Dirty Birdy
Claude Vonstroke - The 7 Deadly Strokes
I've been sitting on this CD for what feels like ages now, but I can wait no longer! Claude Vonstroke (aka Barclay Crenshaw) is a young producer originally from Detroit, but now calls San Francisco home. There he has been making waves for a couple of years with his peculiar breed of tech-house, releasing music on Germany's Get Physical and Neuton Music, as well as on his own label Dirtybird. The label is also home to other San Fran heads, Justin Martin and Sammy D.
The latest release is Vonstroke's first full-length album, Beware Of The Bird - ten original tracks, a few of which have seen release on Dirtybird as singles, as well as a couple of his own remixes of other artists, and a creepy/funny video for the song "Deep Throat" - a great package overall. And the music? So good! Freaky massive bass, perfect beats that grind and jump in the right places, and superb synth work. It is just right, and super timely, seeming to fit with what so many other artists are doing right now, yet still sounding totally original. His tracks are so hot right now - so much so, in fact, that three different songs have appeared on four Fabric mixes this fall (Fabric 27, 29, 30* and FabricLive 30) - people just love this guy! Whenever a DJ, myself included, throws on one of his tracks at a party, people just bug out. Hit his Myspace page for more info and music.
The physical CD is still not out yet - as I said, I've been sitting on a copy for months now - because of some issues with distributors, BUT, you can buy it as a download via Beatport, so you should do so (and if you want to see the video, it is on the Dirtybird website). Now. Highly recommended.
*Fabric 30 is probably my favorite Fabric CD yet - mixed by New York's own Rub N Tug, they cover the spectrum of techno and disco weirdness, and the CD (and their other mixes) is very much inspirational for my own sets. Buy on sight.
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PS: I'm hitting the decks at Good World tonight, so swing on by for some hits, 80s, post punk, electro, disco, etc. and tasty food and drink. Orchard just below Canal - NYC - I'll be there all night!