Mule Musiq, one of Japan’s leading techno/house labels, is the focus of our attention this time around. Owned and operated by Toshiya Kawasaki, Mule Musiq (and its sub-labels, Mule Electronic and Endless Flight) offers a uniquely Japanese point of view that’s helped popularize Force of Nature and Kuniyuki, while also hosting standout releases from Terre Thaemlitz, Minilogue, Henrik Schwarz, Lawrence and even Lydia Lunch (among many others). Mr. Kawasaki was kind enough to answer our questions about the differences between Japanese and Western music industries, the label’s origins and Mule Musiq’s philosophy for running a successful label.
little white earbuds
Zomby, The Lie
January 6, 2009 – 10:35 PM
[Ramp Recordings] (buy vinyl)
Zomby sees himself as part of the undead but with a taste for skunk weed instead of flesh. He is a resolutely anonymous producer whose publicity photo has few clues into his identity: he wears white gloves and a mask of the all-seeing eye of providence. Zomby’s been banned from dubstep forums, [...]
LWE’s Top 20 Singles of 2008 (Part 4)
December 24, 2008 – 9:14 PM
05. Matias Aguayo, “Minimal”
[Kompakt] (buy)
In the year that minimal either went cynical or cyclical, or simply gave its critical audience more to harp about than usual, Matias Aguayo played devil’s advocate with “Minimal.” Aguayo’s late-night lover-man persona can be hard to read, so who really knows if this is smackdown or pisstake (I daresay it’s [...]
LWE’s Top 20 Singles of 2008 (Part 3)
December 23, 2008 – 8:45 PM
10. Sascha Dive, “Deepest America”
(Moodymann remix) [Ornaments] (buy)
Building up from a classic Motor City stomp into a looped-out masterpiece with energy to spare, Moodymann’s frenetic take on Sascha Dive’s “Deepest America” was a timely reminder of Kenny Dixon, Jr.’s mastery over the sampledelic end of the spectrum. Tastefully limiting the now-cliched Afrocentric speech of the [...]
LWE’s Top 20 Singles of 2008 (Part 2)
December 22, 2008 – 8:29 PM
15. Melchior Productions Ltd, “Who Can Find Me (I Can’t)” [Cadenza] (buy)
“Who Can Find Me (I Can’t)” has to be one of the best emotional minimal tracks of 2008. It’s brittle structure and softly plodding drums are classic Melchior, but something about the shimmering arpeggios and mournful vocals make this one especially heavy-hearted. “Choir” makes [...]
LWE’s Top 20 Singles of 2008 (Part 1)
December 21, 2008 – 9:45 PM
In the face of critical malaise, 2008 was a great year for techno and house singles. As the landscape shifted further from minimal, deep-house (already as broad a term as “minimal”), dub and tribal sounds came back strong, joined by brand name Berghain techno, dubstep and its techy (as of yet unnamed) brother. There was [...]
LWE’s Top 10 Overlooked Tracks of 2008
December 15, 2008 – 7:23 PM
For our second year end column, LWE’s editor-in-chief, Steve Mizek, digs up his top 10 overlooked tracks of 2008.
Thousands upon thousands of tracks are released each year, followed by remix packages, online exclusives, reissues and more. So it’s inevitable that a number of great tunes and remixes get passed over, escaping even the most obsessive [...]
DJ Sprinkles, Midtown 120 Blues
December 10, 2008 – 8:24 PM
Art by Joe Baran
[Mule Musiq] (buy CD)
Like disco before it, house music was born in queer club culture, one of the few places its artists and patrons — mostly gay minority men — could be themselves without fear of reprisal. And also like disco, house was co-opted by ever larger audiences, shedding its ethnicity and [...]
LWE, James Kartsaklis, Thunderous Olympian @ Cafe Lura
December 10, 2008 – 8:53 AM
Chicago, we’ll bring the music if you bring the dance. James Kartsaklis, Thunderous Olympian and LWE editor-in-chief, Steve Mizek, will be rocking our own Polish paradise, Cafe Lura (3184 N Milwaukee), this Thursday from 9pm until 2am. It’s only $5 to get in; $5 Redbull/vodkas, $4 Okocim bottles and $3 domestic biers. Hope to see [...]
Jackmate, Malawi Dub
December 9, 2008 – 11:39 PM
[Phil e] (buy vinyl)
Michel Baumann has had a good 2008, with his Soulphiction album Do You Overstand as one of 2008’s quiet achievers, and a few great Jackmate singles. On “Malawi Dub” he’s got the architecture of the track just right. This one builds effortlessly from its humble beginnings, where hands slap against bongos, before [...]