08 July, 2010

Hors Catégorie


I'm not dead yet! I haven't been that active on DJing frontier in the last months, but that's only because I have been quite busy with other business (some of which is audio-related). I bought a new bicycle, and to celebrate the annual Grand Tour, Le Tour de France, I decided to record a DJ mixtape inspired by cycle races and cycling in general.


"Hors catégorie". Beyond categorization. The climbs to crush your self-esteem. To push your mind and body to the very limit. To test your patience. To skyrocket your pulse to another solar system. To torture your precious carbon fibre bike. So… Are you going to bounce back and fight your way to the top?


Original cover artwork by Matt Sparrow

http://mattsparrow.com/


Sam-El – Hors Catégorie by Paperino (Sam-El)


Download 320 kbps mp3 file


The Black Dog - M1

Kraftwerk - Elektro Kardiogramm

Vainqueur - Elevation 1 (Version 3)

CV313 - Subtraktive (Intrusion's Road To Zion Dub)

Intrusion - Velocity In A Minor

Intrusion - Reflection I (Unreleased Extended Mix)

Rekid - Next Stop Chicago

Culoe De Song - The Bright Forest

Ben Klock - Subzero

Sasha vs. Adam Parker - Lowlife

Lostep - Burma (Involver Dub Mix)

Baeka - 5 Long Years (Bioground's Exquisite Mix)

Âme - Rej (A Hundred Birds Beatless Mix)

Don Williams - Orderly Kaos

Laurent Garnier - Last Tribute From The 20th Century

Beat Pharmacy feat. Infinity - Backwards Never (XDB Remake)

Nu NRG - Visual Sonar

David Moufang & Pete Namlook - Wired

Kraftwerk - Tour De France

DJ Yellow - 1st Step (Dubfire's Dubstep Re-Edit)

Slam - Azure (The Black Dog's Corned Beef Remix)

The Black Dog - Wait Behind This Line

Beat Pharmacy feat. Paul St. Hilaire - Sunshine (Intrusion Sunset Dub)

21 February, 2010

Mixtape: New Orleans Blues



The wind of melancholy and despair whispers through the dark streets of New Orleans, the unluckiest American city in the 21st century. Hammered by the hurricane Katrina, The Big Easy is seeking to connect itself once more with the glorious past full of jazz and blues. "The City That Care Forgot",
they say. But there may be a brighter future for this saddened metropolis, after all. The first glimpse of this could be the Super Bowl victory achieved by the local heros, New Orleans Saints. Join this aural adventure seeking for a better day in Louisiana.



1. DJ Sprinkles - Sisters, I Don't Know What This World Is Coming To

2. Âme - Doldrums

3. Kuniyuki Takahashi - Dear African Sky (Henrik Schwarz Remix - Unreleased Live Version)

4. Henrik Schwarz & Amampondo - I Exist Because Of You (Henrik Schwarz Live Version)

5. Trentemøller - Nightwalker

6. Culoe De Song - Love Music

7. Ahmet Sisman - Sallan

8. Nina Kraviz - Pain In The Ass

9. DJ Sprinkles - Grand Central, Pt. 1 (Deep Into The Bowel Of House)

10. Intrusion - Velocity In A Minor

11. Osunlade - Momma's Groove (Nomumbah's Dub)

12. 2000 And One - Wan Poku Moro

13. CV313 - Subtraktive (Intrusion's Road To Zion Dub)

14. Culoe De Song - African Subway

15. Culoe De Song - 100 Zulu Warriors

16. Rhythm & Sound feat. Koki - Rise And Praise (Vainqueur Remix)

17. Intrusion - Reflection I (Unreleased Extended Mix)

18. Henrik Schwarz - Leave My Head Alone Brain (Parts & Effects)

19. Freestyle Man - Century

20. Norman Nodge - Native Rhythm Electronic

21. Âme - Enoi

22. Nulleins - Latenight

23. Sven Weisemann – Redux

24. Culoe De Song feat. Busi Mhlongo - Webaba (Culoe De Song Mix)

25. Kettel - He's His Own Man

18 February, 2010

Thoughts About DJ Mixing Techniques, The Soul Of A DJ Mix And Everything

Lately I have read quite a lot of discussion about DJing equipment, usually the setting is 'auto-sync vs. beatmatching by hand'. As I use auto-sync nowadays, I want to write down some of my thoughts about it and also what a DJ set means to me in a wider spectrum.

Using auto-sync was never really my aim until I bought Traktor Pro. I could never trust a DJ software to take care of synchronizing the beats for me. However, when I first tried to use three decks with Traktor, the experience was something different. I had sub-consiously grown quite bored to this traditional 'beatmatch one tune into another and vice versa' way of doing, and I felt like I was "liberated" when I didn't have to care about this techical necessity called beatmatching anymore. I was able to focus all my knowledge and vision to selecting tunes and combining them together in new ways (some loops here, a cool intro there, some nice vocals everywhere, etc.).

It was a bit like a religious experience, when I noticed what the possibilities are when auto-sync is enabled. For me a DJ set has always been about something you can't have at home (unless spending some years to learn to be a good DJ), not a collection of records played by someone in a club or bar. I think a DJ set enjoyed at a club should be something very unique, at least when I'd be playing. Of course I don't mean to say this 'a guy (or a girl also) sharing his record collection' attitude is wrong, I like to listen that kind of DJing also sometimes, I just have my own, different vision about it. The beauty of this world is the possibility to have different approaches to everything :)

When DJing with Traktor, it has felt many times like there was some kind of "cosmic rhythm" and I just resonate to it. The music isn't fully under my control anymore because I mix so many things together and really can't hold all the strings so tight as with traditional mixing. The beauty with Traktor's auto-sync is, that the mix still sounds more music than a trainwreck, which would probably be the end result when I did things analogue style.

However, intense 4-deck Traktor set isn't always the best option. I reserve it for action-packed dancefloor, when I really need the full control. That way I can keep the groove and trance flowing all the time, although of course it's quite challenging. But for some chillier sets I prefer manual beatmatching and and "looser" mixing. When people don't focus on the music all the time, there is no reason to keep mixing so tight. It's better to give it some space too and enjoy the songs instead of sequences.

There are some of my visions about the art of DJing, see you on the dancefloor where I can put them into practice! ;)

28 January, 2010

Newsflash: The Gig at Bar Loop & "A Blast From The Past" link series #1–4

Hello there, here is some up-to-date info about where I'm standing with my constantly evolving quest for aural bliss at the moment.

The Gig At Bar Loop

On Monday 25th January I played my first ever set in a club environment, at Bar Loop in Helsinki. The bar is owned (to my knowledge) by Mr.A, who you might know as a veteran Dj and event organizer in Helsinki area for much more than a decade already (the most famous may be his alliance with Heikki L for Danceteria club events).

There is an Open Decks event at Bar Loop every Monday. I found out that the Bedroom DJbooking the spot is entitled to play all the night. I think this is very good concept, because it offers newbies a possibility to try out playing in a club without too much pressure, and it's commercial-wise very risk-free for the management. And even better, being able to play six hours in a row is very good practise for a starting DJ. I recall my longest ever DJ set before last Monday was about four hours long, played at home. To sum it up, it was quite nice to be on charge of the atmosphere from the beginning to the very end.

There wasn't that much people on that Monday night but it was expected and my goal for this set was to offer a nice surrounding for long conversations at the tables. I was happy to receive positive feedback about the set, especially volume level control (the selection was considered good also!). I decided to put some extra concern on following the volume, since I 've had too many dull bar nights when there is no possibility to talk with others just because the music has been played out too loudly. I didn't record the set but for tunespotters I'll provide the tracks I played with Traktor. Those a few vinyl gems I can't put on the map anymore, I'm afraid. All in all, this was a very positive experience and I would like to thank Bar Loop and Mr.A for having these kinds of Open Decks nights, they are essential opportunities for new DJs.

A Blast From The Past

My fellow Facebook friends might have noticed that I have been posting these "A Blast From The Past" youtube links. The idea is very simple, every week I choose a track that has come from the past to haunt my mind, then I look for it at youtube and post the link to my profile. It's going to be interesting to look at the end of the year what tracks got selected! Still, I don't wan't to spam my homepage every week with something like that, so I'll gather every 4th week the links and then put them here. Here are the first four from this month:


And the tracks I played at Bar Loop (excluding a few that I played on vinyl)…

Tom Middleton – Moonbathing
Tom Middleton – Sea Of Glass
Kettel – He's His Own Man
Trentemøller – Nightwalker
Jori Hulkkonen – Four Seasons, Four Loves
Kraftwerk – Musik Non Stop
Sven Väth – Harlequin Plays Bells
Argy feat. Bajka – Upon Ourselves
Beat Pharmacy – Cape Town
Ferdy & Matt van Wyk – Miami 8:06
Outlines – Listen To The Drums (Jazzanova Remix / Dixon Edit)
Fela Kuti & Kwanzaa Posse – Wicked Funk (Afro Ambient Mix)
Felix Laband – Whistling In Tongues (Todd Terje Remix)
Kaoru Inoue – The Secret Field (Todd Terje Remix)
Studio – Life's A Beach! (Todd Terje Beach House Mix)
Kuniyuki Takahashi – Flying Music (Rhythm And Trumpet Mix)
Cécile & Delphi feat. Dennis Coffey – Una Domenica Italiana
Motor Mouth – Horses, Cars & Stars (Marcello Giordani Just In Time Remix)
Henrik Schwarz & Amampondo – I Exist Because Of You (Henrik Schwarz Live Version)
Junior Boys – Work
Dølle Jølle – Balearic Incarnation (Todd Terje's Extra Døll Mix)
Tom Trago – Passion (Motor City Drum Enseble Remix)
Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
Mark Knight & Funkagenda – Shogun (Mark Knight & Funkagenda's Average House Band Remix)
Marco Zenker – Namibia Dub
Osunlade – Momma's Groove ((Jimpster's Hip Replacement Mix)
Beat Pharmacy feat. Spaceape – Ghostship (Deadbeat Remix)
Kuniyuki Takahashi – Dear African Sky (Henrik Schwarz Remix Unreleased Live Version)
Atjazz – Parallels (Jazzanova Serial Remix Instrumental)
Bill Withers – Who Is He (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
Adam Singer – Follow Me
Marcos Valle – Besteiras De Amor (Jazzanova Remix)
Global Communication – The Way
Laurent Garnier – Last Tribute From The 20th Century
Âme – Doldrums
Pryda – Frankfurt
2Raumwohnung – Wir Werden Sehen (Solomun Vox Remix)
Kraak & Smaak – No Sun In The Sky (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
Henrik Schwarz – Walk Music
Coldcut feat. Robert Owens – Wak A Mile In My Shoes (Henrik Schwarz Remix)
Elastic Sound – Moscow After Autumn Rain (Blacksoul Remix)
Beat Pharmacy – Drifter (Dub Mix)
Wigald Boning – Kobra Dance (Joris Voorn Dub)
Wigald Boning – Kobra Dance (Joris Voorn Interpretation)
Culoe De Song – African Subway
Humate – Love Stimulation (Tom Middleton Remodel)
T & F vs. Moltosuogo – Are U Doin' It With Me? (Danny Howells Edit)
Daniel Kyo – Naikrovek (Scope's 'Noche Urbana' Mix)
François DuBois – I Try (Scope Remix)

+Encore (there were several vinyl picks here)
Armand van Helden – I Want Your Soul (Sam-El & Mr. Marsu Back To School Edit)

04 January, 2010

Electronic Music Events And Me in 2009

Year 2009 is coming to an end, and it's a good time to sum up the events I have visited this year. This year I made my first ever visit to a foreign club, Cocoon in Frankfurt. Here are my top 5 events for this year with some notes, they are in no particular order excluding the best event :)

Tahko-klubi w/ Tom Middleton @ Ahjo, Helsinki

This event grabs the number one spot, Tom Middleton's eclectic DJing style is something everyone should experience. Happy music, some funny tricks (like using Finnish language course samples "Mitä kuuluu? Hauska tavata") and overall cunning planning make Tom Middleton a DJ to see. The last track (before three encore tunes!) sums it up: Cosmos - Take Me With You. Someone bring this man back to Finland ASAP!

Sven Väth World Tour Opening @ Cocoon Club, Frankfurt, Germany

This was the first time I saw Papa Sven live, and I must say he has the certain charm. However, I spent most of the night in lounge area, which was set for a Thinner Label Night (Marko Führstenberg, Sensual Physics & Gabriel Le Mar). The main room was so crowded one couldn't really dance there, the downside of a popular artist. The lounge room had enough space, and the deep hypnotic dub techno kept rolling and rolling until there was no space and time, only the bass. These Thinner guys would make a blast in Finland too, I guess.

Music Got Me! - Jazz Edition @ Out Of Juice, Tampere

This was the surprise event of the year for me. Sampsa Vilhunen owns a wicked collection of old soul/jazz/disco/anything that grooves like Jack records and this was my first proper encounter with this kind of music. Dance music of the gods and something very different, indeed.

Romance w/ Mr.A & DJ Flight @ Laterna, Tampere

Didn't surprise me, Flight is an excellent organizer of events and this was yet another very well managed event. I have grown to a fan of Romance concept, this old Slavic restaurant Laterna gives certain flair. Both Flight and Mr.A played very groovy music, showing once again that a good club night doesn't need big foreign headliners. "Finns do it better!" :)

Cosmic City w/ Ben Klock @ Redrum, Helsinki

A night filled with groovy techno. Lil Tony warmed up the floor with a good selection of tracks. Although the intensity drop between the end of Tony's set and start of Ben's was drastic, the German's selection grew to biblical dimensions, especially the last 45 minutes. One of those precious moments where world around disappears leaving you with bare music.

A few honourable mention to events that just didn't make it to the list:
One w/ Orkidea's 6h set - Wealthy selection of quality prog and trance, iLikes!
AfterFlight Mash-Up - This is just huge!
Danny Howells and the first time hearing "Rushin' To Paradise" on a proper volume pressure level (played by Mr.A)
Kraftwerk - This was my second meeting with these gentlemen from Düsseldorf, so not that extraordinary. Still, a Kraftwerk concert is always a great experience. Wir sind die Roboter…

13 November, 2009

Sam-El - Une forêt humide de sons


Boyakasha! Here is my birthday party set of tribal and percussive techno/house, straight from the deepest jungle. This is my first proper set with 3 decks™.



1. Cosmic Baby - Hommage 1.1

2. Tom Middleton - Moonbathing

3. Soul Rebels - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Acapella)

4. Minilogue - Jamaica (Dubfire Dreadmill Remix)

5. Marcello Giordani - I'm Not Blade Runner

6. The Machine - Fuse (Dixon Remix)

7. Oxia - Sun Step

8. Michel Cleis - La Metzcla

9. Beat Pharmacy - Velocity

10. Beat Pharmacy - Backwards Never (XDB Remix)

11. The Timewriter - Soul Freak Music (Terry Lee Brown Jr. Remix)

12. Luca Ricci & Redkone - Last Inca Tribe (Extended Mix)

13. Nick Solé - Children

14. Anton Zap - Mon 16:46

15. Tokyo Black Star - Blade Dancer (Dixon Edit)

16. Beat Pharmacy feat. Coppa - Rooftops (Minilogue's Taqsim Remix)

17. Slam - We Doin' This Again?

18. Radio Slave - Koma Koma (Steve Lawler Remix)

19. Fabio Gannelli - Apparlas (Slam Remix)

20. Luciano feat. Ali Boulo Santo - Africa Sweat

21. Dave Seaman - Gobbledygook (Part 3)

22. Eelke Kleijn - Deeper Depths

23. Moshic - Nanok

24. Lostep - Burma (Lostep's Stoned Immaculate Mix)

25. Unknown - Blade Runner End Titles (Replicant Mix - Remake)

26. Vangelis - Tears In Rain