http://www.embo.net/

After popping my mix up on my webspace I realised I had to have a decent website goin' on. After 24hrs of editing code I have a kinda cool lookin' page which mostly works. Please excuse some of the links not working yet and the writing being a little ropey, but I had to get something up quickly and I plan for it to get better every few days. Enjoy!

Week One.

After a set 1000 times better, I give you Black Sparkle, a blend of uplifting house and dark electro. Enjoy it as much as I did.

46:06

Midnight Juggernauts - Shadows
Roisín Murphy - Overpowered (Kris menace Remix)
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
Cut Copy - Hearts on Fire (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)
Dave Gahan - Kingdom (Digitalism Remix)
Ladytron - Sugar (Jagz Kooner Mix)
Depeche Mode - Just Can't get Enough (Dirty South Remix)
Goldfrapp - Ooh La La (Benny Benassi Remix)(Extended)
Suicide - Rocket USA
Death In Vegas - Dirge

The Earl Grey Set

Well the first misc set I did didn't go as well as planned. It was fraught with technical problems for a start. It was a rookie error to just hit the decks and press record without checking the sound properly. I then performed a series of stupid mistakes, from tracks running out and missing cues to knocking buttons and beat matching poorly, it couldn't've been much more amateur sounding. Creatively, I'd had this vision which I wasn't able to muster on the first try - but I felt really rushed cos I had to go to work so couldn't get my head in the right space, nor did I have time to research my idea properly.

All though listening this morning, it doesn't sound as bad as I remember - I guess we are all our own harshest critic!

Just one day out of life...

I'm in hiatus while Popstarz changes venues and all week I've been wracking my brain to find something to fill my time. My inspiration came whilst listening to Radio Soulwax* last night; here are two guys who just played excellent tunes from cheese to obscure electro, remixed and mixed well. So, I figure I'll stick a series of mixes up, one a week if I get organised. Not sure what web syndication is let alone how to do it so I'll not use this new-fangled term "podcasting". Should be fun. Red Light Company is out in a few weeks,

I'm really looking forward to going into a shop and actually buying it! I plan to pick up White Lies at the same time. Also looking forward to new Franz Ferdinand. yay!

I've just finished listening to the latest She Wants Revenge album "This is Forever". If you like SWR, then you'll like this album, if you were expecting new revellations from the band, don't bother. It's more of the same, but some how he sounds even more like Bowie than before. I like it, but then I don't mind samey if it's good samey - sometimes in fact, it can be a blessing.

New Year's Eve mix

Finally, after a week pottering around I've recorded all three hour long mixes for my absentee NYE set at Popstarz. They can be downloaded here. Each hour is about 55Mb each, or you can listen just by clicking. It's not perfect, but I had to just get something recorded, anything is better than nothing. Hour 3 is particularly dodgy in places, but hey. Enjoy.

Hour 1:

Felix Da Housecat - Silver Screen Shower Scene
Tiga - Louder Than A Bomb
Chromeo - Tenderoni (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Justice - DVNO
Daft Punk - Human After All (SebastiAn remix)
Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The 80s
Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
Midnight Juggernauts - Shadows
Crystal Castles - Untrust Us
Dragonette - I Get Around
Britney Spears - Womanizer (JUSTICE Club Remix) (Leaked)
Sneaky Sound System - I Love It
Christian Falk feat. Robyn - Dream On (Warren Clarke Club Mix)

Hour 2:

The Cribs - Mens Needs (CSS Mix)
Pink - So What (Bimbo Jones Extended Mix)
Kylie Minogue - Wow (MSTRKRFT Remix)
Mason Vs. Princess Superstar - Perfect (Exceeder)
The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful (SebastiAn Remix)
Depeche Mode - Just Cant Get Enough (Dirty South Remix)
The Tings Tings - That's Not My Name (Soul Seekerz Radio Mix)
Kaiser Chiefs - Never Miss A Beat (Run Hide Survive Remix)
MGMT - Kids (Soulwax Remix)
Snap! - Rhythm Is A Dancer (12 Mix)
Utah Saints Something Good '08 (Radio Edit)
Gala - Freed From Desire (Club Mix)
Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor
Mylo vs. Miami Sound Machine - Doctor Pressure

Hour 3

Culture Beat - Mr. Vain
Bob Sinclar Vs Corona - The Rhythm Of The Night 2008 (Habakus Remix)
Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up (Wideboys Remix Full Club)
Sugababes - Girls (Fred Falke Short Edit)
Ashley Simpson - Outta My Head (Dave Aude Club Mix)
September - Cry For You [Jackal Remix Short]
The Saturdays - Up (Wideboys Remix)
Dave Spoon feat. Lisa Maffia - Bad Girl (At Night)
Technotronic - Get Up (1993 7 Remix)
Kid Sister - Control (JFK Remix)
Moby - Disco Lies (Freemasons Club Edit)
Kylie Minogue - The One [Freemasons full on radio remix edit]
Dizzee Rascal - Flex (Dave Spoon Remix)
Wiley - Wearing My Rolex

Just press play...

Having told Popstarz that I can't do NYE for them they have asked me to record a 3 hour set (3 x 1 hour cds) as they can't fill my place. They are paying me handsomely and best of all it has forced me to do a project I've been half-heartedly doing for 6 months. Today I decided to work out the logistics and get the tech working. I've opted to plug my decks into my computer and record live as I've not been able to get any DJ program working so I can use my headphones as a monitor - I think I just don't have a good enough soundcard. After some jiggery-pokery, I actually managed to get this to work and later record using Goldwave! I AM NOW READY TO RECORD! :)

Alison Mosshart

Just as I had finished sorting out Kammo 2, Popstarz asked me to do a 4 hour slot on Friday! I had to extend and re-plan my material to be able to be used for a 4 hour set. I worked all day coming up with 15 new bangers to add to my repertoire.

After that, I went to see The Kills supported by XX Teens. Secretly, I went to see XX Teens as I like them over The Kills. But my indie peers would disapprove of such an opinion. I like the art rock edge of XX Teens that doesn't take itself too seriously, an ironic in your face interaction - almost shock-rock at times. There is this one moment when they "pause a song" freezing completely and everyone thinks the song is finished and clap, then when nothing happens a sort of unrest stirs in the crowd and questioning murmuring breaks out. It's a great moment to watch the crowd feeling uncertain and confused. Breaking out of the mould, but not too violently. The Kills were sexy bluesy, rock n roll shouting, likable, but too clichéd for me - the lady (who I could look up the name of to look clever but can't be bothered to insult either of our intelligence for) was very sexy, she had this great look, with long silky hair flying everywhere, understated clothes and an unadulterated classic face full of defiance.

I've decided to put together a mixtape of my new tunes in no particular order, to both alert me to the nuances of the songs in detail and get me back into making recordings. I have to keep in mind that it's better to have something that's imperfect than nothing at all!