Johannes Debese A.K.A ‘Johnny D’ is back with a scorcher of an EP released on 8bit label. After a quite lengthy absence, since his ‘Disco Invaders - Cocoon Ibiza Summer Mix’ and his Oslo records days, the minimal freak from Eritrea is back with a bang.

His new EP ‘Requiem Of A Dream’ boasts two wonderful tracks. The first track, ‘Requiem of a Dream’, is a musical masterpiece in its own right. The track kicks off with a low frequency kick and a low violin sound building up from the background. Then some african tribal voices start to kick in adding a wonderful touch to this already tribal percussion inspired minimal track. Around the 2 minute mark, a wonderfully worked bassline enters and mixes extremely well with the hi-hat elements of the track. The track keeps the same progressive momentum for a while before an even more orchestral violin sound kicks in, while keeping the same elements of track all throughout. The track builds energy till around the 5.30 minute mark, as Johnny D starts the process of slowly taking some of the energy of track away, but he does it in an unpreciptable manner. 8 minutes of total minimal pleasure!

The second track, ‘Scope of mind’, kicks off on a relatively higher bassline note, but the end product is very similar. A track that defines everthing minimal, unlike alot of the so called ‘minimal’ tracks out in the market these days. ‘Scope of Mind’ appears to be Johnny D’s refutation to the degradation engulfing the minimal techno scene these days, and he does it in a typical techno fashion throughout this EP!

A harmonious mixture of precussion, orchestral sounds, wonderful synth work and great basslines is the best way to describe this wonder EP. And with the likes of Nick Curly, Ricardo Villalobos and Loco Dice to name but a few already supporting this EP, it seems like we will be hearing the name Johnny D much more often in weeks to come!

Tracklisting:

a1 - Requiem of a Dream 08:11
b2 - Scope of Mind 06:42

Release Date: 08/10/2008
Catalogue: #8bit015

Listen to it here! or Here!

Traktor have taken a big step forward with the release of their two new mouthwatering updates Traktor Pro and Traktor Scratch Pro. Here at FaceTheMusik we haven’t had the chance to try the softwares out just yet, but from what Traktor are desribing they seem extremly exciting indeed. Recently Hiphop legend Grandmaster flash has joined the long line of DJs that support Traktor (including the great Richie Hawtin). Here is what Traktor had to say about their new products.

Native Instruments: Traktor Pro and Traktor Scratch Pro

Traktor Pro will be available November 1st for $229 / 199 EUR. Traktor Scratch Pro, available for $669 / 599 EUR. .

Any Native Instruments customers who own both Traktor Scratch and Traktor 3 will receive a free software update to Traktor Pro.

Native Instruments has just announced TRAKTOR PRO and TRAKTOR SCRATCH PRO, the next versions of its groundbreaking digital DJ solutions with MIDI and time-code control. Read the rest of this entry »

Ableton and Serato, two of the great names in digital DJing software, are joining forces to create what they hope will be the ultimate solution for live computer performance. By combining Ableton’s unrivaled on-the-fly audio editing power with Serato’s clever digital vinyl system, the two companies are hoping to offer computer musicians with a versatile and exciting platform that will outperform the new Traktor Scratch Pro software from Native Instruments.

Ableton Live sets have always been boring to watch - how many jokes have been dropped about how it looks like the DJ is checking their email? - and Serato has slowly been losing ground to Traktor in the last few months after it was endorsed by techno king Richie Hawtin and hip hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash.

This partnership could however, lead to a product that will allow DJs to play Ableton’s infinite loop possibilities using Serato. Now that sounds bad ass. “Ableton and Serato take different approaches to modern musical performance,” said Ableton’s CEO Gerhard Behles, “But both companies live by the philosophy that software should be straightforward, easy to use, and most importantly, reliable and stable onstage and in the studio.

“Ableton has never had an answer for the DJ who wants vinyl control, and rather than try to emulate what Serato do so well, we simply make sure that our products work well together.” Serato’s Audio Research CEO Steve West agreed, “After years of talking together, we’re thrilled to be working with Ableton. It’s exciting to think about what we can offer to DJs and producers: the ability to go beyond just spinning records and add a personal stamp to the music they play.”

There’s still no word yet as to what exactly might come of this partnership.They might develop something that allows you to control Ableton clips using vinyl. Or maybe they’ll work on a stable synchronization solution that allows you to DJ using Serato but also layer Ableton loops over the top of mixes on beat right in Serato. That means no need for two laptops or MIDI clocking, Mr. Hawtin. While Serato is great for emulating the feel of playing vinyl, Ableton Live is the most useful tool for live remixing. For Ableton converts like DJ Sasha, this might just be their dream set up.

Of course, the timing couldn’t have been better planned by Ableton and Serato as this announcement is likely to steal the thunder from Native Instruments, who unveiled their brand spanking new Traktor Scratch Pro just yesterday.

• http://www.serato.com/
• http://www.ableton.com/

source

The Zoo Project blows up as Monika Kruse and Defex drop funky techno and tech house bombs in the Seal Pit.

• http://www.monikakruse.com/
• http://www.myspace.com/monikakrusemusic
• http://www.defex.eu/
• http://www.myspace.com/defex_dj
• http://www.thezooproject.com/

Fast Trax this week features the video for ‘Wait 4 U‘ from Lenny Fontana & Ridney ft Larisa, ‘Hardcore Girls’ from The Count & Sinden ft. Rye Rye, Hervé’s remix of Kidda’s ‘Blow Your Head’ from Diplo, an exclusive interview with Dutch band Le Le, the Bedroom Bedlam Top 3 Chart and exclusive to the mobile phone version of the show, Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys) cover of ‘Dreamer’ forthcoming on his Late Night Tales compilation.

• http://www.blog.fasttrax.tv/

Robbert van de Corput, better known as Hardwell, is already a famous DJ in his native country The Netherlands. So yet another talent coming from that small country, he is even born and raised in the same city as Tiesto. Hardwell is best known for his Bootleg of Robin S Ft. Steve Angello & Laidback Luke - ‘Show Me Love‘ which is played out by almost every dj out there. But also for his remix of ‘Cre Sabe 2008‘ which is breaking down the clubs in Portugal & Brazil at the moment. In 2006 Hardwell started off with a mix compilation concept called ‘Eclectic Beatz’. An energetic mix of ’sexy house’ and ‘dirty electro’ proved to be a success, Eclectic nowadays is even a music genre by itself in Holland put on the map by Hardwell. The past year Hardwell has been on fire, playing the big festivals (Sensation White, Mysteryland, Extrema Outdoor) & with fans like Fedde Le Grand, Funkerman, Dubfire, Chris Lake & Claude von Stroke this a man to keep an eye on! Special thanks to Tijs!

John Dahlback vs Shakedown - Pyramid At Night (Hardwell Bootleg)

• http://www.djhardwell.com/
• http://www.myspace.com/deejayhardwell

Curvve Recordings started giving out free tracks every month back in June, but I found out about it just today. To get the free high quality 320kbps tracks all you have to do is subscribe to their newsletter here. For this month they’re giving away Mitiska and Troia - House Revisited (Dumb Dan Remix)
To get it visit http://www.curvverecordings.com/feed/giveaway

Cheers!

• http://www.curvverecordings.com/

Long time veterans of the electronic music scene, The Crystal Method have been hard at work for over a decade and are still going strong, about to release a fourth studio album due out early next year, as well as launching a 30-date North American tour. Back in 1994 they released their first single, ‘Now is the Time’, which was originally a popular slogan for the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Now, decades later, we’re seeing a resurgence of that same sentiment in the campaign of presidential nominee Barack Obama, echoed visually in the wildly popular political artwork of Shepard Fairey. Just in time for the November 2008 U.S. presidential election, the Crystal Method have reworked the song with a sample from Obama’s ‘Now is the time…’ statement from his speech, and have made it available as a free download on their site. You can also see a corresponding, revised version of Fairey’s Obama portrait logo there. Says the Crystal Method: ‘Like 38 million other Americans, we were transfixed listening to Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. It reminded us of the creative process we went through all those years ago, listening to samples of inspiring old civil rights speeches and creating the original ‘Now Is Time’.

Check out Fairey’s art at www.thecrystalmethod.com
Get the free download here

Crystal Method Tour dates

10/09/08 Anaheim, CA - Heat Ultra Lounge
10/10/08 San Diego, CA - Spin
10/11/08 Los Angeles, CA - Vanguard
10/16/08 Daytona Beach, FL - The Coliseum
10/17/08 Tampa, FL - Green Iguana
10/18/08 New Orleans, LA- Ampersand
10/23/08 Charlotte, NC - The Forum
10/24/08 Nashville, TN - Limelight
10/25/08 New York, NY- Webster Hall
10/31/08 Seattle, WA - WAMU Theater
11/07/08 Knoxville, TN - World Grotto
11/08/08 Orlando, FL - Firestone
11/13/08 Denver, CO - Beta
11/14/08 El Paso, TX - Studio 69
11/15/08 San Francisco, CA - Ruby Skye
11/20/08 Boston, MA - Underbar
11/21/08 Houston, TX - Riches
11/22/08 St. Louis, MO - Dantes
11/29/08 Chicago, IL - Vision
12/02/08 Boulder, CO - The Fox
12/03/08 Calgary, Alberta - Warehouse
12/04/08 Vancouver, BC - Celebrities
12/05/08 Austin, TX - Sky Lounge
12/10/08 Las Vegas, NV - Body English
12/11/08 Columbus, OH - Sugar
12/12/08 Philadelphia, PA - TLA
12/13/08 Dallas, TX - Lizard Lounge
12/17/08 Windsor, Ontario - Boom Boom
12/18/08 Toronto, Ontario - The Social
12/19/08 Minneapolis, MN - Epic

• http://www.thecrystalmethod.com/
• http://www.myspace.com/thecrystalmethod
• https://www.barackobama.com/

Check out this interview from imeem.com where Dave Dresden interviews Above and Beyond during LoveFest in San Francisco which just happened last week October 4th.

If the video is not working try here

• Download Above & Beyond releases
• http://www.aboveandbeyond.nu/
• http://www.myspace.com/aboveandbeyond
• http://www.myspace.com/davedresden

Wolfgang Gartners ‘Candy EP’ is now out on Beatport! Hurry up and buy! Massive electro house from one of the greatest in the game.

1. Sweet Candy
2. Sour Candy
3. Wild card

BEATPORT LINK

• http://www.myspace.com/djwolfganggartner