FMB MIXTAPE 231 | TARKNO

FMB MIXTAPE 231 | TARKNO

FMB MIXTAPE 231 | TARKNO (iTUNES)

FMB MIXTAPE 231 | TARKNO (320 MIX)

This week on FMB Mixtape Series, we’re happy to welcome the vinyl-only DJ & music producer, Tarkno, hailing from Australia. As always, we first caught up to find out more about the mix & what he’s been up to lately…

I am currently getting ready to head back on tour in Europe and play some exciting events. This means a lot of packing, organizing and planning has been taking place.

The mix was actually recorded back in my home studio, in Melbourne, Australia during my holiday break. This gave me access to my entire record collection, so I made sure to select some hidden gems that hadn’t made their way into my bag yet. 

The idea for this mix was to play strictly old school tools from my personal collection. All of the records resonate deeply with me, embodying the true sound of underground techno. While the mix has a consistent theme I made sure to include a few staple tracks that I have enjoyed playing out recently. 

Up next…

I have been working on an upcoming liveset / hybrid project that I am excited to bring to events, alongside my records. I have been wanting to find a way to bring original music to the dancefloor without having to press it to wax, so this seems like the next best thing. 

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FMB MIXTAPE 230 | KOBORO

FMB MIXTAPE 230 | KOBORO

FMB MIXTAPE 230 | KOBORO (iTUNES)

FMB MIXTAPE 230 | KOBORO (320 DOWNLOAD)

This week in the mix is Koboro, the London-born DJ & co-founder of Elicit Records – a new label co-founded by himself & Kessler to champion forward thinking electronic music with an emphasis on giving a platform to lesser-known artists. As always, we first caught up to hear about the mix & what he’s been up to…

There’s been lots of behind-the-scenes work getting Elicit out into the world, which has been in the works since late 2022. After many delays, it was a big relief to officially launch back in October with Eddy’s EP Lunar, which if you haven’t checked out already go do so now (its nuts!!). We’ve also just recently dropped a 12-track compilation and the feedback has been seriously amazing.

In more recent news, we just threw a fundraising party last week for Sudan in collaboration with two amazing labels, Amity Club and SSS, who are run by amazing close friends of mine who happen to also be some very talented individuals. Sudan is currently undergoing a massive humanitarian crisis and I really hope to see more people talking about it.

The mix was recorded in Pirate studios on a set of cdj 2000’s and a djm900nxs2 mixer, not exactly ideal but the home set up is currently undergoing a makeover lol. I had actually borrowed a controller from my friend to get this recorded initially but didn’t bother with it in the end as I still just don’t like the feel of controllers. 

It’s definitely a power hour and gets straight to business. Lots of bass and percussion and gets quite deep at times, a pretty solid reflection of the type of music I’ve been enjoying playing in the club lately. The mix features a blend of (mostly) newer and forthcoming music including some unreleased Elicit bits.

Up next…

Pushing out some of my own music soon on Elicit and maybe finally organising my record collection which I’ve putting off for years now. Also finalising next few releases on the label, we have a busy schedule ahead of us and our plans for Elicit span far beyond music, but I won’t spill too many details now, you’ll just have to stay locked ;)

Tracklist:

Ozwald – Von Bossy
Matt Finnegan – Wa Dem Say
Florentino – Sientelo
Portway – 3zN [UNRELEASED ELICIT RECORDS]
COIDO – Minimal Afrobeat
Kincaid – Cephalopod
Bluetoof – Jinx
Kombé – Taarab Fragments
Sloucho – WATCHING US (W. Rory Sweeney)
OCZE – Spinal Waves
Domizako – TTT
False Persona – Headrush
Dual Monitor – Left/Right
Hojo – Tartan
Ekzander – Inte Prata Med Mig [UNRELEASED]
Portway – DEEECON [UNRELEASED ELICIT RECORDS]
Nuevo Prohibido -Pantano Slur [UNRELEASED]
Hekkla – Nano
Dj Loui from Jupiter 4 – Una Causa Un Efecto
Gavnlig – Incident
re-ni – Blame is the name of the game [UNRELEASED TIMEDANCE]
Neida – Halfway
Trois-Quarts Taxi System – Rat
Joey – MidOff [UNRELEASED ELICIT RECORDS]

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FMB MIXTAPE 229 | MR REDLEY

FMB MIXTAPE 229 | MR REDLEY

FMB MIXTAPE 229 | MR REDLEY (iTUNES)

FMB MIXTAPE 229 | MR REDLEY (320 DOWNLOAD)

To kick things off in 2024, we have Mr. Redley in the mix – the DJ, producer and radio presenter hailing from North London. As always, we first caught up to hear about the mix & what he’s been up to recently…

I’ve been reflecting on the successes and challenges of 2023, nurturing my creative energy and refilling my glass. I’m currently taking a moment to breathe before diving into another hectic 12 months.

The mix was recorded in one of Rinse’s studios on a pair of CDJ-3000s and a Pioneer A-9 Mixer

It’s kind of a Homage to House music as a whole..New York, Chicago, Detroit and even some London sounds – there’s all sorts thrown in there. Some big influences for myself such as Steven Julien and Scott Grooves, mixed in with the likes of Ladymonixx and Frits Wentink!

Up next…

I’ve been continuing to develop my weekly show on Rinse FM and have been busy lining up some incredible guests for 2024.

I’ve also just begun working with a manager to start locking in gigs across the UK, Europe and further field for 2024. Super excited to play for more audiences globally in 2024! On top of that I’m excited to kick the year with my first gig of 2024 in London, headlining at Peckham Audio on the 19th of January for The Solstice Collective.

I can’t wait to get back on the dance floor and connect with more people and audiences in 2024!

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FMB MIXTAPE 228 | THE TEKNOIST

FMB MIXTAPE SERIES 228 | THE TEKNOIST

FMB MIXTAPE SERIES 228 | THE TEKNOIST (iTUNES)

FMB MIXTAPE SERIES 228 | THE TEKNOIST (320 DOWNLOAD)

To wrap up 2023, we have The Teknoist back on the mix. With a career that’s lasted over 20 years, Mike now heads up Ninja Columbo Records. We had a catch up to hear more about the mix & what he’s been up to.

Hiya! Since we last spoke, ive been doing exactly what i said i was going to do and get back to being neck deep in hardcore techno and breakcore. Ive released a couple of techno EP’s with Ben Pest and Cocktail Party Effect, a darkside DnB EP with Smyla and am just about to release a new hardcore techno EP with Dolphin. Iv also been trying to wrap up a techno EP for Sunil Sharpe, which tbh is a very big focus as im a huge fan of his and how he uses his presence in music. It’s almost there. Iv also moved house and studio, which after multiple mini breakdowns while i was in the midst of that, now i’m settled, in the new spaces, im finally rebuilding my positive habits, rituals and behaviours and am feeling like moving was and is a positive step for me in so many ways.

This mix was recorded on a modified DJ controller. An old Traktor Kontrol 2 but with a replaced optical innofader 2 and 2 X 10 inch vinyl attached by velcro on each platter. I modified/made it a few years ago, specifically as a ‘portable turntablism machine’. It’s actually the best controller I’ve ever scratched on. It trumps any modern CDJ/controller when it comes to cutting and scratching. I also used a Technics 1210 and Traktor Skratch as a 3rd deck. There’s quite a bit of turntablism throughout the mix so I thought I’d just use the ‘PSU’ (Portable Scratch Unit) to do all of this mix on. I recorded it in my new studio. As soon as I completed the rigmarole of setting up, wiring, positioning etc all of my music kit, this mix was top of my ‘To Do’ list.

Well, i dont think you guys have had an all out hard/break-core massacre on the mixtape series, have you? I wanted to represent the true sound of the most underground genres on the planet before someone came along and did a ‘novelty breakcore’ type set and that be the introduction to said genres to your unknowing regulars. These genres are what i made my name with and if i’m honest, it’s the reason i exist at all. They are constantly misrepresented and misunderstood. I truly believe that hardcore techno and breakcore are, when done right, are the most well produced and intricately brilliant genres in all of music. There is no energy like the energy in each of them, when the best of them are being played. A lot of people can’t or don’t want to hear the brilliance and beauty layered underneath the intense energy and all consuming drum beats. It’s also very rarely ‘cool’ to genuinely be into them. You don’t win points at 99% of after parties, during youtube roulette by putting on ‘Ultraviolent Junglist’ by Venetian Snares. So to be into it, you have to genuinely love it. You generally dont seem cool to regular people, showing them this music. You dont go to a core night to look cool and hook up with someone. There is zero posing. It’s that earnesty that makes it such a sweet scene and area of music. No limitations, no set tempos …pure freedom of expression by way of horrifying kickdrums lol. I could talk for hours on this :)

What are you up to next?

I covered a lot of this in the first question but along with what i said there, i’m still running the Grey Meta label with my 3 other partners. Coming up on that is some really exciting stuff. No genre limitations there and also a hot sauce that we’ve been working on with Khoo from Khoo’s hot sauce for maybe a couple of years now. It’s not just a ‘put our name’ on a product thing, Khoo has been a huge supporter of all of our music for decades and his insistence on creating something that fits us as an organisation really resonates with us and our belief that authenticity is paramount. Iv also got new releases on my original hardcore techno/breakcore labels ‘Ninja Columbo’ and ‘Our Fucking Jungle’ imminiently coming out. Also, a nice diary of gigs. I have to give a shout to my agent and friend, Ash Scheme Boy and his Varispeed agency here as without him and his work, i’d be lost, literally, in a big ASDA, every day. You try being my agent lol

So yeah, i hope your regulars open their curiosity barriers for this one …and if anyone has any questions, please hit me on my socials or email info@varispeed.eu for booking enquiries

Thank you again for having me spread my wings a little, for the 2nd time this year and thank you guys for your constant interest and support. It means the world to me.

Peace and love

Miike

 

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FMB MIXTAPE 227 | STEVIE COX

FMB MIXTAPE 227 | STEVIE COX

FMB MIXTAPE 227 | STEVIE COX (iTUNES)

FMB MIXTAPE 227 | STEVIE COX (320 DOWNLOAD)

This week’s mixtape guest is Stevie Cox. She’s a resident at Glasgow’s Subculture and released her EP ‘Daydreamer’ last year via Remmah Records. We asked more about the mix and what Stevie’s been up to recently…

I’ve been battling some rather odd hairstyles growing out a shaved head. Thank god for wigs and hats! Aside from that, I’ve just finished a weekend of shows in Edinburgh and Aberdeen for Steel City Dance Discs, and some shows in Glasgow including a b2b with Domenic Cappello and another with Ewan McVicar. I’ve also been finishing some productions –  a moody debut solo release on Holly Lester’s awesome label Duality Trax for a PCRF fundraising compilation which is out now, and a remix for Ben Sims out on EPM in January, and my debut solo EP coming to you via Optimo Music on the 19th January. I also just finished a wee drum and bass number for Hammer’s label Remmah which will be out in April :) 

The mix is a musical love letter to the Sub Club in Glasgow. I’m lucky enough to be a resident there for Subculture, the world’s longest running house and techno night alongside Harri, Domenic and (the best DJ in the world ;) ) Telford. Subculture’s got a really specific sound and vibe – it’s emotional, hypnotic, directional and atmospheric – all the good stuff. The same people are in the crowd week in and week out, which makes it really special.

When I first got asked to do this mix I was initially going to submit a peak time hour live from the club, but the recording failed. Classic. I still wanted to use this mix to celebrate Subculture, so I approached it in the same way I’d play at the club on a Saturday night with the family – I made a wee playlist of tunes I’m feeling at the moment, hit record, had a boogie and went on a journey from warm up into peak time. So I guess this mix is what the warm up is like at Subculture as I ran out of time just as we hit the peak mark… anyway, warm ups are the hardest part of the night to get right but the most rewarding, and I think they translate to home listening quite nicely.

My friend Naomi told me she’d never met anyone who hated household chores more than me so hopefully if you find doing the laundry as boring as I do and need something to bop about the house to whilst you do that or some other tedious task, this mix makes it a bit more enjoyable for you. Hopefully you discover a new tune or artist you love as well. The mix features music from some great artists such as Forest On Stasys, and some unreleased numbers from Manakinz (Harri + Max Raskin) and myself.

And what’s next?

Next, I’m off to Berlin on the 9th December to play at Paloma Bar on a *hot* lineup to celebrate 3 years of SÄVY, a great label I really recommend checking out, then I’ve got my Subculture residency shortly after. Also really looking forward to banging it out on New Years Eve at La Cheetah with Djrum, Nightwave and loads more. Spicy lineup. Big shout out to Wardy for the invite there! Production wise – making some DnB with my amazingly talented pal Rob Etherson :-) 

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