fijiama.net – more f*ing house music

Rekids – REKIDS 018

Let’s talk about Rekids. In my view, it’s been one of the most productive and successful labels this year, with virtually every release worth checking out. I also dig their artwork, with the exception of the dead ugly blistered feet on the Radio Slave No Sleep series that make me want to vomit every time I get the record out of my bag. Original, oh yes; but seriously unappealing, even though I get the subtle dance-to-this-record-till-your-feet-hurt implication.

Musically, they (or in fact, Matt Edwards, the guy behind the Radio Slave moniker and the Rekids label) have truly established their own sound, providing nice variety at the same time. The slightly irritating analogue hooks in tracks like the aptly titled “Beautiful Noise” by Spencer Parker or Radio Slave’s “My Bleep” (I loved the Roman Fluegel version) really eat their way into your brain.

This time, Radio Slave is bringing us “Bell Clap Dance”. What a title again, I must say. This one sounds like Jerome Sydenham on acid, with the cowbells and percussion. And it’s really a peak-time banger, which I bet will tear up every club. On the remix side, we have the much-admired German wonder Sebo K, going at it on a slightly deeper approach. This would be my choice for the start of the evening. Both tracks are really excellent, making me wonder how long Mr Edwards can keep all of this up. I, for one, am holding my fingers crossed for Rekids.

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A: Bell Clap Dance (original mix)
B: Bell Clap Dance (Sebo K remix)

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!K7 – K7 218

So yesterday I played at Who Wouldn’t Like Johnny Depp?. Apparently, they’re closing it down by the end of this year to make room for a Nepali restaurant. I hope the food is good. Anyway, when I was told that besides myself a high school rock band would appear on the stage to perform, I kind of lost the faith in the event. Still, I had to do my best to entertain. And what do you know…

At one point, this guy in his 30s wearing an ugly necktie popped on stage and placed himself at the booth, staring at the mixer and at the same time trying to catch my sight to make conversation. I tried the usual balance-between-rude-yet-pleasant-keep-headphones-on-look-busy approach, but he seemed quite immune to that. At one point or another I had to remove my headphones to search for the next record, and during these moments he managed to tell me 1) he was going to sponsor the band that was going to perform; 2) he is an artist himself and has designed the plastic bags for Dancemix, a local record store; 3) it would be cool if I surprised him with a little Led Zeppelin OR Lenny Kravitz.

Also, a move that I had not seen before – he kept rolling up bank notes in little tubes and sticking the money into various places on the booth. At first I thought he was passing me a joint and when I found out it was money I was surprised enough to keep it. Anyway, he seemed pleased enough with some Villalobos instead of good ol’ Lenny, since he was especially happy at the booth when I made the mix between two Villa records. He gave me a thumbs-up and went on to harass some blonde glued to a Mojito straw.

Later that night, when I was waiting for the club manager, a security guard at the club approached me, saying he really liked the music and asking what style it actually was. So it seems I had made at least some difference which made the evening worthwhile…

I played Henrik Schwarz’s remix of “Bloodstream” by Stateless 3 times during the night (the crowd was changing a lot anyway). I think the last time I played something 3 times was with Henrik’s remix of Mari Boine. So, let’s wrap this post up with a great piece of emo-house that it is.

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A1: Bloodstream (Henrik Schwarz club mix)
A2: Bloodstream (original version)
B1: Bloodstream (Pilooski edit)
B2: Bloodstream (Henrik Schwarz dub)

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Yesterday I played a local gig in Tartu, restaurant-club Maailm. The event was called “Ennu Ratas” and it’s famous for its absurd mixture of improvised poetry and weird selection of DJs. This time I had the honor of being one of the latter. Anyway, I threw together a short promotional mix for the event, and now that it’s done, why not share it here. Mostly classic producers, to my own surprise.

Too long an introduction for a mix so short (25 min). Without further ado:

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Marek’s mix for Ennu Ratas Nov 16 2007

Laks Recordings slapping around another bunch of quality tracks this week. Here’s the LaksFM mix (external link).

01. Sven Grünberg – Trust – Erdenklang – 1993
02. Jephté Guillaume – The Prayer (Haitian Preist) – Spiritual Life Music – 1997
03. Bass Clef – Get On The A10 And Drive And Drive – Blank Tapes – 2007
04. DFA – 3/5 Human – Surveillance – 2001
05. Rob Rowland – Recount (Envoy Mix) – D1 Recordings – 1999
06. Querida – Yes! – Kanzleramt – 2004
07. No Theory – Strictly Instrumental – Compost – 2007
08. Members Of The House – Reach Out For The Love (Trans-World Mix) – Shockwave – 1991
09. Random Noise Generation – Falling In Dub (Detroit After Dark Mix) – 430 West – 1992
10. Model 500 – No UFO’s (Remix) – R & S – 1993
11. Ron E – Let The Music Live – Simply Soul – 1994
12. Together Trax – Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong (Deep Different Dub) – Happy Soul – 1994
13. Kreem featuring Jennifer Kendall Williams – Now Is The Time (Claude Young Dub Mix) – KMS – 1993
14. Blake Baxter – One More Time (Logic Edit) – Mix Records – 1992
15. Inner City – Till We Meet Again (Carl Craig Remix) – KMS – 2007
16. The Reese Project – I Believe (Carl Craig A-Dub Mix) – Network – 1992
17. South Street Players – (Who?) Keeps Changing Yor Mind (Sure Is Pure Mix) – Sound Of Ministry – 1994
18. Logic – The Final Frontier (Acoustic Mix) – Strictly Rhythm – 1990
19. Revival House Choir Boys – Won’t God Heal You – Soul City – 1996
20. Goodpussy – Love Stranger – X-Rated -
21. M.K. – Decay (Techno Mix) – Network – 1991
22. The UnoLoops – Nocturnal Love (Sten “Gun” Saluveer Remix) – promo – 2007
23. Terrence Dixon – Links – Yore – 2007
24. LCD Soundsystem – Sound Of Silver (C2 Rmx Rev.3) – DFA – 2007
25. Dubtribe Sound System – El Regalo De Amor (Vocal Edit) – Guidance – 1998
26. François K – Time & Space – Wave Music – 1998
27. Alton Miller – Big Phreek – Soul City – 1997
28. Marcellus Pittman – There’s Somebody Out There – Unirhythm – 2007
29. Terry Kirkman – Pain et Fromage – Muzique Records – 1989
30. Van Christie – That Sh*t’s Wild – S12 Trax – 1990
31. Thunderheist – Bubblegum (Ghislain Poirier Remix) – Bigfoot – 2007
32. Farah – Law Of Life (Midnite Remix) – Italians Do It Better – 2007