Rebel with a cause…

I know that this isn’t a popular opinion in purist circles, but I don’t really care: I like Damian Lazarus. I like the fact that he makes no excuse for the fact that he isn’t a producer - although I’m sure it would be pretty easy for him to go into a studio with one of his signings and ‘co-produce’ a record in the same way that most well-known DJs do – or that he has no desire to be one. I also like the fact that he’s not precious about music and will release pretty much anything on his label that he’s feeling (or knows that a lot of other people will feel). Crosstown Rebels is definitely not my favourite label, actually, I don’t have one, but it’s always worth checking, even just out of curiosity. I would imagine that his critics would call him an opportunist or a bandwagon jumper, and to a certain degree, they are right: Lazarus was there (as part of PM Scientists) when drum’n’bass exploded in the mid-90s, was present when electroclash started, released tracks by Kiki and Black Strobe when electro house blew up and circled in for the kill when minimal went overground.
But rather than criticising him for feeding, piranha-like off what has become popular, maybe he should be praised for his ability to be in the right place at the right time. I’m sure there would be a number of A&R positions open to him should he decide to close down the Rebels operation, which seems unlikely. In the meantime, he keeps on doing what he does best: releasing records, DJing and occasionally documenting his exploits online (check out the entertaining diary section of his website  - it’s no surprise that Lazarus used to be a music journalist).
Next month sees the release of the first Rebels compilation, mixed by its boss. If I had one criticism of Lazarus, it’s that he releases too many mixes, and like I said earlier, the label has put out a few duff releases. I could never get into Matt Tolfrey’s ‘Acix’ or Frankie Flowerz ‘The Key’, but Mathew Jonson’s version of Hiem, Eulberg’s remix of Pier Bucci, Andre Kraml’s ‘Safari’ and Mile Caro and Frank Garcia’s ‘Far Away’ will always have a special place in my collection, and, as always with Lazarus, it’s worth watching this space to see what happens next…

Comments

[michael]

Personally I really like Crosstown, yes the Safari remix was killer. I'd add Jennifer Cardini's 'Stay' to the list also. I only got into Larzarus late around the City Rockers period. Its all subjective anyway, people like different things for different reasons. The purists will always find something to bitch about...

[jeremy]

People don't like Lazarus because he's a bad DJ, not because of Crosstown, which is a nice label releasing good stuff, etc. A&R people should stick to A&R, DJs to DJing.

I've seen him once and it was horrible. No flow, no depth. Have you seen him DJ Richard?

[Brophy]

I've seen him once and it was horrible. No flow, no depth. Have you seen him DJ Richard? - I heard him once at one of the 'off-Sonar' parties last year. He seemed pretty decent, but then again I had been out for a few nights in a row, so maybe my judgment wasn't great!

[Brophy]

Michael, I agree that they have put some great records, but I also get the feeling that there is perhaps some suspicion out there about Lazarus motives...

[michael]

I haven't seen him dj by the way, and haven't put much thought into what his motives might be. Just me being simple!
Though this does kinda make me think about motives.. anyone for a pair of levis...
http://pharrellfluokids.free.fr/jamelia%20-%20something%20about%20you.mp3