Sunday 31 May 2015

JG Wilkes * Freak House Mix.


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Jonnie Wilkes is probably better known as one half of Glasgows 'Optimo' who were, untill a few years ago, operating out of the legendary Arches club. Since calling time on their weekly jamboree on Jamaica street they've not been sat on their laurels though. Oh no. They've busy'd themselves on a number of projects as well as keeping up with their DJing commitments.
A fair chunk of their time and focus has been on their Optimo Music label. Assisted and abetted ably by their colleagues Jill Mingo and Andrew Beltran and again based in Glasgow, their remit is to support and expose the music that they discover and excites their ears! Be that local or those shaking up far from their fair home city. There's no genre, no dogma, just music they love and want to share. With releases from the likes of Factory Floor, Chris Carter, Space System, Den Haan under their belts and a new Boot & Tax LP just dropped, the label are having something of a purple patch.
Add to that lot they release a brilliant looking new compilation 'Now Thats What I CAll DIY (Cult Classics from the Post-Punk Era 1978 - 82) on their Optimo Music label in early July (you can hear a handfull of snippets from it here) and before long they will have built up a very tasty looking back catalogue.
Amyhoo, enough talk and onto the music.  A cracking mix here from a couple of years back with Wilkes in full on party mode, bending, bumping and generally bullying a bunch of freaky house records for your listening pleasure.
He loves your ears.



Till next time.
Big love. Mark. X

Wednesday 20 May 2015

Andrew Weatherall's new Moine Dubh record label and launch party.

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On Saturday 20th June Andrew Weatherall will be launching his new label, Moine Dubh (pronounced 'moyn doo') in what I'm assured is the beautiful chapel at The House of St Barnabas in London. You will have the chance to see a selection of artists signed to the label.
Entrance is strictly limited to only 75 people and costs £20 plus the booking fee and you can get tickets here.
All surpluses generated by ticket sales are donations and will be restricted to supporting the House of St Barnabas Employment Academy, helping those affected by homelessness and social exclusion back into employment.

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Moine Dubh is just one of the great independent labels they'll be celebrating. All year there'll be a mixture of new and established faces helping to champion developing and growing dynamic fresh talent. Each label will present a beautifully curated night to showcase the label's individual style mixing new signings with current artists.
Moine Dubh is to be a subscription based vinyl record label curated solely by Andrew and for those of you who would like to subscribe to the first batch of releases (5 x 7" singles) more information will be posted on the Moine Dubh Facebook soon, so get over there and check it sharpish.

Till next time.
Big love. Mark. X


Tuesday 12 May 2015

The best DJ you've (probably) never heard of #3. TRAXX.

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Melvin Oliphant III (a.k.a. Traxx) is most definitely a freak for the Jakbeat! We assume you’ll be in the same boat after absorbing the first few cuts from this mix! We serve up 3 hours 46 mins of Traxx madness at the Phonographe Corp's 3rd Birthday, held at the Batofar club, recorded on the 31st October 2013. As you  will hear Traxx is a man who's on a most singular mission. Uncompromising, wild, and most definitely NOT for the faint hearted he plays records like a man possessed. Moving deftly from anular disco cuts and frantic techno to NY post punk-funk and coldwave ina wild four hour selection of un-chained melodies and his own material while also rounding up elements of Chicago house, dark-core electronics, and of course his beloved jakbeat. Listen, then seek him out. Traxx is MOST DEFINITELY the real deal.

Traxx/Nation website.
Traxx On Discogs. 


Till next time.
Big love. Mark. X