Fall Circuitry

Save a rink, hip-hop madness, and a lost loft
By DAVID DAY  |  October 3, 2006

060908_akrobatik_main
"WHAT RHYMES WITH 'MARONEY'?": Akrobatik will release an album in 2007.
Former Boston radio DJ and producer DJ SWISS IVORY has a new mixtape out called Back in Business. Ivory was born in Africa; after coming to America via Boston University he was intent on bringing various international groups together through DJing, and his sets and mixtapes attest to that mission. Bringing in sounds from current hip-hop hits, Ivory (a/k/a Christian Meyer) blends them into reggaetón, dancehall, and old-school joints. Granted, he moved to Zurich a few months back, but you can still grab his new blends at www.swissivory.com for only $5 US.

This Wednesday, October 18, an event unique in recent nightlife goes off at the Chez Vous Roller Rink in Dorchester. ALL SKATE is a benefit for Boston’s beloved roller rink, which is looking at closing its doors unless the community comes to its side — that’d be you. So head down to the rink (11 Rhoades Street, Dorchester) and boogie as performer and DJ SAN SERAC, Plunge into Death member and heralded 440R DJ MARK E MOON, DJ and disco-music producer BRENDAN WESLEY, and Love During Wartime DJ and Italo king JOSEPH COLBOURNE all spin from 8 pm till midnight. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door; that includes skate rental, and every last dime goes to Chez Vous.

Speaking of Mr. Colbourne: it was excellent to come across his mug in the contributors’ section of VIVA-RADIO.COM, a new audio Web site that’s easy to use and requires little more than a browser and some speakers. Colbourne is streaming all his Italo, boogie, and disco sounds to a worldwide audience alongside dance-music visionaries like DAN SELZER (Acute Records), JAMESF!@#$%^ FRIEDMAN (Defend Music), and the ELECTRIC CHAIR CLUB (UK).

Circuits was out of town when we got the e-mail “FINAL PARTY IN THE COMBAT ZONE” from the robot at ROBOTLOVESONGS. It seems Loft 808, our beloved underground techno space, is finally being gutted for renovation. It’s a shame, because the community of techno heads and DJs was just starting to warm up, with three events in October that were slated to blow the roof off. Visitors from Berlin (DAN BELL), New York City (DAVID FINE), and the Netherlands (UNIT 4!) were all en route to our dance-averse town to shake it down. The promoters are still planning on bringing the events through town and are just looking for a new venue. As Bleep said in his e-mail, “There’s a long way to go, but we feel a sustainable, high-quality and cutting-edge techno culture is within reach.” Visit www.robotlovesongs.com for more information.

RobotLoveSongs’ 808 partner, UNLOCKEDGROOVE, have secured a monthly residency at Enormous Room. Taking on the last Saturday of each month, Circuits’ favorite techno collective will bring in guests and cycle through their residents. This month, Middlesex Lounge resident ALAN MANZI and architect and DJ BALAZS BOGNAR join our buddy and once-constant fixture MIKE UZZI as he returns to Boston to spin the way you know he can. . . . Back to Boston hip-hop: AKROBATIK will return to town this month after a huge 30-date US tour. Everyone’s favorite ill spitter has signed a deal with Raptivism Records and the EMI-owned Caroline Records to distribute his label, PLAYAKTION RECORDINGS, that’ll allow him to represent his back catalogue as well as let loose some of those demos he’s been saving up. His new solo album, already titled Absolute Value, is set for release on NYC’s Fat Beats label in 2007. It includes guest spots from BUMPY KNUCKELS, LITTLE BROTHER, MR. LIF, and the one and only CHUCK D.

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Related: Akrobatik, RADIx on the road, Disco lives!, More more >
  Topics: New England Music News , Entertainment, Akrobatik, Alan Manzi,  More more >
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