Jozif Feat. Little Bear - The 508 (CRM104)

With a hectic summer of touring and the critically acclaimed ´Standard Rising EP´ on Culprit under his belt, extended family member jozif finds time to contribute the next installment in the Crosstown Rebels unstoppable streak with ´The 508´; a killer EP featuring the sublime vocal work of Little Bear and rising star Uffe on remix duty.

Unorthodox percussive elements lead the way on original version of ´The 508´, rattling away in an almost marching band fashion until we are swept into the ethereal vocals of Little Bear reminiscent of early Kate Bush. Deeply emotive grand piano chords combined with additional hats and shakers pave the way for a kick and sub-bass combo to give the track real purpose and drive. An electric piano melody during the breakdown builds tension to a climax that cascades down upon the return of the lush vocals.

On the remix the Rebels well renowned A&R team welcome young Danish starlet Uffe to the label after his exceptional recent outing on Pets Recordings. This one starts gritty and raw with tribal percussion setting a loose off kilter groove. The piano chords from the original are retained and are even developed further with a few extra chords added. This time its epic string pads that build the climax and a glockenspiel melody that completes this beautiful journey.

An instrumental version of the original is included to round off this excellent package from burning UK talent, jozif.

 

Label: Crosstown Rebels

Cat no: CRM104

Web: www.crosstownrebels.com

Distribution: Above Board Distribution

Released: Mon Nov 19th, 2012

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Damian Lazarus Q & A

Crosstown Rebels' commander-in-chief empties the contents of his psychic record bag.

The track I always play to rescue a dancefloor
Donna Summer: I Feel Love

There are times when I take people on long, deep, psychedelic journeys with my music, and having a track like this at your disposal is great for rewiring the crowd back to some kind of normality.

The track that currently gets the most rewinds
Andre Kraml: Safari

A Crosstown Rebels classic. When you hear the opening bars, there's nothing you can do but be excited about what follows.

The track I wish I'd signed to my label
Chic: I Want Your Love

One of my favourite records of all time. I play this one out as the last tune at parties where I feel like I've really connected with the crowd.

The track I'd play at my auntie's wedding
Exile: Kiss You All Over (Brennan Green Edit)

Not because I'd like to kiss my auntie all over, but I think she would appreciate this genuine lovers' anthem.

The track that got me out of bed this morning
Prince: Purple Rain

This is my most played 12" at home in LA. It sits there waiting for me every morning. My puppy and my four cats know not to bother me for their breakfast until the record has finished.

The track I wish i'd never played
Original Cast: Reviewing The Situation (from Oliver! soundtrack)

Some say I should never have played this at half-speed over the top of some eerie sound effects … but you know, life's a gamble and there's no regrets.

The best track by my favourite new artist
Francesca Lombardo: Sofiel

She's a classically trained musician and opera singer, and her house/techno music production is second to none.

The ideal festival track
Double 99: Ripgroove

I closed the day with this one at the first Parklife Festival and the place exploded.

The track that should have been a crossover hit
Infinity Ink: Infinity

A monster of a record that is so catchy, it deserves to be a global smash hit. I've just had new remixes made of it by Richy Ahmed and Claude VonStroke so we'll see what happens when we re-release it.

The track I want played at my funeral
Deodato: Also Sprach Zarathustra

It's the track played when Chauncey Gardiner discovers New York City in the film Being There and I think it accurately reflects the drama and fun I've had in my life.

Francesca Lombardo - Eyes Of Nature (RBL012)

After her incredible ‘Changes EP’ on Crosstown Rebels earlier this year, new lady of house Francesca Lombardo continues to impress this time through the Rebellion arm of the enterprise with her ‘Eyes of Nature EP’.

´Eyes´ is first up and opens with a slick percussive grove characterised by lots of organic elements coalescing to paint a mesmerising, ritualistic picture. Bells, shakers and cymbals rattle and echo while deep haunting synths climb and fall to create a real sense of drama. Francesca utilises her vocal training to devastating effect intermittently throughout the track, panning her own heavily FX´d vocals across the mix adding further to the suspense.

On the flip vocal stabs and a tabla drum riff set the tone on ´Wander and Wonder´, before an infectious woodblock melody signals the arrival of a huge baseline taking this one straight to the dance-floor. The full potential of the track is released with the introduction of Julien Riachi´s hypnotic vocals, which are sure to prompt a few ´hands in the air´ moments. Exquisite production skills see that the track continuously evolves sonically and elementally, whilst Lombardo´s classically trained ear ensures that the vast array of musical elements on display make perfect sense.

We wait in excitement for the forthcoming album to be released next year on Crosstown Rebels.

Label: RebelLION

Cat no: RBL012

Web: www.crosstownrebels.com

Distribution: Above Board

Released: Mon Nov 5th, 2012

LINK TO THE TRACKS

Crosstown Rebels celebrate Day Zero in Mexico

Crosstown Rebels have announced plans for Day Zero, a 24-hour party taking place in Mexico on December 21st, 2012.

The event is timed to coincide with what the Mayans believed to be the end of the current "World Age"—that is, the cosmically significant occurrence at the center of the 2012 theories. Many people describe this event as some kind of apocalypse, but Crosstown Rebels boss Damian Lazarus assures us that "it’s more of a new beginning—the beginning of a new chapter." Day Zero is a celebration of this transition. It's taking place among the temples at a never-before-used Mayan theme park in Playa Del Carmen. The party starts 6:00 PM on December 20th and ends at 6:11 PM on December 21st—the exact moment this cosmic shift is expected to take place.

The lineup is a unique mix of core Crosstown artists (Lazarus, Jamie Jones, Art Department, Subb-an, Amirali, Infinity Ink, Fur Coat, Francesca Lombardo), friends of the family (Acid Pauli, Maayan Nidam, Thugfucker, Metrika, Matias Aguayo) and a few interesting curveballs (3D of Massive Attack vs James Lavelle, Trentemøller and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs). There will be Mayan dancers and shamanic rituals, antics provided by Crystal Rebels and lots of crazy visuals (e.g. video-mapped floating pyramids).

Day Zero is meant to be the first in a series of special events around the world, though no plans exist yet for future editions. Last week we called up Lazarus in Ibiza (post-disco nap, pre-Paradise at DC10) for his side of the story:

How was Burning Man?

Incredible, it really is like no place on earth. The Rebel Heart—that is, the Crosstown Rebels and Robot Heart party on the Wednesday—it’s become something of a phenomenon. It’s just so intense, literally like partying on another planet. We had about three or four thousand people there for the party. We drive out to the Playa, deep into the desert and then everyone follows on their bikes. It’s just such a bizarre occurrence. You start a party somewhere, then it starts moving and everyone starts following behind you, like all these art cars come and surround the party. I guess they kind of make a nightclub, if you like. It’s pretty special, man.

In a way that seems like a similar experience to what you’re trying to create with Day Zero. Would you say that’s true?

Burning Man offers up the experience for freedom of expression and I think this event will offer a similar platform. A chance to creatively open up and join with like minded people. We are in discussions with a couple of amazing art cars that we discovered at Burning Man this year about the possibility of them joining us in Mexico.

I should point out, though, that the actual venue that we have for Day Zero 
is like nothing I’ve ever seen before in my life: it’s an as-yet unopened to the public Mayan theme park, so it has three pyramids, two lakes, four swimming pools. It’s as good as being in the real thing. We are going to have the stage in front of the main pyramid, and we are working with an incredible visuals company. We are going to be video-mapping onto the pyramids, and we have a lot of incredible surprises that will be awaiting people for the event. Basically the idea was to pull together the dream location, the dream lineup, dream partnerships, people that we love working with, to make this event something people have never seen before. It just kind of feels like the planets are aligning, and that’s exactly what is going to happen.

Can you give me an explanation of the significance of the date? What exactly is the context?

It’s the first time in 26,000 years that there will be a galactic alignment 
of the planets. The Mayans foretold that this would be the end of a life cycle, and many people kind of see this as being the end of the world. Most people who have any kind of understanding of the relevance of this date would say it’s more of a new beginning—the beginning of a new chapter. I think that the date December 21st, 2012 is the kind of thing that a lot of people would generally just dismiss as hogwash or just a load of old bullshit, but I think that for the first time we have something that our generation can latch onto that actually feels like something special. I think there’s been some kind of generational shift in attitude, there’s a lot of uncertainty in our world at the moment. There’s a lack of religious belief, and so that kind of means that the people don’t really have anything on a higher level to hold onto. I think this date actually offers people the chance to take a bit of stock of their lives, to think about who they are, what they do, what they give, what they take from this world in which we live. I think putting it into the perspective of what we do as musicians or DJs or producers or artists is a really good opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the fact we’re here and celebrating the way we know best—by putting on an amazing party and enjoying the best possible music together with our favorite people and basically coming together to celebrate the life that we have and see what’s about to come next.

Do you think parties and festivals can have a semi-religious role in people’s lives?

I think a lot of people follow this music and this lifestyle as ardently and with
 as much passion as many people follow a religion or belief, you know? I’ve personally witnessed and experienced so many moments of pure beauty and love and just true moments with dreamlike qualities that you couldn’t imagine happening in everyday life, for example a sunrise set to the backdrop of our music at a place like Burning Man or certain records that just kind of lift your spirit to a higher place, moments of pure clarity when you’re enjoying a moment like dancing with a friend or a stranger. I think our music plays a very important role in a lot of people’s lives. I think now’s a good time to appreciate that and to really show people that this music is about more than just paying money and walking into a nightclub and getting off your head for a few hours, you know?

Would you say this is the most special event Crosstown has ever done?

Absolutely, yeah, without question. I think it was just kind of time for us to step it up a little bit and try something different. I’m a bit of dreamer, obviously, and
 I have this whole idea in my head of how this event should be. Like I said, it’s trying to put my dream team together, both artistically and musically and from the production level, and involving people that bring something extra to my life that’s not just the day-to-day running of a record label or a nightclub. So I’m hoping this is going to be something very, very special, not just for Mexico but for our friends all over the world who will hopefully come and join us.

Have you given much thought to future Day Zero events?

Well realistically we’re so busy working with this at the moment that we’ll have to take each day as it comes, but I like the idea of finding alternative spaces, maybe places of natural beauty, to hold similar events in the future. But for the moment, we’re just concentrating on this one on the 20th and 21st of December. I found out that the Mayans say that the end of the calendar cycle will happen at exactly 6:11 PM on the 21st of December Mexico time, so I decided that we’d run a 24-hour event which would start at 6:00 PM on the 20th and close at exactly the moment the Mayans say that the cycle ends. So I don’t know what’s going to happen at 6:11 PM on the 21st—I suppose you have to wait and see—but I know that we’ll be planning something very special leading up to that.
 

Words : Will Lynch

Scene Selection : Crosstown Rebels

 

 

 

What is there to say about Crosstown Rebels? By now, you should know everything there is to know about one of contemporary house music's most pioneering labels.
Founded by the scene's favourite sorcerer Damian Lazarus (pictured above), Crosstown Rebels is currently celebrating its 100th release. Tiga's 'The Picture' marks a seminal milestone for the label, which has been responsible for tunes from Jamie Jones, Art Department, Amirali, Dinky, Subb-An, Maceo Plex, Laurent Garnier, Luke Solomon and Dan Ghenacia. The list goes on...
Crosstown has just released the debut album from Fur Coat, proving Damian Lazarus and his gang are very much at the forefront of new-skool house. Check Fur Coat's Mix Of The Week for Mixmag here.
We got the lowdown on Crosstown from label manager The Ginger Prince (best name ever?). We also got an exclusive mix of label tunes from rising star Francesca Lombardo. Check everything out below. Damian and crew, we salute you!



1 - Party Guilt (Original Mix) - SETH TROXLER, SHAUN REEVES, HECTOR, THE ROYAL WE
2 - N/A - FABLES AND FAIRYTALES FEAT. ROSINA - Deniz Kurtel Remix
3 - SIS - FORWARD LINE - Original Mix
4 - Art Department - WITHOUT YOU - Original Mix
5 - Inxec And Droog – WESTBOUND - Original Mix
6 - Dan Ghenacia – Globe
7 - Matthew Johnson - Dayz



 

 

How did Crosstown begin? What’s the how, where and why?
Crosstown began when the stars aligned, the heavens opened and delivered upon to East London a label like no other... In the year of our Lord 2003, around Damian's house.
How does Crosstown choose artists? Do you regularly listen to demos or do you like to get to know a producer personally first?
Through the meeting of like minded souls, who have a similar sonic aesthetic and agenda. Some artists are friends who become artists, some are artists who become friends and some from demos. A relative smorgasbord of talent.
What’s the ethos of Crosstown Rebels? Is there a general label vibe or mission statement?
Release cutting edge music, hold the best parties and be nice to your mum.
What sound does Crosstown Rebels specialise in? Do you feel like the label is contributing to a certain scene or genre or is what you put out more flexible and varied than that?
Discovering and championing new talent. Having an inspiring A&R philosophy, being a tightly run ship that takes care of all the crew and passengers with consummate respect and love.
What’s the best situation in which to listen to Crosstown's tunes?
It's up to the individual: in the bath, on the dancefloor...Or in a bath on a dancefloor... Now that's a party!
Have you ever heard a Crosstown record go off at a party and thought “job done!”? What’s the best reaction you’ve had to a release?
I don't know if it serves to be so self sanctimonious, but Crosstown have released some killer records in 10 years which have certainly done the job and then some!
Who do you wish you had signed? Anyone you’ve missed out on and kicked yourself about after?
Best not to regret or dwell on past mistakes.
What’s behind Crosstown’s aesthetic? Who does your art and is it a big part of what the label does?
Mostly Damian and the artists. We use various designers from Jeffrey Design, Ana Rifa and most recently Pilar Zeta. Art and music are entwined.
What’s next for Crosstown?
Albums from Acid Pauli, Ali Love, Francesca Lombardo and Art Department plus our 100th single from Tiga with Subb-an remix (out now) and more from Just Be (Matthew Bushwacka), Aidan Lavelle, Infinity Ink, Jamie Jones, Fur Coat, Jozif and Amirali to name a few... Plus a lot of superior underground music from our Rebellion label.

 

 







Infinity Ink - Infinity Remixes (CRM103)

Back at the dawn of the summer, Infinity Ink unleashed ‘Infinity’, a track that quickly became the seasons most ubiquitous and biggest selling. Now that the sun is fading and the closing parties are drawing near, Dirtybird heavyweight Claude VonStroke and Hot Creations homeboy Richy Ahmed put their own stamp on the cosmic garage anthem with the long awaited ‘Infinity Remixes’.

Long-term friends and cohorts Ali Love and Luca C succeeded with something quite extraordinary in their new production guise as Infinity Ink. Already amassing a legion of support and an escalating fan-base with debut ‘Games’ on Hot Creations, their next instalment presented a unique cosmic take on garage and struck a chord with dancefloors around the globe and quickly became the Ibiza summer anthem for this year. One of Crosstown Rebels most highly anticipated records of recent times, ‘Infinity’ and its intoxicating qualities created a nigh on sonic hysteria this summer becoming the signature tune of many a poolside and disco. Championed by major players Jamie Jones, Seth Troxler, Damian Lazarus, Lee Foss and Art Department, this ground breaking piece of leftfield garage along with Ali’s trademark evocative vocals, placed Infinity Ink firmly on the map as breakthrough artists of 2012.

After the legend Todd Edwards delivered what was arguably his best remix in years on the original release, two producers, each voyaging to totally different dimensions bring ‘Infinity’ into the next party season. First up, founder of pioneering San Francisco imprint Dirtybird Claude VonStroke, submerges the original in a pool of futuristic, spaced out percussion, warping loops and cosmic FX – bestowing that Barclay brand of dirty, quirky funk.

For his Crosstown Rebels debut, Richy Ahmed steps back in time to 80s Chicago, cutting and manipulating Ali’s vocal to a deep old school drawl reminiscent of classic Dance Mania Records. With a rude analogue bassline and retro piano driving into a full on acid work out, this beast of a track is sure to do some serious damage to the dancefloor in its own right.

 

 

Label: Crosstown Rebels

Cat no: CRM103

Web: www.crosstownrebels.com

Distribution: Above Board Distribution

Released: Mon Oct 29th, 2012


LINK TO THE TRACKS

Acid Pauli - Get Lost V (CRMCD020)

- Acid Pauli is a musical genius and tastemaker who plays in three bands, released a track on a Björk album and went out for a tea with Michael Nyman to discuss future projects
- His debut album ‘MST’ came out on Nicolas Jaar’s Clown & Sunset label earlier this year to great acclaim
- Get Lost 5 features exclusive unreleased material from Nicolas Jaar, NU, The Band That Never Met, Tempo Di Roma and Acid Pauli
- One of the most adventurous Get Lost episodes to date, Pauli treads deep into more weird and wonderful waters in this two disc odyssey for the fifth instalment in the series
- A unique download code in the purchased CD version unlocks a lost third part of the mix to complete this epic 4 hour continuous mix

Crosstown Rebels ground breaking Get Lost series reaches half a decade with Damian Lazarus’ favourite DJ and one of Berlin’s most recognised figures, Acid Pauli. Pauli may not be a household name but he is coveted by those in the know as an enigmatic genius and pioneering figure who understands how to touch and play with the feelings held within music. Victorious in his efforts, Pauli bears a contender for mix of the year or even decade. Rummaging deep, he indulges in his archetypal strange and rare musical pleasures and packages it in a captivating two hour excursion into his reality.

For Get Lost 5 he writes daring new scripts and moulds new boundaries altogether. Beginning with the twisted mechanics of his own production as Console providing the intro to another Berlin secret and Acid Pauli collaborator, NU whose brooding humming works contribute two tracks to the journey. Throughout Pauli continues to wrestle with promiscuous drum patterns amidst sweet harmonic instruments in his quest (note the haunting violin solos of Kadebostan’s ‘Love in Looxor’). He consistently maintains clandestine tones and preserves the earthy shadows of electronica with contemporary underground dance heroes Move D, dOP, SIS and Stimming making appearances alongside more idiosyncratic choices such as Jan Turkenburg’s ‘In My Spaceship’.

Lazarus is such a fan he marked his 40^th birthday celebrations at a private party with an epic all night set from Acid Pauli and it’s easy to see why. They share much musical territory and explore the murky waters of their minds in psychedelic patterns and furtive codes. They also cosset a deep love for popular music channelled through unusual interpretations. Pauli includes many eccentricities such as the as yet unheard The Band That Never Met’s rendition of the Bruce Springsteen classic, Gonzalez cover from Pauli & Laura Weider titled ‘Oregano’ and Calico Horse’s take on Radiohead’s ‘Idioteque’. A dextrous wizard akin to the unbounded talents of Matthew Herbert and Aphex Twin, his choices become playful souvenirs that testify to his power to astound.

As the first episode draws to a close it continues to warp and mystify with a bubbling collage of echoing voices and organ synths from Nicolas Jaar with an unreleased production named ‘Play The Drums For Me’. The final moments come from Acid Pauli’s own ‘Farewell Fred’ and are reminiscent of Kraftwerk. Its mischievous conclusion features a traffic light sample insistently calling “Wait”.

 

Get Lost’s second act can only be heard with a unique download code given to those that purchase the CD, unlocking the lost middle section of this continuous four hour opus.

It’s third act and grand finale takes a more dancefloor course with Pauli’s own ‘Music Is Silence’ opening the curtain. Yet it is still peppered with charms and dim hallucinations such as the textured worlds of Autechre and the spectacular anthemic Monkey Maffia ‘I Know You N.m.s’ that characterise Pauli’s unconventional nature.

 

Born in the 70s in Bavaria, Germany, Martin Gretschmann AKA Acid Pauli began his adventures in music playing bass guitar in a punk/indie band and as the electronic outfit Console in the mid 90s. After releasing several records (and a track on a Björk album), remixes, even radioplays (together with Andreas Ammer) and touring excessively, Martin concentrated returned back to his solo project, Acid Pauli, which has reached new heights in recent years. A resident DJ at Berlin’s infamous Kater Holzig (the reincarnation of Bar25) and Munich’s Rote Sonne, his style is unrivalled, incorporating not only techno and house but a kaleidoscope of musical varieties that only a genuine master could conquer. For the first time he captures his visions for ‘Get Lost’ and the results are a beguiling pilgrimage into a musical maestro about to take his place in the limelight.

 

Label: Crosstown Rebels

Cat no: CRMCD020CRMLP02

Web: www.crosstownrebels.com

Distribution: Above Board Distribution

Released: Mon Nov 19th, 2012

TRACKLIST:

Ammer & Console - "Dann Ist Elektronische Musik An Meinem Ohr" (feat Reinhard Furrer)
Nu - "Man O To" (exclusive)
Normal Brain - "M-U-S-I-C"
Soulcenter - "What You're Doin'" (Acid Pauli edit)
Kadebostan - "Love In Looxor"
Raz Ohara - "El Zahir" (Acid Pauli remix)
Gunther Lause - "Mountain"
Console - "Gruner Raum"
Jan Rurkenburg - "In My Spaceship"
Acid Pauli & Laura Weider - "Oregano" (exclusive)
Move D - "Things Will Come (...For Those Who Wait)"
Ian Simmonds - "Wendelstein Variations"
Stimming - "Novermber Morning"
Juno6 - "Dead Cities" (Douglas Greed remix)
Nicolas Jaar - "Ply The Drums For Me" (exclusive)
Nu - "Earth" (exclusive)
Stephen Brown - "Cane't 2"
Acid Pauli - "Farewell Fred" (exclusive)
Acid Pauli - "Music Is Silence" (exclusive)
Pele & Nico Stojan - "Belladonna"
Dop - "Foly" (feat Sibiri Samake)
Dop - "Ikarus"
Nannue Tipitier & Acid Pauli - "Zeit Loschen" (exclusive)
Gunja & Nicone - "Peaz, Luv & Harmonium" (exclusive)
Taron Trekka - "G Samsa"
Sis - "Machiste"
Kabale Und Liebe - "Una Y Nada"
Tempo Di Roma - "Move Your Bones" (exclusive)
Dirty Doering - "Ete Pluvieux"
Amirali - "Hear Me"
Calico Horse - "Idioteque" (exclusive)
Black Is Beautiful - "Pergamon"
Francesca Lombardo - "Is It True"
Metrika - "Aok Ot"
Console - "Train Set"
Monkey Maffia - "I Know You Nms"
Rayon - "Libanon"
Lou Kassard - "Once Upon" (feat Benno)
Autechre - "Overand"
The Band That Never Met - "I'm On Fire" (exclusive)
Lake Powel - "Bright Eyes, Dirty Hair"

          LINK TO SOME OF THE TRACKS