June 2012

You will have seen us feature this earlier in the week as a free download, but seeing as it’s just so damn captivating we’re giving it big licks today with our Local Hero Award. Fall’s output is staggered to say the least, but when he does deliver something new you know it’s going to be worth the wait. On ‘Broken’ he teams up with the superbly talented vocalist Amy Lyon for a strikingly beautiful ballad of pure emotion.

Despite what can only be described as a tropical storm during the day, the excitement for Optimo and Melting Pot’s annual boat party was still very much electric. A definitive highlight of the summer, and a golden opportunity to party on arguably the world’s most famous paddle-steamer, the Riverboat Shuffle was going to be popular whatever the weather.

What a journey. From stage invasions at the Art School to full-scale takeovers at The Arches, Mixed Bizness has always provided that pretension free alternative which wore it’s heart on its sleeve and put the focus solely on fun. Right from the very start it provided one of the few constants in Glasgow which you could always depend upon - whether that be cutting-edge student clubbing at the aforementioned Art School, the biggest names in bass at How’s Your Party? or one of the many one-off events which enlisted some of club music’s most prolific icons - Mixed Bizness became an integral part of Glasgow’s thriving clubbing community, and for many, it also became something of an institution.

INTERVIEW W/ Profisee

It’s been a while since we last heard from Fall, infact it was back in January that we featured him in our Get To Know segment. But as suspected, he’s been working on something rather special to treat us with as we hurtle headlong into summer, and although the weather is far from seasonal, this new collaboration with up and coming singer-songwriter Amy Lyon is beautifully poised.

The advent of such production programs as Live 8, Logic and Reason have really opened up the possibilities when it comes to making electronic music. No longer do you have to rely on great, lumbering hardware to perfect your artistry, and the option to create music is no longer confined to a studio. But some argue that the use of a laptop can have a detrimental effect on your sound, stripping it of its human identity and masking its soul. For Holobeams & Broken Machine’s Iain Foxwell however, this notion has perhaps had a positive effect - his search for tangible purity has been strengthened by technology’s overbearing influence.

INTERVIEW W/ Holobeams & Broken Machines

As club classics go, ‘Higher State Of Consciousness’ ranks up there with some of the best. Released almost twenty years ago, it employed one of the best Acid basslines ever written and not only catapulted Josh Wink into the upper realm of clubbing consciousness but also the UK charts as well. It was a landmark record and so very easily could have become his eternal calling card. But fast forward to 2012 and his legacy has become so much more.

INTERVIEW W/ Josh Wink

Dance music is a powerful thing. From bedroom DJs to world-famous producers, what started with the most humble of beginnings has now changed the lives of thousands of people, dictating careers, relationships and the very basis of their being. Some of course are happy to enjoy it from the dancefloor, but others have an insatiable need to share it, and it’s with this often all-encompassing passion that great things can happen. Predictably, it’s in the latter of these two categories that Simon Forbes, creative manager and director at Sonar FM resides.

INTERVIEW W/ Simon Forbes (Station Director)

It’s been a while since we gave the title to an all-out Tech-House roller, but this new release from Harvey McKay on the Trapez label was too big to ignore. 5am at the afters is where you’re going to hear this as burning vocal cuts fade into darkness over an industrial foundation. Menacing bleeps complete the package, making ‘Pressure’ something of a subtly devastating banger.

So as the rain continues to fall here in Glasgow, we can at least take solace in this splendidly distracting release from two of the city’s most interesting up and coming producers. ‘Eccentric’ is perhaps the most fitting description for ‘Little Bear/Bowlin’, but certainly not in a way that would suggest a conscious attempt to unhinge itself completely from normality - both producers have been pushing the boundaries for some time, and this is no different – however it’s a tangible unfamiliarity which makes Cur$es and Arm Wtchs Fngrs so appealing.

The term ‘vibe’ gets thrown about a lot, but when we got down to our first Mungo/Chungo event last month, it was the only word which could truly describe the incredible atmosphere with any accuracy. Having teamed up earlier in the year to present parties as unified promoters, Mungo’s Hi Fi & Chungo-Bungo have really set the benchmark for what clubs can achieve in 2012. We talk a lot about the saturation in Glasgow, and how too many promoters ‘spoil the broth’, but here is a prime example of how working together can pay off massively. Why compete with each other, struggling to capture the same market, when you can both benefit as one?

INTERVIEW W/ Mungo's Hi Fi & Chungo Bungo

With a solid year of events behind them it’s common knowledge that the Subrosa boys know how to throw a party, and this week’s b2b session at the Sub Club was definitely something special. Armed with residents Ray Vose, Max Spittal and Junior G, and with on-point bookings ranging from Deadly Rhythm to Optimo legend, JD Twitch, Subrosa likes to mix things up with their themed nights...

Things just got serious. Following on from Dema’s exceptional Synth Presents mix yesterday, High Sheen resident and label co-host, Ben Martin drops something hot ahead of his appearance at this year’s T In The Park and a highly anticipated set at the notorious Slam Tent. With Mia Dora set to do the damage with their debut EP on the freshly established imprint, and the hype-o-meter maxed at 10, everything is building up very nicely for an incredible summer.

It’s well documented that we are quite fascinated by the evolution of Hip Hop, particularly with regards to America’s interest in Glasgow’s burgeoning visionaries, and what is seemingly both a reaction to the sour monotony of the mainstream and the natural course of a genre which is always eager to jump on what’s ‘hot’. You’ll most likely be aware of the current hype surrounding TNGHT (the super-fresh collaboration between Hudson Mohawke and Lunice), Kanye West’s growing interest in what he refers to as the ‘next level’ and Rustie’s critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Glass Swords’. It’s perhaps one of the most exciting developing stories to come out this city, and LuckyMe’s Dema is probably best placed to comment on it.

INTERVIEW W/ Dema

If you’re going to be steaming on The Clyde its best you do it in style. Calling in the Coast Guard because you’ve been swept into the North Sea on an inflatable dinghy from Asda just isn’t a good look, so it’s best you leave it to the professionals and one of the most prolific steamers in the world (and we’re not talking about Big Barry Buckfast from Sighthill). As boats come, The Waverley Paddle boat is up there with HMS Victory, The Discovery and that odd amphibious bus that ferries sightseers across the Thames.

INTERVIEW W/ Melting Pot

We’re still patiently waiting for Barrientos’ debut album, but in the meantime remixes for This Is I and now Glaswegian indie band, Queen Jane will more than suffice. This landed in our inbox last night, and on listening this morning we were predictably captivated by what we found. If you’re a fan of quality House music with a deep, Balearic atmosphere then Barrientos is going to instantly appeal.

A little over a year since his last appearance in Glasgow, one of our favourite DJs returns to make light work of the Sub Club’s legendary soundsystem. Having of course just marked its 25^th anniversary with a month of incredible parties, the celebrations continue at the subterranean venue with a number of specially planned events set to showcase some of dance music’s most prolific talent alongside future heroes who are already making waves.

We think there was perhaps a universal sense of relief when Instruments Of Rapture finally released ‘The Streets Are Alive With The Hounds Of Music’ this week (of course tinged with sadness at being the final offering from the label). But what a way to go out, and to be honest we could have chosen any of the three tracks represented by Glasgow producers to be Local Hero, but it’s Ali OOFT! who takes it with the irresistible ‘Make U Mine’. Damn fine and right on time.

We genuinely don’t think the anticipation surrounding Mia Dora’s ‘Romanticise EP’ could be any greater had High Sheen decided to giveaway free money with every copy. Quite unbelievably, it was way back in December 2010 that we first featured ‘Random Romantics’, describing it as ‘Joris Voorn sparring with Hot City’ - pretty accurate after hearing it again nearly two years later. Since then of course Mia Dora have maintained a steady hype with remixes for Roots Manuva and airtime on Radio 1.

We’ve literally been inundated with free downloads recently, which is of course no bad thing. Today we present something rather classy from up and coming producer Cruffy on former Local Hero, Adam Forbes. Taking the Balearic chords of the original and applying them over an understated but nevertheless solid foundation, this will appeal greatly to those who are looking for a refined heater to get the dancefloor moving.

Considering they only uploaded their first track to Soundcloud a matter of six months ago, the imminent release of their debut EP may come as a bit of a surprise to some. But in this day and age of Youtube sensations and viral marketing, the internet has become central to the exposure and eventual success of new music. Infact it was only through a heads-up via the aforementioned Soundcloud that we discovered MermaidS, a rapidly ascending production duo born out of a series of late nights, and yes, a fair portion of Marijuana.

INTERVIEW W/ MermaidS

We were intending on holding off until nearer the release date before shouting about this, but having locked into Bunty’s Soundcloud today, we felt compelled to get it up on the blog. Following on from his BBQ Beats mixtape for us back in April, the Glasgow based producer is now eyeing up his next EP entitled ‘Boom Bap’. For those of you who yearn for some extra flavour with their Hip Hop and regard the sickly-sweet commercialism of today’s fodder comparable to caramelised apple dipped in vomit, then this will appeal massively.

Ten years of anything is impressive, never mind ten years of quality parties as one of Glasgow’s premier soundsystems. This Friday Argonaut Sounds celebrate a decade in the game as they descend on Blackfriars Basement for four hours of Reggae, Dancehall and ‘Jamaican flavour’. Having launched Subcity’s longest running radio show back in 2002 and subsequently an impressive series of events which have graced everywhere from the old Ivy to the now defunct Hetherington, the ever-dedicated collective have released a nostalgia-stirring album of photos featuring some of the landmark moments in their extensive quest to get down in G-Town.

The weather may have been questionable and the Olympic Torch might have caused an Olympic tailback, but we were definitely still jealous of those who were lucky enough to be at Rockness this weekend. One of the finest small festivals in the world, and with a line up to match any of its bigger cousins, it never fails to disappoint. Having said that however, we know a lot of you will be feeling less than savoury right now, so let us ease you back to reality with the ever-soothing Soosh.

The Arches is Glasgow’s biggest clubbing venue, akin to London’s Fabric or Berlin’s Berghain - minus the crazy door policy. Despite having lived in the city for almost a year now I had yet to visit the legendry space. I was also yet to see Felix Da Housecat or Fred Falke live, so all in all I was pretty excited. It seems the rest of Glasgow was too, as by 12pm the door queue was snaking round the block

This was somewhat of a standout track when we featured it in our Local Hero rundown two weeks ago, and perhaps realising it was too hot to keep for himself, Mirrors has decided to make ‘All The Reasons Why’ available for free download. Spanning seven minutes of soul-burning desire, this really ticks all the boxes for us, taking a familiar vocal sample and making it unequivocally his. Subtly warping basslines and reflective synths make this perfect for a laidback Sunday - if only the sun was shining!

The weather may have taken a turn for the worst, but the music stays hot this week as 24 year old Alex-Ander takes our Local Hero award with the incredible ‘Because Of Me’. Made almost specifically for relaxing on a hot summer’s day, this blissful slice of Deep House captures a sense of true serenity, bathed in the final rays of a spectacular sunset. Featured alongside an exceptional remix package below, this is destined to go the distance…

Nine times out of ten being ‘simply’ a DJ just won’t cut it. Ever since the advent of laptop mixing, it has become (for better or worse) a lot easier for any Tom, Dick or Harry to select a few tunes and play them in a pleasing order. While this may have opened up the art to those who previously couldn’t afford it, or indeed just couldn’t be bothered with the rigmarole of vinyl, it means that setting yourself apart as a true talent is difficult. It is perhaps all the more impressive then that Amanda Mitchell aka Floyd has risen to become one of Glasgow’s most prevalent new DJs, based purely on a love of music and skill alone.

INTERVIEW W/ Floyd

There can be few more visionary icons throughout the history of dance music than Jeff Mills. His tireless innovation and forward-thinking attitude have influenced countless peers, undeniably making a huge impact on how we perceive, understand and enjoy club music. Presenting it more as an art form than a simple method to dance, his endeavour to ensure his audience experience something more than face value has cemented his place as one of the greatest. But before this becomes a passionate tribute to one of our personal heroes, it’s perhaps best that we focus on Jeff Mills as a contemporary, rather than his extensive and ultimately significant past.

INTERVIEW W/ Jeff Mills

Cur$es just never fails to amaze. His output may somewhat intermittent, but when he does drop something new you know it will be worth the wait. Yesterday he uploaded ‘Venus’ to Soundcloud, and at the risk of being over dramatic, it quite simply took our breath away. Short but oh so sweet, you’ll find this hypnotic slice of shimmering synth work utterly mesmerising, washing over you like a tropical wave on a deserted island.

It’s been an incredible month of music for Palace. From Lil B to Lil Silva, Addison Groove to Holy Other, it would be fair to say that as a series of events, they’ve brought a truly diverse and comprehensive collection of artists to Glasgow. Ultimately achieving what they set out to do, there is no question that the city’s thirst for the experimental, leftfield and visionary has been unequivocally quenched, but it is perhaps this, one of the final events, which people have most been looking forward to. Featuring a line up which really captures the essence of Palace and all the events thus far, Jimmy Edgar’s Magenta Live show is set to stun.

You wouldn’t think that Ja Rule’s 2001 single ‘Livin It Up’ would resonate with a dancefloor these days – it’s by no means a classic and the ‘Murder Inc’ rapper was always somewhat of a question mark when it came to presenting himself as a credible MC - but with the time nearing 3am and Chambre69’s dancefloor practically spilling over, this unlikely anthem has caused an incredible reaction. Tonight Freaky Freaky are in full effect and with Bamboo Palace, Smiddy and Stubble Trubble behind the decks, the party is truly rocking.

Since its Friday we thought it would be nice to end the week with something fresh from our ever energetic resident DJ. Having recently been asked to provide a mix for Glasgow’s premier edit team, Slow It Down, he's decided to use this opportunity to make a swift change of name, leaving Alaska behind to become the slightly less absurd ‘Alex Caslano’. When asked about the change, he said he was tired of answering the question ‘why are you called Alaska?’ with the response “because I closed my eyes and pointed at a map� (true story).

For some, the arrival of Sunday Circus marks the true start of summer. When the weather is finally good enough to take the party outside and the threat of trench-foot/electrocution/saturated baps is minimal, you know that things are looking up. As has been the case for the last five years, Sunday Circus has always endeavoured to bring you some of the finest names from the House music spectrum in a setting which usually challenges or at least differentiates from the norm. This Sunday sees that tradition upheld as the collective celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and the biggest excuse for a Royal knees-up since Wills and Kate started sharing the price of stamps.


INTERVIEW W/ Affi Koman & Ronnie