It is amazing really that it has taken the passage of 25 Avenue Red Podcast episodes before we came to present a DJ/Artist from Germany, especially when we consider it's prominence on the underground music map and the colossal amount of quality music the country emits. And here is installment 26 from Cologne-based DJ, producer, label boss and radio show host Andy Vaz. Originally from Düsseldorf where Kraftwerk originated, Andy is the man behind Background Records, a label that since it's incarnation in 1998 became a key conduit of the true Minimal Techno sound with a release catalogue that is steeped in stripped down, dark and undeniably hypnotic techno - often with some more experimental materials in the mix too. Artists such as: Akufen, Sutekh, Jan Jelinek, Todd Sines, Terrence Dixon, Jeff Milligan, Submania, Rhythm Maker, Kit Clayton, Ectomorph, Deadbeat, Baby Ford, Stewart Walker, Donnacha Costello, Geoff White, Smyglyssna, Portable, Frivolous and many others have graced the Background stage.
But Andy Vaz was not one to build his career in electronic music in the bounds of a genre-purist, even though Background was in itself a very clinical and defined brand of techno minimalism. Having always had an equal appreciation for house music too, Andy decided to start a second label called A Touch Of Class in 1999 for the housier shades of music that he wanted to purvey, with the first release an absolute classic - Rick Wade's "Deep Threats EP". In march 2007 Andy launched another label called YORE, which is his ongoing label project to focus on the authentic old-skool Detroit & Chicago House sound with original artists such as Chez Damier, Terrence Dixon, Todd Sines, Alton Miller and again Rick Wade featured on this growing platform. Andy is also very versatile as an artist, having released minimal techno works, obscure oddities, straight-up house music, and has released some conceptual works too in the form of his Soundvariation series (recommended!). Andy is actually the man behind the latest YORE record too with his new EP "It's OK" (YRE-031), the lead track from which opens this mix. The release is due soon, but for now you can hear the preview for the whole EP here: https://soundcloud.com/andyvaz/andy-vaz-its-ok-yre-031-12-preview.
We decided to invite Andy to the Avenue Red Podcast after hearing him play on his weekly Saturday night House Of Hope radio shows on Motion FM, as we realised what a truly entertaining, varied and colourful selector he is. In this mix Andy has dug through his record collection to pull out a very groovy and uplifting set of NY House, Garage, Chicago Acid and also some nice, deep Disco-tinged House music with a kind of party feel to it. But the set has real depth, showing Andy to be a DJ with a vastness of musical knowledge that, coupled with his proven passion and experience, means he really knows how to "work it" on the decks! Enjoy the mix everyone!
"Taking you back like it's '95!" Andy Vaz, September 2014
Discogs :: http://www.discogs.com/artist/53501-Andy-Vaz
Personal Site :: http://andy-vaz.de/
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LABEL SITES
Background :: http://www.background-records.de/data/
Soundvariation :: http://www.soundvariation.de/
YORE :: http://www.yore-records.com/
@andyvaz
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No tracklist was provided for this mix, but do feel free to ask for track ID's in the comments.
