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:

Week 1: Rekid – Next Stop Chicago

Week 2: Sunday Club – Paladian Dawn

Week 3: Bill Withers – Who Is He (Henrik Schwarz Remix)

Week 4: Rhythm & Sound – Let The Jah Come

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)