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

In The Flesh

This historics box set especially assembled for RVNG is blowing my mind. I'll just do an extremely brief summary since I would wank on about this for aeons. 10 tracks over 3 records remixed by the likes of Jackpot, Leo Zero, Allez-Allez, Andrew Allsgood, Low Motion Disco, SirBilly, Pink Stallone and MORE. Housed in a beautiful cardboard enclosure with each 12" being wrapped individually in mammoth 32" x 24" posters. The amount of love that has gone into this release is staggering. Read the full story on the RVNG website and snatch up one of the 50 in existence! Musically the package is a lot darker than I'd expected from seeing these names, and there have been a few really pleasant surprises. This is the holy grail for lovers of physical media.

historics - City to City (Pink Stallone High By Foot Remix) [buy]

Another beautiful package is this first release on Pacific Beach Recording Company with a couple of amazing Harvey edits of Doc Severinsen tracks. Heavyweight vinyl, amazingly well engineered, lovely packaging and groovy-as-fuck music. This track has strut written all over it. Can't wait to hear what's next on this label!

Doc Severinsen - Be With You (DJ Harvey Edit) [buy]

I've had this Meco Star Wars record for ages which has been a prized posession ever since seeing Stacey Hedger bust out a blistering trumpet solo over the top of the A-side. For some reason though I only listened to the other side for the first time last week. It's pretty cool! If you can get past the tedious marching drum breaks that interrupt every couple of minutes it's a pretty hot jam. Who wants to do the edit?

Meco - Other Galactic Funk

Parties parties parties. Next Sunday we're doing another Death Strobe weekend-end at Bondi Social which will be super fab - details to come. This Saturday hit up Adult Disco at The Civic (as usual) and have a goooood time.

Cloudy

More trademark laziness tonight, i'll "let the songs speak for themselves" because I have a sore throat. Beautiful Marcus Marr release here that I should have posted weeks ago. This one's a little bit dubby and chugs away in the darkness. Very groovy stuff. I think there were only 300 of these records pressed and the flip side is a beauty too so hop to it!

Marcus Marr - Pleasure Moon (feat. Helena Ward) [buy]

Quality Ajello edit on the first Italo Deviance record which ties together a bunch of different vibes. Bit jazzy, bit rocky, bit italo, bit disco. A solid stocking filler, you really can't lose.

Ladies Choice - Stars & Muscles (Ajello Re-Edit) [buy]

Far from the iconically irritating chorus of Horny - this is a classic smooth soulful Sunday sound from Mousse T. A proper couchbound jam.

Mousse T. - Brother On the Run [buy]

Yeah yeah, The Revenge/6th Borough Project/OOFT records are like Pokemon, anyone into the current disco happenings has gotta catch 'em all. Nothing new here, however felt I should chuck something up to accompany a bit of a plug for his appearance, along with DJ Spun, at The Civic this Saturday. Another spectacular Picnic party ticked off.

6th Borough Project - Planets (The Revenge Lost Groove) [buy]

Actually this weekend is going to be a monster. Slow Blow are hosting DJ Kaos this Sunday afternoon at The Flinders, followed by Gay Bash's 4th birthday at The Oxford. Prepare for extreme head bendage.

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

PLUGSSS

Alright Sydney folk, listen good. We're doing a combined Death Strobe / Disco Delicious 3rd birthday party next Friday the 28th at Gilligans (Sydney) which will be super duper spectacular!! We'll be joined by a few special friends, but expect a minimum 4 hour set from Ash and I slopping out the discoest disco imaginable. I'm woeful at promoting so any help with spreading the word to wonderful dancing people would be greatly appreciated! First 50 people in get a CD of some disco faves of ours, including some tricky-to-find gems. Clickity click the flyer for deets.



Okies, now that's out of the way we can get down to business. Sounds Superb Vol. 7 was released digitally this week. No further explanation needed. As usual, In Flagranti deliver a finely balanced edits package. Vet is a classic soulful disco-funk groover, nice and simple, a great early dancefloor jam. Ahem is a dirty retro thumper saturated in Codek quirk and featuring a quick snake charmer break or two. I Sing sits more in the strange department - African chanting and warped hand drums that could make a great DJ tool if you're clever. Too easy!

Lemonade - Vet [buy]

I'd love if somebody could confirm for me if this is actually a legitimate Todd Terje edit of Chic's My Forbidden Lover. It's released on the same kind of white label with only the catalogue number on a sticker as many of his others have been, but I'm just not convinced by the editing style. It's still a really fun edit but all the effects and jagged cuts seem a bit un-Toddlike to me. Whatever, this is one of those tunes you really can't go wrong with.

Chic - My Forbidden Lover (Tangoterje Re-Edit)

Real fab acidic remix from Liv Spencer and DJ Spun of this track by James Chance & The Contortions. Picnic are hosting Spun on June 12th at The Civic - it's a collaboration with Adult Disco and should be a fucking killer party. And yeah, this tune is great.

James Chance & The Contortions - Incorrigible (Liv Spencer & DJ Spun Mix) [buy]

Lastly, this is the edit of D Train's 'Keep On' that was featured in Jacques Renault's Ones & Twos mix that I was wailing about a few weeks ago. This is ridiculously good stuff by Space Ranger! Would still love to know what the instrumental half of it is though, I heard somebody playing the original track recently but didn't catch the name. Spot away, spotters!

Space Ranger - Keep On Movin' [buy]

Have a great weekend, hope to see you kids next Friday!! xx

Laying Low

Heaps of great music to share this week! And some really exciting stuff coming up too. Next Friday the 28th we're having another Death Strobe party at Gilligans which will be soooo fun and soooooo disco. If you're in Sydney please come down and have a drink and a dance! Also this Sunday the 23rd I'll be spinning tunes at Future Classic's Apres Sunday at The Tilbury which should be blissful. This smooth Lexx edit should be a good indicator of what's to come :)

Lexx - Jungle City [buy]

There's actually too much great new stuff to choose from, I'm really struggling here. Keeping with the Sunday vibes, this record by Begin (James Holroyd) is just beautiful. Stretching over two parts over the A and B, this tune drifts through meditative balearic moods and uplifting deep grooves resulting on a big grin on my face every time. It's a very special record, I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy!

Begin - Optical Holiday (Part 2) [buy]

More of the deep and divine to share here - this latest Endless Flight release by Johnwaynes is really entrancing. I'm absolutely hooked on the haunting bathroom vocals and slightly twisted air of the track. High, the other song on the record, is a whole new level of deep with distant instruments swirling around in the background whilst a big full bass groove nails down the foundations. Fab stuff.

Johnwaynes - Get Up (Just John Mix) [buy]

DJ Groove Merchant aka Kozmik Rutz was kind enough to share this excellent tune of his on the DD Facebook page. Luvv social teknologie! Definitely some big jazz fusion influences here, I smell some Hancock for sure. It's a really groovy nudisco jam with a rhythm section that digs its heels in hard and a bunch of different snazzy synths dishing out jazz-funk goodness. Check out his Soundcloud, some real gems there. And make sure you get amongst it on our Facebook page, some lovely submissions popping up.

Kozmik Rutz - Kamtjaka (Kaviar Mix)

Expect a bundle of upbeat stuff later in the week - and there's plenty of it!

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