Ransom Note

Over here at Ransom Note you don't have gto be a big fish to get involved. Good music is good music is good music and that's all that matters in all honesty. This is why when a man like Philipp approaches us with a mix of wonderful music and a smile to match we take notice. Based in Berlin he is a disc jockey on the rise who is playing parties regularly amidst a close knit circle of friends - he has moulded a collection of tracks in a precise and intricate manner with imaginative twists and turns along the way. He even picked one of our records in there, what a gentleman.

Anyway, here to brighten up your Wednesday is a dance floor focused mix with a bang.

Next up we invite two friends of Ransom Note - longstanding and truly important to London's cultural community on a grand scale they have each played a key role in pushing dance music forward in the capital. Dan Beaumont is perhaps best known as the founder of Dance Tunnel and Dalston Superstore but behind the booth he has long since established himself as a fearsome selector having appeared at the likes of Panoramabar and beyond. His Chapter 10 party series is one of the best recognised and consistent in the city... Wes Baggaley is a disc jockey with a muscular stature who has become an icon of sorts amidst the LGBTQ community. He knows how to party and sure as hell knows what works well in the club...

We are delighted to be able to showcase a set from the pair recorded live a few weeks back - lock in, it gets real.

Perhaps one of the greatest joys in the exploration of music is in the discovery of something completely new, an introduction is all that it takes and this is how we stumbled upon the output of Ross Khmil, a producer who has just released a tape on Detroit based record label Hellscape Recordings. It was they who shared his latest offering with us here at Ransom Note - from the get go we knew that it would be wrong not to invite him to contribute to our Monday mix series. He does so in fine style as he delivers a collection of music and tracks, many of which are exclusives from his part, alongside music from friends overseas.

This one has all the good stuff.

Hello and welcome to another edition of the Hot Air podcast. This time around we bring you a conversation with Danny Berman, better known as Red Rack’Em. Danny’s been in this game for over a decade now, steadily plying his trade tracing the lines between house music and broken beats. But a couple of years back he had a huge hit with his track Wonky Bassline Disco Banger, which became the unexpected smash of the year, and was the biggest selling dance vinyl of 2016. Now, while he was already earning his living off DJing, that record sent him on a trajectory that saw him playing all over the world doing three shows a weekend, and spending his life hopping from one flight to another. In this conversation we took an in depth look at the ins and outs of the higher echelons of the music scene, and I loved how open and honest Danny was about the way this made him see the world, and the effects this had on his mental health and wellbeing. Having just moved back to the UK after an 8 year stint in Berlin, it was great to chat with Danny tracing his musical and emotional journey, and to hear his enduring enthusiasm for music still shining through.

There remains a core undercurrent of promoters and disc jockeys beneath the murky undergrowth of London and the musical community that sits within. Inner Totality is a party with which many will be familiar and is run by Rónán Morrissey. The series has been running for a couple of years now and has played host to some of the most innovative selectors in electronic music and beyond with the likes of Pender Street Steppers, Ramzi, PLO Man and many more all having featured. It's of little surprise that Rónán himself is a man of excellent taste and keen musicality, he draws upon a wealth of influence and moves between sound along the way.

We invited him to contribute to the series.

@innertotality

Next month Rhythm Section International will release an album from Australian three man outfit Retiree. The long form assortment of abstract cuts and intriguing twists has a conceptual nature and has allowed the group to focus on a variety of themes whilst exploring the deinition of "house" and "home". The group is made up of Matt Crowley, Tori Holleman and Marco Vella who each compose various elements on the new forthcoming LP. Bradley Zero, the man behind Rhythm Section, has long since formed a close bond with the Australian musical community and has regularly championed upcoming artists from the country. Their appearance makes sense.

We invited the group to record a mix for us which features music by the likes of Visible Cloaks, Gerry Read and Tori Holleman.

We like odd. We liked weird. We like fun.

These are all things which float our boat here at Ransom Note headquarters, that's why this next mix comes in the form of a magnificent duo from Belgium with whom we have developed a fascination in recent times. Asa Moto is the pairing of Gilles Noë & Oliver Geerts - together they make abstract dance and electronic music with a deep, warped personality which always leaves you wanting more. Their music has been heavily championed on DEEWEE, the mysterious imprint run by Soulwax. Most recently the pair have released the "Playtime" EP which is an exotic, sweeping collection of intriguing lyrics and woozy synth workouts.

Kristian Craig Robinson has been a familiar face amidst the London musical community for many years having released a sprawling back catalogue of music on the likes of XL Recordings, Planet Mu and Faith & Industry. He has long been acclaimed for his contribution to experimental electronic music and has remained a key figure amidst the local community working in various studios and under the guise of various projects. Until recently he was involved in the running of the studio operating out of the Total Refreshment Centre. Last month marked the release of a new album which he unveiled on his own label, the release was titled "Goatherder" and was a tripped out journey between abstract soundscapes and ethereal experimentalism.

We invited him to record a Monday mix for us.

For a long time now Medlar has acted as a figurehead of British house music - channeling a spirit and an ethos which draws upon influence from overseas and the days of New York and Chicago amidst a golden era.

He has released a sprawling back catalogue of music on the likes of Wolf Music, Riverette and Delusions Of Grandeur. His music is often a nod to the principles of the genre and as a disc jockey he draws for a raw blend of funk, soul, disco and house which is hard to contest once lost upon the dancefloor in the small hours. Ever one to get the floor moving we pick up with him in the midst of summer for a session of dance and intrigue.

Let's get weird on a Friday as we invite the wonderful Olive T from the mean streets of New York City to contribute to a special edition of the Ransom Note Mix series. A fine selector she has contributed with style to the likes of the Truants mix series and Discwoman. She has also established herself as a firm presence on the airwaves with appearances on the likes of Radar Radio, Brooklyn Radio and more. Her tastes are far reaching and her musical presentation can feature anything from house to hip hop, jazz to techno, funk, soul, disco and beyond. A true dj and an aspiration in the booth this one is worth strapping in for...