Exclusive Hostage Interview and Beatport Mix

I was lucky enough to get an email from Alan Hostage an awesome house producer who is set up for a busy few months, starting with a US tour with the OH SNAP!! peeps. I mentioned Hostage in my top 8 artists for 08' and expect him to grow in popularity throughout 09', to kick things off we have an exclusive interview with the man himself and some shameless self-plugging of his recent Beatport top 10 mix.

Lets kick this shizzle off!

Hi Alan thanks for taking some take out for this interview, How are you?

I'm pretty damn good today, it's Friday afterall and there's partying to be done. A tad cold at the bodily extremities but nothing a bit of Friday won't sort out!


For those that dont know your music - how would you describe your sound?

If it was a recipe for a nice dancefloor-cake you'd do the following:
Ingredients:
500g of Electro and mixed with 250g of House music
125g of Techno
A dash of Old-Skool Hardcore
A tablespoon of Fidget (If you don't have any fidget a wee bit of Wonk will do)
A knob of Bassline
Blend them all together into a nice wobbly dough.
Bake at Gasmark 128bpm for 1 hour and 20 Minutes.
Sprinkle with UK Rave Stabs circa 1992


How did you get into the music scene? Any tips for readers interested in getting into the industry?

I've been releasing records for 10 years, starting by the usual route - sending tapes to record labels, DJing locally and slipping my own tracks into the mixes - I've just been doing this for many years and now the sound which I favour has a stanglehold on the dancefloors and the Blogosphere which has meant many releases, remixes and gigs all over Europe - Just work hard at it and do what you like.


So your based in sunny Edinburgh.... whats the music scene like there?

It's hmmm...ok...the clubs keep burning down in Edinburgh. All musical sub-genres are represented in the Athens of the North, just on a very small scale!

What sort of people do you think would go to your gigs?

Ravers, Sweaties, Goths, Ghosts, Hipsters, Fanboys and Fangirls, Hedonistis, Trainspotters, Those with an uncontrolable desire to wave their arms and legs about whilst intoxicated.


Are you involved in any sort of promoting or are you pureley a DJ / Producer?

I've dabbled a bit in the past but it's real hard work so I empathise when I meet promoters when they have their 1 hour of mega-stress 1 hour before the doors open - but now pure production and gigs.


Whats your favourite track so far this year?

Bird Peterson - The Essence


What do you think to Crookers potentially going 'mainstream'? Will this affect your production style at all?

It wont affect my production style at all but It's kinda nice that the sounds which I like are being accepted in a mainstream way.

I heard the Crookers remix of Kid Cudi's Day and Night on TMF at 9:15am on Monday morning this week - which made me think - AWWGAWWWD, but then I thought, no, wait, that's damn cool, I bloody love that bassline, Ok, i've heard it in every set in every club all year, but damn, that's good that it's so popular.

Who should we look out for in 09'?

Volatile.


You have your Shake it EP out now on Beatport, aswell as a Top Ten Chart. Any other big projects / remixes of yours to look out for?

I have forthcoming remixes coming out for Eskimo Twins and aUtOdiDakT. My Remix of Bill Cosby Sweater is out this month on the Australian 'Sweat it Out' Records.
I'm starting my US Tour on 23rd January in El Paso, TX and will bring the uk rave-house sound to NYC, DC and various other american backwaters ;)


Who would you most like to DJ alongside?

Jimmy Saville


Do you have any messages for our readers?

Have a most splendid weekend and an even more splendid 2009.


I think you'll agree that was awesome. Be sure to check our Hostage on Beatport, for now, sample his Beatport top ten mixed in wonk-tastic fashion:


(click the image)

And the You Send It Version: Hostage - January Beatport Mix

bonus:

Hostage - Stab Up / (Y.S.I)

The Ultimate Discovery

While digging around my old cds at home, i found the usual: crap bought on a whim, my very first CD's, a Michael Jackson cassette of 'Bad' and even my first dance cd : The Ultimate Rave - which has "21 mindblowing mixes". I dont know how i actually managed to get this CD considering it was made in 1991 - i would have been 5 at the time.

I also had to scan the front cover, it says it all really! This was a very exciting moment like when you find money down the back of the sofa... The CD has some jems that i know, some i didnt know and will learn to love and some absolute classics. Old school flavours, with the likes of K-Klass, The KLF, Prodigy and Bizarre inc. I cant be greedy and keep all the tunage to myself. Enjoy.

K-Klass - Rhythm is a Mystery (Remix Edit) / (Y.S.I)

Bizarre Inc. - Playing With Knives (Quadrant Mix - Radio Edit) / (Y.S.I)



And a more contemporary cheesey banger from 1999 you will either love or hate:

Darude - Sandstorm / (Y.S.I)

Bugged Out with Oizo

Tonight, Londons very own Bugged Out behemoth will be gracing Sankeys in Manchester, with a curious line up of Mr. Oizo and Duke Dumont. I'm very excited, not only because Mr. Oizo is like a very fine bottle of wine, only coming out on very special occasions, but because he has the knack of being able to blend electro / jazz / acid house and RNB in the same set and get away with it.

Oh, let's not forget hes joined by Dubsided's Duke Dumont. Hoy!

Mr. Oizo - Flat Beat / (Y.S.I)

And the backstreetboystotalrudeghettodancingclub (haha) edit of Dukes' Gypsy banger:

Duke Dumont - Hoy! (BSBTRGC dans le desert Edit) / (Y.S.I)

Riva Starr Remixes

Riva Starr (or Riva $) also be recognisable as Technoey breaks producer Madox has really impressed me recently with his transition over to something more clubby. His upfront driving techno style, tight production skills but also his ability to mix it up is always refreshing. Alot of his remixes are kinda minimalistic electro, but have enough substance to keep you going - It seems a logical way for Riva to go, and works well.

Here, Riva spices up the age old classic 'Sound of Da Police' by KRS One, which has been heard in partys all across the planet for what seems like an eternity. Its a cut-back techno beat with a thudding, rolling tempo. It also cuts and loops 'wooop wooop', which is probably a good thing.

KRS One - Sound of Da Police (Riva Starr Remix - ie: Sound of Da Pecan) / (Y.S.I)

For wobbly try his take on Pirate Robot Midget :

Pirate Robot Midget - Its My Beat Now (Riva Starr Remix) / (Y.S.I)

And for sheer awesomeness (sorry about the quality):

Fatboy Slim VS Riva Starr - Rockafella Skank / (Y.S.I)

Crookers are Animals

Not that 2008 wasnt already huge for Baile Fidgeteers the Crookers, i'm expecting even bigger things throughout 2009 and a shed load more remixes along the way. Things are also likeley to heat up especially considering their rumoured collaboration with Hip Hop remixer and producer Kanye West.

Kanye West has every right to jump on the 'popular scene' band wagon, his use of samples is one of his most appealing features of his music (although hip hop has been based around sampling since the early days)... It does fill me with sadness though to think that Crookers are probably going to be on MTV bass and the like... Anyhow, let me know what you think of their newest remix of Mike Snow's "Animal". It has a carnival feel again, similar to Punk Jump Ups remix of 'Carny'.

Miike Snow - Animal (Crookers Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Bass Weazels!!

BEWARE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN FIDGET. So will alot of my 2009's posts im guessin.. Bass Weazals are fun party tastic house producers. Fidget to the max with big beat, rave and crunk vibes coming as standard.

Plus, they remixed my favourite Switch banger ever 'This is sick'. Definately a duo to watch for '09:

Solid Groove - This is Sick (Bass Weazals This is Sick Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Plus bonus old school sounds:

Nyteowl - Bring Back Da Funk (Bass Weazals Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Happy New Years Electro Lovers !

Happy NYE everyone! Hope you all had a good one – Tramp was pretty good, a bit minimal at times but good vibes overall, with plenty of new and old tracks put together well. I also heard good things about the Wax:On night in Newcastle from my friends. Claude Von Stroke and Fake Blood were the nuts supposedly.

I’ve actually been running a few days late on this one, I lack any form of internet at my house and my neighbours have passworded their wireless signal – how dare they. I am basically here to put together a short list of my favourite 8 producers for the year and give examples as to why they are so awesome. The music scene in 2008 has been ridiculously awesome and has seen a big shift in not just electronic music, but the clubbing scene in general.

Pretty much gone are the days of ‘avin’ it’ electro in clubs, tunes from the likes of Justice and every other impersonator typified by huge distorted synths, legions of sweaty neon ravers and general madness. Thats not to say that style is not popular, or indeed won't come back. But right now, things have got a bit more cheeky, grimey and dubbier along the way with producers reinventing our favourite genres to satisfy our thirst for something new.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of a distorted banger in a mix but you wont be seeing any Boys Noize, Justice or MSTRKRFT in my top 8, times are a changin’ folks.

In no particular order i have loved:

Fake Blood:
The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful (Fake Blood Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Crookers:
Azzido Da Bass - Dooms Night (Crookers Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Drop the Lime:
The Fugees - Ready or Not (Drop the Lime Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Jack Beats
AC Slater - Jack got Jacked (Jack Beats Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Boy 8-Bit:
DJ Touche - Girls a Freak (Boy 8-Bit Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Hostage:
Altern8 - Frequency (Hostage Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Proxy:
Autodidakt - Shit Your Rack (Proxy Remix) / (Y.S.I)

And last but not least: Foamo:
Mystery Jets - Half in Love With Elizabeth (Foamo Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Lets make '09 a good one!

x

The Postal Service Remixes

Seeing as the UK postal service is back up and running, it seemed only fair to check HypeM for any news on The Postal Service's will-it-or-wont-it-happen second album. Zilch. Nada. Nothing.

Their first album 'Give Up' released back in 2003, was a collaboration between Death cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello from Dntel who got their name from posting back and forth bits of music to each other to make the album. The mix of Gibbards indie vocals and melodic guitar riffs with angelic electronic beats makes for one of my favourite albums of all time.

I'm trying to keep the fire burning with a couple of remixes of my favourite tracks. This squelchy effort from Mexicans with Guns doesn't mess around too much with the daydreaming original and has a somewhat dubby feel.

The Postal Service - We Will Become Silhouettes (Mexicans With Guns Remix) / (Y.S.I)

John Tejada's version of 'Such Great Heights' has a glitchy, deconstructed and echoey vibe:

The Postal Service - Such Great Heights (John Tejada Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Distortion. Noise. Destruction. Overdrive

The title says it all really, i put up a Fukkk Offf track a few weeks back, this time round Fukkk Off has had some remix treatment from distortion lover Le Castle Vania. The synthy rock remixes arent necessarily 'in' right now, but this doesnt stop LCV's effort resurrecting my deep down love for rocky, growling bangers.

Fukkk Offf - Rave is King (Le Castle Vania Remix) / (Y.S.I)

Too much Turkey!

After a variety of dodgy presents (a notepad with a picture of a kitten on it..?), too much xmas turkey and alot of watching TV im awaiting the end of xmas spirit and eagerly looking forward to the NYE onslaught.

If your down Landan way check out Jack Beats / Toddla T / Scratch Perverts at Fabric for NYE - expect bass, beats and good times. Too warm you up check Jack Beats cheeky mix :

Jack Beats Fabric Mix 08:

1. Digitalism - Home Zone (Proxy Remix)
2. Laid Back Luke & Atrak - Shake It Down
3. Hot Chip - Touch Too Much (Fake Blood Remix)
4. DJ Mujava - Township Funk (Boy 8 Bit Remix)
5. DJ Mehdi - Pocket Piano (Joakim “Piano Debout” Remix)
6. Mr. Oizo - Gay Dentists
7. Mystery Jets - Half In Love (Foamo Remix)
8. Rye Rye feat. Count & Sinden - Hardcore Girs
9. Audio Bullies - Dope Fiend (Tommie Sunshine and Udachi Remix)
10. Project Bassline - Drop The Pressure (Jack Beats Remix)
11. Herve - Who Da Champ
12. AC Slater - Jack Got Jacked (Jack Beats Remix)
13. TC - Wheres My Money (Caspa Remix : Jack Beats re-work)
14. Piddy Py - Giggle Riddim
15. Skream - Fick
16. Chase and Status - Saxon