Happy Halloween Guys and Ghouls!
With today being pumpkin day, I though I’d throw out some treats. HARD Haunted Mansion is sold the fuck completely OUT so don’t even bother trying to get on someone’s list or even through the door. Won’t happen.
Oops! I guess that was a trick, huh?
Real treat (like Twix level) is that Trash Menagerie is going to interview the one and only SOULWAX tonight! Not only are they playing as Soulwax, but they are scheduled (weather willing) to perform a two hour set as 2 Many DJ’s! Expect us to shed some light on that awesome film they just had premier, “Part of the Weekend Never Dies”
Happy Halloween!!!
P.S. I’ve decided to go as Anna Karina. What about you?
Take two kids out of Baltimore, mix in talent and taste, throw in a ton of different styles of music and you get the bumpin’ duo Devlin and Darko (also known as the DJ’s behind Spankrock).
Word hit the street that Chris Devlin and Ronnie Darko were going to be pit-stopping in Los Angeles to play an Xbox party along with New York legend Stretch Armstrong. With that in mind, Trash Menagerie had to twist-arm Devlin into squeezing in a mini-interview shortly before hitting the decks and we held back no bars in asking questions ranging from professional to semi-absurd.
First things first… bK: Enlighten our readers for those unfamiliar with Baltimore. What is it to you?
CD: Many things. It means friends, family, and where I cut my teeth as a DJ. Oh- and great Crabcakes.
bK: What encompasses the work you do with Spankrock?
CD: Ron and I are the Dj’s for the next record. We co-produced a track with another Baltimore guy and we DJ Spankrock’s live shows
bK: What’s your favorite shit to mix right now and what are you absolutely sick of?
CD: Fave would be Yeah Yeah Body Rocks … What I hate is listening to is an hour of distorted basslines. Those are good in moderation.
bk: What music is in your head when you are doing the following activities:
1. Having sex CD: Circus music
2. Before you play CD: Frack n Smack
3. When you’re jacking off CD: My iPhone reverberating youporn
4. When driving CD: I don’t drive
bK: How is your relationship with the Windish agency?
CD: It’s pretty good
bK: If your music with Spankrock was a baby- who fucked to make it an what was the situation?
CD: Two wayward souls lost on Route 40 and they were wearing stockings.
bK: What party would you say really excites you?
CD: Big Day Out in Australia. We’ve only been once so far, though.
bK: What are the top 3 songs that influence your work that are pre-1980?
CD: I would have to say…
- Chic- Everybody Dance
- Pink Floyd- Money
- Jimi Hendrix- Stone Freak
bK: If your music was walking down the street, describe how he/she would be:
CD: A gremlin with an umbrella in the daytime in June
bK: Who are you jonesin’ to play with musically?
CD: Shawn Shaffie
bK: Who the fuck is Shawn Shaffie?
CD: The future. He was in Baltimore.
Shortly after this small series of questions took place, Devlin joined Darko and hit the decks. Within 30 minutes the music was pounding and people somehow managed to pull themselves away from playing Xbox to shake it… fantastic set by this duo, they’re definitely one to see again!
If you were listening to good music in the 90’s, more than likely your ears crossed paths with one of the greatest independent labels, Ninja Tune. Birthed in 1991 by Matt Black & Jonathon More of Coldcut fame, London-based Ninja Tune has been a place for an eclectic mix of artists that create innovative, quality music. 17 years later, Ninja Tune is still at the helm of electronic music and constantly forging ahead in music exploration.
Eclectic rings dead true of Ninja artist Daedelus, who at 15 years of age, had his first Eureka moment when he got a taste of UK rave and hardcore listening to a pirate radio station. Named after an ancient Greek legend, Daedelus has played in local rock, jazz and ska bands, later Dj’ing the leftfield side of drum and bass, all the while cultivating what would become a sound unique to Daedelus. Fast forward to the present and the recent September cover feature for XLR8R magazine, shows the position Daedelus holds in music today. He certainly has had quite an extraordinary year!
Like wine and cheese the fine pairings are never ending at Ninja Tune. The Death Set prove they can do anything, as their take on Daedelus’ “Fair Weathered Friends” is an ecstatic dance-floor number that pops, while Mumdance & High Rankin keep the magic drummy with a dubstep shuffle.
There’s a wonderous feeling in the air due to the sweet, charming lyrics and endearing music coming off the guitar strings and laptop of James Yuill. Touted as one of the UK’s buzzed about acts for 2009, you’re going to want to fill your ears with ‘Turning Down Water For Air‘, the debut LP, released 13th October on Moshi Moshi, by the multi-instrumental Londoner.
Plain and simple, ‘Turning Down Water For Air‘ is good, imaginative music, with gems like the second single, “This Sweet Love“, a heartfelt song that encourages you to “be the greatest man in history, the greatest man that you can be”. Though it seems James Yuill was born to sing about life and its relationships, he’s come a long way since a year past when his days were spent at an agency picking out music for TV adverts. Those days are behind him and we’re pleased.
There’s enough dance energy to all this ‘folktronica’, and picking up the tempo on “This Sweet Love” is Norwegian DJ/producer Prins Thomas. Drums of Death and Ruff N Jam had their hands on the tune as well and I must say, Drums of Death really turns this one inside and out!! Listen here.
Lastly, for those that missed the coverage on James this past August over at Discobelle; he won their remix competition for Roots Manuva’s “Buff Nuff”, and in September he showed his Dj skills for their Mixin’ It Up series. Listen to both and download off James’ site and stay updated on all things James Yuill via his blog!
The Mad Pizza and Hot Dog have been getting down across U.S. cities whilst on the Mad Decent tour with Diplo, Abe Vigoda, Boy 8-Bit, Telepathe, and some special guests!! Check the entire gang on the rest of their tour dates, listed below!!!!!!
10/30/2008 Richards On Richards, Vancouver
10/31/2008 Nectar Lounge, Seattle
11/01/2008 Hawthorne Theater, Portland
11/03/2008 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
11/04/2008 Echoplex, Los Angeles
11/05/2008 Club Red, Tucson
11/07/2008 Emos, Austin
11/08/2008 Palladium Ballroom, Dallas
11/10/2008 Masquerade, Atlanta
11/11/2008 Cats Cradle, Carrboro
11/12/2008 Black Cat, Washington DC
11/13/2008 Sonar, Baltimore
11/14/2008 Starlight Ballroom, Philadelphia
11/29/2008 The Warehouse Project, Manchester
12/05/2008 Paradiso, Amsterdam
12/06/2008 Transmusicales Rennes (FR)
12/20/2008 Foreign Cinema Restaurant, San Francisco
If you caught Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show on 9th October, you may have heard him praising Drop The Lime’s tune “Hear Me 2009” as one of the hottest songs in the world! Recently released on Beatport, you can choose your favorite amongst remixes by AC Slater, Buraka Som Sistema, Drums of Death and The Touch. With a main room residency at Fabric, it’s no wonder DTL has been spending loads of time across the pond. Last Thursday (10/23), the entire Trouble & Bass crew teamed up with Bok Bok & L-VIS 1990 for an extra smattering of bass, dub, grime, and ghetto house at ‘Night Slugs‘, held at East Village in Shoreditch. Check the photos from the night here and here.
Sometime during all of this, DTL had a chat with Tam Gunn over at Fact Magazine. I’m always peepin Fact, they’ve got the goods! Head on over to their side and see what DTL has been up to these days and what the future has in store. Excerpt below taken from DTL’s interview on Fact. It’s time to lose control!!!! And you can do so whilst listening to DTL’s latest mix for Fact, posted in our mixes section snatched by our TM Seattle rep, TheCrookedClef!
Tamm Gunn: How does playing London differ to playing New York?
DTL: “You can play anything here. I could drop the craziest bassline, and people will go off because they understand it. In America you’ve gotta trick them a little. Play some hits and reel them in, and then we can let them loose, but you don’t have to work at that here - you can just go out with a bang and people will get down man. They’re really into the music, and not just there to be seen with the music, or seen at a certain party… It’s more open minded - there’s more of a dance scene, and dance culture.”
Turn tricks, give treats, and throw on a costume besides that American Apparel outfit you wear everyday – it’s time for HARD’S Haunted Mansion this Halloween!!!
What does Trash Menagerie have in store for its readers? Not only a detailed recap of the night’s debauchery (oozing with scandal I assure you), but also interviews!
Tomorrow night this LA representative will head to the US premier of the Soulwax documentary film “Part of the Weekend Never Dies“. A follow up will be held with the group at HARD this Friday night to discuss their movie, what’s to come, and more.
Got any suggestions for this writer’s Halloween costume?? Shoot away and in the mean time…
Stay tuned in for some surprise interviews yet to come!
So Liverpool Music Week is back, and this time it’s bigger than ever. With 66 events, 16 venues and over 250 live bands showcased between 30th October & 6th November 2008!
Sponsored by Esprit, Liverpool Music Week is a collaboration between the week’s founder Mike Deane and Cream CEO James Barton. Showcasing a number of merging acts such as Black Kids and Kissy SellOut alongside established names like The Fall, the week will also be running a series of panels and seminars featuring some of the UK’s music industry movers & shakers who will come together to discuss issues and opportunities within the sector and to offer advice and support to a range of related music businesses, artists and individuals with a desire to enter the music industry.
Please find below a handy list of some of the gigs you should get your ass too:
Thursday 30th October – Opening Night
The Fall – Nation, Wolstenholme Square, Liverpool, L1 4JJ.
Thursday 30th October – Opening Night Martha Wainwright + Angus & Julius Stone – Liverpool Philarmonic Hall
Thursday 30th October *** SOLD OUT *** Opening Night
Vampire Weekend – Liverpool Carling Academy
Thursday 30th October Wolfgang Flur (ex Kraftwerk - wow) - The Tate Gallery
Friday 31st October
Goldfrapp – Liverpool University, Mountford Hall
Friday 31st October
MTV LMW & Evol present Bestival Reunion Tour @ Nation, Wolstenholme Square
Live acts: Mystery Jets, Kissy Sell Out, Cuban Brothers / DJ’s: Rob Da Bank, Sombrero Soundsystem, Plus special live guests: The Presets
Saturday 1st November
Black Kids + Ladyhawke + Magistrates – Nation, Wolstenholme Square
Sunday 2nd November
Dizzee Rascal + Newham Generals + Smurfie Syco + Chromeo Liverpool University, Mountford Hall d
Tickets for all events are available here. Go Go Gooooooooooooo!
Visit here for more detailed on Liverpool Music Week.
So while I was absent from planet trashmenagerie the past few weeks I managed to interview a few lovely artists at Creamfields Festival - yes it was ages ago (lazy ass I know). The most trashy chat I had all day had to be with Graham from Glasgow two-piece Dolby Anol.
If you haven’t heard of these guys they are a crazy duo residing in Glasgow who on their myspace name-check “the tranny” as their influence. If that’s not enough they have worked together to produce some of the sleeziest and most addictive remixes of late, seriously check out the one below this interview. They seriously make me drool…..anyway on to the interview!
KMD: Have you done any other festivals besides this one?
Graham: Oh Yeah, we did Glastonbury. I don’t ever want to do any other festivals after being to that one I tell ya! Have you ever been?
Yes, and It’s very unpleasant [word changes to protect readers!].
Last year was just purely disgusting. I couldn’t believe it, it’s not mud it’s s%^t & p**s, people I can smell you! I went to see Bjork there and we had travelled for twelve hours to get there from Glasgow and I hadn’t ate but I had two litres of gin in a volvic bottle! I had consumed all the gin by the time she came on stage and I actually fainted when she finally appeared on stage. It wasn’t because I was overwhelmed or anything, I was just like ‘it’s Bjork’ and then fainted!
I woke up half way through ‘Earth Intruders’ and I thought ‘why am I dancing’, but it was in fact two people carrying me! I apparently had a massive lump on my head and which John pointed out then tried to force me to see a medic. They then carted me out of the crowd and left me on my own to go and see a medic while they went back to watch the rest of Bjork!
This festival actually seems a lot better…..
KMD: In what way?
G: Well it seems more civilised for starters. One thing I have noticed is – I have just come up form London and I feel quite ugly there but here I feel remotely good looking, as there seem to be a lot of ugly men around!
KMD: So, any other interesting gigs you can tell us about?
G: Me and John played a gig in Prague once and you know how you have like single, double, king & queen size duvets? [Yes] Is there actually a size bigger than that?
KMD: Erm not sure, why?
G: John and I had this massive duvet and we figured it must be Sultan size! It sounds correct doesn’t it? Well I suppose it could be Emperor size?
KMD: So what’s in the name?
G: People often pronounce it Dolby ANOL, But its actually more Dolby Anal in pronunciation. This is because we wanted something that could sound like double anol but you could play it on radio. We decided over an msn chat that if we were going to be a dance act the name would have to be a little bit technical and a little bit slutty. Dolby is dolby surround whilst anol is well….I think you can work it out!
G: What did you expect – they used homing pigeons to contact us? (ha-ha) No seriously we played with Tronik Youth for our first gig and they liked it so they came to dot-to-dot and they were like yeah we like you.
KMD: What other remixes do you have in the pipeline?
G: Well we actually doing vocal tracks now, we have just done one with Amandah from Operator Please. When I go to London again this week I’m doing some stuff with the girlie from Chrome Hoof, she looks a little like Patti La Belle. It’s going to be a bit Grace Jonesesque, with over the top lyrics and its quite a melodramatic disco track.
KMD: Any album plans?
G: Well it all depends if the public like us!!
KMD: Other plans?
G: Well as you probably know John drums in the band DANANAKORYD. Well he spends half his time with them and half his time with Dolby so I have decided to start a band so I don’t have to sit here twiddling my thumbs. The band is going to be called Get Pregnant. I’m thinking that the music should be like sassy, cocktail hour – kind of ladies night! I have seven synthesizers so it seems only right I should form another band.
KMD: Do you want to spill any gossip about John while he’s not around?
G: He has like three knees! Seriously he has like an extra knee in his left knee, he can bend it in an almost sort of rectangle!
KMD: After those obscene answers I thought I would leave it at that…!
Farley Jackmaster Funk - Love Cant Turn Around - Dolby Anol Remix
Amidst the fury and the flurry of the blog house world, we are inundated by remixes and original productions, all promising an outstanding response. But rarely do we get the opportunity to talk about whole albums, as the sometimes disposable nature of the blog world is insatiable, leaving only EPs and self-released “singles.”
So ushering in the 2009 year with a top contender for records of the year is DJ/Rupture’s release “Uproot.” Released earlier this month on The Agriculture, DJ/Rupture is a world renown DJ and has been a fixture of the future bass community for as long as he and dub have been alive. Rupture is also known for his weekly radio show on WFMU called “Mudd Up,” his work with The Fader magazine, as well as his label Dutty Artz. The prolific nature of this man’s work is overwhelming and when he’s not flying to Dubai to play last minute gigs he is doing cover stories in South America on the rise of Cumbia.
On his latest effort “Uproot,” Rupture has curated an extremely thought provoking collection of artists and producers from around the world. While you may recognize a few names, (Ghislain Poirier, Matt Shadetek, Maga Bo), the majority of these artists represent a global movement in the synthesis of bass and space. Since dub first came on the scene on the 70’s, dub and ragga have participated significantly in the quiet storm influencing popular music today. The artists featured on “Uproot” are from countries such as Brazil, Australia, the UK, Berlin, Finland, and even Brooklyn!
The Brooklyn ambassadors on “Uproot,” featured below, are Baby Kites and Nokea’s track “Reef,” a teen duo from the BK and the Dutty Artz crew whose precociousness will marvel even Skream. Additionally, you’ll find the video for “Reef,” directed by Panoptic and surprisingly or not, a Youtube fan favorite!
You can pick up “Uproot” at any of your local record stores as well as your world wide web favorites, Itunes, Boom Kat, and Juno.
In six minutes, Italian producer, Michele Balduzzu, aka, Phonat, has a created a eclectic production that pieces together house, hip hop, acid, drum n’ bass, electro, down tempo and a bit of everything in between. His debut track “Learn to Recycle” being released on on London’s Mofo Hifi, is a befitting title, and the task of tapping into so many genres and doing it up right is not an easy task. Phonat is breaking rules, and pushing boundaries, perhaps that’s why this newcomer is being championed and put into rotation by the likes of Annie Mac, Jules, Herve, and Norman Cook, who describes Phonat as a guy who “f**ks with all the rules”.
Keep him on your radar for 2009, as Phonat continues on his journey to redefine electronic music.
Photo by James Mountford, Logo design by Eskimopush
It’s our great pleasure to introduce to the Trash readers the lovely and amazingly talented Hannah Holland from London. Operating as a resident at Trailer Trash first and now at the helm of the infamous Bastard Batty Bass party, Hannah has played Room One at Fabric, has toured all over Europe, and just returned from a tour through Australia.
Featured only one other time here on Trash for her work on V V Brown’s “Crying Blood,” Hannah’s production work is poised to flood your iTunes and club speakers through out 2009. So we thought we would chat with her about it and see what she is feeling right now, what has inspired her, and what exactly Bass means to Hannah Holland. With a record label and a single on its way in November. It’s no doubt that Hannah is one of the most hard working and visionary DJs and producers in the game! Get your All-American welcome wagons ready…Oh, and she did an exclusive mix for us because we’re special. It’s bass, all over your face.
So first off, thank you so much for participating in an interview for Trash Menagerie. It’s been super exciting to watch different readers pop up all over the globe and we’re honored to have a world renown dj/producer to tell everyone what’s up! I know you’re crazy busy and you even just got back from Aussie-land! How was your trip?
Hello! Its my pleasure, Aus was pretty immense. Traveling across to the other side of the world and meeting people who have been to your club and listen to your music , its a real honour. The Aussies have been very supportive and i cant wait to go back.
Now tell those of us who don’t know how long your Bastard Batty Bass party has been running and how long you’ve been in the game?
I’ve been djing in clubs for about 6 years now and started playing with decks about 8 years ago. BBB has been running for two years now, as one off parties, but as a monthly night for 8 months, its a haven for people who r fed up with the same old shit, we like to PARTY and aim to make u shake yourself stupid, to the sickest tunes and almighty vocal dynamics of Mama and MC Chickaboo.
What were some of your earlier influences to inspire you into electronic music?
The first electronic music that i heard were things like On A Ragga Tip by Sl2 and tracks from Shut Up And Dance, rave tunes that had crossed over into the mainstream and were heard by 10 year old ears like mine! Next came jungle when i was 13 and i was just hooked, locked onto pirate radio stations in my area and going to underage raves.
In particular it’s interesting to watch this “genre” Bass and Heavy Bass start to take form. From Trouble & Bass in NYC to the work Starkey and Dev79 are doing with Street Bass in Philadelphia and the Tomb Crew in London and then obviously you, there seems to be this musical obsession with whatever Bass means to each of you. I’ve heard even that Bastard Bass is becoming a somewhat of a genre in your town!Therefore, what does Bass do for you? And why do you think it’s important to emphasize the bass heaviness? What genres does this term cover?
People started referring to my sets as Batty Bass , as the type of music i play is hard to describe as a whole genre, even through it sounds as if its part of the same genre, whether its a house, breaks or dubstep tune, there’s an element in it that i pick out that makes it flow. Obviously the name comes from the night. For me, bass makes the warmth/aggression and the sex appeal of a record, when u hear a great bassline it makes u feel dirty on the dancefloor , as it taps into your soul! If a track makes me screw my face up like ive smelt something bad , ill play it! Bass is the meat of a record for me, but it doesnt have to dominate and be obvious, artists from Martin Landsky and Jamie Jones, who’s bass has roots in detroit techno to Mark Romboy and Oliver Hunnetmann who sounds are electro/tech through to house from Oliver $, Afrojack, Bart B More, Bass Kleph, breaks from peeps like Bassbin twins and Diverted, who’s bass is the dirtiest you ever heard, to some dubstep artists like from Caspa and Woogie, and lil jungle from peeps such as Omni Trio. I guess for me it steams from what i grew up with , its deep inside my soul! At Batty BAss I play a 5 hr set, and go across the spektrum from new york garage, to tech house, to a lil bmore, balie funk, to house , techno , garage, dubstep and jungle and blend it so it flows as its own sound.
Also this brings to mind the influence of UK dance music on American dance music. Most everything I play or hear in the club these days is from across the pond! Now of course Baltimore Club and Chicago House has been crucial in this exchange between the States and the UK, but do you think there is something special in the water over there?
The UK has a huge legacy of dance music and no matter what it will continue, people are so passionate about it. From, grime, to fidget , to dubstep, it all comes out of need to express through the dancefloor and a deep love of raving.
Pic by Alex Noble
I just mentioned some different artists working in this ambiguous “Bass” genre. Who are some artists you’re looking forward to in 2009? Anybody specific to the States? (Canada is obviously doing some big things too).
The artists i am keeping my eyes on are : Solo(UK), who is my studio engineer, he has some BIG tunes coming that will blow you away. From Canada i am loving the huge talent of Woogie, who will be releasing one of his genre crunching tunes on Batty Bass Records next year. I think we have only seen the tip of the iceberg from people like Oliver $ , Duke Dumont , Jamie Jones and Worthy and whatever Dirtybird release!
How about new sound developments? Are you feeling anything up and coming from different parts of the world or even within the UK? I know I see Ragga continuing to play a more and more important role in bass music, especially with Machines Don’t Care and the work Toddla T is doing. Are hoping anything new will catch on soon?
Ragga has ALWAYS been a huge role in bass music. Ragga , dub, reggae is the reason bass music exists, every so often producers go back to using those style of vocals. Dubstep is a genre which i can feel being mutated and forming new styles. the dubstep community are pretty purist, but i think the music’s influence will spark some interesting new ideas, I am always looking to it when im in the studio. In terms of new sounds, im hearing a lot of african and gypsey sounds in new house music, very percussive and moving away from huge bass. We’ve had things like fidget and dubstep break the mould, I feel we are having the quiet before the storm, its bubbling, its coming, something brand new….
What are some of your hopes with Bastard Batty Bass? Trouble & Bass seems to be creating a great relationship with the Nightslugs party. Do you have any similar desires to bring your party to the States in a bigger way?
You people better watch out over there, the BAtty Bass Bitches are coming for you next year. We are planning to tour the soundsystem, myself , Mama and MC Chickaboo, we will burn any house down with our furious show!
What projects can we look forward to from you in 2009?
We are just getting Batty Bass Records off the ground, so watch out for the infiltration of batty next year! 2008 is the first year i have had tunes released, so expect a whole lot more productions.
Do you have any greater production aspirations? Your work with Mama Shamone has been really interesting and great. I know I’d love to see the return of the diva in the club scene.
Thanks, i hope to do an album with her sometime in the future, as far as diva’s go, she’s the bastard love child of Ol Dirty Bastard and Grace Jones! I will be working on more solo stuff like my release on Playtime, which have a deeper techier edge for late night skankin.
Lastly, do you have any wise words for those of us out there starting parties in our cities, pushing labels, production or a new sound?
Work you ass off!!!! This game aint for slackers, you got to push all the time but in the right way, dont overload people with stuff. You have to make your art stand out from the rest, whether its a party, label, tune or sound, make it yours , unique and true to your heart, then people will feel its the real deal.
And out of curiosity, how do you perceive the battyness of our current political climate!? And do you have couches prepared for your American friends when John McCain dies from a plastic surgery misshap and Sarah Palin becomes President of the United States?
We are all praying for you, brothers and sisters ;) x
Hannah Holland forthcoming releases “Shake It UP” ft. Mama (Batty Bass Records) out Novemeber. “Banshee” (PLaytime Records) out November. “Crying Blood” - V V Brown Hannah Holland remix out now.
1. Kaskazi - Jamie Jones and Simon Baker
2. Easy Legs - Oliver $ rmx
3. The Big Stef - Solo
4. Shake It Up (The Reshake) - Hannah Holland
5. Punks - Juju
6. Depth Charge - Woogie
7. Diesel Not Petrol - Sukh knight
