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Features
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Introducing NEM3SI$’s new label Infinite Resistance! | Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! |
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Interview with German pioneer Talla 2XLC
Reported by DJGRH
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Submitted 12-04-06 19:09
A feature throughout Europe, Talla 2XLC is always welcomed back with opened arms to events like Gatecrasher Classics when he comes to the UK. Founder of the Technoclub in Germany, he is also renowned for stunning sets at the likes of Space in Ibiza and the Shadow Lounge in Miami.
Since 1996 he has released the anthems ‘Eternal Mystery’, ‘Love’s Coming Down’, ‘Is Anybody Out There?’, ‘815 To Nowhere’ and ‘World In My Eyes’. His hectic schedule has resulted in one hell of an impressive biography and discography.
Andreas, we’re hearing that the Technoclub, despite it’s jaw-dropping history, continues to expand and move from strength to strength? Tell us more about your satisfaction and happiness at the club’s progression and success?
I have been running the Technoclub with a few short breaks since 1984, which I think is one of the longest running nights in electronic history! I’m very proud of that and especially that I had the chance to grow up with the evolution of electronic music.
I still remember the early days of Technoclub when our crowd partied to the sounds of Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Human League, and Front 242. Nowadays there are mostly no bands behind the tunes anymore, the 90s and the present is the age of DJs and computer freaks as producers. But still the vibe of the Technoclub is something special.
Last November Paavo & Jono from Above and Beyond played with me and they really enjoyed playing at Technoclub, and of course they enjoyed the German beer too! Germany is tough right now, it is infiltrated by hip hop and cheesy techno like Pulsedriver or Scooter. Most of the young crowd in other venues think that’s trance. So Technoclub is nearly the only place fighting against bad taste and when I’m touring in Germany I feel again like a musical missionary.
Because of that, I’m just starting to expand in Germany. I’m talking to several clubs creating a monthly Technoclub Outpost. One famous club in Stuttgart liked the idea and we’ll start in May. I think that’s the perfect idea to bring back the right sounds to the young crowd.
You’re renowned for the Technoclub compilations too, but you’ve also mixed albums for the likes of Sony haven’t you? Are their any more imminent compilations?
Nice that you ask! Right now I’m in the production for the coming new Technoclub compilation. After leaving the big majors, I’ll go now with Rough Trade, which is the biggest indie-distribution. They´ll understand the music and how to handle it.
The majors have squeezed out the techno scene and left it lying on the ground. With an indie label I’m much more flexible. Vol. 20 will be called: Talla 2XLC vs. Marc van Linden and the release is scheduled for June 2nd.
Obviously, we’ve been treated to a whole host of anthems and awesome cuts along the lines of ‘The Eternal Mystery’, ‘Love’s Coming Down’, ‘Is Anybody Out There?’, ‘World In My Eyes’ and ‘Can U Feel The Silence?’ over the years: what’s in the pipeline in the near future as far as Talla 2XLC production goes?
I’m more busy than ever, working on different projects with different artists. To name a few: my new Talla 2XLC single ‘Carry Me’ is just finished. It’s a wonderful vocal anthem sung by a marvellous British girl named Katie Marnes. She also worked for Judge Jules. I’ve got some really hammering remixes by Airbase and Martin Roth. It´s unsigned and I’ve just started to offer it to some Labels.
My side project T2 is finished too — the tune is called ‘Lost Souls’ and my UK mate Marcos did a very nice remix job on it. I’m planning to do some collaborations with Nic Chagall from Cosmic Gate, Marc van Linden and I nearly forgot: I did a project with Alex M.o.r.p.h. called ‘Full Prelude’ — it got signed to a famous Dutch label — Fundamental Records and they´ll release it with a ‘Solid Globe’ Remix. So you can see my day could have 48 hours (lol) — I love to work with music . I can’t stop!
We notice your material is all over the likes of Beatport (www.beatport.com). Despite an overwhelming online presence in terms of vinyl sales, have you bowed and come round to the idea of digital/MP3 sales?
Yeah vinyl sales are pretty shitty… I remember in the 90s when we sold 9–10.000 vinyl of our tunes. You can’t stop the digital revolution… you can just try to use it.
The music industry overslept it. Legal downloads help a bit to solve the loss but the main problem is that most of the trance lovers don’t want to pay for the tunes. They´re all computer specialists , they know how to rip.
I think sometimes the internet is more a curse than a blessing. But complaining changes nothing. You have to work quicker , work more , work harder. I´m not a clairvoyant — we just have to arrange use with the web and try use it positively for us.
You were responsible for the Music Research stable, hosting the likes of labels such as Tetsuo, Technoclub, Suck Me Plasma, Chaos and Bonzai. Many cite you as having played a part in trance’s history. Quite an honour isn’t it?
Does somebody honour it? I’m a modest person — I was never caner of the year. But when the audience reacts well to my performances — those are my moments of happiness which counts more sometimes than money.
I just came back from my first gig in Finland. Lots of people came after my set to me and told me their thanks and how long they were waiting to see me personally. It was very special for me!
You’ve got a weekly show on Germany’s Sunshine Live Radio haven’t you? How’s all that going?
The show is doing great. It’s not like those small internet only shows. Sunshine Live is the biggest dance channel (aired over antenna, cable, satellite and web) in Germany. And since I started the weekly 2 hours show the amount of listeners is rising every week.
At present I have app. 85,000 (!) listeners every Thursday from all over Germany, but it’s also heard by fans in Australia, America, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and more.
In the first hour I present upcoming tracks, news and giveaways. In the second, I do an own non-stop mix or play guest mixes. (Thursdays 10–12pm CET. live stream: www.technoclub.tc/radio)
What with all this going, it’s surprising you’ve got the time to step outside Germany. However, you play a huge part in Gatecrasher’s events in the UK don’t you? That must be very fulfilling?
I love to play abroad, I love the UK crowd — they always welcome me with open arms and ears! Travelling is no stress, but it can be when the flights are over 10 hours. But still then when the party rocks, my stress disappears.
The only thing which can make me annoyed is bad technical equipment! I hate bad monitors or mixers with knobs like in some USA clubs….
Actually, you’re playing your part in the huge Gatecrasher Classics night in Leeds on the 30th April. I know it’s a tough question, but if someone forced you to name a few trance classics that you really favour over all the rest, what would they be?
There’s so many good tunes, maybe lots with unfamiliar names so I’ll list some of my all time known favs: Energy 52 — ‘Café del Mar’, Binary Finary — ‘1998’ (Ronski Speed remix), Lustral — ‘Everytime’, William Orbit — ‘Adagio for Strings’, Sosa — ‘The Wave’, Paraglider — ‘Oasis’; and out of my own ones: T2 — ‘8:15 to Nowhere’, Talla calls Moguai — ‘Into Another’.
Obviously, you’ve played for the likes of Space (Ibiza), Slinky (UK), Pacha (Israel), Shadow Lounge (Miami), Glow (Washington) and countless others. We notice you’re also covering German cities such as Hannover, Karlsdorf and Frankfurt in April — and we know you’ve played at huge renown raves such as Love Parade, Lovestern Galaktika, Nature One and loads more. How does Gatecrasher, as a club, compare to your other clubs in your diary? Do you look forward to Gatecrasher gigs?
I was really excited when Simon Oates from Gatecrasher contacted me and asked me to play 4 shows for the Gatecrasher Classics events. As I love the UK crowd, I feel at home with Gatecrasher. But I’m not stuck in the past, I play and produce upfront and uplifting energy trance so I´m looking forward to playing future sets in the UK too.
Gatecrasher is the club who started it all, they brought me first to the UK so I want to give something special back to them and the audience. I might be producing a tune in the near future and call it something with ‘Crasher’ as a musical present….
You can catch Talla 2XLC playing at Gatecrasher Classics @ Discotheque, Leeds, 30.4.06, alongside JFK, John OO Fleming, Rank 1, Riley & Durrant, Stevie G and a live PA from Grace.]
All images courtesy of Talla 2XLC. Not to be reproduced without permission. Share this :: : : :
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Other Features By DJGRH: Interview with Olly Perris & Ashley Sinclair
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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Comments:
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From: K.A.R.L. on 13th Apr 2006 09:50.05 I remember seeing this guy at Crasher in 2000. Awesome. His productions are top notch too.
From: DJ Vale on 13th Apr 2006 19:53.16 Nice one :-)
Talla is a legend!
From: ED_case on 14th Apr 2006 01:42.03 Germany is tough right now, it is infiltrated by hip hop and cheesy techno like Pulsedriver or Scooter. Most of the young crowd in other venues think that’s trance. So Technoclub is nearly the only place fighting against bad taste and when I’m touring in Germany I feel again like a musical missionary.
That sums it up in a nutshell. I sepnt over a year in Berlin, and the commercial scene has absolutely killed trance off. Even pvd tries to distance himself from trance because of its terrible rep, by always claiming he's an electronic music artist.
Probably not many people will know about Talla here, but he's a legend. Trying to get real trance across to people in the way he does is great - like he says, he is on a mission, and fair play to him
From: Andy Dunford on 19th Apr 2006 09:55.45 I know about Talla, I love his productions especially "The Air that I Breathe" and his remix of "Beyond Earth".
He's the kind of artist I wish we would see more of in this country instead of the same old names - especially in London.
From: Andy Dunford on 19th Apr 2006 09:57.04 Are Scooter still going????? Bloody hell! I used to like them when I was at school but not now! (and that was over 10 years ago)
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