Guest Interview/OTAM Mix 19: Falko Brocksieper – ‘Decemberumbrella′

This 19th of December edition of the Amsterdam labelnight ‘Redevice invites…’ @ Studio 80 features the scandalously underrated Sub Static and Karloff Rekordings label-boss Falko Brocksieper. In order to keep up with our reputation of providing a playground for more experimental and absurd techno approaches, we’ve also invited Vera Heindel, San Proper & Kouam Djoko. Talk about letting those dogs out.
Here’s an exclusive interview plus mix avec Falko, to get the juices flowing.

Could you tell us about the founding of Sub Static and Karloff Recordings. What was your role in both labels?

Sub Static was founded in Cologne in 2000 when I met my long-term partner MIA. Our aim was just to create a small platform for our music and ideas. However this soon became a more serious occupation, as we increasingly enjoyed to work for international content and reputation. It led to the desire to release an even wider range of electronic music we loved, so the sublabel Karloff Rekordings was established in 2003.
At times we had approaches to grow the labels to a higher business level, but after all the basis of our motivation and qualification was always just to release and promote our favourite music.
Mia and I never had clearly defined roles in the label management, so anything within A&R, promotion, administration, accounting was my daily business. I also did all of the graphic design.

One of our favorite mixes of the year is the MNML SSG MX36 you did, which features half-forgotten gems from the likes of Mouse On Mars, Robert Hood & Plaid. Could you tell us something about your musical roots and artists that have most inspired you?

What first got me into techno was trance, mostly european stuff, in the early 90’s. However at the time this wasn’t even a clearly outlined genre, neither was it cheesy or commercial. It simply meant – techno that is monotonic and trippy. When I got my first set of turntables and started to spend more time in recordshops I soon discovered the music of Robert Hood, Jeff Mills, Dan Bell, Woody McBride.. alot of mid-90’s minimal techno, mostly from the states. And soon after there was stuff like Aphex Twin, Mouse on Mars, Two Lone Swordsmen, Mille Plateaux & Rephlex stuff…. also alot of electro. Then even more techno – Cristian Vogel & Brighton crew, Maurizio, Kompakt… It’s been exciting times musically, which intensified for me even more when I moved to Cologne in 1997 to study at the Academy of Media Arts.
It’s this spirit of the 2nd half of the 90’s that I tried to capture in the recent mix you mentioned. Part of the spirit is also the health, complexity and mysticism of musical culture at that time — it seems like a very short time window between the farreaching innovation of electronic music, and the start of desktop producing, discogs, downloads and information overkill.

You originate from Cologne, but you operate from Berlin since 2004. Has this move influenced your productions/DJ-sets in a significant way?

I can’t really say how much influence this or the other city has. I think for the main part, moving to another place always changes your way of thinking, and gives you a new perspective on many things — which was also what I was looking for when I decided to move.
What I can say is – approving the clichee – Berlin has been and still is a very inspiring & vibrant place to live and I have no desire to live anywhere else.

You’ve been pretty productive lately when it comes to releasing. Do you have a lot of unreleased material stored up somewhere?

No, piles of unreleased material is what i never had, unfortunately. However this year has been quite productive indeed. Last year I finally released my 2nd album and was touring with my first live set, both helping me to get a fresh approach on the new productions that came out this year.

Any future plans we should know about?

Right now I’m working on a completely new live set, enabling me to be a bit more flexible and improvisational. It’s also giving me ideas for a couple of new tracks already. You can expect some new releases of me in early 2009, but it’s too soon now to announce any particulars.
Also I’m in the studio again with Benjamin Fehr, recording new material as ‘The Result’. Our first release came out this summer on his label Catenaccio. Another EP will be out soon on Brouqade Rec, as well as remixes on TicTacToe and the remarkable NervMusic from Moscow.

Tracklist:
01. Basic Soul Unit – ‘Hope.unity.vision’
02. Falko Brocksieper – ‘Never Mind’
03. Soul Clap – ‘Beauty Sleep’
04. Rene Breitbarth – ‘Pump’
05. Hakim Murphy – ‘Jupiter Poop’
06. Seuil – ‘Lost In The Soul Shower’
07. Dan Ghenacia & Djebali – ‘Eightball’
08. Motorcitysoul – ‘Vivid [Roman Flügel's RMX]‘
09. Khan & Brigitte Fontaine – ‘Fine Mouche’
10. Wasted Chicago Youth – ‘Shake Them Gears’
11. Hell feat. P. Diddy – ‘The Dj [Jay Haze RMX)’
12. Dollz At Play – ‘Oscura Wand In Paris’
13. Ambivalent – ‘808 Clap’
14. Dinky – ‘Epilepsia’

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OTAM Mix 19: Falko Brocksieper – ‘Decemberumbrella’
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OTAM Mix 18: Frodo – ‘Theresnonibbit’

Light, levitating, but with a firm funk base. The mix in hand exactly moves within this range: an overview of most important slightly-overlooked electronic classics of the past decade, mixed together in the playful manner we all have that craving for. Frodos’ definition of electronic club music is mainly based on House, even if some tracks sound more obscure & dub-infused.
One and-a-half hours of genre-defining tracks to rock to.

Tracklist will follow shortly.

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OTAM mix18: Frodo – ‘Theresnonibbit’

Guest Interview/OTAM Mix 17: Matthew Styles – ‘Live At Beach Club Beach′

This October’s edition of the ‘Redevice invites…’ clubnight at Studio 80 in Amsterdam, is an epic roundup of the best artists from its international stable of affiliate producers, one of which is the very talented Matthew Styles.
From his residencies at the legendary Crosstown Rebels ‘Slash & Burn’ parties and Berlin’s WMF to his now monthly appearances at Berlin’s Panorama Bar and his regular features at Fabric in the U.K., his solid appreciation of what the dance-floor needs, and with an acute sense of taste, Matthew easily transgresses all house music regardless of trends.
Besides treatin’ ya to a two-and-a-half hour mix of the man, here’s an interview we did with him, which outlines his musical roots & future plans.

Be sure to pass by on the 10th of October if you’re in the Amsterdam area!

Your productions seem to be infused with classic Detroit techno, but also seem to be infected by an old-school funk flow. Could you tell us a little bit about your musical roots and your biggest influences?

When I was growing up my father was DJing in clubs and he was close with Tony, the founder of DMC. DMC was like a club for DJ’s which was very popular in the 80’s. They were famous for their DJ Only remix compilations and they also started the magazine Mixmag for DJ’s…
I remember reading these magazines a lot, and another one called something like Jocks [which became DJ magazine I think].
It was before the acid house thing. I remember people like Steve Silk Hurley, Colonel Abrahams, Shalamar, Pebbles, The Jets and stuff like that being popular. I was encouraged to use the turntables and mixer we had at home once I was old enough to be responsible for not scratching the records…
DJ friends of my dad taught me some tricks and gave me some insights, and my interest took off from there really…
Later on in the early 90’s Tony Humphries was a big influence on me, and his mix of upfront vocal style & deep techno was something very inspiring. That influence keeps me pretty open minded about what music can move a floor rhythmically and emotionally…

What have you been working on recently?

I have been doing some remixes, one for a project of Seth Troxler, Shaun Reeves and Hector called ‘The Royal We’,
and also I just did a remix for Radio Slave under the Worst Case Scenario moniker I have with Ed Cartwright — which was a big honour to do.

You originate from England, and you’re currently living in Berlin. Did the move to Germany have a big influence on the way you produce and DJ nowadays?

I think the German influence was already strong before I moved here. I was coming for 7 or 8 years, to party and also to play. I had a lot of good connections here, so to move was the final logical step. It’s a slightly different approach to partying and DJ-ing: everything last’s for much longer, and I really appreciate the attitude towards music here…
I am very lucky to have been playing at the Panorama Bar so much since I have been here, and because of that I really tried to focus on what I could bring to the table in a city so full of great DJ’s. I really try to represent my influences as best as possible in terms of Dj-ing and production.

What are you up to next?

I will finish new EP’s under my own name, as mostly this year has been more about the other projects I have like the Worst Case Scenario one, also eMT, which I do with Tobi Neumann, and finally Taxi Funk, which is a project I am working on with Jorge Gonzales from Los Updates…

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OTAM Mix 17: Matthew Styles – ‘Live At Beach Club Beach′

OTAM Mix 16: Frodo – ‘Incredible Detour’

For this mix I took a classical rooted but forward-looking approach to prototypical house and techno, first by greatly expanding its scope with timeless sounding gems, but mostly by significantly championing submerged underground sounds, consisting of dubby synthesizer melodies and funk-laden percussive rhythms. Enjoy.

Tracklist:
01. John Tejada – ‘The Locus Of Points’
02. Mr. Barth – ‘Above The Skyline’
03. Lowtec – ‘Please Go Away’
04. Marc Romboy – ‘The Awakening’
05. Frankie Knuckles – ‘Baby Wants To Ride’
06. The Persuader – ‘A1 Untitled’
07. Rick Wade – ‘Ricky’s Groove’
08. Brommage Dub – ‘Brommage Dub’
09. Gadi Mizrahi – ‘I’ll Set Your House’
10. Jesper Dahlback & Jean-Louis Huhta – ‘Midnight Express Pt. 1′
11. Kassem Mosse – ‘Untitled A1′
12. Jesper Dahlback – ‘The Lonesome Dub’
13. Isolee – ‘Albacares’
14. Kerri Chandler – ‘Keep Me Inside’
15. Delano Smith – ‘I Feel This’
16. Verdict – ‘People At Night [Portable Remix]‘
17. Iz & Diz – ‘Happy [Strip Mix]‘
18. Jus-Ed – ‘Wonderment’
19. Peaches And Prunes – ‘Welcome To The Club [Ron Hardy Re-Edit]‘

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OTAM Mix 16: Frodo – ‘Incredible Detour’

It’s Freakin’ Time

Came across some tasty must-have mixes by Chicago’s über-talented disco master DJ Rahaan. Grab ‘m while you can, lucky bitches.

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Rahaan – ‘Dancin If You Feel Like’
Rahaan – ‘Dance Circus’

OTAM Mix 15: Seth Troxler – ‘Keepin Whores Of The Streets’

Saturday the 15th of August 2009 the ‘Redevice invites…’ clubnights and the www.redevice.com netlabel are joining forces once again to bring you crowd-pleasing international allure, combined with a new freely downloadable internet release of the highest order. This time around our regular bi-monthly sonic crime-scene, the Studio 80 venue in Amsterdam, will host dapper escapades into digital worlds by headliner Seth Troxler. Here’s a set by Seth to get ya’ll in the mood. Capable stuff. Enjoy.

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OTAM Mix 15: Seth Troxler – ‘Keepin Whores Of The Streets’

Guest Interview/OTAM Mix 14: ‘Roger 23 Live @ Redevice invites… @ Studio 80′

We’ve had the honor of having Roger 23, part of the infamous Swayzak Soundsystem, that deep dub-house collective who got their moniker from a bastardization of actor Patrick Swayze’s name, as part of our April edition of ‘Redevice invites…‘ here in Amsterdam. This Saarbruecken resident has the gift of pushing his ever-shifting grooves directly from ear to hips, making you shake your booty while dousing your head in deep chords, delays and rolling basslines. Here’s a live registration of his set plus an interview I did with him recently — enjoy!

For us, the set you played during our ‘Redevice invites…’ @ Studio 80 was absolutely one of the highpoints of our year. Can you tell us a little bit about how the night went in your experience?

Oh what an inspiring weekend, and oh what an amazing night I had with you and in Amsterdam… Thank you very much for having this cool exchange and this input. The Redevice night was full of tension. I was pretty nervous, ’cause, I didn’t know if my concept for that party would succeed. But seems like all the involved people at the venue did exactly the right job. Production, DJ’s and audience. Definitely not really an easy night to descibe in words… Just have to say thank you to all of you! Great Job you are doing!
I could have stayed longer in Amsterdam… Next time more please…

What can you tell us about you being part of the Swayzak Soundsystem, and what’s your creative input on that front?

LOL, that’s a funny and interesting question. How can I discribe it without being over the top? Well, I see me, myself and I as a trigger for Swayzak and The Soundsystem… A respect of my musical knowledge, my addiction, and how I’m listening to music.

Both you and Prosumer seem to have a similar take on presenting your music as a big phat retro-funk-overloaded piece of cake, drenched in an old-school chicago & detroit glazing. What’s your take on the current state of house music, and how does it affect you when you spin?

First of all, my musical taste is very controversial. I try to get the best input from all interesting musical styles I can get..
At the moment, my focus is on the electronical aspects of Krautrock and on Brian Eno’s ambient music; this affects my point of view in listening to music as well as my productions in a substantial way.
Of course old disco and other obscure stuff is also a strong theme while digging those crates. Normally second-hand record stores, flea-markets and internet markets are pretty welcomed…
At the moment, I’m having massive problems of getting my hands on music that really affects me. Most releases sound too clean, and let’s face it, a lot of House and Techno music in this day and time is boring plus very focussed on names and trends. Too much consuming for my taste.
Missing attitudes in House and Techno are sexiness and coolness.

A lot of the ‘new’ ideas seem not to be rough enough. Too much focussed on effects, digital programming and uncatchy loops. It’s the result that should count, nothing else…
Most of the tracks could be replaced by others, nothing sounds unique. Definitely, I hear & see a big differences in the D.I.Y. stuff from the 80’s, or the early 90’s. From New Wave to Chicago and early Detroit stuff. Thank God, there’s still a litte spirit within Dj & producer communities around.

At all times I’m one of the audience. I dance when I play records and unsexy music doesn’t makes me dance. Certain trends implement a tough skepticism in me. I think it’s very important to show your origins and roots, to show differences.
Most of the older music has more tension and pressure, and that’s the main reasons why I’m playing a lot of old school music at the moment. Prefering quality instead of quantity. It doesn’t necessarily make a DJ-set better if you only present the latest shit.
There is so much good music around, and it would be a shame not to represent that stuff.

Your last solo effort seems to date from 2006. Can we expect some new material soon?

Yes indeed. I have two releases due in the next few months, and another one is planned in early 2010. But this one is still top secret. Also I did a 10 minute DJ-set for the ballet in my town last christmas. It was The Nut Cracker, and they’re doing six extra performances during late 2009, ’cause it was pretty successful.

My releases out now:
Meakusma Presents RÜTS: 12″ 2/3 and DVD

Out soon:
Roger 23: ‘Room With A View’ – BAUD
Massimiliano Pagliara & Roger 23: ‘Heal EP’ – Meakusma

What are you up to next?

What’s next? Actually don’t know. But I will do some more music and a couple of DJ-Sets for sure…

DJ-sets:
12th of June: Roger 23 – Cafe Belga – Bruxelles – Belgium
20th of June: Roger 23 – Airbag Craftworks Lagerverkauf – Kleestadt – Germany
18th of July: Swayzak Soundsystem – Summer Club Luna in Supetar – Island of Brač – Kroatia
31st of July: Work Shop Label Night – Robert Johnson- Offenbach – Germany
1st of August: Bota Bar – Bruxelles – Belgium

Tracklist:
01. Echologist – ‘The Score [Jus Ed's Hostage Mix]‘
02. I.M.S. – ‘Non Line’
03. Conrad Black – ‘A Broken Down Mustang’
04. Schatrax – ‘Restless Dub’
05. Arovane – ‘Leaf’
06. Even Tuell – ‘Det Leut’
07. Levon Vincent – ‘These Games’
08. Tyree – ‘Nuthin Wrong’
09. Nitro Deluxe – ‘Let’s Get Brutal’
10. Christian Vogel – ‘Untitled’
11. Unknown – ‘Ndatl 1/3′
12. Basic Channel – ‘Q 1.1′
13. Quando Quando – ‘Love Tempo’
14. Sound Design – ‘Bounce To The Beat’
15. Rockers Hifi – ‘Push Push’
16. Marc Romboy – ‘The Awakening’
17. Redshape – ‘What’s On A Moog’s Mind?’
18. Jovonn – ‘I Can’t Make Up My Mind’
19. Extacy Club – ‘Jesus Loves The Acid’
20. Gez Valez – ‘Columbia’
21. Levon Vincent – ‘Invisible Bitchslab’
22. DBX – ‘Losing Control’
23. Levon Vincent – ‘Woman Is The Devil’
24. Massimiliano Pagliara & Roger 23 – ‘Heal’
25. Iz & Diz – ‘Memory’
26. FBK – ‘Rollin’ On A 6/4′
27. Purveyors Of Fine Funk – ‘State Of Mind’
28. Gemini – ‘Welcome To The Future’

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OTAM Mix 14: ‘Roger 23 Live @ Redevice invites… @ Studio 80′

OTAM Mix 13: Fumiya Tanaka – ‘Berlin Underground’

Next week, on Saturday the 4th of April 2009, we’re gonna rock it like we’ve never rocked it before!
Berlin Underground, the authoritative and renewing underground organisation based in Amsterdam, is celebrating it’s 5th birthday, and what location would be more suitable in which to party till 8 in the morning, than the attractive Studio K building?
That’s right, the best international and local DJ’s, 4 rooms filled with the best electronic ear-candy, spanning from minimal to techno to house to disco, and no sleep till the cops come knocking.

Check our website for pre-sale tickets and the complete line-up.

To get ya’ll in a party mood, here’s an exclusive mix by headliner Fumiya Tanaka, one of 15 artists performing at this immense, but intimately presented event.

Tracklist will go up soon.

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OTAM Mix 13: Fumiya Tanaka – ‘Berlin Underground’

OTAM Mix 12: Frodo – ‘Live at Redevice invites Move D @ Studio 80′

Last months’ edition of our bi-monthly club night at the rhythmic backbone of house styles, Studio 80 in Amsterdam, featured international collaborators Move D & Boris, one of the resident DJ’s at the legendary Berghain club in Berlin.
The nights’ atmosphere spanned from unique and deephouse spirits to hypnotic monolithic electronic monsters.
Somehere in between was my set — hope you like.

Tracklist:
01. Dubbyman – ‘Rise Of Equality’
02. Minilogue, Decoy, IMPS – ‘Almost Live But Definitely Plugged [Move D Remix]‘
03. Sven Weisemann – ‘Let’s Swing [Oracy Remix]‘
04. Azuni – ‘Blue Sky’
05. The Persuader, Stephan G – ‘Kaos’
06. Dubbyman – ‘Sunday Manifesto [Rick Wade Remix]‘
07. Motor City Drum Ensemble – ‘Keep Up’
08. FBK – ‘Antherman’
09. Jamie Principle – ‘Baby Want’s To Ride’
10. Stefan Goldmann – ‘Missing Days’
11. Tobias. – ‘Second To None’
12. W&P HGG – ‘Space Part!!’
13. Derrick Carter – ‘Legacy’
14. Soul Designer – ‘Evolutionism’
15. Mr. White – ‘Inside Your Mind’
16. Soundstream – ‘Rainmaker’
17. Vera & Federico Molinari – ‘It Ain’t Music’
18. J.S. Zeiter – ‘Skirmish [Rework]‘
19. DJ Q – ‘We Are One [Carl Craig Remix]‘

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OTAM Mix 12: Frodo – ‘Live at Redevice invites Move D @ Studio 80′

OTAM Mix 11: Frodo – ‘Supplementing Vol. 5′

The next mix in our series is a graceful dive into swelling, rhythmic house beats, connecting the dots between deephouse elements, electro pleansantries and soulful 4/4 rhythms. A brooding soundtrack for the developing and diverse Amsterdam scene.

Tracklist:
01. Archie Shepp – ‘Money Blues’
02. Theo Parrish – ‘Ugly Edit 5B1′
03. DJ Qu – ‘Somethin’ Ta Feel’
04. Rene Breitbarth – ‘Le Groove Rhodes’
05. Terrence Parker – ‘Your Love’
06. Juno 6 – ‘Molto In Basso’
07. Theo Parrish – ‘How I Feel’
08. Motorcitysoul – ‘Hatohay [Move D remix]‘
09. Sten – ‘Third Season’
10. The Mountain People – ‘Mountain006.3′
11. Newworldaquarium – ‘Trespassers’
12. Robert Dietz – ‘The Sorrow’
13. Ron Trent – ‘I Feel The Rhythm’
14. Reggie Dokes – ‘Rain On Me’
15. Sten – ‘Unknown Faces’
16. Lerosa – ‘Baba’
17. Mark E – ‘Smokescreen’
18. Jill Scott – ‘Slowly Surely [Theo Parrish Remix]‘

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OTAM Mix 11: Frodo – ‘Supplementing Vol. 5′