Posted by: Derek

I had the pleasure of meeting LA-based producer Nicholas Bennison when I worked for Looq records back in the day.

Originally from the UK, Nicholas is a killer producer and DJ. He’s a genre chameleon, switching from melodic progressive to trance, tech-trance, and full-on psy, and his sound has gotten the attention of some of the biggest names in the biz, and he’s done original work and remixes for a crap-ton of labels, including legendary Hook Recordings.

He tends to keep it pretty tough and rolling - as reflected in his own sound and also that of his label Propulsion Records.

This set from him from 2004 runs the gamut of sounds, and is chock full of solid tunes. I grabbed it from his website at the time of release back when and it’s been with me ever since! Actually, I remember it from a particular night of it playing in my car while I ferried Jondi and Spesh between gigs on NYE…

It makes killer road music - so burn yourself a copy for the road to Black Rock if you’re going to BM this year — it will definitely keep the journey interesting.

Listen here:

Nicholas Bennison - Energy FM 2004 Mix (right-click to download)

Posted by: Derek

I always thought Norweigians were pleasant, mild mannered folk, but if you listen to the music of production duo Rawthang, they’re fulla some serious fuel too.

This is a DnB release I stubled upon years ago when it was first released on Orgone Records (a sublabel of previously covered DJ Dara’s Breakbeat Science powerhouse), and I haven’t been able to forget it since.

Both cuts are pretty driving, wih some searing production work.
Unity is 100 percent full on ravey, with a nu-Hoover inspired lead and some piano work that could find it’s way into a Happy Hardcore tune…minus the happy!
B-side Netrunner (my fave) is full on cyberpunk - deep wet-as-frack bass stabs, and skittter lines to make you feel like you’re INSIDE THE MACHINE…

Check em out:

Unity

Netrunner

Sadly, Rawthang have almost NO internet presence, but you can find their other releases listed on their discography. Some may have been vinyl-only, as I believe this one is too - so these are rare gems!

Posted by: Derek

This coming Saturday, there’s love in the air at Shine when we gather to rejoice in the union of Jeff Ziskin and his lovely bride Yanti!

If you don’t already know Jeff, he’s also known as the notorious Floorcraft, one of the fastest guns in town for throwing down some mean progressive techno beats. He’s even got a killer set up here on the Beatery to getcha shakin in yer britches!

But don’t let his driving rhythms fool ya - he’s got enough heart to go around, and on this Saturday’s special installment of his (in)famous monthly Freeform vs Dubalicious, we’re gonna celebrate the joining of that heart with the fair maiden from the East, Yanti!

This event is gonna go all out, bringing you banging beats from non other than the groom himself and his partner in crime Jonboy!

To help bring the rock, Beatery slingers DJ Cor and Derek Ryan, and Kitchen resident Marc Fong, will be throwing down some mean riddums to add our compliments and positive energy to the bliss of our nupitals!

So come raise the roof and join in the love and joy as we send our dear friends off into the marital starlight!

When: Saturday, August 14th 2010
Where: Shine - 1337 Mission St, San Francisco, CA (map)
Why: Awesomeness!!!!!!1!

For more info, see the Facebook event page!

Posted by: Derek

This mix is a mix-tape length (~45 min) collection of trance that makes me happy; uplifting, spiritual, sentimental yet bangy trance. So often as trance djs, we get caught in the 140bpm bubble (my car even says “I <3 140bpm" haha) and everything is just bang-bang-bang for your entire set, and we omit the emotion that makes a set connect with people. So, hopefully this set reaches somebody on a more emotional level. I think my favorite track is Never Fade Away, followed by Every Other Way at a close second. Jes's voice just kills me!
drink it down!

Posted by: Derek

Laura Pedersen, aka DJ Lahbug, has been rocking dancefloors in some of the Bay Area’s best clubs for the past three years with some killer prog and trance sounds. She’s throwing down some serious love here for The Beatery with a set inspired first by emotion, but also, she confesses, by a tantalizing bottle of perrier jouet rose champagne that was taunting her during a recent gig in Vegas…

This mix is a mix-tape length (~45 min) collection of trance that makes me happy; uplifting, spiritual, sentimental yet bangy trance. So often as trance djs, we get caught in the 140bpm bubble (my car even says “I <3 140bpm" haha) and everything is just bang-bang-bang for your entire set, and we omit the emotion that makes a set connect with people. So, hopefully this set reaches somebody on a more emotional level. I think my favorite track is Never Fade Away, followed by Every Other Way at a close second. Jes's voice just kills me!

DJ Lahbug - Champagne Magnum (right-click and save-as to download)

tracklist after the jump!

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