What’s in the DJ’s box: Sasse

What’s in the DJ’s box: Sasse

24 October, 2008 | 10.35AM

• Written by: Ben Raven
• Filed under: Music News: dj box, moodmusic

Moodmusic boss Sasse drops his second album and offers us a peek inside his record box.

The clue is in the title. ‘Toinen’ means ‘second’ in Finnish and it’s no surprise that despite a long and cluttered discography Sasse is only getting round to releasing his second album now.

As boss of Moodmusic, Berlin’s reigning Finn been responsible for releasing more than ten years of deep stylish house and techno.

And as a DJ he’s been playing Europe’s best clubs for just as long as well as packing his to-do list with a neverending series of side projects, like his production work for Electronic Chanteusse and Tracey Thorn or remixes for labels like Pokerflat, Playhouse or Moon Harbour.

‘Toinen’ is the follow up to 2006’s ‘Made Within The Upper Stairs Of Heaven’ and is another typically melodic and vibey release, rich in analogue warmth (Sasse is a big synthesizer geek).

The theme of the album is a return to the roots of house and techno that first turned him on to electronic music in the 1980s. Tracks like ‘Friday Sessionz’ or ‘Clemens’ pay dues to early 1990s Detroit techno and make up another reliably meaty release for the label.

Favourite set opener?

At the moment it´s Dirt Crew’s (right) ‘Soundwave’ on Dirt Crew Records.

I’ve been hammering this moody piece of house music since I got it on CD last spring and it just gives the right mood to the start of a set.

It bounces nicely so you can go whichever direction after it you want.

There’s a wicked Filippo Moscatello remix coming out of it as well, so check it out soon.

Secret weapon that only you have a copy of?

I have tons of my own unreleased productions and recently I’ve been playing this new Freestyle Man production called ‘Can You Feel It.’

It´s ten minutes long and has this trippy vocal sample which we all might know running through it but it´s working well.

Right now I’m the only one with a copy but it´s gonna be out on Hairy Claw soon.

Trippiest record?

The music I play isn’t that trippy, I´m more into groove and feeling.

That said Henrik Schwarz’s remix of DJ Hell´s ‘Angst’ is quite a trippy journey.

It starts like a prog rock record with a 4/4 beat and evolves with lots of changes and keeps getting bigger and bigger.

It’s a magnificent work from Henrik.

Killer vocal track?

There´s actually not that many vocals which move me nowadays.

I´m more into the classic New York/New Jersey vibe.

The only vocal track I´m right now really playing is the next Moodmusic release from Penner+Muder called ‘Are You Lost’ which for me is just plain beautiful house music but still modern.

Bassline weapon?

The Todd Terje (right) mix of DØLLE JØLLE’s ‘Balearic Incarnation’ has this phasey, analog arpeggiated Italo bassline which for me just makes the whole track.

It reminds me of one of my productions from my last album ‘Loosing Touch’ - which again was totally inspired by a minor Italo hit from B.W.H called ‘Stop’ from 1982.

Anyways, the remix is amazing and I totally love it and it´s probably one of the best things Todd´s done.

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

Ron Trent ‘s (techno classic) ‘Altered States’ always travels with me, although nowadays it’s in remastered CD form and Chez Damier´s untitled KMS-049 is another track which never leaves my bag.

It´s just one of those tunes which everybody loves and everybody plays so people know it’s special.

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

Well, from the classics I mostly get asked to play the House Master Boyz’ ‘House Nation’, which I absolutely love to play!

Someone requested it last night at Loft club.

Oldie that everyone else has probably forgotten?

I used to hammer Jam & Spoon’s ‘Stella’ a lot in recent years, which is still an amazing tune at the right moment and mindset.

I haven’t heard many people drop it lately and when I play it, younger people usually thinks it´s something new-ish which is funny.

You need to have the right floor for it, but when you do it’s just magic!

Lately I´ve been playing Kenny Larkin’s ‘War Of The Worlds’ which still sounds so fresh and is kind of forgotten I think. It’s also nice to see him back on track with his latest album on Planet E.

He´s definitely one of my all time favourite electronic producers.

Your ‘one more tune’ end of night finisher?

If the night is more house or balearic orientated it´s either ‘Break Up’ from my recent album or a classic like Lindström’s remix of Chicken Lips’ ‘Sweet Cow.’

If we´re talking more techy floors I might drop Laurent Garnier’s ‘Man With The Red Face’. Tune!

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