Beast Reviews: Maxxi Summer 2016 Mixtape by Maxxi Soundsystem

Maxxi Summer 2016 Mixtape (Listen on Soundcloud here)

The Beast and his team of minions spent the summer chasing one of their favourite DJ's and music producers, none other than Maxxi Soundsystem. His epic grand finale at Hidden Valley on the Saturday night at Wilderness to the unlikely 'In the Air Tonight' by Phil Collins was the stuff of legend - who else could pull that off. Beastie and team were lured into a night of techno lushness and then hurled into that 80's throwback that had us buzzing from forest valley to tent lair.

So, there was much joy when Maxxi put up his Summer mixtape with the tunes that created our sizzling season's anthems. Here's the review with track timings (note that these are not approx) - Disclaimer: Beast works in analogue without a clue on techie stuff, so bear with him as his mythical hearing works its magic. Key listening cues are in the bullet points as below:

• 1.39 in and **that** heartbeat from Alpe Luisa ups the tempo and pow, you're in and on what you know is going to be a roller coaster ride.
• From 18:40 The Black Madonna remix of Tiga's Blondes Have More Fun. Fat synths and rolling soundscape echo brings in the backdrop to a lot of 2016 sunsets. Gun Finger time.
• 27:30 and time to get seduced by the honey vocals of Nonku in Andre Lodemann's remix version of Hyenah's Soak it.
• 45:20 One of the reasons why we love this mix so much is that it features the amazing collab work borne of Maxxi and Alex Banks "Lost in Memory". Combine Maxxi's fine mastery of techno tapestries with Alex's home grown glitchy synths and you have this fine example that had us raving it up in Wilderness and craving more. Take 50:01 as a punchy keyboard drop that you will want to hear over and over again.
• 1:08:30 Jamie 3:26's 'Hit it N Quit It' tail ends into Cloud Generator by Kink - what a match made in heaven which ultimately had us stomping our hooves ever more into a techno dance frenzy. Banger.
• We loved the closing track at 1:54:30 and had to double take at whether it was a Maceo Plex offering. But no, it's Autarkic's "I know". Another banger.

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Track List:

1. 0:00 "Alpe Luisa" (Robag Bodelshwing Sovar NB) by Stimming

1a. The overlaid sample is taken from the film Repo Man; Miller explains Cosmic Unconsciousness and Time Travel.

2. 7:00 "Oar003-B" by Oni Ayhun

3. 12:30 "Unknown" **Is this a potential future Maxxi release?** We don't know but we loved it and hope to hear it again. If you know this one, please comment.

4. 18:30 "Blondes have more fun" (The Black Madonna Immaterial remix) by Tiga

5. 26.50 "Soak It" (Andrew Lodemann remix - Nonku) by Hyenah

6. 33.16 "For A Memory" by Tim Green

7. 38:00 "Sundust" by Jepe

8. 45:20 "Lost in Memory" by Maxxi Soundsystem and Alex Banks

9. 51:00 "Lay Down" (Aaaron mix) by Kalyma

10. 55.50 "Searching" (Deetron remix) by Fred Everything, Dinadu, Deetron

11. 1:00:00 "Uncertain Qualities" by Krisztian Dobroscsi

12. 1:05:18 "Hit it N Quit it" by Jamie 3:26 & Cratebug

13. 1:08:30 "Cloud Generator" by Kink

14. 1:15:20: "Caminho de Dreyfus" (Rebolledo remix) by Red Axes Ft. Abrao - Maxxi version

15. 1:20:30 "Anacreon" by Human Machine

16. 1:24:14 "Unknown" or possibly a bootleg Maxxi version of "The Wrath of NIA" by DJM-Traxxx?

17. 1:31:30 "In the Turret" by PBR Streetgang

18. 1:37:20 "Burn the past" by Terr

19. 1:42:30 "Aint Me" (Spirit Catcher remix) by Bonar Bradburg, Spirit Catcher

20. 1:47:10 "Tourette" (David Mayer remix) by Terranova

21. 1:54:30 "I Know" by Autarkic

Maxxi Soundsystem at Hidden Valley, Wilderness 2016

Beast Reviews: Satsify Mix by Nero

Satisfy Mix - Nero (Listen on Soundcloud here)

In under 58 minutes the Nero trio, showcase just why they are one of the best crowd pleasing musical acts of all time. The Satisfy mix is a couple of years old but it’s also one of their best. Easing its way in with a sampler from cult film ‘Strange Days’ (aficionados will remember the reference to Lenny Nero’s memories on disc). Here find a rich tapestry of classic and newer tracks weaved in such a way that will have you desperate to jump up and dance. We love how Vangelis’s Blade Runner main title was dovetailed in such a way that it didn’t become overly cocky – how some DJ’s have got it so wrong by adding this track then finding that it becomes the ADHD child with all other tracks having a tough act to follow. If you don’t manage to listen to all of this mix, there are two parts to really listen out for:
36 minutes in: A Number of Names’ ‘Shari Vari’ and the transition to Leftfield’s Phat planet. You just don’t even realise that *THAT* drum pattern is already there in the background luring you in, then pow!

44 minutes in: As if LFO’s ‘Freak’, didn’t blow your mind (and body) enough with the tune that we have all freaked out to, listen to the mastery of that cowbell clinking in the background – recognise that? Enter Nero’s very own remix of Depeche Mode’s ‘Behind The Wheel’– if this doesn’t have you dancing your socks off we don’t know what will.

Just as you thirst for more, Jon Hopkin’s ‘Collider’ finalises beautifully into an astral soundscape with Nero’s very own ethereal ‘Satisfy’.

Did you like this review? Want to hear more? Tell us which mix is your favourite and why and we will take a listen, anatomically spread it wide on the slab and give you our thoughts here at Minotaur Central. The beast aims to please.

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Tracklist:

Alva Noto - Haliod Xerrox Copy 1 / Strange Days
Djedjotronic - Abyssal Zone / Model 500 - Future
Nero - Won't You Be There (Nero 128 Remix) VS Bart B More - Napoleon
Cirez D - On Off / Moby - Go (Trentemøller remix) / Kavinsky - Wayfarer
The M Machine - Moon Song (Edit) / Vangelis - Blade Runner Main Title theme
Daft Punk - Alive
Joey Beltram - Energy Flash (Edit)
Gesaffelstein - Selected Faces
Nero - Satisfy
Balthazar & JackRock vs Hakan Ludvigson - Meinungen Mussen Frei Sein (Angy Kore Remix)
Nero - Touch You
Psychemagik - Black Noir Schwarz
Cybotron - Clear
A Number Of Names – Shari Vari (Nero Bootleg Mix)
Leftfield - Phat Planet
LFO - Freak
Beaumanoir - Insulinia
Depeche Mode - Behind the Wheel (Nero Refix)
3Teeth - Zeit
Jon Hopkins - Collider / Nero - Satisfy

Launch Night Review!

So, following Launch Night delights and smiles and as we continue finding glitter in our clothes, our dancing shoes and inside our horns. We asked one Minotaur Sound happy customer, Mr Ben Meek, to provide us with a review of the immersive side of night. Here is what he had to tell us...


"...I entered the lair like a thief, sticking to the shadows, exercising the barest minimum of movement lest I be caught and dragged to the cells to await the legendary beast. I was excited but something seemed off, I was on The Island, but I had not imagined the fabled labyrinth to be in Bristol city centre.



The Island, Bristol transforms into a Labyrinth

Maybe it was my mind at fault, I’m struggling to remember how I even ended up here, my memory is hazy, the colours seem brighter here too. People flitted around me, obviously part of some kind of cult, worshiping The Minotaur. Already they appeared giddy with anticipation. They sweated and sparkled in the sparse lighting, whilst all around a tribal rhythm pulsed and pounded fuelling their, no doubt depraved, desires.



The Minotaur says hello to DJ Kieran Holden

Undaunted, I pressed on through gangs of nymphs and satyrs. I felt flushed and elated, just the thrill of the chase I guessed. I entered a cavernous room where the music was loudest, one of The Minotaur’s acolytes pressed a glowing rod into my hand, looking down I was shocked to discover that my clothes had been torn from my upper body and I was covered in a sparkling powder, glistening under the flashing multi-coloured lights. I needed air.




A Minotaur Sound Nymph


Panic growing I fled out into a corridor when I heard a spectral voice beckoning me onwards. I crept forward, following the call until, too late! “I need a virgin” I heard called, “who will be our virgin?” My blood froze, this could only mean one thing. Sacrifice. Before I knew it I was in front of the chamber, a small cell bedecked with shining curtains and filled with the most deranged of the beast’s followers. Before I could cry out I felt a push from behind and I fell, stumbling into the arms of the howling crowd.






Into the Cell of Fables with Micro-Rave





How long I was in that chamber, I cannot tell. I cannot recount with clarity what happened to me in that room. I only know that I left my old self behind when I finally emerged, a drooling convert. Ready to do the minotaur’s bidding without hesitation. I danced wildly, I drank with abandon, I became one with the maddening drums, I offered myself up to the wanton lusts of that crowd and I regret nothing, for I finally understood. The Minotaur was no monster, nor indeed a physical being at all. It was us, we were the beast. The Minotaur was in us all along."






Illy Noize captivates his Minotaur Sound fans

Illy Noize - Minotaur Sound Headline DJ Interview!

We have our most anticipated interview yet with our upcoming headline Illy Noize! Illy caught our ear last year when we heard one of his spectacular mixes and rather than wait for someone to bring him over to the UK, The Minotaur Sound team decided to take matters into our own hooves, set up Minotaur Sound and bring him over to the UK for his debut. Have a listen to Illy's Minotaur Sound teaser mix here and read on to find out more about him:

Minotaur Sound: "So Illy, tell us who are your biggest influences and why?"

Illy Noize

Illy: "Hey guys, thank you for having this interview with me. My musical influences reach from raw funk and soul to rock and experimental electronic music. I am very open minded when it comes to music and I enjoy it everywhere I can. But when I should name some all-time heroes of mine, it comes down to Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Donna Summer and all these great artists under the Mo-Town Label roster. I like that live feeling in a record. When you hear the little mistakes in the recording that makes it special. I always try to recap this feeling when I work in the studio. Also for DJ sets I think it's important. I don't like surgical sets. It has to be vibrant and swinging. Yes I think this is the influence for me in music"

Minotaur Sound: "Amazing! And this influence really does show strong in your music. How about you tell us a lesser known fact about yourself?"

Illy: "Haha! A fun fact about me...whenever I go on tour to DJ in another City I always forget my toothbrush. So every time I come to a new City, I have to buy a new one. I have quite a good collection of toothbrushes from a lot of City's I've been at."

Minotaur Sound: "We'll have your toothbrush at the ready when you come to Bristol then! So tell us about the first time when you started to DJ - how did you get introduced to it?"

Joyfriend Record Label

Illy: "I started to DJ in 1999 as a hobby. Started to collect vinyl and practicing at home. Can't say exactly why but I always was into music. Didn't know much about DJ live at this stage but was fascinated by the technique and the way it was done. The turntables and the feel of the records and of course going to the record store was a bit thing for me back in the days. Today I try to buy as much Vinyl as possible but have stopped playing Vinyl at clubs which is a bit sad. I always was into this soulful house and techno music. Not much of a minimal or dark techno guy. I like happy music so to say, always melodic. Then after one year of training I sent some demos to clubs around my hometown. In 2005 I became resident in a club in Leipzig and in 2009 in the Charles Bronson Club in Halle made by Monkey Safari. I started producing music slightly late. In 2013 I released my first records. Until 2015 I released on 7 labels and started to run my own Label Joyfriend with some friends in Halle.

Minotaur Sound: "Illy we are so honoured to have you headline at our upcoming Launch and so very excited to hear what you will play for your UK fans. See you on the 20th Feb!"

Kieran Holden - Minotaur Sound DJ interview!

It's time for another Minotaur Sound DJ interview! This time featuring the super talented Kieran Holden.

Minotaur Sound: " So Kieran, what are your biggest musical influences?"

Kieran H: "'A Love from Outerspace' certainly re-ignited my interest in dance music, it's such a great melting pot. I think the best DJ set that I've heard in a while had to be Paramida at the Masked Ball in Flambards Amusement Park, lovely stuff in a great setting too.

Labels like Emotional Response, Optimo, Tusk Was, Throne Of Blood, Tici Taci and that's sorts of business never leave the bag.

Also hearing some of my tracks getting a play from some personal heroes like Bill Brewster / Andy Weatherall / Justin Robertson and Ewan Pearson is a massive shot in the arm. Makes you want to produce more".

Minotaur Sound: "Just wow, you had us at 'A love from Outerspace!'... So tell us a lesser known fact about yourself"

Kieran H: "Bernie, the Bassist out of The Holles taught me how to play bass when I was a kid, and I've still got his old Rickenbacker bass. Still my only bass and I love it. I let him borrow it for use in this 1975 TV special - which you can view here.

We give you Kieran Holden...Kieran is part of the Upstairs Downstairs DJ collective in Newquay. With releases on Tici Taci and Alfresco Disco and a remix for Nein Records, his production credentials are flawless. See and hear Kieran in deck action at our launch night!

The beastie approves of his limited edition lair ware

Check out our beautiful limited edition tees! Beautifully designed by our resident Graphic Designers Lun and Claire. You can purchase them on our big cartel site here. Be quick as we only made 50 of them.

We went for a really simple but impacting design - a labyrinth and mysterious glyphs. Tee detail gives you a limited edition flourish on the sleeve.



Available in top quality Gildan 100% cotton. sizes extra small, small, medium, large and extra large.


Buy your tee now in time for launch night or will be available to purchase on the night.

With thanks to Cass for stunning model shots. Cass will be wearing her tee on launch night.

Donewrong - Minotaur Sound DJ interview!

So, following on in the footsteps of last week's DJ G Rowe interview - we are now onto our second DJ chit chat. The intention is to get inside their heads - what makes them kick? What sets them apart from the rest? Donewrong will be at our Launch Night and here is what he had to say...






Donewrong: "So, biggest musical influences? (scratches chin) - ok, I haven't interviewed this candidly before, so it's good to get it off my chest - I've been into music ever since I was a kid. My parents would strap me to a pair of 1210's and beat the backs of my hands every time I made a mistake. At age 9, they sent me to a Russian Academy where I was whipped and starved until I could beatmatch only by looking at the grooves in the vinyl. A few months later, my fingers were replaced with robotic digits by Sovient KGB Surgeons to increase my fader speed. Outside of that, I am drawn to the sound of mating insects and the noise that super heated plasma makes on contact with the flesh of the guilty.






Minotaur Sound: "errrr...ok, that's quite revealing I guess, how about you tell us a lesser known fact about yourself?"






Donewrong: "I love records so much, I had my skin replaced with vinyl. It has caused some personal issues, but when I get down I scratch myself with a pin and boogie to the music it makes. Incidentally that music is FUNK".






Minotaur Sound: "Donewrong is certainly one of those elusive artsy DJ types who takes his work very seriously and we can now see why".






Here at Minotaur Central, we delved further into why Donewrong does what he does:






Donewrong: "People often ask me, "Donewrong, why did you do that? What possible good could come of it?", and my answer is always the same. I lock eyes with them and shriek at the top of my lungs, slowly lowering the volume until it is barely above a whisper, never once blinking, until they stop bothering me. This technique worked so well with Carl Cox that he dedicated his set to me that fateful night in Bali.






One sunny August, many years ago down the old Ladbroke Road, I introduced Fabio & Grooverider to Jungle music. I can't remember if they liked it or not, never heard from them again.










Another tip I've picked up over the course of my career, is that most DJ's can be sent into a ferocious panic if you replace a third of their records with Charles & Eddies smash hit 'Would I lie to you', apart from Mr. Scruff, he gets off on that jam.








Much like a wild musth elephant, my sets are frisky and threatening. Never take your eyes off me, I could be behind you in an instant, garrote in hand, leering like a gargoyle and shivering with blood lust."






...There you have it. We leave you in the safe vinyl hands of Donewrong - watch him in action on Launch Night.

Minimal -v- Melodic Techno?

What is melodic and minimal techno? To answer that question, you have to understand what Techno actually is. Just type 'Techno definition' into google and there are vast arrays and essays about it, it's meaning, it's origins and it's anatomical component parts. Best described by my youngest daughter as 'it's so repetitive!'. Where time is marked with a bass drum on each quarter note and some random squiggle of a sound (could be a clap or a hi hat or a vocal or any catchy noise) on every second eighth note. Techno hails from the use of the 'Techno Rebels' label (those who have read Alvin Toffler's 'The Third Wave' will understand this) and how true techno tends to have been generated on older analog synthesizers and those wanting to keep vinyl production alive. So that's Techno in a very small nutshell.


So, when someone asked me 'what is melodic techno?' - I typed that into google, only to be stood upon a parapet of the unknown. Curious, I decided to explore this a bit more, so as to come up with a definition that wouldn't have me reaching out for a search engine. Techno stalwarts will know about minimal techno - best heard in places like Berghain or Trouw or anywhere with stark, dimly lit concrete walls and a DJ with a gas mask on. A perfect DJ example would be Pearson Sound (and I quote as I have seen him live) - a series of interesting percussion noises, beats and misplaced sounds that kind of work well in a really surprising way. Add electro glitches, progressive drum beats and noises that would appear to been taken from a sci-fi film and you have minimal techno. I.e. there is little to no melody.


Have a listen to this for a good minimal techno DJ set example from Pearson Sound and his latest Essential Mix for the BBC. If you can quote a better example then send it over or comment below.


Melodic techno uses the underpinning structure of techno and instead of sounds and interesting noises, overlays it with...wait for it...melody! The binding together of melody makes a Techno track warmer, more intimate and sometimes uplifting. But what is melody? Stupid question, right? Wikipedia describes it as 'a sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying; a tune'. Does that mean that minimal Techno could potentially be dissatisfying?! In the end it's all in the musical eye of the beholder. A lot of current DJ's and producers are able to swing between minimal and melodic, with ease. You might be up for a night of minimal techno because you're just in that mood, maybe you've had a bad day and you want to hit those techno sounds hard in some dark shady corner. On the other hand, you might be heading out with your mates, all is good in the world and the warmth of melodic techno captivates you all into a lovely bonding session of hugs and love (and that's without a single instance of MDMA ever being taken!).


Good examples of melodic techno DJ's are Maceo Plex and Worakls to name but just a few. Melodic techno at it's best could probably be best encapsulated by this Boiler Room DJ set by Maceo Plex.


Do you agree with this description? What is your take? I'm all ears.


Cathy

G Rowe - Minotaur Sound DJ interview!

So here's the first of our interviews with one of our DJ's G Rowe. George was instrumental in finding our Launch Party headline Illy Noize. He is an ex resident at Bristol's salubrious Headrush and Das Ist Nights. If you have clubbed out in Bristol, doubtless you will have been in his very safe hands.



G Rowe at a New Years gig 2015

Minotaur Sound: "Who are your biggest musical influences and why?"

George: "Hmmm...well I listen to all types of things, but in House and Techno, I'd probably say people like George Fitgerald and Scuba for stuff that's really good to dance to late at night. I also really like some funky stuff from the likes of Bicep, The Revenge and anything on Toytonics. There are loads of amazing people from Bristol like Outboxx, Jay L, Bashmore, Christophe, Behling and Simpson. Loads of stuff really"

Minotaur Sound: "Sick choices! Now tell us a lesser known fact about yourself"


George: " A lesser known fact?! Err...this guy is my Great, Great, Great Uncle or something, and was described as the 'richest man to captain England at football'. I didn't see a penny of it"

Minotaur Sound: "Haha thanks George! Can't wait to see you do your thing on 20th Feb Launch Party"





















<-- R. Cunliffe Gosling (aka as George's Great, Great, Great Uncle who didn't leave him with a penny. (c) Wikipedia.

Bring on the weirdness styling!

Have to say that here at Minotaur Sound central, we are just a tad excitement about what is about to come. We've even started a Pinterest Board to style our Launch Party night.






You can take a look at it by clicking here and check out the Berlin Techno concept. Obviously we don't want to make it a stringent style - we're talking about our fierce Techno loving Minotaur in his sound labyrinth, dark tunnels winding their way down into the bowls of an old Police Station and bringing in some of the best atmospheric music to be heard in Bristol by our DJ creatures. Hairs on the back of your neck prepare to stand up!






We will have plenty of other surprises - we're finding it hard to keep ourselves quiet, suffice to say that you will love it all.

Happy New Year from the horned beast

So 2016 starts with the resounding bang of those magnificent Westminster fireworks and here at Minotaur Sound we say Happy New Year to our lovely Minotaureans. 2016 is going to be a particularly good year for us as it's our Launch Party year and we know how much buzz you are going to get from that one event alone.


We are humbled to see how Tier 1 tickets are flying off the shelves at a much faster rate than anticipated to such an extent that we had to pour more Tier 1's into the pot over Christmas. You lovely peeps - we will deliver a party that will have you wanting to come back for more.


With love from the Minotaur Sound Team xxx