The Mole - Ain't The Way It's Supposed To Be

The Mole makes chuggers, records that groove and lock in and take you all the way across the rhythm spectrum to a place that is half techno/half house/all damn good tune and this cut from his latest album As High As The Sky - which is a soaring album if ever I have heard one - is the very epitome of the genre-not-grenre. Warp your ears around this one.

The Mole - Ain't The Way It's Supposed To Be

I've been massively busy with my new job and haven't really had much time to do much of anything and until things calm down I'll be on hiatus for a while. Hopefully all back to madness within a week or two.

Welcome Back SWP

After a few years wasting away playing for Chelski, SWP has returned home and scored two goals in the shirt he was born to wear.

1 Chelsea 3 5 7
2 Liverpool 3 2 7
3 Man City 3 4 6
4 Arsenal 3 3 6
5 West Ham 3 1 6
6 Middlesbrough 3 1 6
7 Aston Villa 3 1 4
8 Bolton 3 1 4
9 Man Utd 2 1 4
10 Blackburn 3 -2 4
11 Newcastle 3 -2 4
12 Hull 3 -4 4
13 Wigan 3 3 3
14 Fulham 2 0 3
15 Stoke 3 -2 3
16 Portsmouth 3 -2 3
17 Everton 3 -3 3
18 Sunderland 3 -3 3
19 Tottenham 3 -2 1
20 West Brom 3 -2 1

September sees us playing Chelski next at Eastlands, then Omonia Nicosa away in the UEFA Cup, then Pompey at Eastlands, Brighton away in the Carling Cup and Wigan at the JJB. Could be a very good month indeed.

The Dirtbombs - Kung Fu

I was listening to a Seth Troxler set from Killer Robot in Cape Town that was posted on E-vent recently and his second last track was this beauty from the Motor City's The Dirtbombs who are fronted by Mick Collins of The Gories infamy. This track, which is a cover of a Curtis Mayfield cut of the same name, was initially released on their 2001 album Ultraglide in Black and more recently dance music deity Kenny Dixon Jr. released it on his Mahogani imprint and pretty much everyone from house DJs to balearic DJs were playing its off-kilter yet brilliantly simple groove all over the shop. This is just the sort of thing I like to play when I DJ out (granted that hasn't happened in a while) because it is utterly unique and bit of a curve ball for the dancers to deal with. Superb stuff from a great band.

The Dirtbombs - Kung Fu

The Chap - Ethnic Instrument - Joakim remix

North London's The Chap have been making post-punk dance music since 2001's Fun EP which has had them traversing their own path through music that is akin to the likes of LCD Soundsystem, They Came From The Stars (I Saw Them) but they haven't managed to quite reach the sort of pubic reaction that those bands have managed to. Cue the input of the truly brilliant Joakim who has sliced, tweaked and diced their new single expertly and turned it into a balearic gem that has a bit of balls to it. It's brash, it's loud and it's fucking brilliant. Buy it now.

The Chap - Ethnic Instrument - Joakim remix

SK8OLOGY

SK8OLOGY is an exhibition that combines skateboard counter culture with the world of fine art with 150 artists from various backgrounds who have all lent their craft on the decks, which are being auctioned off to support Now That You Know, which is a non-profit organization that helps to provide ambitious girls from developing countries a secure environment for learning and growth. You can start bidding on these decks, of which I have chosen my favourites below. I particularly like the Jon Chase deck, which is beautifully executed.

Tocayo


Seth Haak


Munk One


Mark Cruz


Keith Renner


Jon Chase


Haubs


Bryan Sheffield

Mark 4ostia - Disco Music Fantastic Music - Rodion Remix

Here is a fun party record and then some! Rodion has been traversing his own unique course through cosmic waters for a while now and his remix of Box Codax in particular got me excited about his work with its great breakdown and driving bassline. This record has that bouncy drum synth line that will get people bouncing off the roof. It may not be the most original thing that you'll ever hear but it is definitely the sort of record that people in the death of the night will remember with smiles and whoops and hollers. Great Saturday night dance music.

Mark 4ostia - Disco Music Fantastic Music - Rodion Remix

Kode9 & The Spaceape - Konfusion

The more I've been exploring the whole dubstep scene the more I've come to realize that it is impossible to stick it into a box as the scene is characterized by an almost playful disregard for the rules. I find tracks like this one to be raw unadulterated party music and if I was 18 years old dubstep would be like the second coming. The music is raw and I particularly like the conscious lyrics on this one. Is dubstep going to take over the world? I'm not sure but I can assure you that if the quality of output is as good as this then it'll be an exciting couple of years as the genre continues to develop.

Kode9 & The Spaceape - Konfusion

Andres - Salvador de Bahia part 1

This KDJ executive produced bomb came out in 2003 and to my ears is as balearic as it gets really. My theory on what is and isn't balearic is a simple one, if it sounds as good in the sun as it does in the dead of night and makes you want to get some sand between your toes then it is balearic. Now that probably includes every record ever made but who gives a shit really, it is all subjective when dealing with the white isle. This is one of those records that is all about the rolling bassline that permeates through the whole track accentuating every element. It is as perfect as it is simple and is an often overlooked Detroit classic. Oh and if you ever get the chance to go and see Andres DJ then do so, the man is a demon on the ones and twos.

Andres - Salvador de Bahia part 1

The Aloof - Never Get Out The Boat - The Gosh Mix

Here is a beauty that came out at the turn of the 90s and was a record that I played well into the turn of the century at which point it was put on the bottom shelf and we all know what happens then. I might even resurrect this one as it has to my ears stood the test of time and deserves a further play or two. The vocal sample comes from one of my favourite movies the epic Apocalypse Now as uttered by Captain Benjamin L. Willard played incredibly well by Martin Sheen. I had forgotten all about this record and it is something that I would've loved to have played on the radio in England just to see what the reaction would've been. For us in Cape Town this was as underground a record as it gets but I get the feeling that all and sundry in England would've known about this one, which kind of proves my point that every man and his dog older than 30 in blighty has large chunks of the 90s missing from their memories and to that I doff my cap.

The Aloof - Never Get Out The Boat - The Gosh Mix

Soul II Soul - Back To Life - Burnin' Bass Club Mix

I moved this week, which was/is a time consuming wretched affair but the one perk of moving beyond living in a bigger place is that I get to shuffle the record collection around a bit and this was one of the tracks that was on the bottom shelf of my Expedit where, lets face it, good records go to die. I remember playing this one to death and judging by the state of the record sleeve it has more than earned its keep. Written by erstwhile Madonna producer Nelly Hooper and the legendary Jazzie B this cut like a knife through Cape Town clubland and I'm sure that any of you that were getting right on it during the early 90s will remember this track raising the roof at places like Bar-Do-Me and the Power Station where a lot of us too young to get in would dance outside in the street, halcyon days indeed. I remember that the fairer sex used to love this and when they were happy we were happy. One of the first rules of being a DJ is that if the girls are on the floor the boys will follow, even the most hardcore of heterosexual trainspotters can't resist a bit of shake-shake. Listening to this track again after all these years nearly brought a tear to the eye...nearly.

Soul II Soul - Back To Life - Burnin' Bass Club Mix

The Souljazz Orchestra - Mista President

It is fairly common knowledge that I am obsessed with all things Afrobeat and The Souljazz Orchestra are a welcome addition to the cannon. Hailing from the night lights of Canada they've been reinterpreting the legacy left by the West Africans with a sound that is equal parts Fela, equal parts Mulatu and just enough James Brown to get the bodies sweating with their own and unique groove that has enamored listeners and dancers from Ottawa to Osaka. It comes as no surprise that they are a multi-cultural collective who have brought their various upbringings and influences and stirred it in the melting pot that is quality afro music for the 21st century. This track was chosen as one of Gilles Peterson's top 10 tracks for 2006 and if you don't own the album Freedom Don't Go Die then purchase it immediately, each and every track is dripping with all the intensity and groove that your record collection demands. They're just about to release a new album called Manifesto and this may be a bit tired to say but if it is half as good as their previous effort then our ears and feet are in for a treat. Soul-stirring stuff.

The Souljazz Orchestra - Mista President

Here they are performing People, People...

David Holmes - I Heard Wonders - Andrew Weatherall Vocal Mix

Belfast-native David Holmes has been rattling dancefloors since the age of 15 and was responsible for promoting seminal nights such as Shake Yer Brain and Sugar Sweet after which Orbital wrote one of the greatest records of all-time Belfast after playing there. David has since gone on to release records such as The Film's Crap Let's Slash The Seats and Let's Get Killed, which featured the superb My Mate Paul. For a number of years now he's been out here in La-La Land doing film score work for the likes of Steven Soderbergh but he hasn't forgotten his roots and his latest album The Holy Pictures is a return to form for our hero and this track I Heard Wonders is culled from it but it isn't the original that I am providing but rather the incredible Andrew Weatherall vocal mix that sounds in places like Pulp on even more Amyl Nitrate in the best possible way. I can see everyone from the skinny jeans set to the beer belly beardy types falling for its lucid charms.

David Holmes - I Heard Wonders - Andrew Weatherall Vocal Mix

As a side-note, Andrew Weatherall is in superb form at the moment check his brilliant remix of VV Blood's Crying Blood for further proof.

Enzo Avitabile - Black Out - Club Mix

Big favourite with DJ Alfredo in Ibiza back in the halcyon days of peace, love and respect out on the white isle before it all went south. I normally only post records that I own but I'm going to make an exception for this one as it is too good not to include on here although I have just bought a copy off some guy in Greece. God bless the internet.

Jamie Woon - Wayfaring Stranger - Burial remix

Burial has managed to remain incognito since he came charging onto the scene with his South London Boroughs EP that came out on Hyperdub back in 2005 but he's recently been outed in a national UK publication recently in light of his Mercury Prize Nomination as William Bevan and not Aphex Twin and certainly not Norman fucking Cook as was alleged a couple of months ago. His reasons for keeping under wraps are refreshingly that he just wants to make music and not be too bothered by the trappings that come with fame, which he most certainly has since publications like NME have declared him their favourite new band, the bandwagon jumpers. This remix of Jamie Woon may err a bit too close to the MJ Cole two-step side of things but the atmospherics and mood of the piece elevate it far beyond anything that the two-step/garage scene ever managed to release during their heyday. Just like everything else that Burial has released this is absolutely brilliant and one that is not to be missed. If you like this sort of thing check label-mate Kode9's work and especially his incredible remix of James Yorkston's Woozy With Cider.

Jamie Woon - Wayfaring Stranger - Burial remix

Full Circle

Upper Space Gallery presents Full Circle a fundraiser for the D.P.M. Crew.

On Friday the 15th of August, Upper Space - the North West's only designated contemporary street art and graffiti gallery will be launching its next exhibition - 'Full Circle' to the general public. The exhibition will be showcasing works by the most contemporary graffiti writers in the North West of England alongside a weekend of free events at the Upper Space. The exhibition was curated in response to recent media coverage of graffiti and to explore the juxtaposition between the two sides of the ongoing question - art or crime? Drawing together some of the oldest and most prolific graffiti writers from across the region and from further afield - some of whom have been recently imprisoned or have been on trial for graffiti, for their first group exhibition.

Upper Space hopes to engage the general public and raise aware to the need to change government policy in relation to graffiti with particular emphasis on the distinct lack of legal wall space that is available in city centres for artists to practice and develop their art on. Upper Space feels this only perpetuates the negative impact of graffiti on society today. Coming 'Full Circle', we begin a campaign to engage local government members and community leaders to help provide solutions to some of the negative issues that surround this artform today.

As of the 10th of July, 5 graffiti writers from the D.P.M. Crew received prison sentences for acts of vandalism in the London area. Full Circle will be a fundraiser for their appeals as well as being a chance to showcase elements of hip hop to the community in addition to continuing their appeal for legal walls to be designated so that artists can be free to paint and express themselves.

The festivities include a launch party on August 15th for the exhibition that runs until September 19th and includes works by artists such as Kid Acne, 30Dz and many more. On August 16th they'll be celebrating the four elements of hip hop culture with an all-day event that will take in graffiti, breakdancing, MCing and DJing. On August 17th there will be a full day of screenings of films such as Style Wars, Wildstyle, Scratch, XTC and more. There will also be painting outside the warehouse at various locations. All three days are free to get in and if you're in the area I implore you to go and support what is a very worthy cause. For more information check here.


This image is a sneak preview of what you can expect this weekend.

Fred Cherry - Bus Ride To The Zoo

This came out last year on a 10" on a record label called Hole In The Sky, which from what I can tell comes out of Australia. Producer/drummer Fred Cherry's drops some low slung discoid dub on this choice cut with live instruments, samplers and analogue reel to reel tape machines all colliding to create a psychedelic, percussive work-out that is loved and adored by DJs like Spun who used this on his Beatsinspace show a few weeks back. The label was also responsible for The Canyons 12" that came out a few months back and is one of those records that if you haven't got it then you should stop fucking about immediately and get it...mate!

Fred Cherry - Bus Ride To The Zoo

Kumo Under 7's

I'm busy toying with the idea of starting a 7" label, which will hopefully be home to four to five minute balearic, cosmic, italo, dubstep and afro belters that have a pop sensibility - if that makes any sense. In an ideal world I'd have a John Martyn type record on one side with a dubstep remix on the flip. Basically I'm looking for music that suits the 7" format, more songs than 15 minute disco workouts. I'm after everything from edits to originals, so if you have any records that you're shopping at the moment then please don't hesitate to contact me at marc.kets[at]kumo-music.com. I already have a couple of releases lined up, so stay, ahem, tuned. They'll be released with full-colour sleeves and on a run of 500. Also if you know of any producers that it might be worth contacting then please don't hesitate to let me know.

This will tie in with the clothing line that I am launching in March 2009. I have a few of these t-shirts still available so if you're after one then contact me for sizes/availability.

Isolée - Schrapnell

This cut taken from Rajko Müller aka Isolée's 2005 album We Are Monster is a sadly overlooked balearic monster that I've only ever heard Balearic Mike play out, which is a pity as with its almost country twang to the guitars and ethereal melodies this is a track that deserved to get much more attention than it did when it was released. I would love to hear someone like Studio or even better Flying Lotus have a stab at this and turn it into something completely wonky. Isolée can do no wrong in my book and this record is up there with Beau Mot Plage and just about everything that is on his superb album Rest. If you've never checked the man's work out before then do your ears a favour and seek everything out by the man. All killer and absolutely no filler!

Isolée - Schrapnell

One Hundred Project : Davey (Hold Tight)

What is on your stereo at the moment?

The new Bubbletease podcast, Flying Lotus- Los Angeles, and, in honour of Isaac Hayes, the Ron Hardy edit of "I can't turn around".

3 records that changed your life. Why?

It's really more of an incremental effect with me, but...

Bummed -Happy Mondays

I heard this first when I was 15, and it was the first time music flipped all my switches - sounded so raw, druggy and rebellious I was helplessly drawn to it. Plus it led me to discover acid house, New Order, The Fall, Funkadelic, Can, Velvet Underground, Suicide, Chic, etc etc etc

Samurai - Jazztronik

I was a little late getting the whole bruk / nu jazz thing. I heard this track at the Electric Chair on a visit back to Manchester. I went out and bought this plus tonnes of other west London stuff immediately. Southeast Asia (where I was living) wasn't as impressed - I cleared quite a few unsuspecting dancefloors with this.

Lcd Soundsystem- 45:33

Not life changing, but it?s a record I have played over and over for a year. Not really a fan of their "real" records, but I love this one dearly. Maybe because they do away with guitars altogether and crank up the analog synths. Can't wait for the remix album which will apparently feature Prins Thomas, Theo Parrish and Trus'me. Should be ace.

What are you looking forward to?

Go Obama!

What couldn't you live without? Why?

My 1 1/2 year old boy, Max, and his hot momma. Because.

Most memorable gig?

Some friends and I DJed at a NYE party at Bokor Hill station in Cambodia, a very spooky abandoned casino and hotel left over from the French Colonial rule of the 1920s. Bokor is on top of a creepy, foggy mountain overlooking the gulf of Thailand. We expected a hundred or so people would make the long trek up there, but there was close to a thousand. It was memorable for different reasons - like the stunning setting, the amazing energy inside the old ballroom where we played, and the rather darker events unfolding outside - where two drunk policeman managed to shoot and kill each other in a kind of Mexican standoff. Pretty surreal.

Who/what are your influences?

Randomly - Friends of mine, Maurice Fulton, 4hero, Ame, Mark E, Amp Fiddler, Aeroplane, Bugz in the Attic, Chicken Lips, Cinematic Orchestra, E.S.G, The Glimmers, Fela Kuti, Permanent Vacation records, Jazzanova, Jazztronik, MAW, Metro Area, Micheal Jackson, Moodymann, Manchester, Prince, Theo Parrish, LCD Soundsystem, Trus'me, Pilooski, Stereolab, Build an Ark, the year 1983, Flying Lotus, Prins Thomas, Unabombers, Todd Terje, Greg Wilson, Lindstrom, Henrik Schwarz, Rainer Trüby, Roy Ayers, Oye records, Piccadilly Records, Hamilton Bohannon. People and things like that.

What is the best and worst thing about the city that you live in?

Berlin's famously freewheeling music culture/subculture. It's a pretty exciting city, made even more interesting because of its history. Everyone says it's not what it was 10 or 15 years ago, but it still seems to have a real edge to it.

On the downside: winter.

Given the accelerated pace of modern culture, what are we due a revival in?

"Waaaassuuuup"

Hero? Why?

I can't say that I have a hero. Maybe that?s because M People's "Seach for the hero" is the worst song ever recorded.

Is there anything else that you feel that we should know?

Some background might be in order. Born in Yorkshire, moved to Manchester to Cambodia to Thailand to Berlin, (now working for Native Instruments), and broadcasting an internet radio show, Hold Tight on Loud FM.

Check the podcast here.

Dave Tinning Kumo Mix

The mix is a few old favourites and some more recent stuff that I'm really feeling. Some of these records I have played to death, hence the "authentic" crackle. Sorry about that.

No Tracklisting Available

Download the mix from here.

6th Borough Project - Planets

Photo by Glen.

Here is a party record and then some! Birmingham's Jiscomusic just might have released one of the best house records for quite some time with this uptempo re-edit of a Marvin tune (I think!). Edinburgh house DJ Craig Smith is behind this edit with Graeme Clark of The Revenge and I used to have a tape of his back in the early to mid-90s that I completely wore out. I remember trying to find out what every track on the tape was and I came close and it only took me 4 years! He went off the radar a bit for a few years and now he's back with a floor trembler. Everyone stumped for the Hot Chocolate edit on the flip but for me this disco-meets-house bomb is the one. Absolutely killer!

6th Borough Project - Planets

p.s. If anyone knows the name of the original track that they have taken the scissors to then please let me know!