Friday, July 31, 2009

Harmonic 313 + Techno Videos (?)

Its a fair bet to say music videos can contribute to the success of a track in many ways but why is it that techno seems to be so under-represented in the music video world? Should music videos be confined to only be the most accessible types of music? Sure you have some of dance music world elite (Chemical Brothers, Tiesto ect) will release music videos but Im talking more about techno artists and lesser known electronic artists. Videos such as Claude Von Strokes classic Deep Throat has become some what of an underground music video classic and has mostly likely greatly aided in the success of the track and the brand development of his label, Dirty Bird.

One logical conclusion is that filming a band is just naturally more dynamic than filming a DJ or someone flicking buttons on their midi controller and thus, in some sense, making it easier to film and choreograph rock/pop music videos. However for me this just means dance and electronic music videos have to be more creative in their execution.

Anyway I have being keeping an eye out for techno-music videos and while this isnt one of Harmonic 313's techno tracks it is a good example of what can happen merging a world-renowned creative company from Syd, Sixty40, with one our great dubstep/techno artists with very intriguing results and will hopefully inspire other Aus artists to do the same.

From Sixty40's website:

The Beginning: Harmonic 313 (aka Mark Pritchard aka Troubleman aka Reload aka 1/2 of Global Communications aka 1/2 of the The Jedi knights…) came to Sixty40 for his first ever film clip. Despite releasing seminal records since the 90’s and being on Warp Records since 1994 and being the poster child for super-technical, superbly-crafted, bass heavy, crazy-ass electronica there’d never been anything to translate his floor-filling tracks on TV. Crazy. Sixty40 had to pioneer a variety of new techniques to take an entirely open brief into a eye-popping warning of extra-terrestrial doom.
The Idea:“Battlestar” is the story of a deceivingly sized binocular spaceship coming to earth and decimating an unsuspecting b-boy in order to conquer the universe.
The Dream
: Having long-loved animated .gifs made from old stereoscope photos (like this), we wanted to take this technique and translate it to moving footage. We knew Andy Uprock from the Sugartime Burlesque tour we did in 2007 (see the blog) and as he is the most avant-garde b-boy we know, he seemed like the perfect fit for this flick-tastic performance based clip.

Battlestar from sixty40 on Vimeo.

Also out on Crosstown records label from the USA. While this track probably wont win techno-track-of-the-year, its still one hell of a cool music video.



And in case you missed it:


Thursday, July 30, 2009

Gig Guide (31st-2nd)



This weekend is packed with quality events both with cover and free. Saturday is perhaps the most packed its being all winter with a huge range of events on.

Friday we have 2 interesting nights, one with Symmetry in the cave while tech and prog styles at Henry Afrikas in Manly is definite option for us Northies.

Saturday night is the big one Vincenzo playing an extended set at the Civic and Musik Matters launching at Favela. Looking further a field there is Midi In The City at its new venue Hive Bar launching its new label Cresent Music. While Feverent takes over the bunker (formerly Niche) with great group of local producers.

Sundays sees the future classic Apres series launch its anticipated 3rd release while Re-session will also see some of Syds best up-n-comers at The Bunker. Bedlam at the new 202 Broday contiues to deliever its funky early afternoon sessions and Peret Mako is playing live at the Bondi Hotel!


Friday
Symmetry ft. Robbie Lowe, Dirty D & Ahab live sampler set! - The Cave(Chinese Laundry)

Suspect @ Henry Afrikas -
Tech and prog on the north shore!

Sat

Co-Op presents Vincenzo special extended set! -
Civic Underground - Special extended set, 1st time in Syd, this will another epic co-op night!

Fervent ft. Nonamaka, SchadenFreunde & more @ Bunker Bar - Local tech artists gather for this one!

Midi In The City - Hive Bar - Syds largest live electronica night, Cresent music launch night, these nights are always good fun- FREE

Club Club - Chinese Laundry

Chemistry ft. Robbie Lowe @ Velvet

Musik Matters Launch - Favela - With a promise at diving into the best of house music Sydney has to offer...

Sun

Spice - Kings Cross Hotel (4am) - New venue for a new chapter...

Bunker Sundays - 4:30am Bunker Bar - Whats that? Another after-hours party? Wicked.

Re-Session ft. Alex Caminer, Plankton Boogie - Bunker Bar - The sunday night focusing on some of syds best up-n-comers - FREE

Peret Mako(live), Ken Cloud, Simon Caldwell - Bondi Hotel - Peret live is always going to be a treat. FREE

Bedlam ft. Tim Culbert & Mikey Mituante - 202
- 2pm start with kitchen open from 6pm.

Apres 3 Vinyl Launch @ Tilbury Hotel - Syd Record Label Future Classic arvo sessions - FREE


Final Gig Guide up Thursday.
If you would like your event on the guide send your event info to sydneylovestechno@gmail.com!

Sunsets with Simon Caldwell

Photo by Keith Mclnnes

Respected Sydney DJ Simon Caldwell takes the helms every Monday afternoon with Sunsets on fbi radio here in Sydney.

2 hours of new electronic/dance music ranging from the disco to the minimal to techno and of course the house! But if your like me and always manage to forget to tune in then don't despair! Stream it below. I'll try and record it each week and put it up on the blog.

InTheMix Feature here

Sunsets 6-8pm every Monday with Simon Caldwell on fbi radio



Simon Caldwell @ Sunsets fbi radio 27-07-09


Tracklisting:
Space Race - Popular People's Front
The Voice From Planet Love - Precious System
Wild Cats - Soultourist
Human - Mark E
In The End (I Want You To Cry) - Tensnake
In I Dimman - Eerick & Arvid
Panorama (Kalabrese Remix) - Tucillo
Never Knew - Alphatown
Seven Hours - Namito
Language of the Soul - Silicone Soul
Sunday Weekend - Ken Hayakawa
Zap - Andre Lodemann
Blaulicht - Taksi
Teen Angst (Luciano Remix) - M83
My Grandmotha (Farben Remix) - DJ Koze
Picnic - Red Rack'em
We Cookin' Now - Abacus
Air A Dime - Peret Mako
Evening Star (Pink Frost Remix) - Todd Sparrow

Monday, July 27, 2009

Some new beats



Just some of the new music on my radar, much of it Aussie! Have a listen. Some pretty, sweet tracks below. Please feel free to add any other Aussie releases in the comments;

Australian net-label Pinksliver just digitally released a EP from Sydney duo Trinity and Beyond. I was lucky enough to receive an actual promo copy so I can tell you its a great release and considering this is the first EP from the duo it shows some great potential. Both artists have being involved in the music industry with DJ Trinity being at the forefront of the house and techno scene in Syd and Australia since 2002.

The release consists of three tracks each quite different from each other. Beyond Musique is first up and can be described as a rolling techno tune with a industrial edge. Hearing it at home didn't do it justice as I recently heard it played out in The Cave (@ Chinese Laundry) and that bass line really does roll-over everyone to form quite the catchy tune. The Fat Man comes next and shows off the duos synthy sounds. Slightly progressive but quite warm, its a real winter-tune in my opinion. Last comes And Nothing Else Mattered and for me this is my favourite of the three. Glitchy pads with pulsating pitched vocals combine to form quite the dark tech tune. Really looking forward to the duo's next release. They also have some new tracks up on their myspace check it here

1. Beyond Musique
2. The Fat Man
3. And Nothing Else Mattered
Complete Download @ Pinksilver.net

Sydney/Czech imprint BEEF Records have being on-fire recently with a string of great releases. Sitting well on the beatport tech-house section Jack The Freak is Shades Of Grey and Syd DJ RifRaff's latest track and it definitely does not disappoint. Jazzy samples, great break-down and loose bass lines drive the two tracks. Production wise I found the tracks a little flat, however this doest deter away from there overall effect has being sitting well on the beatport tech-house section. To spice things up a minimalish house remix from one of my favourite Berliners Hirtenfellner but best use of jazz-samples definitely go the House of Cards track, check below;


Go to Beatport.comGet These TracksAdd This Player



Now this is a record I COMMAND you to get. Seriously I don't know why I more people aren't playing this. Blog fav Deepchild's latest release on BEEF is a killer, it encapsulates Deepchilds techy-quirky production but where the release really shines is the Garry Todd remix. Its an epic interpretation of the track taking the original funky rhythm and twisting it into a driving deep-house remix. I have played this track out a few times now and every time it doesn't fail to impress. My only problem with track is that its way to short sitting around the 5min mark! Anyway Garry Todd is taking over the famous Lady Lux club here in Sydney as musical director later this year with some big plans as well being recently signed to 2020 Vision. Someone to watch for 09. Buy It HERE

Deepchild - Claps (Garry Todd Remix)





Looking further down south we have one of Melbourne's techno stars Darrius Bassiray (one half of Rollin Connection) and Paul Beynon on their massive release, Jeebuz Champ. With remixes from Jamie Stevens, Audio Soul Project and Necatrious there's something for everyone ranging for the tech, techno to the progressive. This will be quite the tune for the next few months due in part to its great vocals, have a listen here

Also from the man himself check out this live recording of Rollin Connection, live @ Darkbeat in Melbourne. Its a great set and one haven't being able to stop listening to over the past week!


Also a new label is hitting town, Cresent Music, presented by the organisers of Midi In The City, one of Syd largest live electronica nights. The label will launch with Dane Austin's release Swampy EP. launch night will be at The hive bar with quite the eclectic line-up. Check here for more details.

Thats it for now, more tunes to come soon

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Gig Guide (23rd-26th)

This weekend is ram-jammed with a host of local nights. Space Cadets Thursdays is on again at The Bunker while Fridays see's the new night Sideways take place aiming at mixing new Syd talent with established locals.

Fresh meat features 2 up-n-comers in The Cave while the Colour guys present of the the latest and best in house, prog and techno at the Bunker on Sat.

Sunday sees the famous Spice move doors to the newly refurbished Kings X Hotel while the bunker retains its Sunday morning antics under different organisers. For those of us who want to go out Sunday night Bedlam is on again at the new club 202.

Thursday
Space Cadets ft. Jamie Tek, Element, Zushy Woolstone & Chris Leffers - Bunker Bar - FREE


Friday
Sideways ft. DJ Trinity - Bunker Bar - This new Thursday night kicks off with a focus on mixing the new and old talent of Sydney

Fresh Meat ft. Kit Phillips & Matttt - The Cave (Chinese Laundry)

Index ft. Mark Pitchard - Civic Underground - Dubstep and techno madness

Sat

Colour - Bunker Bar
- The night behind the infamous mix series (check the posts!). If your lucky you might get one it in hard-copy

Club Club ft. Hybrid -
Chinese Laundry


Sun

Spice - Kings Cross Hotel (5am) - New venue for a new chapter...

Bunker Sundays - 4:30am Bunker Bar - Whats that? Another after-hours party? Wicked.

Bedlam - 202 Broadway - The new sun night in the new club

Apres @ Tilbury Hotel - Syd Record Label Future Classic arvo sessions - Lineup here


Final Gig Guide up Thursday.
If you would like your event on the guide send your event info to sydneylovestechno@gmail.com!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Space Sets (9th July)





Space Cadets Thursdays are on again tomorrow night with a stellar student line-up.

Progressive man Element takes the helm. Having already DJed with us and other nights before this up-n-comer has some great songs in the works. Zushy Woolstone returns for an encore set during the peak time with myself, Jamie Tek, and deep-man Binny takes on warm-up duties.

As usual night starts from 9pm with $3 drinks happy hour from 10-12pm. facebook event info here

If you missed the last edition then have a listen to the selection from last time.(Click to download directly)

James Burman @ Space Cadets Thursdays 07-09

Burman took the house down with a set that can be described best as deep-techno and house sounds. He seriously impressed myself and others and is now the official Space Cadets Zabelia Protégé!! Definitely have a listen.


Chris Leffers @ Space Cadets Thursdays 07-09
Chris Leffers stepped after to deliever his signiture blend of 'pop-infused' underground house and techno, always jamming and always goes down well.


Alex Caminer @ Space Cadets Thursdays 07-09
Alex Caminer did the closing set hammering it out until 3am on Friday morning. Driving and deep tunes took it home, toe-tapping action here.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Politics in the Aussie Dance Scene


Apologies for anyone not from Australia or not involved in the industry as this video probably wont make much sense! Otherwise check out this little video handy-work...

Future Entertainment booking DJs for summerdayze
Check The Video Here