I?ve recently stolen away enough time to start working on a new mix CD. This one will be entitled back to the party. The last two mixes that I?ve done (while musically diverse) have been very contemplative and introspective in nature. I wanted to do something different this time around. I?ve been long overdue for a celebration. I know of others going through this life that feel the same. So this one?s for all of us who just want to blow off some steam, throw our hands in the air, and surrender to a good beat. I?ve been describing the mix as ?a lo-fi booty shake session.? I just wanted to make a mix for heads to get their groove on to. It was largely inspired by two different events that I spun at. The first was Sound Unity Project 2 (three days of music and camping), which occurred last July in Upstate New York. The second was a party in Poughkeepsie, NY called Squeeshee back on January 31st of this year. Both hold a special place in my heart for different reasons and the playlist consists of a number of songs that were a part of my sets at these functions.

The mix will be about 80 minutes long and will include house, techno, disco, soul, and funk tunes. The process of recording has been a bit unorthodox, however. Usually I record live from two turntables and a CD player straight to tape. After that, I dump everything into the computer and try to clean up the sound. I currently only have one turntable, so I?ve been recording each song individually into my four-track mixer and working the segues that way. IT?S HELLA WEIRD. And kinda feels like cheating. But I didn?t want to bug anybody else in terms of using their setup. That and I?m impatient. I can?t see myself waiting around to record until I either buy a new turntable or get the old one fixed (which could cost more than just buying a new one, in some cases). I suppose that?s what I get, but with the way I work, I can make inferior equipment do some pretty impressive things. But this is the first and last time I?ll record a mix under these circumstances.

Still mixing down the audio, which hopefully won?t be too painful. The 2nd part has already turned out louder and more bottom heavy (mucho bass) than I would like, but the show must go on. We?ll see what comes out in the wash. I want to record a mix after this that?s more experimental, but that will be further down the line and with a more traditional dj setup. Anyway, here?s what made the cut for the latest mix. I hope to have it online by early August, perhaps even before that if time permits. Enough of my babbling, peep the playlist:

mouse on mars*diskdusk*thrill jockey
metro area*dance reaction*environ
the nick straker band*a little bit of jazz*prelude
cookie monster & the girls*c is for cookie (sweet version)*ninja tune (uk)
roy ayers*running away*polydor
cosmic rocker vs. zeb*hashish*codek
djinji brown*chango?s house*seven heads
aardvarck*non spoken (track b1)*delsin (the netherlands)
claro intelecto*tria*ai (uk)
the soft pink truth*soft pink missy*soundslike (uk)
the rapture*killing*dfa
liquid liquid*optimo*soul jazz (uk)
the soul searchers*blow your whistle*harmless (uk)
the joe cuba sextet*bang! bang!*tico
$tinkworx*whut*down low
ezekiel honig*cape cod getaway (john tejada remix)*microcosm music
matthew dear*in unbending*spectral sound
akufen*in dog we trust*force inc. (germany)
!!!*intensifieder ? sunracapellectrohshitmix ?03*touch & go
serge gainsbourg*marabout (bob sinclar remix)*mercury (france)
underworld*rez*wax trax!/tvt
carl craig*tres demented*planet e communications

Earlier this month, a friend of mine threw a surprise party for their girlfriend. Got her good, too, I might add. Anyway, he was having a few friends spin records and wanted me to bring some wax. Being in the midst of deciding whether or not I should hang up the headphones for good, I said yes. And I?m glad I did. I arrived all glum and left super psyched. Good vibes, great people, and fantastic sounds. I brought some stuff that people knew and some they didn?t. All in all, I was pleased with the set and the heads in attendance were extremely supportive. I?m glad I didn?t chicken out ? it was good to be there.

Perhaps the secret to continuing to tag the tables is strictly house parties and loft parties. Maybe an outlaw if the right set of circumstances presents itself. At this point, a bar would have to really special in order to get me to spin there. I don?t like bars and I like bar owners even less. At any rate, my appetite for music is back ? BIG TIME. Been making mix tapes and CDs for friends and having a lot of fun doing so. Sharing music on a smaller scale is another element to all of this that I can?t overlook. But I really ought to give props to my man Fitz who reminded me that music will always be there whenever you need it. No matter how occupied you become with other aspects of your life, it will always welcome you back with open arms. It won?t bring up how you never called while you were away or anything like that. It wants your time with it to be creative and fun, and when it?s not, there?s something wrong.

It was the reminder that I desperately needed this month and it came at just the right time. Thank you, Fitz.

*brought back like lazarus* / saturday, may 8, 2004
{dj set at a friend?s surprise birthday party}

snares man!*clearance bin*history of the future
daedalus*busy signal (make you go bombing mix)*eastern developments
the pointer sisters*pinball number count (dj food re-edit)*ninja tune (uk)
prefuse 73*why I love you*warp (uk)
the prunes*not what you think*new breed
baba*let it shine*velour
a tribe called quest*spirits*jive/rca
dj krush*meiso (radio mix)*mo?wax (uk)
open thought*force of life w/Michael Erwin (trumpet)*wide hive
zeb/crnobrnja*sublime porkrinds*codek
quannum feat. lyrics born & the poets of rhythm*I changed my mind (stereo mcs rattlesnake mix)*quannum
headshock*do the jazz again*new breed
soul II soul*back to life (acapella) / jazzie?s groove*virgin
sharpshooters*bye bye porkpie*conception
moments and whatnauts*girls (part I)*stang
james brown*soul power pt. 1*king
marvin gaye*T plays it cool*tamla
jimmy edgar*morris nightingale theme*warp (uk)
deee-lite*say ahhh?*elektra
aretha franklin*rock steady (danny krivit re-edit)*ibadan
deee-lite*apple juice kissing*elektra
ballistic brothers vs. eccentric afros*blacker (94 eq)*delancey street (uk)
liquid liquid*cavern (the cut chemist rocks a rave in a missile silo remix)*mo?wax (uk)
bobby byrd*i know you got soul*king
cookie monster & the girls*c is for cookie (sweet version)*ninja tune (uk)
talking heads*once in a lifetime*sire
dj smash*say ow*new breed
the rapture*killing*dfa
manu dibango*soul makossa*atlantic
mr. scruff & mark rae*the squirrel*grand central (uk)

SOUNDSCRAPER SANCTUARY @ MADAME X
.the positive effects of operation one mo? ?gin.
Playlist for Tuesday, March 30, 2004 / 8pm-12:30am
*while tag teaming with Soundscraper, I added the following tracks to the mix?*

leroy and the drivers*the sad chicken*luv ?n? height
lunchbox*brown bag*the agriculture

ezekiel honig*hibernate*anticipate recordings
matthew dear*but for you*spectral sound

dj food*consciousness (cosmic conscious)*ninja tune (uk)
domu*groovesome*2000 black (uk)

nightcrawlers*push the feeling on (the dub of doom)*great jones
jamiroquai*you give me something (full intention club mix)*epic

moloko*sing it back (herbert?s tasteful dub)*ministry of sound (uk)
deee-lite*call me*elektra
the rapture*I need your love*dfa

somatik*diamondstone*2000 black (uk)
tosca*honey (bigga bush dub)*!k7
freakniks*kalimba*scenario (uk)
the avalanches*electricity*xl (uk)
karen ramirez*troubled girl*giant step
djinji brown*mojuba*seven heads

matthew dear*dog days (pantytec interpretation)*spectral sound
claro intelecto*peace of mind*ai (uk)
peel seamus*artemis (outbound mix)*delsin (the netherlands)

brothers and systems*half 4 me, half 4 u*nettwerk
willie bobo*fried neckbones and some home fries (dan the automator remix)*verve

suba*felicidade (buscemi remix)*guidance recordings
sade*by your side (ben watt lazy dog remix)*epic

cassius*cassius 99 remix (radio edit)*astralwerks
archie shepp*blues for brother george jackson (mondo grosso next wave extended remix)*verve

osbourne*daylight*spectral sound
metro area*we also not*tigersushi (france)

neap all stars*u r the one*surplus (uk)
p?taah*crossing (evacuation of form) (opaque remix)*ubiquity

towa tei*let me know (mighty bop remix)*elektra
cornelius*drop*matador

so what are the odds that the premiere of Soundscraper Sanctuary at its new location would land on the same day as a freak snowstorm? apparently, pretty good.

the work day at the job drove me nuts, the record bag was too heavy, and i totally didn't feel like going once i got out of work, but by the end of the night, i was so happy that i stuck it out. some friends actually braved the weather and came out. random strangers and bar regulars in and out. certainly not as traffic-heavy as the spot usually is, but under the strange and foul weather conditions, anybody that made their way out was to be commended. as far as i'm concerned, Enrique and i kicked Murphy's law square in the ass. we vibe so well in the mix. he's my favorite person to tag with. we always come away learning something from each other. we seem to be in a world beat state of mind at the moment. lots of Latin and Brazilian flavors in the cut. plus i tried my hand at more future soul joints (what most would call "broken beat" at the moment). that's definitely my flavor right now.

anyway, here's a rundown of what i played on our first night at the downtown location. please note: THIS LIST IS NOT IN ORDER. couldn't possibly remember the exact order in which songs were played (certainly not over 4.5 hours), but i did keep track of everything i played.

SOUNDSCRAPER SANCTUARY @ MADAME X
>.blowing raspberries in the face of mother nature and murphy's law.< Playlist for Tuesday, March 16, 2004 / 8pm-12:30am
*while tag teaming with Soundscraper, i contributed the following tracks to the mix...*

COMPACT DISC:
brothers and systems*trace element*nettwerk
soul II soul*keep on movin?*virgin
tipsy*space golf*asphodel
jimmy luxury and the tommy rome orchestra*sentimental guy*work/sony
p.m. dawn*amnesia*karmis
jazzanova*another new day*jcr (germany)
deee-lite*say ahhh?*elektra
antenna*going out*guidance recordings
the mighty bop*sans remission feat. la funk mob*quango
kruder & dorfmeister*high noon*g-stone (austria)
lacarno & burns*mahayana*ism
nuspirit helsinki*makoomba*guidance recordings
tranquility bass*cantamilla*ffrr/london

VINYL:
cosmo vitelli*we don?t need no smurf here*solid (france)
the avalanches*since I left you*elektra
zeb*swimming pool*codek
tony allen vs. kraked unit*the man with the drum*comet (france)
courtney pine*the in-sense song (raw deal remix)*talkin? loud (uk)
jimi tenor*wear my bikini*warp (uk)
secret frequency crew*deep blue (eli-173 remix)*counterflow
stereolab*miss modular (automator mix)*elektra
thievery corporation*illumination*esl
nina simone*see-line woman (masters at work remix)*verve
femi kuti*what will tomorrow bring (joe claussell mix)*mca
808 state feat. bjork*ooops*tommy boy
why sheep?*earthborn (recloose remix)*third ear (japan)
p?taah*crossing - evacuation of form (opaque remix)*ubiquity
beatless*the truth part two (mono uptempo mix)*ubiquity
bugz in the attic feat. wunmi*zombie*bitasweet (uk)
dj rels*diggin? in brownswood*stones throw/goya (uk)
dizzy gillespie*manteca (the funky lowlifes extended remix)*verve
betty carter*naima?s love song (dj spinna remix)*verve
kirk degiorgio presents as one*undefeated*ubiquity
donnie*masterplan*giant step

Big Sur is a quiet conundrum of a location. No, not the one in California, but the bar/restaurant/lounge/gallery that I spin at sometimes on the upper east side of Manhattan. It?s a place that should be downtown: Greenwich Village dwellers would love it. Instead, it?s located on the corner of East 80th Street and 3rd Avenue, which may as well be another state to people downtown.

Spinning is fantastic when I tag team with my man Enrique alias Soundscraper. We connect quite well in the mix. However, he didn?t show last night. I was not expecting that. I decided to save my back and bring only CDs down to the venue (besides, I didn?t feel like bringing all my records to a venue which isn?t even busy half the damn time). I just barely made four hours with the CDs that I had.

I can never get a good read on the owner, but he seemed to really enjoy what I played last night, mainly because it was all uptempo and energetic. Most of the set was, anyway. I think he has an allergic reaction to anything under 120 beats per minute. Anyway, he was even jumping around a bit behind the bar last night. Whatever he was drinking put him in a good mood, I guess. Some nights when I?m there, he completely ignores me. Any and all conversation is held for Enrique and who ever the owner?s hanging out with. Seeing as how I was the only one supplying the music, it?s not as if the silent treatment would work last night.

This set doesn?t entirely represent me in the mix. The set I did at Squeeshee ? that?s all me. Not only that, but it?s me having fun giving the younger heads some bangin? tunes while throwing in older joints and being diverse and making it all work. The set below is part me, part Big Sur sound. So there are some techno bordering on trance cuts that I wouldn?t play normally, but it?s stuff within my personal collection that I listen to from time to time that would work at this place. More importantly, I know they?ll keep the manager from saying, ?I don?t like this record, change it.? So you pull a mind game in the mix and meet people halfway. Also, I would let most of the songs play in their entirety before others in. Big Sur?s on the quiet side and the people need to hear themselves talk, so the music is strictly background fodder. Any other place where the vibe is more conducive to dancing, I?d be switching things up every 3-5 minutes.

Anyway, Enrique and I may move to a spot downtown in March. I really need to find out what happened to him last night?

SOUNDSCRAPER SANCTUARY @ BIG SUR
Playlist for Tuesday, February 24, 2004
*solo flight: a strictly CD set / 7pm-11pm*

ryuichi sakamoto*borom gal*virgin
cornelius*drop*matador
ezekiel honig*i like sitting*anticipate recordings
stardust*music sounds better with you (bob sinclar remix)*virgin (france)
sextravaganza*hey you!*tribal america
antenna*going out*guidance recordings
soul II soul*holdin? on*virgin
daft punk*voyager*virgin
matthew dear*but for you*spectral sound
phoenix*if i ever feel better*source/astralwerks
ski*ain?t gonna justify (short trip to space mix)*wall of sound (uk)
brothers and systems*opium dentine*nettwerk
dj vadim*london mindstate*ninja tune (uk)
cassius*hey babe*astralwerks
d.o.p.*non stop*guerilla
daisy glow*theme from daisy glow*ffrr/london
towa tei*let me know (mighty bop remix)*elektra
opus III*it?s a fine day*eastwest
deee-lite*runaway (acapella ? beat)*elektra
deee-lite*call me*elektra
m.j. cole*strung out*island
ultramarine*skyclad*rough trade (uk)
takuya*jaaz airport (charlie dark remix)*ism
underground resistance*jupiter jazz*tresor
various artists*transitions (tracks 6-8)*ism
3 phase*open your mind*tresor
sl2*dj?s take control (dj seduction remix)*xl
meat beat manifesto*it?s the music*nothing
cassius*nulife*astralwerks
playgroup*make it happen*astralwerks
daft punk*digital love*virgin
com.munikation*controle*red antenna
mindgear*don?t panic (the whole story mix)*tresor
m.j. cole*free my mind*island
various artists*transitions (tracks 3-5)*ism
kicks like a mule*the bouncer (housequake mix)*xl
kenneth graham*carrier wave*spectral sound
nuspirit helsinki*makoomba*guidance recordings
3mb feat. juan atkins*die kosmischen kuriere*tresor
hawke*3 nudes (having sex on acid)*ffrr/london

SOUNDSCRAPER SANCTUARY @ BIG SUR
Playlist for Tuesday, February 19, 2004
*while not in exact order, this is everything that I played
while tag teaming with Soundscraper that night?*

ezekiel honig*cape cod getaway*CD-R
hugh masekela*mama (metro area birthday dub)*verve
mm black feat. roy ayers*2000 black*2000 black (uk)
isolee*it?s about*freundinnen (germany)
brothers and systems*trace element*nettwerk
soul II soul*happiness (dub)*virgin
roy ayers*running away*polydor
the nick straker band*a little bit of jazz*prelude
giant step*satsuki*eightball
johnny copeland orchestra*atmosphere strut*p&p
metro area*dance reaction*environ
tony allen vs. boozoo bajou*yoruba road*comet (france)
towa tei*let me know (mighty bop remix)*elektra
sarah vaughn*whatever lola wants (gotan project extended remix)*verve
innerzone orchestra*timing*planet e communications
claro intelecto*signifier*ai (uk)
aardvarck*b1*delsin (the netherlands)
delit-k*best before date see base*versatile (france)
takuya*jaaz airport*ism
massive attack*special cases (luomo?s casing)*virgin (uk)
the soft pink truth*promo funk*soundslike (uk)
milky boy*the ballad of terry ping*ill (uk)
matthew dear*but for you*spectral sound
ultramarine*lights in my brain (spooky remix)*dali
meitz*africa (restless soul remix)*guidance recordings
the rapture*sister saviour*dfa
ryuichi sakamoto*rap the world*virgin
lacarno & burns*mahayana*ism
the orb*cool harbour*shanachie
dj rels*diggin? in brownswood*stones throw/goya (uk)
donnie*masterplan*giant step
recloose*can?t take it*planet e communications
matthew dear*dog days (pantytec interpretation)*spectral sound
deee-lite*party happening people*elektra
the avalanches*a different feeling (ernest st. laurent remix)*xl (uk)
the other people place*sunrays*warp (uk)
psychedelic research lab*tarenah (chill mix)*gyroscopic
osbourne*daylight*spectral sound
jimmy edgar*re: city alley*warp (uk)
mr. oizo*flat beat*mute
geez ?n? gosh*oh, precious Lord (I?m thankful)*mille plateaux (germany)
akufen*skidoos*force inc. (germany)
i:cube*comme des espirits (maas mix)*versatile (france)
dj eric*we are love (eric?s muzik edit)*distinctive

Last Saturday, I attended a fantastic party in Poughkeepsie, NY. It was a strange homecoming of sorts for me, considering how long I resided in the Dutchess County area. Wasn?t sure what to expect from the party, but I was pleasantly surprised. Surrounded by good friends and happy people, lots of young heads bouncin? around the joint. Lots of positive energy, too. Definitely rubbed off on me; I?m still all smiles from it. Also spun a set in the chill room alongside Praveen (minimal techno), Dave Mars (hypnotic breaks), and my man Tommy Church (ambient and chill-out beats). That room featured some of the best music of the evening ? fantastic vibe. Gotta give props to my man Omar a.k.a. Praying Mantis who KILLED IT in area two during his tag team jungle set with Dynasty. Our feet were bloody stumps after they were through with us. Seriously.

The party was a reminder for me of how much I enjoy the upstate NY party vibe. I find it more intimate and open than the functions in Gotham, although NYC does have its moments. It?s important to mix it up, though, see how other heads get down. It had been a while since my last upstate jam, and I was so happy to be a part of this one. I was so amped by the positive energy that I ended up spinning one of my best sets ever, in my opinion. The set wouldn?t have been the same without the energy of the kids there. Can?t say enough about the great time I had there.

Someone posted a gang of pics on a bulletin board, so for anybody that wasn?t there, a good summation of the party is within these shots. As always, opinions differ, and such can be seen in the difference of opinion between this site and this site (by the way, don?t travel past the first screen on the latter board ? talks degenerate into a rather ugly name-calling session). As for my DJ set, check the playlist below:

>Macedonia ? Live @ Squeeshee, Poughkeepsie, NY / 1.31.03<
baba sound system*petra*auri
cookie monster & the girls* c is for cookie (sweet version)*ninja tune (uk)
roy ayers*running away*polydor
metro area*dance reaction*environ
the soft pink truth*gender studies*soundslike (uk)
pepe bradock*lara*kif s.a. (france)
nina simone*see-line woman (masters at work remix)*verve
manu dibango*soul makossa*atlantic
tony allen vs. boozoo bajou*yoruba road*comet (france)
nuyorican soul feat. george benson*you can do it (baby) (bar beats)*giant step/blue thumb
akufen*jeep sex*force inc. (germany)
matthew dear*dog days (pantytec interpretation)*spectral sound
matmos*spondee*matador
esg*moody*universal sound (uk)
the rapture*killing*dfa
liquid liquid*optimo*soul jazz (uk)
dj vadim*london mindstate*ninja tune (uk)
uzo*200 elephants (remix)*codek
the beginning of the end*funky nassau (part 1)*alston
the joe cuba sextet*bang! bang!*tico
titanic*sultana (danny krivit re-edit)*ibadan
afronaught*transcend me*apollo (uk)
dj rels*eclipse (parts I and II)*stones throw/goya (uk)

SOUNDSCRAPER SANCTUARY @ BIG SUR, NYC
Playlist for Tuesday, January 27, 2004
*soundtrack for a snowstorm* / 7:15pm-11:00pm

- set number one -

jazzanova*cyclic/another new day*jcr (germany)
will.i.am*lost change*bbe (uk)
ryuichi sakamoto*rap the world*virgin
electric chairs*barbie girl (blastiquer mix by s.e. berlin)*shanachie
tipsy*mr. excitement*asphodel ultramarine*saratoga*rough trade (uk)
cornelius*drop*matador
ezekiel honig*juxtapose*anticipate recordings
fila brazilia*monk?s utterance*twentythree (uk)
dj vadim*london mindstate*ninja tune (uk)
towa tei*let me know (mighty bop remix)*elektra
tony allen vs. tweak*leroy*guidance recordings
4 hero*star chaser*giant step

while tag teaming with soundscraper, I played the following?

soul II soul*holdin? on*virgin
insides*distractions*4AD/guernica
bjork*my spine*elektra
10cc*dreadlock holiday*tvt
larry young?s fuel*turn off the lights*?

- set number two -

towa tei*technova*elektra
p.m. dawn*amnesia*karmis
foreign exchange*track 11*CD-R
jimmy luxury and the tommy rome orchestra*sentimental guy*epic/work
shawn lee*floating*wall of sound (uk)
shuggie otis*inspiration information*luaka bop
sylk 130*skipping stones (feat. alison moyet)*six degrees
outkast*prototype*laface
phoenix*if i ever feel better*astralwerks
ski*(ain?t gonna) justify ? slow trip to space mix*C&S
ryuichi sakamoto*heartbeat*virgin
brothers and systems*opium dentine*nettwerk
echelon*enter the carousel*mind horizon (uk)
propellerheads*take california*giant step
nightmares on wax*mission venice*warp (uk)
ultramarine*lights in my brain*rough trade (uk)
suba*felicidade (buscemi remix)*guidance recordings
soul II soul*people*virgin