SMS mix 02 - Allez Allez

With their fingers firmly on the pulse of what's hot and what's not, tastemakers and blog legends Sam Willis and Steve Nolan aka Allez-Allez play an inspired mix of disco, electro, kraut and techno.

Reflecting their broad musical tastes, and love of dancing, the Allez-Allez blog is a home from home for their friends and heroes' amazing podcasts - which have included the likes of Prins Thomas and Joakim.

At this September's Stop Making Sense festival, Allez-Allez will be blowing out in style at their very own Friday evening boat party and a sure-to-be-special set on the main stage come Saturday.

Taking in old-school Chicago house, New York post-punk and ambient electronica, Allez-Allez' exclusive SMS mix is an ear-caressing delight. Dive in kids, the water's warm...

Download: SMS mix 02 - Allez Allez

Tracklisting:

01. House Machine 'AC'
02. Erotic Dissidents 'Shake Your Hips'
03. Allez-Allez 'Weird Science'
04. Force Of Nature 'To The Brain'
05. Jay Shepheard 'End Of Part One'
06. Anthony “Shake” Shakir 'Frenchie'
07. Clyde ft. Capitol A 'Serve It Up' (Brooks hip-house mix)
08. Adonis 'Two the max'
09. Luke Abbott 'Whitebox Stereo'
10. Suicide 'Touch Me'
11. Mense Reents 'This is the way'
12. Juana Molina 'Dar (qué difícil)'
13. Aphex Twin 'Nanou 2'

We caught up with Sam and Steve to find out more...

Tell us about the mix you’ve recorded for Stop Making Sense...
"Steve did the first half, Sam did the second... this always works well for us as it keeps us inspired and means that we try and pack in as many great tracks to our 30 minutes each."

Any exclusives or particular favourites on there?
"The mix contains 'Weird Science' which is a track from our forthcoming EP for the awesome NYC based label RVNG Intl. and ends with the beautiful solo piano piece 'Nanou 2' from Aphex Twin's Drukqs album."

What current artists are you drawing inspiration from right now?
"We're big admirers of Matias Aguayo, Optimo and Nathan Fake so we're really happy to be playing alongside them on the SMS bill. In terms of recorded stuff, we're particularly enjoying Mount Kimbie and of course Sam's forthcoming Walls project on Kompakt!"

Who are you most looking forward to seeing play at SMS?
"Apart from the ones mentioned above I'm pretty excited to check Theo Parrish out for the first time. Also Carl Craig and Juan Atkins - you can't beat the godfathers!"

Any unusual festival tips?
"Don't forget to hit the beach, and to bring a good set of earplugs!"

Where will we find you at sunrise on Sunday morning?
"Gazing at the horizon, sipping a beer and thinking how lucky we are to be doing this!"

SMS mix 01 - Russ Jones

The first in our weekly series of exclusive Stop Making Sense mixes from the great and the good playing at this year's festival is a genre-trashing, hip-grinding, ghetto-rousing, pan-global mash-up of street-born styles from Colombian cumbia to Balkan reggae via a fast-becoming legendary Mexican remix of Vampire Weekend, courtesy of the nifty eye-wear-sporting Hackney Globe Trotter himself, Russ Jones.

Download: SMS mix 01 - Russ Jones

Tracklisting:
01. Benjamin Zephaniah 'Slow Motion Radiovox'
02. Spiteri Spiteri 'Soul Inside'
03. Batida Dance Mwangolé 'Alegria'
04. DJ Mujava 'Mugwanti/Sgwejegweje' (Schlachthofbronx remix)
05. Gipsy Kings feat. Analogik Lions 'Malente & Dex'
06. Genghis Clan Vs Riva Starr 'Jump Up' (Mambo Jumbo remix)
07. Rubi Dan 'Funky Dip'
08. Systema Solar 'Sin Oficio'
09. Afrodita La Reina del Palenke 'La Cumbia del Pasoncito'
10. George Danquah 'Hot And Jumpy'
11. Bolga Zohdoomah 'Jingo'
12. Brassroots 'Misirlou'
13. Vampire Weekend 'Cousinz' (Toy Selectah Mex-More remix)
14. DJ Farrapo 'Swingy Mama'
15. Teleport Massive Feat. Zumbi of Zion 'Bassnectar Cozza Frenzy'
16. Mahala Rai Banda 'Balkan Reggae'
17. Willie Colón 'La Murga'
18. Trebol Clan 'Fuga'
19. Vampire Weekend 'Diplomat's Son'
20. Alika y Nueva 'Para Bailar Cumbia' (El Hijo de la Cumbia remix)
21. Sekreto 'Gota' (El Hijo de la Cumbia remix)
22. Corazon Enamorado 'Calixto Ochoa'
23. Juan Piña Y Sus Muchachos 'Abran Rueda'
24. Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars 'Jah Come Down'

We caught up with Russ for a few words about the mix, what you can expect from his Saturday afternoon beach bar set at Stop Making Sense and why sunrise is a quasi-religious experience, of sorts...

Tell us about the mix you’ve recorded for Stop Making Sense...
"I tried to record this mix five times live on my laptop but after too many crashes finally gave in to putting it together in Ableton - talk about pulling teeth! But I am really happy with the outcome and it's something a little bit different - a reflection of what I am playing in the clubs and on my radio show. Not all bangers but great and varied music from around the world both new and old."

Any exclusives or particular favourites on there?
"Where do I start? Love all these tracks or otherwise they would not be in the mix. Dj Farrapo's 'Swingy Mama' is pretty exclusive, 'Sistema Solar Sin Oficio' is a really big tune for me over the last few months. Love the two Vampire Weekend tracks. Toy Selectah's mix is a killer and Diplomat's 'Son' is great piece of modern pop. 'Slow Motion Radiovox' by Benjamin Zephanai is an amazing remix by what has to be one of the most talented producers out there at the moment, Corin from Latin Dub. Keep an eye on him, he is about to take right off. 'Soul Inside' by Spiteri is great piece of Latin rock reissued by Vampi Soul via London and Venezuela circa 1973. I've never put a rock track in a mix before but this one is a winner and it's well worth checking the album."

What current artists are you drawing inspiration from right now?
"All the ones mentioned above, Franco, Lucho Bermudez, Skitz, Bootlegumachine, Schlachthofbronx, Douster, all the releases on Soundway Recordings,so many amazing live bands in London- Yabaa Funk, Conjuto Sabroso, Los Chinches, Hackney Empire, Brassroots and it goes on..."

Who are you most looking forward to seeing play at Stop Making Sense?
"Never checked out Carl Craig before so that should be cool, Son of Dave always turns in a great show and to see The Very Best for the first time will def be something to look forward to."

Any unusual festival tips?
"Wellingtons? Think we will need them in Croatia? Would be unusual but best to be prepared. Once in a queue to get on plane with a guy who had his own life jacket. Did he know something I didn't? Not sure, but he was prepared!"

Where will we find you at sunrise on Sunday morning?
"Getting ready for Sunday mass. What else..."

SMS party at Favela Chic!

Get a taste for what our sun-kissed festival on the Adriatic Coast is gonna be like by swinging by Favela Chic in Shoreditch next Thursday night for the second in our series of free monthly club nights (last Thursday of every month) showcasing talent appearing at Stop Making Sense.

Playing live on Thursday 25th March are City Reverb, a hotly-tipped trio influenced as much by Kraftwerk as Nick Drake who played at the Tate last year and are sure to deliver a smattering of the eclectic styles we can expect from this years inaugural SMS festival.

Also appearing on stage will be Brightonian female duo The Wellingtons (pictured, above), whose enchanting folk pop will stir even the hardiest cynic. On hand with the platters that matter are long-time Balearic and melodic house champion Chris Coco, need2soul head honcho Alex Ruello and global soundclash renegade Madera Verde.

See you 'pon the dancefloor people...

Stop Making Sense, volume 2
'A new breed of musical anarchy'
Thursday 25th March 2010
7pm-1am, Free entrance before 9pm, £3 after
Favela Chic
91-93 Great Eastern Street
London EC2 (nearest tube: Old Street)

New Artwork!

The Very Best + Carl Craig + Friendly Fires + Theo Parrish + Nathan Fake + Django Django + many more to play our first festival!

The sun is shining and we're beyond super-excited to say that after months of juggling and pondering, musing and arm wrestling, we've come up with a stonking line up for our first Stop Making Sense festival that fires are collective imaginations and sets our pulses racing on hyper-speed. Oh yes! From the live tropical Malawi-via-Dalston sounds of Friday headliners The Very Best to the classic emotive Detroit techno of Carl Craig topping the bill on Sunday, we reckon we've nailed it!

Joining such musical royalty for three days and nights of genre-shredding anarchy in Croatia this September are a truly global crew of party-starting pioneers and musical revolutionaries, including the brilliant new breed post-everything Django Django, Crown Prince of UK electronica Nathan Fake, revered Detroit techno pioneers Juan Atkins, Theo Parrish and new-school protege Kyle Hall, loose-limbed future pop party-starters Friendly Fires, South American house hero Matias Aguayo, one-man band master of twisted blues Son of Dave, MIA-acolytes and global beat makers Radioclit, legendary Scottish club originals Optimo, teenage flamenco troubadours Fran and Josh and Vampire Weekend-remixer and Mexican mash-up king Toy Selectah, plus many, many more...

Combine this mighty lot with the know-how of our esteemed club promoters plus the promise of sun, sand, boat parties, beautiful beaches, open-air clubs and bars and a real sense of reveling in a new environment and we reckon you have the recipe for a legendary festival in the making.

Stop Making Sense 2010, see you there....

LIVE: THE VERY BEST / DJANGO DJANGO / NATHAN FAKE / MATIAS AGUAYO / SON OF DAVE / WBEEZA / THE WORM / JOANA & THE WOLF / FRAN AND JOSH / LATIN DUB SOUND SYSTEM / LONGJON LA FLECHA / THE LOOSE FIT

DJ’S: CARL CRAIG / JUAN ATKINS / THEO PARRISH / FRIENDLY FIRES (DJ SET) / RADIOCLIT / TOY SELECTAH / OPTIMO / BENJI B / PATRICE SCOTT / KEITH WORTHY / KYLE HALL / ALLEZ ALLEZ / ISA GT / MARK E / REBOLLEDO / CHRIS COCO / RICHARD NORRIS / TAMA SUMO / JAMES PRIESTLEY / GILES SMITH / RUSS JONES / CAL JADER / SENSU / LAKUTI / GIRLCORE / FACT DJS / ALI TILLETT / ROB SUMMERHAYES / GRINGO DA PARADA / COUNT CHOCULA / TCHICKY AL DENTE / LEON LACE

3 days & nights of musical anarchy by the sea!

So, here we go...welcome to the Stop Making Sense blog, a beatific, sun-kissed showcase for this summer's brand new international music festival with an irreverently independent vibe.

Each week, you can get a taste of Stop Making Sense right here on the blog, where we'll be providing you with exclusive DJ mixes from SMS' extended friends and family (more below) plus in-depth artist interviews, promoter profiles, competitions, videos, festival updates and much more besides!

Showcasing quality live acts & DJs in the sunshine and under the stars, Stop Making Sense brings London, Glasgow & Paris’ hottest club & concert promoters to come together from 3-5 September 2010 in paradise - a beautiful woody peninsula in the village of Petrçane on the stunning Adriatic coast of Croatia.

With beach and boat parties galore, and a soundtrack ranging from Detroit techno to Afro-beats via jazz, house, disco and a whole swathe more - revellers can do as much or a little as they please!

Complete with a sterling line up soon to be announced, SMS is curated by music lovers and promoters NEED2SOUL, THE C.A.M.P, SWAP-A-RAMA, DEVIATION, OPTIMO, SUB CLUB, SUD ELECTRONIC, SECRETSUNDAZE, MOVIMIENTOS, WARM, FACT, DON’T PANIC, FAVELA CHIC, ALLEZ ALLEZ & FANTASY ISLAND.

We'll be announcing our quite-frankly mind-blowing (if we do say so ourselves) line-up right here next week, so be sure to make this your first point of call come Monday morning. Till then amigos...