Houston, we have a problem

I believe I’m dealing with a surreal situation this very moment. Before I begin describing, I’d like to state that there may be months, MONTHS till we get a decent event around here, as we're surrounded by all the mainstream bullshit going on all the time.

I’ve heard Gramatik was coming to Athens about two months ago and I’ve been preparing myself ever since, that I’ll be attending an indoors event most likely to give us the chills after a long time – I’m an old bitch, these things need preparation.

Now that we’ve entered the final countdown to Sunday 27 October 2013, I see a post from a friend on facebook that Tiger&Woods are on their way here too. So I’m thinking “Wow. Something’s wrong”. Wanna know the wrong part? They’re all on October 27.

Good one.

Gramatik's latest tune (with a free download)



Tiger&Woods's latest tune 



On the same day? Really?

tracks' info:
-Gramatik - Obviously
The age of reason
Lowtemp 2013

-Tiger&Woods - Golden bear
Golden Bear EP
Editainment 2013

It all ends well

A couple of days ago, Editors Kutz released the second volume of disco edits and reworks VA- Editors Kutz Vol.2 in which you'll find hot versions of mostly disco classics from the point of view of Fingerman, Late Night Tuff Guy, Get Down Edits and other loved ones - you will understand how the index finger can become possessed and find its way to the play button on its own as soon as you check out the producers involved.

As I was having my regular buzz with what reached my ears, BOOM! Awe-inspiring sample that was on the tip of my tongue, but I knew I couldn't possibly remember and put together in words at that moment - second most annoying thing after being hungry and having only water and beer on the fridge. I'm referring to the Ed Wizard & Disco Double Dee - Love ya track, which almost gave me a heart attack that day.

Thank god - or my memory for that matter - the damn sample was singled out of my long-term memory info as soon as I stopped tryin' to remember. And as I was driving, it all came to me. Hot Bush. Hot Bush goddamnit!

                                       

*if you're sure you've seen/heard this a couple of months ago, it might be from the Killer boogie post.

track's info:
-Hot Bush - L.O.V.E.F.U.S.E
Hot Bush
APA Records 1980

LP's info: 
-VA-Editors Kutz Vol.2.
Editors Kutz 2013 

Two sides of a late train

Paul Murphy is in London. Quinn Luke is in New York. Along with Alex Searle, Patrick Dawes and Patrick Wood they've formed Paqua, a trans-Atlantic meeting of musicians, which I accidentally came across the other day as I was browsing through sounds. After repeating their last 12'' release ("Late train") a considerable amount of times that could easily send me to the doctor's office, I gave myself a pat in the back for the discovery, took a note so that I wouldn't neglect sharing it and here it is.



The groovy side of the train.



And the mellow side of it - I must say I loved this one teeny-tiny bit more.

As I was doing my regular search on the group, I found myself smiling after reading on the label's soundcloud page: "Claremont 56 is an independent label dedicated to releasing beautiful music". Simple as that.

tracks' info: 
-Paqua - Late train
Late train
Claremont 56 2013

-Paqua - We are what we are
Late train
Claremont 56 2013

Funked up tune

Sax delirium, colorful trombone, funky rhythm, soothin' vocals and last but not least joy, joy, joy.

This track is on fire. How couldn't it be when a band called Pleasure presents a music piece called Joyous (and the producer is Wayne Henderson). It counts 36 years of life (released back in 1977), but can still fit perfectly on a Friday mood in a messed up year like 2013. And can still bring you joy, can't it?

*I believe you'll feel the same way about Kon's remix from Gold Finger (sublabel of Basic Fingers). You ain't gonna get away that easily today. You have to make everything joyous. It's an order.

tracks' info:
-Pleasure - Joyous
Joyous
Fantasy 1977

-Treasure - Joyous (Kon re-mix)
Gold Finger 2013

Repeat after Mr.Z

As you get older (and wiser hopefully), you know how rare it gets to listen to decent music that you love out there, from djs that not only know what they’re doing, but also don’t just select all the hits for the chicks to sway and try to maybe teach something to the audience, pass on a sound that is worth passing on to others and share what’s in their heart in the form of notes and melodies. Since I’m well aware of the fact that a monkey who can cook is less unusual than a dj’s selections that can spin your head wondering “what just happened?”, I couldn’t but appreciate the first time I listened to Mr.Z's sounds somewhere in Athens not so long ago (no, this ain’t a “once upon a time story”).

After diggin’ a little bit about him, it didn’t take me long to find out that he’s a vinyl lover, a rare-tunes collector, a web-radio broadcaster, a committed music blogger, a well-educated dj and recently a producer, since his new album has just been released from B-Otherside records. To cut a long story short, Mr. Z isn’ t just another dj who digs faders and raises his hands above the crowd as if he’s going to bless the "humble" beneath him. He’s revolved his whole life around music in a plain and pure way. And this calls for a warm-hearted applause. Clap-clap Mr.Z.

I'll help you get to know him.

New album in town: “Epanalipsi” (Repetition). Spread the news and tell us about it, how did you put it together, what you love about it, what would you like others to love...
Mr.Z: As far as the emotional part of the album is concerned, it is the result of the need I had to let it all out, good and bad stuff that I kept inside and made me tremble through the past year. On the practical side, this album was already complete as a concept, since all 16 tracks constitute a strong-funny-wild-crazy and melancholic story with a beginning and an end. “Epanalipsi” was created between Athens and Lefkada, including sounds that have to do with these two places. I guess what I love about it is the honesty of the things it deals with as well as the honesty of the things that created it. Well, you‘ll be the judge in the end.

How would you characterize its sound?
Mr.Z: I don’t think you can categorize it. My love for several music genres with the same sense made me "complicate" the final result. So you’ll be able to listen to music with a taste of ‘60s and ‘70s cinema, bossa nova, spoken word, beats with lotta reverb, '70s groove, atmospheric pop and lots of playful stuff.

A music discovery (album, track or artist) that made you give yourself a thumbs up for finding it.
Mr.Z: I’ve got lots of them, but I’ll tell you about the first one that comes to my mind. It’s the greek 45rpm Christos and Nasia – “Proti fora” (“First time”). An awesome and unique piece of the erotic/cinematic genre, almost a sexadelica greek track. Music for the sunset along with prose. Totally unknown and beautiful!

Do you share every nice tune that comes in your way or do you keep some for you and your loved ones?
Mr.Z: I share everything. One by one.

Lamest line you‘ve ever heard while djing.
Mr.Z: “Can you play something more… danceable?”

Favorite fresh producer.
Mr.Z: Ta – ku.

The tune that sends your finger to the repeat button these days.
Mr.Z: “Detroit part 1'' by Shigeto.

*Check out Mr.Z's brand new release here and here, take a look at his blog here and catch his tunes every Monday (18:00-20:00 GMT +2) at paranoise webradio. Oh, and wish him luck with his new exciting stuff.

info:
Mr.Z - Epanalipsi
B-Otherside Records 2013

To the Sisters

photo by Matteo Scordino

Doesn't it sometimes feel like there are some favorite tracks so awesome that nothing bad can come out of them, no matter how many years after their original release one decides to edit, remix or do whatever to them? And what's even more amazing is that there are top-notch groups that you seriously can't lose if you try to mess with their tracks. One of these groups is the beloved Sister Sledge. Sadly, the edit that caused me to dig up the Sisters' legacy once again recently is no longer available on soundcloud (it was a french house take on "Reach your peak"), but it gave me a chance to realize that these sisters (Debbie Sledge 1954, Joni Sledge 1956, Kim Sledge 1957 and Kathy Sledge 1958 -man their parents were on fire) along with Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards, Narada Michael Walden and their other associates left absolute gems to the music history and these gems gave birth to other, contemporary gems and the deal is still on and will probably go on forever.

Below you 'll find some of these smashing tunes and their offsprings. The list is long, so I'll deal with the loved ones. But the list is still long.

-Reach your peak gave birth to Gredits - Sister peak. And I still can't get over both of them.
-You fooled around was sampled in Le Knight Club - Boogie Shell. If you were into disco-house towards the end of the '90s, you 're probably cryin' right now. There-there.
-Pretty baby is still a Pretty baby. If you 're pretty, you 're pretty.
-Lost in music was reworked by Disco Tech who gave us this. You can still get lost, can't you?
-He's the greatest dancer in tune with Disco dancin'. Are you crying again?
-Il Macquillage lady proved to be quite Aerodynamic.
-Thinking of you gave Eclipse the inspiration for "Makes me love you". Pure and sweet.
-All American girls and All American Disco. Spot the similarities.
-One more time has nothing to do with Daft Punk. It's the source of inspiration for "My feeling".

I may be missing something here, but I'm sure you got the picture. And you 're smiling right now.

tracks' info: 

Sister Sledge	Others
-Reach your peak  Love somebody today Cotillion 198	-Gredits - Sister Peak Basic Fingers 2012
-You fooled around Love somebody today Cotillion 1980	-Le Knight Club - Boogie Shell Crydamoure 1999
-Pretty baby Love somebody today Cotillion 1980   -Lost in music We are family Cotillion 1979 -He's the greatest dancer We are family Cotillion 1979 -Il Macquillage lady The Sisters Cotillion 1982 -Thinking of you We are family Cotillion 1979 -All American Girls All American Girls Cotillion 1981 -One more time  We are family Cotillion 1979	-Pretty baby (Parish Unreleased edit) 2011    -Lost in muzik (Disco Tech) DT Edits Volume 1 DiscoDat Records 2013  -Smokin' beats - Disco dancin'  Legato Records 1996 -Daft Punk - Aerodynamic Discovery Virgin 2001  -Eclipse - Makes me love you Azuli 1999 -Jem Atkins - All American disco Havana Records 1998 -Junior Jack - My feeling Play it again Sam 1999

Summer break

Not much to tell here. Gredits, Basic Fingers, house, summer groove, disco feeling, makes you wanna picture yourself with your bathing suit, having a permanent salty taste on your lips, somewhere where the ocean is ahead of you and the sense of autumn is held captive and inactive in your brain.

Good thing it's a summer day today. Off we go.

track's info:
Gredit - SMG
Basic Fingers  2011