Archive for 2009
6th aug, adam hills, assembly, ed fest, fringe festival, nicol craig, opening night, rooms
In Ed Festivals Mag, Reviews on August 10, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Adam Hills has come back again to the Edinburgh Festival this time with his new show ‘Inflatable’. His accessible nature is apparent by the diversity of his awaiting audience. Most of the conversions outside start with “I saw him last year…”
Opening night may be a worry for lesser-known performers, but Hills had the luxury of a mostly enthusiastic crowd. Nevertheless, the audience were compelled to be charmed after an impromptu fifteen-minute start. Walking on stage with a bottle of Irn Bru in hand, Hills baited the front row by shaking up the bottle. Little did he know that Scott, the IT consultant with a bright white shirt would challenge him. With Scott now on stage and a new plan devised, the pair began to interpret eighties dance sensation ‘Flashdance’. After the sound technician managing to find the right music (‘What a feeling’) Scott was then doused in Irn Bru in appropriate fashion to an uproar of response. “That was as much a surprise to me as it was to you” we were told “you’ll have to come back every night now!”
Hills performance is everything he’s known for: warm, accessible and professional. He was on exuberant form, clearly relishing in his return to Auld Reekie. He won over a large swathe of people with his Connoly-esque Scotsman impressions, the audience interaction continued when he asked if there are were any kids in. A mortified ‘Chris’ was pointed out by family, and then by spotlight, and then told: “don’t inject drugs into your cock, ok?”
His observations branch out into some risky areas: paralympian gags, no-handed swimmers and deaf people being racist are just some of the mildly provocative subject matters Hills wanders into, but he always manages to keep it within a polite context. Tonight’s show pushes many of the right buttons, and the crowd take it in with open arms. However, ‘Inflatable’ is more of a tickler than falling about funny.
***
craig, doorly, edinburgh, fuse, joe and will ask?, nicol
In Previews, The Skinny on August 10, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Just back from playing ‘Ibiza Rocks’ and ‘Reclaim the Dancefloor’ over in Ibiza it’s been an impressive couple of months for the Edinburgh student promoters. Not only that, but when they get back they’ve got their first birthday to look forward to. Cue special guests: Joe and Will Ask? and Doorly. Both very much in the ‘up-and-coming-fast’ quarter, it’s a real scoop for the capital. Doorly is fast becoming Soulwax’s standard support DJ, emulating their famed mash-up sound. Joe and Will Ask? cover similar territory, appealing to crossover indie-electro kids as much as your techno connoisseurs.
Festival licences means it’s going to a late one; the guests’ mean it’s going to big one; and the crowd will determine whether it’s a great one. Up for it? Aye, thought so. See you there.
Original here.
closing party, edinburgh festival, felix da housecat, fringe festival, japanese popstars, nicol j craig, slam, smokin' jo, the picture house
In Previews, The Skinny on August 10, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Click here to read about Musika’s stellar effort at a Fringe Festival 
closing party which includes Felix Da Housecat and The Japanese Popstars.
astroboy, band, clubs, departure, diddley squat, dj, edinburgh, jiminez, lounge, mr zimbabwe, night, the caves
In Previews, The Skinny on June 26, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Diddley Squat
Departure Lounge
The institution known as the Departure Lounge meets again in July for a self-congratulatory knees up; worthy, as six years in the club business is no mean feat. Keeping to Departure precedence, the birthday festivities are offering up local acts as headliners: Astroboy, Jiminez and Mr Zimbabwe will sprinkle afrobeat, breaks, summer time soul and funk all over your awaiting Latin inspired feet (salsa dancing optional). Plus, after-party music is sorted as the boys will be handing out their annual mix CD titled ‘Departure Sounds Vol. 5’ for free. They have also invited Geordie eight-piece Diddley Squat. They may give the impression of a band of gypsy rascals, ready to pillage your milk bottles straight off the doorstep. But the paradox is noticed when they take to the stage. One step away from a hick inspired ‘hootinanni’, their gregarious vibe radiates in abundance. Expect a blend of ska, dub and reggae. And drawls of drunken pleasure.
www.theskinny.co.uk
club, edinburgh, ellen allien, july, kapital, night, preview, skinny, the caves
In Previews, The Skinny on June 26, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Melt! 2008 - by Lisa Wassmann
Kapital becomes two years old next month. So The Skinny would like to say Happy Birthday! Thanks too for your night-life contribution. So far, they’ve brought the finest of the Border Community crew (Nathan Fake, Petter, James Holden), Damian Lazarus, Anja Schneider last time and now Berliner favourite Ellen Allien. Known throughout the techno world as one of the foremost acts in experimental beat-laden sounds. She’s recognised as being part of the Berlin minimalism scene, but Allien is better described as electronic, purposefully vague as she progressively delves from echoing percussive micro-spaces to robotic rhythms emanating the industrial feel of her homeland. But don’t let the thought of German machinery make you think it lacks emotion. Each skeletal sound dwarfs the space she’s filling and her elaborate live effects as well as her high-energy performances create atmospheres of introspection as well as enduring connection with her audiences. It’s Kraftwerk, it’s Autechre, no it’s Ellen Allien and Kapital have bagged her.
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annie mac, clash arena, dj, dj yoda, june, live, review, rock ness, saturday 13th
In Reviews, The Skinny on June 26, 2009 at 2:12 pm
The quick-mix master came to the Highlands well prepared to show off his turntable prowess. No genre was off limits for this set; big cheers for a big bass remix of ‘Scotland the Brave’ and again for the ‘Nessie’ cartoon theme tune. A whole section cut from one nostalgic theme tune to the next. Star Wars, Super Mario and Inspector Gadget were just a few of Yoda’s mash-ups. You might think the clash tent was an aptly named tent for this display but Yoda kept faces staring with his effortless vinyl control. Showing his experience the set upped its tempo, finishing with what has to be Rock Ness 2009’s theme song ‘Bonkers’. Obviously, the crowd went the same.
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boom monk ben, rock ness, solid steel, sunday best tent
In Reviews, The Skinny on June 26, 2009 at 1:43 pm
It must have been a beezer day for Boom Monk Ben. After playing the one o’clock slot at the Bollywood tent to only a handful of people – Zane Lowe decided he was too ill to handle Rock Ness – Ben stepped in playing to an almost capacity Sunday Best tent. The Glasgow favourite shied away from his usual eclectic mixing style preferring to keep the beat up-tempo; big bass was on the menu and the mass responded with conviction.
****
www.theskinny.co.uk
blog, blogosphere, breakbeat, breaks, club, edinburgh, electro, electronic, electronica, ezine, fanzine, fidget, House, internet, music, nicol craig, noiseporn, promotion, techno, zine
In Interviews, The Skinny on March 23, 2009 at 5:38 pm
The flourishing blogosphere is the place to be these days; Nicol J Craig sits down with Ally and Gellan from Noiseporn and finds out what a ‘Mongolian mix-tape marathon’ is all about.
The fanzine used to be considered a way for die-hard fans to stay connected with their music. Pictures and articles were casually stripped from aging magazines and then suitably prit-sticked together, fashioning what might now be perceived as a, albeit enthusiastic, bit of a primary school project. Fast forward a few decades and we have the e-zine. Not only that, there’s heaps of the blighters, fulfilling the desires of any genre that takes your fancy. Blog away to your heart’s content I say, as long as there’s free music going about, no?
“That’s what they’re there for isn’t it?” quips Ally, the website’s creator. Refreshed after the cavalier introduction, I ask if that’s all it is, “Well it depends. There are blogs that just post up tracks; that’s just them putting tunes up and sharing it. But that’s not what we do. We’re promoting artists who specifically want to give the music away for free.”
And there is no shortage of artists willing to give away mp3’s, often at 320 bit rate, for the free advertising. The promotional aspect is the driving stimulus behind the project. “I started it”, says Ally, “mainly because I was bored during exams! I mainly wanted to support nights in Edinburgh, support local talent and people I really like.”
The expanding blogosphere may incur near constant head scratching for copyright lawyers, but the boys feel it’s indicative of a change in PR tactics: “Artists and promoters use it as a sort of springboard. It’s still a niche part of the whole music market,” says Gellan. Ally interjects, “I really enjoy hearing back from an artist whose mix you put up and they say it got them a gig or something. That’s really satisfying. We try and keep a balance between grassroots and bigger names. On bigger names we let the music speak for itself, but with lesser known artists we focus on writing a bit more about them; bigging them up for their sake.”
Fuse, Compakt and Aztech Breaks are the main nights in Edinburgh. Local DJs and artists like Hostage, Edinburgh Dream Factory and Al Majik really helped in the beginning by sending their new releases, but visitor numbers have taken a hike over the last year, now around 65, 000 page loads per month. “Part of the reason that it really blew up is because of Fabric. They really got behind us with their support, sending us promos, sorting out interviews. Our Stanton Warriors and Commix interviews came directly because of them.”
Noiseporn dedicates itself to promoting club music from any electronic genre. Taking a scant look across the main page you’ll see reviews, promos, previews and occasional guest writers. J Root and London favourite NAPT look into the world of breaks. Whilst Jeff Doubleu and Dominik Von Werdt take up duties on electro, fidget and house noises.
You wouldn't refuse a birthday party would you?
The added bonus of living in this century is that fanzines can boast about their interactive nature: Ally tries to encourage as many Edinburgh promoters, DJs and fans to the site. “Blogs are meant to be where you cultivate a bit of discussion, we get comments and discussion; people making up their own minds about the music.” Noiseporn has recently launched its forum. It fosters a public space for dialogue with the main aim of bringing Edinburgh’s electronic scene closer together.
So why do they want your mix-tapes? For a ‘Mongolian mix-tape marathon’, of course. Ally is using his advertising revenue to fund a charity trip from London to Mongolia: “We’ve worked out there is 780 hours driving time, so that’s 780 mix-tapes. If each visitor donated a quid to the cause we’ll cover our petrol to get there.” So far, the drive has pulled in mixes from across the globe, but it’s local DJ sets they’re hoping to attract.
To help Save the Children visit www.noiseporn.com and sponsor Ally’s ‘Mongolian mix-tape marathon’.
NOISEPORN top tips for 2009:
Fake Blood
Hear No Evil
Bass Weazal
AC Slater
Bryan Lazer
Original here.
april 12th, cabaret voltaire, clubs, edinburgh, freerange records, gareth somerville, jamie odell, jimpster, nicol craig, The Skinny, ultragroove, yogi haughton
In Previews, The Skinny on March 23, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Image Source: soulsoundhouse.com
Every spring since the big man’s re-emergence we’ve all been a bit disappointed that a new messiah hasn’t given us the spectacle of a good old resurrection. Hence Ultragroove’s decision to restore it’s famous Easter Party. They’ve brought back, by popular demand, house favourite Jamie Odell aka Jimpster. No stranger to Auld Reekie’s charms, it’s the Essex lad’s third time at Cabaret Voltaire. He likes to mix up warm, club friendly cuts with ultra deep basslines keeping an old school groove that DJ Sneak would be proud to nod along to. On the flyer you’ll see local superstar Gareth Somerville; he’ll be keeping things humid in the main room. DJ Mag’s Yogi Haughton is making his well overdue debut. He’s set to take a firm grip of room two, satisfying your ears with soulful dance vibes. If, like me, you’re hungry for an Easter Sunday resurrection, then this is the one for you.
www.theskinny.co.uk
!k7 recordings, album, austrian minimal, minimal, no hassle, review, tosca
In Reviews, The Skinny on February 26, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Image Source: beatlife.net
Anyone expecting the usual dollop of Viennese club grooves will be surprised. Tosca have created a laid back piece, expressing the pair’s easy-going ethos, hence the title. “It’s almost like an audio massage,” says Rupert, and he’s right. It provokes an acutely pensive atmosphere, and plays like an art exhibit. Unlike previous incarnations the duo have shied away from using vocals; each track stripped of any unnecessary sound, which gives an introspective ambience. Dorfmeister’s (Kruder & Dorfmeister) DJ background helps with the mild electronic stimulus whilst Huber displays his musical prowess using guitars, piano compositions, analogue and digital synths in the attempt of achieving a goad free hour. ‘Oysters in May’ rings of early Faithless, with a reverence to Massive Attack. ‘Elektra Bregenz’ like ‘Rosa’ highlights the crafted nature of their work, both with infectious acoustic riffs that meander through space like the most absorbed of acid trips. This album will subdue even the most severe of freak-outs.
****
4 Stars
Word count: 157
ben sims, creative industries, march 6th, preview, stephen brown, the grv, The Skinny, wolfjazz
In Previews, The Skinny on February 26, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Image Source: www.e-vizio.com
With the creative vigour the name implies Creative Industries have bagged themselves a DJ virtuoso, in the shape of Ben Sims. Known as the ‘three deck master’, he’s taken time off managing nine record labels, pushing a healthy European DJing schedule (including Frequency later on this month showcasing his seven deck mixing skills) and being a sought after producer to make his way up to Auld Reekie. Sims is sure to slice the faces off his audience. “Literally?” I hear you cry. “Aye, literally” is the necessary response. Edinburgh regulars Wolfjazz and Stephen Brown will be up for the slice too, dropping various electronic genres subsumed by a tech driven milieu. Expect senses to be blurred, hands glued to the sky, and your weekday worries cured with blissful techno treatment; Sims wouldn’t let you have it any other way.
www.theskinny.co.uk
dfa, electronica, emi, hot chip, House, made in the dark, music, records, Reviews, techno
In Freelance, Reviews on January 12, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Hot Chip are perhaps at the forefront of a cross-over generation of musicians, who take root from an abiding guitar based tradition but write from a DJ/producer perspective, with some intriguing results. 2006’s The Warning was a fine record, albeit one sometimes difficult to take seriously thanks to its taste for pop pastiche – here’s the Prince track, there’s a 2-step garage track – or the occasional ironic wisecrack. Lithe production characterises their third attempt, each cute technophoric sound separable and identifiable in amongst the textured, multi-layered aesthetics. The instrumentation is subtly soft, ranging from grieving piano ballads to a multiplicity of synthesised sounds, lifted harmoniously by Alexis Taylor’s alto vocals. And who says electronica doesn’t have soul? This record has enough mushy sentimentality to satisfy an old sailor: “I’m hoping by chance, you might take this dance,” asks Taylor hopefully, while the album’s title track finds him blue over a love affair. However, a fastidious anchoring point comes lyrically, where the tendency is to really hit or drift into mild obscurity. Pop acclaim will come with “Ready for the Floor” and “One Pure Thought”, both awash with dance-ability. New Order and Kraftwerk made a baby, but its got more range and more intelligence.
****
4 Stars
Word Count: 203
Hot Chip embody a cross-over generation of musicians, who take root from an abiding guitar based tradition but write from a DJ/producer perspective, with some intriguing results. Lithe production characterises their third album, each cute technophoric sound identifiable in amongst a constantly multi-layered sonic space. The instrumentation is subtly soft, lifted harmoniously by Alexis Taylor’s alto vocals. And who says electronica doesn’t have soul? This record has enough mushy sentimentality to satisfy an old sailor. Pop acclaim will come with “Ready for the Floor” and “One Pure Thought”, both awash with dance-ability. New Order and Kraftwerk made a baby, but its got more range and more intelligence.
****
4 Stars
Word Count: 108
Hot Chip embodies a cross-over generation, taking its roots from a guitar based tradition but writing from a DJ/producer perspective, with intriguing results. Lithe production characterises their third album, the instrumentation subtly soft, lifted by Taylor’s alto vocals. Pop acclaim will come with “Ready for the Floor” and “One Pure Thought”, both awash with dance-ability.
****
4 Stars
Word Count: 55
cost, craig, edinburgh, fare, napier, nicol, package, price, Radio, rise, taxi
In Freelance, News, Radio on January 6, 2009 at 12:34 am
48 hour, labour, mep, politics, snp, working week
In Napier News, News, Radio on January 3, 2009 at 4:16 pm
MEPs Discuss European Plans
Labour MEPs have voted against Gordon Brown over the scrapping of Britain’s opt-out from the maximum 48 hour working week.
For the rest of this story including audio reactions visit here.
chase hoffman, chief, christmas, craig, executive, fish, fishslap, jay nguyen, london, nicol, salmon, scottish, slap, sweemo, trafalgar square
In Napier News, News on January 3, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Opening night may be a worry for lesser-known performers, but Hills had the luxury of a mostly enthusiastic crowd. Nevertheless, the audience were compelled to be charmed after an impromptu fifteen-minute start. Walking on stage with a bottle of Irn Bru in hand, Hills baited the front row by shaking up the bottle. Little did he know that Scott, the IT consultant with a bright white shirt would challenge him. With Scott now on stage and a new plan devised, the pair began to interpret eighties dance sensation ‘Flashdance’. After the sound technician managing to find the right music (‘What a feeling’) Scott was then doused in Irn Bru in appropriate fashion to an uproar of response. “That was as much a surprise to me as it was to you” we were told “you’ll have to come back every night now!”
