Taste Test: Brookes Brothers

Taste Test: Brookes Brothers

13 December, 2010 | 4.50AM

• Written by: Dan Cole
• Filed under: Music News: brookes brothers, taste test

Brookes Brothers, for once, are actually brothers. Known to each other as Dan and Phil, the Brookes Brothers are one of the most exciting new acts within drum & bass.

From their debut record on W10 Records through to their amazing collaboration with Culture Shock on RAM Records, the production duo has been pushing the envelope of contemporary drum & bass. It was only with their crossover hit ”Tear You Down” that they began turning the heads of the general public.

This week sees the release of their latest anthem, ”Last Night,” a prelude for their forthcoming album on Breakbeat Kaos. We caught up with the duo to find out their influences.

What was the first record you remember having as a child?

Dan: Michael Jackson, Bad.

Phil: Michael Jackson, Thriller.

What was the first record you bought with your own money?

Dan: Snap!‘s Rhythm is a Dancer was one of the first for sure.

Phil: SL2, “On a Ragga Tip.”

Which style or genre of music was your first great love?

Phil: Michael Jackson/Motown/discoey stuff.

Dan: ‘70’s Motown stuff like Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, etc. Incredible songwriting and such great performers!

How have your musical tastes changed since you were a teenager?

Still love most of the stuff we listened to as a teenager but our tastes have broadened quite a bit as we’ve got older.

What was the last record (or MP3) you bought?

Phil: Wilson Simonal, “Zazueira,” really lovely old Brazilian tune.

Dan: I think it was the Wall-E soundtrack. I should’ve bought it when it came out, it’s a collab between Thomas Newman and Peter Gabriel and it’s amazing!

How many tracks/records do you typically acquire every week—both promos & purchases?

Normally around 20 tracks a week. There’s so much about you kind of have to pick and choose what to listen to, otherwise it can take all day looking for tunes.

What format do you DJ with – vinyl, CD, Traktor/Serato, Ableton, etc…?

CDs, baby!

Name your three favorite tracks at the moment:

Phil: Cassius, “I <3 You So" [Ed Banger]

Nero, “Me And You”

Vikter Duplaix, “Lust For Life”

Dan:

Gyptian, “Hold You” [Ministry of Sound]

Stevie Wonder – “All I Do”

Herbie Hancock – “Thought It Was You”

Three favorite classic tracks:

Phil: It’s impossible to name just three, but:

Stevie Wonder – “All I Do”

Massive Attack – “Unfinished Sympathy”

George Gershwin – “I Loves You Porgy”

Dan:

MJ Cole – “Sincere”

Marvin Gaye – “Mercy Mercy Me”

Candi Staton – “Young Hearts Run Free”

Which track (by another musician) do you wish that you had made?

Dan: Herbie Hancock – “Vein Melter”

Phil: MJ Cole – “Sincere.” This track is London all over for me.

What’s your favorite record from this year that isn’t electronic dance music?

Dan: I really like Gyptian’s “Hold You” and Busy Signal’s “Hustlin (Badazz Riddim).”

Phil: Yeah, I love that Busy Signal track.

Current reading or last good book read?

Dan: Reading Jonathan Dimbleby’s travels through Russia b2b with Boxing Monthly.

Phil: The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale.

Favorite mobile app:

Phil: My trusty Samsung doesn’t support iPhone apps unfortunately.

Dan: Have to go with Brian Eno’s Bloom. Wow!!! I wish I had a synth that did that!

Favorite video game:

Dan: At the moment, Halo Reach. Also Fight Night Round 4, Gears Of War and Mario Kart (all editions).

Phil: Ever? Super Mario World/Mario Kart.

Favorite piece of gear:

Our PCs!

Preferred headphones:

AKG K701.

Favorite city/country/club to perform in?

Dan: Gotta be London. It’s our hometown so we can have a good old afterparty, plus we don’t have to travel too far!

Phil: Womb/Tokyo/Japan.

What country would you be thrilled to play in, just for the food?

Dan: Pakistan.

Phil: Sri Lanka...you can tell we like our curries!

Strangest thing you’ve ever eaten while on tour:

Dan: Kangaroo!

Phil: Horsemeat in Switzerland. I thought it was ham until some guy asked me to “pass the horse.” It was actually quite tasty stuff.

Strangest thing a fan has ever given you:

Nothing too funky as of yet. Gifts always appreciated though!

Frequent lyer survival tip

The spicy goulash soup at Vienna airport is particularly comforting before boarding an early morning flight home.

Weirdest rumor you’ve ever heard about yourself:

Thankfully none as of yet!

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