earth.
Music-wise, with a heavy leaning towards psychedelic culture, Trance is the mainstay of the main floor drawing a line up consisting of the biggest and best international psychedelic and progressive acts in the world. Elsewhere the Alternative dance floor features a mixture of electro, techno, minimal and progressive featuring a mixture of international and Brazilian talent. The Goa stage will make an appearance this year following last year’s success, add to this a chill out area featuring world music and dubbed out grooves and a live bands stage Universo Parallelo offers something for everyone.
Continue reading ‘Universo Paralello 9 - Pratigi Beach, Bahia, Brazil’
Riley & Durrant the acclaimed DJ/ Production duo, festival headliners and award-winning stars of Galaxy Radio are riding a crest of a wave. 2007 saw their debut artist album Research & Development garner high praise from dance fans and critics alike, which saw the lads span a multitude of genres from the finest house to deep techno, ambient interludes and of course not forgetting a dash of more trance-led moments all wrapped up in the finest production.
Taking their unrestricted music policy to the next level, 2008 saw Riley & Durrant join forces with fellow DJ-producer star Adam Sheridan for the launch of new club night Electrik Playground. A huge success at its home in the north of England, the guys hopped over to the White Isle to share a clubbing home with the world’s biggest dance heavyweight Tiësto, setting up their party camp in room 2 at the ‘worlds biggest club’ Privilege, Ibiza.
To capture the essence of the growing club night, Riley & Durrant are pleased to present a brand new digital only compilation series The Electrik Playground Ibiza featuring the hottest records from their genre bending sets. Including big hitters from Paul Woolford Utopia, Lulu Rouge’s mix of Blank & Jone’s summer track featuring Bernard Sumner Miracle Cure, Nic Fanciulli & Zoo Brazil’s epic I.D.E plus slices from Underworld, Kos and Hauswerks, this mix truly illustrates the guys diverse yet fitting music that represents everything that Electrik Playground stands for.
Proving they will not be abandoning their production roots any time soon, Riley & Durrant’s Remote Control also features alongside remixes, plus Nicky C’s Seasons taken from their Nu Breed Music label is also included. Catch the guys in Ibiza before the summer runs away!
http://www.myspace.com/rileyanddurrant
http://www.newstatemusic.com/
The ballot boxes are closed. The votes have been counted. With 25 new entries this year’s chart is set to smash all expectations and welcome an influx of new blood into the Top 100!
To hear the news first, bag yourself a space at the party of the year as they count down to the top spot in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs Awards Party 2008!
Featuring a headline set from 2008’s No.1 DJ in the world, this is an unmissable chance to see 2008’s people’s choice, smashing down a gilt-edged celebration set on the night of his, or her coronation!
The main room also plays host to Canadian wonderkid and producer of the year Deadmau5. The electro don will be ably assisted by last year’s highest house DJ David Guetta. Add this to Laidback Luke’s high-energy house antics and a rock out from Toolroom’s main man Mark Knight and you have a serious recipe for dancefloor carnage!
Entry tax is a mere £5.00 on the door and all proceeds go to the RNID. Philanthropy has never been so much fun!
Can’t make the party? Fear not - you can relive the glory by tuning into Kiss 100 on November 1st for an exclusive highlights show featuring sets from the club in addition to interviews with the winners at the event.
Continue reading ‘DJ Mag Top 100 DJ Poll Results Party 2008′
Continuing its autumn season of big headliners Kissdafunk presents its most exciting 2008 line-up yet. Steve Angello and Laidback Luke, two of the most prolific and innovative producers of current times descend on Mission on 28th November for a night of explosive partying.
Steve Angello - Sweden www.sizerecords.com
Over the last few years Steve Angello, one of the leaders of the Swedish House Mafia collective, has not only produced many of the best recent house tracks; but has become an inspiration to a whole new generation of outstanding producers.
No stranger to the dance floors of KDF, Steve will once again give the Mission sound systems an almighty work-out. The owner of Size Records he will once again turn up the volume with the very best of cutting-edge house bombs.
Tracks and remixes include: S*xy F*ck, Be, 555, Gypsy, Partouze, Sweden, Love For You
Laidback Luke - Holland www.laidbackluke.com
Influenced by Steve Angello and The Swedish Mafia sound Dutch producer Luke has stamped his name as the most industrious, producer and most exciting nu breed of producer who has the world in the palm of his hand. In 2008 there has not been one single top selling house compilation album which hasn’t included the talents of Laidback Luke in either a remix or original production. In fact his creativity is so hot at the moment that everything he touches seems to turn to gold. Come and find out for yourself as he makes his Kissdafunk debut.
Tracks and remixes include: Chaa Chaa, White Knight Two, Get Get Down, Chromeo, Delirous
Residents, Rob Tissera and Filthy Rich will support them in what is bound to be the most incredible KDF of 2008.
Continue reading ‘Kissdafunk Doubles-Up with Steve Angello & Laidback Luke 28th November, Mission, Leeds’
Depeche Mode (Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andy Fletcher) have today announced the European leg of their ‘Tour of the Universe 2009’. The band are currently in New York working on a new album, due April next year.
Depeche Mode’s eagerly-anticipated follow up to ‘Playing The Angel’ will be the 12th album of a glorious 28 year career in which they have sold over 75 million records. One of the world’s biggest and best live acts, ‘Tour of the Universe 2009’ will undoubtedly be the musical highlight of next year.
Kicking off in Israel on May 10th, this will be Depeche Mode’s first ever stadium tour, taking in 28 cities across 22 countries before finishing at Porto’s Superbock Super Rock Festival on July 11th.
Depeche Mode will play to over 1.3 million fans on this European leg of ‘Tour of the Universe 2009’. It’s their first since 2006’s ‘Playing the Angel’ tour, which smashed European sales records with 1.8 million tickets sold across 87 shows.
The last date of the ‘Playing The Angel’ tour – August 3rd 2006 – was to take place at Tel Aviv’s Hayarkon Park, but the band were forced to cancel due to the impending war. Tel Aviv’s Ramat Gan Stadium thus provides a fitting stage for Depeche Mode’s spectacular live return.
DEPECHE MODE
TOUR OF THE UNIVERSE 2009
May
Sun 10th TEL AVIV, Ramat Gan Stadium Israel
Tue 12th ATHENS, Terra Vibe Park Greece
Thu 14th ISTANBUL, Santral Istanbul Turkey
Sat 16th BUCHAREST, Parc Izvor Romania
Mon 18th SOFIA, Vasil Levski Stadium, Tuborg Greenfest Bulgaria
Wed 20th BELGRADE, USCE Park, Tuborg Greenfest Serbia
Thu 21st ZAGREB, Arena, Tuborg Greenfest Croatia
Sat 23rd WARSAW, Gwardia Stadium Poland
Mon 25th RIGA, Skonto Stadium Latvia
Wed 27th VILNIUS, Zalgirio Stadionas Lithuania
Sat 30th LONDON, O2 Arena UK
June
Tue 2nd HAMBURG, HSH Nordbank Arena Germany
Thu 4th DUSSELDORF, LTU Arena Germany
Sun 7th LEIPZIG, Zentralstadion Germany
Wed 10th BERLIN, Olympiastadion Germany
Fri 12th FRANKFURT, Commerzbank Arena Germany
Sat 13th MUNICH, Olympiastadion Germany
Tue 16th ROME, Stadio Olimpico Italy
Thu 18th MILAN, Stadio San Siro Italy
Sat 20th WERCHTER, TW Classic Festival Belgium
Mon 22nd BRATISLAVA, Inter Stadium Slovakia
Tue 23rd BUDAPEST, Puskas Ferenc Stadium Hungary
Thu 25th PRAGUE, Slavia Stadium Czech Republic
Sat 27th PARIS, Venue TBC France
Tue 30th COPENHAGEN, Parken Stadium Denmark
July
Thu 2nd BERGEN, Koengen Norway
Fri 3rd ARVIKA, Arvika Festival Sweden
Sat 11th PORTO, Superbock Super Rock Festival Portugal
The South-London born party SuperBad! is set to throw an exclusive rendezvous on Saturday 1st November at Beauberry House in Dulwich.
Having exploded onto the scene earlier this year, SuperBad! has already been making a name for itself as one of London’s most uber-cool events by holding one-off morning parties at the Dex Club and Plan B in Brixton, and the knock-on effect? The first sell-out Minimal Mansion party was born!
Heading up SuperBad’s evening of aural delights is a man of many talents, Matt Tolfrey. This guy promotes his own parties (Left Room), owns a collection of labels, produces the finest wobbly house and techno around, and DJs regularly at Fabric and in Ibiza, so it’s no wonder he’s been pulled in to play at this amazing event.
Tolfrey is joined by SuperBad! head honcho and DJ of 17 years, Phil Drummond. He is one of the pioneers of dance music in the UK and his last set at the first Minimal Mansion had everyone going crazy for weeks.
Next up is the technically gifted Aaron Le Doubles – his energy, flair, scratching, and trickery behind the decks are second to none. Much more house and techno comes from SuperBad! resident and Select FM DJ Jim Brooks, London underground hero Huw Lloyd, the James Zabiela backed duo 2’s Company, the relentless techno duo Hindsight, plus many more! Complete line-up below.
The venue – a beautiful, Georgian mansion house surrounded by acres of lush green lawn is a breath of fresh air for stressed-out Londoners and makes it an ideal setting for SuperBad’s intimate event.
Anyone who was at the last Minimal Mansion will know what to expect, but for anyone who wasn’t – it’s the best people, the best music, the best venue and an amazing night of dancing to the freshest beats around.
Minimal Mansion is a very exclusive event with a limited amount of tickets, so we recommend getting yours early to avoid missing out.
Continue reading ‘SuperBad! Minimal Mansion party @ Beauberry House, Dulwich’
Salvo, the award-winning imprint of Union Square Music, is proud to announce a special CD/DVD/book box set charting 25 years of the massively influential UK record label ZTT a/k/a Zang Tuum Tumb. Founded in 1983 by producer Trevor Horn, journalist Paul Morley and manager Jill Sinclair, ZTT has turned unknowns such as Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Seal into major stars, while delivering some of the most experimental and memorable pop music of the last 25 years.
CD 1 includes early hits from 808 State, Propaganda, MC Tunes, and Art of Noise as well as ZTT’s most recent hit - 2008’s Move On by David Jordan - and Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s massive number one trilogy, Relax, Two Tribes and The Power of Love. CD 2 rewinds through ZTT’s contribution to dance music, with tracks from David Morales Vs. Novecento, Seal Vs. William Orbit, Afrika Bambaataa Vs. LFO), 808 State Vs. Björk and closes with the definitive chill out anthem, Art of Noise’s Moments in Love.
CD 3 includes some unique stars that ZTT has nurtured over the years - Shane MacGowan, Sinead O’Connor, Kirsty MacColl, James Dean Bradfield - and closes with three top 10 hits by Seal including the double Grammy-winning Kiss From A Rose. The DVD includes a never-before-released cut-up video remix of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Two Tribes by Godley & Creme, a rare Shane MacGowan video directed by and starring Johnny Depp, Anton Corbijn’s first ever video (Propaganda’s Dr Mabuse) and a dozen others.
A full colour 72-page book is also included, featuring 7000 words from Paul Morley - the first time he has ever written in depth about his time with ZTT - as well as new interviews, biographies of every artist featured and scores of rare photos.
Electro, bassline, dubstep, bass-driven house or house-tinged bass-step…call it what you will, we prefer to leave the pigeonholing to the pigeons, and simply call it damn good party music. Our favourite Friday night mash-up Chew the Fat! reaches the ripe old age of 11 on Thursday 10th October, and celebrates with an all-singing (maybe), all-dancing (definitely) knees up featuring Duke Dumont, Micky Slim, The Rogue Element, Drums of Death and more.
Over a decade ago, Chew the Fat! was one of the first nights to bring the breakbeat sound to prominence. Eleven years on, and Fat! has grown into one of the most diverse and musically exciting nights in the capital, hunting out hot new talent with artists such as Riton, The Black Ghosts, Sebastian and Skream on the bill and letting them run riot in The End on the second Friday of every month. This multi-musical melting pot sees dubstep demons cosying up with electro innovators, techno dons making eyes at house heroes…and of course everyone gets on like a house on fire. The Fat! crowd are an energetic, open-minded and boisterous lot, who lap up all the genres that are thrown their way.
Continue reading ‘Chew the Fat! 11th Birthday @ The End’
What you have with Finger Lickin’ is a slice of musical history. Spawned from a concept in the late nineties, Finger Lickin’s secret blend of herbs and spices has achieved staggering worldwide success and yet remained truly independent. So now the award-winning label have reached their tenth birthday and the landmark of their one hundredth single. To celebrate they are releasing a limited edition triple CD boxset and embarking on a nationwide ten date tour, cramming the tour bus with their favourite DJs and their record boxes and bringing the Finger Lickin’ experience to a city near you soon. More details on the tour to follow…
Over the past decade the distinctive FL sound has literally impacted upon tens of thousands of clubbers across the planet. A style that feeds from a multitude of ingredients - funk, hip hop, house, breakbeat and electro all mixed into a melting pot of audio bliss - where musical genres have been blurred and given freedom to provide a whole new inspiration, this unique sound is Finger Lickin’.
Continue reading ‘10 Years of Finger Lickin’
The Young Punx; an innovative collective of diverse musicians led by inventive multi-instrumentalist and producer, Hal Ritson, have been building themselves quite a reputation of late. Resisting easy definition by continuing to deliver fresh sounding, first-class electronic music, coupled with a string of hugely popular remixes for the likes of Sonny J, Mighty Dub Katz and Giant Jnr, The Young Punx are becoming one of London’s hottest exports. Drawing on an eclectic fusion of influences – breaks, house, rock, pop and electro – to create a sound loosely coined as mashpop and punkstep, they get ready to release their second album in Spring 2009.
MASHitUP is its first single release, a fine slice of quality breakbeat driven electro pop featuring a killer punky vocal from ‘new girl on the block’ Laura Kidd (fresh from touring with Tricky and her collaboration on ‘Automatic’ with Michael Gray, Eye Industries) and staggering shredding guitar licks from The Young Punx’ resident guitar virtuoso, Guthrie Govan. It’s dirty, it’s multi-layered and it’s loud – just the way they like it.
MASHitUP is already creating vibrations across the globe. From performing it live to a rapturous 15,000 strong crowd alongside the Stereophonics in Yokohama Arena, Japan, to featuring it in their inspired DJ sets this summer supporting Tiesto at Ibiza super club, Privilege, it’s going down an absolute (electric) storm.
Continue reading ‘The Young Punx - MASHitUP - Video’
Those Aussie masters of the high-quality mix compilation, BALANCE, present the next instalment in their ELECTRIC series. Sound-wise it’s completely different from anything they’ve done before, as they raise the bar once more, bringing to the attention of the wider world one of Australia’s finest – DJ Agent 86.
If you haven’t heard him already, you’re in for a real treat. If you have, we know you’re gonna dig this! ELECTRIC_04 is a perfect snapshot of his skills, melding genres seamlessly while bringing beats to the boil. If you’re going to have a party to remember, then you need DJ Agent 86 on the decks.
Continue reading ‘Balance presents ELECTRIC_04 mixed by DJ AGENT 86′
It’s not very often that magical music and a magical venue combine to create something more than just special, where the end result is something ultimately joyous, memorable and timeless. Ariaan “Aad” Olieroock and Peter Kriek (aka 16 Bit Lolitas) the future house heroes from Amsterdam, have been patiently waiting for the right magical moment to showcase their first ultimate collection – a bold combination of DJ mix compilation and artist album – in one cohesive package. Now they have been asked to launch the “Warung, Brazil” mix series, celebrating and capturing the magic of Brazil’s ultimate beach club, they’ve put together an exceptional representation of just what makes them the hottest act there.
Every year, thousands of tourists and summer lovers from every corner of Brazil and from all over the world arrive at the well preserved paradise called Brava Beach, in Santa Catarina State, a place blessed with white sand, green forests and crystal clear seas. A perfectly harmonic blend of music, nature and a gathering of very special people may be the best explanation of Warung Beach Club´s magic. But magic is a mysterious thing, and the 16 Bit Lolitas have captured the indefinable essence across these two discs with their exotic musical alchemy.
Continue reading ‘Warung Brazil 001′
Manchester’s Area 51 takes the baton and runs following a storming September with some massive news for October. The venue is staking a serious claim to be Manchester’s foremost underground music venue - each party is guaranteed to go off in a big way, with some heavyweight lineups already in the can. Best night in the North? You decide!
The club has also revealed its Friday line-up schedule, with some truly colossal nights confirmed already.
Friday’s
3rd October sees glamourous Leeds house brand Kissdafunk swoop in with, space resident Jonathan Ulysees making an anticipated return to the UK.
10th October - Spectrum welcomes Toolroom’s flying Dutchman - the man that is Martin Ten Velden, brining his trademark blend of twisted house. Further guests tbc
17th October - Muzik Junki always invites the hottest talent around and this month is no expection as Filthy Rich joins us behind the decks. Curently resident for Kissdafunk and Ministry of Sound there is no stopping this talented DJ
24th October – The Electrik Playground launch at AREA51 after a summer in Ibiza supporting Tiesto at the World’s biggest club Privilege. Residents Galaxy’s FM’s own Riley & Durrant are joined by a host of big talent
31st October -Fast-rising electro and house brand Electrik Vendetta is back in Manchester after a storming summer at AREA51. Expect big names and a rowdy croud with Tom Neville guesting.
Saturday’s
Utah Staints – 11th - Legendary duo all Utah Saints need no introduction. After a huge critical and commercial revisiting after Van She’s headrush remix of the classic Kate Bush sampling acid track and a storming compilation album on Fingerlickin’, the boys will be pulling out all the stops to make this one well and truly goes off. Not to be missed.
Xpress 2 – 25th Rocky, Diesel and Ashley swoop in after a year which has seen a greatest hits and remix compilations bring them to a brand new audience (Skylark’s re-rub of Music Xpress unquestionably one of the WMC’s biggest tunes). Their multi-decks and FX three man house sessions are the stuff that dancefloor dreams are made of - see you down the front.
“The Big Love philosophy is to embrace everything, all cultures, all creeds, all sexes, all races. Black, white, straight or gay, it’s all encompassing. Its the same for our music we love House music in all its wonderful shapes & forms” Seamus Haji.
Seamus Haji is a lucky guy. With over 20 years experience in the business he looks great, he has his own record label, enjoys being able to travel around the world doing international DJ dates. He is also the guy credited for pioneering the now universally acknowledged ‘electro house’ sound with ‘Last Night a DJ Saved My Life’, as sound that totally rejuvenated house. It was also Seamus who was behind the chart success of Booty Luv, remixing their unforgettable pop smash ‘Boogie Tonight’ a track so big that that no one in dance music could hide from it! Here Seamus gives his personal insight into the world of Dance music.
How long have you been in the business for?
Well over 20 years now, I started off when I was 16 DJing at illegal warehouse parties and house parties.
I’ve been making a living from being a DJ over the last 10 years, and in the last 5 years I’ve been more professional in the studio.
You’ve always done very well as a DJ. You managed to get your profile around and played at some of the key places across the UK and Internationally. Even before ‘Last Night A DJ Saved My Life.’
I was lucky enough to play at clubs like Back to Basics and Hard Times, back in the days when you actually had super clubs; I’m going back 12-14 years ago. The club scene in the UK was really strong back then.
A few years after that I ended up working at Slip and Slide and then working at Defected which really helped raise my profile.
Did you play out as a Defected DJ at that time?
When I started at Defected there was only four of us in the office, and that included the receptionist! I remember when I did the first ever Defected tour back in 1999, basically I had to put it together, it was me and Simon Dunmore and a few guest DJ’s that were on the label playing up and down the country, lugging the banners around with us. It was a really small operation back then, that’s how it all started.
Who are they guys that you are paying attention to at the moment?
I get sent music through from the obvious guys like Axwell, as well as Dirty South and TV Rock. The Australian boys are really coming through at the moment.
There are some other names that are coming up through like Jaris Voorn from Holland, I’ve used his remix of ‘Dark Flower’ that’s on the compilation.
There’s also EDX who’s doing really good stuff.
When you look for records do you still go through Beatport or do you just make decisions from recommendations and from the charts?
If someone like Axwell sends me something, I’ll give that priority but I still go through Beatport, I go through the top 100 and I’ll buy 10 – 20 tracks per week.
When I’m on there I discover all these new names, there are a lot of young kids coming up from a slightly progressive background, who are doing some interesting things with music, they are mixing up the styles. There are obvious names like Dead Mau5 who has made a big name for himself. There’s a mixing of genres, slightly techy, slightly progressive, some of its slightly trancey which is why Dead Mau5 has a broad appeal there’s a lot of influence from him and Eric Prydz under his Pryda monica.
What is the philosophy behind Big Love and you’re A&Ring?
When we started the label it was literally something to release my own productions. I was making a lot of records under different monikers. Probably like Dave Lee with Z Records which is kind of an imprint for all of his productions. We got off to a flying start with a few records on the label which was great. Then it got to a point where I couldn’t make all the records, and I started doing remixes for other labels, we built up a good reputation and people wanted to sign tracks to us. The thought was to put music out there that we love. We wouldn’t just jump on the latest bandwagon, if minimal techno’s the new thing we’re not going to just release that and stop releasing house records with vocals on them. We just wanted to release stuff that we like and people can interpret it the way they want to interpret it.
Would you say it’s strictly underground or are you looking for a couple of crossover tracks now and again?
It’s just underground, we’ve been fortunate for certain tracks to have more mass appeal and become really good sellers like Haji and Emanuel ‘Take me Away’ then obviously ‘Last Night A DJ Saved My Life’ which went on to be a pop record, we didn’t plan it - it just happened. There’s a slight commercial idea there but it wasn’t like we did it to be commercial, people just picked up on it.
What advice would you give to kids who want to be DJ/Producers and want to set up their own labels?
Keep your overheads low, don’t get too ambitious! Have an idea of what you want to do, have an identity, have the right artwork, have a musical direction and don’t waiver from that. For us as a record label it’s not like we’re just a label and we just live off of that. I make records, I remix and I DJ, it’s all in the same pot. It’s not a get rich quick philosophy; it’s more like a labour of love!
Is this the first compilation that you’ve done that really celebrates the label?
Yes, this is the first fully-fledged Big Love CD compilation.
Do you think this will be the first in a series?
We’ve got a lot of music coming in on the label and this encompasses a lot of material on the label that’s forthcoming.
We’ve always intended on doing Big Love compilations, we wanted to be in the position where we had our own repertoire now the profile is there, so we intend to do more of these in the future.
On the compilation what are the outstanding tracks to you and what are the exclusives on there that nobody else can get?
The big one is the new Haji and Emanuel single ‘The Pressure’ which features Beverley Knight and Bryan Chambers it’s a remake of the Sound of Blackness classic which we really love. We’ve always thought about doing a cover of it and we think it’s a really good time with what’s going on in the world at the moment.
I’ve been playing it in the clubs and it’s working really well, its been fantastic, its been a breath of fresh air for people. A lot of the time they’re not really hearing a big vocal record, like a proper song peak time in a club and it really works.
It’s quite a diverse compilation there’s big vocal records there’s slightly deeper techy stuff and there’s a new single we’ve signed by Ran Shani who’s a name to watch. And there’s the Freakx Brothers track called ‘Ghettoblaster,’ there’s also remixes I’ve done which you wont normally find on a compilation such as the Haji and Emanuel remix of the Ting Tings latest single ‘Shut Up And Let Me Go.’ I did a remix of Moby ‘I Love To Move In Here’ and I’ve also done a remix of Shakedown ‘At Night’ which I’ve played out in clubs exclusively.
What’s the difference between the two mixes?
I did the remix live, I didn’t do it on Abelton at home. I planned what I was going to do, I just wanted to mix it live as it has more of an energy about it and it feels a bit more natural. It begins like how I would start off in a club then it builds, CD1 is mostly vocal, it has a bit of a sexual vibe when it starts off with the lyrics and then it gets more in to a party vibe then it gets a little bit tougher.
The second CD is more Latin and tribal to begin with, less vocal with more of a summer feel, like how I’ve been playing in Ibiza. It gets a bit more techy towards the end, like the MTV mix of ‘Chime.’ It’s a good mixture, for me, it’s everything that I like about house music.
What’s your next big project?
I have just completed, with Paul Emanuel, a cover of the Sounds of Blackness classic “The Pressure”. Both the Original and Frankie Knuckles mixes are so revered that it could be pure folly, but that said, with Beverley Knight and Bryan Chambers giving cracking vocals plus the edge we’ve given to the production, it’s feeling really good. It’s definitely got the goosebump factor!
Words Toni Tambourine
This autumn marks the official return of award winning producer and DJ, The Rogue Element aka Ben Medcalf. Already a household name within the breaks community The Rogue unfolds his varied production skills and delivers two brand new slices of cutting edge cross genre dance-floor electronica in the shape of ‘Hive’ and ‘Vices’.
A taster from The Rogue’s latest recording escapades sneaked out last July with ‘Panic Attacks’ and ‘Sidewinder’ – a radical step forward with in-your-face electronics, insistent hooks and unpredictable twists and turns which raises the curtain for The Rogue’s 2nd artist album set for release via Exceptional early 2009. In a similar vein ‘Hive’ and ‘Vices’ explore new territories, developing a new sound to create a uniquely idiosyncratic blend of techno, breakbeat, and electro, a direction which has led to recent acclaim and support from such varied luminaries as James Zabiela, Etienne de Crecy, Audiojack, Meat Katie, James Lavelle, DJ Hell, Autokratz and the Japanese Popstars.
Recent months have also witnessed The Rogue’s establishment of Disco of Doom with Tom Real, a project which incorporates DJing, production and a radio show on the uber-hip on-demand station Samurai FM.
Continue reading ‘Rogue Element Returns’
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