decoded_ Something for your mind… Something for your mind…

Surgeon played an awesome three hour set here in Sydney on Saturday night. He blew our minds! Taking us on a fantastic journey of new and old techno, dubstep and electronica sounds and more. His set was very dynamic, with changes of intensity, twists and turns, deepness, darkness, and some unexpected blasts from the past, lots of memorable music.

I felt inspired and totally musically satisfied afterwards. I had a great jump around on the dance-floor at the front, the three hours went by in a flash, never a dull moment.

It was a really fun night, great venue, excellent sound, large techno/music passionate crowd showing vocal appreciation, lots of new/young and old/old-school friends and familiar faces about. The heavy rain we were met with leaving the venue at 2am (venue close) couldn’t dampen our spirits afterwards. I’m still on a high after this night, almost a week later. I think I’ll ride this buzz all the way to seeing Jeff Mills @ Stereosonic next month, and not spoil it with anything in-between, nothing would be good enough.

I’m really impressed with how different each of the Surgeon sets I’ve seen this year have been; Berghain in Berlin had a lot more deepness and dubstep sounds, Cable in London had more electronica/melodic (he even played some disco!) sounds, and now the Forum in Sydney with a hard/tough techno set.

My partner Joanne also saw his Brisbane and Melbourne performances as well, and mentioned the same, each performance being quite different in feel/sound. He certainly gave us a spanking (as he mentioned on his twitter) in Sydney.

Some tracks I knew and remembered him playing here in Sydney…

KiNK – Soda Caustic
KiNK – The Roots Of Techno
Frank Martiniq – Blast Corps
Egyptian Empire – That Horn Track
DJ Hell – Hot On The Heels Of Love (Dave Clarke Remix)
Kritikal Audio – Krup
Edge Of Motion – Set Up 707
A Homeboy, A Hippy & A Funky Dread – Total Confusion
Traversable Wormhole – Closed Timelike Curve (Marcel Dettmann Remix)
Soft Cell – Sex Dwarf (Surgeon Remake)
Surgeon – Atol
Karl O’Connor & Peter Sutton – Guiltless
Jeff Mills – i9
Surgeon – Move
Nitzer Ebb – Join In The Chant (Surgeon Remake)
Vainqueur – Lyot (Maurizio Mix)
Traversable Wormhole – Exiting The Milky Way (Surgeon remix)
Surgeon – Screw The Roses
X-313 – Interferon (Dave Clarke Remix)
British Murder Boys – Don’t Give Way To Fear
Surgeon – Prowler
Jeff Mills – Step To Enchantment (Stringent)
Surgeon – The Crawling Frog Is Torn And Smiles
Whitehouse – ?
Ed Rush, Optical & Fierce – Alien Girl
AFX – PWSteal.Ldpinch.D

A couple of IDs are from some ITM crew, thanks!

I’m pretty sure there were some other Surgeon and B.M.B tracks/loops played. There was also a heap of other stuff I didn’t know, and I love that; some acid, brutal techno, dubstep, and broken-beat, dark electronica sounds.

How spoilt are we? He’s just uploaded a recording of his Sydney set, get it here:

http://dj-surgeon.blogspot.com/2010/10/surgeon-at-forum-sydney-australia-23rd.html

Lots of happy Sydney techno people gushing about the night, here on ITM:

http://www.inthemix.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=277951

Thanks to everyone who made this tour come together.

More data:

http://dj-surgeon.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/tony_surgeon
http://www.dj-surgeon.com
http://voidsound.com

PS:

Joanne and I also got to hang out with him for a few hours on Sunday and chat over brunch, he’s a really nice guy, much respect.

* EDIT *

He’s just added the complete track-list to his blog, for his live set in Sydney, awesome!

Oneohtrix Point Never – Zones Without People
Surgeon – Klonk Part3
Robert Armani – Basement Rats
KiNK – Soda Caustic
AFX – Men 1 (loop)
Squarepusher – Planetarium (loop)
Phuture – We Are Phuture
2AMFM – Desolate Cities
OVR – Post Traumatic Son
Xhin – Key
Distance – Feel Me
Raime – Blackest Ever Black 2 (Regis version)
Corridor – Two Days 1
Whitehouse – Neronia
Nitzer Ebb – Join In The Chant (Surgeon remake)
Bas Mooy – Warsaw (Walker FSG mix)
Vex’d – Angels
KiNK – The Roots Of Techno
Cursor Minor – Everybody Want Power 111
British Murder Boys – Don’t Give Way To Fear 1
Bjorn Svin – Eat Like Hawks
Skudge – Melodrama (Aubrey remix)
Jeff Mills – i9
Orphx – Possession
Surgeon – Atol
Robert Hood – Range
Regis – Guiltless
Frank Martiniq – Blast Corps
Chasing Voices – Acidbathory
Whitehouse – Dumping The Fucking Rubbish
KiNK – Daddy Acid
Death Abyss – The Hermetic Antagonist (Mix two)
Vainqueur – Lyot (Maurizio mix)
Reeko – The Day After
Surgeon – The Crawling Frog Is Torn And Smiles
DJ Hell – Hot On The Heels Of Love (Dave Clarke remix)
Sinistra – Kakax (Gunjack Peak Time mix)
Surgeon – Bad Hands Break Part II
Breach – Fatherless
Surgeon – Exhibit
Traversable Wormhole – Exiting The Milky Way (Surgeon remix)
Soft Cell – Sex Dwarf (Surgeon remake)
Egyptian Empire – The Horn Track
Aphex Twin – 54 Cymru Beats
Kritical Audio – Krup
Paul Mac – DVD Crash
Surgeon – Screw The Roses (Live in Norway)
Traversable Wormhole – Closed Timeline (Marcel Dettmann remix)
Surgeon – Argon
x-313 – Interferon (Dave Clarke remix)
Jeff Mills – Real Life
Morganistic – Marbles
Reeko – 6 Sievert
Function – Montage
Scorn – The Palomar
Huren – Tinseltown
Whitehouse – A **** Like You
Edge Of Motion – Set Up 707
Ed Rush, Optical and Fierce – Alien Girl
~~~
Nebula II – Atheama
A Homeboy, A Hippie & A Funki Dredd – Total Confusion (Confusion Mix)
Millsart – Step To Enchantment (Stringent)
AFX – PWSteal.Ldpinch.D

Here’s a faster link to download the live set from…

http://hotfile.com/dl/78988727/3d1710f/Surgeon_at_The_Forum_Sydney_Australia_23rd_October_2010.mp3.html

Had a really fun night at this party, well, once Joanne and I got over the shock of seeing again how expensive a night out here in Sydney is, compared to Berlin a few weeks before. We stayed at this till the very end, lights on, eveyone out at 5am.

Prior to the night, I was a bit concerned that Marcel Dettmann may just play hours of that cold, deep, stripped bare, building block techno that he and Ben Klock are known to play, produce and have on their labels. I like that sound, but hours of it, wouldn’t be very interesting, well, not to a crowd outside of a night at Berghain in there for the long haul. After seeing Marcel Dettmann play, I can tell he knows this too.

I was well impressed with the range of sounds and intensities he played here in Sydney. Mixing up some of that Dettmann/Klock sound with lots of memorable, melodic techno/house, and a little tech-house, and minimal, with many nods to past techno/house classics, and a large serve of some proper, percussive, hard, solid, techno compression, all kept under 127bpm (I like how techno has slowed down).

He kept my interest for his entire set, playing for more than 4 hours. I had a great jump around on the dance floor. Even with the changes of style/intensity throughout his set, it all seemed to flow well. He finished off with some interesting selections for his encore tracks, some electro, electronic-body-music, beatless melodic electronica, some Krautrock and Kraftwerk, respect. I think he was using both vinyl and CDs to play, a few slips in the mix here and there, but mostly he was solid and tight. I was left musically very satisified and inspired. Joanne noticed he was wearing a Sandwell District t-shirt too, very cool.

This party was going to be at Plantation at The Empire (old Palladium) in Kings Cross, but from what I heard management there kicked out all the recent house and techno nights/promoters, leaving the Disconnected crew with a tough time finding a new venue at the last minute. They ended up getting the side room at Space (above Shark Hotel) in the city, sharing the venue with the DefQon1 crew using the main room.

Probably no more than 100 people there for Disconnected in the side room, but enough for the small space to look/feel busy enough to create a vibe. Minimal lighting, lots of darkness, space to move, respectful dance-floor, with lots of friendly, familar music passionate people about, plus friendly staff and quick bar service, all win! The only negative was the sound system which struggled to push out any proper bottom end or volume intensity, but was adequate enough. I think every other sound system will fail me now though, when compared to experiencing Berghain’s. There was no sound bleed from the main room, and the DefQon1 kids stayed away, all good.

Some of the tracks Marcel Dettmann played that I knew/remember…

Aaron Carl(RIP) – Down
Gerd – Arkests Blaze
Justin Martin – The Sad Piano (Charles Webster Remix)
James Ruskin – Work (Steve Rachmad Remix)
Shed – My R-Class
Deuce – Cue Ed
Planetary Assault Systems – Hold It (Deuce Remix)
DJ Hyperactive – Wide Open
Lil Louis – Why’d U Fall ( I Called You)
Marcel Fengler – Sculptures
Richie Hawtin – 005
DJ Hyperactive – Music Box
Ray Kajioka – Steam
Function – Diassafected (Ben Klock Remix)
Junior Boys – Work (Marcel Dettmann Remix)
Tadeo – 4
Kraftwerk – Numbers
Kraftwerk – Computer World

Thanks for putting this on Disconnected crew, top night. So, Ben Klock next?

Club nights/events with international techno, minimal, tech-house, deep-house, house DJ/live acts in Sydney Australia…

I made it out to the red ones.

SEPTEMBER 2010…
03.09.10 : Dario Zenker, Thomas Muller @ Bug In The Bass : PLUS ╬ 1 – Civic Underground
04.09.10 : Agoria, Superflu @ Finely Tuned & Future Present… – Plantation
04.09.10 : Marc Romboy @ Chinese Laundry – Chinese Laundry
05.09.10 : Ahmet Sendil @ Spice – Home Terrace
10.09.10 : David Keno, Reuben Keeney @ Shrug : PLUS ╬ 1 – Civic Underground
11.09.10 : Ahmet Sendil @ Wham! – World Bar / The Office
12.09.10 : David Keno @ Spice – Home Terrace
12.09.10 : Ahmet Sendil @ Church Of Techno – Forbes Hotel
18.09.10 : Marcel Dettmann @ Disconnected – Space (Side Room) **
18.09.10 : Todd Terje @ Adult Disco – Civic Underground
24.09.10 : Tobias Becker, Kaito [Live] @ Kompakt Session 3 – Subsonic Music : PLUS ╬ 1 – Civic Underground
25.09.10 : Lee Curtiss (Disco & Deep-House Set – 9pm-Midnight) @ Pulse Radio Present… – Name This Bar
25.09.10 : Martyn, Illum Sphere, Tokimonsta + More @ RBMA, Index & SITP Present… – The Forum
27.09.10 : Tobias Becker, Kaito [Live] @ Earth Dance – Secret Location – Hunter Valley

** This party moved from Plantation. Management at Empire have stopped all dance music/club events, including Bunker.

OCTOBER 2010…

02.10.10 : Deetron @ HAHA Industries – Versus – Marrickville Bowlo
03.10.10 : Layo & Bushwacka @ Tank Long W/end Sunday – Tank
03.10.10 : Mike Monday @ P.S. – Melt Bar
03.10.10 : Holy Ghost @ Adult Disco – Civic Hotel
08.10.10 : Industrialyzer [Live], Virgil Enzinger [Live] + More @ Mainline 6.66 Birthday – Secret Warehouse
09.10.10 : Gregor Tresher @ Chemistry & Subsonic Warehouse Party – Secret Warehouse
09.10.10 : Mike Monday + More @ Effigy’s 1st Birthday – Hippo Bar
09.10.10 : Satoshi Tomiie, Guy J, Marc Marzenit [Live] + More @ Música – The Forum
15.10.10 : Bart Skills @ House Inspection : PLUS ╬ 1 – Civic Underground
16.10.10 : Timo Maas, Hybrid @ Garden Party – Chinese Laundry
23.10.10 : Jamie Jones, Robert Dietz, David Squillace @ Circo Loco – Greenwood Hotel (Noon-10.30pm)
23.10.10 : Stacey Pullen @ Chinese Laundry
23.10.10 : Surgeon @ Index Presents… – The Forum
23.10.10 : Daniel Bell @ Mad Racket 12th Birthday – Marrickville Bowlo
23.10.10 : Jamie Jones + More @ Circo Loco After Party – The Gaelic Club
29.10.10 : Spektre [Live] @ Envisage Halloween Madness – Favela
30.10.10 : Superpitcher, Alexkid + More @ Attack Of The Superpitcher – Kompakt Boat Cruise (Sydney Harbour) – MV Constellation
31.10.10 : TBA @ Kompakt Boat Cruise After Party – Secret Warehouse

~~~

Please note:

This is not a complete list of every event on in Sydney, these are events that have caught my attention.

I do my best to post up accurate info, but dates, artists, venues can change etc.

TBA = To Be Announced

If you’re after info on other techno/minimal club nights with more local flavour in Sydney, check out the Sydney Loves Techno blog.

The InTheMix – Sydney – What’s On section lists a whole range of dance/electronic music events/club nights, check it out here.

I’m not that much of a fan of dubstep, but if you’re into it, there is a crew (Void/Index) in Sydney putting on regular quality events, often with internationals, check here for more info.

Party on!

So we’ll be in London for just under a week, after Berlin.

It’s a shame we’re not arriving a day earlier on Saturday the 28th, lots of events on the bank holiday w/end with: Aphex Twin [Live], Leftield [Live], Alex Under, Carl Craig, Sebo K, Ben Sims, Ben Klock, Russ Gabriel [Live], Steve Bicknell, Marc Houle [Live], Hobo [Live], Troy Pierce and more…

Some of the club things on, that have caught our eye that we may get out to, if we’re not too clubbed out from Berlin…

The red ones we made it to.

Much thanks to ResidentAdvisor for these listings and links.

Sun 29.08.10 : Daniel Bell + More @ Secretsundaze – Rich Mix – London
Sun 29.08.10 : Michael Mayer, Thomas Fehlmann [Live], Robag Wruhme + More @ Eastern Electrics August Bank Holiday – Union Car Park – London
Sun 29.08.10 : Stimming [Live], Oxia, Johannes Heil [Live] + More @ WetYourSelf August Bank Holiday Special & WYS! – Fabric – London
Sun 29.08.10 : M.A.N.D.Y., Layo & Bushwacka, Matthew Dear + More @ Sw-More – Ministry Of Sound – London
Sun 29.08.10 : Jay Shepheard + More @ Supercool Bank Holiday Special – Public Life – London

Mon 30.08.10 : Gorge + More @ Jaded Bank Holiday Monday Special – Cable – London

Sat 04.09.10 : Anja Schneider @ A Night With… – Secret Location – London

ResidentAdvisor’s London A-Z club list

* EDIT * 23.09.10

Hello I’m still alive…

So we left London on Sunday 5th September, and went to Barcelona (Spain) for four days, and had a lovely relaxing time, ate lots of great tapas and paella, and just hung around the La Ramblas area where we stayed. We did all the sights and tourist stuff last time we were in Barcelona, so didn’t feel too guilty doing very little this time. We were due to fly back home to Sydney from there on the Thursday 9th September.

However… We decided to extended our holiday by a few days, change our flights, and return to London, so on the Thursday (9th September) we could see Ricky Gervais perform his live show ‘Science’ at the Hammersmith Apollo, very funny, not much new material, but I’m really happy I’ve seen him live, after being a fan for so many years. Plus, train up to Manchester on the Friday, and return to London on the Saturday for these excellent gigs below, and most important, we could see and party with our London friends one more time.

10.09.10 : Sandwell District, Joey Beltram + More @ Colour Presents… – Sankeys – Manchester
11.09.10 : Surgeon, Shed [Live] + More @ We Fear Silence & Deadly Rhythm Present… Shed ‘The Traveller’ Album Launch – Cable – London

So, after leaving Cable, we went back to our friends place in West Hamstead, sorted out our baggage, I mixed it up on the decks for a couple of hours, playing morning come-down tunes. 9am Sunday morning arrived quickly, and then we were in a taxi heading to Heathrow for our flights home.

Arrived in Sydney Monday 13th September at night, stressed out, sleep deprived, after a couple of rough flights full of screaming kids and babies. It’s taken me over a week, to get my mind and body back into the AU time-zone.

What a fantastic holiday! Now the post-holiday depression kicks in…

So we’re off to Europe in August/September, our annual holiday, I really need a holiday! This time last year we went to the U.S.A and saw Depeche Mode. The last time we were in Europe was in June/July 2007, I blogged about it here.

I’m excited, looking forward to catching up with old friends, who moved OS just over a year ago. We’re arriving in Frankfurt, a couple of days there, then spending a couple of weeks (3 weekends) in Berlin. Then we’re heading to London for a week to catch up with more friends and some family, then back home to Sydney via a week in Barcelona. I’m looking forward to the warmer weather, leaving Sydney’s winter behind.

Always a music focus with our travels, let’s party! Here below, is how crazy busy the Berlin scene is. These are some of the techno, minimal, tech-house/house club and party events/nights on in Berlin/Germany, for just the three w/ends we’re there, featuring many of the producer/DJs we like.

When I started this post, I didn’t expect there would be this much on, it’s quickly grown out of control! I’d go nuts with that much choice all the time.

Tough choices! I’ve highlighted some of the things we’re most keen on, some we have tickets for already. Hoping to get to experience a bunch of different venues/clubs. The lines in red we’ve made it out to.

Much thanks to ResidentAdvisor for these listings and links.

Fri 13.08.10 : Redshape [Live] + More @ Finest Friday – Berghain/Panorama Bar – Berlin
Fri 13.08.10 : Matthew Dear, Lee Curtiss, Kabale und Liebe + More @ Heidi Pres. The Jackathon – Watergate – Berlin
Fri 13.08.10 : Karotte, Marc Miroir + More @ Paso Night – Weekend – Berlin
Fri 13 > Sun 15.08.10 : Douglas Greed [Live], Funkwerkstatt [Live], Gorge + More @ 3000° Festival – Wald, See & 3000 Grad – TBA – Berlin

Sat 14.08.10 : Ricardo Villalobos, Moritz von Oswald, Loco Dice, Raresh + More @ Merkwürdiges Verhalten Am Strand – King Kamehameha Beach – Frankfurt
Sat 14.08.10 : Ben Klock + More @ Klubnacht – Berghain/Panorama Bar – Berlin
Sat 14.08.10 : Function (Sandwell District) + More @ A Night In Motion Pt. II – ://about blank – Berlin
Sat 14.08.10 : Jerome Sydenham, Tony Lionni + More @ Cookies Summer Saturdays #3 : Strictly Dancin’ – Cookies – Berlin (CANCELLED)
Sat 14.08.10 : Falko Brocksieper [Live] + More @ Jack Off – Horst Krzbrg – Berlin
Sat 14.08.10 : Adultnapper, Langenberg + More @ Liebe*Detail Night – Watergate – Berlin
Sat 14.08.10 : Dave Clark + More @ Tresor Klubnacht – Tresor Berlin – Berlin
Sat 14.08.10 : Ion Ludwig [Live] + More @ Amsterdam Meets Berlin – Weekend – Berlin
Sat 14.08.10 : Harry Axt, Philip Bader + More @ Supdub Label Night – Bar25 – Berlin
Sat 14 > Sun 15.08.10 : Mark Henning, Stimming, Audio Werner, Someone Else + More @ Berliner Luft & Liebe Festival – Yaam – Berlin

Sun 15.08.10 : Paul Kalkbrenner [Live], Robag Wruhme, Mathias Kaden & Daniel Stefanik + More @ Th!nk? Festival {site} – Cospudener See / Nordstrand – Leipzig
Sun 15.08.10 : Marco Resmann, Marcus Meinhardt + More @ Upon.You – Bar25 – Berlin
Sun 15.08.10 : DJ T., Gazi Mizrahi & Eli (Wolf + Lamb) @ Sommer Auf Dem Dach – Weekend (CANCELLED)

Mon 16.08.10 : Tom Clark, Jens Bond @ Undergroove – Badeschiff – Berlin

Wed 18.08.10 : Barem, Jorge Savoretti, Gurtz [Live] + More @ Meet: Argentina – Watergate – Berlin
Wed 18.08.10 : Pacou, Camea + More @ Bonito House Club – Tresor Berlin – Berlin

Thu 19.08.10 : Agaric, Ed Davenport (BBQ Allstars) + More @ Beaners Backyard BBQ – Final Chapter – Bar25 – Berlin
Thu 19.08.10 : Tiga, Simian Mobile Disco + More @ Melt! Booking Presents… – Watergate – Berlin
Thu 19.08.10 : David Dorad, Katovi Menovsky, Louis Louis & Maximilliam Hertz + More @ Freier Fall – Open Air – Suicide Circus

Fri 20.08.10 : Franco Cinelli, Violett @ Play For Me Argentina – Club Anthrazit – Frankfurt
Fri 20.08.10 : Sven Väth, Reboot [Live] + More @ All Night Long – Cocoon Club – Frankfurt
Fri 20.08.10 : Matt John + More @ Kubikklub – Ritter Butzke – Berlin
Fri 20.08.10 : Falko Brocksieper, Jens Zimmermann, Paul Brtschitsch + More @ Tunapark. Every Friday – Tresor Berlin – Berlin
Fri 20.08.10 : Martin Buttrich [Live], Woody, Alejandro Vivanco, Autotune [Live] + More @ Fumakilla 10 Years Anniversary – Watergate – Berlin
Fri 20.08.10 : Magda, Dominik Eulberg, Barem + More @ Stereo City Festival 2010 – Ferropolis – Grafenhainichen
Fri 20.08.10 : Stacey Pullen, Ryan Elliott + More @ Detroited – Weekend – Berlin
Fri 20.08.10 : Charles Webster, Andre Lodemann + More @ Best Works Nacht – Panorama Bar – Berlin

Sat 21.08.10 : 3phase, Alexander Kowalski, Jammin Unit, Pacou + More (24hr live electronic jam, no turntables) @ Krautok 2010 – Maria om Ostbahnhof – Berlin
Sat 21.08.10 : Ellen Allien, Sascha Funke, Kiki, Chaim, Mr. Statik, Telefon Tel Aviv + More @ Klubnacht – Bpitch Total – Berghain/Panorama Bar – Berlin
Sat 21.08.10 : Tensnake, Idjut Boys @ Cookies Summer Saturdays #4 – Disco Daze Cosmic Craze – Cookies – Berlin
Sat 21.08.10 : Robert Babicz [Live] + More @ Circle Night | N.E.X.T. – Tresor Berlin – Berlin
Sat 21.08.10 : Dapayk [Live], Guy Gerber, Marcel Knopf, Marco Resmann + More @ Mo’s Ferry Night – Watergate – Berlin
Sat 21.08.10 : Matt John, Konrad Black + More @ Record Release – Weekend – Berlin
Sat 21.08.10 : Tom Clark, Lee Jones, Afrilounge + More @ Suck Me Now & Fuck Me Later – Arena Club – Berlin
Sat 21.08.10 : Audio Werner, DeWalta [Live] + More @ Meander Night – Horst Krzbrg – Berlin

Sun 22.08.10 : Marco Carola, Guido Schneider, Matthias Tanzmann, Pier Bucci [Live] + More @ Sunday Getaway Rechenzentrum / Funkpark – Berlin

Mon 23.08.10 : Daniele Papini, Hugo + More @ Noisy Glance – Club der Visionaere

Tue 24.08.10 : Johnjohn & Chopstick @ Suol Label Night – Cookies – Berlin

Wed 25.08.10 : Nico Purman, Adam Marshall, DeWalta [Live], Dario Zenker + More @ Vakant ‘Family Values’ Release Party – Watergate – Berlin
Wed 25.08.10 : Dave DK + More @ Bonito House Club – Tresor Berlin – Berlin

Thu 26.08.10 : Anja Schneider, Florian Meindl, Pan-Pot, Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner + More @ Heiligenfeld # 1 – Watergate – Berlin
Thu 26.08.10 : Heartthrob & Troy Pierce Present… Square One @ Square One – Weekend – Berlin

Fri 27.08.10 : Surgeon, Shed [Live], Juno6 [Live], Sven Tasnadi + More @ Shed Record Release Party + Kann & Oh! Yeah! Nacht – Berghain/Panorama Bar – Berlin
Fri 27.08.10 : Bushwacka, Marcus Meinhardt, The Cheapers @ Yes – Watergate – Berlin
Fri 27.08.10 : Tom Clark, Daniel Dreier + More @ Betriebsfeier – Hoppetosse Boat – Berlin

Sat 28.08.10 : Scion Versions [Live] (DJ Pete & Vainqueur), Marcel Dettman, + More @ Klubnacht – Berghain/Panorama Bar – Berlin
Sat 28.08.10 : Lee Jones, Chymera, Dirt Crew @ Total Black Out – Tresor Berlin – Berlin
Sat 28.08.10 : Argy, Zander VT + More @ Clubmotoren – Watergate – Berlin
Sat 28 > Sun 29.08.10 : Mathew Jonson [Live], Ryan Crosson, Barem, Sammy Dee, Ame, Afrilounge, Tiefschwarz + More @ Luna Land Berlin – Spreepark Plänterwald

Berlin clubs:

Berghain/Panorama Bar : http://www.berghain.de/ : RA Club Profile
://about blank : http://www.aboutparty.net/ : RA Club Profile
Horst Krzbrg : http://www.myspace.com/horstkrzbrg/ : RA Club Profile
Watergate : http://www.water-gate.de/ : RA Club Profile
Tresor Berlin : http://www.tresorberlin.de/ : RA Club Profile
Ritter Butzke : http://www.myspace.com/ritterbutzke/ : RA Club Profile
Arena : http://www.arena-berlin.de/ : RA Club Profile
Arena Club : http://www.arena-berlin.de/club.aspx/ : RA Club Profile
Badeschiff – Arena : http://www.arena-berlin.de/badeschiff.aspx/ : RA Club Profile
Hoppetosse Boat – Arena : http://www.arena-berlin.de/hoppetosse.aspx/ : RA Club Profile
Cookies : http://www.cookies.ch/ : RA Club Profile
Rechenzentrum/Funkpark : http://www.club-rechenzentrum.de/ http://www.funkpark-berlin.de/ : RA Club Profile
Maria am Ostbahnhof http://www.clubmaria.de/ : RA Club Profile
Suicide Circus : http://site.suicide-berlin.com/ : RA Club Profile
Bar25 : http://www.bar25.de/ : RA Club Profile
Weekend : http://www.week-end-berlin.de/ : RA Club Profile
Yaam : http://www.yaam.de/ : RA Club Profile
Club der Visionaere : http://clubdervisionaererecords.com/ : RA Club Profile
Tape : http://www.tapeberlin.de/ : RA Club Profile

More Berlin clubs: ResidentAdvisor’s Berlin A-Z club list

Foals – Total Life Forever

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Life_Forever

I really like this album, have listened to it non stop since it came out in May.

About the only rock/pop band stuff I listen to regularly is Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode and a few other 80’s bands/songs, but this new Foals album has really impressed me, grown on me, inspired me.

I’m looking forward to seeing them play live on Wednesday night at the Manning Bar here in Sydney.

Singles from the Total Life Forever album…

More data:

http://www.myspace.com/foals
http://www.foals.co.uk

I bought this mix CD (as .mp3 via Beatport) recently, and I really like it, featuring minimal and techno sounds that are moody, deep, solid, hypnotic, spatial, dark, and cold, contrasted with some warm, melodic touches, and some interesting changes of intensity throughout. DJ mixing wise it’s not that interesting with just smooth blends, and some of the tracks feel like they play a bit too long, but the flow of tracks, and the overall mood the mix creates are top notch. At times it reminds me a bit of the less frantic moments of a Jeff Mills DJ set.

Stand out tracks for me, some of the more melodic moments: ‘Pressure’ by DVS1, which is the next release on the reborn Transmat label, released under artist alias Zak Khutoretsky, also ‘Miniluv’ by Martyn, ‘Compression Session 1’ by Ben Klock, and the bent sounding ‘7am Stepper’ by Kevin Gorman. My favourite track on this mix, is actually the last track, ‘Junie’ by Rolando, a really nice piece of moody, melodic, downbeat electronica, that would have been right at home on one of the early 90’s Artificial Intelligence releases on Warp, have a listen.

This mix also features ‘Nuthin Wrong’ by Tyree, a 1995 release on Dance Mania, that I’ve heard many times played by local Sydney DJs Simon Caldwell and Ken Cloud over the years, but never knew it’s title or artist, until getting this CD.

We’re planning to see Berlin’s Ben Klock play at Berghain on our holiday in Berlin next month, this gig:

14.08.10 : Ben Klock @ Klubnacht – Berghain 14.08.10

I saw him play at Berghain in 2007, he was excellent. I was also one of the few people who saw him play later that year in Sydney, at a Deep As Fu*k party at the Abercrombie Hotel, I think there were 15 people in the tiny room when he played, über intimate.

~~~

Ben Klock – Berghain 04 : Mix CD [Ostgut Ton]

Tracklist:

01. 154 – Apricot
02. DVS1 – Pressure
03. Junior Boys – Work (Marcel Dettmann Remix)
04. Martyn – Miniluv
05. STL – Loop 04
06. Levon Vincent – The Long Life
07. Jonas Kopp – Michigan Lake
08. ACT – RoHd
09. Mikhail Breen – Veracity
10. DVS1 – Confused
11. Rolando – De Cago
12. Kevin Gorman – 7am Stepper
13. Ben Klock – Compression Session 1
14. Roman Lindau – Keppra
15. Tyree – Nuthin Wrong
16. The Echologist – Dirt (Ben Klock Edit)
17. James Ruskin – Graphic
18. Ben Klock (Feat. Elif Bicer) – Elfin Flight
19. Rolando – Junie

Reviews:

http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=7635
http://www.factmag.com/2010/06/28/ben-klock-berghain-04/

More data:

http://www.ostgut.de
http://www.berghain.de
http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/benklock
http://www.discogs.com/artist/Ben+Klock

A couple of club gigs coming up next weekend, that I think I might check out. It will have been a month since I was last out. Deadbeat from Berlin, and U.K’s James Holden. Almost opposite ends of electronic dance music there, a nice contrast.

23.07.10 : Deadbeat [Live] @ Void – Phoenix Bar
24.07.10 : James Holden @ Chinese Laundry

This will be my first Void party, should be interesting. I’m not much of a fan of the dubstep genre, but I do like deep, spatial, minimal, dub techno sounds, and some dark electronica stuff. I heard a recent live PA set from Deadbeat that was excellent, featuring exactly those deep, minimal, dub techno sounds I like, keen for this after hearing that.

You can hear that set via the Void site: http://voidsound.com/.

It’s a sound I’ve been buying a lot more of lately, I really like a lot of the Marko Furstenberg stuff.

I have to say I’m not much of a fan of the new James Holden DJ Kicks mix CD, it’s a departure from the glitched, minimal, melodic sound he pioneered. I find the mix tends to drone on a bit too much for me. I heard a recent recorded live DJ mix of his though which was excellent, and covered a great range of melodic electronica and techno/minimal sounds, at times similar to the CD, but with better intensity, and variety, it sold me on wanting to see him play again, I think this will be the 5th time I’ve seen him play. He certainly plays interesting, memorable, electronic music, that is both interesting and dance-able, you won’t hear any of that bland, generic, tech-house.

Club nights/events with international techno, minimal, tech-house, deep-house, house DJ/live acts in Sydney Australia…

I made it out to the red ones. Thoughts and comments to be posted soon.

JULY 2010…
03.07.10 : Stephan Bodzin [Live], Hugo @ The Likes Of You – The Arthouse
04.07.10 : Pepperpot @ Spice – Home Terrace
09.07.10 : Hugo @ Chemistry : PLUS ╬ 1 – Civic Underground
09.07.10 : Instra:Mental @ Index – Phoenix Bar
17.07.10 : Martin Landsky ++, Alexkid @ Redlight (Launch Party) – Plantation
18.07.10 : Alexkid @ Spice – Home Terrace
23.07.10 : Deadbeat [Live] @ Index – Phoenix Bar
23.07.10 : Scuba @ Niche Productions Present… – Civic Underground
24.07.10 : James Holden @ Chinese Laundry
26.07.10 : LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip @ Modular Touring Presents… – Hordern Pavilion
30.07.10 : Pablo Cahn @ Good Sorts : PLUS ╬ 1 – Civic Underground
31.07.10 : Pablo Cahn @ Spice – Home – Terrace

++ Martin Landsky has had to cancel his Australian gigs.

AUGUST 2010…
20.08.10 : Pezzner @ Shrug : PLUS ╬ 1 – Civic Underground
27.08.10 : Holger Zilske @ Reckless Republic : PLUS ╬ 1 – Civic Underground
28.08.10 : Shaun Reeves @ Finely Tuned Present… – Plantation / Bunker
28.08.10 : Joakim @ Adult Disco – Civic Underground
29.08.10 : Holger Zilske @ Spice – Home Terrace

~~~

That’s all for now, updates as I hear more.

Please note: I do my best to post up accurate info, but dates, artists, venues can change etc.

TBA = To Be Announced

If you’re after info on other techno/minimal club nights with more local flavour in Sydney, check out the Sydney Loves Techno blog.

The InTheMix – Sydney – What’s On section lists a whole range of dance/electronic music events/club nights, check it out here.

I’m not much of a fan of dubstep sounds myself, but if you’re into it, there is a crew (Void/Index) in Sydney putting on regular quality events, often with internationals, check here for more info.

Party on!