“Music, like vodka, should be honest, effortless and exclusively for everyone.”

That’s the ethos behind brand new platform called the Smirnoff Sound Collective, which over summer will be showcasing some very cool musical projects centred around festivals such as Tomorrowland and Electric Zoo. The aim? To cut out the bottle service, VIP bullshit and bring music experiences back to where it belongs; the people.

To give you an idea of what to expect in the coming months, check out the latest video clip from Zeds Dead for their dancefloor thumper ‘Hadouken’, which captures a raucous party held in the #Smirnoffhouse at this year’s Tomorrowland festival in Belgium.

Stay tuned for more awesomeness to come from the Smirnoff Sound Collective project, including some exciting collaborations with yours truly, Pulse Radio.

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Over the past two years, Mantra Collectivehas become one of the most respected names in Sydney’s underground party scene. In clubs, aboard boats or in secret warehouse locations – Mantra Collective have built a reputation for wild parties and massive headline acts.

Since 2012, Mantra Collective have hosted a wealth of big names, including Hot Since 82, Henry Saiz, &ME and Audiojack. Following this rich tradition, Mantra Collective brings up-and-coming Berlin producer Sidney Charles to headline their second birthday bash.

Sidney Charles was Resident Advisor’s Most Charted Artist in 2013. The Berlin local thrives on classic club sounds and turntablism – made apparent in his original productions. Mantra Collective’s own Whitecat, Antoine Vice, Space Junk and Aboutjack will be on hand for support, keeping bodies moving til the wee hours.

The secret warehouse event will take place in the heart of industrial Sydney on the 1st of November, with full details to be announced closer to the date. Buy tickets HERE

Full Lineup:
Sidney Charles
Whitecat
Antoine Vice
Space Junk
Aboutjack

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Young Turks has called out Hugo Boss over a recent ad campaign soundtrack which might sound familiar to fans of The XX.

Young Turks alleges the fashion house has ripped off The XX’s ‘Intro’ on their 2014 ad ‘Master the Light’. So said the label on Twitter: "As a firm built around original design, isn't it odd that you'd pay for such a poorly disguised fake?"

Pitchfork quickly publicized the claim, and sat the videos side by side allowing fans to compare the two. The Twittersphere immediately exploded with comments such as “Same key, bpm, proportions, melodies…wow”.

As a result of Young Turks’ allegation, the ad has been taken down and replaced with the text “This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by UMPI”. But we dug deep to find one of the few remaining links.

Social Media has spoken. Now you be the judge:

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Flying Lotus
You’re Dead!
Warp Records/Inertia

7.5/10

Let’s be honest, an album title such as ‘You’re Dead!’ could really only be pulled off by someone like Flying Lotus. The fifth studio album from the genre leapfrog sets out to tackle death and mortality, yet considering the dark subject at hand, ‘You’re Dead’ isn’t completely bleak.

The record captures the confusion, contemplation and despair that death brings with eerie accuracy, and yet FlyLo closes off ‘You’re Dead!” with such peace that it’s hard to believe the record clocks in at just under 40 minutes long.

With a heavily influenced jazz palette at hand (Herbie Hancock even turns up to lend a hand), FlyLo uses the frantic riffage and unpredictable nature jazz embodies to imprint an entirely new dimension on the otherwise hip-hop and electronica inspired tracks. Think you don’t like jazz music? Let FlyLo bring you to the other side (pun intended).

The guest roster here in the hip hop stakes is ridiculously on point. ‘Never Catch Me’ featuring Kendrick Lamar makes for sublime listening. Meanwhile on ‘Dead Man’s Tetris’, FlyLo pops up on vocals as his Captain Murphy moniker with Snoop Dogg in tow over one of the more linear bass lines on the record, the duo creating an otherworldly, grungy warmth that is impossible to avoid replaying.

Recurring collaborator ThunderCat appears on production duties across ‘You’re Dead!’ and the duo click together in ways most producers can only dream of. See ‘Descent Into Madness’ for proof.

‘You’re Dead!’ is by no stretch of the imagination an easy listen and given the subject matter FlyLo explores, it’s difficult to escape the heartbreaking eeriness that permeates through the record at times. That doesn’t mean you won’t want to get sucked back in again and again; this is a record that only gets better with each listen.

Tracklist:
01 Theme
02 Tesla feat. Herbie Hancock
03 Cold Dead
04 Fkn Dead
05 Never Catch Me feat. Kendrick Lamar
06 Dead Man’s Tetris feat. Snoop Dogg and Captain Murphy
07 Turkey Dog Coma
08 Stirring
09 Coronus, The Terminator
10 Siren Song feat. Angel Deradoorian
11 Turtles
12 Ready Err Not
13 Eyes Above
14 Moment Of Hesitation
15 Descent Into Madness feat. Thundercat
16 The Boys Who Died In Their Sleep
17 Obligatory Cadence
18 Your Potential/The Beyond feat. Niki Randa
19 The Protest

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Hot off the release of 'Wonder Where We Land', SBTRKT has cancelled three of his tour dates.

The British masked electronic producer announced through his Facebook account this morning that three of his North American tour dates have been cancelled due to “health reasons”.

“With great regret not able to play my first four NA shows in Houston, New Orleans and Dallas this week due to illness. I'm very sorry to all those who purchased tickets and look forward to playing for those fans when i can reschedule them.” 

The dates affected are tonight's show in Atlanta, his Oct. 9 show in New Orleans, his Oct. 10 show in Houston, and his Oct. 12 show in Dallas.

Good news for Mexico, “health reasons” will not get in the way of his appearance at the Corona Capital Music Festival, in Mexico City which is still scheduled to go ahead on 11 October. Who could blame him?

SBTRKT Tour Dates:
10-07 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
10-09 New Orleans, LA - Republic New Orleans
10-10 Houston, TX - House Of Blues
10-11 Mexico City, Mexico - Corona Capital Music Festival
10-12 Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
10-14 Tempe, AZ - The Marquee Theatre
10-15 Los Angeles, CA - The Belsaco Theater
10-16 Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco Theatre
10-17 Oakland, CA - The Fox
10-18 Las Vegas, NV - House Of Blues
10-20 Denver, CO - The Ogden
10-21 Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall
10-23 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
10-24 Cleveland, OH - House Of Blues
10-25 Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre
10-26 New York, NY - Terminal 5
10-27 New York, NY - Terminal 5
10-29 Boston, MA - Royale
10-30 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
10-31 Toronto, Ontario - Danforth Music Hall
11-01 Toronto, Ontario - Danforth Music Hall
11-08 Turin, Italy - C2C
11-10 Munich, Germany - Theaterfabrik
11-11 Berlin, Germany - Astra
11-12 Warsaw, Poland - Basen
11-13 Hamburg, Germany - Uebel & Gefährlich
11-15 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg - Rockhal
11-16 Amsterdam, Holland - Melkweg
11-17 Gent, Belgium - Vooruit
11-18 - Paris, France - Trianon
01-01 - Field Day - Sydney
01-07 Melbourne, Australia - Forum Theatre
01-08 Sydney, Australia - Enmore Theatre

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Back in 2011, Sven Väth looked back on the opening night of his Cocoon parties in Ibiza and declared, “A decade later, I am still here and always listening and watching and also still on the dancefloor wanting to be transported. To be moved.” While the German-born producer might still be waiting, there’s no question that his music has moved many.

Väth has been producing and influencing dance music for over 30 years: from his particular brands of techno and house to his innovative club nights and his fearless approach to music culture in general, there’s little doubt Sven is a visionary. For his part, he prefers “Papa Sven” – maybe that down-to-earth-ness is what makes him such a likeable personality. In honor of Väth’s 50th birthday this week, we look back at his career highlights, top tracks, and best moments as a music icon.

RESIDENCY AT DORIAN GRAY

In the early 1980s, a young Sven Väth had his heart set on becoming a DJ. After hitchhiking to Ibiza, he made his way by passing out club flyers, sleeping on beach chairs in a makeshift campsite he had built with a friend. “We were downright broke,” Väth recalled in an interview with Resident Advisor. The three months he spent on the island were an experience he says inspired him to pursue music. “I was just inspired and in love with the place and the people,” he muses, “I started coming to Ibiza every year.”

Even when he moved back to his native Frankfurt and began DJing professionally, nothing was ever handed to him – when he was eventually booked at Dorian Gray, he had to fight for his hour of music. The hard work paid off: Dorian Gray became Väth’s first residency, launching his professional DJ career in 1982.

ELECTRIC SALSA

Luckily for us, Dorian Gray was also where, by chance, Väth met Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilloti of Snap!, who encouraged him to start producing. Väth went on to produce and record vocals for “Electric Salsa” under the pseudonym OFF (Organization For Fun) in 1986, an Italo disco-influenced banger that topped the charts, selling one million copies worldwide. Considered Väth’s groundbreaking single (and subsequent album), “Electric Salsa” marked the beginning of the beginning.

OMEN

Two short years later, Väth had settled into a steady hustle. With “Electric Salsa” and “Bad News” under his belt, Väth joined forces with Michael Münzing and Mattias Martinsohn to open Omen, a dance club in his hometown of Frankfurt. Although the club closed its doors after 10 monumental years, Omen is considered a classic – one of the true birthplaces of the German techno subculture, and an integral player in the nightlife scene. Rumors about Omen’s closing night say that the place was so packed that people spilled into the streets to keep the party going.

ACCIDENT IN PARADISE

By the time the 1990s rolled through, the electronic music community already knew Väth as a major contributor. In 1992, Väth solidified his reputation with “Accident in Paradise,” his first full-length, and a release that showed off his chameleon-like ability to produce an eclectic but focused array of sounds. While “Accident in Paradise” and “L’Esperenza” took on a classic driving techno, “Sleeping Invention,” “Ritual of Life,” and “Coda” borrowed from ambient, atmospheric, instrumental, and minimalism. MixMag later named “Accident in Paradise” one of the 50 Greatest Dance Albums of All Time.

VINYLPHELIA

As for his DJing, Väth continued (and continues) to reign supreme. The electronic music world has digitalized since Väth first started out, but Sven shows no signs of putting away his wax for good. Some might call it outdated or old-fashioned. We call it old school. He’s one of the few DJs left that continues to spin records exclusively, a bold move in an industry that is constantly asking for more. But Väth isn’t fazed: “It’s a matter of honour, and of course also a statement about which generation you belong to,” he’s explained of his love of wax. “I don’t need 15,000 sound files when I’m booked for a gig — I’m not a jukebox. Vinyl is THE medium for everybody who sets high values on good sound." All hail the king.

32 HOUR MARATHON SET AT LOVE PARADE

Add to that his inimitable status as one of techno’s marathon DJs, and it’s no wonder Väth commands the respect that he does. Known to play sets of over 20 hours without missing a beat, so to speak, Väth is a veteran when it comes to tests of endurance. When speaking to Beat.com in 2011, Sven fondly looks back on the longest set in his memory: “There was one set maybe... 32 hours. That was a very long one, and I think that was during 1994 or ‘95 at the Love Parade in Berlin,” he recalls.

“From time to time every year I have three shows were I play over 24 hours. I'm 46 and I'm still waiting for the best party to come.” Needless to say, these marathon sets have helped establish him as an unstoppable force in music.

COCOON RECORDINGS

In a move that has become one of Väth’s greatest accomplishments, the producer/DJ founded Cocoon Recordings in the year 2000 as part of his Cocoon Music and Events GmbH platform. After over two decades spent honing his own craft, Väth began developing a project that would help shine a light on young electronic music artists, which lead to the development of the Cocoon Artist Booking agency, and of course, Cocoon Recordings, the latter of which has quickly become known for its innovative approach to the propagation of dance music. The label plays host to today’s leading influential artists like Luca Ballerini, Alan Fitzpatrik, Mathias Kaden, Extrawelt, Adam Beyer, Coyu, Guy Gerber, Dominik Eulberg, Popof, and Roman Flugel (to name a few). The label’s launch also coincided with the debut of the Cocoon nights at Ibiza’s infamous Amnesia nightclub, the first of its kind. The Monday night party is an Ibiza institution, and known for being the first to bring techno to the island in 1999.

THE SOUND OF THE FIRST SEASON

Although by now Cocoon Ibiza is in its 15th season, nothing quite compares to the resounding spirit that permeated from that first season at Amnesia. At the time, the Cocoon night in Ibiza had broken new ground -- it’s thanks to Väth that techno became an Ibiza mainstay, and continues to thrive in the island’s scene. Case in point: the first ever Sound of the Season, a compilation mix put together by Väth himself as a means of bringing each season to life. The compilations have lived on since the early days of Cocoon Ibiza, and the series no doubt owes its longevity to the success of that first edition. Having featured artists like Steve Bug, Terence Fixmer, Chris Liebing, Scorp, Alter Ego, Technasia, and Electric Deluxe, the compilation -- released in November of 2000 -- brought back fond memories of the summer, and continues to be remembered and referenced today.

30 YEARS ON THE DECKS

2011 marked another milestone for the producer, who celebrated 30 years of DJing with a world tour that found him everywhere from Seoul to Taipei to Hollywood to Ibiza and Hannover. To commemorate the milestone, he published a lengthy but beautifully written essay entitled “30 Years on the Decks” on his own Cocoon official site, emphasizing what he believes DJing is all about. “Songs with fantasy and thoughtfulness, songs to freak out and to fall in love to, songs to sing along to, songs with heart and soul,” he wrote. “It’s about songs with soundscapes that inspire longing and exude freedom. To feel the world that we live in, but at the same time, to be able to forget it for a short time – only a really good song can do that.” Despite decades in the industry, it’s clear that Väth has definitely not become jaded. His inspiration inspires, and above all else, that makes him an amazing artist.

COMING HOME COMPILATION MIX

Never one to be particularly tied down, Väth is continually full of surprises. Despite the bangers he churns out for the dancefloor, he has once again proven his ability to successfully wear many hats. His latest is a compilation mix for Stereo Deluxe’s “Coming Home” series, released in June of this year, in which he delivers a surprisingly subtle tracklist. Featuring the likes of CocoRosie, Boards of Canada, Oneohtrix Point Never, and Nils Frahm, Väth intended the mix for so-called “quiet listening.”

“My influences have always been diverse and unpredictable,” he wrote in the release notes, “That is unmistakably the case on this quiet listening compilation. I intended to present only my current fave songs without any articular dramaturgy.” The mix makes for easy but profound listening, representing a distillation of his taste that has never been seen before.

Sven Väth's huge 50th birthday celebrations will be taking place on October 25th, 2014 at Maimarkthalle in Germany from 9pm-10am. For more info, click here.

With the closing of Amnesia Ibiza, one of the island’s biggest, if not the biggest, closing parties, there is always great expectation and anticipation. And this year, the line-up for the closing was certainly one of the most impressive in recent memory.

With some of my finest memories of the season coming on the hallowed Amnesia Terrace dance floor in the morning sunlight, the prospect of spending close enough to a whole day in the sun drenched Terrace was enthralling to say the least.

tINI was on the decks when I arrived, serving up an array of quality selections wrapped in the deep and moody character her sound so often possesses. Having been most accustomed to seeing tINI and her lively followers down on the beach at Sands this summer, it was compelling to see her in the polar opposite environment. Amnesia Terrace is about as far removed from Sands as you can get on the White Isle, but tINI had more than enough skill to deliver a strong set whilst the room was still shrouded in darkness.

Her classy selections led from the dubbed out and more minimal side of her sound, which she explores frequently at her tINI & The Gang parties, to straight up, tough techno. Her music has a distinct shadowy edge to it, and the partygoers in the busy space were soaking up the atmosphere and the grooves gratefully.

tINI moved through the gears impressively, with the raw, powerful and instantly identifiable Head High’s ‘Megatrap (Mix Mix)’ and G-Man’s remix of Mesquitas’ ‘Finding Peace of Mind’ standing out in particular.

Joseph Capriati, a man who has made the Amnesia Main Room his home this season, was enjoying a large crowd and displaying heaps of energy behind the decks. Recently his sound has slowly crept away from the straighter Drumcode style of techno towards more groove based heavy tech-house selections. Using the same delay effect injections to warp and bend his build-ups, Capriati supplied the dark room with the ideal dance floor fare.

Back in the Terrace, 9am saw the arrival of Seth Troxler and his partner in crime for the morning, Eats Everything. It’s easy to pull out the ‘larger than life’ clichés about the pair, but the two are genuine party DJs and know how to bring the fun. Clearly in jovial spirits, Seth had gone for a pope’s hat as his choice of headwear for the morning festivities, and the pair were bouncing from the outset, delivering a series of fast-paced, jacking selections.

Their selections were bold, brash and loud, eschewing the standard slew of tech-house for heavy and rough house music and upfront techno. Levon Vincent’s deep masterpiece ‘Man Or Mistress’ served as ideal peak time fodder as did the hottest techno cut this season, Floorplan’s incredible synergy of raw techno and gospel, which hasn’t ceased to ignite dance floors all summer.

The usually impeccable sound, however, left a lot to be desired, as rumblings throughout the crowd suggested damage had been done to the sound system. Whatever the reason for the lack of sound quality, it most certainly detracted from the party, at times subjecting our ears to a muddied and distorted aural experience. The sound didn’t seem to recover for the remainder of the party.

Following Seth and Eats Everything was Maceo Plex. The first thing to say about the American is that he has undeniably carved out his own unique sound with some of the toughest tech-house you’ll find anywhere. He always seems to have a hold on the crowd, with an inevitable sea of hands raised before him within minutes of his introduction. Many selections possess the direct, pumping style of of his track ‘Conjure Sex’, and throughout the set you won’t see a great deal of variation, but a succession of hard hitting peak time selections. Marcel Dettmann’s stomping remix of ‘Bad Kingdom’ received an airing, as did the epic synth sounds of Âme’s ‘Rej’.

It was then time to see in the final few afternoon hours of the party with Luciano and Ricardo Villalobos playing back-to-back. Obviously the pair has shared the decks together on countless occasions over the years, so it would be naïve to doubt their chemistry together, but I was apprehensive when I heard the two were set to play back-to-back.

The two have taken different paths musically for a number of years now, and my gut told me their sounds wouldn’t match up. It didn’t take long for my reservations to become validated as the pair served up a somewhat disjointed affair. Luciano’s sound these days in based on repetitive loops that rarely deviate from his self-prescribed sound, whilst Ricardo’s sound is a particularly eclectic, mixing and chopping minimal cuts, groovy Latin flavours, with driving techno and house selections. With Ricardo playing his characteristically colourful records in his flamboyant style, there was a resounding sense that Luciano was holding Ricardo back.

Add to this the combination of sound issues and general fatigue, and Luciano’s repetitive selections seemed to stretch on almost without end. Looking out over the room, the crowd were visibly flat. It became a theme throughout the set and there became a distinct feeling of push and pull rather than a harmonious mix of two influences.

The experience wasn’t wholly underwhelming, but the closing party is meant to be the biggest and best party of the season – it’s meant to be the party you leave feeling a mixture of joy and elation at what you have just witnessed. Unfortunately there was a pervasive and lingering sense of disappointment.

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The final artists for Soul Candi Sessions, the flagship annual album from the label, have been announced. After Lulo Cafe and Cuebur were announced initially, fans have been waiting for the rest of the artists to be revealed. After much speculation, Soul Candi Records has proudly announced Harael Salkow, Tellaman and MoFlava as the remaining artists to be featured on the upcoming album.

Harael Salkow, aka Daddy H at Soul Candi HQ, will be featured on the album once again this year and promises an album that maintains the high standards his fans expect as well as the hottest dance tracks from the season.

New to the scene as well as Sessions is the Durban-based Tellaman. His album is the featured artist album and includes all his own productions and vocals. The first single to be released off his album is “Drinks & Music” featuring Okmalumkoolkat which has already received an excellent response.

Rounding off the fantastic featured five is the YFM DJ Mo Flava. Known for his drivetime show on YFM from 3PM -7PM as well as being a presenter on Club 808, Mo Flava is no stranger in the music industry and a perfect fit for the Sessions brand. 

Soul Candi Sessions have stated: “2015 promises to be one of the hottest Sessions releases to date, and it’s no surprise when you look at the credentials of the artists contributing to it this year. A calculated combination of newcomers, established producers and an excellent team working hard to perfect everything behind the scenes there is no doubt that this may be one of the years biggest house albums”.

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Gottwood Festival will be back in June 2015 to offer more woodland revelry in the picturesque and intriguing setting of Anglesey Forest, on the most north-west tip of Wales. The boutique festival prides itself on serving up a feast of underground electronic talent.

The likes of Sounds of the Universe will curate a day of live music, whilst Craig Richards' The Nothing Special will represent his unique approach to music and Subb-an and Adam Shelton's label One Records will also join proceedings.

Jigsaw Presents, Boxford, Back To Basics, Brotherhood Sound System, Future Disco, Futureboogie, Hit & Run, Hypercolour, Jaunt, Louche, Nixwax, Real Nice, Road To Nowhere, Tief, Wigflex and Wolf are some of the seminal party brands that will be involved next year.

The forest surroundings will be transformed with intimate stages, graffiti, sculptures and art work all coming together to form the stunning setting.

For more info, head the event Facebook page.

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Of all the closing parties, it’s undeniable that Space Ibiza throws the grandest, expanding the already vast surroundings to the size of a small festival. Space pulled out all the stops, with a gargantuan line-up prepared for the final summer send-off.

Everything is on a much grander scale for the closing, with the car park area’s huge arena resembling a festival’s main stage. The outdoor arena created the ideal festival atmosphere, as the masses of revellers danced al fresco for one last time this summer. The sense of jovial spirits and special occasion was pervasive as Richie Hawtin occupied the decks, a little dot in the centre of the huge stage. Pumping out his signature minimalist sound, Hawtin never fails to appeal to the masses, signifying his rise as one of the island’s biggest stars in recent years.

The sea of people was vast, dancing beneath the cargo netting with the kind of enthusiasm that signalled the season’s end. Across all the closing parties there has been a distinct atmosphere of high spirits and celebration – after another glorious summer everyone wants to go all-out before the reality of winter comes bearing down. Being outside, as the sunset and planes flew overhead, was another one of those distinctly beautiful and lasting Ibiza moments.

At midnight, Space’s undisputed king, Carl Cox, took the reins for the final two outdoor hours, with a customary toast on the mic, “Are you ready?” A rapturous response ensued and Coxy settled into his heavy tech-house groove with driving tough tracks forming the foundation of his sound. Kenny Larkin’s remix of ‘I Don’t Need A Cure For This’ by Radio Slave went down strongly alongside the likes of Alan Fitzpatrick’s ubiquitous rework of Trus’me’s ‘I Want You’ and ‘The Look’ by Spencer Parker.

With Coxy’s set coming to a close at 2am, the hordes of partygoers made their way inside for one last hurrah within Space’s hallowed walls. Detroit trio Visionquest were delivering a succession of dark and grooving house music as the Terrace quickly began to fill with the influx of people from the car park. Slowly building the atmosphere, the threesome were enjoying themselves as their sleazy and growling selections injected yet more life into the closing party. Seeing the DJs enjoy themselves just as much as the dance floor can be a rarity, so it was a pleasure to see Crosson, Curtiss, and Reeves fully involved in the partying.

Over in the Discoteca, Deep Dish were back at Space, after their return to the fore at the opening party. In keeping with the general feel of the party, the lighting had a larger than life feel, with vast vertical blocks illuminating the pair. Deep Dish’s sound is now much more contemporary, leaning towards Dubfire’s style of stripped back minimal fare, which may have disappointed those who were fans of the pair when they shot to the forefront of dance music in the ‘90s.

Back in the Terrace, Spaniard John Talabot was laying down a series of tough house cuts, showing his dance floor savvy side compared to his productions, which aren’t always dance floor compatible.

Carl Cox and Nic Fanciulli took to the decks at 7am for their special Terrace closing set with plenty of people gathered for one final send off. The pair bounced off one another, with the clear chemistry of two good friends. And whilst I didn’t manage to stick it out after a long weekend of partying, reports of the duo playing until midday and people dancing on the tables circulated the next afternoon. Space went out in a typically huge and hedonistic fashion, as it always does, leaving us to reminisce about a season of great moments.

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Ahead of his debut live show at ADE this month, dubbed dubfire:liveHYBRID, SCI+TEC boss Dubfire chats with longtime label mate Carlo Lio about the impact he's had on tech house and techno, his love of cats, and his decision to move to Barcelona. 

You seem to be known as the father of a particular style of tech-house. Do you agree with that assessment, and how do you feel about influencing legions of producers who’ve taken that blueprint to heart? Well I guess if people feel this way, then it’s a good thing and who am I to disagree! I guess you can say that I’ve built a unique type of style, which bridges the gap between techno and tech-house.

It’s kind of how I would look to describe the sound. Over the years I’ve really seen and heard many people take a page out of my book, so of course I feel honoured that I can give some influence to such a big industry with such talented producers.

It’s no secret that you adore cats; how many do you have and when and where did this love affair originate? My obsession with cats is definitely no secret. Currently I have two cats, which I love dearly! Their names are Treble and Cleffy. When I was really young, my sister and I always wanted a pet. My parents weren’t so fond of the idea, but we finally cracked them.

They got us a Persian/Himalayan mix and she was the best thing on the planet. Her name was Roxy. We would fight about who got to hold her first when we got home from school. One would get the cat first, and the other would get the TV remote. Our walks home were always a negotiation!

You’ve been living in Barcelona for a number of years now in the summer months; what is it about the city that appeals to you? Yes, I made the seasonal move there in the summer of 2011. At that point in my career I needed to be in Europe. Obviously being on tour with you (Dubfire), you’d always mentioned that Barcelona would be the best move for me, and you were right!

I just wanted to be in a place where I knew lots of fellow artists and friends who I felt comfortable around. It’s also very easy to travel from in and out of. Barcelona gave me al of this and more so it was a no brainer! And after 4 years there, it’s amazing how many artists have made the move there. I’m really happy about that I made the move!

Dubfire and Carlo Lio will be playing at ADE on October 16th at the Roest Warehouse alongside Adrian Sherwood, Dadub and Modular Pursuit. 

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Three movements present a triple threat at the next Teknotribe outdoor party: Twilight. Featuring three stages – techno (teknotribe), psytrance (psyology) and drum ‘n bass (Science Frikshun) - the party just outside of Joburg promises to deliver a full-bodied party experience.

International acts include psytrance agent Whiptongue (Brazil), and techno wunderkind Hollen (Italy), as well as Spain’s Mekkanikka and Whiplash’s other version, Sychotria, on the psy stage. South Africa brings the big guns with Broken Toy, who recently celebrated 10 years of trance at Earthdance, “It Came from the Jungle” dnb giant Niskerone, and techno crazy kids like Ivan Turanjanin.

Phase-Two tickets are almost sold out 2 weeks in advance, and attendance numbers look set to be high. As Technotribe puts it, “Some genres explode and go mainstream, others fizzle out and die rather sad, pathetic deaths. But some genres, like Castle Lager, stand the test of time. One of these genres is techno.

“Teknotribe also initiated joining forces with the psy trance scene way back in 2003, bringing about Techno vs. Trance and now have a sub brand called Psytribe. This affiliation with congruent genres is becoming a trend in the EDM scene as people refuse to be pigeon-holed. Commonly, the pillars include psy-trance, techno, minimal tech and DnB/Dubstep”.

Looks like our festivals are cooking up quite a delicious storm in that melting pot.

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Following his much talked about set at Future Classic's Adult Disco party last weekend, Greco-Roman affiliate LXURY is set to headline The Sydney Social at Soho Bar this Saturday night.

Previously hosting international names such as Bixel Boys, Tchami, AC Slater and Harvard Bass just to name a few, LXURY is the first name to kick off the Kings Cross nightclub's big summer of parties.

LXURY will be supported by a swathe of The Sydney Social residents and top-notch local DJs including Go Freek, Robustt, Jack Bailey, Bes and more.

Stay tuned to Pulse for a further announcement to come on Sydney Social's upcoming summer programme.

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Without a doubt it's been a great year for albums. Right back in Januarywe selected 20 of the best dropping in 2014.Then at the halfway point we got tres excited about 15 more LPs, and twofrom that list have finally arrived, which are sitting pretty below at #2 and #1.

Here are five of the best albums in electronic music that you need to treat your ears to this week. Get stuck in, because a life without constant new music ain't one worth living!

#5 Sylvan Esso - 'Sylvan Esso'

OK, so Sylvan Esso may have released their album back in May, which means it's not new by today's superficial internet standards, but it's still damn fresh. Easily and unfairly one of the most underrated albums of 2014, the North Carolina duo's debut effort is one of the most original and vibrant works of electronic pop we've heard for some time. Full of lively machine beats and synths contrasted with Amelia Meath's beautifully distinct vocals, this is future pop at its best.

 

#4 Kasper Bjorke - 'After Forever'

Kasper Bjorke's sophomore LP 'Standing On Top Of Utopia' was one of the standout releases of 2010; a collection of catchy and sun-kissed pop tunes. The Danish producer's fourth studio offering dropped late last month and has already been receiving rave reviews, and rightly so. In contrast to 'Utopia', 'After Forever' heads on a sombre, early-morning path, awash with moody Krautrock melodies and emotional 80s synths. Essential listening.

#3 Flying Lotus - 'You're Dead!'

By now Steven Ellison has already garnered a solid repuation as one of experimental dance music's most innovative auters. On his fifth outing, the LA beatmsith delves into a heavily jazz influenced palette, even collaborating with the legendary Herbie Hancock. It's a strange and dazzling journey that tackles death and mortality. Check out our review.

#2 SBTRKT - 'Wonder Where We Land'

How in the hell do you top an album as big as SBTRKT's 2011 debut? A tough ask, but the English producer called Aaron Jerome by his Mum has tackled this tricky conundrum by simply refusing to tread the same path. You won't find any instant pop hits a la 'Wildfire'. Nope, instead the maked man of UK dance has served up a listening experience that's far more immersive than its predecessor, which as a result comes off as a far more cohesive body of work. Our pick: 'Higher'.

#1 Caribou - 'Our Love'

A beautiful pastiche that merges the analogue dancefloor rhythms of Dan Snaith's Daphni moniker with the indie-pop of his Caribou alter-ego, 'Our Love' is not only our must-listen album of this week, but perhaps of all of 2014. As our reviewer described it, 'Our Love' is the "prismatic, saturated work of a mature artist, not so much on top as wholly in the thick of his career". There's not much more to be said. Your life will be better off with this album in it.

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Earlier this year saw the debut of fresh faced Central Coast event Mountain Sounds Festival, which boasted an all Aussie lineup of acts including Yolanda Be Cool, Beni, Canyons and more. Now the sustainable boutique event has announced that it's set to make a return to stunning surrounds of Mount Penang Parklands in Kariong on Saturday, February 21st.

So what's the lineup for 2015, we hear you ask. It's being kept tightly under wraps for now, but all will be revealed Thursday October 23rd - so head to Pulse to hear it first. There's even the chance for one live band and one electronic act to open the festival via a state-wide competition to be announced soon.

Get yourself pumped with a special preview video below and check out all the action from last year's Mountain Sounds debut in our review.

MOUNTAIN SOUNDS FESTIVAL 2014 from Mountain Sounds Festival on Vimeo.

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To celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary of Diplo’s breakout album 'Florida', he’s dropped the whole steam on Soundcloud, including some never before released tracks, "As I lay Dying” and “Into the Sun” featuring Martina Topley-Bird. Looking back, Diplo aka Wes Pentz, said in a statement about the reissue that the record "represents my first 23 years of my life."

A decade before writing songs for Justin Bieber and co-headlining Madison Square Garden as Jack U, Diplo made his name with 'Florida, an eclectic, trip-hop-indebted album. The “new” tracks, released through Rolling Stone, portrays a young, unique side of the producer that’s authentic and raw. 

“I made Florida between a small apartment in Philadelphia and my mother’s house in Florida, I was working late nights and taking a bus through the city every night, smoking weed, putting on headphones and just making things I never heard before and could just imagine,” the DJ posted on his Facebook page today. 

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The outdoor summer party season in South Africa is kicking off with bang. Leading the pack in open air festivals is the trance movement, which has had a stronghold on the country for decades and seems to grow by the minute. The outdoor party scene now includes more variety in terms of genre, oftne with electro, drum n bass and techno stages. Several huge festivals are scheduled around the country, and a full platter of international headliners such as Captain Hook, Mindwave, Hollen, Atmos and many more are preparing themselves for our holiday heatwave.

OCTOBER:                                                                     LOCATION:
11 -12         Illumination Festival 2014                            Witfontein (Outside JHB)
11 – 12       The Village presents The Gathering            Botrivier (Outside CT)
12               Renaissance presents Music Rebirth          Magaliesburg (Outside JHB)
19               Organik presents Gaian Dream                   TBA
25 – 26       Twilight Open Air Festival V6.0                    Magaliesburg (Outside JHB)
25 – 26       Valley of the Psy III: Trick or Treat               CT

NOVEMBER:
1 -2            Community Vol 1 – Shipwrecked                 Sedgefield (Outside CT)
1 -2            Psyology Festival                                         Gouda (Outside CT)
7 – 9          Groovy Troopers - Mandala Project             TBA
15 – 16      Beartrap and MMD - Remanufacture           TBA
22              Equinox Experience Outdoor Day Party      TBA
22 -23        Convergence Festival                                  TBA
28              Synergy Live (Feat. Captain Hook)              Theewaterskloof (Outside CT)

(SEE DECEMBER LINE UP BELOW VIDEO)

DECEMBER:
3 – 8         Vortex Open Source                                      Riviersonderend (Outside CT)
12 – 13     Aloe Roots                                                     Mossel Baai (Outside CT)
13 – 14     Tribe Festival 2014                                        TBA
19 – 21     Altered States – Summer Sostice                 TBA
20             Love & Light Day Party                                  Klein Drakenstein (Outside CT)
31-3 JAN  Rezonance NYE Festival 2014 – 2015         Durbanville (Outside CT)

Check back in December for our next calendar and line-up update, on the second half of the summer season - January to March 2015.

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Ahead of thier arrival on South African shores, we  chat to a duo as hot as the Sahara desert and standing every bit as tall as pyramids, they’re the single most successful group to have emerged from the spiritual lands of Egypt. Ranked as one of the 20 biggest DJ acts in EDM industry this duo certainly delights the crowd in numbers annually in the millions, bringing their inimitable sound to the world’s most prestigious clubs and festivals. No mirage, no illusion - this is Aly & Fila.

For close to a decade Egypt’s finest duo had their spirited take on the trance sound that has captured the hearts, minds and imaginations of trance lovers around the world. With their whip-smart productions and sandstorm sonics, their performances have raised the bar at some of the world’s most recognized clubs. Comparably they’ve also ruled at EDM’s biggest festivals – EDC - Las Vegas, Tomorrowland, Global Gathering, Dance Valley, Stereosonic, WMC and Full On Ferry to name just a few. Continuing in a long tradition of playing the world’s most established and respected stages, in Spring 2013 they have rocked ASOT600. Marking the 7th successive year they’d done so, the Egyptian duo are the only spinners aside from Armin Van Buuren and Markus Schulz to have played such a run. This combined force of production and turntable feats has resulted in a string of high charting positions in several of EDMs’ key polls. Included amongst them are six consecutive years in DJ Mag’s annual countdown. Their accomplishments don’t stop there as Aly and Fila have just released their third artist album “The Other Shore” and just in time for their South African adventure we might add.

Please tell us the story behind one of the trance worlds most highly sort after DJ duo. How did you two meet and decide on starting your musical adventure? We have been very close friends since childhood, and by listening to Trance together from the mid 1990s we fell in love with the sound . We then decided lets give this a go and here we are today still loving what we do.

You both have a highly popular radio show “Future Sound of Egypt”, that streams to countless thousands of desktops every week, how do you go about selecting the music for your podcast? We get sent about 200 demos a week, it’s a careful process of listening to every demo, and seeing which ones are going to work or not.

How do you both enjoy to spend your time when you’re not touring the world or working on your music? With our families and friends. Fila just became a father 6 Months ago so time with his son and Family is precious.

What inspired the title “The Other Shore” for your latest album? We did a track with Aruna called ‘The Other Shore’ and it fit perfectly for the Album to be titled after this track.

The most striking feature of your latest album has been its sheer musicality of every track. Fusing instrumentation from different cultures, genres, and even eras. How did this come about? We would like to think we have matured as musicians since our last album ‘ Quiet Storm’ 12 months ago. We feel that can be heard in the tracks on The Other Shore.

And finally, what are you most looking forward to about your SA tour and what can your fans expect from your long awaited return back to South Africa? The fans are superb , we are really looking forward to the shows.

Thank you very much for joining us! 

Catch Aly & Fila at H20 Africa this Saturday 

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