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Login / 24 July 2010

2010-07-25T16:02:00Z

Jimmy Edgar - Hot, Raw, Sex EP - Hot, Raw, Sex (Machinedrum Remix) !K7
Patrick Pulsinger - Impassive Skies LP - Future Back feat. Fennesz [Disko-B]
MikIX The Cat ft. Shannon - The Key EP - The Key (Kingdom Remix) [Abracada]
Shed - The Traveller LP - The Bot [Ostgut Tontraeger]
Jason Fine - Colors EP - Red [Kontra-Musik]
Plant43 - Burning Decay EP - The Silver Finger [Ai]
Toby Tobias - Chick Chick EP - Chick Chick [Nang]
Dizzy K Falola - Various - Party-Keller Vol.3 LP - Take It To The DJ [Compost]
Nigel Hayes - IA1.4 EP - Will I Won't I [Intelligent Audio]
Swayzak - Hausfrau EP - Watergate Blues [Logistic]
Feindrehstar - Vulgarian Knights LP - Vulgarian Nights (Album Version) [Musik Krause]

Mr G: Still Here

2010-07-19T09:53:00Z

Colin McBeam is a multitalent cook. A fashion designer who has worked for Issey Miyake, Stussy and many more. An electronic music producer who has left much on the techno side, especially in the mid 90s.

But he is ‘Still Here’ and has always been as his debut from Rekids is also named after. Colin McBean aka Mr G is the ultimate Rekids personal who is in charge of big hits and hard to find groovy house music. His Rekids debut is already one of the best house albums of 2010 and we have much more to hear from him. Here is the interview I did with Mr G in honor of his perfect album “Still Here”.

Do you like Turkish cuisine? If I am not wrong you were trained as a cook. Maybe you can tell us your favorite Turkish dishes...
To be honest, I know very little about your food. But my friend Jonny Rock brings some food back from his home there, and boy it can be sweet!

You also worked as a fashion designer for Stussy and Betty Jackson right? How did that happen?
I was making music for Zandra Rhodes fashion shows. They decided I had talent and it would be good to retrain in Fashion. Which I did at London Collage Of Fashion.

And then could you please talk about the music now and then? It sounds like it all started sitting on the family couch listening reggae...
Yeah, it was about me at home, playing my dad’s old reggae records. Buying records, making my own speakers and driving me and my pa crazy. Then working as a box boy for a local sound system and getting into the analogue sound. Then it was a lot more organic and now its more synthetic. Its all about the weight in the sound for me.

I know you have an enormous record collection. How many records do you have approximately?
I reckon around about 35.00 and there killing me. But you know what I would’nt change a thing. They are a part of me and what I do.

You have released for In-Tec, Moods & Grooves, Molecular and many more as a techno act, but you are a proper house dweller right?
Yeah my first love is ballads then house music. But by house I mean the shit that’s raw and soulfull with loads of emotion. However badly it produced, its always about the picture and the emotion within rather than some overproduced copy.

And how did you make it all the way to your new home Rekids?
Knew Matt Edwards and heard the first few releases on Rekids. Then made “E.C.G.’ed” and the guys at Darling Department in London passed the track to Matt as they were doing promo for Rekids he loved it and here we are sometime later.

Which other labels do you admire these days?
There ain’t many labels that stay consistent. There are a good few track I love but labels… MM I’ll send a chart ok?

Any current favorite producers?
Ohh yeah! Mr Mills, Mr Beltram, Mr Slater, Mr Holder, Mr Van Ostwold, Mr Edwards, King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Burning Spear, Budd, Fripp, Eno. We could be here all night!

You lived in Germany, France and UK. Where is your favorite spot both music wise and as a citizen?
Japan rocks my world on every level. They wust do it soo different. Just toured there and as ever my eyes were opened. Food, culture, clubs, people, lanscape…Hi Satoshi! I could go on and on. It could be a home.

Have you ever been to istanbul or Turkey?
Funny enough but no! Not been esked yet. How is it there? You guys got funk!

How long did it take you to finish your new album?
Don’t know on and of maybe a year or so. No rushing.

Was there a specific thought or structure in mind beforehand?
No just that it had to cover all the different shades of house I make and work in house / car and sound heavy in the club.

And were you predicting that it will be such a perfect album? Are you happy with it?
Ohh yeah it does what it set out to do. And thank you for the compliment.

Do you have a favorite in the LP or a track with a special or interesting story behind?
I don’t have one it just works as a whole and that’s how I hear it although I love the old school bassline on “Get On Down”.

Will you only go on releasing under Rekids or do you have any other projects?
Nope, there are other projects in the pipeline but truth to be told the guys at Rekids, Matt and James showed me so much love don’t need to go anywhere else.

What about your pseudonym Mr G. What does it refer to?
Was Green Goblin from Spiderman. As I liked the idea of throwing beats out like Goblin throw pumpkin bombs. But couldn’t use it so it became Mr G.

And Why the name 'Still Here' for a debut? Is it a throwback to the old techno days?
Kinda! Whenever I meet people from back in the day, I always end up saying yeah ‘still here’ and I’ve always thought if I do an album that’s what I call it and everyone else seemed to like it.

What do you think about the current techno music and scene?
Ahh man this is a hard one. I think like everything its about swings and roundabouts. There’s a lot I dislike about our scene but I try only to focus on the good which is; there are a lot of great new producers coming through and making some great music, and that keepb me happy.

Would you like to come and play here in İstanbul?
Ohh yeah! I’d love to see what you’d make of my live show. Spread some love and some funk. Why wouldn’t I?

Concludingly do you have something to say to your Turkish fans?
My boy Jonny Rock has shown me that there is a long time link with both soul and disco over there and you guys were really into it and still are. I know you got the funk and passion and for me that’s great as I didn’t know that. Big up to my Turkish fans ant thanks for support.

Interview: Christopher Çolak
19 July 2010

Mr G: Hala Burada

2010-07-19T08:53:00Z

Pek çok müziksever Colin McBean’in aslında çok uzun zamadır bu piyasada olduğunu, 90’lı yılların sonunda Cisco Ferreira ile birlikte kurdukları Kombination Research etiketinden yayınladığı The Advent plaklarıyla dönemin techno listelerinde en üst sıralarda yer aldığını ve hala dillerden düşmeyen canlı performanslarıyla hatırı sayılır bir hayran kitlesi edindiğini bilmiyor.

London Collage Of Fashion mezunu olduğunu ve içlerinde Issey Miyake, Stussy gibi markaların bulunduğu bir çok isim için çalıştığını da pek az insan biliyor. Bir kaç yıldır Rekids etiketinin en önemli hit’lerine imza atan Mr G, yeni nickname’iyle yeni bir başlanıç yapmış gibi görünse de, aslında o hep buradaydı, hala da burada!

İşte techno ve house müziğin yaşayan en renkli ve yetenekli isimlerinden biri olan Colin McBean’le bu senenin en iyi house albümlerinden biri olmaya aday “Still Here” debut’sü şerefine yaptığım röportaj.

Türk mutfağını seviyor musun? Eğer yanılmıyorsam aşçılık eğitimi almışsın. Belki bize bir kaç favori Türk yemeğini söyleyebilirsin…
Dürüst olmak gerekirse yemekleriniz hakkında pek az şey biliyorum ama arkadaşım Jonny Rock sizin oralardan sık sık yemekler getiriyor ve gerçekten çok lezzetli olduklarını söyleyebilirim.

Stussy ve Betty Jackson için bir süre moda tasarımcısı olarak da çalışmışsın. Bu nasıl oldu?
Zandra Rhodes moda şovları için müzik yapıyordum İşin moda kısmında da yeterince yetenekli olduğumu düşündüler ve beni moda eğitimi almaya ikna ettiler. Ben de bunun üzerine London College Of Fashion’a girdim.

Peki tüm bunlar olurken müzik tarafında neler oluyordu? Sanırım her şey aile kanepesinde reggae dinlerken başladı...
Evet babamla reggae plaklarını dinlerdik. Yeni plaklar alır, kendi ses sistemim üzerinde sürekli değişiklikler yapar, babamı ve kendimi deli ederdim. Sonraları lokal bir sound system için box boy’luk yapmaya ve analog sesi öğrenmeye başladım. Daha sonra ise giderek organik seslerle ilgilenir oldum. Şimdi de fazlasıyla sentetik seslerle ilgileniyorum. Aslında benim olayım tamamıyla sesin ağırlığıyla ilgili.

Çok sağlam bir plak arşivin olduğunu biliyorum. Şu anda yaklaşık kaç plağın var?
Sanıyorum şu anda yaklaşık 35.000 ve beni öldürüyor. Ama sen de biliyorsun ki bu konuda hiç bir değişiklik yapma niyetinde değilim. Hepsi hayatımın birer parçası ve öyle de kalacak.

In-Tec, Moods & Grooves, Molecular ve daha bir çok techno etiketinden plakların olmasına rağmen sen aslında bir house müzik neferisin öyle değil mi?
Evet ilk aşkım baladlar ve house müziktir. Ama house deyince bahsettiğim çiğ ve soulfull house’tur. İçinde fazlasıyla duygu barındıran. Kötü yapıldığında aynen, resim sanatında olduğu gibi fazla abartılmış bir kopyaya dönüşüverir.

Peki tüm bu müzikal maceralardan sonar son yuvan Rekids’e nasıl geldin?
Matt Edwards’ı önceden tanıyordum ve Rekids etiketli ilk bir kaç plaktan haberim vardı. Tam bu sıralarda “E.C.G.’ed”ı yeni bitirmiştim ve Londra’daki Darling Department’takiler benden habersiz parçayı Matt’e vermişler. Onlar da halihazırda Rekids için promo yaptıkları için bu parçayla çok ilgilenmişler ve sevmişler. Sonrasını biliyorsun zaten.

Şu sıralar başka hangi etiketleri seviyorsun?
Şu anda gerçekten tutarlı olan pek az label var. Güzel parçalar dinliyorum ama… İstersen sana bir chart gönderirim ok’mi?

Peki favori prodüktörlerini öğrenebilir miyiz?
Tabii ki! Bay Mills, Bay Beltram, Bay Slater, Bal Holder, Bay Van Ostwold, Bay Edwards, King Tubby, Prince Jammy, Burning Spear, Budd, Fripp, Eno. Tüm gece burada olabiliriz!

İngiltere, Almanya ve Fransa’da yaşadın. Müzikal açıdan veya vatandaş olarak en sevdiğin yerler nereleri?
Japonya benim için mükemmel bir yer. Her anlamda aklımı başımdan aldı diyebilirim. Her şeyi bilinenden çok farklı, değişik yapıyorlar. Yakın zaman önce turne için Tokyo’daydım ve hiç bitmeyen bu şehri izlemekten gözlerimi bir an olsun kırpmadım.
Yemek, kültür, insanlar, kulüpler… Buradan Satoshi’ye selam! Tabiat da bir harika. Eğer biraz daha orada kalsaydım sanırım evimde hissedebilirdim!

Daha once hiç İstanbul’da ya da Türkiye’de bulundun mu?
Biraz komik olsa da hayır! Hala bana kimse sormadı. Oraları nasıl? Siz işi biliyorsunuz gibi geliyor bana!

Yeni albümünü bitimek ne kadar zamanını aldı?
Tam olarak bilmiyorum aslında. Aşağı yukarı bir yıl olsa gerek. Hiç acele etmedim.

Albümü kurgulamaya başlamadan önce aklında bir fikir var mıydı?
Herhengi özel bir düşüncem yoktu. Yapmak istediğim tek şey, daha önce ilgilendiğim ve yaptığım farklı tarzda ve renkte house müziklerin hepsini bir çatı altında toplamak ve dinleyiciye sunmaktı. Kulüpte, arabada, ya da evde dinlenebilecek house müzikler.

Bu kadar mükemmel bir albüm olacağını tahmin ediyor muydun? Mutlu musun?
Evet, albüm yapması gerekeni kesinlikle yapıyor ve komplimanın için de ayrıca teşekkür ederim.

Albümde en çok sevdiğin parça hangisi?
Aslında öyle bir favorim yok. Tüm album bir bütün olarak çalışıyor, ben de böyle algılıyorum. Yine de söylemeden edemeyeceğim; “Get On Down”daki old school bassline’ı çok seviyorum!

Prodüksiyonlarını sadece Rekids’den yayımlamaya devam edecek misin yoksa farklı projeler de var mı?
Yeni projeler yolda olsalar da, Matt ve James bana o kadar çok şevkat gösterdiler ki, Rekids’den başka bir yere gitmeyi asla düşünmüyorum.

Mr G isminin hikayesi nedir?
Spiderman’daki Green Goblin’den geliyor. Oradaki Goblin’in attığı kabak bombaları gibi beat’ler ortaya atıyor olma fikri hoşuma gidiyordu. Ama bu ismi pek kullanamadım, zamanla Mr G’ye dönüştü.

Peki Rekids debut’ünün ismi neden ‘Still Here’? Bu eski techno günlerine bir gönderme mi?
Birazcık öyle! Ne zaman eski günlerden birileriyle karşılaşsam muhabbet dönüp dolaşıp ‘ben hala buradayım’a geliyor. Eğer bir albüm yaparsam adı da bu olur diye düşündüm hep. İnsanlar da bunu sevdi.

Güncel techno müziği ve scene’i hakkında ne düşünüyorsun?
Zor bir soru. Çoğu şeyde olduğu gibi, burada da her şey hızlı dönüşler ve dolambaçlarla dolu. Scene hakkında sevmediğim çok fazla şey olmasına rağmen ben sadece ‘iyi’lere odaklanmaya çabalıyorum. Hala beni çok mutlu eden, çok güzel müzikler yapan yeni prodüktörler var örneğin…

İstanbul’a gelmek ve burada çalmak ister misin?
Evet, canlı şovumda neler yapacağınızı görmeyi çok isterim. Sevgi ve funk’ı yayalım. Neden gelmeyeyim ki?

Son olarak buradaki Türk hayranlarına söylemek istediğin bir şeyler vardır öyle değil mi?
Adamım Jonny Rock bana sizin orada soul ve disco ile uzun yıllardır çok kuvvetli bir bağın olduğunu ve bundan çok hoşlandığınızı gösterdi. İçinizde yeterince funk ve tutku olduğunu artık biliyorum. Türkiye’deki tüm hayranlarıma sevgiler, destekleri için de şimdiden teşekkürler!

Röportaj: Christopher Çolak
19 Temmuz 2010

Here comes Compost Disco

2010-07-13T14:34:01Z

It’s about disco disco and nothing but disco, doesn’t matter if it’s new, old, balearic, spacey, soul, crunchy, edited or without any references. Musicwise it may or maybe not differing from several other disco-ish tunes on Compost Black Label, Drumpoet Community, Compost Records or other subsidiaries related label imprints. Since old Compost acts like Syrup or lot of recent disco-ish releases on Compost or Compost Black Label, the distinctive disco feel is here and there.

Well, Michael prefers to play all kind of disco in clubs, in his radio show, his experiences, record collection, everything seems still open minded, but sometimes it just needs a new logo. If you like to know why, you are invited to discuss this any further with A&R Michael. One other reason for launching Compost Disco is: Compost’s long term freelance graphic designer Benjamin Roeder, who designed lot of covers, CDs, 12inches, flyers for Compost and Black Label, came up with an definitely fantastic artwork concept for a disco label.

Each Compost Disco release will coming with fully printed 12” covers, designed by Benjamin Roeder. His collages of disco related images and styles are predestined for and as a piece of art, some of them already be shown in galleries, at exhibitions or clubs. In addition to the fact that Benjamin Roeder is a respected graphic designer with an outstanding reputation in the peripherals of modern art, he is a top disco DJ and recording artist, too (check his Spectacle project on

Christereo live at Acik Radio 94.9FM İstanbul 19 June 2010 playlist;

2010-06-20T09:24:00Z

A Guy Called Gerald - Tronic Jazz The Berlin Sessions LP - Merfed [Laboratory Instinct]
Autechre - Move Of Ten LP - M62 [Warp]
Automaton - British Steel EP - British Steel [Hum+Haw]
Arctic Hospital - In Chaos LP - Forever Magnetic [Lantern]
Autechre - Move Of Ten LP - ylm0 [Warp]
A Mountain Of One - Beach Disco Sessions Vol. 1 LP - Lie Awake (Original) [Nang]
Soaked - In Light EP - In Light [Soaked]
The Diaphanoids - Beach Disco Sessions Vol. 1 LP - Weightlessmotionless [Nang]
Jeff Mills - The Occurence LP - Inception [Axis]
Polysick - Meteo LP - Transpelagic [Strange Life]
Satomi Taniyama - Portopia LP - Speculations By A Man [Strange Life]

Durum Değerlendirmesi Vol. 4

2010-06-12T18:35:00Z

Ben geçen zamanda çalışmaktan başka çok fazla şey yapamadım.

Bir kaç güzel DJ'lik gecesi ve güneşli gün haricinde genellikle hayatım gece mesaileri ve taksi fişleriyle geçiyor bu aralar. Bir de tabi iş yerimin taşınması sebebiyle artık öğle tatillerimi Levent-Kanyon civarında geçiriyorum. Gözlemlenecek, tadacak ve izlenecek çok şey var.

Normal şartlarda ender sinema molaları ve alışveriş ihtiyaçları dışında senede bir kaç kere uğradığım bu mekân bir anda hayatımın içine giriverdi. Minik ve güzel bahçemizden 5th Avenue manzaralı, bol camlı yeni ofisimize geldik. Plazalı olduk. Şimdilik halimden hiç de şikayetçi değilim çünkü metro sayesinde de Balmumcu trafiğini çekmiyorum artık. Ayrıca dediğim gibi tadacak ve görecek yeni yerler ve şeyler var buralarda.

İstersem Gültepe'de tabldot yemek yiyebilirim, istersem Levent çarşıda gezinebilirim, istersem metroyla İstiklal’e bile gidebilirim. Gerçi şu ana kadar en uzak Cevahir'e gidebildik, o da bir iş içindi. Ama baharın ve yazın tadını çıkaracakmışız gibi görünüyor şimdilik.

Bu arada İstanbul'da bir kokoreç çılgınlığı yaşanıyor. Adım başı yeni kokoreççiler görüyorum, benim gibi bir sakatatsever için oldukça heyecan verici bir gelişme. Ama böyle bir talep mi var asıl sebebi nedir merak ediyorum, araştıracağım, sizin fikirleriniz veya bilginiz var ise bana chris@halfstereo.com adresinden yazarsanız sevinirim.

Gece hayatı ise fena değil. Dediğim gibi ben nokta atışları yapmaya devam ediyorum o da genellikle gece 12'den sonraları oluyor, o da gece geç saatlere dek sürüyor, zaman zaman da ertesi gün işe gidiliyor. Yeni mekânlar açıldı, işler tıkırında gibi ama nedense eski tat yokmuş gibi geliyor bana. Kokoreçler ise hiç fena değil.

İlkbaharın gelişiyle müzik endüstrisinde de çiçekler açtı. Her sene olduğu gibi bu sene de Mart ayından itibaren birçok yeni albüm ve sanatçı çıkageldi. Heyecanlı bir dönemdeyiz sanırım. Kişisel olarak elektronik müziğin ve dans müziğinin konumundan çok memnunum. Vinil ve djiital satışlar, paylaşım konularını bir kenara bırakırsak etrafta çok güzel müzikler ve onlarla pek fazla ilgilenmeyen gençler var.

Hype'lar ve trend'ler hiç olmadığı kadar çok kitleleri peşinden sürüklüyor. İnsanlar modaya ve trend güruhuna taparcasına hayatlarını şekillendiriyor şu günlerde. Otomatikleşmişçesine yaşıyorlar hayatlarını. Herkesin konuştuğu yerlere gidip, herkesin yediği yemekleri yiyip, herkesin giydiği ayakkabıları giyiyorlar gibi geliyor bana. Doruk noktasında bu mod.

Beni rahatsız eden en önemli durum ama hayatım bunun hakkında birşeyler yapmama izin vermeyecek kadar hızlı ilerliyor ancak böyle bir yazının içinde 3-5 kelime edebiliyorum sizlere. Neyse biz müziklere dönelim. İşte oltama takılan albümler.

The Black Dog - Music For Real Airports LP [Soma]
'Music For Real Airports' aslında bir multimedya sanat projesi. Gece kulüplerinde değil sanat galerilerinde icra edilecek bir performans. The Black Dog ve Human'ı bu albümü canlı olarak icra ederken İstanbul'da izlemek ve dinlemek gerçekten harika olurdu. Brian Eno gibi bu müziği havaalanlarında dinlenmek üzere de kurgulamamışlar, onun yaptıklarını ve düşündüklerini görsel ve işitsel anlamda bir üst noktaya çıkarmaya uğraşmışlar.

Modern kültürün vazgeçilmez parçaları havalanları hakkında 1979 yılında Brian Eno'nun yaptığından daha anlamlı ve gerçek birşeyler üretmek çok uzun zamandır The Black Dog ekibinin aklında varmış. 200 saatten fazla field recording ve 3 yıllık bir uğraşın ardından görsel olarak da ilgi çekici, harika bir işe imza atmışlar.

Ambient ve deneysel müzikler seven herkesin bayılacağı bu albüm benim ilk baharın ilk dönemi için en favorilerimden. Tüm yaz boyunca dinleyeceğime de eminim. Programlarımda da sıkça çalıyorum, denk gelirseniz dinlemeye devam edeceksiniz.

Chris Carrier - Gosse De Paris LP [Robsoul]
Bu Fransız adam yazın en güzel albümlerinden biriyle, debut'süyle çıkageldi. İşte bahsettiğim o çiçeklerin en güzellerinden birisi 'Gosse De Paris'. Parizyen house müziğinin en önemli isimlerinden biri olan Chris Carrier, soul, groove ve disco kokulu müziklerini Phil Weeks'in plak şirketi Robsoul'dan yayımladı.

Yaz aylarında DJ setlerde sıkça dinleyeceğiniz parçalar var albümde. Hepsi birbirinden güzel, hepsi için ayrı ayrı EP'ler basılabilir, basılacaktır da. Benim en favorilerim ise 'Cabaret Des Belles Lettres', 'Gosse De Paris' ve 'Les Faubourgs De Grenelle'.

DMX Krew - The March To The Stars LP [Strange Life]
Hollanda'nın adı üzerinde en tuhaf plak şirketlerinden biri olan Strange Life, DMX Krew'ün daha önce hiç yayımlanmamış parçalarından oluşan çok lezzetli bir albüm yayınladı. Özelliikle 'Digitally Controlled Oscillator' parçası beni eski Den Haag günlerine götürdü. Hala Creme plakları alan biri olarak bu albüme bayıldım. Lo-fi ve analog electro, Aphex Twin, DMX Krew vs. seviyorsanız kaçırmayın. Fazla söze gerek yok.

Various - Sixteen F**king Years Of G-Stone Recordings LP
Bu albüm de Viyana müzikleri sevenler için harika bir haber oldu. 16 Nisan - 16 Mayıs tarihleri arasında G-Stone'un internet sitesinden bedava olarak indirilebilen 12 klasik ve 13 yepyeni parçadan oluşan albüm herkesi çok heyecanlandırdı. Muhteşem bir müzik şöleni olan bu albüm 17 Mayıs itibariyle de içinde tüm sanatçılaırn anlatıldığı bir kitapçıkla beraber müzik marketlerlindeki yerini alacak.

Eğer yıllardır İstanbul gece hayatında varlık gösteriyor, Babylon'a gidiyor ve hala G-Stone'dan bihaberseniz, size tavsiyem en yakın müzik markete gidip bir haftasonu-tercihen pazar sabahı-evden çıkmayıp konyaklı kahve eşliğinde ve muhabbet etmekten en çok hoşlandığınız arkadaşınız veya sevgilinizle birlikte bu 2xCD'lik albümü dinlemeniz olacak.

Aslında G-Stone'un 16 yılını dinleyeceksiniz. Ama hava çok güzel biz evde oturmak istemiyoruz derseniz; tabii ki İstanbul şehir dışına doğru üstü açık bir arabayla giderken olabilir ancak. Yoksa size izin vermiyorum, zira raconu bozar.

Various - Seed X I-II-III LP [Seed]
Seed Londralı elektronika etiketleri arasında en çok sevdiklerimden biri. Sebebi tabii ki label'ın da sahibi olan Posthuman. Onlar da 10. yıllarını çok tatlı artwork'ler ve limited edition CD'lerle bezeli bir müzik şöleniyle kutladılar. 3xCD'lik limited edition CD'ler ve download edileibilir müzikler uzun zamandır değişik müzikler dinlememiş ve her telden karışık şeyler dinlemek isteyenlere ilaç gibi gelecektir.

Rock, 8-bit, electro-clash, techno, ne isterseniz var içlerinde. Çok güzel artwork'leri de adaşım Christopher yapmış. Sınırlı sayıdaki CD'leri seed'in web dükkanından alabilirsiniz.

Various - Deep Medi Releases Volume 2 LP [Deep Medi]
Digital Mystikz'in yarısı, pek çoklarına göre dubstep tanrısı Mala'nın label'ı Deep Medi yeni toplamasını yayınladı. Dubstep'in tekno versiyonundan uzak duran ve Reggae, dub seven insanların bayılacağı parçaların bulunduğu dıplamada ben en çok Quest'in parçalarını sevdim. Gerçek Rastafari ruhuna saygılı ve gerçek dub'lı step'lerin bulunduğu Deep Medi son dönemin türündeki en iyi plak şirketlerinden biri.

Christopher Çolak
12 Haziran 2010

Phonique: Kissing Strangers

2010-06-12T17:34:00Z

He says; “Everytime you go to a club and listen to a new track, which gets you, it might be like being kissed by a stranger. Sometimes thats all you need for the moment and sometimes the track is so big to you, that you go and ask the DJ and get the track the next day and listen to it for the next months or years. Like a love affair, which resulted out of that first encounter.” This is an excellent summary for Phonique’s new LP named “Kissing Strangers” which is full of collaborations and a two years of hard work.

He has compiled the album and chose the best fitting tracks while working for some of them for months. And the result is astonishing. With the likes of Louie Austen, Kiloo, Ian Whitelaw, Gui Boratto, Georg Levin, H.O.S.H. and many other names, Phonique has build up a new exciting sonique universe of his’.

I really love this album and fort he ones who are enjoying Phonique tracks with a lot of vocals will love this album. For sure it is one of the most delicious albums of this summer. We had the chance tp ask him questions while he is in Brasil, touring. Here is the Phonique interview.

This third album seems and sounds like so much fun. Did you enjoyed or exhausted more while doing it? What is the taste you get now, right before the release date?
Producing music is always fun. Especially if you have a great partner to work with. Of course if at the end of the album production process you go back to the first track from 2 years ago and work on it again to be sure that it still fits style and soundwise to the newer tracks. Its a bit more work than fun, but you always get rewarded in the end by a sweet product.

How long did it take you to finish and select all tracks?
About 2 years.

Do you have a favorita track in the album? For example mine is your remix of Ofrin. it is for me one of the most delicious remixes you have ever did...
I am glad you say that as it wasn't so easy to convince the label why I want a remix on the album. But I really love it too and I thought it would have been a perfect album track, so why not trying to make it happen. My favorite is “Amy's Heart”. I listened to it over 200 times and I am still not tired of Ruben’s sweet voice.

I am curious about the art direction (those girls) and the name "Kissing Strangers". Can you talk about these?
The artwork developed when meeting with the photographer Alex Gnädinger, who is one of the highest profiled persons in this business making world wide campaigns for Adidas and others. He is an old friend of mine and for the last two albums I always worked with his assistents for the artwork or the press pictures.

This time he found a free slot and really wanted to work on this. The artwork somehow developed out of the album title. The album title was in my head for a long time as you can compare it easily with music. Everytime you go to a club and listen to a new track, which gets you, it might be like being kissed by a stranger.

Sometimes thats all you need for the moment and sometimes the track is so big to you, that you go and ask the DJ and get the track the next day and listen to it for the next months or years. Like a love affair, which resulted out of that first encounter.

What are your plans for the summer. What will you be doing and where?
In the past years the booking situation changed a bit. Now bookings are coming in for next month or so, while back in the days you would already got booked 5-8 months ahead. So I can't really say what's happening in the summer. Right now I am touring Brasil and Chile for 3 weeks and we will also have a little label showcase in Kazantip and at the end of the summer I might do an Australian tour.

Is Ibiza on focus too during the summer? Where is the best spot for you to spend the summer both as a DJ and as a tourist?
Although i won this ibiza 'deep house' dj award in 2008, the last time i played there was 2007 and i don't think anything is scheduled yet for ibiza. The best time to spend the summer as DJ or tourist is definetly Berlin. We have so many great clubs here and during the summer we have those open air spots like Bar 25, Cub Der Visionäre, The Berghain Garden or The Weekend Terrace.

What about remix treatments and other solo EPs from you?
We just did a remix for Louie Austen’s new album and we will have a Tigerskin vs Phonique split 12" on my label 'Ladies & Gentlemen'.

What do you think about the current deep house scene and music?
I think its really great. There is so much good music out there these days and deep house is doing a great job from clubs like Tresor to Panorama Bar. I am really glad about it.

What about Dessous' Best Kept Secrets?
I don't know. Steve Bug knows all the secrets and every now and then he likes to share some with us in releasing those EPs, hahaha!

Would you like to come again to İstanbul? what are your memories about our city?
İstanbul is one of the few citys, where I always spend more than just one night when I get booked there. Because I really love this city. I am an urban guy and I love these huge cities like İstanbul, Sao Paulo or Tokyo. And I am a fan of the Turkish cuisine.

How is life in Berlin these days, here is too hot!
When I left for the Brazil tour it was still raining a lot, but I am sure when I come back it will be nice, but too hot, that only happens 2-5 days a year.

Would you like to say something to your Turkish fans regarding your new album?
I hope to see you this summer for some kind of album release. I remember, that you guys really know how to party!

Interview: Christopher Çolak
Photography: Alex Gnädinger
12 June 2010

Glimpse’s Runner

2010-05-24T19:59:05Z

Glimpse's album 'Runner' is an amazing body of work that is sure to become one of the albums of the year. Glimpse is a DJ and producer's favourite, a true innovator who is able to explore and master various genres in his own inimitable style. Blurring the distinctions of traditional genres, he appeals to even the most obstinate listeners through his tireless dedication to continual reinvention. His debut studio album is a beguiling, heady mix of house music drawing on the true essence of its rudimentary influences to produce an album of true magic.

'Runner' is the conclusion of a decade of production for Glimpse. Touching on the experimental improvisation of jazz, with the endless spiraling loops and fluid instrumental solos of 'Feel OK' and 'I Know I Show It', while flirting with the purity of world music in the ethnic outcries of 'Alone Again', and the marimba driven opener 'Walk Tall'. A new album version of the single release, 'If I Was Your Girl', comes decked with opulent vocal harmonies and compliments the subsequent energy-charged 'Things To Do In Denver', both scored with a rough and urban edge. Still rooted in the underground, 'Runner' concludes with the dubby electronica cuts, 'Enjoyable Employable', and the crackling sparks of 'Thank You', before the mystical terrain of 'Train In Austria' proclaims the final curtain.

Tracklisting:

Walk Tall
If I Was Your Girl
Things To Do In Denver
Alone Again
New Beginnings
Feel OK
I Know I Show It
Enjoyable Employable
Thankyou
Train In Austria

Glimpse’s Runner

2010-05-24T19:59:01Z

Tracklisting:

Walk Tall
If I Was Your Girl
Things To Do In Denver
Alone Again
New Beginnings
Feel OK
I Know I Show It
Enjoyable Employable
Thankyou
Train In Austria

Glimpse’s Runner

2010-05-24T19:59:01Z

Tracklisting:

Walk Tall
If I Was Your Girl
Things To Do In Denver
Alone Again
New Beginnings
Feel OK
I Know I Show It
Enjoyable Employable
Thankyou
Train In Austria

Abracada is kinda magic…

2010-04-14T22:35:00Z

A time when the savage punkrockers of Yeah Yeah Yeahs top the singles chart - with a little help from a former tour DJ of Kanye West. Glitzy R&B diva's assign dubstep producers for a healthy dose of otherworldly beats, and forgotten chart-busters by Olivia Newton John or Paul Simon are tweaked into cosmic space dust by disco connoisseurs.

The thin line between good and bad taste has never been so blurred. Be it Hot Chip namedropping R. Kelly, Tiga's tongue-in-cheek routine or Bollywood going global, 'cutting edge' artists have never been so comfortable with revealing their 'pop' side.

Forget the carefully moulded and harmless androids manufactured at Disney headquarters, the real future dominators of pop music you'll find right at the edge. That's where the creators of ABRACADA are looking. Find the edge - and tiptoe right over it - it's like Winston Churchill once said: 'attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.'

All you need to step into the game is a well trained ear and muscled instinct, but the founders of this spellbinding enterprise are no rookies. Manu Barron and Dirk De Ruyck both carry their share of credentials with aplomb.

ABRACADA is their joined mission on the frontier of pushing groundbreaking new artists into the music arena. No hocus pocus, no hidden cards or tricks up their sleeve, just honest, fresh and intoxicating tunes for modern times. That you can dance to. Or not, it's up to you!

Manu's stint as a concert- and party promoter at the l'Aeronef venue went far from unnoticed well beyond the limits of its home town Lille. He was also closely involved in transforming Dour Festival from a provincial alternative festival to an international renowned gathering of musical tribes. Manu took his expertise to the next level when he started managing artists such as Das Pop, Brodinksi and The Aikiu. On weekends, you'll find him at Social Club in Paris, where he's chief of A&R.

For years, when Ghent nightlife had something exciting on offer, chances were Dirk had his finger in it. From the legendary Eskimo and Belmondo parties to Culture Club, this self-made entrepreneur was involved. Later he successfully launched Eskimo Recordings, releasing albums, twelve inches and compilations from Lindström & Prins Thomas, Optimo, The Glimmers, Peter Visti, Aeroplane and Low Motion Disco, amongst many others.

The first two ABRACADA releases are coming from The Krays (Brodinski and Yuksek) Feat. Ebony Bones with 'We're Ready When You Are' - featuring remixes from DJ Mehdi and Clashe.

Be friends with FM Belfast

2010-04-12T22:00:00Z

These three people started everything as a hobby and the band thing progressed into a fulltime job. Some say that they're Iceland's best kept secret and that!s true! And they are no more a secret because they released their debut from Kimi / Morr Records sometime ago and I am really happy that Loa found some time to answer my questions.

You should really listen to their soft, pop based electronic melodies and vocals. FM Belfast is one of the most beautiful upcoming bands in the scene and their music will really catch you right form the heart. I have not seen that intimnate and sincere melodies since ages!

As the band, your attitude looks so intimate. And listening to your music is like attending to a friend's party at a little bar you usually go. So warm and friendly! How did you manage to obtain this naturalness and warmth?
Thank you for saying that. We have been friends for a long time. Maybe that is the vibe you get from us. And I think we are rather friendly people, at least I hope so.

You are from a very cold country but you are not as 'cool' or cold as the other old bands from your soil. You are rather sociable and willing to give a secret in each song of yours, did you really?
Cool, haha, I don´t think we are very good at being cool. Whenever I´ve tried to be cool something bad happens, a bird shits on my head or something like that. Did we give secrets? I´m not sure. I can´t really keep secrets because I have a trouble knowing what is a secret and what is not.

You once defined your music as 'dance music with occasional drama'. Critics call it as electro-indie-synth pop from Iceland. Do you really care on genres or forms while writing music?

Nope, we don´t think about that. I think it would be weird for me to decide a genre before I do something. I guess we do electro indie synth pop because that´s what it ends up being when we do it

I am curious about your name. Why FM and why Belfast?
The name has no logical explanation. It´s something we came up with one day. It was for another project that was very different from what we are doing now. Much darker and cooler, so naturally we were really bad at it. But we liked the name and kept it.

What about covering some old tracks how did it occur firstly?
The first time we covered an old track was when Árni R. was making a song for himself in his living room. It was before we made the band. I was making fun of him and singing an old song over his new song. Then we thought it was fun and recorded it together. Then our friend suggested we would make more, which we did.

What other electronic music do listen and enjoy?
We like Gary Numan, Ellen Alien, Kraftwerk, Laurent Garnier, Knife and Fever Ray, Gus Gus, Sykur and Nolo. All sorts of stuff.

I also know that this FM Belfast project started with a little Christmas present and now you just played at Super Mon Amour Festival. How was it? How do you feel about your debut and current position?
It was very suprising for us that people wanted to come to our shows and then other people wanted us to come to their country to play our music. It makes us very happy. Now we have been able to do more of that than when we first started. There is a girl called Kim Booth that is working with us and helping us promoting our stuff. She is doing an amazing job.

Super Mon Amour Festival was wonderful. I love the people at SUPER!, they are great. We try not to think to far ahead with what we are doing. We are thankful for what we have and that we have people coming to see our show and buying our album.

What other projects do you do in your personal lives? It can be anything, different from music or even arts?
Árni R. is also making solo stuff under the names: Hungry and the Burger and Pluseinn, Árni V. writes comedy, Örvar writes books and comedy and draws and has his own band Múm. Lóa illustrates children books and makes art.

Which other bands do you enjoy and maybe you should say the bands you really admire and got inspiration from?
We like all sorts of bands. Pavement, Flaming Lips, Sin Fang Bous, Retro Stefson, Skakkamanage. We admire people that follow their dreams and do what they want to do.

Have you ever been to istanbul and what do you know about here, would you like to come and play?
Nope, maybe Örvar because he´s been everywhere. I´m going to ask him later. I would love to come and play for you.

If you have time while touring, what things you really try to catch up from the places you have been?
I like googling places and reading about them. We also have a really nice manager that tells us a little bit about the places we are going to. When I have time I like walking around. Mostly go to outdoor markets and toy shops. Sometimes we can see other bands play.

Do you miss home? Or playing in your place to your friends or are you okay with all this?
I sometimes miss home but I realized a while ago that if you have something you miss, like a place or a person, you are a very lucky person.

How long did it take to finish your debut and from whom did you get help in both production and conception?
It took us more than 2 years. When we made the first songs we weren´t thinking about making an album. We didn´t get outside help in the production but our friend helped us make the art work and packaging. He is half turkish and half icelandic.

You released the album both from Kimi and Morr Music how is the story about this?
Kimi and Morr have a release-distribution relationship, Morr distributes for Kimi. Kimi is our Icelandic distributor and through them Morr distributed for us. We actually self released the album.

Do you have a special song, with a special story to tell?
'Synthia' is a special song. We made it on my birthday. It´s a lovestory about a synthesizer that we know and it´s owner has forgotten all about it. It is just gathering dust in a basement. Sad story.

Are you planning or thinking about the future right now?
Well, we get help with that. Me personally, I try not to do that at all. Maybe a few months, practical things but if I think about the future too much I don´t enjoy what I´m doing now. I also have a tendency to be pessimistic. So I just try to be positive and think about what I´m doing right now.

What will you tell us lastly, to your Turkish fans?
Thank you for talking to us, I´m sorry for replying so late. Maybe we´ll see you in Turkey. I hope so.

Interview: Christopher Çolak
12 April 2010

Danton Eeprom: The most serious Frenchman

2010-04-12T21:39:00Z

He is a serious guy. Whatever it takes he does push the limits and never budges from what he really believes. His sound has evolved and matured during all those years. He still has a spice of 'Retronica De Reve' what he sued to call his music. Danton Eeprom is such a talent to lend an eye and his sound is as mature as never before.
His debut tells much about his contemporary life and wills. A concept build upon equestrian which means discipline, hard working and rules.

He is the most serious Frenchman you could ever imagine. You should also see him on stage. He is a legend! His performance is still one of the best in indigo club's history. And you should listen to what he says about the music and the things lefted over.

Hello how are you and what have you been up to? YOu moved to London and residing there for a while, how is the scene and atmosphere there compared to France and Paris or Marseille?
Hello Christopher. Well lots of things happened since I last came to Istanbul, where I had an amazing time. I've toured all over the world, playing live and DJing, and somewhere along the line I realised the scene had gone global, which is great news for everyone, as more quality music is readily available and enjoyable by most.

I've also recorded my album, and I moved to London a couple of years ago. London's always been a key place in the realm of music, strong movements were born here and it is still happening as we speak. The scene is incredibly lively, with an open-mindedness and a sense of partying I never really could find in France., or anywhere else for that matter. People are also more respectful to others in daily life, which is something very important to me.

You released you first single 'Give Me Pain' from the forthcoming LP. This album will be really big! How long did it take you to finish and how was the process, could you please talk about it a little bit?
The album was released in France at the very end of last year and is now available in Europe and most other countries will follow very soon. It was produced by my own imprint, Fondation Records in order to be sure it would be exactly as I wanted it and not turned into a watered-down version so to please A&R sharks and hopeless label executives. I've been proven right making no compromises whatsoever considering early press reaction, and wasn't expecting that much praise, if any, this record being my LP first effort.

"Yes Is More" was chosen as "album of the month" by at least ten magazines all over Europe at the same time, and even got a couple of features on national television which needless to say was a first for me! It got me the opportunity to play live with a band I formed to perform the album's songs later this year at summer festivals. Most importantly, it also caught the scene and crowd's attention, people in general reacted well to the fact the LP felt quite different to anything I had done before, let alone anything else at the moment!

All these things I really appreciated when they came along as I had spent an intense year recording it in France and UK behind closed doors, and I was looking forward to tell the world about it all. After all, people could have thought I was done with music production, or that I had joined the infantry, or that I had turned into a hippie selling organic goat cheese and home-made necklaces in a VW van in the countryside. People, they imagine things, you know.

In 'Yes Is More' there is no exact direction. You are giving clues about what we may expect from you in the future and what excites you right? And'Taking risks instead of going safe' is the way also you chose in you debut.
Just because "Yes Is More" is a fairly diverse record encompassing what could be perceived as different styles doesn't mean it is lacking a direction. Quite the opposite, actually, as it's going from one place to another instead of going round in circles. It could be assimilated to story-telling, like, say, a novel. The only difference being, in this novel all the chapters can also be read independently, like short stories. I'm heavily influenced by my readings so this makes a lot of sense to me.

If I had chosen to shy out and play it safe by going for techno-only or pop-only tracks, It would have been like repeating one part of a given story over and over, every time in different words. I would have been bored to death doing this, and I think you would have given up on me too. People reacted very well to the record in its current form, which amazed me first, but I then realised we were in 2010 with several decades of pop and electronic and rock behind us, and it would be an insult to people's intelligence and open-mindedness to assume they couldn't cope with a record that tried to push the boundaries of what's possible to do a bit further. Primal Scream predicted some odd twenty years ago that albums of now would be more like iTunes playlists...

Unfortunately, record companies' greed and artist's fear of not succeeding, two things typical of our modern crisis days, give birth to what seems to be a never-ending string of inbred records indulging in cheap tricks, easy melodies and good old studio recipes we've been fed hundreds of times before. On top of being foul play, it is not my idea of forward-thinking and innovative music and the good news is, I don't seem to be the only one to think so.

What do you think about the current trends (nudisco and deep house revival etc.) and how do you think these effected the global dance music scene?
I don't know man, and to be honest I don't give hype too much credit. I didn't even notice to be honest with you. I like a good tune, whatever label you may put onto it. Styles are only here to sort out the records in different sections so people can find them more easily in stores, right?

What do you think about your approach towards contemporary electronic music production? Can we say that 'Yes Is More' is the exact and efficent answer of this question?
Well I don't think anything, I just do it. I didn't mean to answer any question either. If anything, my record is more of a question than the other way round. Since pretty much all the music is electronic these days, including folk ballads, pop, RnB, the term "electronic" music doesn't make any more sense to me. I'm just trying to write good, honest music. Music that moves me. "Yes Is More" is a recollection of things that moved me, things

I wanted to share with people, and they can make these their own by associating them with their own experiences if they feel like it.

Don't you like and deal with electro as you used to do in the 'Retronica De Reve' days of yours?
I don't regret a thing, but as you have noticed I don't feel the need to do the same thing twice; once it's been done my curiosity pushes me to explore new territories. I'm not changing, just evolving permanently, like quicksands. It's the only way to stay alive and to surprise people... like, well, quicksands.

Do you have a favorite track in the LP? For example I love 'Tight' and 'The Feminine Man' track you did with Chloe. Or maybe there is a track with a special story behind which you would like to tell?
I can't chose one over the others, there are no "filler" tracks in here, all these pieces are part of the big picture and mean a lot to me. Nevertheless I chose to put a new mix of a track I did three years ago and that helped me achieving recognition by the scene at the time, when it came out on 12": it's "Confessions Of An English Opium-Eater", whose untouched 12 minutes sit right in the middle of the record, inevitably splitting the record in two.

Common sense would have ordered to shorten it to make it more "LP-friendly". But this track only makes sense when listened from a to z in its original length, so it was either this way or not putting it in the tracklist at all, which would have been a shame in my opinion.

What is the concept behind the art direction of the album artwork. Danton the equestrian?
It's more of an irrational obsession than a concept per say. I've started collecting everything horse-related for a little while for some reason: paintings, drawings, objects, clothes... I'll leave it up to the people. If anything, my music life has been closely linked to travelling around, going places and explore so far. Isn't horse-riding the best, most natural way to do so?

What do you usually do, when you are not having a gig the following night or when not doing music production?
I do quite a bit of photography at the moment, and had my first couple of exhibitions in London and Paris a few weeks ago. It's a great source of inspiration. So are the people I love, with whom I try to spend as much time as I can, since DJing and producing can be quite a lonely affair at times.

Do you like London's weather? What is the worst thing you hate and the best thing you like there?
Weather.. It's all up there in your head I think! I kind of got used to it, even though I'm missing the clear blue skies and the warmth typical of my native South of France every now and then. Good news is, here in London we make the best of sunny days by rushing to the park and sporting swimsuits whenever possible, ie. when temperature is above... 19 degrees! Bad weather tends to get people together though, they gather up and warm up in pubs to forget about the rain and cold.

Do you still wear a tuxedo in your live shows! And when will you come back to İstanbul? Maybe you don't know but yours was one of the best ever performances the Indigo club has seen!
I'm still fooling around with clothes, yes. I still wear a tux, but I can now also be a sailor, an all leather-wearing cocky rockstar... Whatever comes across my mind and I find funny is good enough. I really liked that Elvis-style white tux that french fashion designer and dear friend Agnes B. lent me to perform on TV last december! It made me feel like a virgin who knew one thing or two...

What about your future plans? what is in your mind in terms of musical and personal career?
I live on a day-to-day basis so I don't think about it too much. All I know is that I've got more places to go, more love to give, more music to share, and more people to meet and have a hell of a good time with!

Interview: Christopher Çolak
17 February 2010

Maayan Nidam - A Turnaround

2010-03-25T13:07:00Z

Maayan Nidam recently came to our town for a couple of gigs. She played on two different locations under seperate themes. One was more downtempo which was at Otto Asmalımescit, a famous pizzeria and bar with a very good and dance loving crowd. The other was a little bit more straight forward and of course clubby at 11:11 the best current club in İstanbul.

She played really well and only on vinyl! That is a rare thing to experience these days and a good clue that she is taking her job serious than any other female collegaue around. Her detail loving productions keeps her sound discrete and unique.

In her new Freak n' Chic EP, she again shows how micro scale she is into and how concrete and groovy she can be. My favorite in the EP "The Road To Recovery" is better than the best definition about her music. Maayan Nidam is for me the most talented and promising artists of contemporary dance music. Check this out.

Christopher Çolak

Durum Değerlendirmesi Vol. 3

2010-03-10T00:48:00Z

Eğlence artık daha ‘sıkı fıkı’ ve iç mekan odaklı olacak. Baharın müjdecisi cemreler gelene dek bu böyle devam eder. Ben payıma düşeni aldım diyebilirim. Bir süredir nedense hafta sonları dışarı çıkmama tercihindeyim. Hep hafta içi hatta en çok salı ve perşembe geceleri dışarı çıkıyorum. Zaten uzun zamandır fazla dolanmadan nokta atışları yapıyordum, fakat son dönemde bu giderek belirginleşti. Bunun sebebi sanırım daha kompakt ve tanıdık bir kitleyle beraber hoşça vakit geçirmek ve yorulmadan yua da sigara kokmadan, balkabağına dönüşmeden eve dönmek. Tabii istisnalar kaideyi bozmaz ama şu günlerde o İstiklal enerjisine maruz kalmak pek de hoşuma gitmiyor.

Çok yoğun çalışmak haricinde geçtiğimiz 1-2 ay yaptığım en belirgin şey, hayatı ertelememeye çalışmak ve o anda aklıma düşen istekleri, arzuları elimden geldiğince gerçeğe dönüştürmek oldu. Daha önce hayatımda hiç olmadığı kadar çok yaptım bunu. Özellikle de bu son bir kaç hafta içinde.

Sanırım insan zaman ve hayatın cilveleri karşısında bir takım tepkiler veriyor ve farkında olmadan değişimin eşiğine geliyor. 'Değişmeyen tek şey, değişimin kendisidir' düsturuyla geçirilen bir ay oldu benim için. En zevkli kısmı ise final aşamasına gelen yüksek lisans derslerim için yaptığım çalışmalar oldu. Her cumartesi sabahı İlhan Bilge'nin ofisinde geçirilen 3-4 saat ve uzun sohbetler, ardından 'eski şehir'de ufak bir gezinti ve lezzet duraklarına ufak yolculuklar. Gedikpaşa, Kumkapı, Mahmutpaşa ile sıkı fıkı oldum bu ay.
Bir süredir üzerinde çalıştığım 'Kırk Harf' isimli kitapta İstanbul'un çeşitli yerlerinde, tabelaların üzerinde, apartmanların giriş pencerelerinde veya dükkanların logotayplarında ve hatta gizemli noktalarda hala hayatlarını sürdüren kırk şanslı harfi mutlu ettim.

Çoğumuz İstanbul'un uçsuz bucaksız sokaklarında yürürken, her gün önünden geçtiğimiz ve fark etmediğimiz onlarca ayrıntıyı ıskalıyoruz. Hayattaki bir takım şeyleri ıskaladığımız gibi.
Ben bu ay İstanbul'da hiç gezmediğim kadar çok dolaştım, daha önce hiç girmediğim sokaklara girdim ve daha önce hiç bulunmadığım mekânlarda bulundum. Tüm bu deneyimden çok büyük zevk aldım. İnsanın kendi şehrinde turist gibi hissetmesi ne güzel şeymiş! Bu turlarıma ve keşiflerime bundan böyle aralıksız devam edeceğim. Tabii bu yolculuklarımı ve sokakta gezerken gözüme takılan ayrıntıları belgelemeyi de ihmal etmiyorum. Kalan zamanda ise tahmin edebileceğiniz üzere müzik dinliyorum.

Şu aralar en çok Emika ve Ceephax Acid Crew dinliyorum. Ceephax'in yeni albümündeki iki şarkının ismi akıllara zarar: 'Denizlispor' ve 'Trabzonspor'! Yeni albümünde ortaya karışık tüm hünerlerini sergilemiş Ceephax. Benim bu ay en çok hoşuma giden albümlerden biri oldu doğrusu. Emika ise Ninja Tune'un son keşfi olan İngiliz vokalist ve müzisyen, on parmağında on marifet şahsiyet. Yeni yılda yayınlanacak albümü bu yılın en iyilerinden biri olacak.

Bunların haricinde İtalyan Riva Starr Balkan minimal sound'unu ele geçirdi diyebilirim. Son albümü 'If Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade' türünde en iyilerden biri olarak 2010 yılına daha yayımlanmadan damgasını vurdu. En sevdiğim isimlerden biri olan Dan Curtin'in yeni albümü de beni gerçekten çok heyecanlandırdı. Mobilee etiketiyle yayınlanacak yeni albümde Dan Curtin yine tüm hünerlerini konuşturuyor. Rush Hour misyonunu devam ettirerek Anthony 'Shake' Shakir retrospektifiyle seriyi devam ettirdi harika bir işe daha imza attı. Mart ayında yayınlanacak yeni Autechre albümünü de heyecanla bekliyorum doğrusu.

Conforce - Machine Conspiracy LP [Meanwhile Sounds]
Hollanda'nın ücra bir köşesinden çıkan Boris gerçekten harika işler yapıyor ve her yeni EP'siyle yaptıklarının üzerine biraz daha ekliyor. Şu anda benim için Jason Fine ile birlikte en sevdiğim isimlerden biri techno müzik arenası için. Hatta Conforce'u tek geçeceğim ve bu albümü daha yayınlanalı birkaç hafta olmasına rağmen bu yılın en iyi albümlerinden biri olarak ilan edeceğim. Detroit techno, Drexciya ve Hollanda ekseninde muhteşem bir lezzet fırtınası. Michelin yıldızlarını benden rahatlıkla kaptı!

Pangea - Pangea EP [Hessle Audio]
Benim için Vex'd gibi çok yetenekli pek az prodüktörden biri olan Pangea bu yeni Hessle Audio kısaçarıyla gönlümü fethetti. Biraz daha kassa albüm yapabilecekken bonkörlük ederek bir EP olarak yayınlaması haricinde bu albüm hakkında söyleyebileceğim kötü bir şey yok. Yeni jenerasyon drum&bass sound'undaki değişim rüzgarları dub step'in akıllı çocuklarına da sıçramış gibi görünüyor şu günlerde.

Orlando Voorn - Nightvision The Remix Album Vol. 1 LP [Nightvision]
Çok yakın zaman önce röportaj yaptığım Orlando Voorn'un gizli dosyaları bir bir su yüzüne çıkıyor. Bu hit'ler kolay kolay bulunacak cinsten değiller. Her biri elmas kadar değerli bu toplama albümde birbirinden iyi remix'ler yer alıyor. Nightvision sound'unu ve gerçek techno'yu dinlemek isteyenlere...

Nick Chacona - Love In The Middle LP [Mood Music]
New York'un gerçek disco alemcilerinden ve prodüktörlerinden olan Nick gerçekten hakira bir albüme imza attı. Çok uzun zaman önce yaptığı parçaların da yer aldığı 'Love In The Middle' albümü bu yılın en iyi albümlerinden biri olmaya şimdiden aday. Gerçekten groove ve disco seven biraz da electro ve 4/4'lük ritim fetişizmine sahip herkesin büyük zevk alacağı türden bir albüm.

Eddy Meets Yannah - Fiction Jar LP [Compost]
Bu ikiliyi çok daha easy listening ve hatta leftfield olarak duymaya alışmışken bu albüm kışın şu son soğuk günlerinde kanınızı kaynatmaya yeter de artar bile. Bir süredir büyük bir değişim rüzgarını arkasına alan ve beni çok sevindiren Compost'tan bir bir harika hamleler gelmeye başladı. Bu hamlelerin sonuncusu ise Eddy ve Yannah'ın ritm ve groove dolu bu albümü oldu. Şaşırmadım desem yalan olur ama bir o kadar da sevindiğimi ve bu albümü beğendiğimi eklemeliyim. Kesinlikle edinilmesi ve dinlenilmesi gereken bir rare groove ve hatta house albümü.

Applescal - A Mishmash Of Changing Moods LP [Traum]
Belli ki Traum ekibi bu 22 yaşındaki Hollandalı gence fazlasıyla inanıyor. Ama aksini düşünmek hata olur zira debut'sü haricinde bu albümdeki parçalar da birbirinden orijinal ve güzel. Bu adam neredeyse Boards Of Canada'nın doldurduğu boşluğa doğru ilerliyor. Bu adamın insanları dans ettirmek veya meşhur olmak gibi dertleri yok. O sadece sevdiği ve istediğimi müzikleri yapmak istiyor. Gerçekten içten ve melodik olarak çok zengin bir albüm daha kotarmış Applescal ve yaşından çok büyük işler başarmış.

Bunların haricinde yazıyı daha fazla uzatmadan kulak kabartmanızın gerekli olduğunu düşündüğüm albümleri de buraya sıralıyorum, yeni sayıda görüşmek üzere...

Alex Smoke - Lux LP [Hum+Haw]
Jahcoozi - Barefoot Wanderer LP [BPitch Control]
Various - Freaks Best Of Times Compilation LP [Musik For Freaks]
The Love Supreme - New Millenium Freaks LP [Tirk]
Greco-Roman - From Seat Of Mount Olympus LP [Greco-Roman]
Various - Nang Presents The Array Vol.1 LP [Nang]
Matthew Hawtin / Various - Once Again, Again LP [Plus8]

Christopher Çolak
5 Mart 2010