That cover is loaded with possible interpretations.

Could it be the binding of a conscientious documentation of geological studies? Don’t be silly, of course it’s not. Is it a screaming declaration of self-satisfaction? Perhaps… but for now, this is the latest release off New York label Coco Machete, by up-and-comer Frederik Olufsen.

Besides leaving subliminal messages in his record covers, this industrious Dane has been a very busy boy churning out the tunage all year round. His latest “Rocks” is a squelchy slice of highly polished electro made in the spirit of dubstep.

Amid sparse percussion and wobs lifted directly off Dooms Night (Azzido da Bass happens to be a stable mate) (hyperlink) come stabs of dazzling synth and a deep, twisted vocal. It’s a tune that will work in many a situation, often changing pace but never losing its energy.

Okay, that cover is justified: Frederik Olufsen most definitely rocks. Rocks EP is available on Beatport now.

Words: Leonie Mercedes

Click below to hear an electro mix by the man himself, featuring “Rocks”, as well as Erol Alkan and Boys Noize.

Listen to the track:

Frederik Olufsen Mixtap:

The latest release on the best new label this year to be named after a vagina will please two different crowds.

London-based Snatch! Records is the brainchild of Riva Starr, an attempt to sniff out new talent and give it some well-deserved recognition. German production duo Tapesh & Maximiljan certainly are hitting a wide range with this EP, which should appeal to both the tech housers and filter fans.

“Tool de France” (not named after Nicolas Sarkozy. We checked) feels like a vintage number. Carried by a two-note loop, crisp hi-hats that dare not deviate and filters that go on forever it could be a long-lost tune recently rediscovered in the vaults of that late-90s phenomenon, that style which some insist on calling French Touch.

Where “Tool de France” grooves along pleasantly, never really building to any discernible climax, its flipside is definitely going somewhere. “Wide Range” is more of a techy affair, with a bendy bassline that bubbles beneath all the clattering drums to surface every so often in blarey swells.

While they’re both good tunes in their own right, they just don’t feel very now, darling. And while all the elements are there and get on together very well indeed, the end result is just a bit… innocuous. Nothing a good remix can’t sort though. Riva!?

Wide Range EP is released on September 7^th.

Leonie Mercedes

The last of this year’s Bank Holiday weekends may have been and gone but never is it time to lament, dear Maxumi readers. Summer is far from over, we’re sure you’ll agree as we bring you this week’s guest mix, courtesy of Dan Select.

Select has flawlessly mixed sprightly tech house and progressive in this tight 45-minute package which builds and builds, allowing the occasional luscious drop to watch the sun set to, eventually reaching an explosive climax.

Hailing from Worthing and now responsible for the merriment of many a crowd in Southampton, Select has been playing out since his teens, and in his mere 25 years has supported Yousef, X-Press 2, Lee Haslam and Grooverider.

If you’re lucky enough to be bothering the White Isle in the next couple of weeks, you can catch one of Dan Select’s sets from the 5^th to the 10^th of September. In the meantime give the summer a new lease of life and sample this select mix:

Tracklist:

Fragma DJ Jesus Luz – What Do You Want

Mauro Picotto – Go

Tomcraft – Room 414 (Can’t Get Away) (Tube and Berger remix)

Jay Lumen – Is Mine

David Guetta – Grrrr

Deadmau5 & Chris Lake – I Said

Mark Knight & Wolfgang Gartner – Conscindo

Audionatica & Fictionizer – Space (Phunk Investigation remix)

Marco V ft. Khashassi – Scenario (Daniel Portman vocal mix)

Jerome Isma-Ae – Hold That Sucker Down

http://www.myspace.com/djdanselect

Those lovely folks at be@tv not only streamed SW4 live, so if you couldn’t make it you could still see it, but all performances are kept stored on the site for you to enjoy. This includes Fatboy Slims headlining set which you can enjoy by watching below, we’ve also included Sander Van Doorn for good measure. Be@TV may require you sign up for full access but don’t worry, it only takes two ticks.

The anticipation surrounding Northern Lights, since its announcement a couple of months back, has be nothing short of huge. A combination of his exciting and stunning production skills, as evident in earlier collaborations with fellow Brit Lange such as This is New York and his own In Between Dreams, the running of arguably the UK’s most successful Trance night and his record label Garuda (also the name of the night at Sankeys) has led to the insatiable rise of Emery. 2006 was a huge year for Gareth with the beginning of his own podcast and the release of tracks such as Another you, Another Me, also a collaboration with Lange. 2008 then further cemented his reputation as world class with tracks such as the remix of Myon & Shane 54s Vampire and then 2009s Metropolis and Exposure. Fast forward to 2010 and Emery has a #9 position on the DJ Chart, surely to rise when the new results are released later in the year, and the release of his artist album Northern Lights is finally upon us.

In his own words:

“A key consideration was flow – I didn’t just want a disparate collection of tracks; I wanted to produce an album in the traditional sense that flowed from start to finish as a continuous piece of music, something you could listen to again and again. This meant I had to exclude a few tracks, not because they weren’t up to scratch, but because they didn’t fit. I’m sure we’ll find an outlet for them at a later date. And so the final cut can be broadly split into two halves. The first five tracks are slightly more reflective of the housier side of my sound; that indefinable middle ground where house, progressive, tech and trance meet. Following that, ‘Full Tilt’, serves as something of a palate cleanser, before the last four songs, which are pure, peak-time trance.” Gareth Emery, Manchester, August 2010

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In recent years music genre’s have started to amalgamate and merge and diversify in extraordinary ways. An early example would be the collaboration between Linkin Park and Jay-Z, and more recent examples would be acts such as Celldweller and even Pendulum. Now we have Cassette Jam, a 2 piece/3 piece live group who are looking to challenge the common perception on dance music with their more “band feel”, the beat sounding like that of a drum kit, the edgy pop vocals and the 80′s vibe synths, squeals and pops. Their self-titled debut album is certainly different from the usual, and the influences are clear and wide ranging. There’s definitely hints of Kraftwerk here, but also the almost Calvin Harris style vocals layered on top of the tracks, and the occasional distortion guitar hinting at a heavier Celldweller sound, especially in the brilliant Never Going Home where the vocals almost sound identical to Klayton. “We’re coming for your soul” – well it certainly feels like it!

There’s also great use of samples and little vocal titbits, dropping us into tracks where Cassette Jam cut in with the edgy titanic vibes. This is not music for the faint hearted, and the album definitely lacks the sophistication of Hybrids Disappear Here – though it certainly manages to outclass recent Calvin Harris efforts. Walk in the Dark is an odd little track, at just over two minutes long it’s almost as if they had a great idea but couldn’t quite reach it. It can’t really claim to be an indent like Getting Friendly, either, because it doesn’t really introduce us to anything. Don’t Lose Control is probably our highlight track of the album, it manages to successfully merge everything Cassette Jam were hoping to achieve into one funky, electrifying dance-rock that should easily gain the appreciation of music fans across genre.

Whilst this is not the most accomplished album, for a debut it is a remarkable effort that produces many highlights and enjoyable music which fulfils it’s objectives. These are guys who clearly know what they want to achieve, and look set to do it. We hope that Cassette Jam don’t run out of ideas and the next release will be another step up for the Leeds boys – we’ve heard they’re pretty snazzy on the decks too.

In short: A spirited attempt to create a cross-genre sound that takes the best parts of many wide ranging influences, and smashes them together with grit, determination, and awesome delivery. Cassette Jams debut album is a remarkable debut and the sure sign of great things to come.

Club goers are a funny breed of people. They might all seem completely nonchalant and normal in their every day lives, but in club-land they really show their true colours. Each belongs to a tribe, their spiritual home is their club of choice and they rarely mix with those outside their tribe. Where do you fit in?

Old-Skool Raver

You know the Old-Skool ravers, they’re the ones on the dance-floor that are at least as twenty years older than everyone else (in fact, they probably went to school with your parents). They’re at the clubs every week and generally come out alone. Nearly always on a first name basis with the bouncers (well, they have been going there since before Acid-House was even invented). Because of their vast years of experience, they can still teach you a thing or two about throwing shapes on the dance-floor and have the energy levels of a young stallion.

Hard House Stomper

It’s all cyber cyber cyber for the HHS. This generally means raiding cyber dog for fluffy knee boots, hotpants and brightly coloured, trippy-as-balls t-shirts. Often have ridiculously bright coloured hair and are almost always covered in neon body paint and flashing jewellery…fishnet is also a big favourite. Don’t be scared of them, HHS’s are about the friendliest bunch of clubbers you’ll meet but rarely ever go anywhere apart from Hard House nights…everything else is just noise to them.

Junglist

Generally tend to introduce themselves with the line, “Hi, my name is (insert name here) and I love Drum ‘n’ Bass”. They’ll listen to any music in the world…as long as it’s D’n’B and are the most laid back of all the club tribes; often sporting long hair, skater shoes and a joint at the end of the night.  A perfect night for the Junglist is jumping around at the front of a stage and shouting “Ho” every time the MC says “DJ…”

Commercial Prince and Princess

Ah, the babies of the club community. The wide-eyed ones who have just turned 18 and are sampling the delights of their first drops of Vodka Red Bull. You’ll spot the Princess wearing little more than make-up and a mini-skirt.  The boys generally reek of Lynx bought from the freshen up man in the club toilets because he told him it would impress the ladies (it doesn’t). They think David Guetta is the height of dance music and are to be found in drones throwing up on the street corners of every suburban town in the country. Commercial clubbers tend to stick together and rarely venture from their Oceanas.

Minimal Man

The MM’s main mission in life is to live in Berlin and spend every night in a sweaty basement club not dancing to minimal techno. You see, the MM doesn’t dance. He merely bobs his head up and down appreciatively to the sounds of beeps without ever moving his feet.  They are the geeks of the club world and that’s exactly how they like it. MM’s do generally tend to be men…girls just can’t appreciate all that (not)dancing that goes on.
photo credit: tadt3

Friday 27th August: Hacienda

Todd Terry, Graeme Park, Peter Hook, Dave Haslam, Rowetta (Live PA), DJ Woody

The Haçienda returns to Sankeys for an extra special August bank holiday party that sees US House legend Todd Terry back in Manchester for the first time since his last sell out show here with The Haç two years ago.  A true pioneer of dance music and a name synonymous with quality house, Todd The God headlines proceedings alongside Haçienda resident Graeme Park whilst upstairs at Sankeys sees Temperance club’s Dave Haslam showcasing his newest project “Sweet Sensation” joined by Peter Hook + Live PA from Rowetta and an exclusive Haçienda scratch set from DMC mix champion DJ Woody.

Saturday 28th August: I Love NY Bank Holiday

Roger Sanchez, Greg Vickers, Ellesse

The ‘S-Man’ is back at Sankeys in what is guaranteed to be yet another sell-out event in the back streets of Ancoats. The New York native’s latest release, ‘2Gether’ is shaping up to be one of the summers biggest tracks and proves Roger has once again reinforced his position at the forefront of the house music scene. 2010 sees him celebrating his tenth consecutive season of unadulterated, hedonistic fun in Ibiza so get your shades on and prepare to release yourself under the lights to the sounds of Mr Sanchez.

Sunday 29th August:

Tocadisco, Funkagenda plus more

Joining us for this August bank holiday is the almighty Tocadisco hailing from Germany, who has worked with the likes of Benny Benassi and David Guetta and has produced an arsenal of over 60 remixes including the likes of Tiga, Moby and New Order. His take on electro house was shown in his hit remix of “Lifetimes” by Slam in 2001 and then on his further releases on Superstar Records. Be sure to find Tocadisco playing all sorts of upcoming exclusives when he returns to Sankeys on the bank holiday.

Another force to be reckoned with, Funkagenda, is playing at Sankeys this August bank holiday. With a resume that boasts the Ibiza DJ “Best Ibiza Track 2008” and the Beatport “Best Tech House Track 2008” for his collaboration with Mark Knight “Man With The Red Face”, Funkagenda and Tocadisco will complement each other incredibly for what will be one of the biggest nights in August.

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