SASHA CARASSI 

So what's been happening in the world of Sasha Carassi?
I've a lot on at the moment, it's an exciting time both creatively and professionally. Even though I'm busy I'm making a point of chilling out which allows me to focus on work and life in equal measure.


What was your highlight of 2010?
Receiving constant support from Adam Beyer has been great, and getting a chance to début on his Drumcode label with my double ep Hypercombo was the pinnacle.


Where were you playing at Christmas and New Year?
I'm an Italian traditionalist so Christmas was spent with my family and my girlfriend Rosa. For New Year, I played in Austria, in Graz at the Dom in Berg. The atmosphere was magical, it was a great night!


What's been the most banging Scottish gig/venue to date?
I've never been to Scotland to play in a club... Club 10-86 on 29th January will be my "first time" and I'm looking forward to it.


Who is your DJ who inspiration?
There are many good DJs that I respect and appreciate. Adam Beyer and Joseph Capriati (who is a good friend), I have praise for both of them as innovators, but I lend freedom of expression and originality to my own music.


Where does your musical inspiration come from?
I started to produce House music in the '90s and also I liked Break beat, but I was always fascinated by the harder side of electronic music. I think I found my greatest musical expression only in the last year, obviously I don't reject anything, all experiences have matured me artistically.


When in the studio do you have a roadmap to work to or is it a completely fluid process?
To be honest, my productive work in the studio has never been set as a roadmap, or rather the ideas are always born in a natural way and developed through the creative process. I like to work this way, playing with ideas and having fun with it, is the most rewarding way of working. 


How would you describe the music you create to someone who's been hiding in a cave for years?
Imagine a funk band playing in a factory amidst a hive of activity, using the sounds of machinery... gears and hot pressed iron.


Are you still an analogue man or are you all digital?
I love analogue but I'm totally digital now, it's more easy and a lot more useful.


What do you think is happening with music these days?
There is an invasion of non-professional producers taking away valuable space for people who have been working professionally for years, I think it's a bad thing as it devalues the scene instead of promoting it.


What do you think is different these days in comparison to when you started out?
Yes it is very different! Years ago it was much slower, there was attention to detail, now it's all very frantic, the rhythms are fast and if you let go it risks falling behind.. it needs to run .. ..


You've been very busy, doing some great work, what do you do to chill out and relax?
I work 12 hours a day practically, its very difficult to cut a bit of time to relax. When I leave for the gigs I always try to stay one more day, when it’s possible, to rest and to distract me a little bit ..


Mp3... What do you miss about vinyl record shopping, or do you miss record shopping?
Unfortunately I have not entered a record store for several years ..I think years ago it was like a second home to me.


What are your favourite labels of the moment?
I'm not being presumptuous but right now I love the sound of my label Phobiq .. I see it as the mirror of my musical taste ..


Who are the new producers coming through who you think are worth listening to?
I really like Tom Laws, who is not really "new" but I've started to play his stuff recently and I think his tracks are really deadly. Also, keep an eye on my friend Bodyscrub and the young Raditz Room.


What's your top tune of the moment?
I could mention 100's, a track I play and always excites me a lot is my remix of Slam "Collecting Data" which will be released on February 7 on Paragraph Records in Scotland.


What was the first record you bought (no matter how embarrassing)?
I don’t remember whether it was Jovanotti "Yo" in 1989 or MARS - Pump Up The Volume.


What's your favourite tune of all time?
Really hard to choose only just one tune.. I think "A Walking Contradiction" by Adam Beyer is one of the milestones of techno music but I could give you another 1000!


For Djing... Do you use vinyl or CDJs or a laptop set up with some form of controller-ism?
I’m still very tied to using turntables and alternating vinyl with Traktor more or less gives me that same magical feeling..


What advice can you give to anyone starting out as a DJ?
To be humble and do not want everything at once. Life is made of steps and talent is always rewarded!


Whathave you got planned in the near future?
I have some future releases on Drumcode and MB Elektronics, in the next few months I'll have EP's being released on Rekluse, Weave and Phobiq, with remix work for Alchemy, Paragraph and Soma... you could say I'm very busy perhaps not much sleep!


On the gig front, I will play a lot in Europe. The next date is of course in Edinburgh on 29th January, at Club 10-86.


Roma – ITA
Stuttgart – GER
Naples – ITA
UKRAINE
Geneva – CH
Glasgow - UK 
Amsterdam - NL 
Vienna - AUT 
Frankfurt - GER 
Montpellier – FRA…

GUEST PODCAST- DELTAWAV3

 DELTAWAV3 - The Guide Mix - Jan 2011 by The Guide Clubland

Grant Paterson's Floorfillaz Mix: 

 Grant Paterson - Floorfillaz 27th jan 2011 by The Guide Clubland 

Octopussy 
HMV Picture House, Lothian Road, 11pm-3am, £4, 0131-221 2280

OCTOPUSSY boasts that it is licensed to thrill. It’s also the biggest student night in Edinburgh right now and Nicky Shevlane, Octo manager, is pretty excited about the new term kicking off tonight.
“It’s a new year and the students are due back today so we decide to re-run The Bells with our infamous Octo Relives NYE Party, complete with countdown and piper. Magic.”
Shevlane’s enthusiasm is what gels Octopussy. Genuinely passionate about helming the best student night in the Capital, it is her quirky ideas that keep the clubnight interesting.
So far students have enjoyed everything from a school disco night to an annual beach party.
”Our Edinburgh DJ is DJ Liam, and he is a huge hit with the crowds, playing a great mix of old skool dance anthems mashed up with the coolest tracks of the moment.
“We also have guest DJ Johnny Whoop popping up every so often to mix it up,” says Shevlane, who believes rotating the DJs helps her give people what they want. It’s a recipe that keeps them coming back.
“I would hope that in 2011 we can bring even more fun to Octo and keep making the students happy.
“There will be the same madness with some crazy twists this year, but over all we will keep doing what we do best... party.”


Words: GRANT PATERSON

Grant Paterson’s Floor Fillaz
   Grant Paterson - Floorfillaz 20th jan 2011 by The Guide Clubland

Dr Kucho! vs John Jacobsen - Beyond The Rave, Original Mix
Powerful beats, tight percussion and an illegal rave rap rides over the top of bouncing bass lines and trancey synths to sky rocket this track into the peak time. Big.

Dave Goethals - Bitten, Original Mix
Dubby, deep tech-house with a sampled driven groove, rolling bass lines and sliced synths. All funked up to make for an energetic floor mover. Catchy.

David Herrero - Clap Your Hands
There’s nothing quite like some deep funky house to make you move. This does exactly that. Cowbells and marching beats, airy vocal samples and a full on Latin groove, makes this prime time funk.

Rune RK - The way I miss you
Deep thundering beats and snappy percussion gives way to a fired up house groove... think Stardust. Tech-house with a disco flavour. Totally driving. Huge.

Ticon - I Love You, Who Are You
Title track of the forthcoming album of the same name. And aptly named at that. Check the dancefloor whenever this track is dropped and all you’ll see are smiling faces. Euphoric. Sick!

PODCAST: RAMON TAPIA

 Ramon Tapia - Great Stuff mix January 2011 by The Guide Clubland

THIS week’s podcast comes from Ramon Tapia, aka El Carlitto. 
Originally from Chile, Tapia escaped to Antwerp, Belgium’s techno Capital. There he became exposed to dance music and developed his natural grasp of groove and rhythm. Here he offers his Great Stuff Mix January 2011 for Edinburgh clubbers to enjoy. 


Track List: 
1) Sam Balll - One Way Ticket - Saved Rec 
2) Affkt - I Got It (DJ Madskillz Remix) - Suara Rec 
3) Silicone Soul - Right On (Ramon Tapia's On and On Remix) - Soma Rec 
4) Alex Under - Gorrezno (Mihai Popoviciu remix) - Wetyourself 
5) Kid Culture & Thomas Robson - Feel So Good (Livio & Roby remix) - Suara 
6) Bryan Zentz - Double R - Amam 
7) Dave Brody - Never Go - Aella Rec 
8) Anton Pieete - Whaler - Kling Klong 
9) Ramon Tapia - Combustian -100% Pure 
10) Samuel L Session - The Horn Track - Material 
11) Ramon Tapia - Talk To Me - CDR 
12) Armand Van Helden - The Witch Doctor (Ramon Tapia & Anton Pieete Remix) - Strictly Rhythm

PICK OF THE CLUB NIGHTS
Zzzap! (feat Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke)
Liquid Room, Victoria Street, Tuesday, 11pm-3am, £10, 0131-225 2564

KELE OKEREKE is no stranger to Edinburgh, his band, Bloc Party, having played some stupendous gigs here over the years.
On Tuesday night, the singer and guitarist with one of indie’s most consistently interesting and progressive acts returns to these parts - though in a different guise.
This time he’s showing off his DJing skills at the launch of Zzzap!, a new club night for Liquid Room.
With his band on a hiatus, last year saw the release of Okereke’s solo album The Boxer, on which he focused on the more dance-orientated direction of later Bloc Party singles like Flux and One More Chance.
After making the album, he admitted to having a meltdown. “I was doing a Britney,” he says. “I’d had enough and I needed to start again - I was having a meltdown. I was attacking photographers with my umbrella and not being so good to myself.” Okereke’s interest in dance music can be traced back to his 2005 collaboration with The Chemical Brothers, Believe, and he teamed up with superstar DJ Tiesto in 2009 on the track It’s Not The Things You Say - so you’d imagine he’ll know exactly what he’s doing behind those Liquid Room decks.
“I don’t really go to gigs so much any more,” he says. “But through DJing, I’m exposed to clubs - albeit from a different perspective. It’s made me a lot more on the ball about new music and listening to how frequencies operate.”
Words: GARY FLOCKHART

Grant Paterson's Floorfillaz: 13th Jan 2011

 Grant Paterson - Floorfillaz - Jan 13th 2011 by The Guide Clubland

Thomas Bjerring - Ice (Traum)

A MODERN music box fantasy. Ice breaks with driving beats, authentic 80’s arpeggio and Thomas Bjerring’s dreamy vocals, which fits beautifully into this stirring electro pop journey.

Nacho Casco feat. The Circus Pilots - The Beat, Jazper Remix (Area Sur Records)

THE boys from South America are back with a funky tech-house workout packed full of cool breaks and elegant looped grooves, all played with sophisticated precision.

Hypertic - Alpha Train (Mija Recordings)

THIS is a deep underground techno cut. Riveting, deep beats pound as spacey noises drift in and sharp layered tech loops hammer like metal shutters opening and closing.

Gabriel Ananda - Love Attack (Treibstoff)

TUNE of the month. Dazzling emotive chords roll gently over a deep sub-bass which quickly evolves into a driving bass line and synthetic melody.

Cardiowave - Long Island (Cinematique)

CLIMBING pads build a wall of sound before reinforcing the breaks as the beats drop out. When the beats return it’s uplifting.

STU PATCHITT - JINGLE BASS PODCAST
 Stu Patchitt - Jingle Bass by The Guide Clubland

THIS week’s podcast comes courtesy of Stu Patchitt, Edinburgh trance DJ and producer. DJing for the past 10 years, Patchitt started out with a pair of belt drive turntables and a passion for DJing, inspired by the seminal Global Underground mix CDs. Patchitt currently hosts a residency at Elements and has a weekly radio show online.


Tracklist:
01. Bryan Kearney - Mexican Rave
02.Barry Connell & John O Callaghan - Frizzbomb Warrior (Indecent Noise Mash-up)
03.Will Atkinson - Drop Acid
04.Oliver Brooks - With You (DSR)
05.Greg Downey - Send The Gods
06.Matt Hardwick & John Askew - Slaves To The Machine (Discover Promo Mix)
07.John Askew - The Witch
08.Tom Colontonio - Colours Of A Tear (Nick Sentience Mix)
09.John O Callaghan - Find Yourself (Heatbeat Remix)

THE GUIDE PODCAST: SANDER BONGERTMAN  


 Sander Bongertman - The Guide - January 6th 2011 by The Guide Clubland 

This week’s podcast comes courtesy of Dutch DJ/producer Sander Bongertman, a man famous for his distinctive minimal/techno/tech-house DJ style and sets that are put together to create the ultimate energy experience.


TRACK LIST: 
01: Sander Bongertman - Rainy Days (Mr Mau’s Northern Light Mixture) Coincidence Records
02: Martin Brodin - Siberian Transit (Pig & Dan Remix) Deeplay Soultec
03: Florian Meindl - The Theorem Flash
04: Kaiserdisco - Espandrillo MBF
05: Bongertman - Absent Gold N Tech Records
06: Florian Meindl - Deep Diving Flash
07: Dapayk Solo - Berlin Bedlam Leena Music
08: Rills - Everybody (Chris Carrier Remix) All Inn Records
09: Bongertman - Maschinery Gold N Tech Records
10: Pan-Pot & Cari Golden - Captain My Captain Mobilee Records
11: Samuel L Session - Can You Relate (Joris Voorn Remix) Soma Records
12: Bongertman - Distant Gold N Tech Records
13: Phil Kieran - Bells and Spells Snork Enterprises

DJ Cluture: Kirstie Paton aka Mrs Wee

Kirstie Paton, aka Mrs Wee, is a member of She Bang Rave Unit, an all woman DJ collective.


What is this month’s floor filler? 
Down by Aaron Carl. It came out 12 years ago, but Aaron died in September, aged 37. I’ll be making a point of playing it and have no doubt it will fill the floor.


Who was/is your DJ guru/inspiration? 
Ed DMX. I love his electro productions, live sets, amazing disco mixes and podcasts. Must also mention John Peel and Andrew Weatherall.


What was your most banging Edinburgh gig? 
The last She Bang Halloween Special. 


What was the first track you ever bought? 
There were two, just 50p each - Theme From S-express and Crash by The Primitives. 


Favourite all time track? 
DJ Bam Bam, Where’s Your Child. It has an amazing acid bass line, is 303 crazy and boasts frightening samples of smashing glass.

Grant Paterson's Floor Fillaz:


 Grant Paterson - Floorfillaz Mix - Jan 6th 2011 by The Guide Clubland 

Sander Bongertman - Alternate Direction (Ritual Records)
This Dutch DJ/producer is proving to be a dancefloor wizard. Layers and layers of complex percussive sound cleverly woven into a myriad of grooves makes for a spellbinding release. An alternate direction maybe, but the right one.

M.in - Le Cirque Du Tambours, Den Ishu Remix (Trapez)
Driving beats, tribal percussion and one almighty kick drum married with funky sounds, deep bass and one mighty soulful vocal sample, and you’ve got it nailed. Brilliant.

Andreas Henneberg - By The Way (Push Communications)
The journey begins with waves of melodic tech chords, building as a rich beat kicks in. Soaring peaks are intensified by a sudden off-beat pattern. Clever. An intriguing play. 

Nikola Gala - Dream (Escada Music)
A glittering slab of tech house. Deep throbbing bass drums roll in as the percussion tightens and the pace is picked up by accentuating atmospheric noises. Result? A deep underground vibe.

Dave Copp & Tommy McKinley - Coca EP (Coincidence Records)
Three meaty techno tracks - Coca boasts a cracking Latin vocal sample and almost immediately the pounding beats get darker and darker. Tom Haydes remix adds some serious mayhem with a snappy, metallic, tripped out version. Orcas mix is massive.