ALL ABOUT THE
BEATS
THE
PEOPLE
& THE
MUSIC
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contENts
JAN/FEB ‘12 EDITION 59
Your latest copy of BPM Mag delivers! 04. 06. 08. 09. 10. 12. 13. 14. 16. 17. 20. 24. 25. 26. 28.
EDITORS NOTE & CONTRIBUTORS THE WALL SOUL CANDI - A DECADE OF DANCE SOUL CANDI - A DECADE OF DANCE THE LITTLE MISFIT MUSIC NEWS MUSIC NEWS RAIKO'S HEADS OF STATE: SPAZA$SHOP BOYZ DJ CHRISTOS DJ CHRISTOS 5 MINS WITH... HARAEL SALKOW PSYCHEDELIC SUMMER: KILLERWATTS PSYCHEDELIC SUMMER: KILLERWATTS ACE VENTURA KODE 9
30. 31. 32. 34. 36. 38. 40. 44. 46. 48. 50. 52. 54. 56.
SHOW US YOUR FACE - PARTY PICS SHOW US YOUR FACE - PARTY PICS G FAMILY: TWO PATHS CONVERGE JUDGE JULES BELLERUCHE WRETCH 32 ALBUM REVIEWS ALBUM REVIEWS ALBUM REVIEWS DOWNLOAD: DJ PICKS WHAT'S HOT @ BPMLIFE DJ TOP TEN CHARTS PARTY INFO & EVENTS ASTROBABBLE - CAPRICORN/AQUARIUS
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EDITOR’S NOTE EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Feature Writers and Columnists Mary Honeychild - Mary is a fusion queen, her love for music is defined by her roots of drums, saxophone and deep bass. She discovers the break and combination in genres and takes us on journeys into the origin and amalgamation of scenes such as Jazz, Hip Hop and EDM. The Little Misfit - The Little Misfit is an anonymous observer who has been around the electronic music scene for more years than most. She’s seen it all, done it all and has the tales to tell. Not much surprises her any more although she is still wholly excited by music, dancing and socialising within this scene. It’s with this passion and experience that she casts a slightly jaundiced, feminine eye on the many components that add spice to Cape Town EDM Culture. DJ Raiko – Raiko’s Heads of State - Raiko established himself as a Hip Hop DJ playing in and around Cape Town back in the late 90’s. He is known for his eclectic mix of music and classic 90's Hiphop. He is a regular feature at top events around the country which have included; Boogie Down Knights, Word Life Mc Battles, MTN’s Free 2 Speak campaign, 8-Mile Movie premiere, CORE magazine launch, TriContinental Hip hop festival, Red Bull Music Academy and Taking Back the City. Craig De Sousa needs no introduction. His love and passion for music is demonstrated in each and every performance - whether it’s as a house DJ, radio presenter or producer and has a career spanning back to 1996. Look out for Craig’s Ableton Tutorials as he imparts valuable knowledge each edition. Nduduzo ‘Smalz’ Ngobese – House Headz Up & Features Writer – Self confessed lover of House music with an eclectic taste to match, ‘Smalz,’ is the thinking man’s house head. Always ready to put a new spin on an old theory, he’ll leave you with something to think about and he’ll do it eloquently. Mickdotcom – Uber Cool & Features Writer – Strange he may be at times but that’s why we love him so. Mick has an extraordinary talent with words and an even more extraordinary taste in music. He brings a much needed eccentric edge to BPM. Jonathan G Shaw – Production Tips – Jon is a professional record producer who has worked with a multitude of artists and record labels in a freelance capacity. Outside this, he lectures music business at the University of the Witwatersrand and provides business consultation to the music industry. jshaw@smstudios.co.za Dave Skinz - DJ, Music Manufacturer, Wordsmith, Record Store owner, Promoter, and gamer par excellence are some of the multi-faceted roles that Skinz has played in his 15 year love affair with dance music. When not indulging himself in MMA footage and band practice, he spends his time waiting for Arsenal to take the treble. www.daveskinz.com
A Decade of Dance
I
f you came to me nine years ago and said that we’d still be doing BPM Magazine today I may have looked at you a little obscurely. Not because I had no faith in our goals or belief in the launching of an urban dance culture magazine, or because we did not back ourselves to make a success of it, but simply because as the statistics show, many independent businesses struggle to make it past the 3-5 year mark. So as we reflect on what will be our ninth year in 2012 since the first edition of BPM Magazine was published, I can’t help but admire the Soul Candi Music Group on reaching the milestone of a decade in dance. This feat is even more impressive if one considers the fact that the company has remained a successful, yet independent music label, for so long in an industry which is well documented to be ever shrinking as the advent of the digital age chips away at album sales through piracy and file sharing. Interestingly enough it was 70’s and 80’s rock star, David Bowie, that went on record sometime in the late 90’s to say that in the future artists would no longer earn their income from mass album sales and that performance would become the mainstay of one’s earnings. Of course he only made this statement after he pre-sold any future revenue he might make off his own back catalogue (including income from royalties, sales and licensing) in the form of Bowie Bonds an innovative idea, albeit one that made only one person money; Bowie himself. Soul Candi have proven to be one of the most innovative and resilient music companies in South Africa and certainly are a leader in urban music. I remember our first foray to Joburg to chat to industry people and businesses several months after we launched. Oblivious and still pretty wet behind the ears we had not heard of the brand but within the first day of seeing people in Joburg we were already asking ourselves ‘who are these Soul Candi guys?’ Long story short; we soon acquainted ourselves with the label and have enjoyed continued support from them as we have reciprocated too. As such in this edition you will find quite a bit of coverage on the brand, including our cover story, as we tip our hats to a job well done and wish Harael and his team another 10 years of success. Elsewhere we’ve also weighed in with some legends, both locally and abroad. Judge Jules was certainly a dance music icon in the 90’s and ahead of his tour to South Africa we caught up with the DJ who has certainly proven his longetivity. Likewise with local hero, DJ Christos, a man who has also plied his trade through the 90’s and still continues to push SA music in many ways today. Nathan’s interview with him makes for some fascinating insight. Dubstep originator Kode 9 gets all pissy with us whilst psytrance master blasters, Avalon, Tristan and Ace Ventura chat to me ahead of their tours here. Mixing things up a bit Elize Day also interviewed swing/electronica outfit Belleruche after their performance here in October and Wretch 32, the UK’s latest hip hop success story tells Mary why rap is a not an American thing only. But this is only half the story. There’s loads more to keep you entertained and informed as you page through our first edition of 2012, a big year ahead for many reasons if not to see if the Mayans were right about the end of the world. I sure hope not, I really want BPM Magazine to reach 10 years too before we say adios to this planet. Happy 2012. Make it count now! You never know when next the opportunity will arise. DAVE MAC Editor-in-Chief
CONTRIBUTORS: Thomas Whitebread, Dave Mac, Terri Love, Lois Siddhu, Mary Honeychild, Damien Albetto, Charlie & Tony - Hemporium, Pedro from AfrodesiaMP3, Paul & Peter - Tuerk Music, Chris & Clint - Audiosure, Riqardo Neves, Marcel Zandberg, Beatarmy - Retro Music, Seeka, , David Maclean, Raiko, Heather Mennel, Elize Day, Dave Skinz. The Little Misfit, Nathan Kabingesi & Craig De Sousa.
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Richard Santana: Kudos to BPM mag for taking the time to get to know Louis. he's a great asset to the industry and he plays a rockin set..
Lesego Bassick Tlale: when r the remix comps cumin?...IM HUNGRY YO! [BPM Mag: next year, sit tight for now!]
Mark Mansfield: THNX FOR THE MAG. just received it in the post. definitely the best dance mag in SOUTH AFRICA. well done
Kenneth Mazibuko: howzet guyz, u rokn i cnt keep my eyez off de mag its da bomb,1 of the gr8est. Keep up the good work
Teniel Takeela Tonathy: Sprung 2011. First EVER trance party. Made for th best introduction into trance world. Bondin wit 'lost' school friends. Listenin & moving to every beat of th music. Eyes mesmerized on th colours of both decor & nature. Haven't missed one after that. Love at first stomp. Thank U for bein that. Raees Reezo Hassan New clubbing ear plugs to test out with that phat Red Bull sound-system. Pick me!
James Rogue-Dinosaur Bestbier: ha! awesome! I see Im a top commentator on your website :D I must be a special boy :) Jarrod Mark Baker: Thanks BPM you guys really are the bomb, you actually interact with your audience and you are certainly not stuck up. Keep it Real Kim Davidoff: You guys rock, others can learn from u
On Our Opinion Piece: Mickdotcom sheds some light on DIE ANTWOORD's recent blow off of major record label Interscope Records. The Blue Chip Event Companies Est 2002: ekse! Themba Mnyele: Ekse Ma se kind! Waddy got balls of steel ekse!
Neo Sehlabane: BPM Mag is a magazine that has the latest industry news, parties, lovely interviews, super images, etc. The quality of the paper is good to be true when compared to other free issued magazine and the content is endless and amazing. On top of all that quality and quantity it gets deliver right at your doorstep for free. WOW! If your not reading this magazine you're missing out BIG TIME! *Thanks BPM. You're a million in one* - -Neo "Bladda" Sehlabane
Abongile George MrGdeep: My best book ever "The Bpm mag" Its not about the "Bpm mag" Its about you getting much knowledge as possible. Much Love!! :)
Floyd Smith: BUT I WANNA GET IN A ROCKET AND BLAST OFF< THEN GET LOST IN A LABYRINTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blake Kieran Foster: just completed the survey.. :) love what u guys's sheeeet
Marcelle Fourie: Best psytrance party I've ever been to was at Labyrinth months ago. I'd love to feel that insane wonderful energy again
On Our EP Review: Darren Rose listens to some quality Deep, Soulful House by Darque and tells us all about it Dala De: nice one El Negro: Represent represent...
Dj-Dinho Kay Ramorula: When records bars closed down & I stopped buying vinyls, I was worried about where am I going to receive my BPM mag because I used to receive my BPM mag there. Now I'm happy to get it posted to my mail address. Thanks to the BPM mag team for makin' this possible.
Malissa Anthony: Yay... getting my Pascal & Pearce Just Music Hamper Prize from BPM Mag today. Cannot wait :)
Jam Jarr: Thanks again to BPM Mag for the interview!! Pick one up and check it out Jimi Afrika: someones techno crazzzzzy :P
www.bpmlife.co.za Where the beat lives on...
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COVER FEATURE
SOUL CANDI
CELEBRATES A DECADE OF DANCE
F
ormed in 2001 by DJs Harael Salkow and Mbuso Tulwana, Soul Candi has reached the significant milestone of a decade in dance music – prompting the always innovative label to both reflect on the past and to look at the future through an unbelievable 10 CD collection in the form of two 5-disc box sets: The
Classics and the Future. Each release in Soul Candi’s extensive catalogue is a snapshot representing a slice of the label’s history. The best of these releases have been selected for the first CD box set Classics which includes compilations by DJs Fresh, Mbuso, Simon Dunmore and Terance as well as a DVD of music videos and a documentary on the history of Soul Candi.
Classic DJs DJ Fact-file: DJ Mbuso My first DJ gig that I actually got paid for was.... This was in a Tavern, I think it was called Bennies Tavern in Sebokeng; I rocked a 12 hour set-from 18:00 pm - 6:00 am the next morning and only got paid...wait for it, 50 bucks! If I wasn’t a DJ I would probably be a... Network Engineer, DJ, Programmer, DJ, or maybe a DJ. Favourite: Classic House Track? Not sure about track but the electronic group Electribe 101 for sure. Favourite: 2011 Dancefloor monster? Tholi Indoda - Dr Duda -it still works even now. Favourite: City to play in.? SA-Durban; has so much energy. The same energy but different... Internationally - Batafor in Paris - it’s an after-party spot that opens at 3 am and closes @ midday. One thing most of my fans don’t know about me is that I.... I'm a family orientated person and I love people, I also never judge. Shout outs to Soul Candi on reaching 10 years of dancefloor beats... Big up to everyone that's supported us... Blessings!!
DJ Fact-file: Terance My first DJ gig that I actually got paid for was... Uncles wedding got paid 500 bucks-I started DJ’ing because... I was fascinated by hearing someone was playing music and the music didn't stop!!! If I wasn’t a DJ I would probably be a... Sound Engineer Favourite: Classic House Track? Alexander Oneil –Tears. It was the first 12 inch that I bought. Favourite: 2011 Dancefloor monster? Newtown Soul -Solid Ground. Because I feel they’ve dropped something fresh in the music industry and I always include it in my set. One thing most of my fans don’t know about me is that... I'm a sucker for different genres of music even pop music, some Mbacanga (Zulu traditional music @ times); basically something that sounds good, I'll listen to. The SA dance music scene needs more... People in the industry must stop doing the same thing - times are changing; Creativity is Key!!! Shout outs to Soul Candi on reaching 10 years of dancefloor beats.... Legendary is an overused term in the industry but Soul Candi deserves that title.
But Soul Candi constantly reinvents itself through its artists and the style of music; pushing the music they believe in as well as moving and adapting to the ever changing times. Thus springs the release of the Future, consisting of albums from the rising stars of the label’s stable: DJs Shimza, Euphonik, Lulo Café, Harael Salkow and Whisky.
Future DJs DJ Fact-file: Lulo Cafe My first DJ gig that I actually got paid for was... It was a varsity gig in 2005 and I got paid R 250 If I wasn’t a DJ I would probably be a.... Working in a Hotel - running or owning a Hotel. Favourite: Classic House Track? Franky Knuckles –Tears. One of the first tracks that got me into house. Favourite: 2011 Dancefloor monster? I wanna Love you---Lulo ft Nothende and the remixes came out and it carried on. The track is HOT – the most requested song wherever I play. The 5 words that best describes my DJ style are... Soul, melodic, jazz, guitar and LOVE! A world icon I would love to have dinner with is... Caephus Semenya and Leta Mbuli. Shout outs to Soul Candi on reaching 10 years of dancefloor beats... Here's to 10 years and more! Love u stax.
DJ Fact-file: Shimza My first DJ gig that I actually got paid for was.... Club Innocent in Kempton Park in 2005 If I wasn’t a DJ I would probably be a... An unhappy guy working an 8-5 for some marketing company Favourite: Classic House Track? Nick Holder - Summer Days. Every time that song plays, it reminds me of when I was still finding my feet in my dj’ing career Favourite: 2011 Dancefloor monster? DJ Shimza and Cuebur feat. 340ml – I’ll Be Back. The reason being when we did this remix, we never knew how big the song was going to be The 5 words that best describes my DJ style are... Experimentative, Moving, Educating, Confusing (at times lol), Different If there was one thing I could change about the music industry it is... The actual taste of music that the mass market really opens up to Shout outs to Soul Candi on reaching 10 years of dancefloor beats.... Let this be the beginning of another 10 000 years to come and I'd like to thank them for believing in SA's house music market and making sure that they keep house music alive in this country!
Nathan Kabingesi reviews Classics and Future... Classics – In review Can you say compilation of the decade? On this album you’ll hear such classics as Love is a Liar by Sam & Gigi, Forever More by Moloko, Piha by Ian Pooley, 6850 Maluleke Street by Jerah and that’s just on Mbuso’s disc. Memories by Rocco, Fuego del Mar by Acrophonics, Heaven’s on Fire by Luke and Samantha James’ Rise are to be found on Terance’s disc. Tracks like Sis ‘n Jones Set your Mind Free , Osunlade’s Native Tongues, Louie Austen’s Hoping, Alex Kidd’s Love We Had are all featured on Fresh’s list of gems. Simon Dunmore’s collection of Defected classics includes Given me Joy by Marc Evans, Let it Go by Afterlife ft Cathy Batistea, Wizeman by Copyright ft Imaani and the ultimate summer jam, Swimming Places by Julian Jabre. There’s also a DVD documenting the history of Soul Candi with commentary by co-founders Harael Salkow and Mbuso Tulwana, as well other members of the SC family. Timeless tunes to take you back and relive memories or create new ones, this album is a must have for all house lovers.
Future – In review Lulo Café has a few of his latest productions included in a disc that features pearls like Mama Sued to Say by Franky Boissy ft Akram Sedkaoui (The Layabouts Vocal Mix) and I wasn’t Kidding by The Tarantulaz (The Layabouts Future Retro Vocal Mix). Euphonik keeps it deep for the most part with tracks like Ben Westbeech’s Something for the Weekend, and DJ Fresca & Black Motion ft Tuna‘s Nanka Amaphoyisa. Shimza and DJ Whisky flex their studio muscle on their respective discs with collections of tracks including some of their very own productions; Velani by Lemon & Herb ft Moonchild is a superb bit of Afro Deep wizardry. Harael’s disc is one for the electro bunnies out there featuring tracks by Medina, Crazy White Boy and Deadmau5. Quality track selection and mixing all round make this Future collection a super value for money purchase. Don’t take my word for it though, go out there and have a listen for yourself.
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COVER FEATURE
10 | BPM
COLUMNIST By The Little Misfit
The Little Misfit
Get Turned On
“Online radio is the response to the sea of meaningless broadcast content” ideo may have killed the radio star; but never fear, the internet is here to administer CPR. Most commercial radio stations are just noise: generic warbling of pop music, advertisements, and of opinionated, yet poorly informed disc jockeys. The programming is generally bland and obvious; and aimed at the lowest common denominator—or so they think. Suppress individualism in any way; and the consequence will always be some kind of underground movement. And, online radio is the response to the sea of meaningless broadcast content. Bedroom DJs, so called because all they need is a laptop and a broadband connection, are here to turn us back onto radio. Imagine tuning into a radio station that plays your style of music, uninterrupted by noxious jingles? Internationally, internet radio has set the web alight, with literally thousands of stations to choose from. And, although our internet can be slower than a homing pigeon (true story), we’ve followed suit. There are a number of underground stations to tune into. One of which is Mutha FM (www.muthafm.com). Not just a broadcast medium, but a platform for the SA music industry as a whole; a place to showcase home-grown talent, whether it’s EDM, or rock ‘n roll. “It’s like the Mickey Mouse Club on crack,” says Caely Jo Levy host of Swingin' Sundaze.
V
“We work for free; but there's a great creative and supportive energy amongst the talented team, and a huge passion for music!” [Quote from Nick E Louder re: payment; “we are now paying about 40% of the DJs through sponsorship deals, as I said everyone can make their bit if they bring in sponsors.] Originally a pirate station started by well-known DJ Nick E Louder, it ran for six years before making it official on the World Wide Web. Mutha FM also broadcasts live from La Vie on Sea Point’s promenade every Friday: expect the likes of the aforementioned Nick E Louder, Tony Finger, and Danalog, amongst others throwing down during cocktail hour. “And the best part,” says Caely, “is that you can listen to it anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet connection.” 2oceansVibe Radio (www.2oceansviberadio.com), another front-runner in the digital radio scene, style themselves as ‘different, but deliberately so.’ Born of famous blog, ‘Two Oceans Vibe’, this radio station ‘aims to talk to you like a grown-up’. The focus is on irreverent social commentary and hip tunes; their line-up reads like Cape Town’s cool collective. What’s interesting about this station is that not only can you stream it online, but you can buy an app—so you can have smartasses on your smartphone. The first time I ever listened to online radio was, funnily enough, in my car. We had downloaded a Kevin Shu mix
from Frisky Radio (www.friskyradio.com): that’s the beauty of this medium; you can choose when, and where, you want to listen to it. It’s not just the underground stations though; you can also download podcasts from most commercial radio stations, if you really wanted to... The rise of these stations highlight a point: the listening public don’t want to be dictated to. They want to interact, and make informed decisions led by people whose taste they trust. Not everyone wants to plug into ruler-of-radio Gareth Cliff’s brain-numbing sermons. Heard of Mixcloud? This online platform allows anyone to upload a mix, or radio show; and enables friends to share and comment on uploaded ‘cloudcasts’. Then there’s Playdio, a combination of a playlist and radio, which lets users make their own radio shows by creating playlists edited with spoken links. Last.FM is also worth a listen. A multi-platform online radio community, where you ‘scrobble’. Yes, scrobble. This is a function that keeps note of what you’re playing, what your friends are playing, and so on, it aggregates this information and ‘helps’ you discover more music, according to your tastes. Yes, the future is most certainly here for radio, unfortunately, as Caely from Mutha FM tells me, the biggest challenge is sponsorship. Can these stations survive without it? And if they can’t, I’m afraid it may mean that they’ll have to let in some of the noise. And what a good way to get turned off.
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MUSIC NEWS BPM Reports
ALL THE LATEST CLUB & DANCE MUSIC NEWS FROM SA AND AROUND THE WORLD...
Looking for daily club and dance music news? Check out our daily lifestyle blog @ BPMLife.co.za
Goldfish Get Busy Living this Summer with brand new Remixed package Just in time for the Summer holiday season, and on the back of their extensive 2011 European Tour, Cape Town’s Electronica music stars Goldfish have announced the release of their Get Busy Living - Remixed Album. This specially created release follows on the heels of their Gold selling and SAMA award winning 2010 album Get Busy Living. That album spawned several big radio hits and saw Dave and Dom take the album title to heart as they reached new heights internationally. The special digi-packaged album features a host of incredible (and exclusive) remixes of all the biggest songs from Get Busy Living done by top local and international dance music names. Local stars such as Pascal & Pearce, Culoe De Song and Tony Finger rub shoulders with the likes of Fedde le Grand, Danny Dove and James Copeland. There are also a couple of mixes of lesser known album tracks that will pleasantly surprise even the most dedicated Goldfish fan including one or two remixed by the Fishies themselves.
Underworld appointed Music Directors for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games British electronic music pioneers Underworld have been appointed Music Directors for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The appointment completes the team of senior creatives that will lead the direction of the London 2012 Ceremonies. Underworld duo Rick Smith and Karl Hyde will work alongside British film maker and producer Danny Boyle, Artistic Director of the Opening Ceremony and will be responsible for all the music in the three-hour ceremony taking place on 27 July next summer. Says the duo: "Without giving anything away, we can safely say that this promises to be an utterly unique Underworld project and we're all just chuffed to have been asked."
Tiësto to launch line of clothing inspired by electronic dance music Tiësto will launch a new clothing line, called CLVB LIFE. The clothing line will be released on December 8th at Kitson (Los Angeles) and Atrium (New York and Miami). CLVB LIFE launches with a collection of tees catering to club culture.
Kevin Saunderson on the return of Inner City For the first time in 15 years, Kevin Saunderson has reunited with Inner City’s Paris Grey and frequent contributor Ann Saunderson (née Ann Nanton, Kevin’s wife) for a new single, Future. Co-produced by Orlando Voorn, Future is out now on Defected along with a remix from Kenny Larkin; it’s the first of what is projected to be a string of new singles from Inner City.
Canadian Rising Star: Sydney Blu
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MUSIC NEWS
Canada is home to some of the most influential artists in modern electronic music. Hailing from the Great North are the minimal sounds of Richie Hawtin, the main-room tech of “the DJs’ DJ,” John Acquaviva, the eclectic indie sounds of Turbo Recordings and its fearless leader Tiga, and none other than Deadmau5. Add to that list Sydney Blu, an artist turning serious heads all across the world's top Dance Music locations. Her first release, 2008’s Give It Up For Me, appeared on Mau5trap, and since then, she’s dropped countless releases on other top tier labels, travelled the world spreading her progno sound. She has also started her own imprint, Blu Music. Blu Music’s latest release, Trent Cantrelle’s I Want A Freak, recently hit #1 in Beatport’s house charts.
Grammy nominations for Electronic Dance Music artists Skrillex, Deadmau5, Robyn, David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia and Afrojack.
Dance Music is making big waves on the overground of mainstream music, bringing Electro goodness into many different spheres of Pop, Rock and Indie music and The players over at the Grammy Awards are taking note. Nice one.
SAMRO Enters Agreement To Build Strong Institutions In a progressive move that consolidates its commitment to building strong institutions within the arts, the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) has entered into a cooperation and support agreement with the Composers Association of South Africa (CASA), Music Managers Forum of South Africa (MMFSA) and the Academic and Non-Fiction Authors of South Africa (ANFASA).
Strictly Rhythm launches Strictly Chill Strictly Rhythm has outlined details for the first edition of Strictly Chill, a new ambient and downtempo compilation series. Strictly Chill Volume 1 collects laid back versions of upbeat club tunes from the classic New York label's catalogue. A number of '90s classics get the chillout treatment, including low-key mixes of Wink's Higher State of Consciousness, Mood II Swing's Do It Your Way, Wamdue Project's King Of My Castle and Ultra Naté's Twisted, all of which are exclusive to the compilation. Due for release next week, the Strictly Chill Volume 1 will be available digitally and on CD, in both mixed and unmixed formats.
Sai & Ribatone Release Debut Album Soweto based House music producers Sai & Ribatone have been talked about since the release of their first single Sunday Showers in 2008. They have now released their debut studio album Here & Now. The album is released through the duo's partnership with Black Coffee's Soulistic Music, featuring twelve tracks. It also features vocalists Thiwe Mbola and Tshepo Nkosi on some of the tracks. "It is well arranged, mixed and mastered through a collaborative production process with Black Coffee, with each song being tightly chained to the club scene through a masterful mix of both up-tempo and laid back tunes that are catchy and infectious to the ear," says a spokesperson for the duo.
Raiko’s Heads of State By DJ Raiko
14 | BPM
COLUMNIST
Spaza$hop Boyz he name Spaza$hop Boyz has been swinging around the JHB hip-hop scene for a while now, making it hard to ignore them. My first experience was when I caught them live at a street event earlier this year. They had a bigger than life presence that automatically made you wonder, “who are these kids?” That was shortly answered when they took to the stage with their distinctive ‘swagger’ raps and catchy snap-back, clap production. The crowd sang along to songs, danced in agreement and before my eyes I saw that they were indeed on to something. Jonny JoBurg and Charlie Maccare stretch beyond just music; they seem to be developing a following that inclines towards culture, fashion and a genuine feel good vibe. Suggestive of that slick, yet in your face New Age Hip Hop streaming in from LA’s independent scene that the likes of the Cool Kids and Odd Future have made popular, it is something that seems to be growing every time I hear of one of their performances. Their charismatic, brightclothed personas are more than enough to grab your attention; whether the music can stand up to that is something
T
they are pushing to prove… and with an ever increasing fan base, they seem to be on their way to solidifying themselves on the local scene. I caught up with Spaza$hop front man, the Prince of Joburg... Jonny JoBurg, to discuss their flight up till now… Define the Spaza$hop Boyz, musically, persona and objective wise? You list yourselves at Alternative/Progressive Rap, how are you living up to those classifications? SPAZA$HOP BOYZ are quite simply Hiphop. Hip-hop’s nature is to mutate. We are just the next level. And the last thing we’ll ever do is live up to a classification. It is our intention to keep switching it up. The new album is gaining some traction with the Joburg crowd, how do you feel a distinct Joburg mind frame will transcend through the rest of the country or abroad? Johannesburg is the cultural hub of our country. Johannesburg sells cool to the rest of the country. Our debut video for Rehab Tony will solidify us as the new cool countrywide. Regarding international… There are no more boarders. SPAZA$HOP on every corner.
“It is our intention to show the people kokasi; the world outside the township. Too many of our people are trapped. We want to take people away from the hood and allow them to travel when they listen to SPAZA$HOP.” With continuing criticism that South African mainstream Rap’s sound and style is a derivative of popular American culture and Music, what separates Spaza$hop Boyz from those comments? SPAZA$HOP BOYZ feel no obligation to regionalize our music. It is our intention to show the people kokasi; the world outside the township. Too many of our people are trapped. We want to take people away from the hood and allow them to travel when they listen to SPAZA$HOP. The future, what you got for the devotees? For the near future we have our debut music video, Rehab Tony. For the not too distant future we have ROCK-STARDOM. The best thing an artist can do for a fan is be successful. We don’t disappoint fans. Ever! For a taste of the Spaza$hop Boyz peep the FREE Download link to their song BlaK on Blaque http://tweetmysong.com/b85gh62 Search SpazaShopBoyz on Facebook or http://www.reverbnation.com/spazashop boyz to stay in touch with their movements…
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW By Nathan Kabingesi
DJ Magic Christos in every Session J Christos is the kind of person they had in mind then they coined the term OG. Producer, DJ, label owner and mentor; in a career that has spanned more than two decades, Christos has co-founded the Kalawa label, as well as his own Katsaitis Music. He has mixed and released some of the finest deephouse compilations, played to audiences from Miami to Mafikeng and groomed numerous talents who have since become legends in their own rights. Affectionately known as the Godfather of House, he has been a pioneer in the South African house scene from the very earliest days and has played a pivotal role in shaping it into what it is today.
Tell us about your partnership with Ralf Gum and GOGO Music We've got a great working relationship with Ralf. We brought him down to one of the early Magic Sessions events, which led to him releasing Shana's Uyangichomela through his label GOGO Music. We've been working together ever since. Katsaitis music is also Ralf's booking agent in South Africa and we’ve just released Ree Morris' Inside of Me through GOGO music.
You've just dropped Magic Sessions 2, the follow up to Magical Rhythms (2002). Why the change of name? We realised that there was a naming conflict, and I'd been hosting the Magic Sessions events for a few years now, trying to put out a certain quality of house music, so it just seemed very appropriate to go with that title for the album.
There is hardly any difference in quality between locally and internationally produced house tracks these days… That's true. South African producers are among the best in the world, many of the tracks in the top download sites are locally produced. You look at the number of local productions on the album (Magic Sessions 2) and it gives you a good indication of how good the sound is getting. It wouldn't surprise me if in the next few years you only see one or two international tracks on our compilations.
D
Tell us more about the Magic Session events. The Magic sessions have been happening for close on five years now in Joburg, Durban and Cape Town, drawing crowds of five to six hundred people. We've brought down artists like Rocco, Franc Roger, Manoo and Ralf Gum, focusing on delivering high quality music through high quality sound set-ups to crowds that appreciate soulful, musical house.
Katsaitis music is the label you started after leaving Kalawa? Yes. Katsaitis Music started as a small scale set-up, again focusing on high quality productions and grooming artists to grow enough to go out and do their own thing; Black Coffee is an example. We also do events and artist management.
How important are vocals in a good quality house production? Vocals are vital to any production. As a producer, you put out an instrumental track and sure, it may become popular, but people will generally know it as “that great instrumental track”, whereas if you have good vocals on a
track, it becomes instantly recognisable and people can associate it with your work. You look at guys like Liquideep and Mi Casa who do very good vocal house; there's not much that's distinct about Mi Casa's melodies but their vocals grab your attention and that's what you remember. You've been around since artists were selling house albums in six figures. Do you the think the advent of the internet age has hurt the industry? Not at all. Artists make more money from performing their music than they do from album sales in any case. The internet has just made it quicker and easier to get your work out there to the people instead of relying on a record label to do it for you. You've been heavily involved with promoting the South African brand of house at the Miami Winter Music Conference. What remains the biggest challenge to local producers trying to penetrate the international market? Knowledge. Local producers need to gain the knowledge to go out and do it themselves, and to realise that they don't need to rely on international record labels to push their sound; they don't have to share their money. Speaking of knowledge, how important is the South African Music Conference [www.samc.dj] as a knowledge sharing platform? SAMC is the most important event of the year, and it will continue to happen with or without sponsorship. So many of the top producers in the country are products of the SAMC, and it's great to see those same artists going back to teach and share their knowledge and experience.
17 | BPM You're known as the kind of mentor who would give someone the shirt off your back. Do you think there is still room for that kind of humanity in an industry that's becoming more and more about the business of music? Definitely. If music is your love and your passion, you'll give everything you've got to it. That's just how I see it. I'm always looking for something new, what else we can give the market. The unity among DJ's has helped put the music scene where it is today, and it's an enduring part of what it is to be DJ in this country. If you go into music to become popular, make a lot of money or get women, then you won't last long. It's all about the passion for the music and producing the best quality of work you can.
Tell us about the Urban Beat Radio show you host on Metro FM The Urban Beat started just about three years ago now. It was an effort to reproduce the club vibe on the radio. It's all about exposing new music, new artists and new vocal talents. You'll hear a range of mostly deep house music, including instrumentals and local productions. It's become an industry platform, because a lot of new music is being broken on the show that you normally don't get the chance to hear anywhere else. It's great to work with
Passion over Profit? Exactly. How do you balance being a family man with your career as a DJ? You've just got to give time to both. I play and tour most weekends so it's important I take time out and go on holiday with my kids. Children really change your life. I love what I do and I love my family, I work at making time for both.
“The unity among DJ's has helped put the music scene where it is today, and it's an enduring part of what it is to be DJ in this country.”
Vinny and Zeal. She and Siyanda also host a Saturday edition of the show which has a slightly different mood to our Friday night show. Favourite... Classic house track? Shadows of Your Love – Steve “Silk” Hurley Own production? Hey DJ ft Lebo Mathosa – DJ's At Work Own remix? Ralf GUM ft Kafele – Complicated (DJ Christos Magic Sessions Mix) Place to play? Definitely Pretoria, the crowds there have such a great appreciation for the musicality in house music. Magic Sessions 2 features international productions and remixes from Atjazz, Anane and Rocco, with quality local contributions by 60-Hertz Project, C.9 and Hoodnatives among others. It also features a wicked update of Brenda Fassie’s classic Weekend Special by DJ Christos himself and is available in stores now.
Imported and Distributed by
www.audiosure.co.za
Imported and Distributed by
www.audiosure.co.za
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FUN STUFF We grab 5 minutes with some of our favourite DJ's and ask them... Well... Just about anything we feel like!!!
H
5Mins with...
arael Salkow is a founding member of the Soul Candi Music Group and a man who does not dispense more words than need be to get his point across. This we discovered when we hit him up with 5 minutes of quick-fire questions. Known to be an elusive fella his passion for
Harael Salkow
entrepreneurship is equalled only by his absolute love for music. Known affectionately as Big Daddy H, he refuses to take the glory for the success of the legendary South African brand opting to remind us that team work is at the core of everything they do.
1. What 5 words epitomise the South African sound of urban dance music? Unique, Innovative, Trending, Soulful, Groove.
14. I DJ because.... I love it 15. The one thing most people don’t know about me is... I love trance music
2. Big Daddy H.!!! There must be a story behind the name. Who first coined the phrase? Ask Roger Goode
16. The South African dance scene needs more... Better DJ set ups and attention to technical specs.
3. Did you like the nickname at first or was it a case of it just stuck and you had no choice? The latter 4. Casting your mind back on the 10 years – what three things stand out to you as pivotal moments in the growth of Soul Candi? Soul Candi Sessions 3, The Death of Vinyl because that forced us to invest in new activities and Spring Fiesta. 5. White boy – black music. Well not exactly but certainly a large part of what Soul Candi Music offers release wise, happens to cater for the urban (read – black house) music market in this country. Were you and your school mates into the same music growing up or did you always have a deeper, soulful side to your music tastes? I was introduced to this style of music by Mbuse & Claude and I am forever grateful. 6. You have a reputation as a smart businessman who fortunately for urban house in this country happens to love music too. Were you formally educated (business school, varsity etc) or is it good old street smarts? I started a Bcomm the same year I started Soul Candi but unfortunately [or fortunately] Soul Candi took preference and that was the end of my student life. I credit our success to our great team and their hard work. 7. The SC 10 Classics and Future Box Sets are a great way to commemorate a decade in dance music. Was it tough to decide who to mix each of the 10 CD’s? Not really since it was a team decision. 8. What is your favourite classic house track of all time? Kings Of Tomorrow – Finally. Does it get any better?
9. And on the Futures box set. Which track stands out for you as one that represents the future of Soul Candi? That’s not possible as Soul Candi represents more than one sound hence the 5 different styles across the 5 discs. 10. My favourite way to relax when I’m not working is.... I play tennis 11. The first thing I do when I wake up every morning is.... I turn on CNBC 12. Steak or sushi? Steak 13. The one thing you will always find in my fridge is.... Phat Jack
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SAVE IT FOR LATER You can even record your DJ performances directly to an iPod docked within iM9! Housed in tough sheetmetal with solid, brick-like construction, iM9 is designed to withstand the most raucous performances and still make the next night's gig. If you're looking to add dimension to your DJing, Numark's iM9 is just the right move to take your sets in an interesting, new direction.. www.hybrid.co.za For trade enquiries or to find your closest retailer call (011) 250 3280 | luis@hybrid.co.za | marco@hybrid.co.za | bernard@hybrid.co.za
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FEATURE By Dave Mac
PSYCHEDELIC SUMMER
Killerwatts What happens when a legend of psytrance gets together with a new up and coming star of the scene? Killerwatts of full-on power! I got to speak to both Avalon & Tristan about their return to South Africa at the end of January for the Origin Festival and to find out more about their lives both as solo artists and the all new project aptly called Killerwatts.
Leon ‘Avalon’ Leon ‘Avalon’, he of psytrance project Avalon fame, is following quickly in the footsteps of one of his heroes, Tristan, with what will be his third consecutive visit to our sunny shores this summer. But this time instead of coming with an English posse of nutters, he arrives armed with a second power project and one of the biggest names in psytrance at his side... You’ve become SA’s next best friend after Tristan. He’s been here umpteen times but at the rate you’re going, you’ll soon catch up. Looking forward to partying in SA again? “F**k yeah! I can't wait; it has always been one of my favourite dancefloors to play to. The energy, the vibe, the people. Love it!! Last year was quite mad with the whole Pommie posse... “Haha, well get ready for us again. Here we come!” So how’s 2011 been for you? “It has been a huge year, gigs have pretty much doubled since and I have had some awesome times on my travels. Burning Man 2011, Samothraki, Indigo in israel; the list goes on. Studio wise, been a busy year too. Made an album with Tristan and about 10 Avalon tracks are also just waiting to land.” Where do you find yourself gigging the most, worldwide? “I would say Europe at the moment; been playing a different country every week. But there has been some great Brazil tours and just played Mexico for the first time which was a blast! So Killerwatts with Tristan. Amazing that now you’re making tunes with someone who was possibly one of your heroes 8 or 10 years ago... “10 years ago was my first party, Samothraki 2001. I remember asking ‘who is this DJ?’ (as it blew my frikken mind). A girl told me Tristan. Ever since he has been my favourite DJ. If you would have told me back then that 10 years later I would not only be playing on that island, but with Tristan together, with our new project! I would have never believed you!” What’s different about the Killerwatts sound as opposed to Avalon? “Well it’s a hybrid of the Tristan and Avalon sound, with a twist. Top quality production on this album has been a huge focus for us. We’ve learnt so much in this area while making it. Hold on to your brain cells, ‘cos they’re going for a ride!” And finally, 2012.... Is it the end of the world? What’s your take on things? Haha, I'm actually playing the ‘Last Day in Time Festival’ in Mexico by the Mayan Temples on Dec 21st 2012. Pretty far out! So I will let you know, I guess.
S T T A W R E L L I K Tristan
Tristan is of course Cape Town’s very own ‘psychedelic, prodigal son.’ He has been here so many times and for good reason. He loves us and we love him behind the decks! After last year’s disappointing no-show he owes us a big one and knows it. He explains... So I guess the first thing to ask is ‘Are you definitely going to make it back to SA this time around?’ Yes, Yes, Yes!!! I spend much of every season as I can in Goa, but 2 years ago the Indian government changed the laws so that if you left the country you couldn't return within 3 months... bummer! That's why I couldn't make it to Cape Town last year. However... this year I have the correct visa which does allow me to travel freely in and out. So here's a big middle finger to all the idiots in government out there that try to control us and stop the freedom of movement of people around the globe!
The highly anticipated collaboration between psy legend Tristan and rising star, Avalon
How’s the guitar playing? Good, I managed over the years to reach an intermediate level; so I can play songs, jam and improvise a bit, but to take it to the next level I would really need to graft and practice a lot, and I just don't have the time to commit to it. I got a piano for my 40th birthday and have started lessons which I absolutely love so that's my new craze at the moment. Having a foundation of musical theory makes it so much easier - but again it's sitting down and practising!
25 | BPM
FEATURE
studio which is in Ibiza, designed by himself, underneath his swimming pool! Amazing... it gets really hot out there in summer; so when you finish a section on the track and have built up a bit of a sweat... just step out and jump in the pool! Doesn't get more pimping than that!!!
Speaking of collaborations you’ve teamed up with Leon from Avalon who is quite a prolific composer I believe. Tell us a bit about the Killerwatts project. What’s the dynamic that exists between you two? The Killerwatts project has been quite a journey! We have strived to take things to the next level with the UK psychedelic sound and I believe we have succeeded in creating something big, fresh and definitely kicking! Most of the album has been written in my studio, simply for practical reasons (main one: I don't want to spend too much time away from my family) so Leon comes to mine, sets up camp for a week, we graft our asses off and emerge from the studio with a belter!!! The album is 95% finished now; and certainly completed by the time we get to South Africa... which I am really excited about.
And finally, I asked Leon the same thing; 2012.... Is it the end of the world? I think the world is in a tricky place right now, simply because we don't have the right people running the show. I'm not the Armageddon/end of the world type, (although many of my friends think the Mayans had something going on;) so I A few years back you opted to stop don't think any sudden enlightenment DJ’ing and only do live sets i.e. play or catastrophe is about to happen in the your own music. Is that still the case next 12 months. However I think the nowadays? governments around the world certainly Yes. I was forced to stop DJ'ing as a need a rethink about the distribution of result of an increasing level of tinnitus in wealth on this planet and I wish they'd my right ear. Doing live sets (i.e. only sort it out... soon!!! my own music) is less intensive on the ear drums as I'm more concerned with Shout outs: [Tristan added this special production on stage than simply beat message to Cape Town’s psytrance mixing; so thankfully it hasn't got massive]. worse. It was a complete blessing in “I'd like to add that I cannot wait to disguise, as focusing on my own music come to South Africa and rock on the has made a massive difference to my dancefloor with some of the best party level of production and arrangements people on the planet!! It's been way too and the overall quality has definitely long and I look forward to seeing many accelerated since the switch. friends very soon! x x x x” Your new EP rocks! Working with the Antidote must have been interesting. The two styles definitely work... Tell us a bit about Trance Odyssey. [Available on Nano Rec’s] We wrote that tune in Serge Antidote's
The Origin Festival is from 27-29 January 2012. Keep up to date at www.originfestival.com
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FEATURE By Dave Mac
Psychedelic Summer: Ace Ventura @ Rezonance NYE 2011/12
oni Oshrat’s first visit to South Africa as Ace Ventura in February this year was certainly one to remember as he blasted his way through two sets of powerful, progressive psychedelic music. The event was highlighted not only by the response from the crowd who absolutely loved his music but also by Ace’s own reaction which was a simple “when can I come back?” he was so impressed with the quality of our dancefloors. Well he is back. For New Year’s Eve at Rezonance – a 4 day, 3 night electronic music extravaganza designed to serve up the cream of local DJ talent alongside top internationals. Yoni started his psytrance music career as one half of Psysex alongside DJ Goblin, a project that lasted eight years and bore three very good albums. Predominantly a full-on project the duo also experimented with slower tracks as well as what Yoni describes as “breakbeat and freestyle tunes…just enjoying creating music.” I pick up the conversation from here...
Y
“I'm seriously looking forward to coming down to Cape Town again and I'd like to give a shout out to Alien Safari who are totally brilliant… I had a great experience with them last time and I’m really excited about the New Years Eve Festivities! See you soon.”
What was the final deciding factor for you to give up Psysex and start your progressive projects? “There were a couple of reasons. After 8 years working as a duo it just got a little old so it was really attractive for me to try and do it on my own. But the main reason was being fed up with the full-on scene and getting into the prog scene which had a totally different vibe to it, different people and much better parties. I was encouraged by my friend, Yuli Fershtat (aka Perfect Stranger), to try and produce a progressive track, and so Cardiac Arrest was born, which Yuli released on his compilation for Iboga records. After the positive feedback from this release, it gave me the push to make a change and take a leap of faith, to try and go in a new direction.” Yoni is of course a Jim Carey fan although the adoption of the moniker has as much to do with the movies as it has with his father whose real last name is in fact Ventura! “Cardiac Arrest was about to be released and I didn't have a project name… so I had to choose one real quick… didn't go for the most original choice in the world, but it kinda sticks with people as it’s a catchy name that rings a bell…” You reintroduced a much needed (in my opinion) tougher sound back into progressive trance. Was this always your intention or a result of your Psysex days? “To be honest I didn't have any master plan, I was just going with it. Obviously some musical notes from Psysex carried through… some tracks were more progressive and atmospheric and some had more power and floor blasting qualities - the latter by now being my signature sound.” Chatting to Reshef [Captain Hook] recently he reckons full-on psytrance is dead in Israel now... “It's not completely dead but it’s obvious that in the last few years progressive music has taken over the public’s taste in Israel. Actually the Israeli Trance scene has been really kicking in the past few years… parties 3 times a week and of course
big ones on weekends. Progressive trance has been the sound of choice but nowadays one can also hear Techno and proghouse at trance parties.” Aside from Yoni’s Ace Ventura project, he has several collaborations on the go and reckons 2012 is a big year; “Some serious releases on my part are due out. The second Ace Ventura album on Iboga records, the debut album with Rocky [as Easy Riders] will be released on HOMmega and another album which is underway is the debut Zentura album, my project with Zen Mechanics. Also a few Liquid Ace DJ sets [with Liquid Soul] are booked around the world... and last but not least, I just did my first live act together with Captain Hook a week ago in Tel Aviv and it kicked major ass - we will have more shows together in 2012. So it’s going to be a good year! Catch Ace Ventura and a host of SA’s finest at Rezonance NYE 2011/12 this year. Facebook Event: Search for Rezonance NYE Festival 2011-2012
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INTERVIEW By Mary Honeychild ode 9 is a somewhat of a legend and genre ‘main dog’ for anyone who considers themselves a Dubstep fan. Real name Steve Goodman born in Glasgow, Scotland, in his teens he traded in the chequered kilt for some turntables and beats with distinct Reggae, Hip hop, Jazz and Funk influences. He owns the largest, most successful and renowned Dubstep Record Label in the world, Hyperdub. He has a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Warwick and lectures Sound/Music theory at the University of East London. He focuses on the science of Rhythm Analysis and how it effects life cycles, thought process and the fundamental power it has over nature, people and its ability to start wars. Fittingly, on this topic he has published a book titled Sonic Warfare: Sound, Affect, and the Ecology of Fear, which explores the use of acoustic force and how it affects whole populations. The book is published by MIT Press. Ahead of his visit to South Africa for Rezonance NYE he had this to say...
K
The Days just before Dubstep “I just remember loving the Reggae and Dancehall vibes in UK garage around 1999, and noticing how similar they were to jungle from 1994. For me early Dubstep was a continuation of that lineage. Now it’s somewhat different. In 2000 I was doing little nights in Brixton and also Forward was happening and a couple years later DMZ [regular night hosted by DMZ records] started. All these nights had a focused, intimate atmosphere, and everyone who attended seemed to be involved in the music in some way,” he says.
The start of his career Goodman started deejaying in Edinburgh; he explains, “there were actually quite a few decent clubs and DJs playing a similar kind of mix of music. This was just at the same time that early hardcore was beginning to fuse all these elements into a single rave genre.”
The Jungle Effect His first Jungle encounter; “The speed, the intensity, the bass and the way it wove together every music style I had ever been into. I can't remember where I was, but I remember the feeling of shock and awe.” Kode 9’s influences range from a variety of Jungle producers who he says got under his skin. Namely El-B and Benny ill whom he credits as being
KODE 9
“I just remember loving the Reggae and Dancehall vibes in UK garage around 1999, and noticing how similar they were to jungle from 1994. For me, early Dubstep was a continuation of that lineage.” instrumental in influencing many producers, himself included.
The new Dubstep Producers and the Pop Music Cross-pollination Steve says his music these days is largely influenced by House music. “I moved on several years ago. I'm neither a purist nor welcome cross-pollination for its own sake. It is what it is. There are so many different strands of the genre now. I don't even have an overview of the whole thing. There is certainly stuff I dislike and stuff I like. I play some in my sets, but not that much anymore.”
His radio show on Rinse FM “Flying Lotus was a friend of mine in London, and he invited me onto the show as a regular feature. This brought together the worlds of Dubstep and West Coast beats properly for the first time for a lot of people, introducing them to the sound.”
The Reggae Influence “It’s actually not that prominent in my production just now at all, apart from recent work with Spaceape, who because of Jamaican family origins obviously brings that flavour lyrically. But recently my music has been more influenced by house, than reggae.”
South Africa anticipation “I've been in North Africa but never South Africa, so yes this is my first visit. I work with the artists LV on Hyperdub who do a lot of recording with South African vocalists, so I've heard a lot from them. Also friends like Scratcha and Mala have been over and had a great time. But really I don't know much, but my ears are open.” Catch Kode 9 on the Technodubfest stage at Rezonance NYE festival – 30 December – 2 January 2012.
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SHOW US YOUR
MONSTER FACE!
Michelle was doing her best to keep that last shot of Patron down.
Wolf to Bo Peep: “I live with my mom but she makes a killer breakfast and digs visitors.”
Death walked around all night and wondered why nobody would give him a light.
Melanie asked excitedly: “So you say you got a Maserati?!”
31 | BPM
Photos by:
Disclaimer: All names and comments made are purely fictitious and in no way are meant to be taken seriously.
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Where the beat lives on...
SHOW US YOUR POP BOTTLE FACE! Yes... just look at that face, the party was just that good.
“Sure... I'll go with you...”
Ready... and camera pose
The twins were trying really hard to show Themba the flying elves in the sky.
The cast of ‘Backstage Returns’ huddled together for a group press shot.
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ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT?
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The majority of DJ's I know do not pigeon hole themselves. Music and sound is a lot more varied than just a certain boxed idea of a genre. So if there is a sound like Prog Trance for example that I really enjoy working with, I work with it.
FEATURE By Romy Hihat
“I sometimes think that genres are created in order to explain it to people or fans. Majority of the DJ's I know do not pigeon hole themselves.”
How would you describe your Judgement Sunday parties at BCM Mallorca? My nights in Ibiza are incredible and so important for a DJ's career and the audience there is definitely more mature which is great. But, what is also great are the BCM Mallorca nights; these are more British and appeal to a younger crowd aged 19-21. This again is very important; to stay relevant you have to keep reintroducing yourself to the new and younger clubbing crowd who are probably going to party for the next three or four years. I enjoy opening myself up to this audience. How, in your opinion, do accolades, awards and high honours impact on the quality of music from a producer? I think that awards are just a tangent to the most important aspects of the job. They shouldn't affect the quality of the music and don't, yet in some cases they do. Aside from this there will always be an element of people who will say that your music sucks now since you made it big. It's just how it is, even if it's not true.
JUDGE JULES
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udge Jules aka Jules O'Riordan is a multi-award winning Dance Music Producer/DJ who has been up and club banging it since 1987. He runs one of the longest standing, premier club nights in Ibiza: 'Judgement Sundays' at Eden Night Club. He also won the awards for 'Best Trance DJ' in 2001 and ‘Best Trance Night’ at the 'Ibiza Pacha Awards' in 2003. I called him up long distance for a little chat a few days ahead of his SA December 2011 Tour in Cape Town, Durban and Joburg.
What do you think has helped sustain your long standing DJ career? Definitely not being a prisoner of my own style; I think my exposure on Radio 1 and playing in Ibiza. There are only a handful of nights in Ibiza that have been running as long as mine, which is a great success. I would also say, serving yourself on a plate to the discerning Dance audience the way I have been doing every year for four months a year. You have to keep at it and continue re-inventing yourself. Out of all the distinguished genres and sub-genres in Electronic Music. Why Euro-Progressive Trance? I sometimes think that genres are created in order to explain it to people or fans.
What is the one thing that can take a set from good to great? There are all sorts of technical issues that can really affect the quality of your set. Like last Saturday when I was playing at a club in Russia, the promoters had the monitors put way too far at the back. So it wasn't that good, but at the same time the crowd didn't know and you still have to be a pro and keep the show going at its best even when you are being challenged. One thing that can really make a set great is a big crowd that is open minded to the music and are just loud! Love it. Your favourite live music instrument? Wow, I hardly think of that but I'd have to say the Bass and Acoustic Guitar. One of the craziest things a fan has ever said to you? When I'm in the UK there are always people coming up to me and saying... “I'm your cousin” or... “I know your cousin really well.” It's the weirdest thing and has been happening to me for years and they are always wrong, we never are related. [Laughs] Related or not, his fans sure feel close enough to his music, that it simply just feels something like family.
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FEATURE By Eliza Day elleruche arrived at Rocking the Daisies as a dynamic trio that nobody could put their finger on. The genre-less three-piece came all the way from the UK and included us in their tour. Fashioned out of leading lady, vocalist Kathrin deBoer, guitarist Ricky Fabulous accompanied by DJ Modest, Belleruche are a successful encapsulation of a variety of music styles that really works well. Kathrin, who is a proper lady, all eyelashes and shimmy-hips, breathes rich, smooth vocals into an arrangement that incorporates soul, trip-hop elements and a lustrous exotica sound. What’s so great for me about these three is how they’ve gone down a slightly dark alleyway with their tone. There are areas which have managed to take the slippery airs and graces of a traditional soul sound juxtaposed on electronica and bring the whole thing to a dank and crunchy composition. When I met with Ricky and Kathrin after the show backstage I got the feeling straight away that these musicians aren’t charmed with the idea of being compared to other artists past and present, “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said about us!” exclaims Kathrin when I remark that they are a genre-less act if ever there was one. What I can put to them as merely a likeness so as to illustrate their vibe, is a nice underground 90’s feel that weirdly enough reminds me of the aesthetic Tricky and Portishead sometimes indulge. Their opinion of us is also pretty good as they slug Black Label, singing the beer’s praises. Belleruche is about to wrap up their new album, 270 Stories which I am lucky enough to have a listen to later on Ricky’s iPod. Leading up to this point, the three have been through a lot of open minded trawling and tethering of mixed ideas to reach this incredibly broad sound they are putting out. DJ Modest and Ricky met in college and were always mucking about, sampling different bits and pieces of anything that took their fancy and seeing if it could wind up together. When they met Kathrin it all seemed to go down well and the next thing they knew, they had an album. When questioned about how they put it all together, Ricky answers, “Music is music and if it’s good it’s good. Saying we’re genre-less is a compliment. I’ll be listening to punk, walk past Kathrin’s room and she’s listening to Nina Simone
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BELLERUCHE Eliza Day spends some time with Electronic/soul band, BELLERUCHE after their Rocking the Daisies set in 2011. and it’s that kind of weird comparison that just sounds good.” Kathrin agrees how they all have to make compromises in order to write songs together as between her, Modest and Ricky, they have a huge range of tastes going on. She bats her huge Betty Boop eyes and tsks, “You know when you get something that you really feel for, I’ll leave it with these two to listen to and then I’ll come back and anything that was there is completely gone!” she gasps. “Yet the way that I write, I work really closely with the melody and when I leave something with the boys in the studio and they put in an amazing bass line under it or something like that, I just love it. I really love it.” Ricky laughs and rolls his eyes as they go on to bicker
about ‘mood’ and ‘tone’ over what they consider a happy song and what another would sum up as a heartbreak anthem. “We’re dark! Not happy! Things will not end well!” growls Ricky and Kathrin giggles along which really compliments what they’re saying about their ambiguous creations. They’re a couple of truly lovely people and it’s awesome to see how an artistic project can take older media, rework it and create something relevant and nostalgic at the same time. A band well worth checking out and what goes down as one of the top acts at Rocking The Daisies this year in my opinion. For more go to www.belleruche.com
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW By Mary Honeychild
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orth London, Tottenham born Jermaine Scott, aka Wretch 32 has been blowing up global mainstream Hip Hop charts via MTV and BBC TV over this past year with the release of his album Black & White and at the time of this writing was poised to go No. 1 on 5FM Radio Station. He has put together a newer, fresher and lighter sound to something that is now a lot less underground and Grimy than his previous work; featuring a sort of easy listening and digestible R&B influenced radio friendly Hip Hop. He has also been given the wink and thumbs up by artists such as Adele, Jessie J, Liam Gallagher, Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, P Diddy and Mark Ronson. The album boasts hit singles such as Traktor and Unorthodox; these two and every track on the album all feature guest appearances by some of Britain's top of the pops artists. [See our review in the last edition of BPM Mag] Black & White has seen his popularity surge with many asking the question, why a previously Grime MC has gone soft or switched up his style to this degree. He has been criticised by Grime fans on Forums for “making 'bait' Hip Hop and labelling it as Grime” accusing him of never quite having been raw enough to start with. I challenged him on this as we chatted for an hour over the phone... “These people are on a forum and there are like five of them. They don't even deserve an answer. I'm a musician who makes the music that I love. I'm successful, making money and paying those bills. Who cares what they think?” he laughs. Wretch 32 originally started out as a member of 'The Combination Chain Gang' and he cut his teeth rapping with this Hip Hop collective. The initial aim of these London boys was to poise themselves as the best Grime lyricists in the game, but things changed and they all moved on to different things leaving Wretch 32 to carry the torch as he forged ahead. The crew he has since formed known as 'The Movement' with Scorcher, Ghetts, Devlin and Mercston are set to unleash a few more releases next year, he tells me. “The stuff coming off of 'The Movement' release is going to be more focused on the verses and will be a lot more lyrical than my personal stuff. On my album the stuff I write is more personal to me and my experiences.” he explains. Scott owes the influence of his take on UK Rap to English artists such as Soul Solitary and Kano while his USA influences include the likes of none other than Jay Z and Nas.
WRETCH 32 “I'm British, I drink tea and I rap.”
I ask him how he feels about the notion that Hip Hop is an American thing, being badly copied by other nations across the world? “That's a load of bullshit to be honest. People like making the music that they like. If you are feeling something and you are into it, you are going to get more involved in it. I don't think you get into hip hop just because you looking for something to familiarise yourself with culturally,” he asserts, pausing for a minute. “Everyone has their own swag. Being American is a culture, it's the way they carry themselves along with the way they talk and their accents. I'm English and will only ever be just that. Nothing about me is American. I'm British, I drink tea and I rap,” concludes Scott. Opportunities are becoming increasingly brighter for North London artists working at breaking into the music
industry. Salutations can be given to acts such as Wretch32, Sway, Skepta and Chipmunk who seem to be paving the way. The one 'downside' to being from that part of London is the bad local news rep they have for crime and violence. Which if you ask me, never really hurt any wanna-be rapper's road to glory. What's a Cinderella story without some dirty coal stains on the knuckles? Wretch 32 swears that he keeps nothing from his fans and part of his success is telling his life in stories through his music. The tea drinkers are up and at it! I personally look forward to watching them switch up the face of global rap. Lookout for Wretch 32’s Album – Black and White in music stores nationwide.
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ALBUM REVIEWS
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fillers. Disc two is basically the same mix of classic and new releases but with a strong electro sound. A must for Ultimix fans. Reviewed by Nathan Kabingesi
MI CASA MUSIC - MI CASA (SOUL CANDI RECORDS) <House> Mi Casa burst onto the house scene this year and completely took it over with their unique take on vocal house. Production and arrangement is handled by DR Duda, with J-Something on vocals and lyrics, and Mo-T adding his trumpet to what should become a signature sound for the group. I should say because I have yet to pick out any melodic consistency in their sound on Mi Casa Music, their first collaborative release. The album features their hits These Streets and Heavenly Sent, both of which benefit from very catchy beats and JSomething’s soulful crooning. La Vida, a track sung in Portuguese, is the most richly textured production on the album, incorporating live guitars, drums, Mo-T’s trumpet and even Dr. Duda on tenor sax. The song is a glimpse of what the group can mature into as a sound, a kind of mix between Elements of Life and Tortured Soul with a distinctly South African feel. The entire album, however, doesn’t quite get to the same level of as the stand-out tracks. Dr. Duda’s bass lines can become monotonous very quickly, saved in the cases of Across the Room and Be the One by the complex guitar riffs and solos provided by Divine. I look forward to hearing their sound evolve into something more rounded and distinctive. Reviewed by Nathan Kabingesi
HOUSE BLENDZ 2 – MIXED BY MALANKANE 4. (SOUL CANDI) <House> The first thing I noticed about this album was that the ratio of local to international tracks is 3:1. Perhaps this is what Malankane means by titling his releases House Blendz? Potentially a top notch release, the overall effect is spoilt a little by one or two tracks; like mixing a teaspoon of storebought instant granules into a mug of coffee made with freshly ground South American beans. The Glenn Underground remix of Into Life by The Rurals ft Jaidene Veda is a blissful, bass guitarheavy track that sets a mellow mood for the album that is only slightly altered by So Insane by Abwalk ft Horward. Difference by Darque ft Kaylow is a hauntingly beautiful production, intelligently arranged with great vocals. The P.M Project remix of Happy Day by DJ Veany ft Mindgames is monotonous and gets annoying very quickly, immediately followed and contrasted by another P.M Project mix, this time of Lifted by MR Cee ft Lady X which is far more melodic. Facing the Sun by Rudesoul smacks of the instant coffee described earlier; it’s flat and hollow sounding. The rest of the album, though, is pure class. The unplugged mix of DJ Hypnosis’ Far Away is just great, and Simple Love by Essential I ft Jayla is another example of the formula: textured melodic arrangement + talented vocalist = good music. The Trancemicsoul remix of So Happy by Tom Conrad ft Dawn Tallman is brilliant, building slowly up to and maintaining a crescendo that just doesn’t let you be. The final track, an Essential I remix of Move On by Divine Lopez & OG, is a little fast paced but a good enough production to keep you nodding right through to the end. A solid release overall. Reviewed by Nathan Kabingesi
CANDI PRESENTS PIONEERS OF HOUSE: 2. SOUL ATJAZZ (SOUL CANDI)
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<House> Martin Iveson started out in the music industry programming music for video games in his native U.K. Hard to believe, right? Under the moniker of Atjazz (read All That Jazz), he has crafted an enduring sound so inimitably soulful and jazzy, that Soul Candi saw fit to put out their latest instalment in the Pioneers of House series exclusively featuring some of his best loved productions and remixes. Whether you’re a diehard fan of the man’s work or a complete newbie, you’ll be hard put to find fault with this collection of the virtuoso producers work. Atjazz exhibits a singular versatility on this release, adding deft touches to tracks like Dennis Ferrer’s wildly popular Hey Hey, which has a raw, almost dirty, techy feel to it; which is contrasted by the soulful, warm Love Soul rework of Leon Ware’s On the Beach. The classic Mercyless by Fred Everything is a gem. His remix of Relax by Rainy Payne & Doc Link has some unexpected tribal elements, yet still distinctively Atjazzy. The popular Chasing by C9ine ft Kholi is brilliant, followed by a very interesting take on DJ Whisky’s Boni Mores. Destiny by System Funk is a beautifully written and arranged track, followed by Glory by Halo ft Miaya. There’s also the hit Please You, which you just can’t help but get up and dance to. If there is such a thing as a flawless album, this release is a strong contender for the title. Reviewed by Nathan Kabingesi
3. THE FRESH DRIVE ULTIMIX@6 (SOUL CANDI) 5.
<House> The idea of laying vocals from one track over the instrumentals of another track is not a novel one; club DJ’s have been doing it for years as a sort of gimmick to show off their knowledge of the genre and ear for mixing elements from different tracks in a live environment to create new tracks. Playing and mixing popular songs for a fraction of their full length is a ploy that has been put to use by numerous DJ’s, especially in Hip-Hop and Reggaeton clubs, the point being presumably to maintain a certain pace or mood on the dance floor. Ultimixing is a relatively new fangled combination of both DJ techniques, which has been popularized by DJ Fresh on his drive-time show. The Fresh Drive Ultimix @ 6 v. 2, a double disc release, is the second collection of popular house tracks worked into what is essentially one long mashed up mix (each disk has 27 and 25 tracks on it respectively). Disc one has a strong deep house feel to it, combining some of the classics (essential to the Ultimix) with more recent floor-
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THE HOT.99 DANCE – MIXED BY JUST MO (SOUL CANDI) <House> YFM has a history of putting out house compilations that have proven time and again just how connected the station is with the youth market. This latest release is supposedly a mirror of the Hot 99 Dance countdown hosted by Just Mo, who is also responsible for mixing this gem of a release. It opens up on a quietly jazzy yet elemental note with Darque’s Afro Drum remix of Andy Compton’s Quietstorm. Put It On by Atjazz is given the Osunlade treatment to good effect, followed by the ever so soulful Atjazz remix of Ngawe by Bossruu ft Afrotraction (when did he stop being Wandile?). Ben Westbeech’s Falling is everything a tightly produced vocal song should be, whereas I by Donae O (Kenny Dope Remix) has incredible vocals and harmony but a disappointing instrumental. Deep Xcape tell us Stories rich with organ progressions and driving bass lines. There’s also an inspired, brilliant Charles Webster remix of DJ Micks’ First to Say Goodbye ft Robin Latimore, as well as a very cleverly arranged track by Blawa Mafiozo entitled Amazon Tribal. The Infinite Boys hauntingly jazzy retouch of Nasty Nev’s Hung Up is the penultimate track on a compilation that comes very close to being flawless. The track selection on the album is decidedly Deep, but the mix of moods and tempo of the tracks prevents it from becoming monotonous; there’s something on it for just about everyone. Fine work all round. Reviewed by Nathan Kabingesi
www.bpmlife.co.za Where the beat lives on...
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ALBUM REVIEWS
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GOLDFISH – GET BUSY LIVING REMIXED (SONY) <Electro House/Swing> It was just over a year ago that I sat listening to the Fishies third studio album, Get Busy Living, wondering if it could live up to the expectation created by the runaway success of Perceptions of Pacha. Well, as anybody who is familiar with the duo’s music will know, their album no. 3 more than met the anticipation of their fans and received amazing support from SA music channels including all the biggest radio stations. Goldfish have learnt to tread a precariously thin line between pop and dance music with songs that are cleverly constructed and are very well composed. In short their albums sell because they know how to write hit songs. A remix album is a different beast though. Tougher beats, deeper grooves, syncopated percussion and sassy vocal tweaks are the order of the day as 13 remixes are served up by a host of SA and international producers. Some tracks are remixed more than once but anybody who knows dance music will understand that remixes are DJ fodder and as such a different take on one track is a welcome interpretation. Overall this is a solid reworking of an already classic album that should ignite dancefloors both locally and abroad and re-affirms Goldfish’s status as SA’s leading dance music duo. Pick of the remixes for me are; In Too Deep (James Copeland remix), Big Band Wolf (Ugo Platana Remix) and Culoe De Song’s deep urban remix of Call Me is strangely alluring. Reviewed by Dave Mac
7. KASKADE - FIRE & ICE (JUST MUSIC) <House> America’s number one DJ bangs out with his seventh album Fire & Ice this year, featuring talented guest artists on every track of this double disc set. The first disc titled Fire offers up a serving of typical high energy club beats that are very good in quality. Each track sets a tone of long, warm build ups leading to hot, uplifting, happy breaks. Track four Lick It ft. Skrillex adds in a little bit of that edgy Dubstep that is all over any electro production these days. This gives the tone of the album that extra bit of synth kick. Track seven Waste Love ft. Quadron gave me that tingly nostalgic feeling, bragging that distinct Urban House bassline. The second disc’s tracks are cooler, icier remixes of each track on the first. He takes them on a somewhat down-tempo trip, delivering beats that come off more grounded and floor heavy, showing another side to his production style, a sound reminiscent of pieces of Café Del Mar, Old school House and new school experimental Electronica, rocking repetitive kick drums and enchanting, raspy vocals. Reviewed by Mary Honeychild
8. JOKER - THE VISION (JUST MUSIC) <Dubstep> Joker’s debut mainstream album is a version of the gentler, softer Dubstep we see appearing in more mainstream pop productions as many artists are toying with the genre. Slaughter House resembles an R&B infused Dubstep that could remind me of the kind of track that plays on a radio station’s top ten. Tron seems to get a little more into that dirty Dubstep feeling, with a lot less vocal and stands out as one of the best on the album. Milky Way gives that floaty synth air, while spinning the sound waves in your ear drums. Delicate, deep and entrancing in its effect on your consciousness and just when you thought it got too soft, it breaks all grimy, then back to being a luscious, beautiful track. I put it on repeat. The interlude on track six combines an old
school disco sound with a Pop/R&B style used widely during the nineties, this gives the middle of the album a feeling of familiarity and a sense of being home. The second half takes on a slightly heavier set feel as though the beats have progressed to something a little more grown up and serious on the same disc. If you have been enjoying the Dubstep pumping out of 2011 and like some variation in the genre you will no doubt love this one. Reviewed by Mary Honeychild
9. ADDICTED TO BASS 2012 (JUST MUSIC) <Drum n Bass / Dubstep> 2011 has definitely seen the happy Dubstep, Bass fan base grow rapidly all across the world. The infectious, slightly off centre and aggressive street rhythm of the genre is wholly intoxicating for anyone who digs it. One of the world’s most renowned dance icons, Ministry of Sound releases South Africa’s first Dubstep compilation album. Three discs of sixty crunchy, gut spinning Dubstep and Bass Bin remixes are on offer. The kids are going to love this one. Some of the hit producing artists featured include DJ Fresh (not the 5FM DJ), Deadmau5, Dizzee Rascal, Afrojack, Wretch 32, Faithless, Fatboy Slim, Roger Sanchez, Eric Prydz and Martin Solveig to name a few. Expect a lot of sexy, perfect, bass heavy, party jerking music when you give this a listen. On disc one, track nine by Deadmau5 & Kaskade I Remember should rate amongst the favourites along with Vato Gonzalez ft. Foreign Beggars Badman Riddim (Jump) and Robyn’s Call Your Girlfriend. On disc two, Aloe Blacc’s Need A Dollar comes as a happy remix surprise to me. Afrojack & Steve Aoki’s No Beef stands out as the most experimental on disc three whipping up some of that up-tempo township funk feel into the track, crazy but undeniably nice. Reviewed by Mary Honeychild
10. GOTAN PROJECT – BEST OF (JUST MUSIC) <Tango Electronica/Trip Hop/Nu Jazz> The Parisian based group, Gotan Project, were formed in 1999 and have released four studio albums and one live album. Whether you’ve heard of them or not, you’ve very likely heard their music as several of their most popular compositions have been used in televisions commercials, a host of TV series and even a couple of films, the most notable being Oceans Twelve and The Truth About Charlie being two that I can remember. Although their music makes use of a lot of conventional instrumentation (as opposed to electronic) most of their compositions are a tasty mix of tango rhythms mixed with samples, beats, and breaks. If ever you wanted to impress your dinner guests with something sophisticated but with a very modern twist, Gotan Project certainly fits that bill. But beyond that their music is deep, intricate and beautifully composed offering the advanced listener something very special. If you’re already a fan this, their Best Of collection, packs some of their best known tracks alongside some more obscure gems as well as two newly composed numbers to enjoy. If you’re not familiar with Gotan Project but fancy some worldly downtempo nu jazz with a Parisian tango twist, this collection is a great place to start. Reviewed by Dave Mac
www.bpmlife.co.za Where the beat lives on...
FABIO & MOON - NOT LIKE THE OTHERZ – 11. (SPINTWIST)
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<Psy-tech> Spintwist are a label on fire at the moment if the Beatport charts are anything to go by. Serving a clever mix of clubby trance and progressive psy-tech, they have breached a crossover sound that is finding its way into DJ’s sets of varying styles. Fabio & Moon epitomise this sound and should please fans of the currently very popular Neelix. But whilst Neelix sometimes flirts with progressive house and at other times with harder kicking tech-trance, Fabio & Moon are all about bouncy, funky tunes. Expect plenty 2note basslines, vocal effects, synthy guitar stabs and reverse sweeps. The success in Not Like The Otherz lay in the fact that this is an album you can play from beginning to end in your car or at home, at a braai or house party and it’s bound to get you and anybody listening hopping to the infectious beats. The duo are seasoned producers, so expect an album dripping with well crafted production tricks. From a DJ perspective Not Like The Otherz is also a handy collection and although any of the tracks will work a dancefloor there are a few stand outs I expect will get the most deck time. Picks for me include; Passenger and the title track as well as a deep remix of Neelix’s recent anthem, Expect What. Reviewed by Dave Mac
beef the dancefloor up with the contrast it offers to the 4/4 beat. Captain Hook also enjoys his triplets, another winner on the dancefloor, again adding the appropriate amount of variety to some tracks without completely overdoing things. Most tracks are collaborations with other artists which adds a nice touch of variation but the best track belongs to his solo offering, Vertebra, a mean minimal groover that owes just a little something to the late Cosma’s legendary track Nonstop. Reviewed by Dave Mac
14. CHRISTIANIA SELECTION – VA COMPILED BY FLEXUS – IONO MUSIC <Psy Progressive> No, this is not a gospel compilation. Christiania was a deserted military base in Copenhagen, Denmark where some free thinking individuals with the same mindset started their own community in 1971. They broke free from the whole idea of being governed mentally by a system we call government. It sounds like my kind of place, and what better place for psytrance to flourish? It is also the hometown of Stephan Goransson, better known as DJ Flexus, who put the above philosophy to sound on this compilation consisting of some of the greatest progressive trance producers of today - Ace Ventura, Motion Drive, Yotopia and Liquid Space to name but a few. Starting with spacious funky, bouncy beats and then gradually taking it to the more driving grooves. As always, top notch production filled with fatness. An overall day time feel with no shortage of energetic sounds guaranteed to give the listener restless feet. Clearly a lot of thought went into this marvelous piece of audio. A highlight in a streak of quality releases from Iono and hands down one for the books. Reviewed by Jos
12. FORENSIC SCIENCE - COMPILED BY EGORYTHMIA (IONO)
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<Progressive Psytrance> Egorythmia are one of the most promising new progressive producers around for me right now; tunes with phat kicks and expansive sounds that range from melodic (but not cheesy) to pretty kicking. Forensic Science as compiled by the artist is a collection of 9 tracks from a host of established prog artists with notable inclusions such as Ace Ventura, Ritmo, Mute and Phaze amongst others. Mindwave kicks things off with a solid afternoon groover, a vibe continued by Time in Motion. Ritmo and Egorythmia team up for a tougher, larger and indeed more psychedelic offering with Spin It, before Pop Art charges at full tilt with Sub System. Of course anything Ace Ventura touches gets my vote and his team-up with Egorythmia produces the best track on the album with White Tunnel. Nerso, Ritree, Mute and Phaxe all weigh in with large outdoor prog, each sustaining a good flow to the album. Forensic Science is a good release; solid tunes with enough variation to stock a prog DJ’s afternoon set but also great, expansive tracks to get your party on at home too. A must for lovers of progressive psytrance. Reviewed by Dave Mac
13. CAPTAIN HOOK – HUMAN DESIGN (IBOGA) <Progressive Trance> By the time you read this Captain Hook will have played his first set in South Africa at Alien Safari’s Flying Circus event. As I write this I anticipate, judging by the 10 monsters that make up Human Science, he will have torn the dancefloor apart with his uncompromisingly massive tunes. His is a sound that redefines that link between the dark and twisty ‘minimal trance’ [as it was known circa 1999] and the new wave of large, phat progressive outdoor trance that seems to be surfacing amidst the plethora of melodic, fluffier stuff that prog has been associated with in recent years. It’s right on the button too. Slower BPMs [132-138] does not mean less intense as the ‘psy-pirate’ proves. Of course he has also become known for his Dubstep breaks but thankfully he does not over use this, something I feared he might do. But when the break does come you just know it’s going to
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ECLIPTIC – LIMITLESS EP (NANO) <Progressive Trance> Mexican outfit, Ecliptic are known for groovy, psychedelic music with big outdoor kicks. Whilst not strictly progressive they are neither very full-on either, yet manage to sustain an original energy on a dancefloor. Their music has a sleazy sexiness about it that vibrates at its own unique frequency. Limitless is an ‘EP’ collection [why not album, there are 8 tracks] made up of a host of accomplished producers, no doubt the type of artists they play out in DJ sets. At first listen the album did not really grab me; the tunes may sound a little relaxed to anybody looking for typical Ecliptic style music or if you want real bangers. But a relisten and with a bit more attention paid you get to realise that there are some real gems on this compilation. Mainly late afternoon tunes for a dancefloor of tired legs, this is music that is as much about the head as it is required to keep those feet tapping. With most of the BPMs in the low 130s, this is great music at the right time at 3 day (or more) festivals or for small parties where you don’t want the music to intrude on an intimate dancefloor but wanna keep people dancing and certainly has its niche. Reviewed by Dave Mac
For more reviews online go to: BPMMAG.co.za
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Tristan – Trance Odyssey EP - Psytrance Title track Trance Odyssey sees Tristan team up with the Antidote for a real raving peak time blaster featuring a typical Antidote hard to find my favourite track off this album as its one of those bassline and Tristan psy-sounds. Second track, Deep Mind is that every track grows on you in time. What I can say is that typical Tristan and will please fans without a doubt with its typical every track is absolutely vibey and great for background music English psychedelia. Picked by Dave Mac whilst driving to your holiday destination. Picked by Beatarmy Sideform – Santo Daime - Progressive Trance Originally released in 2010, Santo Daime was a big track for Sideform. This digital EP offers up the original plus two remixes, one by Zyce and the other the ‘Relativ’ remix by Sideform himself. All three versions are good but neither remix adds that much variation to the original. Picked by Dave Mac Durs – Ludique EP – Progressive Trance Three tracks on offer by Durs on this EP as he serves up a delectable selection of juicy, funky prog trance gems ranging from 136 to 138 BPM. Excellent holding tunes that work very well indoors with their contained, liquid sounds. Picked by Dave Mac Ritmo – Phrase A EP - Psytrance Phrase A consist of four tracks, two of which are solo efforts the pick being Follow Me a real stonker whilst his collab with Zen Mechanics is simply massive. On Big Eyes he teams up with Motion Drive for a driving, yet floaty tune. A very good EP with four very playable tracks. Picked by Dave Mac Rocky & Sphera – The Darkness EP - Progressive Trance Rocky & Sphera team up for a 132 BPM progressive groover that sets off in a very playful direction. The Q.U.A.K.E remix slows things down even further for a cute progressive house rendition of the same track. Picked by Dave Mac Happy Violence - Dada Life (Vocal Extended mix) - Electro House Electro is definitely the new sound a lot of guys and girls are playing right now, due to the fact Deadmau5 was in the country this December. These two crazy guys known as Dad Life are to be followed for this simple reason, Dada Life said; ''Destroy dance music and have fun. Don’t look back in the past, always go forward. Don’t think too much. Always follow the money.” Picked by Beatarmy Alley Cat - Volta Bureau - Progressive House Volta Bureau, a new D.C based electronic group with Will Eastman, Bernard Farley and Micah Vellian, one thing that amazes me is the fact that these guys only have 512 likes on their Facebook group, which just means that if you’re a local producer and only have a few likes... it really means nothing! Just keep making them awesome tunes. Based on an awesome piano riff which they play themselves, this is one of those 'whistle' along tracks you will never forget. Picked by Beatarmy Fuji - Atlantis Ocean - Progressive House Project Atlantis Ocean, consisting of two talented musicians, appeared in Ulyanovsk in 2000. A mixture of Tech house and Electrohouse/Progressive as its basic work assignment. The tracks of Atlantis Ocean are varied on the dynamics of sounding, but in themix they create a harmonious that is picture perfectly. Fuji has trance elements and a trance layout but chilled synths create a wind-down progressive track with phat grudging bass lines. Picked by Beatarmy
Captured in time - BCEE - Drum ‘n Bass Spearhead Records has rightfully earned an impeccable reputation amongst drum & bass aficionados for releasing consistently great music; from sweet soulful liquid and sparse minimal to full on dance floor workouts. Expect to hear this on the blazing, jumping dance floors this December. When looking this guy up, buy all his music as its quality from start to end. Picked by Beatarmy Black Motion – Talking To The Drums - Afro Deep Black Motion came into being in early 2010 – when Robert (DJ Murdah) Mahosana and percussionist Thabo (Smol) Mabogwane decided to work together. From the onset this partnership led to string of respectable productions that have been lighting up the dance floors in Southern Africa. Their debut album Talking to the Drums, is packed with hits, massive vocal trax, drums galore, phat basses and a thumping sound that is enjoyed world-wide! Picked by Afrodesiamp3 Shota – Afro Rawmantic – Afro Deep Afro Rawmantic represents exactly what Shota wants to say to his many fans. The hard hitting dance beats of the album are fused with his sensual tone and lyrics that speak directly to the heart. Shota has worked on his album with heavy weights such as Euphonik, Black Coffee, Professor, Culoe de Song, Demor, Black Motion and many more. This album aims to be the perfect addition to any party and a fantastic listening experience for all his fans. Picked by Afrodesiamp3 Mr Cee ft Lady X – Afro Deep After releasing his first EP internationally under Abicah Soul Records called Pressure Mr. Cee is back again with another offering called Xivumba featuring Lady X on vocal. Also included in this project are remixes by Abicah Soul & DJ Micks. Picked by Afrodesiamp3 The Moodyfreaks & Donald Sheffey – Yes They Do - House Deep Soulful People Records South Africa in partnership with Weezie Productions release their long anticipated single Yes They Do a soulful collection that will leave you asking for more. In joint venture with the great Donald Sheffey & South Africa’s The Moodyfreaks, they deliver a great master piece that has five mixes represent all the genres in house music including that jazzy feeling that will keep you moving. Picked by Afrodesiamp3 Invaders ft Manqoba – Be My Girl - Afro Deep Invaders are getting stronger and stronger every time they releasing something new but this time they are back with a hit single called Be My Girl featuring Manqoba on vocals. This is one of the songs that put invaders on the map, a cracker on the dance floor. This song is also remixed by Soulpoizen, one of best underground producers at the moment. Picked by Afrodesiamp3
ABwalk ft Howard – So Insane - House Deep ABwalk is a duo formed by two Pretoria based music heads/friends, Lebzito (Lebogang Nkwana) and Frana (Frans Mogale). The two, also known as Soldiers of House met in 2002 Inflections - Ben Westbeech - Electronic through mutual friends that had a common sense of music. Now Inflections taken off the new album released earlier this month by they bring you a brand new tune on Deeptone Recordings that Strictly Rhythm There's More to This Life than This is a funky portrays their maturity and growth in their musical journey and is Jamiroquai sounding track. Distributed by Soul Candi in SA a great follow up release... Enjoy! Picked by Afrodesiamp3 everyone can now get it at any good music store in SA! It was
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What's hot @
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REVIEW: DEADMAU5 AT THE CTICC IN CAPE TOWN With big sold out concerts by major international artists I often wonder what the expectation of the people going would be. If you are simply a Deadmau5 fan, who downloads his tracks on your smart phone then play it to yourself on your daily train ride, you would have just expected the dude to show up, play your favourite tunes and hope that the sound was loud enough. If you considered yourself a fanatic, you would have made your own custom Mau5head and worn it from when you... Read More @ BPMLife.co.za
INTERVIEW: DJ GANYANI - URBAN HOUSE The flash of life and vibe that House music has brought into the music industry has been translated into many different sounds, remixes and interpretations. The front runners in this genre have managed to sustain themselves and stay on top of their game long after they entered it. One such a man is DJ Ganyani, I got the chance to catch up with DJ Ganyani and tap into his thoughts of the industry today. Read More @ BPMLife.co.za
OPINION PIECE: THE KIDZ ARE ALRIGHT Authenticity VS The need for Purism and the chin strokers’ desire to be more legit than anybody else. Picture yourself strolling aimlessly down a nameless South African street. Your headphones booming relentlessly, your mood inexplicably optimistic and the spring in your step noticeable for all to see. Without warning you’re suddenly plucked from your trance by a nearby fracas of rumbling spit shot at light speed, topped by a furious smattering of disjointed rhyme.... Read More @ BPMLife.co.za
CAPTAIN HOOK - THE PSY-PIRATE WITH THE GOLDEN REMIX TOUCH Last summer’s biggest floor filler and smash psytrance hit was undoubtedly Captain Hook’s remix of LSD by Psysex. With its thunderous kick, mind-numbing breakdown and the ease with which the track shifts from 4/4 beat to Dubstep and back again, it was played at the Vortex Easter ’11 party no less than 8 times over 3 days. When Ace Ventura was here for Alien Safari’s Masqued Ball at the end of February, before I handed over the decks to Yoni [Ace] I congratulated him on... Read More @ BPMLife.co.za
OPINION PIECE: THE MODERN DAY VIDEO/ PARTY GIRL & THE BOOTY SAGA To Booty or not to Booty? I could delve deep enough to try to understand who’s digging what and whether or not the plight of the modern day party girl is now superbly weighed-up with the necessity of a bountiful booty. Yet just a quick look at the surface tells a rich enough story begging to be shared. I draw comparisons between genre base and look at what sort of dance movements are offered up for the opposing videos. Read More @ BPMLife.co.za
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DJ CHART ACE VENTURA (Iboga / Israel / Psy Progressive Trance) 1. Ace ventura & Captain Hook - Imagination of ourselves (Iboga) • 2. Zentura - Mind=God (Iboga) • 3. Ace Ventura - Presence / Interactive noise remix (Iboga) • 4. Easy Riders - Highrise (HOMmega) • 5. Ritmo - The war against the machines (CDr) • 6. Ace Ventura Maximum overdrive (Iono) • 7. Ace Ventura & Rocky - Dr.Lupo / Symbolic remix (Echoes) • 8. D-Addiction & Zen Mechanics - The bible is a trip report (CDr) • 9. Vertical mode - Push it down (HOMmega) • 10. Liquid soul - Dreamdancer / 2012 edit (Plastik park) MONTAGU & GOLKONDA (SYMPHONIX) (Blue Tunes Records / Germany/Schwerin / Progressive Trance) 1. Neelix - Expect What (Symphonix Remix) (Spin Twist) • 2. DJ Fabio - Satisfaction (Unreleased) • 3. NOK - Out Of Range (Blue Tunes) • 4. Interactive Noise - Follow Me (Spin Twist) • 5. Symphonix - Taking Acid (Blue Tunes) • 6. Brain Bug - Nightmare (DJ Fabio & Moon Remix) (Unreleased) • 7. Symphonix Experimental Game (Blue Tunes) • 8. Interactive Noise - Oscillations (Spin Twist) • 9. Vaishiyas - Axon & John (Interactive Noise Remix) (Spin Twist) • 10. Phaxe - Unknown Language (Haldolium Remix) (Blue Tunes) DJ TJARO (Afrodesia / JHB / House) 1. Ander Dipp - Walk Of Saints (Afrisolid Tone Records) • 2. KB Motsilenyane - Music Don’t You Ever Leave Me (Gallo Music) • 3. DJ Tjaro - We Are Instruments Of Nature (Groovemo Music) • 4. DJ Rasoul - Deep In The Bay (Leaf Recordings) • 5. DJ Tjaro - To Larry Levan (Paradise Garage Mix Groovemo Music) • 6. DJ Tjaro ft Zothea Tserema (Give Back Groovemo Music) • 7. Troy ft Ayulo - The Sweetest Time (Broadcite Productions) • 8. Lars Behrenroth & Sinan Baymak - I Miss The Things (Stephen Rigmeiden Remix Deeper Shades Recordings) • 9. DJ Christos pres Ree Morris - Inside Of Me (Ralf Gum Remix Gogo Music) • 10. Simon Grey & Dave Storm Signs (Original Ceremony Recordings) MSASA DA FUNK (EonFunk Sound Recordz / Soshanguve / Deep & Souful House) 1. Black Coffee ft Thiwe – Freedom (Main Mix) (Soulistic Music) • 2. DJ Christos Presents Ree Morris – Inside of me (Magic Session Rmx) (GoGo Music) • 3. FlipGunz – Get Up and Move) (FlipGunz Music) • 4. Zest & Limphoz ft Cuskade – Miss Jones (Zest Mix) (EonFunk Sound Recordz) • 5. Rancido oft Ifan – Fly away (Leroy Styles Remix) (Spinnin Records) • 6. DJ Spice T – Cape Funk (Main Mix) (Deep Tone Records) • 7. B.A.M & Reel Soul – Wake up (Sole Channel) • 8. DJ Garphie & Diviniti – Could you b mine (Pirahna Head' Deep Soul Mix) (Seasons limited) • 9. Nastee Nev – Seduction(Original Mix) (Do It Now Records) • 10. Deborah Bond – You Are The One (Reelpeople Vocal Mix) (Reel People Music)
DJ GAME (Soul Candi Records / JHB / House) 1. Fuse - Paris Hilton (Barcode Music) • 2. Chris Idh & Zogri Ft Amera - Summer In Greece (DJ Hypnosis Tone Down Mix) (Stick It Out Music) • 3. Dr Duda Ft Lolo & Bhutiza Ungi'shayangaphakathi (Soul Candi) • 4. Conan Liquid & Willy Washington - Runnin' Back (Sunspell Vocal Mix) (MN2S) • 5. James Talk & Ridney Ft Max C - One For Me (Original) (Defected Records) • 6. Roy Davis Jr Ft J Noize & Kaye Fox - Enjoy The Ride (James Talk & Ridney Remix ) (Defected Records) • 7. Game Feat Happy – Destiny (Barcode Music) • 8. Mario Vidis Ft Ernesto - Changed (Andre Lodemann Remix) (Future Classic) • 9. Bob'ezy - Samora (50 Ways) • 10. Chynaman Feat Happy - Million Times (Soul Candi) DJ WHISKY (Soul Candi Records / Witbank / House) 1. DJ Whisky feat. Pixie Bennett - City Lights (SoulCandi Records) • 2. Micasa - Lavida (SoulCandi Records) • 3. DJ Cuebur feat. Andyboi - Ngiyaz'fela (Universal Music) • 4. DJ Whisky - Confessions (SoulCandi Records) • 5. The Layders - Smiling with the Sun (DJ Whisky Remix) (SoulCandi Records) • 6. DJ Whisky feat. Mindgames - Move It (SoulCandi Records) • 7. DJ Kent feat. Zaki Abrahim – Sunrise (88 Productions/Soulcandi Records) • 8. Reloaded Keys - Burn Me (AmPm Productions) • 9. 340ml - I'll Be Back (Shimza & Cuebur Mix) (SoulCandi Records) • 10. Dosline feat. Bk - Beautyful(Cuebur Mix) (Universal Music) DJ WHITE NITE (ETC / CT / All Sorts) 1. White Nite - Peaches (Oltak Refix) (Forthcoming) • 2. Clicks & Whistles - Neva Get Caught (T&A) • 3. ETC Crew - Music ft. Akil of Jurassic 5 (Forthcoming SHR) • 4. Mosca Bax (NUMBERS) • 5. iLL Gates/Opiuo/Vent Trillogy (Greg Reve Remix) (Forthcoming Muti Music) • 6. Ms. Amnesia/White Nite Swaggatron 2000 (Forthcoming) • 7. ShortFilters - Sasha Grey (Soundcloud) • 8. Slick Shoota - Blaze It (Unreleased) • 9. Serum - Rat Trap VIP (Philly Blunt) • 10. Card On Spokes - In You Go (African Dope) SPECIAL K (Melodic Breakfast / CPT / Progressive Trance) 1. Sunstryk - Pure Essence (Plusquam) • 2. Krama- Lighthouse (Spintwist) • 3. Protonica - Northern Storm (Iono) • 4. Time InMotion - Colour/Remake 2011 (Iono) • 5. Sideform - Shiva (YSE) • 6. HiProfile - Run/Aquafeel RMX (CD-R) • 7. Phaxe - Artificial Elements (ProgOnSyndicate) • 8. Zyce - Consequences (YSE) • 9. HiProfile - People (Phoenix Groove) • 10. Infinity - Car Accident (Iono)
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PARTY INFO
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Every Tues | Untamed Youth | CPT @ Fiction DJ Bar and Lounge | Hosted by Tommy Gunn with regular guests Lapse, Grave Danger, Midnight Men, Markus Wormstrom, Haasbroek & Haezer | 22h00 | info@fictionbar.com Every Wed | See you next Wednesday | CPT @ The Assembly | Dj’s: Stone-Age Citizens | Feat: We got cheap drinks, good music, and ridiculously cheap door prices | 21h00 | R10 Ladies & R20 Guys | www.theassembly.co.za Every Thurs | Digital Grafiti | JHB @ Aruba Lounge | Dj’s: James Damien, Brothers Underground and weekly guests | 20h00 | Free Entrance | www.arubalounge.co.za Every Thurs | Dub-lab | DBN @ Czar | Dj’s: Veranda Panda & Nightvision | Feat: A weekly event at Czar upstairs bar, dropping you the best in underground sound! | Free Entrance | www.theczar.tv Every Thurs | It Came from the Jungle | CPT @ Fiction DJ Bar and Lounge | Dj’s: AntiAlias, Hyphen, Quake, Danja & SFR | Feat: This is Cape Town’s official night of the flowing sounds of liquid Drum n Bass | 22h00 | R20-R30 | www.fictionbar.com Every Thurs | PsynOpticz | CPT @ Deluxe (The Old Getafix) | Dj’s: Broken Toy, Commercial Hippies, Xatrik, Rubix Qube, SwiTcHcaChe, SiLO, Humerous, Zezia & Much more | Feat: Décor by PsynOpticz Design and Mungus Fungus | 21h00 | R20-R30 | www.facebook.com/psynopticz Every Thurs | The Best of Ekapa | CPT @ The Purple Turtle | Dj’s: DJ realROZANNO and DJ marioROACH | Feat: Purple Turtle presents The Best of Ekapa underground hip hop every Thursday with live shows and open mic sessions | 21h00 | Free Entrance | www.thepurpleturtle.co.za Every Thurs | Reggae Afrika Soundsystem | CPT @ Platinum Lounge | Feat: We play from roots, dub to the latest Dancehall and RNB remixes rocking dancefloors all over the planet! | 21h00 | R20 | www.platinumlounge.co.za Every Fri | Toy-Toy | JHB @ Capital Music Cafe' | Dj’s: Digital Rockit, Joint Nation, Sound Sensible | 21h00 | R30-R60 | www.capitalmusiccafe.co.za Every Fri | Hed Kandi Friday | JHB @ Arena Royale | Feat: Join us as we welcome Hed Kandi’s world renowned international DJs & live artists, delicious dancers & exquisite entertainers as we transform your Friday nights into the glitz and glam that only Hed Kandi knows how! | 22h00 | www.arenaroyale.co.za Every Sat | Strictly House | CPT @ Blake's Bar | Dj’s: Craig de Souza, Shannon, Tony Finger, Darren Rose, Coco Loco & guests | 20h00 | www.blakesbar.co.za Sat 10 Dec | Truth's 12th Birthday | JHB @ Truth Night Club | Live: Leon Bolier (Netherlands) & P.H.A.T.T (Namibia) | Feat: 4 Wicked Dancefloors & 4 International Dj's | 21h00 | R110 | www.webtickets.co.za Fri 23 Dec | Goldfish Live | DBN @ The Wavehouse - Umhlanga Rocks | Dj’s: Goldfish plus support | 18h00 | R120 | www.goldfishlive.com Sat 24 Dec - CPT | Elements: Fire - Sensitive and Incendia | www.3am.co.za Sat 31 Dec'11 - Mon 2 Jan'12 | Rezonance NYE Festival | CPT @ Contermanskloof, Durbanville | Dj’s: Ace Ventura, Absolum, Anestetic, Rex, Transwave, Dino Psaras, Bombax, Deedrah, Dave Mac, Switchcache and more | Feat: 4 days of fun feat 2 stages, and over 60 dj’s, acts and live acts | Gates open Fri 30 Dec @ 17h00 | R420 | www.webtickets.co.za Sat 31 Dec’11 - 1 Jan’12 | Boomerang NYE Festival 2012: Forest Edition | W.Cape Host: Mindcultivation | @ Eden’s Forest - Darling | Dj’s: SynSun, Broken Toy, Lox, Abberation, Connecto, Wyndham, Dean Fuel, The Commercial Hippies & more | Feat: Full shaded camping inside forest, huge swimmable dam | R230-R280 | www.boomerangfestival.com Sat 31 Dec'11 - 1 Jan'12 | NYE Revolution II Open Air Festival - JHB | Host: Teknotribe and Psychedelic Mansion | Venue TBA | Dj’s: Nick Grater, Digital Dream, Bionic, Dre’ama, Manifesto, Killer B, Boogie Monsta, Deadbeat FM, Gwen C, Trypsinagen, Sebotage and jhbs best Psytrance, Techno and minimal djs- Line released soon | Feat: 3 Int Djs and live acts from Cape Town, 2 dance floors, Mesmerizing visual, Massive sound, Décor out of the world, Camping, flea market with stalls, showers, swimming pool and clean toilets | 11h00 on Sat 31 Dec | R220-R280 | www.strictlytickets.co.za Sat 31 Dec | New World Eve | Host: Balkanolgy & The Flamjangled Tea Party | Venue Artscape Gardens | Dj’s: Circuswing, Toby2Shoes, Dusty Human, Ma'original, Dj Kangaroo and 83 other amazing acts | Feat: Freestyle Party madness for the openminded culture loving beat freaks | 20h00 till late | TBA | www.goodtimesevents.co.za Sat 31 Dec | Pacha Ibiza NYE Party | CPT @ Grand Beach V&A Waterfront | Dj’s: Andy Baxter (Ibiza) | Feat: The Pacha international dancers | 22h00 | R750 | www.pacha.com Sun 1 Jan | Pacha Ibiza New Years Day Party | CPT | Hosts: After Hours & Sonic State | @ The Grand Beach V&A Waterfront | Dj’s: Andy Baxter (Pacha Ibiza) Goldfish Live ,Roger Goode,Ivan Turanjanin, Chris Jack and Lady M | Features: Pacha Ibiza Performers | 14h00 | R500 | www.pacha.com or www.thegrand.co.za Sun 8 Jan | Submerged Sundays | CPT | Host: After Hours Entertainment | @ St Yves | Dj’s: Andy Baxter (Pacha Ibiza) Prosper Rek (Blue Marlin Ibiza) Tony Cha Cha (Holland) | 18h00 | R100 | www.goldfishlive.com Sat 14 Jan | Love and Light Outdoor Day Party | CPT | Host: After Hours Entertainment | Dj’s: Neelix Live, Symphonix Live, Symphonix DJ set, Connecto, Lox | Venue: www.facebook.com/loveandlightCT | Feat: Dam, River, Mountains, 63km from CPT | 10h00 | R200/R250 | www.facebook.com/loveandlightCT
Sat 14 Jan | MMD Records | CPT | MMD RECORDS Goes BACK TO THE PRIMITIVE Featuring Shehoor [France] LIVE! | Fresh Outdoor Venue Close to Cape Town | Djs: SHEHOOR, Super Evil, Phl@tline, Zion Linguist, Deliriant (, Luna, Ironstein, EMP and many more | On the 14th January 2012 Mind Manipulation Device Records celebrates 6 years of manipulation, and this time we're going BACK TO THE PRIMITIVE! | Search MMD records on Facebook for event Fri 21 Jan - CPT | Elements: Earth – Sensitive | www.3am.coza Fri 27-29 Jan | Origin 2012 - CPT | @ Elandskloof Farm, Helderstroom b/n Botriver and Caledon (only 125Km from the Cape Town) | Beautiful NEW Dams for Swimming alongside the both the dancefloor and shady, oak forest camping area. | DJ: Tristan, Avalon, Killerwatts, Brian Sentient, Shane Gobi, The Commercial Hippies, Headroom, Broken Toy and many more. | www.originfestival.com Sat 28 Jan | Funky Buddha | CPT | Host: South Side Society | @ Club Deluxe | Dj’s: Kaelem Fakier, Clint Hill, Regan Human | 10h00 | R50 | www.clubdeluxe.co.za Sat 28 Jan | Psyology label launch party | JHB | Hosts: Teknotribe & Psyology | Venue: TBA | Dj’s: Nick Grater, Bionic, Dre’ama, Digital Dream, Sebotage, Deadbeat FM and more | Feat: Guest live acts from CT, 2 Dance floors , amazing decor | 21h00 | R100 | www.teknotribe.co.za Sat 4 Feb | Organik – OUTDOOR | CPT | www.3am.co.za Sat 11 Feb | Beartrap presents Celestial Beings | CPT | www.3am.co.za Sat 25 Feb | The Masqued Ball | CPT| Host: Alien Safari | www.aliensafari.co.za Sun 11 Mar | Goldfish Live | CPT @ Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden | Dj’s: Goldfish | 17h30 | R75-R100 | www.webtickets.co.za Goldfish Submerged Sundays: www.webtickets.co.za Sun 4 Dec | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 11 Dec | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 18 Dec | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 25 Dec | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 1 Jan | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 8 Jan | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 15 Jan | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 22 Jan | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 29 Jan | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 5 Feb | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 12 Feb | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 19 Feb | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Sun 26 Feb | St Yves, Camps Bay | 16h00 | R110 Jack Parow: www.jackparow.com Mon 5 Dec | Durban Rage Thurs 8 Dec | Plett Rage Sat 10 Dec | Big Top Arena, Carnival City Wed 21 Dec | Bazzuki Restaurant - Club Mykonos Langebaan Fri 23 Dec | Cheers Pub - Struisbaai Sat 31 Dec | Jeffreys Bay beachfront Mercury Live Lounge: mercury@mweb.co.za or www.mercuryl.co.za Thurs 5 Jan | Classics feat DJ’s Azhul & Falko Sat 7 Jan | Homegrown Drum & Bass Sat 14 Jan | Rub a Dub Sat 4 Feb | Homegrown Drum & Bass Sat 18 Feb | Rub a Dub St Yves, Camps Bay: info@styves.co.za Wed 4 Jan | From Cape Town With Love | 20h00 Fri 6 Jan | Everybody Loves The Sunshine | Free before 22h00 Wed 11 Jan | From Cape Town With Love | 20h00 Fri 13 Jan | Everybody Loves The Sunshine | Free before 22h00 Wed 18 Jan | From Cape Town With Love | 20h00 Fri 20 Jan | Everybody Loves The Sunshine | Free before 22h00 Wed 25 Jan | From Cape Town With Love | 20h00 Fri 27 Jan | Everybody Loves The Sunshine | Free before 22h00 Wed 1 Feb | From Cape Town With Love | 20h00 Fri 3 Feb | Everybody Loves The Sunshine | Free before 22h00 Wed 8 Feb | From Cape Town With Love | 20h00 Fri 10 Feb | Everybody Loves The Sunshine | Free before 22h00 Wed 15 Feb | From Cape Town With Love | 20h00 Fri 17 Feb | Everybody Loves The Sunshine | Free before 22h00 Wed 22 Feb | From Cape Town With Love | 20h00 Fri 24 Feb | Everybody Loves The Sunshine | Free before 22h00 Wed 29 Feb | From Cape Town With Love | 20h00 Zula Sound Bar: www.zulabar.co.za Thurs 1 Dec | Hamma & Nasty Ed Fri 2 Dec | Party People Feat: Masta Ace, Kev Brown, Bahamadia, J-Live Mon 5 Dec | Comedy On Long Tues 6 Dec | Too Broke to party | R20 Wed 7 Dec | 22h30 onwards Dj Juice Sat 10 Dec | Pro Helvetia Party Mon 12 Dec | Comedy on Long Tues 13 Dec | Too Broke to party | R20 Wed 14 Dec | 22h30 onwards Dj Juice Thurs 15 Dec | Ikhaya Fest Sat 17 Dec | Sedge Warbler, Voicetag, Remy Gold, AttaBoy & Whitenite Mon 19 Dec | Comedy on Long Tues 20 Dec | Too Broke to party | R20 Wed 21 Dec | 22h30 onwards Dj Juice Mon 26 Dec | Comedy On Long Wed 28 Dec | 22h30 onwards Dj Juice Sat 31 Dec | Ej Von Lyrik
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ASTROBABBLE
Lois Siddhu lives in a circle of mountains in the Baviaanskloof. For professional Astrological counseling CALL 049-8391178 or Email: masonwaspstudio@telkomsa.net
JANUARY 2012 22 December - 20 January
By Lois Siddhu
Summer Solstice 22 December - Sun Square Uranus in Aries
CAPRICORN
ARIES | 21 Mar - 20 Apr | FIRE You can expand through your relationship/s and grow, or you can dump all your un-resolved issues on others, instead of working through them and owning your own negative feelings and discontent.
LIBRA | 23 Sept - 22 Oct | AIR You tend to hold on to grudges and resentments. Get your own creative energy harnessed and flowing in the present as you stop living on the credits of achievements that are in your distant past.
TAURUS | 21 Apr - 20 May | EARTH Alienation and emotional discomfort will result in your insistence on being right and your own growth will stagnate. So somewhere along the line you need to cultivate a steadier emotional rhythm. GEMINI | 21 May - 21 Jun | AIR Allowing yourself to see deeper than the obvious you may find that your thoughts were running away with you and your fears were unfounded. Acting with malice and spite will rebound on you and the result can be the loss of what is precious to you.
SCORPIO | 23 Oct - 21 Nov | WATER Like a diamond with many facets you will find that truth has many different interpretations and not only your viewpoint. Allow for others to also have their own interpretation of things. SAGITTARIUS | 22 Nov - 21 Dec | FIRE If you could glimpse the vastness of the possibilities available to you, you would shift your way of thinking, to include what you have always relegated to the attic of your subconscious and therefore not paid attention to.
CANCER | 20 Jun | 22 Jul | WATER Life has got some opposing forces that are presenting you with a challenge to create and maintain your balance. You have the power of attraction but not being able to let go signifies a lack of faith.
CAPRICORN | 22 Dec - 19 Jan | EARTH Emotional issues have never really been comfortable and easy to deal with for you and in many ways you flippantly shrug them away. Now the emotional agendas are surfacing and have to be dealt with.
LEO | 23 Jul - 22 Aug | FIRE With your acquisitive mind you are clever and resourceful but you need to steer away from being dogmatic and insisting on your way as the only right way. Live and express yourself in the present.
AQUARIUS | 20 Jan - 18 Feb | AIR You should not be afraid to be forceful when necessary and at all costs you should avoid negative emotions like resentment, regret and self-pity for they deny you what is essentially your true nature.
VIRGO | 23 Aug - 22 Sept | EARTH Carrying emotional baggage backwards and forwards through your life creates strain that eventually breaks down the walls of your good intentions and drowns you in the process. You need to create and maintain your balance.
PISCES | 19 Feb - 20 Mar | WATER Everything is about balance in every walk of life and it is when this balance is disturbed that you feel things are going wrong in your life and you can end up being a control freak.
FEBRUARY 2012 21 January - 18 February
Neptune moves into Pisces creating an abundance of water.
AQUARIUS
ARIES | 21 Mar - 20 Apr | FIRE You have a very lively imagination but now you also need to look at your dreams and find the deeper meanings in the things of life that are not concrete and visible but rather of a more spiritual nature.
LIBRA | 23 Sept - 22 Oct | AIR A really significant fusion of your dual consciousness will carry with it magical powers and a tremendous increase in understanding, reducing the necessity for so much inductive learning.
TAURUS | 21 Apr - 20 May | EARTH In your relationships you'll find it's a well-disposed time to address clandestine, covert issues and put them away in the trash bin after you've dealt with them. Respect your own dreams and avoid cutting corners in the pursuit of them.
SCORPIO | 23 Oct - 21 Nov | WATER Choosing to remain unaware of the abuse and misuse of the life force within you and your unique creative gifts, you are creating situations of destruction within yourself, which will rob you of your joy and happiness.
GEMINI | 21 May - 21 Jun | AIR Holding on to old gripes become a heavy weight to carry and never give you any satisfaction. They become old and distorted and eventually you cannot even remember what the real issues were. CANCER | 20 Jun | 22 Jul | WATER You are facing a period of augmentation and growth during which the choices are yours to make. Practice walking away from situations that you know are going to cause the repeated patterns of discontent and quarrels.
SAGITTARIUS | 22 Nov - 21 Dec | FIRE Your justice needs to be tempered with mercy, compassion and understanding at all times because without mercy this can lead to prejudice and narrow- minded self-righteousness, robbing you of joy. CAPRICORN | 22 Dec - 19 Jan | EARTH You cannot banish dangers, but you can banish fears. You must not demean life by standing in awe of failure. The word 'evil' really is synonymous with ignorance, which leads to an anti-life attitude and behavior pattern.
LEO | 23 Jul - 22 Aug | FIRE Through co-operating with the process of change you will have more enjoyment but resisting will create atomic fission, which sooner or later disintegrates and dissipates your energy.
AQUARIUS | 20 Jan - 18 Feb | AIR An angry, bombastic attitude is definitely not going to give you desired results. Often your thinking patterns get stuck in a groove of repetitive design that you no longer see the real world around you, but only what is going around in your head.
VIRGO | 23 Aug - 22 Sept | EARTH Through co-operating with the process of change you will have more enjoyment but resisting will create atomic fission, which sooner or later disintegrates and dissipates your energy.
PISCES | 19 Feb - 20 Mar | WATER Have the courage to be independent and individualistic and accept the unconventional way of doing things by acknowledging and trusting your own understanding and ideas, despite the different reality consensus of others.
WINDOW INTO 2012: Most have heard of 2012 and the expectations of some that this will be the end of the world. Personally I don't think the world is coming to its end but it is surely a time of major changes on our planet. One of the major incidents in an astrological sense is the planet Neptune that moved into Pisces for a 4 month period and will now move permanently into Pisces on the 4th of February. This is a major event as it takes Neptune 164 years to repeat this happening and it is certain when an outer planet moves into its own sign some universal changes can be expected. On a spiritual level this will be the awakening of our psychic and spiritual powers. Telepathy and extrasensory perceptions will be common for those that are open and aware of these possibilities. The senses will be honed to perceive more than we are accustomed to taking in but it will also in many ways diffuse our customary way of looking at reality. The planets Uranus and Pluto will make a square 90 degree angle -- to each other and this will bring about the transformation of crystallized patterns particularly pertaining to governments and the need for freedom and creative expression of the individual.
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