Name Cajmere
Also known as Green Velvet. Curtis Jones (his real name). many others.
Occupation Godfather of what broadly, briefly, became the electroclash sound. alongside Felix Da Housecat. Fischerspooner, Larry Tee. etc. Recently rediscovered Christianity.
Where did he come from? The home of techno. Detroit, Michigan. Born in 1968, Jones studied chemical engineering at the University of Illinois and then went on to a post-grad at Berkeley. Amusingly, this was some kind of strange rebellion, because he didn't want to get the same job as his dad, a sometime mobile disco DJ. These were the late 80s and early 903. though. and he did go to raves “just for the babes and the good music'. What he got was a subconscious masterclass from some of Detroit’s greats. What’s he done since? Played an instrumental part in developing techno's darker, more imaginative edges. His first release was the ‘Underground Goodies' EP in 1991, as Cajmere (ie Curtis A Jones). By the end of the decade he had evolved into Green Velvet —— green foam hairstyle and all —— and written some of the darkest. sexiest. most straight-facedly amusing dance music to come out of the 90s. 'Flash' and 'Answering Machine’ are classics, but no techno track ever had a funnier or more fearsome lyric than ‘The Stalker': ‘I wanted to get you roses. but they were all out/so I got you daisies instead. and dyed them with my blood’. Christianity, you say? ‘On my page you will sometimes see pictures of me at a time when I was in darkness.’ says his MySpace blog. ‘I allow these images to be posted to let people know that God will turn things around for you. if you let Him.‘ Wonder what he thinks of ‘La La Land' now?
(David Pollock)
I Cajmere plays Return to Mono at the Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 9 May.
42 THE LIST 8 2?. May 9008
Gabriel Ananda
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PREVIEW TECHNO COTTON CAKE The Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 16 May
Although it’s been a fixture of the Glasgow scene for three years now, Cotton Cake has only recently discovered what it wants to be. Launched at the Glasgow School of Art by Mehdi Dadrass and Jamie Young as a night for local bands, and then local DJs on into the night, it was about six months before the pair decided that they wanted to book bigger-name international acts. This led them on a chase around the venues of the city — to the Arches, the Classic Grand, the Glasgow School of Art again, and now the Sub Club — but it also cemented their reputation as one of the most forward-thinking clubs in the west.
‘We’ve jumped about a bit,’ says Dadrass, ‘but that’s because we’ve tried to put the right guest in the right venue, to fit them together in terms of timing and size. Since the start of this year we’ve been bi-
PREVIEW BALKAN/FOLK BALKANARAMA Studio 24, Edinburgh, Fri 9 May
Saska Haramina. who organises Balkanarama. tries to sum up the night: 'It evolved out of a celebration of the Balkans' cultural diversity reflected in its musical diversity; upbeat riotous gypsy brass madness; yearning sweet Sevdah music that tells elaborate tales of love and hate; cathartic Klezmer that makes you want to cry and laugh at the same time; haunting polyphonic Bulgarian female choirs and traditional
Greek songs.‘
Virtuoso live performances on traditional instruments are fused with DJs and VJs spinning contemporary/electro Balkan beats and visuals. Welcoming talent from the area whenever possible. in April Mr Teo Krilic performed ancient Sevdah songs, while this month Balkanarama proudly present the punters at Studio 24 with their very special guests. Fanfare Vagabontu, a truly unique eight-piece gypsy brass band from Romania. With over 30 musicians at each event, including Black Cat and Orkestra Del Sol members. the night's packed with live performance. “The electro-Balkan-beats DJ plays a trumpet over the tunes he spins and is usually accompanied by a belly dancer or two.‘ adds Haramina.
Balkanarama generates exciting, high energy. high quality music with a special element of madness, giving the Edinburgh crowds an opportunity to experience the appeal of South Eastern European music. Free shots of Rakija, and plum/grape brandies are offered with dried figs and other surprises fuelling a priceless night where you can really let loose, scream, laugh, cry. dance, sing, climb tables and, basically, party
Balkan style. (Katherine Adams)
monthly in the Sub Club and that’s going very well. We’re happy to have found a place to stay, at last.’ Most people would agree that the Subbie is an ideal location for blending together the mix of established artists and local guests that Cotton Cake still prides itself on presenting. In their lifetime, they’ve brought Claude Von Stroke, Superpitcher, Mr Oizo, Kiki, James Lavelle and Robert Babicz to Glasgow, and have offered their stage to Glasgow’s Union of Knives, Deportivo Street Team and Rustie.
For the third birthday party, though, the Cake boys have gone the big-name route, German techno up- and-comer and sometime Sven Vath acolyte Gabriel Ananda will be their special guest. ‘This is his first time in Glasgow,’ says Dadrass. ‘We both went to see him at Bugged Out in Manchester and he just blew us away; it’s really minimal, dirty techno, which is just perfect for the Sub Club and for Cotton Cake.’
(David Pollock)