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Chatting to Skrufff last month, underground techno producer and one-time US Marine Abe Duque was decidedly blasé about being arrested with his Rambo style army issue hunting knife at JFK Airport, though emailing this week, revealed his optimism was justified. "I won my court case. I was acquitted of all charges, because of the improper handling of evidence on the police officer's side," said Abe. "They screwed up the chain of custody of the knife and with no knife in evidence the judge had to dismiss the case. I went on a serious bender after I won," he laughed. As a teenager growing up in Jamaica, Queens he was first arrested and fined for 'criminal mischief and vandalism' aged 14 after being caught writing graffiti, with street gangs another issue he had to cope with at the time. "Gang violence was inescapable at that time. Either you knew how to deal with that situation or you were in a lot of trouble," he recalls. Though the gangs were more important in the 70s, with gangs such as the Latin Kings. In the 80s they started to become crews and became more about artistic expression, such as graffiti and break dancing," he adds "Which sounds kinda gay if you think about it," he chuckles. 'Oh, we've got problems, let's dance it off'. But that's actually what happened and break dancing was taken really seriously at the time. So I was lucky that the violence wasn't so bad. I remember hearing from older generations of rumbles, involving sticks and chains. No knives. I didn't really face that, though I did face a lot of violence. New York in the 80s was a very different place to how it is now. You were afraid to be on the train after 9pm at night, you were afraid to be in certain neighbourhoods if you were a certain colour." Leaving New York to join the US Marine Corps in 1986, he was also lucky to leave the army just as the US invaded Iraq for the first time in 1990." I was getting out the same month it was happening. So the same month I was signing out, all my friends were packing up to go. I was like 'see you later, guys, have a good time' (laughing dryly). I missed it, yeah." Instead, he concentrated on establishing himself on the global DJ circuit, becoming a leading light on Germany's then nascent techno scene releasing tracks on then uber cool label Disko-B. "In the mid 90s I had a nice little run. I was signed to a label in Germany and released three albums which did quite well- I toured Germany a lot," he recalls. "I wouldn't say I was a rich, rich man but I was making enough money to live OK. Money wasn't the first thing on my mind." However, by the end of the decade his fortunes changed dramatically as, in the post Michael Alig relatively austere era, he increasingly struggled to find gigs. "I actually took on a regular job, I was always good with my hands so I took a job as a carpenter/ finisher for a company that was servicing the offices of (investment bank) JP Morgan," he recalls. "I was finishing CEOs' and other bankers' desks while they were cooking up the economic trouble we're in now. That was actually a very well paid job compared to what I was making in clubs and music. So that pulled me out of the hole for a bit but I remember standing in an elevator one day just thinking 'I'm bored to hell, I've got to get out of here'. So I convinced my wife to try music for one more year. This was in 2000. I asked her to give me another chance and said if it doesn't work I'll quit this path forever, if it does then let's see where it goes. And it worked. I gave it everything I had." 9 years on, he's back near the top of the techno tree, touring the world's bigger techno stages where he's performing tracks off his new album 'Don't Be So Mean'. Always a fan of punchy titles (previous efforts include 2005 album 'So Underground it Hurts' and 90s single 'Champagne Days, Cocaine Nights', he's refreshingly no nonsense and direct, qualities he admits have more than likely been ingrained from his military training. "You might not like the military for political reasons, such as the killing that's involved but there's a certain purity about the mentality of being a soldier," he suggests, "I still think there is something honourable in that one little aspect of it." "And the training they put you through, especially in the Marine Corps, is extremely severe. It's basically intended to break you so they can build you back up again in their mould, but when you're a young person and you're pushed to the extremes of your psyche and mind and body then you find out your limits and what you are capable of. You're allowed to grow in a way that you wouldn't if you were just hanging round your parents house watching TV, getting high in the basement." Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): Why did you join the Marines, what was your mindset when you did that? Abe Duque: "I have to be honest, I was a poor kid and it was a way out. In the States you have to pay for your university and it was virtually impossible to do it if you didn't have any money. So I took advantage of what is called a GI Bill where they pay for your college. That's how they get you, and they still get you like that. It's sad that they lure kids in, with the promise of a future like that." Skrufff: Did you leave the Marines with an ultra-disciplined attitude of 'now I'm going to be a DJ and apply myself with total focus?' Abe Duque: "I didn't think of it that way consciously but the training and attitude was with me and it's still with me today. A friend of mine today often tells me when I'm dealing with situations that I handle them in a certain way because I went to boot camp. I find that I'm resilient. Maybe I would have been anyway but I do notice situations sometimes where my friends freak out and lose it that I have a certain level headed way of dealing with it." Skrufff: Your biog talks of you being extremely broke and poor in the early 90s . . . Abe Duque: "That was more the late 90s, in the mid 90s I had a nice little run. I was signed to a label in Germany and released three albums which did quite well- I toured Germany a lot. I wouldn't say I was a rich, rich man but I was making enough money to live OK. Money wasn't the first thing on my mind." Skrufff: How did it change from comfortable to tough, did your bookings suddenly dry up? Abe Duque: "Yeah, exactly, I stopped getting booked plus there was no hype on my name. So I started concentrating more on doing parties in New York but you know how that is. You're always dreaming of that big payoff but it never comes. You work your ass off, you're in clubs every single day but nothing ever comes off. So I had to give that up. The club owner made money but never the guy doing the party." Skrufff: You were hanging out with Michael Alig, one of your songs is called Champagne Nights, Cocaine Days'. . . Abe Duque: "Yes, you could call those days like that." Skrufff: Ketamine was also a big drug on that scene. . . Abe Duque: "I never really got into those harder drugs, I'm not an angel but I was lucky not to develop any of the serious addictions that many people on that scene developed. First there was ecstasy, then heroin was the next big trendy drug, then K (ketamine) was the big thing. And these days I guess it's coke. I've seen it all." Skrufff: Did you have any freaky dressing phases? Abe Duque: "No, I was more the music producer- slash DJ- slash in-the-office guy." Skrufff: How did your breaks come when you decided to quit your carpenter job and return to DJing and making music full time? Abe Duque: "Mostly through production. I seriously think I did it all through the studio. I started a label where I decided to use no artwork, and etched in the details. Then I'd make records and not give them to anybody. I'd not even tell DJ friends I was making tracks, I just put them out. It worked, because people started to notice them. Plus I got lucky a couple of times. Firstly, Sven Vath found one of the tracks and he charted it and that provided enough promotion in itself. That started the hype coming, then around release number 5 or 6, DJ Hell asked me to produce his album in New York. And that made a huge difference. Hell was at the centre of the universe at that point and once he started working with me everybody else was suddenly interested. I had the Pet Shop Boys phoning me up and asking me to produce their album. Though in the end it didn't work out. I did a couple of remixes for them." Abe Duque's new album Don't Be So Mean is out now. http://www.myspace.com/abeduque source: Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com)

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Seeing The Orb in all their glory just last year at the Global Gathering festival, they're still firmly impanted in our memories. As such, it was distressing today to hear the news that Andy Hughes – producer for electronic pioneers The Orb as well as Basement Jaxx – had passed away. Whilst such sad news was at first difficult to believe genuine, it has since been confirmed with a formal statement from The Orb's agency in the United States, WME Entertainment. ELECTRONIC MUSIC ENGINEER/PRODUCER GENIUS ANDY HUGHES OF THE ORB SADLY PASSES AWAY ON FRIDAY 12TH JUNE 2009 Andy Hughes, electronic music producer/DJ who was born 11th November 1965 and, and who lived and grew up in Harrow, Middlesex, tragically passed away on Friday 12th June 2009 after a short illness. Andy was a genius who gave so much inspiration and passion to all with his incredible work. He was loved by many aficionados of the trance/ambient genre, but will be especially remembered for his work with Alex Paterson and The Orb, most notably the album Orblivion and single Toxygene, which reached number 4 in the UK charts in 1997. Together with his musical partners Alex Patterson and former members Kris Weston, Simon Phillips and Thomas Fehlmann together with Nick Burton of Westworld fame, Andy created electronic and ambient/techno/house/dub masterpieces. These took him across the globe where he played to masses of fans in countries including the USA, Japan and Canada as well as a sell out concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 1998. In 2000 he started producing music on his own and more recently produced music for artists such as Kovak and Basement Jaxx at their neighbouring studios in Brixton, London. Andy was an incredibly doting and loving father who always made time for his children Gabriel and Circe and their father's passing will leave a chasm in both their lives… At just 44 years of age, Andy Hughes' death is a tragic one, and his contributions and advancements to electronic music won't be quickly forgotten. source: http://www.inthemix.com.au/

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PHuture 303 Iz Back With Their Long Awaited Single "7even" Featuring Vocals by The Legendary DJ Spank-Spank Bonus Mix By Roy Davis Jr. Release: Date 04 30 09 Where: Beatport.com Label: C.O.D. Digital Track list Title Mixes: click here to listen to the tracks *PHuture 303's Blackout Mix *Proffessor Traxx Trance Mix *Jake Wuntaq's Hardcore Mix *Roy Davis Jr's. Bonus Mix source: www.myspace.com/phuturemuziq

Armatura Bonus on a techno tip with 15th release coming from Serbia's
no.1 soulman mr. Subotic.Also included are remixes by two Serbian
producer teams.Speed Progress for a more modern and minimal approach
and Concrete Djz doing a metalic trademark club techno rework.



01 Subotic - Relentless (Original)
02 Subotic - Relentless (Kibz & Dfndr RMX)
03 Subotic - Relentless (Concrete Djz RMX)


Previews LINK
Release LINK

In Shops 20.06.2009.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idKjx-Uox8s

Subotic - Relentless (Original Mix)




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FEEDBACK



Thanks for sending this.
Digging the Kibz and Dfndr Mix a lot.
PAUL MAC (UK)

This is exactly the kind of techno i like.
The snares in original remind me of the good times of speedy j.
really love it!
C-SYSTEM (SPA)

Thanks! Original is cool,ill be playing it for sure.
DJ MIKA (BIH)

Real kick ass release from armatura records ,
all tracks are perfect to fit diffrent styled sets.
ALAVUX (RS)

All 3 tracks rock.
My fav. the original,massive track.
Will definitely play it.
VEGIM (KS)

Bass heavy goodness!
Will be playing out the original mix for sure.
PATRICK DSP (CAN)

Strong remix from Concrete Djz.
LORINO (CRO)

All 3 tunes are really interesting,kinda dark and smooth techno
i like it quite a lot!
RYUJI TAKEUCHI (JAP)

I find "Relentless original" and Concrete Djz remix cool.
I play the original in my set.
RIINO (FR)

Der Concrete DJz gefällt mir persönlich am Besten. Mächtiger düsterer
Techno mit einer gewissen Portion Groove für den Dancefloor.
DL-E (GER)

The Original Subotic Relentess is pure Techno Fantastic, I Lovethis !
ALEX STRUNZ (BRA)

Hey guys, thnx for the promo. Original Mix from Subotic is a burner.
KENY (SLO)

Author: Various Artists Title: LO MEJOR DE OFFAUDIO Date: 25-05-2009 Type: COMPILATION Quality: 256,320 Kbps License: Creative Commons TRACKLIST 01 ALPRAZOLAM - Anti Todo (08:07) | Offaudio08 02 MI TELEVISION - Giakomo Rondinella (08:26) | Offaudio13 03 PEREGRUZCA - Illya Zonov (06:33) | Offaudio56 04 FANTOMIC TRAIN - Vizar (07:45) | Offaudio30 05 OLFATO - Pablo Akaros (08:07) | Offaudio17 06 REFRAGMENTADO - Banding! (06:17) | Offaudio47 07 AGUA DULCE AGUA SALA - Numbtone (06:39) | Offaudio54 08 LOS LUNEROS - Fat Fredy (06:00) | Offaudio25 09 IMPUDENCE - Vadim Lankov (06:48) | Offaudio31 10 SABOTAJE - Dessben (05:32) | Offaudio44 11 STAR TRACK - Karla Van Goa a.k.a. Killminimal (07:44) | Offaudio55 12 CAMINOSO - Raphy Beltre (07:15) | Offaudio57 13 OH YEAH! - Sr. Click (06:42) | Offaudio21 14 I AM DARKNESS - Neighbor (05:46) | Offaudio51 15 NEGACION - Ben Businovski (08:12) | Offaudio10 16 NINE FLOATERS - Hd Substance (05:33) | Offaudio45 17 N.A.M. AGE - N.A.M. (05:02) | Offaudio58 18 SILVIADTL35 - Mike Turned (05:40) | Offaudio22 19 PARQUE EUROPA - Dessben (06:30) | Offaudio35 20 NEUTRO - Icy Brain (06:41) | Offaudio06 21 SALAM! - Unai Maleski (06:54) | Offaudio52 22 A - Mr. Noitami (05:32) | Offaudio19 23 PERFECCION - Victor Martinez & Kike Pravda (05:19) | Offaudio36 24 RANT - Archae & Grovskopa (05:00) | Offaudio27 25 REMEMBER FOR ME - Kuniaki Takenaga (05:43) | Offaudio49 FREE DOWNLOAD! Web: www.offaudio.com Contact: www.offaudio.com/contact.php Myspace: www.myspace.com/offaudio Twitter: twitter.com/offaudio Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Offaudio/33021809550 Discogs: http://www.discogs.com/label/OffAudio LEGAL INFORMATION This works are licensed under "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/" modality of the Creative Commons license to copy, distribute, display and perform the work under the following conditions: source: http://offaudio.com/releases.php?rel=59