Making Traxx

Years ago, when I was on an assignment in Germany, I heard a few people whose opinion I'd respect raving about a DJ called Traxx. At that stage, his catalogue of releases was small, with just a remix and an EP out, but his DJing as well as the fact that he was missing a few teeth and was a larger than life Chicago native in a small town in the traditionally conservative area of Bavaria, seemed to be causing all the excitement. When I got home I forgot about Traxx, and the hushed respect his name was commanding, and got on with my life. It's only in the past year that he has surfaced again, mainly thanks to his releases on Creme, Creme Jak -  which he seems to be involved in running with TLR, but I could be wrong -  as well as a new release for Aroy Dee's M>O>S. It seems that Traxx and the Dutch electro/techno sound have become very cosy and there's even an eerie Hague-style synth line on the 'epic' version of 'Solara', his new M>O>S release, perhaps his tribute to a scene that has supported him. Traxx recently played his debut gig in Dublin and sadly, I missed it -  I haven't worked out this bi-location lark yet - but the EC lads who put him on posted two mixes (unfortunately with no tracklistings) and it's clear that DJing is really his forte. There's something irresistibly unpolished and lo-fi about the clattering, crashing drums, weeping 303s and percussive shuffles that dominate his style. At times, it's like a slowed down relation to Rush's spinning, and, while Traxx's mixing is smooth, he isn't averse to an odd chop or quick mix when necessary. Here's the first installment in all its glory -  limited to the first 100 lucky takers.

Comments

[jig]

got to the tivoli just in time to see traxx the other night and i have to say i was very impressed. he`s the busiest dj i`ve seen in some time, had a chat with him after and he is a very sound chap indeed even if he couldnt understand my drunken ramblings.