Zone Magazine Issue 033 - Jan Johnson
In our feature interviews in this issue we talk to cover legendess vocalist and producer JAN JOHNSTON. A name that for Trance and Progressive fans simply means quality. Starting out in the early ‘90s with short-lived pop band JJ, her fortunes took an upward sweep working firstly with the King of Trance, BT on his ECSM album, and then Australian powerhouse Anthony Pappa (as Freefall) on breakthrough release ‘Skydive’. Signings to Perfecto, Universal and more has spread the Jan Johnson gospel and showcased not only her vocal talents, but also her song writing abilities. Soundtrack syncs and contributions to Grammy Award nominated albums as well as 4 solo albums and countless singles has kept this doyen of the scene at the top of her profession.
In our feature interviews in this issue we talk to cover legendess vocalist and producer JAN JOHNSTON. A name that for Trance and Progressive fans simply means quality. Starting out in the early ‘90s with short-lived pop band JJ, her fortunes took an upward sweep working firstly with the King of Trance, BT on his ECSM album, and then Australian powerhouse Anthony Pappa (as Freefall) on breakthrough release ‘Skydive’.
Signings to Perfecto, Universal and more has spread the Jan Johnson gospel and showcased not only her vocal talents, but also her song writing abilities. Soundtrack syncs and contributions to Grammy Award nominated albums as well as 4 solo albums and countless singles has kept this doyen of the scene at the top of her profession.
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Parks & Wilson: Painting On Silence
(Varese Sarabande, 2001)
https://www.discogs.com/Parks-Wilson-Painting-
On-Silence/release/145787
This was the comp that I relistened to the most
during this project. I had been a fan of Parks & Wilson ever
since their Essential Mix from 2000 - a bright, multitextured,
Hooj Choons-heavy affair that still ranks as one
of my favorite Essential Mixes. When I got a promo copy of
their first mix compilation, I was beyond excited. The
sound they showcased on Painting on Silence was
considerably different from what I had heard from them
before, falling directly into the category of dark prog.
Probably the "proggiest" of all these mixes, I want to use
the word "plodding" in describing it, but the connotation of
the word isn't correct - "steady" is probably more accurate.
It now seems like the best example of an opening DJ's set
from that era. Speaking of opening DJs, I remember when
Mick & Mick finally came to Los Angeles to play at Spundae
at Circus Disco. I had organized an interview with them
and was psyched to see who I had come to think of as "my
guys". In a classic terrible programming move by
whomever booked the night, I watched as Mick Park stood
aghast as DJ Irene played the opening set - her typical
high-energy, loud, scratching, good-timey fast club music.
Not at all appropriate for the boys from Coventry. They
deserved better and so did I, damnit. KEY DARK TRACKS:
Jade "A Day In The Life of an Eastern Assassin", Fusion
feat. Matt Hardwick "Resistance" (Steve Porter mix), Tilt
feat. Maria Nayler "Headstrong" (Sorrento & Scalpel mix),
Pete Lazonby "Wave Speech" (Junior Vasquez mix)...really
all of them. EXTRA CREDIT: check out their 2002 label
profile mix, Baroque In Session, for similar vibes.
Mark Shimmon: Decoded
(Pioneer, 2001)
This is The One. If I want to tell anyone what dark
prog is like, and how good it can be, I put this one on the
car stereo. Dark prog has a blunt singularity of purpose,
and Mark Shimmon throws it all out there on Decoded. It's
tight and economical (just over an hour), and after the
brief intro, has nine tracks total. It's a fucking beast. While
researching for this project, I was repeatedly advised to
check out Gab Oliver's mix No Nonsense, as a purest
example of this style; after having done so multiple times,
Decoded is still my choice. I sure hope Shaniqua got those
tickets to One Love. KEY DARK TRACKS: the whole damn
thing, from DJ Gogo's remix of Josef's Ruhe "Zurihorn" all
the way through to Shimmon's own "Dark Feelin'" as the
closer.
https://www.discogs.com/Mark-Shimmon-Decoded/
release/754196
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