EarPIPE

EarPipe’s Last Minute, One Page Sonar 2009 Guide

Thursday, June 18th, 2009 | Event Preview | No Comments

Its just gone midnight on Wednesday night… so no time for an in depth Sonar preview. So here it is in a business like bullet point format:

Thursday

Tags: 8Bit, Ame, Audion, BeCool, Ben Klock, Bloop, BPitch Control, Busy P, Carl Craig, Cassy, City Hall, Club4, Culoe de Song, Dixon, DJ Koze, DJ T, Erol Alkan, Erol Alkan Presents Disco 3000, Grace Jones, Gui Burrato, Huw Stephens, James Murphy, James Ruskin, Jeff Mills, Kanna, Kompakt, Konono No1, Kubicle, La Roux, La Terrazza, Lazarus, Little Boots, Loco Dice, Luciano, Macarena, Marcel Dettmann, Marco Carola, Martin Buttrich, Matthew Dear, Micachu and The Shapes, Minimal Nation, mobilee, Moderat, Nick Curly, Nitsa, Orbital, Paco Osuna, Pat Mahoney, Pier Bucci, Radioslave, Richie Hawtin, Robert Hood, Secretsundaze, Sonar, Sonar 2009, Sugar Beach Club, Superpitcher, Tadeo, The Wizard, Villalo, Villalobos

Ellen Allien – Out Remixes Review

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 | Single Review | No Comments

We loved Ellen Allien’s album Sool. It took a while to grow on us but once there it seemed to make a lot of sense in its haywire abstractness. Out was one of the more abstract tracks. It was fully stripped down and just plain weird. Yet it had character and a certain infectiousness about it. The single release which we are completely late in reviewing, has the original accompanied with remixes by Thomas Muller and Audion.

Thomas Muller has tried to bring the very stripped down original out of its shell by embodying it with more dancefloor friendly beats. The abstract noises are kept, which take on a kind of insect crawling feel, whilst a deep bassline rumbles and rattles about in the background. Its effective and simple in its aim, but maybe a bit too minimal generic?

Audion’s Out for Infants mix is a completely different kettle of fish. He has a fascinating take on the original. He expands on the ploddy beats found in the original by making them more upbeat helped by some metallic percussion. A simple wobbling bassline gives the track a groove as elements of the original echo about in the foreground before accumulating into an oriental floury of an Erhu melody. A great interpretation of the original, keeping elements of the original, whilst still running wild with his own theme.

Ellen Allien – Out Remixes are out now on Mp3

Tags: Audion, Ellen Allien, Out, Sool, Thomas Muller

Bjork has cancelled but there is so much more to see according to EarPipe’s Wild in the Country guide!

Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 | Event Preview | No Comments

So Bjork is officially off the bill due to stage and production issues or that illness which forced her to cancel her other date in Sheffield. Nobody knows and we’ll probably never get to know. Either way she’s cancelled and caused a right who-ha. But as they say in performance circles, “the show must go on”. The line-up still remains as is. The Battles, who were initially swaying on their appearance, will now definitely be appearing and Soulwax who are curators of their own tent will also be present. So unless you’re a diehard Bjork fan, here is EarPIPE’s pick of the bunch to catch this Saturday, leaving only the weather to worry about. Dig out your best sun dance.

Richie Hawtin

OK so our top pick isn’t really the off centre alternative choice. But you just can’t deny how good the Canadian turned Berlin scenester is. Think of this more as the solid without fail choice. More often than not Richie will deliver, trust us we have seen him countless times and never get bored. Expect driving techno beats which build up to infinity, some technical ingenuity and his trademark hair flick and clap dance.

Bookashade

With a new album out this year, the boys have been on the road showcasing a new live. Already receiving rave reviews from all corners of the world, this show is sure to excite the electronic dance heads as well as those who prefer their bands live live rather than laptop live.

Carl Craig

This man has the golden touch. Anything that he produces or remixes turns out seminal. A stalwart on the scene from the early Detroit days Carl Craig has been there, done it and decided to hang around a bit longer to show the kids what its really all about. EarPipe caught him at the start of the year and blew us away with his Detroit blend of techno combined with such musicality that only one word comes to mind. EPIC.

Dixon

Another person we caught at the start of the year was Dixon. The Innervisions resident has been at the forefront of the deep electronic house sound that has seen a recent flourish. His deep house stylings are warm, sensual and seductive, be sure to catch.

DJ Yoda

Here at earPipe we love a bit of novelty comedy to lighten the mood. DJ Yoda is the undisputed heavyweight of lightening the mood. Serious does not even come into the equation. Simply marvel and smile as he ridiculously scratches and cuts up anything and everything into an old skool b-boy rhythm. Entertaining of the highest order.

Killa Kella

Whilst we’re on the subject of entertaining hip hop we can’t forget about beatboxer Killa Kella. The former beat box champion transcends all genres from Britney to drum n bass all through the manipulation of his voice. Truly an amazing sight.

The Field
Stockholm’s Axel Willner as The Field creates some of the most epic and mesmerising soundscapes you will ever hear. Signed to Kompakt he sound is often categorised as minimal techno but it is so much more than that. Intertwining harmonies, drawn out loops and sheer epic soundscapes create a complex and intense musical environment. We caught the man at Sonar and effortlessly floated away in the sunshine on a river of mojitos.

Audion

This Saturday Matthew Dear has left his leather trousers and big hands at home for he will be in his Audion guise. What this means is he’ll be thrashing out his blend of epic twisted techno from mouth to mouth and beyond.

Danny Tenaglia

Last but not least the Brooklyn 20 hour legend that is Danny Tenaglia. Renowned for his relentless 20 hour DJ sets, this man knows how to party. The purveyor of dark twisted tribal beats, Danny will take you on a long and deep journey, then at the end he’ll kick you out in the middle of no where. Expect tribal beats with a dash of diva vocals. But do beware of the stilton clangers that he has been known to drop every so often.

Tags: Audion, Bookashade, Carl Craig, Danny Tenaglia, Dixon, DJ Yoda, Killa Kella, Renaissance, Richie Hawtin, The Field, Wild in the Country