Bestival Recorded Live

Unable to do our September radio show due to already being on the Isle Of Wight, our ingenious producer Steve O brought across some gizmo that allowed us to record our set and broadcast that instead.

For once there's no need to endure our terrible crack!

The Cosmic Truth_Live At Bestival by Thecosmictruth on Mixcloud

Oh and after looking back at some vids of the set, I spotted America's Most Wanted villain in the crowd. Clever chap - the FBI would never think to look for Osama at a UK music festival...

..and also making a surprise DJ appearance was John 'Bergerac' Nettles, standing in for Rik 'To The Bone' Moran. He told us he prefers his house music thrapry, not throddy. You heard it here first!

Electric Minds Loft Party

After a busy summer festival hopping, it feels great to be gearing up for a good old late night disco party somewhere in east London. Especially so when the party is thrown by our friends at Electric Minds, who've been putting together some of the most exciting events in London over the last year or so.

Set in a spacious, airy loft space, overlooking the streets of Shoreditch, kitted out with a hefty Funktion One soundsystem, and packed to the rafters with happy, smiley people, these parties have provided us with some of the best nights out we've had for ages. Check out the gallery from the last party, with Mark E and Move D here.

From it's inception, the Electric Minds Loft Party series has been a breath of fresh air, and a massive injection of fun, into London'd clubbing landscape. With programming that has seen local party crews paired with international guests, rising stars next to established trend-shapers, and boundaries pushed by introducing alternative sounds from the likes of critically acclaimed Commix to what can sometimes feel like a somewhat samey scene. The line up this time is no less impressive, with Innervision's Marcus Worgull joined by the excellent Christopher Rau, plus Electric Minds label boss Dolan Bergin, and our good selves!

The last few tickets are selling fast, so grab yourself one asap, and we'll see you on the dance floor!

Buy tickets here.

Check out Christopher Rau's Clubberia podcast here.

Pitch up

Thanks to Charlie TTB for this one. It's ace!

Diskjokkes

Hello to everyone we met at V Festival at the weekend. What a lovely bunch you were!

This was our last track of our set, and one of my current favourites (which I also played on our August radio show), Diskjokke, with 1987.



We're playing Leeds festival this Sunday night with the Moustache Mamas if anyone is up that way.

August Radio

Ministry_Aug_10 by Thecosmictruth on Mixcloud

Find out whether Terry Wogan is a Theo man or a Moodymann, erm, man in this, the first show of 2010 where Ricky and Bazzy are together in the studio.

Community: Plan B

This weekend we're proud and scared in equal measure (who said the Cosmic Truth were never afraid?)

Proud because we (along with our friends at LNA) have been asked to get the ball rolling at new night Community at South London hot spot Plan B. Look out for Moodymann and Floating Points playing there next month!

Scared because it's not often we venture south of the river. Toby says he'll look after us though....

Message us for guestlist.

The Big Chill (...let's pray for sunshine)

Having said that, with a line up like this, we can be pretty sure of a good weekend. We're playing Thursday and Friday on the Gaymers stage. See you there ?

House forever

The Invisible: Spiral

Check out their latest video. And look out for the familiar face...

YouTube

Invisible Blog

Instant Replay: Welcome back Nick!

Playing at Wandy's night below the old T-Bar tonight. And Nick is back in town, so lets....

Space is the place

Only at Glastonbury...

Dancing in a field to the sounds of a 40 piece orchestra, clad head-to-toe in space-age pharoah marching band attire, busting out psychedelic dub, doped-out reggae, live d'n'b, and an out-of-this-world rendition of 'Fire' by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, featuring Arthur Brown himself.

Just when we thought things couldn't get any better, the whole orchestra led a conga dance right through the crowd, to the tune of Sun Ra's psyche jazz epic 'Space is the Place'.

Jerry Dammers and the Spatial AKA Orchestra, we salute you!

Here they are performing the amazing Soul Vibrations of Man on Jools Holland.

Soulful vibez

Not often we post a hip hop mix on here, but I stumbled across this little blend by Nicolas Jaar this afternoon, and it's fitting my vibe at the moment, so I thought I'd share it.

Nicolas Jaar - Tsugi Podcast 129 - 24-03-2010 by R_co

Electric Minds @ Secretsundaze

I'm playing at this Bank Holiday Bonanza on Sunday and it's gonna be mega.

Secretsundaze bank holiday party @ Loft Spaces 1 & 2, Rich Mix Arts Complex, Shoreditch.

Sunday 30th May 2-10.30pm

Room 1 - secretsundaze with The Mole, James Priestley, Giles Smith + special guest

Room 2 - electric minds with Dolan Bergin, Rich 'Cosmic Truth' Chaytor & Minkioni.

Rich Mix has rarely been used for an event of this kind and the 2 top-floor studios have great views of the East End with long windows running along the width of each room, allowing natural light to flood in. Continuing with their new policies this summer, there will be no tickets available in advance. Admission on the door is £8 b4 3pm / £12 after.

To get on the paying guestlist please email info@electricminds.co.uk

Tirk: Ibiza 2010

Friend of ours, all round nice guy and proud parent, Matthew Johnson aka Matty J, told us if you're on the White Isle this Summer you'd be a fool to miss one of the Tirk throwdowns at Space.

I can spot at least half a dozen former Cosmic Truth guests in those line ups so reckon he might be right!

Linos

All you rave-dads out there, ever needed to downsize from your 1210s and turn your music room into a nursery?

Or perhaps you took your turntables to an east end boozer to put on a party and then left it a month to go down and pick them up, only for one of them to have gone walkies. (True Cosmic Truth story, and something I remain wholeheartedly sorry for Balfe!)

Well here is the solution...


Check for the lowdown here.

PS - Who thought this post was going to be about vinyl flooring? Aha, wonder if that's where the name is from...

Tonight: Sweatshop

We (or rather I) return to the old Go!Zilla stomping ground tonight for Sweatshop.

Young Dan Hill has consistently booked top talent for his night - recently we've been spotted on the floor there dancing to 6th Borough Project and who can forget the rammed session the week after NYE when Wevvers played a blinder in the basement.

Tonight I'm upstairs with Minkioni, Dave O (Mintvibe) and Jonathan Amplify, while electronic boogie maestro Linkwood and 'Raymond' Mang are downstairs with Danimal.

Friday Pic

I don't care if stencils are 'played' or whatever. And I'm not looking for the sub-graphical underlying meaning that the artist is subconsciously projecting. It-looks-cool-ok.

Still on the sunshine vibe?

Following Dickie's excellent James Mason selection, here's some more low-slung BBQ soul for y'all. And the track title is kind of fitting too.

And thanks to Gabriella for the link in the first place.

April (Part Deux) Radio Show - Stream/Download

Everyone has been skint this month thanks to the bank holiday at the start followed by four subsequent weekends.

The bonus of a 5 weekend month however is not one but two radio shows from our good selves. (Or rather my good self - Nicky is still on his jaunt!)

Stream

Ministry_Apr_Extra_10 by Thecosmictruth on Mixcloud

Download

Friday Track: James Mason 'I Want Your Love'

This slice of sunshine soul has already been mentioned once on the blog. Like many killer tracks it was first brought to my attention by those Mancunian scallywags Les Unabombers after they included it on their Electric Soul CD. Can't believe that the compilation is nearly seven years old!! Still sounding fresh today (which is more than can be said about most two-bit comps).

Right click to Download

Erica Iris Simmons: Tape Art

Cast your mind back to the days before CDs could be burnt or mp3s could be ripped, when there existed a music format beautiful in its analogue simplicity. The humble cassette tape was (for a brief period) vinyl's cooler, sharper, more portable, recordable brother. In spite of implementing such radical features as Dolby NR and (gasp) auto-reverse, technology advanced and people became frustrated at the shit sound quality and time consuming means of accessing tracks - hence the format was rendered obsolete. (Though to its credit it enjoyed a more fruitful career than mini-disc).

Those old enough to remember using this format may too recall those instances when the cassette would jam in the player. The cartridge would spew out tape ribbon and that freshly recorded Bruno Brookes Top 40 Chart Countdown would be lost forever. Now to the point of all this rambling nostalgia...check out these super cool works of art created using old C90 tape. We can't be sure whether the artist was inspired by such a hardware malfunction (but we'd like to think there is some story behind these incredible works).

Like a lot of great pop art, when you break it down its a relatively simple idea. What makes it stand out is how striking the final result is. You'll find lots more here.

We're waiting for Erica to come knocking asking to do one of me and Nick.

Might be waiting some time....

April Radio Show - Stream/Download

With Balfe still in the wilderness it was left to me to hold the fort again. I did take along a cuddly toy (above) to keep me company.

Here's where you can stream

Ministry_Apr_10 by Thecosmictruth on Mixcloud

Here's where you can download

Malcolm MacLaren RIP

To the man who 'invented' punk, made disco for for the electro poppers, and somehow managed to fuse opera with a 808 drum machine... This is for you.

Cosmic Easter eCard

Trippy shit.

Easter Sunday: Late Night Audio

Late Night Audio is a night we here at The Cosmic Truth have got a lot of mutual respect for and are fortunate to count Toby and Danny as good mates. Therefore given the opportunity to have an intimate little Easter sunday shindig we jumped at the chance.

I'll let the LNA boys give the M.O.


Late night audio returns for 2010 with its original line up for Bank Holiday Easter Sunday at the all new Drop Venue Stoke Newington.

Very limited capacity, a special martin audio floodlight sound system has been installed and lovingly tuned for clarity and audio purity. We will also be warming up the new sound system with a Rane 1620 rotary mixer to ensure depth and good vibrations.

Dickie Chaytor ( The Cosmic Truth )

MJ Down ( Disco Ferox )

Toby Tobias (Rekids / Late night audio)

Daniel Clark (lna recordings)

Late night audio has been busy of late focussing on the recording side of the creative collective. Soon to be released is the Toby Tobias Macasu E.P. This features four amazing cuts on ltd edition quality vinyl soon to be in the shops imminently. To follow this will be the Das Volt E.P with an eagerly anticipated remix from none other than Mark E.

Late night audio has been focusing on influences by the less well known, but no less legendary tracks and Dj's from Disco, early Boogie, Balearia and leftfield electronic jams to stripped back modern workouts, that re-translate them into warm late night emotive sounds and speaker collages for 21st century.

This night is one not to be missed, true late night sounds.

Now That's What I Call House Vol. 1

It's OK everybody, we've found an image for the packshot...

Once upon a time..

So a few weeks ago I tried to get into Carwash at The Aquarium. It's an amazing disco night based in London's trendy Old Street district, a bit like New York's midtown.

They didn't like the look of me and said it was full so I told them about this blog and how I could get them some exposure. It didn't work and they seemed even more agitated after I brought it up.

I went back to the club last week and saw this sign...




(The sign is real, the anecdote isn't)

Well Balearic

Look De Ibiza (Ku Club Tourist Promo Video) from Paul Byrne on Vimeo.

A bit of vintage White Isle tackle for you here... A promotional video for the legendary Ku Club from the mid-80s. As well as all those gratuitous topless shots and bronzed torsos, the soundtrack is amazing, and apparently inspired one of Harvey's most sought after mix tapes.

Thanks to Balearic Mike, Phil Mison, and Testpressing.org for the link.

Friday tune

As Dickie quite rightly pointed out, I'm currently traveling through the outback of northern Spain. Anytime I set foot on a bus, heading for my next destination, the hook from a very special record immediately starts looping itself around my head.

The track is 'Road Trip' by The Fifth Edition, aka none other than Luke Solomon and Justin Harris, from Music for Freaks, and Faith old boy, Diesel. Released on 20:20 Vision way back in 1996, when despite being only a nipper (sort of), I was regularly sneaking my way into the seminal Leeds club, Back To Basics. Looking back, this is one of the tracks that soundtracked the early days of my love for house music, getting regular play from Basics residents and guests, including Ralph Lawson, James Holroyd, Huggy, Derrick Carter, Miles Holloway & Elliot Eastwick, Pete Heller, Dino & Terry and the Inland Knights amongst many others. For anyone who's ever been to Back to Basics, I'm sure they'd agree that those memories will last forever.

Anyway, you've done enough reading. Listen to this instead.

March Radio Show Stream/Download

With Balfe still in Spain 'finding himself' it was left to me to fly the flag this month.

The show features tracks from Herb Albert, FK, Danny Wang, Supermax and a new 12" on DFA to name a few.

Need to go back through what I played and put the full tracklist in the player. But for now you have the joy of listening without knowing what's coming up - just like when you listen to the radio.

Funny that.

Ministry_March_10 by Thecosmictruth on Mixcloud

Download here

Seventh City Techno

"Barry Gordy built the Motown sound on the same principles as the conveyor belt at Ford's. Today they use robots and computers to make their cars and I'm more interested in Ford's robots than Gordy's music." Juan Atkins, 1988.  

Nice article about Detroit Techno in it's early years, from The Face, back in May 1998. Thanks to OMM Editor Luke Bainbridge for the link. Via Twitter. 

Download a copy before it dissapears.

Cyberdance top 100

Back in October of last year we threw a party with one of our favourite producers and DJs, the italo disco fiend that is Casionova. 

As well being an ace party DJ, Casionova also hosts a weekly radio show on Intergalactic.FM, called Magic Waves. After four years of broadcasting, the most recent show featured the top 100 most played records since Magic Waves began. And there have been some killers! 

Listen to the show here.  

Get Into The Groove

Amazing close up shots of the grooves of a record, taken by Chris Supranowitz , a researcher at The Institute Of Optics at the University of Rochester. That's Rochester in New York state. As opposed to the town in Kent.

This shot is from above - the black here is the uncut vinyl.

You can see the dust particles in the shot below.

If you've got some old red/blue 3D spex you can get cosmic and check out the depth in the shot of the groove below!


Original photos and info taken from the Synth Gear website.

Naked & The Boys

Randomly found this footage of an old Naked & The Boys performance from a couple of years ago.


And right at the end there's a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo appearance from Ricky & Nicky.


Shame NATB are no longer operating, but Jack is busy building a new studio and has a new band and some tricks up his wizard's sleeve. Let's reminisce with a rewind on one of their best tracks - 'If You Find Love'. Admittedly not cosmic, but nice and jangly.

Released at the height of their popularity, when they'd signed to Young And Lost, Jack and Tommy had the world at their feet. Shame about that crack and hooker problem JB picked up as a result! And he used to be such a pretty boy as well.



Speaking of blink-and-you-miss-it cameos, look out for friend and one time Cosmic Truth door-whore Paul Woodson featuring.

Mrs Berkley, if you're reading this (which I admit is highly unlikely) I'm only jossing above about Jack's vices. Though he IS a pretty boy. I might post that Japanese chocolate bar advert he did and (kept very quiet about) if I can find it!

Music..

Like London buses, two recommendations have come my way simultaneously...

Nice Spotify playlist here - Ibiza- 82-86 - Let me take you to the place

Good mix collection here - www.noncollective.com

FYI: I've not checked the mix collection out yet, but it came via a friend in-the-know in an email that had the subject title 'GOLDMINE'.

So it's gotta be at least half decent!

Camden Town. I'll meet you by the underground...

.. or maybe a boozer would be a better option, given the current climate.

On Saturday Dickie 'The Cosmic Truth' Chaytor (me) is filling in for Ben 'Disco Bloodbath' Pistor at Camden's finest watering hole The Lock Tavern. Expect disco, house, punk-funk, balearic and smoov grooves 4 da laydeez.*


And on the subject of Camden town...

Just opposite The Lock Tavern is the famous Roundhouse venue where on Wednesday night I witnessed my talented Turbo flatmate Georgie Commix win the RBMA four way Soundclash with his Metalheadz cohorts. Up against the formidable talents of Soul II Soul, Trojan Soundsystem and DMZ, it was certainly no mean feat! Brrrrap!



*OK- possibly not the last one!

February Radio Show Stream/Download

Fresh from gigging with Weatherall, thanks to Dave O joining me in the studio to fill Nick's Size 10s.

Ministry_Feb_10 by Thecosmictruth on Mixcloud

Download link here

RBMA

Had a weekend of beard stroking thanks to Red Bull Music Academy, who are using London as this year's base to "explore music beyond the beat".

Friday I was at Royal Festival Hall for the Resident Advisor RBMA electronic pioneers showcase ft. Carl Craig et al.

Then Saturday it was I.C.A for Jazzy B, giving a talk about his musical path set against the backdrop of London's various scenes and subcultures, followed by an Ableton workshop hosted by friend of The Cosmic Truth, Toby Tobias.

Afterwards I was given an advance listen to Toby's forthcoming release on LateNightAudio and can honestly say its the best track I've heard in 2010 so far. Will post more about the track closer to the release, but for now here's the Motor City Drum Ensemble remix, which features as part of the package:

Toby Tobias - Macasu (MCDE`s Loft Party Mix) by invrs

Friday Tune

Thanks to Giles Smith (secretsundaze) and Martin Dawson (King Roc) aka Two Armadillos for turning in this deep as you like remix.

Designed With That In Mind (Two Armadillos Tribute To Trax Remix) [Fear of Flying] by sheenatanna

It was 'Dangerous' Dave Oscroft who turned me onto this. In a display of typical East london incest, it was Dave (along with our design stalwart Sammy 'J' Muir) who we owe thanks to for supplying the amazing art direction on the secretsundaze Summer '09 campaign.

Such as...





Tune in at 7pm next Thurs 4th Feb, when Dave and Sam will be donning their MINTVIBE hats and joining The Cosmic Truth in the Ministry Of Sound studio for our February show.

I:CUBE 'Falling' (Versatile Recs)

Thanks to Toby Tobias for telling me about this little number from I:CUBE (btw no relation to this guy who was in N.W.A.)



Like the description given by Piccadilly Records of it:
"lots of late 80s disco-dub references and has a decidedly lush, French sound (I'm trying not to use the word ‘cosmic’ here) with ultra crisp detail and clean production. Both soundtracky and dancefloor orientated at the same time, and perfect driving music if you ask me."

Buy it here.

Here's a link to I:CUBE's his BIS mix

Cosmic DnB?

Well whatever the genre, this is proper heavy... Turn it up, and wait for the bassline! 

RA 187 - Tensnake

It's been a while since a mix captivated me like this one. Download here.

01 - Groove Armada - Dan-Solo (Album Edit)
02 - Lindstrom & Christabelle - Lovesick
03 - 6th Borough Project - McLovin
04 - Tiger & Woods - Gin Nation [Editainment - Tain 2]
05 - Kim - Give Me The Dance
06 - Floating Points - Vacuum Boogie
07 - Ike - Diskadenz
08 - Bass Hitt - The Beat That Makes You Move
09 - Blunted Dummies - House For All
10 - The Royal We - Party Guilt (Dinky's Arp-A-Pella)
11 - Sound Stream - Soul Train
12 - Rockers Revenge - Dubbing On Sunshine
13 - Rick Wilhite - Drum Patterns & Memories (Rick's Morning Service Mix)
14 - Liberty City - If You Really Love Someone + Andre Hayden Project - Tribal Life
15 - Tony Lionni - Found A Place
16 - Blake Baxter - Our Luv
17 - Raz - Amour Puerto Riqueno
18 - Tensnake - Coma Cat
19 - Tensnake - Somethin About You
20 - Sterling Void - It's Alright
21 - (NYE noise)
22 - Saint Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart

Tensnake RA 187 - Resident Advisor Podcast // 12-28-2009 by Tensnake

More from the archive

The final days at the Cosmic Loft are upon us (sob) but in the process of clearing out the vaults, I've come across a shed load of mixes to keep me entertained. 

Accompanying the trash-sorting today has been a live recording of a mix by that lovable ray of Mancunian sunshine, Balearic Mike. 

Download Balearic Mike Live @ Cafe 1001