Press Play #30 - Juju & Jordash

Press Play turns 30 with a decidedly un Disco, seriously fine and advent -urous mix from Juju & Jordash. These two Dutch- based producers met years ago in Haifa, Israel, they moved to Amsterdam a few years later and have been pushing back the shores of left field Deep house, Techno and Electronica ever since. With releases & remixes on Real Soon, Deep Explorer, Aesthetic Audio, & Juju Music, the duo have just gone on to release their truly excellent new album on Dekmantel; 'Juju & Jordash' is confusing, complex, and beautiful, it's cosmic and deeply Detroit influenced, it will change the game. I would not be the first to vote it as one of the albums of the year. I found this interview with the two fascinating, especially as they speak a little about their influences - clearly they find kinship with other true pioneers like Herbie Hancock, Sun Ra, Juan Atkins, Larry Heard and Thelonius Monk, amongst others. Interestingly all of these icons have been highly politicized individuals, a feature that, albeit deeply submerged in their own music, further links them to a forward thinking bloodline that runs into the very oldest of places and spaces.

'Nighty Night Mr Gnopants', for that is the name of this mix, is superb. It's an un mix, mixed up, journey through sounds fantastic, a highly cerebral blend of genre bending greats from the likes of Harold Bud, David Byrne, Billy Cobham and quiet a few i didn't know besides. I will make an attempt to get a track list should you desire one but in the meantime grab the mix on the sidebar or below... set to repeat and be controlled to the heart of the sun...

Press Play #30 - Juju & Jordash - Nighty Night Mr Gnopants

all the lonely hours

Scott Bliss aka Kountry3eastern is a multi-genre man who's packing serious talent. He's been on a.n.o.e. quiet a number of times with his unique reworked hidden gems. I'm still playing his monster Supermax edit from last year, plus he has contributed an absolute stormer to the upcoming a.n.o.e. edits cd (more about that shortly). This is not that track and apparently I've had this one awhile, thanks to the joys of soundcloud I was duly reminded of it's existence. Check out this wonderful re-fix of a remarkable trippy Country Psyche Rock track by The Pousette Dart Band.

Hailing from Boston, as Scott does, The Pousette Dart Band did their particular thing during the late '70's and 80's, their record's pop up regularly in thrift stores there, which is how they came to Scott's attention; he suggests the album to hunt down is their eponymous first. What a brilliant find this is; Boston Rock meets Balearic... killer! (apologies to those who downloaded the heavy distorted version I posted last night - cant even explain how that happened - all sorted now)

Pousette Dart Kountry3astern - All The Lonely Hours

clear blood

I'm sure there are at least a few of you who will be able to identify the original of this recent edit from the ghost, it's the b side of a German Disco 7" from around 1975. The track is heavy on the Funk, big on strings, and all creamy Disco with thundering beats, now with a slight touch of the filter. So not much to do with blood then, except perhaps that disco stuff that runs deeply in all our veins.. catch it while it's up...

Sad Ghost - Clear Blood

Rack'em Round Up

Danny Red Rack'em is one of those rare dj's who always plays it for the underground; his genre hopping selections are filled with the best of whats happening in a variety of scenes; Disco, Edits, Deep House, Techno, Soul, Bruk, real House and more. He continues his rise to bigger things, without ever loosing touch with his love for real music. This couldn't be better displayed (though actually its more of a listening and dancing affair) in his recent live set on Big Chill Radio just after his playing at this years Big Chill festival in the UK. It's been available for downloading for awhile and has garnered quiet a bit of attention, Danny feels its one of the best sets he's ever played. Get it here, if you haven't already; the energy is undeniable and Danny 'kills it' as they say, I'll leave you to decide what your favourite moments are. You can also read Rack'ems Big Chill report here.

But wait, there is more. Depending on your dedication to the pirate, you can also grab another fantastic live mix from Danny, this time from a recent gig at the Nottingham based Love Unlimited Sound System night NasH. Get it here, it's bloody good.

More than this and probably most importantly, Danny recently had his Hot Coins vs Red Rack'em 12" picked up and released by the lovely Autodiscoteque. With support from Horse Meat Disco, Optimo, Pete Herbert, Domu, Juju & Jordash & Gilles Peterson amongst others, you can bet it's top class, check the sound clips here.

lovin'

Lets get back in the groove... before I get on to the new stuff, I wanted to share a track with you, which I should tell u, I don't have on vinyl, mainly because when it does come up from the dust, it sells for serious cash. It's very frustrating because I really bloody want it and I don't mean on some badly reproduced Bootleg either. 'Put Some Love In What You Do' comes off the eponymous EMI album by Sky, released in 1979. The whole album is a superbly written, played and produced thing and the track I'm posting has that added 'do right' attitude (i'm such a hippy sometimes) played over one seriously fine arrangement of Funk and Soul hooks. A definite track for life!

Sky - Put Some Love In What You Do

jet set

Quiet some time ago, so I can't remember exactly how, but i got in touch with Marius Vareid or he got in touch with me, mails were exchanged and he send me the really delicious Donald Fagan sampling slice of loveliness that is 'Song For Sara', a track that i don't think ever saw the light of day as a proper release. Later on of course you'll know he featured on these pages again with his Promo Mix for Maxi Records and his first release for the label (that's still available here). He's back again, this time for listening purposes only, with a new track for Maxi which happens to be remixed by the always exciting Ray Mang, which will be available in stores very shortly. 'Jet Set' is a great club track with deeply emotive keyboard maneuvers and a lovely uplifting groove. I'm particularly into the 'Bonus Beats' just now, but they're both solid.. check it.

just in

That long awaited Flowers 'For Real'/ Sad Ghost edit hit the stores today. Check here and here. The Mr Chinn (from Rong Records) track on the A side is truly wonderful; a re-fired re-work of 'Let's get Together' with lots of original instrumentation going on, it's also dance floor fire. You'll find a newly reworked version of the Sad Ghost edit which went up on a.n.o.e. some time back on the B side; the sound is so much cleaner than the original version i posted, plus it has been deliciously mastered for vinyl. Cant say much other than support this if you're feeling the tunes.

Press Play #29 - Disco Outcasts

Press Play turns 29, with an ace Balearic Disco Rock hybrid mix called 'She's Des - perate' by Disco Outcasts. Thee Outcasts seemed to appear out of nowhere sometime in March of last year (well in blogland anyway) and have in a relatively short time become a much respected and enjoyed source of Disco, Cosmo, and Afro delights. Both Leo and Stefan Outcast took over Saturday nights at Manchester's Purple Pussycat (a cheeky kitsch and lovable den) where they've been pushing their contemporary take on Disco for well over a year. You can even tune in to their sets live if you cant make it, or need a unique party soundtrack for your own shindig.. (check here)

The fact is neither of these guys came from nowhere; Stefan has previous legendary status in Manchester due to releasing records that sold in excess of 70,000 units, by playing everywhere from the Hacienda to Glastonbury, from Ibiza to Reykjavík, and having toured with acts such as Oasis and Run DMC. Leo had also already won his Disco stripes around town as the man behind the well known Phuture parties and for his work with Tangled at The Phoenix. Now days it's Disco Outcasts in particular and ripping it up in Croatia, Germany, London and Manchester in general. But then you probably know all this already. .

Word on the street is that Stef and Leo are working to set up a studio, in order to release original music of their own (in fact if you feel inclined to give them your support in this endeavor register here to do so.. xtra love to you if u do). Stefano's collaboration with Adam Strange as 'Pulp Disco & The Outcasts' resulted in the very excellent 'Witches', a slo mo track which has had pretty amazing support from dj's like Rune Linbaek and The Unabombers. I'm not alone in wishing this release would hurry up and come out on vinyl. Right so here's the mix; a really lovely blend of Modern Psychedelic beardy business... oh and massive thanks and love to the Outcasts for showin' up :)

Press Play #29 - Disco Outcasts - She's Desperate

Tracklist:
Massimiliano Pagliara - Sometimes At Night
Black Sabbath - Planet Caravan [Steef Edit]
Mindless Boogie - Dark Desire [Rubber Room Mix]
Love Of Light Orchestra - Beginning Of The Heartbreak [Betty Botox Mix]
Greg Wilson - Never Look Back
Leftside Wobble - Safari Kiss
Eddie C - Let Your Mind
6th Borough Project - Do It To The Max
John Talabot - Naomi
DJ Kaos - Love The Night Away [Tiedye Edit]

arp life

The once state owned Polskie Nagrania Muza label continues to be the home of a whole host of eclectic Polish talent from a number of decades. I'm quiet certain that if you could dig around it all, you would find some real gems. One album on the label, in particular, which is quiet well known for it's brilliant Cosmic grooves is Arp Life's 1977 side 'Jumbo Jet'; it pops up on ebay and Discogs fairly often and sells for around 25 euro (don't pay more). The album lives up to the hype; it has a lot of tracks, all of which are interesting, many of which are a real delight. Check out 'Baby Bump' for slo mo sexy Cosmo Disco...

Arp Life - Baby Bump