Taranto to Toronto: What Kind of VooDoo do You Do?

Once upon a time (2007 in fact) a set got recorded at a club in Taranto, Italy named Clorophilia. The DJ that night, Mr. Danny Tenaglia is a firm believer that his live sets are for the pleasure of those that are there in attendance and not to be rebroadcast and when he found out someone on the club's audio team had snuck in recording gear he was livid, and launched quite a public tirade against them. Somewhere in that set, which I have,  is this track. A track, that for the past 8.5 years or so was just that track we couldn't find. That is until Miss Honey Dijon, the Queen herself of condiment inspired house music dropped it in front of my very ears at CODA in Toronto, Canada last Friday night. I almost couldn't believe it was showing up in my SoundHound app.

And how lucky am I? The man who crafted this very track is coming to Toronto on April 8th. BooYa! She takes a little bit to get going, but i love it so deal with it.

Mr. G - Kick Back

this one reminds me of England for some reason, and it has nothing to do with its title. That deep wobbly bass line reminds me of something that could've been cooked up in Fila Brazilia's studio so maybe thats it. 

Astronomar & Bot - Sea Breeze

Output > Input

On a recent journey to visit friends and celebrate my nuptial anniversary in New York City, the Maestro himself, Danny Tenaglia happened to be playing in his 'hood of Brooklyn.  Never one to miss out on a chance to see Danny, I obviously jumped at the chance!  So over the bridge Cam and I went to meet with some more friends who were already inside. The club was pretty much perfect (except for the drink prices) but BIG, crystal clear sound, a small room box space with a balcony that surrounded the dancefloor that was packed with a knowledgeable and appreciative crowd made up for that.  OutPut in Brooklyn should somewhere to add to the long list of things to do and see in NY.

Danny took us on a trip like he always does, going from disco (I Feel Love was the first track I heard once we got inside) to deep house, tribal & techno.  None of the usual Danny antics with flashlights and goofing around or dancefloor visits.  He was seemingly having a blast too.  Below I'll leave a couple of the tracks he played.. though sadly not the one I really want to have to share with you.  The one he came on the mic and introduced as "just a little something I've been working on in the studio. Its not really ready yet..".  From the opening haunting cello, everyone on the floor recognized it. Danny was playing Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles.  A mix that will surely never ever see the light of day as a release because of who the original artist is, but let me just say that with Ableton and Logic, you too, can remix the Beatles. One of those dancefloor moments I won't ever forget, and I've had that damn song stuck in there for a week now.

We all know how great Maceo Plex is so its no shocker when I'm out and I hear something I'm diggin', that when I shazam it there is a good chance it will come up as Maceo Plex.  The guy is prolifically releasing great tracks at an alarming rate.

Maceo Plex - Stimulation (Original Mix)

It felt like he was playing this song for about 15 minutes. which he probably was... its a 10 minute long track anyway, and theres a certain bit that begins a bit after 6 mins that he was looping. I turned to Cam and said... this sound suspiciously like Heartbreak (Make me a dancer)  by the Freemasons.  If you have ever been within 20 feet of me in a club when that song has come on I apologize for likely striking you with exuberance.  Anyhoo, this sounded familiar.  It doesn't actually sound ANYTHING like heartbreak, for the record. But around the 6 minute mark something about that beat even now sober listening to it does remind me of Heartbreak a lil bit. Its a very old song which is likely why it sounded familiar..

Shiloh - Cafe Del Mariachi (Nick Warren Remix)

Be Yourself.

Ugh what a week.  My first time putting in a full weeks worth of work in four months, and it had to come on the heels of having a friend and his boyfriend in town last weekend- turned out to be a heavy weekend. Anyhoo... no parties this weekend. just work :( I was really enjoying the whole unemployed thing but being broke, as my grandfather would say, is a damned inconvenience!

I was going to say my "fellow blogger" Vince sent me this guy's soundcloud, but since he never posts anymore I'll just call him Vince, and yeah, Sascha Braemer you sound pretty dope.  Good bunch of remixes there and the set I heard its pretty wicked too.  Both of these little nuggets come via him.

Adana Twins - Strange (Original Mix)

and this beauty is a remix of Sarp Yilmaz's Downtown.  That snare is pretty vicious, and it totally reminds me of another track but I can't quite place what song that snare reminds me of. Body Monster by Leon???

Sarp Yilmaz - Downtown (Sascha Braemer Remix)

Lastly, it would be just plain wrong if I didn't mention Danny Tenaglia here.  The Maestro announced the other week he would be taking an indefinite leave from touring.  Not retiring, but resigning, as he reiterated several times through his facebook profiles.  I've seen Danny 3 times live. Once at Guvernment, once at the now defunct CiRCA, and once at Space Ibiza... I know he isn't everyone's cup of tea and that his marathon sets don't sit well with everyone but come on... the guy is 51 years old and when it comes to producing a show the edits and shit he pulls together are some pretty genius bits of programming even if you don't like his crazy goofy antics with flashlights and whatever.  Hes been doing this for 30+ years, and compared to so many of his contemporaries who are total divas or stern as hell with attitude problems galore, Danny brought personality, flare and uniqueness to our scene.  He's one of the very few who seem to actually give a shit about the movement that was(?)/is(?) house and if I never get to see him play another marathon 9+ hour set... what I heard in Ibiza was WELL worth the trip... even if he didn't remember our brief period of correspondence when we spoke for a bit after the show.  A pretty simple message from a very complex and talented man from Brooklyn.

enjoy your time off Danny!

Celeda - Be Yourself (Part One)

Aging gracefully

As I have mentioned before, I'm a waiter. I work at a cute little neighbourhood Bistro in a nice part of town.  We have a lot of older rich ladies as customers.  Last night I was marveling at this table of 7 Jewish ladies in their 50s who were waiting for the guest of honour, the birthday girl, with such baited breath I thought  Barbara Streissand might come in. Their level of excitement was oddly palpable, and when she finally arrived she was this tiny , stick-thin woman in her 50s with impeccable hair and skin so tight you could train a gymnast on it.  Every time I looked at her face I was actually surprised by the effort people go through to make themselves look THAT fake.  And I wondered if when I get old and saggy if its something I would ever consider.. you know; a tuck here, a lift there.  Whatever happened to getting old gracefully? Being older but still looking fabulous without all that stuff in your face.
So heres a marriage of the two. I heard him play this track last time he was here in Toronto, a few years ago.  Grace Jones, the epitome of looking amazing at whatever age shes at now.. saw a live performance on line a few weeks ago and shes still AMAZING! And then theres Danny.. who, if you have never had the pleasure of making his acquaintance, and as much as I like 'em, has a fair bit of filler in those cheeks!

Its a long mix and the first few minutes kinda drag on... but again, its Danny.. get used to him dragging on.

Grace Jones & Tricky - Cradle To Grave (Danny Tenaglia White Label Mix)

This one I was sent last week from a friend of mine and i love it! Lots of layers of stuff happening around a nice steady rhythm. Thanks Michael!  I don't really know anything about the artist, and Last.fm and Google weren't a whole heap of help tracking anything down.. but great track :)

Henry Saiz & Pional - Uroboros (Original Mix)