Filed under: Erol Alkan | Tags: Beyond the Wizards Sleeve, Erol Alkan, Midlake
Erol Alkan emerged from the underground with a sound that was innovative, arresting, and charmingly psychedelic. He is fast approaching premier league status and is one of the closest watched producer’s & DJ’s of the decade.
With his roots firmly locked in all that was amazing in alternative culture, Erol Alkan pretty much stands for everything I love about dance music. He takes all the sounds, artists, songs and genre’s which have captured hearts in history and smashes everything together into the wonderful idea of dancing.
A few years back before all the blogs were swarming with our favourite artists and we had no idea what the hell ‘Bloc Party’or ‘Klaxons’ meant, these very musicians were down in London chillin’ at Erol Alkan’s little club Trash. I’m talking LCD Soundsystem, Peaches, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. Not to mention some killer DJ sets by the likes of Tiga, Mylo, 2manydjs and yeah you got it… anyone that mattered.
To think that I was in London not long ago when Trash was in full swing and was completely oblivious to its existence (or to anything related to the obsessions I now possess) is extremely frustrating.
Allegedly in the last 5 years of the club the last two tracks that were always played were ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ (the Smiths) & Bowie’s ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide’.
Erol stated in an interview “they are the two songs that best reflect the club culture, it’s people and places, highs and lows and bring people together”
In case you were wondering Erol has been up to since (R.I.P Trash) …well it once again makes me feel like I should smash my laptop and go actively pursue something. The guy has been producing albums for some of our favourite indie bands (Mystery Jets), getting unknown artists onto our radar (The Long Blondes), and pushing out more top-notch remixes (I really don’t have time for this).
And by now you should have heard of his side project Beyond The Wizards Sleeve with Richard Norris (not to be confused with the Richard Norris that produces albums for Five and Robbie Williams)
Anyway, if you love Erol Alkan’s productions just listen to some of the stuff by Beyond the Wizards Sleeve. His collaborations with Norris result in the most magical creations.
The Midlake remix is my favourite from Beyond the Wizard Sleeve. I can’t really listen to it without a heavy heart but its so god damn beautiful and painfully infectious.
You can download Erol Alkan podcasts from his website which I HIGHLY recommend. You can also waste your time in the forums if you are a super music nerd like me.
http://www.erolalkan.co.uk/music/podcasts.rss
I was actually winding down today post-weekend with Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve Live At The G Mex July2007 (feat. Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Peter Bjorn & John
I have to say one of my best purchase decisions of all time was picking up the “A Bugged Out Mix by Erol Alkan/ A Bugged In Selection with Erol Alkan” which is composed of two discs… the first disc is an absolutely immaculate mix by Erol and the second makes for the most pleasurable home listening you could ever imagine.
Here are two tracks from A Bugged In Selection which I spontaneously selected to upload as I really think the album is best listened to as a whole.
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I looked through your site and this was the ONLY way I found to contact you
Hopefully, you are still checking the email from this website….
I have a production company of the same name that deals in many different forms of the entertainment industry.
I noticed when pulling up your address, that it hasnt been used in a very long time.
Is there anyway to give up the address so I may be able to use it?
I have found this to be the case with most web addresses I have looked into. Non-usage, but still sitting there on the net.
Please let me know.
Thank you very much for your response
Five55 Productions, Nashville, Tn.
Comment by R Allen November 17, 2011 @ 11:32 pmhello.
I just got to read your message and I checked my blog before I let you use the adress.
I’m willing to give you the adress but would you please tell me how could you changed my profile and blog themes, including making posts without letting me know before?
because it was quite of a surprise for me when I logged on wordpress.
before I make any decision I would like to hear your response.
thank you.
FfF
Comment by fivefiftyfive November 23, 2011 @ 1:46 am