The Eclectic Selector: 2010 rhythms

The Eclectic Selector: 2010 rhythms

4 January, 2010 | 8.05AM

• Written by: Elite Force
• Filed under: Music News: eclectic selector, elite force, tech-funk

I’m not a massive fan of year-enders … the annual critical backslapping sessions are an all–too-predictable affair. It’s easy to fill column inches by throwing endless lists at the problem, and the end-of-a-decade just amplifies the list-mania. Boys love lists, they love to compartmentalize and they love to argue endlessly about the relative merits of A over B.

At school I was a serial offender in this regard. I had a big green book that I carried round with me everywhere and I would constantly badger people for their current Top 10s. At the end of the week, if I had enough reluctant participants, I’d spend my weekend compiling the list-of-the-lists and aggregrate the scores into a new list, which was worth slightly less than the sum of its parts.

Instead of dwelling on the year just passed, or indeed the year ahead, I’m having a most unusual holiday season this year, flying south from the icy freeze of the UK’s standard chaotica-in-the-face-of-a-light-frost-and-a-few-flurries to much sunnier climes. This will be the first year I’ve made not one but two pilgrimages Down Under and it’s a real thrill to be playing some major festivals again.

One thing an Australian tour does is it focuses the mind on DJing like no other, and this week has been all about preparation. I dug deep for these bombs.

TECH NO PRISONERS

Some really nice techy bits and pieces around of late, and none more so than Ascii.Disko ‘Jawbreaker’ [Body Function]. Like all the best tunes, it’s not rocket science, just a simple, nagging rising riff that ramps up the tension and intensity as it rolls around.

A bit less banging but with a lush and compulsive depth to the production is Alan Fitzpatrick & Reset Robot ‘Silicon’ [Suara]. Both producers have nailed it recently.

Also finding much favour in my sets of late (for obvious reasons!) is Zodiac Cartel who recently dropped a new single on my label which gained plaudits from Laurent Garnier, Zabiela, Popof, and many more. Whilst ‘Stay On Top’ is definitive post noughties warehouse fayre which marries jackin’ beats with beastly bass, it’s ‘All Day’ that has had many of the tech-heads singing ZC’s praises for it refuses to follow established templates.

Just out this week too is Circuit Freq ‘The Filth’ (Zodiac Cartel Mix) [Circuit Freq] which has a BOMB drop in the second half.

WAREHOUSE WONK

One of the biggest tracks of all for me these past few weeks has been Tim Healey & Felguk ‘Rio’. A monster tune that somehow manages to straddle the tricky divide between a righteously techy groove and a massive ‘event’ drop. It seems to work well for me dropping down into it from some of the heavier tracks I play.

Similarly huge, but on an altogether more ragged and wild vibe is, of course, Boris Dlugosch ‘Bangkok’ [Phantasy Sound], which by and large sounds like a hyperactive child chucking everything in and out of the pram, continuously.

For more of the squelch I can also recommend Mike Mind ‘Resonate’ (Kebacid Remix) on Turbo, which again is quite happily demented with the 303s taking over the asylum.

DUBSTEPPIN’

I don’t for a minute claim to be a total connoisseur when it comes to dubstep, but through my own reworkings I’ve come into contact with some very cool producers like Datsik, Excision, and Vaski (who has just remixed something for U&A to come out in March next year).

Whilst those guys have some amazing new work scheduled for the coming months, this month I’d look no further than Bare Noize ‘Hangover’ [Z Audio] if you’re looking to perfect your bassface this January.

Also going over a real treat with the crossover crowds is the refix I did myself of ‘Where’s My Money?’ which you can download for nada below.

DECONSTRUCTIN’ IT

On the breaks front I was amazed to see one of the classic early Chemical Brothers remixes of Lionrock ‘Packet Of Peace’ up the other day on the legendary Deconstruction label.

I have a soft spot for the label as they were responsible for releasing some seminal breaks tracks back in the mid 90s, including early tunes from the likes of Dub Pistols and Metro LA amongst others. So here’s hoping much of that catalogue starts re-appearing in the digital domain real soon.

Whilst we’re touching on breaks (and there has not been a massive amount out there that I’ve especially enjoyed in the past year) I have to tip my hat to Sam Hell ‘Gunclub’ [Broken Robot] which is characterized by some properly chunky production and the happy absence of too many edits!

Plus I’m digging the excellent remix from Access Denied of Lee Coombs’ ‘Detox’ on Lot 49, which sees the Belarussian duo really come of age with some fine production and a keen eye on the groove.

I also completed a brand new website update this month, from where you can get not only the Caspa re-fix as a free download, but also a refix of Deadmau5 that I did, which made it to No.3 on the Hypem charts last month.

Check it out at: eliteforcemusic.com

Okay that’s it for me this month. I’ll be back next month with a full report from the Australian tour as well as a selection of the best eclectica I can find from the world of wonk.

About Elite Force

Elite Force is often credited for being a lynchpin in the developing the tech-funk genre (an amalgamation of breaks, house, techno and electro) and in a career dating back to 1996, he has released a series of highly successful singles & remixes, finding broad support from DJs and musicians across the board, including the likes of James Zabiela, Sasha, Crystal Method, Laurent Garnier and Fatboy Slim to name but five.

In 2006 he set up his own imprint, U&A Recordings and has overseen it going from strength with chart-topping tracks from a burgeoning roster that includes Zodiac Cartel, Dustbowl, Mike Hulme, Meat Katie, The Loops of Fury, Rektchordz, Butter Party. and of course Elite Force himself.

His music has also been the soundtrack to many a movie, with a huge list of impressive A-list credits to his name, including the likes of the Matrix, Charlie’s Angels, Arlington Road, Mortal Kombat, Crow, The Bone Collector, The Jackyll, Spiderman 2. He’s also soundtracked a number of computer games, including no fewer than 5 FIFA games, several of the Wipeout series, The Matrix and Motorstorm, and also finds time to maintain one of the biggest blogs (Tech-Funk Manifesto) and forums (Tech-Funk Forum) out there.

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