John Carpenter, Richard Hell, Sister Sledge, P.I.L.
Sounds Like
A conglomerate of sounds that integrates the New York disco sound, Chicago house, psychedelic jams, cosmic dub, and a Berliner/Teutonik motorik, all wrapped up with a tropical twist.
Mutant Beat Dance
"In a Daze" feat. Eric D. Clark
Disco Dos (12"/Download)
Released May 2009
A1. Eric D. Clark vocal version
A2. original dub
B1. Erix' F.S.Y. rework
B2. Erix' F.S.Y. dub
In late 2008, Discos Capablanca founder Hugo invited Eric D. Clark and Traxx to DJ at a label party in Berlin. Hugo not only introduced the two, but suggested that Eric get behind the mic to sing live over Traxx’s beats. “Ina Daze”, originally an instrumental by Traxx and Beau Wanzer, evolved into the final version you hear here, combining 707 sounds and a passionate vocal delivery, with the rough and gritty edges still intact.
Traxx AKA Melvin Oliphant has been keeping the underground alive in Chicago since the mid-1990s, serving as a house music missionary, whether or not the genre is in vogue at any given moment. He remains a shadowy figure despite having released on numerous labels like Relief, Crème, Spectral, Gigolo and his own imprint Nation. Now, Traxx and co-producer Wanzer continue to champion the “jakbeat” sound, providing raw percussion and melting basslines, laying the foundation for Eric’s vocals.
Eric D. Clark (a California native who has lived in Paris and Berlin) is perhaps most famous for the 1996 hit “From: Disco to: Disco” with Whirlpool Productions, but his complete printed résumé could kill a rainforest! He has lent his dynamic voice to Tiefschwarz and Märtini Brös, and he’s a skillful producer in his own right, with solo albums on Firm and Ladomat 2000. So, Eric couldn’t resist giving “Ina Daze” his own studio makeover (including some cha-cha piano action), providing a rework that rivals the original version.
James T. Cotton (Spectral - Ann Arbor): "'In a Daze' epitomizes the sound of the jakbeat underground. The deep vocals and jacking house rhythms are spot on. It is nice to see more people representing the jakbeat sound. It is evident that the movement is growing." Tim Sweeney (Beats in Space - NYC): "Loving it! Sounds great. Will definitely be playing it out and on the radio show." Ivan Smagghe (Kill the DJ - Paris): "Pretty cool... It's actually more than that, it's very good, the production is spot on on both mixes... my only issue (which is not one) is that it is almost too cool and 'now': it seems that vocal acid house is the new cosmic disco this year... but perfect, you're actually amongst the first ones ah ah... no seriously, this is dope..." Thomas Schumacher (Get Physical - Berlin): "Nice ol school vibe!" Thom Bullock (Rub n Tug - NYC): "Damn homey, that shit is super zooody. Zoody bang!" Jacques Renault (DFA - NYC): "Totally into it!"
OUT NOW:
Grackle
"Jungle"
Disco Uno (12"/Download)
Released June 2008
500 hand-screened copies
A1. Unit 4 mix
B1. T.Keeler & Capablanca rework
B2. original mix
J.G. Wilkes (Optimo - Glasgow): “Great tracks, killer release!” Kaos (Kitsune, Rong - Berlin): “Some wicked trax here! All mixes are killer, no filler“ D*I*R*T*Y Soundsystem (Tigersushi - Paris): “The T.Keeler & Capablanca rework is one of the very few space disco tracks worth playing for us at the moment... top shit!“ Xaver Nadauscher (Supersoul, DFA - Berlin): “I already have been playing the Unit 4 mix regularly. Absolute killer track... Deep stuff!“ Snax (Mental Groove, DefDrive - Berlin): "“T.Keeler and Capablanca's mix helps raise the sun after a long night, inciting you to stick around the club just that little bit longer...and longer!“
Hey there! Loved the 12"s! Played both of those on the show and wrote reviews in our latest playlist. Hope you'll like it as well as the show. Cheers, Cicero