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Drum’s Not Dead: Ali ‘Perc’ Wells Interviewed by The Quietus in Prep For Tomorrow Night’s Performance @ The Garage (London)

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:56:49 +0000

Perc’s Wicker & Steel is a Quietus LP of 2011. Luke Turner talks to Ali Wells about the album, the rise of his Perc Trax label, the Home Counties and an antidote to wishy washy electronica

The first time I encountered the music of Ali Wells, aka Haringey-based electronic artist, DJ and label boss Perc, was at a Demdike Stare gig, where new Quietus staffer Rory Gibb was DJing. The sound floating out of the PA was instantly recognisable as the deep, luxuriant bass tones of Chris Carter… but what was the violent percussion contained within? It transpired that it was Carter’s remix of ‘My Head Is Slowly Exploding’, a track from Perc’s debut album Wicker & Steel.

Wicker & Steel is a commanding, potent listen. As the title suggests, it has the feel of a dialogue between the urban and pastoral, the hard edges of technology and the insecure moments at the back of our minds, triggered by the dark, the rural, superstition, that still sit dormant from an older, slower time. Beginning – bizarrely enough – with a sample of Sleeper’s Louise Wener discussing suburban life and feminism, it continues as a brilliantly coherent album of percussive (hence the name) techno.

Yet Wicker & Steel is a record that has at its heart a great optimism. This is not a record of industrial techno that feels bleak, like spending a Threads nuclear winter sat on shattered steel beams. Tracks like ‘Pre Steel’, for instance, suggest a train ride into the city, celebrating the anonymity and decadence which attracts so many. Final track ‘Jmurph’ is all joyous, digital steel drums, while ‘London, We Have You Surrounded’ suggests, as Wells will go on to explain, the oft-ignored presence of the Home Counties bordering the capital.

2011 has been the first year that Perc has achieved wider recognition outside the techno world.Wicker & Steel was the Trojan horse that subsequently led many, including myself, to his brilliant Perc Trax label, home to the mutant industrial of Dead Sound & Videohead, the gritty mechanical electronica of Ekoplekz (whose Westerleigh Works EP was Perc Trax’ fiftieth and most brutal release) and soon a new album by techno masters Forward Strategy Group. Characterised by heavy drums and menacing production, both Perc and his stable of artists have been part of 2011′s resurgence of dark, heavy electronic music that includes fellow travellers Factory Floor, Sandwell District, Cloaks, Byetone, Raime, Prurient, Cut Hands, The Haxan Cloak, Shackleton, The Black Dog’s excellent Liber series and the return of Carter Tutti.

So, Mr Perc, how did you get into producing?

Ali Wells: I was always an indie kid until I was about 16, into the whole Stourbridge, Neds Atomic Dustbin, Wonderstuff, the onset of grunge, baggy bits and bobs. My brother was old enough to get into M25 raves and we lived in the Home Counties. He’d go into London and chase these raves, and brought the music and the mixtapes. I was really resistant to it at first, but then got stuck in and loved it.

That’s the way it was in the 90s wasn’t it? You weren’t allowed to like indie and dance music

AW: I wouldn’t tell my friends what I was listening to. It was like a secret thing. It was seen as music for morons, not legitimate music because it was made in a completely different manner. Unfortunately I was just too young to go to the raves. The first real club I went to I borrowed a friend’s NUS card because I was just too young and went to the Hacienda. It was quite a shock, when you’ve grown up in Hertfordshire. It was all people with eyes bulging, giving each other back massages, wearing roadworkers jackets. It was an XL showcase, the Prodigy and all that, very different from and XL showcase these days. My brother started DJing so I picked up that from him, and when he finished university he dropped out of it, but I kept going… read full article here

MIHALIS SAFRAS ‘Me In My Studio’ Interview on Musicradar.com

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:07:21 +0000

Ibiza Voice Interviews Mihalis Safras ‘Greece’s Techno Philosopher’

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:25:02 +0000

http://www.ibiza-voice.com/story/news/3643

Earworm: MIHALIS SAFRAS Guides Us Through ‘5 Years of Material’

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:47:19 +0000

Read full article here

MIHALIS SAFRAS Chats to Different Grooves

admin — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:02:46 +0000

What advice would you give to a young producer that would like to emerge in this current electronic music scene? Are there any young talents that you are supporting that you would like to talk about?

Well off course the whole scene is relied on new ideas which means that new talents lead the race! Only suggestion that I would make is to focus only on music. Many people tend to make millions of things simultaneously and sooner or later they will drop one of them. SO by keeping focuded 24h per day to music is the only way! Some new emerging artists I love these days are: Barnum, Lee Burton, Tacoman, Mr Bizz. Watch them out!

Briefly describe your standard performance setup for dj sets and live sets. Why does it work better for you? How did the new digital technologies influence your dj set/live performance work?

Loving that question cause I am about to start the warJ No offence I hate DJs that spin only with just Laptop. Laptops and new technologies are great and I truly admire many that can do a live set that can break bones with all external FX and stuff. But lets go back to the term of what DJ means. A jockey is the guy that spins some vinyls right? Especially when behind vinyl is hidden a whole history of electronic music. You can tell me traditional or even stubborn but I spin only vinyl on my sets. Not even CDs. Considering that I run some vinyl record labels it will be really bad to play with MP3s or what so ever and then try to sell vinyls. So 3 turntables and a good mixer is my paradise! New technologies really changed the way we produce. Back in 2000 we had the MPC but right now you can have everything in a Plugin. Off course the combination is ideal so we don’t forget the roots!

Which of your releases has given you the most satisfaction and why?

5 Years of Material no doubt! Material 035 was my 1^st album on our label and the whole concept of releasing it in 3 parts with remixes of my best friends and producers like: Mauro Picotto, Jerome Sydenham, Ben Sims, Mark Broom, Coyu and so on, still makes me wanna smile! Actually this triple vinyl album also contains an extra bonus vinyl with 35 locked grooves for the vinyl junkies so for me this is something really special!

Your last album, a supreme collection for the 5 years of Material Series is ready to be released. Please tell us something special and particular about it, and maybe some interesting fact behind this work.

As mentioned before for me this album is something quite special. Material is our family label and this is the 1^st album for celebrating the 5 years running. The thing with this work is that it contains a 3ple LP pack covering the field of electronic music in general! From techno to house to ambient.

A story is that 2 specific tracks on that album are 2 years old! But wont say which! Lusten and drop a line if you figure tit outJ

Tell us about your studio, which sequencers do you use? With what hardware/software do you mainly work? What machine would you consider the best part of your kit?

Moodymanc speech says is it: My MPC 2000XL is my bitch! Beyond joke new technologies are the key to a great production..With ProTools and a variety of VST plugins you can rock the studio. In my studio there are couple of hardwares: the classic AkaiMPC2000, a Allen & Health ZED16FX, the classic force of Minimoog with a KP2 but usually 90% of the productions comes out from the MAC. For me is not about equipments…Its about ideas and how good you can control what you work with! Don’t forget that most anthem tracks are so simple that you do not need a bunch of tools to make them!

Describe the underground scene in the country you live in, Greece. Do you have a lot of movement going on there? Are there any djs and producers “on fire” at the moment?

Well there are couple of artists that are Greeks and have a decent appearance in the electronic scene. A fact is that after 2004 I never ever DJ or even talk for things that involve greek things. Many say I am snob or whatever but it is not about that. I love Greece but after 2004 I decided not focus (as said before) my music and my music only. In Greece there are a lot of gossiping and backstabbing. This make the whole scene even worse than it already is cause you can not cooperate with good clubs, promoters and so on. So 7 year in a row I am out of it and thanks to my very god agent Dora from EliteMM I do not miss it since we dj in many other countries!

Hopefully soon enough Greece will make a turn and will be a leading country in the electronic music scene, cause may many talents are Greeks!

What are your future plans? Do you have any new releases on your record label, Material Series, that you would like to tell us about?

Too much self promo right?:) Well as said besides Material035 (5 Years of Material) we are having a variety of artists coming out…Kiko, Samuel L Session, Gary Beck, Mark Broom and more will deliver the hits! My future plans include a release for Great Stuff, with my good pal Kiko and a release on Snatch! (Riva Starr label). Offcourse some remixes I did for Soma and Audiomatique will be out till end of December Not bad for my age right?!

Pick one record each that has changed your life and opened to your view the world of electronic music and let us know why.

Hard to say! Too many good records in the whole history of electronic music.

Well the classic Pink Floyd – DSOTM for me is electronic so I would say this one but also Future Sound Of London and JM Jarre can be in the list! Can’t really answer this one cause so many legends has their works out that even if you listen them today your skin makes Goosebumps!

How do you think the techno music market is evolving over the years? Did the new digital market take down the general musical level to your opinion?

It is evolving but 100% digital is the king of everything! I am not proud or happy saying this but it’s the true! Digital is cheaper, faster deliveries, easy to play and so on. This is considered an evolution off course but I am traditional type of guy! Can you imagine someone asked you if your wife goes with 2 other guys if that is evolving your relationship? Sorry but not for me…I prefer the old school way of things…1 girl…vinyls…simple tracks…and a latte!

What can we expect from the Mihalis Safras’ sound in the future?

Soon I will make some RnB tracks ..Hehe offcourse no…Well making a turn to more Detroit sound will be my next step! Too much of the same music out there!

Thank you for having spent the time to let our readers know more about your music and thoughts.

Interview by GILL

More about ’5 Years Of Material Series’ HERE

PIRUPA Talks ‘Infected-disco-funky-tech-house’ with EQTV.DJ

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:24:28 +0000

GENE FARRIS – Infusion Magazine Interview – Full Moon Party, Nasimi Beach Dubai – 7/10/11

admin — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:06:30 +0000

It’s in the Genes…

The Full Moon parties are back at our Nasimi beach home, and to usher in the new season, we’ve got US house legend Gene Farris down for headline duties, and also welcome in DnB pioneers Globalfunk to be our 2nd room partner.

You moved from your native Chicago to Amsterdam a few years ago – was that to soak up the European dance music scene? What did you learn there?

What a great question and yes actually it was to do exactly that! I learnt that the scene in Europe is first off amazing. And it’s really a major dance community and is really a business, and if you wanna make it in Europe you have to go at it 100% – it’s very serious, it’s very real!

A lot of Chicago DJs have played for Infusion in the recent years, and they all seem to be very connected and friendly – is there a DJ brotherhood in Chicago?

It definitely is in Chicago, we all have a mutual respect for each other in Chi-town. Of course you have DJ drama like in every city, but in Chicago there is still major respect for each other…

America seems to have been bitten by the house music bug in recent times – has that affected what you do, or how people perceive you?

Definitely, Chicago is labeled with this super house mentality, which is fine. But I think it can paint us in the corner and Chicago is so much more than just a house scene, we have everything…

You run your own label, Farris Wheel – what’s your musical mandate, and do you try to keep it pure Chicago house or have you broadened the horizons?

We defintely have put out more kinds of electronic music this year. We had the Chicago techhouse EP by Jerome Baker, and also a edgy, tech EP from Joshua IZ. So we’ve definitely been trying a few things this year as well as keeping it true to our fans at Farris Wheel Recordings.

You run free, online webinar DJ lessons on Youtube, which is a pretty cool thing to do – what prompted you to do it, and have you had any success stories with people who have learnt from you going on to make a career out of it?

Actually we originally made that for the youth in China and now it’s spread out all over the world, which is amazing. I’ve heard lots of cool stories like “Man thanks so much, this has changed my life” and “Yo, I watched this 2 years ago now I’m a resident DJ at a club in London”. Really cool stuff!

You’ve released 6 albums to date – but with the advent of the iPod Shuffle and the ability to download singles, do you think your album output will decrease from now on?

This year I’ve put out a lot of music on Cajual, Farris Wheel, Soma, Haitai Groove, and few other labels. 2011 has been my most productive year in years with almost 20 releases. So the answer is yes it will make me put out more music not less.

And finally, what can we look forward to from your set in Dubai?

It’s gonna be a rocking set filled with house, tech house and techno, very similar to Loco Dice, Dennis Ferrer, and Cajmere. I’m going to rock the party, I can’t wait.

Nasimi Beach Full Moon Party, Love Is Not Enough, Nasimi, Friday October 7, 2pm-2am, Free entrance for ladies and Face cardholders and 50AED for guys from 2pm – 8pm. 100aed for everyone from 8pm onwards.

Written by Infusion Crew – Sunday, 02 October 2011 11:29

PERC Interview and Mix on Clubbingspain

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:05:24 +0000

Read & Listen here

FREEMASONS – Interview @ Shakedown Festival, Brighton – 17/09/11

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:48:02 +0000

INLAND KNIGHTS – Feature on OnlyHouseMusic.org

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:44:55 +0000

The English duo formed by Inland Knights Andy Riley, Laurence Ritchie is a good example of the underground scene in Nottingham. Since they met back in 1993, its actions were based on old warehouses, forests and abandoned houses. In 1998 they gave the inevitable leap into the world of production and founded Drop Music to release ‘Inland Knights Vol. 1 ‘. From then until now, more than 10 years later, Drop Music is one of the busiest labels within the scene House. But his achievements not onlyfocus on the seal, as we have been able to enjoy their productions and remixes in others as CheekyRecords (remixing Faithless), NRK or Om Records.

For this week OHMcast Inland Knights give us the opportunity to enjoy one set to halfway between theHouse and Tech House is clearly focused on the track and will not stop moving your feet in no time.

Tracklist:
01. Yeshua Murillo – I’m Gonna Make U Mine (Joss Moog Remix)
02. Ed Mazur – Gravitys Pull (Brett Johnson Remix)
03. Corduroy Mavericks Cosmic Funk – Melondive
04. Ice 7 – point gruuv
04. Olivaffair – Black Rhodes
05. Giom & Joshua Heath – Connection Lost
06. Larry Fives – This Beautiful Sound
07. Little Carlos – I Wanna Know
08. Last Night (Art Of Tones Stripped Down Mix)
09. Kaneian – Beef Soulash
10. Demarkus Lewis – And Ya Don’t Stop (Deez Original)
11. Inland Knights – Do It Again
12. Go to Work feat. The Pimps of Joytime (Hot Toddy Remix)

Inland Knights – OHMcast #088 by OnlyHouseMusic.org by Onlyhousemusic.Org on Mixcloud