Submitted By: DSM

Genre: Techno

Date of Set: Jun 6th, 2007

Filesize: 87.21 MB

Total Downloads: 15

In 1993 Anton Banks was a student at the University of Rochester and was into hip-hop and euro-dance pop music. He especially liked the beats and rhythms found in this music but became increasingly disinterested in the lyrics. Looking for something different, Anton borrowed a compilation CD from a friend. That CD was 'Moove Your Body' from Tribal America Artists. Soon he was obsessed with all forms of underground dance music and broke all ties to the pop music scene. Anton found myself buying all the rave and house music he could find at a store called 'The Record Archive'. Also at about the same time Anton started going to a club in Rochester called 'Heaven' which was a stripped down version of New York City's infamous super club , the Limelight, as it was also built out of an old church. He only knew that he liked the music but it would be almost a year and a half later before Anton realized that he had been listening to early techno in it's heyday in the form of tracks like The Goodmen's 'Give it up', Jaydee's 'Plastic Dreams' and an assortment of music from early Detroit and Plus 8. The turning point came in 1994 when Anton first heard 'Psychotrance', a mixed CD by Mr. C on Moonshine Music. This CD and his experiences at 'Heaven' gave him a desire to learn to spin records.

In 1995 Anton transferred to Central Connecticut State University and joined the school's radio station, 107.7FM WFCS, as the student engineer shortly after that. As the engineer he had 24 hour access to turntables and an audience and used this opportunity to learn to mix records by taking advantage of dead air (which was and still is often at WFCS) to practice mixing. Through WFCS Anton met other people such as DJ Rockphonics- founder of Equinox and O.L.- the third hillbilly on 'Hillbilly House', who showed him the ropes and got me bookings. In 1996 Anton got his first booking at the now legendary Equinox weekly (Webster Theater in Hartford, CT from 1996 to 97). This turned into his first residency which gave him the opportunity to open for Frankie Bones, Ani, Carlos Tera, and many, many others.

Anton's first radio show, 'Spatial Distortion', was first heard on WFCS on January 18, 1995 and was on the air until May of 2000. In July, '99 Anton started a second show, 'Vault Radio' (formerly Mobius Radio), on 89.3FM WRTC (Trinity College) as an offshoot of 'Spatial Distortion'. Anton is now one of a small number of people promoting underground music in Connecticut on a station that covers most of the state.

It has now been over 10 years since Anton began DJing and he has become one of the most versatile acts around. He has built up a musical repertoire of several thousand records that span from minimal house to techno to industrial and most styles in between.

Submitted By: DSM

Genre: Techno

Date of Set: Jun 6th, 2007

Filesize: 87.21 MB

Total Downloads: 15

Uros Umek grew up in the former Yugoslavia, but the restrictive regime didn't halt his passion for music. In his teens, he used to tune into an illegal London radio station via a satellite programme. *It played techno, rave, hardcore and breaks non-stop at the weekend and, we never left the house all weekend in case we missed something?*, he laughs.

When Yugoslavia imploded at the start of the 90s, Umek's native Slovenia was the first country to exit the federation. Although the tiny state had always been more liberal than other parts of Yugoslavia, Umek, who was beginning to DJ, found it hard to buy records in his home town of Ljubljana. This meant he had to drive eight hours to Germany to feed his growing vinyl addiction.

*There's a huge passion for music here and that was part of our ritual,* he explains. Umek was also the first DJ to put on events in Slovenia in 1992-93. Although his first few parties were underground affairs, word of mouth soon meant that thousands of people were attending his events and, as he says himself,*the police and authorities didn't know what to do, so they just left us alone.*

By this stage, Umek had honed his DJ skills and was spinning on three decks. He also started to book international guests and names like Billy Nasty and Surgeon were among the first guests to play at his parties.

The latter DJs' sound left a lasting impression on Umek and he admits that his earlier releases were heavily influenced by Birmingham techno. As Umek became more confident in the studio, his sound shifted to the rolling grooves of his Mumps releases for Billy Nasty's Tortured label. Informed by Umek's love of early house as much as passion for club techno, the first Mumps release thrust the Slovenian DJ into the international spotlight, but he says that his background was at first a hindrance: *It took me about twenty releases before I got to play a lot outside of Slovenia.*

In the meantime, Umek honed his art as a DJ and set up two labels, Consumer Recreation and, together with Valentino Kanzyani, Recycled Loops. While the later explored the duo's love of sped-up, disco infected crossover tracks, Consumer saw Umek reignite the flame under the synthetic techno sound.

By the late 90s, clubbers around the world were able to experience Umek's dynamic DJing. Spinning on three decks, his sets are a whirlwind of energy, as he works the seemingly disparate musical elements that also characterise his productions. Umek barely touches the pitch control and cues effortlessly as he works every effect possible on the mixer. From tribal tech-house to rolling party techno and taking in the disco influenced Recycled output, the drum heavy Voices Of Africa; trilogy and his firing minimalism, Umek's performances fuse his different production sounds, but still manage to entertain. This ability to appeal to all dance audiences is reflected in his non-stop DJ schedule and on his 2002 Tortured Chamber mix for Tortured - where Umek pieced together a whirlwind 27 track selection.

Tortured Chamber was followed by a mix for German party organisers Timewarp this year, which saw the DJ opt for a tougher, more full on approach. Unlike the techno purists who have kept the music safe from outside interference, Umek clearly wants his music heard by as many people as possible and has even hinted that, in the future, he may release an electronic pop album.

Indeed, the crossover support for Umek's work on Recycled Loops, Bugged Out! and End Recordings and the Mumps and Voices Of Africa series as well as for the dubby, tribal tech-house house sound of his Earrisistible label which he launched in 2000 has been remarkable, with mainstream names like Pete Tong charting and supporting his work.

That's not to suggest that he has deserted his underground roots: apart from the Slovenian producer's Consumer Recreation releases, his Zeta Reticula series for Electrix which is at number four so far show Umek is also adept at making underground electro and Maurizio / Basic Channel inspired dub tracks. *I want to be an all round producer, I need new challenges. I've got to a stage where my tastes have changed: I love electro, tech-house and percussive house, so what's the point in just putting out banging techno* he asks.

2003 also saw Umek release his debut album, 'Neuro' and make a break with the dance floor. Inspired by abstract artists like Autechre as well as industrial artists like Nitzer Ebb, the album was a brave move for Umek. It might not have appealed to fans of his club techno, but it satiated his need for making new, innovative music.

Umek has also been prolific as a remixer in the last few years, and has lent seminal synth pop act Depeche Mode his magic touch. He also worked with fellow Slovenian act Laibach on their recent comeback, providing remixes for the art terrorists' comeback single, 'Tanz Mit Laibach'.

*I work seven days a week on music, and the reason I produce so much is that I love what I do,* Umek maintains.

Perhaps the most stunning indictment of Umek's crossover appeal was his comeback gig in Slovenia in the autumn of 2001 after an 18 month break, where he played to five thousand adoring fans, who screamed his nickname

http://www.myspace.com/djumek
http://www.reconwarriors.com

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