PlanetNotion.com

Charity CD featuring exclusive tracks finally released in UK!

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:39:56 GMT

They say charity begins at home. What a load of baloney! Sometimes it does you good to think about real charities and real people with real problems and stuff. Not just yourself and your shitty wage and today’s hangover, from yesterdays culmination to a month’s long drinking… Hence why we’re pleased to see the Causes 1 CD, in aid of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, released in the UK for the first time.

Bands as diverse and as popular as The Black Keys, Bloc Party, The Cure, The Shins and Death Cab For Cutie, have pulled together for the 14 track LP. Causes 1 contains tracks exclusive to the album, including, rather bizarrely, a Travis cover of John Lennon’s ‘Gimme Some Truth’, and a superb live performance of the Animal Collective’s Safer.

The United Nations now estimates that up to 500,000 lives have been lost as a result of the conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur. But the damage inflicted from the 5 year conflict doesn’t end there, with a further 2,500,000 thought to have been displaced, many living in terrible conditions in makeshift camps and with little food or water.

Shocking as it may be, the Sudanese government are believed to be sponsors of conflict, preventing obstructing journalists and doing their best to prevent aid from entering the region. Earlier in the year prosecutors at the International Court filed 10 charges of war crimes, including three counts of genocide.

Causes 1 has only been released in America, which is a real “BOO” and “HISS” situation. Except of course, you’ll be able to buy it via iTunes for a mere £7.99 or 79p a track. All proceeds will be split between Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), Human Rights Watch and Oxfam America.

So far Causes 1 has raised $75,000.

Judge tells defendant: It's Bach or Rap!

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:40:23 GMT

When I was younger, my next door neighbours used to have these parties where they’d sing to 80s classics, like Karma Chameleon. Well, I say sing, but it sounded more like one of those middle-aged guys, with horn-rimmed specs and tweed coats you see in the preliminary stages of the X-Factor.

You know the kind I mean; lives with his 80-year-old mum and records every train that passes through Yeovil Penwill Railway Station. The kind that Simon Cowell always says a biting comment to; something like: “I don't mean to be rude, but you look like The Incredible Hulk's wife.”

God, the neighbour’s music was so loud I had to cower in the cupboard with a pillow clenched around my ears, violently rocking to-and-fro with my eyes closed; like a junkie going cold-turkey.

Alas, a judge in Urbana, Ohio - over in the good ol’ USA, found a novel idea to curb a defendant playing his rap music too loudly.

Andrew Vactor, obviously a fan of Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre and maybe even Dizzee Rascal (we hear he’s getting pretty popular across the pond), was sentenced to pay a $150 fine for cruising the streets blaring out his music.

But a judge gave the 24-year-old a deal. “If you listen to classical music like Bach, Beethoven and Chapain for 20 hours, we’ll settle for a $35 fine.” Fair enough, right? I could get used to that! Stick on a bit of Vivaldi and settle down in a rocking chair, smoking a fat cigar with a matured bourbon at your side… maybe even read a spot of Théophile Gautier while you’re at it.

Ah, but things weren’t to be. According to a probation officer, Vactor lasted only 15 minutes listening to Bach's 'The Well Tempered Cavalier'. In Vactor's own words: “I didn’t have the time to deal with that. I just decided to pay the fine”.

WIN a pair of TICKETS to DUBLIME at FABRIC!

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:23:22 GMT

Planet Notion has a thing about combining two words to make a word. Like when they bred a camel with a llama and they got instant ‘Cama’. And when they bred a sheep with a pit-bull and threw-out a ‘Shit-bull’. And when someone combined a cough with a grunt, and ended up with a…

But the great thing about Dublime, taking place at Fabric tomorrow night (Friday 10th October), is that it combines the music on display (dub-step) with a word describing just how bloody fantastic it’s going to be (sublime).

This time round Dublime will be bringing some of dub’s finest instigators to the fray, and as Dublime founder, Matt V explains, the variety of dub is going to be better than ever: “For the last Dublime, I had three rooms to play with, but this time I wanted to try to incorporate what we did over three rooms in one – so there will be techno, jungle, dub reggae and dubstep all in one room.”

An all time legend of dub - who laid the foundations that many new DJs built their sound on, Mad Professor will be taking to Room One of Fabric, with some good ol’ fashioned roots dub. He’ll be joined by luminaries including UK Apache, Andrew Stott, Ed Rush and Optical, Rusko, Breakage and Rootsteady.

Planet Notion has been lucky enough to get our hands on two pairs of tickets to Dublime tomorrow night, and luckily for you, we’re giving them away. To stand a chance of winning one of two pairs of tickets, just answer the following question:

Matt V is the founder of which event?

A) The London Pie Festival

B) Woolfest

C) Dublime

Answers should be sent to info(at)planetnotion.com

For further information, including the full Dublime line-up and ticket details, CLICK HERE.

Keane admit they're not cool! But does it matter?

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:00:08 GMT

Keane have admitted that they’re not cool.

I mean, we all know they’re one of the least controversial bands around; you wouldn’t catch them brawling on stage, shagging a 60-year-old prostitute from Tooting, or injecting smack into their eyeballs - despite the fact that Tom Chaplin went to Rehab that time.

But then, what’s cool about all those things anyway? And what is cool? What does cool mean, you know? How do you define something that’s cool? One man’s cool is another man’s worst nightmare – coke demons and alcohol dreams and ghouls whispering sweet, nay, horrific nothings in your ear; telling you to “GRAB THAT HB PENCIL MAN, AND STAB IT THROUGH YOUR URETHRA!”

Keane frontman, Tom Chaplin, who’s no stranger to coke demons, having been treated for apparent addiction, was speaking to the Telegraph about new album Perfect Symmetry, when he revealed: "I don't think we'll ever be cool. But I think we've been fearless." Sure, it sounds a bit namby-pamby, as the Old Dear would say, but in relation to Perfect Symmetry, Chaplin ain’t far wrong.

Keane have taken a step in a completely new direction with the album, dismissing the “O GOD, PASS ME THE STEAK KNIFE” soft-rock tracks and anthems of yore, for some good ol’ fashioned 80s synths and a more rounded pop sound. It’s Keane at their chirpiest and for that, Planet Notion salutes them. As a band that may not be cool, Keane’s musical philosophy of old has still garnered them two number one albums, one of which (Hopes and Fears) went 8 times platinum.

So if making an album that sounds like a throw-back to Poodle perms and Top of the Pops space-suits isn’t Fearless, what is?

Alas, Keane have announced a further three dates on their free promotional tour. They are:

Edinburgh’s Voodoo Rooms (13 October)

Leeds' Cockpit (14 October)

100 Club in London (15 October)

Those wishing to attend any of the dates should visit Keane’s official website by CLICKING HERE.

Tom Jones to record with Elbow!

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:12:00 GMT

He’s got male intuition and he’s nearly out of ammunition, but Tom Jones still remains as popular as ever.

Want proof?

Just the other week, Kaiser Chiefs’ drummer, Nick Hodgson was telling everyone how amazing it was to be covered in Tom Jones’ sweat, describing it as: “A love tonic”.

And Hodgson isn’t the only (fairly) young musician who likes a bit of Jones’ crooning. Apparently, Elbow want to team-up with the 68-year-old Welsh sensation.

According to The Sun newspaper, Jones said of an Elbow collaboration: “I’m going to be doing something with them soon.”

Next month Jones releases new album 24 Hours, which Planet Notion has had the pleasure of hearing. It’s great. Like a really vigorous and satisfying wank; minus the aftermath when you’re left all hot, sweaty and out of breath; scrubbing jissom from your sheepskin rug and prising apart Mum's sticky, glossy, weekly magazine...

Jones has threatened to stop touring if the album fails to sell, so we urge you to buy it. We’ll be bringing you a full review of 24 Hours very soon, but for now we leave you with a sublime promo video of Jones performing the title track.

US singers team-up with MOTOROLA for UK competition!

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:20:38 GMT

If you were a celebrity you wouldn’t have to file documents or fetch lunches or make coffees or photocopy papers and get a bad back from a broken office chair; build home-offices and houses and clean the streets of fag-ends (lost dreams) and empty beer cans (misery); you know, like everyone else has to?

O no, you’d probably be earning millions of pounds and performing in front of millions of people, creaming their pants and wearing t-shirts with your face, bra-size or cock-size emblazoned on it. You’d have a condo and really cool cars that you never drive but collect like Roman coins; kind of like Mr. Smith who lives on the council estate and builds model ships out of match-sticks. Difference being you won’t have to worry about your hands getting stuck to your nipples with industrial superglue.

O we can but dream!

Well now that dream could be over! “PRAISE THE LORD!” For Motorola have launched a competition giving one lucky winner the opportunity to go to New York - all expenses paid! And that isn’t all… the winner will also receive vocal coaching from Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) and record a song written by Wyclef Jean.

And that means that one day people could have pictures of you in their cupboard and on their ceiling and under their pillow. “O YES, BABY, YES!”

Entrants are invited to enter video performances of a track via MMS or by logging onto the ‘MotoROKR Star’ website. Motorola will also be touring the country from November 1st with one of those special ‘booths’ you see on Big Brother and programmes like that. The MotoROKR competition is to celebrate the new ROKR range of Motorola phones, as Marketing Director, Rachael Ward, explains:

“Our ROKR products give music fans a portable way to enjoy their music; twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This competition is going to be a fantastic way to unleash a new breed of musical talent for consumers to experience.”

The MOTOROKR Star Audition Booth will visit the following shopping centres across the country on the following dates:

1st-2nd Nov: The Galleries, Bristol

8th- 9th Nov: Lakeside, London

15th -16th Nov: Bullring, Birmingham

22nd-23rd Nov: Arndale, Manchester

29th-30th Nov: Metro centre, Newcastle

6th -7th Dec: Braehead, Glasgow

For further information on the MotoROKR star competition and to upload a track CLICK HERE.

MN2S to host night at Amsterdam Dance Event!

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:45:25 GMT

HOUSE! HOUSE! and more HOUSE! Yep, MN2S is heading back to Holland, and they’re taking some of the biggest names in HOUSE music with 'em.

It’s all to do with the annual Amsterdam Dance Event, where MN2S will take over top Dutch venue, Panama, for a night of hedonistic dance revelry.

2008 has been a mighty big one for MN2S, with the record label and club-night kings holding a whopping 100 events so far.

Taking to Panama will be HOUSE luminaries, Ron Carroll, Michael Gray, Joey Negro, Seamus Haji, Bodyrox and tons of other top international DJs.

If we named them all, we’d probably still be rattling the keyboard until Friday 24th October and the night itself!

O and that isn’t all.

MN2S recordings’ sister label, 1Trax, will host its very own room in Panama, which means a double dose of HOUSE. The likes of Nick Bridges, Johnny Fiasco, Bart B More, Daley Padley and Hauswerks, will all take to Panama’s Studio Room.

For further information visit the MN2S website.

Theatre

Ron Carroll

Seamus Haji

Bodyrox

Michael Gray

Room 2

Joey Negro

Funkerman

Brian Tappert

Danism

Studio (1Trax)

Nick Bridges

Johnny Fiasco

Bart B More

Daley Padley

Hauswerks

Duran Duran's RIO voted Greatest Video Of All Time!

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:28:10 GMT

Original Wild Boys of pop, Duran Duran, have had the video for their 1982 single RIO, voted the ‘Greatest of all Time’ by MTV viewers.

The video to the single, which peaked at number 9 in the UK charts, features a saxophone solo on a wooden raft, hot women in swimwear and a homo-erotic ending, where the band throw each other from a moving boat.

Let’s face it, those are all the ingredients needed to kick ‘Thriller’ off its bloody pedestal. Who needs zombies when you’ve got a crab attacking Simon Le Bon's feet?

Speaking of winning the accolade, keyboardist Nick Rhodes commented: "We are all absolutely thrilled, honoured and delighted to have been voted the ‘Greatest Video Of All Time’ by the viewers of MTV.”

Duran Duran continue to play to sell-out audience, selling over 70million records and picking-up countless awards over a career spanning almost three decades.

Britney Spears to do a workout DVD?

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:42:23 GMT

Britney Spears looks set to go the way of Jade Goody, Jordan and that woman who killed fat Barry in Eastenders, by releasing a fitness video.

According to reports, Britney was inspired to get involved in the whole workout shebang after watching a legendary Jane Fonda session.

"Britney wants to put out a series of workout videos,” a source said. “The idea was inspired by Britney's love of dance and how it helped her get back into shape.

“It seems Britney found her mom's old Fonda tapes, popped them into an old VCR machine and got a big kick out of watching them."

Britney recently dazzled crowds at the MTV Video Music Awards, winning a number of awards and sporting a new slim line figure.

And although the Blackout singer has yet to confirm the workout rumour, a representative from her record label, Jive/Zomba, didn’t rule out the possibility.

Britney’s new album, Circus, is due for release December 2nd.

MOBO Awards 2008: 3 days left to vote!

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:12:36 GMT

PANIC! PANIC! PANIC! ESCAPE! ESCAPE! ESCAPE! Followed by much excitement when October 15th rolls around and a selection of nominees are crowned winners of a selection of MOBO awards. But for now we should panic, because voting for your favourite nominees closes on Sunday 5th October. (2 DAYS AWAY!)

This year’s MOBO Awards will be taking place at the Wembley Arena, with artists as large (huge) massive (enormous) and small (Lil’ Wayne) as Estelle, M.I.A, Dizzee Rascal, Akon, Rhianna and Jay-Z up for nominations.

Co-hosting the ceremony will be Spice Girl, Mel B, otherwise known as The Frightfully Scary One. She’ll be joined by one of the all time legends of hip-hop, Run DMC founding member, Rev Run.

Speaking of co-hosting the MOBOs, The Frightfully Scary One said: “I am really excited to be returning as host to this year’s awards ceremony. I can’t wait to return to the MOBO stage at Wembley Arena.

“I have witnessed the rise of Estelle and Leona Lewis in the US, and 2008 has been an incredible year for Music of Black Origin on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Alas, to cast your vote, visit mobo.com. Tickets are still available should you wish to attend the awards, priced at a mere £20. A nice suit or dress would probably set you back a good £200 – £1000, so it’s not that cheap really. But should you wish to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.

Nominees by category:

Best UK Male

Dizzee Rascal

Jay Sean

Sway

Taio Cruz

Wiley

Best UK Female

Adele

Duffy

Estelle

Leona Lewis

M.I.A.

Best International Act

Akon

Alicia Keys

Chris Brown

Jay Z

Mariah Carey

Kanye West

Mary J Blige

Ne-Yo

Rihanna

Usher

Best R&B / Soul

Chris Brown

Estelle

Jay Sean

Ne-Yo

Usher

Best Song

‘American Boy’ – Estelle

‘Dance Wiv Me’ – Dizzee Rascal

‘Lollipop’ – Lil ‘ Wayne

‘Low’ – Flo Rida

‘Wearing My Rolex’ – Wiley

Best Hip Hop

Dizzee Rascal

Jay-Z

Lil’ Wayne

Lupe Fiasco

Wiley

Best Video in association with MTV Base

‘Kidulthood to Adulthood’ – Bashy

“American Boy’ – Estelle

‘Bleeding Love’ – Leona Lewis

‘Stryderman’ – Tinchy Stryder

‘Heartbreaker – Will.i.am

Best Album

‘As I Am’ - Alicia Keys

‘Shine’ – Estelle

‘Spirit’ – Leona Lewis

‘The Carter III’ – Lil’ Wayne

‘Here I Stand’ – Usher

Xbox Presents: MyGig! Planet Notion presents Xbox prizes!

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:40:25 GMT

Planet Notion figured we should bring an event to your attention. Partly because the event looks ruddy great and partly because we’re giving away tickets. We’re even throwing in an Xbox 360 and 12 months membership to Xbox Live for good measure. Visit our competition page or CLICK HERE to enter.

But hey, before you enter, here’s some information on the event. Xbox Presents: MyGig will welcome luminaries including CSS, Florence and the Machine and The Mules, to London’s KOKO next Wednesday (October 8th). The event was put together by a competition winner, Francesca Roberts, with help from a panel of experts.

They were:

Rob da Bank (Radio 1 DJ and Bestival founder)

Shaun Roberts (Co-founder of Manumission)

Andy McKay (Fabric’s promotion manager)

If you see a white feather floating from the heavens, that’ll be Planet Notion. Think of us as a Guardian Angel. We bring you sunshine when there is no sunshine. We bring you everything and nothing and everything again. We bring you toast when you have no bread. We bring you bagels when all you have is toast. We bring you all this and more at the click of a button. And that button is on the right-hand side of your mouse. And that click is HERE.

Defected in the House needs YOU!

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:33:19 GMT

Hi…

The all-conquering powers of above have asked me to ask you, to help Defected in the House’s PodCast get to Number 1.

At the moment, Kerrang! Magazine’s PodCast is sitting like Buddha at the top of the table, whilst Defected in the House sits at number 2 like, I dunno, an ugly fat kid with bad BO and breath like a monkey scrotum.

This means that METAL is more popular than HOUSE music, which is a really, really, really bad thing. Apparently. So basically, on behalf of the all-conquering powers of above, could you CLICK HERE and download the Defected in the House: Clubland Adventures PodCast and send it to number 1?

If you do, I’ll be paid handsomely (possibly more than a tenner) and will reward you with nuts and crisps and really nice Swiss chocolates. Um... don't hold me to that.

Many thanks,

Planet Notion

(On behalf of the all-conquering powers of above)

Robbie Williams: Close Encounters of the Turd Kind!

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:21:29 GMT

Did you hear the story about Robbie Williams being visited by a UFO in his LA recording studio?

Well, it’s true. Not the UFO bit. The story. At the time, Robbie claimed that: “I had just finished writing a song called Arizona, which is about alien abduction, when there was this glow. It was magic.”

Probably a light bulb on the blink…

Well now Robbie’s started getting obsessed with the whole extra-terrestrial invader scenario. Apparently he’s writing songs about green men and space-crafts. Apparently he wrote the songs at renowned UFO hot-spot, Trout Lake in America.

Michael C Luckman, who studies UFO type stuff at a University in New York and is therefore a leading expert, told The Sun newspaper: “What better person to roll out the welcome mat than Robbie Williams, one of the most recognisable and beloved performers on the planet?”

Yeah. Forget your David Ike, forget your George Dubya Bush, forget your failing Prime Minister and your Doctor Spock and your NASA Space Station Team; Robbie Williams is the only man to go all Close Encounters on E.T’s arse.

I mean, the little green men’ll love that won’t they? Coming down in their cigar-shaped ship to say “Hi earth, how’s it hanging?” and being greeted with “I'm an honorary Sean Connery, born '74 / There's only one of me”.

Next thing you know, Robbie’ll start making strange castles out of mountains of his own feces and running around after fire flies; climbing volcanoes and appearing on chat-shows, proclaiming to be Christ resurrected or king of the Rugga-dug-dug people of greater Mars or something…

You mark my words. Watch. This. Space.

Bob Dylan and Oasis are streaming mental!

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:36:21 GMT

Just a quick one before the long and arduous journey home, where fat people run for trains, inevitably miss them and stand around panting like massive dogs.

Basically, Planet Notion has been a tad slow on the uptake today because we’ve been balancing ten jobs at once like a word juggler.

But I can’t juggle, so everything’s kind of coming crashing down around me like a fountain of hate. Did I say fountain?

Hahaha! I meant a stream. Yes, a stream. You see today everyone (Oasis and Bob Dylan) has been streaming their new albums on their MySpace pages.

Noel Gallagher didn’t have a clue that his new album, Dig Out Your Soul, was even streaming on his band’s MySpace page... apparently.

He told 6 Music: “Are people streaming it on MySpace?”

Anyway, check the albums out by clicking HERE (Bob Dylan) and HERE (Oasis).

London charity with 30 live bands and stuff! THIS SUNDAY!

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:01:29 GMT

Remember that bit on Forrest Gump where he goes running for over a year and grows that massive beard and has worn out trainers and stuff? And then he has that moment of revelation when he suddenly stops and says: “What the hell am I DOING? What in God’s name am I running FOR?”

Well, that might have had something to do with the fact that he didn’t have any music to listen to, that he wasn’t running for charity and that it was therefore a pretty crappy running experience.

Then again, he might have just got really, really bored…

Enter Sony Ericsson Run To The Beat, which will welcome 30 bands to various points across London, doing their general bandy things (music and that) whilst people run a half marathon for chosen charities.

Basically, it’s everything that Gump’s run wasn’t and... it takes place THIS SUNDAY (October 5th)!

Speaking of the event, Managing Director of Sony Ericsson, John Harber, commented: “UK Sony Ericsson is really excited to be involved with such an innovative sporting event, which celebrates stamina, determination, personal achievement and above all the unique ability of music to motivate and enhance the listener, physically and emotionally. This is something that resonates at the heart of our Walkman phone heritage”.

Inspiring stuff indeed. Anyway, to find out even more information, including how to get involved with Run To The Beat and raise some money for charity, CLICK HERE. To read even more inspiring quotes – the kind that’ll make you put your hand on your heart, stand-up tall and weep like a big sissy boy whilst doing a salute, CLICK HERE. And to find out about the bands that are playing CLICK HERE.

Note: They all lead to the same place. If you want to go to a different place, CLICK HERE.

Clothes Show Live and The Style Show heading to Birmingham NEC!

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:27:37 GMT

Clothes Show Live and The Style Show in association with handbag.com will take place at the Birmingham NEC, from 5 to 10 December 2008. Tickets are on sale now and are available from the box office on 0844 579 3178 or online at www.clothesshowlive.com. Tickets include entry to both shows.

The Transpersonals

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:41:43 GMT

The Transpersonals’ music sounds like the kind of thing you’d find if you carved open the mind of a 60s free-love-and-fucking, Acid-popping freak and were drowned underneath a kaleidoscopic stream of musical notes. Only The Transpersonals’ music is a bit more, well… now? A tad more current. You know; good for 2008? The Bristolian band’s back-story paints an interesting picture, not least because it’s neither now, current or 2008; in fact, it’s the kind of tale you’d associate with the psychedelic and experimental 60s Summer of Love. We’re talking Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys when he went through his whole mind-frazzled ‘Smiley Smile’ faze; Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones before he was found face down in his swimming pool; the wide-eyed Syd Barrett before he became a recluse and made book-shelves out of baked bean cans. We’re talking about gorging on more hallucinogenic drugs than a fat kid eats candy bars and a fly nibbles fresh shit. The Transpersonals’ lead-vocalist, Timothy Hurford, was homeless and expanding his mind by dropping just about anything that would send him on a far-out trip, man. Maybe it was the sheep playing poker and drinking Blue Nun, or whatever crazy images were flying through Hurford’s neuro-transmitters, but he eventually found himself locked away in a mental institute. Thankfully, he’s okay now, although it’s apparent from The Transpersonals’ music that Hurford’s psychedelic experimentation and spell in mental-captivity has left a long-standing mark. Despite a notable psychedelic theme to The Transpersonals’ music, with subtle undertones of the 90s Indie vibe, debut EP ‘Evolve or Die’ is an eclectic four-track collection. ‘Hello Hello’ is a psych-tinged Surf-Pop ditty and a mighty catchy little number, whilst ‘Silver Star’ features the fantastic Katey Brooks as guest-vocalist. Instant comparisons to Nico (she of Velvet Underground fame) will no doubt be made. And it’s the fact that few bands have delved into the kaleidoscopic realms of psychedelica in 2008, that makes The Transpersonals a sure-fire bet to carve a name within the niche. Go check out their MySpace and order their EP now. You’ll be pleasantly surprised… Words: Dangerous Dave

Reemer

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:35:44 GMT

Reemer:Dave Hunter (Vocals), Nick Murray (Guitar), Dan Evans (Drums), Max Redfern (Bass)

Reemer may have the sort of name you’d associate with a guy who enjoys licking arse out, but they’re actually a pop-punk band from Manchester. It’s true. Their name has nothing to do with anilingus at all; they took it off a guy from cult film ‘Baseketball’. Think Busted, dunked in a blender with a blotter of LSD and a bottle of fizzy pop, and you’re almost there… almost. Anyway, Reemer are so popular in Manchester and the North-West that a recent gig at ‘Sonic Boom’ was oversold by like, 200 tickets. Everyone stormed the stage like a scene from Zulu, and then, get this… they kidnapped Reemer’s bass player, Max Redfern! Mental isn’t it?

Reemer even featured in everyone’s favourite C4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, which has storylines including teen-junkies and a guy who’s faked his own death. The band repaid the favour by roping in Leah Hackett, who plays Tina McQueen in the soap, to star in the video to new single ‘Maniac’. Tina McQueen’s latest storyline was giving birth to her boyfriend’s brother’s baby for her ex-jailbird sister, who goes out with her boyfriend’s brother… or something like that. It’ll all end in tears.

In fact, so popular are Reemer up North, that Johnny Vegas is set to ditch the knitted tea-drinking monkey to star in their next video! Alas, Reemer have recently been asked to contribute a track to the Mighty Boosh podcast, have an extensive upcoming tour schedule, and are set to release a debut album on ‘Reaction Records’. This suggests that they’re going to explode like a liquid fart! The upcoming album, Snakes and Ladders, is being produced by Andy Macpherson and Chris Kemsey, who have worked with the likes of Blondie, The Cult, New Model Army, The Who, and The Rolling Stones! Anyway, you can check Reemer out on their MySpace. DD

New single ‘MANIAC’ is out now on ‘Reaction Records’. Debut album ‘SNAKES AND LADDERS’ is released September 2008.

Check out the video to Maniac starring Tina from Hollyoaks:

Detroit Social Club

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:39:48 GMT

From an area of the North East more recognizable for producing adolescent soaps than generating musical talent, there is now emerging one of the most promising bands of the modern era. Detroit Social Club, a six piece only formed just prior to Christmas, has already been astonishing music lovers and A&R personnel alike with their heavily-distorted, dirty-bluesy riffs, profound bass, thudding drums and powerful, soul-inspiring vocals.

Although singer/songwriter David Burn, 27, has exhausted a hefty quantity of the past year in his personal studio vigilantly assembling his songs and mastering a unique sound, only recently has this incorporated some of Newcastle’s finest musical talent – including long term friend, Chris McCourtie, Davids Green and Welsh, along with prodigious teens Bondy and Dale Knight. Despite the solitary beginnings, this crew around Burn have become vital ingredients of his vision to “Bring back the feeling”.

Burn explains further: “It’s not just about making something sound nice… but also getting something from someone and getting something out of it, where you listen to something and you believe it”. This deluge of spirit is encapsulated in the quite simplistic yet brilliant ‘Black and White’; likewise, in the swaggering vibe of the formidable ‘Sunshine People’, through which even the most passive listener is transcended into a world of alternative realities.

Burn, self evidently the band’s clear leader, speaks of Detroit Social Club as a “schizophrenic band” in seeking to maintain a boundary between the recordings and the live performance. “Recordings-wise, there’ll be a lot of soul - it’s gonna be about the colouration of the tracks, a lot more about the vibe and different sounds we can implement”. He continues, “live is very much about dragging you by the balls from the back of the room! You’re gonna be fuckin’ jumping around, not even realizing. Getting to the end of the gig, they’ll be like, how did I get here? It’s gonna be like two different things; by keeping your live presence and your recording separate you’re always gonna surprise people”.

Already evident is how much this young band offer, and so it comes as little surprise that a growing amount of record labels, including several majors, have been eager to be associated with a band that is breeding so much enthusiasm. This has led to what Burn defines as a “stroke of luck” – by chance, a demo landed on the desk of Artic Monkeys manager Geoff Barrowdale one Saturday afternoon. By the Sunday morning contact had been made and within weeks he had became their manager. Happenstance shines on the deserving!

The initial “excitement”, in Burn’s words, has now been replaced by “apprehension… apprehension to stop talking about it and start doing it”. With a tour of northern cities announced recently, and the album recording set to commence in September, it has been a hectic, tumultuous journey for a band that non-existent but six months ago.

With a number one single in the metro charts, “the best manger in the business”, Razorlight’s engineer collaborating with Burn in his production, a host of top bands clambering for them as tour support, there is no doubt that they are in good stead for an extremely promising career. What cannot be denied is that the management has enabled the process to be accelerated. Nevertheless, nor can it be ignored that this has only been possible due to the implausibly good collection of songs that Detroit Social Club has amassed. Talent shines. It is little wonder that there is so much exhilaration: finally, in Detriot Social Club, a band has emerged eager to challenge that hangover the industry has been nurturing since the demise of the Libertines; the hangover the precedes the ebullient, transcendental presence of a defining rock’n’roll band. Richard Duncan

Golden Animals

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:49:13 GMT

Nuts and Bolts: Tommy Eisner (guitar/vocals) Linda Beecroft (drums/vocals)

Stomping Ground: Southern California/Brooklyn

Set to Soundtrack: A journey across Arizona in a 1960s Black LeSabre.

Destined to Upset: Anyone who hates the bygone period of free-love, smoking pot, and dropping acid.

You’re in business if you like: The Doors, Jim Morrison, Cream, Jimmy Reed, hobos on trains, Jimi Hendrix, early Rolling Stones, and music that’s refreshingly, um, fresh…

It’s inevitable that should Golden Animals acquire a glowing reputation, which itself seems inevitable, there are going to be comparisons made to the White Stripes. Why? Because: (A) they’re a two-piece playing music deep-rooted in early blues; (B) ones a bloke, the other isn’t; and (C) Tommy plays guitar and Linda plays drums. However, Planet Notion can safely say, that is where the comparisons end. The fact is that Golden Animals don’t sound like the White Stripes and they don’t seem to be trying to. In fact, Tommy and Linda sound like a throw-back to a period in 60s music when blues was transforming into a psychedelic incarnation; eg: The Doors, and albeit, with their own unique approach. “Early blues recordings are the fountain”, the pair have commented. “Even in 200 years, people will find completely new ways to create all within those rules and algorithms”. Indeed… Tommy met Swedish-born Linda on her first day in Brooklyn; you could call it fate. The pair immediately hit if off and soon set-off travelling Europe and America armed only with the bare essentials. You know; a guitar, a tambourine, a suitcase… A chance meeting with a fortune teller, who predicted music would be the pair’s destiny, sent them packing back to Brooklyn to pursue their interest, and thus Golden Animals was born. A ‘marching band’ drum-kit, acquired from a dumpster outside a church, and Tommy’s distinct slide-guitar, would provide the basis of Golden Animals' sound. However, tiring of the Brooklyn scene, the pair soon headed west, eventually settling in the Californian desert. Alas, it was here that they recorded debut album, ‘Free Your Mind and Win a Pony’, due for release in August and recorded under the guidance of ‘Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ and ‘TV On The Radio’ producer, Chris Cody. Their tale may sound like something from a Mark Twain novel, but the album speaks for itself. Five months recording in the isolated Californian desert has clearly influenced and helped the duo develop their blues inspired sound. Hence the opinion of Planet Notion that Golden Animals are one of the most exciting acts to emerge this year. And just because we find Linda sexy, Tommy friggin’ dope, and have an almost voyeuristic fascination with their music, that doesn’t mean we continually wank over our ‘promo’ copy of ‘Free Your Mind and Win a Pony’. Ahem, well, there was that one time... Words: Dangerous Dave

Golden Animals debut album, Free Your Mind and Win a Pony, is released on HappyParts Recordings, August 4th. For more information, visit the Golden Animals MySpace page.

Nick Sunderland

Fri, 30 May 2008 16:35:18 GMT

Nuts and Bolts: Nick Sunderland (Vocals/Guitar)

Stomping Ground: East London.

Set to Soundtrack: Love… Loss… Hope…

Destined to Upset: The clubbing fraternity.

You’re in business if you like: Peri-Peri Chicken style Indie-Rock. Soft, but with a kick.

Imagine going for a leisurely run through the woods whilst listening to your I-pod; some gentle Indie-rock beating slowly against your drums. Suddenly there’s a kick, a harder edge to the music, and you pick up the pace. You’re really working it now; your armpits are rising damp and your brow’s getting wet - until suddenly you stop with a jolt to admire an unusual looking specimen! It’s a Liberty Cap: A Magic Mushroom. It looks tasty, and you’re feeling a wee bit peckish, so you take a bite… Oh god! Minutes later you’re on a crazy paranoid trip, peculiar voices infiltrating East-End artist Nick Sunderland on your I-Pod, as he explores deep themes of love and loss; loss and love. You’re running through the woods in a blind panic, arms flailing like an irate gibbon, the trees closing in on you like some paranoid delusion of Edgar Allan Poe. Memories of lost relationships are flooding back to haunt you, like an outer-body experience on a journey to the fiery gates of hell. There’s a bitter edge to Nick Sunderland’s music and lyrics, occasionally interrupted by the schizophrenic voice of inner thoughts and times that were. Sunderland explores subjects more at home within the softer realms of Indie-rock; albeit with a little more panache. By adding distorted electronic-infused vocals as a response to the lyrical context, on top of far edgier guitar solos, he explores the demented side of break-ups and the eternal search for love. Far from being depressing it kicks your sorry arse into gear; tells you to drop that quart of Whiskey and put down the sharpened knife. After all, break-ups and love are rarely lardy-dar (sic); they’re a subject that’s supposed to be approached with edginess and bite. Perhaps that’s why the London artist reached number two (2) in Metro’s singles of the week… Sure, Sunderland may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s a damn sight better than the current crop of soft-Indie rockers littering jukeboxes nationwide, for single drunks to listen to whilst weeping into pints. Check out his MySpace! Words: Dangerous

The Power Lords

Fri, 02 May 2008 18:24:37 GMT

Nuts and Bolts: The Power Lords (Pierre and Bohdan)

Stomping Ground: South of France (St. Tropez) and the Ukraine.

Set to Soundtrack: Clubs where people sport Croydon facelifts and neck Bacardi Breezers.

Destined to Upset: Anyone without a sense of humour.

You’re in business if you like: Regular trips to the Krakow club scene.

“Let my weiner fire your hummer / Start in the cupboard later the freezer / Ask Boris Becker I’m a grand slam winner.” The Power Lords (Lords of the String)

The Power Lords have burst onto the club scene like a teenager on his first gram of cheap whizz; garnering reactions of befuddlement, guilty pleasure and disdain in equal measure. They’re the kind of Euro-techno outfit you’d imagine four fat birds in Benidorm doing ‘big square, little square, cardboard box’ to whilst taking the occasional glug of their Lambrini and pawing over a Spanish hunk - topless but for a dickie-bowtie. We’re talking cheese-smeared, holiday-camp cabaret, only a hell of a lot more polished and with a back-story that makes Star Wars episodes I-III look as dire as Series 4 of Deep Space Nine. The Power Lords’ story started as a dream of two playboy London Hedge Funders living it large in St. Tropez, a mutual love of European Techno inspiring them to have a pop in the music production game. James Burrell, a young composer and songwriter whose résumé includes work for the BBC, Nickelodeon and John Lewis was recruited to help the dream become a reality. Alas, with the playboy Hedge Funders jobs requiring a certain je ne sais quois -“Oh so respectful” - public image, the notorious twosome’s elation soon turned to concern. Having their names attached to a Euro-Tech song deep-set around the ‘St. Tropez G-String’ was hardly going to preserve the respect they’d worked so hard to build, right? Alas, the two pulled out, expecting an end to the whole shebang, but with the wheels set in motion James felt that the “show must go on.” And so the story ends. Well, you could say “And so the story begins” because the national press are lapping The Power Lords up like the Cheshire Cat with a bowl of Jersey’s finest. The Power Lords backstory is one of intrigue and mystery with more questions than answers and this is what makes them perfect fodder for the pad and pen. Debut single Lords of the String is going to be bigger than King Kong’s crown jewels and reading The Power Lords philosophy on music it’s easy to see why: “We love dance music that make you want to dance! Laugh! Kiss! Cry! Make Love too!!!” their MySpace beams. If that’s not the talk of global superstars I’ll eat my St. Tropez G-string and lick King Kong’s bellend! Check out their MySpace! Words: Dangerous Dave Dryden

Jay Reatard

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:15:40 GMT

Nuts and Bolts: Jay Reatard (vocals, guitar, bass), Billy Hayes (drums), Stephen Pope (bass)

Stomping Ground: Memphis, Tennessee since 1998.

Set to Soundtrack: A ketamine and whizz binge.

Destined to Upset: Fans of Happy Hardcore.

You’re in business if you like: Raucous full-throttle punk-dipped rock with a pinch of new wave.

Sometimes an artist will come along and kick you in the balls with such ferocity they go flying through your system and drop out your mouth; before sliding back to their rightful position, intact and twice as big and brutal as before. Jay Reatard is one such artist; his short, sharp, hook-laden tracks triggering an “I’m not gonna take this shit anymore” attitude - only way more successfully than heavy-metal (which isn‘t difficult). Jay began writing songs alone in his bedroom due to an overwhelming sense of boredom and a turbulent home life. He was recognized at the tender age of 15 after sending a demo tape to Goner Records and dropping out of school - which ultimately proved a wise move. Jay produces the kind of music that grips one shoulder tightly and slaps you round the face with a free hand – with lyrics that delve into everything from inner demons and a crap childhood to romance past and drinking piss from a jar… Take ‘Not a Substitute’ from Jay’s ‘Blood Visions’ LP which at 1:04 minutes long contains the simple lyrics “It’s not a substitute / not a substitute for you” before launching into a full-throttle guitar chorus of “MISSING YOU” like a skipping record that you daren’t change. Quite what the substitute for a lost love is remains unclear. It could be drugs, it could be a new missus, and it could be a chocolate bar. The fact is Jay leaves these small details for your interpretation. Jay used to be in punk-band The Reatards, alternating between singing, guitar, and a bucket for percussion. He then created/joined a few other bands, including Lost Sounds, before finally launching his solo career. An initially surprised music press have generally lavished praise on Jay’s first and only solo LP ‘Blood Visions’ which contains a full-throttle 15 tracks at under 30 minutes long. Anyhow, if you’re after punk-rock with the occasional Adam Ant new-wave eccentricity thrown in, Jay’s as good a bet as any… Check out his MySpace.

The Parlotones

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:30:04 GMT

Nuts and Bolts: The Parlotones - Kahn Morbee (vocals and guitar) Neil Pauw (Drums) Paul Hodgson (guitar) Glenn Hodgson (bass and keyboards)

Stomping Ground: London and Johannesburg since 1998.

Set to Soundtrack: Plucking up the courage to approach that girl/boy but never quite succeeding.

Destined to Upset: People who HATE teenage rom-coms.

You’re in business if you like: Melodious rock with vocals like the guy from Linkin Park - only better!

For a band that released their first album in 2003 and started up in ‘98 it seems strange that, if mentioned, The Parlotones garner the following response: “Who?” Or, with this section of Planet Notion being named a certain something: “Who the fuck?” But the South African four-piece have obviously been doing something right because in 2006 Universal Records snapped ‘em up. And it doesn’t stop there. FHM used The Parlotones single ‘Overexposed’ as the soundtrack to their ‘World’s Hottest Woman’ film. With lyrics that go a little something like: “This could be the end of - ‘Who the hell cares?’” it seems a bizarre choice for a film predominantly flesh and thigh. That’s until you hear a peculiar purring akin to the Cheshire Cat on five E’s and a Viagra. As far as sound goes The Parlotones appear to be a band unconfined by boundaries. Vocally they’re consistent, but musically it varies from jangly, up-lifting melodies, to heavy(er) guitar laden rock. As one would expect from a South African “rock band” The Parlotones are pretty bloody big in their native country and that popularity is fast spreading. Perhaps it has something to do with using a megaphone on stage? The band recently announced a European and South African tour which will see them playing Switzerland’s biggest indoor music festival, ‘Bscene’, and London’s legendary 100 Club. Sure, singer Kahn Morbee sounds a bit like that guy from Linkin Park, whose mainstream “nu-metal” whine appeals as much as a night in the sack with Lisa Riley and a dodgy kebab, but it’s kind of cool… Well, a hell of a lot cooler than Linkin Park, a damn sight tastier than Lisa Riley, and guaranteed to soundtrack a teen rom-com sometime in the future. I’ll put my money on it! Check them out: www.myspace.com/theparlotones

The Parlotones release new album ‘Radiocontrolledrobot’ on May 5th.

Hungover Stuntmen

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:45:25 GMT

Nuts and Bolts: Hungover Stuntmen - James Haselhurst (guitars/vox) Craig Oxberry (drums/vox) Iain Anderson (bass/vox) Stu Ridley (guitars/vox)

Stomping Ground: Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Set to Soundtrack: Pre-match drinks down a good old fashioned boozer.

Destined to Upset: Those who'd rather a night in with slippers, a cheap cigar and Ella Fitzgerald than a pint, a sing-song and Sky Sports News.

You’re in business if you like: British Indie rock.

Armed with custom guitars, you know, Rickenbackers, Telecasters and the like; Hungover Stuntmen have been dubbed “just awesome” by (who else) Zane Lowe. Surprising when you consider that they’ve only ever released standard demos. Yet despite their relative obscurity it seems the world is going crazy for the Geordie quartet. Take Yu Kamidozono, a Japanese fan who made a whopping 11,526.52 mile round trip to see the lads perform in London; my god, they have stalkers already! “They can play, sing, I’ve even seen them dance, and for sure they put on one hell of a show”, beamed Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor; you know, the guitarist with the bloated face? Sure, Andy’s bound to be a little biased, having produced the Stuntmen’s debut album ‘Blame it on the BBC’. But then, the rave reviews don’t end there. Suggs described the Stuntmen as “f**king great” and Paul Weller’s such a fan he allowed the boys to join him on stage. Twice! We say “allowed to join him” because the Modfather is so revered by Indie bands; they look up and aspire to be him like Eros, god of love, sex and lust. In fact, the Stuntmen have joined everyone on stage from Jools Holland and The Futureheads to, um… The Kooks and Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly; taking time to play Ibiza Rocks in the process. In a nutshell, people are standing up and taking notice of these Indie rockers. Sure, there are always going to be those that say “Oh god, not another Indie guitar band”, but something tells us these lads are a tad more special than the usual bunch. Catchy, occasionally raw and well constructed? “Way-ey man!”

The Hungover Stuntmen’s debut album ‘Blame it on the BBC’ is released on 28th April.

The Steeples

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:42:17 GMT

Nuts and Bolts: The Steeples - Andy Culshaw (vocals), Dan Rankin (guitar), Chris ‘Hutchy’ Hutchinson (bass), Alex Caskie (drums)

Stomping Ground: Ormskirk (near Liverpool)

Set to Soundtrack: The NHS anti-smoking advert. Sorry, what’s that? They’ve done that already? Oh! Apparently they’ve done that already.

Destined to Upset: Eddie would hate them! You know; that dude from Iron Maiden?

You’re in business if you like: Jig-enticing pop-guitar and a voice like that bloke from the Kooks… Only with a bit more range.

Like that fit bird from the Sugababes, bands seem to be appearing from nowhere these days. They thought we wouldn’t notice that Mutya had gone AWOL and been replaced by Amelle Berrabah, but we all saw through it; you can’t fool me! Hailing from Ormskirk, which is near Liverpool, The Steeples are one such band; the kind that find themselves thrust into the spotlight and hailed “New Indie darlings” before they’ve had time to finish their Munch Bunch, pick their nose and press record for the latest episode of Poddington Peas. In a nut-shell The Steeples emerged from the wilderness and found a whole host of press and radio bigwigs getting hot under the collar; cum dripping down their thighs, salivating, and emitting groans of pure unadulterated ecstasy at these fresh new kids and their guitar-hook laden merry Indie-pop. XFM labeled debut single Britney’s Tears as “Ace;” The Daily Record used such phrases as “quirky” and “brilliant;” FutureSounds yelped “non-stop fun”. Alas, thanks to major radio plugging and frequently smitten reviews, The Steeples found themselves at the centre of a scandal... Well, we made that up; but they do have a band of followers that call themselves the ‘Steeple People’ which, in our opinion, has all the makings of a Manson style cult. Blending witty lyrical tales with pop-guitar riffs to create melodies stained with the butter drips of Indie sweetness, we at Planet Notion expect these guys to be a commercial success. That doesn’t necessarily mean we like ‘em or don’t like ‘em, it just means they’ll probably be huge because they remind us of the (ahem) Kooks. Loads of young whippersnappers love the Kooks (honest they do) and buy their records so they’ll probably do the same for The Steeples. And they’re pretty lads like the Kooks and… erm… Pass me the shovel! Please!? Check out their MySpace!

The Steeples debut album, Tea for Two, is released on Easy Money Records on June 16th following the release of single, Loosy Lucy, on June 9th.

ATFC Interview!

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:33:59 GMT

ATFC is one of the biggest names in dance music; a household name who has tasted chart-topping success and is greatly admired by those around him; DJs and dance fans alike. Despite the fact you may think certain countries haven’t heard of him or any other DJs in his field, Defected Records has recently been introducing dance to India. Yes indeed, the power of the dance now has one more country under its euphoric control! Defected Records’ brand new compilation, Defected in the House: Goa 09, has been remixed by Simon Dunmore, DJ Pearl and ATFC himself. It marks Defected’s commitment to India, and highlights the fact that the label and ATFC will be visiting Goa during the New Year for the Sunburn Festival. We caught up with ATFC to discuss life in sunny Spain, his love of House music and what the big man has in the pipeline.

Tell me a few things about ATFC that I wouldn’t necessarily know?

I was a model for a knitting magazine when I was 4. I appeared on Record Breakers, but only to ask Norris McWhirter a question in 'On the Spot'. My inside leg measurement is only 29.5 inches and no, this has nothing to do with my appearance on 'Record Breakers'. I thought House Music was rubbish until I was 23. And my real DJ idols are Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay and Trevor Nelson.

You’ve experienced a bit of a renaissance lately – would you agree? What’s inspired this?

A lot seems to have happened since I moved to Spain a year ago. The pressure of living and working in the UK was lifted and I started having more fun with music. I'd left my fancy purpose built studio back in England and began working from a spare bedroom, trying new sounds and arrangements, not caring if something was thrown together in a few hours. My mix of Dubfire's 'Roadkill' attracted a lot of attention and it marked a slight change in style for me. It came together in a couple of hours and its sound gave me inspiration for a number of other successful records that followed… Ya Killin Me, my remix of Speed Up… Tribute to the JB's… Overall though, I'd like to think the sound I've fallen on is peak time house that can stand up to most Electro and even some Techno, but with a touch of funkiness to make it accessible to a wider market.

How is the house scene different now to that of the 90’s?

It's a whole lot broader musically. The boundaries are really very blurred and as DJ's we have the luxury of being able to play Techno, Electro, House and even Breakbeat in one night. The change in the way labels sell and release their music has also made the scene a lot more democratic. It's no longer possible to get ahead as a DJ by being 'upfront' or playing music that has yet to be released; unless it's your own of course. Another massive change is the shift in attention from the US to Europe. In the 90's, the States pretty much dominated the House market, both in sales and DJ's. Obviously we always had our own stars as well, but there was a time when any American could buy 50 records, call himself a DJ and tour Europe. Now it's becoming much more global; the Australians are doing really well and it won't be long before Asia starts making waves on the dance scene as well.

Do you still have the same burning passion for music and clubs?

It's always been more about the music for me rather than the whole clubbing experience. When I first started going to clubs, it really was down to who was DJing rather than whether there were hot girls there or if it was a really cool venue. When my friends and I used to go clubbing, we would simply dance, trainspot and listen to the music. I have the same burning passion for making music that makes people dance and see the music work. I wouldn’t be doing what I do if I were a millionaire or unemployed, so I guess the answer is yes, I do have the same burning passion for music.

‘Praise to the JB’s’ is a fierce track, a Beatport no.1! What is the reaction like when you drop it?

It's great! The track has been in my CD wallet for about a year now, and I originally made it as a backing to The Jungle Brothers - I'll House You Acapella; it was something just to play out and give to a few friends. When I made 'Juss-A-Beat' for Defected, we were looking for something to include on the EP and decided to take the Jungle Brothers vocals off and simply release it as an instrumental bonus track. It's crazy that an after-thought got to Number 1 on Beatport, and even crazier considering it's just a one note samba. See kids, it only takes an index finger and a keyboard in this game!

What other things is ATFC interested in apart from music?

Being a Husband and Dad and the associated pastimes that go with that. I'm in the studio Monday to Friday and then DJing Friday and Saturday. I guess my closest other interest is Photography; I love taking good photos of my kids and I’m learning Photoshop. I went to Art College too - I guess I have an eye for these things - as I also collect paintings and sculptures from our travels. We've run out of wall space now so we’ve had to slow down. Moving to Spain has also meant that we’ve suddenly become very popular with our friends and family! We need to get revolving doors on the guest room… I enjoy a good glass of wine on the Naya and simply spending time with them.

What are the other tracks that are hitting the spot for you at the moment? Are there any on the compilation?

There are three or four of mine, including one that's forthcoming on Strictly Rhythm. I'm excited about that as it's my first release for the label that’s a cornerstone in house music history. I love Mark Trophy's ‘The Ripper’ and I've combined it with a Mike Dunn acapella that gives it a real modern day, Hip-House vibe. Also, the Laidback Luke mix of TV Rocks’ ‘Been A Long Time’ is massive for me in the clubs. Oh and not to forget my new mix of Bad Habit! Again, I did a little dub edit to play out and gave it to the Shapeshifters. They requested it for their ITH album, which has precipitated an entire re-release - including 6 mixes by myself.

Are there any plans for you to play Goa or India in the near future?

It looks like I'll be playing for Defected at the Sunburn Festival in Goa around New Year. I'm really excited as it's a whole new continent for me and I've heard great things about the dance music-scene over there. Copyright came back from a tour earlier this year and were blown away by the parties and vibe they experienced, so I have it on good authority that I'll enjoy myself.

How have you designed the mix to sound?

It had to strike the right balance between a current club set from ATFC and a CD that translates well into other environments. In the club I don't play that many vocals but a CD of banging beats just won't do. I'd say it's a pretty rounded perspective of where I'm coming from as both a DJ and a producer. I guess my track-listing is naturally going to reflect my personal taste, and therefore you'll be able to hear a little bit of me in each track, even if it isn't my recording.

What are you working on at the moment and are there any gigs you can tell us about?

I have singles coming up with singers including, Mone, Yasmeen and Rae. A collaboration with Seamus Haji featuring KC Flightt - also sideline projects with Paul Harris. This week I'm remixing Chris Lakes next single and will be starting the promotion for Bad Habit - pretty soon no doubt. Toolroom Records are due to release my ‘Bad Weed’ EP in the next few weeks. And on the DJ front, I'm away every weekend from now until January visiting, amongst others, Egypt, MOS London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Cardiff, Belfast, Liverpool, and hopefully ending up in Goa around the New Year!