I’ve been diggin a lot lately, getting some Boogie and Electro-funk records, a sound I really love.
At the beginning of the ’80s, when disco music decline was already on, a new bunch of post-disco sub-genres were growing up.
Boogie, Disco Funk, Electro-funk, were taking some elements off the ’70’s disco blueprint and re-shaping them by adding the first commercially available (and affordable) synthesizers and drum machines.
This blend of mid-tempos, funky fat basslines, electronic elements and soulful voices seemed to go in a completely different direction, compared to the development of Italo Disco, with its exasperation of the electronic elements. Boogie will later further develop into early Electro and Hip Hop. And, together with Italo, P-Funk and New Wave, Boogie will have a strong influence in shaping what was called, some years later in Detroit, Techno.

Back to topic, Peoples Potential Unlimited is a label that is doing a particularly good job today, by reissuing lost treasures from that era, usually built around local scenes and documented by small and already disappeared labels. I made a kind of mix/podcast to showcase some releases I like from their still small but interesting and various catalogue.

Download it and enjoy!

Peoples Potential Unlimited Mix by passEnger

Tracklist:

01.  Ball Players – American Worker
02.  The Midnight Express Show Band – Breeze Up
03.  Bozeman & Roberts – Grandma
04.  The Midnight Express Show Band – Danger Zone
05.  The Pinch – Shot Out
06.  Bozeman & Roberts – Working Mama
07.  Glass Pyramid – Better By The Minute
08.  The Midnight Express Show Band – Danger Zone Demo
09.  Glass Pyramid – Country Cowboy (Instrumental)
10.  Jim Bennet – Hold That Groove
11.  The Midnight Express Show Band – Receiving End

It featuring some cosmic/weird soundscapes, abstract technoid tracks and spacey disco/house tunes.
I wanted to create a kind of narration with a loose flow, touching different styles but keeping a tight aesthetic and atmosphere thru the whole mix…

You can download it by clicking the arrow on the player.
…enjoy!

passEnger – Cosmic Probe – DJ Mix by passEnger

Tracklist:

01. Roswell Return – A Goldbach Vibe (Clean Cut Remix) – [Syncom Data]
02. Vaghe Stelle – Ciclo 1 – [Margot Records]
03. Convextion – Stiletto Caress (For Yvette) – [Down Low Music]
04. Newworldaquarium – The Twenty – [Delsin]
05. Theo Parrish – Space Station – [Sound Signature]
06. Time Light Curve – Multipole Vector – [AW-Recordings]
07. CRC – Vaskitsaherra (E.R.P. Remix) – [Métisse]
08. François K. – Time & Space – [Wave] // BFC – Evolution – [Transmat]
10. BFC – Galaxy – [Transmat]
11. Octave One – Track 3 – [430 West]
12. Roswell Return – Probe 5 – [Syncom Data]
13. Raw Silk – Just In Time And Space (Dub) – [West End]
14. Nebraska – Return Of Light – [Down Low Music]

The invited artists have largely met expectations, and people really heard something more different and challenging than the usual.
Here are the links to download the recorded sets (right click + save as).

/// Annie Hall
Download: Annie Hall | Live @ JMM
From Madrid, Annie Hall demonstrated to have a sound ready for the forefront of electronic music. Precise, elegant, melodic, but with uncompromising beats and basslines. Worthy heir of Detroit electro, she showed also innovative and forward thinking soundscapes.
A new EP is just out on Semantica, and she’s currently working on new projects.
You can find her discography here: Annie Hall | Discogs
and her myspace here: Annie Hall | Myspace

/// Vaghe Stelle
Download: Vaghe Stelle | Live @ JMM
A deep, personal and uncompromising live set. Surely a sound that looks to the future, able to shape alien atmospheres, but with human presence. Vaghe Stelle is another one to look for, in the future.
In the meantime his first digital release “Cicli 1 EP” has just come out on Margot Records. Look for it on the best online stores (Beatport, Junodownload, etc.).
Vaghe Stelle | Myspace

/// passEnger+xluve

Download: passEnger+xluve | Live in the Mix @ JMM
Our set was a hybrid between a dj set and a live one, we have included tracks that inspire us and played synth and drum machine on them, creating a multilayer flow of sound.
passEnger | Myspace
xluve | Myspace

…have nice time listening, let’s comment here for any info request, feedbacks, and so on. Thanks!

/// JMM

:::::::

Your sound has clear references to the original Detroit electro sound, with its strong devotion to analogue equipment and its imaginary of technology, machines, space and future. Can you tell us how your interest in this kind of music was born? And which are the artists / records that influenced you most?
My work as a dj begins with the most purist electro, Miami Sound, robotic sounds, etc.. When I discovered the sound of Detroit it was like coming back home, because I found in it all the elements that I love in electronic music, a soul and a great flow. Everything very musical and melodic, with space and futuristic influences. All things that I love, being a lover of astronomy, physics and science since my early age. Then I started to buy Detroit techno and electro records, and they become an essential part of my sound and my luggage. These same things inspire me when I produce my music.
For what concerns my influences, it is very difficult for me to drop a few names only, because my influences are very varied and not only about Detroit. Certainly the labels that never leave my bag are Underground Resistance, Warp, Skam, Clone, Frustated Funk, Detroit Underground … As for the artists, certainly they are more diverse,since I’m not only influenced by electronic artists; to name a few, developing different styles, I would say James Stinson, Gerald Donald, Autechre, Convextion, Aphex Twin, J Dilla, Carl Finlow, Funckarma, Roy Ayers…

Going deeper into technology can you tell us some words about how you make music in your studio? How do you start a song? Which machines or software do you like to use and why?
In the moment I start composing everything depends from my state of mind: in the beginning I never know which path the composition will take.
The point is to find the sound that brings a feeling with it, and from there, in one way or another, begin to work.
At first I used only real machines (synths, drum machines, etc..), all hardware, that’s how I learned. Later I began to incorporate software and work with both at once, because I also like some digital sounds. For example, I really like using Reaktor, a software that allows you to create your own synth sounds and to build more elaborate, more digital sounds, with great strength and great opportunities for experimentation.

What about your real-life, what are you doing daily? During the day, which role does the music play for you?
Music plays a major role in my life, in every sense, even in everyday life … I listen to music at all times while working, when I drive, or simply when I lay down on the couch. I listen to all styles of music, not always electronic. My iTunes has so many different styles!
As a matter of fact at home I’m listening to everything and I can get ideas from anything, I think this is something that adds a lot to me as a producer, and helps me to overcome many limitations during the time of creation.

:::::::

Annie has also given us a recording of a dj sets to download, enjoy!

Download the dj set here.

Line up will include a favorite artist of us: Annie Hall, straight from Madrid, will headline the night with her deep melodic electro. Vaghe Stelle, from our city, will showcase his moody, alien brand of oblique techno, while xluve and me will complete the line up playing some deep detroitish stuff.

All act will perform live sets, expect a journey into the sound you usually don’t hear around.

Check out the last entry:

passEnger – As We Travel – DJ Mix by passEnger

And here’s the full blog, usually with a short explanation and tracklisting:

Cratedigga ///

Of course you can download them by clicking on the small arrow on the right.
Enjoy!

A new season for us is beginning.

We have always been interested in Live Electronic Music and the way people approach to it. During the years we have organized different club nights, happenings, listening parties and so on, in order to explore the possibilities of doing live music with electronic instruments.

In the beginning it was the “IN MY ROOM” concept, where we pushed our sound, sometimes even in a surround environment, in connection with live video manipulation, thanks our friend Roberto/Headvision.

Then the “GOOD:LIFE” series of club parties came, it was more focused on dj/live performances, hosting friends and musicians from our country (Noego, Ksoul, Alexxei’n'Nig) and from abroad (Tiny from Dresden).

In 2008/2009 we hosted the “WE ARE JUST MUSIC MAKERS” listening parties.
We invited live-only electronic artists to share with people their musical universe (not caring about musical accessibility or dancing needs), to show the machines they use, to interact with the people attending.

We had live sets from Davem, The Pure, Binary/Eniac, Slowset.

In 2009/2010 we want to follow the path traced.
We dropped “We Are”, and now here’s, simply, “Just Music Makers”.

The formula is still a simple but genuine one.
We invite 2 or 3 artists to play live at our party, and we let them the freedom to showcase their sound.
We want to break the established rule of doing either straight dance music or un-groovy listening music, by choosing special artist we love and respect for their personal visions and ideas.

The first party of the new season will take place soon.

Hope to see you there!

Just Music Makers is a PARTY in real CLUBS,
where you can listen to the music makers doing their own thing, talk with them about how they work, what they want to achieve with their music, and what they feel doing that.

Here’s Just Music Makers.
Welcome aboard!