To get you in the mood for JD Twitch (Optimo) tomorrow night here's an interview and mix he did for Pitchfork. Enjoy!

http://www.divshare.com/download/2762665-54b

Pitchfork: Well, thanks a lot, I think this is going to go really well.
JD Twitch: Oh yeah? You've managed to listen to it?
Pitchfork: Oh yes, I've really poured over it. It's sort of what I was imagining, a mix of old and new, some historical obscurities. Let's go through them one by one.
01. Test Dept.: "Cha Till Sinn Tuille"
Pitchfork: The first is Test Department, which is certainly obscure, at least for America. These guys were from the industrial Glasgow scene, is that right?
JD Twitch: Yeah, a couple of them were from Glasgow. In the 80s, they turned into more of this multimedia group, and put on these massive performances involving like dance, and acting, and pyrotechnics. And the music changed to reflect a more Celtic culture. I chose this one to open because, well, because we're Scottish and most people think the bagpipes sound horrible! If you ever come on holiday to Scotland you will hear the bagpipes and those will sound horrible but this is just such a beautiful piece of music. And it's a bit humorous, it's like, well, we're Scottish, so he're a bit of Scottish-ness to start off the mix.
Pitchfork: Most people associate bagpipes with police funerals and things like that over here.
JD Twitch: Exactly, yeah. It can be a really melancholic and beautiful. Celtic music that isn't cheesy.
02. Tim Maia: "Rational Culture"
Pitchfork: And then we go directly into Brazil. Tim Mi-ee-a? Is that how you say it?
JD Twitch: I think so, I don't actually know. We played in Sao Paolo and Rio in February and the promoter who brought us over really treated us like family. And he knew we really like vinyl and particularly all the Tropicália from the late 60s and early 70s and he pulled me this record when I was there and was like, "You have to have this record!" And I just really fell in love with it. The guy is a member of some really bizarre religious cult. It's kind of the equivalent of the Scientologists in Brazil, maybe a little more far in than that. And he made this record to try and promote his religion. But I think this song, there is something really great about it.
Pitchfork: Yeah, I guess he had a run-in with marijuana a couple of times.
JD Twitch: Oh really? Oh, I didn't know that.
Pitchfork: Yeah, he was supposed to be big in the US and then he was found with a lot of marijuana on him.
JD Twitch: Alright! Okay, I had never heard of him before.
Pitchfork: I think he got on with the Os Mutantes for a while. they kind of brought him under their wing after he was exported from the U.S.
JD Twitch: Oh, OK. I'll find out about that because I am working on a collaboration with them at the moment, which we are going to perform in July. I've been communicating with the main guy, Sergio Dias, so I'll ask him about that the next time I email him.
Pitchfork: You're collaborating with Tim Maia?
JD Twitch: No, with Os Mutantes.
Pitchfork: Oh, wow, Jesus Christ, what are you gonna do?
JD Twitch: What happens is, they did it last year. A load of British musicians go over to Brazil and collaborate with Brazilians and then they came around the UK and show their collaborations. This year I didn't have time to go to Brazil so we've been doing it over the Internet and I'm doing one with Os Mutantes. Basically, we'll do one track and I can send it to him, and he'll add guitars and vocals and percussion and we'll perform it live in Glasgow, Liverpool and London in the end of July and after that Os Mutantes will play a full live set.
Pitchfork: That brings to mind a question. Do you play an instrument?
JD Twitch: No, not at all, no. I have a program and am constructing a song using samples from their own records, and you'd never recognize where I've taken them from. So I guess I play the computer, is what I play. But I created a whole new song using their own records. When we say we'll perform it live I'll probably just hit start on the computer and add a few effects [ laughs].
Pitchfork: Right. So not even in punk rock days playing drums or anything?
JD Twitch: Oh, three chords on the guitar, you know. I'm really lousy on the guitar
03. Whitefield Brothers: "Yakuba"
Pitchfork: And then we get "Yakuba" which is when the theme of this sort of really heavy drum, sort of on the "1," comes into the mix.
JD Twitch: It's from a reissue. I think a few are actually new, it's something I picked up at my local store. I've always had this obsession with drums. I think quite often in clubs people think everything has to be electronic. But real drums can be just as powerful in the club. And there's something about the drumming on this track that is really really fierce and I play this record in the middle of a set and it will still work in the club.
Pitchfork: You say local shop, which shop is that?
JD Twitch: Rub-A-Dub records, yeah.
04. Nino Nardini: "Afro Beat"
Pitchfork: Well, let's try to get to everything. Nino Nardini, some kind of obscure French character so far as I could tell.
JD Twitch: Yeah, he was a librarian. You know, those library records? This is a reissue on a 7" but it was on some library record that he would sell to TV channels or film companies whoever needed to use music. But again, it's got that really heavy rhythm that I really love. I think he's French or Italian. There's limited information about him. Nardini seems like an Italian name, so maybe he's Italian?
Pitchfork: So this is his take on Afrobeat?
Yeah.
05. Black Sabbath: "The Wizard"
Pitchfork: And then you go into Black Sabbath, which is really great. I got a big kick out of that.
JD Twitch: Yeah, again, the drumming on that song is just awesome. It's phenomenal. It's so incredibly funky. It's another thing that if you hear it live in a club, it's so powerful, even if you've never heard Black Sabbath, the groove sort of carries it along.
I remember when I was a kid listening to Black Sabbath and I always liked it, and then like four or five years ago I was at this gig and this hip-hop kid was warming up and he was pretty boring. And then, he dropped that, and it just totally brought that song back to me, he was into the breaks of it. It was weird and hypnotic being that it was in a different context.
Pitchfork: So you started out listening to metal, then? Or psychedelic rock?
JD Twitch: Where I lived, in this little town in the middle of nowhere outside Edinburgh, Scotland it was a really tribal place. You were either a mod or you were a rocker. So all my friends were rockers. We listened to a lot of Hawkwind, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Pink Floyd, that kind of music.
06. Johnny Wakelin: "In Zaire"
Pitchfork: "In Zaire" is apparently about Muhammad Ali.
JD Twitch: Yeah! "The Rumble in the Jungle!" Yeah. He was like a hero. It was pop hit in the early 70s. I think it was even #1. It's really cheesy and everyone that hears it over a certain age when they hear it probably laughs, but again, the rhythm on there. It's a record I knew from when I was a kid, but the rhythm on it! I mean, it's obviously trying to be a tribal, jungle rhythm because of the nature of the song but again, it's got this hypnotic drumming.
Pitchfork: Yeah, and it comes out of Black Sabbath really nicely. He's obviously white, taking on African culture. The second time we've seen this kind of phenomenon. He's being respectful-- he loves Mohammed Ali, we know that much.
JD Twitch: Yeah [laughs]. I wonder what your genuine Afrobeat musician would make of something like that. They probably think that rhythm is wack [laughs]. But I kinda like it.
Pitchfork: His album was called Reggae, Soul and Rock & Roll.
JD Twitch: Okay. [laughs] I think he was total one-hit wonder, he had this song and I think everyone was like "Ok, we've had enough." I'm just old enough to remember hearing it on the radio. It's one of my first hazy memories. I remember my mother playing it. Kind of scary when 40 years later playing records your mother liked [ laughs].
Pitchfork: Oh yeah, "Black Superman" was the other hit.
JD Twitch: Oh, okay. I'm going to check that out when we are done here.
07. Lindstrøm and Solale: "Let's Practice"
Pitchfork: Okay, Lindstrøm. Did you loop that drum beat going into Lindstrøm, because it seems to kind of go on for a bit.
JD Twitch: Yeah, I just kept it going and put a little bit of echo in. I used record and a computer for this mix so I used a little bit of editing on this mix.
Pitchfork: It's really nice...I've never heard of Solale. I don't think I'm familiar with her at all.
JD Twitch: Me neither! I kinda like the way she sings. It's this really monotone voice, it's almost like a machine. She's got a certain something to her voice. And there's a lot of reverb on it, again, so it's not something you might hear in a nightclub. It's really rocky, obviously a lot of Giorgio Moroder, it's kinda slow. And I like that slow tempo. A lot of clubs are pretty relentless. But sometimes when you're playing the tempo really low, you can get a sort of sleazy quality to the night.
Pitchfork: The vocal kinda reminded me of Brianticket...this kind of stoned-out chic, just in a corner.
JD Twitch: Yeah, it sounds like she's making up the words as she goes along.
08. John Cooper Clarke: "Evidently Chickentown (Betty Botox version)"
Pitchfork: Now, Chickentown, I feel like I heard this in another mix...maybe it was one of yours?
JD Twitch: Oh, really?
Pitchfork: But I heard it just recently. That's probably another song you remember from back in the day? From when it was bigger.
JD Twitch: Yeah, when I was a teenager it was a song that everyone knew. John Cooper Clarke was a bit of a legend, and everyone loved his words, and I went back and listened to the album, and the production on that song is pretty incredible. I think it's going to be used on "The Sopranos", we are a season behind, but apparently on it was used in an episode of that.
Pitchfork: That's what it is! Yeah, yeah. It was used at the end of an episode. Well, you'll love the new season. The final episode is great.
JD Twitch: Yeah, I might have to buy the DVD, I don't know if I can wait that long.
Pitchfork: Clarke sort of looked like Bob Dylan, in a way.
JD Twitch: Yeah, he had crazy hair. He was like Bob Dylan in bad need of a haircut. And he always wore his glasses as well.
09. Paul Haig: "Reason"
Pitchfork: So, then, Paul Haig. This is apparently a new track?
JD Twitch: It's brand new. Paul Haig was the singer in Josef K and then he went off and through the 80s, he collaborated with all sorts of people Bernie Worrell and...who else did he collaborate with?
Pitchfork: Mantronix. Bernard Sumner.
JD Twitch: Yes, oh yes. He made all these sort of electronic records. At the time, they were a little out of context, but he just came out with this single like two or three weeks ago. And I love his voice, and, again, he's like this great Scottish legend.
Pitchfork: Which was where I wanted to ask you about the Scottish pop tradition, the Delgados, Teenage Fanclub, Orange Juice, and all this. What is it about Scotland that makes all these sort of great melodies and pop?
JD Twitch: Yeah! So many times people ask me that. I think one of the things is that people in Scotland tend to look to America. Especially on the west coast of Scotland I think America and American music has always had a greater influence on what is happening than the rest of Europe. You can go back to the 40s and 50s and since Glasgow was a big port city a lot of American sailors were coming over and American music had a bigger impact. I think Liverpool as well, you'll find a real pop sensibility and you'll find it comes from the records that are brought in through the ports. And people in Glasgow in particular are always trying to come up with their own thing.
Pitchfork: So, during wartime, maybe.
JD Twitch: Yeah, and in the 50s and 60s with the records of rock'n'roll and soul records. And it's still that way, Country and Western has always been really popular here. It's just one of those things. And I think that can be translated into bands like Orange Juice, which was a kind of badly playing soul band. But they really liked soul music. That's my thoery anyway.
Pitchfork: I didn't realize Mark Knopfler was Scottish...
JD Twitch: Was he? Oh, I apologize for that! [laughs] I didn't know he was Scottish.
Pitchfork: Apology accepted...
JD Twitch: [laughs]
10. Betty Botox: "Cosmic Orgasm"
Pitchfork: Cosmic Orgasm, from Solid Sleep, the trance duo? From the Cosmic Orgasm track?
JD Twitch: It's an edit from a few tracks. It's a track from New York called "Slave to the Rave" by Evasion which was this early nineties kind of electronic, I guess you could call it tech-trance. And it's combined with another track called "Subliminal Aura".
Pitchfork: Oh, wow, I totally missed the mark on that. There is a track out there called "Cosmic Orgasm" from someone called Solid Sleep.
JD Twitch: Oh, right, okay. Betty Botox does edits and these are two New York tracks which have been edited together.
Pitchfork: Do you play trance? Did you ever DJ with trance music?
JD Twitch: Yeah, trance is a really dirty word now. What people think of as trance is a really horrendous musical form. But in the early 90s, in clubs here, there wasn't such a big divide-- it wasn't like you had techno clubs or house clubs. You had clubs that played electronic music. We would play all the new techno releases, but we'd also play a lot of Strictly Rhythm, nu-groove, and house. and we'd play a lot of trance, but it wasn't this kind of euphoric, Tiesto or whatever. It was deeper and druggier sound. But that sound changed eventually into this dramatic, European trance hell.
Pitchfork: [laughs]
JD Twitch: A lot of those early trance records, though were actually great pieces of music.
Pitchfork: I agree with you. There needs to be a sort of redefinition of trance music. What's good trance? What do you appreciate about it?
JD Twitch: It's something that is a little bit deeper, it's more like something you can trip out to rather than of this huge, euphoric, kind of thing that trance has become. You can tell that this is what that became. This new trance is a bastardized form of what you used to hear in dance clubs.
11. Mark Shreeve: "Assassin"
Pitchfork: "Assassin", Mark Shreeve, some kind of 80s, atmospheric, Tangerine Dream jam.
JD Twitch: How I got this is I used to collaborate with this guy called Mike, and he was about 15 years older than me. We had a few records out on Matador and disappeared without a trace. He was always trying to get me into these 70s and 80s prog records and they were always kind of a bit too, I don't know, hippy-dippy for me. But this was one track, I think because it basically is Assault on Precinct 13, which I just love, love, love. He's got 808 drums in there. There's something about it.
Pitchfork: Now, wait a minute, you were on Matador?
JD Twitch: Yeah! We did an album and three EPs for Matador, roundabout 2000, 2001?
Pitchfork: What was the name of this project?
JD Twitch: Yeah, no one knows it and it kind of disappeared. It was called Mount Florida?
Pitchfork: Oh, you were Mount Florida? I didn't know that...
JD Twitch: I was half of Mount Florida, with a friend of mine, yeah.
Pitchfork: And he was 15 years old?
JD Twitch: No, he was 15 years older than me. So, he had kind of grown up in the 70s and so he had gone through this whole punk phase and when your older you back and explore. So he was getting back to his synth roots, most of which were not quite my thing, but this was one that kind of resonated with me.
Pitchfork: Well, I've got to listen to Mount Florida again...I know it's around here somewhere.
JD Twitch: [laughs]
12. Ralph Lundsten: "Horrorscope"
Pitchfork: And this is another one that's in a kind of similar vein.
JD Twitch: He was an electro-acoustic composer and this was his most successful thing, I guess. It's actually just been reissued by a guy from Glasgow who's putting it out. It was cult record for a long time and was really hard to get so he's just made it available. But again, it just kind of fits in to the music that is happening now, and it sounds contemporary again. Music has these cycles where it just dips in and around. To me, this just kind of fits into what I'm into.
13. Sonic Youth: "Shaking Hell"
Pitchfork: And then, Sonic Youth, dude, like, what the hell, what is going on?
JD Twitch: When we first started, Sonic Youth came along and I absolutely loved them. So I went back and explored some of the first-wave New York records from that time, and "Shaking Hell", I just loved Kim Gordon's voice so so much. And this song is something that I've always loved, and it's got this really steady 4-4 rhythm so when I came across it I said "You know, I wonder if I can actually mix this" and discovered that I could. Her voice is so powerful and the guitar is so powerful. Sonic Youth are an all-time favorite of mine, especially early Sonic Youth.
Pitchfork: Yeah, Sister is at the top of my list. That wasn't Steve Shelley on drums, in "Shaking Hell" that was another one.
JD Twitch: Is it Bob Bert? I think it's Jim Sclavunos. I saw them on the EVOL tour, and I think that's when Steve Shelley had just joined.
Pitchfork: The drummer Chris Corsano is in that camp, and he just moved to Scotland, I guess?
JD Twitch: He lives in Edinburgh, yeah. We had him play on Sunday there at the club, which is incredible. We always try to, every once in a while, put on things that are a little bit more challenging. There are people who are there early, and we just wanted to see how he was going to go down. And he went down phenomenally. It was mainly club kids, but they were going crazy for him. He's one of the most intense performers I've ever seen in my life.
Pitchfork: Yes, his talents are off the chart. I was surprised he moved. There is a big free rock/freak folk whatever thing up here in Massachusetts and Sonic Youth is still here, so I wonder why he moved. It must be for a woman.
JD Twitch: Yeah, it must be. Especially Edinburgh. It's a beautifully city, it's a great city. But musically? There's not a lot going on. Unless there is some totally underground free improv scene that I don't know about, there's not a lot going on in Edinburgh so I think it must be for a woman as well.
Pitchfork: Well, I'm sure you have pretty women in Edinburgh.
JD Twitch: We certainly do. We certainly do.
14. Paul Johnson: "Rubber Band"
Pitchfork: And no one, I don't think, has put Sonic Youth and Paul Johnson together. Ever.
JD Twitch: [laughs] Yeah. [laughs]. The Paul Johnson is and old, dancemania, Chicago track, jacking. And it's a great title.
Pitchfork: There's a song by the Spinners called "Rubberband Man", and T.I., too.
JD Twitch: Paul Johnson is another guy I saw DJ and I had no idea he was going to be in a wheelchair and he was a phenomenal DJ. Absolutely mind-blowing. He was a very very nice gentlemen. Gentlemen is the word to desribe him, in fact.
15. Jodeci: "Freakin' (MK mix)"
Pitchfork: So who is MK? I am having a hard time finding out anything about him.
JD Twitch: MK is Mark Kinchen, who was a Detroit techno producer in the early 90s, but his style was more of a New York souns. The first record he made was a seminal New York sound. This is an unofficial mix he did back in the day.
Pitchfork: I can't find anything about him.
JD Twitch: That's weird, let's just check on Discogs.
Pitchfork: [laughs] We are both on Discogs right now. Discogs is amazing.
JD Twitch: It is. I have such a bad memory so often for records I have. I use Discogs to remember what all my own records are!
Pitchfork: Yep, he's in there. Boy he did a ton of remixes in the 90s, you are right about that.
JD Twitch: Yeah, there was a year when Mark Kinchen was on every remix going. And then he kind of disappeared, I don't know what happened to him.
16. Faze Action: "In the Trees (Carl Craig mix)"
Pitchfork: It's amazing the love people have for Carl Craig.
JD Twitch: He's a genius. For so long he's made quality electronic music. I have to confess, though, there was a period in the 90s when Carl was making his jazz thing and was doing remixes for labels like Acid Jazz, I just didn't follow it for a while. But then he's come back and has made some of the most outstanding singles of the last few years. I kinda wish he would lay off the remixes for a bit and go back to his own music. He sounds classic, and when you go back to it, it still sounds contemporary. He's a master of using synthesizers. He's one of the gods of electronic music.
17. Panico: "Guadalupe (An Optimo (Espacio) mix)"
Pitchfork: And this is the Panico thing you were talking about earlier. They've played Optimo, yes?
JD Twitch: Yeah, and they were great. They're on Tigersushi, who is a great ally of ours. They put out the Kill the DJ thing and Joakim is a good friend of ours, so it's kind of all in the family, I guess with Panico, Tigersushi and Optimo.
Pitchfork: We just had Joakim play here in Boston.
JD Twitch: Was he good?
Pitchfork: He was great, yeah. He went from like a disco into Italo and ending in a hard, jacking mode. It was really intense.
JD Twitch: That's cool. I've never heard him play hard techno. He's such a lovely man, as well.
Pitchfork: And tall!
JD Twitch: We almost never ever let DJs play at Optimo. Maybe twice a year we are both away and we'll invite someone we really trust like him to come and play. Our club has a really low ceiling and the DJ box is quite high. I'm 6' 1" and my head is almost hitting the roof, so when he plays he kind of stoops the whole time. He's incredibly tall, he must be 6' 10"?
Pitchfork: Who else has played Optimo?
JD Twitch: We've only been away, I think, four times in 10 years. We had Ivan Smagghe play one time while we were away. Other times we've just had friends play. Ivan Smagghe and Joakim are the only people we've had play there.
18. Solomun & Stimming: "Feuervogel"
Pitchfork: And then we have a brand-new techno jam. Is this something you picked up at the store or a promo you got?
JD Twitch: I bought this online from, Picadilly Records? No, Phonica records. It's something I read about and finally heard. It's so bombastic. So much minimal techno has kind of taken over the world and some of it is amazing, but some of it lacks personality. There's something about this one that stands out. It's something you might get sick of hearing after like a half-dozen times. It's something I was in love with at that moment.
Pitchfork: I wish we had more stores like that. Phonica, Picadilly, Boomkat, and things. I get all the emails and I'm very envious.
JD Twitch: Yes, and once you add in the exchange rate and the shipping, it gets very expensive doesn't it? My friend always complains that there isn't a store in New York that sells all of these records. He has to buy all his music on mailorder from the UK and it's really expensive! I was in Boston, like 10 years ago, and there were a couple of really good stores back then. Fred Giannelli was a friend of mine and he took me around to a couple of stores.
19. Truffle Club: "Gone Blue"
Pitchfork: I don't know anything about this one. I couldn't figure it out. I don't know what this one is at all.
JD Twitch: Truffle Club is actually a really really good friend of mine named Dave Clark, not the Dave Clarke, although he's probably been making music just as long. We put out an EP with him a couple of years ago. I work with him on remixes so I can get better production, and later this year we're going to try and do some musical collaboration. He's just super lazy and we're always trying to get him to record more music. He's also in a project called Big Ned, which is a David Lynch-ian kind of soundtrack project. He knocked this track out in about half-an-hour, and it reminds me a bit of Chris and Cosey. It works really well in the club.
20. Lee Douglas: "Breakwind"
Pitchfork: Is this the re-edit that My Cousin Roy did or is this the original?
JD Twitch: Roy is going to put it out on his label. He's a New York disco guy, so I don't really know that much about him. It's a re-edit of something... I know what it is, I just can't quite remember. He sent me the .wav file. It's coming out on vinyl in the next few weeks. I don't know that much about him. I think he used to be a drum'n' bass DJ.
Pitchfork: That makes sense. Some of the best DJs and producers have started in drum'n'bass. I think it's easier to mix.
JD Twitch: Does drum'n'bass still have a following over there?
Pitchfork: Yeah, there's still some people into breaks and drum'n'bass. I think it's the whole B-boy aspect of it. How about you?
JD Twitch: In Edinburgh there is a little bit of a scene. It's pretty much dissapeared. It's absolutely huge in Eastern Europe. Like massively.
Pitchfork: I suppose every genre is experiencing a revival in some part of the world at anytime.
JD Twitch: I suppose so, yeah.
21. Grinderman: "No Pussy Blues"
Pitchfork: Now, Grinderman. This is a good look for Pitchfork because we love this track.
JD Twitch: It's my favorite record of this year. Period. Don't even have to think about it. The first hour of Optimo we just play records. Our favorite records, from any genre, create a nice atmosphere for people to talk. This is when we would play this track. But one night, Johnnie played it right in the middle, at the peak of the night. And people went insane. And since then, it's always worked on the dancefloor it's become a total anthem. And of course, you would not think this was a dance record at all. It got the most insane record of a record from all year.
Pitchfork: How many things have passed from Espacio, the listening party, into Optimo, the dance party?
JD Twitch: There's definitely been a few where like I've played it at the start of the night and Johnnie's played it later or vice-versa. Another one was the cover version of Brian Eno's "Baby's on Fire" by the Creepers.
Pitchfork: So you were going to get "No Pussy Blues" in there one way or another is what you're saying.
JD Twitch: [laughs] Yeah. I was determined somehow that was going to get in there. [laughs]

Tracklist:01. Test Dept.: "Cha Till Sinn Tuille (Extract)"
02. Tim Maia: "Rational Culture"
03. Whitefield Brothers: "Yakuba"
04. Nino Nardini: "Afro Beat"
05. Black Sabbath: "The Wizard"
06. Johnny Wakelin: "In Zaire"
07. Lindstrøm and Solale: "Let's Practice"
08. John Cooper Clarke: "Evidently Chickentown (Betty Botox version)"
09. Paul Haig: "Reason"
10. Betty Botox: "Cosmic Orgasm"
11. Mark Shreeve: "Assassin"
12. Ralph Lundsten: "Horrorscope"
13. Sonic Youth: "Shaking Hell"
14. Paul Johnson: "Rubber Band"
15. Jodeci: "Freakin' (MK mix)"
16. Faze Action: "In the Trees (Carl Craig mix)"
17. Panico: "Guadalupe (An Optimo (Espacio) mix)"
18. Solomun & Stimming: "Feuervogel"
19. Truffle Club: "Gone Blue"
20. Lee Douglas: "Breakwind"
21. Grinderman: "No Pussy Blues"

What can I say - tomorrow is gonna be BIG!

Musical excitement of the highest order today. Sometimes you have days where a tune or record just totally get you to go "f8ck me thats special" - but the best days are when you get a few of them altogether at once!!

The first track up for discussion is Babytalk - Keep On Move from Stickydisc. Its their debut release and with the DFA links you know its gonna be good. This though is f8cking mind meltingly good. Analogue squelch bass, beautiful synth washes, and a phased in and out male vocal...this is hot...when you get 5 1/2 minutes in and the synths are screaming you just don't want it to end. So hot Mr. Jim Murphy put it on his new Fabric mix. Its now available on black plastic so go out and grab one - its sh8t hot (sorry for swearing Mum). Link here to buy and at $14 its a bargain for us Brits. They've set the bar high with the first release - I await their second with intrigue.

http://www.myspace.com/stickydisc

www.stickydisc.com

Second up is from the big bulk of Dissident releases last week. I bought them all because I'm a bit weird like that (still can't get my head round the drum machine one mind). Anyway the pick of the bunch is the Cage & Aviary - Television Train. WOoooooaaaahhhh this is good. Halfway through a guitar line that comes in and just makes me play air guitar. In a good way. And not when I'm at work I hasten to add. Anyways there's only 200 of these so get your skates on! So good it got played at Optimo FACT! And I'll definitely be playing this out on Friday night. It is £9 but its seriously worth it. Support the independents releasing stuff like this I say - the majors can go f8ck themselves. This is music.

http://www.phonicarecords.co.uk/detail.aspx?ID=25325

Finally is a newie I've got on mp3 that I know very very little about. Its a new single by Nemesi entitled JURASSICO. Sounds interesting? Its got a remix on the flip entitled "Prins Thomas Miks Del 1 & 2). Now you're interested! The second track to get the "PT Miks Del 1 & 2" after Hatchback I was intrigued - especially as its 13:39 long. So I pressed play and sat back - WHHOOOOSSSSHHH! Its a krautrocking psychadelic shot to the head - wait until the screaming guitars come in between 8 and 12 minutes and then its really something! If I heard this in a club I'd be punching the ceiling and hugging people I've never met before its that good. No idea when its out. Not sure if I'll play it out this weekend. All I know is its absolutely amazing.

So 3x amazing tracks in a day. What more can you ask for?

Thisisnotanexit Party is this Friday at Bardens Boudoir spookily 1 year to the day since we did the last one! Last year was amazing so come along and make sure this one is similarly great!

We'll have finished copies of the new single for sale on 12" featuring two Emperor Machine Remixes - already gaining support from JD Twitch, JG Wilkes, Roy Dank, Scotty Coats, Professor Genius, Prince Language, Shit Robot, Jacques Renault, Swag, Aeroplane etc This isn't out until November 26th so you'll have it 2 weeks before its in the shops!

Last Friday They Came From The Stars I Saw Them were on BBC Radio 6 on Marc Riley's Brain Surgery Show where they performed 3x tracks live. You can listen to it again by the power of the magical internet for the next 4 days and then it'll be gone. Opener Hot Ink will be on the album released next year and I think you'll all agree sounds AMAZING. Enjoy.

Marc Riley's Brain Surgery
Friday 9th November 2007

They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - Hot Ink
Pere Ubu - Final Solution
Enon - Mr Ratatatat
Screaming Tea Party - Holy Disaster
Jay Jay Pistolet - We Are Free
1000 Violins - Why Is It Always December?
Bearsuit - Foxy Boxer
Frank Zappa - Let's Make The Water Turn Back
Link Wray - Batman
The Shins - Sea Legs
They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - It's Time
BC Camplight - Suffer For Two
1000 Violins - The Candle Man
The Supremes - The Happening
Ween - Blue Balloon
They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - Living On A Island
Race Fans - Bookie Man
Black Lips - Veni Vidi Vici
Ministry - Jesus Built My Hotrod
The Pyramids - Hunch Your Body
The Ting Tings - Fruit Machine
Siouxsie And The Banshees - Melt

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/brain_surgery/tracklisting_20071109.shtml

Single of the week

Quite a few interesting bits and pieces are out this week worthy of a look and listen - the new Smith N Hack 12", a new Mindless Boogie with edits from In Flagranti, two new Dissident 12s (the one by Cage & Aviary particularly of note) plus two yes TWO new DFA releases - Holy Ghosts Hold On (a contender for 12 of the year for sure) and Shit Robots 'bells' tune Chasm featuring the absolutely immense Lonely Planet on the flip.

Single of the week though I'm going to devote to the new BVDub 12 on Styrax though as it won't get half the column inches of the above records but is wholly deserving of your attention. I don't know too much about BVDub but this is a killer release - if you're into Basic Channel or Deepchord then purchase immediately! Both tracks are deep melancholic minimal pieces of techno that are absolutely incredible - the kind of stuff that sounds the best at 1am when you're on the bus home and its dark outside and miserable and its a lonely winter ahead. File next to Burial too actually. Music you can get completely lost in. The 12s so good I went and bought everything else he's done from Beatport. Immense release. Not a dancefloor destroyer but one for the heart and soul.

In Thisisnotanexit related news I can also announce that the Professor Genius release scheduled for next year is shaping up to be a killer as we've got Brennan Green remixing one of the tracks. Not out for ages but I'm hugely excited about this one.

There's a nice article here about San Francisco and the link to Oslo and cosmic space age disco...plus a nice little section on Hatchback and Thisisnotanexit. Happy reading.

http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=4843&volume_id=317&issue_id=322&volume_num=42&issue_num=04&l=1

I got up Sunday morning and with a few cups of coffee bashed this out. Its a mammoth 2 1/2 mix so hold tight! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did doing it! Apologies for the huge length but there was too much stuff I wanted to throw down on it that I just started and couldn't stop! A few exclusives on there too!

Thisisnotanexit Volume 8

http://www.divshare.com/download/2553910-cde

Joy Division - The Eternal (Factory)
Unknown - Unknown (Burial Remix) (CD-r)
David Lynch - The Ghost Of Love (Unknown)
Durutti Column - Otis (Factory)
Chromatics - Running Up That Hill (Italians Do It Better)
Sylvester - I Need Someone To Love Tonight (Fantasy)
Maps - To The Sky (Loving Hand Extended Remix) (Mute)
Unknown - Sermon (Creative Use)
Phonique - Casualties (Morgan Geist Remix) (Dessous)
New Order - Silent Face (Factory)
Holy Ghost - Hold On (DFA)
Thom Yorke - The Eraser (Dixon Edit) (CD-r)
Willie Colon - Set Fire To Me (404 Reboot) (CD-r)
LCD Soundsystem - Us vs. Them (Any Color You Like Remix By Windsurf) (DFA)
Jichael Mackson - The Grass Is Always Greener (Musique Risquee)
La Funk Mob - Motorbass Gets Phunked Up (Electrofunk Remix) (Mo' Wax)
Chris Isaak - Wicked Game (Reprise)
They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - Signals (Emperor Machine Dub Remix) (Thisisnotanexit Records)
Nathan Fake - You Are Here (Four Tet Remix) (Border Community)
Hatchback - Jetlag (Thisisnotanexit Records)
Professor Genius - Pegaso (Silver & Kanes Roma Mix) (Disques Sinthomme)
Altz - Hilltop Greeting (Lastrum)
Buckingham Nicks - Frozen Love (Unknown)
Curtis Mayfield - Right On 4 Tha Darkness (Curtom)

There's a nice interview with Jorge Velez (aka Professor Genius) up on the 24 Hours blog so go and have a read! Thisisnotanexit Records will be putting out the A Jean Giraud tracks he mentions next year and they're absolutely deep and beautiful and I'm as excited as Jorge is about these tracks!

http://www.2-4-hours.blogspot.com/

My current record to watch out for In Flagranti's newie called Additional Alpha Blocker on Speak Recordings. I've never been a massive fan - although I did play Nonplusultra a hell of alot when it came out in 2004 - but this is pretty bloody good. The common theme is the bassline though - Nonplusultra had it and Additional.. has an awesome Level 42 bassline! It starts off deep and slow with keys and synth stabs and then slowly a slap funk bassline emerges from the mix as it ebbs and flows for 5 minutes. Imagine Metro Area with a slap bass and you're halfway there. It also sounds amazing mixed out of the Emperor Machine Remix of They Came From The Stars too! Haha! Anyway pick it up if you're out shopping as its worth a look.

Owing to the dam postage strike I haven't been buying much vinyl recently but I can say that this weeks single of the week is the mighty new release from Lastrum by Altz. The Max-Motion release which came out a couple of years ago has finally just come out on Death From Abroad - one of those records I still play out 2 years later - I even heard Jonnie Wilkes play it out on Friday night.

Anyways the new release from Altz is called VODKA BABY and is absolutely mindblowing. It sounds similar to Mungolian Jetsets work in its crazy vision - country guitar twangs, a stop start drum beat and then melancholic piano s and strings fade in and out of the mix. You've got to hear it to believe it! Anyways Juno had some copies at £10.99!!! Yes, I know, £10.99 but considering how good Max-Motion is and that was £10.99 I'll be getting my moneys worth from it - seriously worth every penny.

We're throwing a party in a few weeks to celebrate the release of the 4th single on the label - we've managed to pull this together mightily quickly and we've got JD Twitch (Optimo) booked in for a headline set of his usual quality. If you came to the last one you know what to expect - 250 people jumping up and down and refusing to leave come closing time! Anyways hope you can make it - its gonna be a good one.

Thisisnotanexit Records presents: They Came From The Stars I Saw Them SIGNALS Party

Friday November 16th

JD Twitch (Optimo)

They Came From The Stars I Saw Them (Live)

Sculpture (Live)

Simon A. Carr (DJ Set)

Bardens Boudoir, 38-44 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XJ

Easily accessible by buses 67, 76, 149 and 243

Doors 8pm - £6 before 9.30pm / £7 after

Optimo:

www.optimo.co.uk

They Came From The Stars I Saw Them:

http://www.myspace.com/theycamefromthestarsisawthem

Sculpture:

http://www.myspace.com/danhayhurst

Thisisnotanexit Records:

www.myspace.com/thisisnotanexitrecords

Bardens Boudoir:

http://www.bardensbar.co.uk/events.htm

I've just got a new ipod - woohoo! Here's my top 10 playlist for this week and what you should be watching out for...

1. Surprise Party - Fear No Fear (Kill The DJ)

Dark dark dark gothic techno - imagine if Joy Division with a 303 and a Sawtooth!

2. Juan Maclean - Happy House (Prince Language Remix) (DFA)

Prince Language takes Nancy "Take me into space" Whang and Juan Maclean into deep space disco heaven. All about the piano though right.

3. Tiedye - Nothing (Italians Do It Better)

Slo-disco cover of Metallica's Nothing Else Matters - sounds bad - in reality its absolutely amazing. Not sure when its out but Mike keeps delivering with the Troubleman offshoot.

4. Propaganda - Frozen Faces (My Cousin Roy Edit) (Wurst)

Number 4 from the Wurst label and the quality is as high as always - Roy couldn't go wrong with this though as its one of my favourite ever records. Its a killer edit though - the killer sax riff repeated more and upfront! Out soon!

5. Shit Robot - Chasm (DFA)

DFA on it AGAIN with the poop robots newie - its all about the bell - if you've heard it in a club you'll know it.

6. Chic - I Want Your Love (Todd Terje Edit)

Chic I Want Your Love over Moodymanns I Can't Kick This Feeling When It Hits. What more do I need to say?!! ??!?

7. Battles - Tonto (Four Tet Remix)

Kieran Hebden digs out his 4/4 drum machine and DFA remixes and takes Battles kicking and screaming onto the electronic peaking dancefloor. Totally deranged and the best Four Tet Remix like EVER!

8. Tony Allen - Kilode (Carl Craig Remix) (Honest Jons)

I thought Carl Craig had gone off the boil recently - kinda switched to autopilot and wishing he'd release something new from himself. And then he unleashes this ! A bloody contender for remix of the year DAM HIM!

9. LCD Soundsystem - Us Vs. Them (Windsurfs Any Colour You Like? Remix)

Hatchback and The Sorcerer raid my Dads prog collection and provide this which I can't stop listening to.

10. They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - Signals (Emperor Machine Dub Remix) (Thisisnotanexit)

Emperor Machines best remix in ages - the biggest funkiest bassline and warbling synths make this an absolute killer. Great feedback so far on this one - watch out for it on the floor!

Single of the week: Hatchback - White Diamond (Thisisnotanexit Records 003)

What else am I gonna vote for but this eh? It's now officially out so go grab a copy if you missed an exclusive white label. And if you grabbed it from a blog make sure you pick up a copy as its now mastered and in a beautiful Peter Saville-esque sleeve.

Phonica have also made it their single of the week so head over there if you're London based:

http://www.phonicarecords.co.uk/detail.aspx?ID=23055

The release will be available digitally and outside of the UK from October 8th.

Plus Phonica have some exclusive white label 12" promos of They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - Signals (Thisisnotanexit Records 004). This isn't out officially until November 26th so this is the only way to get one waaaaaaaaaay in advance. Oh yeah and there are 2x Emperor Machine Remixes on there too that are absolutely incredible. Narco disco anyone? Be quick as Phonica have low stock already....once they're gone they're gone....

http://www.phonicarecords.co.uk/detail.aspx?ID=24441

How abouts you all switch off Facebook and take a little trip around the myspace world. Go on.

First up is the new Mungolian Jetset Remix. It's creatively titled "Dominique Leone - Clairevoyage (A Medley Performed By The 16th Rebels Of Mung). A genius title!! It is apparently a collaboration with the master of slo-house-scando-disco Mr. Lindstrom - a psychadelic match made in heaven. The remix of Mari Boine is also worth checking as thats not out yet either.

http://www.myspace.com/mungolianjetset

Trevor 'Action' Jackson appears to be quite quiet at the moment - hopefully he's finishing the next Playgroup album as it's been quite a while since that came out now. Still, after his recent promo only remixes of Ali Loves Secret Sunday Lover (how did this not get more exposure!?) a remix of Pharoahe Monch'es 'Desire' has appeared on Trevor Jacksons myspace player. It appears very old skool in its take and sounds like Travor Jacksons UNDERDOG moniker than Playgroup. I'm unfamiliar with the original but I've been digging this.

http://www.myspace.com/playgroup

DFA are absolutely killing it at the moment - Still Going - Still Going Theme hit the shops this week and is one of the records of the year - the kind of joyous house record that makes you want to hug people on the dancefloor. Life affirming disco of the highest order. They've apparently remixes !!! as well for a release mid-October on Warp. I need. Plus don't sleep on the Hercules & Love Affair release either - I'm still waiting on BLIND to land but this'll keep me happy for the moment as it's so 80s sounding its just what I like. The LCD Soundsystem Remix package coming out is rather tasty too - with the man Hatchback contributing as WINDSURF to a remix of US VS. THEM in a way that I keep expecting my Dad to knock on my bedroom door and ask what this slice of 70s prog joy is (in a good way). Much beard stroking to that one. Hatchback is also going to conjure up a remix of They Came From The Stars I Saw Them slept on kraut jazz classic The Unstoppable Kite.

Anyway what I meant to write about before being distracted by DFA stuff was the NEW DFA signing Holy Ghost. I'd heard Synare Jam and Hold On care of Mr. Tim Sweeney - but now on their myspace player they have not only HOLD ON (and a nice remix of it) but two remixes Holy Ghost have done. One for US Vice Band The Panthers (which is ace) and one for Only Fools & Horses. Now I was hoping this was a nice remix of Hooky Street but its not. Its a new signing to Permanent Vacation. Anyway with no Del Boy in sight its STILL pretty f8cking amazing - deep, joyous, hairs standing up electronic music. Go listen LOUD and try and tell me otherwise.

http://www.myspace.com/holyghostnyc

Finally Sons And Daughters return soon with a new single The Gilt Complex. A great return but its the b-side thats got people talking. A cover of Adamskis Killer no less that apparently is AMAZING. So good the Optimo guys are desperate for a copy. My ear is firmly to the ground on this one but its probably wise to make a regular check on their myspace player.

http://www.myspace.com/sonsanddaughters

Finally, Hatchback - White Diamond makes its official appearance on vinyl and digital download this Monday October 1st. For those that missed the limited whites (or if you want one in a proper beautiful Peter Saville esque sleeve) then get down the shops on Monday.

And if you want something to keep you occupied over the weekend then log onto Phonica and get yourself a very very exclusive white label promo copy of They Came From The Stars I Saw Them- Signals (Emperor Machine Remixes). Phonica have 20. Its a limited run of 50. Its not gonna be out until November so if you want it before your friends and everyone else get to it.

http://www.phonicarecords.co.uk/detail.aspx?ID=24441

And goodbye.

Here's a nice interview with Hatchback for those who have wondered what the big man has to say. Happy reading!

http://www.amoeba.com/blog/

Scroll down a little bit and there you have it.....

Well. I would have put up some of the stuff I bought on Friday but the package still hasn't arrived. Bizarrely the stuff I ordered later that day and got sent to work HAS arrived. I appear to have a post thief operating in my neighbourhood as a cd has also gone missing recently PLUS a previous order from Piccadilly Records (so if you live in N16 and buy records my advice is DON'T GET THEM SENT HOME!!!). My postman is obviously into slo-disco, 70s balearic, minimal techno and 80s electronic stuff - maybe I should get him to DJ at the next Thisisnotanexit event. I wouldn't normally mind but its like £60+ of vinyl gone walkies! Dammit!

Anyways I'm gonna go and have a listen to James Blackshaw - that'll calm me down. Sort of like an instrumental Nick Drake. Or something.

http://www.myspace.com/jamesblackshaw

And then after that I'm going to listen to some more Professor Genius stuff as the new stuff he's sent me (that I think will be coming out on Thisisnotanexit all being well) is a bit special. SPECIAL.

Oh and one thing I did get in the post was the new Gatto Fritto on Dissident. Woah. Like WOAH it's good. 200 only and the only place I've seen it is Juno. Invisible College its called. Get on it before everyone else does!!!

I lost my ipod on the flight out. I'd like to say it was quite liberating but I missed that black box full of music on the odd occasion. I'm thoroughly jetlagged but tomorrow night I'll be out with Hatchback as he's DJing in support of the mighty White Diamond single (Radio 1 approved as well don't you know) which comes out October 1st. Come along and have some fun - he might even unveil the next single planned for Thisisnotanexit - JETLAG (quite apt today) and in particular the FAZE ACTION REMIX which got delivered today. Watch out.

After being away for 2 weeks I also splurged some cash on a load of vinyl this morning - maybe I'll upload something when and if it all arrives tomorrow (come on royal mail). Anyways I grabbed the Carl Craig Remix of Kevin Saunderson, the new Pepe Braddock, the Scotty Coats & Wes The Mes DOUBLEFISTED on Rong, the Pantha Du Prince and Black Dice remixes of Animal Collective and the Smith & Mudd Idjut Boys newie. All good.

Holiday Time!

I fly out to Vietnam for 2 weeks tomorrow. So no posts or label work for 2 weeks.



Here's a smattering of whats been loaded onto the ipod for my holiday.....



Animal Collective - Peacebone (Pantha Du Prince Remix)

Durutti Column - Otis

Professor Genius - A Jean Giraud 5

Chromatics - Running Up That Hill

Apocalypse Now Soundtrack

Black Dice - Load Blown LP

Reverso '68 - Piece Together (Todd Terje Remix)

Quiet Village - Desperate Hours

Rubies - The Keys (Studio Remix)

Ricardo Villalobos - Ichso

Delia & Gavin - Days Of Mars LP

UR - Journey Of The Dragons

Stimming - Getting Out

Phonique & Erlend Oye - Casualties (Morgan Geist Remix)

Unclassics LP

Rilo Kiley - Breaking Up (Loving Hand Remix)

New Order - Your Silent Face

Factory Records / Hacienda Essential Mix

Hatchback - Jetlag

Surprise Party - Fear No Fear

They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - Signals (Emperor Machine Remix)

Naum Gabo - Picture

Private Lives - Private Life

Alice McLoughlin - The Dream (Petting Zoo Remix)

Social Being - Free Your Mind



Thats enough for you to think about methinks.



If you're around on Saturday 22nd September HATCHBACK will be DJing @ Sosho on Tabernacle Street in London as part of the SOFTMACHINES night. Come along and party with the Thisisnotanexit crew! Its also Hatchbacks debut London appearance so that makes it even more appealing, right?



Holiday time.

I briefly visited the TDK festival last weekend - purely to see Keith and Jonnie from Optimo play. The fact the Queens Of Noise was the busiest room there sums up why I made a sharp exit as soon as Optimo had finished. Anyways Keith and Jonnie played a great set, here's a list of what they played from what I can remember!

Phonique - Casualties (Morgan Geist Remix)

New Order - Your Silent Face

Bamboo - Spaceships Crashing

Prinzhorn Dance School - Space Invader (Optimo Remix)

Jodeci - Freakin' (MK Dub remix)

DJ Pierre & Green Velvet - Acid Trax

Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Human League - The Things Dreams Are Made Of

There was obviously a load of other stuff that I can't remember or didn't know what they were but it was dam good. Here's the rather rare Bamboo Spaceships Crashing if you haven't got it...

http://www.divshare.com/download/1803383-52a

SINGLE OF THE WEEK

A quiet week this week in terms of new releases so I've plumped for the two thing I have got that are stuck on the turntable.

1. Hercules & Love Affair - Classique #2 / ROAR (DFA)

DFA are back to kickstart the Autumn (yeah I've given up on Summer) with this little beauty that Tim Sweeneys been playing on Beats In Space for what feels like an eternity (he's since moved onto playing Classique #3 he's so ahead of the curve!). I can't decide which side I like more but I think ROAR (featuring Anthony from Anthony & The Johnsons) just shades it. Classy 80s style house music that when it comes out in a few weeks should be 'in your cart' in a shot.

2. A Mountain Of One - Brown Piano (Studio Version)

Balearic heaven! Two heavyweights of the current nu-balearic scene come together for this blissful piece of sunshine. Not sure what a Brown Piano is but this is muchos niceness. Available from Phonica and Piccadilly NOW!! Check out Studios forthcoming remix of Rubies too for some additional aural bliss. Its up on their myspace page.

Now, the labels myspace page gets friend requests all the time - wannabe pornstars and poor indie bands generally - but yesterday I actually got requested from a really really really good band! Called The Surprise Party the track FEAR NO FEAR is an amazing piece of industrail post punk thats apparently coming out on Ivan Smagghes Kill The Dj label - check it now before everyone else jumps on it.

http://www.myspace.com/surprisepartythe

Other news from the label. Hatchback - White Diamond will be hitting the shops on October 1st so make sure you pre-order / buy a copy! Only 1,000 in limited edition sleeves.

The follow up entitled JETLAG is scheduled for release in early 2008 has been finished and Faze Action are currently working on the remix that will feature on the b-side. And I can also now confirm that Thisisnotanexit will be releasing Naum Gabo's next single entitled PICTURE. A demo version has been played by Tim Sweeney already but there is now a finished version in existence. Rather excitingly Tim Goldsworthy from DFA is supplying the remix (as his The Loving Hand alias) and that will hit the shops Spring 2008.

Oh yeah and They Came From The Stars have a new-old album out soon on Onomatopeia so watch out for that. The NEW NEW album they've just finished recording will be getting sorted out over the next 6 months. Sounding really amazing even from the rough mixes I've heard so far....!

I found this yesterday whilst surfing around - and is apparently from the latest Mixmag. Anyways its the view of whats inside Daft Punks pyramid control room when they play live. And there you were thinking there was just an ON and OFF button!

I've been listening to alot of Neil Young recently - I think its the fact the weather here in London is so miserable and grey and wet. Neils melancholy is just hitting me at the moment. Anyway after including Down By The River from Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere on my last mix here's a video of him performing one of my favourite Neil Young songs OLD MAN from 1971 at Massey Hall. Haunting.

http://streamos.wbr.com/qtime/wbr/neilyoung/mh_oldman.mov

SINGLE(S) OF THE WEEK

This weeks there's been alot of great disco gear land in the shops - proper good stuff for dancing! My particular favourite this week is a tie though - I simply can't decide between them.

First up is the man Jichael Mackson. He has a new 12" out called WASN'T ME. All you need to do is head straight for the track called THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER. Its got a really nice minimal groove, rolling bassline, a great spoken word vocal and then in the last 4 minutes of the track a reversed section of Chris Isaaks Wicked Game guitar riff. I hasten to add it sounds amazing - a truly innovative and great record, seriously.

The other joint record of the week is by Rimeroni Vumani on Magentron a label from Belgium. The ep is really strong - like Frank Hebly's Tuslangboogie which I loved earlier this year - but the track to hit is one called SUGAR BOOGER. Its a little TOO fast but pitch it down to -2 or -3 and its killer - a mixture of Metro Area disco stabs with a Luke Vibert ACID bassline this really rocks. I had a little dance round my room to this last night and that doesn't happen often I can tell you. The kick on this is something else too. My flatmate thought I was having a rave in my bedroom last night its that kicking.

Also worth a mention are GUI BORATTO's Beautiful Life which deservedly has now come out on a 12" on Kompakt. I've been loving this for so long I couldn't make it SOTW. Otherwise new balearic compadres Aeroplane pop up twice this week - firstly on a remix on the COYOTE EP2 12" on Is It Balearic plus their own debut release AEROPLANE : Aeroplane on Eskimo.
The Swiss - Movement 1,2 & 3 (Brennan Green Edit) is also worth checking for some proper disco action. Check the break in the middle - like wow.

Also worth a mention is last weeks BIS show as Tim Sweeney played a couple of new bits from the Juan Maclean. The one everyone has been most excited about (and the one I've had on repeat) is a track called HAPPY HOUSE with I suspect vocals from Nancy Whang. Built around a repeating early 90s piano hook and a DFA bassline (you know the bassline I mean - bass's now come with a 'DFA button') and an uplifting diva vocal (seriously I never thought Nancy had it in her) this is gonna be HUGE (round my house anyway). "take me into SPAAAAAAAAAACCEEEEEEEEE".

DFA have gone proper piano mad at the moment though - Still Going Theme is out soon, Hercules & Love Affair Blind is a massive piano tune, and the new Juan Maclean stuff has got loads of pianos. It's like the mid-90s never happened. I'm off to dig out some piano anthems now and head this trend off.

Finally a musical treat for you. You might thank me. You might hate me. Whatever happens it'll be stuck in your head all weekend.

Hot Butter - Popcorn

http://www.divshare.com/download/1712832-5ae

Have great weekends - I'm off to dance to Joakim & Optimo at TDK and then onto Turnmills for the DFA extravaganza with Tim Sweeney, Shit Robot and Hot Chip. Woohaa!

Over and out.

SINGLE OF THE WEEK

Smith N Hack - Falling Stars (Smith N Hack)

This actually came out last week but this is a new killer cut from Smith N Hack (their remix of Herbert was MASSIVE in 2006). The flip Space Warrior is pretty good but flip it for Falling Stars a near 10 minute techno italo disco throb with crazy underwater vocals. Definitely worth picking up - the sort of thing I-F will be all over - plus JD Twitch has been playing it at Optimo so you know it's gonna be good if he's given his stamp of approval.

I also got hold of a copy of the new Diynamic 12" yesterday which isn't out for a few weeks. Its by Stimming (One of Solomun & Stimming who released one of the tracks of 2007 so far FEUERVOGEL) and on his own Stimming doesn't disappoint. The EP is called FUNKWORM but flip it over for GETTING OUT which is the one to get into. Deep and minimal but with a real groove and beautiful violin and string stabs this is another great Diynamic release.

I also got excited yesterday about the LCD Soundsystem release planned for September. US only and purely digital as far as I'm aware but check out the tracklisting:

Sound Of Silver (Carl Craig Remix)

Get Innoucous (Soulwax Remix)

Us vs. Them (Sorcerer Remix)

Time To Get Away (Gucci Soundsystem Remix)

Us vs. Them (LCD Soundsystem LIVE on KCRW)

WOW!! Out September 18th apparently.

Plus on November 12th the 45:33 Nike collaboration will get an official release with 3x b-sides. The hope is that there'll be an unmixed version as Shame On You and Outer Space from it would be sure fire club HITS!

And then November 20th the James Murphy & Pat Mahoney FABRIC Mix will hit the stores - I wonder what will be on it....

I did a new mix at the weekend - a nice collection of old and new. Enjoy.

Thisisnotanexit Volume 7

http://www.zshare.net/audio/3129898597c3ff/

1. Pantha Du Prince - Butterfly Girl (Pantha Du Prince Lost The Beat) (Dial) with PIL Religion
2. Skream - Sub-Island (Souljazz)
3. Break Even Point - Death Of A Hills Dancer (Disco Repossession) (Crue-l)
4. Mutron - Alone (Ronny & Renzo Remix) (King Kong Foo)
5. Michaocan - 2 Bullets (DJ Harveys Masterdata Remix) (Greyhound)
6. Osbourne - Outta Sight (Spectral)
7. Subway - Satellites (Souljazz) with Truffle Club - Gone Blue
8. Analord - Pwsteal.idpinch.d (Analord)
9. Fran-Key - Tetrapod Lover (Takimis Lost Ipod Mix) (Crue-l)
10. Bo'tox - Babylon By Car (I'm A Cliche / DFA)
11. Hatchback - White Diamond (Prins Thomas Miks Del 1 & 2) (Thisisnotanexit) with Jonathan Richman - Don't Let Our Youth Go To Waste
12. Neil Young - Down By The River (Reprise)

Last year a 12" came out of nowhere on King Kong Foo Records by Ronny & Renzo entitled Uniqorns. No shops had in the Uk so I ordered mine directly from KKF based on the fact there was a Quiet Village Remix on the b-side. It was rather expensive - but hot dam it was a great 12" - I even included the Quiet Village Remix (or a part of it) on the mix I did for Roy Danks East Village Radio. If you don't know what the hell I'm talking about then go out and search that first release out - deep sci-fi slo mo disco like HAL locking straight into your system.

Anyways out of the blue dropped a couple of new King Kong Foo bits last week - and oh my if they aren't just oh so good. I've always have a penchant for epic slo mo disco (not for dancing to mind - more of a swaying) I blame my love of Can for this - but anyway the first of the new KKF releases is by Mutron called Alone. The original is pretty cool - but flip it for the Ronny & Renzo Remix where we head straight down the Mekong Delta straight into Kurtz's disco lair with its wailing synths. Seriously - this is heavy dark shit with a Quiet Village-esque groove and R-E-P-E-T-I-T-I-O-N as Mark E. Smith would say. Once the bassline kicks in and the melody rings out its absolute bliss. Its apparently hitting the shops the end of August (no doubt with a killer price again) but don't let that put you off - PURCHASE!!!!

The other new release (two at once!!!) is by Ronny & Renzo themselves entitled Big Smack & Flies. Big smack for sure this is another smack house groove with spiralling noises underpinned by the theme to Halloween. Like John Carpenter if he'd discovered the k hole.
On the flip is a remix by Thisisnotanexit favourites (seriously the remixes are constantly making me just sit open mouthed incredulously) Mungolian Jetset entitled MUNGOLIAN JETSETS MEDIEVAL KNIEVEL VERSION. Coming in at just over 10 minutes (i'm going to have to listen to some Minor Threat later on to get me out of 10 minutes plus = good mode) he gives it a sci fi techno sheen but keeps the 303s in the box this time (see Ost & Kjex for further reference). Anyways its dam fine - Goblin -esque almost. And I LOVE Goblin.

Finally I just wanted to mention the Dissident releases that I talked about last week. Turns out the Binary Chaffinch is by Chrome Hoofs drummer. The other two are by DIFFERENT people. Erm, sorry about that. Anyway Cage & Aviary I apologise! The track that they've done called GIORGIO CARPENTER is killer by the way - there was only a 100 of them so get out there and see if you can find one as again its worth it. Cage & Aviary are actually to put the record straight Jamie Paton and Nigel Of Bermondsey. Yes I know. But anyway Jamie also gave me a copy of a remix by The Petting Zoo of Alice McLaughlin who has apparently been signed up by Rob Da Bank for Sunday Best. Anyways The Petting Zoo remix might not be released as Rob might not be into it - but I'm urging you all to campaign for the release as its REALLY f8cking good. It's 10 minutes + (just!!!) and is a really nice space disco groove. Reminds me a bit of Asha Puthlis Space Talk for some reason but anyways you heard it here first - Cage & Aviary / Petting Zoo - ONES TO WATCH!

Over and out - I'm tired.

Oh and record of the week is Matthew Jonsons STOP. A departure for him but really really good!! I've also got the new Death From Abroad 12s that arrived today - but more about those next time. Actually one of them is a licence of ALTZ Max-Motion which has been a mainstay in my record box for about 2 years - dammit now everyone can buy it after its super limited Japanese pressing - a secret weapon exposed. The other one is by Mock N Toof - more on that later this week as the best side has COWBELL......

Thanks to everyone who came to the Lock Tavern on Thursday - was alot of fun after the chaos that was the beginning of the night.

Here's a list of records that got played by myself....

First set...

Panda Bear - Take Pills (Paw Tracks)
Hatchback - Closer Together (Thisisnotanexit)
Art Of Noise - Moments In Love (ZTT)
OMD - Talking Loud And Clear (Extended Version) (Virgin)
Farah - Law Of Life (Italians Do It Better)
Lindstrom - Let It Happen (Azuli)
Binary Chaffinch - False Energy (Dissident)
Dolly Parton - Jolene (Peter Visti Edit) (Mindless Boogie)
The Belle Stars - The Clapping Song (Stiff)

Second set...

Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough (Live)
ME - Rnb Junkie (Golf Channel)
Trusme - Nards (Stilove4music)
Fleetwood Mac - Tusk (Warner Bros.)
Jonathan Richman - Egyptian Reggae (Beserkely)
Jonathan Richman - Roadrunner (Beserkely)
The Monks - Monk Time (Israphon)
Chairmen Of The Board - Everybody Party (All Night) (Invictus)

Also there is now a new Thisisnotanexit Records myspace page - and now has a music player. I'll be previewing new material on there so get yourself over there and friend the label up as I'll be updating that page rather than the old one from now on...

http://www.myspace.com/thisisnotanexitrecords

Tonight Thisisnotanexit presents.... a night of musical entertainment at the Lock Tavern in Chalk Farm London. Its free entry and will feature the marvellous live talent of They Came From The Stars I Saw Them along with DJ sets from Sculpture and Horton Jupiter from the band and Simon A. Carr from Thisisnotanexit. Did I mention it was free?

Also, this week has seen an absolute flurry of amazing records hit the shops, here's what damaged my bank account this week (and which you should all check out straightaway!).

1. Osborne - Outta Sight (Spectral) 12"

Todd Osborne returns to Spectral with this little beauty - stuttered vocals, a disco bassline, and paradise garage piano. A groove and a half. And if the original doesn't hit you the remix by Luke Vibert will!

2. Skream - Sub Island (Souljazz White Label) 12"

Dubstep continues to surprise. Skreams album didn't do too much for me but this THIS is seriously good. There's not too much to it - a transmat early 90s melancholic piano fades in and out of the mix and a sub bassline shakes the speakers to absolute bits! The most exciting dubstep record - dubstep go minimal and oh my if Villalobos isn't wetting himself over this one he will be!

3. Dissident 12" promos

Little is known about these but three releases by Dissident Distribution sloped into the shops this week - apparently the work of Chrome Hoofs drummer - and super limited to 100 copies of each. Cue a mass online free for all. The first by Binary Chaffinch takes inspiration from !!!'s Me and.... and grooves along for 10 minutes. The other two by Gatto Fritto and Giorgio Carpenter are quality italo influenced disco. All 3 of them are worth hunting out. Don't sleep.

4. M E - R N B Junkie (Golf Channel)

Another limited to 100 copies record - this is a re-edit of a Janet Jackson tune as featured on the Lindstrom & Thomas essential mix. So yes its good. I know its JJ but seriously this is killer.

5. Firecracker EP

Picked up and raved about by Piccadilly and Yermam this is a funky boogie disco tune with stop start vocals. Picking up on pieces of Escort and Metro Area mixed with Theo Parrish this sounds like sunshine (if the sunshine hadn't disappeared again....)

Anyways I'll be playing these tonight probably so if you come down its a little taster of stuff I'll be playing....

The talk around town this weekend has been the mention of the Prins Thomas Discomiks of Hatchbacks White Diamond which was in Fridays Film & Music Section of The Guardian! Unbelievably it was featured in the weekly F&M playlist by Alexis Petridis - and for those that don't know he is a bit of a harsh critic and known for basically not liking, well, not alot really. Anyways here's what it said:

"Just when you despaired of ever hearing a 17 minute long Norwegian blissed out cosmic disco epic, remixer Prins Thomas takes on the debut single by Californian producer Hatchback with deliriously exciting results."

So there you go Thisisnotanexit Records releases are now being talked about in the national press. Never thought it'd happen with a 17 minute remix but there you go...!

Hatchbacks mate The Sorcerer also gives a mention to the White Diamond release in this weeks One Week To Live magazine so slowly but surely the White Diamond message is spreading.

I went record shopping and picked up the new record by OSBOURNE on Spectral - definitely worth checking out (plus there's a Luke Vibert remix on there too). I also grabbed the Al Usher release on Ewan Pearsons new label, the Padded Cell remix of Future Loop Foundation, the two new Clone releases - one featuring a Prins Thomas remix and the other being the new Bangkok Impact track Missionary On Mars - both absolutely killer tracks.

Weekend listening has been around sorting my record box for this Thursdays DJ Set at the Lock Tavern - but on the stereo has been some old DFA (Black Dice - Endless Happiness (EYE Remix) @ 33rpm!!!!!) plus the new Bo'tox track which has been licensed to DFA - BABYLON BY CAR (seriously good it is), Rubies - The Keys (Studio Remix), The Mute Audio Documents Box Set, Scotty Coats - Doublefisted (forthcoming on Rong), Stateless - Prism (Prince Language Dub Remix), the new King Kong Foo releases (which I'm gonna write about in more detail in the next few days as the next 2 releases are really REALLY good), Robag Wruhmes - My Gloomy Head (jazzy minimal balearic??!!!), the Monolake remix of Surgeon, and finally David Morales remix of Shabba Ranks - Mr. Loverman! SHABBA!

Well, I did tell you they were limited. There may be some tears from people over the next few days as the 50x Hatchback 12"s that were on sale at Phonica have SOLD OUT! Yes, in the space of 3 days they've all been snapped up. An additional 15x copies will be going into Phonica on Thursday - and I have the final 5x copies sat here. So, if you want one you best be quick!!!

Thisisnotanexit got a little mention in this months hip US Music Magazine Xlr8r - you can download it for free or I've included the feature below. Its illegible but you can just about make it out.... head over to here and download it eh?

http://www.xlr8r.com/topstories/2007/07/xlr8r_109_now_on_sale.php



Over and out - and remember the space rocket of future music leaves soon.

A quick one - but there are 100 very limited white label 12" promos of Hatchbacks White Diamond (featuring the Prins Thomas Discomiks) now available! How do I get one I hear you ask? Well, one of two ways:

1. From the rather marvellous Phonica record shop in London:

http://www.phonicarecords.co.uk/detail.aspx?ID=23055

2. Or alternatively directly from Thisisnotanexit HQ - I haven't had the chance to get these up on the official site as there aren't many available - so instead email me at simon.thisisnotanexit@gmail.com to reserve one and I'll then tell you how to pay for it. First come first served!

The official release date isn't until September so if you want one before everyone else then jump to it!!

Oh yeah and if you own an mp3 from one of the blogs that leaked it make sure you now buy a copy as the tracks have now been mastered and sound great LOUD!!!

I've been rather busy recently - and my laptop is on holiday at the moment so I have no computer access at home. I will be back blogging full time next week honest - hopefully the Thisisnotadisco mix is keeping you busy.

In the meantime I have bits and pieces of news:

1. Kid 606 is going to remix the Sculpture single SCRAM which is due out later this year - good news!

2. I may also be able to announce a couple of new things that will be added to the release schedule - both killer - you'll just have to wait a little bit longer for me to give you the full details...

3. Hatchback White Labels available THIS WEEK! Phonica will have 50x copies later this week so watch out for that. There'll be an additional few available directly from the Thisisnotanexit webstore too. Either or get one fast before the official release in September. As Ewan Pearson says in his new chart "Fuck me this is special.."

Over and out until next week when service will be resumed.

I finished a mix a couple of weeks ago which you can download from here:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/2322478d5e9ca9/

THISISNOTADISCO MIX (84 mb 90 Mins 58 Seconds)

1. Hatchback - White Diamond
2. Lindstrom & Solade - Let's Practice (Wade Nicholls Dub)
3. Frank Helby - Tuislangboogie
4. Indeep - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (Mirage Remix)
5. Ilija Rudman - UMMA
6. Faze Action - Stratus Energy
7. Emperor Machine - Who You?
8. Prince - Controversy
9. Front 242 - Circular Motion (The Delicate Genius Edit)
10. Zombi - Sapphire
11. Efdemin - La Ratafia
12. Pantha Du Prince - Saturn Strobe
13. Polmo Polpo - Requiem For A Fox
14. The Field - Over The Ice
15. Gui Boratto - Beautiful Life

ENJOY!

Professor Genius has been overplayed by myself via myspace recently after discovering him via the Italians Do It Better page (as they've signed him). Across The Spree is an awesome track and I was expecting to have to wait AGES to get hold of a copy but it turns out the Prof. Genius has made a CD compliation of his tracks available via his Tropical Computer System page - at £6.26 to get a copy to the UK its a total bargain! I'll report back once I've heard the cd (as I only ordered it today!) but judging by the myspace material its gonna be special. Deep 70s goblin / emperor machine / italian disco - tasty.

Professor Genius - La Grotta (Demo)

http://www.sendspace.com/file/am0dj1

CD available to buy from here:

http://www.tropicalcomputersystem.com/

There's a nice feature on They Came From The Stars I Saw Them in this months FACT Magazine - its free so go and get a copy! Hatchback is mentioned in the singles section (again) too.

Tomorrow I will mainly be dancing my ass off to the robotic duo that is Daft Punk. Having never seen them (I know, the shame) I am rather excited about this. Hopefully the live show will be as exciting as the pyramid they played on across last years festivals - have had The New Wave on repeat this afternoon in anticipation. Chances are they won't play it but still, its psyching me up for the Daft guys showing Ed Banger what French techno REALLY sounds like.

Records on the turntable this weekend:

Aril Brika - Groove Le Chord 12"

Antena - The Boat (Chromatics Remix) 12"

This is Rong CD

The Liars - The Liars CD

Tigersushi Dirty Space Disco 12"

Burial - Ghost Hardware 12"

Pharaohe Monch - Body Baby (An Optimo Espacio Remix) 12"

Hawkwind - Space Ritual Double LP

OMD - Architecture & Morality LP

Antifamily - Antifamily CD

Tik & Tok - The Garden 12"

Ali Love - Secret Sunday Lover (Playgroup Vocal and Instrumental Remixes) CD

Siobhan Donaghy - Don;t Give Up (Carl Craig Vocal Remix) 12"

Have a good one people.

I read about Black Affair in the latest issue of FACT Magazine and was immediately intrigued so I headed over to the myspace page to see what all the fuss was about. I was immediately smitten with the first track Sweet and what do you know its a free download and at 192 kps too! Woohaa! I even got a bit more excited than I should have done when I relaised they were unsigned - so of course I got in touch! Anyways seems my excitement was short lived as a deal is about to be done. Anyways here's a link straight to Sweet if you're lazy, otherwise head over to the Black Affair page and check out the rest of the stuff (its one of the Beta Bands new projects so you know the quality is going to be high - think more dancefloor / Hot Chip / NYC 80s disco influenced).

Black Affair - SWEET

http://www.sendspace.com/file/sfhaba

http://www.myspace.com/blackaffair

I know everyone slags off myspace and is now registering for the rather silly facebook (brilliant I can 'poke' you and then you can 'poke' me back oh jolly capers hows about I write on your wall fantastique) but recently I've been sending out promo packs to DJs via the wonderful world of myspace - and its so simple - and guess what they actually respond within 24 hours. I salute myspace for this wonderful communication aspect!

The god of minimal Mr. Villalobos has returned this past week with another EPIC and I mean 20 minutes and 43 seconds of EPIC-ness and a track called Encuentro Latinoamericano De La Soledad. Don't know when its coming out or on what label or too much to be honest but I reckon you're gonna be hearing it alot this summer! There is also a collaboration with Jay Haze coming soon too which is apparently their 'Ibiza track' whatever that means. Still, it won't stop me being excited when I finally get to hear it. Anyways I haven't posted either of these track below but the sample Ricardo has taken for Encuentro....check it out and then imagine it spread out over 20 luscious minutes. Or google it and some other blog will no doubt be leaking it.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/g0x247

As usual on my intergalactic high speed space travel around the wonderful thing we call t'internet I've discovered stuff before it gets released in the real world. Its kinda funny that the internet appears to be a bubble that is 2 months ahead of the actual physical world. Its like we've discovered time travel and noones really mentioned it.


Anyways there's a track coming out on Rong on a super super super limited run of 250 copies and 1 sided. Apparently you can only get a copy from the Rong webstore (but thats "Coming March 2007" - again another example of time travel compadres). So anyways not sure when this beaut is coming out but you can listen to it at the following link. Its by Scotty Coats and Wes The Mes and is called "Doublefisted". Not sure about the title but its a killer disco groove and a bassline that swamps the speakers.





http://www.myspace.com/thisisrongmusic





Rong are on a roll at the moment - the new Lee Douglas 12" New York Story is aces and they're also the lucky people to be releasing the Free Blood material. I tried to sign Free Blood back when they had 23 myspace friends last year - things looked pretty good at one point but then they stopped responded to emails and then 6 months later signed to Rong in the US and Adventures Close To Home in the UK. Shame.

For all those that missed my guest mix on Roy Dank (Wurst Edits Supremo - watch out for a Lee Douglas edit on Wurst soon called Breakwind - killer bassline) Apocalypse Wow show a few months ago you can now pick up the mix without the chat from the Thisisnotanexit website:

http://www.thisisnotanexit.net/audio.htm

1. Delia & Gavin - Field Effect #4 (Unknown)

2. Noze - Remember Love (Traum)

3. They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - It's Time (An Optimo Espacio Dub Remix) (Thisisnotanexit)

4. Magazine - The Light Pours Out Of Me (Thisisnotanexit for the club edit) (Virgin)

5. X Vectors - Now Is The Winter Of Our Discotheque (OSCARR)

6. !!! - A New Name (Warp)

7. Tussle - Unknown (Troubleman)

8. Blackbelt Anderson - En Real T Jukkas (Trailerpark Recordings)

9. LSB - Highway Delight (Mungolian Jetset Remix) (Eskimo)

10. Crue-l Grand Orchestra - Spend The Day Without You (EY3 Remix #2) (Crue-l)

11. Unknown - Unknown (Shit Robot Remix) (Unknown)

12. Ronny & Renzo - Uniqorns (Quiet Village Remix) (King Kung Foo)

13. OOIOO - Uma (EY3 Remix) (Thrill Jockey)

14. The Sonics - Psycho (Re-edit) (Moxie Brakes)

15. Human Beingz - Nobody But Me (Pilooski Edit) (Dark & Lovely)

16. Blondie - Fade Away And Radiate (Betty Botox Edit) (RVNG)

We're also in the process of uploading a brand spanking new mix to the site too which should be up in the next few days. Its mostly new stuff featuring Hatchbacks White Diamond coming soon on Thisisnotanexit plus some of the best stuff from the past few months from Faze Action (Stratus Energy - one of the best disco records thsi year), Pantha Du Prince, Efdemin, Gui Boratto, Frank Hebly etc. Will let you know when it goes up.

Otherwise on the stereo this week:

Black Dice - Roll Up 12"

Hiem - Clubscene Popscene (Prins Thomas Discomix) - limited edition one sided blue vinyl 12" on Eskimo...don't sleep on this one!

Paul Rooney - Lucy Over Lancashire 12"

Paul Haig - Reason

In Flagranti - Non Plus Ultra (Black Devil Disco Club Remix)

Ralph Lundsten - Horrorscope 12"

Haircut 100 - Evil Smokestacking Baby 12"

And this newie fresh from Mungolian Jetsets psychadelic studio - a new remix of Mari Boine and a contender for best remix title ever:

Mari Boine vs. Mungolian Jetset - It Ain't Necessary Evil (A Mungs Betrayal Of The Traditional Norweigan Suoivean Idjagie Dance)

http://www.myspace.com/mungolianjetset

I've also uploaded all the old releases plus the forthcoming new stuff on Thisisnotanexit Records onto Last FM - so have a listen!

http://www.last.fm/label/thisisnotanexit

The Grinderman album has been on heavy rotation recently - and No Pussy Blues has the kind of guitar onslaught that clears your mind! I've yet to experience it live or in a club but I know a few of the more adventurous DJs are playing it. Would love to hear the guitar attack in a smoky dimly lit basement with a strobe going off...but I digress, have a look at Nick and the boys performing No Pussy Blues on Later With Jools Holland. Killer I tell you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fegwnJcXH_8

If you feel so inclined go and buy the album - investigate further - its worth it.

http://www.myspace.com/grinderman

I also picked up the new Innervision this week featuring the so massive BALANDINE (i talked about this the other week - its got a breakdown to die for) and a tasty space age techno b-side ENOI. Both great stuff. Ame have also contributed a Top 10 chart to Beatport which is as you'd expect full of things worth checking.

https://www.beatport.com/

I also got the Wild Rumpus - Musical Blaze Up 12" on Bitches Brew too. Its all about the Rub N Tug Bitches mix crazy banjo like guitars, a disco dub bassline and a wonkiness that only Rub N Tug can pull off. I first heard this on Lindstrom & Thomas' essential mix a few weeks ago and it sounds like this could be a massive summer anthem. Honest.

This week I've contributed a Top 10 of my current favourite tracks to FACT Magazine Onlines Contemporary Fix written by yer man Kiran Sande.

You can read the list alongside Kirans thoughts on various new bits and bobs of electronic music that are floating (or sinking) his boat via the following link.

http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/da/55669

Its a dam good column and you should all make a note to read it every month. YEAH!

"If any of you could just go back....."

Don't forget I'm playing at the Ditch Bar tonight in Shoreditch from midnight - should be a cracker. I've been hand delivered some choice exclusives, the most exciting of which is AME's new killer track BALANDINE which comes out soon. Absolutely incredible it is. Can't wait to play it out tonight so when you hear "If any of you could just go back...." and a big drop get ready for a killer ride....! AME have done it again. Bigger and bolder than REJ but you can guarantee BALANDINE is an absolute dancefloor destroyer!

Say hi if you come down tonight!

I'm DJing this Friday at the Modular Weekly event in Shoreditch as part of the upstairs area hosted by the friendly FACT Magazine. I'll be playing sometime between 11pm and 3am, not sure when, but if you're in the area pop down to hear me playing the usual mixture of Thisisnotanexit endorsed good stuff.

Modular Weekly @ Ditch Bar
Shoreditch High Street
Friday 18th May
2100 - 0300

Upstairs hosted by FACT Magazine:
Simon A. Carr (Thisisnotanexit Records)
Baseball Furies
FACT DJs

Downstairs:
Feadz (Ed Banger)
Nadia Ksaiba (Our Disco)

£5 in all night

Track of the weekend: Studio - West Side (Brennan Green Remix) - not sure if its getting a proper release but this little white label sneaked out on Friday. Hot summer disco action from the man Brennan Green (whose remix of Andrew Allsgood on Truffle is also super hot!).

Its all about techno. The dirty word in the world of dance music - electro-house (or electronic influenced house as some people call it) and minimal are the buzz words of the day. Oh yeah and nu-rave but we don't mention that round these parts.

Sometimes you can't beat some classic detroit influenced soulful deep techno - the drifting strings, the melancholic minor key synth lines - its the sound of my ipod at the moment as out of nowhere came a bunch of stuff that just made me sit up and take notice.

The first is Efdemin aka Phillip Sollmann. The Efdemin album came out this week on Dial and is seriously deep. Standout track La Ratafia is deep enough to drown in - the rest of the album doesn't equal this (and lets be honest ridiculously high) height but is worth listening to at home or in the club repeatedly. Just let go and fall into this beaut.

http://www.myspace.com/efdemin

Pantha Du Prince is apparently from Antartica. Wherever he's from he's produced one of the killer tracks of 2007. Saturn Strobe is the kind of track that won't destroy a big club but man oh man this kills me everytime I hear it. Soaring strings underpin this piece of emotion. People say that techno is too raw - too mechanical - no feeling. I defy anyone not to listen to this and not feel ALIVE and moved. Seriously, stick it on LOUD and sit back. No messing about writing an email, reading the paper, cooking your tea, sit back and just LISTEN to this.

http://www.myspace.com/panthaduprince

Lindstrom & Thomas have reached the heady heights of being picked by Peter Tong for an Essential Mix. This went out last Sunday evening but for those that missed it there's a link below for you to go and download an mp3. There's been alot of controversy about this mix as the beards have complained that this is too HARD and not enough pure disco and prog. I say f8ck that, this mix absolutely kills it. The tracklisting is absolutely top drawer and is so chock full of exclusives its ridiculous. Highlights include Lindstrom & Solades cover of Vangelis' Let It Happen ( a beaut coming soon on Azuli ), an amazing Dettman vs. Moroder bootleg, Faze Action's Stratus Energy which is a pure disco sugar rush, M E - RNB Drunkie which is a rather marvellous re-edit of a Janet Jackson track, the NEED NEED NEED track Wild Rumpus - Musical Blaze Up (Rub N Tug Remix) and NEED NEED NEED NEED BAD will swop you a shiny foil sticker for it Still Going - Still Going Theme full of piano goodness which is apparently coming soon on DFA.

Al Usher ‘Her Today’ (Misericord)
Aeroplane ‘Aeroplane’ (Eskimo)
Lindstrøm & Solale ‘Let It Happen’ (Azuli)
In Flagranti ‘Bipolar’ (Codek)
No Theory ‘Devils Dance’ (Sin&Soul)
Lindstrøm ‘Musikal Overtones’ (Feedelity)
Sneak Thief G-String Orchestra ‘My Sullen Mistress’ (Klakson)
Ytre Rymden Dansskola ‘Kjappfot(PT Edit)’ (Full Pupp)
Runaway ‘Shadows’ (Wurst)
Max Mohr ‘Assonja Swynja’ (Playhouse)
Dettman Vs.Moroder ‘Quicksand/Utopia Mash’ (White Label)
Faze Action ‘Stratus Energy’ (White Label)
M-D-Emm ‘Get Acidic’ (Transmat)
Centrific ‘Somebody Went To Detroit And All I Got Was The Itchy Hawtins’ (Drop Bass Network)
Fleetwood Mac ‘You Make Lovin' Fun (Trailmix)’ (White Label)
M E ‘Rnb Drunkie’ (Golf Channel)
Wild Rumpus ‘Musical Blaze Up (Rub & Tug Bitches Remix)’ (Bitches Brew)
Chairmen Of The Board ‘Party’ (Invictus)
(Interlude)
Rare Earth ‘Get Ready(Live Version)’ (EMI/Motown)
Niagara ‘Sangandongo Part 1’ (White Label)
Solomun & Stimming ‘Eiszauber(Diynamic’ (White Label)
Still Going ‘Still Going Theme’ (DFA)
Lindstrøm ‘Contemporary Fix (Bjørn Torske Remix)’ (Smalltown Supersound)
Nick Chacona ‘Mariacha’ (Internasjonal)
Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas ‘Nummer Fire En’ (Short Edit)

http://www.filter27.com/archives/2007/05/emix_20070506.php

The Lindstrom & Thomas also contains new track Solomun & Stimming - Eiszauber which features on the b-side of their new 12" on Diynamic. Its the follow up to the equally great Tagesschau track which came out at the end of 2006. Deep groovy techno with spacey pads and a hint of disco. Do it. Check the Diynamic myspace page here for a sneak preview.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=78862259

Finally, I first this track on a JD Twitch Mix and had to find it. Its on the Copycats LP which is about to be reissued but this is the track you want off it - total slo-mo sleaze! What more do you want this weekend?

Johnny Thunders & Patti Palladin - Crawfish

http://www.sendspace.com/file/roug78

Also, keep your ear to the ground via the Thisisnotanexit Records website as we'll be releasing Hatchback - White Diamond (with Prins Thomas Remix), They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - Signals (Emperor Machine Remixes) and Mountain Machine - Mountain Machine (with Hot Chip Remix) as limited edition white label 12"s a good 4 - 8 weeks ahead of official release. The only way to make sure you know when they're available is to sign up to the mailing list on the Thisisnotanexit Records website...

Over and out. And remember - swimming on a Friday night....just say no.

Heads up - there's a rather wonderful interview with the man Prins Thomas up on the Fact Magazine site. A couple of mentions of the new Hatchback track White Diamond and his remix of it so its obviously worth reading!

http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/da/54168

Existing and new material that will be released on Thisisnotanexit Records is now up on my myspace page - you can listen to current releases They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - Its Time (An Optimo Espacio Remix) and They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - The Unstoppable Kite (Radio Edit) plus forthcoming tracks Hatchback - White Diamond and Mountain Machine - Mountain Machine. Get to it!

http://www.myspace.com/simonacarr

As always Beats In Space continues to be a regular weekly listen - this weeks mix is from Roy Dank (and he plays They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - Its Time (An Optimo Espacio Remix)!!!) plus a load of great tracks old and new, its been on all morning and is perfect sunshine weekend listening.

http://www.beatsinspace.net/

The new single from LSB (a collaboration between Baby G and Pete Herbert) is up on their myspace page entitled FOG. It takes a healthy chunk of Crown Heights Affairs - You Gave Me Love and turns it into a summer disco belter. Not sure when its out - all I know is its forthcoming on Eskimo but it sounds great even through the tinny myspace player and a pair of low quality headphones! There's also a remix of Ilija Rudmans After Midnight up too which is amazing - continuing on from Ilijas amazing track UMMA which came out on Infant its another record to the list of must purchases.

http://www.myspace.com/lsbsoundsystem

Sculpture is also playing at The Macbeth in Hoxton Saturday 28th April - so thats worth checking out methinks. Its a great little venue and Sculpture always brings the noise. He's got a track called SKRAM which might come out on Thisisnotanexit Records if it ever gets finished.

Sculpture is a bit of a perfectionist you see.

There is certainly method to his madness.

I'm obsessed with the soundtrack to The Fountain this past week. Mogwai and The Kronos Quartet collaborations and some truly stunning stuff on there - it was a shame the film got royally panned when it came out when it was in fact a really beautiful film. But this is the UK and we'd much rather consume rubbish than deal with anything of real substance.

Here's the track Death Is The Road To Awe from the soundtrack.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/zb6l1m

I'm also loving the new Lindstrom & Solade stuff - Lets Practice is out today on vinyl (and apparently Todd Terje has done a remix - not sure if thats true or if and when its coming out) but they have also covered the Vangelis - Demis Roussos collaboration from Earth LET IT HAPPEN which will be the exclusive track on the forthcoming LATE NIGHT TALES on Azuli. It'll be released as a tasty little 7" at some point in a few months - but if you can't wait you can listen to it on their myspace page.

http://www.myspace.com/lindstromandsolale

Yo yo yo

Its all go at Thisisnotanexit HQ - and here's what we've been listening to on the Thisisnotanexit branded boombox (a boombox with a Thisisnotanexit sticker on it) this past week.

1. Battles - Mirrored LP

Nothing gets close to the amazingness of the single ATLAS but this is a mighty fine album.

2. Glass Candy - Miss Broadway

Glass Candy cover an old french disco track by Belle Epoque and go discoball-tastic. Forthcoming on Italians Do It Better its a label to watch...plus FARAH is also signed up and her stuff sounds exciting too. Dark stalker disco.

3. Prinzhorn Dance School - Up! Up! Up!

New single from DFA signings Prinzhorn Dance School - not as good as their last single - but bodes for an interesting debut album. Already polarising people but in this day an age making people have an opinion is no bad thing.

4. Pylon - Gyrate LP

Being re-released on DFA apparently. A hard to find classic from 1980.

5. Ilya Santana - Discotized

Analogue Metro Area / Daniel Wang-esque disco with a bassline that just absolutely kills on a good soundsystem. He released a track a few years ago on Balihu but this is a dancefloor bomb.

6. Beyond The Wizards Sleeve - George LP

More edits and shiznit from Erol and his best mate. Not a big fan of Erol as a remixer (a better DJ) but his Beyond The Wizards Sleeve edits are always interesting and worth a look.

7. Michoacan - 2 Bullets (DJ Harvey Masterdata Remix)

Harvey mentalism. You can guarantee that DJ History are excited as he isn't prolific - but thats living in Hawaii for you. He's also remixed the new LCD Soundsystem single ALL MY FRIENDS so keep your ear to the ground for that.

Thats it for now, busy busy busy - check FACT Magazine for a review of Hatchback's forthcoming single White Diamond as the finished remixes arrive this week....

Here's what I've been listening to this week - and what I'll be listening to this weekend.

1. Studio - Lifes A Beach (Todd Terje's Beach House Mix) [[Balearic bliss! Hate to say it but this is better than the Prins Thomas remix for me - sorry Thomas!! Just check the bassline and delayed guitars - oooooohhhhhh myyyyyyy]]

2. Human League - Rock N Roll [[Because its all about the Schaffell!!!!!]]

3. Mountain Machine - Mountain Machine (forthcoming on Thisisnotanexit Records) [[Human League Rock N Roll - CHECK Some Motorik Krautrock - CHECK Syd Barrett at the desk - CHECK Schaffelltastic rhythm - CHECK. Throw it all together and thats Mountain Machine the best band you've never heard]]

4. Hot Chip - My Piano [[New track on the new DJ Kicks mix cd - sounds like they've had Noze Remember Love on repeat to me!!!]]

5. Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe (Prins Thomas Discomiks) [[I feel kinda dirty putting a *spits* Simian Mobile Disco track in my Top 10 as they're a bit neu-rave-ed-banger synth nonsense but Prins Thomas appears to have saved this from my mp3 scrapheap]]

6. Hatchback - White Diamond (Prins Thomas Remix #2) [[may as well plug this - especially as its reviewed in FACT Magazine this issue, and its not even finished. Contender for tune of the year apparently, and who am I to argue]]

7. They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - The Unstoppable Kite [[gets better with every listen - especially with the sun out]]

8. Malcolm Mclaren - Love Will Keep Us Together [[A mix of Joy Divisions Love Will Tear Us Apart and Captain & Tenilles Love Will Keep Us Together - shouldn't work but oh my its achingly beautiful. Search your blogs and you might find it. Otherwise its featured on the new Thisisnotanexit Volume 6 coming soon]]

9. 120 Days - Come Out, Come Down, Fade Out, Be Gone (Mental Overdrive Remix) [[Forthcoming on Smalltown Supersound this is really rocking - kinda rocky but with the Scando disco dials turned up to 11]]

10. Subway - Satellites [[New on Souljazz it can't be slept on - electronic disco techno]]

11. Justine D - RVNG Mix #5 [[Turned me back onto Ministry - All Day (Remix) as featured on the classic TWITCH LP - so so so so good I can't believe I'd forgotten about it!! Aces]]

12. This weeks Beats In Space is worth downloading for the Permanent Vacation mix - featuring exclusive Todd Terje and Joakim remixes. Check it out!!]]

Thats all - just a list of good stuff this week. Maybe some free music next week if I'm feeling nice.

Here's my top tracks to listen to this weekend whilst eating chocolate easter eggs....





1. Sorcerer - Surfing At Midnight (Prins Thomas Remix)


2. DAF - Brothers (Joseph Watt Remix)


3. OOIOO - Uma (Eye Remix #2)


4. Minilogue - Elephants Parade


5. Fun Boy Three - Lips Are Sealed (JD Twitch Edit)


6. Dappled Cities Fly - Fire! Fire! Fire! (Loving Hand Remix Edit)


7. !!! - Must Be The Moon (Emperor Machine Remix)


8. Peter Visti - Jolene


9. Q Lazarus - Goodbye Horses


10. LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends





I'm looking forward to hearing the DJ Harvey remix of LCD Soundsystems All My Friends - proper wonky-tastic on all accounts.





There's a nice interview with They Came From The Stars I Saw Them on FACT Magazines online site which you can read here:

http://www.factmagazine.co.uk/da/53192

And that is a groovy photo of The Stars gig that took place last week - with special guest Sarah "The Tambourine" Sharma. Not sure is she's going to be a permanent addition to the band but watch this space - she certainly made her presence felt during a storming version of The Unstoppable Kite.

And speaking of The Unstoppable Kite - its out now! In the shops and everything! Go and buy a copy!

Happy easter!