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.
Friday, 30 November 2007
Full Circle
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Just to add on from what Elliot said about The Warehouse Project...
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.
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Office Thursday - 07
Hello everyone, hope you are all well.
Dangerdoom - The Mouse And The MaskWednesday, 14 November 2007
November Alternative Mix - Seconds From Nothing
Monday, 12 November 2007
Charity Shop Record Shopping
Sunday, 11 November 2007
Robot Soap - Friday nights photos
Thankyou to everyone who came down, here are some pictures from the night,
photography credits to Katie Wynne
Thursday, 8 November 2007
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.
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.
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".
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
Radiohead with XL Recordings
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.
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."
Monday, 5 November 2007
and also...
Pure horrorshow
Friday, 2 November 2007
Castles In The Sky
Last night I went to see Crystal Castles at The Faversham in Leeds, the third stop on Vice Magazines 'Unitaur'. Playing alongside The Teenagers (who were terrible) and The New Puritans (Who I didn't watch) in easily the most cliquey venue in Leeds, Crystal Castles were outstanding and just after proclaiming electro to be dead (see my last blog entry) they blew shit up. bigtime. After pushing my way to the front, via haircuts, ketamine ruined first years and nu-vintage clothing I was treated to one of the best live sets in a long while. The entire set up made me feel like I was 16 again, I can't remember the last time I wanted to push myself onto the barrier like that and lose myself in the music so completely. fantastic. pure.
Crystal Castles
Crystal Castles Mix(Right Click, Save Target As...)
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Office Thursday - 05
Hello everyone, it's time for another edition of Office Thursday. I know what your thinking and yes, im shocked too that its actually on time this week, but thankfully i've set some time aside to write a quick column on what i've been listening to this week at work.
Grandaddy - Now It's On
Buy the Album: Amazon
Watch the video: Youtube
It has been a long time since i've listened to the Sumday album, and for me, it's really a case of hit and miss in some aspects, but i've always ejnoyed this track, and i'm not sure why. Perhaps its due to the way the music is put together? Maybe it's the guitars? Maybe its the strange breathing/wheezing duck-esque kind of noise at the start. Whatever the reason it still manages to keep a hold on me when i listen.
(sidenote, listen to the chorus jsut as you start to go over a bridge on the tram while looking out of the window, its alot of fun)
Buy the album: Amazon
I actually heard this on the fabriclive: 28 album, mixed by Evil Nine. it's been sticking in my head now for the past few weeks, im not sure but i think im associating it with cans of coke at lunchtime (strange i know). Even now im thinking about it while eating my chilli chicken on my break.
It's a great remix, and im not sure why its good, i think its jsut the layering of it that i really like, it doesn't seem lazy like most remixes i've heard as of late. As Gareth and i have both written, music seems to be dragging it's feet at the moment. The only real highlights of this year have been few and far between and it's a shame but its been more of a year for singles rather than albums.
Radiohead - The Entire Back Catalogue, Pretty Much
"it's alright, xxx is better though"
"no its not, xxx has that song, y'know"
The return of Radiohead has been a godsend in a way, as it's given me and excuse to play alot of of thier other albums, and bring back the great memories that are associated with them. OK Computer was given to me on a recorded tape by my uncle, and it had The Bends on the otherside. I used to walk to school listening to it on my state of the art walkman with bass boost, i miss those days.
Move on a few years and were passing on mixtapes with music from Kid A, b sides that and live sets, withe on cd or emailed mp3's, we need to bring back C90's, they were more fun to record on and pass around.
That's all from me, this weekend i, and all the Robot Soap boys will be djing at a House party at Preston and then again on Saturday at a Birthday/Late halloween do, i'm aiming to dress as a legoman but time is running short for me to make my costume, fingers crossed for me.
Also, 9th of Novembar at Cord in manchester, Robot Soap returns, set it in your diary.