Sunday 30 June 2013

The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 64


"Is it not beautiful to watch the sun rise, and see the dark explode with light."
Hi all,

Observant followers of the podcast will realise two things about TPHP this week.

Firstly, I've thrown a bit of a curve ball in that, instead of uploading a more progressive set, I've delivered another uptempo monster complete with its corresponding red artwork. This is largely because I felt like I had to break the monotony of the current two week routine. Its also partly because this particular episode needed to be heard, and quick.

Second thing to notice is that we have a bit of a theme going here. Many of the tracks in this week's podcast are up-to-the-minute 'modern' reworks of old classics. These kind of reworks are not uncommon in the trance scene these days. Often they never get full releases and are released to the public as free downloads. I just happened to harvest an unusually large crop of them in a single week and, thankfully, they were able to find their way into the same tracklist.

Like Simon Patterson's psy-fronted reshaping of his own track, Thump from 2009, Darren Porter's brilliant remix of haunting classic Ralph Fridge - Angel (the original has featured in the podcast before) and Allen & Envy giving Marc Dawn's Expander a fuck tonne more bass.

Interestingly, our 'Tune Of The Episode' isn't one of these many reworks though - it's Jorn Van Deynhoven's brilliant, mid-tempoed trancer, Cheeky, of course, cranked to 140. A real favourite of mine at the moment. The ending oldie is something completely left-of-field, and with some many so-called classics in this set, I suppose it had to be. Jens Jordan & Shaun Baker's Explode, from around 2002/2003, is one from that bygone era when  trance did still touch the mainstream. Marc Van Linden did the remix that went on to be the recognised radio edit and, with its simple melody and interesting bassline, it works as well now as it did when I was a 15/16 year old.

Sink your teeth into this one, ladies and gents. It's one to be savoured.

THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST EPISODE 64

1. Lost Tribe - Gamemaster (Protoculture Reconstruction) [CDR - Free Download]
2. Simon Patterson - Thump (Simon Patterson 2013 Remix) [Reset Records]
3. Alae Khaldi - Perception [Unearthed Records]
4. 7 Baltic & Ledo - New Heaven (Philip Mayer vs. Justine Berg Remix) [Condura Recordings]
5. Bobina - Basque The Dog (Solis & Sean Truby Remix) [Magik Muzik]
6. Marc Dawn - Expander (Allen & Envy Rework) [CDR - Free Download]
7. Fictivision & C-Quence - Symbols (Will Atkinson 5000 Remix) [In Trance We Trust]
8. Ralph Fridge - Angel (Darren Porter 2013 Rework) [CDR]
9. Jorn van Deynhoven - Cheeky [A State Of Trance] <<<(Phil's Tune Of The Episode)>>>
10. Jordan & Baker - Explode (Marc van Linden Club Mix) [Embassy One]  <<<(The Phil-Harmonic Golden Oldie)>>>



We go progressive and what not next week. See ya then!

Sunday 23 June 2013

The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 63

Happy Sunday all. Can't hang around rambling too much this week because, in order to keep this podcasting juggernaut rolling into the coming weeks, I have a date with my CDJs this afternoon. Nothing romantic, you understand. Things are really moving along nicely at the moment with an exciting summer ahead.

A very very strong episode this week and probably one of the most flawlessly mixed sets I've done since the 1 hour format shift. We kick off with something a little bit funky-tinged and psychedelic but then burst full on into 40 mins plus of ballsy, wall-shaking goodness. 

Darren Porter, the man with the winning formula at the moment, plays a big role in this week's episode and there's also a couple of really melancholic ones from Tony Nesse and Energy Box resident, Manual Le Saux.

THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST EPISODE 63

1. Peter Hulsmans & Tiff Lacey – Possibility (John Dopping Rehabilitation Remix) [Kill The Lights]
2. Tonny Nesse - Memories [Future Sound Of Egypt]
3. Darren Porter & Simon Dixon - Sledgehammer [Fraction Records]
4. Chris Metcalfe - Prospector [Subculture]
5. Marc Marberg with Kyau & Albert - Neo Love (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix) [Euphonic]
6. Manuel Le Saux feat. Astuni - Things We Will Never Forget [Discover]
7. Mark Dean - Floodlight [Nexgen Sounds Records]
8. Ian Standerwick - Psycho [Edge EDM Records]
9. Darren Porter & Gareth Weston - First Contact [Aria Recordings] <<<(Phil's Tune Of The Episode)>>>
10. Bobina - Invisible Touch (Ferry Corsten's Touch) [Flashover Recordings] <<<(The Phil-Harmonic Golden Oldie)>>>
11. Armin Van Buuren feat. Sharon den Adel - In And Out Of Love (Richard Durand Remix) [Armada] 



Episode 64 will be on The Renegade Transmission, Saturday 4pm UK time. The upload to follow on Sunday. C ya!



Sunday 16 June 2013

The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 62



New Sunday, new podcast. The Phil-Harmonic Podcast is back and this week we are rocking a rather careful mix of dark, anthemic bangers and slightly more accessible electro influenced material. Everything is as it should be... Rocking.

Normally, I do like to end on a 'golden oldie' as a way of rounding things off, but this week's episode was running too far over my Renegade Transmission slot and the last track had to be sacrificed. Instead the mix opens with an older track, a good request by one of my flatmates, and that has by default become our Phil-Harmonic Golden Oldie. It's a cracking vocal-based intro track from summer 2010.

Moments that stand out for me in this episode are, Chris Schweizer's simple but effective electro number, Generation, Orjan Nilsen's Violetta and, again from Markus Schulz's arsenal, Locust by Purple Stories. But the real highlight is Estiva's Teddybeat. A particularly cheesy melody but, my my my, what a savage electro drop. Dancefloor gold.

That's all there is to it really. Don't forget you can always catch the latest episode of the podcast exclusively on Renegade Transmission, 4pm Saturdays BST. Keep the love flowing.



THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST EPISODE 62

1. Lost Stories Presents Prayag & Rishab - Ashna (Opus Tertio Intro Mix) [Songbird] <<<(The Phil-Harmonic Golden Oldie)>>>
2. Purple Stories - Locust [Coldharbour Recordings]
3. Chris Schweizer - Generation [A State Of Trance]
4. Ben Gold - Amplified [Garuda]
5. Invisible Dreamers & Dreamy - All Faded Away (Dave Schiemann Remix) [D.Max Recordings]
6. Arman Aydin - Shiga [Blue Soho Recordings]
7. Athema pres Ethan - Hestia (Karybde & Scylla Remix) [E.T.T. Recordings]
8. Orjan Nilsen - Violetta [Armind]
9. Tom Swoon feat. Amba Shepherd - Not Too Late (Maor Levi Remix) [Ultra]
10. Estiva - Teddybeat [Enhanced Recordings] <<<(Phil's Tune Of The Episode)>>>
11. AYDA & Wach - Opena [Arisa Audio]


Sunday 9 June 2013

The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 61




Welcome back.

I'm conscious that whenever I start a blog these days it seems to involve me mentioning how busy I am. Well, since I've had a week off work this week, being truly ‘rushed off my feet’ isn't something I can really claim. I've devoted plenty of time to lining up the coming month’s podcasts so that they’re ready in good time for their broadcasts on the internet radio station I'm now involved with – Renegade Transmission.

As mentioned in last week’s blog, episodes of The Phil-Harmonic Podcast are now being broadcast for the very first time on the internet radio station, Renegade Transmission. My current slot is 4pm Saturday BST, Repeated again 12 hours later at 4am. This week’s Episode 61 was broadcast over the course of this weekend.

Again, really excited about the opportunity and I hope to be part of the station’s growth over the coming months and years. I really hope it can help generate a fresh buzz around the podcast.

One thing this new radio slot does mean is that, given my slot is only an hour, plans to do 2 hour specials may have to be shelved for a while. At least until I can negotiate a flexible timeslot or come up with a neat plan around it. What it will mean for That Was 2013 (which push 2 and a half hours a piece) or the 2nd of my Ibiza Specials I don’t know.

Other events this week – my return to Brighton and to Cube Bar on Thursday evening, this time to DJ for Sam Derks' new night, Transition. The welcome I got from the Brighton people was, once again, brilliant. Warm, friendly, and so so complimentary about my DJing. Always a pleasure. Clearly, the Transition guys have an eye on building something bigger. Anything that keeps the smaller scale trance scene breathing is fully supported by me.




When I talk to people outside the scene about my DJing, they’re often surprised to hear I'm doing these small gigs and travelling for no money. Let me tell you, people like me, particular those who really started DJing later in life, don’t need money to make it all worthwhile. Playing for a room full of passionate people is more than enough. Each mixing session, each gig, each twist of a bass controller on a mixing desk as one bassline swaps blissfully for another, really feels like a blessing. That may sound like idealist tripe, but it’s really how a feel.

And then after that it was Markus Schulz’s 6 hour solo set at Ministry Of Sound the following night. Wasn't that a night that flew by in a flash? My favourite moment of the night was his mixing of Lange - Hold That Sucker Down into Ferry Corsten - Kudawudashuda, something that I did myself in Episode 49 of this podcast. Another vindication of harmonic mixing and a nice reassurance that I'm somewhere near the same wavelength as the top jocks. 

Markus really is a DJ that divides opinion hugely in the scene at the moment. Of his detractors, some says he’s sold out and gone cheesey, some say he’s a disciple of trouse. I don’t think either of those charges are necessarily true by the way – the trouse thing is too easy/lazy a label these days. People who think like this show a distinct lack of imagination and simply have an axe to grind with the US's current mainstream influence on dance music culture.)

There’s certainly no doubt that Markus, and Coldharbour in general, has progressed from quite a mellow, deep sound to a much more aggressive ‘EDM-craze’ friendly sound. Personally, I think the latter of those two sounds is better than the former. When Markus first emerged as a producer, I found him interminably dull. But here I think you have to make the very careful distinction between Schulz the DJ and Schulz the producer. I can actually count the number of timeless Schulz productions on one hand.

Two things that made me a disciple of Markus Schulz over the last few years were his versatility and his capacity for what I call ‘mood creation’. He uses really smart combinations and variations and really does take you on a journey. He’s brave too. I remember the set he delivered at Cream towards the back end of 2011 was particularly moody and dark, immediately after the understated, quite tepid, electro(-ish)ness of Above & Beyond. You have to admire the man’s passion and dedication too. The guy’s a real character.

Having said that, my opinion of him has recently been tempered by a few experiences. His complete train-wrecking at Privilege Ibiza, some suspect beat-matching I've heard in a few live Global DJ Broadcasts of late and, from this weekend, the final ‘down the rabbit hole’ phase of his 6 hour solo set. Unlike Armin Van Buuren, Markus is not a DJ that gets his beats bang on every time. And when on early Saturday morning, Markus took the mic and said smiling to the cheering London crowd, “Things are gonna get a little bit weird in here”, what followed was repetitive, noisy dross that showed little or no reading of a, by then, flagging crowd. I suppose that’s where the bravery comes in. A DJ that isn't afraid to 100% stand by both his taste and ‘intuition’, will occasionally disappoint. You live or die by that combination of versatility and bravery.

Markus Schulz will always be a bit of a hero for me - for Global DJ Broadcast, for his endless passion and for that element of bravery. But I’m fully aware of his limitations. He's not technically flawless and clean cut like Armin. He's a f*cking rockstar.

Anyway ….. our podcast, as broadcast on RT, is our uplifting leg of The Phil-Harmonic Podcast. Things to look out for this week, Orkidea’s remix of the Inception theme music and Jordan Suckley’s most recent single, Santa Cruz. I enjoyed playing these in this episode so much that I included them in my set for Transition in Brighton. Our classic is a gem. Carl B’s remix of Angel’s And Demons may sound suspiciously similar to AvB’s Communication, but it’s incredible nonetheless.

THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST EPISODE 61

1. Zirenz & Matt Holliday - Dark Is The Moon [Afterworld Recordings]
2. Hans Zimmer - Time (Orkidea's Awake Mix) [CDR]
3. Temple One - Illusions [Enhanced Recordings]
4. Jordan Suckley - Santa Cruz [Liquid Recordings]
5. Johan Ekman - Turn Out [Slinky Digital]
6. Ashai - The Untold Story (Mobil Remix) [Vendace Records] <<<(Phil's Tune Of The Episode)>>>
7. ReOrder - Last Moments In Paradise (Simon Bostock Remix) [Perceptive Recordings]
8. Robbie Van Doe - The Faction [Nu Depth Recordings]
9. Andres Sanchez - Ganymede [Blue Soho Recordings]
10. TechTrek & Myk Bee - Things I Am Not Proud Of [Redux Recordings]
11. Armas - Angels And Demons (Carl B Remix) [Somatic Sense Recordings] <<<(The Phil-Harmonic Golden Oldie)>>>



That will do for now. See you next week. Remember, Saturday 4pm BST, Renegade Transmission for a first listen of Episode 62.

Sunday 2 June 2013

The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 60


Another very hectic weekend finally ends with the uploading of another offering from the back of my Numark mixer. After a very short break, we are back on track. So much to report this week.

This weekend has certainly been very different from how I normally spend my weekends these days. Heading out of the bustling city, I exchanged it for the greener, rural surroundings of North Wales; Dodging the usual rain clouds, I actually caught enough sun to turn me a nice shade of lobster red. (Finally some weather befitting of Episode 59!) It's not every day that an old school friend gets married, let alone in such unique surroundings and charged with such an atmosphere of mutual love and appreciation. It was truly special. 

Moreover, it was a stark reminder of just how blessed I am to know so many great people. Swapping my hometown for London has not solved the problem that, when I travel from one place to the other, I leave behind some special people. This is a sad fact of life it seems.

Podcast-wise this week, the big news is that The Phil-Harmonic Podcast is now being broadcast on a new online trance radio station called 'Renegade Transmission'. The station's launch was this Friday and Saturday; this here Episode 60 went out at 4pm Saturday UK time. With me being at a wedding and miles from a decent internet connection in rural Wales, I wasn't able to tune in myself or interact with Renegade's online community but, by all accounts, it sounds like the station's launch was a decent success.

Through a solid roster of DJs and the obvious dedication of the team behind it, Renegade Transmission looks an exciting prospect and exactly the platform I need to take the podcast to the next level. I've been after a slot on an internet radio station for a long time now (absolutely ages), I'm really excited about the opportunity. Fingers crossed the station can see through its vision to become a full week of broadcasted trance shows and TPHP remains part of that.

http://www.renegadetransmission.com/

In the coming weeks, you'll be able to catch TPHP on Renegade Transmission on a Saturday afternoon before it's uploaded to Soundcloud, Mixcloud and iTunes the following Sunday or Monday evening. I will keep you all fully up-to-date via Facebook and Twitter. The station itself is a Friday and Saturday operation for now. I urge you all to tune in regularly and show your support.

Episode 60 is a belter too. Like we have in recent 'progressive' episodes. we start with some nosier, housey(ish) material, courstey of Tiesto, Chris Schweizer and Maison & Dragen and build into some full-on catchy riffs. There's a nice flow to this one, which always makes for a good episode.

'Tune Of The Episode' was an easy pick this week. Harry Square's Royal Flush really stands out, adding to the ever growing roster of great, rolling, riff-driven monsters that Markus Schulz is sending our way these days. That Was 2013 is really going to be shaped by that roster.

OK, tune time. Release the podcast....!

THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST EPISODE 60

1. Showtek & Noisecontrollers - Get Loose (Tiesto Remix) [Spinnin Records]
2. Chris Schweizer - The Kraken [Soundpiercing]
3. Maison & Dragen - WOW [Trice Recordings]
4. D-Mad - Pep Talk [Monster Tunes]
5. Lisa Lashes - Wanted To Feel [Lashed Music]
6. Jonas Stenberg - Trademark (Revision Mix) [Musical Madness]
7. Steve Haines – Charged [Re*Brand]
8. Luke Bond - 1UP [Garuda]
9. Tangle & Mateusz - Somebody Told Me (Solis & Sean Truby's Warehouse Remix) [Lange Recordings]
10. Harry Square - Royal Flush [Infrasonic Recordings] <<<(Phil's Tune Of The Episode)>>>
11. Ferrin & Morris - Renegade [Afterglow Records]
12. Artento Divini - Deep Down (Energetic Mix) [High Contrast Recordings]  <<<(The Phil-Harmonic Golden Oldie)>>>