National Fanfare of Kadebostany – Kazak Rules

October 21st, 2011

It’s rare that an artist creates a new sound, let alone a new country. But that’s what Kadebostan and Rational Diet have done with The National Fanfare of Kadebostany. Rooted in a Balkanized world and infused with a broad array of electronic formulas, they’ve developed their own tradition and ask you to join in the celebrations. The above video is for the album’s single, “Kazak Rules”, which dropped on Swiss label Mental Groove. Although the single is fun and upbeat, Kadebostan‘s background in minimal techno and the orchestra’s often somber construction of classical environs keep it from becoming anything giddy.

Vintage Video: Universal Techno

May 2nd, 2011

This video is the first in a series of French documentaries filmed in Detroit in the mid-nineties, called ‘Universal Techno’. This episode features Juan Atkins and Derrick May talking about the D and their music, and be sure to check the rest of the series for Jeff Mills, Ken Ishii and Kevin Saunderson. Look out for Juan Atkins’ pirate earring!

Mixpak Interview Series: Renaissance Man

December 23rd, 2009

Renaissance Man

They’re everything most men wish they could be: dapper, sophisticated, modern, and really, REALLY good at making a new genre of house music that has the world enthralled, ecstatic and confused, all at the same time. They’re also secretly a new breed of super-human warriors who can survive being submerged in lava and can go weeks without sleep. Okay, so the last part wasn’t true, but geeez, Renaissance Man have one of the most impressive work ethics I’ve heard of in years.

They describe themselves as “a platform for contemporary dance music” and 2009 saw a rush of new users embrace the platform. With an onslaught of remixes for Turbo, Kitsune, several classy bootcuts, and EPs on Dubsided and Sound Pellegrino, Renaissance Man arrived in style.

Scandinavian upstarts Martti (Jaxxon) and Ville (Downtown) took some time while they were in the studio to talk about the resurgance of open minded dance music. [Note: this interview took place several months back, apologies for our delay in posting.]

Brendan: What are some of your first memories and experiences of house music?

Jaxxon: The city where I used to live in Finland when I was younger called Turku had a very vibrant house scene in the 90′s. The whole late 90′s deep house thing hit me hard.

Downtown: Yeah, same here. I started feeling it in the late 90s.

Jaxxon: Actually we are now working in the studio one of the O.G Finnish house guys, Sasse, aka Freestyle Man in Berlin.

Read the full interview below »

Kraftwerk

October 16th, 2009

This three part Kraftwerk documentary is inspiring. Watch parts two and three below »