Zone-Magazine-Wally-Lopez-Issue-040
GEZ VARLEY, Pulzar, MAKING MUSIC ON A BUDGET P2, Moshic, Oldskool Vinyl You Must Have PT2, SAMMY DEAN, DJ CHARTS, Jimster, Music Reviews, SKIRRA, Pascal Kleiman, TECH / SOFTWARE REVIEWS, Robert Haagsma
GEZ VARLEY, Pulzar, MAKING MUSIC ON A BUDGET P2, Moshic, Oldskool Vinyl You Must Have PT2, SAMMY DEAN, DJ CHARTS, Jimster, Music Reviews, SKIRRA, Pascal Kleiman, TECH / SOFTWARE REVIEWS, Robert Haagsma
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
" Trust <strong>Wally</strong> is<br />
a movement to<br />
help up and<br />
coming DJ's to<br />
be heard using<br />
my radio show<br />
as a speaker for<br />
them. Not just<br />
newcomers "<br />
ISSUE <strong>040</strong> 2024 WALLY LOPEZ<br />
| GEZ VARLEY | Pulsar | MAKING MUSIC ON A BUDGET P2 | Moshic |<br />
| Oldskool Vinyl You Must Have PT2 | SAMMY DEAN | | DJ CARTS | Jimster |<br />
| Music Reviews | SKIRRA | Pascal Kleiman | TECH / SOFTWARE REVIEWS | Robert Haagsma |
WELCOME<br />
ISSN 2009-8014 (Online) ISSN 2009-8006 (Print)<br />
FOUNDER, EDITOR, PUBLISHER & HEAD<br />
OF CREATIVE<br />
Paul Newhouse<br />
paul@zone-magazine.eu<br />
FEATURE WRITERS &<br />
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
USA<br />
Megan Williams<br />
megan.williams@zone-magazine.eu<br />
Amber Leigh Melby<br />
amberleighmelby@gmail.com<br />
IRELAND<br />
Antoney Mac Phiarais<br />
antoney.mac@zone-magazine.eu<br />
Msykes<br />
paulbrady82@hotmail.com<br />
UK<br />
Paul Sawyer<br />
paul@kraftedmusic.com<br />
John Ricketts<br />
john.ricketts@zone-magazine.eu<br />
Paul Hawcroft<br />
paulhawcroftmusic@gmail.com<br />
Mark Neenan<br />
Markneenanpromos@gmail.com<br />
John W McDevitt -<br />
j.w.mcdevitt@talk21.com<br />
LOUK<br />
Info@compulzion.co.uk<br />
Jack Acid<br />
@RaveReiews YouTube.<br />
SPAIN<br />
Terry Hobbs<br />
tdhobbs79@gmail.com<br />
D4mian Smith<br />
20adm.com@gmail.com<br />
PORTUGAL<br />
Jose De Sousa<br />
japsousa@gmail.com<br />
NETHERLANDS<br />
Thorsten Benders<br />
thorsten@zone-magazine.eu<br />
MUSIC DIRECTOR<br />
John Ricketts<br />
john.ricketts@zone-magazine.eu<br />
GOT A SUBMISSION? -<br />
submissions@zone-magazine.eu<br />
GENERAL ENQUIRIES -<br />
info@zone-magazine.eu<br />
SALES - MARKETING &<br />
ADVERTISING<br />
advertising@zone-magazine.eu<br />
CONNECT<br />
Web - https://zone-magazine.eu<br />
Twitter - @officialzonemag<br />
Facebook - facebook.com/<br />
zonemagazineofficial<br />
Instagram - instagram.com/<br />
zone_magazine_official<br />
ZONE MAGAZINE is owned and published by Paul<br />
Newhouse. Arrangement, design & Editing,<br />
Marketing by Paul Newhouse. Copyright 2014-2023<br />
<strong>Zone</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>. The views expressed and opinions<br />
given in this magazine are not nessicerally shared<br />
by the publisher. No part of this magazine shall be<br />
re-published without prior agreement from its<br />
publishers. Readers should take care when<br />
responding to any adverts in <strong>Zone</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, which<br />
apear without any indorsment or responsibility, from<br />
<strong>Zone</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />
Well Folks, Lots of great things happening here at <strong>Zone</strong> HQ just for you lot, so keep<br />
coming back! Well its Spring 2024, and we have a whopper packed issue with all the<br />
regulars, and lots of interviews! Just to let you guys know, we are back to bi-monthly now.<br />
In our feature interviews in this issue we talk to cover artist and Spanish Legend WALLY LOPEZ.<br />
Born in San Blas in Madrid, 1976, Angel David López starts his career as a DJ and radio presenter at the<br />
early age of thirteen. With an innovative programme, specialized in dance music, he broadcasts his<br />
sessions at Top Radio (Spain) in the early mornings of the weekend. <strong>Wally</strong>, a pioneer of the house music<br />
in Spain, starts his career as producer in 2000 by launching the label Weekend Records, and remixing<br />
artists such as Tiësto, Marco V, Valentino Kanzyani, Dirty Vegas, Bob Sinclar and Robbie Riviera. Many of<br />
his records are successfully published with renowned labels including Defected, Underwater, Yoshitoshi<br />
and Subliminal.<br />
From the UK we speak to JIMPSTER a.k.a. Audiomontage, a.k.a. Franc Spangler, real name<br />
Jamie Odell, is a British born house producer and DJ. Together with Tom Roberts, he founded the labels<br />
Freerange Records and Delusions of Grandeur. While producing his own tracks and playing live shows,<br />
Jimpster has also worked on remixes, including a remix of the song 400 years by Bob Marley. Born into a<br />
musical family, Jimpster was influenced and encouraged by his father Roger Odell who is the drummer in<br />
the jazz-funk band Shakatak. It was there that he was first exposed to electronic synthesizers and<br />
recording equipment at around age 10.<br />
Our boss-man Paul Newhouse catches up with GEZ VARLEY aka UFO aka G-Man, from the<br />
UK. Gerrard Varley hailing from the UK is an electronic producer, live act, and DJ, who was a member of<br />
LFO during the 1990s and later and now releasess under the moniker G-Man. Varley founded LFO in<br />
1990 with Mark Bell, whom he had known since 1984. Their first release LFO was released by Warp<br />
Records in 1990 and reached the British single charts, and went on to sell 150,000 copies worldwide in<br />
1990. During the 1990s Gez focused on his solo productions. His debut album Kushti was released in<br />
1996 as G-Man. In the same year he left LFO. He released music on his own imprint G Records as well<br />
as on the German labels Studio K7 and Force Inc. Music Works. In 2000, he founded the label GMR<br />
Records.<br />
Paul also talks to Miss SAMMY DEAN from the UK. With decades of house music knowledge<br />
and passion, Sammy brings you an eclectic mix of house, classics, disco, and 80’s edits with an uplifting<br />
party vibe. Her versatility also leads to an occasional dive into some dirtier tech house beats, catering<br />
from warm up to peak time sets. Frequenting the sweaty dance floor of Legends nightclub in Warrington<br />
at the tender age of 17, started a love of house music which led Sammy to purchase her first set of<br />
Technics 1210’s at 18 and she has been engrossed in the scene ever since. Winner of this year’s ‘Slip<br />
back in time’ Mix Factor competition, judged by legends Slipmatt, Rob Tissera and Ratpack, Sammy<br />
played a winner’s set at iconic Ibiza club Es Paradis.<br />
Paul Sawyer has a quick chat with the Lord of the dark beat, MOSHIC. Moshic rose to power<br />
in the early ‘00s and helped to solidify a sound only the Israeli underground could deliver. A whirlwind of<br />
international gigs and high profile media attention made him a global star and then as quickly as he’d<br />
risen, he was suddenly a ghost. After a sizable hiatus, Moshic is back and better than ever pushing his<br />
trademark club sound to the masses. Krafted has enlisted his talents for their forthcoming 10 year<br />
anniversary compilation, and long time Moshic fan, Simon Huxtable sat down with him recently to chat.<br />
From France we speak to PASCAL KLEIMAN. A French artist, who has no arms and who<br />
works with his feet, the truth is that until you see him live you have a hard time believing it. I imagine<br />
the beginnings were complicated. Our man Luz has a chat at this wonderful inspiring chap. A DJ since<br />
1989, playing the best clubs and festivals worldwide. Born in Toulouse, he started in the world of music<br />
from the explosion of French free radio during the 1980s. With his radio program Virus, he showcased<br />
independent underground punk and funk with the likes of ESG, Liquid Liquid and early electronic beats of<br />
A Split-Second and Front 242.<br />
Also from the UK, we catch up with the youngest artist we have had here at <strong>Zone</strong>, PULZAR.<br />
Young DJ Pulsar has become quite the phenomenon this past few years. Mirroring his dad on the 1210's<br />
from the unbelievable age of just 2 years old, competently mixing CDJs at 3, and engaging in viral, vinyl<br />
live streams online at 8. Jay is without question destined for the top, having already smashed the dance<br />
floors of some of the top UK institutions. Pulsar's future is looking incredibly bright so after several<br />
months of watching this 11 year old super talented young man, Paul Newhouse, just had to have a chat!<br />
From The Netherlands Thosten chats to auther ROBERT HAAGSMA. Robert is Netherlands'<br />
largest vinyl connoisseur. He shared several moments with all the great artists of the world and has a<br />
record collection that a department store could not accommodate. As a Dutch freelance music journalist<br />
he works for various media such as Algemeen Dagblad, Aardschok, Aloha, Record Collector and<br />
Revolver's Lust for life. In addition, he published books about André Hazes, Rob de Nijs, Pink Floyd and<br />
he wrote the book Vinylfanaten. In 2012, 'Golden Earring, the American Dream' rolled off the press,<br />
which Haagsma wrote together with author Jeroen Ras.<br />
As if all that was not enough of course we have our regular articles, and reviews and charts<br />
from the talented and dynamic <strong>Zone</strong> crew. Also this issue we continue <strong>Zone</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>'s FREE<br />
exclusive DJ Mix series.<br />
As usual we would like to thank all of our very many talented contributors and friends who<br />
provide so much content, love and support for what we are doing, they are listed on the left hand<br />
column on this page if you want to contact them directly with the latest news. From myself and the<br />
whole <strong>Zone</strong> crew, we just wanted to say thanks again for your continued support, peace.<br />
Paul & <strong>Zone</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> Crew!
contents<br />
07 - FREE DJ Mix Series<br />
<strong>Wally</strong> <strong>Lopez</strong><br />
<strong>Issue</strong> Features<br />
08 - Pulsar [UK]<br />
36<br />
14 - Moshic [Isr]<br />
18 - Pascal Kleiman [France]<br />
24 - Jimpster [UK]<br />
28 - Sammy Dean [UK]<br />
36 - <strong>Wally</strong> <strong>Lopez</strong> [Spain] [Cover]<br />
40 - Gez Varley [UK]<br />
44 - Robert Haagsma [Netherlands]<br />
50 - Skirra [UK]<br />
Regulars<br />
54 - Making Music On A Budget PT1 [LOUK]<br />
24<br />
Jimpster<br />
Pascal Kleiman<br />
18<br />
40<br />
Gez Varley
Pulsar<br />
Software / Hardware - Music<br />
Reviews - Charts<br />
58 - Software Hardware and Tech<br />
LOUK [UK]<br />
59 - Progressive House Classics - Buried Tresure<br />
Jay Dobie [UK]<br />
60 - Oldskool Vinyl You Must Own PT1<br />
44<br />
08<br />
Jack Acid [UK]<br />
61 - STAFF PICK - RELEASE<br />
62 - DJ Charts<br />
64 - House & Techno<br />
John Ricketts [UK]<br />
66 - Hard Techno / Techno<br />
Mark Neenan [UK]<br />
Robert Haagsma<br />
Making Music On A Budget PT 2<br />
50<br />
Sammy Dean<br />
28
https://zonewebart.com<br />
https://redbox-records.eu
Exclusive DJ Mix<br />
FREE Exclusive DJ Mix Series<br />
At <strong>Zone</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> here we have our FREE Exclusive DJ Mix each issue!<br />
Check out the link below for all our exclusive DJ Mixes.<br />
FELIX FX [GERMANY]<br />
PETE VAN PAYNE [GERMANY]<br />
PAUL BLEASDALE [UK]<br />
EDDIE AMADOR [USA]<br />
LISA LASHES [UK]<br />
DANY COHIBA [SPAIN]<br />
SOULTRAK [UK]<br />
CHRIS GEKA [FRANCE]<br />
JOHN GIBBONS [IRELAND]<br />
PAUL NEWHOUSE [IRE]<br />
DJ SAMER [USA]<br />
MARK NEENAN [UK]<br />
GAVIN HARDKISS [USA]<br />
GERRY VERANO [AUSTRIA]<br />
SONAS [UK]<br />
PAUL HUTCHINSON [UK/SPAIN]<br />
FRANK DUEFFEL [GERMANY]<br />
DARREN MARTIN [UK/SPAIN/IBIZA]<br />
TIM FRENCH [UK]<br />
GER VARLEY [UK]<br />
PASCAL KLEIMAN [FRANCE]<br />
https://www.mixcloud.com/<strong>Zone</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>DJMixes/<br />
https://www.progressivehouseclassics.com/
featureinterview<br />
_________________<br />
Words Paul Newhouse<br />
________________________________<br />
Photography Evocreative / Tidyland<br />
_______________________<br />
Connect https://linktr.ee/pulsardj<br />
Young DJ Pulsar has become quite the<br />
phenomenon this past few years. Mirroring<br />
his dad on the 1210's from the unbelievable<br />
age of just 2 years old, competently mixing<br />
CDJs at 3, and engaging in viral, vinyl live<br />
streams online at 8. Jay is without question<br />
destined for the top,<br />
having already smashed the dance floors<br />
of some of the top UK institutions. Pulsar's<br />
future is looking incredibly bright so after<br />
several months of watching this 11 year old<br />
super talented young man, <strong>Zone</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
just had to have a chat!<br />
" Nick from Hardtrance Europe had seen me playing a<br />
lot on social media so he invited me down to play at his<br />
night called Hindsight in Exeter in November 2023. I<br />
played a classic Hardtrance set on a Funktion One<br />
Soundsystem which I absolutely loved "
Ok we know you are only a young<br />
guy at present, but tell us the story<br />
of how you got into the music and<br />
how did you learn and build the skills<br />
you so clearly have now?<br />
I was mirroring my Dad from being 2yrs old<br />
playing on a pretend set up made from cushions and old<br />
CD’s. When I was 3yrs old I used to stand at the side of the<br />
decks with my Dad watching for hours. I then started to<br />
learn at 3yrs old. When I was 5 my Dad started to cover up<br />
the screens on the CDJs to train my ears. At 6yrs old I was<br />
begging my Dad to teach me vinyl. He started to teach me<br />
vinyl at 7yrs old and by the time I was 8yrs old we were<br />
playing together on vinyl in our home mainly playing<br />
Trance & Hardhouse.<br />
Tell us about your normal life. School,<br />
home, friends. Plans for the future.<br />
What other things do you like to do?<br />
I go to normal mainstream high school I am<br />
halfway through my first year but I am looking at going to<br />
Engineering College when im 13yrs old. I enjoy building<br />
and creating things so I think I will enjoy Engineering<br />
school. I live at home with my older brother and my Dad<br />
and my Stepmom lives an hour away from us. I love BMX<br />
biking and I love fixing and mending bikes and scooters. I<br />
like playing Minecraft and other games on the Xbox and<br />
Playstation. I enjoy going to the park with my friends. I<br />
love collecting Prime bottles and I really enjoy clothes<br />
shopping.<br />
Vinyl, CD or Digital, or a mix, and<br />
why?<br />
A mixture ……. Sometimes I like playing vinyl<br />
because I enjoy the challenge of it but I really enjoy<br />
playing digital too because I can be much more creative<br />
making loops & cuts.<br />
If you use digital or CDJ’s, do you use<br />
the sync button? If you do or do not,<br />
tell us why?<br />
I have never used the sync button I think it’s<br />
cheating. I don’t understand why you would use it.<br />
My first adult gig was at Air Superclub for Wax<br />
Format in Birmingham when I was 10yrs old. I played a<br />
B2B vinyl gig with my Dad but I kicked him off the decks<br />
after the first 20 mins, that was a pretty special gig for me.<br />
I also won the Tidy Weekender competition and I got to<br />
play at the sold out Tidy Weekender which was pretty<br />
awesome because I have been listening to Tidy Trax since I<br />
was little.<br />
Tell us about the clubs you will be<br />
playing in 2024 and beyond.<br />
I am playing for the Hard Trance Europe<br />
Weekender On The Pier, Al-Dente Soundsystem (Techno)<br />
Rave Kids in Doncaster in July & for them again in Grimsby<br />
in August. Higher Frequency, Classix, and the Madhouse so<br />
far. I am also doing my first International gigs which I am<br />
very excited about in Germany. I am performing for<br />
Solarstorm Festival. I have also been selected along some<br />
other talented kids from around the world to represent the<br />
Kids Rave Official brand from Germany. As part of the Kids<br />
Rave Official we are hosting a charity event in Germany in<br />
July to raise money for Rave The Planet (Berlin Love<br />
Parade) And there are a few more which I cant announce<br />
yet.<br />
What style are you most into and<br />
why?<br />
Techno because from a mixing point of view I can<br />
be more technical with loops & cuts and I find it really fun<br />
to mix especially Hard Techno. However I listen too and<br />
love all types of music.<br />
Do you play other style gigs, like<br />
house, etc…?<br />
I love listening to lots of different music. I like<br />
Michael Jackson my favourite track of his is They don’t care<br />
about us. I also love listening to Hardhouse, sometimes<br />
Trance, Bassline, German Trance, D&B I also like some<br />
bands like 21 Pilots. I have played different gigs ranging<br />
from Trance to Hardhouse, D&B and different types of<br />
Techno.<br />
Tell us about the worst gig and what<br />
happened?<br />
I havent really had a bad gig. I have played on a<br />
few dodgy sound systems and set ups but it’s all part of<br />
learning how to manage things and get round them.<br />
Tell us about the clubs you have<br />
played in and what was your<br />
favourite so far and why?<br />
10 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
Hard Trance Europe have shown a<br />
big interest in you. Tell us about this<br />
and how this happened?<br />
Nick from Hardtrance Europe had seen me<br />
playing a lot on social media so he invited me down<br />
to play at his night called Hindsight in Exeter in<br />
November 2023. I played a classic Hardtrance set on<br />
a Funktion One Soundsystem which I absolutely<br />
loved, Funktion One is my favourite soundsystem!! After<br />
the success of the event Nick asked me if I would like to<br />
record a compilation CD for his HTE record label which I<br />
was honoured to do. We then did an album showcase event<br />
at Cyberdog in London & it was also the warm up to the<br />
weekender event which is taking place in June in Weston<br />
Super Mare in the UK. The HTE Weekender will be amazing.<br />
Its on the Pier in Weston Super Mare & the lineup is<br />
amazing im so lucky to be playing alongside these people.<br />
What do you think of the dance<br />
scene now and what is coming in<br />
the future?<br />
I love it its amazing to watch people dancing and<br />
enjoying my music, I think its going to get bigger and<br />
better!!<br />
You are beginning to make music.<br />
Tell us about this and about your<br />
studio set up.<br />
I have Ableton and an Allen & Heath Xone 2 that<br />
was recommended to me by Mark EG. I have just finished<br />
doing some production lessons with Mark EG as well. I have<br />
a Roland JDXI Synthesiser recommended to me by Mzone.<br />
I am also wanting to get some M Audio speakers for my<br />
production station.<br />
Festival, Super club, Small club or<br />
house party and why?<br />
I have never played at a massive festival but I<br />
think that would be my favourite. Hopefully one day I will<br />
get to do it.
You are stranded on an Island and<br />
all you have are a set of decks, and<br />
a sound system, and 5 tracks to<br />
listen to forever! What are they and<br />
why?<br />
This is a hard question:<br />
Barry Jay – Lucid Dreams (Dave Nemesis remix) I<br />
absolutely love the melody in this track. Lee Haslam – The<br />
Power I love the vocals in this track. Instigator – The Walk<br />
Of Doom – I love the bassline of this track. Ophidian –<br />
Summer storm (rave to the past remix) – This track makes<br />
me feel excited inside. Sunbeam – Outside world – This<br />
track holds a special place in my heart because it was the<br />
first German Trance track that I loved.<br />
Where do you see yourself in 10<br />
years? Personally and Career?<br />
Personally I would love to buy my own house by<br />
the time I am 20yrs old. I have been designing it on<br />
Minecraft for years. I want to revisit Tenerife which was my<br />
first holiday as a child but pay for it myself & take my<br />
parents as a gift. I also want to buy my Dad some custom<br />
decks & whatever my StepMum wants.<br />
In my career I would like DJ all over the world. I<br />
would love to play Techno at boomtown Festival because<br />
that was my first festival and its where I first met Mark EG.<br />
I want to produce music and collab with Mark EG and<br />
Skirra, Yan Sofierce, Basswell Klangkulster Noba &<br />
Instigator. I would also like to build my own 10 inch<br />
monitor speakers that need an amp by the time im 18yrs.<br />
Who have been your influences and<br />
mentors and why?<br />
Amber D has always been very supportive of me<br />
she is fun to watch I love her energy. I also love Mark EG<br />
his energy inspires me. Skirra is a Techno DJ from the UK<br />
and I also love him I first saw him play at Boomtown<br />
festival and I loved his style. I also really like Nicolas Julian<br />
who I have discovered recently.<br />
Tell us what you think of all these<br />
fake DJ’s and so blatantly getting<br />
caught out!<br />
People who pretend to do it annoy me, I practice<br />
all the time and its not fair that people can get big gigs<br />
when they are faking it.<br />
In the young DJ scene who is your<br />
favourite DJ / Producer and why?<br />
DJ Callum/Kieran they are fun to watch they are<br />
super cute together and they play a lot of hard music<br />
which I like.<br />
In the world dance scene who is<br />
your favourite DJ / Producer and<br />
why?<br />
This is a hard one because I love and respect a lot<br />
of different people. The people I am listening a lot at the<br />
moment are: Amelie Lens and Nicolas Julia, But this<br />
changes all the time.<br />
You seem to have a lot of great gear<br />
how did you come to get it all?<br />
My parents have bought some equipment for me<br />
for Birthdays and Christmases. I have also had my Dads<br />
old equipment. I have also very kindly had one of my fans,<br />
Duncan donate his CDJ’s Mixer and lots of other bits to me<br />
which I am so grateful for. And now I am earning a little bit<br />
of my own money I am buying things myself.<br />
" My parents do everything. I have been saying<br />
since I was little that I wanted to be a DJ and make<br />
my own music but after I played my first gig when I<br />
was 8yrs old I said that this is what I really wanted to<br />
start doing "
How have your parents helped you<br />
and felt with everything?<br />
My parents do everything. I have been saying<br />
since I was little that I wanted to be a DJ and make<br />
my own music but after I played my first gig when I<br />
was 8yrs old I said that this is what I really wanted<br />
to start doing. So we talked about social media and me<br />
being on there but my Dad and Stepmum manage it all. I<br />
wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for them. My Dad<br />
supports me with my music stuff and my Stepmum<br />
organises all of my bookings and drives me everywhere<br />
and does all of my social media. They are massive music<br />
fans so they love what I do and fully support me in my<br />
dreams.<br />
What do you think the most<br />
important aspect of a DJ is? And<br />
why?<br />
The main thing for me is it doesn’t matter how<br />
good of a DJ you are its more important to be a good kind<br />
person. Nobody wants to work with somebody who is a<br />
horrible person.<br />
Another thing I think , as well as being able to<br />
beat match properly it is important to have good crowd<br />
interaction, and crowd control. I hate watching boring DJ’s<br />
behind the desk its all about having fun. And I had a gig<br />
recently and my first couple of tracks lost the crowd a little<br />
bit so I changed my set to get everyone back and it<br />
worked.<br />
What style of DJ’ing do you prefer;<br />
up and down all night, working and<br />
controlling the crowd, or start slow<br />
and build and build, or just go for It all<br />
night? And Why?<br />
It totally depends on the night, I play lots of<br />
different ways apart from up and down all night I don’t like<br />
that I think it looses the crowd but if I had to choose I<br />
think build up is my preferred style because I like taking<br />
people on a journey.<br />
Any last words?<br />
Thank you for interviewing me.<br />
Well, thank you Jay for the time, and some last<br />
words from <strong>Zone</strong>; Have fun, stay humble, work hard,<br />
and always help others in need. Don’t listen to the<br />
negative and toxic, and stay away from Social media,<br />
get someone else deal with that one! It’s important<br />
for promotion, but stay with that. Good look in the<br />
future, and take care of yourself. And don’t forget<br />
what the scene is all about!
featureinterview<br />
_______________<br />
Words Paul Sawyer<br />
______________________________<br />
Photography Eldad Yariv & Salivanchuk<br />
___________________________________<br />
Connect https://www.facebook.com/moshic.official<br />
Lord of the dark beat, Moshic rose to<br />
power in the early ‘00s and helped to<br />
solidify a sound only the Israeli<br />
underground could deliver. A whirlwind of<br />
international gigs and high profile media<br />
attention made him a global star and then<br />
as quickly as he’d risen, he was suddenly a<br />
ghost. After a sizable hiatus, Moshic is back<br />
and better than ever pushing his<br />
trademark club sound to the masses.<br />
Krafted has enlisted his talents for their<br />
forthcoming 10 year anniversary<br />
compilation, and long time Moshic fan,<br />
Simon Huxtable sat down with him recently<br />
to chat.<br />
14 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
Hi Moshic, How’s your day been so<br />
far?<br />
I'm great! Music creation is still in my hands and<br />
mind; family, who am I to complain?!<br />
Talk us through life in Northern<br />
Israel. What music were you into<br />
growing up, and who influenced<br />
your desire to become a DJ/<br />
producer?<br />
I grew up in a very musical family. My mum was a<br />
Spanish performer and singer and that's how I got to<br />
introduced to the meaning of live music and stages.<br />
Luckily, I grew up in the ‘80s so I was influenced by<br />
magical times: Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Elton John,<br />
AC/DC. …too many to mention.<br />
Let's talk about that DJ Mag World<br />
Series CD. I imagine 2004 was a bit<br />
intense! How did the mix transform<br />
your life?<br />
It was very intense! Entering the DJ Mag top 100<br />
and that CD cover when the internet was still in diapers<br />
exposed me to the world so fast! Great times, and so<br />
powerful to travel the world with music that I couldn't give<br />
a name. Later, it was called ‘Dark Progressive House.<br />
Pete Tong once described you as<br />
the “best Israeli thing since felafel”.<br />
Tell us about the pressure placed on<br />
artists when your career is in a good<br />
place.<br />
I can't say pressure from the mental side, but<br />
more from travelling every weekend around the world. That<br />
was amazing and physically hard. So many events with a<br />
passion to bring the underground sound from DJs like<br />
myself, great times with no need for social skills but only<br />
good music!<br />
more and more back into the studio chair and there you go.<br />
I guess the scene changed quite a<br />
lot in 20 years. What were some of<br />
the most significant to you?<br />
I think it's obvious that the scene right now there<br />
is more demand for good music after so many years of<br />
social media instant DJs and wannabe producers. Now<br />
there is a new movement of young people that appreciate<br />
the classic productions when music was the main focus and<br />
not the desire to make a “hit” with the same sounds all<br />
over the music stores.<br />
Are there any new Israeli artists that<br />
you are watching? What sets them<br />
apart?<br />
Not really new names, but I'm very proud of a<br />
few that are doing a great job of presenting other Israeli<br />
electronic sounds like Red axes, Mita Gami, Alphadog,<br />
Adam Ten, Ritmo, and Dekel.<br />
What typically comes first, the<br />
drums or the melodies?<br />
Haha ...the melody is the soul and the guide to<br />
the drums for sure!<br />
Has the way you make music<br />
changed? What was it that made<br />
you adapt?<br />
Some technical and software changes but really<br />
minor, I still produce in the same way I did since the<br />
beginning, thank god for that!<br />
Well, it's been fantastic to chat, Moshic. I wish you<br />
well for the future. Is there anything you want to<br />
finish on? Keep it dark! Viva la underground!<br />
In the last few years you’ve had a<br />
resurgence. What made you want to<br />
be active again?<br />
Never stopped! I always had a room in my house<br />
dedicated to music, time changed and the music stopped<br />
paying the bills, so as a natural business guy I opened a<br />
few businesses and when the kids grew up I found myself<br />
16 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
featureinterview<br />
________________<br />
Words D4mian Smith<br />
___________________________________<br />
Photography Laura Ruiz / Animalia / Paco Ferrer<br />
________________________________<br />
Connect https://facebook.com/pascalkleiman<br />
A French artist, Pascal Kleiman, who has no arms<br />
and who works with his feet, the truth is that until you<br />
see him live you have a hard time believing it. I imagine<br />
the beginnings were complicated. Our man Luz has a<br />
chat at this wonderful inspiring chap.<br />
A DJ since 1989, playing the best clubs and festivals worldwide. Born in<br />
Toulouse, he started in the world of music from the explosion of French<br />
free radio during the 1980s. With his radio program Virus, he showcased<br />
independent underground punk and funk with the likes of ESG, Liquid<br />
Liquid and early electronic beats of A Split-Second and Front 242.<br />
He studied Law in Toulouse, but in 1989, with the revolution of the acid<br />
house movement, he found his calling as a DJ and record producer<br />
performing and creating music for the first rave parties in France. In 1992,<br />
he took on his first artist residency at a nightclub in Madrid called club<br />
"Attica".He soon moved to Valencia in 1993 where he took a new artist<br />
residency at Discoteca N.O.D. alongside Kike Jaen. In 1996, he created the<br />
record label "UV" with the purpose of producing alternative artists of the<br />
electronic music scene in Valencia, Spain.<br />
Born without arms or hands due to thalidomide, he is known by many as<br />
"The Amazing Pascal", or "The DJ who spins with his feet",<br />
His plays a mixture of ambient, dub, progressive and psychedelic<br />
electronic music from European, South African, American and Asian<br />
artists. Owning his own record shop gives him access in the latest<br />
electronic dance music.<br />
Kleiman was the subject of Angel Loza's 2008 documentary film Héroes.<br />
No hacen falta alas para volar, which was nominated for a Goya Award in<br />
the Best Short Documentary category.<br />
18 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
PascalKleiman<br />
" In the era we are<br />
living in of so much<br />
globalization, what<br />
music is missing a little<br />
is identity and<br />
soul. That is why I<br />
believe that returning<br />
to work at a more<br />
local level can be a<br />
way to rediscover<br />
various musical<br />
identities or particular<br />
sounds that have<br />
been lost by finally<br />
always seeing the<br />
same artists in all<br />
places "
Who are the key people who have<br />
helped you in this successful career?<br />
There were several people who were decisive when<br />
it came to realizing my dream. At first 2 DJs: DJ Rob, ( who<br />
now rest in peace), was the friend who spiritually connected<br />
me to the fact of choosing to be a DJ as a Vocation. He was<br />
my spiritual teacher, he had enormous talent and I saw<br />
through it that this was not a simple game but rather a<br />
vocation and a complete lifestyle. He carries out his work<br />
with passion and great seriousness. I understood with J Rob<br />
that being a DJ was something so artistic, professional and<br />
honorable. Freddy Love, another DJ friend from Toulouse,<br />
was a great musical influence for me. Working with all the<br />
big English and American distributors made me discover a<br />
multitude of artists who were going to greatly influence my<br />
style, from acid house to San Francisco's tech-house,<br />
Chicago house, Detroit techno and all the old school labels<br />
from early house like Nu Groove for example.<br />
be desired.<br />
What do you think you still need to<br />
do in music?<br />
In the era we are living in of so much<br />
globalization, what music is missing a little is identity<br />
and soul. That is why I believe that returning to work<br />
at a more local level can be a way to rediscover<br />
various musical identities or particular sounds that<br />
have been lost by finally always seeing the same<br />
artists in all places.<br />
What else do you do in your free<br />
time?<br />
In my free time I like to be with my friends . I like<br />
the sun, the beach, the summer and enjoying the moment.<br />
Why did you decide to move to<br />
Valencia specifically?<br />
My connection from 1989 with Valencia was what<br />
made me decide to dedicate myself 100% to this since the<br />
scene and the movement in Valencia at that time was<br />
magically intense and very creative. After a short stay in the<br />
Attica in Madrid for a few months in 1991 I moved to<br />
Valencia where I already found a party tailored to my needs.<br />
Long sessions, many clubs, very good DJs and music that<br />
ran through the veins of a very dedicated audience. Valencia<br />
at this time was very avant-garde just as Manchester was in<br />
England.<br />
What do you like more to DJ or<br />
produce?<br />
I like many styles of music now, both<br />
electronic and urban music. But what I like to produce<br />
the most is deep techno and melodic techno. Also Afro<br />
house, Afro beats and Amapiani are styles that<br />
fascinate me.<br />
As a DJ, what do you like most and<br />
least about this life?<br />
What I like most about this life as a DJ is that it is<br />
very fun. It gives you the opportunity to travel a lot and to<br />
be in contact with people who come to enjoy and that is<br />
priceless.These opportunities to connect with people from<br />
countries with different cultures around music are clearly a<br />
privilege. Throughout my career I have been able to get to<br />
know all of Europe but also India, Israel or Russia and you<br />
realize that music is a totally universal language that allows<br />
you to express yourself wherever you go. What I like the<br />
least is this fever related to social networks that give more<br />
importance to the views one gets on Insta or Tik Tok than to<br />
the actual content of what they say or their career as an<br />
artist. In the end, a showcase is being privileged more than<br />
what is actually there. In this way, the selection of artists<br />
that you can find scheduled at many events leaves much to<br />
You will have thousands of<br />
anecdotes with so many events and<br />
trips. Tell us a fun one or something<br />
you'll especially like?<br />
More than an anecdote I want to mention special<br />
moments that I have experienced DJing or watching other<br />
artists DJ. Magical moments when everything comes<br />
together and your music flows with the audience in such a<br />
way that the beat also follows you. The wind, the sun, the<br />
rain, everything seems to suddenly obey your music. I have<br />
experienced that and it is wonderful.<br />
Tell us about the short film and the<br />
nomination for the Goya awards?<br />
In the short film you can see him playing a song by<br />
infected mushroom that mentions rain, it just started raining<br />
during this great song. Coincidence or supernaturality? That<br />
is the question one can ask. For my part, the word chance<br />
has not been part of my language for a long time.<br />
What difference do you see between<br />
the Spanish and French scenes?<br />
10. I know more about the Spanish scene than the French<br />
scene but I really like both scenes. Each country has its own<br />
musical culture and has brought many musical gems<br />
respectively. I would say that the French scene is more<br />
funky and the Spanish scene is more techno.<br />
20 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
" I like many styles of music now, both<br />
electronic and urban music. But what I like to<br />
produce the most is deep techno and melodic<br />
techno. Also Afro house, Afro beats and<br />
Amapiani are styles that fascinate me "
Do you think the connection with the<br />
public is being lost?<br />
The connection with the public suffers from a lot of<br />
what has come between music and the public, namely social<br />
networks and cell phones in general. It seems that we no<br />
longer know how to connect if we don't have a laptop in our<br />
hands.I remember a time when it was forbidden to show<br />
cameras in a nightclub and that made the magic on the<br />
dance floor and the connection between people much more<br />
real than taking so many images, selfies and recordings.<br />
How do you see the future of the<br />
music industry?<br />
The future of the music industry is more difficult to<br />
predict than ever, especially when you take into account the<br />
growing role of technological advances in MAO and artificial<br />
intelligence, but I believe that in the end we will always find<br />
a way to Music continues to be something important for<br />
people for their happiness and well-being. So I have no<br />
doubt that the music industry knows how to evolve with its<br />
time and still reserves many sensations for us.<br />
What are your next projects?<br />
I am currently developing musical works to perform<br />
with the sifu group in various galas in Spanish theaters. It is<br />
about combining symphony orchestra singers and electronic<br />
music with artists from the diverse world. We have already<br />
done 5 galas in Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Mallorca and<br />
Valladolid and the result is impressive. Full house, lots of<br />
energy, quality and atmosphere. I recommend you go to one<br />
of them when you are close. It is called Gala Superarte and<br />
is organized by the SIFU foundation.<br />
artistic profession.<br />
I guess the only recommendation I can give to<br />
people who want to get into this world of music is to<br />
leave doubts aside, work hard and go for it without<br />
fear.<br />
Digital, Vinyl, CD's or a mix, and why?<br />
Digital, because it s more easy to carry alone and<br />
the quality is also very nice in wav files. Because also there<br />
is more music to choose and play and more datas to use as<br />
information about the tracks, bpm keys etc…Although I think<br />
older supports are important most of all to learn the mixing<br />
techniques so I would say digital connecting points to<br />
analogue ways.<br />
Tell us what you think of all these<br />
fake DJ’s and so blatantly getting<br />
caught out!<br />
What I think about fake DJ’s is the same of what I<br />
think about the fake in general. It doesn't touch only music<br />
but absolutely everything in general and more the fake is<br />
fake more it works because this is unfortunately what our<br />
times are about until it comes a new works, a new<br />
consciousness that makes one day drop the masks. It’s true<br />
for absolutely everything in this workd where people walk on<br />
the head!<br />
Who would you like to work with you<br />
have not?<br />
Ok look, I have a lot of admiration for the 3<br />
founding artists of a group from the 80s making incredible<br />
music between New Wave and electronica. This is the Swiss<br />
group «Yello» composed since its inception of Carlos Perón,<br />
Dieter Meier and Boris Blank. To work with them one day<br />
and enter the secrets of how this group produces and<br />
composes would be an honor and a huge pleasure!<br />
In another record, a group that inspires me a lot<br />
and that has been out of all kinds of competition for its<br />
originality, its creativity and its magical melodies are "The<br />
Cure" And if you ask me to choose an iconic song that was<br />
going to inspire techno for the next 40 years, I would say<br />
New Order's "Blue Monday."<br />
Some advice for the young aspiring<br />
DJ's and producers, and for people<br />
with disabillity, who want to dedicate<br />
themselves to music or another<br />
" I guess the only<br />
recommendation I can<br />
give to people who<br />
want to get into this<br />
world of music is to<br />
leave doubts aside,<br />
work hard and go for it<br />
without fear "<br />
22 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
What style of DJ’ing do you prefer; up<br />
and down all night, working and<br />
controlling the crowd, or start slow<br />
and build and build, or just go for It all<br />
night?<br />
It depends on the music i want to live or listn when<br />
I go out. If we speak about urban sounds I prefer up and<br />
down all the night. If i go to listen to house or techno I<br />
prefer a DJ that knows to start slow and build and build until<br />
climax!<br />
You are stranded on an Island and all<br />
you have are a set of decks, and a<br />
sound system, and 5 tracks to listen<br />
to forever! What are they and why?<br />
Joy division - love will tear us apart, Kraftwerk - boing boom<br />
tshak, Severed heads - dead eyes opened, Interfront -<br />
destination, Derrick may - strings of life.<br />
Because all those tracks put me high and I am<br />
never tired to listen them. All those tracks are for me a kind<br />
of genesis in my decision to dedicate me to music and djing<br />
What do you think the most<br />
important aspect of a DJ is? And<br />
why?<br />
For me one of the most important aspect to be a<br />
good dj is knowledge to have enough musical culture so you<br />
can express yourself in different ways also a lot of work to<br />
control basics and advanced techniques that always are in<br />
evolution and maybe the mist important one that is missing to so<br />
many ones is humility cos if you know that in fact you doesn’t know<br />
nothing then you keep on learning.
featureinterview<br />
_______________<br />
Words Terry Hobbs<br />
_______________________<br />
Photography @tommyophoto<br />
__________________________________<br />
Connect https://facebook.com/jimpster.freerange<br />
Jimpster a.k.a. Audiomontage, a.k.a. Franc<br />
Spangler, real name Jamie Odell, is a British born house<br />
producer and DJ. Together with Tom Roberts, he<br />
founded the labels Freerange Records and Delusions<br />
of Grandeur. While producing his own tracks and<br />
playing live shows, Jimpster has also worked on<br />
remixes, including a remix of the song 400 years by<br />
Bob Marley.<br />
Born into a musical family, Jimpster was influenced and encouraged<br />
by his father Roger Odell who is the drummer in the jazz-funk band<br />
Shakatak. It was there that he was first exposed to electronic<br />
synthesizers and recording equipment at around age 10.<br />
He started Freerange records in 1996, a label that has since found a<br />
niche in deep house with artists like Shur-I-Kan and Milton Jackson.<br />
Jimpster played in a live electronica band, The Bays, from 2002 until<br />
2007, but eventually decided to focus on DJ'ing and his record label.<br />
In 2007 his label Freerange was voted Best British Label by DJ Mag,<br />
in 2010 he won the Beatport titles: Best Deep House Producer and<br />
Best Deep House Remix of the year.<br />
Our Costa Del Sol man Terry Hobbs had a little chat!<br />
24 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
" The majority of my most amazing moments in music are from<br />
my time spent touring with a live band called The Bays. For about 6<br />
years from the start of the 00’s we got to play some crazy gigs<br />
that I’m so grateful to have got to experience "
Thanks for taking the time speak with<br />
us today! What were the highlights of<br />
2023? Personally and for your<br />
Labels?<br />
Thanks for having me! Yeah, things continue to be<br />
nice and busy both in the studio and with gigs as well as on<br />
the label side. I’ve been playing a hardware based Jimpster<br />
live set since the pandemic, both on my own as well as with<br />
drummer Andy Gangadeen. We’ve got to play some great<br />
festivals and clubs including Gilles Peterson’s We Out Here<br />
and Berlin’s best deep house club Heideglühen. Both of<br />
these sets have been highlights and it’s really nice travelling<br />
with a friend for gigs for a change. It’s definitely more<br />
stressful and more effort playing live shows but the payback<br />
and satisfaction after the set is worth it and people really<br />
seem to appreciate the live element. In 2022 we started a<br />
3rd label called Cyphon Recordings which is already 10<br />
releases in and focusing on Detroit inspired electro and 90’s<br />
UK techno/IDM/electronica. It’s been amazing to set up<br />
another imprint and the response and support has been<br />
much stronger than we imagined.<br />
What was the music that inspired you<br />
most growing up and how has that<br />
influenced the music that you<br />
produce today?<br />
I was lucky enough to grow up in a musical family<br />
with my dad being the drummer in a jazz funk band called<br />
Shakatak and my mum being a jazz vocalist. I used to go<br />
into the studio when Shakatak were recording and to pass<br />
the time I’d grab a synth or drum machine that wasn’t being<br />
used and plug in some headphones and mess around on<br />
them. At the same time I was getting into breakdancing and<br />
starting to collect the Streetsounds Electro compilations so I<br />
guess this period around 1983/84 was when everything<br />
came together and the seeds were sewn.<br />
How did you start out as a DJ? What<br />
music got you into the dance scene,<br />
what did you start out playing?<br />
I think I got two turntables and started learning to<br />
mix records around 87/88. The decks were just hifi decks<br />
but had pitch control of plus/minus 3% so as long as the<br />
records were fairly close in BPM you could get match them<br />
up. Around this time I was listening to a lot of On U Sound<br />
releases so dub reggae, Mark Stewart, Gary Clail and<br />
Tackhead as well as EBM like Nitzer Ebb and Front 242 and<br />
industrial and experimental noise and electronica stuff from<br />
Meat Beat Manifesto, Renegade Soundwave, Throbbing<br />
Gristle and Skinny Puppy. I remember when Renegade<br />
Soundwave’s Space Gladiator and The Phantom came out<br />
and blowing us all away and signaled our entry into clubbing<br />
and discovering house music. I think my first proper gig was<br />
around 1991 in my hometown of Braintree, Essex and going<br />
by the name DJ O.D! Strictly hardcore!<br />
Was there/is there anyone who is<br />
still, or who has been, particularly<br />
influential in your musical journey?<br />
I grew up in a small village an hour from London<br />
but we were lucky enough to have a bunch of older lads who<br />
were obsessed with good music. One of those was Peter<br />
White whose sister worked at Mute Records and would bring<br />
home tapes of upcoming releases which Peter would play to<br />
us. Getting to hear this stuff ahead of release and<br />
sometimes even hearing demos or rare remixes and stuff<br />
which would never be released was a real buzz. He went on<br />
to create a great label called Space Kat around the early<br />
2000’s, a label I followed religiously so you could say he’s<br />
been a constant source of inspiration for a very long period<br />
of time.<br />
What have been your personal<br />
favourite moments in your musical<br />
career? Gigs, Productions etc<br />
The majority of my most amazing moments in<br />
music are from my time spent touring with a live band<br />
called The Bays. For about 6 years from the start of<br />
the 00’s we got to play some crazy gigs that I’m so<br />
grateful to have got to experience. Several Peel<br />
Sessions at Maida Vale, Glastonbury and some other big<br />
festivals in Japan, Holland, Sri Lanka and Brazil. If I have to<br />
pick one highlight it would have to be getting to play with<br />
Herbie Hancock joining us onstage at a sold out Barbican.<br />
Still can’t believe that happened to be honest.<br />
What has been the best concert/<br />
event you have ever been to.<br />
Whether you have played there or<br />
not?<br />
Miles Davis at Wembley Conference Centre in<br />
November 1986 playing tracks from Tutu. I was 13 at the<br />
time and getting obsessed with synths. Seeing Robert Irving<br />
III with his vast racks of keyboards was the moment that<br />
made me think, I’d like some of that please!<br />
What music do you normally play at<br />
home these days?<br />
Mostly soul and jazz both old and new. Rainer<br />
Trueby has a Facebook group called Soul Gliding which I<br />
discover a lot of great older stuff through.<br />
26 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
Tell us about the clubs you like to<br />
play in? and what do you prefer,<br />
festivals, clubs, bars?<br />
I’m happy to get to share music anywhere there’s a<br />
nice crowd of open minded music heads but generally the<br />
more intimate and close up the setup is the more connected<br />
you feel and therefore brings out the best in terms of taking<br />
more risks with selections.<br />
Tell us about your next projects.<br />
When is the next release? And what<br />
else are you excited about for the<br />
labels this year?<br />
I’ve just finished a Jimpster EP for Nu Groove which<br />
I’m really excited about and that should be dropping after<br />
summer. Also got a remix for a great South African artist<br />
called beatsbyhand which is just about to come out on Stay<br />
True Sounds. I’m currently in the studio working on a<br />
collaboration EP with Berlin based producer Philippa which<br />
will most likely be our 300th Freerange release coming out<br />
around November. And we’ve also reached another<br />
milestone on Delusions Of Grandeur hitting our 100th<br />
release with a brilliant new EP from Session Victim called<br />
Screen Off.<br />
Favourite gigs of 2023?<br />
I always love playing in South Africa as it’s a very<br />
different experience to anywhere else and the energy levels<br />
are always off the scale. I’ve also got my monthly night at<br />
my wife’s venue Acanteen here in Essex called Jimpster<br />
Invites. We had some great nights last year with Aroop Roy,<br />
Atjazz, Terry Farley, Crazy P, Mood II Swing and Sean<br />
McCabe all joining me. Special shout to Heideglühen in<br />
Berlin for two amazing live shows and to Louie Vega and<br />
Anane for inviting me to play live at their Ibiza residency at<br />
Chinois which was another special night.<br />
And what are the gigs you are really<br />
looking forward to in 2024?<br />
Jimpster - Birdhouse LP<br />
Osunlade - Momma’s Groove (Jimpster Remix)<br />
Swell Session - Prepared To Go (Jimpster Remix)<br />
Jimpster - Headspin<br />
Franc Spangler - Fight The Feeling<br />
Freerange Top 5<br />
Marcel Wave - Holton (Serafin Remix)<br />
King Kooba - San Salvador<br />
Switch - Get On Downz<br />
Blackjoy - Untitled (Kerri Chandler’s Bigga Remix)<br />
Salvatore Freda & Volta - Western Spaghetti<br />
If you were stuck on a desert island<br />
and could only take 5 records with<br />
you, what would they be?<br />
David Sylvian - Brilliant Trees, Pat Metheny & Lyle<br />
Mays - As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, Grace Jones -<br />
Slave To The Rhythm, Kraftwerk - Computer World, George<br />
Duke - The Aura Will Prevail.<br />
Where do you see the future of<br />
Electronic music? Any particular<br />
trends you see moving forward?<br />
Personally, I’m not really into new trends or genres.<br />
I’m pretty old school and happy to continue digging for older<br />
music I’ve missed and following the original pioneers of<br />
house who continue to impress whilst staying true to the<br />
roots of club music.<br />
Thanks Jamie, great chatting to you!<br />
Looking forward to catching up with<br />
you again in June for Amor Andalucia!<br />
Thanks for having me and see you in the sunshine!<br />
Black Coffee just invited me to play his night at Hi,<br />
Ibiza in August which should be a blast! I’ll be heading over<br />
to Spain to play Stuart Patterson’s Amor Andalucia which I’m<br />
really looking forward to. It’s a really solid line-up including<br />
Terry Farley, Ronnie Here and Dave Jarvis as well as a host<br />
of brilliant local DJ’s. Can’t wait for that one! Also got some<br />
more US dates in San Francisco and Detroit coming up soon.<br />
What are your own top 5 records<br />
that you have produced? And your<br />
top 5 that you have released on the<br />
label?
featureinterview<br />
_________________<br />
Words Paul Newhouse<br />
_______________________<br />
Photography Nathan D’amour<br />
___________________________<br />
Connect https://linktr.ee/sammydean<br />
With decades of house music knowledge and<br />
passion, Sammy brings you an eclectic mix of<br />
house, classics, disco, and 80’s edits with an<br />
uplifting party vibe. Her versatility also leads to an<br />
occasional dive into some dirtier tech house<br />
beats, catering from warm up to peak time sets.<br />
Frequenting the sweaty dance floor of Legends<br />
nightclub in Warrington at the tender age of 17, started<br />
a love of house music which led Sammy to purchase<br />
her first set of Technics 1210’s at 18 and she has been<br />
engrossed in the scene ever since.<br />
Winner of this year’s ‘Slip back in time’ Mix Factor<br />
competition, judged by legends Slipmatt, Rob Tissera<br />
and Ratpack, Sammy played a winner’s set at iconic<br />
Ibiza club Es Paradis. They said<br />
“Sammy is a very talented, passionate DJ with a truly<br />
special sparkle”<br />
Smashing festival sets at Beatherder and Glastonbury<br />
have been highlights this summer as well as<br />
Clockwork Orange at Fabric London. Sammy has given<br />
up her day job to pursue her DJ career and is hoping<br />
to inspire others that it is never too late to follow your<br />
dreams. The ‘pocket rocket’ as she has been<br />
nicknamed, is certainly making for take-off.
" My rule is, if I<br />
like it I play it.<br />
house, disco, tech,<br />
80’s edits,<br />
whatever I feel<br />
like I play. I like to<br />
play a mix of<br />
genres in my sets<br />
and it seems to<br />
work "
" last year I played in the spike bar in the glade<br />
at Glastonbury, it was a special moment, as the<br />
bar was packed and I received an ovation at the<br />
end of my set "
Tell us about Sammy.<br />
I grew up in Warrington, Cheshire. My dad was a<br />
guitarist in a band in his spare time, so we always had music<br />
on and tried to learn different instruments.<br />
Tell us about how you got started in<br />
the dance scene.<br />
My neighbour who was a year older than me, took<br />
me when I was 16, to a club called Legends in Warrington in<br />
1991, I had never experienced anything like it. I went back<br />
the following week on my own as she couldn’t make it, I saw<br />
some of the people I had met the week before and made new<br />
friends. I basically went every week and danced on a podium<br />
behind the DJ with a girl called Tracey who I am still friends<br />
with now.<br />
First DJ equipment and when? Why?<br />
So, having given up piano lessons and failed<br />
miserably at guitar lessons, I decided I would give playing<br />
vinyl a go. I started going into Hott Waxx records in<br />
Warrington every week. By this time I was 17, I had a part<br />
time glass collecting job and earned about £17 a week. Most<br />
of it went on records. The shop keeper used to keep them for<br />
me until I could afford to pay for them. I for the life of me<br />
can’t remember how I paid for them, but I managed to get<br />
the money to buy a pair of Technics 1210’s and I bought the<br />
old mixer from the record shop when they got a new one.<br />
Festivals, Super clubs, Small clubs, or<br />
House party? And Why?<br />
Festivals during the day, preferably in the sunshine,<br />
because everyone is happy and you can see amazing outfits<br />
and smiling faces.<br />
Tell us about your feelings on Female<br />
DJ’s and how they are seen in the<br />
scene? Are they treated differently?<br />
I regret not trying harder when I was younger<br />
as I now have my age against me in some respects, but<br />
it’s also working in my favour in terms of my knowledge<br />
and ability.<br />
I think the recent influx of influencer and model DJs<br />
has not helped our cause, there are a lot of men saying we<br />
they get booked for our looks. There are a lot of talented<br />
female DJs and they don’t normally come with big egos<br />
attached and have more fun behind the decks. I would like to<br />
see an all female line up without anyone pointing out that it’s<br />
all female.<br />
tunes, it scratches, ends up back in the wrong sleeve, you<br />
can’t find the track you want when you want it etc etc.<br />
Best club you have played and why?<br />
The best club I have played and not for being a great<br />
club as such, but because it was my first proper gig and the<br />
crowd were amazing, was a Wobble event in Birmingham at<br />
the Hockley Social.<br />
What do you think about all the fake<br />
DJs, so blatantly getting caught out,<br />
and that whole future in the scene?<br />
It’s good they are getting found out, it’s not great for<br />
the scene as it gives the wrong impression. There are many<br />
factors to being a good DJ and they should put the work in to<br />
be one.<br />
Best place you have played and why?<br />
last year I played in the spike bar in the glade<br />
at Glastonbury, it was a special moment, as the bar was<br />
packed and I received an ovation at the end of my set.<br />
You are the only person left on earth<br />
after the apocalypse, you find a set of<br />
decks, a mixer, and sound system,<br />
and 5 vinyl. what 5 tracks do you find<br />
to play the rest of your life? And why?<br />
Joe Smooth - Promised Land – One of my all time<br />
faves, Nothing beats this and my kids have instructions to<br />
play it at my funeral. John Summit – Thin Line – Reminds me<br />
of his boat party at Defected Croatia 2021, the vibe on that<br />
boat was amazing and one of the reasons I pushed myself to<br />
DJ. Todd Terry – Jumpin – Again one of my favourite feel<br />
good classics. Bicep – Glue – I played this at 9am in the<br />
morning at a beach party in Croatia and it was a special<br />
moment. Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel – White Lines – For<br />
sheer entertainment and rapping contests.<br />
Worst gig you have played and why?<br />
I would prefer not to answer any negative questions<br />
as it is not good karma, but of course there are times where I<br />
haven’t performed at my best or accidentally loaded the same<br />
track twice or accidentally turned the wrong deck off. It<br />
happens.<br />
Vinyl, CD’s, Or Digital, or a mix? And<br />
why?<br />
Digital for me. I do love vinyl as it has a warmth to<br />
it, but vinyl is heavy, you can’t carry the same volume of
Who would you like to work with you<br />
have not and why?<br />
I’d love to make a track with John Summit, he is an<br />
absolute legend. Of course the chances of that happening are<br />
slim to none, but we can always have hope!<br />
You have had quite a few releases.<br />
What do you like about making music?<br />
I find it fun and frustrating at the same time. It’s<br />
challenging but exciting when it comes together, then you go<br />
through a phase of having heard it so much it so it loses it’s<br />
charm. Then when you play it out, that excitement comes<br />
back. Having people sing and dance to something you have<br />
created is ace!<br />
Tell us about your studio setup and<br />
favourite equipment.<br />
I only have Ableton on my laptop and the engineers I<br />
work with use Logic, I don’t have room at home to build a<br />
studio and would rather utilise someone else’s expertise and<br />
equipment. I definitely have favourite sounds and samples<br />
and seem to have a thing for a cow bell and an air horm!<br />
Any releases coming up?<br />
I have a track at the moment called As the Funk, just<br />
working on getting it signed now. It is a fun, funky track,<br />
made with daytime parties and festivals in mind and I hope<br />
for it to put a smile on people’s faces.<br />
technology doesn’t replace creativity. Music lyrics and books<br />
are often written from personal experience and I am not sure<br />
technology can replace that. With regards to AI and music<br />
platforms, it’s great an algorithm can suggest new music, but<br />
I don’t like having to play the algorithm game to ensure your<br />
profile or your music gain exposure. It’s a real chore and not<br />
very fair.<br />
You won a mix competition. Tell us<br />
about this please.<br />
A friend of mine told me about the Slip Back in Time<br />
Mix Factor contest and said I should enter. I don’t enter things<br />
unless I am focussed on winning, there is no taking part in my<br />
eyes, I have to know I gave it my best shot. I went to Ibiza<br />
and had to play two poolside 20-minute slots, so trying to<br />
showcase what you can do and get people dancing in 20 mins<br />
is tough. But I won, and I won a set at Es Paradis and I am<br />
back there this year to play for them on their line-up. I am<br />
super grateful to Slipmatt and the Slip Back in Time Crew for<br />
their support.<br />
Any last words?<br />
I want to say to the people that are supporting my<br />
journey, how much it means to me. Everytime someone<br />
purchases a track, or listens to a mix, or messages me telling<br />
me how much they love what I play, it makes it all the more<br />
worthwhile.<br />
My latest mix competiton entry is on my soundcloud<br />
for the United Ants 24 contest, if anyone wants to give it a<br />
listen.<br />
What style do you prefer to play and<br />
make and why?<br />
My rule is, if I like it I play it. House, disco,<br />
tech, 80’s edits, whatever I feel like I play. I like to play<br />
a mix of genres in my sets and it seems to work.<br />
Tell us about the future of the dance<br />
scene. Where do you see it in 5 years?<br />
I think the dance music scene will continue to grow,<br />
but it is ever changing and no doubt we will see a rise and fall<br />
of certain genres as trends change. I think music production<br />
will become even easier with the use of AI but maybe we will<br />
see a lot more creative and hybrid performances.<br />
" I regret not trying harder<br />
when I was younger as I now<br />
have my age against me in<br />
some respects, but it’s also<br />
working in my favour in<br />
terms of my knowledge and<br />
ability "<br />
What do you think of Ai in music and in<br />
general?<br />
I think it will have it’s place, and I don’t mind AI for<br />
helping out with some things for speed, I like using ChatGPT<br />
for help with writing descriptions and letters. In terms of<br />
music and AI in general, we just need to be careful that<br />
32 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
https://zonewebart.com<br />
62 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU<br />
https://redbox-records.eu
GRAYMANE<br />
S Y M B O L S O F Y O U R L O V E
featureinterview<br />
_________________<br />
Words Simon Huxtable<br />
______________________<br />
Photography @maytitalozano<br />
_____________________________<br />
Connect https://facebook.com/wallylopez<br />
<strong>Wally</strong> <strong>Lopez</strong> is considered the most important spanish DJ's.<br />
Owner of Factoria Records and Factomania Group, and resident<br />
every thurdays at BE (Space Ibiza).<br />
Born in San Blas in Madrid, 1976, Angel David López starts his career as a DJ and radio presenter at the early age of<br />
thirteen. With an innovative programme, specialized in dance music, he broadcasts his sessions at Top Radio (Spain) in the<br />
early mornings of the weekend.<br />
<strong>Wally</strong>, a pioneer of the house music in Spain, starts his career as producer in 2000 by launching the label Weekend<br />
Records, and remixing artists such as Tiësto, Marco V, Valentino Kanzyani, Dirty Vegas, Bob Sinclar and Robbie Riviera.<br />
Many of his records are successfully published with renowned labels including Defected, Underwater, Yoshitoshi and<br />
Subliminal. In the same year he also produces what it will be his first international hit ‘Amman’, followed by ‘Patricia Never<br />
Leaves the House’ (both remixes have been relaunched in TheFactoria recently) and ‘Disco Night’, played all over the<br />
globe by DJs like Pete Tong, Hernan Cattaneo or Steve Lawler. The later even dubbed him as ‘The Man of the Moment’…<br />
After working for numerous labels and artists, he decides to create ‘La Factoria Records’ - now TheFactoria - in 2001, as<br />
well as a more underground sub-label called Formula Records. Recently <strong>Lopez</strong> has added a new label called FatXL that he<br />
has launched together with his colleagues Ismael Rivas and Iván Pica. The three labels together form part of the<br />
Factonomia Group that <strong>Wally</strong> presides, and it counts with different areas such as a management agency, management<br />
label or the Tremenda clothes shop in Madrid.<br />
TheFactoria counts with more than thirty references of great international repercussion such as ‘Love Time’, ‘Strike Me<br />
Down’ or the more recent tunes ‘Planet Earth’, ‘Burning Inside’ or ‘Close to Me’. The last two were at the number one for<br />
many weeks in a row at the Maxima 51 chart of Maxima FM – the most important dance chart in Spain. Besides, <strong>Wally</strong> has<br />
the honour to host a national programme of electronic music in Maxima FM, which counts with more than 340,000<br />
listeners each Friday and is also broadcasted in English in Belgium, France, Italy and Russia. Musically speaking his<br />
selected compilations stand out, particularly the Weekend CD Series and I’m Coming To… series. After the editions in<br />
London, Paris, Dubai and Ibiza, <strong>Wally</strong> <strong>Lopez</strong> is already preparing a second edition for this summer 2009 that will repeat<br />
destination to the White Island.However, it is in 2004 when <strong>Wally</strong> <strong>Lopez</strong>’ musical career acquires its current dimension. It<br />
happens in an uncomfortable train trip from Madrid to Valencia where he creates his remix for David Guetta’s ‘Just A Little<br />
More Love’. In <strong>Wally</strong>’s hands the tune becomes turns into a world hit and the Madridian becomes one of the undisputable<br />
winners at the Ibiza DJ Awards 2004. In this good year he starts his residency at Pacha Ibiza, together with Darren<br />
Emerson and Tim Deluxe, which he combines with other residencies including The End in London, where he plays next to<br />
artists like Fatboy Slim or XPress2. Later he gains residencies at Discotèque and Pacha in Barcelona, Red Light and The Mix<br />
in Paris and Ministry of Sound in London and appearances at festivals including 10th Anniversary of Creamfields Liverpool,<br />
Creamfields Buenos Aires, Global Gathering, Exit Festival, Weekend Dance, Rock in Rio, Monegros Desert Festival and<br />
Creamfields Andalusia, finally achieving his current summer residency who many consider the best in the world, Space<br />
Ibiza for the Be@Space parties. Besides <strong>Wally</strong> has the honour to have been the first Spanish DJ to be invited to play at a<br />
Madonna concert (Seville 08).<br />
36 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
" Producing was the most important thing that I’ve done for<br />
my career but I had a moment where I stopped completely<br />
because of this decline in revenues situation. But I'm back<br />
again producing as crazy; just do It to feed my inner voice I<br />
won’t stop making music, it’s too much fun! "
Apart from the love of an unconditional crowd that has<br />
followed him for the last 18 years, he has been awarded with<br />
the recognition and respect of many professionals in his field<br />
and some brands that currently collaborate and work with their<br />
full support in the creation and promotion of products 100%<br />
<strong>Wally</strong>. Both Oakley and Vueling Airlines are two of his main<br />
partners with whom he promotes their products or presents<br />
events such as I’m Vueling to Ibiza – which was widely<br />
published in the media in 2008. <strong>Wally</strong> <strong>Lopez</strong> collaborates also<br />
with dance4life in their fight against AIDS; lending his image<br />
and total support to the cause as one of the projects he<br />
personally considers the most important and useful.<br />
Let’s start at the beginning and give<br />
the readers a little context… It’s 2000<br />
and dance music is flying high. Tell us<br />
about life in Mardrid back then, the DJs,<br />
the music, the life.<br />
Well, we began a little earlier, so we were cooking<br />
slowly what happened from 2000 in advance. That was the<br />
exact moment when a whole generation was into the electronic<br />
scene and so many of us were trying to look for our space in<br />
this industry. Some exciting times in Madrid back then.<br />
Being a resident DJ has formed a large<br />
part of your career. Residents are the<br />
backbone of the club but rarely get the<br />
praise they deserve, so who have<br />
been your favourite fellow residents<br />
and what set them apart?<br />
In those times there were no guest DJs, maybe once<br />
in a while as a present to the crowd, but was all about the<br />
residents… For me, they are still the most important of the<br />
club, the OG´s. Oscar Mulero in Madrid was the “light to follow”<br />
for all of us with his music… it was as if he was telling a story<br />
from the beginning till the end of the night.<br />
You’ve been quoted as saying “God<br />
may be a DJ, but DJs aren’t God”, do<br />
you think egos have taken over the<br />
party?<br />
Egos are getting so stupid nowadays, I do understand<br />
that it is very difficult going directly from making or playing<br />
music in your room at your parent's house to headline huge<br />
festivals but, besides that, you are just a regular person that if<br />
you don’t take care of the others you won’t headline anything in<br />
9 or 10 years time… so just relax and enjoy!<br />
Your glasses have always been a point<br />
of interest for fans. Where do you buy<br />
them and do you always go for bright<br />
colours?<br />
Not always, I’m wearing black ones now haha! I was<br />
sponsored by brands the most of those years, so I don’t buy<br />
too many, I even released my own collab with Oakley years<br />
ago.<br />
Social media is something DJs our age<br />
have had to get used to, but some still<br />
actively avoid it and tour and work<br />
constantly. So is online engagement<br />
the benefit we are led to believe it is?<br />
To be honest, I’m not sure. Iit is true that social media<br />
is very important now but you must keep it real with yourself.<br />
If you feel comfortable with it let's go! It can be very beneficial<br />
for sure… but also has a potential problem. You will see<br />
everyone is doing better than you and everyone is younger and<br />
super cool and that is why you need to be strong and know that<br />
everyone lies on socials, Nothing is real. So once you know that<br />
you can really move forward with your career.<br />
Production has been important to your<br />
career from the beginning. With sales<br />
taking a downturn for a long while now<br />
and streaming providing little revenue,<br />
how do you regard your releases<br />
today?<br />
Producing was the most important thing that<br />
I’ve done for my career but I had a moment where I<br />
stopped completely because of this decline in revenues<br />
situation. But I'm back again producing as crazy; just do<br />
It to feed my inner voice I won’t stop making music, it’s<br />
too much fun!<br />
Krafted have released a compilation to<br />
celebrate 10 years. Talk us through the<br />
process of release from having the<br />
idea for the track to delivering it to Paul<br />
and the gang…<br />
I have great connections with the gang, I’ve released<br />
already with them and I love the way they push in every single<br />
project. So once they asked me to be part of it, I began to work<br />
on a very groovy melodic song that I hope you like.<br />
38 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
You’re in good company on the<br />
release, are there any artists that<br />
piqued your interest?<br />
Honestly??? ALL OF THEM!!! Krafted has such<br />
great taste for music and producers, that I can’t pick just<br />
one name.<br />
Alongside releasing music yourself,<br />
you’ve also had a business minded<br />
approach launching labels,<br />
management and a fashion brand.<br />
Which arm of the business gives you<br />
the most satisfaction?<br />
I do not sleep that much that is true, but I can’t<br />
stop making stuff! Working on “<strong>Wally</strong> <strong>Lopez</strong>” as a brand<br />
takes care of what is most important… I love to keep<br />
thinking about what to do next.<br />
This is a project that I really believe in. Trust<br />
<strong>Wally</strong> is a movement to help up and coming DJs to be<br />
heard using my radio show as a speaker for them.<br />
Not just newcomers but DJs who are doing this all their<br />
lives as a hobby or in places that don’t have the best clubs<br />
or festivals. Talent is out there and I need to help them.<br />
This is just the first phase… but my dream is to do a big<br />
event with DJs from the movement. The world needs<br />
talented DJs not Tik Tok DJs!<br />
Well, it's been fantastic to chat, <strong>Wally</strong>.<br />
I wish you well for the future. Is there<br />
anything you want to finish on?<br />
Just to thank you for your time and let me speak<br />
about what I love the most.<br />
Link to 10 Years of Krafted Album Mix by<br />
<strong>Wally</strong> <strong>Lopez</strong> - https://open.spotify.com/<br />
album/5BlOMsBSQ0yqpEbzRxlXZt?<br />
si=XnQ9aLQvQPCaQccgE3PkTg<br />
Tell us about TRUST WALLY…<br />
ESSENTIALDANCEMUSIC 39
featureinterview<br />
_________________<br />
Words Paul Newhouse<br />
____________________________<br />
Photography Courtesy of Gez Varley<br />
_____________________________________<br />
Connect https://g-man-techno.bandcamp.com/music<br />
Gerrard Varley hailing from the UK is an electronic<br />
producer, live act, and DJ, who was member of LFO<br />
during the 1990s and later released his solo works<br />
under the moniker G-Man.<br />
Varley founded LFO in 1990 with Mark Bell, whom he had known<br />
since 1984. Their first release LFO was released by Warp Records in<br />
1990 and reached the British single charts, and went on to sell<br />
150,000 copies worldwide in 1990.<br />
During the 1990s Gez focused on his solo productions. His debut<br />
album Kushti was released in 1996 as G-Man. In the same year he left<br />
LFO. He released music on his own imprint G Records as well as on<br />
the German labels Studio K7 and Force Inc. Music Works. In 2000, he<br />
founded the label GMR Records.<br />
After years of great acomplishments Gez still works in the music<br />
industry. He recently suffered a battle with cancer, which put his life<br />
on hold for a time, but today Gez continues to remaster, remix,<br />
produce and DJ as Gez Varley and G-Man!.<br />
Over a carer of 34 years Gez has sold over 500, 000 records world<br />
wide not including remixes and compilations and has had his music<br />
used for 2 computer games and 2 adverts.<br />
<strong>Zone</strong> just had to catch up with this man for a good chin wag!<br />
G-MAN<br />
42 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
GEZVARLEY<br />
" Yeah I think DJ’s<br />
should be heard and<br />
not seen to be honest.<br />
In the old days the<br />
DJ’s were tucked<br />
away in the corner or<br />
at the back of the club.<br />
Now it’s all gone crazy<br />
with super DJ’s.<br />
Hopefully it will get<br />
back to being<br />
underground again<br />
(fingers crossed )! "
Tell us about Gez before music.<br />
I’ve been into music from an early age of 7, when<br />
my dad played me Pink Floyd - Dark side of the moon album.<br />
After that I was hooked and started buying heavy metal,<br />
punk and disco music at the early age of 8. Then by the time<br />
I was 12 I got into electro and early hip hop music. So there’s<br />
always been music in my life one way or the other.<br />
Tell us about your normal life, home,<br />
friends. Personal Plans for the future.<br />
What other things do you like to do?<br />
I like to play retro video games, like Vectrex, NEO<br />
GEO, Dreamcast, Mega drive… not really into the new games<br />
TBH. I like to meet my pals in pubs and have a few beers. I<br />
don’t go to clubs much unless I’m playing or some of my<br />
techno pals are.<br />
Vinyl, CD or Digital, or a mix, and why?<br />
I’m on Bandcamp which is amazing for me, just<br />
been doing some digital releases on there and also some<br />
limited edition stuff like CD’s and Dub Plates. It’s good tone<br />
able to release on most platforms.<br />
Who where and are your influences in<br />
life and music?<br />
Early electro, hip hop, house music, stuff like<br />
German techno and Kraftwerk.<br />
How did you get started in music, and<br />
how did you get together as LFO?<br />
At about the age of 15 I had some Breakdancing<br />
pals up in Newcastle who were putting out tracks back then. I<br />
was blown away at there stuff being done at home on a small<br />
set up (808 drum machine, Vocoder, a few keyboards, a 303<br />
baseline). That’s when I decided to get into music production,<br />
so a few years later I set up my first real group LFO which<br />
was quickly joined by Mark Bell and Martin Williams in 1988.<br />
If you use digital or CDJ’s, do you use<br />
the sync button? If you do or do not,<br />
tell us why?<br />
I’m on Ableton live so I’m sort of doing a half live /<br />
DJ set. So I have loads of loops and full tracks which I’m<br />
jamming together in a unique way. As for DJ’s in general it’s<br />
up to them if they use the sync button … after all they only<br />
play other peoples music.<br />
Tell us about the clubs you have<br />
played in and what was your favorite<br />
so far and why?<br />
I’ve played hundreds of gigs over the last 34 years.<br />
So it’s a bit hard to say which is the best, Sonar 2001 was<br />
amazing for me as we played a "Force inc" showcase in front<br />
of 10 thousand people, which was kinda of scary. Some of<br />
the other cool clubs were “The Orbit (Leeds), The Omen<br />
(Frankfurt), and Berghain (Berlin).<br />
Tell us about the clubs you will be<br />
playing in 2024 and beyond.<br />
I’ve just getting back into giving again after been i'll<br />
with cancer for the last few years. So I’m only doing a<br />
handful of gigs at the moment. Next one is a massive festival<br />
in Portugal “The walk of life" on the 21st of June (loads of<br />
druids and hippies will be there), and also 3rd August in<br />
London.<br />
What style are you most into and<br />
why?<br />
I’m playing a lot of up to date techno with some old<br />
classics thrown in. So mainly deep techno like Soma records<br />
for example.<br />
Tell us about G-Man.<br />
Yes g-man was my sideline project whilst doing LFO.<br />
Warp went anti techno at one point so I decided to go on my<br />
own as G-man.<br />
In the world dance scene who is your<br />
favorite DJ / Producer?<br />
People like Andrew Weatherall, Laurent Garnier,<br />
Maritzio von Oswald.<br />
Tell us about the worst gig and what<br />
happened?<br />
Yes there’s been a few bad gigs normally down to<br />
equipment failure as we played 100% live back in the day<br />
with keyboards, drum machines, and samplers. I do<br />
remember a gig in Newcastle one time back in 1994 when a<br />
raver jumped on stage and came to hug me knocking over<br />
our keyboards and mixer "Oh dear"! we had to restart the set<br />
set again!<br />
You have worked with some of the<br />
top artists in the world, tell us who<br />
was and is your favorite artist(s) to<br />
work with?<br />
Yeah Marco Corola was pretty cool, also Ritchie<br />
Hawtin both had there strong points in the studio.<br />
42 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
You are stranded on an Island and all<br />
you have are a set of decks, and a<br />
sound system, and 5 tracks to listen<br />
to for ever! What are they and why?<br />
Unique 3 - “The theme“, Phuture - “Acid traxs“, 808<br />
State - “Pacific state“, A guy called Gerald - “Voodo Ray“. All<br />
these tracks make the hairs stand up on the back of my head<br />
still, and last but not lest LFO - LFO. Just for the reminder of<br />
the amazing feat that we got it into the UK charts!<br />
What do you think of the dance scene<br />
now and what is coming in the future?<br />
Yeah I think DJ’s should be heard and not seen<br />
to be honest. In the old days the DJ’s were tucked<br />
away in the corner or at the back of the club. Now it’s<br />
all gone crazy with super DJ’s. Hopefully it will get<br />
back to being underground again (fingers crossed )!<br />
You have remixed for many artists.<br />
What has Been your favorite remix<br />
and why? Any advise on remixing<br />
other peoples tracks?<br />
I think the remix for Radio Head was pretty good<br />
and also The remix of “Planet Rock“ for Tommyboy records.<br />
Advice for remixing is use there best bits and inject<br />
your own, after all they want your music mainly not there’s.<br />
Tell us about your best gig and what<br />
happened?<br />
Best gig was my first at the Leeds Warehouse club<br />
April 1990. We were totally scared and played an amazing set<br />
to a club of about 40 people (what a learning curve it was)!<br />
We got paid 4 beers each and taxi fare home! Good times<br />
indeed.<br />
What style of DJ’ing do you prefer; up<br />
& down all night, workin' & controllin'<br />
da crowd, or start slow & build & build,<br />
or just go for It all night?<br />
All depends on the crowd and what time it is.<br />
Normally I like to build a set from slow to fast but if I’m<br />
playing at “peak time“ then it’s straight in “phasers set to<br />
kill“!<br />
Who have been your influences and<br />
mentors and why?<br />
3, 808 State, and Early Street Sounds records UK. All were<br />
big influences for me growing up in Leeds in the 70’s - 80’s,<br />
such a great time for fresh and original sounds.<br />
Festival, Super club, Small club or<br />
house party and why?<br />
Small Clubs and house parties are the best where<br />
you can let your hair down and jam like crazy …. Yes Sir !<br />
You have had a fantastic career so<br />
far, what are your music plans?<br />
I’m slowly getting back into doing gigs again and I’m<br />
also working on my Bandcamp site with releases.<br />
You make music for other industries,<br />
tell us about this and how that<br />
happened?<br />
I’ve done some computer game music over the<br />
years and also a few TV adverts for companies like “Rockstar<br />
Games“, "Volkswagen" Germany. Also done LFO on a film<br />
called “Beats“ about the rave scene. Right now I’m working<br />
on some retro game music for a project on the Vectrex<br />
system.<br />
Tell us what you think of all these fake<br />
DJ’s and so blatantly getting caught<br />
out!<br />
Yeah it’s a shame but these things happen world<br />
wide. There’s always been an underground in all scenes<br />
which will eventually get taken and abused. Happened in<br />
Punk, Disco, Hip Hop, electro, Techno and house to name but<br />
a few.<br />
You have worked with many labels,<br />
who have been the best, most<br />
supportive and what advise would<br />
you give to labels and producers?<br />
Just about all labels suck .. only met a few over the<br />
years which were nice Swim record and Force inc … spring to<br />
mind. My advise to producers is do as much as you can<br />
alone.<br />
Any last words?<br />
Thanks for the interview. Live long and prosper!<br />
Much love G-Man!<br />
Yeah, Juan Atkins, Kraftwerk, Brain Eno, Karl Bartos<br />
(who we worked with in the early 90’s), Derrick May, Unique
featureinterview<br />
___________________<br />
Words Thorsten Benders<br />
_______________________<br />
Photography Robert Haagsma<br />
__________________________________<br />
Connect https://facebook.com/robert.haagsma.7<br />
Robert Haagsma is Netherlands' largest vinyl<br />
connoisseur. He shared several moments with all the<br />
great artists of the world and has a record collection<br />
that a department store could not accommodate.<br />
As a Dutch freelance music journalist he works for various<br />
media such as Algemeen Dagblad, Aardschok, Aloha, Record<br />
Collector and Revolver's Lust for life. In addition, he published<br />
books about André Hazes, Rob de Nijs, Pink Floyd and he<br />
wrote the book Vinylfanaten. In 2012, 'Golden Earring, the<br />
American Dream' rolled off the press, which Haagsma wrote<br />
together with author Jeroen Ras.<br />
Robert latest creation is the incredible book “Passion For<br />
Vinyl part 3, Tales from the groove.” This book offers close to<br />
30 interviews with a very diverse cast of characters. They<br />
have in common a deep love of music. Passion for Vinyl<br />
shares the unique experience of making, buying, collecting<br />
and enjoying vinyl. It’s about the records that inspire people.<br />
The way they shaped their lives. How they sparked them to<br />
pick up an instrument, become a DJ, or start a label, pressing<br />
plant or YouTube channel.<br />
44 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
RobertHaagsma<br />
" I'm extremely happy with the return of vinyl to the mainstream. I am<br />
especially happy that young people are also discovering that the LP is the<br />
most ideal way to really listen to music. Purchasing and playing an LP<br />
requires a certain commitment, while the music is divided into pleasant<br />
chunks of about twenty minutes. LPs also often have memories attached to<br />
them, because of the store where you bought it or because of the person<br />
who gave it to you "
Hi Robert Thank you for your time.<br />
You wrote another fantastic book<br />
“Passion For Vinyl Part III: Tales From<br />
The Groove”. Since you already wrote<br />
2 parts, what made you write a third<br />
part?<br />
Thank you. I wasn't really planning on writing a third<br />
book, but I was asked to do so again by the publisher, Record<br />
Industry in Haarlem. I enjoyed working on the first two parts<br />
so much that I said yes almost immediately. I love music so<br />
much, but it's almost as much fun talking about music.<br />
Especially with people who are as crazy about vinyl as I am. I<br />
also really had the feeling that there were still many stories<br />
that deserved to be written down. There have been so many<br />
new people, especially in recent years. Especially young<br />
people and women; in record stores, as YouTubers, at<br />
pressing plants, and so on.<br />
What is different about this one<br />
compared to the other 2 books and<br />
why should people read this book?<br />
Good question. Of course, they are all completely<br />
different interviews in the first place. What also makes a<br />
difference is that the time in which I made this book is<br />
different from the previous two. Part 1 was released ten<br />
years ago when the vinyl revival was just beginning. There<br />
were a lot of questions. Is it a hype? Who buys all those LPs<br />
these days? And why? Should the industry respond to this?<br />
When I started part 2, most of the questions had already<br />
been answered. Vinyl was really back. I also spoke to people<br />
who had just started a record pressing plant or record store,<br />
for example. Now, five years later, we know for sure that<br />
vinyl is not going away anytime soon. So I took a slightly<br />
more personal approach. Do you come from a musical family?<br />
What records made you love music? Are there any albums<br />
that changed your life? What does your musical life look like<br />
now?<br />
Since you did lot of interviews for this<br />
book, who was the one you where<br />
most excited about interviewing and<br />
why?<br />
It was crazy that Robert Trujillo took so much time<br />
for me when the latest Metallica album had just been<br />
released and the band was about to go on tour. He had also<br />
prepared himself specially by selecting a whole stack of<br />
records. The conversation with Kevin Shields from My Bloody<br />
Valentine was also very cool. Not just because he rarely gives<br />
interviews, he had a very interesting story. I also really<br />
enjoyed talking to Gilad Tiefenbrun, owner of Linn, because I<br />
have been the proud and satisfied owner of a Linn LP12<br />
turntable for more than 25 years, haha!<br />
You traveled the world and met many<br />
interesting people. Who would you<br />
like to interview who you haven't<br />
interviewed yet?<br />
I don't really have a wish list, but it is a bit<br />
frustrating that I have never managed to speak to Pete<br />
Townshend of The Who. I admire him very much and think he<br />
is a very interesting man. I would also like to interview Elton<br />
John one day, but then I only want to talk about his immense<br />
record collection, haha!<br />
Tell us a bit more about the process.<br />
How do you prepare yourself when<br />
writing such a book? And do you<br />
have any advise for aspiring writers?<br />
Together with Anouk Rijnders from Record<br />
Industry, a list of interview candidates is made. That's<br />
where it starts. Then it's up to me to prepare. Which I<br />
do as thoroughly as possible. Then it is a matter of<br />
conducting and transcribing the interviews. It is difficult<br />
to give advice to someone who wants to write a book,<br />
because no book is the same. In general: make sure you<br />
have a good idea and make sure you have a good publisher.<br />
Write about something that really interests you and it will<br />
never become a job. Furthermore, my motto when it comes<br />
to interviews is very simple: prepare well, be genuinely<br />
interested and be on time. Writing is often hard work, but few<br />
things are as satisfying as seeing an article published or<br />
holding a book in your hands.<br />
" Together with Anouk<br />
Rijnders from Record<br />
Industry, a list of interview<br />
candidates is made. That's<br />
where it starts. Then it's up<br />
to me to prepare. Which I do<br />
as thoroughly as possible.<br />
Then it is a matter of<br />
conducting and transcribing<br />
the interviews "<br />
46 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
If you where staying on a lonely<br />
island for 1 year which 3 vinyls would<br />
you take along and why?<br />
Ah, that always difficult question, haha! It changes<br />
every day, but here we go: Air with Moon Safari, because it's<br />
a perfect pop album. Great songs and beautiful production. I<br />
like a good sound. It also brings together styles – pop,<br />
lounge, 70's rock – which I really like. A timeless classic. I<br />
also choose the Ramones' first album, because that band<br />
blew away the cobwebs of the 70s. For me it is still the<br />
ultimate rock & roll album. I have seen the band live many<br />
times and those concerts are still in my Top 10. Just as I am<br />
glad that I ever interviewed most of the original band<br />
members. For the third album I choose Judas Priest with<br />
Unleashed In the East. It is typically a live album with songs<br />
that are all better than the original studio versions. It is also<br />
mainly the album that ignited my love for metal in the late<br />
1970s. But then again, tomorrow it could be different<br />
choices. The jazz and classical department is the fastest<br />
growing department in my collection, to name just one<br />
example.<br />
In your book you say it all started<br />
when your sister gave you the “Blue”<br />
double album by The Beatles. Do you<br />
still listen to the that album?<br />
Ha, well noticed. The 'Blue' double LP that I<br />
received a long time ago was already second-hand.<br />
Apparently my sister was too frugal to get me a new one –<br />
just kidding. But seriously: I traded it in a long time ago for<br />
a mint Japanese pressing from the 1970s. I'm not<br />
sentimental about that. I also have the re-issues that came<br />
out later, such as the 3-LP version from last year. For me,<br />
there are still few albums that bring together as much good<br />
music as that blue compilation 1967 – 1970 by The Beatles.<br />
I still put it on regularly. The Beatles are never boring.<br />
the right direction. Music has meant a lot to my life, both<br />
privately and professionally.<br />
How happy are you seeing that vinyl<br />
is back into the mainstream? & what<br />
are your thoughts about colored<br />
vinyls and all the other limited<br />
editions that are being sold these<br />
days?<br />
I'm extremely happy with the return of vinyl<br />
to the mainstream. I am especially happy that young<br />
people are also discovering that the LP is the most<br />
ideal way to really listen to music. Purchasing and<br />
playing an LP requires a certain commitment, while<br />
the music is divided into pleasant chunks of about<br />
twenty minutes. LPs also often have memories<br />
attached to them, because of the store where you<br />
bought it or because of the person who gave it to you.<br />
I really enjoy seeing how young people build such memories.<br />
Last Saturday was Record Store Day. In a store I visited I<br />
saw a girl of about 10 euphorically dancing away with an<br />
Olivia Rodrigo single. My heart jumped. That's the future of<br />
vinyl! Well, and about colored vinyl. I know people are<br />
complaining about it. It's a bit much, but I think the market<br />
will eventually correct the industry. I remember that there<br />
was also colored vinyl in the 70s. The very first pressing had<br />
a colors. The early buyers were lucky. It would be nice if it<br />
went back to that, instead of 10 different color variants.<br />
Thank your for your time. It was a<br />
pleasure talking with you. Anything<br />
you want to share with us?<br />
Thanks. Your welcome. Famous last words: support<br />
your local record store!<br />
Would you share another career<br />
defining moment with us that made<br />
you the music loving man you are<br />
today?<br />
In the early 80s I saw the band Golden Earring live.<br />
My first pop concert. It was an extremely impressive<br />
experience. It was a world I wanted to belong to, although it<br />
took a long time for that to become reality. Funnily enough,<br />
my first serious interview was with Rinus Gerritsen, the<br />
bassist of Golden Earring. It was such an inspiring<br />
experience that I thought: I want to continue with that. Not<br />
much later I took care of his archive, which much later<br />
resulted in a book: Golden Earring – The American Dream.<br />
Written together with Jeroen Ras. There have been many<br />
experiences and encounters that have given me pushes in
featureinterview<br />
________________<br />
Words Mark Neenan<br />
_______________________<br />
Photography Nick Neuenhaus<br />
__________________________________<br />
Connect https://www.facebook.com/skirraofficial<br />
Skirra (Mike Molokhia) is one of the scenes good guys.<br />
A superb producer, excellent DJ and just a real good egg. He<br />
has released on my Filth Infatuated label remixed for me on<br />
Urban Chaos recordings, we even got to play an energetic<br />
b2b set last year at the awesome Underground Alliance<br />
night in Birmingham.<br />
Dark, brooding, relentless... SKiRRA was born from an obsession with Hard and<br />
Industrial techno. A true blend of hard, aggressive percussion, haunting synth<br />
lines and energetic presence, solidifying his name in the underground techno<br />
circuit. Having collaborated with such infamous names as D.A.V.E. The<br />
Drummer, Sopik, Natalino Nunes, Ayako Mori, Resistohr and more, SKiRRA<br />
doesn't shy away from a challenge, as he has quickly risen to the ranks of one<br />
the best modern techno producers around. With numerous Top 10 releases in<br />
Hard Techno, as well as industry support from some of Techno's biggest<br />
names such as SPDJ on her radio 1 essentials mix, D.A.V.E. The Drummer, Mark<br />
EG, Danny Tenaglia, Cristian Varela, Natalino Nunes, Fatima Hajji and A.P. to<br />
name a few, SKiRRA's is fast becoming a name of recognition, both in the<br />
studio and also on the Hard Techno club circuit. SKiRRA's focus is fixed firmly<br />
on delivering consistent, best quality hard, aggressive Techno that will errupt<br />
dance floors globally. SKiRRA is for the misfit, the outcast, the downtrodden,<br />
the corrupted ...SKiRRA is the underground at it's purest.<br />
" The underground looks so good right now.<br />
There are artists out there that are doing<br />
exceptional things for the underground currently.<br />
Carl Shorts, A.P., MarAxe, Acerbic, Balrog, DAVE<br />
The Drummer "<br />
50 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
Hi Mike, thanks for agreeing to this<br />
my friend. So first things first, what’s<br />
going on in the world of Skirra at the<br />
moment?<br />
Hi ya Mark! It’s been crazy of late. But in a really<br />
good way! We relaunched Mechanikal in February, after a<br />
break from releases which has far exceeded anything I could<br />
have hoped for. The relaunch E.P. was a joint release<br />
between Carl Shorts and myself and got some really solid<br />
support.<br />
Since then, the demo box has been in meltdown,<br />
but the quality of techno that’s being sent in is truly<br />
amazing.<br />
We also have some next level releases in the schedule from<br />
some huge names in techno. I can’t say too much about<br />
some of them but short term, expect music from artists like<br />
Acerbic (A.K.A Chicago Loop), A follow up from one of my<br />
favorite artists in the game right now; MarAxe. And a whole<br />
load of new cuts from me.<br />
We also decided to launch a podcast called The<br />
Mechanikal Music Podcast at the beginning of the year. It<br />
was an idea that I have had for a while. I’m really blessed to<br />
be able to call a lot of the pioneers of the scene friends, so I<br />
thought; why not get them on a call and chat nonsense! It<br />
seems to be the sort of thing that people want, as the<br />
Youtube numbers are really healthy! I’ve got absolutely<br />
loads of artists, promoters, artist managers and DJ’s lined up<br />
for a chin flap! So far, we just released the 7th episode and<br />
have had people like Acerbic, MarAxe, D.A.V.E. The<br />
Drummer and Michaela join me on the show. It’s fun man. I<br />
love talking as most that know me know so it’s just a natural<br />
extension for my lip flapping!<br />
In terms of my own music, I’ve got some nice stuff<br />
on contract for the year but I’m turning most of my new<br />
material out on Mechanikal.<br />
Describe your style right this second.<br />
I’ve only got one mode man! Solid, driving,<br />
16th note percussive party music! Having the break<br />
away from the scene was such a tonic for me. I felt<br />
like I was starting to turn music out like a sausage<br />
factory. Instead of making 7-10 tracks a week and not<br />
being 100% happy with them, I got out of the studio<br />
and went to parties. I spent time on dancefloors which, if<br />
I’m honest, I didn’t really do all that much before. It’s<br />
amazing what being in a rave to enjoy it instead of working<br />
does for your inspiration. I nailed how it was I wanted the<br />
music to translate. I take weeks on E.P.s now. It might get<br />
finished in a few days but I force myself to sit with it now.<br />
The difference in terms of the appreciation I have for my<br />
own records now is huge. I’m really happy with what’s<br />
coming from my studio now.<br />
But they have always been so much fun. Plus; it’s the law<br />
that all DJ’s must have had bookings with empty dancefloors<br />
isn’t it?<br />
Best is also a hard one as I have loved every<br />
minute of DJing. The biggest was Boomtown Festival. That<br />
was amazing. Ayako Mori, D.A.V.E. The Drummer and myself<br />
hosted the Hydrauli” takeover in what was quite possibly the<br />
hottest marquee on earth! Didn’t stop it getting filled<br />
though.<br />
Of course, the Hydraulix parties are always<br />
amazing. It’s like a family reunion in the green room. And of<br />
course, I couldn’t go without mentioning the Collide parties.<br />
Every single one I’ve played has been so special.<br />
Tell us something interesting about<br />
yourself?<br />
Alright. I live with ten cats! No crap! We thought it<br />
would be a good idea to let our two breed. Let’s just say, it<br />
got out of control! Word to the wise! Neuter your cats<br />
people!!<br />
What’s the best piece of advice you<br />
would give to any newcomer trying<br />
to get into the world of Techno or<br />
dance music in general?<br />
Oh, this one is easy and not nearly enough people<br />
understand the importance of this. Forget being the most<br />
technical producer or DJ. Instead; put everything you have<br />
into building real, meaningful relationships in the industry. If<br />
your goal is to get a release on Drumcode before you’ve<br />
even begun building proper relationships with your peers and<br />
the people you are producing music for, then you may find<br />
the wait is a long one.<br />
If you build a network of people that you genuinely<br />
care about and the relationship isn’t built on what that<br />
person can do for your career, then the big name<br />
connections, agents and promoters will soon come. The<br />
underground scene is a very organic one. If you are genuine,<br />
the rest just happens.<br />
As for producers; one of the most crucial things you<br />
can ever prioritise when writing any kind of music is to lead<br />
with a story. Forget mix balancing, bus summing, EQing or<br />
mastering. That comes over time, through experience and<br />
good quality education.<br />
If you don’t know how to tell a story, you will just<br />
fall into the void of all the other thousands of releases that<br />
get sent to labels each week. Understanding proper<br />
phrasing, movement, creating emotion through tension and<br />
release and then putting it all together to tell a story that<br />
translates to a dance floor is what will put you out in front.<br />
What were the best and worst sets<br />
or gigs you’ve ever played?<br />
Haha! Honestly, I haven’t really had what you’d call<br />
a bad gig…yet! I’ve turned up to empty dancefloors, sure.<br />
52 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
What thing really annoys you about<br />
the music scene at the moment?<br />
Disingenuous and trends that get set by the market<br />
makers. This aint EDM! It’s underground techno! No cake<br />
throwing here! Or at least, I’m yet to see one.<br />
Being genuine gets you into my circle. I can’t stand it when<br />
the master plan involves a massive lack of integrity. Be cool<br />
and enjoy the many amazing, genuine people around you.<br />
Luckily, there are so many more of those people than the<br />
wronguns.<br />
And as for the trends thing; I’ve actually got no<br />
problem with trends. I think they are a natural evolution. But<br />
the digital revolution changed the landscape for every single<br />
artist on the planet. And now, there is a level of playing the<br />
digital game that gets dictated by the major players in<br />
music. But when those players decide to install a sound that<br />
already has a home within major platforms over a perfectly<br />
functioning sub genre, leaving that sub genre without a<br />
place in which to thrive. That’s about my limit on patience<br />
really. I’m not losing sleep over it though. I just stay in<br />
my lane!<br />
What is your favorite burger and<br />
what’s your tipple of choice?<br />
Got to give all the love to the FIVE GUYS! Never has<br />
a burger brought me such joy! I used to be T-Total believe it<br />
or not, but then I found Kraken rum! I drink far too much of<br />
it.<br />
You’re stranded on a desert Island<br />
with a single record player and a fat<br />
sound system, what 5 albums are<br />
you playing.<br />
Easy!! Machine Head – Burn my Eyes. I bought it<br />
the day it was released in 1994. One of the greatest metal<br />
albums of all time. They did a live studio recording which is<br />
on Spotify. Honestly; put it next to the original studio album<br />
and you’d be hard pushed to work out which one is which.<br />
Note perfect! Incredible musicians.<br />
Proper storytelling journey.<br />
Hybrid – I Choose Noise. I’m a massive classical<br />
music fan. One of my greatest loves is the amalgamation of<br />
Orchestra and electronic music. Hybrid are the go too boys<br />
for that. Fully worth a listen.<br />
Dr Dre – 2001. Need I explain why this is on the<br />
bag? The production alone is enough to make any producer<br />
drop their dinner plate on the floor with amazement. Then<br />
you got every hip hop artist that was ever worth listening to<br />
in support. Just a quality piece of art.<br />
DJ Shadow – Endtroducing. Absolutely essential<br />
man. I need it more than food. Plus, the drum edits in<br />
‘Building Steam with a grain of Salt’ are probably the reason<br />
why I love the perc patterns so much in my own music! not<br />
the best produced album in the world, but the story!!!! It’s<br />
there man!<br />
Rush – Moving Pictures. Bloody legends. R.I.P<br />
Purty! We miss your chops man! I regularly watch ‘I Love<br />
you Man’ just so I can watch the Rush scene!<br />
Finally, In your opinion what does the<br />
future of Techno hold?<br />
The underground looks so good right now.<br />
There are artists out there that are doing exceptional<br />
things for the underground currently. Carl Shorts, A.P.,<br />
MarAxe, Acerbic, Balrog, DAVE The Drummer. They are<br />
all contributing an energy and vibe that mean the lovers of<br />
the underground sound can rest, safe in the knowledge that<br />
techno isn’t going anywhere.<br />
There are more, obviously. So many more. In fact,<br />
the quality seems to be getting better and better.<br />
Also got to show love to our little superstar in the<br />
making – DJ Pulsar! 12 years of age and already has played<br />
bigger shows than the majority of UK DJs emerging in the<br />
scene! Incredible little man!<br />
Great answers Mike, all the best to you and your music<br />
for the future. I’ll be seeing you at Collide Summer<br />
Gathering in June my friend!<br />
Sasha – Airdrawndagger. I can’t tell you how much<br />
I adore this album. I actually need to put it on after writing<br />
this. The entire album from start to finish is just a vibe man.<br />
" I’ve only got one mode man! Solid, driving, 16th note<br />
percussive party music! Having the break away from the<br />
scene was such a tonic for me. I felt like I was starting to turn<br />
music out like a sausage factory. Instead of making 7-10 tracks<br />
a week and not being 100% happy with them, I got out of the<br />
studio and went to parties "
featurearticle<br />
____________<br />
Words LOUK<br />
_________________________________<br />
Connect https://facebook.com/loukcompulzion<br />
Hi all! When lockdown hit in 2020, many had to stay in and<br />
couldn't work. Thankfully due to the nature of my work, I<br />
could work from home, but this is also where my studio was<br />
which had been put into use producing solo music, or<br />
engineering & co-writing/producing with friends. For some<br />
periods where lockdowns happened, everything changed,<br />
and for all of us who had to stay in and also those who were<br />
furloughed and couldn't work, I put a list of resources online<br />
for many free VSTs, software, guides and music tools, for<br />
those who had free time, were wanting to learn music<br />
production and didn't have very much money.<br />
I wrote part one of this guide in the previous issue of <strong>Zone</strong>,<br />
and here is the second edition. If you followed all the advice<br />
in the first issue, you should by now have a decent<br />
keyboard, mouse, a high spec computer, some hard drive<br />
space, an audio interface, some monitor speakers and<br />
stands, and some headphones. You should also have a<br />
structured folder system and if you were wise, and paid<br />
attention, a copy of a recent issue of Computer Music<br />
<strong>Magazine</strong> to benefit from the awesome free plug in library<br />
that comes with it to give you a massive head start.<br />
54 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
Your Environment<br />
The very first thing you would like to ensure are your<br />
speakers are set up and positioned correctly. I talked about<br />
this last month and gave a link to do so, however your room<br />
might also have issues that will interfere when you produce.<br />
For me, my most recent studio space (which is now my<br />
Daughter's bedroom), was ridiculously bass heavy. I didn't<br />
realise it at first but when testing mixes in different<br />
environments, it really highlighted where my tracks needed<br />
more bass, as I was always turning it down to compensate<br />
here and as a result made for mixdowns needing more bass/<br />
low end.<br />
A very useful investment/tool for this if you have the<br />
budget (and I know the article is called making music on a<br />
budget!) is Sonarworks SoundID (https://<br />
www.sonarworks.com/soundid-reference). This is a wonderful<br />
bit of kit that you can place a microphone in the middle of your<br />
room and it lets you know the response from over 30<br />
measuremeants and gives you an EQ reading of your room, so<br />
you can see where the areas are really heavy and lacking. It<br />
then stores this as a preset and corrects it, that you can run in<br />
your sequencer/DAW and have a true response of how your<br />
mix should sound on speaker systems with a flat response.<br />
There is a wonderful Oscilloscope plugin called Schulz<br />
Audio's Oszillo's Mega Scope (https://schulz.audio/products/<br />
oszillos-mega-scope/), which is currently at £69. This is also a<br />
very beneficial tool no matter what sequencer you use, due to<br />
the fact that you can place this on any audio or instrument<br />
channel and you can visually see the impact of that channel on<br />
your overall mix, highlighting which parts/colours are too loud<br />
or too quiet in certain areas. This was a very much<br />
unexpected and needed lifeline and I cover it in detail in my<br />
reviews this month. Both this and Sonarworks/SoundID come<br />
with a free trial so are worth trying before you consider<br />
purchasing.<br />
Next are a couple of free tools, first up is Voxengo's<br />
Correlometer (https://www.voxengo.com/product/<br />
correlometer/). This is a VST plugin, more information about<br />
how to install that is in the below section. Correlometer is<br />
great for showing the phase alignment of your tracks, and if a<br />
track's signal is out of phase which will cause issues. A1<br />
Stereo Control by Alex Hilton (https://a1audio.alexhilton.net/<br />
a1stereocontrol) is another decent free tool, this gives you a<br />
wide range of tools, to mute sections of your tracks, see how<br />
they sound in mono and to enhance the stereo field. There is<br />
also an option called Safe Bass where you can make anything<br />
under a certain frequency mono, this is very useful for making<br />
your kick and bass/low end sections of your mix warmer and<br />
perceived to be tighter.<br />
Finally is ASIO4All (https://asio4all.org/). This is a<br />
universal windows audio driver, and has reduced latency and<br />
helped reduce issues many times over the past 20+ years for<br />
me making music. For a free tool it is highly worth a<br />
download!<br />
Setting Up Your Production Computer<br />
I will try to keep this short, but an area I've hugely<br />
neglected in making music since the turn of the millennium, is<br />
I wish I backed up more music. Now I back up various<br />
versions of projects, premasters, stems, samples, music files,<br />
contracts, statements, the whole nine yards. I also keep<br />
digital copies locally and on cloud storage.<br />
I recommend purchasing a pro version of Dropbox<br />
(https://www.dropbox.com/products?source=plans). This is a<br />
cloud based storage platform that has been absolutely<br />
phenomenal and offers you 2TB of space. This is far more<br />
than I need for backing up but the transfer speeds and uptime<br />
are second to none.<br />
I would also recommend purchasing an external hard<br />
drive, or my preferred choice a NAS Drive. There are very<br />
suitable options but anything from 2-4TB upwards are your<br />
best bet. You can transfer files anywhere and also keep back<br />
ups of your dropbox folder. Since the last issue, box.co.uk has<br />
sadly closed down but you can purchase NAS drives or external<br />
hard drives in a caddy from Amazon or PC world.<br />
Backing up is essential!<br />
Installing Plugins & DAW Selection<br />
If you followed the instructions last month, then<br />
installing plugins should be a doddle. Depending on your PC<br />
spec, I would recommend always sticking with the 64 Bit (and<br />
where applicable specifically VST3 version) of plugins where<br />
possible. These default into a folder on your computer if you<br />
install the VST3 versions, however if this isn't an option then<br />
install 64 bit versions in VST Plugins---->64 Bit directories as<br />
specified last month.<br />
If they are an older plug in that is only 32 Bit, then<br />
this needs to go into VST Plugins---->32 Bit. Again each<br />
plugin should go in it's own folder, so V-Station for instance I'd<br />
install in 'VST Plugins\32 Bit\V-Station' or Spire I'd install in<br />
'VST Plugins\64 Bit\Spire'<br />
Once these are all installed, you can use JBridge to<br />
conver the 32 bit plugins to 64 bit using a wrapper, and<br />
installing them in the 64 bit Plugins directory. This is very<br />
handy as some later sequencers/DAWs blacklist 32 bit plugins.<br />
Now that I've covered that I am going to skim over<br />
some DAWs of choice:<br />
- Steinberg Cubase Pro 13 (https://www.steinberg.net/<br />
cubase/) - I use this and have been using Cubase since 2000.<br />
It is a very powerful tool and used by many artists such as<br />
Ferry Corsten, Giuseppe Ottaviani and more. I would<br />
recommend this, but it isn't an easy learn from scratch.<br />
- Ableton Live (https://www.ableton.com/en/) - Again a very<br />
powerful tool, used by many producers at the moment. If you<br />
are starting from scratch I would recommend this as there is a<br />
wealth of tutorials and Udemy courses out there.<br />
- Renoise (https://www.renoise.com/) - This I use as well as<br />
Cubase as it reminds me of my Amiga days learning how to<br />
make music on trackers (I have a hardware Polyend Tracker<br />
too). The sample manipulation is excellent. Working with<br />
trackers is a really fun way to work and also there are free<br />
versions.<br />
There are others to mention too such as:<br />
Fruity Loops / FL Studio (https://www.image-line.com/)<br />
Studio One (https://www.presonus.com/en/studio-one.html)<br />
Bitwig (https://www.bitwig.com/)<br />
And there's a free sequencer on the Computer Music <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
Library I mentioned earlier too.<br />
However I have been informed that I am holding up the<br />
magazine by missing the deadline twice by writing this. Next<br />
issue, more about plugins, samples and what to do once<br />
you've finished a track!<br />
Much love!<br />
56 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
Wednesday 7 th<br />
CENTREFORCE X CLOCKWORK ORANGE - Buy Tickets Now<br />
Thursday 8 th<br />
NANCY AJRAM - Buy Tickets Now<br />
Friday 9 th<br />
GENERATION:MUSIC<br />
Saturday 10 th<br />
PETE TONG IBIZA CLASSICS - Buy Tickets Now<br />
Sunday 11 th<br />
DRUM ‘N’ BASS CLUB NIGHT<br />
MARBELLA ARENA<br />
7 th - 11 th August 2024<br />
Sign up now for the latest news & ticket release<br />
www.fiesta-live.com<br />
@fiestalive_<br />
info@fiesta-live.com
Software Hardware and Tech<br />
Albums - Dance<br />
// LOUK<br />
Hello all. My name is Louk and I am a DJ / Producer from England. I have produced / written /co-produced / co-written /<br />
engineered / remixed and ghost produced over 300 productions that have been released since 2003 of varying genres. After a four<br />
year hiatus since my last reviews and articles in <strong>Zone</strong> as my youngest was born, and I scaled back lots of musical activity, I have<br />
decided to return to the world of Journalism, covering all things music Software, hardware and tech (as well as giving advice). This<br />
month I cover two VST instruments, a hardware synth and a sample pack!<br />
10<br />
9.5<br />
9<br />
PotenzaDSP Amigo (£59.90) - https://potenzadsp.com/amigo/<br />
This was a welcome throwback and an instant addition to my studio! I started music production on an Amiga 500<br />
using Octamed in my teens. I also tried the tracker ProTracker as well which this VST is based on the sample editor<br />
of. If it wasn't for the Amiga and Octamed, I highly doubt I would be writing this now and having had the musical<br />
history I've had so as soon as this was announced I was all over it. Imagine having an Amiga and add to that the<br />
quintessential time stretch of the 90s from the Akai S950 and the results are magnificent. You can instantly be<br />
recreating the effects of Goldie's 'Terminator' or timestretching vocals like on Double 99's Rip Groove in minutes. I<br />
am not kidding when I say that ther there are some absolutely fucking mental VST instruments out there at the<br />
moment and I seriously cannot believe that this is only a tenner. One thing I've always liked about trackers is the<br />
ability to get ideas down very quickly and the possibilities on a budget are endless. Taking me straight back to the<br />
old days with setable trigger points, instant reverse and groovy timestretch and lots of instantaneous playability, this<br />
is fantastic. It is literally like having an Amiga 500 and an Akai S950 all linked up with full sample manipulation<br />
techniques available in Cubase. No wonder the likes of Eats Everything, Pete Cannon, Groovin' In G, Bizzy B,<br />
Stranjah and many more are all raving about it. I am not keen on giving 10/10 for most studio items but this fully<br />
deserves it. Best £10 you will have spent in ages on anything musical.<br />
Oszillos Megascope (£69) - https://schulz.audio/products/oszillos-mega-scope/<br />
If you thought the fun ended there with the Amigo, you are very much mistaken. If you are very quick, you can get<br />
this one for the discounted price of £69, and I mean this with the utmost shock as when I first saw the plugin when<br />
Robin Tabor (Champion / Sleazy Deep / New State) shared a picture to his facebook, but Holy fuck! This literally is a<br />
mindblowing bit of kit that I wish I discovered earlier as it would have solved many problems over the years of relying<br />
solely on my ears for mixes. First, let's get into the logistics, this is a very powerful oscilloscope, but the added<br />
advantage is you can place it on individual channels and group tracks and colour code them, and you can see in real<br />
time waveforms of each coloured channel on screen. I was absolutely lost for words when I saw it and it definitely<br />
caters for a much needed niche for any producer struggling to get their mixes on point. I showed this to my good<br />
friend producer/DJ wizard Tim French who lives down the road when we had a studio jam together and we got it set<br />
up on his Mac, and within minutes and a few colour codings, it highlighted some volume issues on why his latest track<br />
wasn't kicking in with enough power. A few minutes later and levelling did a world of difference and his track<br />
certainly has a lot more power. What more needs to be said than that? The proof is certainly in the pudding. An<br />
absolutely vital bit of kit that will literally transform your mixes for the better. Seriously well done guys!<br />
The Usual Suspects (DSP56300) Vavra - https://dsp56300.wordpress.com/vavra/<br />
I've got to begin by saying fair play to the DSP56300/The Usual Suspects collective. I have been beta testing their<br />
synths for quite a while and they have succesfully managed to emulate the Motorola DSP56300 chips with pin point<br />
accuracy, enabling you to be able to have a VST version of hardware synths running on their firmware on your PC/<br />
Mac/Linux devices. This has shocked many of the producers I know because if you were to say to any of us a few<br />
years ago 'Yeah give it a few years and you'll be able to have a pretty much identical clone of your Access Virus C/<br />
Virus TI or Waldorf XT & Micro Q on your computer, running off the same technology as the processors inside it', none<br />
of us would have believed you. However, here we are in 2024 and they have not only managed this but have pretty<br />
much made the hardware versions of all four synths totally redundant. I own an Access Virus Snow and end up using<br />
the plug in more. The recording down and total recall are simply phenomenal, and although the hardware does sound<br />
great and is hands on, the software versions are sublime. On the Vavra, you can instantly load any of the sounds of<br />
the Micro Q and the late nineties charm is there in full force, with some wonderful synth leads, basses, pads and loads<br />
of charisma. With only a slight little bit of effort getting the VST3 version to work compared to usual, and at the rock<br />
bottom price of absolutely zilch, this (and their other synths) are welcome additions to any studio!<br />
Stoneface & Terminal - Between Techno & Trance Vol 1 & 2 (From £5.95 - £34.95)<br />
8<br />
https://stoneface-terminal-fancy.sellfy.store/p/stoneface-and-terminal-between-techno-and-trance-vol12/<br />
A bit of a double whammy this month, and rightly so, as both packs were recently released and on offer as a bundle<br />
at the time of purchase. Stoneface & Terminal, the German duo of Henry Nix & Matthias Gierth, have been releasing<br />
anthems for over twenty years. As well as being two absolutely awesome producers and DJs, with a very talented ear<br />
for A&R (their FSOE Clandestine label is second to none), they are also a couple of very sound gentlemen as well.<br />
Boasting a production history on some of the most notable labels in the trance world such as Perfecto, Skullduggery,<br />
Euphonic, Monster Tunes, A State Of Trance, Flashover, Pure Trance and more as well as their releases as Gundamea<br />
and Terminal East. The packs boast 200 sounds and bunch of presets for Xfer's Serum as well, and what you are<br />
provided with is a very strong mixture of one shots, loops and presets ready to drop into your latest productions to<br />
help give them a much more fuller sound. In particular the kicks and the drumloops are what stand out here and you<br />
can hear the influence from the duo's love of techno and trance. Whilst I've not had chance to test the Serum presets<br />
out yet, the samples alone are of a very decent standard and for the price of both packs it is an absolute bargain.<br />
These are instantaneous samples and ready to give your tracks that extra shine and much needed inspiration.<br />
58 <strong>Zone</strong>-magazine.eu
Buried Tresure<br />
Albums - Dance<br />
// Jay Dobie [Progressive House Classics]<br />
With progressive house now entering its 32nd year its safe to say there's a multitude of tracks out there<br />
just waiting to be discovered. Unlike today many tracks were far less accessible back in the early 90's. We<br />
shared music via audio tape and generally you'd have no tracklist, identifying a track name could at times<br />
turn into the hunt for the holy grail! These days things are much easier and with Buried Treasure we hope<br />
to bring you some recommendations of obscure, rare and esoteric remixes and productions that may have<br />
slipped under your prog radar. Happy Diggin!<br />
Hysterix – Talk To Me (Sasha's Full Music Master) [Deconstruction]<br />
If ever there was a track that encapsulated the early Renaissance sound I think this is it. A<br />
perfect example of the remix being better than the original, a pop dance track that floated<br />
around for about 4 years before Sasha and his team of Tom Frederikse and Gaetan<br />
Schurrer pulled it apart and crafted what many agree is one of Sasha's finest remixes. To<br />
get the longer 8.35 minute version you need to head for the Deconstruction promo with the<br />
cat no HY2. For the most part if you buy another release you'll be getting the trimmed<br />
down version with the fade out. Little known fact – The remix contains a sample of Big<br />
Audio Dynamites 1991 single 'The Globe'!<br />
https://www.discogs.com/release/494333-Hysterix-Talk-To-Me<br />
Leftfield – Not Forgotten (Hard Hands Mix) [Outer Rhythm]<br />
Its an obvious choice but no collection is complete without a copy of this. Leftfield originally<br />
comprised of just Neil Barnes. Not Forgotten in its original form was a solo release on Outer<br />
Rhythm and when the track broke big with the addition of the Hard Hands mix and Paul<br />
Daley a number of contractual issues with Outer Rhythm developed and the duo were<br />
unable to record, hence in the early days the number of remixes we saw and lack of original<br />
material. Its fair to say the track was one of the first of a new crop of UK produced dance<br />
releases that went on to be termed progressive house.<br />
https://www.discogs.com/release/2225-LeftField-More-Than-I-Know-And-Not-Forgotten-Hard-Hands-<br />
Feedback Max – Come Inside [White Label]<br />
A white label that didn't really come with much information on release, it eventually turned<br />
out to be a project for the eighties band Thompson Twins namely Tom Bailey and Alannah<br />
Currie. To say the sound was completely different to previous releases from the band would<br />
be an understatement. It did get a full release on WEA and went on to hold its own well in<br />
numerous high profile record boxes. The Feedback Max project went on to remix a number<br />
of tracks most notably F-Machine's Child Bride and another Thompson Twin's release Play<br />
With Me Jane.<br />
https://www.discogs.com/release/329986-Feedback-Max-feat-TT-Come-Inside<br />
Sub Sub – Space Face [10 Records]<br />
Firstly, yes its the same Sub Sub that had the chart hit with Ain't No Love but prior to that<br />
we had Space Face, a Balearic Hacienda anthem that saw attention across the board. This<br />
was very much a bedroom style production that was originally sold and distributed out of<br />
the back of the band members cars. Breaks, piano and scratching put this at the top of the<br />
'end of the night' list. The band went on to form The Doves after a studio fire and still<br />
played Space Face as a final tune when playing live.<br />
https://www.discogs.com/master/85124-Eric-Clapton-I-Get-Lost<br />
ESSENTIALDANCEMUSIC 59
TUNES @ravereview<br />
// Oldskool Albums Vinyl You - Dance Must Own PT2 // Jack Acid<br />
Back in the day, acid house and rave music were often dismissed as being 'too loud' or 'too repetitive.' Critics argued that these genres lacked substance and<br />
sophistication, missing out on the rich textures and intricate rhythms that defined them. I strongly disagreed with that in 1991, and my stance remains unchanged<br />
today. To showcase the depth and diversity of early dance music, I've got another list of essential, obscure, uplifting old-skool records, trying to avoid the more<br />
obvious choices. These tracks, in no particular order, span multiple genres, demonstrating how, in the hands of talented artists, early dance music could transcend<br />
simple beats to become a thing of unparalleled beauty. Enjoy!<br />
Li Kwan “Point Zero” Seka Records 1994<br />
Ignore the A side. Trust me; it’s forgettable. Instead, carefully flip the wax over, place the needle in the groove, and<br />
prepare to have electronic MDMA injected into your brain. Written and released during an era of some of the best<br />
trance music ever produced, this track still stands out as one of the greatest melodic achievements of the '90s. This is<br />
peerless, unequivocally stunning trance music, designed to make you close your eyes and whisk you away.<br />
Throughout the decades that I have enjoyed great electronic music, this single track remains one of the greatest<br />
examples of what dance music can achieve when placed in the right hands, with production values that remain as<br />
impeccable today as they were back in 1995. Quite simply, this is like dying and going to heaven—and there are not<br />
many tunes that can match the orgasmic brilliance of this, thirty years later.<br />
UR (Mad Mike) - “The Final Frontier” [UR003 Records] 1993<br />
Obscure and now very expensive on its original vinyl, this remains one of those tunes that propelled me into dance<br />
music production. The genius of this fast-paced acid track lies in its simplicity: take one frantic, 808-led electro<br />
beat and a simple squelching 303 bassline, and then… well, just wait for it. A very unexpected crescendo of dark,<br />
haunting strings and accompanying sub-bass wash over your head, transporting you to other lands in the process.<br />
This track must be played loudly in a dark club, with eyes closed for maximum effect. It’s not complicated, but it<br />
just works. And those chords will be seared into your head by the end.<br />
Together - “Hardcore Uproar” [FFRR Records] 1990<br />
This is the kind of track that makes you think you’ve always known it. It’s a brilliantly infectious track, made up of<br />
multiple melodic layers, offering something for everyone to enjoy. That's why it was used extensively on popular<br />
sports and youth TV shows in the early 90s—it has a perfect balance of rhythm and tempo. Infectious bouncy<br />
bassline? Yup. Haunting strings? Yeah. Absolutely scene-setting piano lines? Oh, yes indeed. This track was<br />
released in the magical year of 1990, bridging the gap between the more chart-friendly sounds of HipHouse and<br />
harder house music, laying the foundations for what would emerge a year later as Hardcore rave music. This track<br />
just makes you smile, and that’s all it will ever do.<br />
Alex Lee - “Take It” [MQR records] 1990<br />
Whenever I listen to this, I start to tear up. The memories and emotions that I have inextricably tied to this track are<br />
almost painful for me to recall now, with so many people I associate with it no longer with us. I don’t mean to be morbid:<br />
this track was so singularly uplifting and infectious that it was featured everywhere—on every radio station I listened to,<br />
every DJ mixtape I owned, and at every rave I went to. And for good reason, as it has one of the catchiest 'earworm' riffs<br />
you’ll ever hear, leaving you humming it on repeat. Again, it graced that beautiful, transcendent year of 1990 when music<br />
was maturing and came from Italy, which, at that time, was releasing hit after hit of unmatched House classics. It's a<br />
happy, uplifting tune designed for the early part of the night when you're getting ready and planning your evening.<br />
Someone, build me a time machine...<br />
The Scientist - “The Bee” (base mix) [Kickin Records] 1990<br />
While "The Bee" is a fairly well-known early breakbeat hardcore track, featured on various hardcore compilations<br />
both historically and more recently, it came as a very unexpected but delightful surprise recently when I<br />
discovered the stunningly well-made, originally composed Base Mix. The fact that I didn't realize this mix existed<br />
until 2024 is quite breathtakingly ignorant; but setting that aside for a moment, it's well worth seeking out the<br />
original pressing just for this mix. This is a standout hardcore tune because the genre isn’t typically known for<br />
creating melodic and hauntingly beautiful records. However, this mix does just that, by minimizing the elements of<br />
the original and overlaying them with a sublime piano.<br />
Perplexer - “Acid Folk” (Low Speed Mix) [DEF records] 1994<br />
This record, particularly the Low Speed mix, is one of those monumental acid tunes from the early '90s that changed my life the<br />
moment I heard it. I can recall exactly where I was, what year it was, and who was with me—such was its impact then, and it remains<br />
just as profound some thirty years later. It took me years to finally acquire a copy, and I blew my speaker tweeters the first time I<br />
played it. At first glance, a hard techno acid track with a repetitive bagpipe sample might not seem all that impressive. However,<br />
dismissing this track would be a significant mistake. This tune is an absolute powerhouse, featuring searing strings, a wildly twisted<br />
and bubbly acid hook, robust 909 kicks, and 'that' bagpipe sample. If you allow yourself to get lost in this track for even a minute,<br />
you'll discover that it perfectly melds 'screwface' pleasure with an irresistible urge to dance, creating a stunning combination of power<br />
and emotion.<br />
60 <strong>Zone</strong>-magazine.eu
TUNES<br />
// STAFF PICK // Mark Neenan<br />
Various Artists - Fox Bam Inc 002<br />
10<br />
Egebamyasi: Goldtooth<br />
Scotland legend EGEBAMYASI is celebrating the 40th anniversary of making Acid influenced<br />
music and he supplies new Scotland label FBI (Fox Bam Crew) with an exceptional slice of<br />
of underground music which is a dynamic fusion of underground Scottish garage, old<br />
school house, and acid. It's raw, gritty and has plenty of energy with mind-bending twists<br />
of deep bassline acid, the shuffling percussive rhythms, syncopated hi-hats, snares and<br />
irregular beats make this one stand out for sure. Add to that some grimey male vocals and<br />
sexy female vox and this is a quality festival banger, that will certainly turn heads!<br />
Foxtrot vs Ma Bla: Deep Down Inside<br />
Foxtrot vs Ma Bla Present a powerhouse collaboration from a Scottish-Polish production<br />
duo. This underground track is an explosive 303-laden acid banger. Featuring the iconic<br />
'deep down inside' sample, this track has relentless acid lines, pulsating rhythms, and crisp<br />
groove fuelled beats. I don't know much about these guys but you can see they get their<br />
influences from the likes of Mr Gasmask, D.A.V.E. The Drummer and Ceephax Acid Crew to<br />
name a few. The track was produced solely on hardware and the quality shines through.<br />
This is one of those tracks that can be dropped in a variety of different genres of sets and<br />
will evoke a great reaction I'm sure! Another track I can see myself rinsing over the<br />
summer!<br />
bRz vs Stije: ISCO<br />
The final track on the EP is by another duo I've sadly not come across. But this is sheer<br />
madness. It's a 13 minute long hardware jam of hard quirky 4x4 Electronica that definitely<br />
draws influences from hardcore, electro, and techno.<br />
It's a crazy journey (and has quite a pacey BPM, 150 I'll hazard a guess at) that's intense<br />
and very very unpredictable. It's full of driving beats and intricate, off-kilter rhythms, it<br />
builds and drops in the right places, has cool broken beat fills and lots of insane synth<br />
lines. You really need to hear this! Hopefully if I'm brave enough I'll include this in a few<br />
festival sets this summer too!<br />
https://www.facebook.com/FoxBam.inc<br />
https://redbox-records.eu<br />
62 ZONE-MAGAZINE.EU
DJ CHARTS - issue <strong>040</strong> 2024<br />
Paul Sawyer [UK] [Krafted] [House / Trance]<br />
1. Siskin – Are We Dreaming (Paul Sawyer Remix) [Black Hole Recordings]<br />
2. Allan McLoud – I Decided [Landscapes Music]<br />
3. Avoure – Serenity [Biome Recordings]<br />
4. Zy Khan, MeowWow – Native Sun [Krafted Underground]<br />
5. Pyramido – Shandi [Krafted Underground]<br />
6. Dougal Fox – Leap of Faith [Ray of Light]<br />
7. Snirco & Millero – Sweet Moment (Camelphat Remix) [When Stars Align]<br />
8. Far Distance & Lorenzo Turco – Chaos [Beatfreak Recordings]<br />
9. Volaris – Hypnosis (ZAC Remix) [HORIZN]<br />
10. BT & Shing Nakamura – Lifeforce [Monstercat]<br />
11. The Beloved – Sweet Harmony (Collective States Remix) [White]<br />
Amber Leigh Melby [USA] [Trance]<br />
1. Torsten Stenzel, York - Interstellar (Cornfield Chase York's Back In Time<br />
(Extended Mix) [Black Hole Recordings]<br />
2. Don Paolo - Serenissima [Autektone Records]<br />
3. Clap Codex, D72 - Take Control (Extended Mix) [Armada Captivating]<br />
4. Mitodi Hristov, Anna Tur - Subliminal [Set About]<br />
5. Gabriel & Dresden - Kinetic Cinema (Extended Mix) [Anjuna Beats]<br />
6. Kos:mo - Switch [1605]<br />
7. David Forbes - Breakout (Extended Mix) [Aria]<br />
8. Paul Denton - Chime (Extended Mix) [Subculture]<br />
9. J.O'Callaghan/Joint Operations Centre - Timelapse (Ext Mix) [Subculture]<br />
10. Allen Watts, Awaken - Abstrakt (Extended Mix) [High Voltage]<br />
Probably Shouldn’t [UK] [Disco / House]<br />
1. AC Soul Symphony – I want to see you dance (Art of Tones remix) – Z<br />
Records<br />
2. Da Lukas – Supergood – Groove Culture<br />
3. Harleatz – Hello My Love – Lisztomania Records<br />
4. Vauafunk – Club Mokambo – Whoopee Records<br />
5. C. Da Afro – All Over Again – Basement Disco<br />
6. Bondax – Journey (feat Mysie) – Future Disco<br />
7. FSQ – Frek Out For Fitness – Soul Clap Records<br />
8. Fran Deeper – Space Disco – Spa In Disco<br />
9. Tom Landers – Falling Down – Orangemachine<br />
10. Ken@Work – Saxaphoonic Boogie – Hive Label<br />
Mark Neenan [UK] [Techno] [Filth Infatuated]<br />
1. Apaull - Depths (John Selway’s Bottom Feeder Remix) [Furnace Room<br />
Records]<br />
2. PTTRNRCRRNT - Data 1 [Materia 81]<br />
3. Acerbic – Rave Hero (Skirra remix) [Mechanikal]<br />
4. Med!c & JGarrett – Tension [Filth Infatuated]<br />
5. Pest Control – Rattler [SKUXX]<br />
6. Hooraa – Ruthless Dom (Jerome Baker Remix)<br />
7. SP1 – WRK (Steve Redhead Remix) [Arkham Audio]<br />
8. Mascon – Cabernet (Sunil Sharpe remix) [Snork Enterprises]<br />
9. Sticknezz – Techno Upstart (The Degenerate Remix) [Filth Infatuated]<br />
10. Oscar Escapa & Linear Phase - Geometric Accuracy [Planet Rhythm]<br />
DJ Samer [USA] [Pangea] [House/Progressive]<br />
LOUK [UK] [Dance] [<strong>Zone</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>] [Retro Chart]<br />
1. Edmondson - Willows [all my thoughts]<br />
2. Jelly For The Babies, Gav Easby & Phonic Youth - Back to You<br />
(dub.format Remix) [inU]<br />
3. Alfonso Muchacho - You and I (Extended Mix) [Above The Storm]<br />
4. thebassmonkey - Enceladus (Nomad In The Dark/S.Vogt Rmxs) [Pangea]<br />
5. Zuccasam - Here We Go (Four Candles Remix) [Nightcolours]<br />
6. Antix - Peace of My'nd [Vapour Recordings]<br />
7. Deeparture - The Eye (Extended Mix) [Quantum Feels]<br />
8. Floormagnet - Nocturnal (Original Mix) [FM Recordings]<br />
9. Volaris - Hypnosis (ZAC Remix) [HORIZN]<br />
10. BT & Shingo Nakamura - Lifeforce (Extended Mix) [Monstercat]<br />
Gez Varley [UK] [LFO / G-Man] [Techno]<br />
1. A4 (ES) - Strobe Crystal Red [Evade Music Records]<br />
2. MarAxe - Hypnotism [Jeton Records]<br />
3. Sacro - Alexa Strange [WR028 records]<br />
4. G-MAN - Quo Vadis [GMR records]<br />
5. Mal Hombre - Exoplanets [Seclusion Records]<br />
6. Slam - Wave expansions [Soma Records]<br />
7. Dave Vincent - New Weapons [Soma Records]<br />
8. Diego Oroquiteta - Vaguada Costera [Soma records]<br />
9. Milo Raad - Hidden Agenda [Soma Records]<br />
10. Arnaud Le Taxier - Elements EP [Soma records]<br />
1. Out Of Order - Tears [White Label]<br />
2. Fast Floor - Plight Of The Innovators [Smooth]<br />
3. Control DC - Ritmo Dell Diavolo (Ritmo Diaboloco Remix) [Dance Opera]<br />
4. Datura - Yerba Del Diablo (Paye Mix) [Trance]<br />
5. 20 Hurts - Hornz [Sound Entity]<br />
6. Atomic Brain - Atomic Brain [S.T.D]<br />
7. Force Mass Motion - V.N.E [Rabbit City]<br />
8. The Prodigy - Full Throttle [XL]<br />
9. Q-Tex - Corruption [Evolution]<br />
10. Generator - Belgium Calling / Narcomaniac [White Label]<br />
Jay Dobie [UK] [Progressive House Classics Blog]<br />
1. Hybrid - Remixes & Additional Production [Distinctive]<br />
2. Sasha – Fabric 99 [Fabric]<br />
3. AGH – Yummy [Skyway]<br />
4. The Grid – Crystal Clear [Virgin]<br />
5. Inner City - Hallelujah 92 (Leftfield Mixes) [Ten]<br />
6. Lee Coombs – Perfecto Breaks [Perfecto]<br />
7. D:Ream – Unforgiven (Leftfield Mixes) [Warner Music]<br />
8. CJ Bolland – The Fourth Sign [R&S]<br />
9. Quivver – Saxy lady [A&M]<br />
10. Dollshead – Its Over Its Under (BIR Mix) [MCA]
https://www.discogs.com/seller/Redbox-Vinyl-Shop/profile<br />
Paul Newhouse [ESP] [House/Techno][<strong>Zone</strong>/Redbox]<br />
Sammy Dean [UK] [A Very Important House Party] [Dance]<br />
1. Magnus - Joi (Extended Mix) [Armada Music]<br />
2. Mason Flint - In The Underground (Extended Mix) [Exceed]<br />
3. Mind Of Us - Ghost In The Mist [PROGNOSIS]<br />
4. Last 2 Standing - The Return [Pro B Tech Music]<br />
5. F.Ferrara & V.Jackson - Raindrops (Qubiko Ext) [King Street Sounds]<br />
6. Zed White - Sol De Verano / The Call [Prognosis]<br />
7. Bondaruk,Jaspe - Chord Maquina [Frontman Promotions]<br />
8. Enceladus ft. Nomad in the Dark (Seth Vogt Remix) [Pangea Recordings]<br />
9. The Unborn Child - Asking For Help [Wrong Theory]<br />
10. KÖNI & Touzani feat. Lizwi - Inqola (Extended Mix) [Nite Grooves]<br />
Pulsar [UK] [Techno/Hard Dance] [Hard Trance Europe]<br />
1. 12 inch thumpers - Pump It Up [12 inch Thumpers]<br />
2. BICEP - Glue (Rialians On Earth Remix [ACOR HT Rework]<br />
3. Basswell - Screechmaster [Promo]<br />
4. Tony De Vit - The Dawn [Tidy Trax]<br />
5. Jones & Stephenson - First rebirth [Bonzai Records]<br />
6. Joe Longbottom - Bassline [Shock Records]<br />
7. Tom Parr - Delusions [Vicious Circle]<br />
8. Lee Haslam - The Power [Tidy Trax]<br />
9. South Stylers - Phwor [Future Records]<br />
10. Ophidian - Summer Storm Rave (To The Past remix) [Thunderdome]<br />
Frank Düffel [Ger] [VanditRecords] [Trance]<br />
1. Dusky - Proto Spoon [17 Steps]<br />
2. Marc van Linden meets Cosmic Baby - Loops Of Infinity [Cosmic Future]<br />
3. HI-LO & Space 92 - Genesis [Hilomatic]<br />
4. Francesco Sambero - Bada [Scorchin` Rec.]<br />
5. Ronski Speed - TriSolaris [FSOE]<br />
6. Darren Farrow - The 45 (Instrumental Mix) [Hooj Choons]<br />
7. Christian Cambas - Remember The Future [Autektone Rec.]<br />
8. Frank Dueffel - A Summer Fairytale [Vandit Rec.]<br />
9. Tomcraft - Rude Place [Black Hole Rec.]<br />
10. Paul van Dyk & Sue McLaren - Love Is Enough (SHINE Mix) [Vandit]<br />
D4mian Smith [Spain] [20adm.com]<br />
1. Torah stream - Pascal Kleiman [Bigfoot Records]<br />
2. Love me a lot - Sozze [Sinosoude Records]<br />
3. Specimen 01 - Valter Goncalo [Tekno4life Records]<br />
4. Rawtime - Alex Vigo & Sandro Martins [Tekno4life Records]<br />
5. Dancing on the moon - Astral nights [Records Group]<br />
6. El Sontano de Jerry - Jerry Dandrige [Geometrical Records]<br />
7. Dablitz - Valdritz Ferraro [Modus Vivendi Records]<br />
8. El grand imperio codra 2 - D4MIAN Smith & Jerry Dandrige [Tekno4life]<br />
9. Limbo - Ismael Rivas - [Freegrant Records]<br />
10. Raw mental disorder - Inaki Villasante [Underground Road Records]<br />
Anthony Pappa [AUS] [TMRW] [Prog House / Trance]<br />
1. Frankey & Sandrino & Charlotte Riby - Memories [Innervisions]<br />
2. Sasha & Super Flu - Astra (Sasha Daydream Mix) [Last Night On Earth]<br />
3. Levi David & Abigail Bailey - A Better Place [Selador]<br />
4. Yourr - Higher Self [Urge To Dance]<br />
5. Frankey & Sandrino - Blue Flash [Innervisions]<br />
6. Hardt Antoine - La Mosca [Kompakt]<br />
7. Enamour & Paraleven - Rune [Rose Avenue Records]<br />
8. QuiQui - Let There Be Light (J.Stevens Acid Test Rmx) [Dreaming Awake] 7. Ben Khlifa - Double Sektion [Soma]<br />
9. Renato Cohen - Diaba [White Label]<br />
10. Leftfield - Melt (Four Candles Bootleg) [White Label]<br />
1. Sammy Dean – The Reflex [Cleveland City]<br />
2. Cassimm – Say Yeah [Toolroom]<br />
3. Definite Grooves – Love Belongs to Me [Cleveland City]<br />
4. Ms Worthy – Vogue 1990 [He.She.They]<br />
5. Castion – Feel it Ya [Toolroom]<br />
6. David Penn / OFFAIAH – Satisfied [Toolroom]<br />
7. R.Clark / H.Luv – This is my Life (Bontan remix) [Nothing Else Matters]<br />
8. Dillon Franics / Ship Wreck - Whole Lotta Drugs [Armada Music]<br />
9. DJ Flipside / Patrick Wayne / DJ ThreeJay – Breakin [Dubstar Recordings]<br />
10. Jamiroquai – Space Cowboy (Michael Gray’s good vibe zone) [Sultra]<br />
Terry Hobbs [Spain] [What the house] [Soulful / House]<br />
1. Beatsbyhand, R.Ray - Say Yes (Jimpster Ext) [Stay True Sounds]<br />
2. Anna-Marie Johnson, MarkDean - Waiting For Your Love (MarkDean<br />
Visions Extended Remix) [Raising Records]<br />
3. D.Ferrer x Kasango ft D.Wright - Church Lady (Ext Mix) [King Street]<br />
4. Khenya - Jarana [Ulu Records]<br />
5. Pat Bedeau ft Hannah Khemoh - The Last Dance [Bedfunk Records]<br />
6. Eran Hersh x Kasango-Ascension [Insomniac Records]<br />
7. Brother James - I Know That There's Love Here [Raising Records]<br />
8. N.W.N - Lift Your Soul [Panthera Limited]<br />
9. Deepstar, Donna Allen - Sugar (R.Earnshaw Ext Rmx) [Soulfuric Deep]<br />
10. Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy (M.Gray's Good Vibe <strong>Zone</strong> Ext) [Sultra]<br />
SONAS [UK] [Techno / Prog House / Electronica]<br />
1. Thommo – Rhythmic Echoes [Likeminded Music]<br />
2. Blotho – Art And People – (Mpathy remix) [Steyoyoke]<br />
3. Gabriel I & Rawbach – Lost Sense [Balance]<br />
4. Marc DePulse – Phenomena [JEAHMON!]<br />
5. Whitesquare – Ephemeral Eyes [Permanent Vacation]<br />
6. Ritz – Tomorrow is today’s dream (Lo-fi mix) [Piston Recordings]<br />
7. Blue Dietrich – Dusk Flowers [Polypytch]<br />
8. CENKK - &techno – [BAU_HAUS]<br />
9. Pablo Asturizaga – Sirenas – Supermatic<br />
10. Mark Zowie feat Chillipunk – We Call Na [Likeminded Music]<br />
Pascal Kleiman [France] [Big Foot Records] [Dance]<br />
1. Nobody - Re/mind [Calamar Records]<br />
2. Tarantela - Alphadog [Diynamic]<br />
3. Midnight <strong>Zone</strong> - Digitalism [Diynamic]<br />
4. Outline - Yost Koen [Diynamic]<br />
5. Controlled Demolition - Highlite [Diynamic]<br />
6. Destination - Max Styler [Repopulate Mars]<br />
7. Icaro (Absolute Neon Energy Remix) [Another Rhythm]<br />
8. Timbalero - Chinonegro [Bandidos]<br />
9. Louder Than A Bomb (Disfreq Remix) [Turbo Recordings]<br />
10. The Art Of Walking On Your Own - Boy North [Of Unsound Mind]<br />
Skirra [UK] [Hydraulix] [Techno / Hard Techno]<br />
1. Acerbic - Spitfire [Arkham Audio]<br />
2. A.P. - Reset By Robots [Refined Format]<br />
3. Tassid - Quantum Entanglement [Perc Trax]<br />
4. MarAxe - Zulu (D.A.V.E. The Drummer Remix) [Hydraulix]<br />
5. LeE Ann Roberts - Come With Me [Now now]<br />
6. Acerbic - Rave Hero [Mechanikal]<br />
8. MarAxe - Groove Messiah [Mechanikal]<br />
9. Andy BSK - Coma [Transfiguration Recordings]<br />
10. Acerbic - XXX [Triple A - Acid Artists in Action]
TUNES<br />
// HOUSE & TECHNO // John Ricketts<br />
TOP TUNE //<br />
10<br />
Mark Zowie ft Chillipunk – We Call Na [Likeminded Music]<br />
UK-based label builds its already impressive initial batch of releases. With some of which gaining<br />
support from industry heavyweights such as David Guetta, they bring an artist who has been<br />
featured in <strong>Zone</strong> on numerous occasions. Carlisle-based producer, vocalist and DJ Mark Zowie has<br />
been busy with his Novablood outfit on their new album but found time to team up with vocalist<br />
Chillipunk for the summer banger “We Call Na”. Deep dubby bass sits under the rolling tech house<br />
drums, with a snare roll marching through the middle. Bit-crushed synths are matched with a<br />
simple but effective piano riff, all perfectly matched with Chillipunk’s call to action vocals. One for<br />
the summer terraces this one, and another great step forward for Likeminded.<br />
8<br />
https://www.beatport.com/release/we-call-na/4537536<br />
Pire Meilleur – Crossing Cycles [Discoteca]<br />
A 4-track EP full of energy and movement here from Pire Meilleur. Each track has bags of<br />
energy with opener “P-Square” having a late 90s trance feel to it. “Ground Trust” builds on<br />
this, with its rolling arp bassline and Goa trance elements thrown in there. “Pendulum” keeps<br />
this momentum going, bringing in an acid techno feel to things. Finally, Mabel brings his<br />
deep house vibes to remix “Ground Trust”. A great late night EP<br />
https://17steps.bandcamp.com/album/sampler-01-floor-to-floor-10-years-of-17-steps<br />
RECOMMENDED // Marsh – Warrior [Anjunadeep]<br />
9<br />
An inspiring and uplifting single from British progressive house producer Tom Marshall. It’s<br />
no wonder the mighty Anjunadeep picked this one up. Starting with a deep and almost<br />
foreboding 303 bassline, the track builds as layers of synths are added to eventually launch<br />
into a rolling and brooding wall of sound, before breaking down to an emotional release.<br />
Inspired by Marshall’s friends fight against leukaemia, it’s a fitting tribute to friendship and<br />
the fight against adversity. A proper journey, and one the dancefloor will happily go on you<br />
with.<br />
https://marshmusician.bandcamp.com/album/warrior<br />
9<br />
Furkan Cinar, Blotho – Steyoyoke Black Reconstructed by MPathy [Steyoyoke]<br />
MPathy takes on 2 of Setyoyoke’s hits and delivers an enlightening and compelling EP. Their remix style<br />
very much is in the vein of taking things completely apart, and rebuilding them, as you want to. Furkan<br />
Cinar’s “Believe In The Light” is given the deep techno treatment, slowly building in the first half, before a<br />
huge drop and then an even bigger release at the drop. Blotho’s “Art And People” is another example of<br />
the slow build, with elements growing and being added to constantly before digital bleeps build up to<br />
release the tension. A brilliant example of creative remixing.<br />
https://steyoyoke.bandcamp.com/album/steyoyoke-black-reconstructed-by-mpathy-2<br />
9<br />
Durante - Ancora (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs remix) [Anjunadeep]<br />
Anjunadeep regular Durante returns to the label with Durante, with Totally Enourmous Extinct Dinosaurs<br />
(TEED) on the remix. Taking Durante’s raw rhythms and tonal melodies of the original, TEED weaves his<br />
own unique style into the mix to bring something unique. A deep rolling bassline is accompanied by a<br />
delicate arpeggio, giving bags of energy whilst not being over powering. Vocal stabs are filtered and<br />
drenched in reverb before the pads of the breakdown give you a breather before the groove kicks in<br />
again. A great summer track, perfect for an outdoor party or a 3am dark sweaty room.<br />
https://turtle.bandcamp.com/album/acts-of-union-ep<br />
64 zone-magazine.eu
O U T N O W<br />
P Y R A M I D O<br />
S H A N D I
TUNES<br />
Albums - Dance<br />
Albums - Dance<br />
// TECHNO & HARD TECHNO // Mark Neenan<br />
TOP TUNE //<br />
10<br />
PTTRNRCRRNT - Discrete Data EP [Materia 81]<br />
Fresh from remixing Oliver Roseman and appearing on labels such as Speedy J’s STOOR and<br />
Pfirter’s MindTrip, PTTRNRCRRNT delivers his second release on Marco Bailey’s Materia imprint and<br />
wow, can this guy produce! Four exquisite tracks are on offer. Data 4 is a clanking tough tribal<br />
affair. Data 3 is a deeper cut, with de tuned synth stabs. Data 2 is a punchy roller with a growling<br />
bassline. All three of these are highly playable but my pick is Data 1. What a f**king tune, I can’t<br />
get enough of it. A tough thumping kick drum leads the way whilst creeping in from the start is<br />
what can only be described as an angry aeronautical sounding flanged synth bass that is just<br />
beautiful. On top of this you have some eerie sounding synth drones and crisp punchy percussion.<br />
There is so much movement in this track and that angry flanged bass really hypnotises you. Must<br />
listen!<br />
9<br />
8<br />
10<br />
https://www.beatport.com/es/release/discrete-data-ep/4513755<br />
Pest Control - Vamanos EP [SKUXX 019]<br />
Pest Control (aka Rats On Acid / Andy Newbury) ditches the acid and drops onto Tassid’s ace Skuxx label. It sounds like Andy had<br />
a naked jelly fight with his machines and subsequently this was the outcome, three hard and heavy warehouse bangers of epic<br />
proportions! ‘Vamanos’ is pure filth with a thumping great kick drum, tidy searing synth work and cool vocal samples ‘Holy crap,<br />
how much poison are you using?’. ‘Rattler’ does exactly that, it rattles, it clanks, it bloody well bangs! Hard energetic techno at its<br />
finest. ‘Wonky Tonk’ is next and the breakdown on this is crazy! It’s a bit deeper this compared to the others but still hard as<br />
nails, with Ian Industrial tinge, you really must check these out. Last but not least label boss and all round bad man Tassid<br />
remixes ‘Vamanos’ in his trademark crisp energetic style, packed full of evolving synth work and crazy edits that only Jamie knows<br />
how. No wonder he is now a mainstay in Perc’s sets. I’ve always been a big fan of Andy’s work, and I’m liking this new direction<br />
he’s gone in. What I really want to know is, with his fascination of ‘Rats’ and his alter ego ‘Pest Control’ is Andy Newbery the real<br />
Banksy? Anyway, this latest Skuxx is wicked, go and grab a copy at Bandcamp now!!<br />
https://skuxxrecords.bandcamp.com/album/vamanos-ep<br />
RECOMMENDED - Acerbic - Rave Hero - [Mechanikal 065]<br />
Mike’s (Skirra) ace Mechanikal label has made a comeback. He’s teamed up with Carl Shorts and had a kind of re brand. Acerbic is the new<br />
(ish) alias of Ant / Chicago Loop, a bad ass producer and DJ with heavy links to the SUF collective (Remember his massive Powertools label<br />
from back in the day!) I have followed and been a huge fan of Ant’s work for years and his Acerbic project fresh from releases on Stay Up<br />
Forever and Resilient is some next level gear, let me tell you! The original of ‘Rave Hero’ is a fat slab of energetic modern driving techno. A<br />
huge kick and sub combo are joined by slick, crystal clear psychedelic sounds that are then entwined by a crazy lead metallic Guitarlike synth<br />
which is wicked. The breakdown treats us to some breakbeats, old school rave stabs and vox before the Guitar synth is twisted to maximum<br />
before re-entry! Booom! ‘Machine System Translation’ is track two and has a rather growling low end and sexy female vocals from the off<br />
‘Systems, analysis, from the machine’ is repeated, tight marching percussion is followed by crisp claps that move this track along lovely. Add<br />
to the equation lots of crazy synth zaps, bleeps and a robotic sounding bass in the break and you’re onto a winner here! Label boss and<br />
fellow Collide resident Skirra remixes ‘Rave Hero’ in his own unique style and let me tell you, this is a HUGE remix! Slightly darker and<br />
tougher than the original, he really twists that metallic Guitarlike synth up and adds in lots of clever edits, fills and drum rolls. Total slammer<br />
of a remix this is!<br />
https://www.beatport.com/es/release/rave-hero/4510299<br />
Oscar Escapa & Linear Phase - Technology Is Twisting My Mind EP [Planet Rhythm]<br />
10<br />
Spanish producers Oscar Escapa and Linear Phase supply Planet Rhythm with five heavy tracks of grade A Techno!<br />
‘Slave Of Groove’ has a lush de tuned metallic synth. ‘Raw Sensation’ is a deeper rather progressive slice of intelligent<br />
techno. ‘Fractal Encription’ has a huge clanking kick drum and is full of bleepy synth action. ‘Geometric Accuracy’ is<br />
probably my favourite, dark, driving and heavy percussive techno at its finest. Finally title track ‘Technology Is Twisting<br />
My Mind’ is going to get some big plays I can see. It has a male vocal throughout telling a story about losing reality and<br />
digital technology taking over. It’s a proper roller and very well made with lots of clever effects and edits, but I’m not<br />
sure if I like it or not. Think this maybe a marmite tune. You either love it or hate it. I’m undecided yet. But this whole EP<br />
as always from Planet Rhythm is ace, check it out!<br />
https://www.junodownload.com/products/oscar-escapa-linear-technology-is-twisting-my-mind/6586538-02/<br />
Apaull - Depths (John Selway’s Bottom Feeder Remix) [Furnace Room Records]<br />
I must admit, I got a bit confused when I received this promo. I thought it was Portuguese Hard Groove legend A. Paul,<br />
but in fact this Apaull is a Dutch- Canadian producer and owner of Furnace Room Records. The original EP of this came<br />
out in early 2023 apparently, all that has ben sent here is a new John Selway remix, and my god is it a beauty! It has<br />
everything this. Tough solid kick drums, deep warm evolving synth bassline that is bloody epic! Crisp percussion<br />
movements and chimes and it even manages to squeeze in cow bells, robotic voices (Sounds like it says Civilisation, or<br />
Zombie nation…) and an eerie female ghost like vox. You really must listen to this LOUD. It has it all going on. Will be<br />
rinsing this (albeit pitched up) over the Summer at various festivals that’s for sure! Selway is a bad man!<br />
https://www.beatport.com/es/release/depths-john-selway-bottom-feeder-remix-edit/4511506<br />
66 zone-magazine.eu
8<br />
8.5<br />
8.5<br />
9<br />
9<br />
Raho - Hypnotic Sequense EP [OFF 311]<br />
I always keep an eye on OFF record promos, not all of there releases grab me but every know and then<br />
one will jump out. Well this one caught my attention after the first listen with a deep rumbling bassline and<br />
very nice modern hypnotic sinewave synth on title track ‘Hypnotic Sequence’. This carries it along and<br />
beeps and changes and infects your mind along with warm bass drones for extra measure. Track two ‘ My<br />
Half’ up’s the BPM and the energy for a hard futuristic thumper that wouldn’t sound amiss on Dax J’s<br />
Monnom Black label. Great work! Final track ‘No Response’ is similar in ilk to track two and is packed full of<br />
energy, cool rhythms and an added acid line for the 303 lovers. Three very playable tracks in this cool<br />
package.<br />
https://www.junodownload.com/products/raho-hypnotic-sequence/6619142-02/<br />
Mascon - Tongestaltung [Snork Enterprises]<br />
Four originals here from Mascon on quirky German label Snork Enterprises, plus a killer remix ‘Cabernet’ is<br />
deep tough purist techno, packed full of raw hypnotic rhythms and clever percussion. ‘Secret Service’<br />
follows in the same vein, a bit deeper and more eerie with nice shuffling hats carrying it along. ‘Nonsens’ is<br />
my least favourite of the four, whilst my pic of the originals is ‘Sumpfralle’ which is the most energetic of<br />
mason’s tracks, clanking beats, busy shuffling perc, this packs a hell of a punch! Class. The remix on the<br />
EP is by legendary Irish artist Sunil Sharpe and as you would expect, it is sheer quality. Bouncy, Jacking<br />
and packed full of techno groove, like his sets this really gets you dancing like a mad man with a big<br />
cheesy grin on your face. Wonky techno banger! Check it out!<br />
https://snorkenterprises.bandcamp.com/album/tongemisch<br />
SP1 - WRK [Arkham Audio]<br />
Big fan of the Arkham Audio label and they continue their fine form with this EP from Rising Belgian artist SP1. There are<br />
four originals and six (6) remixes on offer here. My pic of the originals is WRK2, a dark and broody tune with such a<br />
rumbling deep low end, intricate percussive patterns, squelchy bass synth zaps and stabs and a wooden rattling<br />
instrument that evolves and spins out. Love it. All of SP1’s originals are excellently produced, heavy, but crisp and punchy<br />
in all the right places. Defiantly someone to look out for! The package includes some really good remixes from Klint,<br />
Stanislav Tolkachev, OctOgn, and Cri Du Coeur & Erratum, but the two that will do most damage for me are the Energetic<br />
and galloping J.Blofeld remix which is full of hypnotic synth action and the Steve Redhead remix which is a heavy loopy<br />
hardgroove Monster of a track! Lovely stuff!<br />
https://criducoeurarkhamaudio.bandcamp.com/album/wrk-ep<br />
Gunjack - Mfunk Trax Volume 1 [Resilient Recordings]<br />
This just came in last minute before the deadline. But I must get this in! LA’s ‘Gunjack’ continues to build<br />
on his reputation, delivering 3 tracks that are gritty, hypnotic, and packed full of underground acid! Brian,<br />
known for his intense and raw techno productions, has consistently pushed the boundaries of the genre<br />
and these 3 tracks on Eddie Santini’s wicked Resilient imprint are three of his best IMO. ‘MDUB9’ Is first up.<br />
Deeper and rolling compared to the others, crips hats and lovely atmospherics carry this nicely along<br />
accompanied with a repetitive vox for good measure. The second track ‘Acid City’ shifts gears slightly,<br />
incorporating a darker bassline and exquisite acid lines. Quite old school sounding this! My favourite of the<br />
EP is ‘Acidf4k’ which is packed full of raw and aggressive energy from the start. The acid synths are front<br />
and centre, cutting through the mix with a squelchy intensity, and there is a strong focus on the low end.<br />
The acid lines are gritty and unrefined, which makes this sound so raw and ‘Avin it!’ Great release this is,<br />
you must check it out.<br />
https://www.beatport.com/release/mfunk-trax-volume-1/4528229<br />
Norus & DJ Whipr Snipr - Gravitational Attraction [Nerang Recordings]<br />
This also came in late, although I believe this is out now. But I needed to mention this excellent EP of<br />
Electro and Electronica. Norus & DJ Whipr Snipr are new to me, but I will defiantly be keeping an eye out<br />
for them. You can tell the lads are heavily influenced by the innovative sounds of Aphex Twin and the<br />
legendary Warp Records (No wonder it jumped out at me!) There are five tracks on offer full of heavy<br />
electro breakbeats, futuristic vibes, glitchy effects, beautiful atmospherics and for my favourite track<br />
‘Invisible Commission’ there is a lush acid line which just tops it off. This track literally sounds like it’s a<br />
linking track between Selected Ambient Works and Syro! (High praise indeed) If electronica is your thing,<br />
check this out!<br />
https://nerangrecordings4211.bandcamp.com/album/nrng015-n-rus-dj-whipr-snipr-gravitational-attraction<br />
ESSENTIALDANCEMUSIC 67
OUT NOW<br />
featuring WALLY LOPEZ, robert babicz,<br />
paul sawyer, simon sinfield, allies for<br />
everyone, meowwow, zy kahn, shemsu &<br />
gilbert lezana, sonia scott, elle jae,<br />
MOSHIC