
Danilo Plessow (MCDE) @ Dekmantel Selectors 2021

Danilo was always incredibly young with things. He started producing at the age of eleven—“way too early” as he jokes—having his first release out just five years later: Inverse Cinematics’ “Slow Swing”, released on Pulver Records in 2002, and ended up finding its way into Ricardo Villalobos’ record bag as well as onto one of the first Fabric mix CDs. An album under the same name and a string of EPs followed. Dailo’s latest releases, the Motor City Drum Ensemble’s Raw Cuts series in 2010, had the house music world responding strongly to the charmingly fresh and dirty sounding tracks, all mixed down in spontaneous two-hour sessions. Danilo has also released on top labels ranging from 20:20 Vision to Rush Hour as well as his own MCDE and Four Roses imprints, produced for Ben Westbeech and Rainer Trüby and never ceased to amaze with his challenging remix work for artists like Caribou, Jazzanova, DJ Sprinkles and Zero 7. His understanding of how the parts of a track can work has never been more apparent than on his DJ-Kicks mix. In 10 years, playing 80+ gigs a year, including such temples as Berghain, Fabric London, Rex and MOS, he’s absorbed dance history through hard and disciplined work behind the decks. Look at the opening selections of his DJ-Kicks mix to get a glimpse of his amazing ability to fuse totally disparate sound aesthetics into a coherent whole. With the next months holding an extensive tour schedule for Danilo, dancers around the world will be able to experience his gift as a selector first hand. That is, before he gets back into the studio to start working on his first album as Motor City Drum Ensemble as well as a live act. All this will prove, just as his DJ-Kicks is doing now, that there is no such thing as stagnation in the ever-evolving cosmos of Danilo Plessow.
Dekmantel launches Selectors, a new intimate festival and a compilation series. The concept of Selectors focuses heavily on Dekmantel’s support for the art of DJ’ing, celebrating the extra-ordinary DJs that turned collecting and playing music into an art form. The festival will take place at the Garden Resort in Tisno and will host just 1500 people with amongst others Aroy Dee, Carlos Souffront, Helena Hauff, I-F, Traxx, Intergalactic Gary, Juju & Jordash and Motor City Drum Ensemble on the bill. The latter is also responsible for the first Selectors compilation.
Continue reading “Selectors 2016 @ The Garden (Tisno, Croatia) 1-5.09.2016”
Given the “contemporary classic” status of Danilo Plessow’s Raw Cuts series – arguably a string of 12″ singles that helped redefine deep house for a new generation – the announcement of a surprise remix 12″ is enough to make even the most level-headed DJs go weak at the knees. Pleasingly, said remixers more than live up to the hype. Marcellus Pittman’s version – smooth and deep, but with enough raw disco cut-ups and wonky Detroit swing to impress those who like it raw – is particularly good, though Mike Huckaby’s locked-in deep house groover is not far behind. There’s also a superb version from Recloose, whose crackly, shuffling beats, sweeping pads and soulful vocal samples recall his earliest productions for Planet E.
More tracks selected by the Running Back head honcho, Gerd Janson, for our continuing Music For Autobahns series. This 12″ includes tracks previously only on the CD release plus some exclusives…varied and roadworthy electronics that can also be used in cycle lanes and footpaths.
Dani Plessow aka Motor City Drum Ensamle returns to his label for a new EP featuring some Awesome gospel inspired 4 Track House tracks.
MCDE is back with four straight up dancefloor material. With two MCDE as Jayson Brothers tracks on the Aside and on the Bside, Creative Swing Alliance with their trademark House grooves, bringing us some deep goodness. Last but not least, Pablo Valentino also delivers a solo joint.
Deep, melodic reinterpretations of the originals by frontrunners Lone and Motor City Drum Ensemble quickly following up the original EP.
Room With A View crew round out a split EP featuring a variety of deliciously deep cuts from Motor City Drum Ensemble, Nowakowski, Marlow and Marino Berardi.
Two deep house tracks from Latecomer on this new Motor City Drum Ensemble release. Latecomer, a former group with its roots in Moldova, formed by Eugen Kara, Cristofor Aldea-Teodorovici and with interventions from Octavian Cotet. A culmination of simple yet banging soundscapes, traditional approaches and composition linked together with modern rhythms and beats – a soulful tiny particule of the expansive musical universe.
New collaborative project from Belgian duo FCL, San Soda and Red D, joining the omnipresent Danilo of Motor City Drum Ensemble for some seriously raw, stripped back and undiluted house music.
Dairmount curates the third episode of Room With A View’s Midnight Circles vinyl-only series and there’s plenty of reason to indulge. Firstly Motor City Drum Ensemble’ delicious Mr Fingers inspired jam “Moving Through Clouds”. Alongside this is the last ever musical contribution from the dearly departed Aaron Carl, whose distinct tones ride the hypnotic, ever so spectral, Detroit back of Sebastien San with real aplomb. On the flip Basic Soul Unit is in crescendo building mood with the deep, emotive bump of his classic “Bedroom Blues” which is a perfect bedfellow for the one real unfamiliar name here in the shape of Christo. In such exalted company the rising Derby based producer excels with the reverberant skittering brilliance of “New Jazzno” based around the most joyous of jettisoning piano leads.
Motor City Drum Ensenble is back with a double 12” set, featuring 6 vinyl exclusive tracks. A compilation of tracks previously released on CD, new collaborations and a fresh remix! Analogue sounding house and techno tracks from MCDE himself, Hundred 20, Creative Swing Alliance and a remix by John Roberts. Nice versatile package.
LoSoul’s skills in combining rolling grooves with proper Funk attitude and soulfull atmosphere is simply unique. Now he get’s remixed by some partners in crime… Motor City Drum Ensemble and Soleil.