Combitronic

So much happening! Our first Death Strobe release is out this Friday so shit's getting real. I've got so many amazing new records stacking up that I need to unleash, so here are a few quickies.

My fave off the second Public Release record by Jacques Renault is this cosmic pumper. Whilst it's a fantastic release and I recommend everyone get a copy if you want to crush some dancefloors, I have to take a moment to whine about picture discs. Fuck I hate them so much. It's unbelievable how noisy most of them are! The 'silence' inbetween tracks sounds more like a choir of chainsaws. There's nothing wrong with plain black! OK OK they're fun and all, yes I'm a cynic, but siffff press a record if it's not going to sound incredible. Still, the edits on this 12" are all rock solid. And in particular, Come On Y'all is a real mint boogie.

Jacques Renault - Come On Y'all [buy]

For the past few months every time I listen to this Stilove4music release my feelings for it change - there's been love, hate, indifference and everything inbetween. Justus Kohncke transforms three Chic tunes into dubbed out robot disco that sometimes hits the spot and other times leaves me dissatisfied or hungry for more development. I won't deny his disco-dub-acid-tech-blend style is a really beautiful thing. And I'll admit that although this record and I have had our rough patches, a strong bond has grown between us for better or for worse. On the right night this is absolute bliss on the floor.

Justus Kohncke - The Clock Keeps Turning [buy]

Anyone know what the deal is with these Demo-Disc records? Who's behind them? It seems like there are 3 new ones each week, the turnover is insane! Anyway I'm particularly fond of this Yam Who? one which includes a nice gently extended version of Starlight by Risqué. The thing that will probably excite a lot of people, though, is the edit of Anthony & The Camp's 'What I Like' which Tensnake constructed Coma Cat upon. Festive, Jolly 80s party fun! These records are at very least worth keeping track of in case more crackers like this one pop up.

Yam Who? - You Can Do It [buy]

And a couple of mixes from a couple of my favourite couples, Softwar and Slow Blow. (The SB mix is just by G-ORGY but that would ruin my coupling). Softwar's mix nicely represents their deep loungey approach to the disco vibe, populating the hour with smooth grooves that escalate in energy without becoming any more abrasive. George's recording is a sterling exploration of a wide range of sounds, from house to techno to funk, which remains beautifully cohesive throughout. SO PROUD OF U BOYS~

Softwar - Live In July

G-ORGY - The Cybernetic Love Vinyl Mix

Don't forget about our GoodGod party next Friday!! Flyer + Facebook link is over to the right. I just spent 70 pounds on the first C.O.M.B.i. record so I need you all to help me make the money back! eep what have I done..

The Jacques Perspective

Was so great to finally see the man Jacques Renault play some tunes at The Civic the other week after a couple of missed opportunities over the last two years. I'd be tediously repeating myself by noting he's responsible for a stack of beastly edits, he's one half of Runaway, he runs a young label called On The Prowl and he's up with the very best in the disco arena. Clearly I'm no journalist but Jacques, being the sympathetic gentleman that he is, kindly answered a few quick Q's about current happenings.

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DD: I hear you started out as a D&B DJ - after being a viola whiz, no less. Was that the first kind of 'dance' music you got into? Where did that initial interest come from?

JR: Growing up I went through quite a few phases. It wasn't until I was 18 and went to this party called Cold Rice -that's where I first heard Soul, Dancehall and Drum & Bass all at the same party and was so excited about it. I started collecting more electronic records and got myself some turntables when I moved to Chicago for school.

DD: Were you into buying records as a kid? What kind of stuff did you dig growing up?

JR: I started buying punk records when I first got into records. I was pretty obsessed with the early DC hardcore stuff and then the early 90s post punk sound. I feel pretty lucky where I grew up and what kind of music was going on at the time.

DD: Hit me with 3 of your most cherished records.

JR: Here are the first 3 that come to mind:
Grauzone - Eisbaer
Loose Joints - Tell You Today
Fred Wesley - House Party

DD: How about all time favourite DJs?

JR: I like to listen to old Ron Hardy Mixes online. Some of them are really amazing, I wish I got to experience that...

DD: Getting down to business: some people I've spoken to feel that, with the current trend of edits and the like, disco is too backward thinking. Do you think it's leading somewhere or are a lot of people really just stuck in the past?

JR: The reality is as long as there has been DJs there have been edits. I'd agree that there a lot of people putting out edit 12"s and like anything some are better than others, but at least people are trying new things. As long as there are creative people trying something new with other people's music, the music will sound new. If they just mimic what others have done then it's no fun. There are great producers making something new out of songs we love. If it's for their own DJ sets or for limited vinyl, I'm happy that it's still alive and we're all still buying records.

DD: I know I'm flogging a dead horse here but I always like to hear what people have to say about vinyl vs digital. Personally, aside from sound quality, I have a real romantic connection with holding a song in my hand. What's your reason for sticking with records?

JR: I still enjoy going to the record store and discovering new music but taking a stack of things that look familiar or not and listening to stuff. I used to joke that I listen to more bad music but you always find something you like. I still go to the record shops and I buy online. It's just what we all have to do these days. The digital quality is a ok when you travel and the turntables don't work. There will always be a plus and minus for any medium.

DD: Blogs - another overcooked topic but I have to ask. In your experience as a DJ, producer and now small label manager, have they been handy or harmful? Is free music the future?

JR: It's true it's hard to make money on music these days, but having your own label isn't to make money in our minds. It's about having an idea and following through with it. Marcos & I are releasing a few original artists other than ourselves and it's exciting to have On The Prowl out there. I know a few blogs but I'll be honest I don't really look at too many. I know who some people are and I think it's great to hear their stories and success... the reality is people learn about music this way and that's fine by me. It's nice to see our music online on the blogs and in the shops.

DD: Going back to that question about disco progressing; which producers and labels do you think are really carrying things forward and breaking new ground?

JR: Lots of great stuff happening. I'm a big fan of what The Revenge, Azari & III, TBD, Holy Ghost, Cosmo Vitelli, Andy Ash, Tensnake, are doing...to name a few. Labels like Rong, DFA, Golf Channel, Instruments of Rapture, Running Back are a few favs. This is always tough, I feel like I'm forgetting something..

DD: Any chance you like Twin Peaks?

JR: ha yeah I've seen the movie. I like the reference...

DD: Finally, what's on the cards for you in the next 12 months?

JR: More traveling and production of original work and remixes. Plus Marcos & I are working on our Runaway Live set. 2010 is going really well.

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For further proof of Jacques' talents, gobble up these tracks. One of the edits from his RVNG of the NRDS which started this snowball rolling; a deep Runaway contribution to the I'm A Cliche catalogue; and some large-but-smooth house from the second OTP record. Big winners.

Jacques Reanult - Tuxedo Dance

Runaway - Your League [buy]

Jacques Renault - Love & Happiness [buy]

Also check out Video 1, Video 2 and Video 3 of a great in-depth interview with Jacques by pals Future Classic. They're heaps better than me. And they're hosting Prince Language this Saturday! Check it out.

Know what else is good? This old Greg Wilson remix of Gary Davis. That's what.

Gary Davis - The Professor's Here (Greg Wilson Remix) [buy]

Could the formatting of this post get any worse? I should stop asking rhetorical questions. Is it irritating? Don't answer that.

BACK WITH MORE LATER IN THE WEEK, TOODLES

On The Mend

Still recovering from the last two brutal weeks, I'll do my best to pick my tattered self up off the floor and post more music. Thanks to those who came to our Death Strobe party! There are probably one or two of you in the universe who didn't manage to make it down and grab one of the CDs we were handing out and I really want to share this amazing Trus'me tune - big thanks to Willy for sending it to me! Domestic aggression has never sounded so good. This was originally on a Stilove4music release but later put out independently - seems Trus'me was another victim of SL4M's non-paying ways. Dodgy.

Trus'me - Tony Does What Tony Wants [buy]

This gorgeous balearic number was sent in by a lad from Indonesia producing as Midnight Savari. Light and spacey but very very groovy with more depth than it lets on. Check out a broad spectrum of tunes on his SoundCloud, although they're from a different project. Can't wait to hear more!!

Midnight Savari - Pinisi

For the record, Jacques Renault's set on Saturday was a blinder. As is his latest Mystery Meat release with Lee Douglas which I've been holding out on posting. Alas, I can hold on no longer. The A-side, Pump, is featured in his Ones & Twos mix: huge party disco with commanding vocals and some added-synth beefiness. But for me their edit of Love Exchange's 'Got To Find A Disco' is the centrepiece. Granted it needs to be heard LOUD LOUD LOUD but it funks so fucking hard. It's really raw and thumping, totally unrelenting in its grooviness. Definitely one of the best records in the last couple of months.

Jacques Renault & Lee Douglas - Got To Find A Disco [buy]

And for good measure, a classic by Slick which everyone remembers from Erol's original Disco 3000 set. Or that Jeff Mills classics comp. Or from 1979 if you're really legit.

Slick - Space Bass

OK BIBI

Joyeux Anniversaire!

At long last the postman has been kind and the new wax is flowing again. This little blog turned 3 years old a couple of weeks ago and I think these tunes are worthy of a bit of a celebration post. So far these Black Cow 45s have scored a big 2 out of 2. So vintage yet so fresh. The A-side on the second release, O.P. Connection, is a dense party-funk jam with noodling bass and an over-excited horns section. These will continue to sell out seriously quickly so be alert like the grasshopper.

Black Cow - O.P. Connection [buy]

Long awaited edit on Golf Channel, as first heard on Justin Vandervolgen's incredible Try To Find Me Vol. 2 mix CD. TBD (Justin and Lee Douglas) are for me one of the most exciting duos going around at the moment. This track in particular drives me crazy, especially the second half where the electronics take hold and the dancing gets serious. Although the latest DJ Nature 12s honestly haven't really appealed to me, Golf Channel is still around the top of my list for labels that make me froth and this is a perfect example of why. DJs: this is a must have weapon.

Note: As requested I've replaced this with a Youtube link. Listen listen listen then BUY BUY BUY. Way too fucking good.

Try To Find Me - Get To My Baby (TBD Extension) [buy]

I LOVE YOU DANNY WANG, FO REAL. This new bootleg of an unearthed symphonic disco classic is just exceptional. Despite a bit of looping/extending towards the end, this is supposedly pretty much the original tune. If anybody could ID the original artist I'd be thrilled! Straight up this is one of my favourite records of the year so far. The B-side is a slow ballroom disco number which apparently comes from a 70s German TV show? To me it has a really cheesy Chinese string ballad vibe to it. An ID on that would be great too! This is so so so essential!

Danny the Dancer presents Oto Gelb - Love Tragedy In Verona [buy]

Really digging the direction Jacques Renault is taking at the moment - this latest edits record of his for On The Prowl is full of classic pumping house tunage. This track, which happens to be my favourite on the record, really isn't at all a good indicator of what else is on here... In The Middle Of The Night is a lovely, semi-mellow, soulful number that is certainly a few notches lower on the pump scale than the other three songs. This too will sell out in a flash if it hasn't already. Get hunting!

Jacques Renault - In The Middle Of The Night [buy]

Finally, after listening to Harvey's essential mix for probably the 300 millionth time yesterday, then chucking on some of the individual tracks afterwards, I decided I just can't listen to Dear Limmertz (by Azymuth) without immediately hearing Don Blackman's 'Heart's Desite' straight afterwards. Ever since hearing the two songs back to back I find it impossible to separate them. So here is the very partnership that makes me weak at the knees, the two simply sticky taped together as is done in the mix. I suppose it's nothing more than the way the hot-as-fuck basslines from each song compliment each other, but it drives me crazy. Enjoy!

Azymuth & Don Blackman - Limmertz's Desire

Thanks for reading and keeping this thing alive another year! The next 12 months promise to be pretty amazing: more more more great records, some actual output on our record label, and probably a fortnightly DD podcast starting very soon. Stay cooooooooool!! xx

DDEEAATTHH SSTTRROOBBEE

Uh oh, welcome to spam city. Sorry but I'm going to be wanking on about our label's launch party at GoodGod until the day. Which is April 9th in case you've forgotten :) We'll be hiring a Funktion One system, or something of similar awesomeness; our first signing Domeyko/Gonzalez will be bringing in the live show; wonderful special guests will be gracing the decks; and we'll be sweating sangria to impossibly hip disco music all night. If you're in Sydney pretty please come party with us! It happens to just about coincide with this little blog's 3rd birthday so consider it a double celebration. If you're not in Sydney, build a raft and start paddling!

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This new Jacques Renault mix is absolutely fucking spectacular. I only just noticed Discobelle posted it a couple of days ago and said it's 'perfect for a lazy weekend'... Perhaps if you enjoy dancing to the sound of circular saws and jackhammers and TVs on static and Limp Bizkit performing in a wood chipper, otherwise this is an absolute dancefloor crusher. The whole thing is full of thumping funky disco house and a few tracks I'm desperate to ID - if anyone could spot the second track that would be super fab! Also the track around 40 mins which samples First True Love Affair.. It's a fucking beast. This shit is crucial for getting the juices flowing before a big night out at the dancetaria. Have also chucked in the first track by Average White Band which is a cover of Ned Doheny's 'Get It Up For Love', the only moment of so called 'laziness' to be seen anywhere in this mix. A real nice laid back groover.

Jacques Renault - One's & Two's Mix

Average White Band - Get It Up For Love

I can't believe it, the first Mad on the Moon release (the most recent being the Heels of Love track I posted a few weeks ago) has been sitting in the corner of my room for almost a year, having been misplaced and put in with some very old music I'll probably never listen to again. AND it's by The Love Supreme which makes it hurt twice as bad. The Simone Fedi remix on this record is really huge, the aggressively slappy bass plods it out in the middle while synths and guitars and all kinds of instruments snowball into what ends up being a really chunky high energy song. I'm really digging this label, even more-so now that I've 'discovered' their first release.

The Love Supreme - Tangram (Simone Fedi Remix) [buy]

A mate of mine very kindly got me a CD this week with the most fantastic name. 'Nigeria Disco Funk Special: The Sound Of The Underground Lagos Dancefloor 1974-79' is a killer collection of really soulful funk jams with an authentic vintage sound, the kind that artists like Quantic Soul Orchestra and the Mighty Imperials strive for. Don't need to say much except it's just top fucking quality music made by honest and simple people who loved their grooves. I can't wait to dust off all the similar music I'd forgotten long ago!

Asiko Rock Group - Lagos City [buy]

NYC Sound Record is a really weird label.. Their first release, a fantastic King Onkyo edits record, has been followed by a heap of digital-only releases, and I'm struggling to work out the purpose of a lot of them. Some are barely more than a 4 simple bar loop continuing unchanged for up to 8 minutes, and most of the releases come with bonus beats which makes me think they must just be going for the DJ tool market. But then why go from vinyl to digital? ANYWAY, this one song I really quite like and it's not as repetitive as most of the others. Similar bass to the Love Supreme track, super-slap and beefy, with an obscure kind of disco vibe going on over the top. In any case the whole thing really intrigues me. Does anybody know anything about the label? And what's the connection with Loft Records? Hmm.

Happytouch - Happytouch (Lost Dub Version) [buy]

OK we'll leave it there. See you soon for more ugly plugging!~

Africana

Another lazy week, sorry. Haven't been listening to or looking for much new stuff... But dug up some nice stuff today. This TBD (Lee Douglas and Justin Van Der Volgen) track, which saw an official release last month, is really cool. Dark deep techno-ish sorta house, the music carries a lot of weight in its stride - and packs twice as much on after the breakdown. Very chubby indeed, it really is a winner.

TBD - What Is This? [buy]

Also been shuffling through some of Jacques Renault's quirky house-ish loops released as the Cabin Fever Trax series. Some very fine grooves in amongst the crowd, although a few tedious ones as well. This one is unnecessarily long and could do with a bit of a re-edit to make it more concise, but it's a fucking hot groove! If you're someone who enjoys the

Cabin Fever - Untitled [buy]

Discovered the Tropical Discotheque 12s released on micro-label Sofrito Specials. Not big on volume 2, but the first EP is very tasty with edits of some laid back African disco groves to kick back to. A little left of field but could work on the dancefloor with an open minded crowd. Does such a thing exist? This edit is by Atlantic Conveyor, who do some interesting dubby kinda disco stuff. COOL.

Sofrito Specials - African Disco Power (Atlantic Conveyor Re-work) [buy]

Let's cap things off with something from The Revenge, for the sake of returning to more familiar territory. All of his edits are truly terrific: Graeme always treats the original tracks exactly how they need to be treated. For the clubbier tracks, for example, it's all about building up anxiety and excitement by keeping chorus' to a minimum, ensuring a violent detonation when the climax is finally reached. This Willie Hutch track is super smooth . Sorry for posting MJ, I really wanted to avoid it for a long while yet, but this edit (under his OOFT Music pseudonym) is a great illustrator of what I'm talking about. Drives me crazy.

Willie Hutch - Brothers Gonna Work It Out (The Revenge Rework)

Michael Jackson - Thriller (OOFT Music Edit)

TUNES TUNES TUNES. YUM.