Dekmantel Mix Series Archive 1-500

For our next podcast we head out to the Far East, specifically to Chiba in Japan, where the cult favourite DJ Nobu resides. From there the man behind legendary party Future Terror and esteemed label Bitta has been putting out weird electronics, spacey electro and atmospheric techno since the late 90s. He releases rather infrequently, but when he does you can be sure he never does the same trick twice. It is the same story when he is DJing: he always manages to conjure up fresh tricks, textures and tunes depending on the situation and has put out many official mix CDs to that end. From contemporary electronic pieces to abstract techno, his wide repertoire has made him a favourite with the likes of the Berghain crew and Hessle Audio associate Ben UFO, who played with him recently at the Red Bull Music Academy, whilst he also played a stand out set on Boiler Room at our own Dekmantel festival earlier in the year. The podcast he has put together for us is just over an hour of occult ambient littered with the sounds of the Far East. It is patient and absorbing, zoned out and eerie as well as being hugely organic and natural sounding. Drums only appear in the latter half and when they do, they still come embellished with pixel thin pads, metallic surfaces and harmonic sounds that continue to sooth your mind in fresh new ways.

Our 41st podcast comes from techno producer Voiski, who is a close associate of experimental label Silicate Musique, is part of Field Records duo Kartei and is also a regular on LIES and WT Records. His techno sound veers from off kilter and odd to more dance floor focussed, and is never short on intrigue. Characterised by infinitely repetitive loops and acerbic drums, his often analog tracks look to the future for their inspiration and always manage to be cerebral yet hypnotic. The mix he has served up for us is mostly made of old personal classics and or new tracks made by friends. “Intimate, glimmery and a bit strong,” says Voiski, the mix is a perfect one for this time of year and has some “heartwarming 90s trance to smile at with some solid techno to dance to.” He’s not wrong there, because this is an absorbing selection that might well surprise you with some of the more fun and sunny inclusions early on, but as things move on that deep, heady, hypnotic Voiski sound soon wins out with smooth coherent transitions that sound just like an extended track by the man himself.

Michael Greene is Fort Romeau, an accomplished producer of smooth and sumptuous, or more groove driven and kraut influenced, house music. It has come in the form of many compelling EPs and LPs and on labels like Spectral Sound, Live At Robert Johnson and 100% Silk and takes cues from Italo and New Wave amongst other things. An intriguing producer who is genuinely bringing something new and fresh to the decades old house sound, he is a welcome addition to our series. The mix we have on offer from Fort Romeau is one recorded at a recent gig at Corsica Studios in London that found him playing all night long. It was a real opportunity for the man to go deep, serve up curveballs and indulge many musical passions in one long session. “I really like playing in this way,” he says. “There’s so much freedom to shape the entire musical language of the evening and to make connections between disparate musics that you just can’t really do in two or three hours at peak time. Corsica is one of London’s best spaces in my opinion, the DJ booth is rock solid with none of the typical problems of playing vinyl that plague clubs these days, the sound system is good and the crowd has always been great in my experience, so i was pleased to be able to take over the programming for the night.” The near six hour selection touches on ambient as well as various different strain of techno and house from across the ages. All knitted together into a perfectly balanced and well paced mix that keeps a vibe alive throughout, it is a fine testament of his skill in the booth as well as a nice little peak into the influences and inspirations that inform his productions.

Rrose—named after Marcel Duchamp's character, Rrose Selavey—is a dark and mysterious figure who makes dark and mysterious music. It comes mainly on his own Eaux label after early forays on the influential Sandwell District, and it combines mean and heavy overtones with more lithe and agile synths work. Most recently this American producer and live act served up an absorbing album of droning soundscapes on Seattle’s Further Records, whilst 2015’s EP output has seen him master supple techno forms drenched in reverb and soot black atmospheres. This deep, thick and industrially influenced sound carries over in to his live set, and that is exactly what we are serving up for you on our next podcast. This one hour session is an absorbing one that sucks you deep down a blackened rabbit hole. It is one that recreates his show at this year's Dekmantel Festival and across the course of an hour invites your mind to get lost in elongated synth lines that slowly drift about like planets in orbit. Occasional percussive patterns and crunchy textures get loosely scattered across the airwaves and along the way the brooding clouds break to let in some blissful rays of optimism. There are few who have a sound as focussed and singular as this, as this podcast proves.

JD Twitch is a true musical magpie. Over his long and storied career the Scot has been responsible for seminal Glasgow party Optimo alongside Jonnie Wilkes, has put out post punk compilations, done trance mixes, run various different labels (from Autonomous Africa to Optimo Music) and is a famously skilled and eclectic DJ who has headlined all over the world. He has done a fabric CD and a compilation for R&S, produces with Dave Clark as Optimo (Espacio) as well as solo under a wide range of aliases. As such he is a veritable mine of musical knowledge and a real pillar of the underground scene. For his Dekmantel podcast he has delivered us something, as you would expect, rather special. “It's a mix of all Dutch dance tracks from the very early 90s,” he says. “It features a handful of well known classics but lots of forgotten gems and these were all records I played incessantly in very sweaty raves at that time, so a few of the records are a little scratchy, dusty, worn down. I wanted to do this mix as I was mad about Dutch records back then and I think Holland produced so much amazing music during this period and had a very distinctive, unique sound and perhaps a lot of people today don't know it was one of the pioneering nations of house and techno. The club I did back then, Pure, brought over a lot of dutch artists to play in the early 90s - Dimitri (many, many times), Eddie de de Clercq, Marcello, Random XS, Terrace, Miss Djax, Unit Moebius, Orlando Voorn, Psychick Warriors Ov Gaia and Acid Junkies to name a few. Lastly, I think the records from back then still sound great today!” Tune in and you will surely agree.

This week’s podcast shines light on Esa (Williams) also known as Mervin Granger. Although his mother land is South Africa, and he was one of Glasgow’s underground key figures, he’s currently located in London. As an integral part of the Auntie Flo live set up, he has played at Europe's leading venues and festivals including Fabric, Razzmatazz, Sub Club, Plastic People, and Snafu. Be sure to check his contributions to Huntleys + Palmers sister label Highlife and keep an eye for al upcoming releases. The mix is an interesting, storytelling affair heading off through some African ambience, playful and melodic house and plenty of other left of centre grooves. It is a mix where each new track sounds wholly different than the last, but with an underlying sense of worldly rhythm the thing that ties it all together. This, then, is a personal glimpse into he world of Esa and his crew, and one that makes for absorbing listening.

As you might have heard already, we’re quite stoked about our upcoming Dekmantel Records release by Basic Soul Unit. His debut at our label comes in the form of his album “Under The Same Sky”. The Canadian producer, real name Stuart Li, has been dropping quality records via a litany of highly respected imprints like Ostgut Ton, Crème Organization, Mule Electronic and Versatile over the past decade. Hypnotic and deep, but always funky, and very well produced. In this week’s podcast Basic Soul Unit proves he’s not only a stellar producer, but a very skilled DJ with a keen eye for tracks that others don’t pick up. Enjoy a classic ride trough subtile house, some disco, a couple uptempo tracks and of course some music of the upcoming album.

Very few musical acts achieve the levels of unanimous acclaim of Autechre. The English duo of Rob Brown and Sean Booth are not an act you simply like; they are an act you love, fawn over and dream about. They’ve got themselves here over the course of the last 28 years, and have done so by amassing a discography that’s about as perfect, influential and accomplished as could ever be possible. A key Warp label act from day one, they have released tens of albums, well over a ten EPs and have featured on a dizzying amount of essential compilations, mixes and remixes in that time. Without their contribution to the IDM canon, its fair to say the modern musical landscape would look very different. Rhythmic but experimental, absorbing yet abstract, cerebral and psychedelic, their ever evolving output is up there with the likes of fellow luminaries Boards of Canada and Aphex Twin as some of the most important in all of electronic music. As well as being fine craftsmen in the studio, Autechre are also revered live performers who really manage to conjure up captivating and otherworldly soundtracks that marry heavy bass with ethereal melody. The pair themselves do not care for genre, but suffice it to say that they have mastered everything from hardcore to ambient to glitch and plenty of indescribables in between. When the pair recently laid down an impressive set at Dekmantel Festival, we asked if they might be up for a doing an early inspiration mix, whereby they put together a collection of the sort of electro and hip hop tracks that turned them on as youths. At first they hesitated, pointing out that "we don't do strictly retro stuff, it's too corny.” But alas, a few days later, a huge file landed in our inbox… That file is a 4 hour and 18 minute mix that basically encapsulates not just Autechre’s own influences, but also acts as a fine anthology of the greatest electro sounds of all time. Every sub genre imaginable gets touched upon along the way, with nods to forefathers like Kraftwerk, killer cuts from Man Parrish, classics from Newcleus and retro gold from the likes of The Beat Club. It is a thrilling ride and a truly rare treat that reminds us just why we love Autechre, as well as shining a light on a vast genre that often pays second fiddle to house and techno.

If you ever witnessed a performance by Melvin Oliphant III aka Traxx, you know that the man is more than just your average DJ or producer. Genre-bending and constantly in a state of trance, Traxx is a unique species in our contemporary world of electronic music. All comes forth out of a endless love for music that catches his ear and instantly sets all motion in his body in progress. Seeing him play a deck-segment for the first time will probably knock you out of your shoes as his intense, expressive way of experiencing the music he plays is unparalleled. Not only are his performances not to be missed, his contribution to the Jakbeat movement via his Nation imprint amongst other affiliated labels and his own productions and collaborations are on a similar level. In 2013 Traxx closed out the smallest stage stage of the first edition of Dekmantel Festival, to prepare the inauguration of a long-standing commitment between Nation and Dekmantel that went into it's third time this year, when Traxx got up on the decks of the Melkweg Club to close out Saturdays Dekmantel by Night. Nation decided to share with us in this podcast of the recording from that first night in 2013. An energy-level so intense that brought the crowd into a frenzy, while dancing in the rain. Hit play, and reminisce...

John Talabot is the acclaimed Spanish DJ and producer who has brought a real sense of melody and occasion to house and techno. The Hivern Discs boss, as well as releasing a standout album in ƒIN, and fine collaborations with Axel Boman and Pional, is also an in-demand remixer celebrated for being able to create majestical grooves from originals by people like The xx and Shit Robot. He has also put together a stunning DJ Kicks mix and now he has been in the booth again, putting together a typically epic podcast for our on going series. Across the course of one and a half hours, the Barcelona based Talabot lays out his musical modus operandi in all its glory: serene house riddled with melody, dreamy pads and wavy tones that speak to the soul. With a rather blissed out and dreamy undercurrent, he slowly works through house old and new and keeps a strong, compelling groove present and correct at all times. Officially entitled "Post Summer Melodies" by Talabot, this mix is full of just that, and is sure to keep you warm long after the sun has gone.

Whoever you are, and no matter what your musical preference, there is a good chance you have danced to a Kieran Hebden beat before now. The London man best known as Four Tet has done everything in his career, from glistening indie-licked electronica albums to pumping bass and garage mixes for Fabric via collaborations with Steve Reid and Burial, shows on NTS and plenty of club ready projects on his own Text label. We have long been a fan, and recently he played for us at Dekmantel Festival. The results were recorded and we present them to you here as our latest podcast. As you would expect, it is hard to put into words what the man aims for, and achieves, across the course of two hours, but suffice it to say it will surely be the most adventurous mix you hear for a while. From niche Indian music to classic house, dirty STL cuts to synthetic tech and Latin tinged funk, he stitches together a wild ride full of smooth left turns and dazzling curveballs that will make you want to loosen every limb in your body and shake till you drop. We already have done once back in early August, and now we surely will do again and again and again.

Intergalactic Gary is a Dutch DJ and producer who has many miles on his DJ clock. He first started plying his trade on the raw West Coast of the Netherlands back in the early nineties, where he would rock squat parties and amaze club crowds with his widescreen sets. Ever since then he has been a key player in the Dutch scene, is part of cult crew The Parallax Corporation and is never far away from a pirate radio station. As well as this, nowadays he is a regular on the European circuit at places like Panorama Bar and has long been a Dekmantel favourite. A real mix specialist who has put out countless official compilations over the years, Gary is behind the next podcast, which is a 3,5 hour live recording, for us and it is a typically well formed affair that takes us deep into his world. With more than a hint of the cosmic atmospheres you would expect of someone called Intergalactic Gary, his selection is a dark, moody one full of broken disco and whacked out electro. Shades of new wave, Italo and synth pop also colour the grooves he lays down, and the cumulative effect is an absorbing, slightly unsettling ride through fierce textures, prickly percussive patterns and otherworldly atmospheres.

Cameroonian father, Ukrainien mother, blessed with an innate swoop of energy and trained as classical, modern, hip-hop and salsa dancer: when analyzing the instaurations of William Kouam Djoko one can only conclude that the Amsterdam based artist is blessed with an enviable framework for a prosperous career in music. His vibrant appearance shows he’s an entertainer par excellence; Djoko is able to grab the attention of his audience instantly thanks to an unbridled onstage enthusiasm. In the 30th edition of the Dekmantel Podcast, Djoko demonstrates his versatility and unstoppable love for rhythm with a percussion-soked mix that will shake up your day.

Having shined a light on a number of lesser known DJs and producers, we now turn to one many people know and love: Mr Roman Flügel. The German producer has amassed a enviably varied discography over the last twenty years. With various different monikers from Acid Jesus to Eight Miles High, Warp69 to Alter Ego, he has turned out acid, techno, electro, IDM, artful electronic sounds and more unnamable genres beside. As well as co-founding three labels in Ongaku Musik, Klang Elektronik and Playhouse, he has released on Dial, Cocoon and Live At Robert Johnson, sis a veritable pillar of the global underground scene. The mix we have from him is a live recording of his set at Lente Kabinet from back in May 2015. As such it is a two hour ride through his singular sound that effuses colourful synth lines and kinked drums, at one moment gliding along an airy groove before then sinking down into a gritty and mechanical world of grinding gears and punchy kicks. Few DJs take as many risks, and pull them off as successfully as Flügel, so this is a real treat indeed.

In the week of our annual Dekmantel Festival, Swiss's finest Sassy J starts of the week just how it should. Combining the old and the new, there’s just one common denominator to her eclectic style of music she’s playing: soulfulness. Her versatility and technical skills come together in this mix, like we also witnessed in her Boiler Room performance she did for us in Barcelona. Her taste of good music brought her to places like Worldwide Festival, London's Plastic People and let her release a mixtape on The Trilogy Tapes. Besides her own DJ career she invites the top of the notch to her own Patchwork parties in Bern (Theo Parrish, Steve Spacek, Rednose Distrikt, and MF DOOM to name a few). On top of that, she makes custom clothes like sweaters and shirts featuring Nina Simone, Larry Levan, and Sun Ra.

The Netherlands has no shortage of celebrated DJs and producers, but now it is time to shine a light on one that is deserving of a much wider audience. Amsterdam’s Interstellar Funk is a young record hound and talented producer who loves real melody in his music. He releases on (and works at) Rush Hour and has put his textured sounds out on his own Tape Records label - it ranges from slow and absorbing to more urgent and physical, and his DJ sets are just as brave and far reaching. As a former Trouw resident, Interstellar Funk reaches far and wide for the records that make up his DJ sets. This tight one hour selection proves that as it transitions through cosmic melodic jams to corrugated electro and deep acid house. It makes for a mix that operates in a rich synth galaxy full of space dust and retro-future nostalgia. So, enjoy his absorbing mix and then get ready for his debut track on the Dekmantel label, a contribution to the Patta x Dekmantel compilation.

As London based Call Super is making his Dekmantel debut this summer, we figured it made sense to ask the man for a Podcast. Call Super’s highly distinctive productions and DJ-sets articulate a sense of otherness - a hazy, amorphous aesthetic that’s largely divorced from functional ‘dancefloor’ obligations, and all the better for it. With Suzi Ecto, his debut album from 2014, he has crafted an unconventional and absorbing record and continued to refine a style of music making that defies worthwhile comparison. Just like this, his Dekmantel Podcast is an engaging adventure into different niches of electronic music supplemented with some worldy tunes.

Dekmantel Podcast 25 stars not just one fine artist, but offers both Amsterdam don Young Marco and French forerunner Gilb'R. The two played a stunning back to back set in the end of May at this year's Lente Kabinet, Dekmantel's sister festival based in the surroundings of Amsterdam. This podcast is a recording of that set as it was played at a lively Red Light Radio stage. Young Marco and Gilb'R pairing up for a great session of playing energetic, unheard gems, seems a very logical thing to do as both men have their roots in record digging and producing out of the ordinary house music.

As any proper techno fan will know, Sterac is an alias of the legendary Dutch man Steve Rachmad and it has been since the 90s. Over the years, Sterac has been responsible for some classics of the genre (including the peerless album Secret Life of Machines), and recently he has been back working under the moniker on labels like Klockworks, Delsin and Mote Evolver. He also records as Sterac Electronics, however, an ever lesser used alias that is more focussed on electro sounds. As Sterac and Sterac Electronics his output joins the dots between Detroit and the Netherlands, both in the studio and the DJ booth. This podcast comes from Sterac Electronics in the wake of Dekmantel relaxing a short documentary about Steve, his musical taste, influences and views on DJing, and just ahead of him playing the Selectors stage at the festival later in the year. Watch that short film here (http://dkmn.tl/1HrAY5k), just before you tuck into his dazzling mix. Starting with some glittery disco, the summery selection then dips its toe into frazzled 80s synths, dancing arps, tooting trumpets and the sweetest of vocal tracks. It’s jammed packed with floor filling gold from the disco world and is an impressive detour from the techno sound most people know him for. Stick this one on and it is sure to get your hips moving and your mouth smiling.

William Burnett is a man of many guises who has been around for many years. He produces under a number of different names, from Willie Burns to The Speculator, makes cult movies with Legowelt, releases on LIES, The Trilogy Tapes and Creme Organisation and also runs his own W.T Records. As well as this he manages a famous record store, spends much of his time digging deep for new dance floor dynamite and also has his own regular radio show. All this means his DJ sets are well informed things that explore plenty of musical ground. The mix he serves up for us wastes no time in getting you going: hurried house kicks obscured in coarse claps and lo fi textures sets an abrasive mood which is punctuated with all manner of witchy squeaks and kicks, sirens and rave stabs. Things then effortlessly flit between serene electro, jumbled broken beats, churchy ambiance, wonky off beat dub and 80s synth wave sounds. Frankly, it’s a brave and daring mix that successfully attempts huge stylistic transitions not many other DJs would, and for that reason alone it deserves your attention.

Midland is a quiet and reserved character but one that always makes a big impact. Despite only being active for a few years, he is already someone who resides in the upper echelons of the global house and techno scene. This is evidenced by the fact that as a DJ he plays only the most revered places, and when he does so he manages to reach far and wide, calling upon many different electronic sounds without ever falling prey to modern trends. It is the same when producing on labels like Aus and his own Graded, where his records are functional but fun affairs with corrugated drums, rugged bass and physical grooves that never fail to arrest a dance floor’s attention. This mix he has served up for us is another fine example of that. Starting off in an abstract world of atmospheric sound and smeared chords, it’s not long before Midland establishes a groove that then grows in stature for the next hour. Atop the always physical drums are all manner of cosmic melodies, soul fuelled pads and spryly percussive patterns. Touching on house that ranges from dark and mysterious to more sun kissed and playful, this journey feels much long than it is because of how much Midland manages to so masterfully pack in.

Juju & Jordash have been one of the most prolific and impressive duos of recent times. The pair made up of Jordan and Gal has now released four standout LPs, play truly live and mesmeric live shows around the world, work with Move D as Magic Mountain High and also have various accomplished solo projects. Of course, they are regulars on our Dekmantel label, and always conjure up emotive, complex and stirring machine made sounds from another galaxy. Now they have given us a special live recording for our next podcast. It is taken from their live show at iBoat, and as ever is a completely improvised session that finds them playing keys, synths and drum machines and jamming fluidly throughout. Switching up the sounds and styles as they go, the tempo varies subtly and the end result is an absorbing soundtrack that tells many a musical tale. From outlier electronics to jacking house, it always retains an impeccable sense of melody and majesty that is hard not to love.

Already arrived at the twentieth podcast in the Dekmantel Podcast series, Dusseldorf's Jan Schulte aka Bufiman aka Wolf Muller takes charge. The DJ/Producer brings avant garde electronic music to labels like Themes For Great Cities and Versatile. Next to that, Bufiman is one of the residents and powers behind Dusseldorf's Salon Des Amateurs. The club is one of Europe's few establishments where you can enjoy the niche of electronic music in the right fashion. No DJ-ego's and an adventurous musical program which sound just like our cup of tea. Bufiman's mix can be seen in the same light: a challenging, beautiful mix with unexpected surprises down the road.

We take a trip across the pond for our next podcast, because it comes from the celebrated New York based Detroit that is Mike Servito. Best known for his impressive closing sets, be they at Bunker, where he is resident, or at Berlin’s Panorama Bar, Servito is a passionate vinyl fiend and is said to spend most of his fees on buying more of the stuff. Only in the last year or so has he broken out of local circles in New York and Detroit, and that is purely off the back off his DJing ability because he is not a producer. The DJ sets he does, though, are uncompromising things that he painstakingly researches and puts together for often for a whole week before playing. The podcast he has served up for us is just as tight. It wastes no time in getting down to business and starts with plenty of unhinged acid techno. Of course, the mixing is slick and seamless, records are teased in an out with an expert hand and the beats range from tightly coiled and kinetic to more spaced out and trippy. It’s 90 minutes of expert DJ perfection and proves the Ghostly associate is one of the best there is.

The aim of this Dekmantel podcast series is to shine a light on exceptional DJs talents, and that is just what we are doing with this new one from Christian S. The German has been making people dance at parties in Cologne since the 90s and is a wild selector who tightly knits together house and techno with all sorts of carefully unearthed treats from South Africa, the world of psychedelic disco and plenty of modern grooves in between. As a producer he is at home on the trendsetting Comeme and has been championed on Boiler Room and Beats in Space before now. He is also the man various Comeme radio shows, so is no stranger to digging deep. The hour long mix Christian has put together is a blissed out and summery affair with loose analogue grooves, earthy drums and jangling melodies. It subtly shifts through the gears as it goes on, but never feels hurried and always retains a soulful and relaxing sense of wide open space. Littered with an organic African feel, it’s a perfect mix for sunset sessions as summer gets ever closer.

Our next mix is slightly different than normal as it is a live recording of a dj-set from Bell Towers. As such, there is the odd gap in the music, but once you have been wowed by the selections and technical ability you are sure you will forgive us that. Bell Towers is celebrated as an energetic DJ and house music maestro who first made his name in Australia before re-locating to London. As a selector Bell Towers fuses psychedelic dance with dreamy pop and really understands clubs and dance floors. He also makes music on labels like Prins Thomas’s Internajonal where his boogie basslines interact with slinky drums in a truly live fashion. Starting with some pure feel good funk vibes, the ensuing two hours is a whirlwind ride through charismatic sounds from many different genres. It will take you up and down, round and round and have you wracking your brain to work out just how the man has managed to mix so many different styles and tempos together in such a tight knit fashion. A mix that really showcases Bell Towers’ diverse taste as much as his dexterous DJ ability, there can be no better way to kick start your week than with this one blaring out.

The next Dekmantel podcast is something of a local and family affair. It comes from Malawi, a DJ collective made up of former Trouw residents Andrei Vilcov, Arif Malawi, Job Jobse, Job Oberman and Luc Mast. The group have been regulars at the LenteKabinet festival for the last couple of years, also play there again this year and, frankly, they are just a very cool group of individuals with a wide and varied musical taste that we really appreciate. The deep, crate digging mix they turn out demonstrates this with aplomb. In just over an hour they lay downside perfectly summery vibes that will have you wanting to lay out flat on some lush green grass. Starting with sun kissed acoustic guitars, it slowly unravels through lazy house, afro tinged dub, big steel drum patterns and plenty of worldly goodness, all of which is organic and effortlessly mixed, despite the huge amount of ground covered. Welcome to Malawi…

It is to UK shores we head now, and to the assured bunker where Hessle Audio, Clone and Hemlock producer Randomer resides. For the best part of a decade now, the man born Rohan Walder has been turning out interesting and arresting electronic music that veers from acid to ghetto, bass heavy to beat driven. Always laying down groves with a jacking edge and roughen texture, he is a contemporary innovator who is just as unique a proposition in the DJ booth. This new podcast proves that and wastes no time in getting going. Right from the off it is a hurried and physical affair that never sits still for a second through the ensuing hour. The whole thing is tightly mixed with plenty of energy and proceeds at never less than 100 miles an hour. Every track is a fulsome, busy and brutal offering that cannot fail to get your attention on a Tuesday morning.

Tasker is a London based music obsessive who is very much a modern day tastemaker. As well as hosting his own well respected 88 Transition show on NTS, he is a selector for music discovery platform 22tracks, runs his own label Whities and is co- founder of the Principles night. As such, he very much has his finger on the underground pulse and that feeds into his DJ sets, which take him to clubs and festivals all over Europe. For his Dekmantel mix, Tasker tried to predominantly showcase forthcoming music from his label, as well as new music being made and released by his friends and family. There are also a couple of tracks in there that he simply have been playing a lot this year. The result is a smorgasbord of sounds that touches on his many different passions from bubbling deepness to weird house music via grainy and lo-fi grooves and more besides.

Scottish DJ and producer Nick Moore is Linkwood, someone who applies a master craftsmen and hugely artistic approach to everything he does. Because of this, he has a reputation for fantastically deep house that is magically ornamental, resplendent with atmospheric ambiance and littered with moving melody. He releases on local label Firecracker and its sub label Shevnchenko, and most recently offered up the tripled vinyl delights of his second album, Expressions. Now he is taking up the mantel on our podcast series and serves up just over an hour of sumptuous sound. Despite being a relatively short set, the Scot manages to cram a lot in, from dub techno to intergalactic deep house via spaced out jams and intricately melodic tech. Importantly, every record he reaches for bares all the hallmarks of that emotive Linkwood sound we all know and love, so stick it on and allow yourself to get lost at the hands of a real master.

Following in the wake of other like-minded East Coast producers like Levon Vincent, Anthony Parasole and Fred P, Joey Anderson is the latest offering in a fresh load of artists hailing from New York. Like his predecessors the American reached a wider audience at a relatively late age, and also like those before him, Anderson can do a lot with very little. The art of omission is mastered by this techno stalwart, who quickly became a Dekmantel family member by both performing at our events and releasing an impressive album on Dekmantel Records. This 12th instalment to the Dekmantel podcast series sees a beautifully build up mix. As Joey proofed at his Panoramabar set in March, he warms up a crowd like no other. This mix starts of with some deeper tracks, examplarery for the New York sound Joey represents. Towards the end the podcast becomes more techno and features “1974” from his latest EP on the Dekmantel label.

As we head into our 11th podcast, we take a turn into a much more relaxed world. Before now we’ve offered you kaleidoscopic mixes, techno workouts, freaky house sessions and lots more besides, but here we ask you to cast your worries aside for three hours of absorbing ambient from Steffen Bennemann. Bennemann is a post-techno DJ, producer and label boss from Leipzig who co-founded the Holger label and who curates the Nachdigital festival. Often preferring to play long and extended sets that reach for kraut, IDM and plenty of celestial melodies, he is an expert in dark ambient, moody soundscapes and otherworldly recordings and in fact occasionally plays parties where people turn up with sleeping bags and lay down on the dance floor to relax. Steffen says many times people actually fall asleep and he plays to them for hours. And that’s just what you get on his immersive two hour podcast, which starts with a dreamy monologue, frog sounds and harmonic bell notes. As the session unfolds, it transports listens into dark, ominous worlds, blissed out and heavenly places that could be from the afterlife and plenty more emotionally swollen pockets of atmospheric sound. Combining the organic with the synthetic, modern classical with balearic chords, it’s a veritable trip.

Somehow we are already at number ten in our podcast series. This one is yet another special offering and it comes from Ø [Phase], aka Ashley Burchett. Burchett is a UK techno legend who has been doing his do for the past fifteen years. He has released most of his work on the Token label and it includes immersive full lengths such as Frames of Reference as well as tens of hugely consistent and always excellent EPs that go far beyond simple floor fodder. Atmosphere and tension, hypnotism and efficient sonic economy all characterise his singular output. Clocking in at just under 75 minutes, this one is for the heads: it starts off in supple, subliminal techno territory with distant drones and rubbery synths working you into a hypnotic state and then gradually unfolds through many different textures. Always rooted to a seductive and repetitive kick, this is a masterclass in control and restraint, in tension and balance, and it will keep you locked for the thrilling duration as a result.

The man behind our next podcast is something of a dance music godfather. He has been instrumental in the development of the West Coast electro scene in The Netherlands, is the founder of the much loved community radio station Intergalactic FM and runs a clutch of labels including Viewlexx and Murdercapital. He pioneered the electro sound and kick started a disco revival with his own productions, is behind a number of seminal mix compilations and DJs around the world, playing everything from Italo to cosmic, synth wave to horror sound tracks. Recently he made a rare new record on his own Viewlexx label under the Panama Brown alias (which is I-F and Legowelt together) and now he has served us up a sizzling new mix. Lasting just over two hours, the mix is a slick and seamless ride through many different genres. Rather than following one predictable arc, the moods and grooves seamlessly change gear through uplifting stuff, jacking stuff and vocal stuff from across the ages of house, techno and electro. A truly kaleidoscopic selection that finds I-F digging typically deep, this is a hugely enjoyable window into his unique musical world.

Our next voyage is into the vaults of Rahaan. The American has been building up his vast and varied collection of disco and electro and plenty of retro gold in between ever since the 80s. Starting out on his local and competitive scene in Chicago (play tapes, no less) Rahaan’s skills soon stood him out from the crowd and before long he began touring the world. Nowadays he is also a producer of some exceptional edits and originals for labels like Fourplay and remains one of the most unique DJs around. As you would expect from Rahaan, the podcast he serves up is full of joyous delights, disco bombs and classic vocal tracks all mixed together with a knowing hand. There are bumpy beats and serene strings, diva coos and atmospheric samples and never does your booty stop shaking throughout the 70 odd minute selection. So, stick it on and scare away those Monday blues in an instant, because this is a real heart warmer from Rahaan.

For podcast number seven we turn to the exceptionally talented German DJ that is Mick Wills. Rather than searching for the spotlight, Mick is DJ who cares only about the people dancing in front of him. He isn’t in this game to become a famous superstar headliner, he just wants to play records without a care in the world. And that is exactly what he does at knowing clubs around Europe. As a producer he has a small but perfectly formed discography with releases on International Deejay Gigolo Records, but it are his DJ skills that we focus on here. His two hour mix was recorded live at a Knekelhuis event at Amsterdam’s Studio 80 and starts off with some supple techno and intergalactic atmospheres before churning up his grooves with rough textures, kinked electro beats and tripped out acid jack. Getting deeper in the second half, the mix seamlessly transitions through many scenes and styles, taking listeners up, down and round and round in the process. Strap yourself in, then, and enjoy the ride. TRACKLIST 01 JEFF MILLS – Mass Elliptical Orbits 02 SWERE – Swere 03 TIN MAN – Detroit 04 LIIT – 33 05 JUNE - Direct Contact 06 SVENGALISGHOST – The Booth 07 CHEMOTEX – Yang Solution 08 I.B.M. - Kill Bill 09 PHUTURE – Phuture Jacks 10 THE MANIACS – Luv Eternal 11 SECTION 25 – Looking From a Hilltop 12 GALAXY TO GALAXY – Journey Of The Dragons 13 TENEBRE – Flashing 14 EL KID – We Need Mirrors (Vessel´s Psychosis Mix) 15 JEFF MILLS – Planet Receptors 16 ELEC PT. 1 – Acidmark (Mick Wills Remix) 17 GAVIN RUSSOM – Telemetry 18 X2 – Body Rhythm Science 19 JASS – Gates To Nowhere 20 THE MODE – Balance (M.W. Cut) 21 NGLY – SPEECHLESS TAPE (M.W. Cut) 22 D. EDWARDS – Untitled 3 (M.W. Cut) 23 UMBERTO – La Llorona (M.W. Cut) 24 NINE CIRCLES – Number Not Available (M.W. Extended Version) 25 JEFF MILLS – Mass Elliptical Orbits

Our next exclusive podcast comes from someone with a long and close relationship with Dekmantel: back in 2007 the mighty Aadvarck ('Varke', for his friends) headlined out first ever party. After 30 years on the decks and in the studio few do it better than this man, who has released on Skudge, Delsin, Rush Hour and together with Steven de Peven acquired quite a lot of attention with the Rednose Distrikt collective (which will see a very unique one-off come-back performance at Dekmantel Festival this summer). First and foremost he is a DJ though, as this mix - recorded during one of the final nights at Amsterdam's Trouw - proves. Over the years, Aardvark has dabbled in jungle and breaks, trip hop and broken beat, but nowadays it is fierce house and techno that he lays down. This mix starts with some soul infused house sounds before energetically switching up through piano jams, spangled techno, rave and retro. Never staying in one place for long, it is a lithe affair that fluidly flips the mood with every other record and keeps you on your toes throughout. Filled with new records and old records, classics and overlooked gems, this is a whirlwind two hour ride that will help you fly through Monday on a real high.

In just a short space of time and with but a few releases, Berlin based Brit Jay Donaldson has carved out his own house style. Referencing old school Chicago nostalgia whilst coming laden with analogue textures and jacked up beats, his sounds have come in the form of a couple of EPs on Lobster Theremin and are soon to be released on a debut EP for Dekmantel (out on March 16). His In Gold EP features three more spiritual house cuts with crisp percussion and elastic basslines, cosmic synths and heartfelt pads that have real purpose. Ahead of that, though, he serves up the next instalment in our podcast series. Starting with some deep, melodic house music the mix then smoothly transitions through some tropical sounding beats and painfully emotive vocal grooves that being to pick up the pace. Classics like No Smoke’s 1989 cut ‘Koro Koro’ then proves Palms Trax digs deep for his musical nuggets as he journeys through hip house, Latin inflected broken beat and more experimental and harder hitting fare in the final section. The style is considered and cerebral, the music is lush and evocative and the selections are brave and fresh. As such, this is a subtly stirring mix that will awaken your week in the nicest of ways.

After a couple of lesser spotted DJ stars, we now look to someone who has blown up in a very short space of time. Based in the Windy City, The Black Madonna has not only released some highly sought after, steamy disco-house 12”s on Argot, Stripped & Chewed and The Nite Owl Diner, but so too has she started making her mark as chief booker at Chicago’s famous Smart bar. As well as this, she has found time to lay down sets all across Europe and North America and this latest podcast proves why the opinionated feminist is so in demand. It is a kinetic and athletic mix that goes from deep and heady to jump up and jacking, from diva vocals to dazzling disco and one that both starts and ends with a fat bottomed reggae swagger. She says of the mix: ”I had so much fun doing this. I got snowed in at the house where all the guys from Stripped & Chewed live. We're lucky the electricity stayed on. There was a terrible blizzard here! So I just stayed there and recorded. It's the first time I DJed since my hearing came back too. I had a little audience trapped with me, so was a great time.”

Our podcast series now turns to the vast and much mythologised record collection of Detroit native Carlos Souffront. Carlos often doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, except from those in the know, who accept and understand that he is a gourmet selector who reaches for only the finest records. As likely to reach for ambient and post punk as he is indie rock, experimental, house or techno, Carlos is a key part of the Interdimensional Transmissions parties in his home town and reportedly has one of the most bad ass collection of acid records in all the world. The mix he turns in here is a freewheeling yet coherent round through many disparate sounds and scenes and needs to be heard to be believed.

We are using our next podcast to shine a light on someone we predict is rightfully about to go to the next level, on a global scale. Already a legend on his local San Francisco scene, Solar has been laying down well informed house and techno sets for 15 plus years. As co-founder of the Sunset Parties - West Coast events that happen outdoors and see big names play on a regular basis - Dixon was so impressed with Solar’s skills he invited him on tour with the Innervisions crew. Now he has guested on Tim Sweeney’s Beats in Space and impressed at places like Trouw and Berghain, so we are delighted to have him. The podcast he has given us is far more than a collection of dance tunes. It is a broad and brooding ride through many different types and tempos of analogue house, acid, sci-fi sounds and cosmic atmospheres. The mixing is standout, too, because some of these transitions simply should not be possible, but Solar makes them seem easy. Brave and accomplished in equal measure, it’s a testament to his record collection, but also to his ability to join desperate dots between many different sounds in plenty of style.

What better way to kick off a new year than with a new project? Sure, podcasts are nothing new, but by now the Dekmantel family has grown to the point where we have a lot to shout about. The DJ collective, festival and label are all well established, but we feel we need even more outlets for all the great music we have from our extended family. As such, we are launching a new weekly series that will showcase exclusive mixes from our favourite friends and freaks, with Marcel Dettmann going first. Aside from being a supremely tall and long haired human being, Marcel Dettmann is of course one of the techno powerhouses behind Berghain. It is his long, seductive and firmly rooted techno sets that have made the Berlin club, and man himself, so hallowed around the world. Also a fine producer who lays down his own brand of concrete funk on labels like Ostgut Ton, 50Weapons and his own eponymous label, he inaugurates our series with a very special live recording then from New Year’s Eve 2014 at Berghain. The resulting 90 minute set is everything it should be - supple and seductive, then freaky and funky, then deliciously dark and increasingly weird towards the end, so enjoy the ride.