Feature Earplug July 2008 It’s not uncommon for DJs to find their names on the charts, but few see themselves listed as author of a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. London’s Ben Watt received the honor for Patient, his 1998 account of his battle with the rare Churg-Strauss syndrome. But then, few […]
Review Earplug May 2008 Tight mixes, pithy dialogue, and rapid-fire vocal samples are apropos for his day-job as an ad man, but it’s Steve Stein’s delivery and sense of humor that have made him a crate-digging icon. Better known as Steinski, the DJ/producer launched his landmark “Lessons” mixes with Douglas “Double Dee” DiFranco in the […]
Review Earplug May 2008 Breezy and incessant, “Einsteigen” kicks off Ellen Allien’s latest full-length with impatient beeps and the sound of commuters jostling inside Berlin’s Alexanderplatz station. It’s an appropriate intro, one that marks SOOL as the work of an artist in transit. While Allien’s recent Boogy Bytes mix was subdued, bubbling, and spectral — […]
Interview Earplug May 2008 Ypsilanti, Michigan, resident Todd Osborn is often (semi-jokingly) compared to MacGuyver. Not only has the producer made scores of excellent house, techno, and drum ‘n bass records, but he also once designed weapons for the Air Force (“I truly cannot talk about details of that because of security clearances I’ve signed,” […]
Interview Earplug April 2008 The mosaic of Kieran Hebden’s musical narrative is one of constant, relentless evolution. From his collaborations as part of Fridge to the ever-mutating sound of his Four Tet moniker and his inspired improvisational playdates with legendary drummer Steve Reid, the UK-based producer/performer re-invents any genre he’s exploring. For his expansive new […]
Interview Earplug March 2008 Raised on a family farm an hour outside of Oslo, Norwegian producer Joachim Dyrdahl has a definite appreciation for the quiet life. While his work under the name diskJokke certainly has its share of raucous moments — enough so that he’s earned frequent bookings at Oslo’s famous Sunkissed club night — […]
Interview Earplug January 2008 Dubstep has spawned a surfeit of producers in search of the most brutal bass possible, but few have created music as tense as Sam Shackleton. Producer and proprietor of the highly touted Skull Disco label, Shackleton has created a singular body of work that often transcends the genre altogether. His music […]
Review Earplug November 2007 Many new records celebrate past sounds and styles, but few offer the feel of a genuine unearthed artifact — a piece of dark, forgotten vinyl aged in the soil. With Untrue, mysteriso South London dubstepper Burial follows up on last year’s self-titled debut with an enigmatic and lyrical bit of archeology […]
Interview Earplug September 2007 While Norway’s sub-Arctic climes have frequently proven fertile ground for cold, distant dance music, the Scandinavian sound currently flooding clubs is warmer, more spacious, and mystical, referencing the country’s wide-open vistas and extended evening hours. Bjørn Torske is adept at conjuring up such a panoramic feel, folding elastic melodies and offbeat […]
Review Earplug September 2007 Few mixes have arrived with as much mystery as Chilean/German showman Ricardo Villalobos’ entry into Fabric’s showcase series. Even its unique format — a seamlessly arranged slate of Villalobos’ original productions, all hitherto unreleased — has raised speculation as to just how game-changing it is. Rest assured, it’s a true time […]