Techno

Interview: Friendly Fires plan to get the crowds dancing at RockNess 2012

Ed Macfarlane on festivals, pop music and dancing ‘like an idiot’

28 May 2012

Friendly Fires blur the lines between indie and dance music, so their brand of punk funk should fit in perfectly at RockNess. Hailing from St Albans in Hertfordshire they were nominated for the Mercury Music prize for their debut eponymous album, which…

Interview: Jakwob prepares for his live show at RockNess 2012

The dubstep producer talks remixes, Rocky and RockNess

23 May 2012

Young dubstep producer and DJ Jakwob (aka James Jacob) favours a jazzy take on bassy electronica. He first appeared on most people’s radar with his squelchy remix of Ellie Goulding’s ‘Under the Sheets’ and has since gone on to remix Lily Allen, MIA and…

Interview: The Sub Club at RockNess

Glasgow’s legendary club heads to RockNess 2012 as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations

23 May 2012

Glasgow institution the Sub Club celebrate their 25th anniversary this year and as part of their celebrations they are bringing the sounds of the Subbie to RockNess. We catch up with two of the club’s directors, Mike Grieve and Paul Crawford, to see…

Techno night Unseen aims to shake up Edinburgh's club scene

Special guest Adam X to appear in June

22 May 2012

One of the first shoots of a clubbing revival in Edinburgh is emerging through a group of old-stagers returning home to one of the city’s most enduring venues. Together, Patrick Walker and Mike Lavin started off promoting a nascent trance night called…

Ride the RockNess Express - train details

The Express will pick up festival goers from London, Birmingham, Derby, York and Newcastle

8 May 2012

As part of the Year of Creative Scotland, RockNess are offering a unique (and environmentally friendly) way to the festival site on the banks of Loch Ness. Picking up passengers from London, Birmingham, Derby, York and Newcastle before dropping them off…

Clubbers' Decktionary: Seapunk

A guide to the myriad genres of clubbing, from Trouble's DJ Hobbes

17 Apr 2012

Seapunk proper noun: varied tempos, mixing 90s rave, techno, house and jungle styles, R&B vocals, even speedier beats from Chicago juke/footwork, often cheap, 8bit-style synth melodies and, you guessed it, aquatic sounds. The aquatic theme is actually…

Interview: Ben Sims gets ready for RockNess 2012

The techno DJ/producer among names added to festival bill

13 Apr 2012

DJ Ben Sims has been announced for 2012’s RockNess festival, where he joins Soma Records on the Arcadia UFO stage. With over 20 years of DJ experience, running his own Theory label (among others), he’s renowned for his DJ skills using vinyl, CD and…

Interview: Andrew Weatherall set for RockNess 2012

Esteemed DJ and producer on A Love From Outer Space and festivals

30 Mar 2012

Andrew Weatherall is just one of the new announcements for 2012’s RockNess line-up where he’ll be joining Soma Records who are taking control of the new Arcadia UFO. It’s a Scottish Festival exclusive as he’s joined by Sean Johnston as they present an…

RockNess 2012 hosts Hudson Mohawke at Sub Club 25 year celebration

Dave Clarke, James Holden and Andrew Weatherall among dance picks

30 Mar 2012

RockNess today confirmed not only a plethora of new acts for this June’s festival, but a whole new stage designed for hard partying aficionado’s of dancefloor devastation, all in celebration of Sub Club Sound System’s 25 year anniversary. The Arcadia…

20 reasons to celebrate 20 years of Slam at the Arches

An appreciation of the Glasgow DJ and production duo

21 Mar 2012

1 Slam. We must never forget that at the heart of it Glasgow duo Stuart MacMillan and Orde Meikle are brilliant DJs mixing up a blend of deep house and techno. 2 International ambassadors Slam’s DJ skills are in demand across the world taking…

Kompakt's Michael Mayer to appear at Kapital

We look at the label boss and DJ's career

8 Mar 2012

It seems fitting that as they edge closer to their fifth birthday celebrations in July, that Edinburgh club night Kapital have at last managed to secure the booking of one of their most coveted guests, Cologne-based DJ and producer, Michael Mayer. A…

M_nus: Hobo & Heartthrob

The two techno DJs discuss working on Richie Hawtin's label and their upcoming Glasgow shows

29 Feb 2012

You’re an emerging electronic producer and your label boss is Richie Hawtin aka Plastikman – so do you get star-struck when you talk to him? ‘Why not?’ laughs Joel Boychuk aka Hobo. ‘I don’t usually think so, but I guess the fanboy part of me will never…

VCMG - Ssss

Vince Clark and Martin Gore minimal techno album is great fun

28 Feb 2012

(Mute) For many, the news that Vince Clark and Martin Gore were making minimal techno together seemed the perfect coda to the screenplay-like story of their respective musical lives. The former Depeche Mode bandmates’ last musical contact came in…

Lynn Macdonald, manager and promoter at the soon-to-close Soundhaus - interview

The Glasgow techno den plans final parties for massive send-off

2 Feb 2012

The first that Lynn Macdonald (manager and long-time promoter at Glasgow techno den the Soundhaus) heard of the venue’s death was in an impersonal email she found in her inbox when she arrived at work one morning. ‘It was heartbreaking,’ she says. ‘I…

Aeroc – R+B=?

Geoff White's minimal techno alterego saves his best material for last on new album

5 Jan 2012

(Ghostly International) Previously known for minimal techno releases on the likes of Traum, Force Inc and Psytrax, US producer Geoff White adopted the Aeroc moniker for more experimental offerings, resulting in 2004’s Viscous Solid album. Seven…

Best of 2011: Clubs

The best sets and gigs, including Plastikman, Ivan Smagghe and Bloody Beetroots

19 Dec 2011

Andrew Weatherall & Ivan Smagghe. Karnival’s fifth birthday featured vinyl vs computer hardware in a delicious back-to-back set that meshed in all the right places for a dynamic and unpredictable set that kept both DJs and clubbers guessing. Karnival…

Clubbers' Decktionary: Gabber

A guide to the myriad genres of clubbing, from Trouble's DJ Hobbes

13 Dec 2011

Gabber proper noun: wildly up-tempo (140-220 bpm) spin-off from hardcore techno, industrial and rave. Began in the early 90s and has remained a die-hard force in Europe (especially the Netherlands and Scotland) and Australia. Traditionally dominated by…

Plastikman Live 1.5 - Barrowland, Glasgow, Sat 3 Dec

Spectacular live performance by the techno artist

9 Dec 2011

The abundance of older faces among the Barrowlands crowd suggests that many could well have been present for Richie Hawtin’s first appearance at the venue, a DJ set as part of Pure’s Hogmanay celebrations in 1994. How things have changed. Returning…

Crate Digging: Scuba

The Hotflush label boss gives us his top five tracks ahead of his set at the debut EQTV party

16 Nov 2011

The first track they did together, ‘Swims’, still isn’t out yet but it’s one of the most recognisable club tunes of the year; however I think Boddika & Joy O ‘Froth’ (Unreleased) is much better. It’s a lot deeper, a lot more atmospheric, though still…

Richie Hawtin resurrects iconic Plastikman persona for world tour

DJ and producer on the makings of his audio-visual spectacular

9 Nov 2011

Richie Hawtin is one of the most high profile DJs and producers working today, with activities incorporating several record labels, software and hardware products and a globe-spanning tour schedule. Known for distinctive and intense DJ sets, it might…

Interview: Richie Hawtin - Plastikman Live 1.5 tour 2011

Full transcript of interview with minimal techno producer and DJ

8 Nov 2011

Live music concert seems inadequate term to describe your current live show. What exactly is this thing you do now? Well live music exists somewhere between music, theatre and circus right? You're there to entertain and grab the people. I think what…

Interview - Max Cooper

Respected electronica producer and DJ set for Kollektiv show

3 Nov 2011

Max Cooper first came to the attention of clubbers and electronic music fans with his ‘Serie’ trilogy on Traum Schallplatten in 2009, each track inspired by a different mathematical or scientific concept. Since then alongside his own productions he’s…

DJs Radioactive Man and Billy Nasty team up for Radionasty

The twosome are to appear at the Caves courtesy of Jackhammer

17 Oct 2011

Radioactive Man and Billy Nasty have both played Jackhammer before but now they’re back in a new itineration, as two-headed techno mutant Radionasty, and drawing on both their styles to create a fresh new sound. ‘Our first track was quite dark fast…

Crate Digging: Deetron, aka Sam Geiser

The Swiss DJ gives a sneak peak in his record crate ahead of his appearance at No Strings Attached

17 Oct 2011

Scuba ‘Adrenalin’ (Hotflush Recordings) has been a constant in my set since I got it a few weeks ago, because the crowd reactions are always amazing. The combination of Detroit-ish bassline, euphoric pads and the vocal works beautifully, it’s a real…

Profile: Moritz Von Oswald

Rare live show from minimal techno pioneer in association with club night Animal Farm

6 Oct 2011

This Saturday sees one the most important and legendary figures in electronic music, Moritz Von Oswald, play a rare, pre-Subculture live set with Tikiman, organized jointly by Animal Farm and the Sub Club. An established percussionist for the likes of…

Electric Frog September Weekender 2011

Frankie Knuckles, The Fall, Jeff Mills, Mogwai, and Joe Claussell feature in stellar line-up

25 Aug 2011

Whoever chose to carry out some large-scale maintenance at their Eastvale Place business premises on the last weekend of July has inadvertently done Glasgow’s clubbing fraternity a favour. It might have meant the planned Electric Frog Summer Weekender…

Richard Charter of Numbers - Full interview transcript

Innovative Glasgow club Numbers reaches eighth birthday

20 Jul 2011

How has this year been for you? A lot of things have been amazing this year. Being able to release new records from Redinho, Deadboy, Jamie xx and Lory D was a major thing for us because everyone involved put so much into it and the records really show…

Richie Hawtin announces Plastikman live show for Glasgow Barrowlands

Sat 3 Dec date for Hawtin's live techno show

18 Jul 2011

One of the true innovators of techno, Richie Hawtin, will be bringing his live Plastikman 1.5 show to the Barrowland in Glasgow on Saturday 3 December 2011. One of only three UK dates, this hugely ambitious live electronica show was last seen in…

Alex Smoke live at Edinburgh club Definition

Glasgow-born, London-based techno DJ set to appear at Sneaky Pete's

13 Jul 2011

Alex Smoke has just moved to London but he misses his home town. ‘Glasgow has one of the strongest scenes globally,’ he explains. ‘Very supportive and wide-ranging. It’s a culture that’s very proud of music and very explorative. Paris is stagnant, for…

Floating Points guests at Numbers eighth birthday party

Sub Club night celebrates great year for Glaswegian music collective

29 Jun 2011

We all like to celebrate, but few of us can do it better than the producers, DJs, label bosses and promoters that make up the Glaswegian music collective Numbers, renowned for their sheer foot-grabbing, hands-in-the-air dance-floor dexterity. Propelled…

Cabaret Voltaire venue launches Cab Vol Stars clubnight

New club helmed by Cab Vol employees from bar staff to cleaners

29 Jun 2011

Residents A rolling selection of Cabaret Voltaire employees from bar staff to cleaners Guests It will be a different line-up every month but as an example Prof, Dimi and Cunnie host this July date Music policy It really is a mixed bag, from…

T in the Park: Slam pick their favourite acts from the 2011 bill

Mathew Jonson, Bloody Beetroots and Chris Leibing among highlights

28 Jun 2011

Stuart MacMillan First of all Leftfield, having them come back to play is a bit of a rarity and obviously something that was massive 10-15 years ago and still is. You think of their back catalogue – they have so many great tracks. They’re definitely…

Ms Dynamite, Yasmin, Niki & The Dove announced for RockNess 2011

Yet more names join this year’s bill

31 May 2011

Garage MC Ms Dynamite who recently collaborated with both Katy B and Magnetic Man (who also appear at this year’s RockNess) leads the latest additions to the line-up. Joining her is female British rapper Yasmin, Highland singer-songwriter James…

Ferry Corsten, Eddie Halliwell and Pete Tong among highlights of Coloursfest 2011

10th anniversary of Scotland’s only dance-focused festival

30 May 2011

This year is the tenth anniversary of Scotland’s only dance-focused festival, and they’re throwing a little party. Who’s got the cake? And the Buckie? And the poppers? A ten thousand-strong sell-out for six years running, Coloursfest isn’t for the faint…

The Fall, Chrome Hoof and Dubfire set for Electric Frog 2011 summer weekender

Mount Kimbie and Optimo also on bill for Glasgow city centre festival

27 May 2011

The Electric Frog team – they who recently brought us a weekend of warehouse dance action in the shape of François K, Danny Krivit, Optimo and more over the Easter weekend – are back with a summer weekender. Taking place in the same venue – the…

Interview - Matthew Dear shares his on-the-road eating habits

The minimal techno producer and co-founder of Ghostly International

24 May 2011

Minimal techno producer Matthew Dear co-founded the record label Ghostly International, and has been responsible for sending dancefloors into meltdown since the late 90s with his own fusion of pop and electro, under various aliases including Audion…

5 reasons to go to Coloursfest

Scotland's favourite dancefest returns to Braehead

17 May 2011

1 It’s the 10th anniversary Colours themselves have worked out that’s 500 artists over 90 hours and 50 arenas in the last decade. As Scotland’s longest-running dedicated dance festival, it’s surely due some deserved recognition on its big day. 2 It…

RockNess adds six more names for 2011’s event

17 May 2011

Bombay Bicycle Club, Sparrow & the Workshop, Afghan Raiders, D/R/U/G/S, Funeral Suits and Visions of Trees have all been added to the RockNess line up, due to take place from 10–12 June on the banks of Loch Ness. They join a line up already bursting…

Electric Frog Easter Weekender - Glasgow, 23-24 Apr 2011

Francois K and Erol Alkan top festival's expertly curated line-up

6 May 2011

It's an exciting time for Glasgow-based micro-festival Electric Frog, the city’s lively weekender of electronic music. Not only does it have both an Easter and summer outing this year for the first time, it's also expanding from a day-long to a…

Laidback Luke, Derrick Carter, Andrew Weatherall, Beardyman, Nero and many more join 2011’s RockNess line-up

7 Apr 2011

Tons and tons of new names have been announced for this year’s RockNess. Laidback Luke, The Japanese Popstars, The Boxer Rebellion, Morning Parade, Twilight Sad, Nero, Skrillex, Beardyman, Sub Focus (live), Sons & Daughters, Broken Records, Chapel Club…

Cottam guests at Heavy Gossip

Minimalist DJ talks to us ahead of set with Craig Smith and Nick Yuill

7 Mar 2011

When it comes to house you know you’re in safe hands with residents Craig Smith and Nick Yuill, two DJs who have carved out a reputation for their taste in disco house and deep funky electronica. Now their Heavy Gossip is set to celebrate its first…

5 reasons to go to... Deadly Rhythm

Alex Surguladze's brand new dubstep, grime and garage night opens at La Cheetah

7 Mar 2011

1. It’s a brand new night, sort of ‘It’s an extension of a night I ran down in London,’ says promoter Alex Surguladze. ‘As the three of us who ran it have moved around the country [he’s in Glasgow to study] we’ve taken it with us, so there’s still a…

Wonky features guests Dam Mantle and Asazi Space Funk Explosion

Hip hop, broken beat, dubstep, Afrobeat and drum & bass from Trouble

16 Feb 2011

Wonky is the latest club night to come from the Trouble stable, which also brings you Limbo and Devil Disco Club, and grows from its much respected, now defunct, Trouble night. ‘Devil Disco Club is a streamlined version of what we were doing at Trouble…

Knock Knock livens up Glasgow's midweek

New cutting-edge club night plans weekly live acts and plays 'whatever the hell works'

28 Jan 2011

Residents ‘We don’t have any,’ says co-promoter Grainne Braithwaite. ‘We’re just going to ask DJs from Scotland who we like, or people who might not DJ but who we know have good taste in music.’ Lined up for some of the first few dates are Mogwai…

Rustie to follow-up Sunburst EP with full-length release on Warp

Interview with the Glasgow producer, DJ and member of Numbers collective

3 Jan 2011

Following in the footsteps of the Numbers and LuckyMe crowds, 28-year-old Southsider Russell Whyte, now based in London, is one of the young Glasgow producers gaining notoriety for pushing electronic music in new directions with an unchartable mix of…

A look at Deadmau5's rise to fame

The Canadian DJ and producer set for Braehead Glasgow show with Magnetic Man and Calvin Harris

10 Dec 2010

How the hell did Deadmau5 get so big? The Canadian DJ and producer has been a powerful force on the commercial end of the dance music circuit for a couple of years now of course, but this month is set to prove he’s no longer just another face in a crowd…

A Guy Called Gerald set for Glasgow date at Animal Farm

Pioneering Manchester producer's show is live performance of back catalogue

10 Dec 2010

For a man who’s had a two-and-a-half decade career in electronic music, including some definitive mid-90s work on the UK jungle and drum & bass scene, Gerald Simpson will be forever known for the fruits of a very brief moment in his career. It was…

Bigfoot's Second Birthday Party

M_Nus artist Ambivalent to kick off third year

30 Nov 2010

‘I guess you could call what we do environmental art,’ says George Russell. ‘We started Bigfoot’s as a way of exploring unconventional ways to host electronic music events, and that involves spending as much time on the production side of things as…

Glasgow clubs Death Disco and Pressure hit 8th and 12th birthdays

The Count & Sinden, Brodinski, Mathew Jonson, Paco Osuna and Slam set for club birthday events

19 Nov 2010

Take Glasgow’s most famous venue, two of its finest and most enduring nights, add a busload of excellent DJs and sing a big old chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’. The Arches’ Death Disco and Pressure both celebrate birthdays this fortnight, so we asked people…

Doc Daneeka set for Edinburgh StepBack date

UK funky and basement house DJ and producer

19 Nov 2010

Name Doc Daneeka Also known as Mial Watkins is his real name. Occupation Producer and DJ of what many might call UK funky, but what he prefers to refer to as ‘basement house’. ‘Endorsed by Marcus Nasty, L-Vis 1990, Gilles Peterson, Kode9…