traxx
ViLLan X feat Kold / DCantu – Disparate Implementation [SEQ003]
Killer release on New York’s Sequencias label. Powerful and hypnotic Chicago acid inspired cut on the A and a cool slow building chord driven track layered over raw drum rhythms on the b-side. A pair of artists from two different points along Interstate 94, who have a reputation for the very same. The main body laid down by VILLan X is tight metallic percussion underpinned by solid kicks and a stream of robotic filtered bass, containing unexpected shifts within the frequency register. Foreboding tones and feelings drift towards us across which the disembodied voice of Kold is able to find a platform from which to shudder into our consciousness and pose questions from across the galaxies about the nature of our very being. dcantu carries on the feelings of space, with protracted white noise shots and stabby modulated organ chords, but doesn’t leave it long before setting the pace with solid drums and shifting keyboard funk aimed squarely your body and the dance floor as octave changes force you up and then down again to a backdrop thick with texture. This provides for the body and the mind.
Mutant Beat Dance – Let Me Go [HHYR019]
Fully Koded Chicagoians Traxx and Beau Wanzer team up for another Mutant Beat Dance release. Together they have produced arguably ‘the best 80s Chicago house record NOT made in the 80s. The Mutants call it Jakbeat, inspired by the early days of house music. ‘Let Me Go’ is as intense and rhythmically inclined as they come. Naughty Wood’s sparse vocals cry desperation, almost nearing insanity, which makes up for a pressure cooker like warehouse anthem. ‘Rottonfunk’ is another intense work out which has a killer groove and makes us wander off to the Promised Land (wherever that is).
Blondes – Blondes [RVNGNL012]
Blondes, the duo of Sam Haar and Zach Steinman, release their self-titled debut album for RVNG Intl. The release includes a 8 original tracks CD and a remix CD, featuring among others JD Twitch, John Roberts, Andy Stott and Traxx.
JTC & Traxx CDR Berlin Workshop
Traxx @ Moog (Barcelona) 08.06.2011
The Poetic Painter M – Marie’s Transcendance [MOSDEEP009]
Traxx aka Melvin Oliphant III returs to MOS Deep with a stunning solo-project. Under his The Poetic Painter M pseudonym he serves up ‘Marie’s Transcendance’ backed-up by two reworks from compadre Sean Hernandez aka Chicago Skyway and label owner Aroy Dee. ‘Marie’s Transcendance’ is a frenetic yet hypnotizing house track that echoes memories of downpitched Newbeat material and the hooky coldness of new wave. Melvin, though, re-defines rather than regurgitates these influences and re-launches them into a dark and moody acid-flecked future. Chicago Skyway reworks it into a deep, emotional just as acid-version which seems to float into eternity as solid 808-beat programming plays out busily behind. Aroy Dee edits a second rework of “Marie’s”, creating a simple but highly effective and bouncing track that’s carried along by a psychedelic, out-of-this-world bass line.
VA – Nation presents The Modern Electronic Element EP (Serie 2) [NAT011]
Nation returns to the forefront, compiling a serious arsenal of exclusives. Their motto: RWTHO = Rollin’ With True Heads Only. Traxx unleashes an array different styles that make up the elements of the Jakbeat sound, from a line-up that’s Not for the faint of heart! This is the 2nd in the The Modern Electronic Element series.
Gavin Russom – Night Sky [DFA2289]
DFA Records presents “Night Sky”, a track that grows and grown into an 13 minutes odyssey. The buzzy bottom end enters and expands before Russom’s vocals – alleyway dark and mysterious – make their way in. The song dips and dives, going from barebones synthesizers resting on organic percussion to explosive vocal choruses. The end reunites nearly every sound that made a previous appearance in an ensemble of ecstatic rhythms and noise. Mutant Beat Dance aka Beau Wanzer & Melvin Oliphant III, undo the original and transform it. There are so many new elements to be found here – a thick bassline, shuffling beat, wiry electro etchings, eerie washes of synths that swell unexpectedly and unannounced – it all makes for a collection of sounds that, thankfully, are head swimming in their unique and wonderful unpredictability.
Out Of The Ordinary @ Tape (Berlin) 30.07.2011
if you are in Berlin or around, you cannot afford to miss this!
Some of the recordings from this extraOrdinary celebration of Traxx’ birthday are available here.
VA – The Definition of Jak, the Definition of Hope [LXRC005]
X2 Members: Traxx, D’Marc Cantu & JTC drop a three track V.A. EP on the burgeoning Lux Rec imprint. Each artist delivers, with some pretty signature styles on display. A great EP showcasing these maverick sickos.
Traxx – To The Beat Bizarre! [LIH003]
New release by Traxx, the head of Nation and originator of Jakbeat, on the Lumberjacks in Hell imprint. Traxx from Chicago is a legend behind the decks and a visionare on his Nation, championing an electric, distinctive and highly emotional sound defined as Jakbeat. This release is composed by two lengthy tracks, jam sessions, that give to the listener a perfect image of what his interpretation of the sound is.
Traxx – “Ricochet” Exclusive Session for Electronique.it
Saturn V / X2 – Rhythm Relics EP [NAT009]
New release on Nation, the “Rhythm Relics” EP is an approach towards the beginnings of an evolving acid-driven Dance scene in the UK two decades ago. Stemming ideas from that era, Saturn V and X2 came up with a testament of evolutionary ideas and musical shape-shifting to bring our influences to the audiences of today.
Traxx – Promomixes 010: The Music Box
Traxx in Hipodrom pictures
Traxx @ Home,Frankfurt 10.12.2010
Traxx in Hipodrom @ Flying Time (Sibiu) 30.11.2010
This event is part of the European Tour for promoting Traxx – Faith, Melvin’s Oliphant III solo debut album, out on Nation last year.
Info, links and mixes here.
Traxx in Hipodrom 30.11.2010
† “Painters paint their pictures on canvas, musicians paint their pictures on silence.” Melvin Oliphant III aka Traxx
† Jak your body till you bleed!!!
VA – Fractal Rip [ANT08]
Two deep and deadly jack sojourns from Echospace’s Steve Hitchell and Chicago stalwart Josh Werner! They’ve found a terrifically mean streak of form with this 12″, dropping the heat-seeking jack of ‘Fractal Rip’ on the A-side, built with chewed-up 303 bass gurgles and ruff-cut machine rhythms to help even the most uncoordinated warehouse dweller find their perk.On the flip they offer a harrowing ‘Preludes & Nocturnes’ version of ‘Introspective’ from Traxx’s ‘Faith’ disc, refracting it through Hitchell’s matrix of filters, delays, and assorted vintage FX until it emerges zombified and harrowed.
The Hipodrome Of Music 