October 2011

There can be no doubting the power of the edit. Hearing your favourite soul, funk, disco, even hip hop record extended blissfully into an eight minute wonder can give you new appreciation for the very fabric of a song. Discovering the groove that perhaps only momentarily introduced itself in the original can transform a classic into something entirely new. Over the last few years the popularity of the edit, along with new-wave Disco and mid-tempo House has soared immensely, encouraging dancers to find their spot on the dancefloor and not move the whole night. It’s this ethos that inspires Ali Herron aka OOFT!

We’ve been aware of this project between soul-bearing Dubstep producer Fall and up and coming singer-songwriter, Bronagh Monahan for a while, but it wasn’t until we heard the finished product that our excitement was fully realised. With Fall providing a hypnotic instrumental, echoing the poignant emotion of Massive Attack and Bronagh laying down some truly touching vocals this is a match made in heaven.

As we descend the dimly lit staircase from the alleyway above, the sound of amplifiers, sound-checks and rumbling bass fill the air. It’s Friday evening, just hours before Pin Up Nights explodes into action. Passing through The Flying Duck’s truly eccentric ‘Kitchen’ before entering the bewildering cavity of the angular mainroom, we find crates of beer, coiled up cables and everything else that would suggest we’ve just walked backstage at your average indie gig. But that’s where the similarities end, forget the skinny jeans, pointed shoes and lego haircuts, if you’re looking for the true meaning of ‘alternative’ then here it is. In the nine years that Pin Up Nights has been running in Glasgow, from the Woodside Social to The Winchester, Beat Club to Flying Duck they have never conformed to trends, always insisting on simply playing ‘good music’, whether that be punk, ska, synth-pop or house. Sure, the odd lazy journalist may refer to it as an ‘indie night’ (see our interview below), but in the case of Pin Ups, that term can at least refer to the word’s proper meaning as apposed to the top40, conglomerate dross it is affiliated with today.

Now, before anyone blows a gasket, let us assure you that Synth is and always will be about Glasgow. As you know we love the Weige, however from now on we will every so often be featuring an artist from outside the city which we truly believe is worthy of some frontline exposure. So, this week it gives us great pleasure to introduce you to our new mix series ‘nexthype’ in which we put the spotlight on a producer who is tickling our hard-drive and causing general excitement here at Synth.

Believe it or not Heartbeats only formed last year, bursting onto the scene as a handful of up and coming but mostly unknown producers anxious to expose and giveaway some quality electronic music. Now, with their fifth release ‘Kelvingrove Riot’ upon us, they can lay claim to some of the finest new talent Glasgow has on offer and a reputation as being one of the freshest, forward-thinking collectives the city has produced in recent years. Boasting such names as Slow It Down, Mia Dora, Barrientos and of course Heartbeats head-honcho, Megamegaman, there appears to be no stopping the group as they continue to blaze a trail of untold creativity.

Ten years ago, a DJ was someone special. Someone who could bring you music no one else could, someone who was looked up to as a figurehead of the social spectrum. DJ’ing was something that only the truly dedicated would apply for, the result of a driving passion for playing records, creating an atmosphere and telling a story. DJ’ing was an art, a way of life and a very pure form of expressing yourself. Fast forward to today and it has simply become another hobby, no more impressive than collecting stamps or spending your day trying to assemble a jigsaw of the last supper.

We’re excited about Mia Dora, perhaps too excited. Ever since unleashing underground smash, ‘Random Romantics’ at the start of the year, their tech-laden take on UK Bass has got us frothing at the mouth. As they gear up for what will no doubt be a big 2012, they’ve decided to take on Roots Manuva’s new single ‘Get The Get’, transforming it into a cooler-than-thou, late night bounce.

Can it really be four years? Four years since the likes of A-Trak, Mehdi, Chromeo and Switch made week night clubbing utterly essential? Four years since the likes of Rustie, Jackmaster and Hudson Mohawke were the supporting acts billed as ‘fresh local talent’? Ever since starting out as a weekly party in October 2007, How’s Your Party? has been responsible for booking some of the most ridiculously on-point guests Glasgow has ever seen. Imagine sauntering out on a Thursday night to see A Trak at your local spot now, it simply wouldn’t happen. But four years ago, these were the type of names you could expect every single week.

It’s Sunday morning, the afterparty is drawing to a close and not even the heavy duty curtains can mask the impending light of day. The buzz is starting to waver, the booze is running low and bleary eyes suggest bed is not too far way. But surely it can’t be over yet? We try ever so desperately to hold onto the night, someone suggests Bake’s recent mix for Boiler Room and as the first delicate notes penetrate the smoke an atmosphere is created which no one wants to leave. Rarely has a succession of songs so perfectly captured, nurtured and prolonged a mood. This night’s definitely not over…

This week’s show went down like this:

Kicking things off, we had some tricked-out flavours from the likes of Rustie, S-Type and Thiskk, pushing a future Scottish Hip Hop flavour while Heartbeat's head-honcho Megamegaman provided this week’s Tea Time Rave Off. With fresh-to-death joints from Glasgow's Typikal to classic cuts from LL, he managed to cram a whole lot of VIBEZ into ten minutes!

He may only be 19 but his skills as a DJ are firmly rooted. Jinty is one of Glasgow’s finest - enthusiastic, energetic and committed to the cause, over the last year or two he has made a name for himself which reaches far beyond his moderate age. His passion for all things bass (with special focus on Grime, Hip Hop and Dub) is total, working hard to support the local scene and bringing 100% to each one of his gigs. As we’ve mentioned many times before, it’s that extra flare which will set you aside in this business. Everyone is a DJ, only the people willing to put in something more will excel.

It’s a wonder Sei A hasn't attempted this before. William Basinski, one of the most revered composers of modern times has been experimenting with the very fabric of sound for over 25 years, creating intricate journeys of epic magnitude. His ability to form masterful soundscapes have claimed him worldwide recognition, and here, in a tribute to his legendary ‘Disintegration Loops’, Sei A does him total justice.

If you were there you how it went down. The energy, the atmosphere, the bounce-factor - it was all off the scale and now Vitamins have released photos to prove it. As predicted, Canadian beat-rider Lunice inspired dancing reminiscent of a Chickasaw crunk-fest, while Bristol’s Baobinga managed to overloaded the system when he dropped Emalkay’s ‘Crusader’ over Ludacris’ dirty south anthem ‘What’s Your Fantasy?’. Trust us, the reaction was nothing short of riotous.

You’d be doing well to avoid Cassy’s name this year. From DC10 to Amnesia, the freshly crowned Queen of House has become one of the most sought after and highly respected DJ’s in the world. And looking at her impressive resume it’s easy to see why. In somewhat of a fairytale but undeniably justified rise to fame, Cassy Britton has soared as one of the hottest names in the industry with a flare behind the decks which many of her peers seemed to have lost.

We’ve only recently been introduced to Scottish Hip Hop; it’s a scene that has so far managed to pass us by. But over the last few months and through the help of Soundcloud, Glasgow Grime and Jinty’s essential show on Subcity our naïve ears have been liberated. With MC and producing talent flourishing it’s fairly easy to recognise the passion Scotland has for its Hip Hop, and last week we became engrossed by a new release from Typikal & Bill Breaks.

If an artist gives away their music for free it means one of two things. Either it’s so distinctly average that the idea of any label taking interest in it is laughable or the producer in question is on such a hot streak that they can afford to give away the odd tune to maintain the hype. Thankfully where Cur$es is concerned, it is most definitely the latter. Released for free via bandcamp, ‘Hemisphere’ is blissful hyper-house that is nothing short of divine.

There’s a refreshing energy about 27 year old Dave Smith aka Monopunk. Where others may shy away from losing it on the dancefloor in an attempt to maintain their cool, Dave is at the centre of it all, orchestrating a full-scale shake down to the sound of crashing bass and devastating breakdowns. Given his passion for ‘causing it’ it’s no wonder that his preferred style these days is the face-melting sound of ‘tear-out’ Electro.

Is Vitamins the hottest party going in Glasgow right now? Judging by ticket sales for this weekend’s impending throw-down the answer must be a resounding yes. After building the foundation through a number of highly imaginative and all-inclusive parties in 2010, they have now managed to become one of the few nights in Glasgow where word of mouth precedes marketing. Such is the level of trust garnered by the night’s consistent quality that they could no doubt specify a time and place without ever distributing one flyer.

So we’re now a full four shows into the new broadcasting season at Subcity Radio and finally we’re starting to get back into the groove. For those that don’t know, we host a show every Wednesday from 6-7pm, bringing you all the hottest locally produced music straight from the hard drive and right down your ear socket. We’ve had the show for about two years now, but it’s only over the last six months or so that we’ve managed to focus it completely on Glasgow (testament to the quality which is coming out of our fair city at the moment).