Introducing Untitled and After, a New San Francisco Techno Label

In an encouraging sign that the techno scene here is still on the rise, today marks the debut of two promo tracks from Untitled and After, a new San Francisco techno label. Label head Marc Kate sent me links to his promo tracks earlier this week (thanks Jacob!), and I really liked what I heard - moody but groovy tracks built on a minimal foundation with progressive propulsion and lots of atmospheric and melodic flourishes. You can check them out for yourself here:

Untitled and After promo tracks: La Villa Strangiato and Because You Weren't There from Land Sound (mastered by John Tejeda, no less!)

Here's what Marc, who performs as Silencefiction and is half of Land Sound, wrote about the label:

Untitled & After is a new digital music label run and curated by Marc Kate aka Silencefiction.

U & A is a Techno label that explores post-Minimal sounds.

U & A exists in this tension between the focused precision of minimalism and the grand gestures of dense and deep programming and performing.

U & A’s sound is defined, not so much in terms of genre, but in terms of mood. Though U & A's roots are in Techno, the music is made by artists with a mind for texture and atmosphere, moodiness and introspection.

U & A explores the difference between tracks for the dancefloor and those for headphones. Headphone music can be epic. Dancefloor tracks can be cerebral.

U & A considers its spiritual ancestors to be My Bloody Valentine for density (audacity?) and Joy Division for minimal sounds as maximum atmospheres.

When U & A grows up, it wants to be the 4AD of techno.

http://untitledandafter.com
http://www.myspace.com/untitledandafter

Marc says he's planning some Untitled and After events for 2009, so be on the lookout here and elsewhere for more great San Francisco techno sounds from this promising label.

Mix Download: Alland Byallo on Process

It's been a while since I gave a shout out to the excellent Modyifier blog from local designer and techno aficionado Rayna Di Nord. More than just another music blogger, Rayna is interested in the creative process that people bring to producing music and DJing, and each Process mix is also a reflection by the artist on that process. Through personal solicitation and referrals from other artists Rayna has amassed 107 mixes from locals like yours truly, Lord Kook (as Glowfish), C.L.A.W.S,, and Mochipet, as well as international names like popnoname, Scratch Massive, Pharrel, and more. There's hours of music here, and lots to read and think about. A highly recommended way to spend some time at work.

The most recent Process mix: Alland Byallo of Kontrol.

New Live Mixes from Javaight

DJ Javaight, one of the impressarios behind Staple and the Killswitch happy hour, just released two new live mixes, one from the aforementioned Killswitch, and another from a set at The EnUp. In his words

Although there are a few similar tracks in both mixes, the Killswitch mix is a bit dark, trippy and groovin, while the Endup mix is definitely more "peak hour" and jackin.

"Jackin'" indeed. Check 'em out for yourself:

1. Javaight Live @ Killswitch
2. Javaight Live @ The Endup

2008 Deep End Burning Man Sets Now Available Online

For all those who were there, and those who weren't but wish they could have been, all the Deep End sets from Burning Man 2008 are now online:

http://www.thedeependcamp.com/music/line_up_2008.htm

(well, not all, I notice that Worthy's set, which carried me through Friday morning from a looooong Thursday into Friday, isn't up, unfortunately).

Mix Downloads: Vintage Live Mix Downloads

Thanks to reader Mark for turning me on to Ezeskankin Mixtapes, a HUGE collection of live mixes from 1998 and back, including San Francisco shows from DJ Dan, vintage Jeno and Mark Farina, really dozens, if not hundreds, of sets from a special period in electronic dance music history . Note that these really are mixtapes, with Sides A & B, but the sound quality seems to be generally good.

Mix Download: Minima Machina from Lord Kook

Lord Kook of Fuck Shit, Let's Dance has a new mix out. Entitled "Minima Machina," it's a journey through minimal techno, suitable for headphone listening or afterhours grooving. Check it out over on his website.

Track List:

01. Nathan Fake - Peary Land (intro)\
02. Lusine - Make It Easy (John Tejada Remix)\
03. Jan Driver - Kardamoon\
04. Pier Bucci - Hay Consuelo (Samim Remix)\
05. Kritical Audio - Krupp (Minilogue Remix)\
06. Petter - Some Polyphony\
07. Gurtz - Nagoya\
08. Solomun & Stimming - Feuervogel (Original Mix)\
09. Stephan Hinz - Ending Up Flipping Burgers / Diescinerum\
10. Troy Pierce - 25 Bitches (Gaiser's Too Many Bitches Makeover)\
11. Claude Von Stroke - Who's Afraid Of Detroit (Tanner Ross Remix)\
12. John Gaiser - Egress\
13. Square One - Vesuvius (Justin Martin's 'I Hope It Doesn't Blow' Mix)\
14. Chelonis R. Jones - Deer In The Headlights (DJ Hell Remix)\
15. Nathan Fake - Peary Land (outro)\

Mix Download: 022608 from DJ Pup

So here's my first new mix in a very long while; and, even more special, this is my first entirely on CDs using my new Pioneer CDJ-800s. Almost all this music was acquired in the past two weeks, and though I really need to listen to it and live with it more, I am pretty pleased with how it all came together. The only thing I would change is mixing in Lawler's "Courses for Horses" against Deadmau5's "Secondary Complications;" this was the first time I tried it, and now listening back to it I think it's too busy, but that's why we do these things, right? Koehncke's "Weiche Zaune" is also a somewhat different genre than the rest of these tracks, but it's such a beautiful expression of disco utopia I really wanted to use it to make a statement. Similarly, the remix of "Lazy Eye" by Silversun Pickups is a bit different, but I think it leaves the listener with a lasting impression and some lyrics that echo through your head long after the track has ended.

As usual, feedback and comments are welcome.

Mix 022608 from DJ Pup

Track List

Weiche Zaune (The Modernist Remix) - Justus Koehncke
Supernova - Gabriel Ananda and Dominik Eulberg
Time to Jak - A Guy Called Gerald
Secondary Complications - Deadmau5
Courses for Horses - Steve Lawler
Mantrakoma (non-vocal version) - Dusty Kid
Hunted - Martin Buttrich
Tomographie (Spektre Remix) - Andre Crom
Hold My Hand (Dubfire Remix) - UNKLE
Lazy Eye (Jason Bentley Remix) - Silversun Pickups

Mix Download: Vintage Disco from the Trocadero Transfer

The guys at Remember the Party, which regularly celebrates the glory days of disco at the legendary Trocadero Transfer, have put together two MP3s of a reel-to-reel set that was originally put together by TT founder Dick Collier. So, if you're hungry for some vintage late 70s/early 80s disco, go check it out!

Mix Download: Richie Panic of Frisco Disco

Mr. Panic of the Frisco Disco has a new mix available that seems to include a couple original edits:

Ready For The Floor-Hot Chip (Panics Tidy Re-edit)

Organ Grinder-Trevor Lovey & Sinden

Why not?-Alter Ego

Wet 'N Wild-K.I.M. (Riot In Belgium Remix)

The Sound-The Rapture (Ben Rymers Back to 95 Remix)

My People-The Presets (Panics Cut and Run DIM Re-edit)

Gimme What You Got-Black Daniel (Alex Metric Remix)

Move, Shake, Drop-DJ Laz and Pitbull

Valerie-Mark Ronson (Count Of Monte Cristo & Sinden Remix)

Dooms Night-Azzido Da Bass (Laidback Luke Bootleg)

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger-Daft Punk (Deadmau5 Edit)

More More-Junkie XL (Kraak & Smaak Get Stupid Remix)

Fool For Love-Das Pop (Yuksek Remix)

Road To Recovery-Midnight Juggernauts (Curses! Remix)

Bonus Track

Mix to Download: Glowfish Mini-Mod EP

The boyfriend, aka DJ Lord Kook, has just released his first EP under the name of Glowfish (the myspace is here, and the actual website where you can download the EP is here). Entitled "The Mini-Mod EP," it all started back in August with an invitation to contribute to the modyfier blog - you can read the whole story there. It's four tracks that he describes thusly:

"Drawing from elements of down tempo, trip-hop, minimal techno, and shoe gazer, the Glowfish project aims to create a thoughtfully immersive listening experience, perfect for late nights after the club, or long walks through windy cities. "

It's a continuous mix EP, but if you want single tracks for playing out or, dare I hope, remix purposes, you can send him an email and he'll be happy to oblige.

This has been four months of hard work and me hardly seeing him while he worked all this out, so if you like it, please let us both know that it was all worth it.

Mix to Dowload: DJ Bearzbub

I had a great conversation on Christmas Eve at a party with DJ Bearzbub, who spins for Charlie Horse and has made appearances at Trans Am, Viva La Basket, Chrome, and Bearracuda. Bearzbub also spins on occasional Sunday afternoons at The Eagle, so you know he's got the punk/rock/metal genre down pat. It was first hearing this kind of music being played in San Francisco gay bars that convinced me I wanted to live here, so you should check out this great slice of the queer rock sound that he put together for the Viva La Basket crew.

Mix to Download: Richie Panic Live at Frisco Disco

Missingtoof.com has a live mix of Richie Panic at Frisco Disco that's kinda neat - I wouldn't have thought of putting Chromeo, Samim, and Claude Von Stroke on the same mix (and I even own several of these tracks), but that's why I check out other people's stuff. This is a little more on the booty side of electro and indietronica, with nice techno edge that pops out every now and then, put together in a tight mix. I'm sure sets like this must drive them crazy every Saturday over at The Transfer. Shake it baby, shake it!

Tracklist

1. Zongamin - Bongo Song
2. Federico Franchi - Cream (Original)
3. Acid Jacks - Awake Since 78 (Mstrkrft Remix)
4. Acid Jacks - Mookie (Curses! Remix)
5. Chromeo - Bonafide Lovin’ (LA Riots Remix)
6. Samim - Heater (Vandalism Re-Rub)
7. Claude VonStroke - The Whistler (The Ashton Shuffle Remix)
8. The Rapture - W.A.Y.U.H (Claude VonStroke Pantydropper Vocal Mix)
9. The Presets - I Go Hard, I Go Home (Club Mix)
10. DJ Jeroenski - Back Once Again (Vandalism Remix)
11. Koma & Bones - Multistorey (Original Mix)
12. C.L.A.W.S. - C.L.A.W.S. Theme (Passions Remix)

Mix Downloads: New Mixes from 8ball of the Space Cowboys

A little electro, a little minimal. And look for the return of Breakfast of Champions at Shine at 6AM on New Year's Day!

Electro Con Carnage vol. 2
(Stuff I played on the playa; electro and breaks)
01. dizko shit / malente, manrox
02. trouble / soul of man / deepcut rmx
03. the bump and grind / andrew friendly
04. my bass / keith mackenzie
05. freakshow / krafty kutz / vip rmx
06. any way you choose to give it / the black ghosts / playgroup rmx
07. satisfaction / benny benassi / proxymusic odd school rmx
08. bring the noise / public enemy v benny benassi / pump-kin rmx
09. groove is in the heart / dee-lite / toscadisco rmx
10. harder stronger faster / daft punk / deadmau5 rmx
11. never say never / vandalism / hard rub rmx
12. through the door / krafty kutz & dj icey / dj iceyʼs v12 rmx
13. on the ragga tip / dj fixx
14. flip dat / dj fixx
15. bad girl at night / dave spoon ft lisa maffia / beat vandals rmx
16. defected / robot needs oil / olivier giacomotto rmx
17. the bomb / luke francis / palmer v backside artist rmx
18. rise up / dj disciple / jesse garcia rmx
19. her / kissy sell out / metal on metal rmx
20. space / micha moor / klaas club rmx
21. disco wreck / punks jump up / confuzion rmx
http://spacecowboys.org/files/Electro_con_Carnage_vol._2.mp3

Deckless Modifying Mix Vol. 2
(Minimal - house, electro, breaks)
01. tosca / superrob / henrik schwarz mix
02. simon baker & infant / plastik
03. delon & dalcan / academy
04. balke / rock over you / paolo martini rmx
05. nick muir / i feel real / chopstick rmx
06. square one / vesuvius / justin martin rmx
07. dino da cassino / don't you (forget about me) / dino lenny original - loafer edit
08. julian poker & john-e & diego miranda / wahnzinn / phonique rmx
09. david k / incoming / motorcitysoul rmx
10. rocha & lewinger / miles davis
11. mihell / the grit / dos rmx
12. jjazzy & alex santos / the look into your eyes / phonique rmx
13. chaim / c factor / audio soul project rmx
14. deetron / life soundtrack ft dj bone / rejected interpretation
15. andy cato (groove armada) / uppers on the south downs / andy cato's hot head
16. trentemoller & buda / gamma / perc rmx
17. alterno79 / gti / groove rebels rmx
18. lusine / push
19. resin dogs / she's gone / kraak & smaak rmx
20. ben mono / beatbox ft capitol a / kalbata rmx
21. t.u.m.m. / fur immer / sweno n & pascal vert rmx
22. gui boratto / mr decay / robert babicz universum disco rmx
23. olivier gregoire / empechment
24. grand theft auto / keep moving
25. makossa & megablast / find it ft farda p
http://modyfier-modifying.blogspot.com/2007/12/blog-post.html

Mixes and Remixes from DJ6 and Donimo

Just found a link to Discoclique, the blog of DJ6 (Lucky Pierre, Bender, Heat) and Donimo (Lucky Pierre, Heat, Substance), where they're putting out monthly mixes and occasional remixes of their favorite electro/dance/indietronica tracks. This month's mix from Donimo is particularly pleasing for all us ex-goth types who loved us some synthy mixes back in the day, leavened with a little neu-rave and electro to keep us from feeling like fogies. Check it out, and don't forget that they'll both be spinning at Lucky Pierre at The Stud tonight.

Mix Dowload: The Deep End Sets from Burning Man 2007

All the sets from the Deep End at Burning Man 2007 are now online at the Deep End website. This years line-up included folks like Hoj, Syd Gris, members of the Space Cowboys, The Scumfrog, Dylan Rhymes, Lee Burridge and a whole lot of others, so check it out, I'm sure you'll find something to keep you rolling along until Burning Man 2008.

Mix to Download: HeatVision by Lord Kook

From Lord Kook comes some darker, harder, electrobreaks beats than what you might have heard during his residency at Drunk and Horny. Here's the track list:

1. Zombie Nation - Don't Touch
2. Rex The Dog - Everyday
3. Timo Maas - First Day (Extended Mix)
4. Groove Armada - Get Down (Calvin Harris Remix)
5. Jape - Floating (Alex Metric Remix)
6. Don Almond - Shake It (Philipe Boyar Mix)
7. DFA1979 - Sexy Results (MSTRKRFT Edtion)
8. N'fa - Get Doh (fRew Remix)
9. Kavinsky - Testarossa (SebstiAn Remix)
10. Riot In Belgium - La Musique
11. Tommie Sunshine - Dance Among the Ruins (Boy 8bit Mix)
12. The Lotterboys - Blazer
13. Justice - DVNO

Check out this mix and all his others at Lord Kook's website.

Mix Download: DJ Pup on Modyfier

Waaaay back in June Rayna, the author and artist behind the modifyer blog, asked me to make a contribution to her Process series. Given that the other contributors included folks like apendics.shuffle, Philip Sherburne, and popnoname, it was a slightly intimidating invitation. And, as it turned out, an excruciating process that lasted more than three months. You can read all about it on modyfier, and download the mix, but the result was about an hour of minimal techno direct from my turntables to the CD recorder (no Ableton for me, kids!). Check it out, I'd love to hear what you all think.

Track List:

Dominik Eulberg and Gabriel Ananda - Schieder Kreisl
Styro 2000 - cremeschnitte
Jason Emsley - P.H.I.A.P.O.S.
Yapacc - take this away
Lurifax - Lobo rmx
Fletcher Mundson Syndrome - Lauter Leute
Carston Jost - divide et impera
Serafin - Starship Discotheque
Sascha Funke - I love this tent
Kontakt - Music Gewinnt Freunde

Mix to Download: Dex Stakker of Opulent Temple

A recorded version of Dex's electro set from the Audible from Space party at DNA, a recorded version of his opening set for Elite Force at Mighty, and another set of self-described "pop and fluff" can all be had at dexstakker.com.

Mix Download: Honey Sound System DJs

All the boys in the Honey Sound System - Pee Play, Jason Kendig, Ken Vulsion, Robot Hustle, and Derek B (with one on the way from Safety Scissors) - have put out a new set of mixes for your "Summer of Acid" listening pleasure. Check the Sounds link, and watch the site for news of upcoming HSS events.

PS: You can get copies of the mixes on CD, plus a copy of the new "Honey Porn" zine ($10) at their House of House party at The Transfer this Friday. See the Friday Night Guide for July 27 for more info.

Mix Download: Vintage (1995) Gavin Hardkiss Cassette Mix

Thanks to Honey Sound System for putting out this vintage cassette mix from Gavin Hardkiss, circa 1995. The sound quality is a bit off (as you might expect from a twenty-two year-old cassette tape), but this mix definitely harkens back to an earlier era when massive rave monsters like The Orb roamed the earth - you'll hear plenty of dub, some proto-breaks, and overall a very trippy, psychedelic vibe.