Step into the world of Suff Daddy…

Life can be easy when you are Suff Daddy. You get up late and roll a phat one. You switch on your MacBook and chop some samples. Pour yourself a drink and twist the Micro Korg. Upload the track on the MPM server and let it marinate there for a minute. Miles Bonny, Elzhi or Fleur Earth may add some vocals later on. If it is a Tuesday night you pack up your gear and head to Beat Geeks, the producer hang-out in Berlin Kreuzberg that you host. If it is a Friday or Saturday chances are good that you jump on the ICE train and head to Cologne, Hamburg, Vienna or Zürich for a gig. You play Splash Festival, Beat BBQ, Hip-Hop Kemp and the Hi-Hat Club and do tours with Miles Bonny. No matter where you go, people welcome you with free weed and liqour. You hang out with your producer friends Brenk Sinatra, Twit One, Dexter, DJ Day or Hulk Hodn and talk beats, rhymes and life. When your new record is finished, HHV pre-order a 1.000 + copies and produce a free t-shirt. You sign sponsorship deals with the San Diego Padres, Tanqueray, Carhartt and Louis Vuitton…

In short: you are having the time of your life if you don’t take in account the beat blocks, hang-overs, shitty sound systems, shady promoters, filthy hotel rooms, crowded trains, colds, black-outs and long weekends away from your girl. But some of this might chance soon. Suff Daddy will move from Berlin to Sydney this summer …

www.myspace.com/suffdaddy

Tracklisting:

01. Intro (Ela Drums Restored)
02. P.G.O.B. feat. Miles Bonny
03. Feelin Allright
04. Drinks
05. Jimmy Smith Interlude
06. Quicc Beat
07. Pattern Select
08. Giscar Sob feat. Flat Pocket (Twit One & Lazy Jones)
09. Ultimate Interlude
10. Dr. Banard
11. Bad Night Out
12. Stein Im Brett feat. Fleur Earth
13. Make It Drip
14. Lovin You
15. K.C. Vodka
16. Dexter Wansel Interlude
17. Det2bln feat. Phat Kat & Elzhi
18. Quicc Jazz
19. Suff Disco
20. Take’em To The Kiosk
21. Elephant
22. Bo Break
23. Gimlet feat. Hulk Hodn
24. Beate
25. Cold Lampin
26. Twisted feat. Vertual Vertigo
27. Dilemma
28. Supersilverhaze
29. Flakey

The album Suff Daddy “Suff Sells” (Melting Pot Music) is going to be released May 25, 2012.

By the mid 1970s, the Southern African nation known as the Republic of Zambia had fallen on hard times: self-imposed, single party rule; a decline in prices for the country’s largest natural resource, copper; conflict in other countries on Zambia’s borders. This is the environment in which the Zamrock scene that flourished throughout that decade emerged. As we showed in this label’s previous investigation into the genre (Rikki Ililonga and Musi-O-Tunya’s Dark Sunrise – NA 5067) fuzz guitars were commonplace, driving rhythms as influenced by James Brown’s funk as Jimi Hendrix’s rock predominated, musical themes were often bleak and bands largely sang in the country’s constitutional language, English.

Although Witch is the best known Zamrock ensemble – and although they succeeded in releasing five albums in Zamrock’s golden years – they never made an impact on the global scale in, say, the way afro-beat maestro Fela Kuti did. Travel to – and within – Zambia is expensive, and the markers for the Zamrock scene are now few. Only a small number of the original Zamrock godfathers survived the AIDS epidemic that decimated this country.

Witch’s musical arc is contained to a five year span: The band’s first two, self-produced albums – released in unison with the birth of the commercial Zambian recording industry – are exuberant experiments in garage rock, and are as influenced by the Rolling Stones as they are James Brown; their third albun, Lazy Bones!!, is the band’s masterpiece – a dark, brooding psychedelic opus that makes equal use of wah-wah and fuzz guitars, that relies as heavily on the stomping feel of hard rock as it does the syncopation of funk; the band’s last two albums – recorded after the band toured with Osibisa – make use of traditional Zambian rhythms and folk melodies and are the most “afro-rock” of Witch’s oeuvre.

We’ve grouped together Witch’s albums stylistically. Thus, the band’s first two, self-produced albums appear on Disc One; Lazy Bones!! and its related 7″ single tracks appear on Disc Two, Lukombo Vibes and its 7″ single tracks appear on Disc Three and Including Janet (Hit Single) appears on Disc Four.

www.nowagainrecords.com

Tracklisting:

CD1 (“Introduction/In The Past”)

01. Introduction
02. Hometown
03. You Better Now
04. Feeling High
05. Like A Chicken
06. See You Mama
07. That’s What I Want
08. Try Me
09. No Time
10. Living in The Past
11. Young Lady
12. Chance
13. It’s Alright
14. I’ve Been Away
15. I Like The Way I Am
16. The Only Way
17. Smiling Face
18. She Is Mine
19. Mashed Potato

CD2 (“Lazy Bones!!”)

01. Black Tears
02. Motherless Child
03. Tooth Factory
04. Strange Dream
05. Look Out
06. Havoc
07. Ocotber Night
08. Off My Boots
09. Lazy Bones
10. Little Clown
11. Talking Universe
12. Evil Woman
13. Sweet Sixteen
14. Toloka
15. 81st Crowd Confusion
16. Up The Sky

CD3 (“Lukombo Vibes”)

01. Thou Shalt Not Cry
02. Bleeding Thunder
03. Devil’s Flight
04. Blood Donor
05. Nasauka
06. Evening Of My Life
07. Kangalaitoito
08. See – Saw
09. Chifundo
10. Fool’s Ride

CD4 (“Including Janet (Hit Single)”)

01. Janet
02. As Days Go By
03. Ntedelakumbi
04. In Flight
05. Nazingwa
06. Silver Lady
07. Anyinamwana
08. Mama Feel Good
09. The Way I Feel

The album Witch “We Intend To Cause Havoc!” (Now-Again) is going to be released May 25, 2012.

Listen to WITCH – Fireside Chat: www.redbullmusicacademyradio.com/shows/5234/

With a new sound and a do it yourself attitude towards making records, Monophonics’ guitarist Ian McDonald and keyboardist/vocalist Kelly Finnigan took on the duties of engineering and producing. Finding influence and gear advice from Orgone’s Sergio Rios as well as articles from Daptone’s Gabe Roth and Shawn Lee, they purchased an 8-track ¼ inch tape machine, vintage microphones, spring reverbs and tape delays and dug into Finnigan’s basement in SF. “Half the battle making records in this genre is tone and vibe, we have figured out over the years that it might be the simplest written song but with the right production it can become timeless” explains McDonald. Jumping right out of the gate is the single “There’s A Riot Going On”. Starting with a snare fill that’s reminiscent of Jimi’s “Machine Gun.” Riot displays what becomes a consistent theme on the whole record: hard drums, catchy bass lines, dirty horns, organs mixed with vibraphones, fuzz guitar and soulful vocals sitting on a sheet of echo & slap back. The title track “In Your Brain” sounds like something straight off of Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain”, riding on the funk box and Bohlman’s snare snaps is a blaring guitar line that brings back thoughts of Eddie Hazel. In the tradition of 60′s soul label Brunswick comes the heart wenchers “Deception” and “They Don’t Understand.” One a dark 6/8 slow groove that catches your ear right away and the other a boom bap driven ballad that confronts the human fears of dreams and love lost. “Bang Bang” is one of the three meticulously chosen covers. The band approaches the famous 60′s pop song with a no holds barred attitude inspired by various versions from Betty Chung to Stevie Wonder to Nancy Sinatra. “Mirage,” is a tip of the hat to brilliant producer/composer David Axelrod and his innovative records on Capitol.”Temptation” a Cadillac riding classic, plays out as if John Berry wrote for blaxploitation films. Collaborating with talented friends was another consistent theme on this record featuring a dozen or so different musicians, but the stand out feature are the vocals of that soulful crazy queen Fanny Franklin (Orgone, Get Wet) on “All Together” and tapping Sergio Rios to do the mix at Killion Sound. Killion has become a highly respected studio because of Rios’s dirty tones and soulful style as evidenced by the various Orgone releases plus recordings from artists like Jack Splash (Cee-Lo & Alicia Keys) and Ikebe Shakedown.

Monophonics will embark on an extensive tour through the US & Canada so look out for them at a venue near you!

www.monophonics.com

Tracklisting:

01. Looking Ahead
02. There’s A Riot Going On
03. Sure Is Funky
04. In Your Brain
05. Deception
06. All Together
07. Say You Love Me
08. They Don’t Understand
09.Thinking Black
10. Bang Bang
11. Mirage
12. Foolish Love
13. Temptation
14. Keep Looking Ahead

The album Monophonics “In Your Brain” (Ubiquity) is going to be released May 18, 2012.

The much reputed CD sampler “Nards” that was responsible for initialing releases on Chicago’s Still Music label, inevitably sparked off Trus’me’s promising musical career. Seeing support from respected names such as Ashley Beedle, Juan Atkins, Mad Matts, Gilles Peterson and Chez Damier plus his productions selling out at record stores from Manchester to Tokyo, led to the highly successful release of his debut album, “Working Nights”, on Fat City Recordings, that’s hailed by most to be a timeless album, still finding devotees to this day.

Not one to rest on his laurels, the label Prime Numbers was set up and quickly gained an unfaltering reputation for highly collectable and exceptional music from artistes such as Move D, Actress, Linkwood, Fudge Fingas, Motorcity Drum Ensemble; all artistes that fit the ethos and style that Trus’me continues to carry a torch for. In 2009, his highly anticipated follow-up album, “In The Red” that featured the likes of Chez, Damier, Amp Fiddler and Dam Funk further cemented his place in the house scene and set off a flurry remixes for acts such as LCD Soundsystem, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Alton Miller, Anthony Shake Shakir and more, including non-stop touring to clubs and festivals alike in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, North America, South America and of course, in his backyard, the city of Manchester where it all began.

www.soundcloud.com/trusme

Trus’me Top 10 May 2012:

01. Trus’me – Sweet Mother (Marcel Dettmann remix) (Prime Numbers)
02. Bicep – $tripper (Love Fever)
03. Ben Sims – New Blood (Robert Hood remix) (Theory)
04. Skudge – Wonder Stories (Answer Code Request) (Skudge Records)
05. Andrew Grant – Riverboat (EDEC Music Outlet)
06. Vedomir – Dreams (Dekmantel)
07. Obsolete Music Technology – Mmmmmusic Emphasis Recordings)
08. The Traveller – A 100 (Ostgut Ton)
09. Madteo – ReCast (Meakusma)
10. Equation – I’ll Say A Prayer 4 U (Rush Hour Recordings)

First a personal revolution, one that diametrically changed my perception of music and the way I understood it. And then a global revolution. Pop music was totally transformed by the fact that the whole world now had access to production equipment. No style of music escaped the influence of techno. I was lucky enough to live through this revolution and to be able to make my own “small” contribution to it.

I have two different types of fans. There are people my age who discovered house, techno and electronic music at the same time as me. They liked Air, Daft Punk, Alex Gopher, SUPERDISCOUNT and the rest of that pulsating 90s scene. Then they grew older, got a job, had children and stopped going to clubs. Whenever I bump into them, they ask me how I am, what I’m up to and if I’m still making music.

And then there are kids of between 15 and 20 now and got into electronic music through the Bloody Beetroots and Justice. They’re the ones who now go clubbing on a Saturday night. They’ve never heard of SUPERDISCOUNT and when they meet me, they’re surprised to find I’m the same age as their parents!

Admittedly I’ve gone to great pains to confuse matters. I’ve always given out information sparingly and done my best to release my projects at unexpected times, announcing them as obscurely and as elusively as possible. It wasn’t deliberate – I just thought I was doing the right thing!

I’m releasing this retrospective to unite these two sets of fans. People who thought I’d stopped after Tempovision will find out that since the beginning of the millennium I’ve taken a more underground path more closely in tune with the music that lit up my life – techno! And people who were under the impression that my career began in a cube will, I hope, understand the road that led me here.

To give a representative overview of my work, I brought together the most symbolic tracks of the different stages of my career along with remixes I’ve done for other artists and a lot of previously unreleased tracks. For 20 years now I’ve been trying to make our planet a warmer place – especially on Saturday nights! This box set sums up how I’ve gone about it.” – Etienne de Crécy

www.myspace.com/etiennedecrecy

Tracklisting:

CD1 – EDC BEST OF

01. Les Ondes (MotorBass)
02. Le Patron Est Devenu Fou (Superdiscount)
03. Prix Choc (Superdiscount)
04. Am I Wrong (Tempovision)
05. 3 Days Week End (Tempovision)
06. Scratched (Tempovision)
07. Apretime (Ad Renault)
08. Someone Like You (Superdiscount 2)
09. Overnet (Superdiscount 2)
10. Punk (Commercial EP 2) 11. Funk (Commercial EP 2)
12. France (Compilation Great Summer Games Stuff)
13. Welcome (Beats’N'Cubes Live Version)
14. Binary (Beats’N'Cubes)
15. No Brain (Beats’N'Cubes)
16. Ash Sync (This Is The End – H5 Cover Art)
17. Fermeture Definitive (Superdiscount)

CD2 – EDC BEST OF REMIXES 1995-2005

01. Air – Modulor Mix (Stein House Remix)
02. Alex Gopher – Gordini Mix (The Lord Of Monza Mix)
03. Lil Louis & The Party – Clap Your Hands (Fremur Mix)
04. Furry Phreaks feat. Terra Deva – Want Me Like Water (Etienne De Crécy Remix)
05. Etienne de Crécy – Prix Choc (Ultra Dark Mix)
06. Dj Mehdi – Breakaway (Etienne De Crécy Remix)
07. Moby – Lift me Up (Superdiscount Mix)
08. Kratfwerk – Aerodynamik (Alex Gopher & Etienne De Crécy Dynamik Mix)
09. Engineers – Come In Out Of The Rain (Etienne De Crécy Remix)

CD3 – EDC BEST OF REMIXES 2005-2011

01. Mylo – Paris Four Hundred (Etienne De Crécy Remix)
02. Who Made Who – Out The Door (Superdiscount Remix)
03. Eyerer & Namito – Quipa (Etienne De Crécy Remix)
04. Bumblebeez – Rio (Etienne De Crécy Tech Remix)
05. Cut Copy – Lights & Music (Superdiscount Remix)
06. Adam Freeland – How To Fake Your Own Life (Etienne De Crécy Remix)
07. Keren Ann – Between Flatlands & The Caspian Sea (Etienne De Crécy Remix)
08. The Shoes – Stay The Same (Etienne De Crécy Remix)
09. Taï – Big Bass Drum (Etienne De Crécy Remix)
10. Light Year – Moderation (Etienne De Crécy Remix)

CD4 – EDC UNRELEASED TRACKS 1992-2005

01. 1992
02. Rhodes
03. Right
04. Hoo Haa
05. Duplicate
06. Slap
07. Time
08. TRP
09. DLS
10. Carpenter
11. Trance
12. Rythm & Bitch
13.Trip Pop
14. Alex Gopher
15. Yesman
16. My Mind
17. Good Intro

CD5 – EDC UNRELEASED TRACKS 2006-2011

01. Mothman
02. Rocksteady
03. Mmmmmm
04. Revelation
05. Rising Soul
06. Infinite Funkiness
07. Flute
08. Bell
09. Intro
10. Only One Mind
11. Iggy
12. Hun Gipsy Yeah
13. Kik Sn Bass
14. Positive Radiation
15. Oh Oui!
16. Beatcrush
17. Vocoda

The album Etienne De Crecy “My Contribution To The Global Warming” (Pixadelic) has been released May 11, 2012.

The musical focus of Silly Walks covers 40 years of reggae-history from Studio One to the latest dancehall tunes. Always spiced with a dignified selection of other caribbean sounds as soca or reggaeton just as music from urban africa like the Ghanaian
Hiplife or Coupé Decalé from the Ivory coast.

Silly Walks Discotheque is also working as a reggae/dancehall producerteam. Their latest release on the Silly Walks Disco Label is a dancehall-reggae riddim called “Aspire” which was released in 2009. The Release features 14 tracks with Gentleman, Luciano, Louie Culture, Lutan Fyah, Lady G, Rebellion, Nkulee Dube and more.

The “Aspire Riddim” climbed up various reggae charts worlwide, had the German reggae charts locked for weeks and was the #1 riddim in Gambia and other parts of West Africa in 2010.

In 2010 Silly Walks has been part of the production team of the latest Gentleman album with the track “Shut Eye Country” feat. Gentleman, Luciano and Jack Radics as well as an official remix of the chart topping single “To The Top” feat. Gentleman and Christopher Martin.

The crew is amongst the most booked sounds in Germany right now and they played all over Europe including shows on the biggest reggae festivals such as Summerjam, Reggaejam and Chiemsee Reggae in Germany, Rototom Festival in Italy as well as Uppsala reggae festival in Sweden and many more.

Now they’re celebrating their twentieth anniversary with the production of the album “Storms Of Life”. The longplayer presents finest international reggae tunes – 16 original & exclusive songs by the stars and newcomers from all offshoots of the genre, from roots reggae to contemporary dancehall. Top artists include Gentleman, Luciano, DaVille, Jah Vinci, Bugle, Konshens, Exco Levi, Peter Hunningdale and J Boog.

www.sillywalksdisco.com
www.facebook.com/sillywalksdisco

Tracklisting:

01. Torch – Reggae Music
02. DaVille – All You Need In A Friend
03. Hezron – Everytime
04. Exco Levi – Storms Of Life
05. RC – Can’t Bridge My Defense
06. Konshens – You
07. Bugle – Run The Streets
08. Gentlemen – Mountain High
09. Jah Vinci – Still Nah Lose
10. Etzia – Same Thing A Gwaan
11. Torch – Are You With It
12. Terry Linen – My Music
13. J Boog – I Wish I Could
14. Peter Hunnigale – Positive
15. Jah 9 – Brothers
16. Luciano & Louie Culture – Reload

The album Silly Walks Discotheque “Storms Of Life” (Tete Music) is going to be released May 18, 2012.

Despite plenty of communication with the proto-Stones Throw crew Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf, there was never any official deal, and Dub confined his particular brand of madness to cassette tape only.

From ’92 on, he says he abandoned even caring about commercial rap and detached himself from the genre. In ’99, he abandoned the U.S.A. and split to Jamaica to ride out Y2K. He came back illegally and secretly, reuniting after almost a decade with his original collaborator and current producer Tape Mastah Steph.

Steph convinced him to go back not just to the roots but down to the actual dirt itself and record an album with nothing but what they used back in the day – an SP-1200 and a vintage Ensoniq EPS. The result was The Treatment, Dub’s full-length Stones Throw debut—a horror film as refracted through the mind of a man who’s seen it all and knows too much.

www.stonesthrow.com

www.lacokanostra.com

www.fatbeats.com

www.homeboysandman.com

www.myspace.com/damfunk

www.mpmsite.com

www.mpmsite.com

Over the years George ‘Fully’ Fullwood has become more and more involved in producing. When Martin Zobel and Fully Fullwood met in person in February 2011, the chemistry between them seemed to be right, and it was agreed that Fullwood would produce Zobel’s new album. Zobel significantly reduced his live appearances to focus on writing new songs, and only six months after that first meeting, Fully and Frances (Fully’s wife) were welcoming Martin and his whole band into Fully’s Kitchen, their Southern California studio, to begin the recordings. Martin Zobel & Soulrise spent an entire month in the “Kitchen”, cooking up their new songs, and for the sake of authenticity performed and recorded everything ‘live’ – just like back in the days. The result is a wonderful musical snapshot in time which, in every detail, reveals the spirit that must have been present during those early studio sessions back in Kingston, Jamaica. Beyond that, one is reminded of a sound, the likes of which hasn’t been heard for a long time, a sound containing something so familiar, yet different with something new and refreshing – a new breath of life. With “Land Of The Free” Fullwood, Zobel & Soulrise have managed to create a record in an extremely relaxed manner that is packed with emotions and musicality that stands on its own.

Over the weeks of recording the band became very close friends with Fully and Frances and the whole Fullwood family, so that the Fullwood home in Southern California became kind of a second home for the band as well, feasting on great reggae music, and home-cooked Jamaican food.

The experienced Jamaican has made it very clear to the young German musicians that he loved what they did together and that he wants to work with them on a longterm base. The first United States tour for Martin Zobel and Soulrise is scheduled for September 2012 – so it looks very much like “Land Of The Free” is only the beginning!

irievibrations-rec.com

Tracklisting:

01. Earth Wind & Fire
02. Take It Easy
03. Land Of The Free
04. They Got Soul
05. Where You Came From
06. Legends
07. Our Voices
08. What You Love
09. Slow Runner
10. Why Not
11. Never Let You Down
12. We Want More
13. Live It Up

The album Martin Zobel & Soulrise “Land Of The Free” (Irievibrations Records) is going to be released May 18, 2012.

The KDMS are London’s electro soul diva Kathy Diamond and the super talented young producer Max Skiba. On stage they get support from three side musicians. Kathy and Max met a few years ago and immediately felt that there was a connection. Max had done a few things for labels like Under the Shade, Skylax, Record Makers. Kathy had worked with Maurice Fulton (on Permanent Vacation), Aeroplane and Toby Tobias (on Rekids). But since their first session it was clear that this cooperation could grow. There was a kind of magic in the air. When they make music together a special energy emerges. They have soul. They are sophisticated. Sometimes melancholic. But then there is this dirty funk. It is nasty.

The story goes like this: When they finished their first track “Never Stop Believing” four years ago they gave it to some DJ’s. Daniel Wang was always playing the first demo at New York’s Santos club. People started to talk. Then they met the Gommaboys and the vibe was perfect. Three singles out. Huge feedback from all kinds of musicians. Morgan Geist (Metro Area) calls and wants to do one of his rare remixes. The buzz gets bigger. Now three singles later and they are getting played by many of today’s most interesting DJ’s. From Soul Clap to Tim Sweeney and Aeroplane. The blogs love them. It seems that somehow they created the blueprint for a new, modern touch on electronic pop music.

Now finally here comes the debut album. The KDMS from London are stepping out right at the moment where their label Gomma is getting very popular in the UK. In December, Annie Mac played some Gomma tracks in her BBC show and was going mad about Gomma: “Hands in the air … for the fantastic Gomma label … releasing guaranteed goodness …”. i-D magazine is preparing a big piece about “Germany’s freshest label” as Dazed & Confused magazine recently called them. So the time is right. The indie discohouse movement is growing. Mainstream pop music is bored and is searching for new inspirations in the dance world. The KDMS emerges using state of the art underground electronic styles evolving them into a new deep, dirty but glamorous pop sound. Slow, nasty, futuristic disco. A new genre crossing style. Connecting different musical angles. Inspired by James Chance or Lil’ Louis kind of crunchy beats, David Bowie or Quincy Jones compositions, Chaka Khan’s voice mixed with the sound of 2012. Maybe all these early descriptions of the band sound exaggerated. But when you know about where dance and pop music are right now you could say that The KDMS quite frankly come in the right moment. The band that gets upfront club music to a bigger audience. And whatever it is that you need for that: The KDMS have it.

www.gomma.de

Tracklisting:

01. High Wire
02. Wonderman
03. Tonight
04. Circles
05. Something’s Eatin’ Me
06. Killer
07. Never Stop Believing
08. Part Time Lovers
09. Your Love Is Right
10. No Sad Goodbyes
11. Wonderman (Justus Köhncke Remix)
12. Tonight (Morgan Geist Version)

The album The KDMS “Kinky Dramas And Magic Stories” (Gomma) is going to be released May 11, 2012.

The reggae giant Silly Walks is residing in Germany’s biggest harbour city Hamburg, and will be presenting and promoting the album from late spring throughout the summer on the festivals, club tours and via the various sound systerm connections all around the globe.

Top artists include Gentleman, Luciano, DaVille, Jah Vinci, Bugle, Konshens, Exco Levi, Peter Hunningdale and J Boog.

www.sillywalksdisco.com
www.facebook.com/sillywalksdisco

Tracklisting:

01. Torch – Reggae Music
02. DaVille – All You Need In A Friend
03. Hezron – Everytime
04. Exco Levi – Storms Of Life
05. RC – Can’t Bridge My Defense
06. Konshens – You
07. Bugle – Run The Streets
08. Gentlemen – Mountain High
09. Jah Vinci – Still Nah Lose
10. Etzia – Same Thing A Gwaan
11. Torch – Are You With It
12. Terry Linen – My Music
13. J Boog – I Wish I Could
14. Peter Hunnigale – Positive
15. Jah 9 – Brothers
16. Luciano & Louie Culture – Reload

The album Silly Walks Discotheque “Storms Of Life” (Tete Music) is going to be released May 18, 2012.

Friction first got the bug in the mid-90s, playing at and promoting his own events. This soon led to a link-up with local Brighton producers, Stakka and K-Tee, and hence a long-standing coalition was formed. Studio time ensued and February ’99 saw Friction release his debut single “Critical Mass” under the alias Kinnetix on the Underfire compilation. This soon gained him interest from legendary labels, Trouble On Vinyl and Renegade Hardware, producing a track “Photon” for TOV’s “Here Comes Trouble” EP – how apt the title was. Immediately following this was the acclaimed “Altitude”, with Stakka & Skynet, regarded as a truly groundbreaking piece of drum & bass fusing high-energy techno and jungle. Releases followed on a host of top drum & bass labels including Valve, Tru Playaz, Passenger, Hardware, 31 Records, Hospital and Charge amongst others. Joining BBC 1Xtra in 2002 at the station’s launch, Friction quickly made his mark; his “Mix Show” was truly innovative, creating a massive following worldwide. After 2 years, though, a constantly growing DJ schedule proved too much and reluctantly he called it a day with the show.

In 2004, Friction established Shogun Audio with production partner-in-crime, K-Tee. Since then the label has gone on to become a rare ‘buy on site’ label, releasing some of the best drum & bass in recent times and picking up legions of fans along the way. Artists such as Alix Perez, Spor, Jonny L, Break, Marcus Intalex, SpectraSoul, Noisia, Klute, Icicle, Spirit, Rockwell and, of course, Friction & K-Tee have all appeared over the years and the arsenal of music both new and old at Friction’s disposal is immense.

Picking up numerous awards over the years, Friction’s mix CDs have also grown in quality and popularity. The Bingo Sessions Vol.1 CD with DJ Zinc was a massive hit, charting in the national LP Top 40, followed by the first of his own highly-successful series – The Next Level – which went on to sell thousands worldwide. More recognition followed in April 2006 with Friction’s Pete Tong “Essential Mix” which aired to huge acclaim. In Pete Tong’s own words, Friction had become one of the drum & bass ‘Big Dogs’. His remix of “Back To Your Roots” released on Shogun Audio in 2007 was regarded as the biggest drum & bass track of the year, receiving plays from Annie Mac to Stanton Warriors to Judge Jules.

2008 saw Friction continuing to push his DJ career, playing worldwide every weekend, yet still finding time to get in the studio with his debut releases on Metalheadz, “Shogun Nightmare”, the massive anthem “3rd Degree Gurns” on Valve plus the highly-anticipated “Altitude” remixes on Shogun Audio. He also mixed the 2008 Drum&BassArena album alongside scene legend, Fabio, and it was from this that plans hatched for an all-new Friction mix series that would set a new standard in drum & bass mix albums. 2009 turned into one of the biggest in Friction and Shogun history, with said mix album – Assassin Volume One – dropped to high critical-acclaim from both music media and fans across the globe. Following this was Friction & K-tee’s vocal smasher “Fired Up” on Hospital Records that received support from the likes of Annie Mac and Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1.

Shogun Audio released the debut LP from Alix Perez in 2009 which, helped by Friction’s relentless DJ schedule, became the drum & bass artist album of the year. Friction & K-tee’s killer single “Set It Off” dropped on Shogun at the end of the year and, along with a nomination for ‘Best DJ’ at the Drum&BassArena Awards and a new Shogun club residency in their home town of Brighton, it marked a huge growth and successful end to 2009.

2010 acted as another non-stop rollercoaster ride for Friction with gigs from London to Sydney to Korea and even Hawaii. Although the schedule is fierce and unrivalled, a Friction set never falters; whether he’s on two or three decks, playing for two hours or four, to 500 to 20,000, people are rapidly learning that, drum & bass fanatics or otherwise, a night with Friction is one to remember. Alongside the highly-respected, sophisticated labels – Shogun Audio and SGN:Ltd – releasing music unlike any other, it’s no surprise that Friction was asked in 2010 to pioneer the first of Ministry Of Sound’s “Mixed” series, collating and mixing a forward-thinking, deep yet dancefloor compilation which was received, deservedly, to phenomenally high-acclaim.

Overseeing the signing of new distinctive artists to the label, Friction is ensuring that Shogun persistently grows to accommodate the constantly fresh and exciting movement that he has pioneered. With an ever-successful Brighton residency at Digital club and a new residency in the capital at London’s Cable, Shogun events, releases and artists are a storming and unquestioned success each time.

www.shogunaudio.co.uk

Friction & K-Tee Top 10 May 2012:

01. Rockwell – Constantcomplexrhythmicsound (Shogun Audio)
02. Friction & K-Tee – Jupiter (Shogun Audio)
03. Total Science – Feel Me (Shogun Audio)
04. Friction – Led Astray (Shogun Audio)
05. The Prototypes – Subterrestrial (Shogun Audio)
06. Spectra Soul – Light In The Dark feat. Terri Walker (Shogun Audio)
07. Alix Perez – Myriads (Jubei Remix) (Shogun Audio)
08. Spectra Soul – Shackles feat. Fox (Shogun Audio)
09. D Bridge – Not What You Want (Shogun Audio)
10. Interface – Desperate Measures (Shogun Audio)

For the first time, the Parisian emporium has compiled a quirky, eclectic selection of fresh new US artists. One album full of the stuff that we like most: good songs and big talents yet to be discovered, from indie bands to dance producers and whatever can fit in between.

Covering the many bases of electro-pop, indie-dance and everything in between, Kitsuné America offers a lively snapshot of what is cooking up for 2012 in the US!

With the label and brand celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, it was also the perfect timing for the opening of the new Maison Kitsuné boutique in New York – at the NoMad hotel in April – to be precise, and the kick off of the second Kitsuné Club Night US Tour including stops at SXSW and Miami WMC!

www.kitsune.fr

Tracklisting:

01. St. Lucia – Before The Dive
02. DWNTWN – See My Eyes
03. Childish Gambino – Heartbeat (Them Jeans remix)
04. Heartsrevolution – Retrograde
05. FrancesRose – Vampire
06. Gigamesh – Your Body
07. White Shadow – If You Like It
08. XXXChange – F*k Yeah Ace Of Hearts
09. Oliver – Walk With Me
10. Emil &Friends – Royal Oats
11. Selberities – Regret
12. Poindexter – Helpless
13. Computer Magic – Help Me
14. Giraffage feat. XXYYXX – Even Though

The compilation Various “Kitsune America” (Kitsuné) is going to be released May 11, 2012.

Monophonics were formed in 2005; originally a instrumental ensemble comprised of guitarist Ian McDonald, bassist Myles O’Mahony, saxophonist Alex Baky, trumpeter Ryan Scott, and drummer Austin Bohlman, the band has recently added the dynamic soul vocals of keyboardist Kelly Finnigan. The result is a psychedelic soul & heavy funk sound, which harks back to the stylings of the late 60′s and early 70′s, all while keeping its feet planted in the present.

As a mainstay of San Francisco venues such as The Independent, Brick and Mortar & Boom Boom Room, the Monophonics have created a national buzz and fervent local following, sharing the stage & bill with such names as Budos Band, Orgone, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Kings Go Forth, Soulive and many many more. Their touring schedule has brought their signature rowdy, hard-hitting live set to over 400 dates from California up to Motown and down to Louisiana establishing themselves as yearly residents at the legendary New Orleans Jazz Festival. The band has also played some of the major music festivals on the west coast including High Sierra, Joshua Tree, Blacksheep Family Reunion, and Las Tortugas.

Already in 2012 the band has signed on with top booking agency Intrepid Artists Int’l and has seen their touring schedule triple fast and has helped get them get in big festivals like Wakarusa in Arkansas and the Portland Waterfront Blues Fest in Oregon. Other big news in 2012 is the bands new record “In Your Brain” which will be released by legendary label Ubiquity Records (Orgone, Shawn Lee, Breakestra, Connie Price & The Keystones). It was recorded & produced by Ian McDonald and Kelly Finnigan in San Francisco and was mixed by Sergio Rios from Orgone at Killion Sound in LA. With a transformation of the group in the last 18 months, they have matured and found our own sound. This new record sits on the fuzzy psychedelic side of soul and heavy funk! Taking a cue from their San Francisco roots and greats like Norman Whitfield, George Clinton’s Funkadelic, David Axelrod and Sly Stone the group has found their path which has taken on a direction that focuses on great tones using analog equipment, a simpler and more spontaneous songwriting approach and trying to always catch a vibe that brings back thoughts of the 1969 psychedelic movement!

www.monophonics.com

Well, of course!!! How could we have been so neglectful to our fans? Within hours of this epiphany Daptone Brass had the boys back in the studio. With only 8 tape tracks, a handful of peanuts, and a bottle of high proof Dutch Schnapps these gentlemen flexed their musical maturity – writing and tracking the entire album in 4 days. There were tears shed, and blood spilled over those four fateful sessions, but we’re happy to report that what went down is some of the finest instrumental tunes ever laid to tape. Dig the masterful renditions of favorites such as: The Bacharach penned opus, and title track of the album “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” – Quite a fitting title considering this record is practically saving the world from incomplete-itis. As well as JJ Jackson’s SOUL classic “It’s Alright” – and for all you Bean Town enthusiasts, “Dirty Water” by the Standells (take it easy Mr. + Mrs. Know-it-alls, we know they’re from LA). And if that ain’t enough to make you wanna Boogaloo down Troutman St, surely their newly crafted originals will have your tail feathers shakin’ all over.

www.daptonerecords.com

Tracklisting:

01. Rudy’s Intervention
02. Your Friendly Neighbourhood Sugarman
03. Got To Get Back To My Baby
04. But It’s Alright
05. Witch’s Boogaloo
06. Brother T.
07. What The World Needs Now Is Love
08. Dirty Water
09. Jealous Moon
10. Mellow Meeting
11. Love Went Away

The album Sugarman 3 “What The World Needs Now” (Daptone Records) is going to be released May 11, 2012.