Pauls Sawyers 50th.  I was invited to play for Paul's 50th and i was unsure what to play. The party was full of all our old friends from way back to the early 90's.  Phil Youngman Ripped it up playing some golden oldies. I had folders of new stuff, vocal stuff knowing Paul loves his vocals. Backup folders and backup folders just in case i needed to go in a certain direction.  I was playing last after Paul Sawyer who had also ripped it up and David Ricardo who flew in from Italy. So thought why not smash out the oldies.  I had spent some time at home going through my vinyl collection and digitising the best of the best.  Tweaking the EQ's a little then recording it to digital file just for the party.  I had James Zabiela and Tom Budden train spotting from the back of the dance floor.  Everyone was in the party mode.  These old tunes still rocked big time.   This mix was recorded Sunday night as i was in the mood for a mix.  Some of the mixes are a little rough as i still had to work them despite them now being digitised.  An instant time machine back to the best days of our lives young and free.  Dancing every weekend in the only club in town called the Rhino.  Would love to hear your feedback.

PAUL SAWYERS 50th - MOONFACE Vinyl Classics set - May 2023

I've been listening to electronic music since I was old enough to tune into the John Peel show on Radio 1. Peel first introduced me to Chicago House, Detroit Electro and Rap. I would listen to an entire show with my finger hovering over the record button of my 'tape-recorder' close to the radio speaker just to record whatever 3 electronic imports he would play each night. I wish I'd kept those recordings.
From the moment I first heard 'Roxanne Shante' I sought out everything I could ranging from Kraftwerk, Mike Oldfield, Kurtis Mantronik, Africa Bambata, Grandmaster Flash, Gorgio Morodor, Axel-F, Jean Michel Jarre and just about anyone who used a synth to make music! With the arrival of House in the mid-late 80's the likes of Marshall Jefferson, Frankie Knuckles, Farley Jackmaster Funk, Steve Silk Hurley, Adonis and many more American underground House producers, the music had developed into a new, seriously exciting phenomena.
Music progressed at pace with House and Acid imports driving change, the UK in particular underwent an epiphany of sorts in the 80's and 90's. From Break-Dancing to New Romanticism, the music developed, finally morphing into the early genres of Acid Trance, Techno and Progressive Trance. Heavily influenced by American and underground Dutch and German artists and with the advent of clubbing and non-speaking mixing DJ's, it opened up a Pandora's box of new music, influences, sounds and styles. What that amounted to for me (and most others like me) was an ever-growing range of electronic music that was continually breaking free from pigeon-holes and mainstream pop culture. Electronic music had become the new classical music of a generation.
I can only say that electronic or computer music has evolved beautifully in the past 40 years and I love it as much now as the day I first heard John Peel play fantastic American imports.
I'm not anything more than a bedroom DJ and electronic music enthusiast. I have the greatest admiration for those who DJ publicly and seek to build a following or career from DJing, but that’s not a path I’ve tried to follow. I do love to put together great tunes, so for me using this sort of platform for sharing music is perfect for me. I do mixes both on my decks and using Ableton, as sometimes I find it easier to create a journey through that medium. 
As for making music, I’m slowly finding my way around Ableton in order to bring life to the musical ideas rolling around my head. 
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the mixes I post, please give me some feedback and if nothing else, support the artists themselves and buy their music.

Angrish

Updated August 2024

Deeply entrenched with more than 30 years in the music industry, Phil MOONFACE Thompson is transcendent with hope and positivity. Phil’s online catalogue is growing with a stack of MOONFACE releases, not forgetting remixes and DJ compilations and endless online mixes. 

His early exposure to the superstars saw Sasha choosing “U Get So Give” for his legendary Essential Mix 2000 and then Bedrock's John Digweed signing “Futurized Fears” and “Overactive” as a double A side for his then brand new Bedrock label. Following the first 12” came a mini album called "BETWEEN WORLDS" on all formats selling out globally way before the digital age just before the Internet. 

Many top DJs from Lee Burridge, Athony Pappa, Danny Howells to Danny Tenaglia, Hernan Cattaneo to Carl Cox supported the MOONFACE sound back in the golden age of dance music.

Phil then became the new Bedrock resident covering about 5 years warming up monthly in London and Brighton taking over from Howells. As well as touring the globe on the best DJ agency at the time playing at many festivals and events flying the MOONFACE flag. Playing hot spots in Bali, Japan, Russia, Eastern Europe, Georgia, Greece, Malta, South America. Holding up a long-term residency at the legendary Decadance club Thessaloniki, Greece.  

Then came his single "Across the Gulf of Space" released on Bedrock 18 -Signals compilation.  Also current releases and remixes for Future Avenue on remix duties for up and coming Bristol star Tojogo.  Along with releases on Critical Elements, Krafted, If You Wait, ASTIR, Gibbon and Mirabilis, Wolf Trap & Mindwarp, Stripped Digital. 

Back in December 2020 Phil self released for the first time a new double album exclusively on Bandcamp called "PUSHOVER MANKIND".   A collection of 8 weird abstract chill out styled tracks, along with 8 dance floor underground styled tracks. Limited signed & numbered double CD albums are still available. 

2021 John Digweed played a MOONFACE track called U HAVE TO CHANGE in his Miami set playing B2B with Sasha.  This is a unique typical MOONFACE styled uplifting melodic summer time journey.  This track also features on Phil's BBC Radio 1 late night Wind Down set you can now find on YouTube.  Also in 2021 Phil got to work on a remix for the legendary Jan Johnston called One Step Beyond.  This was an original track by Paul Sawyer who had the chance to work with Jan on a number of original vocal tracks.
June 2023 Phil released a fresh new concept album on Sounds of Krafted called FAKE PLANET.  Featuring 14 MOONFACE original unique tracks taking you on a deep hypnotic journey.  You can hear the continuous mix on his Phil MOONFACE Thompson Soundcloud page.

2024 sees Phil continue hosting his FUTURIZED monthly show on Frisky Radio plus presenting his LIVE STREAM shows where he invites DJ mates to play sets via Mixcloud whenever the timing works out with his mates.   Also a brand new original track on a brand a new UK label called Critical Elements.  A remix for Rate & Flow called Deal With It. On top of that Phil has made a brand new remix of his own original track released on Bedrock back in 2001 called Naan Madol. Soon to be available on Bandcamp.
With all the music Phil creates and the DJ mixes he consistently records,  he still loves to Dj but is very selective in where he plays these days.   Playing in the Netherlands for DepGlobe and his now massive Dutch Dj Progressive collective is an honour to say the least..

PAUL SAWYERS 50th - MOONFACE Vinyl Classics set - May 2023

Phil Moonface Thompson