For Lack of A Better Name. Deadmau5 releases (another) debut album

Track List
1. FML
2. Moar Ghosts 'n' Stuff
3. Ghosts 'n' Stuff Feat. Rob Swire
4. Hi Friend! Feat. MC Flipside
5. Bot
6. Word Problems
7. Soma
8. Lack Of A Better Name
9. The 16th Hour
10. Strobe

Deadmau5, one the most hyped names in clubland right now, has just put together his "debut album"... after 6 previous others (source Discogs page: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Deadmau5 ). "For A Lack of A Better Name", which is out now in all download and record stores, is a mix of 10 Deadmau5 self produced tracks, including the collaborations with Rob Swire (Ghosts 'n' Stuff) and MC Flipside(# Hi Friend!). The tracks are somewhat well programmed and make up for a easy, but quite un-arousing listening. The overall sound becomes monotone at many times with tracks following on a very linear structure, only occasionally sparking a moderate thrill with some unexpected tone changes (tracks 1, 5 and maybe, just maybe, 2 and 8).
The mix is nothing special or skillfully exciting, just a typical track blend in and out. To one's ear, it might just sound too calculated, too computerized and not very exciting. Personally, I couldn't dedicate my full attention to listening through the whole mix, even from the first take,the FWD button came in very handy. Maybe a better approach would've been an unmixed version of the playlist, which would attract the Dj "brotherhood" to get this album for individual tracks.
To all fairness, the production on the whole album is quite slick indeed, but just misses to arouse anything special in the feet. As well, watch out for a beautiful, trippy breakdown in "Soma" (track 7). My cherry-picks from this album are FML and Bot, which manage to infuse much needed energy and groove into the mix. Truly brilliant tracks which fed my appetite for more...but unfortunately left unsatisfied after.
I'll just be getting these two for now and I'll be looking FWD to the next Deadmau5 album.

Stay high!

* The links are there just for review purposes only. They will be taken down after 1 week.

Sunglasses at Night. JuNKy StEpZ September 2009 mix

It's funny that I'm posting this in my blog prooobably after posting it around on the net. So far I got some very good responses so I feel curageous(?!?) to put it here too.
Sunglasses at Night. A mix worked and reworked for too, too long; a certain sound looked for and finally found in these 14 tracks here. Putting together this mix has been a very interesting trip for the past...6 months (on/ off). Frustration and anger interrupted by only few breaks of satisfaction! But every mistake made and every new try have all played their part in shaping this final sound:
rapidshare.com/files/275921305/Sunglasses_at_Night_-_September_2009_JuNKyStEpZ_mix.mp3

The mix’s conception started with the first 2 songs in the tracklist and a personal obsession for Tiga’s track Sunglasses at Night. Lately, the whole world went totally 80’s...again; Sunglasses at Night manages to overcome its possibly doomed roots. The track is on the darker and disturbing side of the 80’s and doesn’t have any of the superficiality of the period’s stereotypical sound. And it’s sticky as hell!
Another point of interest in the mix is Serge Santiago’s remix of Blind, a track which I found on a SMD mix. A very interesting piece, with sensitive verse sang by a brilliant voice which to me sounded very Boy George...it’s probably not him though; A track with great substance and feel.

The rest of the mix just came together by building to and from these points. Until recently it had an alternative and very chilled ending, with the beat slowing down to an atmospheric final track by Joris Voorn. After a few more days away from the speakers, I felt that Sunglasses at Night needed something with a bit more power to conclude the mix. Power was something I’ve found plenty in Mickey Slim’s The Journey Continues followed on by Sander’s remix for King Of My Castle (this is one track that breaks down any resistance from me, even though it’s been around for some time now. It’s a well written track which holds its ground effortlessly). To bring everything to the end and emphasize the riff in King Of My Castle, I mixed in Starlight, Dennis Sheperd’s remix. Brought into my ears some time ago by a Marco V mix, the piece fits perfectly at the end of this 14 tracks-story.
So turn up the volume dial on your stereos and check it out!
(Feedback welcomed)

Sunglasses at Night tracklist
1. Wakanopi - Pryda
2. You Are Not Here – Bs As Deep
3. Subtellite (Sharam Remix) – Timo Maas
4. Under The Influence – David West
5. Blind (Serge Santiago Remix) - Hercules & The Love Affair
6. Fire Devil - Gleave
7. Alamo – Dirty South
8. Stuck on Repeat (Fake Blood Remix) – Little Boots
9. Bassman – Swen Weber
10. Sunglasses at Night - Tiga and Zyntherius
11. Fuck – Etienne de Crecy
12. The Journey Continues - Mickey Slim
13. King Of My Castle (Sander van Doorn Remix) – Wamdue Project
14. Starlight - (Dennis Sheperd Remix) - Rob de Lacey



The highest high and the lowest low x

Rikarda from Oliver Huntemann. Rule no. 1 - clean your ears of crap music!

Recently I've been trying to catch up with some new good music.The comedown from my last mix (Sunglasses at Night http://rapidshare.com/files/275936172/Sunglasses_at_Night_September_2009_JuNKyStEpZ_mix.rar ) had left me hungry as a wolf. As it always happens, good music is not necessarily found , more like a series of wonderful and unexpected events lead to great discoveries.
In our case here this beautiful..and dark track entered my universe when getting lost behind the wheel last Friday. Trying to get home after a bit of a Brick Lane meeting I turned the radio dial onto a mix by John Digweed. Shortly after, pumping out of my cheap Fiesta's speakers was Oliver Hunteman with his trademark weird techno sound...
Rikarda - Oliver Humtemann*
Now this is a great track and right now my right foot is involuntarily agreeing with this...on the train home from Uni..gotta go now...the next stop's mine.

Get to know mr. Huntemann and his music right here:
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Oliver+Huntemann
http://www.huntemann.co.uk/index_start.html
http://www.myspace.com/huntemann

Zzzuuuper!

*the link to the track will be taken down after 1 week. For review purpose only. Please support the artist by joining artist's website and purchasing legal downloads.

Last night a DJ ruined "my life"

It's a feeling I hardly want to accept even now... but confidence in people very often lets you down.

Friday night, the week stops, the week-end starts, and every road leads to good times. The mind frame one should have…I had it, maybe even a bit more. What I didn't have in particular was money, dineros… the green, call them however you wish, they lack from a student's life like regular meals do.

No problem, I had just the antidote – a FREE party, free guest list entry only up to 11.30. I had it all prepared: names on the guest list, "thank you's" to the right people, showered, 20 pounds for drinks and a bit of a messy hair dough going on..sweeeet, ready 2 RocK!
Jumped in the car and reached the club by 11.10. The queue at the door was of about 15 people. Niiiice, I was in. Unfortunately, security had other plans, probably dictated from the promoter. They took 22 minutes to check us all in, which landed me in front of the cashier lady exactly 2 minutes after 11.30 (11.32).
The lady behind the counter smiled and cold bloodily said: "It's 10 pounds for each: D." I felt like struck by a lightning. Unsuccessfully, I tried reasoning with the cold hearted woman, after all, there were only 2 minutes passed after "The Term".

"No chance boy, The Law is the Law!" I was told.

Heartbroken, I looked around for some divine intervention :). Chance had it I suddenly saw one of the big name DJs of the night, for which, as it happens, I am currently doing some work experience at his label. Praise the Looord and heavens! I still had a chance of getting in. Putting on a big, confident smile, I hoped for a helping "hello" from the guy. Didn't happen! Nope...my good man had a long look at me and his face failed to look impressed. Embarrassed, I just felt...betrayed. Felt a bit like an 18 year old trying to get into his first club without the necessary ID. "Fuck this!" I said to myself while making my way back out the entry door, "it's not worth it.

On the way back to the car, my mind went into overdrive:
Was it such a big thing to expect? - To get a "hello" from somebody after putting in my own scarce free hours to help his label...?!?! Don't know, it seems like. Were 2 minutes just an "unacceptable breach of terms"...?!?!? Seems like. Are promoters in Hard Dance just not bothered about their public? Maybe. It wouldn't be the first time, that's for sure.

Or maybe it was the "big, confident smile" that scared everybody behind the cash counter. I mean, I know I've got some rabbit teeth, but they never scared anybody to such an extent. Whatever it was, it wasn't pleasant or fun to go through this on a Friday night.

Big people > little people?!? Well I don't think so, mr. big name Hard Dance promoter. U can kiss my scarce going out money and my precious free time goodbye. I will take my frantic self somewhere else, where people still smile back, and where big rabbit teeth are welcomed.
JuNKy StEpZ