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Charts, Featured
Quarion Interview & Chart
Every year around WMC time our techno starved Boston scene has the chance to go beyond the usual American guest performers and bring in talent from around the world. This week is WMC and true to form we’ve got Geneva bred and Berlin based Quarion performing live on Wednesday night, before he heads down to Miami for a slew of big slots. Quarion is a man of many names who has a grip of recent hits and amazing remixes and I had the chance to catch up with him for an interview before he headed stateside. Don’t sleep Boston, now’s your chance to pretend your in Miami even though you’re not.
You’ve had a very versatile career, do you see any major differences between making all your different styles?
mhhhh, not so much, but I think that making proper “dance” music is quite difficult. There are certain “codes” that you have to follow and at the same time go to a totally new direction. It’s really exciting working on tracks, but it also can be a total downer. But in all the different stuff I do, I have to say that my hip-hop tracks are the ones that flow the most easily, I don’t have problems or doubts when I create Hip-Hop beats…
When and why did you come up with the Quation alias? What does it mean?
The Quarion project came about after the Enterplay album. Enterplay is a project that I developed with Rosario (Mental Groove, Geneva) and DJ Kent (Force Of Nature, Tokyo). We released an album in 2005 and organized an European and Japan tour in 2006. The whole Tour was incredible, especially in Japan. Honestly: it was a life-changing experience for me: the scenery, the people, the culture and the passion that the Japanese have for music was really intense. Plus the Force Of Nature guys were playing so much incredible music that my head was full with ideas…
When I came back to Geneva, in may 2006, it took me a while to go back to the studio, but when I did, I came up with “Karasu”. I felt from the beginning that this track was special so I thought I would use a new moniker for this project…I can’t say what “Quarion” means yet, let’s have people guess it for theselves
I know you live in Berlin now, but it seems like the scene in Switzerland, where you’re from, is really on fire right now. What’s it like over there? What are some key producers, labels and clubs?
Yes totally! These last few years have seen an emergence of incredible producers coming out of Switzerland. What is quite surprising is that, there’s not so many good clubs, especially in Geneva. It’s really sad, but there used to be a lot of great clubs, bars or squatts in Geneva where you could hear and dance to electronic music. Now there must be only 2! The city got really repressive with all the cultural actors a few years ago and it’s still continuing to this day. It’s really sad. The crazy thing is, there’s so many DJs & labels from Geneva but they never play in their hometown. There’s people like Lee Van Dowski, Quenum, Dachshund (Num records); Agnès (Sthlmaudio); Chaton (Plak records); Crowdpleaser, Waterlilly, Kate Wax (Mental Groove), Kadebostan (Freunde Am Tanzen)…plus Luciano also came back to Geneva. In Lausanne: Ripperton (Perspectiv), Alex & Stéphane Attias (Visions, Freedom Soundz). Berne: Deetron (music Man), A Few Among Others. Zürich: of course the whole Drumpoet crew: Alex Dallas (the Lost Men), Lexx (Kawabata), Ron (Soultourist)…then there’s Serafin from Mountain People, Kalabrese, etc…
What was the first record you ever bought? Your most treasured record?
1) Fat Boys “The Twist” (I was 10 or something!)
2) Really hard to say, maybe “Dedication” from Herbie Hancock because it’s not easy to find. Sounds like Techno but made more than 30 years ago…
2 truths and a lie
Not in the right order of course: I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I’m a nice guy.Proudest musical accomplishment
Well, I’m really proud of my track “Karasu”. I’m usually super-critical with my stuff but this one is flawless in a certain way…I’ve kinda moved a bit from this sound since then, but this track is definitely a milestone for my artistic and personal life. Everything changed after that…
Vinyl or digital?
I’m a strong supporter of vinyl, even though I play CDs aswell. The feeling you have when you’re cueing, mixing and seeing the needle “sailing” on the record is unsurpassed I think…even with Serato/Final Scratch, it’s just not the same.
Top 5 songs of all-time? Top 5 songs right now?
Old is too hard, but here we go:
Herbie Hancock “Butterfly” Columbia
Keith Murray “The Rhyme (Slum Village RMX)” Jive
Global Communications “The Way (Secret Ingredients RMX) Dedicated (I actually discovered this track last week…I’ve been listening to it everyday since! I don’t know how I missed this track when it came out!!!)
Photek “Ni Ten Ichi Ryu” Science
Galaxy 2 Galaxy “Hi Tek Jazz” Underground ResistanceNew:
Johnny D “Touched Soul” Deep Vibes
Luna City Express “Seven” (Agnès Dubhouse RMX) Moonharbour
Dachshund “Holiday now” Perspectiv
Soultourist “Fo Eva” Drumpoet Community
Fabrice Lig “The Track” VersatileCHECK OUT QUARION ON MYSPACE TO HEAR HIS MUSIC
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Charts
Pat Fontes March Chart
1. Martin Moeller - Guppies am Obstand - Aspik Musik
2. Creatures - 600 Euros - Resopal Schallware
3. Maetrik - The Light - Treibstoff
4.. Marcel Knopf - Think About You - Rrygular
5. Mathias Kaden - Lucidas - Freude-Am-Tanzen
6. Martinez - Burning Midnight Oil - Cray1 LabWorks
7. Luca Bachetti - Rolling Brooklyn ( Lee Von Dowski’s Monday Turbulence Mix ) - Wagon Repair
8. Harada - Conscious Movement - Micro|Fon [br]
9. Harry Axt - Der Papageintaucher - Kiddaz.Fm
10. Namito - Zizou ( Tom Pook’s Zizooks Remix ) - Kling Klong
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Charts, Featured
Chris Fortier Interview & Chart
Your label just celebrated it’s 50th release, that’s a pretty huge accomplishment in our little dance music world. What’s the philosophy behind the Fade sound & how have you managed to keep it going this long?
the label has always been another creative outlet for me. it has never been a tool for making money or anything financial. it has simply been another way that I can be involved with the music I am really into. I sign tracks that I think are interesting and fresh, but also adding something new to the label’s overall sound and development too. I want to always keep the sound of the label moving forward and growing just as I do as a DJ and a producer. the reason it has been able to continue keep going is that I put out tracks l like and believe in and am ready to stand behind whether it sells 1 copy or 10, 000 copies.What was the first record you ever bought? Your most treasured record?
the first record I bought when I started buying house music was “a guy called bat” by the beat pirate, and also mickey oliver’s “in ten si t”. the most treasured record, that is tough, I have some that I value and love for the sheer memories they conjure, but choosing one, I might have to choose jc001 – favourite breaks.Where you from? Where you at?
I was born in Virginia beach, but grew up from 7 years old to mid-20’s in central florida, so I guess I would call florida my original home. but I have been living in nyc for the past 9 years. right now I am doing this interview from mexico. I just finished 3 gigs this weekend here, all really good.What was the best place you ever played?
the best place ever is hard to nail down to one place, or one gig. but if I have to choose one in the past year, it would be Lebanon. the club was like this underground bunker outside of the city. it was rammed packed and people just going for it to the music. one thing that made it more remarkable was that they had a retractable roof that they would open for effect. so during the nights in certain music themes, the roof would open and the skies and stars peered down and the place would erupt.What was the weirdest place you ever played?
there have definitely been some weird gigs, with weird setups and weird occurrences. but one gig that was weird on so many levels was a gig a few years ago in venezuela. the gig itself while playing was ok, but the strange and un-nerving thing was that I had these armed guards following me everywhere I went (for protection). they stayed outside my hotel room in the hotel hallway, the followed me into the toilets in the club and restaurants. they blocked people from trying to speak with me or shake my hand. it was pretty uncomfortable the whole experience and not one I am eager to repeat.Proudest musical accomplishment
proudest musical accomplishment has to be working with sarah mclachlan and delerium on “silence” and watching that become a worldwide hit. something we never expected, but to see it from the studio to becoming a #1 in some many countries and people singing to the words in clubs, it is pretty special.Vinyl or digital?
vinyl all the way. I will always be a music fan and record collector and do not ever want to lose it. I love everything about vinyl and it gives me the most comfort when I am djing.Top 5 songs of all-time?
a guy called Gerald – emotions electric
pleasure – please (remix)
unknown dj – basstronic
the klf – kylie said to Jason (remix)
octave one – I believeTop songs for February ‘08
01 R Play - Taper (Synewave)
02 James T Cotton – The Second Night Cycle (Spectral Sounds)
03 Approved Electronic Device – Theme Scheme (W/L)
04 Chris Fortier - As Long As The Moment Exists (Error Error Remix) (EQ)
05 Code Talkers - Land of Thor / So (Fade Records)
06 Marc Romboy & Tyree Cooper - Lost (Ovum)
07 Chris Fortier – Fill In The Blank (40oz Music)
08 Alex Smoke – Vaporub / Blackbody (Hum & Haw)
09 Matthew Styles – Home Loan (DNP)
10 Jerome Syndenham & Tiger Stripes – T + K (Argy Mix) (Ibadan)
11 Off Pop – Down (Rosco Edit) (Popnoramo)
12 Bruno Pronsato – Same Faces, Different Names (Hello Repeat)
13 Juan MP - K_nsthche (Chris Fortier_40oz Remix) (Rocker)
14 Toby Tobias – Breakdown/Schweet (Rekids)
15 Exercise One – Wandering (Lan)
16 Subb an & Matt Mancini – Italia Subculture (Slam Remix) (Leftoom)
17 Style of Eye – Hide / The Big Kazoo (Dirtybird)
18 Amplified Fear – Feel The Fear (OD)
19 Kasper Bjorke - Doesnt Matter (Chris Fortier_40oz Remixes) (Plant Music)
20 Gavin Herlihy – Pranin Braun (Jesse Rose Mix) (True To Form)
21 Bileebob – Sunshine (Agoria Remix) (UR)
22 Marc Antona – Vitamin D (Micro Fibres)
23 Samuel L Sessions – Off The Chain (Drums Mix) (Klap Klap)
24 Friends of Heidi – Heidi (A Mix) (W/L)
25 Swat Squad – Iceberg (Galaktika -
Charts
Soul Clap’s February Top 10+2
You will hear all these songs tonight.
Andomat 3000 - Vertical Smile - Cecille Records
Daso + Pawas - Kkb - Spectral Sound
Hercules & Love Affair - Blind (Hercules Club Mix) - DFA
Kabale Und Liebe & Daniel Sanchez - Mumbling Yeah (Marco Carola Kick Rmx) - Remote Area
Plasmik - Supertubos (Matt O’Brien Remix) - Connaisseur
Sascha Funke - The Ballerina - BPitch Control
Solomun - Beauty & The Beast (Vocal Mix) - Four:Twenty
Efdemin Lohn & Brot (tobias. Remix) - liebe*detail spezial
Layo & Bushwacka! - Live2Live (Loco Dice Remix) - Olmeto Records
Ananda Project - Where The Music Takes You (Pasta Boys Dub) - Nite Grooves
Bon Johnson - Slumber Party Massacre (Soul Clap Organ Mix) - CD-R
Tim Ryan - Agnus Dei (Soul Clap Deep Mix) - CD-R -
Charts
Chuck Caseroc’s Top 10 - January 2008
Chuck Caseroc is a member of the infamous Redlight Music collective and Formula 409 Crew that has been around Boston since the early days of electronic music. He will be performing on Wednesday, January 23rd @ Phoenix Landing w/ Cnyce of Soul Clap. WORD!
1. Rick Wade - Night of the Living Deep EP - Yore Records
LISTEN | BUY MP32. Mikael Stavostrand and Franco Cinelli - Monday Blue EP - Sunset Diskos
LISTEN | BUY MP33. Lindstrom - Plague the Kid EP - Bear Entertainment
LISTEN | BUY VINYL4. SLG - Invisible EP - Level Records
LISTEN | BUY MP35. Ovatow - Phalaenopsis - Frantic Flowers
LISTEN | BUY VINYL6. Einmusik - De’ Medici - Italic
LISTEN | BUY MP37. Sascha Dive - The Basic Collective EP - Deep Vibes
LISTEN | BUY MP38. Ski Oakenfull - Illuminations (Milton Jackson Mix) - Primaudial
LISTEN | BUY MP39. Poussez - Kangaroos - Blacksoul
LISTEN | BUY MP310. Unai - I Like Your Style (Martinez Mix) - Force Tracks
LISTEN | BUY MP3 -
Charts
Elyte’s January Top 11
Elyte is a resident DJ on Wednesdays. He’s also one of half of Soul Clap. Make sure to check all the links to listen & buy the tracks and learn about the artists and labels.
- Son Of Raw - A Black Man In Space - Objektivity
LISTEN | BUY VINYL - Ripperton - Zugunruhe - Connaisseur Superieur
LISTEN | BUY MP3 - Gel Abril - Papa Dee - Ovum Recordings
LISTEN | BUY MP3 - Chaim & James Blonde - Roxy Feeling - My Best Friend
LISTEN | BUY MP3 - Internullo - Sentimente (Nea Marin Remix) - Desolat
LISTEN | BUY MP3 - Jona - Puppets - Toys For Boys Records
LISTEN | BUY MP3 - Nico Purman - Romantique (Einzelkind Remix) - Mule Electronic
LISTEN | BUY MP3 - Mountain People DJs - Mountain005.1 - Mountain People
LISTEN | BUY MP3 - Soul Clap - Up & Under - Itzamna
LISTEN | BUY MP3 - Matt John - Olga Dancekowski (Audion’s Paradise Cafe’ Mix) - BAR25
LISTEN | BUY VINYL - Syclops - Where’s Jason’s K - DFA
LISTEN | BUY VINYL
- Son Of Raw - A Black Man In Space - Objektivity
