Some facts about dj Xogn  we think you should know

- He recorded a killer Podcast mix for us.
- His real name is Tristan Cordier, born in Nancy, France a while ago.
- Arrived in Brussels in ’88.
- He once sported the name of Jah Floppy as a dj and played with Pierre Elitaire in Antwerp.
- Went to Dakar, Senegal in ’96 where he had a new / second hand record shop. He stayed there till ’06.
- Xogn means grilled rice from the bottom of the marmite.
- He organised the monthly Koulgraoul parties in Dakar. Parties with a mix of world beat music for a crowd of mixed people from all over the world. With an attendance between 500 and 700 people. Still going strong, by the way.
- He has a weekly radio show on Radio Campus (Wednesday from 9.30 to 10.30pm - 92.1fm) where he plays African music from the ‘60s and ‘70s.
- He organised many parties over the years with DJ ReeDoo. The next one is this Friday at Café Bota.

Every initiative to educate people about Disco and House music gets my full support. Yiannis told me about this movie project and it looks like it could be something great. The little teaser video is already nice. Larry Heard making some valid points.

This is a book I most certainly will buy and read. From the people who brought "Last Night A DJ saved My Live". Read all about it here.

Boddhi Satva is a great talent who’s living in Belgium. Been playing his Isa track on my iPod on constant repeat for ages now. Criminally underrated by the country he lives in, getting respect abroad from giants in the House genre like Osunlade and Little Louie Vega. Nice to see Kwak doing some effort to change that. An interview with the man on the Strictly Niceness Blog (In French). Big up.

Check the Innervision blog. Innervisions is a label all lovers of decent deep House should know. Dixon, Ame and Henrik Schwarz should be households names. The blog holds news about their upcoming project on BBE (looking nice indeed), the new club the guys from Club 11 are starting in Amsterdam (also looking swell), the subscription on their new releases you can get and more. Nicely written, nicely looking. But you can’t expect anything less from them, isn’t it ?

I know some of you are very impatient to buy the Phlash & Friends album with us raving about it almost non-stop. But you’ll have to wait a couple of weeks more. In February it’ll drop and you’ll see it’s worth the wait. It’s still one of the most listened to things on my iPod and if you know me a little you know I never stand stay with something too long if it’s not top quality.

Anyway, to keep you busy for a while here’s an interview with Phil Asher.

And there’s always the Phil Asher mix I made a while ago.

With both ‘The Further You Look, The Less You Will See” and “Psychotic Photosynthesis” Omar S is responsible for 2 of the hottest tracks of ’08. It oozes that deep rawness I like so much. The man himself is just as raw if this interview from a while back is anything to go by with. I can follow him on a lot of points and I certainly dig his DIY attitude. He’s real.

Buy his music directly from him. Or through Rush Hour. You need it.

And gotta love the ice trays. That’s killer merchandising.

Oh, that Infinitestatemachine blog is just as essential as Omar S music. Check it.

A little update on the (Electro) Boogie post. Which is having some nice things. Generating traffic and getting me in contact with some very interesting people.

But here’s some more on the topic: 

- Robbie M website and Myspace for those wanting to know more about the man behind Midnight Express.
- More info about the Rhythm Based Lovers who have released more than just one 7”. They’ve got a 12” out on FrequeNC too.
- And here’s more on Future Times, the label that released that 7”. Check the Maxmillion Dunbar too. Sizzling hot wax. Love the Omar S quote on their site. Genius.

Can’t get enough of this sound. I’m slowly considering Jheri Curls and a leather suit.

Ever since Greg Wilson made me realise the years ’82 / ’83 have produced an almost endless number of quality joints, in what he calls the Electro-Funk genre, I’ve been obsessed by finding more music with that particular sound. Last year I noticed it is something I share with others and you can almost say it has become a movement, scene or even hype. Best example is the buzz Dâm-funk created with one single 12” release and an appearance on Benji B’s Deviation. His set at the party is a proper education in this style of music, making him almost single-handedly responsible for the success of Midnight Express’ “Dangerzone” worldwide. Been hearing that track from Brussels to Manchester and back. This Californian synth king has a second piece of vinyl out on Stones Throw that’s just as essential as that Burgundy track.

But he’s not the only one bringing that sound back. Rhythm Based Lovers is another outfit going wild on the early 80’s groove. I’ve played their ace 7” in our show this week. Stellar track. Cop it while you still can. Don’t know much about this group but I’ve found a site where you can download more of their music for free. Check it out.

Another great source for similar music is the People’s Potential label. Made with the original artists they are releasing some certified goodies. Like the aforementioned Midnight Express track. But all others are golden too. If my sources are right this label is somehow linked to Disco connoisseurs from Ebony Cuts.  

If you have plenty of money you can always go for the original stuff. On this site for example. For 200£ the original “Dangerzone” 7” is yours.

I seriously advise you all to listen to the Christmas joint venture from Laid-back, Back To Niceness and Onda Sonora on fm brussel this Wednesday evening between 9 and 12pm. Expect dope music and utter chaos. Never had so much fun in a studio. But more about that soon.

During the session LuiGi from Laid-back / Infinitskills told me about their visit to a place that cuts dubplates in Belgium called Dubplate.be. Read and see all about it on the ever impeccable Laid-Back site.

More from the gathering knowledge front. A lengthy interview with disco diva Donna McGhee. For the Fatback / Patrick Adams-mad disco freaks like myself. Essential.

Nice blog by the way. Do a little tour.

Thanks to Kris for hooking me up.

Big up to alex from On-Point. He has contributed to the new Shook magazine. He has written and illustrated the Marc Moulin in memoriam. Nice one.

You’ll hear plenty more of this kid in the near future. He’s getting noticed. Maybe, even in his own country. Haha. 

Stumbled upon this neat site with plenty of info on artists I respect a lot. I love the simplicity of it all. Keeping it basic and in doing so keeping it easy to find what you want. Adding something to my already huge interest for all things Japanese. How I would love to visit that country and meet people. It’ll happen one day.

Not too inspired lately. I have to think about what to write while it usually comes naturally. Really looking forward to play some records for a dancing crowd. I want to do that more than anything else.

Been selecting for Saturday and rediscovered some hot tracks to play. Sometimes I really like to play more focused than the usual crossover we’re known for. Although Soul from the 70’s to now is still a very broad spectrum. But I like the challenge. Mainly because a lot of people share the opinion that there is little interesting Soul music after the golden age of Motown, Stax and alike. Which is utter crap, off course. Some great tunes made since then and still are made.

To throw a first stone at the glass house protecting the glorification of 60’s “pure” Soul (I’ll pass with my bulldozer on Saturday) or to guide those suffering less from elitism but searching for some directions, I’ll give you some tips. Writing you a proper guide would take way too much of my time but I can give you some names of labels and artists so you can begin digging deeper. It might be pretty obvious for some but keep in mind I’m not sharing my secrets that easy. I’m still a dj. Gotta keep some to baffle you when I’m playing.

Philadelphia International
Should be common knowledge but anyway. I discovered them through their more Disco releases but most of their output is first class Soul music. Founded by Gamble and Huff (consider this another tip) responsible for the very orchestrated Philly Soul and a seamlessly endless stream of top vinyl from through the 70’s to the early 80’s. With artists like Teddy Pendergrass, Dexter Wansel, the Jones Girls, Jean Carn and the Futures to name just some personal favourites.

LeRoy Hutson
Worked with Donny Hathaway and replaced Curtis Mayfield in The Impressions but that’s merely anecdotes compared to what he’s responsible for as a solo artist (“Lucky Fellow” and “Love The Feeling” are Onda Sonora classics) or producer (Linda Clifford and that fantastic Arnold Blair tune) on the mighty Curtom label.

Incognito
Legendary band that surfaced in full Acid Jazz hype but since have proven they are much more than that. They’ve released some classics but stand out more by their consistency than anything else. Their albums are always of high quality. Their latest one published this year. Haven’t got it myself yet but according to Thierry Boulanger again a very fine one.

Raphael Saadiq
One of my personal favourites making fresh Soul music now. I’ve bigged up his latest release already on this blog. But he’s much more than that. From his early work with Tony! Toni! Tone! through the “supergroups” Lucy Pearl and PPP, as a producer for D’Angelo, Macy Gray and others or his solo work, he’s been responsible for a fare share of my collection.

Marvin Gaye
Because you never should forget the most obvious classics. Dig deep into the man’s oeuvre. Check who he has worked with and discover new territories. And he’s living proof for me that there’s Soul after 60’s. The man made his best work post 1970.

Theo Parrish interviews are rare. Good ones even rarer. This one is very good. Raw & deep like his music. Inspiring too. Check it out.

The man has a site. Looks good. Check it out.

I’m subscribed to a zillion blogs but, to be honest, most of them I hardly read. I just flip through them in search for the rare interesting item. But there’s one I really love reading. And it’s one with a lot of text, little useful info, no free mp3’s (well sometimes it is but mostly not) and no pictures whatsoever. I read it because it are very funny tales about the life of an underground dj / producer. Written by Dominic Stanton aka Domu. Always reminds me we should ask him to play at our night. He’s tight behind the decks and I think he would connect well with our crowd.

Domu is filling in for Benji B, who’s off to the Red Bull Music Academy just like San Soda, next 2 weeks on the Deviation radio show. 

Matthew Herbert is someone who should have sparked your interest by now if you are any bit into quality music, left of the centre but with Soul. You might have heard him as Herbert, with his big band or as a producer for Roisin Murphy to name the most obvious ones. But he’s much more than that. Digging deeper into that could fill an entire blog in itself so I’m not going to do it. Just going to point out you a few doors to his world.

As a producer, sampling wizard, label boss and so much more he’s somebody who pushes limits. He’s avant-garde, if you wish, but not in the artsy meaningless way. He’s an innovator. One of the kind that makes you wonder why you haven’t done the things he does yourself. One who opens doors and possibilities for you and others. A genius although that word is used so many times it doesn’t do him enough honour anymore. But Matthew Herbert is more than about making edgy but beautiful music. He’s an artist with a strong opinion. Something rare these days. Read about it on his site.

But the reason to serve you this on a Friday afternoon when you’re getting ready to start the weekend is “ The Story”. A new song by the Matthew Herbert Big Band currently being plugged by the better radio hosts worldwide. With Eska on vocals (everything she sings on is gold lately). Bloody good song, with a message and simply sounding brilliant. One of my favourite songs of the year. And there have been a few already to claim that title. This song announces his new album called ‘There’s Me And There’s You’ out at the end of October on K7! / Accidental. Check it out. And check out the album’s mini site with a free demo edit mp3 of “The Story”.

A selected Matthew Herbert discography:

Herbert – Bodily Functions (!K7)
Herbert – Around The House (Phonography / !K7)
Roisin Murphy – Ruby Blue (Echo)
Dani Siciliano – Likes … (!K7)
Doctor Rockit – Indoor Fireworks (Lifelike)
Matthew Herbert Big Band – Goodbye Swingtime (Accidental)

Some personal favourites:

Doctor Rockit – Café De Flor (Lifelike)
Herbert – The Audience (!K7)
Matthew Herbert Big Band feat. Eska – The Show (Accidental)
Cassio Ware – Fantasy / Herbert’s Reality Dub (Playhouse)
Moloko – Sing It Back / Herbert’s Tasteful (F-111)
Recloose – Can’t Take It / Herbert’s Some Dumb Dub (Planet E)

If you want to know more there’s always Discogs off course.

Dieter said something about it on our radio show; the Ancienne Belgique, Belgium’s premier live venue, has renewed its website. From a simple informative site to something very web 2.0. With blogs, a community, videos and everything. They got, for example, entire concerts online for you to watch. Check it out.

Blaze’s Kevin Hedge isn’t somebody to limit himself to making music only. He’s a DJ, label owner, party organiser and much more. You’ll hear about it in the interview we did with them. But as we take our time to bring you the result of our chat with Blaze in the best possible way, you’ll have to wait a little while for that. But it will be worth the wait.

In the meantime you can keep yourself more than busy with this. One of Kevin Hedge’s projects is the 2MyBeat.com site. This aims to promote Soulful music in all its forms (or Global Soul as he calls it). You’ll find on the site mixes, downloads, videos, links and more. A nice way to discover tons of information and music. With the possibility to buy what you like through Traxsource.

Check it out.

Our friends from the Laid Back crew have given their site and logo a facelift. Not only graphically but content-wise too. No more free mixes for download. If you want music check their online radio station (where we got our own GO BANG! program, don’t forget) or their FM Brussel radio show (now on Wednesdays, same hours as us, instead of Fridays). They got things sorted on the administrative front too (something we’re working on too). And on top of that they’re giving away Infinitskills Nine compilation away for free in digital form. Still, you need that on vinyl. I know there are still a few copies for sale at Lost In Music Records. Buy it.

Check it all out here.

Now all we need is another Belgikolor party.

Big up to the Made In Japan boys we had in the studio last episode of our radio show. Don of the underground Soul Benij B has played their track in his show. Nice one. But for once we were first. Rarely happens, playing tracks before Benji plays them.

Our dear friend Alex from On-Point put online the interview he did with Mad Mats, our guest on Saturday, a couple of years ago. This time not in video form but text only. Read and learn a bit about the Swedish DJ / label boss who’s playing at Spectakulo this weekend.

Thanks for the extra promo and info. Mats will be in our studio to record next Tuesday’s radio show. For more tunes and facts.

Nice little interview with Chicago soul phenomenon Yaw proving Straight No Chaser isn’t dead yet.

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.