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Written by M Vincent Miller Saturday, 09 January 2010 01:40
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ale_fillman400

“Yeah man, that Speak n Spell in the pic is Circuit Bent by Fast Matt out of San Fran, I use it on tunes a lot.”
-Ale Fillman

Dirty Circuit Records. It just sounds so right. Even though dirt is bad for circuits. I caught up with Ale Fillman, the man behind signing new talent and setting up releases. I remember him from a show years ago, and years ago, I had  label on Beatport for oh, nine months. I didn’t sell anything.

DCR’s last release from Hot Mess called Settle The Score was a featured release on Beatport and in their Top 10 Must Hear Dubstep track list.

Dirty Circuit Records is good for digital retailers.

There’s something about dirty electronics. ‘Experimental’ and ’noise’ were never this popular . To stay afloat on Beatport a label has to sell. Experimental circuits and their human mad scientists are not only taken more seriously, and more popular, they’re making hit records. Maybe it isn’t quite Top 40 yet… but the yet scares me a little.

This is my first article on CMB and I wanted to point out that Colorado is home to some the most cutting edge music, music technology, and music business in the world. I will go more in depth in subsequent articles,  but Beatport and Beta’s sound system aside, this state is host to a party. The quintessential icon of a now past era is, of course, STS9. Say what you will, all I’m saying is that heirs to the Dead throne play p.a. sets. Rothbury was brought to us by Boulder based talent agency Madison House.

Not only that, but perhaps the post-contemporary icon within that scene, is the ‘laptop d.j.’ Bassnectar, Flying Lotus, and Alex B to name a few. In two words, dubstep happened. I’m not saying what or what isn’t dubstep. The use of the term started in the U.K. The official documentary came out in 2007.
Boulder producer and d.j. Jansten recently had a release with Bassnectar, and there is a clear connection to the ‘psyphy’ scene on the west coast. Call it what you will. I’m just trying to call it how I see it. Write me and fill me in if you know. And all of you Boulder and Colorado heads: I will get at you. I had to start somewhere.
Up next in this impromptu series I will be interviewing Nicole C from Sub.Mission, as well as some other friendly faces you may or may not recognize.

Along the way I'll give you my thoughts on the situation and I am happy to hear yours.

Also coming up we have Adam Wexler, CEO and founder of Rank'Em, a 'crowdsourcing music discovery' site which is still in private beta. Between you and me, CMB is getting some access codes to the private beta, so stay tuned.
Check out Kill Sound at the Catacombs in Boulder. Find out when if you care. You should.

If you can’t do that, tune to DJ Aporia on Sub.FM the second Sunday of every month 4-6pm MST.

Here’s the interview:

 

M: hey

DCR: wassss up

M: not much. I think I actually met you years ago at Cafe Babu

DCR: sweet man, cant remember that place

M: Boulder

DCR: where was it at again? I remember the name

M: on the hill

M: hippy shack

DCR: oh ok, I think I do, yeah ok we threw a party there yeah w/ Mochipet

M: that sounds right

M: You told me about your label then.

DCR: Ahhh shit where u talking to me like when I was setting up?

M: yeah

DCR: ok man yes I remember

DCR: u still have ur label?

M: Nah man! I told you then I didn't know what I was doing.

M: I was like damn! he does!

M: then yall sorta blew up

DCR: haha well the label got kind of crazy in 09 for sure

M: tell me about that

DCR: didnt really plan on having this many artists on board

M: all those artists keep the releases coming though, right?

DCR: but I started getting a lot of demos from people and slowly started releasing more artists

DCR: yes they do, I have a group of people who have released more than 1 release on the label

DCR: I released this comp early in March 08 called DCR All Stars and it really took off after that

DCR: It had TriLLBass, Downlink, Me, Rumblejunkie, Werd2Jah and BMC on it

DCR: but yeah man, some artists on my label I am really stoked about are Hot Mess

DCR: they are from the US

DCR: and Downlink from Canada

DCR: those guys are making some really sick stuff right now

DCR: my last release from Hot Mess called Settle The Score was a featured release on Beatport and in their Top 10 Must Hear Dubstep tracklist

DCR: so yeah man, I just did a collab w/ Downlink on a couple tunes that I will be releasing sometime this year that I am really excited about

DCR: are u familiar with Downlink?

M: I am now

DCR: cool yes he is very sick

DCR: so my label is just me and my girlfriend DJ Aporia who run it

DCR: we do a Radio Show once a month on SubFM that you can catch the second Sunday of every month 4-6pm MST

DCR: called Dirty Circuit Radio and we promote the label through that as well

DCR: Juliana (DJ Aporia) has also set up a Podcast that anyone can join and recieve all our shows and mixes and free tracks

DCR: you can search iTunes store for Dubstep or Dirty Circuit Records and it comes right up

M: nice

DCR: we get about 3,000 downloads a month on it

M: I don't doubt that

DCR: can u mention the radio show and times and the podcast in the write up?

M: I will mention it again after the interview

DCR: ok cool

M: "be sure to catch..."

DCR: thanks

M: "and on iTunes..."

DCR: so yes Aporia is in charge of the podcast and most of the online promotions, I take care of tunes and siging the artists, we make a good team

DCR: Our next release to come out is from a local, Rumblejunkie who is with the Sub.Mission crew

M: right Nicole is next

M: MWHAHAHAHAHA

DCR: then after that we have a EP coming out from Pure Phase out of the UK

DCR: both hitting Beatport this month

DCR: I just want you to hear the music we are releasing, I really really love it and thats what its all about is the music

DCR: I love the artists I work with and wanna spread the sound

DCR: and Rumblejunkie is local so its cool

DCR: I also have released stuff from other locals..

DCR: Zeno and S.P.E.C.T.R.E.

M: Zeno rocks

M: S.P.E.C.T.R.E. too

DCR: yes Zeno is a good friend

DCR: We do a monthly in Boulder at Catacombs for fun

DCR: But its cool cause we both out of state a good deal too

DCR: Our night is called Kill Sound

M: cool I will plug that too

M: I know you play out

M: you don't have to tell me!

DCR: hahah k

DCR: did you want to ask me any questions? am I giving u some good info?

M: this is great

DCR: cool man

M: you could tell me about how you started and call it a wrap unless you have something else?

M: or why you started?

DCR: I started the label in the beginning to just release my own music and that was back in late 07. Its crazy cause there wasn't even that many Dubstep Releases on Beatport back then. I really didn't have much intention of signing too many people but like I said there was too much sick music being made and I really wanted to put it out. I think my artists roster is around 20 or so artists now

M: perfect

DCR: hahah cool homie

M: one more thing

M: hardware

M: I'm doing a review

M: any game changers for you right now?

DCR: game changers?

M: like the APC or monome?

M: anything?

M: circuit bent toys?

DCR: Yeah man, that Speak n Spell in the pic is Circuit Bent by Fast Matt out of San Fran, I use it on tunes a lot

M: sweet

M: hell ya

M: that's what I'm putting down

DCR: but I mainly produce with Ableton Live and a Virus Synth and Native Instruments Massive

M: for sure

M: that's ok [we] I knew that

DCR: and I also use a QFO for live sampling and scratching

M: What is a QFO?

DCR: Its a turntable created by Qbert

M: oh yeah

DCR: hang on i will send u a pic

DCR: oh ok u know it then

DCR: sick piece of gear

DCR: I remember, I can look it up

M: well thanks man

DCR: sure thing, thank you

DCR: lemme know ehn it's out

M: I will let you know when

DCR: cool, have a good 1, hit me if need anything else

M: for sure. PEACE!

DCR: peace

 


 
Written by Michael Garfield Sunday, 03 January 2010 20:05
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eoto_album

When I starting keeping an ear and eye to EOTO two years ago, I had no prior experience with the duo's wildly different band-of-origin, The String Cheese Incident.  I knew nothing about these guys, actually, except that they were trying something that combined live instrumentation with software audio looping technology to create improvised electronic music – and that, as a looping musician uninterested in retreading someone else's creative terrain, I would do well to pay attention.

Read more: Album Review: EOTO'S Fire The Lazers!!!

Written by Kimber Tuesday, 24 November 2009 00:15
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Rock On!

by Dan Kennedy

Algonquin Paperbacks, 2008

 

Do you ever wonder if the big wigs that sit at the top of the record labels wonder if they actually know what they are doing? Is there any rhyme or reason left in the world of music marketers?  Or is it all just an arbitrary game of who can come up with a more obtuse and perverted way to apply music to our deranged little world?

Read more: Rock On!

Written by Jakie Day & The Go All-Nighters Tuesday, 22 September 2009 03:42
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“They got a name for the winners in the world. I want a name when I lose.”

- Steely Dan

Grad school just started this week, but the penny pinching began months ago. With hopes to balance out my upcoming money sheet, I started doing math I hadn’t previously known existed, and delved further into the underpinnings of the American tax return than I would have ever wished upon a human being: All just to save a couple extra zeroes.

Read more: Warped 0.2

Written by Cara Wednesday, 12 August 2009 01:35
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.

Nebula Hubblesite.orgSome people were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, but I think my spoon was made of metal and a bit of stoner rock. Somethings in life are said to happen for a reason, though I don't believe this, last Monday the coincidences were in my favor. Curled up with my laptop as usual, I receive a call from a drunken friend who "just want(ed) to go home (urg)." He was at Three Kings Tavern, 60 South Broadway and attempting to be a good friend, I hopped in a cab to get him. Five minutes later I arrived and found another friend who had already helped him into a cab. Relieved he was en route, I asked the door guy what the show was and he replied nonchalantly, "Nebula, and some other band is finishing up." I make my way up and Black Lamb is putting on a rocking show and I was bummed I missed Kingdom of Magic's always buzzing experience. Shortly thereafter Nebula took the stage and enjoying the up and down bass that no one can resist softly bouncing or rocking out to.

That said, who is Nebula? The question is not as easily answered, but it begins with the departure of Eddie Glass and Ruben Romano from Fu Manchu in 1997. Their music is also not easily defined, perhaps alternative/stoner rock, with both metal and punk influences from the 1970's (Fu-Manchu.com). Glass and Romano's new project, Nebula began with some of the characteristics of Fu Manchu, a culmination of the sub-genres of rock and heavy metal. Monday, I could even pick up hints of blues rock, along the heavy baselines and low-tuned guitars of the great 70's rockers and metal heads. Fu Manchu gained new members in 1997 and still tours today at large venues, with advertising budgets and big bands, while Nebula has stayed under the radar at large. Several months ago I joined about 15 others at an amazing performance at the Larimer Lounge, providing for an intimate and epic experience.


Being a fan of the band, one might think I would have heard about the show at Three Kings, and I didn't because Nebula keeps it that way. They still largely have the persona of a garage band and their music reflects a true devotion to their sound, not to money or fame. This resistance to selling out is as becoming as the bouncing beer in my hand as I enjoyed the product of these circumstances wholeheartedly and will have listen to word of mouth for the next time they visit Denver.

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