This Wednesday we welcome back the spanish don dada of techno for his third time at the phoenix landing for special Midweek Techno extravaganza. The last two times we had the honor to host this artist has been a treat for any ears to hear live and direct. So even after the Halloween festivities and trick or treats, we saved you one last sweet thing to snack on, but in the mean time Here’s a great mix that I’ve been jamming out to lately. It’s Paco Osuna playing live at Club4… to hold you over!

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Enjoy the mix!

On Wednesday, May 13th, Midweek Techno proudly presents another Boston first time appearance and one of our most anticipated bookings of 2009.

From Berlin we welcome Panorama Bar resident DJ extraordinaire Cassy. As a DJ / producer in the vast cosmos that is electronic music, to have a unique sound is an artists greatest strength.  Cassy has that sound and it sounds like deep hypnotic analogue magic, finished off with one of the most recognizable voices in dance music today.  Almost always repetitive and sometimes even incomprehensible, her subliminal crooning and flawlessly programmed VINYL ONLY DJ sets have propelled Cassy to the top of undergrounds most wanted list. Deeply inspired by electronic music and the club scene of Austria and England, as a young adult Cassy wanted a piece of the action. Her first instinct was to use her background as singer to provide vocals on other artists records, which worked for her first musical release, but she was soon convinced that if she could not only involve herself as a singer but to learn how to mix records she would get much further.  This philosophy worked extremely well for her and by 2003 she made the pilgrimage to Berlin and proceeded to build a reputation as a talented house and minimal DJ. Cassy’s first real big break was when she secured a residency at the legendary Panorama Bar and had the honor of mixing “Panorama Bar 01” on Ostgut Tonträger, the record label of Berlin’s Berghain club.  This was the doorway that lead to collaborations with some of the big boys of modern dance music such as Ricardo Villalobos, Luciano and Steve Bug. With a start on Geneva’s Mental Groove Records to date Cassy has released original tracks and remixes on labels such as M_nus, Playhouse, Get Physical, Perlon, Dessous, Cocoon and her own label appropriately named Cassy.

Check out this recent promo DJ set to see what we’re talking about!

Advance tix are available here. We will open early at 9pm for this special performance with a warm up set from DJ Sergio Santos.  Cassy’s set time will be from 10p-1a. Midweek Techno takes place every Wednesday at Pheonix Landing, 512 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA. Midweek Techno is 19+.

This week at Midweek Techno we welcome back our favorite Italian boyz (who have actually lived in London for awhile). This will be the third time we’ve had theses fine fellows at Phoenix Landing and over the span of 2 years since we first crossed paths, the boyz have become legitimate rockstars, with highlights including a live performance at Love Parade ‘08. With a forthcoming album on Mothership, these boyz will only continue to get larger and we feel so lucky to have them at the super intimate Phoenix, so please join us for a night of house music and wierdo instruments as Italoboyz once again set fire to the dancefloor.

To help get you loose here is the boyz set from Phoenix Landing last June.

Midweek Techno takes place every Wednesday at Pheonix Landing, 512 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA. Midweek Techno is 19+ and there is a $10 cover for special guests.

This Wedenesday we welcome Spanish house/techno producer Damián Schwartz to Phoenix Landing. Schwartz has made quite a name for himself over the last year with releases on Oslo, Múpa and his acclaimed “Party Lovers” album on Net28. His sound includes lots of organic drums with prominent harmonies and major jazz influences. Schwartz will be playing a live set of recent material and exclusive new musics so you don’t want to miss out, but if you don’t believe us check out one of his recent performances below.

Damian Schwartz Live Set DOWNLOAD

In anticipation of Abe Duque’s performance at Midweektechno tomorrow, Wed 2/18, we’ve asked “Mr Techno” himself Pat Fontes to dig into this artist who has inspired so many.  Let us not forget that we will be celebrating Pat’s birthday tomorrow, and while we dont think Abe Duque will be popping out of a cake, we do think that he will punishing the Pheonix Landing sound system with exclusive nastiness.

We let Pat Fontes take it from here…

So Underground It Hurts is more than just Abe Duque’s motto, its literally his signature etched into all of the vinyl releases on his limited edition imprint Abe Duque Records.  He’s also done away with your everyday paper artsy labels, opting instead for more pronounced etching where a label might have been.  Sometimes he even avoids track titles all together.  Im guessing he does this to let the music speak for itself, but i gotta tell you that it’s something I truly admire and have the upmost respect for!  Here are a few of Abe Duques tracks that I’ve ripped so you can hear his sound.

Abe Duque – Untitled A1 [Abe Duque Records 005 - Besame Mucho! - 2003]
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The first track of choice and all time favorite released in 2003 is a lil jacking freaky breaky number that is a proven party rocker with snip samples of some dude repeating “feel that…..ah… feel that funk !”   Hearing all the crackles and pops you can probably tell that I have worn this record out like a pair of running shoes in a marathon.  You can find this tune entitled Besame Mucho on Abe Duque Records #5

Abe Duque – What You Gonna Do? vs Disco Lights
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The second track is actually a mix of two tracks that marries Abe Duques somewhat Detroit style to his more edgy NY/Berlin flavor.  Defined as house to some and techno to others, both tracks combine well.  The opening track includes a cameo from non-other than Blake Baxter, which on the flip of this record has the big 2004 hit “What Happened” (a question some of us still ask ourselves once the sun is up)  The other record does the same asking ” What you gonna do ?” so yea what you gonna do ? Disco Lights … Club Nights … definitely!

Thank you Pat .  Based out of NYC, Abe Duque is well known as a founding member of the Rancho Relaxo Allstars along with Dietrich Schoenemann and John Selway.  He has also worked closely with DJ Hell co-producing many of his records.  Abe Duque has released original music and remixed since 1993 on labels including Tresor, Tension, International Deejay Gigolo’s and many others.  As a DJ Abe has travelled far and wide to play his music, from his once club residency Limelight in NYC to many stops around the globe.  See some fun videos here.

Nicolas Jaar is younger than you, but he already has quite the jump on the electronic music establishment. Born in NYC and raised in Chile, Nicolas has a very organic approach to electronic music. At 14 he began producing and by 17 he had his first release on Wolf+Lamb. With a Seth Troxler remix of his “The Student” due on W+L vinyl and his own Clown & Sunset label set to launch this month, you don’t want to miss his first Boston appearance this Wednesday (2/4/09) at Phoenix Landing. For a full bio and a preview of Nicolas’ live set make sure to check out his recent appearance on AirPod.

How did you get into electronic music in the first place?
I got into electronic music when I realized that it could be organic and warm and nice like other types of music. I first listened to Villalobos’ Thé au Harem d’Archimède when I was 14 years old and to this day I think it is his best work. At around the same time I had just started tickling Reason – the software. The first track I ever did with a kick drum is Hage Chahine and it was released on Wolf + Lamb when I was 17 three years later.

Who are your major influences?
My major influence is the dancer Evelyne Meynard.

How’d you link up with Wolf+Lamb?
I sent a track called “the student” to Gadi and Zev after hearing them speak in a NYU radio show. Hearing both of them talk about the future of music made me realize they were the place for me. Wolf + Lamb is now my spiritual home. As incredibly talented producers and individuals, they have the brightest future ahead of them in the next few months.

Do you feel like there’s a new generation of young electronic producer’s that are going to change the shape of the music over the next 5 years?
Music has to evolve. Like everything else. I’m working on creating my own instrument for the live experience to grow out of its present 17″ dimension. I feel a lot of people are starting to understand that, as electronic music producers, we cannot go on sharing our music through nothing more than a computer; in the next 5 years a new conception of performance should begin to emerge, shaping the mold, creating a new stage for new music to arise. I’ve recently created my own label Clown and Sunset, a platform for young artists that share similar views to express themselves.

Check out a live set by Nicolas for AirPod:

AirPod 19: Nicolas Jaar’s Live Set – more info

Second: Sunday (11/16/08) is a very special edition of Midweek Techno on a different night because we have m_nus recording artist Paco Osuna touching down for a very special Boston appearance. Mr. Osuna is one of the top minimal techno DJs in the world so you probably want to get advance tickets so you’re not left out in the cold…

Another wonderful month of midweek techno with a little house for flavor. Also, please join us in welcoming our fabulous new designer Delfina on the team!

Continuing in our recent tradition of bringing New York City’s finest techno artists up 95. This Wednesday (10/15) we’d like to welcome good friend and fellow AirDrop family member Connie to the Midweek Techno decks, yo. Connie is known around the world as one of the finest selectors and her energy behind the decks is up there with the best around, so of course she holds a residency at ReSolute, one of NYC’s top underground dance events. But did you know that Connie also plays the drums in bands in and around NYC, and did we mention her first original production as conSTAR is set to be released on AirDrop’s forthcoming Extraction USA compilation (which also features MWT resident Pat Fontes’ “Ill Lillies” & Soul Clap’s “Astroturfing)? To really understand Connie though, you have to be on a dancefloor that she is beating, or at least hear one of her mixes, luckily AirDrop has featured her twice on their AirPod and she kindly sent us 2 recent mixes to post, so without further ado we present the one and only Conster in the mix!

Connie – Runaway Runaway Mix DOWNLOAD

Connie – High Hummer Mix DOWNLOAD

P.S. if you’re not near the Boston area or can’t make it out, Connie will be performing live on Soul Clap Radio on Thursday (10/16) from 12-2pm. TUNE IN HERE.

While they have been in and around Boston doing secret missions and performing all-over the US this past month, this week at Phoenix Wednesdays marks the first Boston/Cambridge audio performance by our AirDrop label mates Fase Miusic Sender. Not only are these guys some of the best minimal techno producers in Argentina, they’re also visual/video artists, world renkonwned designers and make the coolest tees/sweatshirts you’ve ever seen. You may have already seen their visual work in the window over at LAB, but now you can hear the sound that is Fase Miusic and if you cought fellow Argentines Dilo and Gurtz a couple weeks back then you know the mayhem to expect!

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True wine snobs know that the real good stuff comes from France. True cigar aficionados know that there is nothing like product from Cuba. Sergio knows that the best smoke comes from the Humbodlt Valley, and while the best dance music hasn’t always come from Berlin, electronic music connoisseurs know that Dixon’s sound can only be classified as the finest German import.

Wednesday, September 24th Dixon will perform at Wednesday’s @ Phoenix Landing for a FIRST EVER Boston/Cambridge appearance. We are ecstatic about the show because Dixon is an extraordinarily rare act to book. The man, alongside Ame, behind Innervisions Recordings has stayed true to his deep roots, redefining the sound of contemporary European house music. He embodies the history of dance music and disco and (much like matty dimond!!!) is a master of DJ programming. Door will open at 9pm for this special night with a warm up from House/Techno trendsetter Sergio Santos. The cover is $10 all night. ALSO, THIS IS A 19+ EVENT.

Here are some mind blowing mixes that have had more run than Sergio’s dirty laundry:

Dixon – Resident Advisor Podcast #48 DOWNLOAD

Dixon – Innercity 2005-2008 DOWNLOAD

This Wednesday it’s another AirDrop special at Phoenix Landing as these 2 Argentine innovators make a Boston stop on their North American tour to share their uniquely latin, experimental, minimal sounds. Dilo is the founder of igloo-recs, which releases some of the best South American (and beyond) minimal you can find today and has been a major player in the worldwide techno scene since 2003. Gurtz is a master of sound and texture and he’s rocked his crazy live sets all over the world. If you don’t know about these guys production work you need to open your ears right away! They’ve remixed been remixed by artists like Ryan Crosson, Seph, Dapayk, Dandy Jack, Franco Cinelli, Funzion, Easy Changes, Barem, (a)pendics.shuffle & Agaric and now you can hear these amazing lads for yourself

Dilo tracks on Beatport

Gurtz tracks on Beatport

Editors note: this week we moved the Midweek Techno blog for our weekly Wednesday party at Pheonix Landing onto the Soul Clap Blog as it’s own category. So why should you care? Well only because this means that now you’ll get interviews & live recordings from the night from Boston’s best locals and people like: Italoboyz, Adultnapper, Derek Plaslaiko, Quarion, Chris Fortier and now…

This coming Wednesday (9/10/08) we welcome one of my current favorite DJs. All the way from Greece via Berlin, the one and only K.atou. I first saw her play on the terrace at the ReSolute party at this year’s Detroit Techno Fest and she blew me away with a sound that is the perfect marriage of hypnotic house and groovy techno (oh yeah and she played Somore – I Refuse)! So now we’re lucky enough to have this lady on the rise in a big way coming to Boston for the first time ever, so don’t sleep Just to get you even more excited here’s a little interview and a the most recent K.atou mix I could find…

Where does the name K.atou come from?
Katou is the French nickname of Catherine or Katerina which is my real name.

What are the parties like in Greece?
I haven’t played in Greece for a while, recently i organized with a friend a 2 day party with Bruno Pronsato, Jan Krueger, Matt John, Elon, Miss Fitz in a Greek island but that was a different case of party of how they r in Athens or other bigger cities. It was at the beach, playing on the sunrise and jump for a swim anytime u had a long record playing..jk. Things r good in Greece but as far as artists invited pretty repetitive which is disappointing in my point of view.

What was the first record you ever bought? Your most treasured record?
First record i ever bought was new order and my most treasured record is the Saturday Night Fever on vinyl.

Where you from? Where you at?
From Greece, at difference place a year almost..hopefully I’ll root somewhere…at that time of answering I’m at the Iguana Cafe, N. Halsted, Chicago, Illinois.

What was the best place you ever played? What was the weirdest place you ever played?
Best place I’ve ever played is club der visionaere without a doubt, weirdest place was the living room of my now flat mates in Berlin at their farewell party in Santa Fe, New Mexico. they booked Lee Curtiss and me for their party which took place in the actual house…weird in a good way for me and excellent cuz it was different from all the weekend club gigs u know…

Top 5 songs of all-time? Top 5 songs right now?
since u said songs n not tracks i go for no techno music top 5s
1. grace jones- pull up to the bumper
2. joe cooker- dont let me be misunderstood
3. curtis mayfield-move on up
4. steely dan-do it again
5. fleetwood mac- little lies

now:
1. bruno pronsato-nobody calls (hello?repeat 013)
2. boris werner-sambosa (remote area)
3. horseshoe-collage (cabinet classics)
4. two armadillos-nostalgia “(tobias remix)
5. todd terry-i thought your love

2 truths and a lie
i love my family,i love food,i love airports.

Proudest musical accomplishment
my jazz, rock n roll and blues record collections

Vinyl or digital?
both.

K.atou February 2008 Mix DOWNLOAD

Restored from the vaults, a tag team DJ set direct from MWT resident Sergio Santos and Brent G representing the Maximal Crew. As seen above Mayya and Cnizzle admire Sergio’s photo collection of “name-tags and hairnets” at Bend.

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This Wednesday, July 16th Midweektechno welcomes Detroit -> NYC transplant Eric Cloutier. Soulclap will be in full effect on warm up duties. Mr Cloutier has made his mark in the big apple as a DJ for the Brooklyns famous Bunker parties as well as Subtrak Records. We first met up with him at this year’s DEMF where he pushing the Accelerate Afterparty @ The Works with Daniel Bell, Sammy Dee and Zip on the line-up. Clearly Eric knows how to party! Here’s a little taste of things to come:

Eric Cloutier – Live @ The Bunker (recorded 2/13/08)

Eric Cloutier – Let The Beat Kontrol Your Body

P.S. – Pretty sure this is not Eric Cloutier, but if it is thats just dandy.

Sim sim, nossos amigos Sergio Santos e a Pat Fontes são o melhor. São muito special e cheiram fantásticos, tocam n e tocam-se então em! Escute seu jogo do DJ e funcione então em torno de seu quarto que grita! Sua pornografia para você orelhas!

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Wednesday July 9th, Midweektechno gets up close and personal with Boston flyboy Tanner Ross. His work with Claude Von Stroke’s Dirty Bird Recordsx and Mothership Music as well as the UK based Freerange Records have quickly catapulted him into the record bags of many DJ greats. Warming up is Boston favorite Matty Dimond, former T. Ross production partner and quality selector extrodinare.

See the boys get beautifully bald on the dance-floor and possibly end up looking like this or this.

They came, they saw, they played partytime jackin, trackin, house and techno beats. And everyone went crazzzzeeee. Thanks boyz.

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Portuguese chouriço is made with pork, fat, wine, paprika and salt. In and around Lisbon it is popular to eat partially sliced chouriço that has been flame cooked over alcohol at the table. Special glazed earthenware dishes with a lattice top are used for this purpose.

DJs Sergio Santos and Pat Fontes are Portuguese-Americans who are also made with pork, fat, wine, paprika and salt. In and around the Phoenix Landing, it is popular to listen to them trade off acting macho and playing some of the best damn dance music in town. Join two of our favorite specially blazed, i mean glazed earthenware DJs on Wednesdays night as Portugal takes over the wheels of steel.

Here are some oldies but goodies from these two fine gentlemen, taken from The Adventures Of Soulclap Podcast.

Pat Fontes – Mr. Techno’s House of Horrors (Episode 9)

Sergio Santos – Sergio’s Parliament Nights (Episode 15)

This Wednesday 6/25 at Phoenix we have good friend and one of the main people responsible for New York City’s techno resurgence, Taimur from Blk|Market Membership. With his partner Fahad they throw parties on boats, at awesome spots in NYC, like Bar13 and Love, and also were responsible for the Cheap Sunglasses Afterhours at WMC and Temporary Tattos party at Detroit Techno Fest. He’s opened for everyone from Jamie Jones to Italoboyz to Martin Landsky to Craig Richards and this Wednesday we have the honor of a headline slot from him at the Phonix!

Check a recent set by Taimur & Fahad live opening for Craig Richards at Love NYC on May 10th

Eli/Elyte/Soulclap opening for Italoboyz for his Bday party. Techno, house, lapdances & wierdo instruments. Part 2 Italoboyz coming soon…

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This Wednesday (6/18/08) we’re pleased to welcome former Bostonian and current LAer Inanna as she celebrates the launch of her brand new La Folia Recordings. But before you come hear it, read what she has to say…

What’s your inspiration for La Folia? The name and vision.
La Folia is type of melody, contrary to what most people think, that it is the word for flower, foliage or some sort of vegetation in a european language.
The logo is a bit misleading in that regard. It is an interpretation of a rose, which has many meanings and its safe to assume I probably found inspiration from all of them. The three roses also has significance, in that there is three, and three, as a trinity was an inspiration.

I wanted to create a platform with the label to not only release my own music, and people who’s music I admire, but music by other artists who were unique, and a little different then the status quo. Creativity and experimentation is the core idea. The focus was mainly intended to be on melodic music across all genres but we have some rhythmic based music in there as well, and listening music as well as dancing.

What’s it take to start a label these days?
You know I’m not really sure; music firstly. Inspiration. Knowledge and experience is helpful. Cash is also very helpful, so any investors out there I’m looking. The rest I am sort of making up as I go along and letting intuition guide me. 11 years in it, and being in LA for several years, I was fortunate to meet successful label owners, and artists and just being around them, you pick things up.

You’ve come a long way from playing 2-Step at rave parties in New England. How has your style developed and what has influenced you?
What I play and produce is vastly different then what I was doing when I started. I love so many different genres of electronic music but felt the need to really focus on one style, at least narrow it down to a couple anyway. I started out influenced by Chicago deep house from all the Providence house weeklies I would go to every week. At the same time I was putting on and playing the 2-step weeklies I also had residencies and gigs for deep house. Speed garage is what lead me to 2-Step. When grime became the thing, and 2-step was on its demise, I just couldn’t get into it and started looking back to house, then techno. I have always been into melody based music, emotive and deep music with thick bass-lines. Techno and minimal for the most part lack that cheeky vibe much of the 2-step I played had, and my sound just naturally evolved into what I like to sometimes call emo-techno.

What was the first record you ever bought? Your most treasured record?
You know I’m not sure! I remember the record store, but have no recollection of the records. It was a nice pile of deep house. My most treasured record is actually an original pressing of Crosby Stills and Nash self tiled album from 1969 my friend Henry gave me.

Where you from? Where you at?
Literally or figuratively I wonder. I’m right where I started from, literally. I’m living with my Mom! Did I just admit that? How did this happen. Well life has brought me here, only for a little while longer. Its where Im going that matters most to me right now, destination Europe.

What was the best place you ever played? What was the wierdest place you ever played?
I played in Mexico to about 4500 people, for four hours, and was on right after Nortec Collective which played with a 10 piece band. I was completely scared, I mean how do you top 3 producers and a 10 piece band in costume! That was just insane, and it was awesome! The crowd loved it and just had so much fun. One of my most favorite sets to play though was a Tuesday night in Boston DJ Melee used to throw. The crowd was small but I just had so much fun that night and I’ll always remember it.
Weirdest…
Maybe the ski resort rave in vermont where there were crazy ravers walking around while families of four were on vacation. It was not really that cool.

Top 5 songs of all-time?
Judy Blue Eyes – Crosby Still and Nash
Nocturne in C sharp minor – Chopin
Space Oddity – David Bowie
Close To Me – Cure
Because – The Beatles

Top 5 songs right now?
Summer – Fulmen – Republika Records
New Speakers – Kaine – Spacetalk Recordings
Klopfgerausch – Erman Erim – Terminal M
TrÀumchen – Housemeister – allyoucanbeat
Harzer Roller – Dominik Eulberg, Gabriel Ananda – United Recordings

2 truths and a lie
The trees can talk. I know what your thinking. I watch Oprah.

Proudest musical accomplishment
Starting the label. I’m already astonished at what I’v done with it in such a short time and can’t wait to keep going with it.

Vinyl or digital?
I want my cake and to eat it too. Why must I have one over the other?
LISTEN TO INANNA’S LATEST MIX HERE

Eli (Wilkie) and Eli (Soulclap) sitting in a tree… M I X X I N G!
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