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Pics from MIA are up!

Welcome to the new and improved mixTape Time volume 2. We were traveling last Friday, so instead of a weekend soundtrack, this time we’re going to help you start the week on the right foot. And boy do we have some treats for you! Starting with a really perfect new/space disco mix live on the legendary Beta Lounge from absolute edit king, the one and only Mr. Terje. Then, continuing the eclectic flavor we bring you Genevan Heathen & Mattfoley‘s “Win in the Movie” mixtape of all movie jams, it’s like nothing ever before and you need it for the collection (thanks for the t-day shouts). Next up is part 3 of current dubstep favorite Appleblim‘s mix series for pirate station turned podcast destination Rinse FM, a great variety of heavy bass beats here. Finally, we bring you a 3 hour Soul Clap mix from the vault; recorded a couple months back at Portsmouth, NH’s coolest little bar, Red Door, this one features alot of deep grooves followed by some dancefloor fun. Enjoy

The best mixes on the interwebs!
Todd Terje on Beta Lounge
The Genvan Heathen & Mattfoley – Win in the Movie
Rinse FM: Appleblim Podcast Business #3

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Soul Clap Live @ Red Door 10/3/08

I’ve been a big fan of Terry Francis since I got the Architecture mix he did for Pagan Records in 1998. To me this mix represents the peak of the UK tech house sound that Francis played a huge role in molding and is one of my favorite mixes of all time. But since the early ’00s I haven’t been a huge fan of the direction Francis and the rest of the UK tech sound has gone. Until now, well sort of. While I love this mix Francis did for the GTC Podcast in October, I feel like it’s a whole new world from previous mixes I had heard. Maybe it’s just because I have been out of touch with his music, but for this one Francis blends his signature tech sound with jacking house funk to create a perfect mix for your headphones and your butt. As for GTC (Get The Curse), they first caught my attention with the D’Julz episode of their podcast back in June and basically have been going from strength to strength ever since so do yourself a favor and subscribe.
Get The Curse Podcast 041 – Terry Francis

More mixes from around the interwebs this week:
I:Cube Mix = Opertation Hynosis from Versatile Records Blog
Andomat 3000 from LWE
Marko Fürstenberg Live @ Panorama Bar 9/27/08 from Playkula

It’s not often that we review new music here on the Soul Clap blog, but it’s also not often that a label/party/”music community” as important as Wolf + Lamb drops their first vinyl release, which is what they’re doing this month in the form of Lee Curtiss‘ “Sexy Dancer EP”. We went to our first Wolf + Lamb party during minitek, and let me tell you, if you haven’t been to one of their underground events at the Marcy Hotel you’re missing out. Besides throwing some of the best parties in NYC, Wolf + Lamb founders Zev Eisenberg and Gadi Mizrahi have been running a digital label since 2004, which features over 50 releases from many of US techno’s rising stars like Seth Troxler, Ryan Crosson, Shaun Reeves and of course Lee Curtiss who clearly has been carefully selected to launch Wolf + Lamb Records in grand fashion.

And launch the label Curtiss does… If by launch you mean to dive deep into the throbbing womb of a dark afterhours dancefloor. With “Sexy Dancer EP” Curtiss has truly captured that afterhours sound of 2008 in one tight package. The uneasily repetitive floating vocal snippets, the raw dark-funk bassline, the chopped up jitterly swung house beats, the winding and seemingly structureless sequencing and all delivered in a slow shuffled sway. However, while all these elements run through the entire four track EP, each cut still manages to distinguish itself with a distinct flavor all it’s own. Take our favorite for example: for “And Counting” Curtiss combines a mysterious Ghost In The Shell-esque vocal, with swinging garage beats and warm house chords to create a deep throbbing late-night masterpiece. The title track, “Sexy Dancer”, relies less on vocals (while still managing to include incompreshensible snippets) and more on 80′s influences, with Princian funk stabs running from begining to end and a dark ripping bassline combing to create a heavy dancefloor workout. Closing out the EP is Curtiss’ remix of Wolf + Lamb staple Smirk‘s “Start A Fire”, which goes even darker than the previous cuts with an evil, repetitive bassline and more unnervingly chopped male vocals driving the track forward with a true sense of emptiness and despair that could only only be inspired by the sweat covered walls and contorted bodies crammed into the impossibly small Marcy Hotel dancefloor at another Wolf + Lamb party.

To help promote the release the W+L guys have been kind enough to giveaway some teaser material from the digital label for a limited time

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Zev – Feelin’ DOWNLOAD

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Zev – Blade Runner Blues (Remix of Vangelis) DOWNLOAD

So, completely unrelated to anything, last night I found myself unveiling a web of nerdo music information that had me rather astonished.  It all started thanks to Paul Foley’s “Groove To Dis Biatch” ghetto ass mix cd from ages ago I found knocking around the car.  The mix starts out with Kraftwerk’s “The Man Machine” which alone is incredibly dope, however, my journey begins a few tracks later into the mix.

Toto’s EPIC sensitive anthem “Georgy Porgy” is where I totally lost it.  This song is so amazing, I mean its one of those jams where you’re can’t even help singing along (not backup either, just like belting shit out while crying hysterically inside).  PLUS, what a tune to get so down to on the dance floor, ultimate swagger.  Ridiculous harmony, the syncopation between the vocal and the piano, that disco shuffle and Cheryll Lynn (her myspace page is myspace.com/butterflygong1, I kid you NOT) + wood block on the chorus! I dunno, maybe its just me, but it brings out everything that’s ever gone right or wrong in a relationship.  Believe, if you’re still sensitive in 2008, you know what I’m talking about.  This is truely the work of a tortured man.  Like damn bro, shoulda told the girl you were a player, its the LOVE that leaves you exposed like a sandcastle at high tide.  Oh, honorable mention to Eric Benet & Faith Evans for the R&B cover, but they clearly come in second place to the O.G.

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Toto feat. Cheryl Lynn – Georgy Porgy DOWNLOAD

OK, so here’s where it gets interesting tho… So I’m like, who the hell are TOTO really?  Right, like of course they blesed the rains down in Africa, but like, who are these dudes, so WHITE and like why name the band Toto?  And I dont know the answer, BUT I do know after some DISCOGS research that they are a group of STUDIO MUSICIANS that together really made it happen.  The amazing thing here is that individually these dudes are SO PROLIFIC.  Especially the synthesizer players Steve Porcaro (thats homeboy at the top), Greg Phillinganes and David Paich.  Ok, so clearly from the size of the synth Pocaro’s patching on the top, he’s is absolutely ridiculous.  He’s got the late 70′s / early 80′s thing down, big ass hair, track pants (why not) and that hint of old school sleaze, not like greasy but like innate and powerful.  Phillinganes and Paich, I couldn’t find many pics from back in the day, but I’m sure they’re amazing.  BUT, its not the looks that peaked my interest, just ATTEMPT to fathom the volume of records, these guys have appeared on as a studio musicians, they are MASTER synthesizer men.  Here are some of the highlights:

• The Hues Corporation – Love Corporation (1975) – Keys by Paich
• Stevie Wonder – Songs In The Key Of Life (1976) – Phillinganes on “Contusion”, “Isnt She Lovely”, “Joy Inside My Tears” and “Saturn“
• Boz Scaggs – Lowdown (1976) – Arrangement by Paich. (Credited on King Britts remake from Ovum Recordings)
• Michael Jackson – Blame It On The Boogie (1978) – Keyboard arrangement by Phillinganes
• Donald Byrd – Thank You… For F.U.M.L. (Funking Up My Life) (1978) Phillinganes on piano
• Cheryl Lynn – Got To Be Real (1978) – Written by Paich
• Michael Jackson – Off The Wall (1979) - Porcaro programming synths, Phillinganes playing on every tune.  Also “Dont Stop Til You Get Enough” written by Phillinganes.
• Adrian Gurvitz – The Way I Feel (1979) – String arrangement by Porcaro and Paich.  Get Physical Records stole this album cover to make their logo!
• The Brothers Johnson – LIght Up The Night (1980) – Porcaro programming synths, Phillinganes plays on “Stomp!”.
• Herb Albert – Magic Man (1981) – Porcaro on synths
• Donna Summer – Donna Summer (1982) – Porcaro and Paich synth arrangement and programming, Phillinganes on almost every tune
• Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982) – “Human Nature” WRITTEN by Porcaro, apperances by Paich
• Chaka Khan – I Feel For You LP – Porcaro makes appearence on “Hold Her”

SORRY, JUST A SIDE NOTE.  Chaka Khan “I Feel For You” was actually written by Prince, with raps by Grandmaster Melle Mel and Stevie Wonder on Harmonica!  Ultimate.

• The Jacksons – Victory (1984) – Produced by Paich and Porcaro
• Lionel Richie – Dancing On The Ceiling (1986) – Phillinganes on five out of nine tunes.
• Michael Jackson – Bad (1987) – Porcaro synth programming and Paich synth performance on “Liberian Girl” and “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”. Phillinganes on “Bad”, “Speed Demon”, “Just Good Friends” and “Smooth Criminal”
• Michael Jackson – Heal The World (1991) – Porcaro and Paich play synths
• Kenny Loggins – Return to Pooh Corner (1994) – Phillinganes on “Rainbow Connection” BWAAAHHAHA, i’m sure it paid
• Quincy Jones – Q’s Juke Joint (1995) – Brief appearances by Porcaro, Phillinganes on almost every tune.

This list goes on and on, including Pointer Sisters, Earth Wind & Fire, Jefferson Airplane, George Benson, Dolly Parton, Earl Klugh, Eric Clapton, Olivia Newton John, Anita Baker, Bette Midler, Paul Simon, Christina Aguilera.

Whew, ok enough for now.  Go do some research of your own.  Take any major album or song from your past and get digging, it’ll blow your MIND.  Shout out to Koochievision.

UPDATE 9/17: Official minitek apology.

There’s no need for us to post a review of the minitek festival, which on the Soul Clap blog will forever be known as minirek. If you really want to know what went down, check out the Resident Advisor or Rhythmism forums, or for a more positive review check out Daily Session, who we have to thank for recording and posting all the live sets from the festival (unfortunately even this didn’t go smoothly). It’s not that we didn’t have a great time partying outside Saturday & Sunday at Coney Island or late night at Wolf + Lamb & Cheap Sunglasses @ Cielo, it’s just that our homie Henry from AirDrop was (I think) the only full-time staff that the minimoo crew hired to help with the festival, before disappearing/hiding/? for the whole weekend, and after all the stress and responsibility ended up on his shoulders and nearly gave him a nervous breakdown, it’s pretty hard for me look at the festival in a positive light. Either way, there were some great moments, but the best by far for me was Francois K’s set to close out the festival on Sunday. After 2 days of top international talent taking center stage, one of New York’s long-time innovators took the decks (and mic) and proudly reminded the crowd that while “everyone is talking about Berlin, let’s not forget Detroit!” Francois then proceeded to take us on a life-changing journey, capped off with storm sound efx that literally ushered in a cool breeze, and a modern twist on the classic MLK, I Have A Dream sample that replaced Dr. King’s voice with Obama‘s and had everyone’s hands way in the air. Now all you loyal readers are lucky enough to get the highlight of minirek without paying top dollar and dealing with all the bullshit. Enjoy!

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Francois K. – Live at minitek Sunday 9/14/08 DOWNLOAD

For more minirek mixes (pending approval) go here.

What do the best afterhours parties at WMC & Detroit Techno Fest and this weekend’s minitek festival have in common? Well, besides the obvious, the answer is Cheap Sunglasses and Temporary Tattoos aka the series of parties that our friends at Blk|Market Membership and Udder Maddness have been throwing at this year’s top US techno festivals. The theme for the minitek edition of Cheap Sunglasses is “Call In Sick To Work”, which is what we all will no doubt be doing after caping the weekend off with exclusive sets by Baby Ford and Mathias Tanzmann on one of NYC’s best sound systems (the Funktion One monster) at the heavenly Cielo. These parties are renowned for top quality music, great people, silly props and utter debaucherousness so make sure to get your pre-sale tickets (before they sell out like they have for the last 2) and come join the fun this Sunday.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot… here’s a little treat from Detroit’s Temporary Tattoo party to get you in the mood. I’ve been meaning to post this for awhile and this was the perfect opportunity

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Martin Landsky Live @ Temporary Tattoos – 5/25/08 Oslo, Detroit DOWNLOAD

Clearly the Italoboyz are becoming borderline superheroes.  Hats off gentlemen, you’ve conquered Techno’s two greatest challenges:  DJing in front of a crowd of 1,000,000+ at this years Love Parade and stepping into the ring to face off with the Power Rangers, no holds barred, at Tokyo’s Wire Festival.

This live set is only 5 DAYS OLD, so enjoy!  Boyz, hope to have you back in Boston soon.

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Italoboyz @ Wire Festival 2008, Yokohama Arena, Tokyo 8/30/08 Listen/Download