Planet Notion

04/02/2010

February 19th sees the release of The Lovely Bones, Peter Jackson’s big screen adaptation of the critically acclaimed, best-selling novel by Alice Sebold. It tells the story of a young girl who is brutally murdered and then watches over her family – and her killer – from the afterlife. Now, we know what you’re thinking.. “is there any way I can possibly win a hardback copy of the novel along with an exclusive poster of the film? Is there? IS THERE??!!” Luckily, yes, you can! Profoundly Moving, the blog of our film editor Matt (massive Sebold fan..), is running a competition to win this jaw-dropping prize! You can enter it here: ( http://www.profoundlymoving.com/2010/02/win-a-thing-win-my-thing/ ) <3 U MATT!!!


tags: \| comps \| love \| splat \| more...

GUEST COLUMN: EMMA BELL'S SODA STREAM DREAMS

25/01/2010

Imagine my delight when I heard the word that not only was one of my favourite old-skool brands, SodaStream, making a bubbling comeback, but I was getting the chance to glitter up a few of these beauties for their launch! Back in the day, I was all up for a fizzy treat courtesy of this machine of dreams and it really was the pinnacle of cool back in the 80’s to be a proud owner. Soda Stream has been re-launched with an array of super sleek machines, a million miles away from their retro ancestors, a string of fizzibly scrumptious new sugar free flavours, a sparkling new logo and if that’s not enough, they keep the environment smiling! Just days before Christmas, SodaStream was back with a bang/fizz and set up a spectacular 80’s theme pop-up shop in Camden complete with a snazzy dance floor, 80’s tunes , arcade games and girls in roller-boots wearing blue wigs which magically matched my own hair colour! The three day event saw an extra special launch party complete with a bunch of celebs including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Remi Nicole and Shingai from the Noisettes as well as a mixologist churning out some SodaStream cocktails. I got to get in on a slice of the action alongside fellow artists, Meg Mathews and Dan Stafford and each of us were commissioned to create some custom designed machines. Mine involved a whole load of sparkles, holographic stars and more rhinestones than a line-dancer from Texas…. Check them out! Emma Bell is a mindblowing fashion designer and occasional commenter on iconic, seemingly-deceased-but-actually-not-surprisingly, amazing 80s brands and colourful things for Planetnotion.com Previous Emma Bell 80s loving: OMG! EMMA BELL HAS JUST VISITED THE 80s!


tags: \| emma bell \| more...

Epic Uniting of UK Talent for Haiti Fundraiser TONIGHT

20/01/2010

Tonight some of the biggest names in UK music are doing their bit to fundraise for the victims of the Haiti earthquake with a special one off gig. By simply making a minimum donation of just £5, you could see big names such as Wiley, Tomb Crew, Shy FX, Mz Bratt, Doorly and Drums of Death take over the decks at Den and Centro (formerly The End) in central London from 9pm to 6am. The one off special is a joint initiative between SOME Night, charity Ctrl.Alt.Shift, who use popular culture to take global action, and esteemed production outfit True Tiger. Some of the biggest names in the business have agreed to waiver their fees to appear at the event, with the confirmed line-up a cross section of UK talent spanning multiple genres. Stanza, of True Tiger explains: “We’ve literally pulled this together in three days. I got on the phone to Jack, the head of Vagabondz promotions at SOMEnight, and Chantelle Fiddy, editor of Ctrl.Alt.Shift, about joining forces. We want to ensure our money gets to those who need it the most and Ctrl.Alt.Shift’s partners on the ground in Haiti will do just that. The response from everyone involved has been amazing and people have donated merchandise and goodies for our raffle on the night so we should be able to make a substantial contribution to the world-wide relief effort.” Tinchy Stryder said: "It's so sad and I know everyone who's seen the news has been touched by how many people have lost their lives and being made homeless. I've protested with Ctrl.Alt.Shift before but now, more than ever, it's about playing your part, so whether you can give £5 or £50, be a part of it. Unfortunately I'm in America and can't attend the event but I've donated a load of gear from Star In The Hood which you can win on the night, so do make sure you buy your raffle ticket too." Also on the bill is Wiley, who added: "When disasters like this happen it gives you a reality check and if there's something we can do to help then we should all do it. An event like this shows that we're able to come together and make a difference where it matters." The event takes place at the 1200 capacity Den & Centro (formally The End) in central London on the 20th January. All proceeds will be used to fund Ctrl.Alt.Shift’s response to the desperate humanitarian situation in Haiti. Following last week’s earthquake hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead and many more are critically injured or homeless. Ctrl Alt Shift works through local organisations who are already distributing emergency supplies, particularly in areas that are getting little help from other agencies. They are providing food, tents, hygiene kits, blankets, jerry cans for water, water purifiers and medical support. Updates on how much money has been raised and how the aid is being distributed will be available at www.ctrlaltshift.co.uk/haiti Date: Wednesday, 20th January Price: Minimum donation on the door £5 Time: 9pm-6am Location: The Den & Centro, 18 West Central St, London WC1A 1JJ http://www.thedenandcentro.com/ Acts confirmed to appear at the event include: Wiley (Island Records) Tinie Tempah (Parlaphone Records) Sway (Konvict Music) MistaJam (Radio1/ 1Xtra) Nihal (Radio1) JME (Boy Better Know) Heartless Crew Shy FX b2b Breakage with Donaeo Hatcha b2b N Type with Crazy D (Kiss100) Mystery Jets (DJ Set) MJ Cole Ruff Sqwad Marvell Riz Ahmed aka Riz MC Mz Bratt Brookes Brothers & Dynamite MC DJ Cameo (1Xtra) Loose Cannons (Kiss100) Doorly The Freestylers Logan Sama (Kiss) with P Money DJ Target (1Xtra) b2b Maximum (Boy Better Know) B Live Twin B (1Xtra) b2b Twin B (Island Records) Alix Perez Blame Sukh Knight b2b Scandalous Unltd. (True Tiger) DJ Chef (Rinse.FM) & Rod Azlan (Dub Police) Anti-Social (Quest, Razor Rector & Gangsta Boogie's Heny G) Reso The Others (Dub Police) Trolley Snatcha (Dub Police) & G Double Tomb Crew Terror Danjah b2b Elijah b2b Skilliam Tayo Seb Chew (YoYo's) DJ Chuckie George Lenton Rico Tubbs Gentlemans Dub Club - LIVE The Thirst - LIVE Debruit - LIVE Blue Bear (True Tiger) Chantelle Fiddy & Hattie Collins (Ctrl.Alt.Shift/RWD/I.D Mag) Klose One & Rattus Rattus (Urban Nerds) Nasha Experience Drums Of Death (DJ Set) Rootikal selectors: David Hill, Stuart Patterson & Ashley Beedle Zero T b2b Kharnage & Stamina (Drum & Bass Arena) K (Sly Fly Records) Slugz b2b Boyson


tags: \| do this \| haiti \| more...

G8HAUSMUSIK: A Dirty Music Blog, Vol.6, Feat. Rob Sparks, Headhunter, Skream, Dennis Ferrer and Calibre

12/01/2010

It's Happening Again.

04/01/2010

Get Loaded In The Dark midnight guest announced, and it's actually a cracker

16/12/2009

Pre-NYE Panic? Solved. WIN TICKETS TO MOS LIVE!

16/12/2009

competition

WIN WIN WIN! TICKETS TO WET YOURSELF ON SUNDAY!

WIN NOTION 43 CDS!!!

Notion magazine

albums


		Wax:On Compilation 1 05/01/2010 Wax:On Compilation 1

		Devotion Implosion 29/09/2009 Gliss - Devotion Implosion

		II 29/09/2009 Raz Ohara and the Odd Orchestra - II

		Baghdad Batteries 11/09/2009 REVIEW: The Orb - Baghdad Batteries

features


		Free Energy 18/11/2009 "Free Energy is a band from Philadephia as well as a concept and a lifestyle, a lifestlye we have chosen for ourselves, to live in a dirty abandoned city where the rent is cheap, the bands are good and the ladies are smokin'." If that statement from singer Paul isn't wierd enough, then this might be. Free Energy is a band channelling the vibes and sunny disposition of the 1970s who openly admit that their bluesey, summery, sunbleached garage rock is influenced by Fleetwood Mac and are... signed to DFA Records. Yes, that DFA Records that count Hot Chip, Pixeltan, Plastique de Reve, Gucci Soundsystem and of course label boss James Murphy's LCD Soundsystem amongst their ranks. How did a band so straight up and down guitary end up on such a dance-punk orientated label? Their debut album, 'Stuck On Nothing' is infact produced by Murphy, a move that came after a lot of waiting. "There's a guy that runs DFA Records day to day who actually signed us, and he kept saying about it to James, but he never had time, he's very fickle about his time and we pretty much played the waiting game with him. We just kinda hung out and kept recording, and eventually, James had enough time for us," Paul explained. "He wasn't instantly like, 'Oh I have to record this band', it was more like we hung out a long time and eventually he was like, 'Yeah, OK I have time for it, I'll do it', turned out he really loved it and spent a whole year working on it. He cleared his schedule, but before then we were just kind of on the back burner." Obviously, the next question is if working with Murphy influenced the band's sound on the new LP? "We're influenced by the pop melody, and he might be more enthused by, like wierd production stuff, but there is a lot of cross over. Like the way the drums are recorded on the new record are very similar to the LCD records, warm and dry," Paul said. "We listen to, like, Fleetwood Mac and he listens to weird post-punk, and weird disco and dance, but there's a time in the mid to late 70s and early-80s where all those things like crossed over and Fleetwood Mac sounds like weird post-punk and disco. When people hear the record it's going to make sense, but it is a rock band, and he is more electronic, I guess. But yeah, there's a lot of crossover." And long term, are there any remixes on the horizon from any of their new labelmates? "They've always told us they were going to steer us away from doing a lot of remixes, but we did a remix with James in the studio of a song called 'Hope Child', which will maybe never see the light of day, but sounds like a Daft Punk song, but it's still like, a lot of big mean guitar, and stuff. So I dunno, maybe, one day.Or maybe they'll totally rip us off and the next LCD LP will sound like Free Energy!" So, with all the 'band stuff' out of the way, I had to ask stuff that mattered. For those of you who don't know, there are several conspiracy theories surrounding the concept of free energy. In a nut(insert 'case' here if you're close minded and a bit of a sceptic)shell, the idea is that there are existing ways for people to get their energy and power for free, but greedy, faceless, multi-national corporations won't allow it, and systematically kill any inventors or scientists that could blow the lid off their dirty scam or simply steal their ideas - and then kill them. Free Energy, what is your favourite conspiracy theory? "I kind of believe that the World Trade Center was done by the US. I like that one. Um, you know that the world's energy demands can be met by one day's worth of sun, that kinda shit I tend to believe. I wanna believe it. 2012 I don't see as much of a conspiracy, as a probability. When it comes, it comes." Free Energy's album, 'Stuck On Nothing' is coming January 2010.


		Geekfest photodiary 07/11/2009 Comic Con – a convention of comics. Or a comical convention of comic book aficionados who dismiss conventional clothing for a whole weekend and crank their geek knobs up to 11? Henry and Keith headed to London’s exCel Centre for the recent MCM Expo (or as we affectionately call it, ‘the geekfest’) to find out…. Whilst it may not attract as many ‘hardcore fans’ (or some would cruelly say, nerds and sociopaths) as similar events in America, there were still plenty of colourful characters out and about and a smattering of sweet memorabilia to gawp at. This was the event ’s 16 th year and highlights included meet and greets with cast members from cult shows Merlin, Warehouse 13 and True Blood, and the Comic Village had over 80 creators/writers displaying their work. There was also a heavy video game presence as well as previews of movies from Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox & Optimum Releasing. For people who didn't go, there’s a video of it here that makes it look like it would have been the best weekend of your life . Henry and Keith kindly took some snaps of their fave bits of the expo… After the cancellation of their show, two of the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers got stuck in to steroids. Comics! That’s unexpected! Simon… you really shoulda gone to Specsavers. Who you gonna call? Probably Yvette and the Most Haunted team, to be fair. Girl you a sexy bitch... and your owner ain't bad neither. A replica of the Ecto-1 went on sale in 2007 for a staggering $149,998.000!!! "Hey, Ho! Let's go! LEGO !" Remember, they’re not losers, they’re people with a ‘specalised interest'. Henry keeps an eye on the Delorean whilst The Doc popped out to take Einstein for a quick walk.

		LADYFAG GOES TO THE BABY FAT SHOW! 27/10/2009 Amber Rose broke my camera. Before you begin twiterring rumours, I fully admit it is was my fault. I rarely take a photo of someone I don't know, celebrity or not. While at a party last week I chose to snap a photo of Kanye's sexy alien arm candy and my lens froze....serves me right. I got my faithful little point and shoot fixed just in time for the Baby Phat show, and then lo and behold there was Amber Rose again... Kimora Lee Simmons IS Baby Phat. She makes clothing for what she calls the "glamorous hip-hip lifestyle" Her brand is about celebrity, her brand is about her. The spring 2010 collection did what it does best, branded, wearable, sexy street wear. In between a far too loud hip-hop soundtrack a sprinkling of shirtless sixpacked males in baggy jeans walked the runway between girls in swimsuits, and a collection filled with crisp corals, bright aquas, rich purple, gold's and bohemian prints inspired by Morroco but ready for urban living. While I'm not one who thinks herself a Baby Phat customer, I could easily see myself slipping into the glittering disco leggings, metallic gold stilettos and sling one of the amazing oversized purses around my shoulder....Kimora knows her market. The show ended with four models wearing a different coloured shirt spelling out BABY on the front and PHAT on the back. Each girl sported one matching coloured sequined glove and strutted out to Pretty Young Thing in a sweet tribute to Michael Jackson. A tribute to celebity in a show packed with celebrities like Russell Simmons, Ice-T and Coco, Kim Kardashian, Sherre Whitfield, Tinsley Mortimer, Miss Jay, Lisa Rinna, Amanda Lepore, and Amber Rose. Of course the grand finale is always Kimora herself coming down the runway with her daughters and new born baby.I could practically see the lightbulb go on over Ms. Kanye West's head as she watched Ms. Russell Simmons from the sidelines....I think I see a new line of streetwear coming to a runway very soon. -- Ladyfag Amanda Lepore, stylist Tre Knight and Ladyfag are off to the show! Amanda Lepore in a Baby Phat gown styled with a Dolce and Gabbana belt. They put me in the UK press area and I was surronded by Cockney! Soon to be a full house. Doing runway beside the runway. Ms. Kanye West. Finally my shameless moment with Amber Rose!!

60 Seconds


		Damian Lazarus' Guide to the Galaxy 25/06/2009 echo park I moved to Los Angeles in October 08 and settled in a beautiful house at the top of Echo Park. The sunset every night is incredible and my views on all sides are something else. The pace of life here is very different to that in London; I wake up real early, I don't party too much in the week and I feel pretty healthy. My area is populated mainly by musicians and artists and the place is rich in musical history, the underground club scene here is electric and the glitz, glamour and trappings of Hollywood only enter your life if you allow it, which I don't. scott walker I recorded one cover version on my album, 'It's Raining Today' by Scott Walker. I'm a big fan of Scott and recently saw the movie about him, 30th Century Man. I find it so bizarre that such an incredible talent, in production, arranging, writing and singing, could be so overlooked for so many years. His weirdness appeals most to me, his ability to tell a story and suck you right in, whilst the music around the tale twists and turns and often blows your mind. Recently I've been playing this track called 'The Electrician' to death, possibly one of the most intriguing, gorgeous and strangest records of all time. crosstown rebels The label is my pride and joy. Having your own record label as an artist is a must. I've come to realise that the process of releasing a record is so self-absorbing that it is easy to find yourself only concerned with your own music. I find that working with other artists and releasing other records keeps me grounded, reminds me that the world doesn't solely revolve around me and that music is not a competition. I have some great people working for Rebels and I think we produce some excellent, forward thinking stuff, and of course our parties are pretty legendary. bear grhyls I think the fact that I am so unfit is the reason that I'm attracted to Man vs Wild. I just discovered this show and I think it's the perfect way to spend a night in; watching this lunatic eat snakes, climb up mountains, sleep in caves... just mental. Nothing much appeals to me on TV (certainly since The Wire proved to be the best thing ever made and unlikely to be surpassed) but Man vs Wild hits the right note, we love Bear round my place! mustang 66 So I moved to LA and did the obvious thing, bought myself a classic Ford Mustang. I never really appreciated cars before coming here but it feels so right to be driving around in a vintage design classic. It's tricky driving with a gear stick after being used to automatic in London but it helps having a v8 engine inside. I get stopped in traffic quite often, it seems that alot of people here had a Mustang at one time in their life and they like to chat about it and reminisce at traffic lights. serial killer fashion Recently I came across this incredible jacket that was made for Charles Manson; it was hand woven by members of his cult gang; braided with locks of hair taken from all the Manson girls. It took 4 years to make and on it they recorded/embroidered all the killings and rituals. Seeing is believing. west ham I've been a life long West Ham fan, I was a very young kid when they beat Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1980 but I was there at Wembley Stadium with a claret and blue nylon scarf wrapped around my wrist. A week later I met the players at their training ground and was given a signed football... I ditched my season ticket a few years later and switched my weekend activities to girls and parties. I watch a game whenever I can these days but I will never forgive the team for causing me so much aggrovation and so little joy over the years. larry david There's a little bit of Larry in me it must be said, the constant pursuit of getting away with murder maybe? The star of Curb Your Enthusiasm is such an unlikely hero but there's something about the way his twisted mind works that appeals to me. I have a few Larry-isms but then again, I think most people do. smoking I will probably quit one day but I've been doing this for so long now I'm not sure people would recognise me without a fag in my hand. It's unhealthy, it stinks, most people hate it but it's simply something I do. I don't do yoga but I do smoke, surely there must be some good to come out of it? weird sculpted heads I have a bizarre collection of sculpted head carvings from around the world. Some sit on the floor and form a little group, others hang on walls. Some are animal like, others are wood carved or made of iron. Every now and then I find something odd on my travels around the world and get a weird fetish for it, the next thing I know Im searching for add ons to the collection every where I go. These appeal to me because they are so painstakingly made and its great to imagine the origins of each one and the thoughts and process that went into making them; I guess its an adult extension of playing with dolls. Words: Damian Lazarus Extracted from Notion Magazine 39. To subscribe to Notion Magazine visit our subscriptions page . Notion Magazine is a bi-monthly (6-yearly) magazine, with an annual subscription priced at £18.99.

		Copyright: Ibiza '09 Interview 21/05/2009 Gavin Mills and Sam Holt are better known as Copyright, an international DJ duo signed to Defected, who have been rocking beats on dance floors for over 10 years. With a solid reputation as hot producers and skilful DJs, they come to us with news of their residency at Pacha, explain why they do not have a normal life and why their new Ibiza 09 mix is the first of its kind. You’ve been playing together for a long time now, would you actually consider yourselves veterans of the scene? Sam: It’s been 10 years now - I feel like a veteran (laughs). I was chatting to Axwell the other week and he said ‘we are all now veterans of the scene’, so maybe we are. Gav is a veteran. Gav: I’m feeling like a veteran because you see all these kids out on the dancefloor and think, ‘wait a minute, this is a whole new generation now’, so yeah, I feel like a veteran of the scene. When you’re making records, what’s Copyrights musical philosophy; what elements should the songs you produce always have? Sam: I think you start from the beats up, get rocking beats; that’s always our foundation. Gav: The rhythm is always the starting foundation and then, when we’re working with singers, we try not to write throwaway songs. When we’re thinking of a song we try to think of a subject and write a song with a bit of a story, quite often if you listen to our lyrics, there is a deeper meaning in there. You’ve been in Ibiza constantly for the last 6/7 years, what do you think it has in store for you this year? Sam: Well, first of all, this year it’s Saturdays at Pacha for Defected, which is a massive step up. To have an Ibiza residency at Pacha for us is a massive thing and something we’re really, really excited about. For all the aspiring DJs out there, can you try and explain as best you can what it feels like to be in front of that crowd at peak time on a Saturday night at Pacha? Gav: There’s something special about getting behind the decks at Pacha; it’s got an amazing sound system and it’s got one of the best crowds, who are there purely because they love the music. Sam: When we’re making records we try and imagine playing it at Pacha, that shows how we value it, that is almost as good as it gets. Can you explain what it’s like not having a normal life like other people, where you can do normal things on a Friday or Saturday; how does that feel for you? Gav: Well, you have to have a very understanding Wife or Girlfriend, that goes without saying. Sam: Our weekend nights are Wednesday and Thursday. It’s very important to go out and have some fun, if it’s all in the studio or all travelling it’s too much. So I’ve found I’ve got quite a few hangovers on Friday mornings going to Heathrow (laughs). What are the differences between the two mixes you’ve done for your new album? Sam: Well we wanted to try and replicate the Ibizan experience and so one of the CD’s kind of reflects the day - and maybe the beach vibe - and the second CD is a bit more about the club experience. hopefully people can put this CD on and get a taste of Ibiza. What is special about this mix? What’s the thing that’s hasn’t been performed on any other mix? Gav: We bought Shovell into the studio. Sam: We’ve all been contributing the ‘Drum Warrior’ experience and we’ve brought that into the compilation. There are little interludes of Shovell throughout the album and as far as we know it has never been done before. Gav: We try to catch little flavours of what it’s like when Shovell’s actually playing in the club. You’ve gone to even further lengths than just having Shovell put percussion over your tracks. You’ve actually put together a special intro track. What was your inspiration behind that? Gav: We had this picture of Benirras Beach with all the drummers playing at sunset and I had this vision in my head of Shovell leading all the drummers down there and everybody joining in. So the whole track is just made up of the drums and with Shovell doing a little bit of chanting over it. Sam: We’ve also re-edited Harry Choo Choo’s ‘Cumbria’, which is a massive record for us and there’s a bit of Shovell on that. Throughout the album we’ve used acapellas, it’s gone through two stages this mix; we developed the mix, then we did some trickery and then we put Shovell on top. So it’s not been just a standard sort of compilation process. How do you feel about your own tracks on the album, including your new track ‘Ready or Not’ with Yasmeen? Sam: Yasmeen was over for the Defected 10th anniversary party and we managed to get four or five days in the studio; ‘Ready Or Not’ is the result of that. So far the reaction to it has been great and it seems to be really working. What about Roots? Gav: We made this Afro beat tune and we needed a vocal that summed up the feeling of Africa and that original house feeling, so we came up with the idea of getting Jazzy B to do a vocal; in just one take he dropped this thing about roots and the tribal expression and we said, ‘that will do mate, that’s the vibe’. So how many exclusives do you think there are on this album? Sam: I’d say that about 70% of the album is exclusive, and that is amazing for a compilation and that’s what made it so exciting to put together, that fact that it’s all new. Can you pick out a few of the standout tracks on the album that are not your own? Sam: The first track on CD1, Dennis Ferrer ‘Symphonia Della Notte’, which is coming out on Strictly Rhythm. Again, it’s a total exclusive and a record we’re really excited about. Gav: I’m loving the Brian Cox track ‘The Wizard’. I’m definitely going to be looking out for some more stuff by him. Sam: P’taah ‘Dance Until We Die’, the Kenny Dope mix is something we’ve been playing in our set, so those three on a sort of more groovy tip. Also a track that has been smashing it out there is Gilbert Le Funk ‘African tastic’ the David Tort mix. Gigwise what have you got coming up? Sam: We’ve got four Defected dates this summer at Pacha Ibiza and we’ll be on our usual crazy European tour around most of Europe. We’ll be at all the key Defected festivals this summer like Tomorrowland. We’ve also got a big party in Japan coming up on the 28th April. Gav : It’s at a club called Agahar and apparently this place is huge, holds about 2000 people; we always love going to Japan. Words: Toni Tambourine / www.defected.com

		Martijn Ten Velden in the House! 11/05/2009 V elden has carved a successful international career as an innovative house producer and DJ. With a reputation for killer club records, he constantly pushes for fresh sounds to include in his productions. His remix talents have already been picked up by Ms Dynamite, The Shapeshifters, Sugababes, Tom Novy, Bodyrox and The Rock Steady Crew! Although Dutch, he has spent the last 18 years in the UK working with various producers including Mark Knight and Mark Yardley from Stanton Warriors. A long time fan of Defected Records, he was invited to create a mix for the label that was different and inimitable. The result is a mix jam-packed with original mash-ups and exclusive edits, together with a little bit of added 3 deck wizardry. So how come you followed a House path when the Dutch are so well known for their Trance? I moved to London 18 years ago and, at that time in Holland, house music wasn’t that big. It was never my vibe in Holland musically, even though there are some really good artists coming from Holland at the moment like Sander Kleinenburg, Fedde Le Grande and Roog ( the Hardsoul guys ). I really like what those guys do, so there is some good music out there now but at the time I was more drawn to London, so my whole musical background when it comes to house is totally UK based. So is that why you moved, were you more inspired by the sound in London rather than in Holland? Yeah, totally; also in London there has always been more innovation, you can try out more things because there’s a bigger market for things and there is more openness to new styles of music. I mean so many styles of music come from the UK so it’s a really good place to try and find your own style because you have more freedom. How would you say you’ve evolved since you started; how would you describe your personal DJ-ing style and what is your sound? I like the mixture between Tech and House, when it’s not too techy, when it’s still got funk; as long as it’s got funk and a good groove to it, I like it. Basically it’s a very broad spectrum. So I would say I play House, but it’s anywhere from normal house, tech house, even some progressive house - some deep house - it’s a mixture of everything. And what about your productions, what kind of sound have you aimed for with them? Again, it’s House but a little bit more techy. I really like some of the new sounds, when a new kind of production style comes out, that’s what really interests me. So I always try to come up with fresh sounds that are really now. Like the Chime remix I did for Defected last year; the intro is quite techy - its got all glitchy sounds, but then it goes big house anthem and then it goes techy again. That’s a kind of good example between styles really. So what have been your biggest tracks and remixes? My biggest track was two years ago and was ‘I Wish You Would’. We licensed the record to nearly every country in the world and it became a huge crossover record in Brazil, Australia, Spain, Netherlands et cetera. In the UK we shot a promo for it at a crazy old theatre down in South London and Luciana (the singer on the track) features in the video too. It was regularly played out on UK TV music stations. Another really big one was a project under the name Splittr which I recorded with Mark Yardley from Stanton Warriors. You‘ve gone on to do a few more, tell us about them? My all time favourite remix that me and Mark did on Defected was ‘Sandcastles’. I can still play it now, just sit in the cellar and play it; it’s wicked still. And then we did another one on Defected when we remixed Kings of Tomorrow ‘6pm’. Let’s talk about your new mix for Defected because it quite a special mix, it’s not just a straightforward DJ mix, what’s so unique about it? As its Defected’s 10th Anniversary I really tried to put a bit of that in there, I tried to mix some of my personal old favourites and mix it in with the new ones to make the mix. That was the initial thought behind it. But then I ended up practically re-editing every single track, putting extra drums over the top, putting acapellas over the top, I just couldn’t stop because there are so many great acapellas on Defected, so I ended up putting a lot of work into it to keep it really interesting, putting lots of little snippets of old tracks in there from 5, 6, even 8 years ago to make it all sound modern and make it sound now. That was the aim of the mix. Is it true that you’ve done a whole heap of mash-ups in there that are going to be available to buy? Yeah, I would say almost every track is a re-edit apart from maybe two or three. On almost every track I changed the arrangement to make them shorter, more concise, added extra little drum sound effects, extra acapellas or mixed the beats of another track underneath it, like a one bar loop of drums from another record by Defected. So you would say this mix represents what you play out? Yeah the kind of mixing style for sure but I think the first half of the mix is more warm up. It’s more cool, calm; it’s almost like before you go out, so it would be early evening for me. But the mix obviously progresses from quite deep and nice and musical, to a bit tougher. Musically it definitely represents me, yes, so that’s quite a broad taste. Words: Toni Tambourine

who the f**k?


		The Soft Pack 29/05/2009 Nuts and Bolts: Matt Lamkin, Matty McLoughlin, Dave Lantzman, Brian Hill Stomping Ground: San Diego, formed 2005 Set to Soundtrack: many, many Ipods Destined to Upset: People that like a nice clean, crisp production You’re in Business if you like: The Strokes, The Walkmen, The Velvet Underground, the Stooges, the Modern Lovers Notion misses the Modern Lovers. In the early seventies they were crafting clever, inch-perfect pop music with a solid backbone of art-rock and new wave. Don’t get us wrong; some of their later work was a bit dodgy, but the early material - circa ‘Roadrunner’ and ‘She Cracked’ - was incredible. Well, the heirs to their long-vacant throne have arrived in the shape of the Soft Pack. The four-piece sound like Jonathan Richman’s old band but with a less off-kilter sense of weirdness. They played a triumphant set on the ‘Levi’s Ones to Watch’ stage at the Great Escape and Vice magazine and the Guardian are among the publications claiming they are in-line for big things. Rightly so. Their tracks are low-fi, underproduced gems with the occasional heart-breaking melody that will have you coming back for more time and time again. ‘Extinction’ is a simple, straightforward track that drips with emotion; its minimalist guitar refrain and snare driven beats are paired perfectly with absent minded vocals that are strangely captivating. While ‘Bright Side’ is a bass driven number that occupies the fertile ground between the Only Ones and massively underrated Compulsive Gamblers with slightly out of tune - in a good way - ooohs and ahhhs. If you miss the Modern Lovers, or just like great music, check them out.

		Dinosaur Pile Up 29/05/2009 Nuts and Bolts: Matt Bigland, Tom Dunford, Steve Wilson, Stomping Ground: Leeds, formed 2007 Set to Soundtrack: Good ol’ fashioned moshpits Destined to Upset: the Shoreditch crowd You’re in Business if you like: Jimmy Eat World, Grandaddy, The Melvins, Smashing Pumpkins, Mudhoney Dinosaur Pile Up are a band that take things back to basics. Out of the window with any pretensions and into the mix with Brontosaurus sized riffs, pounding drums and impassioned vocals. If the original glimmer of promise shown by the Vines hadn’t descended into mediocrity, then DPU are a bit like they would have sounded. Notion caught their set on the ‘Levi’s Ones to Watch’ stage recently at the Great Escape music industry shindig in Brighton and can confirm that their balls-out sound is every bit as all-engrossing live as it is on record. They put on an ear bleedingly loud, raucous show the highlight of which was their track ‘Traynor’, which came into life with the squeal of feedback before a crunching, distortion-soaked riff and screamed vocals were unleashed. You might think their name is a reference to their heavy, aggressive guitar-led sound. Or maybe a tongue-in-cheek joke about their 1990s musical reference points being out of fashion and pretty much extinct in today’s musical climate. But you would be wrong. ‘I went to see the remake of King Kong,’ laughs singer and guitarist Matt Bigland. 'It was really overblown and ridiculous and there’s this huge chase sequence where about 12 dinosaurs just pile into each other, at that moment I just knew I wanted to start a band called that. It’s not really meaningful or anything, I just thought it was funny.’

		David E Sugar 28/04/2009 DAVID E SUGAR Nuts and Bolts: David E Sugar – guitars, blips, beeps, vocals and everything else Stomping Ground: London, since 2004 Set to Soundtrack: the later part of this year, if you are lucky Destined to Upset: Those who want a new album right now You’re in Business if you Like: Calvin Harris, Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Hot Chip, George Demure He’s played to massive audiences in Germany and Switzerland, but somehow David E Sugar is a criminally unknown quantity in this country. The lord above only knows why; he ticks all the right boxes with euphoric keyboard lines, fuzzy backbeats and heartbreaking melodies drifting below laid-back East End slacker vocals, which merge seamlessly into a crooned baritone. He’s currently unsigned but has recorded 37 new tracks, and is in talks with a handful of labels over the release of a full-length album later this year. Here at Notion, we’ve been lucky enough to get our grubby hands on half-a-dozen of his new unreleased tracks, which veer from down-tempo electro with delicate, harmonised vocals, to autumnal acoustic numbers with haunting keyboards and the occasional burst of bleeps and blips. The pick of the bunch is ‘Fleamarket’, which slips from a verse of serene synths and shuffling drums to a surprisingly poppy chorus that sounds like Talking Heads if they had stopped writing about architecture and laid down some bitter-sweet tracks dripping in nostalgia. You will have to wait for a while before you hear a full album, but in the meantime, to sate your appetite, you can pick up a few limited edition vinyl singles if you trawl the internet, or just check out his myspace page, which isn’t as much fun, but is cheaper. Extracted from Notion Magazine 38. To subscribe to Notion Magazine CLICK HERE !

future gigs


		Birmingham celebrates Capsule�s 10th birthday, epicly 07/12/2009

		SGP Xmas Voyage: Best Festival Hosts What Is Likely To Be Best Christmas Party 20/11/2009

		An Evening of Music and Comics with Dev Hynes 03/11/2009

future clubs


		HOW'S MY RAVING? 20/01/2010

		Ian Carey @ Pacha Preview Interview! 16/12/2009

		Dub to Dubstep tour 07/12/2009

gig reviews


		REVIEW: Peaches @ Koko � 13-12-09 16/12/2009

		REVIEW: TINCHY STRYDER @ SHEPHERD'S BUSH 06/10/2009

		REVIEW: Warm presents Ame and Lil� Tony at Plastic People on Friday 21st August 02/09/2009

club reviews


		Elevator Music Launch @ Fabric 18/01/2010

		Deadly Rhythm @ Plan B, Brixton: 24/10/09 29/10/2009

		Trouble Vision's First Birthday 25/10/2009

film & tv


		Review: All Tomorrow's Parties 20/11/2009 All Tomorrow’s Parties (DVD) WARP FILMS AVAILABLE NOW Music Festivals. Nice idea in theory. However if, like me, you have a strong antipathy towards a) tents, b) the outside and c) other members of the human race, they can be a bit of a struggle. Now the perfect compromise has been reached with the release this week of ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES, a kaleidoscopic film homage to the acclaimed music festival of the same name. Founded in 1999, the first festival took place, bizarrely, in a Pontins holiday camp in Camber Sands and was curated by Mogwai. Impressively, ATP has managed to retain its independence whilst other festivals have become increasingly commercialised (this year’s Reading is reportedly being sponsored by Trafigura, The British National Party and Dick Cheney..) The film is a montage of original video and donated footage shot by fans, musicians and filmakers. Key contributions come from Jonathan Caouette (Tarnation) and cinematographer Vincent Moon (The Take Away Shows, Arcade Fire) and features music from Belle and Sebastian, Sonic Youth, Porishead, Animal Collective, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Gossip, Seasick Steve Patti Smith and an amazing bit by Nick Cave (he’s good that guy isn’t he?) The film’s available on DVD and download now. Extras include 60 minutes of full-length music performances from the fest, director’s commentary and a 40-page colour booklet. And if you’re suitably inspired to leave the house, the Nightmare Before Christmas festival, curated by My Bloody Valentine, takes place between 11-13 December and Ten Years of ATP between 11-13 December. Visit www.atpfestival.com for more details. -- Matt Harvey Matt is our Film Editor, as well as editor of profoundlymoving.com - a film site which you should probably read.

		REVIEW: District 9 03/09/2009 The much anticipated debut feature from Neill Blomkamp, District 9, goes some distance to justifying the quiet hype it has generated. A sci-fi flick that promises to endear itself beyond the genre's partisan crowd, the buzz around it has been cleverly built up through virals, 'human only' signage in city centres and notably, a Peter Jackson endorsement. The movie itself is frequently entertaining and interesting - but is more conventional than it pretends and not as clever as it should be. District 9 opens with faux-archive footage of an Alien mothership landing over Johannesburg. Rather than nefarious invaders, it's full of refugees who are doled out squalid shanty-town existences and segregated by the South African government- the allusions to apartheid are immediately obvious, but never overstated. There's xenophobic hostility but the aliens- referred to as 'prawns' are generally regarded with pity, despite hints of a formerly advanced civilisation. It's an interesting reversal of the standard UFO axiom - here, aliens have more to fear from us than vice versa. Historical particulars are glossed over- the plot is evoked initially through eye-witness interviews and scatterbrain archive footage- colluding to build a sense of place, rather than of story. As such, District 9's opening 10 minutes are utterly compelling, its alternate present day rich and involving. The film eventually focuses on anti-hero Wikus van der Merwe, an awkward security official charged with evicting the residents of District 9 and moving them to concentration camp District 10. Wikus' nervousness contributes to an encounter with an alien liquid, and he undergoes a genetic transformation in scenes reminiscent of The Fly. His own government turns on him, carrying out specious military experiments. Evading his captors with a running commentary of humourous expletives, an unlikely alliance is formed with an alien freedom fighter. This pairing up is conveyed well, but as this story emerges the more interesting narrative structures fall by the wayside in lieu of standard 'action-blockbuster' storytelling. Indeed, with only a single narrative arc, the second half of the film felt very much like a computer game. Go to a location, shoot things, achieve mission targets, next level. Tiring gunfights replace plot dynamic, and the many shots of soldiers blown apart with 'cool' alien weaponry quickly lose their novelty. District 9 succeeds in establishing a fascinating hyper-reality- which is then compromised by its linear story. Blomkamp's earlier short film 'Alive in Joberg' (upon which this is based) maintained a tense ambiguity, but District 9 becomes disappointingly conventional and confused about what it's trying to be. Visually, it's a treat- CG is used intelligently, well shot if not entirely 'cinematic' and edited with tightness. Anyone feeling alienated by the genre (groan) won't be convinced, but District 9 is an interesting if not profound addition to the sci-fi canon, full of charm, intrigue and promise. --Amir Adhamy

		REVIEW: The Yes Men Fix The World 19/08/2009 'The Yes Men Fix The World' is the sequel to 2003's 'The Yes Men': documentaries following two anti-corporate activists (Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno) as they stage a variety of stunts aimed at highlighting global injustice. Their primary weapon in this war is subterfuge- the filmmakers gain the trust of industry and media whilst masquerading as representatives from government or big business. It's a format we've grown accustomed to through the comic-doco style of Michael Moore and the pantomime spoofing of Sacha Baron Cohen's characters. But there's a precarious line between investigative journalism and getting your comedic kicks... In the first section, the target is Dow Chemical and Union Carbide's refusal to accept responsibility for the Bhopal industrial disaster of 1984 - a tragedy estimated to have killed 25,000. This culminates in a BBC interview with a "Dow representative" promising 12 billion pounds of compensation to those affected. Audacious, yes- but there's little attention paid on the human tragedies of the story. It's used as a tool to rail more generally against the ambiguous 'greed' of 'big corporations'. When the two filmmakers do visit India, it's only to validate their position. It's a self-congratulatory theme which informs the limp protests against ExxonMobil and Halliburton (soft targets for the protest movement) which are to follow. The film's most successful argument comes later, and is also it's simplest: Thousands of New Orleans residents have been evicted from their homes in the wake of Katrina. The filmmakers reserve judgment here, letting the subjects speak for themselves- and it makes for convincing footage. But elsewhere, wistful acoustic guitars for background music and stoner-humour do little to validate their arguments, merely establishing that this is a film very much preaching to a partisan audience. The Yes Men establish their raison d’être as defenders of justice and the oppressed, patting each other on the back at regular intervals along the way. Whilst their stunts are impressive and their hearts in the right places, the film suffers from nonchalance toward its subjects and arrogance in its arguments. It has a tone which is self-defeating and wholly unnecessary when compared with peers of the genre. 'The Czech Dream' (2004) remains humble, whilst longtime comic/activist Mark Thomas is an expert in letting the facts hold centre stage. Occasionally funny but too frequently lightweight, 'The Yes Men Fix the World' raises serious questions, not about fostering social change through comedy, but about the legitimacy of using protest movements as a source of humour and entertainment. --Amir Adhamy

		REVIEW: BROKEN EMBRACES / Dir. PEDRO ALMODOVAR 30/07/2009 Thank the heavens for Broken Embraces. In a summer that has been dominated by dismal Hollywood refranchising (Terminator, Wolverine, Transformers) and arthouse shock tatics and self-indulgence (Antichrist, Synecdoche New York), Pedro Almodovar's 17th film is a breath of fresh air. The trailer's wordless sequences give nothing away and to those not familiar with the director, I doubt it will invite your interest. But dare to be curious and you will be pleasantly surprised. This is a serious piece of filmmaking; it will reward both the cinephile and the casual viewer. Penelope Cruz is the ostensible 'star' of the film, though the film is reticent to focus on a particular protagonist or narrative. The plot is embellished as the film jumps between 1994 and 2008: a complex web of storytelling that only reveals the particulars at the film's climax. We meet a blind cinematographer who lives under a pseudonym, an aspiring documentary filmmaker seeking to ruin his father's memory, a jealous financier and of course, Penelope Cruz herself- in the role of Magdelena: a typically passionate, but dissatisfied woman upon whom entire film turns. The film refuses to conform to type; allowing for a myriad of complex, often contradictory emotions to exist. A touch of self-referentialism never hurt anyone, and Broken Embraces indulges in a 'film within a film' storyline that ties all the disparate elements together. Whereas other films have attempted this ad naseum (Synecdoche- to it's absolute limit), it never feels laboured or indulgent. Broken Embrace's characters carry heavy burdens- but the light hearted 60s romp 'Girls with suitcases' within the film is used as much to distract as embolden. It's subjects are dark, but the film's tone is brisk. This is not a typical indie flick. It lacks the pace of genre-staples such as 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' or 'City of God'. But throughout the film are clues: A delicate scene with a television playing an Ingrid Bergmann film in the background. Casting agents instructing Magdelena to wear her hair 'like Hepburn'.This is classic cinematic storytelling, beautifully shot and acted, rooted in the style of 50s Hollywood. WORDS: Amir Adhamy For more Amir, visit http://indrossi.blogspot.com/

think tank


		Was it me? A review of the Chuckle Club's 24th Birthday 25/01/2010 Our deliciously sardonic new scribe, Olivia Laven-Morris, considers the leftfield comedic talents on display at the legendary Chuckle Club’s 24 th birthday bash in London this month. A little bit musical comedy always does it for me. It is still a fresh new format, and when you throw poetic comedy into the mix is creates a delightful platform on which to puncture the inflated ego of popular culture. So I was excited to see comedians who excel at these mediums at the chuckle club. A venue which presents a great mix of complete unknowns, better known alternative comedians, and even the downright famous ones, often all in the same night. Simon Munnery, Danny Hurt, Kevin Eldon and Stewart Lee were a wonderful cross section of exactly this sort of variety. My optimism was crushed however, when i had one of those unfortunate nights when, despite downing a glass of wine that tasted worryingly like peanut flavoured toilet cleaner, I appeared to be the only one not laughing along. Was I missing something? I leave it to you to judge..... Simon Munnery got the show off to a start with a brief musical musing on his conversion to Catholicism entitled; 'I'm much better at copin' since I let the Pope in', but his subjects were un-engaging and lacked the credibility necessary to make the audience laugh along knowingly. It was only once he started to talk about his family that his routine began to pick up, (his inefficacy and bemusement at the casual violence of his toddler was one of the highlights). Comedians often find a raft of new and improved material suddenly becomes available to them with the advent of a family, injecting new life into their stand up. Munnery appeared to go through this process of enlightenment within this routine alone. Unfortunately for Danny Hurt, such comedic opportunities appear to have passed him by, and having left the audience with the rather disturbing and implausible statement that he used to be a rent boy, (thankfully he did not elaborate), he then went on to explain that although he has a family, he didn't have anything to say about them. A wasted opportunity perhaps, although he had lost the audience long before then. The third act, Big Train, Jam, Black Books, etc, alumni Kevin Eldon assumed a 'be-jumpered poet' alter ego named Paul Hamilton. Beginning with a joke on 'face-tube' and 'my-book', (have we had enough of these yet?), he quickly picked up the audience and built his material with a consistent and unfaltering delivery. I was unimpressed with his his laboured jokes, ('I have a frog in my throat, but that doesn't mean I'm fellating a Frenchman' springs to mind)....but I appear to have been the only one. The audience loved it. The outré leftfield Stewart Lee concluded the evening, whose best gag by far was a brutal but amusing character assassination of Richard Hammond, with whom he claims to have been at school. He covered the age-old townie dilemma of moving to the country with aplomb, with a blunt assessment of the usual entertainment at the local corn exchange, (an unconsummated incestuous frisson between that brother and sister who came second on X factor, Paddy McGuiness and his joke...) although it is a subject that has been covered with greater scorn and insight by comedians such as Dylan Moran. His section on the smugness of British émigrés (he observes that there appears to be a strong link between 'the quality of life' enjoyed abroad and the massiveness of the prawns) made the audience laugh long and loud. Lee's caustic wit and deadpan delivery serve him well, although his lack of emotion make his tirades against his bugbears less believable, and his comedy suffers for it. Believing the comedian means what he says is the key to all good comedy, and a little animation might lend some credibility to Lee's performance. Without more enthusiasm or even more anger for his subjects, Lee risks becoming a poor man's Jack Dee. He is just as dead-pan, but not as wonderfully full of hate. -- Olivia Laven-Morris [Image via ]

		Flying Eyeball pop-up shop and exhibition 07/12/2009 INKIE, the King Pin of the UK Graffiti scene for the past 25 years returns this Christmas to bring us a whole sack-full of original art works, canvases, prints, toys, sculptures, T-shirts and books from some of Europe’s finest artists. This urban pop up shop is one of its kind, and will be found popping-up in delightful Cork Street, Mayfair, the hub of London’s Art finery. From the 8th-12th December the pop up shop will open its doors to the public just in time to snap up some one-of-a kind, quirky Christmas gifts, perfect for the man or woman who has everything. 24 carat gold leaf prints from INKIE and 28 colour screen prints from Drum and Bass legend Goldie, will be on offer to tickle your festive fancy. Other stocking filler goodies including unique sculptures and toys will be on offer from Shoe, Inkie, Eine, Mysterious Al, Sickboy, Insa, Zeus, Hush, Mau Mau, Kid Acne, Steff Plaetz, Chu, Shok 1, RYCA, David Walker, China Mike, Part2ism, Ben Allen, Andy Council, Pure Evil, Shazer, George Morton Clark, Milk, Dora and Don. 27 CORK STREET, MAYFAIR, LONDON DECEMBER 8TH -12TH 10 AM- 8PM

		Sickboy's Sick Secret Show 07/12/2009 Banksy’s not the only big graffiti star to burst out of Bristol. Sickboy’s domed temple logo first started popping up around the city since the start of 2000, and now, ten years on, he’s doing a special exhibition that will run for a total of three hours. L ogopop will showcase new super limited editions and originals that will also be available to buy, as well as installations designed specifically for the event. Also available will be Logopops, artworks sold in a variety of sizes that can be connected together. Of course, there is a catch; in order to attend, you must complete the RSVP subscriber form at www.thesickboy.com If you can’t make it, don’t panic. His second solo show is scheduled for spring 2010. Wednesday 16th December, 6pm-9pm Logopop, The Rag Factory: 16-18 Heneage St, London, E1 5LJ Kara Simsek

Advertisment

Samples

Onitsuka Tiger wins game, set and match

Lazy Oaf

We Few

Sancho Panza's Fancy Footwear

fashion


		The Nineties Are Vintage 20/01/2010 According to Selfriges, in 2010 the Nineties officially become a ‘vintage’ era. So technically that means those black nylon hipsters from Clockhouse you were rockin’ when you were fifteen could soon be making a return. Or earning you big bucks on eBay. This is why for the whole of January Selfridges is partnering with hot vintage store Rellik to present the best of the era that brought us Titanic, N Sync and jungle. Further assistance comes from Beyond Retro, IDEA books and popular Dalston club night Work It, as Selfriges is taken back twenty years and reemerges as a fully stocked 90s pop up shop. Expect original nineties and nineties inspired products spreading across fashion, accessories, lifestyle, beauty, design, music, media and film. Reference points for the nineties product adventure include Grunge, Brit Pop, nearly-there technology, YBAs, Girl and Grrrrl Power, Supermodels and the rise of the ‘Super Brand’. Celebrate the best the nineties still have to offer in-store only at Selfridges, January 2010: • Rellik presents essential designerwear and accessories, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Azzedine Alaia, Vivienne Westwood and Comme Des Garcons • Beyond Retro present the authentic 90s uniform • IDEA present their edit of the 90s most seminal style publications • Francois Nars exclusively presents his book, 15x15 • M.A.C Creative Director Terry Barber presents an excluisve 90s looks, including the iconic Spice lipliner and Twig lipstick • H.M.V presents the top 50 films of the 90s • Other Criteria present an exclusive YBA collection, including Damian Hirst’s signature spots • Dalston’s original 90s night Work It present an exclusive and limited edition run of T Shirts featuring hip hop's finest - Notorious B.I.G. and Lil' Kim Photos kindly provided by Robert Gunning