Techno Battle: BuddyUK vs Monomer

[JonAvalon]

Mix 1 (http://www.djfbattles.com/battles/BuddyUK-vs-Monomer-1.mp3)

Mix 2 (http://www.djfbattles.com/battles/BuddyUK-vs-Monomer-2.mp3)

Rules:
Proper Techno 93-99 with at least one track by a Detroit artist in there.
30 mins or near about duration.
Vinyl only, basic analog effects allowed, two channels only.

[monomer]

Brutal.


I already want a rematch.

[de.j.l]

I voted mix #2, I simply prefered it out of the two.

[Ellissentials]

Will give this a listen later after I get home from work :tup:

[mantis]

mix 2 for me too.

[mantis]

so who is who?

[mix4fix]

I wanted to choose #1 for "Energy Flash" but I chose #2 because it was a better mix.

[monomer]

so who is who?

Its pretty obvious.

[TheFrenchWay]

I fairly enjoyed both mixes. I rarely listen to Techno but when the occasion comes up I enjoy it.

I voted for Mix # 2 because of the track selection with more ''agressive'' tracks (Not that I recognized any lol) and the mix seemed tighter in general than # 1.

Mix # 1 was awesome but very chill compared to Mix # 2.

My brief input.

Good jobs on both ends. :teef:

[monomer]

I didn't think anyone would like the harder tracks. Had no idea what Buddy had going. (they sell that hard shit overseas?) :eek:

If that don't let the cat out of the bag, I don't know what will.


Round two will end much differently.

[BuddyUK]

As for Battle 2, it's on mate, usual 30 mins or so, at least one electro track this time, not going to out-bang you this time but I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve bro.

[Ellissentials]

OH snap.. came in to listen and .. errr :confused:

[monomer]

I don't really mind losing mate, it's a good kick in the pants to improve. In your case, it's not the mixing or the track selection: it's just people don't GET you. I don't see a problem in that.

Voting still open, I don't think the antimony is hugely important.

Electro mix with atleast ONE electro track? How about atleast one from Detroit, Miami, and LA? :D

[ElectroManiac]

I listen to both mixes. Both were spot on most of the time. Maybe a little miss here and there but nothing major. I enjoy more the tracks more on mix 2, but both have some good tracks and will love to get a tracklist.

My vote goes to number 2.

[Rick_N]

Ill give this a go as soon as I finish listening to this other battle. Ill be on it soon!


Edit. Well shit, I guess were not voting on this one anymore??? Well um, awkward silence, come listen to ours then lol

[ElectroManiac]

Ill give this a go as soon as I finish listening to this other battle. Ill be on it soon!


Edit. Well shit, I guess were not voting on this one anymore??? Well um, awkward silence, come listen to ours then lol

You can still vote. You just already know who mix is who, but that doesn't mean you can't give your thoughts on the mixes and vote.

[monomer]

Ill post a tracklist when I figure out what I played

[mrkleen]

Mix #1

Cool vocal intro and track #2 – Detroit Music was cool…liked the sample and the deep vibe was hot.

Mixing here started off fairly clean. Not that impressive, as the DJ is waiting for the break before he mixes out…so nothing all that creative or challenging - but solid, nonetheless.

From the third or Third or fourth mix – blending is very hit or miss, and some of the fader cuts are off – but at least the DJ is getting more creative and taking more risks.

Mentasm by Joey Beltram was a nice surprise…well placed.

Good solid mix. Not mind blowing, but very good music – very solid mixing (most of the time) and well programmed. 8/10

Mix #2

Kind of a long intro for such a short battle, but fair enough. First track is blazing fast, I like it.

Mixing here in the first half is solid. Again, nothing all the creative…just simple 8 to 16 bar blends, but for the most part they are on beat and the songs make sense together.

I think the DJ is letting things play out a bit too long for such a short battle, but again – this is a well mixed, well programmed set that really captures the essence of harder, old school techno. 9/10

My main criticism of this entire battle is the limited guidelines. I know Monomer and Buddy are two of the true old school techno guys out here….but doing a techno mix in 2012 –which features no effects, no loops, no filters and very little elements beyond blending two tracks – strikes me as a bit dated. If I heard either of these sets in 1993, I would have been impressed. In 2012, not as much.

Both were very good mixes. But I think mix #2 was more consistent.

[monomer]

^the kind of review I like.

I normally don't see many dj's around here abuse effects, do looping and the like. If anything, it's doubles thrown out or 3 decks.

Next battle will be much different. None of the tracks I played (besides groove la chord) normally reside in my crate, I don't know most that well. Much more prepared nexttime.

[BuddyUK]

Edit out any comments that would compromise the anonymity of the battle and we can continue, will repost in the Techno battles thread.

[BuddyUK]

[

My main criticism of this entire battle is the limited guidelines. I know Monomer and Buddy are two of the true old school techno guys out here….but doing a techno mix in 2012 –which features no effects, no loops, no filters and very little elements beyond blending two tracks – strikes me as a bit dated. If I heard either of these sets in 1993, I would have been impressed. In 2012, not as much.


First of all it was necessity rather than anything else, we both just play straight technics and no frills 2 channel mixers.

As for effects would love to have a real dub siren (would cane the fcuk out of it at home listening to reggae) and possibly some kind of delay maybe but I'd use it sparingly. As far as EFX and stuff go my philosophy is that if a record is not good enough to be played as it is made, it's not good enough full stop, if I could remix or produce a track better, I'd play my own track (but sadly I can't) other styles of music I'll go right at it throwing the fader about and doing tricks etc. to the best of my ability*. But Techno I tend to play open fader and will use them very sparingly, I wish to preserve the purity of the music basically.


*In 'The DnB battle we called a Draw™' against DTR, I was angrily lectured by Blueprint about my excessive use of the powerdown, so go figure.

[monomer]

^ agreed.

Songs should speak for themselves, no bs needed.

Track selection should be above mixing ability. ****** listening is MUCH different from playing on a banging system.

[mrkleen]

If you are playing Philly Soul or Jazz or some other music made by musical geniuses - sure - fine, play it as is. We are talking about modern electronic music....which was produced for the sole purpose of moving people and giving DJs a creative outlet.

Half the techno records you guys speak of have dub mixes, pieces with just the horns, just the drums, just the vocal loops - all for the sole purpose of giving DJs creative bits to reassemble in the mix. The whole "play it like it was produced" is a bunk argument IMO.

[BuddyUK]

Couple of dub mixes here and there , but not true, check it out for yourself:

http://www.juno.co.uk/techno/eight-weeks/vinyl/

things may be different on Beatport or whatever but we play vinyl bro.

[mrkleen]

Couple of dub mixes here and there , but not true, check it out for yourself:

http://www.juno.co.uk/techno/eight-weeks/vinyl/

things may be different on Beatport or whatever but we play vinyl bro.

Buddy - I played vinyl for 25 years. I think I know how many techno tracks are pressed with loops at the end - dubs - acapellas etc.

In addition, the entire genre of techno (aside from more heady stuff like Luke Slater) is made to mix. They have 3 minute intros so you can blend and add loops and effects - not so you can sit there and 'respect the original'

I appreciate your feeling on this, but do not agree. The whole reason I got into techno was the whole aspect of techno being about the DJ more than the song. Richie Hawtin released Decks, Efx and 808 - what 15 years ago? That is nothing more than a ton of loops and small snippets pieced together to make a cohesive whole. That is modern techno in a nutshell.

[BuddyUK]

Not even going to answer this because i don't want you to feel insulted and I respect you, your opinions and hold you in high regard, full stop.

[mrkleen]

Not even going to answer this because i don't want you to feel insulted and I respect you, your opinions and hold you in high regard, full stop.

Same here mate.

[NPC]

Listening now.

I agree with Buddy for the most part, but let's be honest, there are exceptions to both arguments here. I think the general idea is that mrkleen thinks boundaries weren't pushed enough, we have to respect that viewpoint and maybe take something away from it or move on.

Edit: Going with mix 1, good job guys!

[monomer]

Buddy - I played vinyl for 25 years. I think I know how many techno tracks are pressed with loops at the end - dubs - acapellas etc.

In addition, the entire genre of techno (aside from more heady stuff like Luke Slater) is made to mix. They have 3 minute intros so you can blend and add loops and effects - not so you can sit there and 'respect the original'

I appreciate your feeling on this, but do not agree. The whole reason I got into techno was the whole aspect of techno being about the DJ more than the song. Richie Hawtin released Decks, Efx and 808 - what 15 years ago? That is nothing more than a ton of loops and small snippets pieced together to make a cohesive whole. That is modern techno in a nutshell.

3 minute intros? Only on a handful that I've owned. And they're mostly minimal.

Hawtins mix is a bad example in this case, as it wasn't done in one shot.


I'm not arguing: It's music, one can do whatever they please with it. At the end of the day, it's all about the vibe and making people dance.

[mrkleen]

3 minute intros? Only on a handful that I've owned. And they're mostly minimal.

Hawtins mix is a bad example in this case, as it wasn't done in one shot.


I'm not arguing: It's music, one can do whatever they please with it. At the end of the day, it's all about the vibe and making people dance.

So you dont think techno is more of a mixing / DJ oriented genre?

Good Techno DJs are playing 18, 20, 25+ tracks an hour....compared to half that with trance or progressive or deep house.

I am shocked we are even having this debate.

[monomer]

So you dont think techno is more of a mixing / DJ oriented genre?

Good Techno DJs are playing 18, 20, 25+ tracks an hour....compared to half that with trance or progressive or deep house.

I am shocked we are even having this debate.

No, I'm saying it's techno and their are no standards of mixing style. That would be boring.

I do agree that most decent mixes (esp with harder stuff) are on 3 decks and tracks only play a few minutes tops. It also shouldn't be frowned upon to do graceful mixes (esp when theirs no dancefloor.) It's all at the dj desecration, and the style of songs played.

Me, personally: I'm not good enough to make a coherent mix like that. I don't own enough wax, nor do I have the experience (No, I haven't been at this 12 years...) Sorry.

[deejayjsin]

Voted for Mix #2, just liked it better.

[BuddyUK]

Well quite a shocking moment in djf history there I actually fcuking won :eek: Commiserations to Monomer who suffered from a style mis-match there TBH, hopefully we are on the same page for round 2 if he's still up for it, got my set lined up but they don't always work out as planned. Where you hear the record skipping on my mix is me desperately chucking records around as my original playlist obviously wasn't going to work out :/ Turned out okay in the End though :tup:

My Tracklist (mix 2)

Vapourspace – Gravitational Arch Of 10 (Original Version) - Internal (http://www.discogs.com/Vapourspace-Gravitational-Arch-Of-10/release/115758)
Joey Beltram - Drome - Warp (http://www.discogs.com/Joey-Beltram-The-Caliber-EP/master/27625)
Stefan Robbers - Rumble - 100% Pure (http://www.discogs.com/Stefan-Robbers-Mask-EP/release/35910)
Suburban Knight - Maroon - Underground Resistance (http://www.discogs.com/Underground-Resistance-Interstellar-Fugitives/master/783)
Suburban Knight – Mau Mau (The Spirit) - Underground Resistance (http://www.discogs.com/UR-Dark-Energy/master/359463)
Surgeon - Badger Bite - Downwards (http://www.discogs.com/Surgeon-Pet-2000/master/16448)
[/URL][URL="http://www.discogs.com/Luke-Slater-X-Tront-Vol-2/release/10287"]Luke Slater - Sea Serpent - Peacefrog Records (http://www.discogs.com/Luke-Slater-X-Tront-Vol-2/master/9256)

[monomer]

http://www.discogs.com/Jeff-Mills-Preview/release/1031
http://www.discogs.com/Fade-II-Black-In-Sync/release/57935
http://www.discogs.com/DJ-Bone-Bridge-The-Gap/release/816077
??? (I'll have to dig that one out again)
http://www.discogs.com/Aril-Brikha-Art-Of-Vengeance-EP/master/31719
??? (another, not often played)
http://www.discogs.com/Arthur-Oskan-Resolutions/release/580391
http://www.discogs.com/Joey-Beltram-Beltram-Vol-1/master/27621
http://www.discogs.com/Juan-Atkins-Futurepast-EP/master/229445

We'll have to do another hard tech battle, I really don't play it much; and I own more then I think I do.