MIXMAS #2

Season's greetings from Manchester's fidgeting bass merchants HeavyFeet (A.K.A. Mike and James) comes courtesy of this downloadable mix featuring a host of 1990's ravourites. Yes, 'ravourites'. We invented that.

Also be on the lookout for the pair's 'Killa EP' which will be out in '09 via Trevor Loveys' Tragic Magic label.

WON'T PARTY

The NYE party organised by Don't Panic at The Sheridan Suite has been cancelled. It looks like its difficulties are linked to some suggestions by Greater Manchester Police that drum & bass events are notoriously violent. Which is rubbish, of course. But there you go. Other objections were based on the event being likely to draw on a large local crowd - with that "local" audience seemingly suggesting difficulties too.

Here is a picture of The Sheridan Suite taken as it hosts some kind of drum & bass-free exhibition:


If anything, that carpet probably requires an ASBO.

MIXMAS

With a special Christmas gathering poised for 27/12/08, the people behind delectable digital dance-pop offering Clique have still found put together a collection of the night's 17 favourite tracks and remixes of 2008.

You can download it here.

View the track list here.

TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY

As much as lots of people throw themselves into the festivities at this time of year, it can also be a bit of a miserable time for many. While very unlikely to cheer-up the most depressed, there's a melancholy-tinged selection of music that you can download here.

And, should it be needed, The Samaritans are available all over the Christmas period.

MY NAME'S STELLA, SO IT IS

Ideally, in one's stocking this christmas, I would mostly like a girl from Northern Ireland called Stella. Not sure why, but these are the 2 base criterium for my perfect partner.

In the meantime, here is a DFA promo vid involving Kermit the Frog, James Murphy and a great city that isn't as good as it once was, apparently.

2 videos on the trot! We're spoiling you.

SING-A-LONG

Metronomy always have good videos, the one above is a wonderful example.

The record is out now I think.

ONE FAT LADY

In what's becoming some kind of annual tradition [think Christmas with less bells on], we asked some of our contributors and friends to give us their favourite musical moments from the last twelve months. In this case, their '8 from '08'. Just that we could present some kind of end of year round-up type thing. This is apparently what happened:

I Am Sam

Alter Ego - 'Gary (Carl Craig remix)'
Lindstrom - 'Grand Ideas'
Snoop Dogg - 'Sexual Seduction (instrumental)'
M83 - 'We Own the Sky'
The Chap - 'Ethnic Instruments (Joakim remix)'
Little Boots - 'Stuck on Repeat'
Joakim and the Discos - 'Love & Romance & a Special Person'
Metronomy - 'Radio Ladio'


Daniel Nolan

MGMT – 'Kids'
Sam Sparro – 'Black and Gold'
Ashlee Simpson – 'Outta My Head'
The Chemical Brothers - 'Electronic Battle Weapon 10'
The Aspirins For My Children – 'Attention (feat. thecocknbullkid)'
Little Boots – 'Stuck On Repeat'
Hot Chip – 'Ready for the Floor'
Mystery Jets – 'Two Doors Down (Duke Dumont reconstruction)'


Jamila Scott

Santogold - 'Unstoppable'
Health - 'Triceratops (Acid Girls Rmx A)'
Solange - 'I Decided'
Dinosaur Pile Up - 'Love Is A Boat And We're Sinking'
Florence & The Machine - 'Dog Days'
Be Your Own Pet ' 'Heart Throb'
Kanye West ft. Mr Hudson - 'Paranoid'
Feist - 'I Feel It All (Diplo Remix)'


Danny McFadden

Whitest Boy Alive - 'Golden Cage (Fred Falke remix)'
Aeroplane feat. Kathy Diamond - 'Whispers'
DJ Mujava - 'Township Funk'
Estelle feat. Kanye West - 'American Boy'
Little Boots - 'Meddle (Treasure Fingers remix)'
Ghostface Killah - 'Charlie Brown (DJ Mehdi remix feat Mapei)'
Midnight Juggernauts - 'Road To Recovery (Curses! remix)'
Black Kids - 'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You (The Twelves Remix)'


Gary Ryan

MGMT – 'Time To Pretend'
Mystery Jets – 'Two Doors Down'
Hot Chip - 'Ready For the Floor'
Neon Neon – 'I Told Her On Alderaan (Richard X Andress remix)'
Black Kids – 'Hurricane Jane'
Girls Aloud – 'Hoxton Heroes'
Frankmusik – 'Three Little Words'
B-52s - 'Funplex (CSS mix)'


Dan Gent

I listened to Elton John and Pink Floyd this year, plus re-listened to Kings Of Convenience (Quiet Is The New Loud) lots. I also enjoyed listening to Slum Village and Madlib. And Late In The Evening by Paul Simon [thanks, Danny Webb].
New records? Some of the Aeroplane stuff ('Now Till 69' in particular). I also enjoyed a Supermayer remix of one of the Hot Chip records. Can't remember much more. 'Time To Pretend' was the best record.
Best gig was My Bloody Valentine.

VIRAL MARKETING

Local hip hop/dubstep/grime quartet Virus Syndicate host a Christmas party at Mint Lounge 22/12/08. The Planet Mu-signed act's special guest is Plastician.

Meanwhile, here is a mix put together by VS's MRK1 and JSD.

Tracklist:

1. Skream - Filth Master
2. Chase and Status - Bits 320
3. Freq Nasty - Iraq
4. Skream - unknown
5. Jakes - Freak out special
6. MRK1 - Pornstar
7. Chimpo - Lock off VIP
8. MRK1 - Infected
9. MRK1 - Deathstar
10. MRK1 - Electronik
11. Skream - Calous
12. Benga - 26 Bass Refix
13. Chimpo - Badman no friend fish
14. Biome - unknown
15. Skream - Simple City
16. MRK1 - Counteraction
17. Benga - Night Special
18. Chimpo - Smokin Camal
19. Chimpo - Informer
20. Chimpo - Lickle Stereo
21. Chase and Status - Badout Riddim
22. MRK1 - Borderline Vocal
23. Rusko - Period
24. Virus Syndicate - Love the music (instrumental)
25. Sugh Knight - ?

LOST SPACE MEN

Petitions! Huh? What Are They Good For? Absolutely Nothing! As Edwin Starr didn't sing in ermm... a demonstration against petitions.

Some petitions have been good though, NN can't think of any right now per se, but we have found one that you should maybe 'electronically sign' here.

Oh, sorry, the petition is about the wonderful Upperspace gallery and general social/rave space needing a new home - because nobody likes a vagabond at yuletide. Upperspace was based on the corner of Hilton and Newton Street in the Northern Quarter and was a vision of Manchester's cross-medium creative future. Alas, the city has conspired to stop this sort of progressivism and hence, the guys are looking for a suitable new abode.

All the info you need to know is here on this helpful Facebook group.

JE SUIS UN TIGRE!

Here at NN we like all things pretty, so imagine our delight when one of our favourite people, Joakim, finally launched the website for his fashion offshoot Tigersushi Furs, thus allowing us to purchase nice things without having to go to the shop in Paris.

Tigersushi is Joakim's record label, home to the likes of Poni Hoax, Principles of Geometry and current tail waggers Desmond and The Tutus.

Anyway, here t'is.

SOME RECORDS

Rave with just a touch of Baltimore, Baile Funk and Bhangra from the old braptop.

Filed away here.

PARTY LIKE IT'S ERRR ... 2009?

What's happening on New Years Eve this year? I know that 2 of Manchester's bestest underground clubs are holding hands and kissing on the 31st December with the excellent one-night merger of MeAndYou and That Amazing Thing. It's at Soup Kitchen, plus it's only £6 which is credit crunch-tastic or something.

More details here.

Isn't it sad that Cliff hasn't met the right girl yet?

WHITE CHRISTMAS?

This is probably a bit off topic (and we're aware that the greyscale imagery here won't do it justice) but Islington Mill's RAW Design Studio has been running a fun project called Christmas by Colour.

Basically they've been inviting people to re-imagine Pantone colours as festive favourites with carefully selected re-named shades becoming part of both the company's Christmas card and a limited edition poster. The date has now closed for entries meaning that those that made the final cut will be announced very soon.

TWIST AND SHOUT

Splendid news: Contort Yourself sent us a mix of CY anthems past and present. You can download it here. And you can peruse the track list here:

1. Ladies and Gentlemen – STEALMYBURGER

2. Bathroom Gurgle (Tomski Remix) – Late Of The Pier

3. Walking Down The Street (Bart B More Jackin Down The Street Mix) – Ron Carroll

4. Suspense Is Killing Me – Boy 8-Bit

5. Shake It Down - Laidback Luke & A-Trak

6. The Worm (Original Munich Version) – ZZT

7. Miss Pacman (Oliver $ Rmx) – RQM

8. Midnight Request Line (Switch Remix) – Skream

9. Beat Bang - Machines Don't Care

10. Dum - The Martin Brothers

11. Lean & Bounce – Duke Dumont

12. Worry About It Later (Switch Remix) – The Futureheads

13. Enfant (Riton Rerub) – Sonny J

14. Cream (Original Mix) - Federico Franchi

15. Jack Got Jacked (Jack Beats Remix) – AC Slater

16. Midnight Stalker – Drums of Death

17. Sunglasses at Night (DIM Remix) - Tiga and Zyntherius

18. White Knight Two (Laidback Luke Remix) – Surkin

19. Let Me Back Up (Crookers Remix) – Don Remini

20. Raven – Proxy

Amazing. Yes.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

GETTING COLD FEET

Wow, how cold was it today? Not that cold apparently because I was offered a flyer by one of the Monday Murkage promoters and he had no socks on and he was only wearing espadrilles*.

Mental.

If I was him I'd be dancing to fend off the frostbite, probably to something like this;

MP3: Foals - Cassius (Tensnake Remix)

*Not only espadrilles you sicko.

FREAK OUT

After unleashing South African Clangers rave via DJ Mujava's 'Township Funk', above is the track by Alexander Robotnick - 'Obsession for the Disco Freaks' - that This Is Music will be releasing in 2009 complete with remixes from the likes of Rory Philips and Manchester's own HeavyFeet.

CHIMP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

Ape - the party that's been doing big things at the associated Warehouse Project for a while - takes over Manchester Apollo for another almighty one-off. This is a third Ape offering at the historic Ardwick venue and will feature sets from Goldie, High Contrast, Beardyman, Caspa, Benga, Marcus Intalex and more. It all goes off 30/01/09.

CRECY FOR YOU

You know that feeling you get when you're itching to throw a party? Well, we've kind of got one. If we did eventually do something like that, we'd probably have a light show like Etienne de Crecy's up there (points above head at youtube clip) except with a Manchester twist. So maybe there would be some gravy in there, or a single Nike trainer hanging by it's laces from a power line.

BIG HOUSE

Remember when our friend I Am Sam interviewed Tiga? (The evidence is here should you need to refresh your memory.) Only we just recounted it ourselves as blog rave faves Mansion sent us their illicit reworking of the Montreal prance maven's 'Mind Dimension'. If you want to hear that, you can. Just go here.

IT'S ALL WAVEY

Little Boots. Regulars would've read about her here, maybe even followed us to her micro-gig at the Pop Justice party (yeah, the one where I coughed beer out of my nose onto some students). Well lucky old Manchester because the best thing to come out of Blackpool since ermmm ... well moving on, the electro hotty is playing a proper gig at the Deaf Institute tomorrow night courtesy of our friends at the wonderfully new Now Wave club.

Joining Little Boots are mongrel ravers Heartbreak, mongrels in that they seem to come from nowhere and everywhere. One of these nowhere places is Chester where one half of the band - and ace producer on his own - Ali Renault spent a lot of his life, so it's kind of local gig for him. They will be doing their much acclaimed italo disco thing in support so this really will be a good night.

Top sight of the gig will be Now Wave co-promoter Wes sporting the best hair in Manchester. I saw him giving out flyers once after a club, it was freezing and he had no socks on. CRAAAAAZY.

INJECT SOME PASSION

Last night, Northernights stumbled into The Soup Kitchen to check out the gypsy like goings on at new-ish night Me & You. The promoters have had trouble staying in one venue for any sustained period of time - this might be because they keep being shafted by Manchester's draconian club owners, or maybe they just leave the washing up in the sink and use all the toilet paper and don't replace it. Who knows.

The Soup Kitchen, however, did a marvellous job. It's Berlin-esque minimal decadence works well with Me & You's Berlin-esque minimal digi-dance, we hope they hang around on Spear Street for a little longer.

Brilliantly, upon interrogating the friendly promoter about how all these amazing DJ's are coming over and how they can afford to keep going after the venue changes, I was told that 2008's roster was paid for by doing those human Guinea Pig injection test things you hear about. 2009's line-up is going to be even better apparently (We told him he shouldn't be so big-headed about it, but he told us that it was actually cranial swelling - a side-effect of the last round of jabs).

FLYING LOTUS CANCELLED

Due to the sudden death of his mother, Flying Lotus has understandably cancelled his appearance at The Warehouse Project this weekend.

Flying Lotus/FlyLo/Steven is a really lovely guy (we met him earlier this year) and we hope he's holding up in what are undoubtedly difficult times.

ALPINE FRESH

Sometimes, and it is occasional, you see some great things on the bus home after a night out. One such moment of sheer unprecedented beauty struck me down on Tuesday night when, on the monotonous and unforgiving 142 on Oxford Road, a fur-coated girl came and sat in front of me. Nothing great about that I hear you cry, but it was what she did with her fingers that got me so hot under the collar.

Within 30 seconds of embarkment, she started drawing on the condensation riddled window. Oh, she's going to write her name, draw a heart or something, maybe one of those spikey 'S' shapes you used to do on school exercise books. In fact, she created a sweeping alpine vista - fingers for the moutains, nails for the hovering clouds, the tip of her index digit for a wandering meander trickling down onto the seat. There's a picture of her above, oddly voyeuristic of me I know, but maybe she'll get in touch.

COMPETITION TIME #2

Are competitions like buses?

No.

They're not.

As we're just about to prove, you don't actually need to leave home to catch one. (Nor do they tend to press you against someone that smells funny.)

So stay put.

Right, Rex The Dog plays Romp's 6th Birthday party 27/11/08. How do you fancy going? And taking a friend? And also getting your sweaty mitts on, Rex's album, The Rex The Dog Show? Well that can all be arranged. Just answer this tricky question and we'll see what we can do:


How much is that doggie in the window?


Send your answer to northernights{at}googlemail{dot}com before noon, 25/11/08 with 'Rex' in the subject line and we'll pick a winner at random.

Meantime, you can also read a Rex The Dog interview from a bit back over here.

COMPETITION TIME

How long has it been since we posted a competition? Who cares? Here's an ace one now.

So, Buraka Som Sistema - everyone's favourite Lisbon ambassadors of Angolan 'kuduro' - are joining the similarly língua portuguesa don Edu K at Contort Yourself 06/12/08. A-mazing.

Well, fancy you and a guest getting in for nowt? And do you also desire a signed Buraka Som Sistema poster? And would you quite like their brilliant new album that's on the Fabric label? A long-player called Black Diamond that features collaborations with the likes of M.I.A., Kano and - Edu's mate - the Brazilian baile funk mistress known as Deize Tigrona?

Of. Course. You. Fucking. Do.

Sheesh.

To win (UK entrants only), just answer this:


Lisbon is the capital of Portugal. But what is 'a lesbian'?


Please send your entry to northernights{at}googlemail{dot}com before noon 04/12/08 with 'BSS' in the subject line.

Meantime, the very excellent Get Weird Turn Pro can direct you to a Buraka Som Sistema mixtape if you go here.

AT (B)LOGGERHEADS

Elsewhere in the Blogosphere we've seen evidence that Google - the company that owns Blogger - has been removing blog posts that it believes have linked to copyrighted material.

We thought that we would be okay with regards to this as we're very careful about what we make available for download and we have, we thought, a respectful approach to artists and labels. In fact, what we do here is supposed to support that whole business. And we personally don't make money from any of this. I mean, can you see a banner? Or even those horrible-looking Google AdSense things? Nope, what we do is based around continuing the development of the nocturnal industry that we care about: it's all about supporting the artists, the labels, the DJs (who promote the artists and labels) and the clubs (that support the DJs that support the... etc, etc).

We fully respect the rights of artists and labels and do not condone the infinging of copyright. In fact we get sent material by representitives of labels that want their material up on the blogs. We also post lo-res DJ mixes featuring excerpts from largely marginalised music in the hope that it encourages people to seek out the original records. It's often done to prompt people go to the club nights where they will hear more of that kind of music and maybe even the artists that are creating it. We also make our policy on downloading pretty clear, don't we? And we have never - repeat: NEVER - even had one person approach us and ask for a link to be removed.

However, over the past week, we've had two posts taken down by Google. We're baffled. The first was followed by an email explaining that a promotional downloadable mix went against some policy or other yet there was no mention of what, within the mix, had caused the upset. We can embark on some lengthy process to have the post reinstated but, instead, we just sent a reply explaining our own stance. The second post - a mix from the guys at Jupiter Rooms - just vanished with no explanation whatsoever.

We're incredibly disappointed by Google's Draconian approach. With this blog recently winning a Best Arts & Culture Award (while actually noted for our use of media) and while we're also shortlisted for a national 'Best Blog' prize as part of something that is all about music promotion, it's frankly ridiculous.

Anyway, for the moment we'll be cutting down on what music we post here. For mixes and the like, we will probably start posting the links on our Facebook group that you will find here. Join us. Meantime, we'll also be looking to switch to WordPress.

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

We got this email from music journalism and PR industry resource Record of the Day inviting us to vote in this year's awards. It has a new category of 'Best Blog'. Anyway, this actual blog - the one that you're looking at with your very own eyes - is nominated in that very same category. Obviously, the recent Manchester Blog Awards prize was a huge deal for us and now this has come along. So if you're an industry type and have any kind of influence do please make us win. We are really nice.

MORE FREE MUSIC

Berlin's K7 label is currently sending out a sampler of its output to anyone who registers for the mailing list here. The tracks include an edit of Carl Craig's 'Brainfreeze', a dub of Hot Chip's 'My Piano', Quiet Village's 'Circus of Horror', Bomb The Bass' 'So Special' and 'The Story' by The Matthew Herbert Big Band.

Above is a picture of the Bluebird K7 on Coniston Water which was taken in 1957.

DISCO-VERY

We did an interview with Serge Santiago a bit back so, knowing our interest in the DJ/producer, the people from XLR8R magazine dropped us an email to let us know that he's recently done a mix for them.

They say:

"His love for disco has turned our weekly podcast into an hour long compilation of classic and new club songs featuring Boytronic, Kebekelektrik and Patrick Cowley. Lately he's been playing all over Europe and Australia while keeping a steady DJ residency in Ibiza."

We say:

"Download it here."

RETURN OF THE MAC

Annie Mac brought some of her favourite acts/DJs to The Warehouse Project the other week. The video above is a short edit of the Radio 1 spinner's report on that date. The full version is here.

Anyway, here's what one of our own disco spies made of the night:


On Toddla T:
"Exciting. Played dancehall-tinged stuff but then morphed into The Prodigy to please the crowd."

On Drop The Lime:
"Likewise. Bass mentalism followed by 'Rhythm is a Dancer'. Grrr."

On Herve:
"Nowhere to be seen. Only Sinden. Who I love. He is mental. He loves Britpop - but shaken down. He's well funny."


So there you go.

Meantime Machines Don't Care (the fidget supergroup that has joined Annie on her tour and includes the above low end theorists amongst its ranks) is putting out 'Beat Bang' from that huge collaborative album - complete with remixes from Action Man (a.k.a. Herve) and DJ Mujava. That's available from 01/12/08 but, in the meantime, grab yourself the Trevor Loveys dub version.

MP3: Machines Don't Care - 'Beat Bang (Trevor Loveys dub)' [Yousendit]

I LOVE YOU

Ever wondered how to say the word 'Love' in a plethora of European languages? Well I've saved you the time of looking them all up by compiling a list, below. It is, of course, essential that we tell each other that we love each other, sometimes you can communicate this most complex of emotions through the medium of disco dancing. Therefore, I've provided a disco dancing song to accompany this expression, and it's one of the best disco dancing songs we've heard at maison NN this year.

обичам (bulgarian) ljubav (croatian) láska (czech) kærlighed (danish) liefhebben (dutch) rakastaa (finnish) aimer (french) liebe (german) αγάπη (greek) amore (italian) kjærlighet (norwegian) miłość (polish) iubire (romanian) ljubezen (slovenian)

MP3: Joakim & The Disco - Love & Romance & A Special Person (Mediafire)

CRIME PAYS

Yes, we did sort of nick our site photo treatments from, Odder bar session, Shoplifters. There's no honour amongst thieves and all that.

Anyway, the people behind it have now retaliated by sending us another brilliant mix. Let that be a lesson to us.

But what else can be said of, resident, Sapnarella who mixed this particular audio excursion? Hmmm?

"Few would expect the population of sleepy northern town Ashton-Under-Lyne to be aware of the burgeoning worldwide baile funk and electro scene. Further still, few would expect it to be birthplace of one of the UK’s hottest young female DJs, Sapnarella, who – since moving to the urban sprawl of Manchester just two years ago - has been tearing up clubs and parties alike with DJ sets packed with a heady mix of dirty basslines, punishing party beats and the scene’s unmistakable vocal hooks.

Part of the celebrated Shoplifters DJ collective, Sapnarella’s eclectic sets take in the influence of Diplo, Kid Sister, Crystal Castles, M.I.A., Buraka Som Sistema and Boys Noize, mashed together into a sound that’s found the young starlet with her own Saturday night Manchester residency and hand-picked for sets at Manchester’s electronic Eurocultured festival, and in London, the annual Camden Crawl and 93 Ft East, plus support slots for the likes of Yo Majesty, Neon Neon and Friendly Fires amongst others. She may be small, but she’s a class act make no mistake..."

Tracklist

1. Diplo - Percão ft. Pantera Os Danadinhos
2. DJ Sega - Bodies Hit The Floor
3. Scottie B - Mais Ela ft. Moleque Bil
4. Crystal Castles Vs. Health - Crimewave [Sinden Remix]
5. Kid Sister - Pro Nails [Gant-Man's Jackin' Remix]
6. Edu K - Me Bota Pra Dançar ft. Marina
7. Spank Rock - Bump [Best Fwends Remix]
8. Mujava - Township Funk [Ashley Beedle Remix]
9. M.I.A. - Boyz [Twelves Remix]
10. Buraka Som Sistema - Yah! ft. Petty
11. DJ Blaqstarr - Shake It To The Ground [Switch & Santogold Remix]
12. Detboi - Jump Up Jump Down
13. Boys Noize - Oh [A-trak Remix]
14. Drums Of Death – Breathe [Drop The Lime Remix]
15. Hervé & Kissy Sell Out – Rikkalicious


It can be downloaded here.

AMAZING GRACE (PT. 2)

Aeroplane play Naive Melody 31/10/08. We already posted that ace DJ mix they did a bit back so now get your hands on what they've done to Grace Jones' 'Williams Blood' - a slow electronic disco version that is inexplicably missing from the mad old bat's official release.

MP3: Grace Jones - 'Williams Blood (Aeroplane unreleased mix)' [Yousendit]

You'll also find an interview with Aeroplane here.

YOU'RE NEU GOOD FOR ME

Remember Motor? Yeah, nobody's favourite techno slash electro act who were tipped for greatness but never really got as big as Modeselektor. Well they've been in the studio, turning things and fiddling with bits, and basically there's a new track on their MySpace called Ice and it will be released on Kompakt yah.

We were going to categorise it as 'naive trance' but were also thinking 'neu trance' too. There's never enough pigeon holes.

AWARDS SEASON

DJ Magazine - them behind the Top 100 DJs chart - are going to be handing out some "Best of British" awards.

Amongst the suggestions for particular categories, there are a number of Manchester-associated nominees. Micron is tipped as Best British Small Club while The Warehouse Project is to be found in the Large Club category. The Electric Chair Saved My Life album on Tirk is hinted at in Best Compilation and, pioneer, Greg Wilson naturally shows up under Outstanding Contribution. You can, of course, select 'other' potential winners if you want [while from The Chemical Brothers to Justin Robertson, Simian Mobile Disco to Jimpster's Freerange label, there are some other names who have been linked with The Rainy City in the past].

Anyway, get voting here.

GO TO BELL

Music is good at the moment, especially American music, like the stuff from this little band School Of Seven Bells. The trio from Brooklyn say they make ambient post-rock, which is probably right actually for once, but they also have a nice pop visage and dark disco sentiments which makes the track below so accepting to a wide range of ears.

Of course they are only playing in some trendy pubs in London during their present mini-tour of the UK, but I'm sure they'll be heading over for a Manchester date soon.

Here's the present they've given us to warm our cockles (How cold is it?), in the shape of an MP3 called Connjur.

MP3: School Of Seven Bells - Connjur

NB: If anybody has a picture of 7 bells, rather than my best effort of 6, please get in touch.

SO WHAT?

JUSTICE - A CROSS THE UNIVERSE (teaser)
by edbangerrecords

I did this interview with, Ed Banger's in-house art director, So Me ahead of his date at The Warehouse Project 08/11/08 [where he plays alongside Justice, DJ Medhi, Busy P and more]. He was really nice actually. He even suggested that if I ever need a wedding DJ, then he would happily come and play some pop records. I may have pushed it too far when I asked him if he'd design the invites too.

Anyway, he also mentioned that he was busy finishing the Justice tour documentary and you can now watch the trailer for that. Should it interest. You will find that above. (Oblong. Press triangle.)

That So Me interview should appear on the main site in a couple of weeks, by the way.


MP3: Klaxons - 'Golden Skans To Interzone (So Me remix)' [Yousendit]

WINNER

The Manchester Blog Awards saw fit to hail us the Best Arts & Culture Blog after all. This is very exciting and extremely daunting. However, we've had a think and decided that we won't allow such wonderful praise to go to our heads: we'll be continuing our selection of random posts in that same (now award-winning) style that simply suggests that nobody is even reading.

BOMB SQUAD

The electro-shocking Super Fresh Power Squad host, their new Charlies residency, Yes Yes Yo 24/10/08. You can read an interview with them here.

Meantime, you can also help yourself to a free track.

MP3: Super Fresh Power Squad - 'Yes Yes Yo'

POINTS WIN PRIZES

As all of you indie club kids know, next week is the DiS sponsored SHRED YR FACE tour, where Los Campesinos! No Age, Times New Viking and a lot of drooling will happen.

It doesn't need over emphasising that this is a Very Exciting Thing. But some news which should send you positively hyperactive is that by answering the following very simple question, you could get your hands on a pair of tickets, a Los Campesinos! t shirt and a copy of Hold On Now, Youngster, to boot.

All together now: Oooooohhhhh!

To win, please tell us the city in which Los Campesinos! formed. Answers on a postcard shaped email to [northernights at gmail dot com] before Sunday. Don't forget to include your address so we can get all the good stuff posted to you. We'll let you know who's won on Monday.

THEME TUNES #11

Roland Appel is playing Cutloose at Spektrum in a couple of weeks. Ahead of that, and an imminent NN interview on't front page, we couldn't resist a sneaky theme tunes - the theme being loosely based on the relationship between Appel and Apple and Fruit (and coconuts). So here it is, your ear tingling 5-a-day.

MP3: The Kills - Sour Cherry
MP3: Metro Area - Orange Alert (DFA Remix)
MP3: Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band - A Fifth of Beethoven (Soulwax Edit)
MP3: Nightlife Unlimited - Peaches & Prunes
MP3: Chemical Brothers - Salmon Dance (Coconut Wireless Remix)

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

There seems to be a bit of an issue with some of the pics at the main site (www.northernights.co.uk). Some of the latest images aren't showing up and there's just that little red 'x' available to view. We're currently trying to iron it out but the above are what you're missing from the last batch of interviews. (Top to bottom: Deadmau5, Foamo, John Dahlback, Tiga.)

ROUND THING WITH A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE

That's it: 'a record'. And a good one too. Golden Bug's 'LookLookLook' remixed to perfection by In Flagranti. You can hear it on the telly above. Or buy it from a shop. With the latter, you don't have to deal with the trashy video mash-up thing either.

Also from the Gomma stable is this Munk DJ mix featuring a whole bunch of old and new house records.

SIXTEEN RECORDS

Our mythical radio show was broadcasting inside our heads in the early hours of this morning. We didn't talk much but instead aired a selection that fused the progressive/regressive strains of house with minimal/maximal type activity. We particularly liked the bit where Audion announced that it's 'Just Fucking' and Madonna came bounding in. The slag.

MP3: October broadcast [zSHARE]

CLIQUE MIX UPDATE

We mentioned that great Clique mix a bit ago. Anyway, it's now available online here.

IN THE CITY PREVIEW #4

Karoshi Bros play an In The City gig at One Central Street 06/10/08. And who would have thought that these previews would have prompted so many references to Pantera?

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So how are you?

Busy as fuck, but happy to be.

What are you working on?

Album #1 and remixes: one of which is an official one for Sam Sparro's next single.

What's coming up?

Bigger and better live shows, finishing album due out summer 2009.

Can you give us a brief history of Karoshi Bros?

Met little bro early 80s. Spent teens jamming metal then made beats on Octamed Modtracker on an Amiga. Formed electronica band at uni/made album/realised it was too odd and a bit shit/gave up. Did same again, but it was far less shit. Formed Karoshi, found Pop in Middlesbrough, found Jenny in Penrith. Had a cup of strong tea. Wrote more songs. Went insane. Had a stronger cuppa. Wrote more songs. Played it live and went surprisingly well. Got deal with Manchester based Woodville Records. Released 'Love/Fuck the World'. Surprisingly people liked it. Got played on the radio by Huw Stpehens and Rob Da Bank and played by popular DJ types like Erol Alkan and Pete Tong. Had dinner. Got this email, answered questions, "how would you......"

How would you describe what you do?

Dangerousdancemodernpop

So why are you playing at ITC?

Someone asked us to and said it would be a good gig

What do you expect to get out of it?

Free beer and a curry in Rusholme

What else should we know?

The debut single featured on a couple of Channel 4 ads and is on EA games Euro 2008. Also I once got on stage with Pantera and headbanged with Dimebag Darrell.



Karoshi Bros - 'Love The World' video

WHAT DID DROP THE LIME HAVE FOR LUNCH?

"I ate a 'Seafood Tower' at Fish's Love Shack in Manhattan. That's 24 oysters, four king crab legs, four clams and some other raw madness."

(Drop The Lime plays The Warehouse Project 25/10/08, by the way.)

SHINY PENNY, WALNUT, SATSUMA (OPTIONAL)

Along with the Electric Chair compilation that has had many tongues wagging recently, there is another Manchester related compact disc coming out soon as well.

Moonboots and Balearic Mike - of Aficionado fame - have segued together a collection of records with intense beauty but names few of us have heard of - it's balearic innit. The mix tape, entitled Originals, is being released on the rather demure Claremont 56 imprint - a label that lists artists like Idjut Boys, Smith & Mudd and Blackbelt Anderson in it's discography.

A release party in November is being held in trendy Shoreditch or Dalston or some such place in The Big Smoke with Originals out in shops on the first of December. You may want to stick one in your loved one's Christmas stocking along with a shiny penny and a walnut, and maybe a satsuma if you live in Cheshire or somewhere posh.

IN THE CITY PREVIEW #3

Next up, as part of our look at what's ahead for this year's ITC, is a little chat we had with Theo: frontman with, local band, Daggers. Him and the rest of the gang will be playing the Popjustice showcase at Bar38 on 07/10/08.



So how are you?

Good. Just working out if it's possible to record a string quartet and a choir in a Longsight demi-squat.

I was speaking via electronic mail to Mr Richard X recently and he said about Daggers: "they're a good bunch: it's nice to meet a band who actually like pop music beyond the usual lip service". Discuss.

Dicky is a hero. He found us writhing around and decided he wanted to help us to heal. Our houses were on fire straight away. It's always refreshing to meet a like mind. So many 'music' people are afraid of pop music, but it's people like Richard who were born to save it. There are not many people who you can have a two hour long conversation with about Alice Deejay and NIN. Plus he's an artist and an absolute genius, it was a pleasure to work with him. We understand each other. We're going back into his little nest soon.

Can you provide a brief history of Daggers: from the formation of Bureau to whatever happened eight minutes ago?

- Argument.
- Fist fight outside nightclub.
- Reconciliation.
- Italo Disco, Muse.
- 'Bureau'.
- Single deal ('After Midnight') with High Voltage after first ever gig.
- Single released before 10th gig played.
- 6 Music sessions, XFM sessions and playlist.
- Tour.
- France.
- Very large Christmas lawsuit threat from old bastards who used to be in Dexy's Midnight Runners.
- Argument(s).
- Stabbing.
- 'Daggers'.
- Single with Fierce Panda ('Money').
- Personally asked to support Gary Numan on his UK tour.
- Randomly meet Richard "Biff" Stannard, the fingers and mind behind Kylie, East 17, Spice Girls. Had more number ones than you've had wanks, etc.
- He falls in love. He is one of our idols. We meet. We make amazing music together.
- Richard X calls. He is one of our idols. We meet. We make amazing music together.
- Other very high profile, yet currently very secret producers call. We make amazing music together.
- We make amazing music of our own.
- We formulate a way to take over the planet.
- We do it.

What are the new tracks like?

Things have come a long, long way. Everything is in it's place. Working with the superhuman hit machines has helped us learn a lot in a very short space of time. To make earth-shattering pop music you have to experience the grim, and in the past few years we have. Imagine a cross between Fleetwood Mac and Nine Inch Nails; Stock, Aitken & Waterman and The Prodigy. If you haven't already wet yourself, you'll be close.

Where's it all going?

It's going where we decided it would go on day one: nowhere. There is no limit to how far pop music can soar. All the free booze and meals they keep giving us will amount to something very big, very soon. Too many rats though.

What's so good about the Popjustice showcase you're doing?

Popjustice are amazing. They are the only people who fully understand the world we are in. Pop music is a 'fuck you' to society and Popjustice's fingers are always up. They've been so supportive of us and we're honoured to be involved. To be honest, if In The City is about the 'future of music' then Popjustice should be the only showcase. Instead they clutter up this beautiful city with indie shit which died about three years ago. But that's no matter.

Who are your peers?

Our peers are anyone who likes Kylie as much as they like Pantera, and isn't cowardly enough to admit it.

Lastly, what else should we know?

This:

TOBY OR NOT TOBY

We caught up with Toby Tobias, you should know who he is, you've probably danced to one of his records. Toby is playing Sunday afternoon shindig Reboot at Area51 this weekend, sure to be a good'un if it's anything like the bad boy stuff he's playing in the clip above. Below is some raw transcript action featuring, perhaps, a world record for making those face things with simple punctuation marks.

NN - What sort of stuff are you playing at the moment - noticed any interesting shifts in the records you've been receiving lately?

TT - I GUESS THE BIGGEST SHIFT IS MAYBE TAKING THINGS A BIT SLOWER , IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR , MAYBE LOST A FEW BPM'S , DON'T THINK THATS DOWN TO AGE ;) - MORE LIKE A MORE OPEN MINDED AUDIENCE WHO LIKE TO GROOVE MORE -
I STILL BUY THE SAME KIND OF MUSIC I VE ALWAYS DONE THOUGH - A BIT OF NEW HOUSE OR TECHNO FLAVOURS USUALLY VEERING TO THE LEFT ,PLUS SOME DUSTY DISCO NUGGETS THAT IVE FOUND IN A CHARITY SHOP OR BASEMENT SOMEWHERE - MAYBE TEST OUT A NEW TUNE IM WORKING ON, THE ONLY DRASTIC CHANGE I VE NOTICED IS THERES SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM YOU VE GOT TO BE QUITE PICKY THESE DAYS - ITS GOT TO BE ESPECIALY GOOD TO WARRANT BEING ' A KEEPER ''

- You're playing at a quite new club called Area 51 which is next door to a rather iffy strip joint - are you tempted to pop over for a pre-set chill out?

NAH MAYBE AN APRES SET CHILL OUT THOUGH :) , WHEN YOU SAY IFFY - I 'M IMAGINING ITS LOW ON QUALITY THO ? MAYBE I'LL PASS HAHA

- This Reboot party is a Sunday afternoon disco, these sort of things should be encouraged right?

YES - WHAT BETTER WAY TO WORK OFF THAT ROAST - ON A SWEATY DANCEFLOOR - I GUESS DAYTIME RAVING TAKES ON ANOTHER DIMENSION - ITS MORE OF A SOCIAL THING , DEFINITLY THE WAY FORWARD ..

- Your album was released earlier in the year, what have you been up to since and what have you got planned for the immediate future?

i'M DOING A REMIX FOR SATOSHI TOMIIE- ON HIS SAW LABEL - WHICH WAS A DECISION THEY MADE AFTER LISTENING TO MY ALBUM , WHICH IS NICE , A REMIX FOR FUTURE CLASSICS IN OZ - THEY ASKED ME TO REMIX A TRACK THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE TRACKS OF THIS YEAR ( BY TOUCH SENSITIVE -CALLED'' DON'T STOP'' ), AND A REMIX FOR A NEW TIRK ACT IS IN THE PIPELINE TOO .
SINGLES WISE - I GOT A SINGLE FOR REKIDS BEING LINED UP -SOME REMIXES FOR MY ALBUM ARE BEING COMMISIONED TO A FEW PEEPS ( IN EARLY STAGES )A NEW SINGLE ON TINY STICKS , AND AN EP FOR REKIDS NEW OFFSHOOT LABLE 'REK'D '' .A SINGLE FOR ELECTRIC MINDS IS IN THE FINAL STAGES TOO ( AS CASINOBOY )
NOT FORGETTING MY REMIX OF NICK SOLE 'S EARTH WHICH IS OUT NOW ON FINE ART RECORDS.

- You're on the bill with re-edit king Greg Wilson - have you been cutting and pasting recently and what's your thoughts on this whole re-edit business ... healthy or should we be concentrating on new music?

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE MORE INTERESTING REAL MUSIC BEING MADE - MORE BRENNAN GREEN AND THE LIKE PLEASE !! - THERE IS DEFINTLY TOO MANY EDITS FLOODING THE RECORD SHOPS - A LOT OF THEM ARE GOOD - BUT I GET MUCH MORE OF A BUZZ FINDING THE ORIGINAL IN A CHARITY SHOP OR A DINGY BASEMENT SOMEWHERE - THEN YOU GET SOME INDIVIDUALITY ADDED TO YOUR SET -I MUCH PREFER LISTENING TO A RECORD THATS A REPRESENTATION OF SOMEONE - IE THE PERSONAL TOUCH - AND OCCASIONALLY YOU GET THAT WITH EDITS - SOMETHING THATS CLEVERLY DONE AND HAS REINVENTED THE ORIGINAL TRACK .

Latenightaudio is your club project, tell me a bit about that? Is your dj style different for there or will you be bringing a similar sound to Manchester?

MY STYLE IS KIND OF THE SAME EVERYWHERE I PLAY - SOMETIMES THERES A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF DISCO SOMETIMES A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF ACID HOUSE VIBES - I GUESS IN BACK ROOMS YOU HAVE MORE FREEDOM TO CHOP AND CHANGE - BUT LATENIGHTAUDIO IS COOL AND WE VE GOT A VENUE NOW WHEN WE ATTRACT A MUCH MORE OPEN MINDED CROWD - SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURVEY THE DEEP SOUNDS - BE IT DISCO ,HOUSE OR TECHNO . WE ARE JUST LAUNCHING THE LATENIGHTAUDIO LABEL TOO - THE FIRST SINGLE IS ABOUT TO BE PUT TO BED - ITS AN ARTIST CALLED DAS VOLT- ( OR KEVIN TO HIS MATES :) HE S MADE SOME ASTONISHING MODERN DISCO - AND I'VE DONE A REMIX AS WELL AS FABRIZIO MAMMARELLA ( WHO IS PLAYING AT OUR NEXT LATENIGHTAUDIO )- SO THAT WILL DROP IN NOVEMBER HOPEFULLY .