100% Magazine #1347

WED NO V 2 1 ST 2 012

ISSUE 1347 MELBOURNE’S ONLY DEDICATED CLUB MAG

CULTURE SHOCKUK

GUY JISR

TIM SWEENEYUSA

KORA AND MORE , RI FA SA T, OS FR E DE AN : US PL

TICKETS ON SALE NOW WWW.MELBOURNE.VIC.GOV.AU/MMW

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UPCOMING

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER

ONTOUR TYCHO [USA] Wednesday November 21, The Hi-Fi RICHARD DEVINE [USA], VLADISLAV DELAY [FIN] Wednesday November 21, Where?House ESMKO [USA], TIPPER [UK] + MORE Thursday November 22, Where?House GERD JANSON [GER] Friday November 23, Mercat Basement HOPSIN [USA] Friday November 23, Prince Bandroom TEENGIRL FANTASY [USA], TIM SWEENEY [UK] Friday November 23, National Gallery of Victoria TROY PIERCE [USA], RADIO SLAVE [UK] Friday November 23, Where?House FREQ NASTY [USA], CULTURE SHOCK [UK] Friday November 23, Brown Alley STRAWBERRY FIELDS: JAMES HOLDEN [UK], TYCHO [USA], PREFUSE 73 [USA] + MORE Friday November 23 – Sunday November 25, TBA FLOATING POINTS [UK], ALEXANDER NUT [UK], TEEBS [USA], PREFUSE 73 [USA] Saturday November 24, Where?House MATIAS AGUAYO [CHI] Sunday November 25, Where?House MAJOR LAZER [USA] Thursday November 29, The Hi-Fi MICHAEL MAYER [GER] Friday November 30, Prince Bandroom ACID PAULI [GER] Friday November 30, New Guernica BORIS BREJCHA [GER], ANNA [GER], KHAINZ [SWI] Friday November 30, Brown Alley STEREOSONIC: TIESTO [NED], AVICII [SWE], CALVIN HARRIS [UK] + MORE Saturday December 1, Melbourne Showgrounds 2MANYDJS [BEL] Sunday December 2, Red Bennies FOUR TET [UK] Thursday December 6, Prince Bandroom NICK WARREN [UK], HENRY SAIZ [ESP] Friday December 7, Billboard TYGA [USA] Friday December 7, Prince Bandroom RAHZEL [USA] Friday December 7, The Espy TODD TERJE [NOR] Friday December 7, The Liberty Social MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL: FOUR TET [UK], DJ YAMANTAKA EYE [JAP] + MORE Friday December 7 - Sunday December 9, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre PAUL KALKBRENNER [GER] Friday December 14, Billboard XKORE [UK] Friday December 14, Royal Melbourne Hotel CATZ N’ DOGZ [POL] Friday December 14, New Guernica KENDRICK LAMAR [USA] Friday December 21, The Palace TERRENCE PARKER [USA] Friday December 21, New Guernica FALLS FESTIVAL: SBTRKT [UK], COOLIO [USA] + MORE Saturday December 28 – Tuesday January 1, Lorne TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS [UK] Saturday December 29, Corner Hotel LET THEM EAT CAKE: KERRI CHANDLER [USA], THE GASLAMP KILLER [USA] + MORE Tuesday January 1, Werribee Park SUMMERDAYZE: THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS [UK], M.I.A [UK], MARK RONSON [UK] + MORE Tuesday January 1, Sidney Myer Music Bowl MARCELLUS PITTMAN [USA], PSYCHEMAGIK [UK] Tuesday January 1, The Bridge KRAFTY KUTS [UK], A-SKILLZ [UK], CAMO & KROOKED [UK] + MORE Tuesday January 1, Brown Alley SBTRKT [UK] Wednesday January 2, Billboard HOT CHIP [UK] Wednesday January 9, The Palace CRYSTAL CASTLES [CAN] Tuesday January 22, Billboard THE BLOODY BEETROOTS [ITA] Thursday January 24, The Palace SOUL CLAP [USA] Friday January 25, The Liberty Social RAINBOW SERPENT: GUY J [ISR], CHRISTIAN SMITH [SWE], PETER VAN HOESEN [BEL] Friday January 25 - Monday January 28, Lexton BIG DAY OUT: THE BLOODY BEETROOTS [ITA], KASKADE [USA], CRYSTAL CASTLES [CAN] + MORE Saturday January 26, Flemington Racecourse JESSIE WARE [UK] Wednesday January 30, Prince Bandroom ABOVE & BEYOND [UK] Saturday February 2, Hisense Arena EL-P [USA] Wednesday February 6, Corner Hotel BICEP [UK] Sunday February 10, Revolver Upstairs MACKLEMORE [USA], RYAN LEWIS [USA] Saturday February 16, The Corner Hotel GOLDEN PLAINS: MOODYMANN [USA], JULIO BASHMORE [UK] + MORE Saturday March 9 - Monday March 11, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL: THE PRODIGY [UK], DIZZEE RASCAL [UK], BOYS NOIZE [GER] + MORE Sunday March 10, Flemington Racecourse

2.

DJ Profile: Andee Frost / Lil’ Frosty / Andreas Frosterelli / Children of Realness / THDF

REAL TALK Have you ever been in a club and then recognised someone from the internet there? It happened to me on the weekend. Weird, weird feeling.

Tyson Wray

DJ HMC: Late Nite Tuff Guy

A veteran of techno, supported by the likes of Daft Punk and better known to many as Late Nite Tuff Guy, DJ HMC is a rare find. Before he sets sail overseas on the back off the 30th anniversary of his first professional DJ gig, HMC is spinning his signature mix of techno, disco and house at the Mercat Basement. It seems as though everyone is a DJ and the true mystery of what was once considered an art form is in question but finding those who ascend above this trend is something not to be missed. Check DJ HMC at the Mercat Basement on Friday November 30 with support from DJ Salvador and DJ Biscuit. Tickets are on sale from moshtix.com.au

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: Heavy Hip Hop

Photo by Tin and Ed

Macklemore aka Ben Haggerty’s roots are raw; through substance abuse and working in juvenile detention centres, his journey into rap was unlike most. Upon meeting Ryan Lewis the pair have tapped into something fresh and energising which is clear by their whirlwind success. With their Sydney and Melbourne shows both selling out, two new shows have been announced to quench the thirst of fans. Catch them at The Corner on Wednesday February 13, with tickets from cornerhotel.com

Urthboy: Up In Smoke Red Bull Music Academy: Aloe Blacc, Haycock, Strong + Mystery Guests

Renowned as the party to be at in Hollywood since 2005, presented by Red Bull Music Academy, The Do-Over is finally making its way to Australia. Hosts and residents Chris Haycock, Jamie Strong and Aloe Blacc are heading down under to sprinkle some of that LA magic over St Kilda’s Circa Pool Deck. With an all-star mystery lineup in tow and free entry your best bet is to get down early because even an RSVP won’t guarantee you make the cut. Keep Sunday December 2 free and make sure you RSVP if you plan to head down at thedoover.net/melbourne

Catz N’ Dogz: Performance Petz

For the next instalment of The Breakfast Club, New Guernica have announced that Catz N’ Dogz will be slaying the dance floor. Whether you’re charmed by their bassheavy, colourful and always groove-laden DJ sets, drawn in by their arresting live show, weaving your way through their illustrious output as producers, or delving into the magical tunes curated from their close network of friends, Grzegorz and Wojchiech (or Greg n’ Voitek) are simply two of the hottest house Catz n Dogz) on the scene today. Don’t miss your chance to see one of the wildest acts in the world on their debut tour in this intimate performance at New Guernica on Friday December 14.

Sydney hip hop musician Urthboy has announced several tour dates to celebrate the release of his newest album, Smokey’s Haunt. Urthboy’s new album was just released back in October and this tour will see him performing the songs with a full band and joined by fellow The Herd member Jane Tyrrell. Supporting are two recipients of the Hilltop Hoods Initiative, the latest Elefant Traks signing Jimblah and One Sixth, a young MC hailing from Namibia and residing in Melbourne, whose debut album Electronic Mail was just released on Obese Records. Urthboy’s Smokey’s Tour will be in Melbourne at The Corner Hotel on Sunday March 2.

Bimbo Deluxe: Party On

Two million pizzas, ten years – and now, a week long birthday party. In celebration of a decade of pizza decadence for under $5, their signature infused vodkas and some of the best free parties on the north side of the Yarra, Bimbo Deluxe in Fitzroy is heading back to the noughties’ and will serve pizza at the price as when they opened – at $2 a pop – from Monday November 26. The cheaperthan-cheap pizzas are part of the Bimbo Deluxe ten-year birthday celebrations, which also include music every night and infused vodkas, concluding on Sunday December 2. A selection of DJs handpicked from the last ten years playing each night including Mu-Gen, Matt Radovich, Agent 86 and a special performance from Spacey Space and Boogs.

The ten-year birthday party celebrations are open to the public every day from Monday November 26 to Sunday December 2. Hit up their website for more information.

DJ Profile: Safari

Acid Pauli: Prince of Production

From his debut album with Console in 1996, to his latest release Mst on Nicolas Jaars uber-sauve label Clown & Sunset, all Acid Pauli productions are dripping with that unique form of effortless cool. Renowned for his ridiculous 12-plus hour sets, ranging for beautiful, intelligent ambient frequencies to epic crescendos of dancefloor ecstasy, Acid Pauli has established himself as a must see act. He plays New Guernica on Friday November 30.

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Production: Pat O’Neill art@beat.com.au Typesetting: Gill Tucker Cover Design: Pat O’Neill Advertising Senior Sales: ronnit@beat.com.au (03) 8414 9710 Taryn Stenvei taryn@beat.com.au Fashion and Beverages: Tegan Butler tegan@furstmedia.com.au Ph: 03 8414 9732 Deadlines: Editorial Friday 2PM – absolutely NO exceptions. Club photos Monday 9AM (email only clubpics@beat.com.au). Advertising artwork Monday 12PM. Photographers: Callum Linsell Contributors: Rezo Kezerashvili, Miki McLay, Shane Scott, Simon Traspier, Brian Rotide, The Knowledge, Ellen Devenney, Dan Watt, Aaron Ralston, Birdie, Liam Pieper, Simon Hampson, Chad-Michael Michaelson, Mikolai, Reuben Adams, David Edgley.

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EDITORIALDEADLINE - 2PM FRIDAYS NO EXCEPTIONS UP TO DATE

Where’s the strangest place you’ve woken up?

Probably under the piano at Honkytonks, while the club was still running.

Describe yourself using the title of a song.

Anything by Mariah Carey would be appropriate: Dreamlover, Fantasy, Honey, Hearbreaker, You’re So Cold.

What was the weirdest thing you believed as a child?

That monsters only existed under my bed.

The most awkward moment you’ve had as a DJ? Anytime people come up to you and decide to judge you and then abuse you for what you play as a DJ. Automatically becomes awkward, always ends in tears, for them.

What would be the worst dance track in the world to be tortured with on repeat? *Insert hype track of the year here all the way back to ‘96.* What’s the most played record in your bag?

Norma Jean Bell Baddest Bitch (Moodymann Remix) or Shades Of Jae I got two copies of both complete with the crackles and pops accrued over time What question would you like to ask an omniscient, allknowing being before you die?

Have you got anything I can dance to?

If you hadn’t made it as a DJ, what job would you choose to work in instead?

If you can put in a good word for me at Charvet I’d love to become a shirtmaker to the stars and live in Paris.

When and where is your next gig?

Melbourne Music Week Live Music Safari at The Mercat this Thursday, Animals Dancing Gerd Janson at The Mercat Friday, The House de Frost at The Toff in Town every Saturday, The After Hours at The Bottom End every Sunday, MMW Closing Party with Matias Aguayo at Where?House Sunday night and I’m talking at the EMC conference on Tuesday in Sydney.

Where’s the strangest place you’ve woken up?

Two days later in my own bed, believing it was a day earlier.

Describe yourself using the title of a song.

Lucky Man by The Verve.

What was the weirdest thing you believed as a child?

That sharks were in pools, blame Jaws.

The most awkward moment you’ve had as a DJ? Being asked by an overpaid high profile international what to play next.

What would be the worst dance track in the world to be tortured with on repeat?

Any trance record.

What’s the most played record in your bag?

Surprisingly Solette Simms (San Proper’s Movetek Mix).

What question would you like to ask an omniscient, allknowing being before you die?

Is that it?

If you hadn’t made it as a DJ, what job would you choose to work in instead?

Scriptwriter.

When and where is your next gig?

At the The Likes Of You show with Troy Pierce and Radio Slave at Where?House on Friday November 23.

THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE

3.

SHAPESHIFTER

“It’s a small country, New Zealand, so you get to know the people doing things through the years. And especially when we’re all doing quite similar shit, it’s inevitable that there would be a crossing of paths.”

DIAMOND DRUM AND BASS: THROWING SHAPES There’s nothing quite like a Shapeshifter show. The beautiful, soul-wrapped drum and bass these New Zealanders produce has taken them all over the world in an expanding lattice of good vibes, and we in Melbourne are soon to be treated to another of their legendary live gigs. The down-to-earth verve of the group is personified in gentle giant PDigsss, Shapeshifter’s talented, humble and completely chilled vocalist. We spoke all things Christchurch, Tiki Taane and nerves as the five-piece get ready to send us into a dancing reverie come November’s end.

“I’m just at home playing arcade games,” the dimpled Digsss says, despite my call coming nearly half an hour late due to number mix-ups which saw me accepting the apology of some random Kiwi man because he was not, unfortunately, the vocalist for anything. “We’re all quite spread about, actually. I’m at the beach, Muriwai Beach. Nicholas [Robinson] – he’s in charge of the bass section – he lives down in Christchurch,” Digsss explains. With guitarist Sam Trevethick in Auckland city and drummer Johnny Hooves in Melbourne, apparently being apart truly makes things easier in the long run, rather than being a hurdle worthy of complaint. That’s the way Digsss views it anyway, “You know in this day and age, you can do it. The key is for everyone in the band to be happy, and living where they want to live.

It helps, making music, when everyone’s comfortable.

So when you actually do get the time, when it’s time to make music, you’re happy,” he says simply. In fact, everything Digsss says comes out matter-of-factly, but frequently with a very wry humour underneath which dispels any idea of pretension. If you imagine each adjective in his sentences drawn out for dry emphasis, plus the softly flattened vowel sounds in a very deep

and rich speaking voice, you’ve got it.

Shapeshifter have enjoyed a long relationship with ex-Salmonella Dub frontman Tiki Taane, who provides invaluable input into making live gigs the moving experience fans have come to love. Why does Taane do it for the band?

“Have you heard us live before?” Digsss asks cheekily.

“Well, then you would’ve heard Tiki on the mix. That’s why. Prior to him being the artist that he is, vocally and all that, his art was sound engineering. He’s epic, and he’s been very good friends with the boys since the beginning of the late ‘90s. He’s part of that Christchurch drum and bass movement. He’s our man,” he says with an upward rise like a parent jokingly chiding a kid. “It’s a small country, New Zealand, so you get to know the people doing things through the years. And especially when we’re all doing quite similar shit, it’s inevitable that there would be a crossing of paths. You stick to good formulas, and your team, and he’s got the shit.”

Speaking of Christchurch, Digsss says the impact of its recent problems hasn’t affected their actual music so much as strengthened the bond between musicians from different areas. “We usually rehearse down there,” he begins, “and it hasn’t really changed the way we’ve done music or anything; we’ve been around a lot longer than the earthquake’s been around. But man it was heavy. Nick had to go through it, Nick was down there through both of them.” He smacks his lips with contemplation. “That was pretty full on. But you know, people survive, and push on through. There are a lot of places [in New Zealand] that are renowned for having earthquakes, and Christchurch wasn’t actually one of those places. So for it to go bananas is pretty fucking crazy. It has taken a while for people to get

TUESDAYS

over it, no one was quite ready for it, but Christchurch has pumped out a lot of musicians. And there’s a lot of people in our music scene that come from that place, so a lot of us have gone back and helped, helped entertain, played music for the people down there. It’s always really, really charged.”

The band’s forthcoming album is “about 80 per cent, 90 per cent” recorded, and Melbourne can hope to hear some of its new material. “We’ve released the second single over here in New Zealand, it’s called The Diamond Trade,” Digsss says. “I know our Melbourne gig’s coming up but I don’t know who’s on the lineup; it would be nice to find out soon. For me, I don’t take much notice of the gig kind of thing. Then you just turn up and you don’t get freaked out by it so much. Sometimes it can be really daunting and you go, ‘Ahh, shit.’ You know, we want to maintain that level of performance and intensity – that’s why the gig is actually more nerve-wracking the bigger you get: more people are coming to your gigs. It’s amazing how much energy can get drained out of you, when you know too much about the upcoming [show].” It’s nice to hear the culture and commerce divided like this, particularly for the sake of a show’s integrity and spirit.

“You’re an artist, you just want to be an artist bum,” says Digsss. “You know, just think about music. It keeps you grounded. That’s the way to treat it, really.”

The ‘take it as it comes’ approach is the same for recording as for live stuff, with the vocalist remaining mum on collaboration plans. Having worked with Ladi6 and Joe Dukie in the past, it’s difficult not to probe about future musical alliances. “We’ve not really thought too much into that, it just kind of happens really,” he says. “Everything’s been so full on. Those first albums,

Su pe r pa r m a n ig ht! $1 5

BAR SNACKS & Aperitivos from $1

Zoë Radas Shapeshifter [NZ] play The Forum on Friday November 30.

THURSD THU THURSDAYS R AYS Y

WEDNESDAYS

$15

you have heaps of space and time to design them and create them and get people involved. But we’ve actually got better in the studio now, we know our toys a bit better. We’ve been geeking out so much.”

Digsss is a DJ in addition to being a stellar vocalist, and he does a bit of geeking out explaining his wares.

“I produce stuff on a thing called The Machine, it’s by Native Instruments,” he says. “It’s like an MPC” – which Shapeshifter bassist Nick uses during live sets – “but it’s a bit quicker, smaller, lighter, faster, better, badder.

You can have all your samples, make beats on the fly, get loops, record even, whatever you want. When I DJ I use Serato Scratch Live or the ITCH. But with the band I just stick to my vocals,” he says, slicing that last ‘s’ out into a long, amusing tinkling sound. “With a bit more cowbell. More cowbell!”

Digsss and the guys are looking forward to another great show at The Forum, a favourite venue of theirs in Oz. “The last couple of times we’ve played it’s been really good, packed as, and it’s such a regal old building. The stage is slightly tapered, so you know, everyone gets to see. It’s good, man. Some of our best gigs have been there.” So touring is still holding its charm? “Cruising with my good friends, playing our music to people and watching to see if they’re into it.

It’s still the ultimate, really. And then you get to have a nice, refreshing cold beer.”

ak Ste

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4.

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Happy Hour 4pm - 7pm Tuesday to Sunday

$5 Pints of Draught + $5 Bubbles + $5 Basic Spirits + 2 for 1 Cocktails COVER STORY

THE BIG MAG FOR CLUB CULTURE

5.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW WWW.MELBOURNE.VIC.GOV.AU/MMW

WEDNESDAY21ST

FRIDAY23RD

WEEKEND The brain child of the creative kids at 360 Agency and Seven Nightclub. The Weekend is here to put a smile on your dial every Saturday night. We want you to join the family.

Dancing from 10pm weekly.

Seven, 52 Albert Rd, South Melbourne

BUHLOONE MINDSTATE “It might blow up but it won’t go pop” is the philosophy at Buhloone Mindstate and features Melbourne’s finest bands and DJs playing every Friday night, late. That’s just how we roll. We’re all about the late night boogie.

Expect all things funk, hip-hop, soul, reggae, disco, boogie and house.

Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne

SUNDAY25TH

CQ FRIDAYS The weekend starts here! Get on down for after work drinks from 5pm with DJs Marcus Knight, Mark Pellegrini, Nick Van Wilder & DJ Anferny getting your weekend started right. 5pm til 3am.

CQ, 113 Queen St, Melbourne

SOUTH SIDE HUSTLE The perfect Sunday soundtrack with DJs Askew, Peter Baker, Booshank, Paz, Miss Butt, Junji, Disco Harry and guests. They will be laying down disco, afro beat and deep house til 3am. For lovers of good music - South Side Hustle.

Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor

FIRST FLOOR FRIDAYS A journey of international music from all over the world; past, present and future rhythms incorporating afro, soul, funk, world and deep house elements!

First Floor, 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

COQ ROQ Rocking Wednesdays at Lucky Coq are rotating DJs Lady Noir, Agent 86, Kiti, Mr Thom, Joybot and guests giving you nothing but the best new wave, punk, brit pop, bong rap and hair metal. Coq Roq takes place every Wednesday from 8pm with free pool downstairs from 9pm as well as drink specials.

Roq out!

Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor

HUMPDAY ANIMALS Enter the middle of the week; for some it’s the beginning of the weekend, for others it’s a break from study, for those of us who are travelling, it probably has no real significance (unless you’re wanting to party with the hot European girls from the hostel, because any day is simply another day when you’re travelling). Your midweek stomping ground, featuring DJs Danny Silver, Manchild & Mu-Gen. Free entry. From 10pm.

Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne

SOUL ARMY With more flavour than a chocolate pizza, the Wednesday Soul Army throws down raw, uncut funk next to smooth soul grooves and rare blue jams. Bring that special lady because when the boys lay down the love it could be the difference between ‘we’re just friends’ to ‘let’s get it on’.

PBS stalwarts Vince Peach and Miss Goldie accompany Prequel and Black Diamond Kicks weekly. Free.

Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy

LAUNDRY WEDNESDAYS Deep, dark, minimal dubstep and drum and bass.

Laundry Bar, 50 Johnston Street, Fitzroy

STAR BAR SUNDAYS The original and still the best Sunday in Melbourne.

Star Bar, 160 Clarendon St, South Melbourne

FORBIDDEN Forbidden’s venue is going to wow all those that attend through its state of the art sound and lighting system, an amazing balcony overlooking Russell and Bourke Streets and is located in the heart of the city. Forbidden will feature some of the hottest DJs in Melbourne including Anyo, Rufio, Stefan C, Alex Da Kid, Galo, Timmy Edgell and Azza-M. Forbidden is the hottest place to be on a Friday night – the location has just changed. Free entry applies to everyone between 8pm – 9pm and happy hour will run for 3 hours!

Eden, 163 Russell St, Melbourne

FREEDOM PASS

EY:EM EY:EM at Lounge features residents Boogs & Who, who will host Melbourne’s top purveyors of club music, showcasing both local and international DJs playing the most upfront club music. With rotating DJs Dave Pham, Sleep D, Bryce Lawrence, Louis McCoy, Caine Sinclair, Glyn Hill & Toby Mackisack.

Expect nothing but excellent house music all night long. And remember, clubbing happens in the EY:EM. $10 from 11pm.

Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Friday’s at Freedom with 2 premier clubs, 5 huge rooms, 10+ local and international DJs blending their unique sets across countless styles of tunes – vocal house, smooth R&B, electro and commercial top 40. Throw in a few sexy podium dancers, a world-class lights show and drink specials, the Freedom Pass is your personal ticket to a night you won’t soon forget!

Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank

IBIMBO Have you always wanted to be a DJ but been cruelly cursed with tone deafness and a general inability to version excursion? Well Bimbo Deluxe saves the day once again.. All you need is an iPhone and you’re set. Just download the free ‘remote’ application from the app store, log into the Bimbo DJ wireless network and you choose which song plays next.

Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy

Kitty Schmidt couldn’t find quality dance music in Fitzroy so she’s decided to open up her bedroom doors. Living above Melbourne’s stalwart lesbian/gay Libation Bar, she’s now throwing a monthly party in her boudoir. Come into her renovated upstairs loft, cocktail bar, dance floor and smoking terrace. With quirky house, deep disco and erotic electronica being spun by Marvin Roland, Mr. Pyz and Kitty Schmidt DJs. Libation, 302 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

TUESDAY27TH BIMBO TUESDAYS

PANORAMA

THURSDAY22ND BIMBO THURSDAYS Tigerfunk brings with him his full band of travelling gypsies, hipsters and middle class executives, all of whom are prepared to deliver the most excitement you can have this side of the weekend.

Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy

FREE RANGE FUNK Funk up your Thursday nights with Free Range Funk at the Windsor favourite Lucky Coq. Grab a couch early and enjoy one (or more) of their famous $4 pizzas from 7-11pm. Meanwhile DJs Who, Agent 86, Lewis CanCut and special guests tempt you into the night with their eclectic bag of treats. Setting the mood early is delightful jazz, deep soul, and funk. Later it’s fruity disco, choice house, and hipster dance drops. Free entry every Thursday.

Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor

FUN HOUSE Celebrate Thursday night at Co. with club classics and dance floor anthems.

Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank

SLOW HOUSE THURSDAYS Slow House Thursdays is just what Brunswick has been missing. Get down to the latest Thursday spot at Noise Bar, find a space with your bros and get into the as DJs Same O, David Bass and James Hurt spin bass laced tunes ‘til the early hours of the morning.

Noise Bar, 291 Albert Street, Brunswick

THE BLACK PANCAKE CLUB The Black Pancake Club is where disc-jockeys bring in their treasured record collections to share with yaw’ll.

Expect undiscovered nuggets, lost gems, far out there covers, moog inspired themes, and a host of other eclectic delicacies and toppings for your black pancakes!

Taste makers on rotation include Shags and Richie 1250.

Free entry. From 10pm.

Lounge, 243 Swanston Street, Melbourne

WONDERLUST Fate, karma, the yin and the yang, the balance between chaos and order or divine intervention? A new spiritual high has emerged from the cosmic energies of the universe and it’s called Wonderlust! As luck would have it you can come and experience the effects of this strange new phenomena every Thursday night at The Carlton!

Carlton Club, 193 Bourke Street, Melbourne

6.

RETRO SEXUAL FRIDAY DJ Grandmaster Vicious spins Fitzroy’s finest mix of ‘80s and ‘90s pop, rock, new wave, hip hop, disco classics and cheese to please plus dance floor anthems from then to now.

One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy

SATURDAY24TH EDEN SATURDAYS Smashing it every week at Melbourne’s hottest looking venue! Top 40 dance, house and R&B 9-3am, then electro from 3am - 5am. DJ Ontime, DJ Ryza, Scotty Erdos and Azza M. $15/$20, free entry after 4am.

Eden, 163 Russell St, Melbourne

FIRST FLOOR SATURDAYS It’s house, electro, dub, anthems, disco and funk with guest DJs Genetix, B-Two and Oohee rocking til the break of day. Doors open 10pm with $5 basics til midnight!

First Floor, 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

HOMECOMING In the grand tradition of past Saturday nights at the Prince of Wales, it will regain it’s rightful place on the pantheon of Australian dance music playing host to the best and most exciting EDM locally, nationally and internationally. Local residents include Generik, Oskar, Swick, Tranter, M.A.F.I.A., Streetparty DJs and Clip Art, and scheduled guests The Aston Shuffle, Tonite Only, The Swiss, Luke Million, Parachute Youth, Louis La Roche, Alvin Risk and more. In addition, Homecoming has prepared a veritable roster of exciting drinks and cocktails to fuel the fun, including Fresh coconut cocktails, Dr. Pepper, Electric Lemonade, Tecate, Thai-style Buckets and Bubble Cup cocktails.

Prince Bandroom, 29 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

Google Hot Step and you’ll get a bunch of Vietnamese game reviews and Balkanese dances on YouTube. But that’s nothing like what you can expect to find within the confines of Bimbo on a Saturday night. Developing thick and heavy but altogether groovy, enjoy an eclectic mix of fairy floss funk, doom disco and monk movement minimal every week. Free.

Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy

SATURDAYS AT ONE TWENTY BAR DJ CKass will take you on a musical journey to the retro sounds of the ‘70s and ‘80s, followed by Top 40.

One Twenty Bar, 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy

ESSENTIALS

Bimbo Tuesday’s have long been the discerning DJs midweek breath of fresh air. An opportunity to indulge in, and to each parade their individual takes on music. A night where by the weird and wonderful is not frowned upon but rather celebrated. Resident selectors Matt Radovich, Andras Fox and Henry Who draw from a colorful array of sounds that warm your midweek blues. From 8pm, free.

Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy

COSMIC PIZZA NHJ and friends host every Tuesday night upstairs at Lucky Coq. Playing uneasy listening, freaked out bass jams, romantic comedy disco, tropi-jazz, soundtracks and shit you won’t hear on the other nights.

Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor

Focus: Where?House

SOUND EMPIRE Co. At Crown’s Saturday night party Sound Empire this week features mega sounds from resident DJs Tate Strauss, Miss Sarah, Nova, Johnny M, Matty G, Dean T, Joe Sofo, Marcus Knight, Dinesh, Chris Ostrom, B-Boogie and Sarah Roberts.

Co., Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank

STAR SATURDAYS Star Saturdays - smashing it every Saturday! Phil Ross, Scotty Erdos, DJ Ontime, LC, Nick James, Dane Gains, Ryan Hamill, Deja, Phil Isa, Nixon, Azza M, Scotty Nix, DJ Ryza, C Dubb, Alex-J, G-Funk, Dylisco, Achos, Az, Shaggz and guests.

Star Bar, 160 Clarendon St, South Melbourne

TEMPERANCE SATURDAYS

HOT STEP

Our Signature serve. Each and every Sunday we play host to a self professed vinyl junkie caught between the golden years and boogie wonderland. A mouthful?

Perhaps. Phato Amano perfectly sets the mood for an audio-adventure that redefines the dance floor weekly.

Our Sunday aficionados Agent 86 and Tigerfunk stir up a full cream shake to the flavour of your liking. Forget everything you thought you knew about losing yourself to the grooves.

Bimbo Deluxe, 376 Brunswick St (Cnr Rose St), Fitzroy

MONDAY26TH

FRIDAY NIGHT LOFT PARTY

Start your weekend on a good note with Panorama Fridays at Lucky Coq. DJs Matt Rad, Mr George, Tom Meagher and Phato A Mano transform the upstairs area into one hell of a house party with Hip Hop, Funk, R&B, Disco and House. Meanwhile, downstairs gives you a secluded wind down atmosphere with cult films as background visuals and quality cocktails to sip on. Let the new coqtail list wash away a crappy week!

Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor

SUNDAE SHAKE

DJ Marcus Knight & DJ Xander James drop sexy house, dance and drum and bass all night from 8pm. Free entry.

Temperance Hotel, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra

TEXTILE Saturdays at Lucky Coq tick all the boxes so start your night early and stay til close! Famous $4 pizzas from 7-9pm (that’s dinner sorted) then from 9pm spread over two levels with DJs playing hip hop, funk, disco, house and electro. Rotating guests on both levels keep the tunes fresh. Free entry.

Lucky Coq, 179 Chapel St, Windsor

WAH WAH SATURDAYS Just when you thought Wah Saturdays couldn’t get any better, this week Rob Pix (Beng) kicks off a new rotating residency down Waratah place. Get down early to avoid the queue or alternatively you could come down very late for the infamous recovery kicking off at 4AM! Wah Wah Lounge, 185 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Vladislav Delay With Melbourne Music Week alive and kicking, it’s once again time deeper into the flagship pop-up venue for Melbourne Music Week 2012. Alongside the evening entertainment, Where?House has a variety of day-time activities including a retro clothing market and dining hall, featuring Fancy Hanks, Huxtaburger, Fat Brats, Touche Hombre and Supreme coffee from Cavillero.There will also be a series of workshops, film screenings, Mess + Noise ‘Lunch Box Series’ and the Intel® Ultrabook™ Wi-Fi Lounge. This week will see Vladislav Delay, Harmonic 313, Richard Devine, Research & Development and Tantrums on Wednesday November 21, Eskmo, Tipper, Beats Antique, Opiuo and Spoonbill on Thursday November 22. Troy Pierce, Radio Slave, Isaac Fryar, Mike Callander and Safari on Friday November 23. Floating Points, Alexander Nut, Teebs, Africa Hitech, Fatima, Sean Deans, JPS, Nam and Edd Fisher on Saturday November 24. Matias Aguayo, Future Classic DJs and Animals Dancing DJs on Sunday November 25,plus a whole lot more.

Where?House will be located at The Argus Building, corner of La Trobe and Elizabeth St. Check out where-house.com.au for more information.

TIM SWEENEY SPACIOUS BEATS: AURAL ASTRONOMER It’s 11:30pm on Friday December 21, 2012, and Tim Sweeney’s set at his Honolulu beach party is about to be cut catastrophically short. The night began with DJ Harvey slinging his signature sleazy disco and house, followed by Optimo reviving the anthems of Glasgow’s Sub Club one last time – and just as a gargantuan wave of colossal destruction crashes down in what will cause the complete obliteration of civilisation, Sweeney calmly reaches into his record bag, dusts off an old Diana Ross 12” and soundtracks the end of the world with the ubiquitous Love Hangover.

This is quite obviously a very fictitious scenario. Ignoring the journalistic cliché of speaking sycophantically, Tim Sweeney has one of the more eclectic and respected knowledge banks in contemporary electronic music. It’s in light of this fact that in an exchange of hungover drawl (Sweeney having just celebrated the 13th birthday party for his revered Beats In Space radio show and myself also indulging in a night of debauchery) I find the temptation too great not to ask that if the Mayan prophecy were to be found true and Sweeney was appointed the decision-maker of the end of the world party, how would he plan the proceedings?

“I’m loving playing in Hawaii at this 39 Hotel, which is this spot Harvey helped start,” notes Sweeney in his demure radio voice. “It’s got the old sound system from Mancuso’s loft parties. I ran the Precious Hall in Sapporo as well and I could see myself doing something there. Again – the soundsystem is just amazing. The experience of playing there is just something really different. It’s actually where I’m playing before I come down to Melbourne. So I’m kind of flying from one end of the earth to the other.”

As he lists of his all-time favourite selectors, I note the peculiarity that both Optimo, Harvey and himself have all taken to the decks of the beloved Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre.

“Yeah, that has been amazing. I love Meredith. I think that has to be my favourite festival I’ve ever done.

“He’s a character. He’s a rock star,” he notes of Harvey’s infamous smashing of Andee Frost’s prized Bozak rotary mixer, an Alpha Recordings 5-band equaliser, two CDJs and two Technics 1200s at the 2010 Meredith. “Everyone is going to be talking about that forever. Unfortunately, for Andee, his equipment got messed up and I think he still doesn’t have the crossover fixed, but it’s definitely going to go down in history.”

No stranger to Australia, Sweeney moves towards his impending return, remarking on his intrigue on how his performance at the National Gallery of Victoria will pan out. “I’m curious about how it is going to be in a museum,” he notes carefully. “I’ve done museum things here in New York and it can kind of go both ways, from being really amazing to being terrible. Playing at MOMA, we did a DFA party there and that was amazing. Then there is PS1 in the summertime here, which is part of MOMA, but it’s in Queens and they do outdoor parties which are insane – the best parties of the summer in New York. Definitely my top show this summer, I think, was when James Holden was supposed to play and didn’t show up. His flight got delayed and he wasn’t going to make it in time. They texted me and they were like, a couple hours before, ‘Would you be able to play?’ I went over and it was 5,000 people and it was insane. I don’t know what it will be like in Melbourne. I’m hoping it is going to be super fun. I know it’s going to be way different than when I’m usually playing at The Toff.

“Every time my perception of Australia is, well, it’s really fucking far away,” he laughs playfully. “But everyone I meet over there is awesome and people want to have a good time. I don’t know, it’s kind of like, it’s just the partying aspect. It feels good over there. I love Melbourne and Sydney, I’ve had good times. When I played in Perth, there was no one actually at the show,” he laughs in jest. “I was with Canyons and they’re from Perth. I remember we went to one of their houses and we just stayed on the guy’s lawn, drinking rum and cokes all night, until the neighbours called the cops on us for being too loud. And that felt good. I liked that. I would love to get to see some more of Australia but I’m usually sticking to Melbourne and Sydney. I feel really comfortable there.

Referring to international perceptions of Australian electronic proclivities, he explains, “It’s not just deep house. It’s just across the board for quality good music. People in Australia love to party. That’s what my impression would be. There is a lot of afterhours clubs like Revolver, which we don’t have in New York – a 24 hour club. Someone like Andee who will go for the weekend, 48 hours, DJing, from one party to the next – it’s pretty amazing to me. Everyone I’ve met there, when I’ve hung out, know all the different records and they’re up on everything. I think you’ve got good radio there, the Noise in Your Head show is super well-respected across the world. It’s a shame Andee doesn’t have his anymore. I really don’t get that impression that it is just a one-sided thing. I don’t even want to put Tornado Wallace in a deep house vein. I’d put him in the bearded kangaroo dude category.”

Turning conversation to the rapidly advancing technological world and the preconceived notions on the death of certain mediums, I quiz Sweeney on his view of the future of radio. “I definitely can tell radio is a dying thing but I’m still nostalgic, just like [how] I still bring vinyl with me to play. I still like the format and the idea of radio,” he shares with a hint of lament. “Turning on the radio and listening at home or listening in the car or wherever. When I’m doing the radio show, I still have that idea in my head that I’m broadcasting to the tri-city area – New York, New Jersey, Connecticut – and so that anyone could be turning in. Some kid could just be listening in every Tuesday and checking it out. Maybe nowadays more people are listening to the podcast than the radio but radio is just, for me – well, I still like doing live radio. I still see Boiler Room, with the video and kind of small club thing and I love the idea of that and I think that’s great. And I see that as the way forward. At the same time I like the idea of no video as well. Just the audio. It’s been going on for so many years and it’s a tradition, you know?”

With his passion for radio still as prolific as it was when he began Beats In Space in 1999, he shares his ethos when compiling his program. “I see it is how I originally started it – and that’s just with trying to play new stuff every week.

I don’t want to copy myself all the time, but put music out there people might not normally get a chance to hear, try and like, bring in these DJs or artists I support and think deserve more recognition. Then the main part is just having fun every week. Not getting bored, you know?

After doing it so long it would be really easy to get bored if I was repeating myself all of the time and so I have to just keep doing things to make it interesting to me. I want to come in every Tuesday and feel excited for the show and feel excited for the guests coming on, which I am.”

Tyson Wray Tim Sweeney [USA] plays alongside Teengirl Fantasy [USA] and more at the National Gallery of Victoria on Friday November 23.

FEATURES

7.

AGENCY DUB COLLECTIVE FULL OF BELIEF: LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN Seven is considered a lucky number; 13, not so much.

There are even hotels that have removed the room number and floor number 13 because folks out there feel uncomfortable staying in them. Superstition is an intangible, ridiculous beast but even if you entertain the notion just a little, Agency Dub Collective are cancelling out the bad luck of 13 years since their first live gig and embracing the good luck associated with releasing their seventh studio album. Beggar’s Belief is a perfect summation of Agency Dub Collective’s long career as purveyors of home grown dub, atmospheric electronica and Rasta rap. The lineup has changed, the sound has evolved and their skills have soured but all the while, there has been a heart and soul to their music that is definitively their sound.

“We’ve kinda had a few eras ‘cause we’ve had a few singers over the years. Liam [O’Connell] has been with us since 2003 so that’s pretty much the modern incarnation of the band,” guitarist Elrond Veness explains.

Veness is working on the business side of things, gearing up for all the non-musical work that goes with releasing a new album. “We don’t have any outside help,” he says.

“I do find the hardest part is describing your own music, it’s hard to describe the thing that you do. Me and Liam take care of most of the business side of things. Our drummer [Dan Sommariva] makes YouTube clips so we do try to share the workload around. I just fell into the booking and promotion role ‘cause I felt like no-one else was gonna take it on. That being said, Liam has really helped out a lot though, taking the record to radio and stuff like that.”

Describing your own sound is a tricky business with

the trap of comparison hard to avoid. While Agency Dub Collective are dub by name and nature, they are aware that their take on the genre is different than what traditionalists might expect. “We come from this place that dub is a core part of what we do but we’ve never been purists about it,” he says. “We really meld it with a lot of other influences and we see ourselves as part of an evolution of the sound. I’ve been calling it dub-hop for a while because Liam does a lot of rapping but there isn’t a hip hop beat really, there’s more of the dub rhythms for sure.”

Their latest album was two years in the making and by any measure, that’s a long time to sit on a record’s worth of material. “We went into the studio late 2010 to record the rhythm tracks,” he says. “We did that because a few band members were leaving and we wanted to capture the sound of the songs we’d written over the previous 18 months. Then we took a break and kinda let the tracks sit there until 2011. Some were only rhythm tracks too and had no vocals or melodies at that stage, so we crafted those in our home studios a while after those tracks were laid down. We did a lot of overdubs and editing in our home studios too, which took a lot of time. So yeah, it certainly took a while.”

So how do you stay as in love with the songs over two years after their inception? “Ha ha, yeah, well we hadn’t been playing them that much because we didn’t have a bass player for a while,” he says chuckling. “When we did a small tour in July I was playing bass instead of guitar and we did the songs without any guitar or at other times, Liam played bass and I played guitar. Now we’ve got a bass player it’s great to have a full sound.

When you get a new member, they bring a new feel to the tunes and they give a fresh lease of life to the songs so finally being able to play them like they sound on the album gives it a bit of excitement.”

Having gone through many phases, Veness seems excited to have a solid lineup of equally enthusiastic players. “Our old drummer came back into the band and we’ve spent some time writing some new material that we’ll be taking on the road,” he says. “It’s another exciting time for us at the moment. Dealing with the business side of things can be daunting. Writing and

his time at the moment. “I’m not trying to release every month or every three weeks. It’s not my main work. So it gives me the opportunity to be a more freestyle label.”

In our last chat, Guy also mentioned a project in the works with Loopmasters in an exciting new format.

That project came to fruition in September, when he released an EP entitled Transitions, featuring four new tracks – with a twist. The package also includes the stems, patches and loops used to create each track, so that aspiring producers have a glimpse into what goes into making a Guy J track and can play around with the raw components (which are all royalty-free and ready for remixing).

“The idea is that people need inspiration, sometimes, to do something,” explains Guy. “It’s more like a different approach, a remix. With this, I wanted to give people something more private than the general Loopmasters package. There are four tracks, each quite different.

One is more deep house, one is more open... so yeah, it’s just to have people give their own point of view on this. Hopefully we’ll try to do a remix contest with the package. But it’s still a process to try out.”

Guy will next be heading our way towards the end of January, for one of the biggest events on the Australian festival calendar – Rainbow Serpent Festival. He’s enthusiastic to see what it’s all about. “It’s the first one for me. It’s exciting! I’ve heard it’s one of the best festivals down there. I haven’t even been in Australia during the summer. I was always coming around winter.

I think summer will have something more special in it.”

And what else does Guy have on the cards for 2013? “I hope to make another artist album,” he reveals. “I think when you’re making an album, I think you’re trying to make a timeless package. I cannot say it about myself, whether I managed to do it or not [with 1000 Words].

But that’s what you’re trying to do. Time will say!

“I miss that experience [of making an album],” he continues. You really express yourself without focusing in every genre. It’s like yoga for an artist. But you need to find the right time when you’re not travelling a lot and you have free time.” Continuing with Guy’s yoga

playing the music is less than 50 per cent of the energy you put into a band. But with the current lineup, it feels like it’s finally down to the people who really care about the music and things have fallen into place.”

Krissi Weiss Agency Dub Collective [AUS] launch their album Beggars Belief at The Espy on Saturday November 24.

GUY J BEAT DOCTOR: RAVE REVIVAL Ever wondered what it’s like playing a warm-up set for John Digweed? Guy J can tell you. The Israel-born, Belgium-based producer has been signed to Digweed’s label Bedrock for about five years now, and has had numerous releases as well as a full-length album (last year’s 1000 Words) on the imprint. But even though it’s something he’s done quite a few times before, he says he still gets nerves playing the slot before his teenage hero Digweed – as he did at the Bedrock Showcase at the massive Amsterdam Dance Event last month.

“It was crazy, as every year. Doing a warm-up for John, it’s always... well, my hands were all shaking. It was actually a long set, it was two hours. So I get the chance to play some ‘higher’ kinds of stuff. But for the last half hour, I should be really setting the mood for John to start, going down with the BPM. I’m trying to keep what I play more melodic, warm sounds. It’s a challenge.”

I last spoke to Guy in June, ahead of a short Australian tour featuring a few club dates including a memorable performance at New Guernica. Since then, he’s been trying to balance touring and studio work – and pets.

“I’m still working on some new original tracks. It’s actually a bit of a struggle. I’m still travelling a lot, so every time I’m home I’m trying to spend time with my lady. I’ve also got some turtles, that’s something new.

They’re called Benny and Sylvester. It’s a dream come true. But not a lot of people understand... why turtles?”

Turtles aside, Guy’s also been working on his record label, Lost and Found – although it’s not the focus of

metaphor, it definitely sounds like one has to be flexible with time – or was that a bit of a stretch? Guy admits that he doesn’t do yoga himself, but says his turtles fulfill a similar function. “They’re like yoga for your eyes.

It’s relaxing just to look at them.”

Morgan Richards Guy J [ISR] plays alongside Nathan Fake [UK], Christian Smith [ESP] and more at Rainbow Serpent Festival from Friday January 25 until Monday January 28 in Lexton.

CULTURE SHOCK RAMMING THE BEATS: TO THE WALL No, really, James Pountney came from a background in classical music – he was trained in the craft in fact. So being around music for him has been a forever thing.

He even admits trying his hand at an office job once, to no avail. But the man who is all about quality over quantity is back again, to raise the ire of fans around the country – and perhaps at the same time, provide a quick schooling in the world of beats.

“I’ve always been about keeping things pretty simple,” chimes James. “Culture Shock isn’t about a formula but I do love tinkering with different sounds and ideas. Right now, I am mainly using Logic on a Mac and Ableton.

I’ve always been about quality over quantity. It would be nice to do both, but I’m quite slow and I try to keep the quality really high. I never wanted to buy a record that had a great A-side and a crap B-side. I’ve always wanted to make music that was every bit as important as the previous and the next one – I’m focused on that.”

Really though, he admits and wishes he had a lab full of weird vintage analogue synths complete with technicians in white coats who could program the darn things. And while his approach to production is a sensible one – he remains committed to his craft and keeping sounds fresh and the punters on their toes. “I’m currently working on the next single for RAM Records which we haven’t announced yet – and that’s mainly because I can’t get my act together! But the last single did pretty well and I just found out it got nominated in

8.

the Drum and Bass Arena Awards for the best single – which is pretty exciting. I’ve got loads of ideas about other things as well, but I don’t want to give much away but there is a fair bit of a backlog of unfinished material that I need to get sorted as well. An album is also part of the plan – as I said, I have a lot of stuff I’m trying to finish off so as soon as I get back from Australia I’ll get onto that!”

The beauty of it all, too, is that he is part of a movement that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Drum and bass has always been music of the people. No fancy limousines and private jets. These are the guys that hang back for a beer with the fans after the gig. And that translates to his production approach. “For me, it’s a bit of having fun and bit of being focused, but not too much. I take my music seriously, but making it and playing it also has to be fun. A lot of my time and energy goes into making it. So what’s the point of making average music, right?”

His approach to his craft, then, is serious business. “I’m always listening to electronic stuff across the board; right now I’m really feeling house, artists like as Jamie Jones or Danny Daze – but as always, inspiration for me comes from everywhere and anywhere.” And in turn, it is what keeps him fresh and relevant. “While I love to listen to a lot of different styles of music for inspiration, I’m not so into switching up tempos in a short set; I like to keep the groove going.”

So there you have it – the rules are that there are no FEATURES

rules. “My releases are all quite different and I don’t stick to any formulas,” he says. “I’m more into exploring new ideas, because I find that that keeps things interesting for me and anyone listening. If I had to put a theme behind it I would say the running thread is probably futuristic funk. Right now, I’m playing a lot of drum and bass but also a lot of beats. I’m really feeling that Skrillex and Nero remix of Holding On, and the new track from Wilkinson is wicked as well. There is plenty of good music out there, you just need to find it I guess.”

Finally, he admits having the might of Andy C’s Ram Records behind him doesn’t hurt either – it helps to

provide the reach and the distribution prowess. “It’s a mostly sexual relationship,” he has said in the past, quote end quote. “I’m just about keeping the beats new and fresh; it’s music from myself and the best artists in the scene.”

Last question then – who’s up for the party?

RK Culture Shock [UK] play Brown Alley on Friday November 23 alongside Freq Nasty [NZ] and more.

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THE NICE UP

THURSDAY22ND MOTOWN THURSDAYS Kick start your weekend with Melbourne’s newest Thursday night! Motown Thursdays caters to all true music lovers. Join us on an eclectic musical journey of soul, funk and disco through to early R&B. A live Soul Band features some of Melbourne’s most talented musicians; Carmen Hendricks, Laurent Soupe, Duncan Kinell and Aaron Mendoza just to name a few. DJs keep the records spinning into the early hours; residents are Reg-e, Lee Davies, Kalepe, Dinesh, Suga, Rubz and Alwin Rafferty. Join us around a big, shiny disco ball or two, for free entry, soulful tunes, drink specials all night and a dance floor full of friends!

Fashion Lounge, 121 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Tom Showtime presents The Nice Up. All flavours of hip hop, ghetto funk and reggae niceness provided. Sailor Jerry nice up the cocktails, Dos Blockos nice up the $5 beers. Fridays done proper.

George Lane Bar, 1 George Lane, St Kilda

RHYTHM-AL-ISM Start the weekend early with Fusion’s Resident DJs. Music for your funkin’ soul. Special guests every week!

Fusion, Crown Entertainment Complex, Lvl 3, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank

SATURDAY24TH

FRIDAY23RD FAKTORY This is it. Faktory Fridays are open for business at Melbourne’s home of R&B, Khokolat Bar. Where else?

Damion De Silva, Ken Walker, Durmy, K Dee, Simon Sez, Yaths and Jacqui Dusk spinning all night long.

Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware Lane, Melbourne

SWEET NOTHING FRIDAYS DJ Marcus Knight and DJ Xander James spin hip hop, R&B and house tunes all night from 8pm. Free entry and early drink specials.

Temperance Hotel, 426 Chapel St, South Yarra

KORA INTERGALACTIC INSTRUMENTS: ALIEN FUNK

LIKE FRIDAYS Like Fridays at La Di Da serves up R&B and electro house across two rooms giving you a fun filled end to your week. DJs Dinesh, Dir-X, Sef, NYD, Shaun D, Shaggz, Broz and more.

La Di Da, 577 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

All new experience, same great location with a fresh koat of Khokolat. Restless Entertainment reloads your favourite Saturday night party. Damion De Silva, K Dee, Jay Sin and weekly guests playing R&B & ol’ skool sounds strictly for the urban elite.

Khokolat Bar, Basement, 43 Hardware La, Melbourne

REDLOVE SATURDAYS

LIGHT We celebrate everything that has made Light at Red Love, kicking off with our after work drinks session from 4pm. Our DJ lineup includes each and every one of the Daddy Mack’s who have helped lead Light into our 5th running year of old school R&B. Harvey Yeah, Ripz, TMC and Stel Kar locking down that Old School Flava with guest appearances by G.A.K. & The Seminar of Funk and Nick K. It’s all happening this Friday as we celebrate five years of doing our do and bringing that Red Love!

Red Love, Level 1, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne

THE LOOSE GOOSE The Loose Goose is focused on providing a wonderful array of cocktails and offers a great CBD location to lounge and relax in while overlooking busy Flinders Lane. A small plates menu is available to graze on whilst trying our delicious cocktails from the classics to contemporary, beer on tap and a wide range of beers, wines and spirits. Every Friday evening DJ Jumps of The Cat Empire will take to the decks at the bar spinning his rare afro Latin funk vinyl collected from around the world from 6.30pm until late.

Papa Goose Cocktail Bar, 91-93 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Antisthenes, the Greek philosopher and famed pupil of the original master of thinking, Socrates, once said many, many sleeps ago, “When brothers agree, no fortress is so strong as their common life.” But for the brothers Kora – Laughton, Stuart, Francis and Brad – life is anything but common these days.

Kora, a rambunctiously energetic funk and bass collective from Whakatane, New Zealand, have just released their sophomore album Light Years to critical acclaim and much fanfare – and they’re getting ready to bring their delicious harmonies and infectious rhythms across the Tasman to the Australian masses, in turn unleashing a kick-ass party while they’re at it.

The brothers Kora, alongside their brother-in-arms Dan McGruer, have taken their sound in new and exciting directions on Light Years. They’ve maintained their funky and psychedelic vibes, but have seamlessly spliced in a more electronic sensibility, with space-age synths, samples and programmed instrumentation making their way to the forefront of Kora’s sonic assault. There’s a phrase the band use to describe this sound: “Alien Funk”.

Taking a brief break from rehearsals, Francis Kora laughs loudly over the phone from the Long White Cloud when I mention the term to him. “Ha! That’s a concept: alien funk, space funk!” he guffaws. “You know, to be honest, it was something someone had mentioned, that ‘alien funk’. There’re just so many themes and styles in [Light Years], and it’s a good answer to give to the question, ‘What’s the genre of the music?’ And it’s an easy answer for us to give, to say, ‘It’s alien funk!’ and then they ask, ‘Oh, what’s alien funk?’

“Listen to this,” he continues, “it is what it is! It’s funny, because ‘alien funk’ was supposed to be an easy way out of that ‘what genre is the music?’ question!”

Kora’s musical journey began at an early age. The brothers’ father was a well-respected local musician in his own right, and he decided that the boys were going to learn how to play music. “I think I was about eight when he started to teach us,” recalls Kora. The teaching, though sometimes rather strict, was sound: “Me and my brothers were in a band called Auntie Beatrice in the early ‘90s,” Kora explains, “and we won a band competition!”

Laughton and Dan, whilst living in Queenstown, had played together in a band called Soul Charge in the early 2000s, releasing a four track demo and getting some attention. Soon after, the other three brothers joined, and Kora was born. Their debut self-titled record was released in 2007 – and went double-platinum in the process.

Kora is rather nonchalant when I ask him about the five year wait between records. What have they been up to

KHOKOLAT KOATED

RedLove Saturdays is all about solid classics from the ‘80s, ‘90s and into the ‘00s! Dropping beats of retro pop, disco classics, old school funk, and certainly some of that old school R&B and house to kick! RedLove Resident DJs Phil, HB Bear and Da Gato bringing down the house every Saturday night. If you’re looking for quality service, music to rock, sumptuous drinks and just a cold hard good time; look no further!

Red Love, Level 1, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne

SHAKA SATURDAY The newest R&B Superclub Shaka Saturdays grand opening is set to hit Melbourne over two massive weeks.

The northern suburbs newest, freshest club playing all of your favourite R&B, hip hop, old skool and reggae.

Shaka Saturdays is showcasing Australias newest and favourite R&B DJs, including DJ C-RAM bringing video mixing to Melbourne and special guest hip hop band Yellow Cake. Set at one of the most amazing venues Melbourne has to offer with two levels, good music, great ‘Shaka’ atmosphere and cheap drinks, we are hoping to pack it out and create a night for people to remember.

Level 2 The Club, 2 Arthurton Rd, Northcote

during that time? “Oh, it was just a timing thing,” he explains casually. “[We’re] all family dudes, and we’ve all got interests outside of the band!”

Light Years was originally supposed to have been released in 2011, but the band had to put things on hold for a while as they went through a change in management – “You know how it is, mate!” Kora laughs – but now that it’s finally seen the light of day, it’s topped the number one position on iTunes New Zealand and boasts impressive sales figures.

From the soaring synths and old school hip hop beats of the first (and appropriately titled) single off the record, Story Ain’t Over, to the 8-bit video game chippy sounds of Dream Life, Light Years is a meaty and stylish – yet still quite organic – dish of grooves, rhythms, vocal acrobatics and clever sound effects.

I ask Kora about the sound itself, and if it was a conscious decision to take their guitar-heavy music in a new direction or if they just decided that the vibe would work better with synths and programmed beats. “Oh man, I think that was the longest part of the whole process, mate!” Kora beams. “Our songs at the beginning were very guitar-based – but then we thought we’d change [the songs] to synthesisers. The songs [in the beginning] did not sound like they do now. We realised we could make the synths sound heavy and guitar-driven, more like rock songs.

“You know when you’ve got a distorted guitar, and it automatically puts the sound to ‘rock’? Well, we just wanted the sounds to be more flexible – and it was an easy way for us to hit something quite beautiful from the beginning to the end of the album!”

When I mention a quote from The Human League’s Phil Oakey about “hurling the guitars out the window and purchasing synthesisers”, Kora sounds aghast. “Oh, we’re still into the guitars, mate! Don’t get me wrong!”

Finally we get to talking about the upcoming album launch here on our shores. What’s their live show going to be like? I tell Kora I’m picturing some serious sci-fi visuals to go with the album’s distinctly otherworldly flair.

“Oh, it’s going to be a high energy show,” Kora laughs.

“Not too many visuals as such, but there’s going to be a lot of lights! “Not too sure, mate, I’ll be too busy focusing on the music!”

Thomas Bailey KORA [NZ] launch Light Years at The Hi-Fi Bar on Saturday November 24.

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29th Apartment 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9078 8922

Lucky Coq 179 Chapel St, Windsor, 9525 1288

303 303 High Street, Northcote

The LuWOW 62-70 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 5447

Abode 374 St.Kilda Rd, St.Kilda

Mercat Cross Lvl 1, 456 Queen St, Melb, 9348 9998

Albert Park Hotel Cnr Montague & Dundas Pl, Albert Park, 9690 5459

Mink 2 Acland St, St Kilda, 9536 1199

Alia Lvl 1, 83-87 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9486 0999

Miss Libertine 34 Franklin St, Melb, 9663 6855

Alumbra Shed 9, Central Pier, 161 Harbour Espl, Docklands, 8623 9666

Misty 3-5 Hosier Ln, Melb, 9663 9202

Back Bar 67 Green St, Windsor, 9529 7899

Mockingbird Bar 129 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9534 0000

Bar Open 317 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9415 9601

Musicland 1359A Sydney Rd, Fawkner, 9359 0006

Baroq House 9-13 Drewery Ln, Melb, 8080 5680

Neverland 32-48 Johnson St, South Melb, 9646 5544

Bendigo Hotel 125 Johnston St, Collingwood 9417 3415

New Guernica Lvl 2, Hub Arcade, 318-322 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 4464

Bertha Brown 562 Flinders Street, 9629 1207

Night Cat 141 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 0090

Big Mouth 168 Acland St, St.Kilda, 9534 4611

Night Cat 279 Flinders Ln, Melb, 9654 0444

Billboard 170 Russell St, Melb, 9639 4000

Noise Bar 291 Albert St, Brunswick, 9380 1493

Bimbo Deluxe 376 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 8600

Northcote Social Club 301 High St, Northcote, 9489 3917

Birmingham Hotel Cnr Smith & Johnston St, Fitzroy

Old Bar 74 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9417 4155

Black Cat 252 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 6230

One Twenty Bar 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy

Blue Bar 330 Chapel St, Prahran, 9529 6499

Onesixone 161 High St, Prahran, 9533 8433

Blue Tile Lounge 95 Smith St, Fitzroy

Order Of Melbourne level 2, 401 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 6707

Boutique 134 Greville St, Prahran, 9525 2322

Palace Hotel 893 Burke Rd, Camberwell

Brown Alley King Street, Melb,9670 8599

Palace Theatre 20-30 Bourke St, Melb, 9650 0180

Brunswick Hotel 140 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9387 6637

Palais 111 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs, 5348 4849

Builders Arms 211 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

Palais Theatre Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, 9525 3240

Cabinet Bar 11 Rainbow Alley, Melbourne, 9654 0915

Papa Goose 91 Flinders Ln, Melbourne, 9663 2800

Caravan Music Club 95 Drummond St, Oakleigh

Penny Black 420 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9380 8667

Caseys Nightclub 660A Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 9810 0030

Pier Live Hotel 508 Nepean Hwy, Frankston, 9783 9800

Caz Reitops Dirty Secrets 80 Smith St, Collingwood, 9415 8876

Pony 68-70 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9662 1026

CBD Club 12-14 McKillop St, Melb, 9670 3638

Portland Hotel Cnr Lt Collins & Russell St, Melb, 9810 0064

Chaise Lounge Basement, 105 Queen St, Melb, 9670 6120

The Prague Hotel, 911 High St, Northcote, 9495 0000

Chandelier Room 91 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, 9532 2288

Pretty Please 61c Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9534 4484

Chelsea Heights Hotel Cnr Springvale & Wells Rd,

Prince Bandroom 29 Fitztory St, St Kilda, 9536 1168

Chelsea Heights, 9773 4453

Prince Of Wales 29 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9536 1168

Cherry Bar AC/DC Ln, Melb, 9639 8122

Public Bar 238 Victoria St, North Melb, 9329 6522

Chi Lounge 195 Lt Bourke St, Melbourne, 9662 2688

Railway Hotel 280 Ferrars St, South Melb, 9690 5092

Co. Lvl 3, Crown Complex, 9292 5750

Red Bennies 371 Chapel St, South Yarra, 9826 2689

Colonial Hotel (Brown Alley) Cnr King & Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 8599

Red Love Lvl 1, 401 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 3722

Commercial Club Hotel 344 Nicholson St, Fitzroy, 9419 1522

Retreat Hotel 226 Nicholson St, Abbotsford, 9417 2693

Cookie Lvl 1, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 7660

The Retreat Hotel 280 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9380 4090

Corner Hotel 57 Swan St, Richmond, 9427 9198

The Reverence Hotel 28 Napier St, Footscray, 03 9687 2111

Cornish Arms 163 Sydney Rd, Brunswick

Revolt Elizabeth St, Kensington, 03 9376 2115

CQ 113 Queen St, Melb, 8601 2738

Revolver Upstairs 229 Chapel St, Prahran, 9521 5985

Croft Institute 21 Croft Alley, Melb, 9671 4399

Rochester Castle Hotel 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9415 7555

Cruzao Arepa Bar 365 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 7871

Rooftop Cider Bar, Cnr Swanston & Flinders St, Melbourne, 9650 3884

Cushion 99 Fitzroy St, St.Kilda, 9534 7575

Room 680 Level 1, 680 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, 9818 0680

Damask 1/347 Burnswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 4578

Roxanne Parlour Lvl 3, 2 Coverlid Pl, Melb

The Drunken Poet 65 Peel Street, West Melbourne, 9348 9797

Royal Derby 446 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 2321

Der Raum 438 Church St, Richmond, 9428 0055

Roal Melbourne Hotel 629 Bourke St, 9629 2400

Ding Dong Lounge Lvl 1, 18 Market Ln, Melb, 9662 1020

Ruby’s Lounge 1648 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave, 9754 7445

Dizzy’s Jazz Club 381 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 1233

Saint Hotel 54 Fitzroy St, St Kilda, 9593 8333

Double Happiness 21 Liverpool St, Melb, 9650 4488

Sandbelt Live Cnr South & Bignell Rd, Moorabbin, 9555 6899

E:55 55 Elizabeth St, Melb, 9620 3899

Scarlett Lounge 174 Burnley St, Richmond, 9428 0230

East Brunswick Club 280 Lygon St, East Brunswick, 9388 2777

Seven Nightclub 52 Albert Rd, South Melb, 9690 7877

Edinburgh Castle 681 Sydney Rd, Brunswick

Spensers Live 419 Spencer St, West Melb, 03 9329 8821

Electric Ladyland Lvl 1, 265 Chapel St, Prahran, 9521 5757

Spot 133 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, 9388 0222

Elwood Lounge 49-51 Glenhuntly Rd, Elwood, 9525 6788

Standard Hotel 293 Fitzroy St, Fitzroy, 9419 4793

Empress 714 Nicholson St, Nth Fitzroy, 9489 8605

Star Bar 160 Clarendon St, South Melb, 9810 0054

Espy 11 The Esplanade, St Kilda, 9534 0211

Station 59 59 Church St, Richmond, 9427 8797

Eurotrash 18 Corrs Ln, Melb, 9654 4411

Stolberg Beer Café 197 Plenty Rd, Preston, 9495 1444

Eve 334 City Rd, Southbank, 9696 7388

Sub Lounge & Restaurant 168 Elizabeth St Melb, 0411 800 198

Evelyn 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 5500

Sugar Bar (Hotel Urban) 35 Fitztroy St, St Kilda, 8530 8888

Ferntree Gully Hotel 1130 Burwood Hwy, Ferntree Gully, 9758 6544

Temperance Hotel 426 Chapel St, South Yarra, 9827 7401

Festival Hall 300 Dudley St, West Melbourne, 9329 9699

Thornbury Theatre 859 High St, Thornbury, 9484 9813

First Floor 393 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 6380

Tiki Lounge 327 Swan St, Richmond, 9428 4336

Forum Theatre 154 Flinders St, Melb, 9299 9800

Toff In Town Lvl 2, 252 Swanston St, Melb, 9639 8770

The Fox Hotel 351 Wellington Street, Collingwood, 9416 4957

Tony Starr’s Kitten Club 267 Lt Collins St, Melb, 9650 2448

Fusion Lvl 3, Crown Complex, Southbank, 9292 5750

The Tote Hotel 67 Johnson St, Collingwood, 9419 5320

The Gallery Room 1/510 Flinders St, Melbourne, 9629 1350

Town Hall Hotel 33 Errol St, North Melbourne, 9328 1983

Gem Bar & Dining 289 Wellingston St, Collingwood, 9419 5170

Trak Lounge 445 Toorak Rd, Toorak, 9826 9000

George Basement, 127 Fitzroy St, 9534 8822

Tramp 20 King St, Melb

Gertrude’s Brown Couch 30 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, 9417 6420

Transport Hotel Federation Square, Melb, 9654 8808

Grace Darling Hotel 114 Smith St, Collingwood, 9416 0055

Trunk 275 Exhibition St, Melbourne, 9663 7994

Grandview Hotel Cnr Heidelberg Rd & Station St, Fairfield, 9489 8061

Tyranny Of Distance 147 Union St, Windsor, 9525 1005

Great Britain Hotel 447 Church St, Richmond, 9429 5066

Two of Hearts 149 Commercial Road, Prahran

Grind N Groove 274 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville

Union Hotel Brunswick 109 Union St, Brunswick, 9388 2235

Grumpy’s Green 125 Smith St, Collingwood, 9416 1944

Veludo 175 Acland St, St Kilda, 9534 4456

Gypsy Bar 334 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9419 0548

Victoria Hotel 380 Victoria St, Brunswick, 9388 0830

HiFi 125 Swanston St, Melb, 1300 843 4434

Wah Wah Lounge Lvl 1, 185 Lonsdale St, Melb

Highlander 11a Highlander Lane, Melb, 9620 2227

Wesley Anne 250 High St, Northcote, 9482 1333

Hoo Haa 105 Chapel St, Windsor, 9529 6900

Westernport Hotel 161 Marine Pde, San Remo, 5678 5205

Horse Bazaar 397 Little Lonsdale St, Melb, 9670 2329

Willow Bar 222 High Street, Northcote, 9481 1222

Iddy Biddy 47 Blessington St, St Kilda, 9534 4484

Windsor Castle 89 Albert St, Windsor, 9525 0239

Jett Black 177 Greville St, Prahran

Workers Club 51 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9415 8889

John Curtin Hotel 29 Lygon St, Melb, 9663 6350

Workshop Lvl 1, 413 Elizabeth St, Melb, 9326 4365

Khokolat Bar 43 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, 039642 1142

Yah Yah’s 99 Smith St, Fitzroy, 9419 4920

La Di Da 577 Lt Bourke St, Melb, 9670 7680

The Vine 59 Wellington St, Collingwood, 9417 2434

Labour In Vain 197A Brunswick St, Fitzroy, 9417 5955 Lomond Hotel 225 Nicholson St, East Brunswick Longroom 162 Collins St, Melbourne, 9663 9226 Loop 23 Meyers Pl, Melb, 9654 0500 Lounge 243 Swanston St, Melb, 9663 2916 The Lounge Pit 386-388 Brunswick St, Fitzroy 9415 6142 Love Machine Cnr Lt Chapel & Malvern Rd, Prahran, 9533 8837

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