Breakbeat Royalty

Another cool blog

2011-06-02T17:40:00.005+02:00

Due to the fact that all my hard work goes into Sound of Habib the label and Breakbeat Royalty the publishing side of things (not to mention my other companies and my family), this blog quite frankly, has been dying on its arse. So I got this friendly email from fellow breakbeat enthusiast Mr No Hands who runs a blog that is NOT dying on its arse. Quite the opposite, actually.

Check out the blog, Life Support Machine for news, reviews, interviews and awesome free to download breaks, dubstep, electro-whatevers. Edited by Mixmag’s Beats, Breaks and Bass Reviews Editor, Mr No Hands, the site features anything, from the funky to the fidgety, wonky to the downright nasty.

The Life Support Machine podcast features upfront tracks from artists including the Bassbin Twins, Nick Thayer, Plump DJs, Featurecast and Bassnectar. Guest podcasts supplied from DJs include Mr Sofalumpkins AKA T. Power, Ben & Lex, Plaza De Funk and The Freerange DJs.

Go-go-go gadget!

lifesupportmachine.co.uk

Free track from Karton

2009-08-14T10:22:00.001+02:00

Karton "Phoenix" FREE to download by Sound of Habib

Grab this free track from Australia's top breakbeat duo! Absolutely stunning work, as usual. Also check their track Spacetrip 82, out now on Sound of Habib with remixes from Beta and Hellfire Machina.

Myagi - The Heat out now plus free radio edit mp3!

2009-06-13T22:38:00.000+02:00

Hey everybody! Just wanted to give you a blast and mention that Myagi "The Heat / Fireball" is out at beatport now - although a monkey snuck into my room and named it "Andrew Mavor - The Heat / Fireball"......and by monkey I mean im crap at filling out excel data import sheets. :)

To celebrate its release I'm giving away a radio edit of the track at high res - you can grab it at various blogs around the net or at my myspace!
http://www.myspace.com/myagisoleclaw

.....

Myagi - The Heat / Fireball

You can buy the release at beatport now!
https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/168366/the_heat_fireball

.....

It's been called "huge" by some and "essential" others and dubbed "mayhem" by grammy winner The Scumfrog. Dj Dan thinks its "awesome" and at least one reviewer claimed it made his groin tingle - its PAL006 - "Myagi - The Heat / Fireball" and it will be the soundtrack to MANY a wrong doing this summer.

Continuing on with his no holds barred assault on genre purity, Myagi's Pop And Lock hypes it up with two ridiculously monstrous tracks that layer big electro house beats, heavy bass grooves and chunky mangled breaks:

"The Heat" is a minimal acid / percussive affair with a huge bassline and massive builds... big rises and lots and lots of peak outs, this is a house track that fits in any set as a total peak time heads down rocker. A firm crowd fave over the last while, this track is sure to push any system to the brink.

"Fireball" is a big synthy number with loads of feedback and a rolling beat - huge kicks and snares combine with a 303 lead bass groove to create a huge building groove that's one part Orbital one part Hardfloor and one part Chemical Brothers.

Advance support from Dj Dan, The Scumfrog, Phil Hartnoll (Orbital / Long Range), Utah Saints, Flash Brothers, Meat Katie and more...

you can grab the free radio edit here:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/61326476ecd4bfb0/

and the remix pack here:
http://www.zshare.net/download/61326110e9e392ec/

Janette Slack mix to download!

2009-06-10T08:19:00.001+02:00

Just a quick note to hand over my new 45min mix: 'Strap It Tight'.

These tunes are seriously rockin' my boat at the mo.
Had such a great time at TG's 18th Birthday Ball. Pix Here
So hurried and made this mix whilst the night was still fresh in my mind!
Here ya go! STRAP IT TIGHT

That should phatten up any anorexic iPOD that needs a healthy dose of peak time pleasure.

TRACKLISTING
1. Bounce - A-trak (Mstrkrft Mix)
2. Flashback - Wolfgang Gartner
3. Direction Connection - Sean Biddle (Paul Anthony mix) (J Slack Edit)
4. Hook Shot - Wolfgang Gartner
5. Chop Shop - DJ Dan (macca mix)
6. Why are all the pretty ones always insane - Andy Page & Lee Burridge
7. Minimal My Ass - Miles Dyson
8. Trash - The Whip (Crookers Mix)
9. Overdose - Chris Anderson
10. Virus - Sweet Cheat
11. Pastfari - Beep (Robb G & Phat Controller Mix)
12. Bassbuss - Dj Icey
13. Township Funk - Mujava (Sinden Mix)

ENJOY!

/Janette Slack

Happy birthday to me, free mp3 for you!

2009-05-02T20:26:00.000+02:00

Well, It's my 30th birthday today (May 2nd) and so I figured what better way to say thanks for the last 8 years of my life than by giving away my fave track off my album "3 Years Of Sunrise" at my myspace.

"3 Years Of Sunrise" came out to great critical acclaim last summer and a huge chunk of that was thanks to this tune "Staring At The Sun," which is for sure one of my favorite things I've written throughout my career. You can download it for free now at my myspace at:

http://www.myspace.com/myagisoleclaw

Hope you guys love this track as much as I do - the whole album is available at itunes, beatport, napster, etc!

Also, the most recent Pop And Lock single "Myagi - Monolith" has just come out at beatport - its a huge track that works in both house and breaks sets and is backed by a hard acid breaks remix by yours truly and a slick, classy prog mix by Jake Chec.

Available at beatport now:
https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/168365/monolith

And remember, all mailing list subscribers get the remix kit free as a thanks for signing up - make your own version!
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001_Ke66uLjz74c7e648cGKYw%3D%3D

Thanks all!!!!

Myagi / Pop and Lock

Is Russia the new home for breaks?

2009-04-28T23:58:00.001+02:00

http://www.thisisbreaks.com/

My editorial blog for thisisbreaks is full of great music from around the world. Check it out!

Free Myagi - Monolith Remix kit for Mailing list members!

2009-04-19T00:39:00.002+02:00

Hey there!

Myagi's Pop And Lock Records is heating up, and to celebrate the upcoming April 28th release of PAL05 - Myagi Monolith, we've decided to give away the remix kit for the Monolith original to anyone who subscribes to the Pop And Lock Mailing List!

The Monolith EP has garnered support from the likes of the Utah Saints, The Dub Pistols, Cut La Roc, DJ Dan, Jon Carter and more...

Follow the link below and sign up - links to the remix kit will be provided in the welcome e-mail - feel free to make your own version and have fun with it:
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001_Ke66uLjz74c7e648cGKYw%3D%3D

You can preview the original and the remixes right away at http://www.myspace.com/myagisoleclaw

Cheers!

Andrew / Myagi

Myagi - Monolith - out soon!

2009-04-11T22:23:00.002+02:00

Out late april at beatport, everywhere else shortly after!
Myagi - Monolith - Pop And Lock

Original
Myagi Acid Funk Breaks Remix
Jake Chec Remix

Myagi's "Pop And Lock Records" is heating up - the ridiculously good "How To Test" ep is chased by this triple heater of Myagi tracks fronted by the prog meets minimal meets electro "Monolith" - chunky big techy house beats combine with raspy bass, fidgety synth hits and a melodic bittersweet lead to create a huge combo that defies genre limits and plots new territory for the label.

Myagi's "acid funk breaks" remix is a huge nu-skool-y broken beat affair with monster leads and a build that evokes old acid big beat. Rolling breaks and synths punch with a huge sub and the whole thing blows up with a tweaked out screaming acid line that squeals with the best of them.

Jake Chec turns in a blinder of a remix, grabbing the best parts of the original and taking the track into prog house territory - big kicks, and acid bassline and a huge breakdown - a monster reworking of a huge original - big rolling Giorgio Moroder-esque house breaks down into a big melodic breakbeat affair and then pulls it all back to a pounding finish. Killer!

Heres what some key players are saying!!!!!

Discoscience
Favourite: myagi`s acid funk remix
Feedback: yes..perfect discoscience trax... big, bassy and in yer face... excellent!!

Carbon Community Dave
Favourite: Undecided
Feedback: Juicy tunes. I am not sure which one is my favorite. All three posses something that I like. Feeling it for sure. I definitely didn't see the breakdown in Jake's mix coming. Like 'em all. Big ups Myagi and friends!

Jon Carter
Favourite: Original mix of Monolith
Feedback: Yeah - like it. Nasty in the right places

DJ Dan
Favourite: Acid Funk remix
Feedback: All good tracks!

Myagi's Dad
Favourite: Sorry - don't believe in competitions
Feedback: Great stuff, though some chick (your mom) referenced some reggae feel and I don't find it. Kept waiting for that sub to blow up! Great urban driving sndtrk.

Cut La Roc
Favourite: Like em all
Feedback: Something for everyone here, nice work, will drop it tonight :)

Phil Splitloop
Favourite: Monolith - Myagi's Acid Funk Remix
Feedback: Feeling the Acid Funk remix - got all the usual Myagi attitude with a nice fight between the chords and the elastic synths.

Jez (Utah Saints)
Favourite: Both
Feedback: Another piece of quality from Myagi! Thanks!

Dj Sonny D (owner of the east coast of Canada)
Favourite: Myagi - Monolith - Myagi's Acid Funk Remix
Feedback: I like the Acid Funk Remix myself but I will likely play the original more. It's certainly got that signature Myagi sound. The Jake Chec remix is dope as hell. I hope I get the opportunity to play some late night/early morning sets so I can really get behind that remix.

Ian / Daniella Downs (general Muppet)
Favourite: Acid Funk mix
Feedback: that's what the f&*k i'm talking about. that's f&*in dope right there.

Barry Ashworth (Dub Pistols)
Favourite: Myagi's Acid Funk mix
Feedback: another Myagi classic

Rob Savage (Groove Diggerz / Breakin Even)
Favourite: Monolith Original
Feedback: Absolute whopper, lovin all 3 mixes, a great release, love the new direction. big ups mate.

Name: Nick Thayer (aka Nick Thayer)
Favourite: Acid Funk Mix
Feedback: Wicked package. Chunky and ravey all at once.

Sal Lil'Stormer
Favourite: Myagi - Monolith - Myagi's Acid Funk Remix
Feedback: Digging all 3 tracks, can imagine playing each of them out at different times, depending on the mood, set and crowd. Original Monolith is a good chunky mover, good builder. Would play the Acid Funk remix for a more peak time nutty crowd. Love the acid madness innit.

Angus Robinson
Favourite: Acid Funk remix
Feedback: The Acid Funk mix is freakin' brilliant. Those are some crisp drums, man!

The Sound of Habib spring line up

2009-04-06T20:46:00.002+02:00

It's release season again for Sound of Habib. This is what we are unleashing upon you!

April 20th
Liz Melody "Skeptical" + Karton remix

May 4th
Karton "Spacetrip82" + Beta and Hellfire Machina remixes

May 25th
Jurassik & XLY "We should be" + remix

new album - join me

2009-04-01T10:25:00.003+02:00

Just a quick heads-up, have recently started work on a new album and decided to share the entire working process online. As an avid album buyer, 'band at work' photos printed on sleeve art are quite possibly the coolest thing ever.

So to mimic this idea, I am posting images from my camera phone every few hours to my Blogger blog. I expect the album will take about a year, just completed the first song last night, and there will be a photo going online every few hours until the CD is released.

Through the images I'm hoping you can follow my train of thought, see some of the people & gear & locations I work with, where I find sources of inspiration ... or just see how bad things get when the motivation dries up!

Not posting video clips, they are to literal. Nor posting work in progress MP3s, that would just ruin the album.

Hope you enjoy the (wish I had a better word to use next...) journey, please comment on what you see, and I'm more that happy to answer any & all questions along the way.

Albeit with a slight delay, the most recent photo links are automatically mirrored to my Twitter page, if you are that way inclined.

New editorial blog on thisisbreaks.com

2009-03-31T14:21:00.001+02:00

http://www.thisisbreaks.com/

Covering the great new Future Funk Squad remix, as well as new stuff from Diverted, this week's blog i shock full of good music.

Karton on Soundcloud

2009-03-25T19:45:00.003+01:00

Sound of Habib artists Karton are about to blow the roof off 2009 with two extremely hot tracks. First up a remix of the upcoming Liz Melody single Skeptical, and then their own masterpiece Spacetrip82.

Liz Melody - Skeptical (Karton RMX) by Karton

Karton - Spacetrip82 by Karton

Check out their artist page on Soundcloud!

Left of centre: on the pacific front

2009-03-25T18:50:00.002+01:00

My weekly editorial on thisisbreaks.com check it and join the discussion or just leave a comment.

New editorial blog on thisisbreaks.com

2009-03-17T23:46:00.002+01:00

Starting today I will cover our side of breaks for thisisbreaks.com

Prog and everything else that doesn't fit the glorified electro house that is breaks today (ok exaggerating).

Check it! thisisbreaks.com

Big ups to thisisbreaks for catering to the left of centre part and global of the scene.

Breakspoll report

2009-03-12T21:42:00.002+01:00

Check this breakspoll report with some cool interviews courtesy of Love that tune dot com.

http://www.lovethattune.com/love-that-tune/2009/3/3/review-breakspoll-2009-with-exclusive-video-interviews-with.html

New old stuff on soundcloud

2009-03-08T10:58:00.003+01:00

Uploaded some more vintage stuff on Soundcloud. One of my old drum & bass tracks, one of my Dan F collabs and one of my fave remixes.

Dan F & Jariten "Halo" (2007) by Johan Soh

Kilowatts "Ideal chameleon" Johan Soh messed with texas remix (2004) by Johan Soh

Swedish connection "Blaze the beat" (1997) by Johan Soh

2009-03-03T22:18:00.000+01:00

In the coming months, Dead Famous will be releasing a Remix EP, and to coincide with that release, they are hosting a remix contest for DHD's seminal slab of techfunkery, "Scene". Entries are not limited to breaks, in fact remixes from all musical styles are welcomed. Everyone is eligible unless you already work for Dead Famous (not in a release/remix aspect), at which point you already know that you can't enter.

To enter, all you have to do is download the parts from this message. Send all completed entries in either 320 kbps mp3 or Wav format to brokenbeatnik@yahoo.com. The deadline for entries is May 1st, 2009. The winners will be announced on www.nuskoolbreaks.co.uk on May 11th, as well as notified personally.

Prizes (The important part)

1st Place

- Your remix will be featured on the Dead Famous Remix EP coming out later this year.

- You are guaranteed one future original release on Dead Famous.

- You are guaranteed one additional remix on a future Dead Famous release.

- The entire Dead Famous back catalog in mp3 form.

2nd Place

- You are guaranteed one remix on a future Dead Famous release.

- The entire Dead Famous back catalog in mp3 form

3rd Place

- The entire Dead Famous back catalog in mp3 form.

Download the parts via ZShare here!

Download the parts via Sendspace here!

Sharam Jey "Feel nobody" Dan F & Johan Soh remix LINK

2009-02-24T11:58:00.002+01:00

Direct Beatport link to the whole album, our remix is opening the whole thing!

https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/155319/Classic%20Editions%20Remix%20Album

Review of the album:
http://www.progressive-sounds.com/features/Sharam-Jey-Classic-Editions.asp

I haz a remix

2009-02-24T11:51:00.001+01:00

Stickybudz "Bass now VIP" Jariten remix by Johan Soh

Myagi in Computer Music

2009-02-16T23:50:00.001+01:00

Hey all, just a heads up that myagi does the drive time column in this months issue of computer music! (issue 136)

Hope you get a chance to have a quick read of it!

Truskool Sessions 5 download link

2009-01-23T16:58:00.005+01:00

Check the latest one hour mix in the Truskool Sessions series. Breakbeat, 4/4 all flavours accounted for. It is once again a very exciting musical journey. Hope you enjoy it! Feedback is always welcome.

Get it here:
http://www.soundofhabib.com

Truskool Sessions 5 on air and to download

2009-01-21T08:16:00.003+01:00

Time again for the eagerly awaited 5th Truskool Session. The series focuses on amazing breakbeat, melody driven bleepy house and everything in between, my personal selection of great tunes.

Since Truskool Session 3, we have been broadcasting the mix on the Midnight Minus Two broadcast on Brap FM. Session 5 is no exception, so tune in on Thursday at 8 pm.

After the show has aired (meaning Friday) the mix will be available for download on this blog and on the Sound of Habib site.

EQ Magazine interview

2009-01-13T21:35:00.003+01:00

A while back EQ Magazine did an interview with me and it's now available online:
http://eq-mag.co.uk/soundofhabib.html

There is a cool little mini mix in there of Sound of Habib stuff.

george michael - freedom booty

2009-01-13T02:52:00.002+01:00

This is purely for fun, grab away! :)

http://www.sendspace.com/file/t5vfn8

also - this megaupload link works too if sendspace is maxed out

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=O8VGEXDP

Still vocal for download

2009-01-05T18:56:00.002+01:00

A lot of people have been requesting the vocal for the tune "Still" that me and Myagi did. In this age of digital dj-ing and version mashing we are more than happy to oblige. Keep telling us what you want and we will try to deliver.

Link to Johan Soh & Myagi "Still" ft Sandra Nagano vocal

Enjoy!

Mesmer "Furious Fish LP"

2009-01-05T02:13:00.004+01:00

Mesmer - Furious Fish

Sound Of Habib proudly presents Mesmer’s debut LP, ‘Furious Fish’. This Romanian maestro is one of those rare producers whose prolific output is matched entirely – and invariably – by the supreme quality of his sound.

Having been on the up-and-up for the past few years, Mesmer’s magnificent ‘Rowlacoaster’ was released on Sound of Habib earlier this year, with a host of other productions fuelling his reputation as a major talent to watch. His sound is best described as deep, driving and atmospheric breakbeat, resplendent with choice vocal cuts, delicious psychedelia and a true sense of musicality.

From the sublime ‘Everytime We Lose Control’ and the speaker-shuddering ‘Wormsigns’ to the eccentric ‘Who Wants To Jack Jack’ and the percussive genius on ‘Lights Shine Down’, this album – every beat of it – will invigorate your soul, spank the dancefloor and leave you properly wowed. It’s the sound of Mesmer, and it’s every bit what breakbeat should be.

http://www.myspace.com/mesmer1979

- Tracklist -

01. Pushy
02. Everytime We Lose Control
03. She Knows
04. Wormsigns
05. Who Wants to Jack Jack
06. Vibrations
07. Lights Shine Down
08. Everytime We Lose Control (Reprise)
09. Millimetric Thoughts

DJ Support

"Digging this big style......" - Pathaan, BBC Radio

"Really like 'Lights Shine Down'." - Nick Thayer

"All sounds good! Feeling Wormsigns and Vibrations the most" - Wavewhore

"Good stuff! album sounds like it will be a solid one!" - Dellamorte

"Lights Shine Down – I like this one the best !!!! wow.... " - Karl Sav

"Mesmer continues to absolutely destroy the face of breakbeat, and this LP should shatter the breaks are dead rumours" - Daniella Downs

"Pushy is probably the pick of the bunch for me, that bassline is seriously addictive! I'm really enjoying "Vibrations" as well, that slightly dark-techy vibe is certainly hitting the spot, wicked use of vocals too." - The 101 connection, Battle of the DJs 2007 winner

"I've been a fan of Vibrations for a long time, great to see that it's going to get the release it deserves!" - Kickflip

"I love what mesmer is doing! All of the tracks are solid. Great grooves over crisp beats. and the melodies he writes are incredible." - Rican

"Once again these are all top productions, always 100% Mesmer style, but at the same time they all have something unique. Lots of emotion & big basses, can't wait to see the full release of the album!" - Marc Culot

"This album hit me like a cool head wrap in the desert, not since Dan F and PMT have I heard such freshly produced 'progressive' breaks tracks that really take a listener on a journey" - Dov, Muti Music

"feeling this mate really nice to hear mesmer being more playful and experimental while staying true to his core musicality.
This is great stuff from him its got lots of lasting appeal, will be playing a lot!" - Youthful implants

"great, love the progressive sound of the tracks!" - Barrcode

Mesmer's Furious Fish LP is available at these fine shops now!

Happy new year

2009-01-01T02:12:00.002+01:00

Wishing all the truskoolers and blog followers a happy 2009!
Stay tuned for more goodness in the coming year.

Myagi remix of Crystal Methods High Roller used in trailer for upcoming movie Push

2008-12-27T01:05:00.001+01:00

Just a quick heads up that my remix of The Crystal Method's "High Roller" has been used in the upcoming movie "PUSH" - pretty stoked about that, it provides pretty much all the musical track for the trailer....check below!

Johan Soh & Myagi "Still" ft Sandra Nagano

2008-12-18T00:12:00.003+01:00

Check Beatport, DJDownload and Addictech for your copy of Johan Soh & Myagi "Still" with remixes by Beta and Stefan Goodchild. This unique collaboration deals heavy beats and the remixes are a real treat from the prog edged Beta remix to the dijointed breakbeat outing of Stefan Goodchild.

Johan Soh & Myagi "Still" ft Sandra Nagano by Johan Soh

Johan Soh & Myagi "Still" (Beta remix) by Johan Soh

Johan Soh & Myagi "Still" (Stefan Goodchild remix) by Johan Soh

Beatport direct link to buy:
https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/label/detail/600/sound_of_habib

Thank you for your support!

New Karton release out now!

2008-12-11T01:31:00.001+01:00

Check Beatport, DJDownload and Addictech for your copy of Karton "HiFi Show". Heavy club beats from down under with a quirky rerub from J Hazen.

https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/label/detail/600/sound_of_habib

Thank you for your support!

High Eight Mix for download

2008-12-10T19:54:00.002+01:00

Hi all! Just a heads up that I've just put up a new mix for download on my website. It's called my "Greatest Hits Mix", a very tongue-in-cheek title you understand, but basically a few people recently asked me to do a mix of loads of my own material, so here it is. It's a 70-minute collection of my tracks and remixes, plus one rather cheeky bootleg.

Tracklisting:

1. High Eight - Thru Time [Re:Connect]
2. Pilch - Elektrify (High Eight Remix) [MBN]
3. Future Funk Squad - Deep Inside (High Eight Dub) [Default]
4. LBJ Vs Break The Box - No Rules (High Eight Remix) [Big Square]
5. Liz Melody - Forget U (High Eight Remix) [Re:Connect]
6. High Eight - Open Your Eyes [Re:Connect]
7. Mesmer - Rowlacoaster (High Eight Remix) [Sound Of Habib]
8. Acideyes - Scrutiny (High Eight Remix) [CDR]
9. High Eight & Liz Melody - Rock My World [Re:Connect]
10. Naked Electric & LD7 - Just Say (High Eight Remix) [MBN]
11. Dan F & Jariten - Halo (High Eight Remix) [Sound Of Habib]
12. Rhythm Mechanic - Get Bent (High Eight Remix) [Clutch]
13. High Eight - Coming To [Re:Connect]
14. ID - Mission (High Eight’s Acid Breaks Remix) [Re:Connect]
15. Foo Fighters - Best Of You (High Eight’s Bootleg Breaks Mix) [CDR]

Head over to my website www.higheight.com to download it FREE!

Myagi remix contest and artist feature at Fxpansion.com!

2008-12-05T19:59:00.001+01:00

hey all!

Just a heads up that the good people at http://www.fxpansion.com (makers of BFD and guru etc) have done a featured artist page on me and are currently hosting a remix competition for the track "Payback" off my album. Besides swag from me and copies of software from the ubercool Camel Audio company, you also get your track published via Howlin (and considering it'll be amongst remixes by Cut La Roc, Ill Gates, Dub Pistols and Nick Thayer I can say you'll be in good company).

http://www.fxpansion.com

Plump Djs - Beat Myself Up (Plump DJs Remix)

2008-11-28T15:15:00.002+01:00

Wow this is hot - just got it in the inter-post today through whitenoise, and super excited about it. Holy crap. Proper analog madness - biggest thing from the Plumps in ages other than Rocket Soul IMO, and it totally evokes memories of the 100% unabashed tube and valve headfuckery of their old skool anthem "Scram" or something of the like. Lots of sample and hold-y ring mod-y agro sounds with a stonking beat....plus the best use of vocoders in many a year - they robo-hooks stylistically fit with the track and are not merely an attempt to sandwich a vocal in there without having to put in much thought, as is the case amongst most tracks that use that element.

The flip "London Street Music" is great too - Plumps head back into dubby rush-y breaks with some of the blatantly (and understatedly) simple rhythmic sample chopping so popular with the Herve and Sinden style crowd - this is one to make the cold sweats come on at 3 am. Big hardcore stabs and lots of different elements in the mix - feels a little bit like their remix of BT's Smartbomb but thats no bad thing.

Ace package. 9/10 from me!

The turn around?

2008-11-23T20:08:00.002+01:00

For the first time in years I have a bigger selection of great breakbeat stuff than great 4/4 stuff for my Truskool sessions mixes! Number 5 is on its way and I'll have it done in time for the festive season. Might just be the best one yet! I'm also signing a lot of good stuff for my Sound of Habib label so expect a lot of output there in the coming months.

Sharam Jey remix finally gets released!

2008-11-19T01:08:00.005+01:00

The Johan Soh and Dan F remix of Sharam Jey's "Feel nobody" gets its long overdue release in January 2009, on the Sharam Jey "Classics" compilation, currently being promoed in the UK. Olso being promoed in the UK is my single with Myagi "Still". Here are clips of both! Comments are welcome!

Sharam Jey "Feel nobody" Dan F & Johan Soh remix by Johan Soh

Johan Soh & Myagi "Still" ft Sandra Nagano by Johan Soh

Blurg! Its another free myagi bootleg!

2008-11-13T22:56:00.002+01:00

Just a heads up that another bootleg has made it online!

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FRKLW4T0 <<< grab here

ALSO - The good people at Fxpansion are doing a feature on me soon, along with a remix constest for the heavy banger "Payback" off my album "3 Years Of Sunrise" - more on that soon!

That Girl DJ Mix - Free Download!

2008-11-11T14:16:00.007+01:00

You can get your hands on an awesome exclusive mix for the Re:Connect website, from the one and only That Girl DJ.

That Girl DJ came to our attention as a DJ first, with her blend of breaks and dirty wonky house, at nights such as her residency at Boomslang in Cambridge, and of course her regular radio show on NSB Radio. When she brought this style over to her first tune ‘Mi Casa Su Casa‘, we knew we had to have it on the label. Her follow-up single ‘Wonk’ is nearing completion and having had a sneaky first listen we know it’s going to be another awesome release!

The lady herself has been good enough to do an exclusive mix for the website - an all-out peak time selection of dancefloor bangers covering fat bassline driven house, to breakbeat and wonky party beats.

This is a Re:Connect website members only free download. If you’re not already a member you can register here. It’s free to join, and it’ll give you access to previous free downloads, and forthcoming exclusive content. If you’re a member, simply sign in and get access to your download link.

Tracklisting:

1. Drop The Lime - Hear Me (AC Slater Remix) [Trouble & Bass]
2. Act Yo Age - The Flash (Rico Tubbs Funky Mix) [Sweat It Out!]
3. Young Punx featuring Laura Kidd - MASHitUP (Shir Khan Remix) [Mofo Hifi]
4. Laidback Luke & Roman Salzger feat Boogshe - Generation Noise (Twocker Remix) [Mixmash]
5. Lee Coombs & Katherine Ellis - Control [Lot 49]
6. Alex Schmitz - Beat Goes Boom (Stupid Fresh Remix) [Bomb Squad]
7. Deadmau5 - Hi Friend [Mau5trap]
8. Filthy Rich - Make You Freq (Miles Dyson Remix) [Control Freq Records]
9. ID - Mission (ID’s House Mix) [Re:Connect]
10. Circuit Freq - Push Button Reject (Dopamine Remix) [Circuit Freq Records]
11. Nick Thayer - I Don’t Sleep At Night [Passenger]
12. Phonat & Super Mal - Pixelated [Bandito Records]

Re:Connect Website
That Girl DJ Website
That Girl DJ's Myspace

Another home made synth Vid

2008-11-05T20:37:00.001+01:00

(Another) free Myagi tune

2008-11-04T00:31:00.002+01:00

Was going to post this tomorrow but looks like my schedule just got filled so I'll post it up today!

another bootleg I did a while back, grab and enjoy!
GRAB MP3 HERE

if youre feeling grateful, go hit up my album at Hobnox (linkage and info below) and vote for it!

Vote "3 years" at hobnox!!!!

2008-11-03T22:02:00.002+01:00

Hey hey guys!

Thanks for the kind words on the album and the mp3 posted below - I'm going to be putting another one up for free download probably tomorrow.

In the meantime, if you have a sec, please pop by http://www.hobnox.com/3-years-of-sunrise and vote for my album if you feel so inclined. Hobnox is a great site and I'd really appreciate the support on it (you can vote every day if you feel up for it!)

Stillwell Audio Plugins

2008-10-31T11:51:00.006+01:00

Only just came across these this week while I was finishing a remix, and they really made a huge difference to the finished track. I haven't had a chance to test every one of them out (there's quite a few available) but thought I'd give peoples a heads up. I'm thinking maybe Mr Dan F might get a bit more geeky than I can over these?

My favourites so far are their "The Rocket" Compressor, and the "Transient Monster" which is invaluable for tightening up drums, breakbeats especially. I guess some might call me a lazy producer, but I like to consider myself someone that likes getting instant results rather than having to sit and tweak stuff for hours. These plugins give me exactly that, with a large range or presets available to cover many scenarios and styles, as well as being very easy to use anyway.

Other plugins available include:

1973 - a tribute to the Neve 1073
Bad Buss Mojo - a virtual mix buss amplifier
Event Horizon - described as a "peak-eating limiter"
Major Tom - very easy to use compressor
Verbiage - algorithmic reverb
Vibe-EQ - unique sounding EQ

Fully functioning free trial downloads are available in both Mac VST and AU, as well as Windows VST, and if you decide to buy them each plugin is very reasonably priced from around $39-$49.

Well worth checking out!

http://www.stillwellaudio.com/

Oh, and the remix in question that I mentioned earlier is my new remix of ID's "Mission" for Re:Connect, which you can hear clips of on my Myspace page, and on my website too.

http://www.myspace.com/higheight
http://www.higheight.com

Free mp3 action - link below

2008-10-30T20:13:00.003+01:00

Hey hey all - just a heads up that SOMEHOW a bootleg I did a couple years back has made it on the net. No clue how. Anyway, grab below, I think you'll like it - it was available for a while on wax but I figured what the hell, free music is free music. If you like it buy the original is my only disclaimer, and share with your friends, this is not for sale at all.

HERE!

Myagi - 3 Years Of Sunrise @ Beatport & Itunes now!

2008-10-29T04:14:00.003+01:00

Hey hey all - I'm going to keep my promo a little less shameless for the most part, but this ones important to me so I'll go for broke with it :)

--------------------

Review clips:
"Absolutely incredible...Myagi shows his ability to change up the groove on many different levels and he does it in a very classy way. - Bijoubreaks.com

"An uplifting electronic masterpiece, 4.5 / 5 - DJ Mag Sept 08

"Possibly one of the best albums you're going to hear all year. Crossing everything from breaks, to house, to trip hop in true Canadian Ambassador to the universe fashion, this is the epitome of something you don't want to miss. - Nuskoolbreaks.co.uk

"The album evolves in an almost narrative fashion, without ever sounding too emotional in a cheesy/obvious manner...all in all it's a great album. - Wicked Style

"...fans of groups like the Chemical Brothers, Orbital or Leftfield will be instantly won over. - Frenchbreaks.com

"From tracks like "How To Test" and "In Between," all the way through to chilled out masterpieces like "ShapeShifter 1 and 2" and "I Don't Want This To End" this album is the total package.....highly recommended. - Noise Porn

You can grab it here:

Or here!

Interview with Dave Smith (Sequential Circuits)

2008-10-28T21:26:00.001+01:00

Just found this really cool interview with Dave Smith, founder of Sequential (Circuits), makers of the Six-Trak, the Prophet line etc.... have a watch!

Soundcloud vs. Band Camp

2008-10-23T15:18:00.000+02:00

Sick of paying 50% to Beatport? Do it yourself with Bandcamp. Perhaps. Videos at the link below.

Wire To The Ear - video info

I hope to hell Soundcloud have an answer for this as I find the domain name Band Camp just a bit ... camp and the SC guys seems very good at pushing forward.

Traktor Pro

2008-10-18T09:28:00.001+02:00

Finally! Cover artwork support in the new update (or in this case of Native Instruments it's called Crate Flick, whatever) ... my last complaint about digital DJing – browsing for music – is now sorted out. Minisite with videos of the new interface here.

Myagi Facebook Page

2008-10-18T05:45:00.000+02:00

Myagi facebook page

Just to give y'all a heads up, I have transmorgified my facebook "group" into a facebook "page."

I don't really know what kind of difference this will make to my quality of life, but there are embedded music players and I'm going to be updating it super frequently, plus I can now pay money to have facebook show an advert about my album to really specific demographics, like "males between the ages of 37 and 38 who list the band white snake as an interest". woo hoo!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Myagi-Music/30143737930?ref=ts

PS

DAN F I LOVE YOUR ALBUM

Myagi's Election Primer

2008-10-16T21:19:00.000+02:00

Phil Hartnol / Long Range interivew (Music "Long Range - Dispel The Clouds Myagi Remix")

2008-10-15T22:37:00.001+02:00

Interview with Long Range / Phil Hartnoll (ex-Orbital) at the Urban Explorers festival 2008 Dordrecht, Netherlands from Wilbert Baan on Vimeo.

OZ TOUR ACTION!

2008-10-15T22:25:00.000+02:00

First off - thanks to everyone who came out to see me play on my 5 Aussie 08 dates - I had a great time, and the reception at each party was awesome.

Sydney was excellent, but getting there was NOT. I was pretty bagged when I got in...I learned my lesson - for the final time - and thats to just pay the extra coin and fly direct. I flew Van to LAX, which was a pretty short hop, but LAX takes a year off my life every time I'm there. The Wolfgang Puck's is the only place that serves edible food but it looks like a kaleidoscope vomited on the walls and it gives me a headache. Burger King there actually serves something they call "Fresh Apple Fries" which look like "Freedom Fries" (french fries for those uneducated the national penchant for dumping on the French) and comes with a "Low Fat Caramel Dipping Sauce." It really made me uneasy so I ended up just killing time looking for an open wireless network and marvelling at the array of animal jerky.

I did a stopoff in Auckland as well, which was (happily) quite uneventful. Its the 4th time I've been to New Zealand but I've only ever seen the airport - quite depressing really. Getting in at 10 AM was, as always a shock to the system but I stayed at a wicked hotel called "The Establishment" and I managed to unwind before the night which was great.

After popping by a univeristy to do a quick guest interview on ffrew's radio show, Simon from Title fight headed down to the club, and it was bpouring. Laundry was a little quieter than I'm used to but the bucketing rain didn't help things at all....the club is usually rammed and a total sweat pit which is obviously lovely but that wasn't the case that friday. The mixed blessing about nights like this is that they usually turn into hardcore gong shows and that friday was no exception. I got introduced to the pleaseures of Agua, a coca leaf liquor that became a a regular feature of my nights out...kind of sweet, easy to drink, hell in the morning.

The impossibles played a great set that night. They're some of laundrys go-to guys when it comes to opening DJs and they really do a great job - mashups and boots galore and a huge range of sounds. To me, their sets sort of feel like what I'd be playing now if I'd stayed doing just big beat stuff, and thats a total complliment from my point of view as I love that shit, but just rarley find it workable in my sets anymore.

After a bit of rest I managed to get up and out in the morning for a breakfast of sushi and kimchi, and then hopped on a Jetstar flight to Melbourne. To Australia's credit, their budget airlines really are budget airlines. They dont mince words - unlike most airlines I've flown on, you pay for everything including soda, tv, etc etc....the next logical step would be to make the seatbelts ptional rentals. Was not comfy.

My good friend Sal grabbed me up from Avalon in Melbourne and we went out with her partner Warren and friend Lauren to a backpackers club where Sal (dj name lil stormer) and Warren (dj name brain - together brainstorm) play sets of rock and party music to the globetrotting crowd. Was a really good time! Lots of Ac'dc etc., and some Swedish oz-rules football team who were endlessly entertaining as the night went on.....the capped off the evening by repeatedly doing flying tackles against a couch in the backroom.

Oz is full of funny signs and this one was excellent:

Basically it states that theres a 6000 dollar fine for serving alcohol to a drunk person, and its illegal to have drunk or quarrelsome people on the premesis.

Please bear in mind this is a bar.

VERY odd.

That said, I saw a sign in Sydney stating "No smoking, penalty 20 dollars," so who am I to comment on the relevance or real-life applicability of aussie by-laws...clearly they have theirown system and it works for them, though I can't really picture people being breathalized on the way INTO a pub.

I got to hit two radio shows while I was in town, doing Nick Thayers show on the Tuesday if I remember correctly and Kiss Fm's The Drive on the thurs.

I played 2 shows in Melbourne and managed to get somewhat blotto at each one, which was excellent! Alia is a great little club with wonderful staff, and an uncomfortably small booth that does give you the distinct advantage of being almost a part of the crowd. I love places like that!

Got to meet a few breakbeat messageboard regulars including llupa, who was fairly easy to identify out of a crowd thanks to the dreads. One of the most satisfying sets I've had in ages......followed up the following night by a boat party!

Boat parties are always ace but this one was really really good....lots of great sets, people dressed up and moshing out, jellyfish and the reflection of the moon in the water, floating bits from the toilet going by.....well, ok, maybe thats not a selling point, but the tunes were awesome.

The last time I played on a boat was in Paris at a place called Batofar, which was a little more stationary than this. We didnt get out too far and were booted onshore at about 11 when it was time to head off to one of the most surreal "afterparties" I've ever been to. If the boat got a big thumbs up, the afterparty at a place called LaDeDa got a bit of a thumbs down. Would have been a good time except for the fact that it was like shoehorning one party into another. The average age of the crowd on the boat was about 27 or so I'd have guessed, and when the party moved into the club (average age probably 19) I think a good chunk of the crew felt a little zonked, or at least underdressed, and so it was time to migrate to a house party, which was a very satisfying change.

Sal and Warren's place was actually the inspiration for the album title "3 Years Of Sunrise" (my new full length peoject) as it's been 3 years or so that I've seen dawn come up over the lemon trees in their backyard. They have a great pad - the perfect party house layout, and lots of surreal plastic animal heads on the walls etc.,
and it was a great nightcap (dawncap?) to be able to sit out back and listen to about 6+ hours of post club verbal diarrhea, which I certainly added to.

Dinner with my friends Howard and Sophie is another regular event in Melbourne for me, and although I'd really liked their previous house, their new one is brilliant, and includes a great outdoor aviary for their rather playful parrots. I got groomed. I also managed to get an early night of rest, mostly as a result of my teaching Howard the joys of mojitos, in a far, far too enthusiastic manner.

My Melbourne stay was capped off with a great night out of sushi and beef sashimi....

I always love Melbourne and can't wait to get back there.

Perth is a long haul in Oz, and this was certainly the most grueling Perth trip I've had....I arrived in at about 4 pm and flew out at 8 am to Brisbane the next day. Perth show was a great catch up. I got to stay with Karl Sav who has come a LONG was as a producer in a pretty short while, and got to see my old friends Gaz, Lucy and Ian, and Mali, Jez and the rest of the 1am crew put on a great show with lots of champagne and mosh-pit action.

I was pretty zonked in Brisbane but the Moon Bar @ Empire was the best I've ever seen it. I thought I was sort of cursed in Brisbane - every time I'd played there before it was rather lackluster but this time was WAY different. Sang from Adicts hosted Rob Reng and I that night, and did a great job.

The place was packed and Reng's mix of Polka and Circuit House really worked the crowd into a frenzy. I was looking through my iphone the next day and found a note to myself saying "i stood in a pile of vomit." This is always the sign of a good night.

In all seriousness, this was a perfect cap to the tour - a REALLY great vibe, and one hell of a fun crowd to play for. I love nights where you start off wondering if you're going to make it through alive, and by the time you're playing the only thought on your mind is how much fun its going to be to rock the crowd.

As I mentioned before - a perfect cap to my set, and it left me so happy that I went off and tried to trash Ryan from Bitrok's apartment. I failed.

Thats about it really!

A great tour - one of my fave times I've ever had in Oz, and a horrible trip back (another 26 hours with layovers). I sat beside a kid who played with the light the whole way back, and the man across the aisle had really serious BO - though it could have been the odor of club grime from me reflecting off him.

Thanks to everyone who hosted me and came out to see me - I had a wonderful time and I'll see ya next year!

New headphones - we can all learn from this

2008-10-03T16:45:00.006+02:00

I have been trying to decide what headphones to get as a reference for mixing. After chatting to the ever knowing audiophile J Hazen about it, I headed to the biggest local store to get some hands on experience. After going back and forth between a selection of 8 pairs, I narrowed it down to 3 pairs and then I pretty much decided on what cans to get and just wanted to check them with what they were demoing monitors on. I figured that if the iTunes library was good enough to check monitors, then it would be good enough for my headphones. I started off with the Prodigy and there was hardly any bottom end. No real high en either. How very strange... I checked another track and there was a bit more bottom end in that, but nothing that stod out. Now keep in mind Hazen recommended these particular cans for their sub capability, and checking Sound of Habib masters and other reference stuff on the shitty portable CD player that was hooked up to the headphone stand mixer was a real treat on the ears as the sub was nice and warm. Odd. I checked "The robots" by Kraftwerk and there was sub and even a very evident 70s high end hiss. So back to the Prodge again... as I remember the "Fat of the Land" album, it's bottom heavy... but still nothing. I right clicked the file, "get info" and yes... it was a 128kbps mp3. I right clicked the Kraftwerk file and that was a wav. Needless to say, these are great headphones and the people demoing monitors with 128k mp3s are probably not selling that many.

Beyerdynamic DT770 pro - not so great for listening to shitty mp3s.

New Karton remix to check out

2008-09-26T13:19:00.002+02:00

If you are on facebook, as I am sure you are, then check out the Karton fan page for a listen to the brand new remix they just completed. That should get you geared up for the new Karton release on Sound of Habib in late October!

http://www.new.facebook.com/business/dashboard/?ref=sb#/pages/Karton/7677744118?ref=ts

Nuskoolbreaks Presents @ Herbal, London 26/09/08

2008-09-25T12:59:00.003+02:00

Just a heads up to mention that myself and a bunch of the Re:Connect artists are playing down at Herbal in London tomorrow night (Friday 26th September), alongside ex-Prodigy member Leeroy Thornhill, Kickflip and DJ Adsorb.

Here's the info if you wanna come down, it's going to be an awesome night!

NuSkoolBreaks.co.uk come back to Herbal after 3 months off, and we're looking forward to getting the bassbins working as we present Leeroy Thornhill making a rare London appearence. This guy is pure dance music legend - a former member of The Prodigy, the Worlds biggest dance act - Leeroy has been pushing beats breaks & bass in his DJ sets for years now, not only being Tour DJ on The Prodigys gigs, but playing at pretty much every major festival around the World inbetween. His latest projects on his label Electric Tastebuds have already given a taste of his future potential in the dance scene under his own guise, so we're well looking forward to see what he does on Herbals mammoth soundsystem.

MAIN ROOM

LEEROY THORNHILL
DJ ADSORB
JAY STEWART

UPSTAIRS

KICKFLIP
HIGH EIGHT VS THAT GIRL DJ
B.E.T.A
STYLUS REX
ANDY DUCKETT VS CAM

Venue : Herbal, 12-14 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London, E2 8DA. 9pm-3am.
Costs : £5 Earlybird Tickets (100 ONLY!), £8 Adv / £10 / NUS Free before 10pm / £8
Tickets Available from ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600 100
http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=283928
For guestlist or group information - email jim (at) nuskoolbreaks.co.uk
More Info : 07903 949222 / http://www.nuskoolbreaks.co.uk / http://www.herbaluk.com

TICKET LINKS & MORE INFO
http://www.nuskoolbreaks.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=105588
http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=36321350831
http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=283928
http://www.seetickets.com/see/price.asp?code=352001
http://www.dontstayin.com/uk/london/herbal/2008/sep/26/event-190674
http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/London/Herbal/Herbal/11248516/
http://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/events/815492/nuskoolbreakscouk_presents.html

Radio tip

2008-09-16T15:45:00.004+02:00

Here is a little tip if you are after a real quality show. Kevin FCB is a man of extremely good musical tastes and his show "Kvark Depó" (Quark Depot), on hungarian national radio station called MR2 Petőfi, covers contemporary electronic music including dancefloor genres, like house, breaks, electro, techno, minimal, disco and more leftfield mixes like experimental electronics, dub, downtempo, etc... Well worth checking out!

Tune in MR2 Petőfi on FM if you are in Hungary, or you can listen to the show live on the internet:

http://www.chi-recordings.com/angol/audio_radio_kvarkdepo.htm

Hungary - Wednesday from 0.00am (tuesday night)
London - Tuesday 23.00
New York- Tuesday 18.00
Los Angeles- Tuesday 15.00
Buenos Aires- Tuesday 19:00
Melbourne - Wednesday 8:00am
Tokyo - Wednesday 7:00am
Singapore - Wednesday 6:00am

Show archives:
#001: http://www.zshare.net/audio/18091904116bcaa3
#002: http://www.zshare.net/audio/1849246606b65ce3
#003: http://www.zshare.net/audio/1890152252852bc0

Metallica - R.I.P. Magnetic

2008-09-16T15:41:00.002+02:00

I'm not the biggest fan of Metallica, but I am a fan of well recorded, well mixed and well mastered music.

Metallica and producer Rick Rubin - for reasons unknown - certainly feel otherwise! The new album Death Magnetic sounds like, well, sounds like something I would've mixed eight or nine years ago had I not known any better. With my monitors switched off. And every dial set to 11.

Having read about this on a number of music forums (and in honour to Lars Ulrich vs. Napster) I downloaded a few of the album tracks to hear for myself. Death Magentic has to be the worst casualty of the Loudness War in history. Painfully clipped. Distorted to hell. And back again. Limited to within an inch of it's life.

Go and find some FLAC versions of the CD and see for yourself. The wave form is pure comedy. Over on Gearslutz the mastering engineer on that project, Ted Jensen, was quoted to have said that he is not proud of the work and that the mix files came to him already limited to the max. Why didn't he send them back? Anyway. Not for me to speculate.

This link has all the info you could possibly want on the matter so I'm not going to recycle the author's words again for the sake of one mouse click. No matter what your thoughts are on Metallica or commercial rock music ... if you are even remotely interested in good quality, well recorded music, take 5 minutes to familiarise yourself with how not to do it.

Everybody loves free myuzyk

2008-09-15T20:32:00.003+02:00

If you are after a fix of electronic music like no other, carefully selected by people who live and breathe it, look no further than the free netlabels. One of our favourites is Muyzyk, who have just made their 9th release available. Spread the word, download and enjoy!
http://myuzyk.net/

400

2008-09-07T19:02:00.008+02:00

The opening night of 400 was a complete and utter success!
The day started out with the three of us going shop to shop picking up all the stuff you need for a night. Monitors, strobes-on-a-string, pez, breakfast (quite a feat, bearing in mind it was lunchtime), a cake and the mother of all smoke machines. Then it was off down to the venue to set everything up, building the bar and sorting out the lighting. Then testing the lighting and our cunning strobe-and-smoke-under-the-stairs effect. After a brief laugh attack, brought on by the onslaught of smoke coming out of the stairs, shooting 15 metres straight ahead and with cunning precision hitting the exact spot where the dj's head is supposed to be, the fire alarm goes off and the firemen arrive within minutes. Turns out we managed to fill three floors of a massive theatre building with smoke in one brief go... The building then goes into complete shut down for about an hour to air the smoke out. Right. So we scrap the, hillarious smoke-and-strobe-under-the-stairs death trap and count our blessing that 1) we tried it at 6 in the afternoon and not at midnight, and 2) that no show was going on on the main stage, thus having to evacuate some 1500 people.
The night went on to blow expectations out of the water! The venue only holds some 200 people, wicked, intimate. We had almost 400 there over the course of the night. Here are some of our own pics plus a link to some 3rd party nightlife pics pics.

Massive thanks first of all to our amazing VJ and then of course everyone who turned up. Biweekly from now on... I will keep you posted.

disuye084 out now

2008-09-06T10:18:00.002+02:00

d: thursday 4th september 2008
#: disuye084
1: whømp "sprinkelanlage"
2: whømp "so not so"

another pair of techno odd 'uns from the elusive mr. whømp - available now from our page at beatport.

"sprinkelanlage" was a huge favourite with former yumla resident vincent azé, who was affected by the track so much he left hong kong and started a vineyard in the south of france. this track is twitchy to say the least. words can do nothing to help us sell it. and yes, the name means 'rotary lawn sprinkler' in german, for obvious reasons. this track was first conceived in 2005, and is so far ahead of it's time ... it still doesn't fit into anyone's sets. oh well.

"so not so" is more on the dirty fuzzy electro-techno trip and sounds a bit like a unkempt pacman doing the funky chicken to the 1970's batman theme tune. just take a listen. that description does actually make sense. crowds end up looking much the same when played this track so well worth it on comedy value if nothing else.

Do you know anybody who still buys vinyl that isn't a total dick?

2008-09-06T09:44:00.002+02:00

Get some vinyl bashing from the Guardian:

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/09/why_records_should_face_the_vi.html

There never seems to be enough time

2008-09-04T08:56:00.002+02:00

Spent last night putting the finishing touches to two Patrik Lernberger Stockholm fashion shows for the weekend, turned out really well. Been doing the music for his shows for ages, and I quite enjoy working with other creative people outside of music (I seem to end up in fashion for some reason). On that note I am also hoping to finish a new mix for the Uniforms website, a remix for Re:Connect of one of my all time favourite tracks, which has been a pain to remix because I know the original so well. On top of that we are launching the first official Sound of Habib affiliated regular night in a good 5 years, called "400" with myself and the wonderful Christoffer Falk as residents. First one on Saturday the 6th, which really should be more fun than I am entitled to. A new colaboration with Myagi will be my next single and we are about to start promo for that shortly. And that is really not even half of it...

LAX

2008-09-04T05:24:00.002+02:00

Hello from the wonderful world of LAX where I am currently on layove en route to New Zealand. I just saw Burger King here has "apple fries" with a special - no shit - low fat caramel dipping sauce.

No one here gets out alive...... wow

Exclusive High Eight Mix - Free Download!

2008-09-03T14:35:00.003+02:00

We're pretty damn good to you here at Breakbeat Royalty eh?

At last, here's the mix I spoke about in my first intro post, available for free download, and done exclusively for this blog!

Click here to download (or Right-click and Save As)

Tracklisting is:

1. Fine Cut Bodies - Beaver Blink (Amb Remix) [Chi Recordings]
2. Platinum Mules - Fresh Start [Re:Connect]
3. LBJ Vs Break The Box - No Rules (High Eight Remix) [Big Square Records]
4. Adam Routh feat Kimberley Hale - Out Of Here (Force Mass Motion Remix) [Flux Deluxe]
5. That Girl DJ - Mi Casa Su Casa (Karl Sav Remix) [Re:Connect]
6. Retroid - Origin (Plastic Shell Remix) [Ego Shot Recordings]
7. Future Funk Squad Vs Kraymon - Firewater [En:Vision]
8. ID - Mission [Re:Connect]
9. Superpolitik - Whipped Cream (Boonos Remix) [Trickery Collective]
10. Plump DJ's - Rocket Soul [Finger Lickin']
11. Flack.su - T-Break (Beta Remix) [Glack Audio]

So there's a load of upfront stuff on there, some well ahead of release, plus some tunes that are rocking my socks at the moment.

Enjoy!

Flights and fixations.

2008-09-02T22:02:00.002+02:00

Off to oz tomorrow!

Really looking forward to it except for one thing:
the flights.

ugh......

It's gotten bad over the last year - I think I'm single handedly keeping Air Canada in business as I'm sure they earn almost as much off my career as I do. 20+ Hours from Vancouver to Sydney including the dreaded layover at LAX....

Can't complain though, I'm doing Chinese Laundry this friday, two shows in Melbourne next weekend (one of which is a boat party - yay!), then Perth and Brisbane - should be a really fun tour!

On a side note - I've just installed spamarrest recently on my myagimusic account (if I haven't replied to any emails check if your accounts are auth'ed or not), and I'm still not sure about it. Mails are just not getting through, and I'm spending about 30 mins a day going through my "unverified" folder trying to dig up contracts and things that have come in from people who aren't authed on my account. I'm sure it will be a time saver eventually, and it does save me the embarassment of sitting next to some 70 year old lady on flights who's having a coronary while I delete 150 emails from topless debt-consolidating teenage nymphos, but as is, it's making me paranoid about missing crap.

Anyone remember the days of yore before this stuff was a bother?

Music biz stuff

2008-09-02T13:21:00.002+02:00

The general idea was for me to share some know how on how to run a label, but then the Fatdrop people just do it so much better than I ever could, so you are much better off checking that out instead. Absolutely essential read if you are running a label and want to have the tools for making it work. Recent articles on promoting your music and sync licensing... what more can you ask for?

http://blog.fatdrop.co.uk/

Ooooops

2008-09-02T06:31:00.001+02:00

heres the image for the 556 APC circuit!

Fun with electricity.

2008-09-02T05:48:00.002+02:00

Allo allo all!

Johan and I have been chatting for a while about this whole blogging "ting" and I must admit - I've been getting more and more into it. I'll try and keep the cross pollination (read that as copying) from my myspace blog to this one to a bare minimum, but I'd start off with one of the most awesome vids I have ever seen - and it has been posted on my myspaz before so apologies if you've already seen it.

Ok - so obviously this is awesome, but there's something a bit more going on too - and it's something I've been thinking about more and more over the last year, and thats ways of creatively abusing technology.

I'm currently doing some beta testing and creating some artist presets for a really well known VST company - a lot of fun but also a lot of trial and error and experimentation. It's really cool to be working with stuff at this early phase of development, with the added bonus that with software (as opposed to teslas controlled by guitars) you can't electrocute yourself - unless you get really creative with your pc tower.

When I started off writing music, as I'm sure many people experienced as well, the whole studio was a modular synthesizer in effect. There were no rules.

Run a synth through a guitar amp, mic it, then feed it back into the synth, just to see what happens. Maybe something cool comes along, maybe not. More often than not unfortunately, at least at the beginning, but over time, you get better and better at being a bit of a mad scientist, and sooner or later you're coming up with really fun stuff on a daily basis.

I kind of got in a little late in the multitrack recording game, and early on the budget pc music creation game - starting off as many people did with screamtracker, fasttracker 2 etc., but since those programs were only as good as the sounds you sampled in, the external gear and how you used it was still a huge factor.

Over the years (and I'm sure many other producers can agree), it's gotten a LOT easier to sound good, but the happy accidents of early experimentations tend to occur less often. It's something that I've found sorely missing in my experience writing music, and something I've really gotten a kick out of seeing in people I've tutored over the years, or in checking out videos of the results of amateur circuit bending etc - it's totally reenergized me acutally. I've always had delusions of being a bit of a synth nut but I'd forgotten how important that history and the history of experimentation was to me.

I've started rebuilding my studio, slowly, as I can afford it, based around the modular concept, trying really hard

For people who have never worked with a real analog synth, go out and get one. For people who grew up with em but have been using everything thats easier, take a trip down memory lane.

A while ago I built something called an Atari Punk Console, and was lucky enough to have matrixsynth host a vid I made of it on their blog - here's a link to the circuit and if you google it you'll find you can put one of these together using radio shack parts and a twenty dollar bill (plus some solder etc). It's not the most useful thing on the planet but it's super fun and it might make you feel a little closer to the soundmaking process.

Tech geek royalty

2008-09-01T22:45:00.009+02:00

I just love gadgets, and this past month has been particularly good to me. Not only have I made the acquintance of the lovely Nokia e51 phone (black ffs, the silver one looks retarded), but now I am set up with a proper home network.

Been looking at getting a NAS (Network Attached Storage) for a while now and I got the QNAP 209 II Pro (yes, I keep pretending I'm a pro) in the post today. I have to say, from my first hands on experience, that it is just great. 1 hour from opening the box and doing the hardware bits, I am running a multiplatform server, streaming music and video to the mac, pc and the ps3. Maybe it is a sign of having been around the block a few decades when you are surprised when tech stuff just works out of the box, but I can't help smiling on the inside when the NAS showed up in finder (without having to look for it).

Now I can rid the old PC can's four (4) hard drives of precious label master copies and chuck them, along with all the digital music I've bought, on to a 1 TB dead silent samsung drive, available on my wireless home network AND through the net, should I need anything whilst on the road. ACE. The 209 has room for another hard drive and should 2 TB (or 1 TB raided) fill up, it is only a matter of attaching up to 3 USB drives, or drive towers, to the 209. Wicked. Doesn't look half bad either.

Snapper by AudioEase - $79

2008-09-01T09:26:00.001+02:00

Following on my post about AudioFile Engineering Wave Editor ... here's another bit of blinding OSX software which studio types should not be without. Snapper.

Again, as with Wave Editor - cheap considering the benefits - $79 - but this time Audio Ease (makers of the absolutely f*cking awesome Speaker Phone plug-in) give you a 100 day unrestricted evaluation demo. That's 3 months, no nag, complete use. I've had Snapper onboard for a while now and am not far off buying it.

What does it do? This is going to be really mundane ... in essence Snapper is a media player & sample editor embedded into the OSX Finder. Fascinating Dan! Told you, boring as hell on paper ... but go install it now, spend a few minutes digging around your audio archives and I bet you this application will change the way you use your sample library. Forever.

Was that 'forever' to much? Over played that end sentence. Anyway, click the link, watch the information video while you download the installer.

Greeting to All

2008-08-30T13:35:00.002+02:00

Johan over at Beards of Habib has asked me to contribute to this new blog thingy he's put together. As this is my first post I'd like to introduce myself.

I am General Midi.

Now I've got that out the way, I can give you some indication of what you might find in the forth coming blogs. Basically, when i remember to update the thing, you'll got a whole bunch of half baked, badly research, highly opinionated, highly plausible rantings, that should amuse and sicken in turn.

Keep watching..............

x

Wave Editor - $79

2008-08-28T10:36:00.001+02:00

Anyone who works with audio more than as just a passing hobby should appreciate this deal on right now from the chaps at Audiofile Engineering. For the price of a few rounds of drinks, you can legitimately own an absolutely pro bit of audio editing & mastering software. No, this will not make your music sound better. But if you deal with editing, format and sample rate conversion, DDP file creation ... plus a whole bunch of stuff I don't even use it for ... this application will make your life easier. Stop using that cracked copy of Bias Peak. Get Wave Editor. Mac only.

Incidentally, I think more software should be around this price bracket. Appreciated that development costs money but in the same breath it's easy to spend $50 to $100 and be able to justify it. Charge over $250 for a single application and the whole exercise starts to get pricey ... especially like me where you have a machine full of programs, many of which only get used a handful of times per year. Wave Editor on the other hand, gets used after every track.

Hello Breakbeat World!

2008-08-27T22:51:00.002+02:00

Hi all your Truskoolers out there. This is just my first post to say hello and let you know a little about me.

I'm High Eight, and I'm into all things breaks. I make tunes, I play tunes, and I run the Re:Connect Recordings label when I get some spare time.

I guess I'm really here to talk about things going on in my world, and in the breakbeat scene in general, so expect to hear about upcoming gigs, reviews of things I like, and occasionally I might even get a little geeky about some technical stuff.

Massive thanks to Johan for asking me to be part of this. Let's hope I can bring something good to the table, and with the rest of the good peoples in the team it's a table I'm very much pleased to be sitting at.

Oh, and I'm just finishing up an exclusive mix, just for this blog, for download. Watch this space for the link!

Welcome to Breakbeat Royalty - the blog

2008-08-27T19:39:00.002+02:00

This is a blog, obviously. A blog where people of the Truskool* persuasion** share their thoughts on music, gear, gigs, running labels and well... life, really.

In a time where religion has little or no place in peoples lives, other walks of life take the role of religion, be it golf, gardening or music. Sometimes there are fanatics, but I've always thought a more relaxed approached to be desirable. We are no purits. That said, nothing gets on my nerves more than bad music, whether it is hearing it or even reading about it. But in the end bad music is all subjective. The things I react badly to are often aimed at people of the non musical persuasion. People to whom music does not matter in the way it does to me, or to the lovely people I have invited to contribute to this blog.

We will be blogging our hearts out about music (obviously) with some pretty decent focus areas: production, DJ-ing, gear, industry insights and last but not least, rants. That pretty much sums up what we will be doing here. All in good spirits, of course. And yes, there will be free music.

Let me just quickly introduce you to the first line up of contributors, hand picked for their special skills:
Johan Soh (international man of good taste), Myagi (builds his own synths, for crying out loud), High Eight (all around nice guy), Dan F (the best rants on the interweb) and General Midi (breakbeat superhero). More contributors will be added as we go along.

*Truskool (noun): A mock genre that has yet to catch on, due to marketing funds being spent elsewhere. No clear definition, although "breakbeat for grownups", "breaks, bass and beyond" and "breakbeat with a beard" have been used frequently. Broadly used to describe genre defying music of the bleepier kind.

**Persuasion (noun): An effective attention-getting device, a strong appeal to self-interest, a stimulation of desire for a product or service, and a powerful call-to-action response. (Dictionary of Business Terms, 3rd edition, Barron's Educational Series)