LWE’s 26th podcast arrived courtesy of Perspectiv Records labelhead and über talented producer/DJ Ripperton. It provided an inside look at what it’s like to party with Rip at his residency at Lausanne’s D! Club. Make sure to add it to your collection before this podcast retires Friday, November 5th at 10am CST.

Raphaël Ripperton is one DJ/producer/labelhead I’m comfortable describing as a mensch. Sure, his talents behind the boards are exceptional and he’s worth his weight in vinyl behind the decks, but his selflessness is what’s earned our praises this time around. Precious Soul, the latest release from his Perspectiv imprint, is a rare appearance from fellow Swiss talent, St Plomb. And although he created a fantastic remix to include with the package he yielded his space for two alluring and varied remixes from Michel Baumann’s Soulphiction and Jackmate guises. Sensing that what he withheld is still worth listeners’ time, Ripperton has generously offered his “All the Precious Things In Life Are Free Remix” to LWE as an exclusive download. Considerably more mellow than the original, Rip lets yawning vocals mark time while swimming through the pads swirling around stately chords. Many thanks to Ripperton for sharing this lovely remix.

Download: St Plomb, “Precious Soul” (Ripperton’s All The Precious Things In Life Are Free Remix)

Like many techno and house producers, Raphaël “Ripperton” Gros first laid down musical roots as part of a band. Though his groups Soul Merge and Reasons mined the live dance territory that was his calling (and even garnered critical renown in his native Switzerland), the appeal of coordinating eight members and their ideas wore off in favor of solo production. Soon his sleek, tech-house tracks adorned Connaisseur, Systematic, Sthlmaudio Recordings and liebe*detail singles, and he paired with Mirko Loko to form Lazy Fat People. While the pair’s project yielded their most widely received tracks to date (for Planet E, Border Community and Wagon Repair), Ripperton once again rides solo, dedicating much of his time running Perspectiv with Sam K and DJing around the world. The Swiss label boss and top notch jock curates LWE’s 26th exclusive podcast, offering a peak into his monthly residency at Lausanne’s D! Club.

LWE Podcast 26: Ripperton (59:20)

Tracklist:

01. Ndru, “Bubur Kacang” [Perspectiv*]
02. Adolf Noise, “Bäume Strahlen Stress Aus” (Robag Wruhme remix)
[Freund Am Tanzen]
03. Jus-Ed, “I’m From Connecticut … Bridgeport” [Underground Quality]
04. Moody, “Freeki Mutha F cker” (Catz ‘N’ Dogz rework) [unreleased]
05. Agnès, “Love Tempo” [Sthlmaudio Recordings]
06. Blagger, “Strange Behavior” (DJ Koze Aka Swahimi remix) [Perspectiv]
07. Jonny White, “Gush” [No.19 Music]
08. Chaton, “+91 Ahead” (Dachshund Version) [Plak Records]
09. Agnès, “Que Pena” [Perspectiv]
10. My Favorite Robot, “Modest Goddess” (Jonny White remix)
[My Favorite Robot Records]
11. Headless Ghost, “Neverending Stories” [Sthlmaudio Recordings]
12. John Daly, “This Is A Lonely Beat [Drumpoet Community]
13. Utku Dalmaz, “I Miss U” [Fhd Records*]
14. The Tape vs. RQM, “Luvely” (Kalabrese remix) [Mouthwatering Records]

When, where and how was this mix made?

Ripperton: Just before my residency party at the D! Club in Lausanne. Every two months we have our party there with all the Perspectiv artists and friends.

How did you select the tracks for the mix? Does it have a theme?

This is a melting pots of rare tracks, fresh news and forthcoming tunes, from Switzerland’s friends or people I really like.

Who are a few DJs you would love to see spin? Who are a few of your favorite DJs?

I’ve never heard DJ Koze play, but I can imagine how funny and groovy his sets are. Or maybe Omar-S. For the rest, I love so many producers at the moment who are maybe bad DJs, or perhaps the inverse I go often outside to discover some fresh music, and I adore seeing live bands.

What’s next for you and Perspectiv in 2009?

I just finished my first album, Niwa which I think will be released around September. It’s a real personal work, something I’ve been working on over the last two years. I’m currently working on two remixes, one for the Stimming’s first album single and another one for James Teej on Rebirth. Oh, one last thing: As Agnès has said, “Get your kicks and buy wax!”

LWE Podcast 26: Ripperton (59:20)

[Plak Records]

Chaton, founder of Plak Records, has produced serviceable if spartan grooves for Sthmlaudio Recordings and his own label since they both debuted in 2001. I find his tracks are most ear-catching when they’re remixed, as they have been by Agnès (“Catch the Beat”) and now Ripperton. He constructs the canvas for others to splash their ideas across, a notion bolstered by the way the artists were credited on their newest release. Chaton’s Swiss countrymen Ripperton and Agnès take the “+91 Ahead” framework to new and disparate heights for “Session 2.”

Ripperton’s version hues closest to the original’s austere percussion, but his approach twinkles with a jazzy, live performance vibe thanks to acoustic-sounding drums. Lit by chipper droplets of piano chords, lifted with soothing swells and informed by incomprehensible vocals, Ripperton’s Los Barrios Mix mounts a charm offensive on its boogying audience that won’t soon be forgotten. Not to be outdone, Agnès burrows from Geneva to Kingston, Jamaica for a rework swelling with spaced out echo. His taut percussion laced with slivered guitar licks is soon shrouded in gauzy dub ripples, ringing out against cavernous walls. As Chaton’s canvas has given rise to one of the best (if belatedly received) remixes packages of 2008, his frames will likely stay in demand.