19 Jul 2007

Mixed queries and a Canadian Returns

Well I was intending to fill this up with reviews, then I realise hang on I'm a few months behind on records, I've only just got the latest TTC offering, 3615, and to be honest it's a similar situation with most records at the moment, it seems to be a problem related to no longer being a student, having a 45 minute commute on each journey to work and not as much internet access as possible, how record buying has altered. I won't lament the loss of photocopied fanzines to the likes of Pitchfork, because well I never bought enough fanzines to justify that rant.

In case you are wondering 3615 offering is a great record, but it doesn't quite match up to Batards Sensible. I have to say TTC, along with Wiley's Playtime is Over, great album though I think I should be buying Tunnel Vision too. Team Shadetek's Pale Fire, now this is an album I won't grow tired of listening to, which is a similar feeling to that which I have of Soundboy Punishments on Skull Disco. For me Soundboy Punishments had to be purchased I've always loved Appleblim's and Shackleton's tracks but if you can't play vinyl regularly, and hell I can't mix so why would I buy vinyl for a non existent turntable, then CD compilations are one way to keep the guys on the floor hooked and fulfilled.

This also raises the question should a compilation of Dubstep records exist in a non-mixed form? I am going to say yes, purely based on my experience as a former student radio presenter, no never could call himself a DJ and who's budget and love of music wouldn't allow him to buy a crate of vinyl a month. Though for general home listening a mix CD may well be more popular for those who are out on the dance floor. It all depends do you listen to these tracks as a part of the DJ's arsenal or as stand alone creations that are capable of working outside the mix. In some cases I think it is both, and in others well I think it is the former, and in the odd case like Burial the latter generally. Somebody prove me wrong about Burial in a club and I'll smile from ear to ear.

Anyway talking of mixes, I'm listening to a DJ Spooky mix, System Error, that is leaving me a little flat, and well this is a home listening mix for sure, I just can't imagine a DJ playing this set in a club, while the likes of DJ /Rupture will put together a mix that encompasses a wide range of sounds from across the globe and bring politics through while still keeping the party going, Spooky delivers a mix that will keep you head nodding but I just feel that Bush sound bites and those beats will never send a club into rapture. Maybe I'm missing the point, I'm just not feeling it.

Thank god for the evils of Myspace, for I learn that one of my two favourite Canadian producers has an album due out in September, who could this be? Sixtoo, of course, it feels like it's been a long time coming and part of me is wondering where Sixtoo fits in now. After all he emerged in amongst those on Anticon, when my musical discourse was of Def Jux and Dose One. But what now? Part of me is curious to see he is working on a sound system with Ghislain Poirier, the other Canadian whose work I admire.

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