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?

>>>

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 .

SPACE BAR

Second outing for Jupiter Rooms is ahead (17/10/08). For that one - again at Joshua Brooks - they've got both Black Strobe's Arnaud Rebotini and Joe & Will Ask? guesting. Yet it's one of the residents, Will Tramp, who has stepped-up with the latest intergalactic soundtrack available for download here. That very same Will also joins his old cohort, James Smith at Homoelectric this week.

Jupiter Cosmonaughts Mix by Will Tramp!

Yacht- I'm in love with a ripper (party mix)
James Pants- Kash (A-Trak & Xxxchange remix)
In Flagranti- Business Acumen (Holy Ghost cover version)
LSB- Shout
Morgan Geist- Palace Knife
Tony Allen- On the Floor (Joakim edit)
LSB- Fog
Moby - Love to move in here (Holy Ghost remix)
David Rubato-Circuit (Siriusmo remix)
Phoenix- Cartier
Kasper Bjorke- Doesnt matter (Juan Maclean remix)
Max Berlin- Elle et Moi (Joakim edit)
Trickski- Move Me
Juan Maclean- Find A Way
Jape- Floating (Prins Thomas Diskomiks)

SHORT NOTICE

Excellent Warp signings Pivot will be playing at Now Wave tonight.