THEME TUNES #4

Cars that turn into robots, planes that turn into... erm... robots and other stuff turning into robots (all with the ability to turn back into, like, hairdryers and milk floats and stuff like that): we just watched the Transformers film. Yes - finger on the pulse as always - we decided to wait until it had been out on DVD a few weeks before jumping on the bandwagon. (That bandwagon, by the way, can turn into a great big bloody robot.)

Anyway, we decided to mark this event with some musical variations on that theme.

MP3: Robots In Disguise - 'The Sex Has Made Me Stupid (Midfield General remix)'
MP3: The Autobots vs The Prodigy - 'Out of Space'
MP3: Le Tigre - 'Decepticon (DFA remix)'
MP3: Patrick Cowley - 'Megatron Man'
MP3: Cybotron - 'Clear'
MP3: My Robot Friend - 'Dead'


Hope we didn't give too much of the plot away here.

TRAWLING THE DEPTHS

Development has hosted some brilliant parties during its existence. First guest of 2008 is up there with some of the night's finest bookings with Germany's Dixon touching down for some deep house business. A sneak preview of what's in store comes courtesy of his revered mix put together for Resident Advisor. You can download that here.

Tracklist:

01. Amp Fiddler - 'Faith (Jazzanova Remix)'
02. Alice Smith - 'Love Endeavor (Maurice Fulton Remix)'
03. Kelis - '80s Joint'
04. Owusu & Hannibal - 'Lonnie's Secret'
05. Kathy Diamond - 'I Need You'
06. Paul Randolph - 'Believer (Jazzanova Remix)'
07. Demba - 'Louder (Henrik Schwarz Main Mix)'
08. Martin Landsky - 'Let Me Dance (Sebo K Remix)'
09. Telepopmusik - 'Love Can Damage Your Health (Ferrer Remix)'
10. Tracey Thorn - 'It's All True (Martin Buttrich Remix)'
11. Matthew Herbert - 'Moving Like A Train (Smith n Hack Remix)'

RANDOM YOUTUBE POST (AGAIN)

We did think that YouTube had some strict guidelines regarding pornography and then we stumbled upon this degrading piece of filth.

Seriously, for a lot of producer-type people, this is under-the-counter hardcore grubbiness of the worst kind. But don't be too worried should it not push your buttons. Chances are you tend to get out that bit more.

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME...

Oh, we drew the winner for the Jesse Rose competition earlier today. They and a friend will be experiencing Jesse's set for free at Sankeys this Saturday. And all for knowing that Berlin is in 'Germany'. Well done!

We've already informed the lucky Northernite [we're seriously hoping that 'Northernite' business catches on] so there's always next time for anyone else who wasn't quite so lucky/knowledgeable.

Here's also something for the runners-up while our interview with Mr Rose should be posted in 'Features' at Northernights by 21/12/07.

MP3: Soho Dolls - 'Right Right Again (Jesse Rose remix)'

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LETTER 'S'

The last time that Switch - aka the Dubsided and Counterfeet labels' Dave Taylor - was in close proximity to Ninja Tune's Spank Rock, he did awesome things to the single 'Bump'. The best remix of 2006 for many, it's a track that's since endured enough plays throughout 2007 too.

Then, this year, Switch was one of the quality producers found working with 2008's big hope Santogold. Seek out the tracks 'Creator' and 'You'll Find A Way', why dontcha?

In the meantime, Santogold, Spank Rock and Switch have shacked-up for this here 'Shove It'.

MP3: Santogold feat. Spank Rock - 'Shove It (Switch remix)'
MP3: Spank Rock - 'Bump (Switch remix)'

FLIPPIN HELL'

Okay, okay. So you got Kanye West guesting on what's likely to be your breakthrough single. Yet it's really just something that will work in those nasty nail bars that show up all over the place - yes? What's even weirder about the single (and video) for Kid Sister's 'Pro Nails' is how that Kanye-biased offering gets in the way of the far superior flip 'Switch Board': a searing 150bpm club banger produced by Chicago's DJ Gant Man.

Seriously - watch it until the end and see exactly what I mean.

MIX-MAS

Festive in as much as it mentions 'santa' at the beginning, this little 25 minute mix also features Justice, Timbaland feat M.I.A., Hot Chip, Dizzee Rascal, M.O.P., Yo Majesty, Bonde Do Role and some other stuff.

No sleigh bells though.

Soz about that.

MP3: Various - 'MiX-Mas'

WIN JESSE ROSE!

It's competition time again!

Yay (again)!

Now we really like what Jesse Rose does. From the static electricity-meets-schmaltz of his 'You're All Over My Head' to the kind of remixes that sit somewhere between his pals Switch and Claude Vonstroke, this Berlin-based Londoner always excites.

Now he's set to stir up Sankeys dancefloor with some bass-heavy house action. Oh, and next week we'll be posting an interview with the lovely Mr Rose too.

Meantime, you and a friend could be experiencing his set for no pounds. (An amount - according to the current exchange rate - which equates to zero euros.) To win entry for you and a guest to Sankeys on 22/12/07, answer this brain-crushingly difficult question:

In which country would you find the city of Berlin?

Entries should be sent to northernights at gmail dot com before midday 20/12/07.

Meantime, the wonderful Get Weird Turn Pro is currently pointing the way to a sneaky sample of Jesse's remix of Hot Chip's 'Ready For The Floor'. That's to be found here.

THEME TUNES #3

We have been known to celebrate the odd DJ here and there. Secretly, we have this suspicion that some of them are less fancy jukeboxes. Plus we've always thought that writing a club record dedicated to 'the second oldest profession'* is a bit of a cheap attempt at getting the bloody thing played.

That said, some of them - like the Disc Jockeys themselves - are very good at making your body almost involuntarily move to the music. Prompting what we call 'dancing'.

(*We reserve the right to be factually incorrect.)

MP3: Tiny Masters of Today - 'Hey Mr DJ (CSS remix)'
MP3: Charlean Dance - 'Mr DJ (Speaker Junk's Tarantual remix)'
MP3: Purple Crush - 'Fuck The DJ (Destroy Disco's Pogo To Rio mix)'
MP3: Indeep - 'Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (Shep Pettibone's Mastermix Sound of New York)'

DUBBLE TROUBLE

Danny Ward is a Manchester-based percussionist once spotted out on tour with the likes of Rae & Christian and Aim. More recently, he's been colluding with Ralph Lawson as part of the 2020 Soundsystem and also unleashes his own eclectic output as Dubble D through Leeds' fine 2020 Vision label. And now? Well - since you ask - he's done this DJ mix titled Backroon Bizness which is currently available for download and features tracks from Moodymann, Switch, Theo Parrish and, naturally, Dubble D.

Right click, save as, enjoy, etc.


MP3: Backroom Bizness Part 1
MP3: Backroom Bizness Part 2

ANOTHER YOUTUBE POST

This one being especially essential should you be part of the demographic that enjoys both M.I.A. mash-ups and Strictly Come Dancing forerunners. We now have an image in our head of one of those diagrams. Venn. That's it. Like this.

BUBBLIN' UNDER

Jahcoozi is a trio based in Berlin. Its frontwoman is Sasha Perera - the fierce London-born Sri Lankan vocalist that's previously been heard voicing the odd Modeselektor track. Robot Koch, meanwhile, is the outfit's producer although he also appears to be a DJ with an interesting selection of beats at his disposal. Check the tracklist and MP3 below for proof:

1. anthrax - what doesnt die
2. dabrye - game over (flying lotus rmx)
3. mr. oizo vs. wu tang clan - stunt (flying lotus rmx) / da mystery of chessboxing
4. kool kids - mikey rocks
5. rustie vs cerebral vortex - deep fried (robot koch rmx)
6. plastic little feat. mf doom - more tounge less teeth (nosaj thing rmx)
7. guilty simpson - get bitches, get riches
8. ol dirty bastard - snakes
9. mf doom - my favourite ladies (flako rmx)
10. 1000 names - toyz room combat
11. the tape - interlude
12. ac/dc vs beyonce - ring the alarm/ back in black
13. jahcoozi feat. m.sayyid - high tech (rustie rmx)
14. madvillain - shadows of tomorrow (flying lotus remix)
15. autodrive - hiding from the truth
16. revl9n -walking machine (sebastian rmx)
17. dizzy cutter - lonely
18. spank rock - loose feat. amanda blank
19. zomby - spliff dub (rustie rmx)
20. klaxons - not over (skream rmx)
21. matty g- 5000 watts (loefah rmx)
22. rich boy - throw some d..s (starkey rmx)
23. tampa tony- cant juke with out me
24. robot koch vs wu tang clan - inside / c.r.e.a.m.
25. burial - untrue

MP3: Robot Koch Death Star Disco Tape

HUMAN(OID) BEHAVIOUR

Every five years or so Humanoid's 'Stakker Humanoid' - a 1988 British acid house anthem created by one half of Future Sound of London - is dusted off for yet another release. Oh, and it was originally created in Manchester. Y'know - should that kind of thing be of interest.

Anyway the time has come for another batch of versions to bring it bang up to date. Feadz, James Talk, Scan X, Punx Soundcheck and King Roc have all had a bash at it and you can purchase it here.

It last had an airing back in 2001 with a couple of breaks-heavy overhauls. Here's one of those:

MP3: Humanoid - 'Stakker Humanoid (Krafty Kuts remix)' [zSHARE]