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June 19th, 2009
Stacey Pullen is the latest DJ to contribute to 2020Vision’s eponymously titled compilation series.
The Detroit DJ will follow in the footsteps of 2020 owner Ralph Lawson and edit king Greg Wilson, compiling his personal favourites from the label onto a single mixed CD. Pullen actually goes back quite far with the label, who are celebrating fifteen years on the scene this year. As Ralph Lawson explains, “Stacey was one of the first DJs to send us a fax to say he liked one of our tracks (”Raptures of the Deep”). When you are starting out, to receive praise from someone of his standing really
motivates you – it was a big moment for us. We got in touch with Stacey and asked him to remix the track which he did, and to have him on the label really cemented our reputation.”
Click to continue readingJune 17th, 2009
Luke Vibert will continue his prolific ways in August with a new album under his own name, entitled We Hear You.
The full-length reportedly will once again be a genre-defying record that combines his “idiosyncratic samples, sweetly strange melody, big bass and sloppy drums.” And while we haven’t heard the results yet, we can’t help think that we probably know exactly what Vibert connecting “the dots between Terry Riley, dubstep bass and hip-hop” sounds like. Either way, we’ll all be able to judge the results come August when the CD version of the album is released on Planet Mu. (It will be Vibert’s third album on the label.)
Planet Mu will release Luke Vibert’s We Hear You on August 10, 2009.
June 17th, 2009
Let’s face it: the idea of Misstress Barbara switching from lipstick fembot techno dominatrix to bona fide synth-pop chanteuse is a ridiculous one. From her early ’90s beginnings—first on the inchoative Montreal rave scene, then on the international level via circuit parties and Ibiza orgies—Barbara was always associated with the relentless side of techno. This magnetic aura is precisely what attracted her, according to early interviews, to the genre in the first place. That said, the Barcelona and Don’t Leave EPs, both released in 2007, showcased an aesthetic shift hinted at by her Come With Me mixed CD, a compilation that featured the likes of Sebo K, Trentemøller, Nahan Fake and Dominik Eulberg.
Fast forward to early 2009, and Misstress Barbara’s comeback single is starting to float around. Weirdly enough, it sounds like “Barcelona” with awkward vocals on top. Even more troubling: It’s a Leonard Cohen cover. That said, “Dance Me to the End of Love” is not as terrible as the idea sounds. (It’s definitely not as painful as Miss Kittin & The Hacker’s current take on “Suspicious Minds.”) But Barbara’s voice is, unsurprisingly, a bit flat, a fact that is unfortunately backed up by the banality of the lyrical content of I’m No Human, her first official album as a singer. The title track and “J’étais une fleur” are especially worth mentioning for their cringe-inducing powers (especially if you understand French).
April 23rd, 2009
The judge in the pirate bay was unsuitable and should have been replaced. That’s the opinion of several experts.
An investigation by Swedish public radio shows that the judge in the Pirate Bay trial has been a member of several pro-copyright associations, rendering him unfit to preside over the trial, which hinged on accusations of copyright infringement.
Judge Tomas Norström is a member of the Swedish Association for the Protection of Industrial Property, and the Swedish Copyright Association, among others. He strongly denies that this influenced his decision in any way.
Now the Pirate Party is demanding that the trial be re-run with a different judge. Party leader Rick Falkvinge says that this is a case of inexcusable corruption and perversion of justice. Not only did judge Tomas Norström work for a foundation that also employed one of the representatives of the film business, but one of the investigating police officers involved in the trial went on to work for one of the companies involved before the trial was even over.
Sweden’s former Ombudsmen of Justice, Rune Lavin, says that he himself would not have taken the case in this situation and it is clear that Judge Tomas Norström should not have done so either.
April 20th, 2009
Grammy nominated producer Adam Freeland will unveil his newest full-length in June under a new moniker, Freeland.
Freeland, who is perhaps best known for his nu skool breakbeat sound, has sliced off his first name from the project as an acknowledgement that Cope™ is a new beast: a full band project. The album, which sees Freeland acting as producer for the likes of Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago and Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez along the way, features Kurt Baumann fronting Freeland and singing on a variety of tracks throughout. Says Freeland, “I’ve always mixed rock into my sets anyway, so having a band is just a natural progression from that. Freeland has all the hard-hitting grooves of my DJ sets, but played live they’re even more raw, personal and in your face. This is the sound I’ve always heard in my head, so now I want to hear it as loud as possible!”
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Marine Parade will release Adam Freeland’s Cope™ on June 9, 2009.
April 17th, 2009
While only a few weeks ago, it seems like an eternity since the trial of The Pirate Bay Four ended and the court retired to consider its verdict. The prosecution claimed that the four defendants were ‘assisting in making copyright content available’ and demanded millions of dollars in damages. The defense did not agree, and all pleaded not guilty – backed up by the inimitable King Kong defense.
Today, Friday April 17, the court issued its decision.
