What’s in the DJ’s box: Clive Henry

What’s in the DJ’s box: Clive Henry

11 July, 2008 | 10.51AM

• Written by: Ben Raven
• Filed under: Music News: clive henry, peace division

Take a look inside the record box of one of underground house music’s most respected DJs.

Getting onto the residents’ roster at Circoloco at DC10 in Ibiza is not easy.

Not only do you have to be making cutting edge, deep underground music but unless you’re in the Circoloco gang of friends or you earn a healthy measure of respect for a veteran’s stint in house music the chances of playing the hallowed terrace on a Monday evening are slim to nil.

Luckily Clive Henry has all these characteristics.

Unluckily, his favourite club in the world has been shut for the beginning of this summer by island authorities keen to stamp out the open air afterparty heritage that Ibiza is known for.

Rather than twiddle his thumbs however, luckily Clive has a busy summer ahead to distract him.

As one half of Peace Division he has remixes coming on labels like Hypercolour, Viva and Leftroom and is working on new EPs for Tsuba and Crosstown Rebels.

A collaboration project with long-term studio buddy Justin Drake, Peace Division have been responsible for a lengthy string of tech and deep house gems since 1995.

This summer a new Peace Division compilation beckons on NRK that highlights his resolutely deep house sound and Clive’s upcoming gigs take in big parties like the Below/Asylum weekend in Croatia, as well as a new UK residency for new party in Liverpool called Mumu.

To get a flavour for the moods he creates in his DJ sets, check out the peaks and troughs currently arming his record box.

Favourite set opener?

Dyed Soundorom’s forthcoming single ‘Tapioka’ on Tsuba.

Dyed is one of my favourite DJ/producers and you can really hear him coming into his own with this track.

It’s simple uncomplicated house music with infectious tripped out hooks that works just as well during peak time as it does early doors.

It’s also yet another quality release from the very under-rated Tsuba label.

Secret weapon that only you have a copy of?

Well it wouldn’t be a secret if I told you would it?

Oh, OK, then. Its Jamie Jones ‘Summertime’ on Crosstown Rebels.

I’m not sure if I’m the only one with a copy but I’ve had this a while and it’s one of Mr Jones’ finest productions to date.

I watched some big hitters in the industry salivate over this in Berlin in March and it’s got the makings of being his biggest record yet.

Check out the keyboard hook when it finally drops!

Trippiest record?

D.Stefanik/Tasnadi ‘Doch’ (Cargo Editon).

I wish I’d made this record!

Unbelievable.

Stick this on after a heavy night/weekend/week with the iTunes visualiser turned on and it’s, “Eh…see u later” for ten minutes!

Killer vocal track?

Christian Buckhardt ‘Doubledub’ Raum Musik.

I played this at Circoloco at The End in London on Saturday and a few peeps were trying to sneak a look at the title.

I love the sleazy vocal hook and the whole simplicity of the track.

I really like what Raum do and their head honcho Dorian Paic played one of my favourite all time sets on the terrace a Cocoon a few summers back.

Bassline weapon?

Quarion ‘Workout’ (Drumpoet Community).

On this it’s not so much the quality of the bassline but how long it takes to drop in.

I think it’s around two and a half minutes before it finally does come in and when it does, stand back and watch the damage unfold.

This has been a big track for me this summer.

The record that will never leave your box as long as you live?

Joeski ‘All by Myself’ Dutchie Music

This is an absolute ‘must keep’ in the selection.

Joeski has been around for a while now but quietly does his thing and always comes through with some cool dancefloor bombs!

This became a bit of a terrace favourite for me and even though it’s not an obvious classic it works every time.

The track you always get asked to play that you don’t mind playing?

I don’t ever get asked for certain tracks; I just get asked for, “Any ‘electro’ mate?”

If there was ever a flagrant misuse of a term for a genre of music this is it.

Oldie that everyone else has probably forgotten?

Kenlou ‘The Bounce’ (MAW).

This is from about 1995 but it’s still sounding as fresh now as it did then. I think it’s had a bit of a revival lately and I can see why.

When MAW get tracky with their music they can do it better than most.

Some of their dubs and beatz are wicked and perhaps peeps don’t really give them the time of day due to the more commercial aspect of their music?

Get out of jail card?

Johnny D ‘Orbitalife’ (Oslo).

This is one of those tracks that you don’t really play due to the obviousness of it (and that’s not a diss!) but it works wonders when you do!

I remember when Hector dropped it at Kubicle in London for the first time and it was like ‘shit this is gonna be huge’ when you saw the reaction to it.

Johnny D is making great crossover tracks that appeal to everyone, especially the ladies, and anything that gets the girls going is OK by me!

Your “one more tune” end of night finisher?

Martin Buttrich ‘Stoned Auto Pilot’ (Planet E)

Most of the clubs I get to play in aren’t down with the one more vibe, it’s more like, “That’s it, finito, do one! Get out!”

But I play about three time a year at Kama Kama in Versilia in Italy (and easily one of the best clubs there without doubt) and last time I played in May they weren’t leaving the joint ‘til I played one more and dropped this.

It’s very Carl Craigy (well, it is on his label) and it’s a great piece of music.

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