Mid-Week Report On The State Of The Mid-Week

Seth Troxler played a stunning 2 1/2 hour set on Saturday. As one of the many live DJ sets I have heard lately, it was easily one the best, eclipsing all expectations. As a tip of the hat, here are a couple of his best tracks from 2009 and also a just released Martinez remix for his and Matthew Dear's collaboration "Hurt."
Fever Ray - Seven (Seth Troxler Remix)
Tiefschwarz ft. Seth Troxler - Trust
Mathew Dear & Seth Troxler - Hurt (Martinez Dark Soul Remix)
myspace.com/sethtroxler
myspace.com/matthewdear
myspace.com/tiefschwarz
myspace.com/feverray

Excellent recently released EP from Martinez. There are absolutely no weakspots on this 3 track gem. The release was so solid, there was no way that only 1 track could be posted. Moving, percussion driven house at its finest. Gotta' love the swirling filters on disco-esque extend mix of "Gourmet."
Martinez - Cheesecake
Martinez - Gourmet (Extended 12 Mix)
myspace.com/martinezthedj

Speaking of Seth Troxler, here is another great track, also on the same release as the one which has Martinez's remix of "Hurt" posted above, from his Michigan affiliate Lee Curtiss. Like stipped down percussion, a trippy spaced-out vocal sample and some well placed handclaps? If so, here is a winner. A very solid track indeed.
Lee Curtiss - Life Lessons (Original Mix)
myspace.com/leecurtiss2

Excellent new single from Jay Haze alter ego Fuckpony. Sounds like a sure fire anthem. Expect a stellar remix suite coming soon.
Fuckpony - Fall Into Me (Original Mix)
myspace.com/fuckpony

Not to be confused with Wolfgang Voigt's alias, Gas is a young Italian producer. Although the original is solid, Fabrizio Maurizi's remix is a much improved groovy minimal techno reconstruction of the original. Although the bassline is very simple, it somehow manages to achieve quite an extrodinary level of funkiness. Another example of doing more with less. Can't recommend this one enough for the minimal heads out there..
Gas - Don't Stop (Fabrizio Maurizi Remix)
myspace.com/gasdj
myspace.com/rogerdj

Scrolling down Pascal F.E.O.S.'s absurdly long Discogs page makes you feel like you are flipping through a dictionary. The just released "Terra Bong" LP is incredible start to finish. Unhinged from electronic music production conventions in stylistic unity across an album, it is essentially a collection of singles ranging from minimal techno to progressive house and trance. The album is clearly a labor of love and is superb showcase of his omnivorous approach to dance music.
Pascal F.E.O.S. - Beat Goes On (Original Mix)
Pascal F.E.O.S. - Deja Vu (Original Mix)
Pascal F.E.O.S. - Makina (Original Mix)
myspace.com/pascalfeos

Don't work on Friday? Live in or around San Francisco? You should probably check this out...

Yes, Please...

Too good to be true - free before 11PM.

myspace.com/justdixon
myspace.com/sethtroxler

Avant Audio Mix 1.7 & 1.8

Finally got to ripping some new mixes to MP3. As usual, the mixes were done using Serato on two Technics MK3s and an Allen & Heath Xone 92. Unlike many DJs who rigidly stick to a preplanned playlist, Avant Audio's mixes are all about spontaneous track selection (no Ableton business here). If your an astute follower of Avant Audio, you'll probably notice that a handful of these tracks have been posted in previous posts.

Mix 1.7 heats up pretty quickly (check out Tanzmann's epic tribal groove "Chano") and by the second half of the mix is well prepared to drop some of the biggest tracks of the moment. Both the Dubfire rework of Richie Hawtin's classic Plastikman techno track "Spastik" and Loco and Jam's remix of Umek's "Destructible Environment" are huge tracks.

Mix 1.8 starts deep with D'Julz's (no coincidence that a D'Julz track was selected) 2008 release Fleurette but quickly moves into the territory of funky uptempo house (both "Move!" and "La Cocina Del Cabron" were straight from the new Carl Cox Black Rock Desert GU 38) and then later progressive house - check out Gui Boratto's remix of Solee's massive "Impressed." The mix closes out in the nether worlds of techno's belly with Steve Bug's now mega-classic "Loverboy."

01/31/10 - Avant Audio Mix 1.7
Milton Jackson - Breathe (Pezzner Remix)
Matthias Tanzmann - Chano
Marc Romboy - Talking All That Jazz (Original Mix)
Zoo Brazil - You Can Have It All ft. Leah (Butch Remix)
Plastikman - Spastik (Dubfire Rework)
Umek - Destructible Environment (Loco & Jam Remix)

02/03/10 - Avant Audio Mix 1.8
D'Julz - Fleurette (Original Mix)
Andre Winter - Dogma (Pan-Pot Remix)
Trevor Rockliffe - Move!
Paul Ritch - Last Night
Lee Van Dowski & Glimpse - La Cocina Del Cabron
Prosumer & Murat Tepeli - The Jam
M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade - Donut (Original Mix)
Solee - Impressed (Gui Boratto Remix)
Steve Bug - Loverboy

February Mega-Post

Overall, the You Can Have It All EP was mediocre (too generically trancey). Despite this, the silver lining is that it contains a Butch mix. The remix is basically a very done dub. Highly recommended.
Zoo Brazil - You Can Have It All ft. Leah (Butch Remix)
myspace.com/zoobrazil
myspace.com/cometobutch

Super dark techno. Essentially, it is just a winding bassline along with some texture. The simplicity is what makes the track so great.
Ascion - Black Clock
myspace.com/ascion

Another superb dark minimal techno track. This guy is coming up on the heels of his great RA mix this past year. Fans of minimal, this is for you.
Peter Van Hoesen - Face Of Smoke (Casual Reconstruction)
myspace.com/petervanhoesen

A pure energy builder. This track is very effective at pushing the energy up without overdoing it. This is a warm-up DJs dream last track.
Marc Romboy - Talking All That Jazz
myspace.com/marcromboy

Yet another Tejada track, this time with the like of Justin Maxwell. The sound is distinctive and the production is phenomenal. Anyone who likes Detroit techno, don't miss out.
John Tejada & Justin Maxwell - Patch Adams
myspace.com/johntejadasounds
myspace.com/justinkmaxwell

Ben Klock 'dub technos' the living daylight out of Martyn's "Is This Insanity." The mix works really well with the acapella turning it into an instant dance floor killer.
Martyn - Is This Insanity (Ben Klock Mix)
myspace.com/martyndnb
myspace.com/benklock

This seems to be Amon Tobin's take on dubstep. As one would expect, it is quite an interpretation. Unconventional to the extreme but a tremendous track. This guy doesn't slack on anything. The new album should be amazing...
Amon Tobin - Hey Mr. Tree
myspace.com/tobinamon

The super anticipated Donut EP has arrived. The remix suite also contains great remixes from Gui Boratto and Boy 8 Bit. It definitely isn't a "Body Language," but it's certainly is better than "O Superman." This is going to be on many compilations this Spring without a doubt.
M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade - Donut
myspace.com/getmandy

myspace.com/getbookashade

Nice new release from Cari Lekebusch. "Bloodlines" is also a great track. The Bloodlines EP also comes with a solid Joel Mull remix of "For Whom They Toll" if your down with a more progressive sound.

Cari Lekebusch - For Whom They Toll
myspace.com/carilekebusch

Rekids keeping it fresh. Kirkbride's Dungeon EP is an excellent release from Chicago based newcomers Aberrant. Definitely not your typical Chicago sound.
Aberrant - Heatbeams
myspace.com/aberrantdarkness

"No Small Talk" is a progressive gem. Simple key stabs, a groovy bassline and a huge break.
Daniel Leseman - No Small Talk
www.3coloursmusic.com/3coloursmusic/index.html

Starting 2010 Off Again,

Startin' 2010 off a little slow. Vacation messes up any rotation you've been able to get in, ya' know? Lets try it again. Here are 7 of the best and newest of 2010 plus one from late 2009. Got a couple familar faces, but mostly new names. Enjoy.

Excellent new minimal 5 track release to kick off the new year from Exercise One. The Several Things At Once EP has no weak spots.
Exercise One - Several Things At Once
Exercise One - Colony
myspace.com/exerciseone1

Before this release, Roland M. Dill was an unknown. Big hard-edged techno track. Love the heavy bassline and big break.
Roland M. Dill - Low Go --- Link is now fixed--- MORE UP TOMORROW 02/03/10!!!
myspace.com/rdill

This song is really catchy. Listen to it one or two times, how could the hook not get stuck in head? Awesome acid revival track.
Riva Starr - Dance Me ft. Trim
myspace.co/rivastarr


This track is unmistakeably Gui Boratto. The guitar sounds absolutely amazing. Essential for any Boratto fans out there.
Gui Boratto - Telecaster
myspace.com/guiboratto

Interesting vocal sample. Way better than the other mixes out there of this. Great acapella and use of the Sax.
MiniCoolBoyz - Poison In Our Blood (Seismal D. Saxtrom Remix)
myspace.com/minicoolboyz
myspace.com/seismal

Excellent Master-H remix. Adds a more organic feel to the previously very synthy track.
Chymera - The Rumours Of My Demise (Master-H Remix)
myspace.com/chymeramusic
myspace.com/masterhunit

Yeh, so this is from 2009. Didn't get to check it out until recently. Although it isn't exactly the most original track (pretty sure Paul Ritch has done tracks pretty close to this before), it is still really big.
Paul Ritch - Evil Laff
myspace.com/paulritch

2009's Best

2009's trends were dominated by dubby techno, revivalist house, and of course dubstep and its more experimental offshoots. Here are six tracks which are pretty representative of the year and illustrate some its more dominant trends.

Burial & Four Tet - Moth
myspace.com/burialuk
myspace.com/fourtetkieranhebden

DJ Koze - Mrs. Bojangels
myspace.com/djkozekaadolfnoise

Darkstar - Aidy's Girl Is a Computer
myspace.com/darkstar001

Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo
myspace.com/joyorbison

Radio Slave - The DJ ( Radio Slave Remix)
myspace.com/djhell
myspace.com/rekid

Four Tet - Love Cry
myspace.com/fourtetkieranhebden

Raresh claims Avant Audio's choice for 09's best DJ. Although there are dozens of qualified DJs who probably equally deserve this title, Raresh differentiated himself from his peers through his superior knowledge of old school house and techno. Like most good DJs, he is familiar with the big 'now' records but, what differentiates him is that he also has an excellent grasp of the classic tracks and excels by mixing both contemporary cuts and the best of past. Aside from one production credit, he is a pure DJ. This is very rare considering production now seems to be a prerequisite to success as a DJ. This says quite a bit about his DJ credentials. His #15 on the RA Top DJs of 2009 poll is well deserved. Check out some of his mixes at UMP3, he won't disappoint.

Another best of 2009 is San Francisco based DJ and promoter DJ Rooz. He has helped put on some of the best nights in the City for the past couple years. If you live in SF, do not sleep on Rooz's website. Get on his mailing list to be informed of parties he is playing at / promoting. He'll usually be able to throw you and your friends on a guest list for these events which can either get you in for free or way under what you normally would pay at the door. Also, check out his mixes on his site, they are solid!

Final Post of 2009

This track pretty much sums up the sound of the year. Minimal is officially out, driving upbeat house is in. Instead of the bleeps, static and glitch, we have big piano stabs, driving percussion and heavy basslines. A solid year for both Pablo Bolivar and Tigerskin and a quality track to close the year out on.
Pablo Bolivar - Magnum (Tigerskin Remix)
myspace.com/pablobolivar
myspace.com/dubtaylortigerskinkorsakow

In the spirit of the housier side of things, this is as straight 'clubby' as Avant Audio gets. Nevertheless, no hate, this track is addictively catchy and would probably do the trick on most dancefloors. The original album version is also quite well done and is also highly recomended. Analog People are also responsible for the chart topper "Rose Rouge," an acclaimed Pete Tong favorite. Definitely an upandcommer.
Analog People In A Digital World - Circus (Club Mix)
myspace.com/analogpeopleinadigitalworld

Of all the remixes out there, Landsky's version takes the cake. The originial "Confronted" was a great track but Landsky's version may actually top it. A dubbier, techier, monster of the original track; you can't go wrong with this one.
Pan-Pot - Confronted (Martin Landsky Remix)
myspace.com/panpot
myspace.com/mlandsky

So here is proof that minimal is still alive and well despite it recieving less mainstream underground love. Albeit a little techier then 'pure' minimal, this would have fit right in a few years ago.
Maetrik - Show Me
myspace.com/maetrikmusic

Remember these guys? This came out a few months ago but for some reason never got up here. The whole "Clown EP" is solid but this was the standout. The release really reminds me of something that would have been released on Dirty Bird or Mothership. "Not a Joke" is tech-house to the fullest but at the same time maintains a dark edge which gives the track its dynamism. It neither is just a techy drum loop or just a tripped-out techno ambiance, it's, well, a combination of the two. Highly recommended.
Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner - Not A Joke
myspace.com/heinrichsandhirtenfellner

Gorgeous progressive techy house track. Not surprisingly, "Luigi's Magic Mushroom" is on Global Underground. A mix of the track was featured in 2009's Summer Collection. If not for anything else, download this track out of curiosity. Don't you want to know what Luigi's famed magic mushroom sounds like? My only question is if Luigi's mushroom sounds like this, what does Mario's sound like? Perhaps a set-up for a follow up EP. Clever...
Eelke Kleijn & Nick Hogendoorn - Luigi's Magic Mushroom (Original Mix)
myspace.com/eelkekleijn
myspace.com/nickhogendoorn

If you still have a spot for progressive trance in your heart, don't miss out on this one. It would be tough to pretend there weren't a bunch of other proggy trance tracks that sound like this. Nevertheless, I haven't heard one in a while that sounds this good. The production reminds slightly of the Paul Kalkbrenner. Can't put my finger on why... My best guess is that "One More Dance, Jules" effectively captures the sensation of sound interacting within a space. If you listen to this in headphones, you will notice that it convincingly sounds as if it is coming from a large reverby room. Schories certainly isn't the only producer who can capture this effect, nevertheless the application of this technique sounds fantastic.
Oliver Schories - One More Dance, Jules
myspace.com/oliverschories

Time Moves Too Quickly

Phenomenal new Orb album - The Baghdad Batteries (Orbsessions Volume III). On their third i the Orbsessions series, Paterson & Fehlmann put together a brilliant dubby soundscape. The Milk Factory sums up the album quite nicely -

"Named after a 2000 years old jar found by German archaeologist Wilhelm Konig in a small village near Baghdad in 1938, thought to be the oldest form of electric battery known, Baghdad Batteries also serves as the soundtrack to Werner Boote’s recent documentary Plastic Planet. The Orb’s naturally evocative and often cinematic universe is rendered particularly well here, especially since, unlike some of the band’s more recent work, Baghdad Batteries is entirely instrumental. This leaves space for the music to fill, and allows for finely detailed tone relief, giving some of these tracks impressive depth. This is particularly the case on the title track and later on the short Pebbles, while Raven’s Reprise, a track dedicated to Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven, who died two years ago, Suburban Smog or OOPA appear more ambitious and epic, their respective course taking a number of unexpected turns along the way."

Highly recommended...
The Orb - Oopa
The Orb - Raven's Reprise
The Orb - Suburban Smog
myspace.com/orbisms

Tejada is on top. His work flow is pretty ridiculous. Apparently he has already released PAL059 (Palette Recordings) with Arian Leviste. On top of that, in the last he has released Fabric 44, a retrospective of older works and a slew of great EPs (RA's reviews of these to albums are very underrated). Very productive year from him. Can't find Josh Humphrey's artist page so we'll have to make due with out. Sorry Josh.
John Tejada & Josh Humphrey - Melodiac
myspace.com/johntejadasounds

There are so many things that need to be posted. It'll all be up by the end of the week. Expect a years best coming in the next few weeks.

November Top 10s

Recently got my hands on some of November's Beatport top 10 charts. Here are the best of the lot. A bunch of great tunes here. Enjoy.

Ahmet Sisman - Move
myspace.com/ahmetsisman

Alan Fitzpatrick - Face Of Rejection
myspace.com/alanfitzpatrick

Ascion & D Carbone - Woofer
myspace.com/ascion
myspace.com/0davidecarbone0

Cari Lekebusch - Spindizzy (Luke Slater's L.B. Dub Corp Remix)
myspace.com/carilekebusch
myspace.com/lukeslater

DJ Madskillz - Surface (Original Mix)
myspace.com/djmadskillz1

Danton Eeprom - My Life In Parallel
myspace.com/dantonrocks

Marques Wyatt - For Those Who Like to Get Down
myspace.com/marqueswyatt

Mauro Picotto - Love Message (Meganite Mix)
myspace.com/mauropicotto

Sandy Huner - Rare Tap (2000 And One Cut)
myspace.com/sandyhuner
myspace.com/2000andone

Size - Yeah
myspace.com/hansseisveld

Another Mega Post

Fantastic new EP from Four Tet. Definitely has a dubbed out dancey edge to it. Hope Four Tet continues in this direction.
Four Tet - Love Cry
myspace.com/fourtetkieranhebden

Yep, more Butch. This is a really awesome DJ tool of sorts. It is basically an epic 8 minute buildup that never drops. If used creatively in a set it could be lethal.
Butch - Quiet Storm
myspace.com/cometobutch

Again, Butch delivers with the best remix off of Daso & Pawas' "El Paso." A driving minimal banger. If you can't tell already, Butch has been a favorite around here as of late.
Daso & Pawas - El Paso (Butch Remix)
myspace.com/dasofranke
myspace.com/djpawas

This track is a dark and dubby techno at its finest. A very elegant break. A perfect complement to the original.
Drumcomplex - Polution (Rafael Mendiri The Cleaner Remix)
myspace.com/drumcomplex
myspace.com/ramdj

The a capella was kind of strange for this track. It didn't seem to particularly add that much. This remix techs/dubs up the track while keeping true to the concept of the track. Jeff Bennett is always a reliable remixed and producer. If your into tech-house sorts of stuff, this is for you.
Jet Project - Foundations (Jeff Bennett Instrumental Remix)
myspace.com/thejetproject
myspace.com/kungfudub

Great remix by Mark Broom. Basically takes the original up a notch. Very strong (but creepy) break. The Nic Fanciulli mix was also strong but this definitely takes it.
Layo & Bushwacka! - The Raw Roard (Mark Broom Remix)
myspace.com/layoandbushwackaextra
myspace.com/markbroom

The whole "The Liechtenstein Account" release was reminiscent of Yellow Magic Orchestra. This one is catchy.
Legowelt - Woodland
myspace.com/legowelt

Part of what is great about this track is it seems kind of arbitrary. The "lyrics" are non-sequiturs and the strange alarm clock beep seems completely random. Very well produced and highly recommended.
Los Updates - Close The Door (Vocal Mix)
myspace.com/losupdates

This is a huge track. Don't play this unless it is peak time. The reverby kick drum works very well. Is that a fog horn? Haven't heard one of those in a dance track before. A welcome break to the siren.
Spektre & Matt Cooper - Cuernos Cubanos
myspace.com/spektre1
myspace.com/mattcooper