In the summer of 1988, so legendary folklore recalls, a new kind of music appeared in abandoned warehouses, industrial units and fields across the UK. A phenomenon that would come to be known as Acid House. With direct influences from the USA especially that of Detroit and Chicago, as well as later Germany and Ibiza, it marked the dawn of the infamous and very British ‘Rave’ movement. The Second Summer of Love, as the summers of '88-'89 became known, and with the help of a little newly synthesized compound MDMA redefined nightlife for generations to come in UK clubs such as Shoom and Spectrum.
 
One of the finest and most respected House music producer / DJs the UK has ever produced, Steve Mac was inspired by this, compelling him to release his new Acid and Classic House inspired album in collaboration with many of the scenes original and seminal greats entitled ‘Bless This Acid House'.
 
This is a collection of brand new, authentic and original sounding House tracks that transport you back to a time when House music was strictly underground and burgeoning. Featuring collaborations with some of Electronic music’s most influential names including Marshall Jefferson, Irvine Welsh, E Raze, the late Sleezy D and Robert Owens. 
 
To date there have been two single releases from the album, the first is ‘Jack Said What’ containing a sample — a nod to the foundational house pillar of the mid-1980s — ‘Jack Said What’. The track also inspired the name of his Brighton based record label. It is an authentic and well produced raw house cut and an acid-tinged dancefloor slayer, filled with 303 and fizzy electro basslines which dominate throughout the track.
 
Followed by One Day’ a deep cut that has all the hallmarks of a classic — think Frankie Knuckles ‘Tears’, or ‘I’ll Be Your Friend’, with its deep and memorable male vocal. Delivering the aesthetics of a Chicago house record recorded 30-something years ago, but with some modern production techniques. The vocal comes courtesy of Robert Owens, probably the greatest house music male vocalist of them all and a man whose golden voice has set the standard on many classics. 
 
Steve Mac himself has impeccable credentials, a UK house music heavy hitter he has been a pillar of the international house community from the start. He is a DJ, Producer and Record Label Boss of 'Jack Said What' Records in partnership with the infamous Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh. With over 25 years experience, he is respected and revered for his analogue production style. Mac has released tracks for many labels including Nervous, MoS, Cr2, Tool Room, Saved, Underwaterand Ovum. His remix credentials just as strong  having worked with Jamiroquai, Simply Red and Michael Jackson’s releases over the years. More recently he has been releasing under the name These Machines — a tribute to the amount of vintage analogue hardware he has in his studio in order to produce and expertly mix down his tracks.

Spirit

Steve Mac Feat Marshall Jefferson - Spirit

Congellous, also known as Stanley T Jones, hails from Anglesey, N.Wales his musical journey began as a member of a professional B-Boy crew in his teenage years. His passion for dance music led him to frequent clubs such as Quadrant Park in Liverpool, The Hacienda, Shelly's and The Eclipse in the late '80s and early '90s, where he was inspired by the sounds of DJs such as Sasha, Andy Carroll, and Graeme Park.

In 1998, he moved into production, becoming a part of the Nu School Breaks scene under various guises, including Kush,  Orange Kush on Botchit & Scarper, Jaguar on TCR, and 60 Hz on Second Skin. He has also remixed for acclaimed artists such as King Kooba and Ninja Tunes' DJ Food and worked with live bands such as Max Rafferty's band (formerly of The Kooks).

His DJ career has taken him all over the UK and Europe, playing at venues like London's 333, Happiness Stan's, Mass (Brixton), and Custard Factory (Birmingham), as well as at events such as the World Skateboard Championships, Channel 5's Rad TV show, and the British Snowboarding Champs. He has also spun in Barcelona at Apollo, Rome's Blue Cheese, and Saas Fee in Switzerland.

Now back in full-time production, Stanley is exploring his love for Dance Music. Congellous, fusing RAVE grooves and funk that nod to the past while looking towards the future. His music has garnered support from industry heavyweights such as DJ Mag, Mixmag, Andy Weatherall, Boy George, Mary Anne Hobbs, Tayo, and Rob da Bank, among others. With his eclectic background and vast musical knowledge, Congellous is definitely a name to keep an eye on in the electronic music scene.

I make stuff in hopes of it staying out of popularity

In a basement music-making studio in the south of England sit a bunch of machines. A Moog System 15, a Juno 106, classic Roland TR-808, TB-303 and TR-909s, an Emu SP1200, a Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, Akai MPC, a Mini-Moog… these machines have been some of the foundation hardware for electronic music over the years.

But these machines can’t make music by themselves. Despite all the hype about artificial intelligence (AI) and robots, these machines need somebody to collaborate with — a human — to draw out their soul and funk.

We’ve been fascinated by machine music since the second half of the 20th century, and electronic music has been powered by the ever-developing automation of new technology. “I’ve collected these machines for a long time now, and each one has a story,” says uber-producer Steve Mac, owner of all these machines. “Every time I buy a new one, the rule is that I have to make a track with it.”

The variety of people who drop by to play on these machines are what make the music coming out of this studio so diverse. Whether it’s house music legends like Marshall Jefferson or Danny Rampling swinging by, or cult Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh laying down some vocals on a German/Scottish kosmische disco ditty; a session with dubwise breakbeat rave act Genaside II to making a track with unknown guitar n’ bass whizkid Scott Booth; from working with young house hotshots Cousn from Bristol to some songs with a Brazilian band Steve met in the pub — these machines need humans to collaborate with. They can’t do it themselves.

The above-mentioned Brazilian band member Rafael Berrio provided the impetus for ‘Martina’, a Balearic Brazilian love story that’s the first single from Steve’s new project. It’s backed by a melodic breakbeat piece that also utilises those Brazilian vibes. “I want to make music from the heart,” says Steve. “It’s the interaction of people and machines that I’m really fascinated with.”

Each of these machines is a feat of engineering. Machines like these have created countless classic electronic music cuts, and lately Steve has been adding to that cannon — with a slew of tracks ready to go. The electricity is on. The motor is running. Are you ready for the sound of These Machines?

Igor Arthuzo aka ZUTRA
Musical Producer & Graphic Designer
São Paulo/Brasil

http://www.zutra.com