Seth Nichols and Kevin Callison, the brains and muscle behind the Thursday night weekly, have been doing a nice job developing community around Vedana Thursdays .

Taking place in the upstairs of the Funky Buddha, the two of them usually host a guest DJ each week, playing individually, then tag team sets around said featured guests. The two of them have quite exquisite tastes in music, in particular the techno music. They both play all vinyl, which, you know, makes us non-all vinyl guys feel like we’re cheating…well not really at all, as in the end it is all about output, but they both mix a mean piece of wax.

Last week, I had the joy of playing tunes from 11-12:30 on a warm, blustery evening. The upstairs of the Buddha is a terrific space, mostly open air and a cozy size. Kevin had great vision with the visuals, using three projectors, he engulfed most of the room with a National Geographic like film of nature. A good part of  it was projected on to white sheets, that were  neatly hung opposite of the DJ booth. The result was almost a third of that wall was moving and swimming with the film, while there was a warm glow cast across the top of the dance floor…well played Kev! He also through down a techno set to open the evening, that was right on the money. There were about twenty five people in the room as I went on, a nice little crowd stayed and conversed in the lounging area around the dance floor. It’s always enjoyable to provide a back drop to a setting where it is mostly conversation, while attempting to coax people on to the dance floor.  Especially in this relaxed setting at an earlier point in the night, deeper textures seem to go over well. Towards the end I ramped it more into techno land, as a late burst of boozers stumbled in and instantly began making shapes on the dance floor. Seth and Kevin tagged for the duration and openend the throttle up, keeping everyone there until everyone was told to leave at 2:00 a.m.

Another great angle these two fine hosts play, is inviting a local artist in each week to display and sell their work, some doing live painting as the night carries on…we picked up some cool art and I will update the post with that particular artists’ contact information. The night is refreshingly unpretentious and when the Funky Buddha gets their sound system dialed in, this night will only continue forward with tasteful, community building.

Check out our little homie from Boulder, Brent Fosdick. He is the guest tonight and will no doubt hold his own among the two fine hosts of the evening. Splendid drink specials, including $2.00 PBR’s make it that much more of a no brainer.

Event page:

http://www.facebook.com/events/198012506977675/

Short video of last week courtesy of Kevin Callison.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150789965641717

Philogresz has been on the radar for a few years and I’m really thankful for it. To put it simple, his sound is inviting, which is always a plus. Not always obvious, but not always in-your-face mush and gooey either. Clever use of pads, keys, vocal snippets and dub can be heard sprinkled among his releases effectively. He is native to Holland by way of Istanbul and it is with one of his fellow Dutch countrymen, Peter Horrevorts that “Return of the Titans” was released on Ilker’s TEAM Limited label.

The three track release see’s Horrevorts on the A side and Philogresz with both tracks on the flip. The A side is probably the most dance floor orientated of the bunch, “Shake Your Coconuts”. Undulating bass undertones carry the energy, with almost goofy, bouncy keys weaving in between some darker synth sounds that compliment each other well. The flip side see’s Philogresz open with “Furthering”, another techno jam like the A side with a bit more atmosphere and noodling keys. A subtle, indistinguishable  vocal loop does a nice job of responding back to the dubby space line that bounces in around the half way mark and leads the track off into an upbeat finish. “Don’t Touch My Tearing Synth” is a slow, moody piece that will appeal to fans of jazzy techno or at least the percussion points that way. Not quite as minimal and tripped out as a good Pronsato record, but could be slotted somewhere in that sonic realm. The whole release took a bit of time to settle in, but after multiple listens it has settled nicely. Really high production all the way around with both accessibility and uniqueness, well done guys.

Another great Philogresz release to check is his 2009′s “Sentiment EP” on Sound Architecture. Very warm and playful, but moody with it’s own identity.

Check this great interview and mix, as well as a more detailed look into Phil and all his labels here on Little White Earbuds, just off the press.

Here is also Philip Sherburnes’ review of “Return of the Titans” on Resident Advisor.

We’ll hopefully be having him out at some point for a Make Mistakes party, nothing set but stay tuned for that. Also, hopefully we’ll have a mix from Ilker soon as well. He’s a TEAM player, as are we…so check him out and join the team.

There is some park party going right now actually, down around the Denver skate park…gonna venture it has something to do with today’s date. Looks like DJ’s, a sound sytem and the world renown Colorado sunshine all in effect.

Tonight though, Emote hosts Octave from Paris in the Beatport Lounge courtesy of our friends at PUNCHIS, amigos Jon Foster and Aaron Blauer will be in support.  The  after party will be at the Would Shop II, Make Mistakes’ steofan will be on from 1-2:30, setting the room for another live set from our French friend. Octave will be  followed by the Traveling S#!T Show, the live trio of The Missing Link, Sequence, and John Templeton, which in their words, “combines vinyl, Serato, Traktor, and Ableton Live together in one big smorgasbord.” Sounds entertaining at the least.

BPL: http://www.facebook.com/events/352698928106708/?ref=ts

Afters: http://www.facebook.com/events/341075042616685/

Kickdown in Boulder is back for it’s second edition, this time in a new location, below the Thirsty Dog on Pearl Street. Beatslinger JL Kane will be throwing down, along with someone or some people that call themselves J sCrew…see what they did there?

http://www.facebook.com/events/380301095334292/

There may be more that we missed, so feel free to let us know if so in the comments. Happy weekend people.

The ever modest and extremely talented Jason Corder, aka ‘Offthesky’ did not feel comfortable penning his own words for the PMS series, which is fine, and because he is one of the nicest guys around, we will do him the favor.

“It is 1985 and I am really proud of the work behind me. Starting with the Picasso up top I threw together in art class, it really brings the room together. Speaking of the room, how about that wall paper? Funky, they don’t make the stuff like they use to. The chalk coordinates on the table are more important than you think, commonly overlooked by the likes of my parents and other important people of the time….and don’t think that confidence written all over my face has nothing to do with the magnificent plastic fortress I’ve created. The white knight is even facing the castle to battle, attention to details…that’s how I roll.”

-Jason Corder via Make Mistakes

(right click, ‘save link as’ to download)

PMS04 | Playroom Castles | Offthesky

Artist | Release | Track | Time

Playlist:
1. rob theakston – I Am Waiting for You to Stop Being Mad at Me (Christopher Bissonnette Remix) = 0:00-6:03
2. moss – moss(molly berg, olivia block, steve roden, stephen vitiello) = 1:55-16:32
3. marc doudin – hibernation – reproduction = 5:08-11:24
4. bvdub – the art of dying alone – to finally forget it all = 6:05-16:38
5. gurun gurun – gurun gurun – fu(opiate remix) = 15:29-21:49
6. low in the sky – a shared rainbow – shamu sleeps tonight = 18:40-21:26
7. aaron martin – chautauqua – two and a half acres = 20:05-22:36
8. Motion Sickness Of Time Travel – Seeping Through The Veil Of The Unconscious – mental projection = 20:57-25:55
9. aaron martin – chautauqua – two and a half acres = 23:50-26:11
10. Happenstance – Happenstance – all fish no chips = 24:28-27:23
11. ursula bogner – sonne = blackbox – Illusorische Planeten = 27:14-27:39
12. peaking lights – 936 – amazing and wonderful = 27:41-33:09
13. ursula bogner – sonne = blackbox – Illusorische Planeten = 31:17-33:41
14. dntel – enya mixes – afer ventus = 32:05-36:08
15. ursula bogner – sonne = blackbox – signalfluss = 33:06-34:15
16. kreng – grimoire – karcist = 35:25-40:23
17. pole – waldgeschichten ep – wurzel = 36:09-40:12
18. ursula bogner – sonne = blackbox – signalfluss = 37:13-40:24
19. rene hell – the terminal symphony – Cello Suite No. 3 = 40:17-42:14
20. hakobune – away from the lunar waters – photometry = 41:10-48:33
21. grouper – a i a : alien observer – alien ovserver = 41:31-47:29
22. sawako and hofli – live in tokyo april 10, 2010 = 45:52-52:55
23. noveller – glacial glow – tuesday before poland = 50:02-53:44

After a 5 month hiatus, the Thursday night weekly ‘Vedana’ returns to the Funky Buddha Lounge rooftop.  The night features resident DJs Seth Nichols and Kevin Callison playing weekly alongside special guests from local and surrounding scenes.  Vedana is always amped with audio and visual extras that keep the atmosphere exciting and developing.  Each week also features local artists that come in and do  live painting or sculpture pieces, also usually having a few finished products available for purchase.  The rooftop’s open and outdoor space is a perfect setting for the summer music season.  With Colorado’s great weather, and the buzzing downtown scene, it makes for a rich atmosphere.  The bar has some friendly drink specials as well, all night you can take advantage of the ‘beat the clock’ drink special with $1 drinks from 9-10, $2 from 10-11, and so on.  To most people’s surprise there is also a diverse tapas menu available from 6-10pm.  Definitely worth going early for some quality grub and tasty beer on tap!  The music kicks off at 9:00 sharp with deep and minimal tech-house and carries into the dancier sounds as the night progresses.  The weekly special guest plays from 11-12:30 with Kevin and Seth filling in the surrounding areas.  Surely worth stopping in one Thursday as the weekly is set to run for at least the duration of the summer, and there is never a cover charge!

This past weeks featured talent was local mixer Greg Eversoul of Roots along with Scott Keva James from Seattle Washington (www.scottkevajames.com).  Scott is a highly acclaimed video mixer having done the visual mixing at the Decibel Festival from 2006-09.  He also did a Live PA Ableton set of his recent production work to open the night nicely.

I have heard so many good things about the Communikey group of Boulder, and I was excited to have my first Boulder music experience be provided by them.  Tim Hecker of Montreal was in town to do a show at the Odd Fellows Lodge.  The lodge is a very unique venue with a large high-ceiling room and large stain glass windows.

I entered the dark room while Married In Berdichev was filling the room with her swirling vocals and progressive loops and samples.  Her set was a very cool and peaceful sound that brought the whole room into a vibey space.  A perfect setting to what was to come.  This event was very different from other events I had been to in the past, no one was standing.  There were chairs around the perimeter of the room where patrons sat, but the carpeted floor in the middle was full of people either sitting, laying, or meditating.  The lights were very dim and grew progressively dimmer as the night went on.  There were no moving lights or strobes or anything ‘flash’ about the production.  A stripped down spiritual setting with top notch sound being the main focus…just as it should be.

The following set by Boulder native Radere was on point.  Lots of live sample cuts from his guitar licks with an ever increasing energy in his intense, yes intense, ambient sound.  I just closed my eyes and visualized the streaming soundscapes and could begin to see the form of his sound in my own minds interpretation.  The atmosphere and setting was quite conducive to getting completely lost in the music.  Barely even a chatter was heard from other attendeses, and the room was packed!

Next up was the main attraction Tim Hecker.  He took a seat at the desk and prepared to melt our musical minds with his genius. His set did just that!  The whole night progressed perfectly as each set brought the energy a little bit higher without blowing the roof.  Hecker’s  sound was the most bass heavy of the three sets which really intensified the whole vibe of the room and gave it a buzz.  The music is comprised of surging tones and swelling sounds, not really melodies or any noted lines.  A very hypnotic and powerful sound once you can find the patience to settle into it.

All in all it was an amazing night of music and I will be looking forward to more events like it.  A great change of pace from the typical club event, all part of the spice of life.

“I was flattered to be given the task for a project such as this, showcasing some of the artists for this years festival. The line up this year is incredibly diverse, yet makes sense as a program which is always a challenge to do. Including good friends on the mix, who are amazingly creative and super fun to hang out with, was a lot of fun too. As usual, looking forward to meeting new friends this year, reconnecting with old ones and coming away inspired. See you all in April!”

-Steven Dermody

Track List:
Morton Subotnick / Mandolin
Jacaszek / Seidene Stille
Ten and Tracer / The Credible Colortalk (Offthesky Remix)
A Setting Sun / Sun Hammer Pounding (Radere’s Indian Summer Remix)
Laurie Anderson / Big Science
Pole / Wurzel
Nils Frahm / For
Biosphere / Shika
Time For Trees / Glyph
Shawm Rudiman / In Dreams
Kyle Hall / I <3 Dr. Girl Friend
Peaking Lights / Owls Barning
June / Lost Area (DJ Sprinkles Lost Dancefloor)
Deniz Kurtel / Make Me Feel
Andre Duke / Geisha (Claude Young Remix)
Biosphere / Kobresia

Follow this link to download, click on picture above to stream.

 http://percussionlab.com/sets/steofan/cmky_podcast_13

Having only been a CO resident for a little under 2 years, the novelty of a club the status of Beta,  being in my town of residence has not worn off.  I’m not all Beta jaded just yet, but I surely have developed a few reasons to be.  Often times the 18-21 crowd can be mindless and inconsiderate to those around them that are also trying to enjoy their night.  But my expression here is more to do with my observation of the talent witnessed in the Beta main room prior.  Almost every major headliner, of personal interest, that I have seen play a set in the main room,  has always seemed to adapt their sound in a commercial way to appease the audience.  Or so they think that is what the crowd is yearning for.  Tiefschwarz walked into the Beta main room with a big pair of underground fueled kahuna’s, aiming to please the more astute minded electronic folk, but still sprinkling just the right amounts of perk and flare to keep the club kids bouncing.  Such a pleasant surprise to hear hot and forward-thinkin music, rumbling through that Funktion One sound system!  My homies and I staked our claim to the mid-middle of the room and dialed into their sound for the full 2 hours.  The charismatic German duo in their mid-40’s, didn’t let up and kept the room slamming till the end…well played!  I can only hope more headliners that come to Beta in the future will take note that an underground sound can please both sides of the club culture if done right.

Keep it real for the people who know who you are, and make their way out to see you play.  Don’t focus on pleasing the folks that have no idea who you are, just to keep your job.  Pushing boundaries of what people expect can be a dangerous thing, but it is also the only thing that will keep the sounds of club culture moving forward, in an inspired direction.

https://vimeo.com/

The careful instrumentation mixed with the loose sexiness of Pronsato’s own music comes together in A Broken Shape of You to deliver a poignant and timely message to electronic musicians and fans the world over: it’s ok to care.

The craft and personal investment in each of the tracks on this release shines through on multiple listens, offering new discoveries each time. Every live clap loop, bass line, and chord, pulses with a listless energy, wavering between langorous meandering and bouncy solemnity. In a landscape filled with one time throwaway tracks, Public Lover has woven a synthesis of man and machine music to deliver a singular experience.

The vocals of Ninca Leece provide more than an emotional focal point for communicating the message behind the music. The repetitive nature of Ninca’s lilting voice in each track embraces the relationship of vocals in dance music. Becoming an instrument, as alive and sultry as bass and synth, each track would lose an important element of style were the vocals removed.

A wonderful release, which should be taken in whole, not separated out piece by piece. Basically, what I’m saying is, you gotta check this shit, because it’s fuckin’ live, y’all.

Buy it here