Creative Boredom

Merry christmas from Robot Towers in the heart of the north of England. Its that time of year where everyone likes to tie up loose ends, drink far too much red wine and vomit from eating a tin full of celebrations and bombay mix. 

Yes, Christmas has past us as we all build up our liver for for the following new years bash, which can either go one way or the other depending on the company you keep. This post was going to be a round up from my year of music, unfortunately i haven't had time to actually get that mother of an essay completed. I began to think about what i could write, and surely enough i remembered something. Something that i was wanting to post but forgot all about. i dug through my documents on my mac to find poorly saved article neatly placed in the "temp" section.

For years we've all watched videos on mtv, its one of thse things thats standard of our generation, and i've seen plenty to know that there are some out there that flick a switch in my head to make my creative cogs start to turn, in this post i will be running down some of my favourite videos from Michel Gondry.

Mini Biography (from wikipedia)

"Michel Gondry was born in Versailles, France. His career as a filmmaker began with creating music videos for the Frenchrock band Oui Oui, in which he also served as a drummer. The style of his videos for Oui Oui caught the attention of music artist Björk, who asked him to direct the video for her song "Human Behaviour". The collaboration proved long-lasting, with Gondry directing a total of six music videos for Björk. Other artists who have collaborated with Gondry on more than one occasion include Daft Punk, The White Stripes, The Chemical Brothers, The Vines, Steriogram, Radiohead, and Beck. Gondry has also created numerous television commercials. He pioneered the "bullet time" technique later adapted in The Matrix, notably in his "Like a Rolling Stone" video for the Rolling Stones and a 1998 commercial for Smirnoff vodka, as well as directing a trio of inventive holiday-themed advertisements for GAP."

Gondry (as previously stated) has created, designed and directed music videos for over twenty years, most notably for Bjork, The White Stripes, Radiohead and Daft Punk to name a few, as well as directed feature films such as Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and The Science Of Sleep. 

His style uses unique sets, colour and an almost childlike take on visualisation which constantly keeps him in the stand out collection of directors today in the music business. for more information on his work take a trip on the links at the end of the videos, but for now, please enjoy.

Bjork - Declare Independence (2007)

Beck - Cellphone's Dead (2006)

Kanye West - Heard 'Em Say (2005)

The White Stripes - Dead Leaves On The Dirty Ground (2002)

The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl (2002)

Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar (2001)

Radiohead - Knives Out (2001)

Chemical Brothers - let Forever Be (1999)

Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You (1998)

Beck - Deadweight (1997)

Daft Punk - Around The World (1997)

Massive Attack - Protection (1995) 

Storm The DJ Booth

On an icy late December night in 2007, a crack team of electro fugitives stormed a major club in Manchester City centre, it was like an episode from the A-Team, Robot Soap hit Sankeys Soap. Again.

The Aftershow is one of Manchester's best Indie nights, Live bands, good DJ's, great atmosphere, and after a trek through literally sub zero conditions in a tracksuit top, not only did we get in on the guestlist, we all played, and absolutely caned it. Bigtime.

The bar area was dead when we got there, and baltically cold, within the space of about 6 or 7 tracks, we had it bouncing right untill the end of our set, hammering through some minimal tech house, some awsome electro remixes of bands like The Whip and Klaxons, into some nasty Jackin' House. We bossed it and raised the temperature as an added bonus.

I'd like to see some other nights do that in Sankeys, in a non-electro based clubnight with just their residents and a bag of cd's without spending 6 grand on Ed Bangers latest name......

And as an added bonus we should be hosting a room, somewhere not a million miles away from Manchester City centre in February.....

That was our Sankeys farewell, We are Robot Soap, and we will make you dance.

Caper C live mix to download

Casper C (Fluokids) is one of the hottest upcoming DJs at the moment as far as we're concerned here at Robot Soap, his live sets absolutely destroy the dancefloor wherever he plays and when he played at Robot Soap a couple of months ago it was no different. 

Casper has already played with some of todays best DJs, including: Modeselektor / Ivan Smagghe / Erol Alkan / Justice / Boys Noize / Digitalism / Herve / Cansei De Ser Sexy / SebastiAn / DJ Orgasmic / Surkin / Simian Mobile Disco / James Murphy / Para One / In Flagranti / Ajax / Mylo / John Dahlback / Sinden / Williams / Yuksek / Uffie & Feadz / DJ Gorky (Bonde Do Role) / Lo Fi Fnk / Jo Jo De Freq / South Central / Kissy Sell Out / Kavinsky / Crispin Dior / Ben Trucker /Midfield General / Filthy Dukes / Round Table Knights / Gildas & Masaya (Kitsune DJs) /Skull Juice / Duke Dumont / Brodinski / Matt Walsh / Nightmoves / Zombie Disco Squad / Pirate Soundsystem / NikNikNik / Stopmakingme

He also holds down residencies at: Skull Juice / Duke Dumont / Brodinski / Matt Walsh / Nightmoves / Zombie Disco Squad / Pirate Soundsystem / NikNikNik / Stopmakingme

Already making him a formidable force in cutting edge electronic music and although I was stood on the door for most of Casper's set I was dancing around like an idiot, just like the rest of the club.

Casper C is definitely one to watch out, and if you get chance to see him play out we'd recommend it 100%

The live set below is from from Panik, Paris before Yousek, Brodinski, Alter Ego and Radioslave

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Tracklist:

Holy Ghost - Hold On

Sir Drew - Shmale (Black Strobe Remix)
Prinzhorn Dance School - You Are The Space Invader (Optimo Remix)
Todd Terje - Eurodans
Mountain People - Mountain People 004
M.S.T - In Acid (Chicken Lips Malfunction Mix)
Tomski and Fredboy - Cereal
Okain - Arathi Basin
Marshall Jefferson - Mushrooms (Justin Martin Remix)
Christian Burkhardt - Dragee
Hot Chip - Over And Over (Solid Groove Remix)
Etienne Jaumet - Repeat After Me (Ame Remix)
Kris Menace - Steamroller
Kelley Polar - Rosenband (Magic Tim's Instrumental Mix)
Rainer Weichold - Bamboo
Tomsi and Fredboy - Tarelet 2
Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler (Emperor Machine Remix)
Hugg & Pepp - Pung
Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor (Jesse Rose Remix)
Claude Von Stroke - Beware Of The Bird (3 Channels Mix)

Politics and Polls

This week Robot Soap has been on the receiving end of a whole bunch of nasty clubland politics, So much so I've even questioned if I still want to be running this night.

When Elliot and I started this night, quickly getting Porl and Rob involved it was about fun, making new friends and just playing music we liked, hoping others might too. Robot Soap is still all about this and so far I feel like we've all achieved a lot in a relatively short space of time, through Robot Soap I've made some amazing friends, met some fantastic people and our decks have been graced by some of the finest DJs across the country (Radioclit and Casper C spring to mind instantly!) all of which have made up some of my favourite memories.

So its a shame that we've been stabbed in the back by people I once thought of as friends, people we helped out a lot when they were starting out. I'm not going to name name's because I think slagging people off via the internet is not only childish but would put us on the same level as the people I, and Robot Soap are talking about.

Trust No One.

To end things on a lighter note I thought I'd stick Mine and Porl's Top 5 lists up here

Paulo Tourettes Top 5's of 2007
Albums
Gallows - Orchestra Of Wolves
1990's - Cookies
The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times
Justice - Cross

tracks
Kings of Leon - fans
D Ramirez & Mark Knight - columbian soul
Daft Punk - Prime_Time_of_Your_Life_(Night_Facilities_Remix)
Hostage - gluttony
MSTRKRFT - the looks (felix cartal remix)
Dusty Kid - the cat

gigs
Kings of Leon - GMEX, Manchester
Gallows - Leeds Festival
Klaxons - NME Rave Tour
2manydjs - The Warehouse Project
The Whip - Salford Festival

djs/producers
d ramirez & mark knight
felix cartal
hostage
the whip
mickey slim

Seconds From Nothing's Top 5's of 2007
Albums
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Interpol - Our Love To Admire
The Weakerthans - Reunion Show
LCD Soundsystem - The Sound Of Silver
Thrice - The Alchemy Index vol 1 & 2

Tracks
Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe (Switch Remix)
Franz Ferdinand - All My Friends (LCD Soundsystem Cover)
Bonde De Role - Divine Gosa (Radioclit Remix)
ZZT - Lower State Of Consciousness (Justice Remix)
The Whip - Sister Siam (Justin Robertson Remix)

Gigs
Crystal Castles - Vice Magazine Tour, Faversham, Leeds
Omerta, Krap Nek, UYA - The Castle, Manchester
Sonar 2007, Barcelona, Highlights include Justice, Simian Mobile Disco, James Holden and Dixon
The Weakerthans - Manchester Academy
Vitalic - The Warehouse Project (May)

DJs/Producers
Ivan Smagghe
Vitallic
Justice
Radioclit
James Holden

C'mon Cincinnatti

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For the dark prowling monster stalking the hinterland between paranoia and the piss stained alley behind your house that is the Lo Fi Allstars, there is also a flip side, a ray of semi-sunshine glinting off the half crushed can of Tennants Super out there. That ray of sunshine is Delakota. Another criminally underrated, oft overlook, always forgotten gem of the late 90's alternative indie scene.

Their one and only album, "One Love" takes in the perfect pop sensibilities of early Stone Roses, the beats and breaks of the aforementioned Lo Fi's and the balls out funk of George Clinton & Bootsy Collins. Crescendo's of brass, half remembered samples & basslines that make you want to move, all run through with an unashamed love of old Soul & Motown records. Opener C'mon Cincinnati lollops along like Bez in a mirrorball suit, 555's sugary summer vocal sticks to your brain without ever being saccharine and The Rock is the perfect tune for those clear summer nights watching the stars which is unsurprisingly the subject matter of the song itself.

One Love really is a special album, by a very special band, its good music, music for people who love music, by people who love music. You owe it to yourself to give this album at least a cursory once over, dip your toe in and test the water. The waters warm, and the musics gonna light up your soul.

blisters on my brain

It was the year nineteen ***** and I was a lot younger than I am now. On the TV screen was the Wrekked Train, in the standard issue bomber jacket and wasp glasses, sneering his way through Vision Incision as the beats tripped and slipped around his distorted stream of consciousness lyrics. Like some cracked up stacked up urban poet from the future painting pictures of the big smoke, whether that be London, Manchester or New York, or indeed, Brighton.

This was my first exposure to the gritty twisted world of the Lo Fidelity Allstars, once bitten, never to recover. The seedy slimy inner city dioramas lyrically splattered against the back of my eyes by Dave Randall, vocodered, sliced, cut up and layered over almost but not quite trip hop, the dark under belly of the Brighton big beat scene. While the rest of the world were bopping about to Norman Cook and his skanerfella ranks and tripping gangstas, those of us in the know were locked up in dark rooms learning quite literally, how to operate with a blown mind.

The sample laden beats breaks and filth of the Lo Fi’s is a noise like no other, a rich audio mixture, always pioneering, never prosaic, never run of the mill, these shady characters knew what they were doing, and they did it with style. High octane rants about lunar dust, hardcore punk paste & disco machine guns while the effects swirl and twist around the Wrekked Trains vocal, slower songs like the tragically beautiful “I used to fall in love” and the book end to the album, the stunning will I get out of jail – I never knew it would end in such tragedy.

Its no wonder books like Slow Chocolate Autopsy and Perdido Street Station mean so much to me as an adult, having been infected with a deep love for the inner city lifestyle as a youngster, the good the bad and the plainly twisted, the filth the fury & the bright lights, tramps, needles, superstars, the back alley that skirts even the most exclusive stores & restaurants. This is the Lo Fidelity Allstars, they are the sound of your city, and they will teach you how to operate with a blown mind.

Robot Soap Guest Mix #1 - MrB

It is an absolute pleasure to be finally getting this online. The first in an ongoing series of guest mixes comes from a very good friend of ours; MrB.

MrB is a regular guest at Disco Electronica @ Sankeys playing in the bar he mixes up Funk, Soul, Disco, Old Skool Electro and everything in-between, He's also guested at many other Manchester club nights including; Northern Disco and Out Of The Gloom, as well as running his own session Wiggle Waggle. 

MrB has taken us up on our no music policy-music policy and produced a fantastic mix, so without further adieu...

Click here to download mix!(zShare)

E-Flyer design by Chris E (Thanks mate!)

If you would like to do us a guest mix email us - gazask8er@hotmail.com

Blueneck

Right now i'm full of flu under a blanket typing my first blog entry for a while (sympathy please!!) and I'm thinking to myself its getting to that time of year where everyone in blog-land is looking back at the year just gone and forward to the upcoming year with the same nostalgia/hope balance.

Robot Soap will be doing the same, but not right now.

This entry is about a lovely new band I've been listening to all today called Blueneck, and when I say new I mean I've only heard them today. They've been around since 2000 apparently, its a shame I've not heard of them before because they are the kind of band that cold, dark and windy winters were made for. Their beautiful soundscapes are reminiscent of all the big hitters from the last few years; Sigur Ros, Mogwai and 65 Days Of Static are the obvious comparisons but what I think really propels this band is the haunting vocals that kind of hang around the tracks like spirits that were once lost, now re-found in the melodies and discord create by Blueneck.

Don't get me wrong, I know there are a lot of bands reeling this kind f shit out right now, some better than others but then on top of those are bands like Blueneck.

Oig (taken from 'The Scars Of The Midwest' Album)

There's more free downloads at Blueneck's website

Oh yeah, they've just recorded a Christmas EP too, which is free to download from there as well!

Robot Soap Review

Biased or not Robot Soap on Saturday was probably one of the most fun ones we've done. All in the name of Elliot Smith AKA Expo84's Birthday.

We changed the formula a little bit and didn't really have set, set times and it really worked, Paulo T, Correct Effect and I warmed things up slowly with a bit of minimal, tech house type stuff playing one on off. It worked really well, Paulo T and rob on a CDJ and me in the middle with some proper turntable action!

Things started getting heavy around 9pm and the basement was quickly becoming quite rammed with bodies starting to move. I left Rob and Paulo to it for a bit while I prepared to play my first ever laptop set, using Traktor 3.

I settled in nicely after a couple of minutes of nerves and really enjoyed it. The room of people bouncing around said that I was doing alright too.

By the time I'd finished playing the room was going crazy, everyone dancing and making a racket. I quickly joined them! from then on it all gets a bit hazy from too much alcohol and dancing. The atmosphere was electric though, everyone was at exactly the same place at the right time.

Sometime's its astounding to think about, but I love the fact that all we did was turn all the lights off and pump up the jams in an old beer cellar and then we had this wicked little rave going on.

Elliot's set was pretty special, taking to the decks for the last hour he did Robot Soap by playing a riotous party set with old and new sampled and cut up all over the place. It really was 'lovely stuff' (Not my words, the words of shakin' stevens!)

Elliot finished to a whole load of cheers which was followed on by a racket of a chorus singing 'Happy Birthday'

I'll post the videos from facebook once I work out how to get them off there and onto here!

My Top Five Tunes of the night:

Riot In Belgium - La Musique (Sinden Remix)

Simian Mobile Disco - Love (Duke Dumont Ode To Todd Mix)

DatA - Morphosis (GlitchBitch Remix)

Foals - Hummer (Surkin Remix)

Bizarre Inc. - Playin With Knives (L-VIS 1990 B.More Mix) - Sorry I can't find a link for that remix!

morning texts: part une

This morning when getting ready for work, i recieved a text from my good Kirsty, its nothing unusual getting a message from her but this was different, it reads:

"Smith my friend, can you recommend me a good album that i wouldn't normally listen too?"

What a question, where do i start? Kirsty has fantastic bands such as Kings of Leon, Hot Chip, Editors and Robson and Gerome (not really), but something different? lets dive in and pull out a selection.

Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur

Some of you will have read my post of a video of the group playing live, the song is taken form this album. its a strong album, as strong as any other album from Cinematic Orchestra, but the haunting melody of its first track makes it a firm favourite for me, and even though it cringes me to say it, its great on a "chilled out" evening when you need to "wind down".

Vitalic - V live

Step 1: Insert into CD player

Step 2: Push Play
Step 3: Collapse from the beats
Step 4: Return to Step 1

Suprisingly unloved by critics, take it from me, its the shizzle yo.

LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver

Though i imagine that Kirsty Already has this album, its worth a mention simply because its so good. Without a doubt one of the very few albums of this year that was even worth a bother, it has some great songs and some clear classics, as well as this it contains con of my favourite songs in a long while, "Someone Great", which is worth buying the album for in the first place.

side note: try and pick up the single release of Someone Great also, as it has a fantastic soulwax remix of Get Innocuous

unfortunatly thats the first part over for the time beign, as i need to get back to work, check out this evening for the second part yo.

P.S. ROBOT SOAP is tomorrow, at Cord in Manchester, and going to be loud, real loud. Were celebrating with a birthday bash, so come on, get involved, oh and its free entry too, were far too nice you guys!

Robot Soap 8th Dec 'Expo84's Birthday Bash!'

It's Elliot AKA Expo'84's Birthday this Saturday, So we're throwing him a party, the way that only Robot Soap can.You might think this would be a warm down for us after hosting a room at Tribal Sessions last Friday but I can assure you, things are really going to be heating up for this party, and we're starting early for it.

Get Involved, We're Not Playing Games!

Robot Soap Dec 8th
'Expo'84's Birthday Bash'
8pm til 1am + Secret Afterparty
Cord, Just Off Tib St, NQ
Manchester

FREE ENTRY!!!

www.myspace.com/robotsoap

Radiohead: Unravel (Pocket Mix)

I picked this up moments ago from Pitchforkmedia and just give it two listens but this is seriously good. Ambient and beautifully dark, this cover of Bjork remixed by Pocket - Who the hell is Pocket, and why do I not know about him/her because this is essential listening.

Download it here

I also picked up tickets for Radiohead today, I cannot wait!

tiredness is a killler

it has been a long time since i've written in the old blog, i've missed having a little rant about what stuff is good, what stuff is bad, and jsut generally being a music snob.

At the moment im in the office in recovery mode, last night we went to see these guys:

Justice pounded me into the ground with thier live set, and i say that with no bias at all (no really, they were that good). Gareth will be filling you all in at somepoint as well as popping up a couple of pictures he snapped when we were there.

The Sankeys night was one of intense pleasure, we have now managed a lovely bi monthly residency at tribal sessions(starting next year), when i get back home i'll upload whatever pictures i can find of the gig, but for the moment lets have a rundown of what we played (links care of Hype-diddly-M and imeem):

Radioclit- Divine Gosa (Switch Remix)

LA Priest - Engine (Erol Alkan's Transonic Re-Edit) (highly recommended)

Surkin - Radio Fireworks (highly highly recommend)

The Whip - Sister Siam (James Rutledge Remix) (this should be the remix Gareth played on his storming set, though i could be wrong as i cant listen to it at work, disaster!)

Justice - Waters of Nazereth (Justice remix) (serious business)

Thats all i have time for at the moment, keep your eyes peeled for something special in the works.

Full Circle

Today is the day when a lot of the most important things in the last 3 or 4 years in my life come full circle, thus starting me on a whole new level of goals i’ve want to achieve.
It all started in my first year in uni, it was one of those nights that has become legendary – at least in my head.

I’d been out drinking straight from work with my manager and was feeling a bit worse for wear already when an old school friend I’d not seen for months called out of the blue. It was arranged that we’d meet up for a couple of drinks before they headed off to some club that i’d never heard of, to dance all night.

When they arrived we all got talking and I was quickly convinced into coming to this unknown club on the outskirts of the city, even though I had work at 7.30am in the morning – after a few drinks I have no will power!

Upon arriving I saw a queue around the corner to what just looked like a warehouse with bass rumblings emitting from it. I was interested to see what was going on but also wondering what I’d just got myself into. When we neared the front of the queue we were asked for our tickets and I explained I didn’t have one because I’d not planned to be here tonight. I was a bit gutted when I was told that the club was full and I wouldn’t be getting in there tonight but as far as I was concerned this wasn’t such a bad thing – I wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place.
As I said my goodbyes to the girls, who had tickets, the girl working the door came over to me and explained that all my friends had tickets she’d let me in. A true stroke of luck like that is needed in a story like this, and there it was.

As I entered the dark mill building finding my way through the masses with only a strobe light and a bassline to guide me I became entranced with music, we found a spot to dance in the heaving club and I took a quick moment to see the devastation one man was supplying the dancefloor with, armed only with a bagful of vinyl records and two turntables. This little warehouse was going nuts and I’d never seen anything like it.
The sound, the lights, the people all coming together like was amazing, it was hot and sweaty in the club but there was a warmth in my heart, like this had been something I’d been looking for all my life and had now finally found.

What felt like minutes was actually hours and by the time I left – at 6am when the club closed, I was sweaty and tired but elated. I felt like I’d had a huge cathartic release which had built up over 19 years of not hearing music like that.

In short it was probably one of the best nights of my life and I have spent a hefty part of the last 3 or 4 years reliving that night in different guises and in different clubs, with different people and in different places. The only constants were my love of music and the excitement of hearing new music on a weekly basis played by the best DJs and producers in the world. That first night irreparably changed my life and there was no looking back from then on.

After doing a bit of research about the music when I got home from work in the evening (after no sleep!) I found I’d been watching, and listening to Ben Sims and Francois K, a true legend in techno and a privilege to have spent my first night in techno with him.

The club was Sankeys, and the night was Tribal Sessions. It is the place that inspired me to buy decks in the first place, it’s the clubnight I always wanted to play at and without it you probably wouldn’t even be reading this blog.

Tonight I, along with the rest of Robot Soap will be playing at Tribal Sessions for the first time. I’m as excited as I am nervous, and I’m sure the other lads feel the same.

If you can, join us for a dance and some good times.

This Friday...

Cinematic Orchestra, anyone?

lovely stuff...

Just to add on from what Elliot said about The Warehouse Project...

Don't get me wrong I had a great night; The Whip were on form as usual, SMD are just perfect party fodder, Digitilism though not my thing were quite enjoyable and Vitalic was again fantastic, A highlight being is own take on Audion's 'Mouth to Mouth' but, and yes this is pretty important.

The event was advertised as '20 Years of Acid House' but aside from a very smaller number of tracks, that I could probably count on one hand there was absolutely no acid from any of the DJs, except from the last 10 minutes of Ivan Smagghe and although he was good it felt like he was only just getting into the groove with these last 10 minutes of his set.

All in all it was a good night, but i'd have liked to hear more Acid House.

Stand Out Tracks:

Digitilism - Fire In Cairo

Vitalic - Bells

Phuture - Acid Trax

The Rapture - People Don't Dance (Simian Mobile Disco)

The Warehouse Project

How was the previous weekends warehouse project?

It was prime cuts of the finest fucking BEEF!

I'd manged to grab a ticket to last weekends project, the line up was sizzling, a collection of the best DJ's you cxan find spinning vinyl, twisting knobs and nudging CD's:

When me and my good friend Omar arrived at the venue, we had unfortunately missed DJ Mehdi and A trak, The Ting Tings and Andro. It was a shame but we had already been out having a couple of drinks to get ourselves ready for to some serious beats.

we moved past the sniffer dog and through the curtain, to be presented by an underground cavern ot booms and bleeps, we had fallen into the last fifteen minutes of The Whip, who were, excellent. I' wish i had been there earlier for them, as they had the crowd hammering away.

Simian Mobile Disco were an essesntial for me, i need to see them. It was one of the main reasons why i wanted to go. They did not disappoint in any way at all.

Slammed right up at the front, me and Gareth jumped in time to the sways of the crowd and the beats of the tracks, everything in the back catalogue of SMD was played, hearing Sleep Depravation and hustler, with what I think was a remix of LCD Soundsystems "Get Innoccous", i think its was the Soulwax rremix of the track but don't hold me to that.

People were grabbing onto the back of me to jump higher, i was doing to the same to the person infront, all you could see was a sea of hands pounding to each bite of the electro fodder. It was immense.

Digitalism were next, but i'm not a huge fan, so this was time for a cigarette break and ear re conditioning. we sat outside underneath a parasol talking bollocks about music with strangers and arguing about Goldeneye. It was freezing but the buzz and the atmosphere kept away the cold.

i caught the last fifteen minutes of Digitalism. Although i'm not a really big fan, they played their remix of The Cures classic track, Fire In Cairo. As soon as i heard it, i jumped into the crowd, screaming "fucking tune", as the person next to me shouted in agreement; " fucking come on". i bounced with this total stranger, the pair of us dancing like a pair of tarts in a working mens disco hall.

Ivan Smagghe was next, and as Gareth will hate me for saying it, it wa the most boring part of the night. I don't enjoy minimal, it really bores me, and it becomes hard work to stay awake when im listening to it. Omar stated he listens to it when he goes to sleep, i think that statement sums up how i felt about it. Although the last ten minutes of his set was kicked up a notch with some classic acid house that got the crowd prepped for...

Vitalic

It couldn't have come at a better time, Vitalic hit the stage liek a depth charge bursting through a submarine hull. i was in the middle of the crowd, all you could feel was the sweat of the person behindyou, while you slammed your hands in the air and bounced, literally bounced to the bass of the tracks.

Vitalic did not drop in quality throughout the whole of the set. He played classics such as La Rock, My Friend Dario and plenty of others. Hearing the roar of the crowd as La rock came through the speakers for the first time was intense. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand, he could have told us to jump and we would all scream how high.

i'll be making an appearance at the New Years Day line up of the project, for those who don't know who's playing, have a gander below:

2MANYDJS
SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO
SEBASTIAN [ ED BANGER ]
BOYS NOIZE
RITON

As well as more to be added, so they say. As well as this im going to see Justice play in The Academy, playing with CSS and Metronomy at the start of December, i cant wait.

Sidenote: Robot Soap tickets are now available for our Sankeys debut, at the Tribal Sessions night with The Futureheads, get your tickets here. Also, December 8th is our monthly night at Cord, it's free so come down and get involved.

Second sidenote: I'll add a few tracks played last night when i return home from work, enjoy the rest of the day.

Office Thursday - 07

Hello everyone, hope you are all well.

I'm pleased to say that it was so cold this morning that even my primark winter coat couldn't hack it. It's pretty much turning into winter and yet it's still very sunny outside, currenty highlights of the week so far has been listening to people whine about the weather, the trams, and how the weather is affecting the trams.

This weeks Office Thursday combines some great albums that have been getting me past a case of SAD syndrome, lets do this (now with added video goodness)...

Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release

Similar to the justice album, in a sense that jsut about everyone has a copy of this, SMD's album has some serious kick in the groin beats that can, will, and usually does "blast off" on the dancefloor. key tracks such as "Hustler", "I Believe and "It's The Beat" stand out like electronic sore thumbs. You can argue that its old news and its been played to death, but you don't hear anyone complaining when they hear the tracks at 1 in the morning

Watch the video for "Hustler"

Watch the video for "I Believe"

Watch the Video for "It's The Beat"

New Order - Substance

New Order doesn't require me to say how good they are, or how they were so ahead of their time, or why they are the 80's or how it still sounds great today. Key tracks such as "Thieves Like Us", "Temptation", "Blue Monday" and many more can get you goign through the day like no other band could.

Watch the video for "Blue Monday"

Watch the video for "Confusion"

Watch the video for "True Faith"

Watch the video for "Bizarre Love Triangle"

Dangerdoom - The Mouse And The Mask

A mighty Collaboration between Mf Doom and producer Dangermouse, using samples from the Adult Swim shows such as Space Ghost and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Mouse And The mask adds creativity and total pleasure to any persons playlist. Singles such as Sofa King and tracks such as Space Ho's work with thier samples without any fear of overuse or making the songs seem corny. Hunt is down as soon as possible.

Right thats your lot, i'm off to buy an overpriced two day old sandwich and wash it down with some Klix coffee.

P.S.

NOVEMBER 30th

Robotsoap joins The Futureheads at Tribal Sessions at Sankeys in Manchester, we have tickets on sale NOW! FROM US! nag us on our myspace for more info.

DECEMBER 8TH

Robotsoap is at Cord for our December party, come down and get involved, more details to follow.

November Alternative Mix - Seconds From Nothing

Tracklist:

The Cure – Homesick

Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson – Black Dog and The Scottish play

Idiot Pilot – Losing Colour

Dntel – In Which Our Hero Finds a Faithful Sidekick

Brian Reitzell & Roger J. Manning Jr. – Shibuya

Apparat – Silizium

Mogwai – Punk Rock

Black Label Society – Takilyn

Radiohead – How To Disappear Completely

Blur – No Distance To Run

The Magnetic Fields - Take Ecstasy With Me

Click Here to Download

This is the first mix I've done for the blog, its a bit different to our usual stuff but I think this is the result of a bad day at work and digging through older stuff for no apparent reason. I hope you enjoy it! 

Charity Shop Record Shopping

This weekend after Robot Soap I decided to take myself off and out of the city. I’ve had a really good weekend of wandering aimlessly around a small country town. I’ve always found one of the best things about these little places is the abundance of charity shops and the weird and wonderful records for sale in them.

Countryside village or town record shops are much better for this kind of shopping than in the cities because some other die-hard or DJ type will have undoubtedly beat you to all the best records in the city but out here you’re at least in with a fighting chance.

This is by far my favourite way of buying records, not only are they dirt-cheap but you can find some real gems in there. I love the thrill of looking through crate after crate of utter shite to find one record worth it all. The ratio of hits to misses in this area of record collecting favours the latter by a huge percentage (probably in the 90% range).

This is not for the fainthearted, and you should never take friends because they just get bored too quickly. This is a solitary exercise in music buying, in fact I much prefer buying records alone full stop if I think about it.

And another thing I love is that over the weekend I pulled out such atrocities to music as ‘Byker Groove’ –The girls from the CBBC program Byker Grove singing some horrible pop-house record. ‘Green Velvet’ was another, and no it wasn’t the seminal techno producer of ‘La la Land’ fame – It was a bunch of farmers with brass instruments making a racket in the only inbred country folk way they knew how. Pretty special you’ve got to admit.

So with a total cost of £2 here are my top picks from this weekend:

Yello – The Race

Carly Simon – Why (I actually bought this for the B-side, an instrumental version of Why)

Madonna – Into The Groove (I can see a cheeky re-edit with Duke Dumont on the cards for this one)

Georgio Moroder and Phil Oakey – Together In Electric Dreams

Robot Soap - Friday nights photos

Thankyou to everyone who came down, here are some pictures from the night,

photography credits to Katie Wynne

A couple of little things...

So tomorrow the time is finally upon us, Robot Soap is back. Really, we're back! I'm slowly coming to terms with this fact. I'm excited, I'm nervous and I probably won't sleep tonight because I'll be worrying about stupid things like balloons and sweets for the people coming, if indeed they come, and that has to be the biggest worry of mine.

Although i'm taking comfort in the fact that a good friend, and great DJ, Matt Payne has cancelled his night 'Klastic Plaxon' (which you should definately check out) just to come to Robot Soap. Our facebook group is doing pretty well too but there's always that element of chance with putting on a night that I love and hate in equal measures.

All that said I think Robot Soap will be great tomorrow, even if its just the four of us dancing to music we love, thats all we need.

Robot Soap

9pm - 4am

Cord Bar Bassment, Just off Tib St

Northern Quarter, Manchester

www.myspace.com/robotsoap

65 Days Of Static

I'm going to leave the bulk of this to Elliot because it was his first time seeing them last night but I just have to say they were, as always, absolutely astounding. If you've not heard them yet, get on it already. They're a wonderous mix of Aphex Twin, Mogwai, Sigur Ros and anything off Warp Records... And i'm sure they're sick of all those comparisons by now, and lets be honest - they are a bit lazy but at least you have an idea what they sound like. Oh, and they're touring with The Cure in the US!

www.myspace.com/65propaganda

Official Site

Over the coming weeks I'm doing photography for:

Biffy Clyro

Scouting for Girls

The Weakerthans

I Am Kloot

CSS

Justice

HelloGoodbye

Minus the Bear

So expect that to be popping up on here too.

Over and out.

Office Thursday - 06

This week has been very slow in the office, very slow and dull. i usually keep myself entertained by looking out the window at the shoppers in the retail park, slowly pushing their new tv to the car, and then proceeding to try andfit it in the boot, good times.

This weeks Office Thursday is a bit of a mixed bag, i've bought an Ipod shuffle this week, which to be honest has a been a bit of a god send. The downside is that the betteries are dead today, becuase i forgot to charge them after the 65 Days gig (which i will discuss at the end of the post, time permitting). So lets "do this", "get involved" and indeed "crack on" with this weeks choice selection of musical beef.

Mc Pitman - It Takes a Nation Of Tossers
Buy at Amazon

Mc Pitman, where do i start.

The alter ego of of Style-Cee, Pitman is from Coalville, and he is a miner. a miner that raps about tea and biscuits, buses and dented tins of beans form the pound shop. Not only are the lyrics amazing, but the sampling and use of beats is jsut incredible, you can't fault Pitman (who is now sadly not with us, as he has been killed off, which is a shame) and his album, it takes A Nation Of Tossers, is worth grabbing whenever you see it.

I had the vinyl version kicking around somewhere, i think it had a different track than the CD release but either way, just get it by any means at all.

Dj-Kicks - Hot Chip
Buy at Amazon

I should probably point out, as mix tapes go its not too bad. It has its ups and downs and there are some very sketchy choices for music. However, what i've been listening to the most on the CD is the amazing track that is My Piano. An exclusive track for the Dj Kicks compilation, its got a great danceable beat, with a delightful little piano loop and all wrapped up in a boppy little bow. It's worth having a listen to in the morning, as you cant really be unhappy listening to the song, at least thats what i think anyway.

Unfortunatly thats a ll i have for this week, as my lunch break is coming to an end, keep an eye out tongiht for some pictures of last nights gig, as well as a write up of what it was like, though i can sum it up very simply as "the shizzle".

Radiohead with XL Recordings

just a quick one from The Guardian music website...

"After apparently changing the face of the record industry last month with the "pay what you like" release of their album In Rainbows, Radiohead have followed up with a more traditional move, announcing that they are to distribute physical copies of the work through record label XL.

The band had been without a record deal since releasing Hail to the Thief through EMI's Parlophone in 2003. While the band have only agreed to release In Rainbows with XL, the deal has prompted speculation that a longer arrangement may yet be in the offing. Thom Yorke previously released his solo album, The Eraser, through the independent label, which is home to such artists as the White Stripes and Devendra Banhart.

Radiohead to release In Rainbows through XLIndependent label will put physical album in record shops where 'pay what's on the sticker' pricing scheme prevails Paul MacInnesThursday November 1, 2007Guardian Unlimited Radiohead's new album didn't come with cover art when it was released online, so Seattle newspaper The Stranger created this. Photograph: Sam Machkovech/The Stranger

After apparently changing the face of the record industry last month with the "pay what you like" release of their album In Rainbows, Radiohead have followed up with a more traditional move, announcing that they are to distribute physical copies of the work through record label XL.

The band had been without a record deal since releasing Hail to the Thief through EMI's Parlophone in 2003. While the band have only agreed to release In Rainbows with XL, the deal has prompted speculation that a longer arrangement may yet be in the offing. Thom Yorke previously released his solo album, The Eraser, through the independent label, which is home to such artists as the White Stripes and Devendra Banhart.

Announcing the news, XL Recordings founder Richard Russell said: "Radiohead are a constant inspiration to us all, because they unfailingly put creativity first. XL is more than honoured to be working with Radiohead."

Ben Beardsworth, Managing Director of XL Recordings, chipped in: "In Rainbows is truly a classic album and it deserves to reach a massive audience, well beyond that of download and boxset sales. We will be working closely with them to help deliver that."

Quite how "massive" any increase in sales will be when the album is released in stores is an open question, especially as the band have yet to reveal how many copies of In Rainbows have been bought since it was released online on October 10. Gigwise has estimated that as many as 1.2m copies of the album were downloaded from the official site, a figure the band's manager has called "exaggerated"; Forbes, meanwhile, has reported a further 500,000 downloads of the album from illegal file-sharing networks.

"It's certainly true that fans of Radiohead will want a physical copy of In Rainbows," says Gennaro Castaldo of music chain HMV. "But what is currently unclear is how much that pick-up will be. One of the clever things Radiohead did was to get a lot of PR for an innovative move while at the same time doing something very traditional: selling a £40 box set version of their album, albeit online. This might mitigate the potential for sales when a CD hits the stores."
The deal agreed to with XL applies only to the UK and Ireland. The band have yet to strike a similar agreement for a North American release.

Radiohead have yet to comment on the deal themselves, but their managers Bryce Edge and Chris Hufford have previously told Radio 4 they expect the physical release for In Rainbows some time in January."

and also...

Before i forget, last night i was listening to some Shinichi Osawa. He turns music into heavy, glitchy and dirty electro goodness.

go over to hypem and have a listen or watch the video for his cover of "Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar".

Pure horrorshow

After a rather hectic weekend of drinking, Djing and eating japanese food i cant say that i was looking forward to getting up in the morning. i was still enjoying the feeling of Friday nights Electro-fest and seeing my good friends on the Saturday. The idea of having to sort out the "D" files at work didn't seem to be on my top priority list.

I have a Program on my mac called Aurora, a great little tool that acts as an alarm clock and intergrates with Itunes. I have my Itunes set in the morning for Hype Radio, Hype Machines online blog radio station, its a great listen if you want a full spectrum of music.

As the music comes on, i'm hit with the sound of synths and beats that i had not heard before, i got up to look at what was playing. It was Miami Horror.

Miami Horror is Ben Plat from Melbourne, another fantastic Oz synth magician, more depressingly though, he is 20 years old, i'm olde than him and he's got more ecellent tracks than you can shake a stick at.

check out his myspace for more information, and heres a link to hype with some of his tracks on. i recommend beauties such as his remix of "Grafton Primary - I Can Cook".