The full version of the text below can be read here - thequietus.com/articles/22925-optimo-20-mix-listen

As well as 2017 being the 20th anniversary of Optimo it is also 30 years since I started DJ’ing, in Edinburgh in the summer of 1987.

It had never crossed my mind to be a DJ and I fell into it quite by accident. Myself and several friends were devoted attendees at a sub basement club in Edinburgh’s Cowgate called The Backroom that started in 1986. It was the first club where we truly felt at home musically and that was frequented by people we felt comfortable being around. The resident DJs, Bill & Bobby, had been playing around Edinburgh for years and had phenomenal taste and abilities to play exactly the right records in the right order at the right time. After a year or so of religiously attending, my good friend Macky noticed a poster announcing they were looking to audition people to play the first two hours of the night. Macky suggested we audition and initially I point blank refused, partly because the idea terrified me and partly because it held little appeal to me at that time. He persisted and eventually I agreed being fairly confident that our total lack of experience would be so apparent that we would never get the gig. Over the next few weeks they auditioned various people by letting them play the start of the night and somehow we were picked to be the new warm up DJs. Yikes!

So began an uninterrupted trend of being part of a DJ duo, and every Saturday night I would get the bus through from Glasgow where I had now moved to study and Macky and I would take turns to play a few records each to a generally completely disinterested audience. Our fee for playing was £25 and I would get £15 as I had to travel through from Glasgow and Macky took a tenner. Once I realised how much I was enjoying doing it I would have happily played for free.

So, what was I playing back then? Well, I kept quite a detailed diary in those days and would write down the records I played each week. From those diary entries I have put together a mix of what I might have played in my first ever set had I had the technical knowledge or ability to actually be a mixing DJ at that time. Though the music played was very diverse, we were all particularly into records with advanced production that sounded state of the art at the time and we used the term Electrobeat to describe the core sound that we were really into. The term didn’t catch on and neither did the music. The club was very popular but the people who came generally did not like weird records they did not know, were quite averse to drum machines and I’d often hear people grumbling about us playing “that drum machine crap”, a scenario which is of course in complete reversal 30 years on.

So, here are 30 tracks mixed together that were the sound of my late teenage years that I tried to turn people on to 30 years ago. Most of the records in this mix would lie dormant on my shelves for the next 20 years but in the last 10 years or so a surprising number have found their way back into my sets and finally found an appreciative audience and sound as good, if not better today than they did 30 years ago.

There is no tracklisting but I don’t think there is anything wildly obscure or rare in the mix. I could have pretended I was playing lots of lesser known records back then, but this is a 100% genuine round up of what I was actually playing in 1987. The two tracks without a drum machine are the only ones which were anything like bonafide dancefloor hits for me at The Backroom at the time. I have also included one (loop from a) track my then co-DJ, Macky used to play lots and also a Bill & Bobby classic. The mix is available to download as a 320 mp3. For a bit of bonus fun I have included one track that wasn’t released until 1988. If anyone can identify which one it is they will win a prize.

JD Twitch - 1987 reimagined (30 year anniversary mix)

Italian duo Hard Ton are a flamboyant synthesis of acid house, disco-diva vocals, and queer performance art. “Blame It On The E” is a previously-unreleased acid and piano-driven gem from Hard Ton’s back catalog. Originally incorporated into a DJ mix by Dimitri From Paris, “Blame It On The E” is seeing official release for the first time with an EP on Friends With Benefits Records. The release includes new remixes of the title track from Berlin-based Juan Ramos (Cocktail d’Amore, ESP Institute) and FWB label head the Prey (formerly known as David Sylvester). The EP also includes a special bonus track: the previously-unreleased Matrixxman dub of “We Got Luv.”

Credits:
Written and produced by: Hard Ton
Additional Remix Production by: Matrixxman, Juan Ramos, the Prey
Mastered by: Ben Versluis
Cover Art by: Hard Ton

Blame It On The E (MP3)

Buy HQ on Beatport

Hard Ton - Blame It On The E (The Prey Remix)

*release date:* 27. Oct. 2017
*artist:* Borusiade
*title:* Silent
*format:* 12" / Digital
*cat. no:* Cómeme 042

Silent is the new single by Miruna Boruzescu aka Borusiade from Bucharest. Silent is a suffocated cry. Silent as in silence that is hard to take. Sitting and waiting in silence, while exploding on the inside. Silent as in silence before the storm. An intense track that recalls industrial spaces, hedonism, sweat, sex and disconnection from the outside world. The rattling sound of ghost train passing by, or big reverberated factory machines unleashed. Body music 2017.

Borusiade - Silent

Downtempo. Moody. Sexy. Opening basement set for sneaks2017.

BeyaSneaks2017

Listen to Kate Miller live at the next Oscillate on the 25th of November 2017 at ://about blank, Berlin.

https://soundcloud.com/katemiller

Oscillate on Resident Advisor
www.residentadvisor.net/promoter.aspx?id=46183

Oscillate on Facebook
www.facebook.com/oscillatemusic?ref=hl

Oscillate on Instagram
www.instagram.com/oscillat_e/

Oscillate Podcast N°24 selected and mixed by Kate Miller

Interview + Download:  http://truantsblog.com/2017/truancy-volume-194-dj-lag/

Soundcloud: @djlaggqomking

Over the past two years, the coastal city of Durban in South Africa has spearheaded the sound of the rapidly growing gqom scene. Throughout Durban townships, the percussive mixture of hip-hop and house elements had primarily spread through a series of file-sharing sites, with Facebook groups and WhatsApp threads acting as hotspots for sharing artists' latest creations. In one of gqom's more fascinating ascents, local taxi companies – in an attempt to seem more attractive to rival departments – started playing gqom in their minivans, as wonderfully highlighted in the YouTube documentary Woza Taxi - Gqom Secret Stash Out Of The Locations. In the same way the internet and social sharing helped gqom reach new audiences throughout Durban, gqom soon found itself spreading across the globe, with labels and journalists in London and Rome quickly championing the sound. One of the genre's most prominent producers – a merit that's propelled his reputation as the 'King of Gqom' – is DJ Lag. Our 194nd Truancy Volume is a storming snapshot of the relentless dynamism of gqom and DJ Lag's masterful presentation of the sound. We're incredibly proud to have a true pioneer as part of the series and we had the pleasure of speaking to DJ Lag about the mix he has kindly provided us with.

http://truantsblog.com

Truancy Volume 194: DJ Lag

We're at Concrete in Paris on November 18th for a 28 hour party with Daphni, Francois X, Keita Sano, Bambounou and more.

Parisian favourite Théo Muller delivers an hour of sophisticated house sounds to whet your appetite for the weekend.

Ahead of the party we spoke with Brice, Concrete's booker, to find out what his club is all about. 

1. How would you describe your music policy?

We keep progamming house & techno basics, because it's important, especially for the young generation. But we're also trying to dig the new vibes (even if some of them are just revivals) and push them as much as we can, because it's the only way to drive music forward. 
  
We highlighted the Romanian scene a lot some years ago. Then, we've been part of this techno resurgence in Paris.  We've been also one of the first clubs to bring LIES artists like Ron Morelli or Steve Summers in Europe some years ago. Lately we pushed a lot the new diggers scene, bringing guys like Andrew James Gustav, Spacetravel or Omar...and in the same time pushing this electro/IDM comeback. 

At the moment, I really like the slo-mo music from artists like Vladimir Ivkovic or Phuong Dan. It's definitely something I wanna push in 2018. 


2. What makes a great party?

I wish I knew the answer... but a good Sunday afternoon at Concrete, with some good music, some good friends, and a bottle of Tequila, will never be a bad one. ;)


3. What does your club stand for, and how do you express that?

Our very first fight was to make our culture understood by the "outside world" and the institutions. We made a lot of progress during the past 6 years. This year we received the 24 hour licence, which is a very good point, but in the same time, a new law has been voted to force all the clubs and festivals to turn down the sound from 105db to 102db. We are now fighting to make this law cancelled.
 
The second fight is also an educational one, but oriented toward our own crowd. We are standing for open mindedness and against any form of preconceived ideas. We're trying to make people understand that they have to stop staying in their comfort zone. Think outside the box, listen to some new artists and new music you dont know yet, and dance and have fun with different people (all kind of different people). 

4. What’s your favourite memory of the club?

When we re-opened the club in 2014, with the new DJ booth and the new soundsystem. I still got goosebumps when I think about that moment.

RA / Concrete: Théo Muller

@bretbowerman

You’re supposed to start with a warm-up weight but the gym is just swimming with ‘roids today. Feeling the pressure you decide to push it. You load two 45rs each onto the bar and slide underneath. Adjusting your body in Bruce Lee style body pops, you feel the heat from your crotch creep as your gym shorts give peak-a-boos to a lifter across the bench. Bench press is definitely for bottoms. Gripping, your index fingers at the head of the pack and your palms the back-up shooters you inhale air deep into your chest. Here it is, the cold metal trust-fall. Set 1 always tells you where you have been and what you haven’t been doing. Set 1 is decieveing and errily honest at the same time. Rep 1 is where you notice that slight ping in your right shoulder, you have no idea where it came from but it has been with you for months, killing your focus and form. 6. 7. 8. That was easy, the juices are flowing, your body radiates oxygenated blood cells and all of a sudden this podcast is seemingly playing in a bigger room. Set 2 is when you catch a glance - the peacocking of trade in your direction. He is lifting using a machine. Real dancers use free-weights, you need all the stability you can get. 4. 5. Shit, your body is giving out - Rep 5 is always the stumble in your step. Pushing past the thought of last week's dry sauna gets you to your final rep. Set 3 is when the beads of sweat start to push open the double-doors of the venue and slowly make their ways to the cabs waiting outside your forehead. Fuck them hoes, you came to party. You can feel your chest finally. The sound of high-hats tick off like flashing lights as your elevator climbs, floor by floor. You push out an over the top breath, one you can’t hear because the music is too loud, but you can imagine it does the Serena’s justice. These days, a transition happens usually every 5 minutes in a mix, so it seems plausible you’re already on set 4, the main event. Pushing to the point of giving out, the endorphins make everything sound like Chariots on Fire. Head back, the clink of the rack signifies exhaustion, temples pulsing. You ride out the beat knowing yourself better then you did shortly ago. Wiping down the seat you watch your sweat ghost evaporate. Now your favorite part of this session is done, but at least this mix isn't.

Honey Soundsystem Potcast

HNYPOT 248: Bret Bowerman's Confetti Cypher Mix

All-vinyl studio mix for ultrawizardsword.net.

Track List: 
Tim Toh & Ranavalona - All I See [Ornaments]
Planet Gong - 	Solutionz [Djax-Up-Beats]
Photek - Glamourama [Astralwerks]
Crowdpleaser ft. Wamian Kaïd - Nenekri (Multi Culti Remix) [Multi Culti]
Jichael Mackson - Piepe [Hartchef Discos]
HOSTOM 001 - B [Hostom]
Nail - Till The Feelings Gone [99:Wave]
Gino Soccio - Dancer [Warner Bros. Records]
Lee Douglas - Same Changes [Rong Music]
Downtown Party Network - Into Your Face [Eskimo Recordings]
Nick Chacona - Eagle City [Internasjonal]
DJ Qu ft. Josh Milan & Peven Everett - The Way [Strength Music Recordings]
Stereogamous ft. Shaun J. Wright - Face Love Anew (Discodromo Remix) [HNYTRX/CockTail d'Amore Music]
VDT - It's Just A Dream (Alptraum Mix) [Poker Flat Recordings]
The Mole People - Break Night [Strictly Rhythm]
Jorge Zamacona - Effort #3 [Mosaic]
Redshape - Son Of A… [Present]
Prins Thomas - Guade Loop [Rong Music] (Edit of Amon Düül II's "Da Guadeloop")
Pépé Bradock - Deep Burnt [white label]
J-Pan -	Ghouls (Original JiiHoo Bootmix) [Kojak Giant Sounds]
Nthng - Untitled (Human Pt. II) [Lobster Theremin]
HOSTOM 003 - A [Hostom]
Bruh Jackman	- Of The Sun [Paradise Club]
The Juan Maclean - Give Me Every Little Thing (Eric B. Deep Dub) [DFA/Astralwerks]
The Mole - Lockdown Party (DJ Sprinkles' Crossfaderama) [Perlon]

ultrawizardsword.net

ultrawizardsword 2017

Interview: http://www.ayli-sf.com/2017/11/22/ayli-podcast-71-trevor-sigler/
https://www.residentadvisor.net/events/1022918
https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/trevorsigler
@tsigler3441

As You Like It Podcast

AYLI Podcast #71 - Trevor Sigler

Excerpt from my DJ set recorded live at https://soundcloud.com/believe-you-me at the Liquor Store in Portland on January 12, 2018.

Huge thanks to https://soundcloud.com/andydwarren and https://soundcloud.com/ginkgo for having me, https://soundcloud.com/garrettrowley for warming up the floor just right, and especially all the dancers who made it such an incredible night!

Tracklist: 
Ion Ludwig - Wolfsburger Road [Tabla Records]
Hostom 001 - A [Hostom]
Janeret - Interstellar [YYK]
Vincen - Hoshizora [YYY]
Jichael Mackson - Schnurz [Hartscheff Discos]
Depeche Mode ‎- The Sinner In Me (Ricardo Villalobos Conclave Remix) [white label]
Justin Martin - Nightowl (Manoo And François A Remix) [Buzzin' Fly Records]
Will Saul / Mike Monday - Zippo (Main Mix) [Buzzin' Fly Records]
I:Cube	- VVV [Versatile Records]
DJ Ali - That's The Break [Deepen Discs]

Photo by Stacey Threlkeld.

Believe You Me

Believe You Me 1-12-18

Friends With Benefits Records curates forward-thinking techno and house designed to galvanize dancefloors.

We strive to carry the torch lit by dance music’s founders: the queers and people of color whose innovative productions provided escape from the oppression of everyday life. Their music is the heartbeat of nightclubs that serve as safe havens for community building and authentic self-expression. 

We stand in opposition to the whitewashing, commoditization, and appropriation of dance music culture. Our mission is to deliver techno and house music that creates joy, nourishes community, confronts systemic oppression, and inspires you to jack your body. 

FWB Records was founded in San Francisco in 2013 by David Sylvester, Mat Love, and Trevor Sigler.

Hard Ton - Blame It On The E (The Prey Remix)

fwbrecords

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