Wax Works w/ Sigha & Bake

Well the cat has most definitely been out of the bag for a while now, although I’ve failed to post up on here about it, but we’re pleased to tell you all that Sigha will be playing the first Wax Works party of 2012, on March 3rd. This will be his first gig north of the border, our first party in ages and you’re getting free entry before 12. What else can you want? You can get tae if you aren’t down.

Supporting Sigha on the night will be Bake from Glasgow’s All Caps crew and someone from the Wax Works camp.

Plus, after the club is shut we’ll be putting on an after party for anyone who wants to keep going until the early morning.

IF that wasn’t enough to wet your appetite then hopefully you’ll be into our guests for April, when we’ll be playing host to the talents of Kowton, Kassem Mosse & TVO

2011's best, courtesy of Truman Data

Here's what was doing it for Wax Works' Truman Data in 2011 - watch out for his Live set which should feature on the blog in 2012.

Albums

1. Morphosis - What We Have Learned
2. Andy Stott - We stay together
3. Villalobos / Laderbaur - re:ECM
4. Legowelt - The Teac Life
5. Sandwell District - Feed Forward
6. BNJMN - Plastic Worlds
7. Steffi - Yours & Mine
8. Cosmin TRG - Simulate
9. Stereociti - Kawasaki
10. Deadbeat - Drawn and Quarterd

EPS

Acid Test 01 - Tin Man
Pinch & Shacleton - Boracay Drift w/ Morphosis remix
Omar-S - Here's Your Trance Now Dance!
workshop 12 kassem mosse
Miles - Facets

Labels

Delsin
Modern Love
Honust jon's
Absurd Recordings
Ethereal sounds

Next up we'll have Wax Works part 2, the picks from our own techno demon, the very best mixes 2011 offered and we will close out the year with Wax Works mix 04 (I think/hope).

Best of 2011 Part 1

So this is the 1st part of our end of year lists, up first is yours truly followed by the choice cuts from a few of the Wax Works crew, TVO, Quail (Animal Farm) and an unidentified techno demon. We'll also close out the year with a post featuring the very best mixes from 2011.

As always, if you're into the music on here please buy it.


Albums

Soft Kill - An Open Door

I doubt this will feature on many lists and many of you probably wont be into it, but I stumbled upon them while checking out some Tropic Of Cancer tunes on YouTube and I was hooked straight away - since then I've played their album almost every day, way more than any other piece of music I own, so for that reason it has to be my number 1 for the year.

If you're into the Tropic Of Cancer stuff then I think you'll like it and I think they share a similar kind of aesthetic to Joy Division.

Soft Kill - Feral Moans

John Maus - We Must Become The Pitiless Censors Of Ourselves

An album that provokes academic discussion and deep thought.. Well, that's what I've read - tbh I bought into the hype, checked it out and just really loved the tunes. Do the same.

John Maus - Cop Killer

Planetary Assault Systems - The Messenger

The only 'techno' album on the list, but it is an absolute monster of an LP. Plenty of tracks that will just destroy dancefloors, I have to think that after this album PAS must be the most exciting techno live act around. Has there ever been an artist name that fits so perfectly to the music? These are tunes that are made to soundtrack intergalactic wars and the destruction of worlds - proper techno.

Planetary Assault Systems - Rip The Cut

AraabMUZIK - Electronic Dream

So I took a bit of hassle from some of the crew for this one, but fuck them. It is Trance/Hip-Hop and probably the last thing you would expect to find here, but it is just a collection of fun, unpretentious tunes made by a guy and his MPC.

AraabMUZIK - Golden Touch


EPs

Time To Express - Labyrinth EP

There's not a single release that comes close to this one in 2011, 4 excellent tracks (although I wasn't feeling the Parker one as much as some) that will be a mainstay in my record bag for years. The pick of the bunch for me is Giusy, absolutely killer tune.

Peter Van Hoesen - Rites De Passage-Naeba Variant

Kassem Mosse - Workshop 12

Another absolutely essential record from Kassem Mosse on Workshop. A monster 14 minute long A side is the standout track for me here, check it out and buy it if you can.

Expecting big things from this man in 2012, let's hope someone brings him to Glasgow.

A Side

Burial - Street Halo EP

It was massive news when the new Burial EP was announced and rightly so, there's lots of people who imitate his sound but absolutely no one who can create the same feeling and emotion from their music. You can still grab a copy of the vinyl at Boomkat and I would recommend doing so if you don't have it already - superb music from one of the UK's most amazing producers

Burial - Stolen Dog

Sigha - Politics of Dying

Absolutely solid techno EP here from Sigha which features a brilliant original mix from the man himself, a very cool dubby-ish remix of 'over the edge' from Shifted and a remix of the title track from James Ruskin. This is a must own record for any techno DJ as all 3 tracks are of the highest quality.

Sigha - Politics Of Dying (Ruskin Remix)

* we have rescheduled the party with Sigha, he'll be at Wax Works in early 2012.

EQD #5

What can you say about Shed's music that's not already been said?
Listen to it and buy it.

B Side

Finally here's my favourite labels from 2011

Delsin/Ann Aimee
Idle Hands
Prologue
Sandwell District
Semantica

Feel free to leave your thoughts on my choices and/or what records/artists were doing it for you this year.

See you in 2012

IK

The February Selection

I think one of the most important things when looking for music is that it must have a timeless appeal to it, I really want the records I buy to still sound fresh and interesting in 5 or 10 years time, but it's a difficult task. Every week there are so many new releases that it can be hard to keep up, it can seem so much easier to turn to your favourite artist's chart or to buy your releases from dependable labels such as Ostgut, Blueprint or Stroboscopic.

Now these EPs are important, as they are recognisable and they work, but I think that all too often you hear DJs play for an hour and hammer it out for the duration. This doesn't do much for me and I don't think it says much about the DJ in question, I personally don't think it takes much effort or skill to put together a mix of the latest big tunes.

So I thought I would give you a few records that I think are a bit different and stand out from all the dross.

Workshop 12 - Kassem Mosse

Slow, killer house grooves from the bosse! Every record from Kassem is one worth owning and after a fantastic 2010 I wasn't sure if 2011 would be as prolific, but so far he has maintained his momentum and I am really looking forward to hearing what he does next.

I have also heard some rumours of a possible Glasgow gig later in the year, I really hope that this one materialises.

The End Of All Existence

I must admit, I am extremely surprised at how underground Milton Bradley seems to be. I think he is one of the most interesting producers in techno right now and this EP serves to back up that claim, but still there appears to be very little interest in him over here.

*If anyone wants to get involved and book Milton Bradley then drop me an email.

As for the record, this is music for the end of the world - not really much else to say.

Skirt - In The Meadow Under The Stars

I was pretty surprised when this was released as it was the first time that HG announced the name of the artist, a strange decision but one I am glad they made.

This is the only record I have heard form Bethany Skirt but I am seriously impressed, menacing industrial techno straight out of Birmingham, what more do you want?

Mike Parker - Subterranean Liquid EP

Mike is on a roll right now, Vesuvio Tremors, Acromion & now his debut EP on Prologue.

I hope that this leads to more European dates for Mike as he is such a fantastic DJ, with so many mental records.

The record itself is top class, and features a massive remix from Donato Dozzy. This record is way ahead of 90% of the techno out atm, it's also head and shoulders above the last few releases from Prologue whom, although are very reliable seem to have been going through the motions of late. I hope this is signals a return to form.

If you enjoy the music then please buy the vinyl, these are all still for sale so no excuses.