Per il primo speciale della stagione abbiamo avuto il piacere di ospitare i suoni della Highgrade all’intero del nostro programma.
Due ore di musica stilosa, mixata e commentata da Tom Clark e Todd Bodine.
Qui potete riascoltare la prima ora e leggere la playlist completa delle tracce andate in onda.
LISTEN PART 1
_________________________________
LISTEN PART 2
_____________________________________
Exclusive Tom Clark mix, comments and selection for AltroVerso Radio
Terry: – Blow Up – Highgrade Records
Andri – Rumpelstelz – Highgrade Records
Prompt – Addiction – Highgrade Records
Tom Clark – Hitch A Ride – Highgrade Records
Sasse & Phonogenetic – That Philosophy Track – ( Mihai Popoviciu
remix ) – Highgrade Records
Guido Schneider and Pascal Feos – Halb Trocken ( Guidos Laidback
Mix ) – Highgrade Records
Jens Bond – PiCtures In The Dark – Highgrade Records
Jackspot – Outselling – Highgrade Records
Kemi and Phono – Tiger Tiger ( Wobble Mix ) – Highgrade Records
Tom Clark – Snake Charmer – Highgrade Records
Andri – Never End – Highgrade Records
Jens Bond – Good Woman – Highgrade Records
Tom Clark Todd Bodine
Infos
La Highgrade e’ stata fondata nel 2000 da Tom Clark a Berlino, citta’ dalla quale riprende il carattere multiculturale e cosmopolita.
La label produce elettronica dance di qualita’ con una particolare attenzione verso i suoni minimali che vengono rinvigoriti da groove funky, potenti bassi e disparate bizzarie elettroniche.
*
But back to the beginning. As if prompted by the “millennium bug”, Tom Clark decides to start his own record label. The commercialization of Techno, with the mass marketing of the Love Parade and major label exploitation had reached a depressing new low. Tom describes these as the darkest days for House and Techno music. At the same time, many artists were searching for a new and better platform to release their music in Berlin. Tom Clark’s “livingroom” label had always been more about passion than being a well structured and carefully organized business operation, and in many ways this served the label perfectly. Today, Tom sees part of the purpose of Highgrade to act as a driving force behind the reinvention of the Berlin Techno scene.
Tom Clark signed the first wave of Highgrade artists, Sebo K, James Flavour und Guido Schneider from the ranks of his friends and fellow DJs in the ever expanding Berlin club scene. Todd Bodine, Jens Bond, Dub Taylor and Daniel Dreier formed the second generation of artists to join the Highgrade family.
There have always been important to discover new artist, like Format:B and Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner. The first goal: The sound must first survive the bar, club and dancefloor test. The spectrum ranges from deep House and minimal till techno. “The music we publish has to touch us in some way.”, says A & R man Todd Bodine. With Todd and label manager Mariana Luzardo, Tom Clark has found the perfect partners with which to push the label forward. Highgrade has also moved out of the living room and into a slick new office in Berlin’s Friedrichshain. Needless to say the family atmosphere still remains.
The voluminous output from the label is testament to the highly talented group of artists in the Highgrade stable. Every month the label puts out one vinyl and one digital release, and every year Highgrade takes on at least two new artists. The best form of defence is attack. In times where other labels are reducing output and going digital only, Highgrade continues to release electronic dance music of the highest quality and dancefloor efficiency. This produces a wide range of releases that are not about genre definitions, but are chosen for their musical impact and individuality. In Germany and worldwide, label parties and club nights define the label sound and push the artists creative skills behind the turntables and in front of the crowd. Thus the label always stays fresh and surprising and acts as a major contributor to the sound of the city.
Especially in the ongoing development of the digital market, the label relies on its independent character. We focus on a commitment which offers Highgrade artists a complete package. “We want to show that classical label representation and artist management are still required”, says Mariana. The in-house booking agency works in close collaboration with the artists, providing both gig support and guidance in their artistic development.