Max Weber Blog's

So here we are with another classic, unearthed gem of a mixtape. Released sometime in 1997, Binary Code stands out to me as one of Philly don Karl K's finest mixes - less a show of tricks and skill,(though that pops up as expected), it's the overall vibe created and sustained throughout the mix that makes this one stand out. It also takes me right back to a particular time period of my life: In November of 1997 I moved from my parents house in Northeast Philadelphia and in with friends in South Philly, but was still commuting an hour+ each way every day to work. Throughout the following 3-4 months I played this tape pretty much everyday on my subway rides - it acted as the soundtrack to one of my favorite books, Snow Crash, which I was reading at the time on said commutes. It was the perfect accompaniment: futuristic techstep and early neurofunk by the likes of Trace, Adam F, Dillinja, Optical, Matrix, Andy C, DJ Krust, Future Forces Inc., and others. Apologies for no tracklist this time around - there are too many unknowns on this one for me, but have a go at it in the comments if you'd like!

Karl K - Binary Code (1997) Side 1


Karl K - Binary Code (1997) Side 2


Click the play button to stream.

To download: just click on the "divshare" logo. On that next page, click the "download" button. You'll get a 15 second countdown, then it takes you to the same "download" screen again. Click "download" again, it will prompt you to open or save. Save and import into itunes, winamp, etc, and viola! Whatever way you do it, enjoy!

P.S. New podcast like so soon. Slackin hardcore over here, so sorry y'all!

This post is a long time coming. For years an old friend of mine (hello Lisa!) has be begging and bugging me to make an entire mix of strictly vocal sing-along jungle tracks from back in the day especially for her. She'll be happy to find out that the day has finally come. The main reason I dragged my feet for so long is that I am a bit of a perfectionist, and knowing that a full mix of strictly vocal tunes poses some challenges as I don't wanna be that guy playing two vocals over top of each other. I'm also a big fan of my mixes and blends staying in key - something some jocks can't even comprehend.

So this would take some planning, or at least I thought. While I did have in mind a set of tracks I'd hope to play, I fired this mix off in one shot and it came out nicely. Here's to hoping Lisa and all of you get lots of enjoyment from this one.

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dj krust feat morgan – maintain
alex reece - feel the sunshine
peshay - vocal tune
aphrodite feat gail mclain - i wanted it more
soundman feat elizbath troy - greater love
ellis d feat the specialist - ooh boy (version 1)
dj gunshot - wheel & deal vs marble mix
foul play feat denise gordan - music is the key (omni trio mix)
goldie feat. diane charlamagne - inner city life (nookie mix)
omni trio - renegade snares (foul play vip mix)
pascal - p-funk era
88.3 feat. lisa may – wishin’ on a star (aphrodite mix)
leviticus - burial (remix 2)
dj ss - easymen
glamour gold - the only one
olive - miracle (doc scott mix)
everything but the girl - walking wounded (spring heeled jack remix)
bjork - bachelorette (grooveriders' jeep mix)
reel time - mine
soulstice - tenderly (acetate mix)
shanie - (you're gonna) miss my face (dillinja mix)
bill riley feat. clarri thomas - closing in
bjork - alarm call (krust's reposession mix)
roni size - watching windows (ed rush & optical remix)

Ed Rush and Optical's seminal 1998 full length debut "Wormhole" always gets all the love... and for good reason. It pretty much changed the game for drum n bass, single-handedly dragging the sound into an unprecedented, new frontier. But it's the duos follow up, "The Creeps" (released in 2000) that always did it for me.

It carefully built upon the rolling, techno-funk of its predecessor but was somehow this even funkier, grittier soul - the production streamlined to yet another level. It's aimed straight for the dancefloor, yet can just as easily be appreciated driving high speed down the interstate, during late night subway rides, or just spacing out on your bedroom floor inside a great pair of headphones. I've always felt the whole album works so well as one piece so I thought it was appropriate to showcase it on our podcast, in full, in October of course, an entire 10 years after it's release (wow, I feel old!).

In the future expect plenty of other label and album showcases - we've got an excellent all Metalheadz show coming up, maybe we'll do a No U-Turn "Torque" episode, some Moving Shadow business... time will tell.

Rounding off this months show to take us waaaaaaaaay back is the one and only DJ Armen, a longtime Philadelphia drum n bass staple - from his days stocking the dnb racks @ 611 Records through to his many residencies and opening sets for the genres biggest superstar jocks. Armen's also someone I've known for many, many years - I've essentially watched him grow up from just a little raver kid (literally a kid I tell ya) into a true music enthusiast, an excellent DJ, and all around good, true person. Big ups Armen! Enjoy the mix everyone, this is a good one.

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Joey Breakdown mixing Ed Rush & Opticals' "The Creeps":
Ed Rush and Optical - Resurrection (feat. Ryme Tyme) - Virus
Ed Rush and Optical - Check Out Time - Virus
Ed Rush and Optical - Reach Out - Virus
Ed Rush and Optical - Rock The House - Virus
Ed Rush and Optical w/ Matrix - Flightpath - Virus
Ed Rush and Optical - The Creeps - Virus
Optical & Ryme Tyme - White Lightning - Virus
Ed Rush and Optical - Pacman - Virus
Ed Rush and Optical - Greed - Virus
Ed Rush and Optical w/ Matrix - Fastlane (feat. Ryme Tyme) - Virus

DJ Armen:
JB and Ascend - The Dreamer - Back2Basics
Tom and Jerry - Who Kan Draw - Tom & Jerry
Tom and Jerry - Maxi(mun) Style Rmx - Tom & Jerry
Tom and Jerry - Maximum Booty Style pt.2 - Tom & Jerry
Roni Size - Step Up - V Recordings
DJ Krust - Set Speed Rmx - V Recordings
DJ Krust - Poison - V Recordings
JO - R Type - Awesome Records
L Double and Liccle D - Dubplate Special - Flex Records
Souljah - Down With The Lites - Hard Leaders
Maximum Style - Hard as Hell - Parousia
Koda - Time of Signs - Intalektive Records
Roni Size and Dj Die - Music Box - Full Cycle
JMJ and Richie - Free La Funk - Moving Shadow
Roni Size and DJ Die - 11:55 - Full Cycle
Cloud Nine - Jazzmin (Tango Rmx) - Moving Shadow
Capone - Friday - Hardleaders
Shimon and Andy C - Night Flight - Ram Records
Undercover Agent - Dubplate Circles - Juice Recordings
Apex - Spys - Hard Leaders
DJ Trace - Mutant Rmx (Rollers Instinct) - S.O.U.R.
Ed Rush, DJ Trace, and Nico - Mad Different Methods - No U-Turn
Nasty Habits - Shadow Boxing 'The Remix' - 31 Records
Ed Rush - Check Me Out - DeeJay Recordings

I broke out the techstep classics this month for a straight hour of heady sci-fi steppers guaranteed to take you right back to 1997. As with the last show, I stuck with all vinyl throughout. The usual suspects all make appearances, showcasing my favorite labels of the time - Metalheadz, 31 Records, Ram, No U-Turn, Prototype and Renegade Hardware. Spark one up and get lost in the bass.

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Codename John (Grooverider) - The Warning
Fortran (Ed Rush, Optical & Fierce) - Search
Andy C & Shimon - Mutations
Nasty Habits (Doc Scott) - Shadowboxing
Future Forces Inc - Bypass
Trace & Nico - Replicants
Jon The Dentist - France (Ed Rush & Trace Rmx)
Genotype - Square Waves
Optical & Ryme Tyme - We Enter
Optical - The Shining
Everything But The Girl - Before Today (Dillinja Remix)
Everything But The Girl - Blame (J Majik Remix)
Ed Rush & Fierce - Locust
Dillinja - Silver Blade
Trace - Sonar
Bad Company - Forgotten

From what I gather, the streets is hungry for more classic mixes by the original techstep don - the UK's (and mid-90's Philly transplant) DJ Trace. I've been a long time fan of the master both as a DJ when I first got hold of his Don FM pirate radio sets from 1993/94, as well as a huge fan of his many incredible productions over the years.

During his stint in my hometown, not only did I get to regularly check Trace (known as Duncan to his mum) play excellently on many massive rigs, I've also been extremely lucky to be on occasion witness to this turntable monster throw down some of the freshest, nastiest dubplates in some of the most intimate settings: on decks set up on kitchen counters in 4am apartment ragers, off the back of a truck behind some abandon warehouse in North Philly, and of course the dark, smokey, extremely loud confines of the upstairs back room @ 1415 Locust (blunts, break-dancing and bass, anyone? Those were the days!).

When Trace announced via his Facebook last month he'd be giving up DJing drum n bass entirely, myself and I'm sure many other longtime fans shed a virtual tear. Lucky for us, many many many recordings of his beautifully hectic, futuristic DJ sets are being preserved digitally to be enjoyed by many more 'headz.

This mix from 1999 - landed via mp3 in my email box recently. I don't actually own a copy, though I do remember it's release and it making the rounds among friends. It's an excellent selection recorded at GFS studios (big up Joe & Justin!) with a nice little intro by the recently elusive Dub 2 MC.

Expect a heavy neurofunk vibe, loads of Bad Company, Ed Rush & Optical, Johnny L, Ram Trilogy, Trace, Fierce, and more. The quality is very questionable at times so forgive me it is out of my control. This is the problem with encoding cassette tapes. Enjoy!

DJ Trace - The Philadelphia Sessions (1999) Side 1


DJ Trace - The Philadelphia Sessions (1999) Side 2


Keep in mind these are ripped from very old cassette tapes, the sound quality is not the best! Click the play button to stream, or to download: just click on the "divshare" logo. On that next page, click the "download" button. You'll get a 15 second countdown, then it takes you to the same "download" screen again. Click "download" again, it will prompt you to open or save. Save and import into itunes, winamp, etc, and viola! Whatever way you do it, enjoy!