Dear friends,

November and December were again busy months... I played Berlin, Ourense (Spain), Milano, Amsterdam, London, Brno, Munich, Sao Paulo, Manaus, Cordoba... From a cosy birthday gig with the Studio 80 family, to as always rocking Fabric London gig, over a packed passionate Magazzini Generali gig in Milano, to a second birthday party at Apokalypsa in beautiful Brno - we thank you all for your massive feedback and support. December was a great month too: I played Time Warp Holland, followed by Seven @ Sin House in Manaus, Amazonia and D-Edge in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Sala Metropolis in Cordoba, Spain.

Aside from a hectic DJ schedule, I have also been busy in the studio, with tracks ending up as Beatport Top 100 sellers, and my Virton release even at No1 of the techno releases on Decks.de; we have a line of upcoming releases to share with you, including some feedback on the recent ones.

Also, do not miss a give-away in this newsletter! We still like vinyl, and we have some to put under your Xmas tree :)

We wish you a kicking 2011! Love and peace to all,

Steve Rachmad and the Crew

News...

 
Recent and upcoming shows:

03/11: Radio Drama @ Tresor, Berlin, DE

06/11: Magosto, La Coruna, ES

12/11: Voidd & Steve Rachmad celebrate bday @ Studio 80, Amsterdam, NL

13/11: Fabric, London, UK

19/11: Apokalypsa, Brno, CZ

27/11: Bullitt, Munich, DE

04/12: Time Warp, Amsterdam, NL

05/12: Time Warp after @ Air, Amsterdam, NL

07/12: Seven @ SIN House, Manaus, BR

11/12: D-Edge, Sao Paulo, BR

17/12: Scoop @ Factory 10, Rotterdam, NL

18/12: Sala Metropolis, Cordoba, ES

NYE: Kolpinghuis, Nijmegen, NL [SOLD OUT]

JANUARY: holidays

05/02: Shift @ Tattingers, Malta

10/02: Hattrick @ CS Veritas, Utrecht, NL

12/02: Ratio? @ Trouw, Amsterdam, NL

20/02: Flex, Vienna, AT

05/03: Audio Circus @ Huize Maas, Groningen, NL

18/03: Sala Be Cool, Barcelona, ES

01/04: GO! @ Club Seven, Den Haag, NL

Steve Rachmad presents Ignacio: Virton Upgraded (incl. Ben Klock remixes)

Catalogue Number: MM152
Release Date: November 29, 2010
Label: Music Man Records
Format: Digital and 12’’; buy on Beatport and Decks!
Distributed by: NEWS

Tracklist:

A. Virton Upgraded, by Steve Rachmad (listen here)
B1. Virton Upgraded, Ben Klock remix A (listen here)

B2. Virton Upgraded, Ben Klock remix B (listen here)

One of the ultimate Music Man classics gets re-worked by the master himself. Included are two different remixes by Ben Klock from Berghain and Ostgut Ton fame. Essential! 

TIP: Both the original and the remix are in Beatport Techno Top 100, as well as the No1 of Techno releases on Decks.de!

[SELECTED FEEDBACK]

Sven Väth: Been playing it for a while.

Laurent Garnier: Another biiiiiig funky release from mister Rachmad I AM A FAN AS ALWAYS!

Joris Voorn: Lovely package, with great BK Mixes!
John Digweed: good stuff
2000 and One: Massive remixes of one of Steve's best techno trax!!!
Agoria: Mega giga tera support, i would give my tshirt for that one
Radio Slave: Ben's always on point with his remixes and I've been a huge fan of Steve Rachmad's work for years so the combination of talent is perfect... will play tonight x
Rolando: i'm likin both Steve and Ben Klock remix b full support on these...
Edwin Oosterwal (Rejected): Awesome! Timeless peace of music. Ben Klock mixes are also nice.
Danny Tenaglia: great!!!!
Michel de Hey: played it so many times now, BOMB!!!!!!!!!
Heiko Laux: awesome mixes. will play for sure. congrats
Joel Mull: Love this track- Ben Klock mixes are fantastic too!!
Samuel L Sesson: rachmad & klock 2 really good!
Cari Lekebusch: Love that arp melody! The Remix B is also very tempting next to the original :D YAY! Do i smell analogness?? LOL!
Angel Molina: This track was essential iearly 00´s... And still, upgraded or not. Ben Klock adds special feeling to it, heavy rhythm, very industrial. Again essential in 2010.

More feedback here.

Tim Wolff: The Straight Story (incl. remixes by Steve Rachmad and Estroe)

Catalogue Number: WOLF019
Release Date: December 13, 2010
Label: Wolfskuil Records
Format: Digital and 12’’ 

Listen to a teaser here

Tracklist:

1. Original
2. Estroe mix

3. Steve Rachmad mix

4. Steve Rachmad dub

The last Wolfskuil release for 2010 is a very special package, an early Xmas present if you will. Dutch techno talent Tim Wolff star is on the rise this year. Not surprising, since his fresh take on traditional forms of techno is as recognizable as it is his own. And, let’s be honest: with a last name like that, you have to join our roster at some point.

For his first release on Wolfskuil Records we choose 'The Straight Story'. A deep, flowing piece with a host of dynamics, climaxes and atmosphere. The arpeggiated hook works seamlessly with classic 909 drum programming, expanding and breaking down several times as the track progresses.

A stunner like this, deserves the highest quality of remixers, and we are very proud that Steve Rachmad and Estroe were keen to do the job, and boy did they deliver, inspiring and original takes on the original. Steve even created 2 deep and highly hypnotic reworks. Production is crispy clean as we have come to expect from him. Carefully arranged and taking his time to build his interpretations to their full potentials. The result is two tension builders of a level we rarely experience. (Watch out for a full 12” EP of the Dutch master on Wolfskuil in spring of 2011.)

Estroe delivers a beautiful Tech House groover, with her trademark strings, melodies and drive. She knows more than anyone, how to combine tough and in your face rhythms with a wide array of moody layers, pads and stabs, to create an ambiguous atmosphere, just as we have come to love her for.

[SELECTED FEEDBACK]

Karotte: Estroe and Rachmad dub are great. Love it!
Danny Howells: Fabulous package, will be supporting Steve Rachmad Dub.
Joris Voorn: Rachmad remixes are great!
Deetron: Love the original mix and the amaaaaaziiiiing Rachmad Dub, thanks for this one Steve!
Stacey Pullen: Steve's mixes are hot!!
Kenny Larkin: Very nice EP. I love both of Steve's mixes, and also dig the Estroe Remix. I'll build my set with any of them!
KiNK: There are no fillers in this release. Four pieces of warm and beautiful techno music! All the versions are winners, I can`t pick one.
Riva Starr: Steve Rachmad is always quality.
Thomas Schumacher: I really dig Steve's DUB. Super hypnotic stuff!
Samuel L Session: Steve rules! Others good too.
Anderson Noise: Steve Rachmad Dub is good!!
Joel Mull: Both Rachmad mixes are Aces! Great release- I like all the tracks.
John Selway: That's one loud, Clear 808 cowbell in the original. Very nice classic chord energy happening. Great all around, Rachmad Dub is definitely the hot one.
Pig - (Pig and Dan): Strong release really enjoyed the remixes especially the Steve Rachmad and Estroe mix.
Nick Warren: Fabulous package, Steve's mixes rock.
Paco Osuna: Steve's always good.
Matthias Vogt (Motorcitysoul): Big release for Wolfskuil again. Nice original, old school rewind from Estroe and epic techno from Steve Rachmad. Plus, as a bonus surprise, this mental dub... which is my pick here!
Secret Cinema: Estroe's mix and Steve's Dub will serve me well.

More feedback here.

Steve Rachmad: Mr. Ed (Get Digital Music)

Catalogue Number: GDM015
Release Date: October 15, 2010
Label: Get Digital Music (Get Physical Music sub-label)
Format: Digital and vinyl 12’’ 

Buy on Beatport.

Distributed by: Intergroove
Web: www.physical-music.com

Tracklist:

A Mr Ed (listen here)
B1 Ed UP (listen here)

B2 Strings of Dub (listen here)

Strings of Love (Beatport Exclusive) (listen here)

The Netherlands' Steve Rachmad is no stranger to Get Physical, having remixed MANDY vs Booka Shade's classic 'Body Language' under his Sterac Electronics guise back in 2006. The peerless purveyor of tough, grooving and emotionally powerful Motor City-influenced techno now returns to the fold with Four tracks for Get Digital.

A hugely respected figure in dance music, Rachmad has been doing his thing since 1985, and its shows in the sheer craftmanship and effectiveness of his work. This is not a producer who wastes time messing around: his tracks are high-charged bombs, built for club detonation.

'Mr.Ed' kicks off the EP in great style, with a flirtatious percussive groove and Bassline that will get everybody on the dancefloor moving. Not to mention the quivering synth stabs reminiscent of Electro Funk and the soulful vocals, which make this track a sure fire hit. 'ED up' maintains this explosive form, but it's not without subtlety: a fractured soul vocal and dubwise FX draw us in, aquaplaning off the beat before giving way to an effortlessly funked-up synth-bass riff that will captivate any dancefloor, any time. "I would do anything you say," says the voice, as if under the spell of the groove evolving around it.

'Strings of Dub' is a trackier, trancier affair - deep, muscular but dreamy techno, the latest offspring of the musical affinity that Detroit and Amsterdam have shared since the early 90s. Rachmad takes seemingly familiar elements and renders them anew; a true master at work. 'Strings of Love' keeps the momentum going, providing the listener with a high energy track brimming with interesting and alternating musical motifs. This ever evolving track takes us on a musical journey which encompasses a variety of genres and leaves the listener begging for more.

[SELECTED FEEDBACK]

deepchild (Trapez / Resopal Schallware / Oppossum): Super-wonderful deep, chunky goodness! I love Strings Of Love. YES!
Will Kinsella (DJ + Ceoltronic Radio IE): Yahooo! Rachmo in the house :) love it!!
Metope (Areal, IRR, Beachcoma):   I love it. "The Strings of Dub" - version is my favourite. Will play it for sure.
Mikkas Skulstad / Djuma Soundsystem: Very nice bundle of tracks! Will play for sure!
Hideout Music: Thumbs Up for Steve
Shinedoe:  I will try out Ed Up, this sounds cool.
Onno Van Velzen: Great ep from mr Rachmad!! Full support ;-)
Jens Lissat:  Interesting sounds,  oldschool vibes! cool!
Stephan Hinz: Like it. Especially Strings Of Dub!

SAE Audiobot Competition: A day in the studio with Steve Rachmad

DJ Broadcast and SAE Institute Amsterdam (Institute for audio engineering training) organize monthly competitions for aspiring electronic music producers, that get a chance to get into the studio with a professional sound engineer and an established producer from the electronic music scene. 

In May earlier this year, it was Roel Moll who won a day in the studio with Steve Rachmad. The boys met twice, and a result is an edited version of Roel's track Emanuelle. You can check both tracks (original and edit) and read the full studio story here (in Dutch).

Interviews and videos

Check interviews with Steve Rachmad:

1. Bibz.me, in English and Polish. 

2. Video interview for Kai Zen, recorded in Fabric, London, check here.

3. Interview on Technoscene.nl

Videos:

1. Steve Rachmad at Apokalypsa in Brno, Czech Republic (19/11/2010)

2. Steve Rachmad at Detroit is your Mecca @ Magazzini Generali, Milano, Italy (10/11/2010)