Before I leave for the south of France I’m gonna leave you with the finished flyer for our room at the Spectakulo festival at JH Eenders in Halle. Main guest is Mad Mats like said before. More info after I’m back.

It will be quiet for a while on this Blog since both Disco Dalglish and myself are on holiday. But I’m taking the laptop with me so maybe I’ll do some posting from near the pool in the sun with a pastis in the hand.

There are pictures of our troupe in the official Southport Weekender gallery. Haha. See I you can spot ‘em. Tip, check the Jae Moonrisingnyc.com ones.

Woke up this morning thinking; “hmm, what about a quick mix before starting the day”. Last 2 days of partying / dj’ing made me want to record a Rare Groove mix. Nothing fancy, just a dope selection, sequenced and mixed to a mix about an hour long. Selection and sequencing are fine but the mixing isn’t always all that on point. Mind I was awake for about 15 minutes when I started recording. Still, won’t rerecord it. Hope you’ll like it this way.

Here’s the track list:
Ben E. King – Street Tough
Leo’s Sunshipp – Give Me The Sunshine
C.B. Overton – If I Can’t Stop You
Wizdom – I’m So In Love With You
The Futures – Ain’t No Time Fa Nothing
Bar-Kays – You Can’t Turn Away
Patrice Rushen – Hang It Up
Jon Lucien – Would You Believe in Me
Leroy Hutson – Lucky Fellow
Steve Parks – Movin’ in the Right Direction
Rene & Angela – Secret Rendezvous
The Fatback Band – (Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop
Logg – You’ve Got That Something
Rainbow Brown – Till You Surrender

Some recommended parties & concerts:

Tonight: Erykah Badu at Couleur Cafe, Brussels / us playing at De Kriekelaar
Tomorrow: Dixon at Dirty Dancing, Brussels
Sunday: Still Black Still Proud African Tribute to James Brown with Peewee Ellis, Tony Allen and more at Couleur Cafe, Brussels
Thursday 10/7: Herbie Hancock at Ghent Jazz, Ghent
Friday 11/7: Sharon Jones at Cactus Festival, Bruges
Saturday 12/7: Steven De Peven in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw / Cinetmatic Orchestra at Cactus Festival, Bruges
Sunday 13/7: Bootsy Collins Cactus Festival, Bruges
Monday 14/7: Jill Scott at Rivierenhof, Antwerp
Thursday 17/7: Erykah Badu at Ghent Jazz, Ghent
Saturday 19/7: Mr. Scruff, Lefto, Gilles Peterson, Hudmo, Typhoon, Black Moon, Soil and Pimp, Blu, Flying Lotus, Infinitskills, Dorian Concept & Sir OJ at Dour Festival, Dour / Ben Westbeech, Kerri Chandler, Osunlade, Red D & Lady Linn
at 10DaysOff, Ghent
Sunday 20/7: Jeff Neve & Soul and Pimp (20/7) at Ghent Jazz, Ghent
Monday 21/7: Al Jarreau at Rivierenhof, Antwerp
Saturday 26/7: Bruksellive, Brussels

I know there are some Osunlade fans among our readers. So they might be interested in his new mix CD released on BBE. Nice, quality mix not to far from his previous mix, “Offering”, on the same label. A bit more techy maybe. But good nonetheless. It’s a double CD with on the second disc some of the songs unmixed.

And if you’re checking BBE, be sure not to miss the second Kon & Amir release. A must have for every fan of the rarest quality grooves around.

Here’s the pre-flyer for the festival JH Eenders is organising early September. We’re still waiting some confirmations and other minor stuff before we can kick off the real promo campaign (with our own flyers for our part of the festival) but this way you know already what’s up.

Since I’m leaving this weekend for France I’ll actually miss the first episode myself. Unless there’s an internet connection, sound system and laptop near the pool. So gonna make the fuss now instead of right before the airing on Tuesday. To begin there’s our page on the FM Brussel website. Not much to see right now but once we’ve terrorised the airwaves that’s the ideal spot to start listening again. And because it all is happening so fast there’s no real radio logo and shit, nor are the pics any bit professional. We’ll work on that next few weeks.

Anyway, I hope everybody checks out the first show. And let us know what you think about it. On this blog, our Myspace or by mail. Our address for the show is ondasonora@fmbrussel.be

The link to our FM Brussel page is added to the right column of this blog.

Bare in mind it’s 1991, he’s playing on a rotary mixer and has no crossfader. Pretty wild shit. Don’t really dig what Mauricio Ponce is doing now but back then he was hot.

Thanks to Rikkie for sending me this.

The more I hear it the more I get hooked to it. Roots Manuva’s “Buff Nuff”. Hilarious clip. Reminds me of his classic Witness video. Can’t wait to see him live.

Some news on the Worldwide festival happening next week.

Madlib has cancelled due to personal reasons. Bummer, because I really wanted to see him. Never have. But the replacements are dope. Roots Manuva (really feeling his latest single) and Flying Lotus (his album is a must have).

There’s a closing party in the ACD beach on Sunday 6th of July with many many surprises! But I think we won’t make that. Need to head home.

Plus there’s a Worldwide Cup. A beach soccer tournament will be organised at the ACD beach, on Friday July 4 between 11am - 5pm. DJs will drop some cool beats while teams of artists, journalists, sponsors and festival goers will play against each other to win the Worldwide Cup.

An artist that became a big bleep on my radar with his ‘I Think It’s Me” release on Running Back is (Todd) Osborn(e). Haven’t heard his entire album on Ghostly International’s subsidiary Spectral yet but what graced my ears tastes like more. Interesting electronics defying categories. Just the way we like it.

The ever interesting Little White Earbuds blog did an interview with the man. Good reading. Check it out. And check the man’s music.

You might have seen it on Lefto’s blog or on On-point.be, Kid Sublime has a new single out. With video and everything. Nice to hear he’s putting out new music because I really loved his album on Kindred Spirits and I got some bootlegs with his name on I dig a lot. Not sure about “Own World” though. Not really feeling it. I like the idea of Kid Sublime picking up the mic himself, not sure I like the result as much. Need to hear more to get convinced.

It’s the flip of the 12” that does it for me. “Pityful times” is more of what I liked so much about his “Basement Soul” album. Moody, soulful beats, done extremely well. Expect to hear this in our radio show.

Hope the album, “Rappin’ Blak”, which will drop September 2008, is more in the vain of that. Or like his remix for Frank ‘n Dank. And I want to hear him do some more House stuff. Think he made some of the best moody Detroit-esque House with his Basement Works series on Jahwell. Top stuff that. Still playing it.

Still, like this so much more than all those beattapes flooding the net lately. Anyone can loop a few bars and put a beat underneath it. Finish it, get some vocalists, work your ideas out some more. And then drop it.

Hope we get to see Kid Sublime spinning somewhere in Brussels soon. Always fun.

A Belgian Hiphop group we had performing at our little festival a couple of years ago are bound to drop their first album. 2000WAT’s “Koekembak”. Announcing it with a nice video. It sounds a bit too hardcore to me but I’m getting old. Not feeling the screamed lyrics as much as I did when I was in my early twenties (and even then I was more a Native Tongues than Wu adept). Still, it sounds much more professional than most stuff I hear coming from around here. It’s not pushing boundaries on an international level but in Belgium they are setting new standards. Now we need a Belgian Common, Tip or Pharoahe Monch. That would be more than nice.

Episode 4 of the always bang on it mixtape “Changing Channels” by Mr. Critical is available on the impeccable Laid Back site. Check it out.

Almost forgot to let you know how the weekend went. It was a nice one. The gig in Ghent was nice. Maybe not a mega turn up but all the rest was nice. The boat was very classy, the jazz trio off the hook (very on point for such young cats), the women were good looking and we had all the candy we could wish for. The sugar rush kept me awake long after I had returned home. Big up to Jeroen and John. Hope you keep up the good work.

Saturday was cool. BBQ’s with friends are always the shit. Certainly when there’s so much cool cats. Getting your meat grilled by a senator, betting on an ace football match, playing some music, … . Had a really good time. Decided to go to the KVS afterwards which wasn’t a good idea. Was a bit too drunk and missed Red D and Lady Linn to see a very average set by Ray Mang. Met Joris from Stanton / Charlatan which is always nice. And ending our night at a Quick restaurant wasn’t that bright either. Stomach not all that well the day after.

This Friday we’ll play at De Kriekelaar. Last time, after the SOUL:ID gig, we had a very good time. Neat surroundings, nice people and a lot of people dancing. I hope it will be more of the same. You’re all welcome. Hope to see you there. More info here.

Together with Dieter, Yoeri and Lieve we recorded our first radio show yesterday. Well in advance, I know, but given it’s almost summer we had to plan it this way to be all there the first time. Had a blast and I am quite pleased with the result. Next Tuesday it’ll be on air. Only minus is that we completely forgot to play the new Prime Numbers 12”. Which is absolutely top quality. Apart from that I think it’s a dope selection, with much variety, deepness and some never played on Belgian radio stuff. Big up to Koen from FM Brussel for all the help.

Adam Marshall – Chord Tracking (KUJI)
Jona – Secret47 (Planet E)
Nu Era – Robot Moves (TrebleO)
Simbad – Momentum (TrebleO)
Sa-Ra – So Special (Wonderful noise)
Flying Lotus – Los Angeles (Warp)
Numeric - Untitled (Chocolat Industries)
San Soda – Quilombo (We Play House Recordings)
Nutmeg – Stab (Neroli)
The Sub Ensemble – Beautiful Spring (TrebleO)
Discreet Unit – Written in Our Nature (Prime Numbers)
Aardvarck – Dunk (Nod Navigators)
D-Train -Keep On Dub / Disco Dalglish Edit (CDR)

Good news from the Trus’me camp. Prime Numbers will release its second 12″ vinyl soon. With another Linkwood song, a Fudge Fingas tune and music from Discreet Unit. The first two are reissuing their much sought after 10″s on Firecracker. Volumes 1 & 3 should be in your collection already because they utter genius. But according to Trus’me the second release is the best. And that one will be available soon. If the sound snippets are anything to go by both the PN as the Firecracker releases are must have’s. Don’t sleep on ‘em and pre-order them here. Both have guaranteed nice artwork. It doesn’t come much better than this.

This weekend we’ll be in Ghent on Friday, click on the flyer right of this for more info, and at a little private party on Saturday. If you’re in Brussels / Evere and in need of something to do that night say something. We can always slip you in.

For now busy preparing the first radio show (all very exciting), preparing mixes and selections for the road to Sète (we go a week earlier to get into or groove) and cleaning up the mess my record collection has become last few weeks. That last thing is quite a job and makes me realise I should reorganise it completely. Maybe this summer if I feel like it. Will decrease the volume too. Too many things I barely listen to.

and Big Up to my fellow Keep On compadre Daquan. And his girl Lotte off course. Congratulations with Josse, the newest funky cat in town.

Hope some of you have read “Last Night a DJ Saved my Life” by Bill Brester and Frank Broughton. It’s one of the definitive books about dance music culture. DJ History is the web addition to the book. A good source for those looking deeper. And a platform for who wants to ramble on with others. Now there’s a blog too. Go check it out.

Wasn’t really feeling this one at first but I exchanged some vinyl for speakers yesterday. Speakers that love bass. And then Pigstyle is a treat. Bass heavy jams that will only work if you play ‘em out loud on a sound system that can handle the lower frequencies. If those conditions are fulfilled you’ll love it. Certainly if you like previous Aardvarck / Rednose Distrikt releases. This also wins the price for best opening sample ever on “Dunk” (at least for the Dutch speaking among us). Where on earth did he get that from. Finally got a decent weapon to battle my neighbours who have been rebuilding their flat the not so subtle way last few weeks.

It’s out on Kindred Spirits’ sub label Nod Navigators. Always quality releases.

Don’t forget. This Friday we party in Ghent. Promises to be good.

Always nice to see there are some people doing something similar in and around Brussels. Feels good not to be alone. And it feels double good when it’s near our base of origin Halle. Sint-Pieters-Leeuw to be precise. Don’t know much about Lionair but I see dj Vega, who’s a resident at our Hip Hop parties, and Steven De Peven, the only Rednose Distrikt member we haven’t hosted ourselves yet, on the bill. Big up. Will definitely try to be there. Nice one.

Been quiet on the blog last few days. Will continue next few days. But that doesn’t mean we’re doing nothing. Been busy organising our end of year activities. Looks like we’re going to top everything we’ve done so far. We ‘re working on our all new all incorporating site (hopefully ready somewhere in September), the radio show that will be starting in a few weeks, we got the Spectakulo party with Mad Mats, 2 Go Bang! parties - one on 26/9 and one on 21/11 (one resident, one with a guest), we plan some next level mixes, re-edits and maybe something combining both, … . Lots to look out for.

And we’re not the only ons who got some dope things lined up for you. Heard some yummy news from other crews like Dyn-O-Mite, Jazzbreak, Lefto (PPP coming over!), Strictly Niceness, … . You’ll hear about them as soon as things are confirmed. But it looks like Brussels / Belgium will finally get a fair amount of Soul injected to its nightlife. And it’s nice to see forces are joining in “the scene”. Big up to Thierry and Phil for keep pushing us to do something together. Really hope it’ll have the result we all aim for.