electronic directory

The third edition of the Electronic Directory Podcast is from UR Nomadico aka DJ Dex, recorded live at Logo Bar in Shanghai.

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Chuck Gibson Biography

"Hitechfunk is a catycalimsic vision for a new urban order. Generated by tone, Hitechfunk is visual voltage." Hitechfunk is designed by Chuck Gibson, a master of the sonic and graphic arts. Hitechfunk is a brand of music, a design concept and a fashion remark. Gibson is a medley of his surroundings. As an electronic music producer, Gibson honed in on the highly specialized skills deemed proper for the future. His art is a reflection of his knowledge – an attempt to incorporate the rudimentary elements of funk with the onset of far – off technologies. Producing and designing for Underground Resistance, Gibson’s message has reached over twenty countries and is branded in various publications. From retail to vinyl to poster art, Gibson’s perception of funk has pervaded the urban zone. Trained by UR special forces, Gibson’s skills were more than a mirage, but an evolving hybrid of the funk to come. His artistic experience was defined by his years at the Center for Creative Studies and Wayne State University. Both campuses provided the means for an artistic exploration. Gibson’s reality outside the classroom, allowed him to take his education to a different place as a message and means for the next generation. Gibson’s work spread to other prominent Detroit electronic music labels such as Metroplex, KMS, 430 West and Direct Beat. His credits include URB Magazine, Raveline Magazine (Germany) and the Disc Style Book.

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Los Hermanos Biography

Los Hermanos literally translated from Spanish into English means "The Brothers". But for those involved in Los Hermanos it means much more. It means a coming together of people from different cultures, enivoronments, skills and spirit. For the purpose of Music.

Los Hermanos is the brainchild of Gerald Mitchell and DJ Rolando Rocha. After their immensely successfull underground smash "Jaguar" released by the mysterious Detroit label Underground Resistance in 1998. The two producers convinced UR label owner "Mad Mike Banks" to back their fledgling label idea as it became painfully obvious from the massive response of the Latino and Black house music communities and the tech/house movement worldwide that more music of this style was needed !

In 2002 after 4 years of whitelabel testing Los Hermanos was launched as an UR imprint label. With the first official release (LH-001) entitled "The Birth of 3000" a record that celebrated long time Detroit mainstay Submerge Distribution’s move to a new building located on the same street as former Detroit powerhouse "Motown" was located on.

It was clear that Detroit indeed had birthed a new sound. The infectous blend of Latin Rhythm and soulfull gospel chording from Los Hermano’s main man and driving force "Gerald Mitchell" in combination with the skillfull DJing talents of Rolando and the djing and post production prowess of Los Angeles implants DJ Dex and Santiago Salazar playing the records out while on tour along with Isela Salazar and the Submerge team making sure the Los Hermanos records got to where they were supposed to go on time ! Helped to spread the now globally recognized sound. Los Hermanos is a great example for all of us of what understanding, respect, togetherness and the spirit can achieve to take all of us to another level.

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Bileebob – Sunshine EP [Underground Resistance]

Loving all tracks but the Agoria Vocal mix does it best for me. Another killer UR release.

Tracklisting:

• A1. Sunshine (DJ Skurge edit)
• B1. Sunshine (Agoria Vocal mix)
• B2. Sunshine (Radio)

Get "Sunshine EP" here:

• Buy Twelve from Juno Records for £6.80

Related Links:

• www.myspace.com/herzenhiz
• www.myspace.com/djskurge
• www.myspace.com/thegreenarmchair

Itokim – Baby Moon [Fine Art]

Both tracks are very nicely produced with really well developed moody hooks. Baby Moon, deep techno that evokes feelings of late nineties IDM. On the flip side is Glittering Way is a proper deep mixture of techno attitude with house sensibilities. Both tracks go slightly too floaty for me in parts but on the whole very good indeed. Nice for sure !

Tracklisting:

• 01. Baby Moon
• 02. Glittering Way

Get "Baby Moon" here:

• Buy in 320kbs MP3 format from Juno Download for £2.54
• Buy in MP3 format from Beatport for $2.98

Related Links:

• www.myspace.com/itokimnet
• www.myspace.com/fineartrecords

Los Hermanos – Traditions & Concepts [Submerge]

Like no other – very new sound – hi tech funk with a Los Hermanos twist. Will support strongly.

Tracklisting:

• 01. Amazing Space
• 02. Night Owls
• 03. Midnight In Madrid
• 04. Remember Detroit
• 05. Jazz Above Saturn
• 06. Central Nervous System
• 07. Festival Parade
• 08. Dark Samba No.7
• 09. Afro Dancers
• 10. Theme From Tony Dash
• 11. Dazed And Decieved
• 12. Message Of Hope
• 13. Awakening

Get "Traditions & Concepts" here:

• Buy in 320kbs MP3 format from Juno Download for £7.65
• Buy in MP3 format from Beatport for $11.99

Related Links:

• www.myspace.com/loshermanosdetroit
• www.myspace.com/tekbrothers1
• www.myspace.com/ianobrienproductions
• www.myspace.com/s2remix
• www.myspace.com/iselasalazar

Niko Marks – Electric Profile [U2X Productions]

Great stuff, nice beats, cool arrangement – definitely my kind of hi-tech jazz funk-fusion. Big fan of everything Niko does.

Tracklisting:

• 01. X Star Intro
• 02. A Work Of Art
• 03. West 8 Mile
• 04. Hueman
• 05. Jennifer
• 06. Good-Bye
• 07. Planet Plan It
• 08. Epidermic Needle
• 09. Radiated Street Flower Pt 2
• 10. Space Bubbles
• 11. Big Space Gun Dialogue
• 12. Aura
• 13. Somebody’s Nobody
• 14. Browser
• 15. Losing Contact

Related Links:

• www.myspace.com/nikomarks

Ican Biography

Esteban Adame and Santiago Salazar are Ican (short for Mexican). Two chicano’s from Los Angeles.

Esteban Adame started his musical career at age 15, Djing at local house parties in and around Los Angeles. He would soon be introduced to underground music. There he was turned on to the house and techno sounds that intrigued him at the time. Soon he found himself producing his own beats and would eventually be inspired by the keyboard solos that he heard on several of his records and wanted to do the same. He began his formal training in music at the age of 19 and took a hiatus from DJ’ing and producing. At 21 he just focused on his instrument, the Piano. Since the age of 23 Esteban has played with and accompanied some of the top Latin, Jazz and Soul acts in Los Angeles and abroad.

Santiago Salazar started dj’ing in 1992. Being sparked by mix tapes his brother was bringing back from the Gay underground scene in Los Angeles. Santiago got his first break at a afterhours club called ‘The Beverly Room’ dj’ing from Midnight til’ 5:00am where he credits the gay scene for making him the DJ he is today. Since then, he has played around the world giving dance floors his signature style of mixing house and techno, the way he use to do it since day one.

Santiago has released EP’s on Underground Resistance, Aztech Sol, Los Hermanos and Tunnel 7. In 2003 he remixed DJ Rolando’s "Aguila" and 2004, he was resposible for the Los Hermanos remix of UR’s "Return of the Dragon". In 2005, Santiago and Jeff Mills edited the Galaxy 2 Galaxy album "Hi Tech Jazz Compilation". Also in 2005, under his alias DJ S2, was featured on UR’s Interstellar Fugitive 2: The Destruction of Order, where he had 4 original productions on the cd’s and 1 production with long time friend/mentor Mad Mike Banks. He is credited as doing all edits for the ISF2 album.

In 2005 both Esteban and Santiago joined the UR’s Galaxy 2 Galaxy and Los Hermanos live bands. Esteban for his keyboard skills and Santiago for his DJ skills. Both played along side veteran Detroit musicians Mike Banks and Gerald Mitchell. In late 2005 Esteban and Santiago decided to join forces and ICAN was born. Their idea was to bring electronic dance music back to the dance floor with a huge dose of Latin roots. As Santiago put it one time "Esteban and I have come full circle. Esteban went to school to learn music formally and I went to school in Detroit with the UR crew."

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There will come a time in your life when you will ask yourself a series of questions.
Am I happy with who I am ?
Am I happy with the people around me ?
Am I happy with what I’m doing ?
Am I happy with the way my life is going ?
Do I have a life or am I just living ?
Do not let these questions strain or trouble you just point youself in the direction of your dreams find your strengh in the sound and make your transition.

Do not spend to much time thinking and not enough doing.
Did I try the hardest at any of my dreams ?
Did I purposly let others discourage me when I knew I could ?
Will I die never knowing what I could have been or could of done ?
Do not let these doubts restrain of trouble you just point yourself in the direction of your dreams.
Find your strength in the sound and make your transition.

There will be people who say you can’t – you will.
There will be people who say you dont mix this with that and you will say "watch me".
There will be people who will say play it safe, thats to risky – you will take that chance and have no fear.
You wont let these questions restrain or trouble you.
You will point yourself in the direction of your dreams.
You will find the sreangth in the sound and make your transition.

For those who know its time to leave the house and go back to the field.
Find your strength in the sound and make your transition.

The Unknown Writer
(Underground Resistance – ‘Transition’)