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CARL CRAIG
Glasgow School of Art, Fri 25 Apr; the Venue, Edinburgh, Sat 26 Apr
The phrase legend may be pretty redundant nowadays, but it's perhaps the only way to sum up dancefloor experimentalist and Detroit techno producer Carl Craig. With more pseudonyms than Satan (Blakula, 69, lnnerzone Orchestra, Paperclip People), Craig has produced some of the most inspirational experimental electronica and unparalleled funked-up house and techno. He remains one of the few artists consistently to hit the mark with productions whose subtleties in the living room more than match their infectious energy on the dancefloor.
‘When I make music, I set out to make a timeless classic,’ says Craig. ‘Something that gets people’s hearts thumping and something that when I pick it up in 30 years time I’m still going to be proud of.’
His Planet E label, which he set up in the late 805, is a benchmark of quality for house and techno labels the world over, releasing oddities and classics in equal measure. This year we can expect a lot from the label and from Craig himself. 'We've a number of new releases this year: Nico Marks, Ibex, Laurent Garnier and Jason Hogan. We’re also going to try and reintroduce material that’s been out in the past and I’m going to get back into the
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‘I set out to make timeless classics’
studio and concentrate on working on my own album.‘
His most recent venture was a collaboration with Ropeadope records. The Detroit Experiment, a sequel to 2k1’s Philadelphia Experiment, aimed to capture the sound of a city with one of the deepest musical histories in the US, drawing together jazz, Motown, funk, electronica and some of the finest musicians in the state. ‘It was fantastic to work with so many talented musicians. it always is,‘ he says. ‘It was quite a long project for me, about eight months of picking out samples and pieces of music that I wanted to use, but I think the end result was worth it.’
Although Craig loves to get out there, he’s planning on keeping it tidy this year - well, as tidy as can be expected. ‘For the past two years, I've been touring constantly and although I love it, it does have a downside in that it has kept me out of the studio which is where I really want to be right now, creating music. Don't get me wrong, I do love getting out there. Every crowd is different and you never know quite what’s going to happen. I love Scottish crowds, Glasgow and Edinburgh are great. There is always so much energy, they always get right into it.'
And what can the crowd expect on these tripTych dates? 'lt’ll depend on the night, and what the crowd want to hear. I like to warm up for a bit, see what gets them going and then turn it on full. And I’m hoping to really turn it on.‘ (Gillian McCormack)
ANDY VOTEL
Modern Lovers at Ego, Edinburgh, Fri 2 May; Divine at School of Art, Glasgow, Sat 3 May
Votel touches a Nerve
He's a hard man to track dowr‘ rs Andy Votel. The first tune I call the off ces of hrs; record laber l‘.(;'st;t1r<:k rn the travel agent trying to sort out hrs honeyrnoon. The second tzrne I call hers. more predictably. ensconced In the starlro, out of the range of prying hacks. We never do get to chat In the end. but that's all right. cos The L/s‘t would have to add another listings section lost 2:: one you hrs‘ CV — there‘s; l>|(;-l‘t', 1:) te about.
Here's the shamed—down tethe- wood version: he's a label l.‘()’:s:; rTWrsted Nemei. a producer. a solo artist in hrs; own right see the recent A// Ten F/ngers LPr and mates ~.-.rth Badly Drawn Boy for \.-.rh:)vn "e deSIgned the cover of Hcrrr‘ of Bewrlr‘r'erheast. He's also bee." «nos/n to dabble in film—making.
Oh yeah. and he's a DJ as .‘reil. whrrrh rs, after all. ans, we're here Hrs biography on the lu'rrssted Nerve website hits the nari squarely on the head I; s; szrtrarely as rt can be WIN) such a H‘rer‘tmrrrai characterr when rt Claims; that a l‘/l}l(,£ti Votel set :5 made or: of “records ‘.’."‘rl(lll synthesise psych rock. vial. kraatrock. exotica and things wr‘rch frankly have no place else to l.e'.
As anyone .vt‘o hearfl his sapp'irt slot t:; Moirse ’)l‘ Mars at trrpl;.r;." a ;;r;.rple of [mars back .‘rrll testify. rt all makes for a lJ'z'Et'ltfly exerting lesser‘ n eclectic fuzz and rumble. .vnrch - u'rhen crossed zvrth Modern Lara-'5; and Divine. two of the pest r‘rrgnts for old-school psych Sim» crown/er in the land -- 35"‘(111 “i make Mr are of the most a:r.er‘tLr'o.rs ng'it's; rrstermg
ou've had a ‘.'.’l‘rI(:. ’Da‘.'l.’l Pollock
Word Up
The latest club news
TRIPTYCH HAS PLENTY T0 offer the seasoned clubber with club nights and DJ workshops aplenty (check listings for full details). They are also putting on a selection of pre-club sets and live sets of interest. In Glasgow we have the Subbie's Domenic dropping by the CCA bar (25 April), Crazy Penis providing a live set at the Duke of New York and Benbecula records putting on a bill of avant- garde electronica at Nice‘n'Sleazy (both 26 April). In Edinburgh We have Colin Cook at Iguana (25 April), George T at Pivo and Aqua Bassino at Iguana (both 26 April) while Yogi Haughton is at Pivo (27 April).
Out 1 2 May
LVt HYUNE '8 LOUNUL CLUB of choice Vegas has got a particularly busy rnonth ahead. Not only rs rt hostrng a fashion show at its next t drnburgh date. L5 May. but the Vegas fiwrrrgs‘ albun; hits the shops on 12 May. lo back this Up there Will be a Vegas o‘wurgs tour. Glasgow rHenfrew Ferry, (1 May). Ayr (Cristal Palace. 9 Mayr. Aberdeen (the Forum, It) May) and Ldrnburgh (Ego. 17 May), And a long planned
1 ondon date has finally been confirmed as Vegas hits the big smoke on 21 June at the Camden ()entre. Luston Head. ONE OF THE STRANGEST signings to this year’s Homelands (Matterley Bowl, 24 May) has to be Ozzy Osbourne’s son . . . not Jack but Louis Osbourne, a respected deep house/techno DJ, bizarrely enough, who’s played out at Cream and Bugged Out!
IF YOU FANCY A Bll OF H8rB ‘Nltll a twrst check out
lNcogNl l0. at a secret location in Edinburgh on 26 Apr. Buses leave St Andrews Square from 8.30pm and trekets are available from Sago. on both Dalry Road and L‘;rtli Walk,
. *t Lizzy 2 1'. '. THE LIST 75