The sequel to my first “pretty techno” mix, Anodyne. Drawing on a range of classic and contemporary techno and electro selections with a melodic, atmospheric feel, there are tracks from legends like The Orb, Fluke, Luke Slater, The Future Sound of London, and Orbital. There’s also a healthy dose of dubbed-out minimal techno from the Kompakt label and some vocal-driven electro from Solvent, Safety Scissors, and Dapayk & Padberg. With 24 tracks in just over 70 minutes, there’s a lot of layers, but I think it all comes together into a moving, uplifting experience. Full tracklist after the jump…
I’m back with a new DJ mix, and this time it’s a selection of techno from the late 1980’s and early 90’s. The first wave of acid house had passed and the tempos had increased, the sonic landscape widening as the genre began to mature. The roots of the Trance genre are here, alongside harder-edged sounds from Germany and New York, mingling with the Afro-futurism of Detroit. This is when EDM “grew up” and went from a popular dance craze to the exploration of whole new worlds and visions.
Anodyne is the latest Catnap mix, in the same vein as the Meow Mix series but drawing from the electro and techno side of things. There’s some classic selections, like Rhythim Is Rhythim’s “Nude Photo” (1987) and A Guy Called Gerald‘s anthem “Voodoo Ray” (1988). I finally worked Siriusmo‘s amazing track “Discosau” into a mix, as well as Dexter‘s sexy electro tune “D-Funked” and Boy Robot‘s poignant “My Heart’s Still Beating”. Another favorite of mine in the mix is “Move Your Mind” by Kevin Yost, which reminds me a lot of “Halcyon+on” by Orbital.
Like its name sake, Anodyne starts out with some intense and glitchy selections before settling into a funky groove that later unfolds into lush, dreamlike techno soundscapes. It will fix what ails you, or at least soothe the pain.
Kinosport’s live DJ set at Helsinki’s Rytmikaravaani event is one of the most delicious deep house / minimal techno sets I’ve ever heard. I’ve been playing it for over a year now, and it always gets enthusiastic compliments. It’s a slow-burner that gets chunky and funky about ten minutes in and keeps it going. It’s got tracks from some of my favorite artists of the genre, including Atomly, Max Mohr, and Moodymann. Check it out below, and make sure to also visit Kino’s blog for more mixes and some great photography as well.
DJ Icey has been a purveyor of ravey ravery since the early 1990’s. Coming from the fertile “Florida breaks” scene, Icey’s DJ style and record labels (Zone and Tree Records) has always been about big BIG basslines and electro-acid synth noises. I’ve always found his music a mixed bag but he shines as a DJ, with impeccable track selection and on-point mixing.
The Essential Mix compilation was released in 2000 at an interesting time for the breaks scene; Florida’s electro-inspired, sample-heavy “acid breaks” sound was being edged out by the UK “nu-school” breaks scene that favored more lush, orchestratal arrangements paired with dark, devastating bass lines drawn from drum ‘n bass scene. Icey’s track selection reflects this, blending tracks from UK stars Orbital, Plump DJ’s, Freestylers, and Sabres of Paradise with plenty of American tunes (many of them being his own, and thankfully some of his best.) This mix also includes a DJ Godfather tune, a nod from Icey to the sparse “ghettotech” style that exploded out of Detroit and into the dance music mainstream a year or two later.
This is one of those mixes that stands as a classic of the genre, an excellent snapshot of a sonic aesthetic in transition, and just a helluva lot of fun to listen to. Track list after the jump.
I’ve written about DJ David Hollands before, when I posted his classic “Pool Party” mix tape from 1996. “Midnight Train to Moscow” followed in 2000, and is also one of my all-time favorite house mixes. It’s a memorable blend of deep house, minimal techno, haunting vocals, and party-time cuts too. Recently I visited David at his East Village abode in NYC and he gave me a copy of the mix tape art from the original. Grab the front and the back artwork, along with the mix and enjoy.
This mixtape was recently featured on my rave forum site Ravetrash.com, re-discovered and uploaded by my buddy Ria. In his words:
JAJO was the name, DJ JAJO a.k.a Juan Mauri Vera. Jajo was from Spain & going to school here in St.Louis. He soon dropped out & started DJing full time for STL raves. the scene was just flourishing and there was a party every weekend there, it seemed. He passed away in 1997 from a drug overdose. R.I.P.
This mixtape came out circa 1992. It did not get to me until the next year as it was re-recorded onto other tapes and passed on down the line until i got it and did the same thing fro my friends. This was pre-internet so it took more motivation and time to spread your mix.
The mix is an underground legend. This mix got me into house music which then led me more into raves and such. I’m not the only one.
This became my “white whale” ever since i lost my cassette copy of it after driving off with my tape case on top of my car. I have since searched for a copy to no avail. Friends and colleagues like Perry Ellis & Melloman who had a copy, could not seem to find it in their pack-rat lifestyle abodes.
It was just a waiting game.
Melloman recently FINALLY found the tape and we reminisced about everything as it seemed like i was listening to this for the first time. My room mate ripped it from tape and digitized, cleaned up & remastered the mix to mp3. it still has a few pops & hisses but overall, decent quality to rock out to.
I’ve listened to this mix myself many times, and it is timeless and funky like all the greatest house mixes. It is a relic from the earliest days of the midwestern rave scene, but doesn’t sound “old” in any way. Rock out to this immediately and savor your old school cred.
