Author Archive for A.D.D

BAG RAIDERS INTERVIEW!!

The Waves at Night crew thought we would catch up with the crazy kids over at the Bag Raiders camp to talk about their upcoming EP release, current remixes and ceral variety packs. Here’s what Jack Sabbath (Brainzar from the B. Raiders) had to say…

WAV: Firstly, how did you both meet?
BRAINZAR: We went to the same school. I was a year above Chris but we used to hang out and smoke cigarettes during breaks in orchestra practice.

WAV: What was your inspiration to start producing your own music?
BRAINZAR: We both got into computers and computer music while we were still at school. When we started out we used to listen to lots of Autechre, Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin… Warp records stuff basically. So i guess we started trying to emulate bands like that. It wasn’t until later on that we really got into dance music.

WAV: Which artists are you influenced by today?
BRAINZAR: Fred Falke, Soulwax, ELO, Pilot, Picasso, Nate Danja Hands, Cool & Dre, Jeezy, Weezy, MIyazaki, you know… Little Richard, TLC, Keisha Cole, Nat King Cole, Old King Cole, Coleplay etc etc

WAV: Do you each have individual roles when your working on a new track or remix?
BRAINZAR:
I do all the production work and Chris mainly cleans the studio and brings me coffees while i work. haha. No seriously… we both work pretty hands on on everything. It’s not like we have roles like Chris plays all the keyboards or Chris do the drums of whatever. We’re just like everybody do everything. Feel the love

WAV: How did you guys come about collaborating with the Fools Gold label?
BRAINZAR: By the mighty power of the internet. A-Trak hit us up a year or so ago before he came out and we went down to his show and met him and then we just kept in contact on the email etc.

WAV: I’ve noticed from listening to your mixtapes and hearing about your recent guest vocalist for the new EP that you include a lot of hip hop tracks. Is Hip Hop a genre that you’ve always been interested in?
BRAINZAR: Yeah in one way or another. We’ve always been listeners that’s for sure. Recently we’ve also been dabblers. It’s always good to be doing different stuff so things are always fresh. Like a variety pack of cereal. Hip hop = Nutra Grain, Dance music = Coco Pops, Free Jazz = Fruit Loops, Rock Music = Sultana Bran… We’ll definitely keep on doing hip hop stuff when we can.

WAV: Did you ever expect Fun Punch to be as big as it is?
BRAINZAR: Nope. It’s been pretty sweet. The internet and radio has been kind to us…

WAV: The video for Fun Punch is terrific, was that an idea that you guys always have been working on for a while and will the story continue with your next single?
BRAINZAR: Not really and no i don’t think so. The clip was kind of one of those chance things that worked out good for everyone. It was masterminded by our good friend Beaufort. We didn’t have a huge deal to do with it’s making except for the extensive acting classes and hours and hours of shooting we did til we got that shit just right.

WAV: Apart from your own tracks being spun like crazy in clubs around the world your remixes for such artists as K.I.M, Kid Sister, Muscles and The Valentinos have also proven very popular amongst dj’s and punters. Are you working on any new remixes at the moment?
BRAINZAR: We just did some remixes for ZZZ and Cut Copy. There’s a teenagersintokyo remix waiting in the wings too.

WAV: What can the kids expect from your upcoming second EP release?
BRAINZAR: Some of it’s quite different. There’s a guest vocalist on one track and some talkbox mumbling on another. I think as a whole there’s some gear for the club as well as some gear for the loungeroom. We’re pretty happy with it so hopefully people dig it.

WAV: I’m pretty excited to witness the new ‘Live’ Bag Raiders experience for the Parklife shows, what tricks have you got up your sleeves for us?
BRAINZAR: Hmmm… that’s something we’re working on right now. We’re still waiting to get our pyrotechnics license. But hopefully the finale is going to involve us setting fire to our keyboards and playing the Fun Punch lead with our wangs.

WAV: What was the most bizzare thing that has happened at one of your gigs?
BRAINZAR: One time they made us stop in the middle of the set and pulled a name out of a barrel and someone won a used car. That was pretty weird.

WAV: And finally, do you raid many bags these days??
BRAINZAR: Not as many as we used to. These days it’s mostly grocery bags.


MP3: Harris Robotis - Beat on the Street (The Bag Raiders Row Harder Re-Boot)

This just in…

“Not content with smashing festival stages to smithereens, the Midnight Juggernuats have lined up a brand new EP for release, with an imposing list of musical artists putting the remix touch to their now cult classic ‘Into The Galaxy’. The EP will be available in Australia through iTunes in August, and it features remixes from the aforementioned Grandmaster Flash, Metronomy, Danger, Architecture in Helsinki, Chateau Mar”

Details by ’soandso’ on ITM forums

MP3: Midnight Juggernauts - Dystopia (Cut Copy Remix)

And as well as remixing the Juggers, Metronomy have also just released thier second album ‘Nights Out’ with 3 singles released already and a fourth soon to follow this could be a very big year for the group.

MP3: Metronomy - My Heart Rate Rapid (Primary 1’s Love Letter to Metronomy)

Snobbed!

Hailing from L.A but currently residing in Sydney, Snob Scrilla is quickly being recognised as Australia’s freshest new talents in hip-hop. His single ‘There You Go Again’ has been getting plenty of love on Triple J and FBI and the film clip can be seen heavily on Rage. The Hey Now posse, also hailing from Sydney, have turned the bouncy original into an early morning electro bomb, utilising the catchy vocals and twisting them round a heavy synth bass line until the final breakdown which builds into something truly epic…similar to something D.I.M would produce. Let me know if you can pick the synth sample used towards the beginning of the track!

Another Sydney sider CSK OK (who you should be very familiar with by now) has also provided the remix treatment to another Snob Scrilla track, Mr. Officer. This is another brilliant remix from the young producer, who seems to get better with every new production, this time adding unique synth lines and claps to the clever lyrics from Scrilla.


MP3: Snob Scrilla - There You Go Again (Hey Now Remix)


MP3: Snob Scrilla - Mr Officer (CSK OK Remix)

Welcome to the Party

We are constantly seeing rising stars emerge from our own soil everyday and CSK OK is set to be our next home grown talent. I’ve been following the quick uprising of this local Sydney producer quite closely, ever since he amazed me with his acoustic rendition of the Bag Raiders hit Fun Punch! It didn’t take long for the rest of the nation, and world, to take notice of this new talent.
Since that Fun Punch remix, CSK OK has worked on bigger and better projects, such as remixes for Like Whoa, Daft Punk, K.I.M and The Galvatrons all while working on his own production. If your in Sydney or Melbourne you must catch one of his live sets, he plays guitar over the top of his remixes and his own tracks, infusing rock with dance beats, amazing stuff.
Check out his ’space for more remixes and a brand new dj mix that’s loaded with mashups and fresh tracks. The future see’s CSK OK releasing remixes for Toecutter and Snob Scrilla and also joining Snob Scrilla on tour in June as part of his band. I predict big things for this young chap!


MP3: CSK OK - Welcome to the Party


MP3: KIM - B.T.T.T.T.R.Y (CSK OK Remix)

Another group that’s grabbed my attention recently is The Chain Gang of 1974 out of Denver, Colorado. A mouthful, I know, but this duo sure do know how to write a killer electro-clash tune that’s somewhere between Death From Above and Interpol. Really fun stuff that’ll keep the indie kids and the electro junkies happy at the same time.


MP3: The Chain Gang Of 1974 - We At The Disco


MP3: The Chain Gang Of 1974 - Dance Kiss Love Move

And one last entry, something from the disco vaults. Lime were a husband and wife duo out of Montreal, Canada who wrote some amazing tunes back in the day but never found it appropriate to appear in any of their video clips or stage shows, so they would get another couple to act in their place, strange! That aside, this is a lovely little synth number that I adore, so much so that I included it in my recent disco mix [insert shameless promotion].


MP3: Lime - You’re My Magician

The Finger Prince Interview

We managed to catch Gus da Hoodrat, one sixth of the Bang Gang Deejays, just before he boarded a flight with Jamie Doom to Europe for their epic 100% Mega Dance Tour for Modular. Gus has been part of the Bang Gang dj posse ever since their weekly nights at the infamous Club 77 in Sydney and has since taken the party around the country for monthly raves at Third Class in Melbourne and more recently around the globe, from Miami to Fabric in London.
Gus tells us about his new Finger Prince mix, the new releases coming out on their Bang Gang 12’s label and his personal hair styling tips…

Waves: What were the first records in your collection when you started djing?
Gus: I distinctly remember buying my first “modern dance” record at central station when I was young and it was Pete Heller’s french filter interpretation mega hit ‘BIG LOVE’ , and it has this dope Keith Haring image on the front of a big love heart (funnily enough)…. after that it was Stardust and then it was Rappers Delight (I think this was bought because i thought that if all else failed this would always work - I saw an 80 year old jammin’ to this at a wedding when I was a kid and instantly knew it was an all time classic boomer….for all ages.)
Also I had inherited my grandmothers collection of dope Ravi Shankar and Trinadad steel drum band records and my dad’s Beach Boys and American Graffiti soundtracks….they kept me in check.

Waves: What were the last three records that you purchased?
Gus: Im gonna give you 4, cos one is an album, and that doesn’t count, that is more me in my car kinda thing, or maybe with a girl or something, or just watching tv, and not actually watching the tv, just listening to the record…you know??

Metronomy - Heart Rate Rapid (peep the primary 1 remix - whackattack!!)
Telespazio - Galileo (totally adventurous electronic disco boogie vibe going on here…all the way from the outside to the last groove)
The Mole - Baby You’re The One (this is a straight up techno record with a crazy disco vibe going on, reminds me of some Roulé records, its on Wagon Repair - these guys are probably French Canadians so they can get away with it.)
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (this album is amazing, like doing backflips in space while flying a kite)

Waves: Have your musical tastes broaden over the years?
Gus: Maybe…I do enjoy pop music more than I ever have in the past…I think some of it is amazing…I suddenly realised that all the old music I love was once “pop” music, and therefore I should be more accepting of those boy bands out there making my shopping at Woolworths a more pleasurable experience.

Waves: Any particular tracks that you just can’t help playing at each gig? What records never leave your bag?
Gus: Here some of my all time favs; Beatles - Day Tripper, Bob Sinclar - Ultimate funk, Plastik Man - Spastik, Tiga - Burning Down, Bag Raiders - Fun Punch, etc etc etc … man way too many to go through…

Waves: Who are the artists these days that are capturing your ears with a new or individual sound?
Gus: I love all the artists working on our label - Bag Raiders, Like Woah, ZZZ, Whitenoise, Spruce & Kato and all the other amazing locals - Cutters, Juggers, Presets, Van She, Bumblebeez, Soft Tigers, etc etc etc…you know the score.
Internationally I am touched by people like Breakbot (cos he makes smoochy dance music), Hercules and Love Affair (smoochy gay dance music), Siriusmo (gay dance glitch music), and then of course Mr. Oizo - the man behind the man that keeps on reinventing himself…. always a huge inspiration for me.

Waves: Who are the dj’s that you look to for inspiration or enjoy watching play?
Gus: Boys Noize, Jaime Doom, Andee Frost, U-Go-B, and DJ Craze….many others though.

Waves: What has the future got install for the Bang Gang Posse? Any future releases or raves? World Domination?
Gus: The future holds many possibilities, as a posse we are going to fight the warriors down at coney island for our small place in history…. of course we will kiss and make up after as they are a bunch of cool dudes who got pinned for something they didn’t do…that is when we will have a rave - monthly in melburn - at 3rd class…our favourite dance den.
No releases planned as we have discovered that we are djs - not producers.

Waves: How does the rest of the world embrace the Bang Gang deejays?
Do you get similar crowd responses when you dj overseas?
Gus: It is different everywhere you play - sometimes they hate you, sometimes they love you but the most important thing is that you always have fun in your own little cosmic world. I think people have started to except us, ill let you know when i get home in a few weeks…

Waves: Have the roles within the group changed from when you first started out?
Gus: Oh they haven’t really ever changed, I think we are all just alot more busy now and it just means we do things differently.

Waves: Any new releases coming up from the Bang Gang 12 inches label?
Have you got your eye on any up and coming local talent?
Gus: We have some stuff coming from ZZZ, New Bag Raiders, New Like Woah, Death Set remix release, Toecutter, and many many more…all we have to do is get organised and they may come out before the end of the year (fingers crossed).

Waves: What was the inspiration behind ‘Disko Robot Cocks’?
Gus: It was me learning how to use pro tools with Christopher Brave, him and Brainzar taught me everything I know about that program, unfortunately I have now forgotten everything, that song was our original form of experimentation.

Waves: Favourite food to eat before a gig?
Gus: Oysters..

Waves: What can the kids expect from your Prince Fingers Part 2 mix?
Gus: More disco, less techno, and another hour of their life they may want back after they listen.

Waves: If you weren’t djing, what other occupation would we find you working?
Gus: Oooooooh.. Definitely a custodian of the arts.

Waves: And finally, Patch wants to know the secrets of maintaining a maine like yours?
Gus: Never Shampoo. Always Kondition.

You can listen/download Gus da Hoodrat’s lastest Finger Prince mix installment over at www.banggangpodcast.com and for those of you in the UK and Europe be sure to get down to one of the 100% Mega Dance Raves near you.

And for those of you who need your music fix, here’s the Juggers remixing the Cutters for the upcoming release of Hearts on Fire.


MP3: Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)

Minimum Chips

One of my favourite groups, Hot Chip, never failed to astound me with anything they touch and these two reworks are nothing short of amazing. The first is a short little remix of a Stones classic, which easily captures the spirit and warmth of the original, perfect for those kite flying afternoons in the park.
The second is a remix that i’ve been in love with ever since Annie Mac first dropped it a few weeks back on her Radio 1 show. It’s a very uplifting tune with dreamy vocals, searing keys and horse claps. Also check out the Hot Chip Dub and Bird Peterson Remix!


MP3: Rolling Stones - I’m Free (Hot Chip Remix)


MP3: Grovesnor - Drive Your Car (Hot Chip Remix)

Local Produce….

I didn’t take long for Australia (and the UK) to fall in love with the intergalactic foursome that is The Galvatrons. In just under 12 months these synth-bearing mavericks from the future (or past?) have conquered the indie-dance world with their addictive 80’s movie soundtrack melodies and power ballad anthems. They now have a shiny new EP entitled ‘When We Were Kids’ in stores which includes some fun disco hits and a couple of killer remixes. You can catch these interstellar kids playing all over Australia throughout May and then taking on the UK crowds in June and even rocking the O2 Wireless Festival, you show em lads!!

Here’s the always impressive Bag Raiders with their neon remix of ‘When We Were Kids’…


MP3: The Galvatrons - When We Were Kids (Bag Raiders Remix)

While on the topic of the Bag Raiders who, i’m told, are almost finished with their own debut EP. We have yet another remix of their ever so popular track ‘Fun Punch’, this time by rising Sydney producer Toecutter. He puts a glitchy, hacked up spin on the original while keeping the bounce and fun contained within. Also check out a Toecutter original, which i believe is getting an official release later in the year on Bang Gang 12 inches, it’s a very catchy distorted disco/pop tune which cleverly uses a vocal from Kool and the Gang and turns it into something that can you jive to for hours. This is the extended dub mix, expect the original to be much shortly!


MP3: Bag Raiders - Fun Punch (Toecutter Remix)


MP3: Toecutter - Best Party Ever (12 Minute Dub)

Do You Remember…..HOUSE?

These days I’m finding that electronic music is just getting louder and noisier, to the point where you just can’t find its groove. Well it’s seems that a very talented 17 year old from the UK is trying to redeem that lost house groove, that we all grew up with, under his alias Louis La Roché. There was a little confusion when Louis first demo’d his track ‘Love’ on the net, fellow bloggers were convinced that it was a new track from none other than Thomas Bangalter, which, to me, could only be the biggest compliment you could receive towards your own music.

La Roché has just released his debut EP, Peach, online for all to enjoy for free from his myspace, www.myspace.com/louislaroche. It contains five amazing cuts of the purest house music, drawing inspiration from the old Motown sound through to the disco beats of (early) Michael Jackson and Daft Punk.

Louis also goes under the other alias of Night Facilities, where he is producing more of his own music, slightly different from that of his other project but with the same intention of retaining that groove. You can also download a collection of his amazing remixes, again for free, from his ’space’.

Keep an ear out for this up and coming talent, because i’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more from him in the near future…


MP3: Louis La Roché - Peach


MP3: Louis La Roché - Do You Remember

New Single from Single

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from the likes of Riot in Belgium but it seems one of it’s members, Beni Single, has been working in the shadows on a new track for the upcoming ‘Relish Compilation EP Volume 2′, due out in June, from Relish Recordings. Could this be a new direction for Beni, well i certainly think we’ll be hearing a lot more from him. This is the sort of sound that’ll keep the kids bouncing in the clubs, whether you’re into French house grooves, Crookers basslines or Switch fidget squelches.


MP3: Beni - My Love Needs You

Sour Times

Third - The appropriately titled new record from Portishead is due out at the end of this month, April 28th, and I am extremely excited. It’s been 10 years since we’ve heard from the British trip-hop trio, and if you love your psychedelic electronica then this album is certainly going to cure those seedy Sunday hangovers. The track ‘Machine Gun’ is reminiscent of the Nine Inch Nails sound layered with huge industrial drum samples which are then joined by Beth Gibbons ghostly cry and eerie synths that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Jean Michel Jarre record.
Definitely make sure to purchase this record once it’s available, Portishead never disappoint when it comes to transporting our senses to another universe.


MP3: Portishead - Machine Gun

MP3: Portishead - Magic Doors