on
decks w/ Solaris
by Tim Yoder
(Please note: The On Decks column is a
monthly mix featured exclusively on phocas.net. Once the
month is over, the mix is retired and a new one is hosted
in it's place. Consequently, to get a copy of this mix,
you will need to contact Solaris
for a copy.
Hits = 44
Unrelenting since 1995 is the best way to describe DJ Solaris.
In a blazing fury of vinyl and chaos, Solaris assaults party
goers and sound systems alike. Many have fell before the
ceaseless barrage of gritty acid techno in Miami, Chicago,
Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, and in cities all across the Midwest.
This devout DJ/producer stepped up to the Techno alter in
the mid nineties and has been preaching the word of evil
techno ever since. Picture a dark dungeon, pounding with
a rhythmic drone. Inside people are in a fervor some still
unable to comprehend what this man behind the decks is wielding.
Such stories are just a drop to the stories Solaris has
to tell about his experience performing around the US. Few
have the stamina and perseverance that this man puts forth
at every show, giving this Tyrant of Techno a formidable
collection of sounds to penetrate the ears of any with the
conviction to witness his presence.
This month, phocas.net brings you an exclusive mix from
Solaris. His new CD titled Centrifuge has yet to hit the
streets. Instead he has decided to hold out on the release,
and make it exclusively for phocas.net for this issue. Centrifuge
is Solaris’s latest mix CD, a compilation forged together
with a purpose of driving and expanding people’s views
of techno. With 25 tracks on the CD, this man never intended
the listener to get too comfortable and apathetic.
This CD is a long time coming. I have put out a few and
had this CD idea stewing for about two years. The name Centrifuge
was a concept that I wanted to relate in musical form. I
kept it on the burner and in my head until I was confident
that I had the material to make what I believed would best
suit what was banging on in my mind. I always dread making
CD’s because the amount of things I have to leave
out is boggling. I always try to fit as much of my soul
into what I am doing as I can, and that takes its toll.
Don’t look as Techno as simple music, its repetition
is something that takes desire and commitment to work into
this style. The style is a conundrum that has most confounded
and others bewildered. I think of music in terms of energy
when mixing and my job is to pull your strings and guide
you through this piece of your life. I often find myself
searching hours upon hours of tracks to find that one track
that has that feel and energy that I desire in everything
I play. If I come out of that (as I usually have) with one
record from all those hours then I have considered it a
good day.
Take to heart that I am and always be here to push the
boundaries that others perceive as music. This style brought
me into the scene and I have devoted myself to staying true
to the form that guided me into this culture. Take what
you can from this CD. If you enjoy it only an ounce of what
I did while I was making it, I will consider my job well
done. With 25 tracks in 70 minutes you have to know I was
busy pushing out one about every 2.5 minutes. Even with
that there is effect and tricks I was performing at the
same time. These are too numerous to count and extrapolate
on in the following information.
Just click the Album Cover to Download
the Mix Now
Track
Listing:
(Label – Track Title – Artist)
- Intro
I always like it when a CD sets the mood with a nice intro
giving you a taste of what you have in store. This is
no exception, with that in mind I had a time finding just
the sample that would both describe what I was thinking
when I was putting together the mix and how I wanted you
the listener to think about.
- LK REC - Schlagschatten - Andreas
Kremer RMX
What can I say about Andreas? This man is one of my heroes.
I just got this record two days before and had to have
it on there. It is one of those moments where you know
gold and this helps set the mood and energy for the rest
of the CD.
- AR - Alliance IV - Gunjack vs.
Jeroen Liebregts
I love drummy tracks. It was one of the themes that I
was going for when I chose the title. It is so easy to
lose yourself in one of these tracks, yet the subtle tones
that sit in the background give me the charge that I desire
to be when I go to a party, be it to perform or to observe.
- AR - Full Charge - Vincent De
Wit
One of my favorites tracks of the time. I have had this
track for a year and I still love hearing it blast its
way across a room of people. I knew I had to incorporate
this, and what a better time as it helps build the energy
and flow of music harder. The name says it all and I think
that anyone would agree that you won’t be able to
stop moving your feet.
- LK REC - Punching Dummies - Lars
Klein
I took it down just a hair here. Lars is another one of
my heroes for making things so beautiful and driving.
While it doesn’t have the energy of Full Charge,
it does give a nice transition to some of the more minimal
drivers that I have in store for you.
- Carnage - O.B.I. Wan Kenobi
E.P.
This is a great track! I love how they mixed the hard
drum lines with a bit of funky vocal to give it that edge.
The way it hits and screams to me let me know that not
only must I place it in the CD, but its progression to
the harder side of things helped me to move even further
to where I wanted to go.
- Pitchshift - Splash N Dash -
Boris S.
Who would have thought I would bring it down just a notch?
Well I know the whole idea is that I would drive you into
the ground. Unfortunately I believe in the ebb and flow
of things, and with the hammering I gave you with the
last few I figured that a bit of a breather would be in
order. Mind you it isn’t long so enjoy it. The break
is one of a kind and helped me give you what I was looking
for.
- Carnage - Partystecher E.P. -
Frank Kvitta
Back to some driving sounds for your ears. I always like
to get back into the saddle after a fresh breath. This
driver set me up for what I love to do. Expand your horizons
and make you dance until your legs fall off. If anything
the laughter inside this track was a precursor to my next
track and linked the two in a way I could not ignore.
- Pitchshift - Tonight You Sleep
In Hell - Boris S.
No one can imagine the expression on my face when I ripped
this out of its new sleeve and heard the breakdown. Couple
that with its drive and desire and I found myself wanting
not only a bit more of it, but couldn’t let it go
to waste.
- Expanded - A. Crash - Darkness
- Sven Wittekind RMX
I found this one a bit odd, but like to stretch the imagination.
I loved the general tone of it, though the breakdown was
nothing what I would expect, it gave a break from the
norm that I created and a well deserved one at that. Though
not long after it gets right back on the saddle and keeps
chugging along. I admire any person who could make something
unrelated fit into a song and make it work. This is just
that and I feel it has to be just as suitable here.
- Squat Records - Mare Street -
Jeff Amadeus
Every time I play, I can't wait to work this track into
my set. It has got to be the favorite of mine for a while
now. The funky breakdowns just send me into frenzy. I
know that some others have fallen into that same fate
when they get a taste. I have to watch out for this man
he has a lot of great stuff and without this track I truly
think my life would never be the same.
- Crowbar - Hamster Butcher - Stefan
Wietek
There is a lot of driving and with that last track I had
to do something, this is the ticket. Crowbar is a newer
label that has proven to me that it has the talent and
drive that I myself enjoy. It is a bit more constructed
than a few of the others, but that is what gives it its
flavor.
- Abstract Records - Reinsteckefuchs
- Frank Kvitta
Nothing went better after butchering a hamster than this
track. After all the crazy driving the breakdown gives
you the idea it is going to take a minute to build back
and give you a minute to breathe. FOOLED YOU! I can’t
let you off that easy giving you breathers every time
you see fit. I am trying to improve you and stamina is
something anyone can respect.
- Crowbar - Way Of The Habak -
Viper XXL
This driver has its nicety, although you would be hard
pressed to find it. Once sound gives you the illusion
of the tempo slowing while I keep driving. I don’t
get too many of these, and why not let you believe that
illusion and take that moment for yourself. Keep in mind
that we are just over the halfway point and I don’t
like to let you come down from that fervor I have been
stewing that soon.
- Arms - Patadas - Carlos Rios
Ok, I am now ready to give you a bit of a break. This
track has a great tech house feel while staying true to
the hard driving that I wanted for this CD. I brought
it to this level to help you not go insane with the crazy
drum lines I was pushing for the last few tracks.
- Carnage - She Had It Coming E.P.
- Switchblade a.k.a. Leo Laker
Taking it a bit more minimal and driving helps me get
you into that long awaited rest. I was surprised when
I stumbled upon this label. This depth of this track boggled
me. It was the piece of gold I was searching for.
- FAK - Rocket Bay - Tuomas Rantanen
I picked it back up a bit and got a bit more driving and
droning going on. This track helped keep the flow while
still retaining the more minimal edge I developed over
the last few tracks. It also gave me the leeway to move
it either up or down in energy levels.
- Blitzkreig - Das Letzte Gefecht
- Robert Natus
This is one of my old favorites. I pick it up and nothing
makes me happier than something this bangin’. The
way it is arranged is something that I strive for in my
production.
- Blipped Out - Oli Brand
I couldn’t believe how well this track let me go
from taking things down a notch to bringing them up a
hair and still keeping that same feel. It is a new found
favorite that keeps me jumping around behind the tables.
The break has something even I am not sure how they did
but I know that when I get the chance, it will be the
first thing I ask him.
- Arms - Bend In The River - Lars
Klein
Taking it down a notch was my intention and toward the
end seemed like the best time. This is a nice track and
gives me the feel of things I was still messing with back
in the day. My love has always been for those things that
make the hair on my neck stand up. This track had by far
one of those moments.
- Cluster - Squat Attack - Jeff
Amadeus
How better to take it a bit farther than with Cluster?
This label has been around so long I cannot remember.
They never fail to produce and push the boundaries while
keeping a feel that is unique onto themselves. Cluster
has been in my collection and track list since I started.
My loyalty to them stems from the loyalty they have shown
me among this last decade.
- Blackout Audio – Draw Out
Your Breeches - Robert Natus
Mark EG’s label has been something I have been keeping
my eye one constantly, ever since I saw him perform an
outdoor event when a tornado was touching down a ½
mile from us. My diligence has paid with this one and
keeps the flow steady while I collect myself for the tail
end of the CD.
- Cluster - Did You Spill My Paint?
- Co-Ax
Only a few tracks left and with this CD I thought it best
to give you a bit of a wind down to help with the transition
back to reality. Keeping it as driving as I wanted yet
minimal enough to allow me to bring you back to earth.
- Blackout Audio - Pointless -
Robert Natus
Next to last, but far from least it drones on and helps
break down the CD to a mellower moment. Taking it even
to the more minimal feel that helps when you want to wind
down a set of bangin’ drum beats.
- Arms - Bend in the river - Lars
Klein
The best choice I could have made for an ending track!
It sums up the whole CD for me and helps me bring it back
full circle. Don’t let it fool you I always play
what I think deserves the attention I give it and this
one still gets me bobbing my head. Notice the producer
and should I have to say more. This man is a genius. This
wax has me from the beginning and keeps me there glued
to the table to the last possible moment.
