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PREVIEW ll CllNC) BLAKE BAXTER Cotton Cake at the Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 21 Nov.
Brush up on the history of Detroit techno DJ and producer Blake Baxter for a bit and one of the first adjectives you’ll come across in many of his biographies and career summations is ‘underrated’. Of course, it’s not that Baxter is unknown to crate-digging historians and long time fans of dance music, or that he isn’t still active as both a live artist and a recording one - only two years ago, Baxter put together the 28th edition of the famed Fabric mix series.
Nor is it that Baxter was seen as an inferior to the Belleville Three of Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May and Juan Atkins, whose names came to pass as bywords for the entire Detroit techno scene at the time. In fact he was part of their circle, playing out at the city’s
Music Institute club alongside them, and others who had started DJing the same style of music. It seems like an enviable position to have been in - and it probably was in almost every way - but in hindsight it might be cause to pity Baxter just a little. He was in on the ground floor, before the Detroit scene even managed to stretch beyond the city limits let alone take the world by storm, yet he and every other young DJ in the city had to live in the shadow of the trio who were viewed as the scene’s originators.
Although his recognition levels these days still don’t compare to the revered May or Saunderson, the fact he’s still in high demand two decades on — and that the Chemical Brothers’ famously reappropriated his track ‘Brothers Gonna Work It Out’ - has carved Baxter a deserved niche in techno history.
(David Pollock)
PREVlEW ll-Cl WC) 8. HOUSE SUBCULTURE Studio 24, Edinburgh, Fri 14 Nov.
This fortnight Subculture comes to Edinburgh after Studio 211's manager. Gill McArthur. witnessed their programming of T in the Park's Bacardi 8- Bar by chance and felt she could make the night work in Reekie. 'We're all promoters first and foremost. says Paul Crawford of his fellow Sub
lub directors. “and that's what really drives us and keeps us interested. We've all got a passion for the music_'
This background served Glasgow's underground favourite well during a lengthy nomadic period between the Sub Club's fire and refurbishment. and comes to the fore again nov.l as they travel east With Detroit's godfather of techno Derrick May and Subby stalwart Harri in tow. ‘We're not looking to become God's Kitchen or anything. that's not
what the Sub Club is about'. says Paul. who cites a change in inanagmnent structure as facilitating the pursuit of opportunities like this. ‘We'd be interested in doing other things in Scotland. maybe in the UK. and l)( ssibly one or two things abroad. but we're not looking to franchise the Sub Club as a name or a brand. That doesn't really fit With the ethos of the place.’
It's not that either party feels Edinburgh if; lacking after dark. 'We're not coming at this from the perspective that the scene needs shaken up'. Paul insists. 'L—dinburgh's got a very healthy scene. we're lust hoping to complement that and perhaps put our own stamp on it'. In saying this. he re; sserts the mantra l-larri has adopted from The Stone Roses: "it's not where you're from. it's where you're at.' ilvlark Edmuivlson)
I [)erricA May also plays Subculture at the Sub Club, Glasgow. Sat 75 Nov.
Name Digitalism
Also known as Jens 'Jence' Moelle and Ismail ‘lsi‘ TUfekci. Occupation German purveyors of funky and discordant dancefloor filth.
Where are they from? Moelle and Tt'ifekci founded Digitalism in 2004 after meeting at a record shop in Hamburg where they both worked. The two — sickened by the generic and formulaic house and techno records falling into their laps each week — soon bonded over 708 funk, Daft Punk tunes. disco. film soundtracks and electronica. They began mixing and recording (allegedly in a World War II bunker) after the store's owner asked them to DJ at a party. What next? Digitalism went on to wow clubbers around Europe. gaining many famous fans including highly respected and influential types like Erol Alkan, Soulwax and Justice. leading to a deal with trendy Parisian label Kitsune. Storming debut Idea/ism was released to critical acclaim last year and the duo have also remixed tracks by everyone from The Presets. Daft Punk, Tiga, Cut Copy and Klaxons to White Stripes. Tom Vek, The Futureheads. The Cure. Depeche Mode and — gulp — Lisa Stansfield. What might I have heard? Any number of their stunning remixes or album tracks. but the biggest hitters so far have been the relentless basslines. crispy beats, brooding melodies and squelchy Synths of ‘Pogo'. ‘ldealistic' and 'Zdarlight'. Drop any of these in a club and even the most austere fashpackers will crack a smile. Any other business? Naturally. Digitalism are so bloody brilliant that legendary Glasgow sweatfest Death Disco have invited them to celebrate their sixth birthday this month. The pair play a hugely anticipated DJ set alongside a stellar line—up which includes live onstage antics from Franz ‘n' Shape and The Golden Filter. and DJ sets by Andy Blake. Nadia Ksaiba. Den Haan. the TRAMP! chaps and Death Disco residents. (Camilla Pia)
I Digitalism plays Death Disco at The Arches, Glasgow, Sat 22 Nov.
lit—27 Nov 2008 THE LIST 31