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TECHNO ALEX SMOKE Return to Mono at the Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 9 Jan.
Despite his own career as a DJ and producer, and the fact his third album Lux is lined up for release this spring, it’s label business which has been concerning Alex Smoke of late. Having released his first two albums and a selection of 125 on Soma, Smoke (aka Glasgow boy Alex Menzies) has been striking out with ex-Soma employee Jim Hutchison on their own Hum + Haw imprint since last March. ‘When you do anything creative,’ Smoke says, ‘you always want to have full control over what you do. Soma were great to us both, but there’s nothing like running your own label.’
The pair are proud of their work with brand new local producers including Automaton, who Smoke describes
HIP HOP
as ‘pretty experimental’, and Name + Relucto, while Hum + Haw have also worked with leftfield hip hop collaborators Hudson Mohawke and Rustie. The pair are now signed to Warp, and Smoke speaks of them with pride.
As for his own work, the classically-trained musician is moving away from purely laptop-based sets. ‘l’ve been working my ass off trying to get a new live set together,’ he says. ‘After doing the laptop thing for three or four years, the time has come to start using more hardware. I just picked up a new synth today, and I’ll be running that through the laptop together with a few effects and vocals. That’ll be getting tested at Return to Mono, because it’s always good to try new things in front of your home crowd.’ (David Pollock)
THE FOUNDATION The GRV, Edinburgh, Sat 17 Jan
There‘s been a distinct lack of hip hop clubs in Edinburgh since the golden age of the likes of Scratch and El Segundo Hip hop itself it seems has been taken over by the world of bling. with mainstream hip hop becoming a weak R&B-heavy version of previous heights.
Now breakdance crew Random Aspekts are on a mission to take back the lllLlSlC they love. 'We're a hip hop night but it's definitely not just straight hip hop that we're playing.‘ explains promoter/dancer Peter Maniam. 'Our tag is "the music that inspired hip hop. hip hop and the music hip hop inspired." Everything from funk and soul to hip hop to pop to rock.‘ So don‘t be surprised if yOu hear James Brown, Aerosmith or Chicago house alongside your De La Souls, Run DMCS and Beastie Boys. 'lt could be anything that captures the essence and the energy of hip hop in its heyday. we want people to dance because that's how it started — with people dancing at block parties on their street.‘
Forming back in 2001 , Random Aspekts love of dance and danceable music is at the heart of The Foundation and for January's date they're hosting a breakdance competition with special guests front around the UK including current British B-boy champions Bad Taste Cru. ‘There hasn't been a breaking competition at a club in Edinburgh for a while now.‘ says Maniam, ‘it brings a good atmosphere and energy to the club.‘ Prepare to be dazed and confused by the skills on display. (Henry Northmore)
ii
Name: !K7 Records
Who’s playing? Joakim (pictured) and Chicken Lips. in the !K7 Room at this month's Death Disco
What’s "(7? A Berlin-based dance and electronic label/empire which now has offices throughout the world. including London, New York and Tokyo. Founded over 20 years ago, their most renowned contribution has been the DJ Kicks series of mixes by big-name artists with over 31 releases since 1995. people like Kruder & Dorfmeister. Carl Craig, Tiga. Hot Chip and Booka Shade have all contributed. One year after DJ Kicks started. the label also began releasing artist albums and singles. with which a wide array of international names have been involved.
Who’s Joakim? Joakim Bouaziz is one of the most important names in French electronica at the moment. although he hasn't yet achieved either the populist success of your Daft Punks or the stylish ubiquity of the more mainstream Ed Banger set. Still. his remixes (serialised on the My Best Remixes compilation) and three artist albums (most recently last year’s Monsters and Silly Songs). and particularly his boutique label Tigersushi. are all highly regarded. Point of local interest: Optimo's fantastic How To Kill The DJ (Part 2) comp was released on Tigersushi, while Joakim himself tore up Optimo dates in Glasgow and Edinburgh last year.
Who are Chicken Lips? Dean Meredith and Andy Meecham, who may be more familiar to readers as two-thirds of early 90s rave-pop exponents Bizarre lnc. Also Steve ‘Fella' Kotey, who plays out the decade-old electro outfit's original material and an array of remixes. including work for Madonna. Tiga. Ennio Morricone. Underworld and Chicks On Speed.
Is that it? Hardly. Also appearing behind the decks here (in a non-!K7 affiliated sense) will be The Rapture‘s Mattie Safer, Brooklyn duo and recent DFA signings Runaway. and the Death Disco residents. (David Pollock)
I Death Disco, the Arches, Glasgow, Sat 17 Jan.
8-2? Jan 2009 THE LIST 37