Pearson Sound - Hessle Audio European Tour Mix

Hessle Audio and crew are coming to a town near you, if you live in Europe at least. To celebrate that fact leader of the pack Pearson Sound has recorded an exclusive high energy mix, full of in your face percussion, bass, and inventive sounds. We highly recommend this mix alongside some other 2011 classics such as, Julio Bashmore's Essential Mix, Four Tet's Fabric Live and Scuba's XLR8R podcast (see links below).




Alternative Link Hessle Audio European Tour Mix

Click the following link for the European Tour Dates

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Blah Blah Blah meets A1 Bassline

In my last post about Justin Martin I had a link to A1 Bassline's debut release on Dirtybird Records. This release not only represented a new sound for Dirtybird, but also for an artist who is perhaps best known for his Fidget than his thoughtful House.

Back in 2008 A1’s debut release ‘Girl Thing’ announced him on the dance scene and was heavily supported from the likes of Annie Mac, Trevor Nelson and Sinden. Since then the South Croydon raised DJ/producer has gone from strength to strength with several releases on Southern Fried and more recently on his own label Tighten Up Records.

I met with him for a quick coffee and a chat about his career and what he has in store for the future!



Shimstar: First of all, tell us a bit a bit about your background, what exactly got you into Djing?

A1 Bassline: Well my dad used to run rave magazine back in the late 80s so since I was a young kid I've always had club culture around me. I first got into DJing when I was about 12. My sister who has been a very influential figure in my life bought me my first turntables and later on a computer and Cubase. Originally I was mainly into scratching and it wasn't until I went to secondary school that DJing in public actually appealed to me.”

Shimstar: I take it when you were at school Garage was your genre of choice?

A1 Bassline: “No not really, I mean I wasn't massively into garage at first. I was more into grime and drum & bass (I'm a big fan of Metal Headz). It wasn't until I started hanging around with the likes of Kavsrave and Joy Orbison who I actually went to school with, that I began DJing/producing garage. I also produced drum & bass and 8 bar grime loops when I was about 15 years old, then later on in life I began producing fidget house”.

Shimstar: When did you actually release your first record?

A1 Bassline: “Erm, probably when I was about 17 years old, not under my current DJ name however.”

Shimstar: Ah ok, how did the name A1 Bassline come about?

A1 Bassline: “It just started as joke when UK Bassline was quite popular, I released a few tracks which were just for a bit of fun, however they seemed to catch on really quick. Before I knew it the likes of Annie Mac and Trevor Nelson were playing them on Radio One!”

Shimstar: Tell us a bit about the first time you started playing out in public?

A1 Bassline: “Back when I was younger me Joy and Kav used to put on parties at our local skate park. My first actual A1 Bassline gig was for Vice with Slew Dem Crew and Tempz. Loved every minute of it!”

Shimstar: Talking of gigs you actually run your own club night with your record label Tighten Up. How’s the label and night going?

A1 Bassline: “Really well, we did our first club night at the Den in London not too long ago. It was a great night it had a really nice family vibe about it which was really enjoyable to play at. The label is also doing very well at the moment, we've had 12 releases so far and its only been going for about year!”

Shimstar: Your new EP is out on the 28th September can you tell us a bit about it?

A1 Bassline: The new EP is more the sort of style I enjoy playing out. I've moved on from the whole Fidget sound and I'm now producing tracks which are more House orientated. Its had a huge amount of support from Dirtybird which I'm very honoured by.

Listen to the new EP here (A1 Bassline EP)

Shimstar: Yeh really like the new EP, have you got anything exciting in the pipeline for the rest of this year and 2012?

A1 Bassline: “Definitely! 2011 has been a quite quiet as I've spent a lot of time in the studio. Hopefully another release on Dirtybird and some other labels and with Tighten Up I'd like to go back to strictly releasing 12 inch vinyl. Possibly do a couple of artist collection packs including Dem 2, myself and Tek One.”

Shimstar: Releasing on Dirtybird is certainly an achievement to be proud of, have there been any other highlights in your career so far?

A1 Bassline: “I would say traveling in general. I'd never even stepped foot on a plane until I was 18! I've been lucky enough to see the majority of the world thanks to music, I am very lucky to be able to do the job I do!”

Shimstar: Being paid to travel is certainly one of my ambitions. Well, thanks for talking to us and good luck with the new EP. But before you go one more question......If you were organising the line up for the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury and could book anyone in the world dead or alive who would be your top 5 artists.

A1 Bassline: “Hmmmm very tough question! I think The Jesus and Mary Chain would have to be up there, I love a bit of Scottish metal, the Rolling Stones just because they're one of the all time greatest rock bands ever, David Bowie is a must, Blur because in my opinion they were the best band from the 90s and last but not least the Beach Boys....everyone loves a bit of the Beach Boys!”

Thanks to A1 Bassline for talking to us.
Shimstar (BBB).

ZZT - Party's Over Los Angeles (Jon Convex Remix)

ZZT have been with us since 2007 and have consistently if not that regularly released defining electro bangers that have always found their way into the record boxes that count. 'The Worm' was perhaps their most notable achievement (2008), and despite Electro Bangers loosing a little of their former glory 'ZZT - ZZafrika' (2010) still managed to serve ZZT with another big release.

Off the back of these releases ZZT are currently preparing the release of the debut LP and like Boys Noize and a few others they are one of the few electro artists who have managed to maintain a credible profile despite the environment around them increasingly demanding more subtlety in their music. Unsurprising then to find that their next single 'Party's Over Los Angeles' is a fairly un-subtle main room Acid track, however it is interesting to find that the stand out track on the single is the remix by Jon Convex. Jon Convex aka one half of Instra:Mental is a producer who likes well textured layered sounds and he gives the single a much more subtle fuller main room sound, perhaps suggesting that even the mainstays of Electro are also gravitating to these newer sounds.



ZZT - Party's Over Los Angeles (Jon Convex Remix)


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Stuck on Repeat - Volume 4

Stuck on Repeat simply collects together a load of tracks over an un-specified amount of time that we consider essential listening. As always with these types of things there maybe certain tracks you've already heard, tracks we've missed or accidentally overlooked, so please feel free to hit up the comments with anything you think is indispensable.



In no particular order....

A1 Bassline - Buoyancy (Dirtybird)
Scuba - Adrenalin (Hotflush Recordings)
Fur Coat - Space Ballad feat. Argenis Brito (TEED Remix) (Crosstown Rebels)
Waifs & Strays - Be Patient (Futureboogie Recordings)
Worthy, Eats Everything - Tric Trac (Dirtybird)
Waif & Strays - Eat into My Soul/Body Shiver (Hot Creations)
Hackman - Close (Greco-Roman)
George Fitzgerald - Hearts (Man Make Records)
Justice - Audio Video Disco (Para One Remix) (Ed Banger)
Mosca - Bax (Numbers)
Camel - Blue Room (Jack Mode)
Joyce Muniz - Malicia feat. Sketch (Lo Rise)
Alex Jones - Cowboy Trap (Hypercolour)
Four Tet - Locked/Pryamid (Text Records)
J. Phlip - Bootyberg (Dirtybird)

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Essential Mix - Julio Bashmore (2011)

Blah Blah Blah's next guest Julio Bashmore made his Essential Mix debut last night, bringing his slick brand of house to the Radio 1 masses. Bashmore has been pretty much an unstoppable force for House in 2011 with his 'Everyone Needs a Theme Tune' and 'Batty Knee Dance' EPs firmly re-establishing why House has always led the way when it comes to electronic dance music. His music undoubtedly draws influence from House music's US roots merging those classic sounds with the more contemporary sounds of the fresh Tech & Bass genres. Julio Bashmore has injected much needed life into a slightly flagging and confused dancefloor and this mix serves to illustrate exactly what we are talking about. Plus he enjoys a good cup of tea, legend.



Click link to download - (Essential Mix - Julio Bashmore 2011)

Tracklist

01. Ruffneck – Everybody Be Somebody feat. Yavahn [MAW Records]
02. Dem 2 – Reach [New York Soundclash]
03. Larry Heard – Missing you (Instrumental) [Track Mode Recordings]
04. Faith Evans – Love Like This Before (B&S Edit) [Boogiefutero]
05. Motor City Drum Ensemble – Raw Cuts #3 [MCDE]
06. FCL – Let’s Go [We Play House]
07. Maceo Plex – Stay High Baby [Visionquest]
08. Chip E. – Like This feat K Joy (DJ International version) [PURE INNERGY RECORDINGS]
09. Larry Heard – And So I Dance (Julio Bashmore Dub)
10. Robert Owens – I’ll Be Your Friend (OG Def Mix) [RCA]
11. Salt City Orchestra – The Book (Hardback Dub) [Paper Recordings]
12. KiNK & Neville Watson – A Saturday In Novembe (Vocal)
13. Daddykshun – Love to Learn (Doc Martin’s Sublove Remix)
14. Tevo Howard – Spend Some Time (Underground Mix)
15. Esteban Adame – I’ll Never Give Up [Underground Quality]
16. Julio Bashmore – Batak Groove [Soul Motive]
17. Julio Bashmore – Well Wishers [Futureboogie]
18. Karizma – In the D.E.E.P. (Kris Klayton Remix) [Ricanstruction Records]
19. D’bora – Going Round (MK’s Dub) [MCA Records]
20. Joy O – Ellipsis [Dub]
21. Jodeci – Freek ‘N You (MK Dub) [ZAC Records]
22. Maurice Donovan – Babeh [SSSSS]
23. Scuba – Adrenalin [Hot Flush]
24. Scratcha – Only in Dark [Dub]
25. Maddslinky – Compuphonic [Dub]
26. Femme En Fourrure – Bound [3024]
27. Kink – E79 [Ovum]
28. Classixx – Into The Valley (Julio Bashmore Remix) [Greensoundlabel]
29. Coat of Arms – Is This Something [Futureboogie]
30. Julio Bashmore – Battle for Middle You [PMR Records]
31. Larry Heard Presents: Mr. White – Sun Can’t Compare [Alleviated Records]
32. Terrence Parker – Loves Got Me High (Marc Romboys Systematic Soul Dub) [Systematic Recordings]
33. Zinja Hlungwani – Nwagezani My Love [Honest John's]

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Mosca - Wavey EP (3024)

Mosca made his presence felt in 2010 with his excellent 'Square One EP' (Nightslugs), and 'Gold Bricks I See You' (Fabric) releases. However since then there has only been a few remixes and not much else, which had left us wondering if Mosca like many promising DJ/Producers before him had been forgotten. Thankfully Mosca has dispelled that concern with consummate ease with his recently released 'Done Me Wrong/Bax' single, and now he is preparing the release of his Wavey EP on Martyn's 3024 label.



As a whole the Wavey EP has a slightly sinister techno edge to it with all four tracks leaning on a brooding bass and atmospheric subplot with rays of percussion, vocal loops and synth stabs sporadically punching through the gloom. However this description is not to suggest that this EP is dark turgid Techno by numbers as each track packs plenty of dance floor punch. In particular the final track on the EP 'Wray n Neph' takes that sense of 'Jilted Generation' foreboding and carves it into a rolling techno stomper.

Mosca - Wavey EP (3024) - Released 7th November


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When Angels Sing & Space Ballad (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Remix's)

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (TEED) has had a pretty impressive year both in the studio and live, resulting in him signing to Polydor, recording alongside Damon Albarn in the Congo and receiving critical acclaim from every quarter. TEED continues this rich vain of form with 2 new remixes, Donae'o - When Angels Sing (Out Oct 10th) and Fur Coat - Space Ballad feat. Argenis Brito (Out Now) on Crosstown Rebels.



Much like his own work both remixes represent TEED's love for both musical content and club focused beats. 'When Angels Sing' is the more song based of the two remixes, with TEED expertly cutting up the slightly cheesy vocal and backing it with a punchier underground House sound. 'Space Ballad' is much more club focused taking the more funky & warm original and twisting into a colder techno number. Once again TEED demonstrates an innate ability to weave his or someone else's material into a coherently cohesive track. To often for me remixes can sound like two tracks, with the original and remix elements competing with each other for the listeners attention.

Donae'o - When Angels Sing (TEED Remix)


Fur Coat - Space Ballad feat. Argenis Brito (TEED Remix)


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Essential Mix - James Blake (2011)

The Essential Mix is a weekly radio show broadcast on BBC Radio 1 and features all styles of electronic dance music. Originally the brainchild of Eddie Gordon, the producer of the show from the first broadcast in 1993 to 2001. In 1993, after months of receiving weekly mix shows on tape-cassette, featuring New York DJs Tony Humphries WRKS 98.7 Kiss FM and Frankie Knuckles WQHT HOT 97 FM, Eddie advised BBC Radio 1 that a weekly dance mix show with DJs of different genres of music would offer more variety and the chance for the ever burgeoning UK dance music scene to flourish with new emerging DJs as well as the internationally famous. Eddie further encouraged the DJs he scheduled to flex their musical knowledge as the broadcast was not essentially playing to a dance floor but to people listening in their homes all over the world and therefore DJs didnt just have to provide a 2 hour '4 to the floor' seamless club set. Since its launch Pete Tong has hosted the show and his influence on club culture is ever enduring. (Wikipedia)

Since 1993 the Essential Mix has become the most recognised and influential mix series in the World, representing on a weekly basis whats going on in clubland through the mixing and music selection of the worlds top DJs and producers.



Click Link to download - (Essential Mix - James Blake 2011)

Track List
01. Erik Satie – Gnossienne No.5
02. James Blake – Olivia Kept
03. James Blake x Drake – Half Heat Full Versus Up All Night
04. James Blake – Pan
05. SALEM – Trapdoor
06. Snoop Dogg – Drop it like it’s Not (Harmonimix)
07. [unknown] – Unknown
08. Klaus – Tarry
09. D’Angelo – One Mo’ Gin
10. [unknown] – Sicko Cell
11. Blawan – What You Do With What You Have [R&S Records]
12. James Blake – No More Than A Road (Dub)
13. James Blake – At Birth (Dub)
14. The Chain – Suffer For Your Art [R&S Records]
15. Peverelist – Roll With The Punches (Harmonimix)
16. [unknown] – Navigator
17. OutKast – Return of the G
18. Africa Hitech – Out In The Street
19. DJ Nate – 3 Peat
20. James Blake – Deeds
21. Gavin Bryars – Three Elegies for Nine Clarinets II
22. Gavin Bryars – Three Elegies for Nine Clarinets III
23. Odi et Amo – Johann Johannsson
24. Grouper – Vessel
25. James Blake – Untitled
26. James Blake – Untitled
27. [unknown] – What Was It
28. The Tallest Man on Earth – Love Is All
29. SALEM – Redlights
30. Rev. James Cleveland – Jesus Saves
31. Trim – Confidence Boost (Harmonimix)
32. James Blake – Evening Fell Hard For Us
33. James Blake – Placing Us
34. James Blake – Words We Both Know
35. Arthur Russell – Love Comes Back
36. Stevie Wonder – You and I

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Justin Martin & Ardalan - Lezgo (Dirtybird)

The following article is written by our newest addition to the BBB writing team, Jonny Cravenwood. Jonny impresses with his knowledge and enthusiasm for Electronic music and his thoughts and opinions will be a welcome addition to the BBB writing team. First up Jonny discusses Dirtybird super producer Justin Martin.



In 2003 Justin Martin announced himself on the dance scene with his huge debut record “The Sad piano” on Ben Watt's Buzzin' Fly label. From A list DJ's such as Derick Carter and Pete Tong, to the international music press, everyone simply couldn't get enough of it.

Feeding off the energy of the San Francisco underground and mentored by fellow super producer Claude VonStroke, Justin was heavily involved with the development of Dirtybird records, appearing on its first four releases. Justin was soon ready to take flight, releasing several solo EPs which flaunted a very unique sound which earn't the respect among fellow DJs and heavyweights of the scene.

Last Summer the track Mr Spock featuring Ardalan topped the beatport chart for several weeks and was almost every DJs big tune on the white isle. It was undoubtedly one of his finest productions.

This summer he has teamed up with Ardalan again to create the track “LEZGO” (Out Now). The track is fuelled by bouncy ghetto/hip hop vibes and stuttery vocals as well as a garnish of the Dirtybird trademark sound. This is definitely one to have in your arsenal. As Mr Claude VonStroke himself quotes “this is the type of tune that gets everyone moving and smiling and makes you wish you had 10 of them in your bag!” All in all Justin Martin has done it again!



Also check the latest two releases on Dirtybird, both deserving of your attention, A1 Bassline EP and Worthy & Eats Everything - Tric Trac.

We Love Space Tensnake - Exclusive mix

Tensnake exclusively in the mix for 'We Love Space' and as you would expect this is summery vitamin D injected House. From beginning to end Tensnake keeps the pace rolling with deep grooving bass, arpeggiated piano riffs and soulful vocals. If you like your music happy and warm look no further.

For those of you in Ibiza you can catch his final 'We Love Space' show this Sunday, and for those of you stuck at home (like us) hit the following link and download.



We Love Space Tensnake - Exclusive mix


For tickets hit the following link - We Love Space Tickets

WeAreBBB EP36 Mixed Maxxi Soundsystem

The latest edition of our WeAreBBB mix series has arrived. This episode is from fellow Brightonian Maxxi Soundsystem. This guy has been turning out some mighty fine dance music of late. Blending the more refined sides of house and disco together to get chugging Chicago flavoured tracks reminiscent of the 80s, yet still fresh, exciting and new. For those who havent come across Maxxi Soundsystem previously you should check the Criticize single which Annie Mac featured on her Radio 1 show earlier this year.


This mix showcases his sound perfectly. Deep basslines, chattering retro hats, claps and toms and smooth vocal chops. This'll work at the last barbecue of the summer or after the last drink of a late night.

To Download click the following link WeAreBBB EP36 Mixed Maxxi Soundsystem

Tracklist

01. Adana Twins - Juicy Fruit
02. Maxxi Soundsystem & DRW - Open Your Eyes
03. Lazaro Casanova - I Got This Feeling
04. Waifs & Strays - Be Patient
05. Mario Basanov - We Are Child Of Love
06. Deepgroove & Thieve - Kings + Queens
07. Michael McLardy - Deep Nothing (Lazaro Casanova Miami Vice Mix)
08. MANIK - Right Now
09. Miguel Campbell - Something Special
10. 11:11 - Tourist Trap (Jamie Jones Mix)
11. Rockers Revenge - Walking On Sunshine (Maxxi Soundsystem Remix)
12. Solomun - See You Everyday Alone
13. Bonar Bradberry - Lip Therapy (Maxxi Soundsystem YehYeh Mix)
14. Richy Ahmed vs Volante - Kitchens & Bedrooms
15. Dances With White Girls - Bout Da House (Danny Daze Pool Party Mix)
16. Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks (Soul Clap Mix)

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