Music Review - Club Transmediale 2008

1. Even though the Rednose promo photos show only the two Amsterdam beat wizards Aardvarck and Steven de Peven, Rednose Distrikt is much more. To count it's members is impossible because everybody is invited - bums, nomads, singers, street musicians, fishermen, dancers, kids, academics with no ankles, nuns and seemingly normal people.

Their primary objective in this? To cultivate the idiot - It's as loose and as beautiful as that.

Founding father Steven de Peven, also a vital part of PIPS Lab, is regarded as one of the maestros of the Akai MPC 2000 sampler, while cohort and local legend Aardvarck is a well respected techno producer (check out the already classic Cult Copy). A super prolific beatmaker, Aardvarck is known for abstract soundscapes, early rave, broken beat AND his club smacking techno. Together as Rednose Distrikt they produce a marvel of contemporary psychedelic sound that already sounds like the 'next' album.

The first Rednose Distrikt album, 'Iller Dan Je Ouders' was released on KS in 2003 by Steven De Peven & Kid Sublime. The Kid stepped out after 'Iller' to concentrate on his blooming (marvelous) solo career and long time collaborator Aardvarck cartwheeled in as full time co-producer.

So that brings us to the 2nd and much anticipated release 'Poes' which was formulated with very little stress from the Kindred label, leaving the producers to find their own way naturally with the time and freedom to collaborate with whoever they bumped into. This 21 track masterpiece can be seen as a kind of compilation of Rednose over the last four years featuring a hand picked group of genius souls that somehow share a not altogether understood, understanding. Each reflects the Rednose vibe hence these are truly 'collaborations'. The artists were given real creative freedom - and you can hear it! Featured guests include: Benny Sings (cohort on "Euh" Benny Sings Rednose), U-gene, Deborah Jordan (Silhouette Brown), Mocky (their Berlin based soul brother), Harco Pront, Rafaela Herbert, Overlast, and La Melodia.

2. Piet Parra is an artist/illustrator who is based in the city of Amsterdam. He is well known for his remarkable bird heads, large and very round female bodies in combination with strong colours, texts and letters that are drawn very fluent. People, especially abroad have made a comparison between Parra and Keith Haring. He did several exposition in the Netherlands but also in Paris, New York, Los Angeles, a solo expo in London which was sold out in two days.

Parra is also responsible for all the designs of Rockwell Clothing. Starting out on a national level, Rockwell Clothing is being sold internationally nowadays. Beside his visual skills Parra is quite gifted when it comes to sound. He has got a clear vision on music and it is not surprising that he brought out an EP on Rush Hour label. "If you make music you might as well play some". Parra plays at the weekly night Huiskamerhits in the Bitterzoet in Amsterdam and should play more often if it was for the other dj's, but he plays only when he 'feels' like it.

Mr. Wix is a dj/producer whom we can easily label as a driving force in the Amsterdam nightlife. Coming from a hip hop background he has been able to translate the energy of hip hop into different music styles and created his own unique sound. Musically he is very innovative and he knows how to rock a crowd. He just did two remixes for the Dutch label named Top Notch that are officially released. Wix is also the dj and presenter next to Kees de Koning and Andrew Makkinga in a weekly 3 hours radio show on 3voor12XL. Next to all these activities he is also responsible for the programme on Friday night at the Paradiso in Amsterdam.

Tom Trago is the next big thing. He had several releases on Rush Hour label and more is coming, no doubt! If we just focus on his music we can easily say that he is gonna be big. Knowing he is one of Amsterdam's most talented dj's next to his producing skills emphasize the fact that he is the next big thing. Diversity and flexibility are the key words when Tom plays a set. Whether he does this at his residency on Thursday at the Jimmy Woo or his residency on Friday in the Paradiso he always knows how to get the crowd moving.

Lyrical Tie is a mc/presenter/dj, multi-talented obviously. As an mc he feels and knows exactly what to say at the right time, putting that extra that is needed to take a good night to an even higher level. He can adapt to many different styles of music and is therefore respected in many different music scenes. Although he is able to adapt, he is most connected with the artists named above.

3. San Proper is a well respected DJ from the Amsterdam underground club scene. Over the last ten years, he has been spinning in all the major clubs, bars and lounges, in and around Holland. You'll hear him play at most of the major Summer and Dance festivals (San has a residency at EuropeIs top Summer festival, Lowlands) as well as the more dodgy and underground locations. He is very known and praised for his House & Disco sets, but also for blending a lot of different styles into an eclectic mix, which results in him playing at various spots.

In Amsterdam, San proudly presents "The Black Disco Bust" - a club night that, throughout the years, has won a cult status with some international DJs being featured (p.e. Daniel Wang). The Disco Bust is all about preserving the true sound of old school underground Disco music. In 1998, together with Alan Luna who, like San, is a resident at the Supper Club, he founded "Choque" -a club night about the deeper and warmer sound of quality House music. He's been organising these programs at top Amsterdam clubs like Mazzo, Bitterzoet, Club 11, Sugar Factory and more.

San Proper started out as a guitar player. He played with several bands in the live circuit where he gained a lot of experience in music. In '95 he founded "The Mindmenders", a Funk/Hip hop band, which eventually won 'De Grote prijs van Nederland' in '99, an annual award-show for upcoming artists. He left the band straight after, to focus more on solo production work and his career as a DJ. Today he's collaborating with Amsterdam's finest producers like Melon, Tom Trago, Cinnaman, Steven de Peven, the Bootleg Bitches, 'De Schepper' aka Overlast and others and is releasing on Amsterdam's very own top label Rushhour. Bio by Rocky Marsiano (loop:recordings)