Ever since Trash’s KMD introduced us to the exceptional sounds of Birmingham’s Deluka, they’ve been on a hot streak and we’ve been HOOKED! Chances are you may have heard their tune ‘Sleep Is Impossible’ played in your living room over your last round of Grand Theft Auto IV. Beyond car chases, their album ‘Broken Sleeping Patterns’, released mid March on Japanese imprint, Fabtone, features a fine remix of “Flashbacks” by Hooker and De Freitas.

Where were you in 92? It was the year Michael Hooker of Hooker and De Freitas began his music obsession. “Music excites me and has since the first mix tape I was handed in 1992. The rave scene was in full swing and I was far too young to party, but the vibes from this tape was the start of my obsession.” And with that obsession, long time friends Michael Hooker and Elcias De Freitas, also producing under the name JE2, got to work combining their different styles to remix music by Deluka, Trash Money, Atelier Nouveau, Client, and numerous tracks by the gleeful Birmingham band Trash Fashion.

“I love the music scene at the moment,” says Michael, “I do not think that so many different groups of people have crossed into different genres ever.” Working with a plethora of styles is exactly what JE2 and Hooker and De Freitas like to do – mixing electro, breakbeat, house, classic party anthems, and more. Currently the Birmingham-based duo are working on their debut solo material and have completed the follow up to their recent track ‘Start The Beat’, with remixes by Jonze, Uncle Buck, The Hats and C.O.C. The newest track features guest vocals from Jet Storm of Trash Fashion. They’ll be out for digital download, September, on Italian label The Family Records. Meantime, Hooker and De Freitas plan to complete a few bootleg projects for free download and get to work on some old disco and funk tracks. Keep an ear out!

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Deluka – Flashbacks (Hooker and De Freitas Remix)

Deluka – Broken Sleeping Patterns – Featuring the Hooker & De Freitas remix of Flashback
Available on Japanese import only (cd)
Zavvi.co.uk
101cd.com

Start The Beat available on Beatport

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Yes ladies and gentleman, KMD is a very happy girlie as the delicious duo that is The Presets are heading over to play some spellbinding shows in the UK!

So now after dancing my butt off to their fabulous new album ‘Apocalypso’ I’m very excited that I will actually get to sample these new juicy tracks live.

If you are based in the UK get your tickets now here. Just in case you aren’t sure where they are playing look at the lovely list I put together below:

Tue 1 Jul – Thekla, Bristol
Wed 2 Jul – The 444 Club, The Rainbow, Birmingham
Thu 3 Jul – Scala, London

If you’re off to the Birmingham gig, trashmenagerie fave Deluka are also supporting – see you there.

Oh and if your lucky enough to live in London you can watch the guys in action at an exclusive and very FREE instore at Rough Trade East on Friday July 4, kicking off at 7pm. Very limited tickets are available and can be obtained by dropping by the store to pick one up anytime from now until 10 am next Friday, on a first come first served basis.

Oh if that’s not enough check out this awesome track from ‘Apocalypso‘ – ‘This Boy’s In Love‘. Now go – get the album, rush to the instore and dance dance dance.

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The Presets – This Boy’s In Love

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Ok Ladies and Gentleman it is official – Bigger Than Barry are on their way to conquering the world! After the success of their recent club nights based in little old Birmingham UK it seems they are now taking the Barry massive to Leeds and Nottingham, oh plus they have a range of filthy things planned for this summer.

I feel that now it is a great time to get a lowdown on Bigger Than Barry and find out who the hell is behind this Barry madness and also which deletable tunes are rockin’ their boats currently.

So here is an interview….

KMD: So tell us the Barry story…how did you guys get it together?

BTB: Barry started in Dec 06 at the Ben Johnson by Bob, Mac & Sam. Originally it was just a free party to get everyone in the mood for christmas for all our friends and friends of friends. We wanted to make it a bit of fun and Barry Austin in the news at the time for being the fattest man in Britain, so we thought lets throw a party that’s Bigger Than Barry… we all pissed ourselves so we thought it was a good idea.

Anyway that party was a mad success & the mix of music we played was well received, so we thought we would do another one in February. We started to charge £2 to cover the dj’s we were playing and it turned out a bigger success than the one before. A real nice buzz developed, so we really started to get into it and signed up Scott’e Bleepz to the team (Birmingham’s renowned electro DJ).

Scott fitted into the gang instantly and we started to throw monthly parties, which just got massive! Our best so far was at the Ben Johnston (Pikey Rave Mark 1) – it was the first time we threw a proper themed party and it was mental! Everyone got involved the vibe inside was pumping, we had big problems with capacity though we were packed twice over, at that point we decided to move things to The Rainbow because it was bigger. Our biggest gig to date was our 1st birthday party at the warehouse in Dec with 900+ people, it was crazy, we had live art in the second room from Trav and his crew in the main room, the place was jumping.

Our biggest this year was held at subway (800+) and we put on Dexplicit, Food Soundsystem, Tombcrew.

KMD: What is the ‘Barry’ philosphy?

BTB: Party raves and fun. The whole name is tongue in cheek and with our themes we try to get people to relax and go with the flow. Everyone loves a theme

KMD: Whose in the Barry massive?

BTB: The Barry massive is everyone involved with Barry, big props to Lucy Yeah, Tombcrew, Vinyl Is, Tapedeck, Desh 1, Trav and everyone else who has spread the word. A lot of people have helped us and that kinda of thing is never forgotten. ‘Barry massive’ is basically everyone involved and comes to the night

KMD: What do you think makes your nights so popular?

BTB: We reckon because its all fun and we put on some badboy dj’s and keep the kids dancing. Our crowd is diverse & it’s always a good vibe

KMD: What tunes currently float your boat?
Macca : Lady in red
Scott: Hideaway – Mystery Jets (Switch mix)
Sam: Zomby – spliff dub
Bob: South Rakkas crew poison dart

KMD: Any plans for barry merch?

BTB: Yeah people keep sending us amazing designs, so we are gonna hopefully put out some t shirts, well when Sam can be arsed.

KMD: Your based in Birmingham England – so what would you recommend a girl or guy to do when visiting? Any places to check out or local bands?

BTB: Birmingham is definitely worth a visit: there’s some good shops like Candystore & ATOO for the fellas, and all the chicas seem to be hittin the big yellow vintage shop, Macca got some real tight Addidas shorts there the other day! As far as music, there’s definitely a buzz in Brum right now; The Scarlet Harlots have got a big sound, as have bands like Mirror Mirror, Johnny Foreigner and Mayday. The live scene is perhaps in need of a little love however. There are too many older people running venues who don’t really care, and the venues are a bit boring, well besides The Rainbow

KMD: What does the future hold for ‘Bigger Than Barry’

BTB: Big tings! Now that we’ve been promoting the night for well over a year & have built up our contacts, we feel its time to step things up for our Baz. We intend to put on bigger & bigger acts each time & seek out new & unusual venues. We believe in moving Barry around location wise to keep it as fresh as possible. We’re (more…)

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Well, looky what we’ve got here. Birmingham bass prodigy, Raffertie, has come back to us this time with a fistfull of bottom heavy, wobblers. We’ve written about this kid a couple of times now (here, here and here) and he seems to be be getting better each time. “Stompin Ground” is my personal favorite with it’s subdued throbbing bassline, but “Boy Better Know” is great too with a straight-forward, bouncing, heavy bass sound.

“Boy Better Know” and “Do That” are due for release at the end of July on ‘On The Brink Recordings‘, home to artists such as Hijack, Detboi, Affie Yusuf, Full Phat, The Bulgarian, Dj Mayhem and Crookers. Keep an ear out for Raffertie’s upcoming remix of AC Slater’s “Party Like Us (Raffertie’s Ladies Remix)“.

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Raffertie – Stompin Ground

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Raffertie – Boy Better Know

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Ok so I have news that has actually caused me to salivate profusely! Yes hipsters it’s true this news caused enough drool to rival Homer Simpson’s when he sees a doughnut!

What’s the news I hear you cry?

Well, Trash Fave – Glamour Soundsystem & partner in crime Lillica Libertine combined their excessive bundle of talents to create Stylenoir – an exciting media company set to blow your newest and most fabulous Marc Jacobs bag straight off your dainty arm with excitement!

Seriously, after witnessing a drunk Kelly Osbourne attempt to present the Birmingham Style Show last weekend the news that Stylenoir are publishing a bi-annual book entitled ‘The Black Book of Art and Fashion’ was welcomed as a well timed vodka shot to put me out my fashion misery. The book will primarily showcase the works of up-coming fashion designers, photographers and artists, but beware it will only be stocked in London, Paris, Milan and New York City – exclusive or what?

This fabulous book will be jam packed with plenty of fashion-based delights from designers such as Charles of London, Ioannis Dimitrousis, and Pavla Kopecna (Vogue Italy, Dazed & Confused, Tank magazine) as well as many of the usual desirable suspects.

A Stylenoir website will be launched to provide fashionistas with a new portal to keep them up-to-date with fashion news across the spectrum from the alternative fashion all the way up to Karl Lagerfeld’s latest move.

Last but definitely not least, there will be a dazzling launch party for Stylenoir on 11th of May at London hipster venue – Hoxton bar. This sophisticated shindig will be hosted by Matt Horne (who hosted the NME awards), and will also host performances from Tapedeck and one of my personal favourites – The Real Heat, oh and don’t forget a catwalk show from Charles of London!

So there you have it – check out Stylenoir online, buy the book and blag your way into the party – just don’t forget to arrive fashionably late!

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It’s hard to believe that it has been 3 whole years since fidget house was bestowed upon us and “This is Sick” by Solid Groove aka Switch aka Dave Taylor (all the same guy), first came out. When I first heard this track, it was an immediate uproar inside my head. With an infectious bassline, lots of cut outs, ghost like samples, and the vocal sample “This is Sick” taken from Janet Jackson’s “All Nite (Don’t Stop)”, this track was destined for serious anthem status.

Fast forward, 2008, “This is Sick” is still working it out on the dancefloor, tweaked and twisted by some speed (no, not the drug) loving Dj’s such as Sweden’s Yeah! Woho! and Birmingham’s Raffertie. We’ve mentioned this bassline commander on 2 occasions, At the Speed of Rafferie, Raffertie’s NLLR Mix and this is definitely not the last mention!! (If you’ve missed either, go to them now for Raffertie’s mixes and remixes!) He’s sped up Yeah! Woho!’s remix of “This is Sick”, dropped a Sarah Saville vocal in and chopped it up. Love the speed.

Within the past few months Raffertie has played alongside the likes of Dexplicit, Pirate Soundsystem, Tomb Crew, (heavyyyyy bassss) OneMan and Cadgedbaby. And as of recent, became a resident of London based night, Hold Tight, the next of which will be held on the 26th of April ‘08. (check the lineup above) He has also just completed a promotional mix for local Birmingham promoters Bigger Than Barry. So basically, big things are happening for Benjamin aka Raffertie!! Oh and huge thanks for the special re-edit Ben! x

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Solid Groove – This Is Sick (Yeah! Woho! Remix) (Raffertie’s Wideboy Edit)

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