Tools of the Trade

The discussions on what DJ’s use are pretty redundant arguments. Differing definitions of what makes a ‘real’ or ‘good’ DJ mean for some people, certain technologies are considered ‘cheating’. Personally, I think it ultimately comes down to how you work a crowd and get them dancing and you do what ever you feel you need to do as a DJ to do that. Crowd control is key.

I myself use Serato with turntables. I do this because one I like the feel of the vinyl, using a laptop is really fun and convenient for me and finally because I’ve learnt how to DJ using various computer setups over the years, I never learnt how to beat match by ear. As such I kinda gotta play this way in order to match the tempos graphically. I have mad respect for those who can do it by ear though, though many might consider my Serato use cheating.

This touch screen set up has me really intrigued though and a lot of thought has gone into its streamlined design, doing away with a conventional mixer. Further consideration for crowd interaction and DJ practicalities (just a thumb drive would be nice, swapping Serato boxes is a bitch) has also obviously been crucial to its development. Furthermore, despite its futurism, it doesn’t do anything new. Namely its doesn’t mix or sync your tracks for you, so all the core elements of the craft are preserved in something that is very new and very modern.

I’d really like to try this out one day to see how it plays and feels. It seems like a really cool way to play music to a crowd and I have only 2 slight reservations about it. Firstly I’m a big fan of tactile control, namely the feel of both vinyl turntables and actual controls as opposed to a touch screen. Secondly, DJing is a craft that at least for me can often happen under conditions of inebriation and I don’t know if drunk me could handle a touch screen. Even so, I would love to give this a shot one-day.

Welcoming Rant/The Swiss

So I don't exactly anyone at all to start reading this travesty of a blog for some time. That being said who knows, maybe it will take off.

Anyways, firstly, gotta say. I'm a bit disappointed at the moment. Dance musics got a bit uninspired recently. Well, let me be a bit more specific. Despite first getting into this stuff at the tender age of 12 with my purchase of Discovery by Daft Punk (shit yeah thats some cred right there), i really got involved when this whole blog house thing was taking off. Even since my formative years listening to Daft Punk and Fatboy Slim, I'd dreamed of one day djing and playing the music i loved to huge crowds of people.

Yet with the advent of this whole electro movement ting, and i finally had some money in my pocket, it seemed like an achievable thing. Piles and piles of free, quality music rushing around the internet to be played to friends and danced around to like a complete tosser. Those were the days when the MSTRKRFT remix of Monster Hospital was the coolest thing around and every banger, classic, mashup, rap break down and choon seemed ultra fresh and the best thing ever. and hell alot still holds up today.

It's not like that anymore. Everything got too distorted. It wasn't fun anymore. Quality control was raped and left on the side of the road by a marauding HYPEM. Hearing rap with electro wasn't mind blowing. The new generation of producers who emerged in the gap after everyones first album really didnt know how to make songs. Like nothing against their production abilities, but there werent SONGS. The new heroes (Fake Blood, MSTRKRFT, Crookers, Digitalism) while celebrated by everyone (shit id still go seem dj/play live) really wernt making the classics that we wanted them to. The scene ran out of steam and everyone (most very slowly) started going their separate ways.

We now kinda exist in a place where the fucking buff dudes with no shirt on play 2 year old electro to the girls who have bleached their hair so much it looks like its going to fall out. People have run to the hills embracing tech-house (boring), dubstep (exciting but very very hit and miss) and disco (love it but dont always get it myself). As such a guy like myself is left in a place where he needs something to get him excited about dance music that he like and can still get a crowd moving.

So while this seems like a depressing place to be (it is sometimes:( ) all hope is not lost. This is blog thats designed to showcase the stuff that still gets me going, stuff thats exciting, quality and generally awesome. Stuff like Australian electro, disco, hip hop, UK funky, some dubstep and maybe some psychadelic indie shit. Oh and dont forget some shameless self promotion.

Anyways assuming anyone read that elitist rant, i figure they should be rewarded with at least some music. so here it is.

Moonlight Hours (The Swiss Remix)
This is Moonlight Hours by The Holidays, remixed by the Swiss in 320 goodness.
This is prolly the best thing ive heard dance music wise for a minute and best yet they're from Australia. This is what I'm talking about when i mean Australian electro, that 80's trashy but insanely smooth and funky vibe to it, that combination of cheeky synths but a driving bassline. Splits the difference for disco and electro heads and is still a good SONG. remember those things SONGS, not pieces of shit? yeah thought so.
anyways check out more here, buy the E.P ect ect.

anyways thanks for reading.
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