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Features
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| Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! | | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna | | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | DJ talk with Psyrenzo ahead of his debut set at Tribal Village, the Steelyard this Friday 14th January 2022! | | TENZO aka Overdrive talks freely about launching his new act which will be showcased at Tribal Village, Steelyard on 14 January 2022! | | A long overdue catch up with JourneyOM ahead of his next Tribal Village party this Friday 14th January 2022 at the Steelyard, London! |
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Get Closer to Stakker this NYE
Reported by Joanna McEwen
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Submitted 05-12-07 22:47
Stakker: conqueror of continents, co-founder of the most excellent nights Tuned, System and Techstyle, practitioner of all things electro and now guest for 2007’s New Year’s Eve finale, Closer, with the dons of techno, Luke Slater and James Ruskin. Magnificent! As at one with his keyboard as he is with his decks; hob nobbing with the natives of Australia and Hardfaster alike, we get the opportunity to ask him all the important things and possibly get to the bottom of whether he really is the boyfriend of Girl A.
JM: So, to begin: let’s start at the end. Tell us about your upcoming set at Closer on New Year’s Eve. You must have done something right when you played with Matt Panik for them at their launch in April…!
S: Well, the launch of Closer was definitely a shot in the arm for London clubbing as there are often precious little ‘real’ techno nights across the capital outside of superclub stalwarts like The End and Fabric. The back-to-basics attitude and high profile, respected headliners at Closer really make it stand out among the myriad of events in the London calendar. I was stoked to be part of that first night and also enjoyed myself immensely on the other side of the decks at the follow up even back in August, so to be able to play again and on NYE is a big deal and I can’t wait to see how this line-up goes down. Personally I will be playing a little tech-house before easing into more tech territory as we countdown toward the final hours of 2007. Expect to groove.
You’re obviously as obsessed with electronic music and clubbing as is possible to be – having been introduced to it by your brother back in 1987. How has your style and loves changed over the years?
In the beginning I was just wide-eyed with all the new stuff my big bro threw my way back then, things as diverse as African Reggae, Australian Bands, Ragga, the burgeoning gangster hip-hop of NWA and the like, but the music that really transfixed me was the new house music coming from people like Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley, Li’l Louis, Inner City and the like. I am sure many of the more senior Halfwits will know what I am talking about! For me it was heaven because even as a small child I was always more into electronic music than rock.
My first loves were probably my Dad’s Jean Michel Jarre Vinyl and then stuff like the Pet Shop Boys and other synthpop acts, When this whole new genre of electronic, mostly instrumental music came along I was hooked. By the early 90’s I had got into what was termed ‘hardcore’ at the time, breakbeat acts like SL2, The Prodigy and the more 4/4 sounds of Joey Beltram and Human Resource. Then I moved to London in 1992 and heard shit loads of pirate radio stuff which totally blew my mind and first opened my eyes to ‘mixing’. Since then I have been back and forth between house, breaks, trance, techno, electro, whatever takes my fancy. I don’t stick to one style.
When did you start mixing?
Well after many years botching ‘mixtapes’ with my parents reel-to-reel tape machine and a double tape deck thing I had since about 1990, I didn’t even get to touch the real deal until about 1994 on a holiday in Greece where a DJ in a bar noticed I had a good ear for picking out stacks of tunes in his afternoon sets. However I got my chance properly in 1995 when a lad at school introduced me to a friend with decks.
By this time I was fiddling about making tunes myself using a home computer but was desperate to get to mix. This lad I was introduced to was the opposite, having had a pair of decks for a while and a desire to make tunes on his PC. SO it was a skill swap really, I had been buying records for a while anyway in the hope of one day getting a chance so when I met this dude, with his KAM direct drive decks it was a good day! I got to borrow them over a summer holiday and that was that, hooked!
What’s been your most memorable DJing moment?
Going way back but I will never, ever forget back in the mid 90’s, some friends had a few parties in the New Forest and each time I was brought down from London to do the bidness. The sets were f*cking long but such fun, with so much time I was able to play a proper evolving set, getting in literally boxes and boxes of tunes of all sorts of genres! The look on people’s faces really getting into it, many for their first time, was priceless!
Do you intend to make full tracks for release?
I started messing about making tunes in 1992 and have worked on hundreds of unfinished tracks, bits and pieces. I am sure anyone else who dabbles will know what it’s like. It’s been a while since I completed something I would like to put out, so I am not what you would call prolific. Having said that I recently got my shit together again and am back in the mood for writing and with the new equipment I have and a little inspiration, you never know. I just have to convince myself to get it out there as I regret not pushing what I did back in 2002.
You’ve been involved in running three parties as well as DJing. What made you decide to enter the promotional fray?
I have Marcopilf to thank for that, back in 2003 we used to spend the odd Sunday afternoon at Afterlife at the old George IV mithering about the lack of techno nights that played the kind of techno we liked. I guess he remembered me and when the chance came to launch a night, he brought me and the other lads onboard.
What was the decision behind stopping Tuned and starting System?
Matt Panik, myself and others all chipped in to get Tuned on the road, but with Matt’s work responsibilities piling up he took a break from promoting back in April. I continued with the name until the end of the summer before relaunching as System. This was really to leave the Tuned story open as there is more to come in the future with Matt, perhaps in a different format and a different venue, watch this space!
You’ve traveled extensively over the years – your latest being SE. Asia and Australia. Do you ever take your records with you and if so, have you ever played a gig on your travels?
Well, I am actually writing this from an internet café in Jaipur, India so add that location to the list! On my year away in Oz and Asia I intended to take my records with me but being a vinyl man it was really an untenable proposition for lugging them about Asia etc. I played a couple of gigs back in 1997 and 1998 in California when I visited an American clubbing buddy who hooked me up with some promoters in Los Angeles. Some of those parties were crazy and I, alongside a French guy who was also playing, got a superb reception. At that time the yanks were massively Euro-centric with their ‘electronica’ DJs.
Even abroad you still manage to rack up a fair few posts on HarderFaster – where has been your most random location for a bit of HF action…?
It’s sad isn’t it? Ha ha. To be honest the internet cafes of the world are all pretty much the same with just varyingly sh!te connections, but logging in on the Cambodian border to kill some time waiting for a bus was pretty odd, looking out the window at mist over a very “Apocalypse Now!” kind of landscape. It was strange to be able to hook up with home so easily.
You list your favourite producers as Vitalic and The Hacker – what can we expect of you musically on the 31st?
I must update my profile, as although I luuurve the French electrotech dudes I am quite fickle and find myself digging diverse styles all the time. Off the top of my head, I’m liking Carl Craig, um…Stanny Franssen, Dave Taylor (Solid Groove, Switch). Also I never tire of Jeff Mills.
What for you is the ultimate tune?
Depends on the style, for techno I sometimes want my tunes to be hypnotic, insistent with a groove that makes you feel you could listen for hours and never get bored. Sometimes it’s all about the bassline, sometimes it can be just about the hi-hats! Sorry, bit of a nerdy answer!
Will you be making any New Year’s Resolutions?
No point, I am terrible at keeping them.
Thank you, Sir. Here’s to a most excellent New Year’s Eve!
Thank very much! See you at Closer!
Photos courtesy of Stakker and Closer. Not to be reproduced without permission
CLOSER NYE 2007
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On:
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Monday 31st December 2007
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At:
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Secret Location
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From:
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8PM TO 6AM
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Cost:
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£20 SAVER TICKETS PRICE WILL GO UP ON DEC 1ST
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Ticket Info:
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£15 TICKETS SOLD OUT
Very limited £20 + b/f on sale now / standard tickets £35 + b/f
Ticketweb: 08700 600 100 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
Info: 07814 179946 / 07957 112723 / www.myspace.com/partycloser
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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**PRESS RELEASE ** PRESS RELEASE ** PRESS RELEASE **
Closer – two rooms of original techno music…
E1 warehouse location, London – New Year’s Eve, 2007
Luke Slater (Mote-Evolver)
James Ruskin (Blueprint / Tresor)
Steve Strawberry (Closer / Tilted Disco)
Religion / Inhale / Injury Time / System
Location to be revealed 1 month before the event / 20:00-06:00
Very limited early bird tickets £15 + b/f on sale now
Ticketweb: 08700 600 100 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
Info: 07814 179946 / 07957 112723 / www.myspace.com/partycloser
After two groundbreaking and enthralling techno parties that took London by storm, it simply had to be done - Closer NYE. Politburo events are proud to announce that we will be taking over a brand new E1 warehouse location in London – just five minutes walk from Aldgate East and Tower Hill tube stations – on New Year’s Eve for one unforgettable night of original techno music across two rooms.
Closer is designed to do exactly what it says on the tin. It’s about techno in its purest, rawest sense – unrestricted, unrestrained – delivered by its finest practitioners up close and personal. Techno in its many shapes and guises has become the leading international language of the dancefloor from beach festivals in Brazil to the underground sound of Europe’s coolest clubs. The scene’s leading DJs are in such demand on the global circuit that we barely get to see them here in the UK and that’s usually confined to the bigger clubs and festivals. All well and good, of course, but there’s nothing quite like dancing to techno when the lights are low, the atmosphere is intense and you can see the whites of the DJs’ eyes!
Closer has already featured some of the biggest names on the scene including Luke Slater, Kevin Saunderson, Ben Sims, Colin Dale and Mark Williams who have joined resident Steve Strawberry and a cast of young talent from the London underground. Closer NYE promises to go one better with the return of Luke Slater and a warm welcome to James Ruskin.
Luke Slater: musical and technological innovator, Fabric regular and man of many guises – Planetary Assault Systems, Clementine, Morganistic and The 7th Plain to name a few. Both as a DJ and a producer, Luke Slater has always been at the forefront of redefining the techno blueprint winning support from across the electronic music spectrum. Recent projects have included a ‘Fabric’ mix CD, the ‘Head Converter’ EP and the Mote-Evolver independent online music distribution portal, while his ‘Fear and Loathing’ mix albums are the stuff of legend. Combine that with a packed DJ and production schedule, and you have a true maverick with 15 years of dancefloor vision behind him.
James Ruskin: another stalwart of the UK scene and one of techno’s finest ambassadors, James Ruskin has been making music since 1997. As well as releases on his own Blueprint and Coda imprints, he is an integral part of the Tresor organisation, both as a producer and as a DJ. The label will be releasing his fourth artist album, ‘The Dash’, at the end of 2007 and he has already played at the club in Berlin since it reopened. James is currently touring Europe in support of the album playing both DJ sets and live PAs, and has further cemented his reputation as one of techno’s most accomplished exponents. For Closer NYE he will be bringing along his full bag of effects for a set comprising upfront material alongside classic tracks reshaped live in the mix.
Steve Strawberry: coming up from the London underground and the man behind the excellent Tilted Disco parties, Steve Strawberry is a man you’ll be hearing a lot more over the coming months because of his incendiary turntable skills. He recently brought the sound of Tilted Disco to the Ministry of Sound in support of their techno night Hi-Tek Soul and has been working in the studio with Colin Dale.
Representing the sound of young London at Closer will be Chris Rayner from Inhale, Jon Holland and Mutant playing back-to-back from Injury Time, Stakker and Lene Andreasen playing back-to-back from System, and Richard Belsom and Dan Van Damn who have both recently released tracks on the Jack Digitals label. Over in the second room, meanwhile, Religion will be your hosts featuring Aleksei, Matt Hardin, Paul Edge and Paul KC. These guys have been involved in some of the best parties around London this year including Party Proactive at Turnmills and have one of the most loyal and up-for-it crowds in town.
Full details of the venue will be released in due course but, rest assured, it’s going to be very special and perfect for the intimate and intense atmosphere of Closer. You can expect the same high standards of sound, lighting and production to be found at all Politburo Events alongside one of the friendliest group of techno aficionados you’ll ever find.
Closer is the techno party London’s faithful has been crying out for – unrestricted, unrestrained and like no other. This is your chance to get Closer with Luke Slater and James Ruskin and see in the New Year with a vengeance – accept no substitute, there is no other!
Paul Jack 07814 179946 / paul@proactive-records.co.uk
Matthew Duffield 07957 112723 / matthew@seditiondjs.com
Closer is a Politburo event www.myspace.com/politburoevents
Web links:
Luke Slater – www.lukeslater.com / www.myspace.com/thereallukeslater
James Ruskin – www.myspace.com/jamesruskin2006 / www.tresorberlin.de
Steve Strawberry – www.myspace.com/stevestrawberry / www.myspace.com/tilteddisco
Religon – www.religionpromotions.co.uk / www.myspace.com/religionpromotions
Inhale -- www.inhale.org.uk / www.chrisrayner.com
[/quote]
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Flyer:
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 - 
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Tribal House. Electro House. Tech House. Funky Techno. Minimal Techno. Electro.
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DJ's:
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MAIN ROOM
LUKE SLATER
JAMES RUSKIN
STEVE STRAWBERRY
Mutant B2B Jon Holland
Stakker B2B LENE ANDREASEN
Chris Rayner
Dan Van Damn
RICHARD BELSOM
ROOM 2
ALEKSEI
JACOB MOSS
MATT HARDIN
PAUL EDGE
PAUL KC
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Other Features By Joanna McEwen:
Ticon the matter seriously
Riding the frequencies with Hertz
The Many Faces of Paul Maddox
Axel Karakasis Gets Proactive
Proactive Gets Dejavoo!
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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Comments:
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From: B.S.E on 6th Dec 2007 16:46.54
Wicked interview.
Top bloke top DJ. Gutted I can't make it along.
From: Dzerzhinsky on 8th Dec 2007 01:42.18
¬
From: Stakker on 8th Dec 2007 04:49.26
I agree, fully ¬.
Zod?
From: Dzerzhinsky on 8th Dec 2007 04:55.41
Ja chod maar, LOLLLL
From: Jim Wild on 8th Dec 2007 06:23.46
¬ good work big fella ;op
From: Lx on 8th Dec 2007 14:13.26
legend
From: General Zod on 9th Dec 2007 19:12.41
Zod? Here's my comment if you're desperate Stakker: Lemon Ka Jhatkaa. And Ali, Teri Gaand meh kala namak. 
From: Stakker on 10th Dec 2007 11:11.42
 : You are just making stuff up now! Brilliant!
From: General Zod on 10th Dec 2007 12:45.05
Have you noticed how many members have responded to this feature? And no, I',m not making anything up. As I said, Lemon Ka Jhatkaa. :
From: Stakker on 10th Dec 2007 18:55.59
I am not surprised, everyone hates me. 
From: Zem on 12th Dec 2007 08:14.52
See you at Closer!
From: Neil English on 12th Dec 2007 22:45.50
Nice
From: argh_01 on 13th Dec 2007 00:42.08
Jeez Rich, are you back causing trouble in old London town now?
2 things: please keep producing, and get a decent haircut you muppet.
From: Disco Diva on 13th Dec 2007 19:18.22
Cool read, top lad & sad I shall be missing this. xx
From: T-bag on 14th Dec 2007 13:15.30
Hail Stakker King of the Plums
See you soon honey , its been agessssssss 
Look now youve finally made it your own review.
AHHHHHHHH BLESS 
From: Arsene Wengers coat on 15th Dec 2007 18:27.02
Those SE Asia days hey Rich!
From: Lx on 17th Dec 2007 22:10.43
haircut seconded 
From: marcopilf on 18th Dec 2007 13:50.17
great interview from a great guy. Good to see you doing well fella!
From: STACE on 21st Dec 2007 09:38.31
Very nice my dear, very nice.
From: ~deleted12332 on 21st Dec 2007 13:45.16
ha ha stacks of unfinished stuff. You should see the million odd files on my computer
From: ck on 24th Dec 2007 08:48.55
rekognize! Nice one, Stakker. Doing well
From: Wok on 27th Dec 2007 17:15.10
lulz.
From: Exiled Angel on 28th Dec 2007 14:01.35
Cool interview. Love
From: Mizz_behavin on 29th Dec 2007 10:04.11
Really looking forward to this party 
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