As the year draws to a close, Defected’s Ben Lovett looks back on some of the more significant happenings of 2012.
In the second of a two-part feature, here he looks at Bristol's increasing significance within the scene, ADE and a vintage year for deep house.
2012 belongs to Bristol as much as it does to America. Historically one of the UK’s most arousing musical cities, Bristol only added to it sonic status this year – largely through the medium of bass-house.
“I don’t think many of us Bristolians consider there to be any kind of Bristol house thing going on right now” Dan Pearce, AKA groove sensation Eats Everything, commented this March. “We’re just a bunch of friends making different, interesting types of house music. It’s a coincidence that we live in Bristol, the geography should be played down.”
And yet, inevitably, the geographical thread linking artists such as Pearce, Julio Bashmore, Waifs & Strays and The White Lamp has re-amplified Bristol’s profile after years of post-drum & bass, post trip-hop quiet. Local label and events crew Futureboogie is also integral, all of the above artists connected back to it in some significant way, shape or form. The crew has actually been running for over a decade now but the launch of its label in 2011 added considerable brand momentum, which has only carried on in 2012.
Funky new, forward-thinking Futureboogie releases including those by The White Lamp, Behling & Simpson and Eats Everything (the superbly soulful Slow For Me EP) tore up dancefloors far beyond the borders of South West England. It was Futureboogie, Bristol and bass-house’s fast widening reach that paved the way, only this month, for Eats Everything to play legendary New York club Cielo and return to Radio 1’s hallowed Essential Mix hot seat.
This month also sees Bristol hosting the last few dates of another epic, hugely successfully, globally observed In:Motion season – a New Year’s Day fest with Todd Terje and Tale Of Us (and Eats Everything again) is still to come but highlights have already boomed loud and proud from Jamie Jones, Todd Edwards, Claude VonStroke, Four Tet and Seth Troxler. Such is Bristol’s sway within today’s chaotic clubbing landscape that it can easily afford to attract heavyweights from all electronic walks of life.
“It’s all about the boats” fast rising Bristolian Christophe attests. “Bristol is a port city and that’s key if you’re going to get to grips with the music that it’s producing. West Indian immigration is a major part of Bristol’s history and, long-term, that has helped form this very unique music-making community. I think that’s where the bass kicks in.”
The bass is also continuing to kick Stateside. America’s mighty EDM revolution has snowballed through the early part of winter, Radio 1’s Pete Tong launching a daily weekday show on iHeartRadio’s new Clear Channel Media-backed station Evolution. The show, exclusive to Stateside listeners, features a global Beatport chart countdown and, of course, Tong talk, tips and tasty track selections. Its launch, too, has coincided with a 10-date North American tour by Tong, as well as the release of an international double-disc Defected mix album All Gone Pete Tong: Future Sounds. One of dance music’s greatest champions has carried the flag deep into the heart of mainstream America....
There is compelling evidence of underground expansion in other, farther-flung parts of the world this year too. South Africa has built up a fervent domestic soul-house scene in recent times, not least through local ‘superstars’ such as Black Coffee and Culoe De Song. But that scene is now generating steady global exposure through highly regarded labels such as Vega, Foliage, Tribe and Djoon; not to mention other talent on the continent such as Louie Vega protégé Boddhi Satva, whose debut album Invocation, released globally by BBE this spring, turned the purists’ heads left, right and centre.
The rise of Eastern European nations like Poland and Lithuania is similarly noticeable - the former, home to deep house ‘n’ tech talents Catz ‘N Dogz; the latter, excitingly experimental duo Mario & Vidis, whose debut album Changed was released at the start of the year to an incredible critical reaction. Thanks to its unique blend of introspective house groove, goth-pop, bleepy soundscape and digital jazz – a blend replicated, in large part, on Mario [Basanov]’s new solo album Journey – Changed has sent game-changing ripples across the industry.
Of course, economic turbulence remains an issue the world over, Europe particularly badly hit as Catz ‘N Dogz’ Greg outlined in September: “The economy remains really fragile and music here [in Poland] isn’t viewed as a perfect career. Alot of our friends had to get proper jobs.” Classic co-founder Luke Solomon highlighted the problems closer to home: “I am upbeat about the music industry but proper artists are few and far between right now; I worry if I will need to take other jobs to supplement my music career in the future. I wish I was more comfortable from this life than I am. I detest this notion of brand building but despite myself I have to do it too... build my name.”
In Germany, this September, the celebrated Cocoon Club fell into administration and by the end of November was closed. Cocoon’s figurehead Sven Vath distanced himself from the events, his key ties being to the label and artist booking agency of the same name but the news really impacted. German clubs, in general, struggled during 2012 to get to grips with new government tax proposals for them and suggested tax hikes via Germany’s performance rights and collections agency GEMA. The debate still rages on, and the rumours of further closures (for example, Berghain) linger. Clubland remains challenging financially.
Of course, Europe enjoyed many sparkling moments, as typified by the activity of labels such as Desolat, Cadenza, Visionquest, Real Tone, Defected...the list goes on. This autumn’s epic Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) – October 17-21 - was also highly memorable; a bonafide return to dancefloor positivity after the ‘doom and gloom’ talk by industry folk attending in previous years. There remained ‘local’ concerns about ADE seemingly switching its allegiance to global talent at the expense of homegrown artists but, in fairness, there was much to admire both Dutch or otherwise.
Defected commandeered AIR on October 19, delivering a fully funky yet versatile soundtrack from Sandy Rivera, Flashmob, Noir (more on him shortly), famous Dutch duo Chocolate Puma and Tensnake (back with a vengeance thanks to recent Defected single Mainline, a shiny, totally happy, Nineties revival house anthem) whilst the Body & Soul crew rocked the MC Theater, Quentin Harris thumped Bump, Seth Troxler and Berghain’s Ben Klock headlined Trouw and Desolat entertained Studio 80 (with Martin Buttrich, Guti and tINI). That was just the party programme, Francois K, Coldcut’s Matt Black and legendary electronic pop producer Trevor Horn giving insightful lectures during the day....
Away from Amsterdam, Defected added yet more silverware to its trophy cabinet – Pirupa’s re-released Party Non Stop scooping Track Of The Year at the annual Ibiza Awards – and expanded, successfully, its label operations to include the launch of a unique set of urban living, branded luggage, designed exclusively by New York’s legendary bag manufacturer Manhattan Portage. There were also further flagship releases (and accompanying launch parties), most notably Dimitri From Paris’ Back In The House mix compilation – a glorious strut through snappy, forward-thinking disco, deep house and nu funk, as well as vintage garage and sleek retro-pop-dance.
The underground’s growing fascination with pop-edged melodies and renewed enthusiasm for soulful retro-house has helped drive crossover success late in 2012 firmly opposed to the kind of crossover success created by EDM producers and remixers over in the States – less brash, more swish. Hot Natured & Ali Love’s Hot Creations bullet Benediction is a perfect case in point, its smooth Italo-pop groove pushing it, remarkably, all the way into the main UK Top 40 music chart – some achievement, echoed by its success in other territories too.
Expect similar ‘swing’ in 2013 with regular supporters of the sound, the likes of Visionquest and Wolf + Lamb, all promising big new releases – a debut album from Visionquest’s talented new-New Romantics Footprintz is particularly anticipated. And in terms of Defected? The London label will be working closely with Danish DJ-producer Noir (AKA Rene Kristensen) on a whole heap of exciting stuff, not least a brand new In The House album (due in January). Noir has enjoyed a stunning 2012, thanks in no small part to Defected’s repackaging of Around, his collaboration with Haze, and a raft of impressive singles for labels including his own Noir, such as Found Out – his vibrant blend of deep, groovy, sexy house ‘n’ tech is set to land him big things over the coming months.
That leaves us a brief but poignant word on two sad departures from the dance scene this year – Brit-born house producer Martin Dawson (a close associate of Cocoon and Get Physical) and legendary German ambient producer Peter Namlook (who famously produced with Richie Hawtin). Both sadly died at opposite ends of their lives but both will be equally missed, such has been their impact on the wider circuits around them. RIP.
The electronic dance scene, then, has continued to move apace in 2012 with, as always, a mix of high and lowlights. There have been ongoing challenges and disappointments for the industry but, one feels, many more reasons to look towards the New Year with pride and genuine optimism. Bring it on....
Defected presents Most Rated 2013 is out now
Defected In The House hits Electric Brixton, London with Dennis Ferrer, Deetron, Noir, Copyright, Simon Dunmore and Sam Divine. Full event info and tickets here.
