"...I just don’t think there’s anything more righteous than a heavy brass section really."
Read the Sonic Router penned interview with Night Slug's prog monolith Mosca over on the fabric Blog and download his epic 80 minute mix, made in promotion of his upcoming date at fabric on the 6th August for Club Autonomic.
Blawan - Potchla Vee [Unreleased] Rubi Dan - Pelvic Floor (Acapella) [Unreleased] Mosca - Tilt Shift [Forthcoming Fat City] Deamonds - Tilt Shift Crooks [Unreleased] Keke Palmer - Super Jerkin' Equinoxx - Infantry Riddim (Version) T'Nez - Normal Day (Infantry Riddim) Kemikal - Hear Mi Nuh (Infantry Riddim) Navino - Put It On (Infantry Riddim) Terre Thaemlitz - Radio Freedom Ramadanman - Grab Somebody [Unreleased] G.O.D Limited – Bounce Kismet - Loose Screw [Unreleased] DJ Deekline & Red Polo - Let It Bump (Hydroz Remix) Menta - Sounds Of Da Future Braiden - The Alps [Forthcoming Doldrums] Seany B - Bass Release DJ Technics - Hoody Hood Rat Riva Starr – Maria Funkystepz - Leave With You [Unreleased] Dwongo Lab - 60 Seconds Pariah - Crossed Out Ramadanman & Midland - More Than You Know Alison Hinds - Roll It Gal (Acapella) Doc Daneeka - Hold On [Forthcoming Ramp] T Williams - Drumstrumental [Unreleased] Imran Khan – Amplifier Frankie Bones – Beware J2K Ft Roses Gabor - Don't Let It Go [Unreleased] Mosca - Brand New Polaroid Loefah - Fire Elements Jaimeson - Urban Hero Darqwan – Confused Tubby vs Footsie - Tiger Style Joe – Digest JME Ft Tempz - CD Is Dead (Acapella) Youngstar - The Formula TRC Ft Z.O & Bonez - Bang (DJ Q Remix) [Unreleased] General LOK - Elmo Riddem CRST - Dance (Mosca Remix) [Forthcoming No Hats No Hoods]
Untold’s 'Gonna Work Out Fine EP' was a floor stopper, the instigator of countless “what the fuck is this?” moments in the middle of a night. But if ‘Stop What You’re Doing’ is still enough to halt a dancefloor in its tracks entirely, it’s a soft and welcoming hug compared with some of the tracks he’s been piecing together since. ‘Bad Girls,’ his contribution to Fabric’s Elevator Music compilation, jerked back and forth like an unruly child having a full-on temper tantrum, and his remix of Baobinga’s ‘Ride It’ hits the neural circuits so hard it’s nigh on impossible to tell whether that’s pleasure or pain hitting your gut. An exercise in barely restrained dementia, the track’s central drum motif circles in an ever-tightening loop around trademark Untold bass stabs and twisting, pained sampleplay. It’s intense to the point of inducing nausea, and I’m still trying to work out whether that’s entirely a good thing.
Next to such a wonderfully sadistic piece of work, Baobinga’s original never quite stood a chance. Which is a shame in a way, as it’s an addictive – if slightly straightforward – march through what-u-call-it territory, riding off a cheeky cowbell riff that wouldn’t sound out of place on a DFA record circa 2002. Its precise house groove can’t help but lack some of the rhythmic fluidity of his earlier ‘Tongue Riddim’ release though, as limb-flailing acrobatics are substituted for head-nods to a tight four-to-the-floor pulse.
All personal bias aside - go read the liner notes - 'Elevator Music Vol. 1' is an impeccable collection of beats and fresh ideas from some extremely talented underground producers. Joining the likes of Mosca, Julio Bashmore, Hackman and Doc Daneeka with more established artists like the work of Martyn, Untold and Starkey pays dividends in the end listen and an extremely high percentage of these tracks are a sheer pleasure to mix.
If any more proof were needed of funky’s extraordinary capacity to infiltrate regions far beyond its immediate remit, Bristol boy Julio Bashmore’s signing to Claude VonStroke’s Dirtybird label provides it in excess. In terms of tempo, atmosphere and overall aesthetic ‘Um Bongo’s Revenge’ fits far better with the Dirtybird roster than it would on something like Apple Pips or Tectonic, pivoting around a startlingly minimal motif crafted almost entirely from percussion. Yet there’s something fundamental contained within that identifies its heritage as particular to the UK.
This 12” version is markedly different from an earlier form that circulated for a while, stripping away any semblance of its distinctive ascending melody, and with it any retention of tropical moisture. Whilst the unpredictable, Africanised snare pattern is pure funky, the track’s core is dessicated, brittle and oddly rigid - a paradox that lends the track a constant and barely resolved sense of tension between the demands of the dance and its machine heart. Yet it is this very contradiction that makes it so ferociously addictive, and eminently danceable – ‘Um Bongo’s Revenge’ is devastating in its very simplicity, and its chameleon-like nature ensures that you’re likely to hear that cartoonish voiceover in a huge range of DJ sets in the early half of 2010.
By way of contrast to the A-side’s oddly anthemic charms, the aptly named ‘World Peace’ moves into more subdued territory, generating a more contemplative atmosphere a little reminiscent of Berlin’s Rhythm & Sound label. Less overtly dancefloor oriented, it swells with shimmering melody and a downtempo warmth that remains hanging in the air long after the track’s end. Along with ‘The Moth,’ his track on fabric’s up and coming ‘Elevator Music’ compilation, its more considered nature is suggestive of more interesting material to come from Bashmore.
Superb mix from Untold. Featured on Sinden's KISS FM show last night. Headhunter & Invisible - 'Luvdup' - fothcoming Soul Motive. Bok Bok - 'Citizen Dub' - forthcoming Blunted Robots.
Boys noize - Transmission (Untold remix) - forthcoming Boys noize Bok Bok feat. Bubbz - Citizens Dub - forthcoming Blunted Robots Untold - Tastes like chicken - Unreleased Wu Tang – Do It Big (Baobinga & I.D. Remix) – Cdr Mark Pritchard – Elephant Dub – Deep Medi Schlachthofbronx – Ayoba (Inst) – Man Recordings Headhunter & Invisible – Luvdup – Soul Motive Untold – You Dropped Something – Cdr Sisters Of Transistors – Solar Disco (Untold Remix) – This Is Music Ramadanman – Glut – Hemlock Dj Eastwood – U Aint Ready (Untold Remix) – No Hats No Hoods
Super Scot Jackmaster continues his slew of great mixes with an exclusive for Dazed Digital, well timed to coincide with his Numbers conglomerate taking over Room One of fabric tomorrow night.
Modeselektor - Art + Cash (SBTRKT Broke Remix) - forthcoming 50 Weapons Rhythm Construction Co. - Mighty Love (Wickedest Dub) - Nice 'N' Ripe Deadboy - Here 4 U - forthcoming Numbers C. J. Boland - Sugar Is Sweeter (Armand's Drum And Bass Mix) - FFRR TRG - Tribal Flex - forthcoming Tempa DJ Slugo - Wouldn't You Like To Be A Hoe Too - Dance Mania Mike Dunn pres. The MD X-Spress - Deep Down (The Unbderground) - Fluential Kim English - Night Life (Retail Club Mix) - Nervous Deadboy - if U ant Me (Brackles & Shortstuff Remix) - forthcoming Numbers KingThing - Bump - forthcoming Fortified Roska & Untold - Myth - forthcoming Build Joy Orbison - Derobe - forthcoming Aus Music George Fitzpatrick - Don't You - forthcoming Doldrums Taz Buckfaster - Wetter Is Better - forthcoming Rwina ROX - My Baby Left Me (Terror Danjah Remix) - forthcoming Rough Trade Terror Danjah & Rudekid - Best Crawler - forthcoming No Hats No Hoods Mr. De' - Whonleeone - Electrofunk Fonzworth Bentley & Anthony Hamilton - Greener (Instrumental)
Limited freebie from Greena and Mosca (pictured): Greena's remix of Mosca's 'Square One' track which is forthcoming on Night Slugs with original versions of 'Square One' and 'Nike' alongside remixes from Bok Bok & L-Vis 1990.
xxxy hails from Manchester and produces bass music that sucks in elements of house, techno and all the other good stuff that’s been perforating dance floors at the tail end of 2009. He’s released on the Formant, Mindset and Open Earz (alongside Indigo) labels and also has a track, ‘Sing With Us,’ forthcoming on the new fabric compilation, ‘Elevator Music Vol 1.’
To mark the eve of the New Year we grabbed him for a chat and managed to snatch our final exclusive mix of 2009…
Sonic Router: Can you provide those who may not know you with a bit of background info?
xxxy: I'm a bearded man from Manchester who makes electronic music in between 120 and 140 bpm.
Outside of music who are you? What do you do on the daily?
I work in local government. It's not very interesting but it contributes to the bills…
How did you first get into making music? What was it that infected you to do produce?
I had just dropped out of Uni and managed to steal an aging pc off my folks and at about the same time I'd got quite into the early dubstep tunes my mates had been buying. I was messing about a bit and my missus bought me a midi keyboard to get me out of the way while she finished her dissertation. I started getting more serious about it after that. It's been about 5 years but I am finally starting to be a little happier with my tunes.
What’s your production set up like?
A mac book pro and some headphones usually. My neighbour isn't very sympathetic about bass so I don't get on my monitors as much as I wish but they are there when I mix down.
In terms of software I use Ableton for production and for playing out. Sometimes there is a lot of stigma aimed towards DJs who play off laptops, I don’t know about anyone else but I go to clubs to listen to music dance and have a good time. I couldn't give a flying fuck if someone plays off a laptop, CDs or vinyl as long as I enjoy the tunes.
I can do a lot more interesting things with Ableton and a midi controller than I can with a set of decks and some 12"s. I still buy records, I love records and it’s an addiction I don't think I will ever shake. Often I will buy both the 12" and the mp3 release as I am too pressed for time (lazy) to rip the tunes myself.
How would you describe your sound to someone zoning in for the first time?
I dunno maybe a mix of techno house and garage with a smattering of other sounds…?
Whats the deal with the xxxy moniker? You keen on chromosomes or sommat?
It was a name that came into my head when I was walking home one day, I liked the ambiguity of it at the time and it stuck.
Also I’ve seen it written in numerous different ways. Whats your official line, XxXy, XXXY or xxxy?
xxxy - pronounced triple x, y
You used to produce as forensic (mcr), what made you change names/directions?
I produced as forensix (mcr) and released ‘1st Dynasty’ b/w ‘Solace’ on Revolution music in ‘07 but whilst it went down very well I had only just started making music properly and I wasn't happy with my sound; so I backed off for a while and wanted to start afresh so I came back with some better productions and a new name.
Your productions fuse house, garage and techno what is it about the slower than 140bpm tempo that you prefer?
I love the grooves and shuffle of house, garage and techno. Really rigid tunes can get a bit dull after a while.
Is that the kind of background you come from?
Not at all, I grew up listening to britpop and indie and I still listen to a bit of it. I would say some of my influences at the moment would be Rhythm and Sound, Carl Craig, Karizma, Modern Love releases, Theo Parrish and many, many more.
You’re involved with the Mindset label, further than just releasing on the label, right? What does this involve for you?
I assist Indigo with promotion and anything else he needs help with, it's a label that means a lot to me. The belief and enthusiasm he has for the music he puts out is very infectious.
You are a Manchester resident I believe, what’s the scene like up there?
The scene is hit and miss, as I am sure it is in most cities. There are some really good nights; Strange Fruit which has the finest array of residents anywhere in the country in my opinion - Rich Reason, Inidigo, Synkro, Andro and Dimit and Fantastic Mr Fox… Hit and Run, Curve, Soul:ution (which made it’s long overdue return this year) and Sicknote (which I help promote and I'm a resident at).
We are blessed with some great record shops too; Eastern Bloc, Piccadilly Records are great for house and techno and you can always pick up some second hand bargains at Vinyl Exchange.
Tell us a little bit about your mix, how did it come together, what tracks had to be in there and what other tracks are you digging right now?
I was off work sick with the flu and started listening to a lot of deep house and I thought it would be interesting to combine it with some of the new UK house which I had been making and have been sent as well as some dubstep which I am really feeling at the moment along with some classics.
What have you got coming up that the world should know about? (releases, gigs, bowel movements etc)
‘Rain’ should be out on Pollen soonish, ‘Sing With Us’ is coming out on ‘Elevator Music Vol 1’ - fabric's dubstep/post dubstep unmixed compilation which is a brilliant representation of bass music right now and there will hopefully be a release on Mindset in the new year.
I will be popping up regularly in Manchester in the next few months and I’m playing at fabric on 8th January for the ‘Elevator Music’ launch party which will be fun.
Have you got any words of wisdom for us, and our readers?
Look after your ears; imagine a world without music before you stick your head in a bassbin; oh, and always wear a bandit hat.
Missing Linkx - Who To Call [Philpot] The Machine - Fuse (Ame Remix) [Innervisions] Martyn - Elden St (Sebo K Watergate Edit) [Watergate] Dirty Culture - Doua Puncte Ics EP [Loco] Junior Boys - Like A Child (Carl Craig Remix) [Domino] Doc Daneeka - Drums in the Deep [fabric] Coyu and Edu Imbernon - Morena [Diynamic] Mario da Ragnio feat Abell - Curcuma (Milton Jackson Remix) [caballero recordings] Martyn - Friedrichstrasse [fabric] Canard & Lauer - Vibration [Peppermint Jam] Karizma - Groove A K Ordingly [R2] Atjazz, Domu & Yanna Valdevit - Info People (Atjazz & Domu’s Bruk Mush Remix) [development music] Spencer Parker - You Got Me [NRK] Hot City - If That’s How I Feel [fabric] L-vis 1990 - Run [Dress 2 Sweat] The Discowboys - At Midnight (Steve Bug’s always late mix) [Dessous] xxxy - Blue Flashing Lights [dub] Forsaken - Be my vice [dub] Synkro - Digital Soul [dub] xxxy - Flew [dub] Hypno - Telescope [dub] Joy Orbison - Wet Look [Hotflush] Mr Gasparov - 1975 [Steakhouse] Spatial - 90729 [Infrasonics] Fantastic Mr Fox - Sketches [Black Acre] Octa Push - Ai Nadia [Steakhouse] Geiom - No More Tears [Berkane Sol] Groove Chronicles - Stone Cold [DPR Recordings] Octa Push - Laika Likes it [Steakhouse] Brackles - Lizards [Applepips] F - Untitled Dub [7even] Appleblim - Vansan (Gatekeeper Remix) [If Symptoms Persist] xxxy - You Always Start It [dub]
Catch xxxy at the Elevator Music launch party on Friday 8th January at fabric:
Mini(mega)mix of the new 'Elevator Music' 'bass music' compilation on fabric Records. Minimix by mlr // Art by Remote Location // Animation by Peter Dickinson
Note: If you pre-order the CD you can get entrance to the launch party on the 8th Jan (featuring Untold, xxxy, Shortstuff, Mosca and Vista) for a tenner.
Scottish beat constructor Rustie uploaded his much sought after refix of Keisha Cole to his myspace for a FREE download earlier today. The producer may be in the lab working on his debut release for Warp but today he's also been announced for a live set on a super stacked line up in Room One at fabric in early January at a Numbers event that's running alongside the launch of the 'Elevator Music' compilation.
Mosca's sometime DJ partner, Unknown Soulja, has put together a promo mix for his appearance at Um Bongo in Bethnal Green, on the 27th Novemeber (alongside the one Jackmaster and Cooly G). The tracklist is weighty weighty...
1. Jam City - In The Park 2. Al Ripken & Diamond K - Hands in the Air (Bok Bok remix) 3. Deadboy - Heartbreaker (Julio Bashmore remix) 4. Busy Signal - Picante (So Shifty remix) 5. Dubbel Dutch - Throwback 6. Martyn - Mega Drive Generation 7. Joy Orbison - BRKLN CLLN 8. Major Notes - \holy Ghost 9. Doc Daneeka - Drums in the Deep 10. Mosca - Gold Bricks I See You 11. Demdike Stare - Janissary 12. Movado - Fall Rain Fall (Survivor riddim) 13. Matt Shadetek ft Rustee Juxx - BK Assassin 14. Deadboy - Long Way 2 Go 15. Tego Calderon - Sudamelo Que Hace Calor 16. Busy Signal - Blaze Up Di Herbs 17. Red Rum ft Rick Ross - Thats on My Momma 18. Ikonika - Sahara Michaels 19. Major Lazer ft Vybz Kartel - Pon De Floor (R1 Ryders remix) 20. Untold - Dont Know Dont Care 21. LD - Shake it 22. Sbtrkt - Inamillion 23. Shortstuff - Progression 24. Wiley - Sidewinder (Vocal medley) 25. Busy Signal - Da Style Deh (Douster's Dagga Dagga Mix) 26. Busy Signal - Rass Out/Da Style Deh (Smutlee' blend) 27. Douster - Alleluja 28. Mosca - Square One (Roska remix) 29. A1 Bassline ft Saffie -Girl Thing (Christian Martin remix) 30. Hackman - Multicultural 31. T Williams - Flooring 32. Kazey & Bulldog - Gangster 33. XXXY - Sing With Us 34. Gremino - Screech 35. James Fox - Lighter Work refix 36. Vato Gonzalez - Badman Riddim 37. Mosca - Nike (DJ Edit) 38. Vybz Kartel - Genie Wine (Fitness riddim)
Fresh from being supported by Gilles Peterson and landing a track on fabric's 'Elevator Music Vol. 1,' compilation, Hackman, has put together a mix for Blackdown's blog to accompany an interview.
1: Hot City - If That's How I Feel 2: xxxy - Sing With Us 3: Doc Daneeka - Drums In The Deep 4: Hackman - Pistol. In Your Pocket 5: Julio Bashmore - The Moth 6: Untold - Bad Girls 7: Octa Push - Doctor Bayard 8: Shortstuff - Behave 9: Skinnz - Ukraine 10: Mosca - Gold Bricks, I See You 11: Martyn - Friedrichstrasse 12: Vista - Elixir 13: Caspa & Rusko - One Of The Same 14: Om Unit - Encoded 15: Starkey - Black Monolith 16: Shortstuff & Brackles - Melvin Blue (Digital Bonus Track)
The compilation will be released on January 18th 2010.
So you thought I was lying when I wrote this, "Our inability to stress how good XLR8R has been in securing heavyweight mixes has been a burden on every evening's last moments for a couple of months now," about the recent Wireblock mix XLR8R hosted...?
Following probably the best photograph to emerge of Jack Dunning of late (pictured) comes one of the biggest mixes he's offered out to the internet.
