Sonar is coming!

The start of March. A time where the winter blues have been nearly overcome, a time where the state of your personal finances no longer resembles a blanket of red numbers and negative figures and a time where people plan to plunge back into a sorry state of affairs by planning their summer excursions. Sonar seems like a good idea as always for us at The Sub Level Sessions. This year the 15th Festival falls on the 19th, 20th and 21st June with a line-up which ensembles everything from all corners of the electronic music world. Expect techno, hip hop, experimental, house and anything else you could imagine in two locations under the Mediterranean sun. Not to mention the ridiculous number of parties in and around Barcelona..... Last year we had great fun and i'm sure this year will repeat of that, so book that cheap flight and get yourselves over...

Artists confirmed so far, but more to be mentioned:
CONCERTS & DJS

ANTIPOP CONSORTIUM (US)
ASSTRIO (ES)
BASQUIAT STRINGS (CH)
BC vs JC featuring DARREN EMERSON (UK)
BEN WATT (UK)
BOYS NOIZE (DE)
CABO SAN ROQUE (ES)
CAMILLE (FR)
CHLOÉ (FR)
DIPLO (US)
DJ KEY (MA)
DJ MEHDI VS A-TRAK feat. KID SISTER (FR / US)
EROL ALKAN (UK)
FRANKIE KNUCKLES (US)
GOLDFRAPP (UK)
HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR (US)
JUSTICE (FR)
KALABRESE PRES. THE RUMPELORCHESTRA (CH)
KONONO Nº1 (CD)
LITTLE DRAGON (SE)
M.I.A. (UK)
MISS KITTIN (FR)
NEON NEON (UK)
NORTHERN STATE (US)
RÓISÍN MURPHY (UK)
SPANK ROCK (US)
TARA DE LONG (US)
TENDER FOREVER (FR / US)
THE DULOKS (UK)
THE PINKER TONES (ES)
X-102 discovers THE RINGS OF SATURN (US)
YAZOO (UK)
YELLE (FR)

SHOWCASES

BBC Radio 1 presents:
MARY ANNE HOBBS (UK) DJ set
SHACKLETON (UK) live
FLYING LOTUS (US) DJ set
MALA (UK) DJ set
Programmed by Mary Anne Hobbs

DIRTY
PILOOSKI (FR) DJ set
DISCODEINE (FR) live
DIRTY SOUND SYSTEM (FR) DJ set

ED BANGER RECORDS
BUSY P. (FR) DJ set
KRAZY BALDHEAD (FR) live
SEBASTIAN (FR) DJ set

FREERANGE
JIMPSTER (UK) DJ set
MILTON JACKSON (UK) live

NINJA TUNE & COUNTER RECORDS
THE HEAVY (UK) live
DAEDELUS (US) live
THE LONG LOST (US) live

OSAKA INVASION
DJ SCOTCH EGG (JP) live
OVE NAXX (JP) live
BOGULTA (JP) live
MARUOSA (JP) live

Tracklisting 22nd February

Steve Mac, Mark Brown - 'Bells Of Brighton' [Cr2]
Inner City feat. Kevin Saunderson - 'Big Fun' (Simian Mobile Disco Rmx) [KMS]
Sultan, Ned Shepard, Maher Daniel - 'Itajai Vibes' (Wise Rmx) [Sick Watona]
Fergie - 'Anon' [Excentic Muzik]

** GUEST MIX - DJ Craze **

Beanie Sigel - 'You Ain't Ready For Me' [Rocafella]
Swiss Beats - 'Money In The Bank' [Full Surface]
Khaled - 'Holla At Me' (Instrumental) [Terror Squad/Kosh]
Freeway - 'Lights Get Low' [Rocafella]
Lil Wayne - ' M.I.A' [Terror Squad/Kosh]
Breakwater - 'Release The Beast' [Phantom Sound & Vision]
Gaz - 'Sing Sing' [Sasoul Records]
Pitbull - 'Go Girl' [TVT Records]
Connie - 'Funky Little Beat' [Sunnyview Recs]
Freez - 'I.O.U' [Streetwise]
Freez - 'I.O.U' (Dyce Freestyles's Deat Remix) [Streetwise]
Shannon - 'Give Me Tonight' [Emergency Recs]
Siedah Garret - 'Do You Want It Right Now' [Island]
Armand Van Helden - 'I Want Your Soul' (Croockers rmx) [Southern Fried]
Sexual Eruption - 'Sounds Better With You' [Geffen/Virgin]
One More Rainforest...
Treasure Fingers - 'Come True Tonight' [n/a]
M.I.A - 'Come Around' (ELI rmx) [Interscope]
The Get Funky Crew - 'Shake Them Titties' [Vision Recs]
Blaqstarr - 'Shake To The Ground' (Claude Von Stroke rmx) [Mad Decent]
Shala - 'The Great Chicago Winter' (Zebo Rmx) [n/a]
Basement Jaxx - 'Nifty' [Atlantic]

Funk D'Void Sci Fi Hi Fi, I'll Lick Your Spine, Slam Staccato Rave, Silicone Soul and Vector Lovers all Reviewed!

Soma’s been really busy this month providing my ears with plenty of new stuff, so much so I’ve been struggling to listen to it all and think up some words. But I’ve found a bit of time to crawl out of the gutter I had been occupying this Saturday to wax lyrical about Soma’s forthcoming.

Let’s start with the new Hi Fi Sci Fi compilation. Number four in the series is mixed by Scott turned Catalonian Funk D’Void. The bar has been set high, extremely high with his predecessors Ewan Pearson, Luciano and Alex Smoke all churning out sublime mixes. So what could be done do to keep pace or even set the bar higher? Funk D’Void has answered by bringing us a mix using breathy bright melodies and moods to create the energy and progression. This CD stands away from the K fuelled moody and dark but instead we are brought a distinct “happy” and melodic flavour which flies, glides and dives throughout.

On first listen I wasn’t too impressed, my exact thoughts were, “why is he playing this airy fairy shit?” Granted my first listen was during an after party binge where the K fuelled moody and dark fits in quite nicely. So ever the fair gentleman that I am, i gave the CD another go and I can say this CD really comes into its element in the right scenario. This CD is built for the wind down, the chilled out and the laid back. The intricate melodies and sweeps just suit these settings making the listener feel like a clichéd bird flying through the clouds at afternoon sunset. Serious, it really does. Deepness from H Foundation as well as Francois Dubois and Jimpster remixes add great atmosphere, whilst Apparat’s mix of Drip and Artec’s Comunickate applies intensity and edge.

If you listen to this at the right time it can be a great mix, I do wonder if Soma is releasing this bad boy too early as it is perfect for those lazy summer afternoon outside, inside or travelling about. This mix is solid and is definitely up there with the other Sci Fi Hi Fi CDs, but is it better or even the best? Not quite I’m afraid, Ewan Pearson’s and Alex Smoke’s efforts still pip it for me. However this is still a great effort and a breath of fresh air from Funk D’Void. 7/10

Lets Go Outside - I'll Lick Your Spine Mixes
Next up are the new remixes from Lets Go Outside and their track I’ll Lick Your Spine. The original was a brilliant. It was a strange and eerie work out with a very breaky feel to it, one thing that I was sure of was that it was made to make you freakout which subsequently meant it featured a lot in my record box for most of last year. For the new year the remixes come from Massi DL and Ivan Smagghe with Tim Paris as well as the original mix from Repeat Repeat. Massi DL reshapes the track into a more familiar techno form using the breathy vocals and synth stabs from the original. It is very typical sounding, but it is done well and there is no doubt it will definitely work the floor nicely.

Smagghe and Paris dish up a bass driven hip shaker of a remix. Their bassline adds an element of groove whilst still retaining some of the original acid stabs and vocals. There is a nice slow burn feel about this mix as it slowly intensifies with the use of a haunting synth. Great work from the pair. 8/10


Slam - Staccato Rave
The other release I’ve listened to recently from Soma has been from the label’s head honchos Slam. This is the single release for Staccato Rave which featured on their album Human Response last year. With the original comes mixes from Adam Beyer and Silicone Soul. Adam Beyer does what he does best and applies his style of techno, adding some intricate 909 percussion with a big rolling techno bassline whilst keeping the original computerized synth noises. Balls to the wall techno as I once heard from somewhere!

Silicone Soul adds two remixes. Their darkroom dub has a classic tribal workout on the percussion with the computer synth sounds being used to slowly layer up the intensity of the track. This mix is probably my favourite out of the lot. The Hypno House mix is a friendlier mix for I guess the “electro” house floors out there. I can see this remix slotting in easily but still standing out from the run of the mill. 7.5/10

Silicone Soul - Darkroom Dub Remixes
Whilst on the subject of Silicone Soul, they released new remixes of their darkroom dubs. The standout track on this release is definitely the Fearmakers Darkroom Dub. Rolling basslines with pounding beats make it a heads down bleeped out mover, moving away from Silicone Soul’s typical brighter production style. The Hikihiki Shake is also worth a punt. 7/10

Vector Lovers - Raumklang
And finally. Vector Lovers and his Raumklang release. Stand out tracks on this release is Derailleur’s Submission mix of Dusk Panorama and Little Plastic Figures. Derailleur’s mix is a great acid work out with classic acid squelches riding throughout and spacey pads give it its uniqueness. Little Plastic Figures pushes a round evil bass from the get go alongside pumping kick drums and intermittent echoes of haunting synths. Making it a nice dark little number. 6/10

Tracklisting 15th February

Inner City feat. Kevin Saunderson - 'Big Fun' (Simian Mobile Disco Rmx) [KMS]
Steve Mac, Mark Brown - 'Bells Of Brighton' [Cr2]
Alex Gopher - 'Aurora' (Riot In Belgium, Knightlife Rmx) [Go4Music]
Patch Park - 'Made in Mayhem' [Shinichi]
Sultan, Ned Shepard, Maher Daniel - 'Itajai Vibes' (Wise Rmx) [Sick Watona]
Thomas Schwartz - 'Jupiter Calling' [The Clubbers]
Michael & Levan - 'January Morning' (Mango Rmx) [Morphosis]
Velkro, Ido Ophir - 'Warehouse' [Sprout]
Fergie - 'Anon' [Excentic Muzik]
Rui Da Silva - 'Escaping My Mind (Matt Tolfrey & Inxec Mix) [Kismet]



****** Make A Date In Your Diary ******
*************22nd March*************

MINUS TEN @ FABRIC

Richie Hawtin
Adam Beyer
Marco Carola
Magda

Tracklisting 8th February

Sasha - 'Who Killed Sparky' [emFire]
Solaris Heights - 'No Trace' (Popof Mix) [Renaissance]
Super Flu - 'Brink' [Herzblut Records]
Sebo K - 'Far Out' [Mobilee Records]
Marshall Jefferson, Noosa Heads - 'Mushrooms' (Justin Marin Mix) [Alright]

** GUEST MIX - M.A.M.D.Y **

Sascha Funke - 'Lotre' (Mehr Fleisch Mix) [Bpitch Control]
Tim Paris - 'Window Diskow' [Marketing]
Imps aka Minilogue - 'Unkle Limps' (Turkish Version) [Mule Electronic]
Voodeux - 'The Spell' [Mothership]
Miguel Toro - 'Cure' (Oil of Mars vs. Samim Mix) [Unknown]
Todd Bodine - 'Secret Edge' [Mothership]
Livio & Robby vs. Arc - 'XY' (Terrace Mix) [Unreleased]
Gel Abril - 'Papa Dee' [Ovum]

M.A.N.D.Y Tonight!!

Oh yes, it's finally in my hands; the long, long anticipated guest mix from Get Physical's legendary co-founders, M.A.N.D.Y . And i'ts not one to miss.

With all the deep, techy and funk filled trickery that we've come to expect from the Swiss/German twosome and with more than a smattering of minimalist delights, I'd say it's been well worth the wait.

Find out for yourselves tonight on www.urfonline.com from 8pm. With new tracks from Sebo K, Super Flu, Solaris Heights and once again the awesome (if a touch quirky) 'Mushrooms' from Marshall Jefferson, it promises to be a show to remember.

Chat to you then,

Luke

Tracklisting 1st February

KIM - 'Fistogram' [Modular]
Patch Park - 'Made in Mayhem' [Shinichi]
Consistent - 'Proper Balance' [TFE Recordings]
Marshall Jefferson, Noosa Heads - 'Mushrooms' (Justin Martin Mix) [Alright]
Velkro, Ido Ophir - 'Warehouse' [Sprout]

** GUEST MIX - Makai **

Dole and Kom - 'Where's Love' [Death By Disco]
Format B - 'Octopussy' [Trenton Records]
GummiHz -'Desire' [Clone]
Tg - 'Jam In My Pan' [Fling]
Johnwaynes - 'Retouch' (Llorca Rmx) [Brique Rogue]
Luca Bacchetti - 'Like A Sadhu' [Wagon Repair]
Brwn Shoes - 'Tigers Don't Sleep' [Foundation]
Wollon Harada - 'Metropoliton Fulltime' (Tigerskin Rmx) [BluFin]



Don't Forget!!

Kilks at Audio on Friday with Ada

See You There!!

DJ Craze: FabricLive 38 Review

DJ Craze, possibly one of the greatest turntablists ever to grace the DMC decks and the only one to win the world title three times in a row. With such an impressive introduction sentence attached to your name, comes great expectations. Here on the Sub Level Sessions we don’t venture into hip hop land too much, but this is a special occasion. As a DJ growing up I would idolise DJ Craze as he wiped the floor at the DMC with his inhumane turntablist moves. It was him (well him and the Eygptian Lover who said “What is a DJ, if he can’t scratch”) that inspired me to poorly pretend to scratch for hours in my bedroom and then unleash it on the public much to my embarrassment. But public health hazards aside, Craze is probably best known in clubs for his drum n bass. I’ve always enjoyed his drum n bass sets on the numerous occasions I’ve seen them, however usually what I enjoy most is the little routine he’ll do at the start and end, which is why I’m glad this CD isn’t a straight up DnB mix like his nexxsounds CD. Instead it’s a mix of hip hop, house, old skool electro, Balitmore/Miami bass and a load more genres mentioned in the press release that I’ve never even heard of. But most important of all there is a nice smattering of turntablism.

In true hip hop style the CD opens in a blaze of beats and scratching with the essential customised MC intro before settling down with the sparse moody pulsating beats of Cool Kids, nicely setting the scene for rude bwoy head nods and hand movements. Merely 12 minutes in and Craze is stepping up the tempo into some Tuff Crew old skool breaks sprinkled with sharp scratches, lifting the mix out from the moodiness, transporting the listener back in time through the 90s and into the 80s with Jan Hammer’s Miami Vice theme. Only Craze can transport one from spitting lyrics round a burning oil drum on 8 mile in rainy Detroit to sunshine, bright coloured suit jackets and mullets in Miami via a Brooklyn bloc party in just 3 records. From here the CD takes on this retro, electro Miami sound that DJ Craze has been trying to achieve. Think Spinbad, Sinden and Medhi with less emphasis on the mash up and more on that 80s Miami sound. Be it the retro synth sounds or the 80s drum hits on tracks like the Beat Club’s Security.

Craze balances this CD perfectly with the right amount of old skool, 80s synth sounds, freestyles, booty basses and heavy beats for the most. However the impeccable running is tarnished just once, but tarnished deep like an angry driver and a set of keys with their car blocked in. Only Craze and God knows why he included Armand Van Helden’s chart fodder "I Want Your Soul". The mix in struggles to stay a float as it sounds just plain awkward after Earth Wind and Fire’s Brazilian Rhyme and disjointed going into Debbie Deb. I can see why Craze might have thought this track would fit, its modern take on a 80s sound encapsulated in a house rhythm could have worked well with the tracks preceding and following. But it just doesn’t, firstly it sounds out of place and secondly it tries to be retro rather than being retro. Maybe ten years down the line Armand’s track could snuggle in if it ever reached that classic retro status, but something tells me it just won’t. Craze would have been better off dropping a true disco classic or even better bypassing straight through to Debbie Deb When I Hear Music.

Every time the CD comes to pass I Want Your Soul, I get this horrible cringe feeling only ever felt when David Brent is trying to dig himself out of some racist or disabled passing comment, causing me to fast forward past. And it’s this which makes it such a shame because the greatest CDs are those which you can listen to unadulterated. There were some great scratches and subtle turntablism moments peppered across the mix which added so much, although I felt a small scratch routine at the end would have satisfied the die hard turntablist fans yearning for a 60 minute long DMC routine. That said this CD is definitely worth a buy; the old skool breaks and booty bass will definitely put a smile on your face. And for the DJs out there when you listen on your ipod with your eyes closed you can almost imagine what it would be like to be a three times DMC World champion as you pretend to air scratch your hands to DJ Craze.

7.5/10




For a sample listen to a recent DJ Craze Old Skool Miami Bass mix:
http://www.divshare.com/download/2178974-81e

DJ Craze FabricLive38 Launch Party: Fri 8th Feb with DJ Craze, Scratch Perverts, Adam F and Kelver

Release: members: 02/01/08 uk/r.o.w. retail: 11/02/08 usa: 03/11/08
Tracklist:
01. Craze – Intro Ft. Armanni Reign - Craze
02. N.O.R.E. – Set It Off Ft. Swizz Beatz and J. Ru$$ - Babygrande
03. Cool Kids – I Rock – Chocolate Industries
04. Cool Kids – Black Mags – Chocolate Industries
05 Bangers and Cash – Loose – Downtown
06. Tuff Crew – My Part Of Town - Warlock
07. Jan Hammer – Miami Vice Theme - Universal
08. Miami Jam Crew – Pretty Girls – Midtown
DJ Blaqstarr – Shake It To The Ground Ft. Rye Rye (Acapella) – Mad Decent
09. Lushus – Ho Fo Sho - Craze
10. The Beat Club – Security - Warners
11. Chromeo – Bonafied Lovin’ (Eli Escobar Remix Ft. Pase Rock) – Back Yard
12. Treasure Fingers – Cross The Dancefloor – Treasure Fingers
13. DJ Blaqstarr – Supastarr – Mad Decent
14. Coldcut – True Skool Ft. Roots Manuva (Switch Remix) – Ninja Tune
15. Earth, Wind and Fire – Brazilian Rhyme - Sony
16. Armand Van Helden – I Want Your Soul – Ministry Of Sound
17. Debbie Deb – When I Hear Music – Pandisc
18. Magic Mike – Magic Mike Cutz The Record – Cheetah
19. Quadrant Six – Body Mechanic - Atlantic
20. DJ Laz – Red Alert – Pandisc
21. Fresh Celeste and M4 Sers – Give It All To Me – JR Records
22. Bangers And Cash – Shake That - Downtown
23. The Pase Rock – Lindsay Lohan’s Revenge (Klever Remix) – Fully Fitted
24. Kazey & Bulldog – Big Truck – Dress-2-Sweat
25. The Chemical Brothers – Get Yourself High (Switches Rely On Rub) – EMI
26. Kid Sister – Pro Nails Remix feat. Kanye West – Fools Gold
27. DJ Assault – Pushin’ (Deekline, Wizard & Freq Nasty Mix) - Rat

Tracklisting 25th January

KIM - 'Fistogram' [Modular]
Thomas Schwartz - 'Jupiter Calling' [The Clubbers]
Will Saul - 'Speak & Spell' (Putsch 79 remix) [Simple]
Sasha - 'Who Killed Sparky?' [emFire]
Mark Mendes - 'Beneath You' [Starter Recordings]

** GUEST MIX - Chris Wan **

'MyNeighbourWontLetMePlayMyMusicLoud'

(see below for a full tracklist and a chance
to download the mix!!)

Where were we??

Anyone who tried to tune into what promised to be a brilliant show on Friday night will have been greated with silence. Big sorrys from me at the Sublevel Sessions. Tunes were lined up, a great mix was on the cards, but I ended up decidedly out of action.
Moral of the story; don't confuse an out of the ordinary, post spangled hangover, crossed with the morning after affects of the traditional January gym rush with a Heart Attack and you too might stay out of hospital.

Normal service will indeed resume this Friday (25th) at 8pm ....... that's a promise!

Expect a healthy dose of huge new tunes and a nice chunk of the new minimalistic mix from our very own Chris Wan.

thanks

Luke

Chris Wan's MyNeighbourWontLetMePlayMyMusicLoud Mix

New year and a new mix from me... well overdue. Its been over a year since I last did a mix, the last one I did came runner up in IDJ's Raw Talent way back in their December issue in 2006. Anyways, expect techno, house and everything in between. All feedback welcomed too! Leave your comments at the bottom or e-mail to sublevelsessions@googlemail.com.

Right Click on the link below and select Save Target As to save on to your computer...
MyNeighbourWontLetMePlayMyMusicLoud Mix : 80min - 177Mb

Tracklist:
1. Josh wink - Licking Plastic [XL Recordings]
2. Elektrochemie – Faking [Get Physical]
3. Radioslave - Bell Clap Dance (Sebo K Mix) [Rekids]
4. Marc Romboy & Stephan Bodzin - Mab [Herzblut Recordings]
5. Italoboyz – Zinga [Get Physical]
6. Kevin Saunderson - Bassline (Loco Dice Mix) [KMS Records]
7. Martinez – Tuna Belly [Re:Connected]
8. Lucio Aquilina - Magic M [Cocoon Recordings]
9. Gavin Herlihy - Opium Haze [Kindisch]
10. River Ocean - Love and Happiness (MAW dub beats) [Strictly Rhythm]
11. Martinez - Tool 1.1 [Re:Connected]
12. Ben Klock Marcel Dentmann – Places Like This [Ostgut Ton]
13. Mathias Tanzmann - Rugby (Kaden Penalty Kick Mix) [Moon Harbour]
14. Raz Ohara and The Odd Orchestra – Kisses (Instrumental) [Get Physical]
15. Domink Eulberg – Grunschenkel (2000 and One Mix) [Traum]
16. Carl Craig – Throw [E-Planet Recordings]
17. Plastikman – Panic Attack (Guido Schneider's Second Attack Mix) [M-Nus]
18. Luciano – Tonerres [Cadenza] /
Marc Houle - Techno Vocals (Acapella) [M-Nus]

Tracklisting: 11th January

Marco Carola - 'RE Solution' [Minus : 2m]
Funky Green Dogs feat. Murk - 'Reach For Me' [Cr2 Records]
Audiojack - 'Panic Attack' [2020 Vison Records]

** GUEST MIX - Caspa & Rusko **

Asbo - 'ASBO 1' [White Label]
Caspa - 'Rubber Chicken' [Tempa]
Caspa - 'Noise Disorganizer' [Pitch Black]
The Others - 'Champagne Cocktails' [Dub Police]
Rusko - 'Tonkas' [2nd Drop]
Rusko - 'Jahova' [Sub Soldiers]
Benga & Coki - 'Knight' [Tempa]
Wonder - 'What' (Caspa Remix) [Wonderland]
Cotti & Clue Kid - 'Falsh Back' [30]
N-Type - 'Way of thr Dub' (Caspa Remix) [Dub Police]
Skream & Clue Kid - 'Sand Snake' [Disfigured Dubz]
The Bug feat. Killa P & Flowdan - 'Skeng' [Hyper Dub]
The Others - 'Invasion' [Dubplate]

********

James Zabiela - 'Perseverance' [Renaissance]

WE'RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes Yes Yes, where does the time go?? Fresh off the back of a crimbo / new years break that would go down in memory as one of the most hectic and debauched yet, if only we could remember it, the sublevel sessions is back on the air!!! Indeed, for what may be it's last outing, the next ten weeks are gonna see more great new tunes, hot interviews and even hotter mixes than you can shake a glow stick at (if that's your thing).

In the pipeline, awesome music from; Sasha, Chris Liebing and Mark Mendes to name but a few. A very special mix and interview (all the way from OZ) from the legendary, and Get Physical head honchos, M.A.N.D.Y. And it all kicks off tomorrow night at 8 with a big slice of dirty, rotten dubstep from big boys on scene, Caspa and Rusko.

So set your alarms, leave work early, ignore the phone, log on to www.urfonline.com and let the good times roll!!

xx Luke S.

Diggers and Xmas Debauchery

Just when you've got over the last weekend the next one is already around the corner to hammer a few more nails into your coffin. We're coming ever closer to that final nail of new years eve but before that happens there is still one more weekend to go.

But first off, last weekend. The Manchester Warehouse Project rocked my socks last Friday night. I'm sad that I only got to see the venue once this year as I think it was a big improvement on the old Boddingtons factory. The Piccadily station location was more intimate and held a better sound. OK when it was busy it was slightly annoying, but these days busy tends to equate to a better atmosphere and you're either on it with the rest or miserable at the sides. My only advice is to just go with the flow, obviously you can consume a variety of substances to ease you into the mood, say like 6 cans of Red Stripe on a long train journey. That worked a treat for me, plus the beer jacket kept me warm... Its cold up north, which I found out once again. On arrival to the venue, Mr Zabiela didnt really seem to be feeling the cold, his blend of tech house and electronic noises with a dash of efx wizardry (note only a dash) kept the man bouncing and the rammed to the rafters warehouse. The man like Sasha followed and i must say i was impressed. There's so much talk of how the man has lost it and his ableton thing is boring, but the other Friday i really enjoyed his set. However, i am a relatively young clubber, so missed the Sasha late 90's golden era. Which on the flip side might be a good thing as I had no pre-conceptions of what he should be like, I just took the set for what it was. The man like, moved effortlessly through epic prog rollers through to dark dirty electronic grooves and even threw in a smattering of techno near the end. It kept me moving until the end and many other people. The only downside to the whole night was having to get home. It took me 4 hours through a combination of taxis, trains and tube. One thing i dont understand is, who in their right minds would want to go to Milton Keynes, Coventry and Watford? There is no need for my train to stop at these places! Well that's what I was thinking after 2 hours into my journey at 11am in the morning feeling extremely on the edge of oblivion.

Saturday brought the delight of Fabric and a little Chilean. Unfortunately, the little Chilean had some family problems so couldn't make it. Hope everything is alright... But I was really disappointed that Luciano couldn't make an appearance. I was really looking forward to hearing his current standard set of Subliminal back catalog records, Freaks come out and that rose rouge remix. I know his sets haven't changed much since May, but I'm still yet to hear it on a sound system like Fabric's. I caught a bit at Wild in the Country, but the flooded tent, torrential rain, lack of crowd, early set time and quiet sound system didn't really do it the greatest of justice. I guess I'll just have to hold on a few more months :o( . Not to worry as Amé and Adam Beyer were still playing, which doesn't make it a complete lost cause. Far from it actually. Amé played some lavish deep sounds in room 3 whilst Adam Beyer and the real "Swedish Mafia" played some stern techno that would send Angello and co back under their electro gash rock. Some good music all around, however the spirit seemed a bit lacking and flat at times. However like I stated before you're either going with the flow or miserable at the sides and after my miserable train journey back during the morning I might have fallen into the latter category.

Now that's all behind me, its time to talk about this weekend. And once again I'm going to talk about what seems like my Siamese twin separated at birth. That's right, I'm heading to Fabric..... again.... But all for good reason, as its part two of London's prog grandmaster's series. Well that's what I'm calling it. John Digweed rolls into town so soon after Sasha just departed. The Dougal from Magic Roundabout look-a-like (see picture above, i think its only a hair thing really..) will be commanding Room1 this weekend, expect some relentless epic prog, tech house. Martinez are in support and should entertain with their brand of intertwined epic dark melodies which plod along in a nice groove. Just what the doctor ordered, before a week of heavy eating, Christmas songs and mince pies.

Happy Christmas!

p.s Canvas for NYE seems like a safe bet this year. Carl Craig, Dixon (current living legend in my eyes), Andrew Weatherhall, Boys Noize and Jo Jo De Freq. What more could you ask for? Did i forget to mention they're knocking the thing down soon after!? Click Here for more info..

M.A.N.D.Y Fabric:38 Review

The last few Fabric releases have been pretty star studded. Pokerflat head honcho Steve Bug compiled the last one, Villalobos did an artist DJ hybrid release and before them Ewan Pearson and Ellen Allien. The trend continues this January in the form of M.A.N.D.Y. Despite having quite an annoying name to type, the Berlin duo has been at the forefront of the ongoing “German” trend for over the past 4 years. Their co-owned label Get Physical has had a meteoric rise in popularity, not to mention the numerous releases and remixes they’ve produced on their own and with label mates Booka Shade. And the last time M.A.N.D.Y put tracks to CD for a compilation back in 2006, I saluted as they brought together techno and house in a percussive, funk fuelled and eclectic manner over two CDs for the At The Controls series. So I and probably many others were intrigued to see how M.A.N.D.Y would fill one single CD.

After a bizarre bananas based intro the duo fall into the atmospheric and eerie Darkslide by Minz, setting the scene for a mix of dark electronic grooves. The mix shifts into some bright percussion before dropping into the driving, melodic tones of the Crowdpleaser mix of Quarion’s Karasu . The CD continues to twist and turn along a road of sinister grooves and eerie haunted synth stabs, always continually building. M.A.N.D.Y do an excellent job of bringing the mix in to many crescendo points making the listener expect a step up in gear but instead is teased like a kitten with string.

Rewards are reaped with the fantastic Magic M by Lucio Aquilina whose intricate chimes move the mix into the next phase of dark pulsing grooves and futuristic melodies. Again the mix just continues to shift and glide through these different moods arriving at a glimpse of Robag Wruhme’s Dopamine followed by the glitchy but not twitchy Claude Von Stroke mix of War Paint before moving on with its urging groove. The mix plateaus out into a wash of bright pads and strings through Sebo K & Metro’s take on Tunnels and Julian Ganzer’s funk driven mix of 2 Fast 4 U, which completes the mix and for some reason conjures up images in my mind of Disney’s 1933 animation, Father Noah’s Ark.

Imagery aside, this mix is great. Its dark driving groove throughout makes a night time drive or walk home seem epic. If you like the dark and sinister stripped back grooves, then this CD is definitely a recommended buy. M.A.N.D.Y do an excellent job creating an atmospheric mix and whilst I still think their At The Controls CD is better, this effort is not far off from that. 8/10

M.A.N.D.Y will be playing at Fabric on 26th Jan 2008

Tracklisting
01. Intro;
Franco Bianco - Noches De Superacion - Italo Business
Robag Wruhme als Rolf Oksen - Rolf auf seinem Auskukk - Freude Am Tanzen
02. Yello - Bananas To The Beat - Mercury
03. Minz - Darkslide - Perspectiv
04. Guillaume & The Couto Dumonts - Mederico - Oslo
05. Quarion - Karasu [Crowdpleaser Remix] - Drumpoet Community
06. Gui Borrato - Tipologia [Lucy Remix] - Parquet
07. Mark-Henning - Sicknote - Cynosure
08. Decimal - Idiosynkratik - Enemy
09. Lucio Aquilina - My Cube - Cocoon
10. Booka Shade - City Tales [Dub] - Get Physical
11. DJ Yellow & Astrid Suryanto - To The Top [Guy J Remix] - Project
12. Dubfire - I Feel Speed [Audion Remix] - SCI+TEC
13. Martin Eyerer and Toni Rios - Chorizo - Kickboxer
14. Robag Wruhme als Rolf Oksen - Dopamin - Freude Am Tanzen
15. poxyMUSIC Ft. Gina Mitchell - War Paint (Claude Vonstroke Remix) - Hussle
16. Djinxx and X-Pansul – Spanish Kebab - Ovum
17. Matchbox - U Can Get Sonar - Kindisch
18. Deadset - Farm House (Deadset Dub Tool) - Front Room
19. DJ T. - The Dawn [Nass Remix] - Get Physical
20. Simon Flower - The Whisper Had It [Mark August Remix] - Pokerflat
21. Raz Ohara and The Odd Orchestra - Kisses - [Kabuto & Koji Carnea Remix] - Get Physical
22. Basic Soul Unit - Tunnels [Sebo k & Metro Remix] - Mule
23. Lopazz - 2 Fast 4 U [Julian Ganzer Remix] - Get Physical
24. Mike Monday - Bhalobashi [Sideshow Dub Mix] - Simple
25. M.A.N.D.Y. - Don't Stop - Get Physical

The Weekend is Nearly Upon Us!!

The weekend is finally here and the feeling of Christmas keeps creeping in. Expect packed shops, crazy shoppers, overly happy people and repetitive Christmas songs. However there is always the plus side to Christmas, work parties with free booze and a whole hamper of parties from now until the New Year with plenty of debauchery involved. To me this weekend kicks all of that off. The work xmas party is tonight, which is then followed by two monstrous weekend outings.

Saturday in London see’s a massive lineup at Fabric, with everyone’s favourite pint sized Chilean Luciano commanding the main room. Amé are providing some deep stylings in room 3 and room 2 welcomes a Swedish techno invasion with Adam Beyer at the helm. If that doesn’t tickle your taste buds, then Renaissance at The Ministry of Sound might well do. Having had their last outing at The Cross the other week, Renaissance try their hand at rocking the MOS. To do so, they’ve brought in a DJ just as old as the brand. That is of course Sasha..

But for all you people up north that cant make it down here, there is a similar calibre of line-up. The people at the Warehouse Project have the man like Sasha with James Zabiela and Martin Buttrich playing this Friday, so expect carnage in the rave in a cave under the station! Tickets have sold out for this event, so get there early to see if there are any door tickets for those who didn’t manage to get one…. Well all those but the person who won our third and final ticket giveaway.

The entries have been collected and much amusement was had over the optional answers given. It appears that the general public consensus believe that the older, wiser Sasha would ‘ave Zabiela in a scrap, with a consistent theme of long hair being an issue for the young DJ. Anyways I digess! So the person not hassling the ticket touts on Friday night will be:

JOE ASHTON from Manchester

Congrats man!! You’ve won yourself a pair of tickets, which are winging their way to you now! For everyone have a good weekend and i hope you get to whatever party you can!

Coming soon: MANDY Fabric CD review.

The final Warehouse Project Ticket giveaway!!

My how the months have passed… It seemed like only yesterday when I was harping on about the Warehouse Project…. Now it’s dark, cold and wet, people are talking about Christmas shopping and what to do for New Years Eve, and it’s the last Warehouse Project event before the New Year festivities, which ultimately means our last ticket giveaway… We hope you have enjoyed our coverage, with guest mixes on the show from Marco Carola, Sasha and James Zabiela, plus all the tickets we’ve given away. So for our final competition, we’ll be giving away a pair of tickets for the 14^th Decemeber, which plays host to two of clubland’s most well known DJs.

If he played hip hop and wore gold chains with a retro 80’s Addidas tracksuit, we might have called him Grandmaster Sasha, but he don’t, so he’s just errrrm, Sasha, but that doesn’t detract from the fact he is a master of the DJ circuit and clubland and sure enough he will be reverberating the Warehouse walls with his raisin maven ableton contraption show thing.

Dalek lover, James Zabiela the once apprentice/student will feature alongside his former master, unfortunately not for a classic kung fu movie student-teacher fight off, but more so to blind us with one of his renowned decks and efxs trickery sets that has made him one of the last true pure DJs.

In addition to these DJ heavyweights, next Friday will feature a live set from the once mystery producer/silent partner Martin Buttrich. You may not have heard of him, but he’s always been there, kind of like the telephone bidder at auctions, you don’t see them but you know they got some bidding clout. Buttrich has been producing some excellent tracks for a whole host of artists and more recently releasing tracks under his own name. I’m not sure what his live shows are like, but if his productions are anything to go by it should be pure gold.

To win a pair of tickets for the 14th December at the Warehouse Project, Manchester, just answer the following super simple question.

Which DJ is a DR Who fanatic and owns a life size Dalek?

1. Dr Pepper
2. James Zabiela
3. Grandmaster Sasha

Optional question for my own amusement:
If Sasha and James Zabiela had a classic kung fu movie student-teacher fight off, who would win and why?

E-mail your answer, name and location to the usual address of sublevelsessions@googlemail.com, competition closes Weds 12^th December.

Warehouse Project, Manchester
FRI 14 DEC ///
In Association With MySpace
Sasha
James Zabiela
Martin Buttrich [ Live ]
Andro

9.30pm - 5am ///
£17.50 advance

Tracklisting 30th November

Audiojack - 'Panic Attack' [2020 vision]
Booka Shade - 'Numbers' (DJ Kicks Club Mix) [K7 Records]
Ludovic Vendi - 'Magic Morning' [Minisketch]
James Zabiela - 'Perspective' [Renaissance]

** GUEST MIX - Sasha **
DJ Set Recorded Live

Tracklisting 23rd November

Philipe De Boyer - 'Soulfreaka' (Touche mix) [Hammarskjold]
Goldfish Und Der Dut - 'Chirocco' [Dessous]
Kevin Saunderson - 'Til We Meet Again' (Carl Craig mix) [KMS]
Tiger Stripes - 'Mad At Me' [Get Physical]
Booka Shade - 'Numbers' (DJ Kicks Club Mix) [K7 Records]

** GUEST MIX - James Zabiela **
DJ Set (Recorded Live)

James Zabiela Will Be At The Warehouse Project
(Manchester) With Sasha On 14 December!!!!!!!

Tracklisting: 16th November

Sucker DJs feat. Wray - 'Salvation' (Joe T Vannelli mix) [Toolroom]
Funky Green Dogs feat. Murk - 'Reach For Me' [Cr2 Recs]
Marco Carola - 'RE Solution' [Minus:2m]

INTERVIEW - Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem)

** GUEST MIX - Steve Bug **

Manoo - 'Joparish' [Deeply Rooted House]
Dennis Ferrer - 'Touched The Sky' (Joe's Dub Beats mix) [King Street Sounds]
Whitelabel - 'C'mon Dance' [Wasnotwas]
Einzelkind - 'Spam Bot' [Playhouse]
Petre Inspirescu - 'De Bou!' [Arpiar]
Argy - 'Unreliable Virgin' [Cocoon]
Martin Buttrich - 'Hunter' [Cocoon]

No Show This Friday!

Unfortunately 'tis true, I won't be with you this week. But listen out next Friday for a very special mix from the legendary Steve Bug and that much talked about interview with LCD Soundsystem's Pat Mahoney. As well as that we've got brand new tracks from Marco Carola, Booka Shade and a mad little remix from Justice. Well worth the wait!!!

Warehouse Project Ticket Give Away Pt2: And The Winner Is???

So here is winner number 2 in our 3 part warehouse project ticket give away bonanza:

!CONGRATULATIONS!
GORDON LINDSAY from London

You've won a pair of tickets for Cocoon at The Warehouse Project this Friday, they are winging their way to you now! Have a good one!

Tune in this Friday 8-9pm GMT to hear Marco Carola guest mixing on the show as well as guest mixes from Sasha and James Zabiela in the coming weeks.
Also keep an eye out for ticket give away no.3 where we will be giving away a pair for the Sasha and Zabiela night in December.

WEEK 07:
Friday 9th November ­ SOLD OUT!
The Cocoon Party
Sven Vath
Marco Carola
Hardfloor
More acts to be announced
9.30pm - 5am
Limited £15 early Bird tickets available / then £17.50

Tracklist: 02 Novemeber

Click on tracks to purchase from beatport!
Boys Noize - 'Lava Lava' [Boysnoize Records]
LA Priest - 'Engine' (Erol Alkan's transonic re-edit) [Phantasy Sound]
DJ Federix - 'For The Love' (Kroton Sound)
Dennis Ferrer feat. Mia Tuttavilla- 'Touched the Sky' (The For Isolators Only Stereo Phonic Headphone dub version) [Defected]
Jamie Jones - 'Strangers' (Get Physical)
Justin Martin - 'Nightowl' [Buzzin' Fly]
The Lost Men - 'The Return' [Drumpoet Community]
Visionary feat. Mykel - 'Inside Out' (D-Nox & Beckers Remix) [T-Freq Records]
Slam - 'Azure' (Radioslave Mix) [Soma]

Warehouse Project Ticket Giveaway Part 2!

Ok so its a bit late notice... but we have another pair of tickets up for grabs for this Friday.

Thats right Pappa Sven brings the Cocoon train in from Frankfurt via its debauched Monday nights in Ibiza to the Warehouse Project. Going from strength to strength over the past few years, bringing techno to ibiza during times when house ruled the white isle and further extending the clubbing marathon long into Tuesday morning. The showman that is Sven Vath will be joined by German techno stalwarts Hardfloor, who have been technoising people since the early nineties. Italy's Marco Carola who's burning bright currently chips in along with new boy Raresh from Romania. Expect flamboyance, extravagance, champagne sipping and some german sounding fella on the mic.

For your chance to win one pair of tickets to Cocoon on 9th Nov at the Warehouse Project with Sven Vath, Hardfloor live, Marco Carola and Raresh. Answer this simple question:

What night does Sven Vath hold his Cocoon Ibiza night?
A.Monday
B.Saturday
C.Wednesday

e-mail name and where you're from to sublevelsessions@googlemail.com

Competition closes Thursday 8th Nov.

Fabric is 8 CD Giveaway Winner!!

Well Fabric turned a ripe old 8 last weekend and my what a knees up it was. I managed to get down on Saturday and all three rooms were going off… Cobblestone Jazz were on fine form with their noodley jazz come minimal techno sounds, whilst Ivan Smagghe(ad) and his Jesus antics gave room 2 a right pounding. Terry Francis and Craig Richards were doing an excellent job like they have been doing for all these years. And Ellen Allien just played the most ridiculous bass laden head fuck music I’ve ever heard. And the birthday antics didn’t stop at the door… As I type, I’m enjoying a nice glass of purple panda pop chilled to what must be minus 35 degrees with some fresh Fabric shaped ice cubes from the delightful trays they gave out. Let’s hope we can expect more of the same for years to come.

Anyways we had a competition to help celebrate 8 years of Fabric, giving you the chance to win your choice of 3 CDs from the Fabric and FabricLive back catalogue, if you answered the simple question of “Who is Fabric and Wiggle’s long time resident?” The answer was of course Terry Francis and the lucky winner is……………..:

Adam Reynolds from Leeds!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!

Adam you’ve won your three choices of:
Marco Carola Fabric 31
Ewan Pearson Fabric 35
Adam Beyer Fabric 22

They're already winging their way to you now. Lets just hope the Royal Mail arent sitting around doin nowt.

Unlucky if you didn’t win this time, but we have other competitions coming up, to win pairs of tickets to the Manchester Warehouse Project for the Cocoon night (9th Nov) and Sasha/Zabiela night (14th Dec) as well as guest mixes on the show from Sasha and James Zabiela themselves in December and Steve Bug will also be dropping us a guest mix to promote his Fabric CD. Check back here as we’ll be putting up some CD, tune and event reviews too.

Thanks

Chris