Dance Music News Charts and Reviews



Erick Morillo Arrested at Glasgow Airport


Internationally renowned DJ Erick Morillo has been arrested and charged with possession of cocaine at Glasgow Airport.

Morillo pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court on Monday.

He was released on bail but ordered to return to Scotland in March for a trial.

3D – Roger Sanchez


The legendary Master of House brings his unique musical vision to present another exciting chapter in the 3D series…

Whether it’s hosting and playing legendary 7/8 hour sets at his ‘Release Yourself’ parties in Pacha, Ibiza and around the world; compiling and mixing an annual compilation of the same name, or producing as himself or the S-Man, there’s no question Roger Sanchez is one of house music’s most revered ambassadors.

Aside from running his own label (Stealth), supporting house from the ground-roots up, Roger has also found time to remix some of the world’s best artists such as Madonna, Micheal Jackson, Jamiroquai, Alicia Keys, Daft Punk and many, many more… Put simply, the S-Man was tailor-made for 3D!

And he doesn’t disappoint…

“This is the first compilation outside of my own Release Yourself series I’ve done in a long time, and I was excited by the opportunity to do something different, as presented by the Renaissance 3D mix. I feel this captures the essence of the many different vibes I have, be it on the dancefloor, in the studio or at home.” – Roger Sanchez

We first catch-up with Roger in the club for a current snapshot of his live club sets, drawing on friends and producers such as India, D.O.N.S., Outwork, Wally Lopez, Hatiras and Richard Grey. The result is archetypal Sanchez, a heady mix of soul, funk and electro.

As we follow him to the studio, Roger presents his seminal remix of the legend that was Barry White alongside key favourites such as Carl Kennedy, Artificial Funk and A Tribe Called Es. The rest of the disc accurately portrays his incredibly prolific studio output, fittingly spear-headed by his crossover smash ‘Another Chance’.

Finally, Roger takes us home for an eclectic musical travelogue that begins on the tranquil shores of Ibiza with Afterlife’s ‘Clear Blue Sky’; jumps across Europe to enjoy the cream of Britain’s electronic artists, Massive Attack and Finlay Quaye and, later, looks a little closer to his Manhatten home by way of Black Science Orchestra’s ‘New Jersey Deep’. He adopts some Gallic charm via Daft Punk before winding things-up in true festival mosh-pit style with the Klaxons seminal ‘Not Over’ cover.

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War Child - Heroes


War Child’s amazing new album “Heroes” will be released on February 16th 2009. The album concept is that the biggest legends in music history select their personal favourite song from their own song writing canon, and nominate an artist from the next generation to create a modern reworking of that classic song.

Many acts that were keen to join the project have now completed and delivered their tracks, and the album has been mastered at the legendary Abbey Road studios.

The full track listing will be announced in January, but includes contributions from Scissor Sisters, Duffy, Elbow, Hot Chip, Beck, Rufus Wainwright and The Kooks.

U2 and The Clash join a stellar cast of legends including Sir Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, The Kinks and Joy Division.

EMI has made a substantial upfront payment to War Child, and will release the album on its Parlophone label.

Parlophone are donating all their profits to War Child’s work to protect the most marginalised children in war zones, who would otherwise be overlooked: street children, child soldiers and children in prison.

www.warchild.org.uk/music

Loopmasters- Coldcut


Coldcut need no introduction. Being one of the first and finest artists to successfully work with samples and loops to forge their own styles of modern hip hop and dance music, Matt Black and Jon More are responsible for some of the digital generations finest musical moments, and whose label Ninja Tune continues to release some of the most cutting edge tunes currently available!

This exclusive sample pack produced for Loopmasters by Matt and Jon themselves, features a huge collection of previously unheard and unreleased material which is sure to grace many future hit records through genres such as Hip Hop, Breaks, House and Drum and Bass. A true skeleton key of sound, the loops and samples are a must for every serious music producer’s collection.

“For your delectation and musical pleasure we have prized open the Coldcut sample vault. Located deep within a secure facility at ninja hindquarters and sourced from over twenty years of electronic music creation, this library contains only the strongest survivors of sound. Digging deep within our repository of digital delights we have created a treasury of tools for your use. All the samples have been chosen with micro attention to sonic detail, a range of carefully produced elements that will have you creating new genres in minutes, rocking a party like you just don’t care, or making your bass face till it hurts…its all here, liberated by Coldcut for you.

“What Do I Get” The Buzzcocks once asked; well you get weighty kicks and snappy snares, happy claps plus slurpy hats, some credit crunching crashes, a good handful of snicky snacky percussion plus several rolls of tom toms. Combine this with a select group of tightly honed loops that go from weird groove through rare groove to future grooves. Chuck in plenty of Electronic parps, burbles and stabs from some of the obscurest vintage synthesisers we could find. Mix this with dash of Scratchy stuff, a large pinch of melodic topping, a drizzle of Vocal blips, a noisette of low-slung sub and lashings of punchy noise. Rounded out with deep bass lines… Sorry no cheese! So that’s the menu of ingredients - the recipe is up to you, fear not cooking with Coldcut is a natural gas.”

Tech Specs: 620MB, including 37 Bass Loops, 166 Drum Loops, 111 Musical Loops, 41 Vocal/FX Loops, 8 Bass Multisamples, 126 Drum Hits, 21 FX, 11 Instrument Mulitsamples – all Royalty Free and ready for your productions.

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Priced at £39.95 for the DVD or the download version, Coldcut: Sound Science is available to buy from http://www.loopmasters.com/product/details/207

Hardcore Nation 2009


Unlike some genres of music that rely on the support of TV, radio and trend lend publications, hardcore is one snarling beast that refuses to die, packing out raves up and down the country with its extremely loyal supporters. After the HUGE success of the Hardcore Nation and Hardcore Adrenaline series, pioneering harder dance label Nukleuz are back once again, this time joining forces with the legendary Positiva to release this killer triple CD.

Hardcore Nation 2009 consists of 58 MASSIVE tracks that are nearly all exclusive to this album. Mixed by two of the biggest names in hardcore, Stu Allan and Joey Riot step up to the decks to show what they do best, providing two mixed CDs crammed full of the freshest, most upfront tunes from the scene today, with CD3 rammed to the rafters of cheeky bootlegs mixed by Nukleuz DJs.

Stu Allan has been one of the instigators of the genre from the very beginning- carving his path with legendary radios shows in the north and producing under his Visa guise that includes 3 Top 10 hits, an incredible 13 Top 40 hits alongside releases on FFRR, Carl Cox’s MMR label and Media Records. Playing at the biggest parties in the hardstyle calendar, Stu Allan is a hardcore heavyweight with fans that meticulously follow his DJ schedule every weekend.

Joey Riot is probably the fastest rising DJ-Producer in the genre, wowing followers with his energetic sets and winning Best Breakthrough DJ (2006), Best Live Act (2007) and coming 4th as Best DJ at this year’s Hardcore Heaven Awards. Whether it’s DJing, running own label Lethal Theory or co-editing the scene’s very own dedicated magazine ‘Core’, this Glaswegian couldn’t be any more hardcore if he tried!

Leading with the only official remix of the No. 3 chart smash Guru Josh Project Infinity 2008, Positiva and Nukleuz crank open their laden vaults to give some well known dance classics a special hardcore treatment. Tracks include the colossal No.1 from Fragma Toca’s Miracle; the No.2 hit Heart of Asia by Watergate and indie popstars Alphabeat also get a dirty makeover for their big tune Fascination.

Massive dance anthems also come from the likes of Ferry Corsten Punk, BBE Seven Days, One Week, Perfect Phase Horny Horns, Barthezz On The Move, Lasgo Something and Shy FX & T Power Shake Your Body. The album also includes mixes of some of Nukleuz’s biggest Top 40 hits including BK Revolution the last ever vinyl only Top 40 hit, Mario Piu with Communication (Somebody Answer The Phone).

So there you have it: two of the biggest dance labels joining forces with two mighty names from the scene…200812222109.jpg

Cream Future Trance


Iconic lifestyle brand Cream return with a new instalment in their popular compilation series, Cream Future Trance – a carefully selected collection of the freshest trance tracks from now into 2009. With crossover chart hits through to the cutting edge of clubland trance, Cream Future Trance is the definitive, 100% pure trance selection.

With 55 MASSIVE tracks, it’s fair to say you couldn’t get any more club bangers on this triple album. Including the massive hit Guru Josh Project Infinity 2008 in its chart hogging Klaas remix (plus the exclusive Beat Service Remix) other huge tunes come from the likes of Energy 52 with a spanking brand new version of the classic Café Del Mar, club heavyweight Eric Prydz with Pjanno plus trance man of the moment Sied van Riel’s remix of Blank & Jones tune Where You Belong.

There are more hot new exclusives to be had from the likes of trance kings Tiësto and Ferry Corsten, plus the holy alliance of Sander van Doorn vs. Robbie Williams on the brilliant Close My Eyes. Other big names include Armin with Unforgivable; hot big talent Deadmau5 remixed by Cosmic Gate, a storming remix of Sia’s new cut Buttons, Lange & Sarah Howells’ Out of The Sky plus Radio 1 favourite and all round trance legend Judge Jules with Judgement Theme.

Cream Future Trance also brings you bona fide, classic trance anthems, brought bang up to date with thumping new remixes. Some of the juicy anthems on offer include new versions of Y-Traxx Mystery Land, Ayla Ayla and Veracocha with Carte Blanche.

So there you have it – 3 HUGE CDs rammed full with the most upfront trance cuts of today, put together by one of the most respected club brands in the world. If you love trance then this is the must have collection!

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http://www.cream.co.uk

http://www.newstatemusic.com

10 years of Defected Records. New Album and Tour details


Defected Records celebrates their 10th Birthday in February with the release of ‘10 years of Clubland Adventures’ a 5 x cd package with over 60 of Defected’s best known and loved releases from the past decade as well as a fully LIVE gig with some of its most legendary musicians and vocalists.

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From a small office in Soho (London), Defected Records the well respected independent dance music label has become a key player attracting some of the greatest talents working in the global music industry. They regularly trump the majors with crossover hits and media attention, and are never far from the boxes of the world’s best DJs. In Feb 09 they reach the tender age of TEN.

Best know for their constant output of quality dance music records that showcase the talents of their international artists roster which includes Masters at Work, Bob Sinclar, Dimitri from Paris, Sandy Rivera and DJ Gregory.

First set up in 1999 by Simon Dunmore the label head, it has gone onto have many huge records including UK No.1 ‘Another Chance’ by Roger Sanchez, KOT ‘Finally’ as well as Bob Sinclar’s 2007 No.3 hit ‘Rock This Party’ as well as the 1 million selling Defected In The House Compilation series . You will also find them hosting residencies at the world best clubs including London, Ibiza and New York.

To celebrate reaching this milestone in Dance Music the label has announced a special 10 date world Tour that will commence on Jan 24th at The Ministry of Sound, London. It features an all star LIVE line up.

Defected Records will bring to life many of it’s classic records with a five piece band and the original vocalists. Expect to hear Julie McKnight sing KOT ‘Finally’ and Louie Vega’s ‘Diamond Life’, Brian Chambers will sing ‘All I do’ and their will be performances from Marc Evans, Immani and new signing Yasmeen.

International Music Summit 2009


The International Music Summit (IMS) is set to return to Ibiza on May 27-29th 2009 after swiftly establishing itself as one of the most talked about music conferences of the year. Last year’s hugely successful inaugural summit brought together 300 of the most influential players at the cutting edge of the electronic music industry, marking the successful arrival of the key business and networking event in the dance music calendar.

Pete Tong, summit co-founder states “what happened in Ibiza [last year] will impact our future and the way the music industry moves forward. The response was overwhelming; people walked away with ideas for the future, with new relationships forged from different aspects of electronica and the film and brand industry. In 2009, we aim to build on this with some exciting new initiatives to be announced in Ibiza.”

The IMS has set a new standard for conference content, bringing together provocative thought leaders from in and beyond the music industry. With the fall out from the world economic crisis leaving few in the industry unscathed, IMS:09 will set the tone for how electronic culture responds to rapidly changing challenges. With no panel overlaps, delegates can attend each and every element of the experience curated by the IMS, creating a unique focus around the key topics on everyone’s agenda, whilst the luxurious surroundings of the new Ibiza Gran Hotel provide all with the space to network, think, and debate the future of their companies.

Co-founder and curator Ben Turner states: “Keeping the intimacy and quality of delegates to the dealmakers is of huge importance to us and those returning for a second year. We aim for the electronic industry to use these three days as a platform to debate but also unveil their plans and visions for the genre’s future. We have some special announcements to make on guest attendees, watch this space…”

Set again at a special location in Ibiza, the IMS’s three intense days of business programming, networking and activity will lead straight into the official opening weekend of the Ibiza season. There will again be a very limited number of delegate badges available, increased in 2009 by 100 places to 400 due to the immense demand. Yes, the International Music Summit will continue to be the G8 of music conferences!

The IMS will mark the start of the Ibiza season with a spectacular outdoor finale, featuring the hottest live acts, DJs, and of course, Pete Tong. Ibiza’s Consell Insular (the local governing body), are working closely with IMS to create a spectacular stature event to end the summit.

IMS:09 will also see the introduction of an exhibition space for 30 companies only, all approved by the IMS board, as well as IMS: The Manual, a definitive guide for all registered delegates to take home. Central to the event is the exclusive five-star accommodation at the Ibiza Gran Hotel, for which the IMS has again secured an incredible discount price for all delegates.

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Yousef - Death Delay


Yousef returns with a sonic melting pot of sounds where house, techno and progressive influences clash to create a powerful dancefloor destroyer! Death Delay comes in 2 sizes, 1 peak time, club mix while the other is a more stripped back affair and perfect for those dingy, sweaty dancefloors.

Circus Recordings is fast becoming a respected destination label for the modern breed of electronic music fan and has been receiving glowing praise from the likes of Dubfire, Zoo Brazil, Carl Cox and Hernan Cattaneo. 200812131249.jpg

South Central “Higher State Of Consciousness”


South Central marks the North American release of its debut CD The Owl Of Minerva with a little treat dance music fans across the world will wanna have! Yes, it’s Josh Wink’s timeless 1995 smash “Higher State of Consciousness” beaten to a dizzying pulp by South Central. The best part? The track is FREE for you to download and share with your friends. Be sure to check out the brand new video for the complete experience.

The Owl of Minerva is a collection of South Central’s finest work of the last two years; music that’s never been available on CD or mp3. This collection not only acts as a must-have for fans and DJs, but also bringing the South Central story right up to the present and paving the way for the South Central debut album in 2009.

Shrouded in mystery (and indeed their trademark black hoods) the enigma that is South Central manifests itself as both a 2-man DJ/Production duo and as a 5-piece live band; the former spectacularly dissolves the boundaries of what DJing and live music are. The latter is the cowled synthesis of guitars and technology that combines the spirit and song of indie rock with the pounding electronics of big-room techno. But there’s also an unpredictable side to the live show. The band does a killer rendition of Josh Wink’s “Higher State Of Consciousness” (available on the CD) and recently performed a live cover of Daft Punk’s “Da Funk” in Paris of all places! The live show is so good that Does It Offend You, Yeah? tapped South Central as the main support act for it’s October UK tour while Pendulum scooped them up as support for its current UK tour. No surprise then that both the indie kids and the danceheads have signed up for more.



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Tom Middleton - Remember the Love


Tom Middleton steps up once more to release his homage to the past 20 years of house with his new single ‘Remember the Love’ featuring remixes from Soul Avengerz and The Presidential Sounds.

For those who know of the ultimate Jedi Master; Tom Middleton, will not be surprised to learn that he created ‘Remember the Love’ (IMS Anthem) live in front of 300 delegates at the inaugural International Music Summit held in Ibiza earlier this year showcasing the innovations in live production for electronic music.

IMS co-founder Pete Tong states: “It was a brave experiment from us at the IMS, never mind Tom Middleton, but one which pushed boundaries in terms of pressures on an artist to record a dance track to a brief - with an audience of leading dance dignitaries in front of him. We’re delighted to see the record be picked up by Tim Binns and New State. A true anthem is born and now unleashed.”

Tom’s brief being the Summer of Love (1988) and Tom has indeed recreated the vibe with a modern, fresh epitome, an anthem reaching out to all those who survived to tell the tale first time round, and to all those who simply love that acid house sound.

The club mix is reminiscent of the heady days of ’88, where happy smiley people were dancing to the sounds of Joe Smooth, Marshall Jefferson, and the sounds of Chicago House. Tom does what he does best, infusing elements of acid house, with beautiful hands in the air synths that have an air of ‘Strings of Life’. Tom brings it all back to where it began and has given it a noughties twist.

Also stepping up to the IMS challenge was the Soul Avengerz, who on the 2nd day of the IMS conference remixed Tom’s original track live in a panel. Bringing a deeper and funkier element to the track, it’s a lot more stripped back and moodier. Still retaining elements of the piano riff, and coupled with a driving beat, this remix slowly builds and with a great break, allows that hands in the air in the moment!

The Presidential Sounds Remix is the harder and faster remix in the package – playing heavily on the rave element, with its driving bass and trippy synths, and is a proper peak time on a sweaty dancefloor number!

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Ashley Beedle collaborates with Horace Andy


The second in the new Inspiration Information studio album series on Strut pairs up Studio One reggae legend and Massive Attack collaborator Horace Andy with revered UK producer and remixer Ashley Beedle (X-Press 2 / Ballistic Brothers / Warbox / Black Science Orchestra) for a new and unique soundclash.

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Recorded during an intensive five-day writing and recording session in London during 8th – 12th September 2008, the album is a revelation for those that know and love Horace Andy’s music as he stretches out lyrically on a series of wry, topical commentaries around brotherhood, love and the family, all rooted in his rasta beliefs. On tracks Seek It and When The Rain Falls, he advocates peace, positive education and the futility of violence: “be good to one another, stop killing each other…”; the first single, Rasta Don’t, is dedicated to “all the vegetarians” and takes a hilarious swipe at fast food culture over a heavy jump-up rhythm; and The Light is a powerful, reflective praise track, banishing Lucifer and drawing strength from the ‘Conquering Lion’. Andy also voices two diverse covers, Bob Marley’s plea for reconciliation, ‘Hypocrites’, and a new acoustic take on The Rolling Stones’ classic, ‘Angie’.

Continue reading ‘Ashley Beedle collaborates with Horace Andy’

Tiesto ‘Alone In The Dark’


The launch of Eden Games’ innovative action survival opus for PLAYSTATION®3 Alone in the Dark: Inferno will be accompanied by the worldwide release of an exclusive remix by Tiësto, one of the world’s most revered electronic music producers and DJs. The stunning remix will be available for the UK & Eire on digital download and physical release on Maelstrom Records.

Tiësto takes the powerful orchestration and haunting Bulgarian choir of Olivier Deriviere’s original soundtrack to the heart of the dancefloor in an driving remix which bears the unmistakable hallmarks of Tiësto’s enormous sound. The release will be accompanied by a full-length music video featuring footage from the game and created by Courage, the Belgian production team responsible for several of Tiësto’s previous music videos.

“The original soundtrack is a great composition with a lot of ingredients which fit perfectly in the remix,” said Tiësto. “It was the first time for me to produce a remix for a videogame and therefore a great challenge, I enjoyed it a lot!”

In Alone in the Dark: Inferno the player takes the role of paranormal investigator Edward Carnby who over the course of one apocalyptic night must fight to survive and uncover the earth-shattering secret behind New York’s Central Park.

Responding to feedback from gamers and media, developers Eden Games have implemented a host of modifications in Alone in the Dark: Inferno including full 360° camera, modified controls, tuned hero reactivity, more accessible inventory, improved vehicle handling and more. With the addition of a brand new exclusive action-packed sequence, Alone in the Dark: Inferno for PLAYSTATION 3 promises to be the ultimate version of the innovative action adventure game.

A demo of Alone in the Dark: Inferno, already available on PLAYSTATION® Network in North America and coming to Europe on November 6th, gives players a tantalizing taste of the modified gameplay features, intense action and deeply immersive storyline.

Two additional remixes of the track will be available exclusively on PLAYSTATION Network later in the year.

For information about Alone in the Dark: Inferno please visit www.centraldark.com;

For Tiësto visit www.tiesto.com

For Maelstrom Records visit: http://www.maelstromrecords.com/
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Magik Johnson keeps a “Straight Face”


New Zealand’s finest returns to King Unique’s Curfew imprint

Magik Johnson’s last cross-genre mutant release on Curfew ‘Asylum Sneaker’ picked up fans from Adam Beyer to Claude von Stroke, Sasha to Jesse Rose and found it’s way onto Danny Tenaglia’s latest compilation. So we at Curfew are grinning from ear to ear as we introduce it’s twisted younger brother ‘Straight Face’, complete with two superb remixes to give you a package that we’ve had great pleasure road testing over the last few weeks.

Mr Johnson and fellow New Zealander Simon Flower turn in a pair of outstanding mixes - Magik’s NZ Tribal Dub is equal parts classic tribal and Rekids-style dub work-out with menacing over-blown horns wailing over a chunky filtered groove. Steady and grinding as a glacier, and equally irresistible.

On the flip Flower hits us with a cool, fat-as-fuck techno excursion that’s up there with the best of his releases on Kompakt and Railyard, mixing up micro-sampled glitch beats with dubbed out chords for a perfect balance of darkly dreamy and dramatically druggy. One for the heads.

Lastly the original mix of Straight Face walks the same genre-defying line as it’s elder brother, somewhere beyond the borders of techno and electro but equally at home in a set of either. Big room stuff with big hooks for big moments.

Supporters on the release include Nic Fanciulli, DJ Hell, John Digweed, Lee Burridge, Ivan Smagghe, & John Selway – full reactions below.

1. TRIBAL NZ DUB

2. SIMON FLOWER REMIX

3. ORIGINAL

Aspiring Remixers Get To Grips With King Unique’s Back Catalogue


At the start of the summer King Unique offered aspiring remixers a shot at the KU back catalogue. From India to Iceland the mixes came in - here are the favourites/winners/highest bribe-paying entries.

Greek-born Berliner George Delkos kicks things off, bringing a bit of Babicz-style tech prog to Dirty. Strong and steady with an ever-building groove, it’s currently featuring in John Digweed’s sets and been aired on his Transitions show already this month.

The second take on Dirty comes from Chi-Town’s Nique who ups the energy for a fierce feedback and techno beats workout , driven along by sci-fi alarm bell percussion. Great sonics with plenty of grunge, it’s a little slice of peak-time goodness.

Madeira’s Crooks take it back deeper for Sugarhigh, letting their love of the melodic techno vibes of Boratto and Bodzin shine through. A rich mournful musical plot surges and ebbs over simple satisfying beats; no tricks, all tune.

Last up is a truly pigeon-hole resistant piece of pure genius – Polish noise terrorist Chill Leader‘s remix of Hinode. Low end broken-bass in the style of James Holden maybe? Glitch –prog for the attention deficit disorder generation? Mad as a bag of badgers, that much is certain - after one listen we were intrigued, after two we were hooked. Snake charming music of the highest order.

Supporters on the release include John Digweed, Danny Howells, Jim Rivers, Dave Seaman, Hernan Cattaneo and Nick Warren.

1. Dirty – George Delkos Remix

2. Dirty – Nique Remix

3. Sugarhigh – Crooks Remix

4. Hinode – Chill Leaders Remix

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