August 30, 2011Sad news regarding the passing of Dan Sicko, the writer who for many legitimized the Detroit techno movement. As a freelance journalist Dan covered the scene at the grassroots as electronic underground music slowly expanded, and put himself out there to shoulder the responsibility of documenting something he rightly believed was revolutionary and world-changing. Guys like me looking backwards to…
August 24, 2011If only there there could be a new Firecracker Recordings record each week. Alas, with the time and care they put in to making each release such a high standard, we’re not sure if they’ll ever be able to break free of their “about one a year” release schedule. Firecracker dropped their seventh release this week; produced by Fudge Fingas…
August 17, 2011With the Omar-S full length album – It Can Be Done, But Only I Can Do It, CD only release, but definitely worth checking – arriving this month, there’s no doubt been a sudden rush on the ever-popular Omar-S ice cube trays. Endorsed and supplied by the Detroit producer’s own FXHE label and sold in a variety of colours for…
August 12, 2011I wrote about Dan McPharlin briefly in an article for Shook Issue #5 a while back, as the man responsible for the Mr Chop artwork on the producer’s seminal Lightworlds EP. The design on that record was loosely based on the world within the 8-bit format game Marble Madness, stunningly futurised even further according to Dan’s vision for the music.…
August 3, 2011As I’ve banged on about before I’m a big Beastie Boys fan. Absolutely gutted then at the $750 price tag on these figurines. Granted it’s a good cause with proceeds heading to the Pablove Foundation and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation who both work with children diagnosed with cancer, but I’d still like to be able to afford one. Maybe less…
July 22, 2011UPDATE: Show now extended to September 30th. Only a few weeks left of this, been meaning to spread the word since I accidentally stumbled on it a few months ago. Whether or not you’re normally in to contemporary art, this is really good. I know we’re touching on something that’s a matter of opinion, but part of the appeal is…
July 4, 2011Six months ago if someone had mentioned to Chairman Kato that he’d be hosting his second art show in East London this week, he wouldn’t have believed it. Never one to walk away from an opportunity however, the musician / artist most definitely delivered with Underbelly – his incredible installation with Chris Stoneman – and is now following it up…
June 26, 2011Stumbled upon what seemed like a massive squat, but turned out to be one of the world’s most famous art communes. Kunsthaus Tacheles is an epic 9000 square meter building coated inside and out with art and graffiti. Gigs can be held on the bottom floor in the massive cellar and various basements, and as you go up the five…
June 24, 2011Only been aware of the mystery man known as Redshape since his name appeared on the Sirko Mueller Reexplored plate as the one who mastered it; dropped last year via Wandering, side label parented by the incredible Mojuba Records. I know it’s a pretty weak connection but checking out subsequent releases has put me on to an incredible producer who…
June 22, 2011Having made their name with the creation of stunning replica hard and soft synths, Arturia have recently stepped in to the drum machine game with the uber-shiny Spark. It looks brilliant, but priced the same as Maschine it may have already knocked itself out of the market. The Tempest is no doubt the king in this vein at the moment,…