Ransom Note

Next up in our longstanding mix series we are delighted to showcase a man who could be described as a pioneer of house music. Brawther has been steadily casting a spell upon the genre for many years now, his music having been championed by the likes of Kerri Chandler, Ron Trent, Chez Damier and Jeremy Underground. He has released music on a far reaching number of record labels including the likes of Cabinet Records, Secretsundaze, My Love Is Underground, Balance and Jazzy Couscous. He has built a firm following amidst house and techno communities and has toured with relentless pace in recent years with a reputable string of appearances worldwide.

This set was recorded at a special location in Berlin and was captured live from the booth at Club der Visionaere. For those of you who have been previously then you will note the nature of the sound, setting and place in the utmost detail. For those who have not, close your eyes and imagine.

Towards the tail end of last year we were greeted by two sun kissed, elegant EP's from a fresh faced producer operating under the moniker of Møzaika. Based in Berlin, a dj and producer, he has released music on the likes of Public Possession and No Bad Days, two labels of which we are firm fans. His sound draws upon a balearic legacy left behind by those who came before, beautiful pads are layered and structured alongside gracious melodies whilst the steady of rumble of drums flutters beneath. It's very easy to see why his music has been championed the way in which it has.

As a dj he draws for percussive floor fillers, eclectic italo and the downright abstract. Not one to take himself too seriously his music is purpose built for dancing and this mix will have you doing just that.

The latest edition of our long running mix series features a lady close to home and close to our hearts. Chloe is our favourite, she has been for a long time having released prominently on the likes of Kill The DJ, Les Disques De La Mort and of course our very own Ransom Note Records. She's worked alongside a key number of producers and musicians and we are excited to say that there is exciting work in the pipeline as we speak. As a vocalist she has collaborated with Ruede Hagelstein and Maceo Plex and as a musician she's as talented as they come. With an impressively mesmerising live set she really is a special talent....

However, what some of you may not know is that Chloe is as sick behind the decks as she is when performing live, we don't say this lightly. This mix is a clear reflection of that as she draws for music by the likes of Das Ding, Patrick Cowley, Il Est Vilaine and more.

There has been a wave of musicians and producers to emerge from across the sea in recent times. Bobby Analog is a Northern Irish label boss and producer who has risen to prominence as of late following the launch of his own Body Fusion imprint. It is here that he has released three of his own EP's drawing upon a deep heritage based in hip hop, funk, soul and disco. It was his love for the above which inspired him to purchase a set of turntables and ever since his own musical lineage has evolved with great promise.

In the present he is best known for his take on house music, which draws influence from the rough and rugged era of hip hop and street jams in the 80's and 90's. Sample orientated and jackin' by nature his music is purpose built for the dancefloor with a might kick to boot.

Often those who bubble slightly beneath the surface have the most interesting knowledge base, taste and style.

Diet Clinic is a one woman project and an alias under which Kristina McCormick operates with dedication and talent. Her regular NTS show has become a staple listen within the four walls of the Ransom Note office and her taste is remarkable and off centre.

Kristina is empowered and prolific, hard working and driven not only to her own success but to the success of women within electronic music across the board. This is perhaps best shown by the work she does in managing her own Weaponise Your Sound record label which has prominently featured an array of female artists including Lokier, Fantastic Twins, C.A.R, Sue Zuki and more. A compilation was released on International Women's Day earlier this year and we have been firmly promised that another awaits in the not too distant future. These are exciting times for a bubbling force within the wider electronic music community.

Hailing from the North, Laurence McAulay is a London based disc jockey who has been steadily piecing together a musical identity amidst the busy capital. He has been a steady figure in the Glasgow dance and electronic music scene for many years having founded the Vicious Creatures party series which has been hosted prominently at Sub Club across many years. More recently he has brought the longstanding venture to London where he has hosted bustling parties at The Waiting Room in East London with the likes of Job Sifre, Oceanic, Johannes Albert and Andy Blake all having joined Lárus behind the decks in his new found home.

As a dj his style is broad and varied, channeling energy from the days of trance and hardcore through to the more abstract and dynamic realms of disco, bass, house and techno. Expect the unexpected and you will be sure to learn a trick or two from a man who was brought up with two feet firmly rooted on the dancefloor.

We are delighted to feature him as part of our shine a light on series...

Welcome to the Hot Air Podcast for the Ransom Note. This time around I caught up with an artist who I’ve been following for some time now, but every time I hear some new output there’s always something there that’s fresh and surprising. Brian De Souza, better known as Auntie Flo, hails from Glasgow, and the city’s rich electronic music history is deeply engrained in his psyche. Originally embarking on a path rooted in house and techno, Brian quickly expanded his musical horizons to incorporate sounds and textures from all corners of the globe, pushing this broader pallet in his productions, and also via his long running club night Highlife. With a new album having just dropped on Brownswood, I stopped by his north London flat for broad ranging chat in his kitchen over a nice cup of coffee. We delved deep into his formative years growing up in Glasgow and talked about the process of putting the album together, but we started off with some surprising alternative meanings for his artist name.

Listen to the podcast, brought to you courtesy of Rode microphones whom without this would never have been possible...

The UK is alive and well with the sound of music as an inspired array of young creatives and producers continue to push the boundaries of genre and stereotype. Contours is a producer, disc jockey and musician from Cumbria now based in Manchester, he has released music on the likes of Rhythm Section, Shall Not Fade, Banana Hill and more but it is perhaps his most recent collaboration with Cervo which is his most exciting output to date. Kawuku Sound is a musical project which saw the pair collaborate with Ugandan percussion troupe Fonkodelis Arkestra - the result a beautiful mixture of far reaching flutters of drums and electronic soundscapes. Contours knowledge runs deep and his interest in music from the far flung corners of the globe makes his own production style unique and intriguing.

He delivers a mix for us this week.

Michael Davies has cut his teeth since the tender age of 14 behind the decks, a keen turntablist from a young age he has since evolved upon a musical voyage of discovery which has led him to London in the present. As a regular at Spiritland he has showcased his keen talent behind the booth in as much as a selector as a dj. He channels a broad remit of music which spans across ambient, soul, funk, disco and beyond - wide reaching and intriguing he prefers the long haul to the short sprint, something of which we are very much a fan.

We are delighted to welcome him to contribute tour our Monday series, a mixtape project which showcases the eclectic realm of dance, electronic, ambient and whatever else has taken the mood.

Mark Flynn has been an active presence amidst electronic and dance music for many years, perhaps underrated by some we here at Ransom Note are well aware of his contribution to the genre. His own output is not prolific by any means, but timely and adept. This much is clear by the labels which have taken interest and upon which he has chosen to release his music - Permanent Vacation and Maeve, the latter of which he runs alongside Mano Le Tough and Baikal. Both imprints known for their reputable quality and his own music has fit perfectly amidst impressive back catalogues.

Operating under the alias of The Drifter he acts as an unsung hero but is anything but, his own musical career is learned and based upon experience and a consistent quality.