IDM Mailing Archive

INTELLIGENT DANCE MUSIC TIMES GET DOWN VOLUME TWO WORD UP ISSUE THREE ALL THAT It's been a while since I have preached unto the perverted, but yea verily I have a few new goodies in my satchel, so let's get down to it, rockers... DJ Food: Jazz Brakes Vol 4 NinjaTune ZEN CD4 100 5:04 Funkativity 92 5:31 A Nice Blunt 95 3:40 Stop Fink 1:37 Sexy Bits 84 4:42 Mumble 100 4:05 Dark Lady 90 3:45 Living Beats 69 6:01 Sunvibes 90 4:42 Feeling Chilly 80 3:34 Bocata de Bonita 125 1:49 Juice 123 5:20 Mambo Jack 125 3:10 Fickle 130 3:19 Let The Good Shine 130 4:12 Uptight 115 3:20 I'm The Food 91 5:13 L3 Skank 108 3:29 Do We 105 2:18 Popnotised 136 3:57 Thermo Nuclear Tax Oh my god, get down get funky cos this is Tha Shit. Phat phunky phresh and allathat... If you're looking for credentials, Coldcut produced this, and they are the past masters of the funky groove. As the title may indicate, this is intended as a breakbeat record but many of the breaks are developed into complete songs. Anyway, "Jazz Brakes" is an inadequate title because there's lots of funk and hip hop mixed in with the jazz as well. Definitely one for you DJs to sink your teeth into. Yummy food. California Dreamin' FFRR 697 124 002-2 103 6:49 Tranquility Bass: Cantamilla 135 12:02 Elements Of Trance: A Taste Of Your Own Medicine (The Midi-Evil Mix) 126 8:24 Hawke: 3 Nudes Having Sax On Acid 132 5:28 Island Universe: Energize 135 5:00 Aquatherium: Feelin' Real Good (Aqua's Trance Mix) 96 9:41 Single Cell Orchestra: Transmit Liberation 125 6:14 Young American Primitive: The Reality Of Nature 134 7:35 Up Above The World: Straight Up Caffeine 126 8:38 Daisy Glow: Theme From Daisy Glow 124 5:28 The Ultraviolet Catastrophe: Funk You Very Much (Hydroponic At Dawn) Finally, the West Coast techno scene gets the recognition it deserves via a major label compilation release. I can't possibly be objective about this since I know most of the people involved with this disc and regularly hang out and get high with some of them. I will say that looking at it as dispassionately as possible, this is a really good compilation. My favorite tracks are: Tranquility Bass (slowed down achingly beautiful stoned ambience), Elements Of Trance (european dance 2 trance), Island Universe (SF-style funky techno), Single Cell Orchestra (slow, epic electro monster), Young American Primitive (surprisingly dark dancefloor material) and of course The Ultraviolet Catastrophe (spliff-tokin' funked out weirdness). On the down side: completely lame-ass cover art and highly inaccurate liner notes, but if you want the real story, just drop me a line... The New Alternative (Instinct/Sonic Records Artist Profile) Instinct/Sonic SPIN 093-2 (Promo Only) 120 7:41 Cabaret Voltaire: Deep Time 125 5:51 Genetic: Trancemission 133 3:37 X-Statik: Rapture (radio edit) 113 5:10 Human Mesh Dance: Sunflower 137 5:10 Church Of Extacy: Devil Beats (sonic temple mix) 157 5:28 Lisa Carbon & Friends: The Only Virtual Computer Jazz 7:49 The Irresistible Force: Spiritual High 152 4:48 Evolve Now: Blue 94 5:20 Moby: My Beautiful Blue Sky 133 6:03 Cosmic Baby: Heaven's Tears 145 6:35 Prototype 909: Empty Space 135 6:02 Omicron: Whaler (strobe mix) A real mixed bag here, but that's to be expected, as this is nothing but a "look what cool stuff we've got coming in the next few months." I really like the Genetic and Lisa Carbon tracks, but other than that, this is just a rehash of old familiar items with nothing special to recommend it. More worryingly, it points out Instinct's tendency to merely seize trends without any thought to building an overall label strategy, but I never suspected them of having any other goals in mind. Oh well. Harthouse: The Point Of No Return Chapter 1 American Recordings 9 45470-2 122 3:28 Spicelab: Quicksand 138 6:42 Metal Master: Spectrum 142 6:32 Marco Zaffarano: MZ 5 125 8:59 Hardfloor: Acperience 1 129 6:41 Overboust: Tribal Groovy Hartbeat 150 5:28 Arpeggiators: Freedom Of Expression 138 6:30 Spicelab: Spice Cowboy 150 5:40 Pulsation: It's So Simple To Do 130 5:46 Futurhythm: Butoh 150 6:08 Spicelab: Amorph 145 5:12 Arpeggiators: Xenophobe 142 3:32 Marco Zaffarano: MZ 2 4:06 Pulsation: Pulsar Yes, the best of european hard trance is available for all mall rats, packed in a crappy digipak and on sale everywhere thanks to American (formerly Def American) Records. I suppose we should thank labels like American for making distribution deals with Eye Q and Harthouse and distributing the product unchanged except for the sweeter price, but somehow I just can't bring myself to admit that this is a Good Thing. For starters, this compilation is already Really Old. And second, does this sort of compilation really need to *exist*? I'm sure Pete Ashdown would argue otherwise, but this is such pure dance floor stuff that just listening to it seems really pointless. I mean, I like having "Acperience 1" on CD just as much as the next guy but only because it reminds me of how orgasmic it is when you hear it on a Real System. All the other tracks (none of which I've ever heard in an actual club/rave environment) sound rather thin and pointless. Pound pound pound bleep bleep squelch... yawn.

Jon Drukman states, concerning _Harthouse: Point of No Return Chapter 1_:

quoted 22 lines i asked:

>i asked: > >>> does this sort of compilation really need to *exist*? I'm >>> sure Pete Ashdown would argue otherwise, but this is such pure dance >>> floor stuff that just listening to it seems really pointless. > >cosmic roy responded: > >>Well, it gives those of us who're not professional DJ's a chance to >>get some choons on vinyl that we weren't cool enough to know about >>when they came out on 12" (and at a fraction of the cost of a stack of >>import 12's....) > >and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact >that moonshine music (as far as I know) ain't doing vinyl. it's just >CDs. and there aren't that many underground dance music DJs using CDs >- I only know of Pete Ashdown. so, again i ask, does this disc need >to exist? i don't think so! > >Jon Drukman jdrukman%dlsun87@oracle.com >------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence.

I do know of two other folks using CD's to DJ with, though both are pretty small-time (at least for now). Plus, I like this CD. To listen to. It's nice to have it released on CD, but it would be nicer for it to be released on vinyl so everybody would buy a copy and play it at parties. So I guess that my opinion is that, yes, there is a reason for this CD to exist. Jesse -- Jesse Stricker (jstrick@duckmail.uoregon.edu) -- I Think Very Deeply

quoted 2 lines Harthouse: The Point Of No Return Chapter 1

> Harthouse: The Point Of No Return Chapter 1 > American Recordings 9 45470-2

quoted 3 lines does this sort of compilation really need to *exist*? I'm

> does this sort of compilation really need to *exist*? I'm > sure Pete Ashdown would argue otherwise, but this is such pure dance > floor stuff that just listening to it seems really pointless.

Well, it gives those of us who're not professional DJ's a chance to get some choons on vinyl that we weren't cool enough to know about when they came out on 12" (and at a fraction of the cost of a stack of import 12's....) Cosmic

i asked:

quoted 3 lines does this sort of compilation really need to *exist*? I'm

>> does this sort of compilation really need to *exist*? I'm >> sure Pete Ashdown would argue otherwise, but this is such pure dance >> floor stuff that just listening to it seems really pointless.

cosmic roy responded:

quoted 4 lines Well, it gives those of us who're not professional DJ's a chance to

>Well, it gives those of us who're not professional DJ's a chance to >get some choons on vinyl that we weren't cool enough to know about >when they came out on 12" (and at a fraction of the cost of a stack of >import 12's....)

and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact that moonshine music (as far as I know) ain't doing vinyl. it's just CDs. and there aren't that many underground dance music DJs using CDs - I only know of Pete Ashdown. so, again i ask, does this disc need to exist? i don't think so! Jon Drukman jdrukman%dlsun87@oracle.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence.

quoted 5 lines and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact

> and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact > that moonshine music (as far as I know) ain't doing vinyl. it's just > CDs. and there aren't that many underground dance music DJs using CDs > - I only know of Pete Ashdown. so, again i ask, does this disc need > to exist? i don't think so!

Bzzzzt, Moonshine is doing vinyl. They've sent me three 12"'s so far. As far as vinyl compilations go though, I have only seen CD.

quoted 10 lines Well, it gives those of us who're not professional DJ's a chance to

> >Well, it gives those of us who're not professional DJ's a chance to > >get some choons on vinyl that we weren't cool enough to know about > >when they came out on 12" (and at a fraction of the cost of a stack of > >import 12's....) > > and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact > that moonshine music (as far as I know) ain't doing vinyl. it's just > CDs. and there aren't that many underground dance music DJs using CDs > - I only know of Pete Ashdown. so, again i ask, does this disc need > to exist? i don't think so!

Well, my copy's on vinyl on Eye-Q (not Harthouse... strange, that). But I take your point. I'm still used to assuming that most albums are released on vinyl, even if it's harder to find. I guess the US is ahead of the UK when it comes to death of vinyl. I find it really surprising that dance music compilations are being released in the US on CD only. Surely there must be a huge number of amateur DJ's who need vinyl to play around with, but can't afford to buy seriously....? Incidentally, d'ya have a UK release date for Claifornia Dreamin'? (And please say that FFRR are releasing it on vinyl over here.... :-) Cosmic

quoted 3 lines But I take your point. I'm still used to assuming that most albums

>But I take your point. I'm still used to assuming that most albums >are released on vinyl, even if it's harder to find. I guess the US is >ahead of the UK when it comes to death of vinyl.

absolutely. VERY few albums are released on vinyl over here. 12"s are still made, but with decreasing frequency and quantities.

quoted 4 lines I find it really surprising that dance music compilations are being

>I find it really surprising that dance music compilations are being >released in the US on CD only. Surely there must be a huge number of >amateur DJ's who need vinyl to play around with, but can't afford to >buy seriously....?

sure, but the profit margins on CDs are so much better than vinyl that it just isn't worth it to the record companies. if they can sell 10000 CD copies of those crappy "speed limit 140 BPM" thingies then why should they even bother pressing ANY vinyl, when they are only looking at selling 1000 or 2000 copies. it's just not worth the hassle.

quoted 2 lines Incidentally, d'ya have a UK release date for Claifornia Dreamin'?

>Incidentally, d'ya have a UK release date for Claifornia Dreamin'? >(And please say that FFRR are releasing it on vinyl over here.... :-)

i have no idea. give them a call and let me know what you find out cos i'd love to see it happen :) Jon Drukman jdrukman%dlsun87@oracle.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence.

Jon Drukman wrote:

quoted 5 lines and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact

>and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact >that moonshine music (as far as I know) ain't doing vinyl. it's just >CDs. and there aren't that many underground dance music DJs using CDs >- I only know of Pete Ashdown. so, again i ask, does this disc need >to exist? i don't think so!

Actually Moonshine does do vinyl, but it doesn't matter anyway because Point of No Return is on American, which also does vinyl. Joe ---------(Joe Rice)--------------------------(they entered the vortex)------- ----(ambient@netcom.com)------------------(and the dreams became reality)----

On Thu, 6 Jan 1994, Jon Drukman wrote:

quoted 2 lines and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact

> and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact > that moonshine music (as far as I know) ain't doing vinyl. it's just

moonshine is putting out harthouse stuff on vinyl and i just got a Tomato records re-release on moonshine --it's a good house trak but the pressing is kinda weak...

quoted 1 line CDs. and there aren't that many underground dance music DJs using CDs

> CDs. and there aren't that many underground dance music DJs using CDs

hey pete , speak up eh? andy@howdy.wustl.edu * . * \ / * /_\ * / -( )- * |~ /~ / \strOboy / \ * --o-- / _/ _|

Jon Drukman <jdrukman@us.oracle.com> writes:

quoted 5 lines and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact

> and i reply: this would be a dandy justification except for the fact > that moonshine music (as far as I know) ain't doing vinyl. it's just > CDs. and there aren't that many underground dance music DJs using CDs > - I only know of Pete Ashdown. so, again i ask, does this disc need > to exist? i don't think so!

well, point of no return is definately available domestically on vinyl, but i don't necessarily think that means many djs would use it.. by the time comps are out, even import ones, many songs included are already pretty crusty and they invariably include the wrong mixes.. but i do think this type of cd has a small place in existance if just for the fact that it is a good introduction to the sound of harthouse (or whatever style the comp happens to be) even if it is a rather antiquated and cursory introduction.. if it causes people to go out and search for the newest harthouse tunes as opposed to the newest rozalla 12", then i think there is no question that this is a good thing.. and speaking of new harthouse tunes, check out the essence of nature.. smokin!

quoted 3 lines That isn't to say that DJing CDs doesn't have any merit. I think Jon

>That isn't to say that DJing CDs doesn't have any merit. I think Jon >recognizes that though. He certainly didn't turn his nose up at me when I >spun with him.

right. i've been playing with a friend's Denon 2700F (that's the new one, right? with the jog/shuttle wheels...) and I like it a *lot* better than the original Denon 2000 setup. i still don't like it as much as I like vinyl, but it's a huge step in the right direction. however, if I was starting from scratch today with no music and no gear and had to choose between vinyl and CD for DJing, i would still go with vinyl. sorry. /jon

quoted 1 line Does this mean no more xdzebra reviews? I'm......hurting.

> Does this mean no more xdzebra reviews? I'm......hurting.

'fraid so folks. I am *really* burned out right now. Maybe I'll come back to it later. I have just started to get a shitload of promos from everyone and I usually just let them collect dust because I'm not interested right now. I just have to find a different direction that makes me happy. Plus I've got my Internet site to worry about (xmission.com).

On Fri, 7 Jan 1994, Pete Ashdown wrote:

quoted 2 lines it later. I have just started to get a shitload of promos from everyone and I

> it later. I have just started to get a shitload of promos from everyone and I > usually just let them collect dust because I'm not interested right now.

Send 'em my way! ;) I always was good at dusting, XDFluid here I come! :flu'id (floo'-) ;)