VIP Club Dance

A new bill introduced in congress today may remove the otherwise outlandish fee’s introduced by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) in early March. We reported when the new fees were announced and when the appeals failed.

From The Register:

Rep. Jay inslee (D-WA) and Rep. Don Manzullo (R-IL) have headed the “Internet Radio Equality Act,” which aims to stop the controversial March 2 decision which puts royalty of a .08 cent per song per listener, retroactively from 2006 to 2010 on internet radio.

The bill proposes a flat fee of 7.5% of the webcasters revenue, which is the same fees that currently apply to satellite radio. If the bill is passed, internet radio within the United states will be able to continue as before the introduction of these ridiculous fees. The fees introduced by the CRB in March have been said to increase existing charges anywhere from 300 - 1200 percent, effectively putting every internet broadcaster in America from non-profit through to the hugely popular stations, out of business.

Lets hope this bill is passed allowing internet radio to continue as it was before the greedy labels took hold of another U.S. government body.

Was cleaning up my MySpace profile last week and wandered off on a tangent somewhere and stumbled across Tommy Bedlams (aka Ry Thomas) profile. For once I didn’t reach for the mute button when the inevitable music sprang into action. The track in question was the cracking ‘Tekattackin’ which is a very European sounding stomper, more Hard Trance than Hard House and just the kind of energetic monster we love in these parts.

The track has been snapped up by Traffic Records the well respected label run by Vinylgroover and the Red Hed and you can hear a sample on the Tommy Bedlam profile page (see link below). Brilliant stuff and re-affirming my faith in the harder stuff!

Related Links

Tommy Bedlam MySpace

Traffic Records (TrackitDown)

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

Since 2004 a unique festival has slowly been growing on the shores of Lake Malawi. The Lake of Stars Festival is a three day charity event that has featured Felix B (Basement Jaxx), Groove Armada’s Andy Cato, Mikey General (Bugz in the Attic), DJ Yoda, Wambali Mkandawire and the Black Missionaries (10 piece Malawian reggae group). Combining Western artists with acts from all over Southern Africa the fourth Lake of Stars Festival takes place in October this year. Head out to Malawi, deep in the middle of Africa, for a music event like no other.

The Guardian: “The event is pitched somewhere between a Womad-style showcase and a north of England rave”

Felix B (Basement Jaxx): “It was a truly amazing and unique adventure to travel to the heart of Africa. I’ve never met such friendly people with such a passion for music. All in all a fantastic holiday and a real eye-opening experience.”

Songlines Magazine: “One of the world’s most extraordinary festivals”

The festival was borne from a desire to raise money for a developing economy and help promote Malawi as a tourist destination. Set on the shimmering, palm-fringed shores of Lake Malawi at Chintheche Inn, for three days Western and Malawian artists gather for a musical, social and cultural exchange which is unlike anything you will ever see or hear. This year’s guests include Radio 1’s fantastic Annie Mac as well as rising stars The Wombats and Malawi’s biggest African jazz legend Wambali Mkandawire. For many the festival is the focal point of travelling around this beautiful country, forming part of an itinerary spanning what Malawi has to offer. Suggested flight schedules are on the back of this leaflet �” you can travel on an organised group flight or make your own way to Malawi. Whatever you do, make sure you’re there this year to be part of something truly unforgettable!

Andy Cato (Groove Armada): “You’ll never see music cross as many boundaries and borders as this, and you’ll never listen to music in a more special place”

Malawi: Africa’s most diverse country. You’re spoilt for choice: Lake Malawi is great for all manner of water sports: kayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling, swimming, water-skiing �” all in warm, salt-free water. Climb or trek up Mount Mulanje (Central Africa’s highest peak) or the lush Zomba Plateau. Go horse riding �” including riding with game. Visit some of the nine game parks. Try mountain biking through forests and past waterfalls or simply chill out on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Head to the festival and the stunning Chintheche Inn: waves crash onto the white sand, wide lawns and colourful gardens stretch out leading to the main stage and the beach bar, built beneath a mango tree, with decking leading out to the beach. This is a great country to meet the people: wander into traditional villages to get a greeting from the ‘warm heart of Africa’. The landscape varies from the sandy beaches to the high plateaux and mountains. Every time you turn a corner in the road there’s another completely different vista.

Line Up:

Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1 / Worldwide)

Annie Mac (BBC Radio 1)

Rob Da Bank (BBC Radio 1 / Bestival)

The Wombats �” live

The Black Missionaries �” live (7 piece reggae group)

Wambali Mkandwire �” live (10 piece Afrojazz group)

More Malawian acts to be announced…

The Real Estate Agents- live - South Africa

Joe Driscoll �” live

Stuart Patterson (Faith)

Neech �” live

Artisan �” live

Sion �” live

The Beat Monkeys (Chibuku)

Cassette Jam

Eric Soul (Afrogroov)

James Barrie (Global Souljah) Barcelona

Kid Blue (Chew the Fat!)

Mulletover (London)

Chibuku Shake Shake DJs(London / Liverpool)

Dirty Disco DJs(Leeds)

Kid Blue - Fat! (London)

Bodytonic DJs(Dublin)

Horse Meat Disco DJs(London)

Wax: On DJs (Newcastle)

Ste Hodge (Common Ground)

Dexterity (Unsound System) South Africa

Offbeat (Unsound System) South Africa

Pierre-Estienne (Future Retro) South Africa

Sweat X (Live) South Africa

Fletcher (African Dope) South Africa

DJ Low - South Africa

Itchy Soul DJs (London)

Bearknuckles �” live

Dubcat (Curves)

Foz (Dirty Disco)

Geddes (Mulletover)

Prince Wey-I (Curves)

Ruffneck (Curves)

Isotone (Curves)

Darkskies (Curves)

Wandy (Chibuku)

Matty J (Tirk/Chibuku)

Paddy Freeform (Universal Vibes)

Ray Wilburn

Jahawi (Kenya)

Mr Dorris (Bang!)

Scott Stylus (Manchester)

Bang! DJs (London)

Deviate DJs (Newcastle)

Joe Brooke Smith

Broken Hook DJs

Shivoo DJs

Danny & Lucia

References: http://www.lakeofstars.co.uk

London-based DJ and producer Jamie Jones has mixed the second installment in Crosstown Rebels‘ “Get Lost” compilation series. Get Lost 2 follows on from the 2006 debut, a double CD mix from label bosses Damian Lazarus and Matthew Styles. A regular behind the decks across Europe and Ibiza, Jones has already released records on labels such as Freak n’Chic (Amazon and The Capsule EP’s), Steve Bug’s Poker Flat Recordings, and Crosstown Rebels (his deep and groovy Panic EP was released earlier this year). His tracks also appeared on numerous compilations, including Tiefschwarz’s Fabric 29, Steve Lawler’s Viva, and Freak n’Chic’s debut label compilation Rendez-Vous.

Get Lost 2 is a trippy and groove-laden ride filled with twisted melodies, odd beats, and filtered sounds. The mix features some exclusive new Crosstown releases, as well as cuts from Larry Heard, Plasmik and Dennis Ferrer. “Basically, if I was invited back to yours for an afterparty, Get Lost 2 is what you would hear me play if I was allowed on the decks,” comments Jones.

Tracklist:

01. Cassy - Alexandra

02. Plasmik - Pearls On A String

03. Tanzmann & Stefanik - High Heel Sneaking

04. Nico Purman - Lunatique

05. Jennifer Cardini & Shonky - Come Down To Earth

06. Ripperton - Tainted Words (Plasmik Remix)

07. DJ Spell - Lisa

08. Dennis Ferrer - P2 Da J

09. Jeremy Caulfield - Against The Rip

10. Sebbo - Fudge

11. Jamie Jones - Panama City

12. Franck Rodger - Turn Me Over

13. Zander VT - Dig Your Own Rave

14. Larry Heard presents Mr. White - Sun Can’t Compare

15. Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts - Concrete

16. John Keys - Rumba Twist

Limited edition 12″ sampler:

01. Jamie Jones - Panama City

02. Plasmik - Pearls On A String

References: http://www.filter27.com/archives/2007/04/jamie_jones_mixes_get_lost_2.php, http://www.crosstownrebels.com

WINK - does this name need any further introduction? Philadelphia based Josh Wink is one of the pioneers of techno and allied styles. He started to release records around 1992 and presented us some musical milestones such as „Don’t Laugh“, „Higher State Of Consciousness“, „Are You There“ and „How Is Your Evening So Far?“, but he also supported the development of electronic music by running his own label imprint „Ovum Recordings“, famous for releases by David Alverado, DJ Pierre, King Britt, Steve Bug and of course his own 12“es. This man has such an extraordinary and unique artist profile - chapeau monsieur!

Now, this is his debut 12“ on Poker Flat, beside his remix for Steve Bug’s Loverboy way back in 1999. The vinyl holds two strong tracks in typical WINK style, both infected with his sophisticated 303 lines. That’s why we love this guy so much. The a-side presents us with „Thick As Thieves“ as the title track. Almost ten minutes of WINK-ish madness, modulation and transformation easily proves his top position in the complex world of electronic dance music. „Acid Tonic“ on the flip side brings us some timeless and funky acid. Going on and on and on and on… superb work that will drive your crowd completely nuts!

12″ Tracklist:

A | 1 - Thick As Thieves

B | 1 - Acid Tonic

References: http://www.pokerflat-recordings.com, http://www.myspace.com/pokerflat

The Bugged out guys are pleased to announce that Simian Mobile Disco have delivered a killer mix for their label, the third in the Suck My Deck compilation series, featuring tracks and remixes from Klaxons, Switch, Riton, JoJo De Freq, Buraka Son Systema, LFO (the classic ‘Freak’!) , Para One and Simian Mobile Disco’s own ‘It’s The Beat’.

The artwork is super smart too (yes that is them behind the telly boxes, you can just about see James Ford’s crazy hair poking out from behind one!)

NME “brain-crumplingly kinetic” 8/10

The Sun “the future of music might just start here” 4.5/5

One Week To Live “killer with a capital ‘K’”

Dummy “A gloriously twisted electro/disco new rave offering.” Compilation of the issue

Tracklist:

01. Joakim �” Drumtrax

02. Liaisons Dangereuses �” Peut être …pas

03. Fast Eddie �” Hip House

04. A-J-Scent �” Da Posse

05. Simian Mobile Disco �” It’s The Beat

06. Vincent Markowski �” The Madness Of Moths

07. Holden �” Idiot

08. Sebastian �” Walkman

09. Jack Frost and The Circle Jerks �” Shout

10. Para One �” Midnight Swim (Riton Rerub)

11. Ms. Thing �” Love Guide feat. Switch

12. JoJo De Freq �” Make Some Noise!

13. Klaxons �” Magick (Simiam Mobile Disco Mix)

14. Partial Arts �” Trauermusik (Alter Ego Mix)

15. Buraka Som Sistema �” Yah! Feat. Petty

16. Kerowack �” Naf Monk (Jaimie Fanatic’s Kiss Thiss Mix)

17. LFO �” Freak

18. The White Noise �” Love Without Sound

References: http://www.myspace.com/buggedoutclub, http://www.buggedout.net

The next installment of the “Fabriclive” series will be taken care of by Breaks master Krafty Kuts. A man who needs no introduction, Martin Reeves aka Krafty Kuts has continuously stepped up his game. Winning Breakspoll ‘Best DJ’ three years running, ‘ADMA Best International DJ’, ‘Best Album �” “Freakshow”‘ and the list goes on and on.

Kut established (and cemented) his superstar status though his countless releases on major labels like Finger Lickin’, Southern Fried, Against the Grain and Super Charged. Included in his releases are some on the best remixes of top talent like Jurassic 5, Eric B & Rakim, Afrika Bambaata and many others.

“Fabriclive 34″ is set to impress, with a brilliant mix of dancefloor killers, ‘feel-good’ trax and of course Krafty Kuts flavoured Breakbeats.

“Fabriclive 34″ will be released June 16th.

Text by Len Iima (HigherFrequency)

Tracklist:



01. Krafty Kuts / Intro

02. A Skillz / Jelly / Lords Of The Underground / What I’m After (Acapella)

03. Milke / She Says / Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 / The Message (Acapella)

04. Malente / Move Ya Body

05. Lady Waks & Hardy Hands / Minimal

06. Friendly / The Weekend Breaks

07. Krafty Kuts & Tim Deluxe / Bass Phenomenon

08. Krafty Kuts & DJ Icey / Thru The Door (Krafty Kuts Mix)

09. Dave Spoon / At Night (Beatvandals Remix)

10. Krafty Kuts / Beerchucker

11. Malestrom / Disto Funk

12. Splitloop / Just Enough

13. Krafty Kuts / Freaskshow (Vip Mix)

14. Plump DJ’s / Listen To The Baddest

15. Madox / Roger Milla

16. Ralph Robles / Takin Over

17. Joe Jackson / Is She Really Going Out With Him / Deekline & Ed Solo Feat DJ Assault / One In The Front (Acapella)

18. Rob Le Pitch / Twisted (Tom Real & Rogue Element Mix)

19. Aquasky Feat Acafool / Have A Good Time

20. Freestylers /In Love With You / Krafty Kuts Feat Dynamite MC /There They Go (Acapella)

21. Primal Scream /Funky Jam

References: http://www.higher-frequency.com/e_news/april07_i/20/1.htm, http://www.fabriclondon.com/

On the heels of last years excellent “So This Is Goodbye” album, Junior Boys are back with five remixes of tracks from that album, arriving just in time to coincide with springtime tour. It was bound to happen, with a couple nice remixes finding their way onto a bonus disc of their first release “Last Exit” and like those tracks, the duo has a great mixture of artists putting their fingerprints on the originals.

Starting out the EP is a long (ten-plus minutes) remix of “In The Morning” by Hot Chip that takes the original and obviously stretches it out to twice the original length. Although it takes awhile to get going, the track locks into something amazing about a third of the way in, with breathy added vocals from Hot Chip themselves before a thunderous bass synth drops some growl and the song turns into a tweaked-out dancefloor gem.

Tensnake takes on “FM” and like the Hot Chip mix it takes awhile to get going before it pays off nicely, while Carl Craig strips down “Like A Child” into a super minimal piece that rambles on for nearly eleven minutes and offers up the least interesting take on the release. On a completely other side of things, Kode 9 answers the question of what Junior Boys would sound like doing dubstep, with a re-imagining of “Double Shadow” that absolutely kills, but has so few things in common with the original one would be hard pressed to even recognize it.

To close things out, Marsen Jules takes the duo and turns “FM” into a billowing ambient piece that is perfect to wind things down after the more dance oriented other remixes. Like most remix releases, it’s not super consistent, but the high points are well worth the cheap purchase price alone. If you’re a fan of the group, this one is a no-brainer. -Almost Cool Music Reviews

Tracklist:

1. In The Morning (Hot Chip Remix)

2. FM (Ten Snake Remix)

3. Like A Child (Carl Craig Remix)

4. Double Shadow (Kode 9 Remix)

5. FM (Marsen Jules Remix)

References: http://www.dominorecordco.com, http://www.almostcool.org/mr/1968, http://www.juniorboys.net, http://www.mypsace.com/juniorboys

Gardner Post call their new creation the Baby Grand Master the king of video instruments. Apt? Maybe. Ambitious. Definitely. As to who would actually buy one, who knows.

Featuring dual Pioneer DVJ-X1 DVD players, an Edirol V-4 video mixer, 3 Marshal LCD’s, an Allen and Heath Xone 92 Audio Mixer, dual 15″ Subwoofers, 18″ Subwoofer, 12″ Subwoofer, 3 Bullet Tweeters and an AB 1100 Watt Power Amplifier this setup is not be sneezed at. However I couldn’t help but think the design is completely inappropriate and ill suited to the task at hand.

Price is on enquiries only.

By now most people are aware Tiesto has released his new album ‘Elements of Life’ and there is a good chance you have heard the first single ‘In The Dark’. In case you haven’t it’s unashamedly Tiesto: simple beats, big vocals, bigger synths. Christian Burns does an excellent job on the vocals creating a very distinctive emotive sound.

The original version and the Tiesto Trance Mix are a little simple for my taste but the Carl B remix adds the depth that is missing. It also builds and flows in a way I think would work better in a set. If you like your electro house than the Dirty South remix is for you. This Australian has been getting a lot of press since the Miami Winter Music conference and with this track you can see why. You can tell he has put a lot of effort into the remix, using the all the elements from the original and adding a few of his own. I can see this getting a fair amount of airplay.

Available now on Nebula. Be on the lookout for the Worldwide tour featuring “spectacular stage shows and breathtaking production all based around the four key elements of life:  Air, Water, Earth & Fire”.