Dieselboy

More Info:

I've wanted to make a journal for awhile now, but really had no idea how to make it clever in any way, or even what to do for that all important 1st post. I wanna draw people in, but after racking my brain for interesting ways to start I haven't come up with much. I'm just going to say, "screw it" and dive right in.

As far as what you will find in here...I suppose it won't be anything too different than most journals. I'll be doing mostly reviews of albums I've recently picked up, with a few old favorites and artists tossed in if I get bored. I think this journal will be a little more current or cutting edge than most though, as I tend to look forward to newly released music, as opposed to the majority here who tend to dig and sort through older releases.

I DO love radio shows. As far as I'm concerned they are the best place to find new music I enjoy, and so I listen to quite a few weekly shows, usually 4 - 6 a week. I may discuss some of those as well. I might even just write some random essays if I have a gripe or praise for something that I can't link you to directly.




My Tastes:

My tastes aren't as eclectic as some on MB. I do appreciate all types of music though, and make it a rule to never discount anything without listening. Here is my pie chart that Tore (thx again) made for me in the Music Taste thread:



^This is still pretty accurate. As you can see, my main passion is Electronica and its millions of sub-genres. Lately though that small slice of Hip-Hop has been growing and the Metal slice has shrunk a bit I suppose. I'm only linking that so people might have an idea what to expect here, as my journal won't have any specific direction or theme...just a random mess most likely. Ok, here goes...

Dieselboy

My first post works well for the direction I've originally declared for two reasons. This artist has been a HUGE favorite of mine for the last 7-8 years, and has a new album coming out in a month as well. Here it is:





His name is Brian Wayne Transeau, or simply BT. Electronica artist and production genius. Not to mention I have a massive guy-crush on him.

"A music prodigy, BT started playing the piano at the age of two. At age thirteen he learned classical licks." (Wiki) I wasn't even close to being alive then though, so I didn't actually discover him till much later when a good friend lent me his 1999 released masterpiece titled:


Today I wouldn't hesitate to list this in my top 10 all time favorite albums. An incredibly produced disc, that has enough musical variety as to never get boring, even to this day. Songs like Dreaming and Mercury and Solace roll along slowly and beautifully with dreamy female vocals. There's songs that are very hip-hop influenced like Love On Haight Street, as well as the harder Smartbomb and the brilliant opener where he really shows of his production skills:

This disc is so well rounded and every song so strong. This would be the recommended starting point for BT for sure, as well as a gateway album I'd give to people who simply wanted to get into electronica as well.








OK, this review isn't over yet...Don't worry. I may have done his best album 1st, but there's more works in his discography. Everyone of which I'd call brilliant without hesitation.


His first two albums, Ima and ESCM, (released in '96 and '97 respectively) are two true trance/dance floor classics. If you listen to these 2 albums today they will sound a little dated, but the key words there are a little...and not in a bad way at all. What I mean is, you can tell they are from the 90's, but in a way that makes you remember how great 90's techno could sound when done really well. Just check these out...you won't be saying, "Ugh this is some old-skool cheesy sh*t right here." I guarantee.



Cont. below...Image limit.

Dieselboy

In 2003 and 2006 came his most recent 2 albums, Emotional Technology and This Binary Universe. BT has been shifting away from the dance floor inspired tunes as time moves on, and into more intelligent sounding material.

In Emotional Technology he leans to a more hip-hop/poppy sound. Lots of scratching, and emceeing, while at the same time sounding incredibly friendly and accessible. Brilliantly produced. This album has been destroying my headphones and truck speakers lately. So, so good. This song here is a good reason why too:


In 2006 he put out This Binary Universe. Getting softer, and more intelligent (very much so). This is mostly a collection of lullaby's he wrote for his daughter Kaia and set to music. Looking at some reviews I see words used like, "majestic" and "unsurpassed beauty in musical form." I mean, I can't describe it with better words than that I suppose, even though they sound generic. Just trust me I guess?


His sixth release, These Hopeful Machines, is scheduled for Feb 2 of this year. I'm beyond pumped for this and will be buying it the day same day. Haven't been this hyped for an album in a while. Here's a single that's been released already. Very very intelligent sounding:






PS: As this is my first review, anyone who reads it is welcome to comment on the style I wrote it in. If you think something looks sh*tty, or is hard to follow, I'd appreciate the criticism.
PPS: If you want to check out anything I put in this review or future reviews, just ask. Don't even hesitate. I'll get mad if you hesitate. Just PM or whatever.

NumberNineDream

It should be interesting. I love new journals.

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Schizotypic

Good start Diesel, I'll keep an eye on this one for sure. Looking forward to your first review in this thing... try not to let it die out like most journals do hahahaha.

Dieselboy

I don't see that happening soon. I'm actually gonna have to work hard to pace myself here though I think, cause I can think of so many things I wanna review now that I've got this going.

That first review looks really sloppy now that it's finally up. Hopefully by the time most people see it, it will look alot neater. ><

wickedlk

Nice bio on BT My personal favourite will always be Flaming June, such an underrated track and Balearic/Dreamy trance at its best.

Spot on with your assessment that his work has become more intelligent, there's definitely a maturity in his music now that wasn't so prevalent in his earlier stuff. Still wonderfully produced and a good example to many aspiring artists.

Good job!

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Dieselboy

(Thx for the replies guys. I told myself I wouldn't be surprised or whatever if there was none, but it's cool to see that a few people looked at it. )





For my next entry I'm going to be discussing a weekly radio show. Well, I'm going to discuss this show first, and then review and offer to you a great example of said show actually.

The show I'm speaking of is easily one of the best weekly shows in the world. It's quite famous, and I'm sure many of you have heard it at least mentioned even if you are not a listener. This show is aptly named:

The Essential Mix

Started way back in 1993 by producer Eddie Gordan and host Pete Tong, they decided on a 2 hour format of uninterrupted music, which is now seems to be the norm in many electronica shows today. This format allows artists to create what has been described as, "A musical journey." instead of just a collection of songs.

It was a struggle at first to get big name DJs and artists to commit and pre-record a 2 hour set every week, and Tong actually ended up doing the first weeks show in the end. Slowly though, The Essential Mix began to gain cred in the years that followed. There is no shortage today of artists that would love to be invited to mix it up for this show, as it more or less means you've arrived.

On occasion though , the reins will be given to an artist on the rise and what could be called a "breakout mix", which has happened more than a few times, will occur. Where an artist is on the verge of becoming well known, and a good EM show will be their career turning point into the big time. Perhaps the best example of this would be Pendulum's EM from 2005/09/18. Pendulum was probably known to some at the time, but not to me, and not to many others as well. This show was played out right as their debut album Hold Your Colour was about to be released, and I really believe that this show was a huge stepping stone to advertise for this amazing album. They just rose to amazing heights from there. This mix is still highly worth checking out today, as it was almost strictly high energy and hard D&B, and an easy indicator as to why they became as huge as they did.

This show has introduced me quite a few other amazing artists over the years as well. The first time I ever heard the Scratch Perverts was on an EM mix in 2004 and more recently, Fake Blood from this past March. Both were astounding and made a fan out of me. Every time I see an artist scheduled whom I don't recognize I look forward to it with high hopes.

How To Tune In

If anyone is interested in checking the Essential Mix out, it airs every Saturday from 3:00-5:00 on BBC Radio. DON'T PANIC. I know that time is weird for people especially with the time zone differences between users on this board and all. LUCKILY, Radio 1 has the Iplayer on their site now so you can listen to any show they play, any time during the following week. I could seriously write a review of praise for this IPlayer in itself.

It's so easy to use as well:

Step 1 - Go to this site: BBC - BBC Radio 1 Programmes - BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix (EM main page)
Step 2 - There's a schedule link up top, as well as a genre link too, so finding the show or style you want shouldn't be a problem. Just find the show you want to hear and click on Listen Now. The show you picked will start playing in another window.
Step 3 - ???
Step 4 - Profit!

Nothing else required. Incredibly simple.

(Seriously, this thing still excites me to this day. I used to have to DL all these shows on torrent every week. ><)





But yeah, if you have any interest in staying current with who's hot in the current electronica scene atm, then this show is a great place to be. It's one that I do my best never to miss, and I highly recommend it.

duga

you totally just got me into bt

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Confusion will be my epitaph...

Dieselboy

This next review is going to be for a mix which aired on the radio a few months back on on 2009-08-29. Specifically, the Essential Mix by Sharam. The idea to do this came when I saw that his mix recently won top honors in a vote amongst all 52 of this years choices (a pretty prestigious honor really...if you read my EM post above).

First I'll say, that I've always been a fan Sharam and Deep Dish (of which he is one half). A duo of very solid house DJ's who's name you've possibly already heard on occasion. I've said in at least a few threads on MB that his Global Underground 29 CD is one of my favorites.
As far as this mix, I did remember hearing it when it aired, and that I enjoyed it, but forgot the particulars. So I've picked it up again recently (when it got voted the best) and given it a few more complete listens. So yeah, I'm gonna break it down for you guys and try to convince you that it's worth hearing for yourselves. Ok, time to shutup and start reviewing the mix and its highlights:

Best Essential Mix of 2009 (Sharam)

You Press 'Play' and...The mix starts off with an introduction from Pete Tong, and then, with a soft violin heard in the background, Sharam introduces his set:

"Hey everyone, this is Sharam and you're going to be listening to my new Essential Mix on Radio 1. As you will hear on this mix, I don't play the genre game. I'm a fan of good music and great production. [...] So,this is my essential mix, and I hope you enjoy it."

The sound of the violin and the background music grows into something unexpected. What will his opener be? I'm pretty sure no one woulda guessed this (I didn't):

Seriously? Are you kidding me? How COOL is that to start off a mix. Anyone who doesn't enjoy this should just stop reading now. You won't enjoy anything that follows, and probably just don't like music in general. Moving on...





As Morricones song fades out, in comes Sharams own Track With No Name. A slow, sizzling, housey burner. Sorta calming, but cool after getting pumped up from the opener. This is the kinda tune that I'd assosiate with Sharam most easily, but as we'll continue to see, he has many more sides to him.

The mix continues as the next couple songs build on the 2nd and then suddenly turn into Samburu by D-Unity which brings some cool tribal chants into the mix with a simply amazing beat behind it. Listen closely and you can hear the jungles sounds of birds, big cats, etc in the background. You can almost picture yourself hiding in the jungle leaves watching an African tribe dance around a bonfire with glowsticks. No? Anyway, I like this. Nice one.



Suddenly you leave the rain forest and are on a beautiful moonlit beach. Samburu blends well into the next track, as you can hear the jungle sounds in the background for a good 2 minutes or more into it. Entitled Beach Kisses, a trancey track...you could probably guess that it would be a slower tempo and quite lovely. It has a muted sounding trumpet playing almost through the entirety, and a soft bouncy beat. Together, they make me think of walking on the beach at night...on the best day of my life. Just incredibly sassy and bouncy at the same time. I could not see any fan of music not enjoying these last 2 songs played back to back. A highlight of the mix for sure.

(This song has quite a long intro. To hear the part used in the mix skip ahead to about the 3 minute mark.)

Skipping ahead now a bit to the 9th tune. It's called, She Came Along. Hmm, this is cool and all and...WTF! I can hear a twangy sounding country guitar creeping into the mix?! Oh wow, it is, and now some lady with a southern accent (Patsy Klein I guess) and a chorus of guys is singing behind her. This doesn't last too long as it exits the mix (only to come back later) and we are treated to some nice loops, but it was a bit scary (to me)...and interesting too I suppose.





There's a mini climax with Photon Inc.'s - Give a Little Love, but the next track that really stands out to me is, Squarez by Nadastrom. It's a pretty decent little electro-house tune. It's nothing fancy, but does have a nice little build up near the middle of unintelligible female vocals rising and rising to a cresendo and then dropping off. I like the loop in this song alot, and even though its sorta simple, it makes me nod my head pretty good. The 15th track, Get Up Jude, follows along the same lines and then...





...Can you say, "Climax!"? When you hear this next song you can...and then you...probably will.

The song is called Mauri's Dream (Sharam's Eternity Remix) and it must be heard to be believed. Nine minutes long, keeps you on your toes for its entirety and never gets boring. Starting off as a mix of maybe electro with some acid sounding beeps mixed in. It then evolves from there and a really hot violin sample is introduced about half way through. The violin and the beeps work together for awhile and then at seven minutes in...POW...it explodes. Sexy, sexy song, and probably my favorite on the mix.

(Unfortunately, there's no video of this version on youtube for me to link. Very depressing...moving on sadly.)

A couple songs later, and the mix is still near its peak. The tune on now is called Sax Me Up (another pick from D-Unity). It's a fun mix of muted sax samples, robot-sounding vocals, and a heavy HEAVY bass-line. I don't need more adjectives for this. 'Fun' really just is the best word you could use here. Fun song.





The mix is starting to wind down now, but stays so strong with another self picked tune of Sharam's called Vikings. Here we have yet another genre-defying tune that will make you smile. Sounds like something straight out of an old movie score...maybe a western...It goes back and forth from a catchy soundtrack orchestra to a nice bouncy beat and back again several times. At one point an effect pops up that sorta sounds like a horse galloping, but sorta not...it's hard to describe. The song in itself however, is not hard to describe. It's brilliant.

(Vikings is another song I'd love to link for you guys, but it's not on youtube either. It's a crime. Oh well, moving on.)

Finally, the list comes to an end with a 2-minute excerpt from a song simply called, V, by an artist called Namito. Slow and bouncy, nothing to catchy or fancy, it closes out the mix well. It serves its purpose and is about as good as a closing track can be I suppose. Aaand then, Pete Tong interrupts and blabs a bit about this and that and...PHEW. It's over. A great mix indeed, and not a bad way to spend 2 hours at all!






All in all, this is a really cool mix, and I can see why it got the top 2009 vote to beat out others like Sub-Focus and Deadmau5. Sharam is all over the place, with suprises around every turn. At the same time though, I'd say it's still all about the music for him in the end. It never gets nerdy or confusing. Everything here works well together and makes you wanna move, even if some of it isn't exactly conventional.

Here is the complete tracklisting for the mix (copied from Mixing Bowl):

- TRACKLIST -

1 - Intro with Sharam
2 - Ennio Morricone — Ecstasy Of Gold (Sharam Edit) [White Label]
3 - Sharam vs Nic Fanciulli — Track With No Name [Data]
4 - Marc Antona & Xiki — Hawah [Micro Fibers]
5 - Rodriguez Jr. — Pandora [Kids of Gula]
6 - D-Unity — Samburu [Yo****oshi]
7 - Dosem — Beach Kisses (Joris Voorn Green Mix) [Green Records]
8 - DBN — Asteroidz (feat. Madita) (Sharam's Crazi Remix) [Yo****oshi]
9 - Sharam — She Came Along (feat. Kid Cudi) (Sharam's Ecstasy Of Ibiza Mix) [Data]
10 - Steve Aoki — I’m In the House (feat. Zuper Blahq) (Sharam's Lovefest Remix) [Dim Mak]
11 - Okain — Blackrock [Quartz Records]
12 - Photon Inc. — Give A Little Love (DJ Pierre's Tha Wild Pitch Mix / Sharam Edit) [Strictly Rhythm]
13 - D-Nox & Beckers — Cala Boca (Gabe Remix) [Global Noises]
14 - Nadastrom — Squarez [White Label]
15 - Fiord — Get up Jude (Beckers Remix) [Vapour8 Recordings]
16 - Cedric Gervais — Mauri's Dream (Sharam's Eternity Remix) [White Label]
17 - Namito — Train To Tehran (Daniele Papini Remix) [Kling Klong]
18 - D-Unity — Sax Me Up (D-Unity's Crazy Sax Mix) [White Label]
19 - Sharam — Vikings [DCI]
20 - Sharam Vs. Julien Jeweil — Pattgate [White Label]
21 - Namito — V [Yo****oshi]

If anyone would like to check this out, you could find the torrent online I'm sure. HOWEVER, I managed to dig up a .cue sheet for this though, so I'm more than willing to send the mix to anyone interested, with all the songs separated and named appropriately. Makes it easier to follow I think. Just lemme know.