Setlist Essentials: Paul Woolford’s ‘Platform’ mix, Renaissance

Setlist Essentials: Paul Woolford’s ‘Platform’ mix, Renaissance

14 April, 2010 | 7.29AM

• Written by: Zack Rico
• Filed under: Music News: paul woolford, renaissance, setlist essentials

“The only concept I wanted it to have was to be completely true to me as a DJ and artist, and the overriding thing I always aim for in any mix compilation is that it stands up to repeat listens over the years,” so says Paul Woolford, the DJ behind Renaissance’s latest mix compilation ‘Platform’.

“ I wanted to make it boldly clear what I am about as a DJ. People sometimes have pre-conceptions, and because I have not strongly associated myself with any particular record label since the 2020 Vision days, I felt the timing of this compilation was right.

“I have material forthcoming on Carl Craig’s Planet E later this year amongst other releases, but for now on this project I wanted to make an emotive mix that reflects the things that have inspired me over the years next to fresh material, such as Oni Ayhun.”

‘Platform’, believe it or not, is Paul Woolford’s first commercially available double mix CD, and with it the British DJ has attempted to reveal a more eclectic side to himself by including material by Lusine, I:Cube, Tensnake, Armando, Ben Klock, Joy Division, and Cortney Tidwell.

“It spans from ambient to downbeat Balearic-inspired material, through to deeper house, raw techno and touches of dubstep as well,” he says, although, “I had to try hard not to go too eclectic as I didn’t want to alienate the audience that are already used to the Renaissance brand.

“I would have loved to use something of Steve Reich’s and perhaps more modern compositions, as well as more dubstep-based material, but for this to work effectively I would have needed three CDs. The main concerns are longevity, and being true to myself.”

The timing is about right, says Woolford, to step out of the electronic house shadow that has stood over him since his Back To Basics days. With material forthcoming on Carl Craig’s Planet E later this year, he’s looking for a new challenge, whilst at the same time staying true to himself.

“I often think it’s a waste when DJs release compilations with just brand new tracks because we have such a rich history of amazing music to draw from.”

Paul Woolford’s ‘Platform’ mix

“The scope of material I’ve used dates back to 1991 in the case of Martin Bonds ‘Surkit’ track," says Wooly.

“And also Suburban Knight ‘The Art of Stalking’ is pretty old too. I’ve wanted to use both of these in mixes for so many years, so it was good to finally realise the ideas.”

Kicking off with a heartbeat intro, Paul begins his double CD mix with Echospace chill out from Brock Van Wey, before drifting into Ghostly International’s electronica champion Lusine, and acid from Gatto Fritto and Chateau Flight’s remix of Josh Wink ‘Counter Clock 319’.

Move D’s wonky late night techno remix of Wireman ‘Armour’ pushes things darker, before Woolford fuses the funky jazz of Missing Linkx with Brock Van Wey’s euphoric ‘Forever A Stranger’.

Russ Gabriel’s remix of Adryan ‘The Jazzer’, Basic Soul Unit’s 2009 hit ‘Things Pass’, and Daphni’s mix of Courtney Tidwell ‘Watsuii’ keep things bubbling on the electronic funk tip.

The mix never loses its edge with Ame’s lush mix of Newworldaquarium’s ‘The Force’, and Tensnake’s ‘In The End’ (I Want You To Cry) segueing perfectly with bouncers from Matthias Tanzmann, Brendon Moeller, and Ben Klock. He finishes the first CD with his own Bobby Peru cut ‘Let It Go’.

CD Two is a more resplendent and wonky, with plenty of nods to Detroit and Berlin’s modern dub techno scene.

Highlights include Deetron’s remix of Quarion, Robert Hood’s classic ‘School’, and DVS1’s brilliant haunter ‘Running’.

With plenty of accapella and DJ tool action, Woolford blends the various disparate sounds into a pleasantly trippy, synthesizer-heavy, journey.

Paul Woolford ‘Platform’: setlist

CD1: Surgery One

01. Paul Woolford – Heartbeat Intro
02. Brock Van Wey - Forever a Stranger
03. Lusine – Gravity
04. Rocha – Hands of Love [Fingers of Sand] (Gatto Fritto Menorcan Nightmare Version) [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
05. Josh Wink – Counter Clock 319 (Château Flight Remix) [Section]
06. Gui Boratto – Trills (Paul Woolford Reduced Dub)
07. I:Cube – Tunnel Vision [Section]
08. Wireman – Armour (Move D Remix) [Section]
09. Missing Linkx – Who to Call with Brock Van Wey - Forever a Stranger [Section]
10. Adryan – The Jazzer (Russ Gabriel Remix)
11. Basic Soul Unit – Things Pass
12. Cortney Tidwell – Watusii (Daphni Remix) [Instrumental & Vocal Sections]
13. Newworldaquarium - The Force (Âme Remix) [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
14. Tensnake – In the End (I Want You to Cry)
15 Marc Antona & Xiki – Hawah
16. Armando - Don’t Take It (Thomos Edit) [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
17. Matthias Tanzmann – Rugby
18. Brendon Moeller – Phazed & Confused
19. Ben Klock – Subzero (Function-Regis Remix) with Brock Van Wey – Forever a Stranger [Section]
20. Joy Orbison – The Shrew Would Have Cushioned the Blow
21. Paul Woolford Presents Bobby Peru – Let It Go

CD2: Surgery Two

01. Paul Woolford – Salinas Intro
02. Morgan Geist feat. Jeremy Greenspan – The Shore (Paul Woolford’s Bridge End Remix)
03. Morgan Geist feat. Jeremy Greenspan – The Shore (Paul Woolford’s Bridge End Dub)
04. Daniel Stefanik – Like This
05. Brock Van Wey - Forever a Stranger [Section]
06. Quarion – Karasu (Deetron Remix) [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
07. Ben Klock – Subzero (Function-Regis Remix)
08. Reel By Real – Surkit [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
09. Oni Ayhun - OAR003-B [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
10. Cortney Tidwell – Watusii (Daphni Remix) [Vocal Section]
11. Josh Wink – Counter Clock 319 (Château Flight Remix)
12. DVS1 – Running
13. Abe Duque Feat. Blake Baxter – What Happened? [Vocal Sections]
14. Robert Hood – School
15. Sendai – System Policy
16. Kevin Gorman – Alarm (Tool Re-edit)
17. Derrick L. Carter – Legacy [Vocal Section]
18. Paul Woolford – Endgame (Platform Intro Version)
19. Tom Taylor – Theory of Everything (KiNK Remix) [Paul Woolford Re-edit]
20. Suburban Knight – The Art of Stalking

• (4) Comments
• (2596) Views
• Get Paul Woolford 'Platform' (Renaissance)