MIX OF THE MOMENT: Steve Bug - Minimal Effort Halloween Podcast

With an epic Boiler Room set from nascent Australian disco selector, Mall Grab, and a powerful, mesmerising journey from Pedro Aguiar in his September mix, it was going to take the work of a master selector, mixer, and innovator to take the cake for Mix of the Moment this month. Enter Steve Bug; rightly referred to as the “Gentleman of Techno”, Steve is the love-child of the German House and Techno era, whose DJ skills and beat selection, combined with one of the best musical ears in the business, have seen him put on some of the most seminal performances electronic music has seen, cementing his place as a colossus and “ambassador” in the scene. His 2014 Boiler Room set in Berlin is still one of the best Boiler rooms going around. 

On the 29th October, Bug returns to LA alongside dance music titans Tiga and Pete Tong for Minimal Effort’s Halloween Party – he has put together this mix, which contains some of his favourite tracks, as a warm up for the evening. Like all good sets, the first track is of the upmost importance – Bug sets the scene with Melian by Jouem, one of those dark, deep, tantric-esque techno-dub songs that steals your focus and prepares you for the storm to come. The rest of the mix doesn’t disappoint – Bug mixes across the house and techno spectrum, with classics like Doorly’s “Piano Weapon”, MCDE’s “Send A Prayer”, and Armando’s “Walk Like A Cat” the most recognisable tunes. The pick of the mix is my eyes is Sanboards’ “Nothing But A Freak”, a delightfully subtle number that is an opus to the name of the mix, and Halloween party, “Minimal Effort.”

This is not a trick, it’s a treat – get around it.

Words by Nick D

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Max Cooper - Waves [Mesh Records]

I’m always looking for the perfect song to wake up to in the morning, and in Max Cooper’s ‘Waves’ I may have found my remedy.

I always characterised Max Cooper’s music as one of the darker strands of Techno, alongside the likes of Stephen Bodzin and Recondite. However, in ‘Waves’ he trades the darkness for light with a beautifully composed piece of music. It's a really uplifting track with a cosmic dusting. Starting with a gentle hum steadily rising into an etherial crescendo towards the end. 

This track is part of his new album ‘Emergence,' which is to be a soundtrack to a new series of video art exploring the concept of ‘Emergence,' perfect for emerging out of your slumber.  

The album is being released on the 25th of November but you can pre-order below.

4/5

Pre-order Vinyl/Digital

Words by Jack

PREMIERE :: The True Underground Sound Of Rome - Sea Bird [Vibraphone Records]

Despite only a few releases to their name, Vibraphone Records made quite the impact on the 90’s dance scene and helped to shape the way we view deep house music now. The label was created in 1992 and lasted just seven releases over a two-year period, before vanishing without trace. Inspired by a new found cult following, 2015 saw the label resurrect itself for a series of reissues, starting with the Bermuda Triangle Compilation. Minimal Vision is another project by The True Underground Sound of Rome and looks to explore the concepts of minimalism applied to deep house music. September 2016 marks the reissue of the second of the two Minimal Vision records, and YoungOnes were lucky enough to hear from Stefano Curti himself, who told us all about it.

 

Firstly, thank you very much for taking your time to talk to YoungOnesUK. Minimal Vision II originally came out in 1993, could you tell us a bit about the history of the record?

This record was partially produced in my home studio in Crouch End, North London (I used to leave there back then), and partially in Rome in Mauro Tannino’s (another member of TTUSOR) home studio.
 

How popular was the record at its time of release?

There was a track from this record that was quite popular back then called ‘Vertigo’. This was because Mr. C picked it up for a compilation called ‘X-Mix: The Electronic Storm’ and also made a video. But the record, respect and popularity grew retroactively, as often happened with our releases.
 

There are three previously unreleased tracks on the new record. Could you tell us a bit about them and why you chose them specifically?

‘Once Upon a Time in Labaro’ is a new track that I wrote in 2015 and we decided to add it as a bonus track. Labaro is the name of the district where we had our home studio in Rome back in the days. ‘Satellite’ is a very rare, previously unreleased track from 1995. ‘Ghost Submarine’ is a track we did in 1996 for my dear friend Tony Thorpe for his label Language Records, featuring on a compilation called ‘Miscellaneous The 2nd’, but was never released on Vibraphone. 
 

How come Vibraphone has waited so long to reissue their back catalogue?

Well…life you know…we all went our different ways, doing different things to pay the bills as Vibraphone was not making that much money…and honestly I was not aware of the huge respect and cult status the label had reached until a couple of years ago when my friend Stefano Di Carlo informed me and so we felt it was the right time to do it and also felt a new revitalized energy and desire to also write some new material.
 

Is it to possibly coincide with a recent increase in interest in early Italian house records? I know that recently, labels like Flash Forward have sprung and have been reissuing some of the great UMM and Mystic Records releases?

To be honest we were not aware of this new trend and it was more of a coincidence. I spoke with a friend of mine in Sweden and he told me to contact Juno Records because he thought they would be interested in re-launching the label.
 

Lastly, I read last year when the Bermuda Triangle reissue came out that a collector's item box set was in the pipeline? Is this true and if so can we expect to see it any time soon? 

Yes, we are thinking about making a CD box set that will include all of our 90’s catalogue, but I don’t know exactly when...possibly in 2018. At the moment we are working on some more re-issues of our 90’s catalogue and also working on a new double album of all new material. This project will explore new ambient/drone orientated territories. We are also producing some new artists.
 

Pre-order Minimal Vision II

Words by Tom G

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Dinky - Casa (Axel Boman Dub Mix) [Crosstown Rebels]

You know those tracks you want to watch the sun come up to? Well this is that in a heartbeat. Deep bass, 'dinky' hi-hats and vocals that sound as if they're sampled from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. All swung together to produce a mesmeric track.

That all being said, the cracks and drums that come in around the half way mark make it a dance-floor belter. Could we quite possibly have the best of both world's here? With a host of releases on DJ Koze's infamous Pampa Records over the years it's not surprising the Scandinavian don has pulled it out the bag.

Midnight or sunrise Axel Boman has done us a huge favour here nonetheless. Similarly to what he did with Todd Terje's Inspector Norse, he's built on the foundations of a corker and turned it into a beast - Treat your ears!

4.5/5

Buy: Vinyl / Digital

Words by Nick C

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Damiano Von Erckert - Housem III [Ava Records]

Damiano von Erckert is back on his very own ava. label with this one-sided garage-house slammer, Housem III.

His hectic summer on the international DJ circuit must have prevented him from releasing anything since the 'Also Known As Good' album that came out last year.

The track pays homage to that swinging-house style so recurrent throughout AVA's back catalogue. This one's perfect for that mid-set lift with the perfectly sourced and arranged vocal stabs. Damiano von Erckert does it again... 

4.2/5

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Matt B

OLD'n'GOLD: Jerome Sydenham & Dennis Ferrer - New York Chronicles Vol.1 [Ibadan Records]

Repress alert! Jerome Sydenham’s Ibadan records release a remastered version of the huge New York Chronicles Volume 1, featuring arguably Ferrer & Sydenham's best work together.

I’ll cut to the chase; 'Son Of Raw,' which was originally released as a single sided, “radio use only” promo in 2005 and was “dedicated to Kerri Chandler,” is in my opinion what Detroit groove stands for.

Having first seen the damage this dancefloor bomb can do in Move D & Optimo’s 3 hour destruction of Boiler Room Berlin a few years ago, I’m still feeling the force… Every time. This is a top draw slice of raw, stripped back deep house that oozes groove. It’s got the whole package, 10/10, the dogs bollocks. The deep, moody bassline flirts endlessly with those incredibly slick, jazzy keys and a monster vocal loop at the end of the track to crown this underground gem. A timeless classic and a must for any house music fan - All together now; "You don't know...You don't know…You don’t know."

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Ed W-C

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Krywald & Farrer - Persie Edits 001

The Record of the Week this time comes in the form of a double-sided white label single release. The label is a brand new project from London party promoters Percolate resident's, Krywald & Farrer and is called ‘Persie Edits'. A year and a half in the making, the thoughts behind the label were to relick and touch up some old classics enabling them to be club ready or "Beefed up, pared-down and dangerous". 

Side A is an edit of St. Germain's ' Thank you Mum'. It's been sped up, shaken down and punches crystal clear through your speaker box, knocking four minutes off the original. There is a soothing build up of sleazy harmonica sounds, an eerie vocal muttering 'Mummaaa', before a brief pause that emphasises the vivacious drop. What follows is an infectious, rolling bass line littered with crisp hi hats and drawling vocal stampings. The harmonica remains present throughout to create a deliciously lazy effect that makes us feel like we are on an old Western movie set as we bounce. Already acquiring support from the likes of heavyweight, Move D this is guaranteed dancefloor fire and an exciting debut from the label. Flipping over to the B we have Gwen Macrae's shrill voice coaxing and cuddling us through a bounding, and super energised disco cut. 'Winner's Together' is delightful, laden with plenty of percussion and a seductive sax breakdown to have you reaching for the stars towards the end of the night. After a release on 30th August, with only 300 copies pressed they have already sold out over at bandcamp but if you are quick off the mark, record stores such as Rough Trade & DEEJAY may have a few left this coming week. Hold tight for PERSIES002 incoming next month!

4.5/5

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Oli

Why we shouldn't close fabric...

Shutting down a legendary institution like Fabric would be another predictably draconian approach to far more complex issues that society and governments ought to be discussing. 

Fabric is a world revered bastion of UK & global underground electronic music. It has been pioneering and cultivating a swathe of genres over many years. People travel to London globe-over to experience the blazon of venue, visual and audio ascendancy that lies deep below ground at 77 Charterhouse Street, Farringdon. Fabric’s pulse is entirely unique and irreplaceable. Let’s not forget this venue has been voted the best nightclub on the planet twice in recent years and has a body-sonic dance floor. The concept was“conceived by people that go to clubs, for people that go to clubs”. It has executed that purpose with nothing but greatness since it’s doors opened in 1999. A late-night jewel in the midst of our incandescent capital city.

In recent times however, the tide in clubland has changed it’s course. Licensing regulations are now increasingly stringent. Mainly because greedy property developers are incessantly cramming more and more housing developments into locations that were previously free of whinging neighbours. As a result we now have an undeniable closure crisis on our hands. Sadiq has promised to fix this. Good luck Sadiq…

In Fabric’s case, it’s the drugs. Regardless of their efforts to police the doors & search club goers more throughly, deaths keep occurring. Tragically two eighteen year olds passed away there recently having reacted badly with MDMA. As long as clubs have doors, drugs will find their way in. It is the venue’s responsibility to try and keep this to as close to a minimum as possible. Fabric have ramped up the pressure considerably in recent times, this was noticeable when I was there a few months ago. The fear is now, however, that these searches on the door are so strict, younger people with less experience are bottling it and taking all of their substances in the queue before they go in. This is not a safe or sensible solution. If a more nuanced and less arbitrary approach was taken, such as on-site drug testing & advice facilities, or the legalisation of MDMA in its full entirety - these deaths, and a string of others prior could perhaps have been avoided. 

We are now at a cross-roads as a society. Consumption of MDMA has never been greater, and it’s potency has never been higher. Were it legalised, just like buying a bottle of alcohol, people would be made aware of the strength of what they were planning on taking. Given some current ecstasy pills have been found to contain 250mg of MDMA, more than double the average quantity found in pills during the late 90s, the safety benefits are obvious. With legalisation would come a much needed bout of regulation - less adulteries polluting the substance and more informative packaging indicating potency and providing dose guidance. It would be taxable - this money could be used to boost funding of treatment for addictive and socially corruptive substances like heroin and crack cocaine. It would diminish the illegal drug dealing industry, meaning safer streets & clubs as well as safer MDMA. 

The War on Drugs, as we can bear witness forty five years later, has been a total and abject failure . To continue in the same vein with MDMA, a non-addictive & almost harmless drug (far less so than alcohol) will only result in more tragedies. World over popular music culture is embracing dance-music more than ever before. A vast increase in MDMA consumption has been a somewhat inevitable byproduct of this. The response therefore ought to be a change in mindset, and responsible forward thinking government/local council policies that reflect the current climate. Closing a nation-loved institution like Fabric would be a step in entirely the opposite direction. As history has clearly demonstrated, people are not going to stop taking narcotics. Given this is the case, it might be prudent to cease blaming the clubs and focus on the real issue - we can’t stop them doing it so how do we make doing it safer.  Not rocket science…

Let’s not decimate one of our most esteemed venues into the ashes of time. It would be a travesty of the worst kind. Inflicted predictably by bureaucrats who fail to appreciate Fabric’s essential contribution to London & British music culture, as well as the importance of a long overdue re-think on drug policies in the 21st century. I urge you, if anything in this article appealed to your senses, to sign the petition below.

SIGN THE PETITION

#SAVEFABRIC

Words by Chris

WHAT'S ON | SEPTEMBER

Yes, the bank holiday weekend is over and yup, the summer is coming to a close, but it is most certainly not all doom and gloom - we have selected four mouth-watering events that you don't want to miss...

READ HERE

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Pussy Mothers - The Number 1 EP [Optimo Music]

Up this week is the ever exploring Optimo Music whose sounds see no boundaries. Sometimes fit for bedroom listening, other times for moody after parties, this avant-garde EP from Pussy Mothers goes the distance by being quirky and stretching into comfortable yet unfamiliar territory. The project is the combination of two artists from other ends of the world, he from Scotland, she from Australia. How they met, is yet to be understood but there is something undoubtedly special happening between these two – a full length album would be an absolute treat. Instead of trying to pin down the different qualities of the EP I’d rather let the listener zone in with this and get lost in the intricate melodies, influences of cultures across the globe, and discover a unique sound that, despite its downfalls, is satisfaction personified.

3.9/5

Buy: Digital / Vinyl

Words by Ben S

REVIEW: Kobosil - RK2 [RK]

It’s fair to say Max Kobosil has established himself as a prominent figure in the Berlin Techno scene, especially after the release of his debut Album, We Grow, You Decline which YoungOnes covered earlier this year. 

He first released on Ostgut Ton in 2013, with successive releases on his own label, RK and Ostgut Ton’s sublabel, Unterton. His attitude towards DJ and club culture has led him to acquire a deep commitment towards developing his own distinctive sound in his production, which truly reflects what he’s about as an artist. Not only this, but his approach to performance, his loyalty to the Ostgut Ton/ Berghain family, the Berlin scene, and the selectiveness of his artistic platforms, make him an especially intriguing up and coming figure within the scene. I hope not to overstep the mark, but I’d say the seriousness of his persona is reflected in the intensity of his music. 

RK2 is Kobosil’s 3rd Release this year, but take note, the cataloguing of the releases on RK defy the ordinary numbering system.

‘Haima’ is a dark ambient track. The distorted echoes here gradually build towards some nullifying extraterrestrial realm. This emulates Max’s non-dancefloor orientated artistic output, as present on his album. 

‘Die Schwellen’ lies somewhere between industrial and hypnotic techno: it’s shear power and will require a big system for the kick to take full effect. The rattling mechanical highs and snares induce a sense of agitation, and Kobosil’s distinctive eeriness is captured through sinister synths chords, echoes and stabbing groans. 

‘Lyse’ is made of more power: a dark, cathartic club driver. Its intensity is held in machine like screeches, hisses and otherwordly groans. These atmospheric elements of the track make it more than just an intense club track, but a piece of music that penetrates into the psyche and allows the listener or the club-goer to access those disturbing thoughts we all keep suppressed within the subconscious. There’s definitely one place where the full of effect of this track should be experienced.

Dread is so equivocal of Kobosil. Within the Berlin scene, out of all the artists emulating the city’s raw & dark sound, I haven’t yet come across another artist who captures such fearsome dread so emotively as Kobosil does. It’s what he’s becoming known for – though it’s important Max keeps refining it in away in which it doesn’t become stale, yet retains its distinctive flavor… yet, isn’t this the task of all artists?

The EP ends with my favorite track, ‘Kienitz’. It’s an upbeat energy builder, where tape hiss crackles and croaks are layered with rattling highs and stabbey kicks. This track is a mysterious rallying call for the crowd to follow the DJ into a raw psychic journey. 

It’s exciting to see such a young artist embarking on a sincere journey, through which he’s humbly creating his own legacy. Get to know Kobosil more here, in his Truancy interview done earlier this year. 

3.7/5

Buy: Vinyl / Digital

Words by Fred

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Amelie Lens - Let It Go EP [Second State Audio]

Amelie Lens has only cropped up on the scene since earlier this year with her debut release on Italian Lyase Recordings, from that Berlin based duo Pan-Pot reached out to Amelie to recruit her for their label, Second State Audio. ‘Let It Go’ EP is the result and she has certainly made her mark with a moody, sinister four track package. ‘The Finest Hour’ is the highlight with its thunderous tone and general techno swag. Pan-Pot are expecting big things things to come from the young Belgium and so are we.

Released 19th August.

3.7/5

Buy: Digital

Words by Ben C

MIX OF THE MOMENT: RA.530 Motor City Drum Ensemble vs Jeremy Underground

An MCDE b2b Jeremy Underground set is always a treat, but over 8 hours of it, now that's special! After their heroics closing Dimensions last summer I had high expectations of this mix and it's fair to say it didn't disappoint. 

This is two true selectors at their very best; in typical fashion swinging from disco, to 80's 4x4 house, to Detroit techno all with the occasional touch of African and Latin American influences and typically upholding a feel good vibe throughout. Classics such as 'Over and Over' by Sylvester, 'Shoes of Joe' by Moodyman, 'My People' by Dwayne Jensen and the newly acclaimed Laurence Guy feature throughout. However, the highlight for me has to be 'If Only' by German, Leim, this track Underground said was the best house record produced last year!

You know you're a crate digger when you provide 8 hours worth of glory, and even the most knowledgeable of enthusiasts wouldn't be able to recognise half of the tracks in here. Download the mix, treat yourself and listen to the whole thing, it's magic...

Words by Nick C

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Benjamin Fröhlich - Holloway [Permanent Vacation]

Benjamin Fröhlich brings us Holloway, a cut from his ‘Rude Movements’ EP which was released on the 5th of August. This track thumps, thanks to that iconic kick, snare and side stick of the 808 booming throughout. The Munich native layers arpeggiated synths and baselines as well as a subtle vocoder to create something really special. Rude Movements is Benjamin Fröhlich’ second release, although you’ll see his production credits all over Permanent Vacation’s other releases. If Holloway was anything to go by then we’re in for a treat with the rest of ‘Rude Movements’.

4.5/5

Listen to the full EP

Buy: Vinyl / Digital

Words by Tobias

Talking production with PBR Streetgang

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Can you talk us through how you go about making your music - what is the creative process and what hardware/software do you use to make it on?

Well we make music on a combination of hardware and software, but everything gets recorded into Ableton. I have a a small collection of synths classic stuff like a Juno 106, old stuff like a JEN SX1000 and new stuff like the bass station. Also a couple of out board compressors and effects units.

When it comes to the creative process its different every time, we tend to approach things from the start of the idea , be it a bassline, drum pattern, a sample, or something more abstract. But however it evolves a lot of the time the medium used to get ideas down is through Ableton push. Its has really sped up my workflow on the creative side of things. 
 

Do you have a particular piece of kit in the studio you couldn’t do without?

Well the Mac really .. as unsexy and dull as it is its the truth .. I have a greater fondness for for my synths and my outboard gear but, if it came down to it Ableton or Logic and a Mac and I'd still be able to make music..  


Being a duo do you produce your music 50/50 together or is one of you more the DJ and the other more the producer for PBR?

We both started out as DJ’s decades ago and thats how we met, so thats always been a 50/50 thing. 
In the studio I guess I’m more hands on and more of technical person too, but the creative process is a 50/50 thing, or else it wouldn’t work, we have to put in as much effort as each other.  
 

Any productions you can talk about coming up over the rest of the year?

Yes we have our first EP for Crosstown Rebels coming out on September 23rd, with an amazing remix from I:cube. 
Also some limited vinyl only pressings of some weird and wonderful stuff in October .. I can’t say any more about that or they’ll kill me, just be on the lookout for them .. 

Words by Ben C

MY TIME @ GOTTWOOD | INC. THOUGHTS FROM MOVE D, ROMAN FLÜGEL, BRADLEY ZERO & AXEL BOMAN | TYSON FURY IN THE DANCE...

"... it was perfect from A-Z" - Move D | READ MORE

RECORD OF THE WEEK: Tuff City Kids - Labyrinth [Permanent Vacation]

Gerd Janson & Phillip Lauer aka Tuff City Kids first released a track under the alias in 2012 on Berlin label, Unterton and since have released remixes on Hotflush, International Feel, 20/20 Vision, Systematic, Spectral Sound and originals on Berghain owners Ostgut Ton, Live at Robert Johsnon, Delsin, Potion, Cold Tonic, Permanent Vacation and its the latter that they're back releasing on with some serious goods!

Labyrinth is a four track track EP with two remixes, one by American Morgan Geist and the other by DJ Oyster, and then two mixes by TCK of Labyrinth. It's the club mix which brings home the bacon for me, a euphoric, groove driven stomper completed with sensational vocals from Annie. Check out this video of Dixon closing off Dekmantel last night with the club mix and go grab it from the link below - there is a limited amount of copies available!

Listen to the preview here

4.8/5

Buy: Vinyl

Words by Ben C

MIX OF THE MOMENT: Truancy Volume 151: Resom

Our latest MOTM comes from celebrated ://about blank resident Resom, who has gained an almost cult-like following within Berlin club culture for her bewildering track selection, fluid technicality and distinctive style. 

The mix was recorded specifically for UK music blog Truants. It is beautifully meditative curation of percussive, bleepy, tripped-out techno. Nadine speaks of the track selection saying she wanted tracks where the melody works as a layover, where “a bass-line or a hi-hat melody which tells a story on it’s own.” Prepare for an excursion of rattling drums, IDM tracks, spookey acid lines and melodic high-hats. There’s new Lobster Theremin from Snow Bone, accompanied by tracks from Voiski, Ø, DJ Jus Ed. The mix phases out with a couple of soothers from Geigling. Standout track: Ken Ishi – Cocoa Mousse. 

Read up on the in-depth interview here, where Nadine opens up on the philosophy of radio shows, queers scenes, and club politics.

Words by Fred