Motorcitysoul mixing on RA this week!

Fresh from releasing their Technique album on Will Saul's Simple imprint, the Frankfurt duo of Matthias Vogt and Christian Rindermann, AKA C-Rock, have had a busy year so far. Their own brand of melodic house music has been in high demand during the current deep house resurgence, with releases signed to Freerange and Tsuba on top of their aforementioned full-length. To say that they are bandwagon jumpers would be far from the truth; they've been plugging at this deep, driving sound for a while now, even managing to score a collaboration with US house legend Chez Damier back in 2005.
The pair first recorded together around five years ago for local label INFRACom, with Matthias taking writing responsibilities, and C-Rock acting as the technical brains behind the production. Since then, they've decided to share the songwriting duties equally, forging a lush soulful sound that retains its dynamism. The same could be said about their RA podcast, which takes some of their own original productions (both as a duo and solo) and mixes them up with a fine selection of deep house both old and new. We caught up with them by e-mail to ask about the mix, and how things are going with their club night and label.

 Frankfurt duo Motorcitysoul provide a mix of tech and deep house for this week's RA podcast:  http://www.residentadvisor.net/podcast-episode.aspx?id=126

Open Wide - Dave Aju has arrived!

After three amazing EP’s on Circus Company, including the recent underground hit “Be Like The Sun,” we are proud to present Open Wide, Dave Aju’s debut full-length LP release. He has really outdone himself this time with his most conceptual and personal, yet accessible work to date. The album was made entirely with sounds from his mouth, but it’s no novelty affair, these are all wonderful pieces of music, covering a variety of styles. “Roundabout” starts things off with fat shuffling drums, an infectious bassline, and vocal refrain that builds into a ‘horn-section’ crescendo - straight from Chicago via Aju’s mouth. “Bump” is second, a fun and futuristic approach to storytelling hip-hop - the bass like he says, ‘bumpity-bump’s. “Crazy Place” is an homage to disco, pop, and wave styles, but Aju’s version takes it to the next level - pulsing lfos, ‘live’ mouth percussion, and a chorus and breakdown guaranteed to melt hearts and dancefloors worldwide! Next up is “First Love,” a super-deep and soulful house track with spoken word connecting Aju’s personal music history, referencing song titles up to this moment - pure class. “Tapatio” shifts back to his raw party side with huge sub-bass, sick bleepy synth hits, and playful vocal cut-ups - hot like the sauce! The title track “Open Wide” follows, bringing a crazy broken reggaeton-style groove, complete with clattering teeth percussion, squeaky funk synth riffs, and a dark and lovely chorus. “Anyway” is Aju’s take on an uplifting house music anthem - recalling Lil’Louis with Sun Ra Arkestra vocals. Finally, “With You” closes the album on a slow and sweet note, bubbling over with smooth synths, warm bass, and some of the most tasteful vocoder work around, on a 21st century Roger and Zapp love tip. Open Wide my friends, Dave Aju has arrived.

Happy Birthday, Stil Vor Talent!

This September Oliver Koletzki's label Stil vor Talent turned three years old. A lot has happened since DJ and producer Oliver Koletzki started the label in September 2005: Stil vor Talent can look back on 23 EPs, both underground techno tracks and popular hits, the discovery of great newcomer artists, one artist album and many, many parties. Now, as a birthday present to all of Stil vor Talent’s listeners and followers, this double-CD takes on the task of showcasing past, present and future of the label that is Stil vor Talent.

The two most prolific names on the label – that have released quite a number of EPs themselves – are Oliver Koletzki and Florian Meindl. The two DJs and producers have become very good friends over the years. Actually, it was Oliver Koletzki who discovered Florian’s talent in 2005 and since then, they have been working together on various projects. So who else would be more appropriate than Florian Meindl and the label boss himself to present a DJ mix for Stil vor Talent.

Oliver Koletzki takes over the part of showcasing the present and future of Stil vor Talent. WHAT WE DO is a compilation of 16 tracks that have been licensed exclusively for this mix. In his encapsulating DJ style Oliver Koletzki immerses the listener into the world of Stil vor Talent. It all starts out with Johnjon’s wonderfully musical Simple Days. Not only does Oliver Koletzki include new material of the artists on the label, he also puts in some new fresh names for good measure. One of them is Animaltrainer – residents at Zurich’s Hive Club – who have produced Real Ghetto Tray, a real ear-catching club tune. Also new is David Keno with Adore, Norman Weber with Apos Pianopumpe or Mickey Monzza & Joseph Disco with their stabby techno pusher Lonely. But the well-known Stil vor Talent artists have also shied neither time nor effort to produce fresh new material: Be it Channel X’s deep minimal track Sleeping Dogs or Kai Kurve’s piano-electronica piece Peppermint Patty. Not to forget Format B’s most-likely-to-become-a-real-hit-tune Jawohl. Oliver Koletzki has really taken the best of what his artist pool has to offer and has created a both very personal and charming mix, yet always with a focus on the floor. This mix is what Stil vor Talent is all about: many different musical styles, great artists – both newcomers and established producers and a real family atmosphere.
On the second CD Florian Meindl presents the last three years of Stil vor Talent by mixing 16 tracks seamlessly into each other. His focus is clear: this is Stil vor Talent’s minimal side of things, from the dancefloor for the dancefloor. He starts out with the title track of his first ever single on Stil vor Talent Sputnik, a funked-up minimal piece of electro that reminds us of the early days of the label. Then it’s straight onto more recent stuff. Channel X’s housy minimal tracks Bug Trouble and Black Coffee, Johnjon’s great Ach Gewitter and H.O.S.H.’s house-anthem Blaupause mark the beginning of his DJ mix. With three Format B tracks that have been a huge success for the label Florian Meindl gets down and dirty and paves the way for the peaktime of his mix. He really hits things off the roof by including Oliver Koletzki and Kiki’s übercool club track Don’t forget to go home. After this peak Florian Meindl slowly brings it down again with his own track Second Man on the Moon and Jürgen Kirsch’s Paladina before getting us all very sentimental by playing the first ever single on Stil vor Talent – Oliver Koletzki’s wonderful Blackout. Hearing this again is like listening to your favorite teen band: it will run shivers down your spine. WHAT WE DID is a magnificent homage to Stil vor Talent’s ability to release records for the dancefloors of the world.

These two mixes are not only an absolute necessity for the die-hard Stil vor Talent fan. They are the perfect pre-clubbing-companion, the only way to listen to many new and unreleased tracks and the best overview of a small and upcoming label that is set to become even bigger: with its modest and naturally sympathetic way of getting things done. Happy Birthday!
 

Wordandsound POPKOMM2008 Event

Wordandsound gets 10, whatpeopleplay.com get 1 - Party with us at Weekend-Popkomm-Berlin 8.10.2008

 Wordandsound will be going to Berlin to celebrate their 10th birthday at this year's Popkomm Festival. Back to back sets will be on tap from Dixon& Ame and Don Williams & Sven Weisemann, while Stefan Goldmann and Solomun will each do their thing by their lonesome. Oh. And that's just the 12th floor—the main floor of the club.As you might've heard, Weekend has three different areas for debauchery, which means that Dapayk, Sasse, Dirt Crew, Format:B, Oliver Koletzki and Woody will play on the 15th floor ,while Deadbeat and Motorcitysoul are taking care of the terrace earlier in the evening.
Co-presented by the good folks at Wordandsound's digital download store Whatpeopleplay.com and Resident Advisor, this is one event that you won't want to miss if you're in town for the festival.