Archive for

January 2012

Shem 'Slacker' McCauley

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Shem 'Slacker' McCauley - far left

Sad news reached me via Twitter earlier this week. Shem McCauley had passed away over the weekend. The situation remains unknown, and no information has been released online (that I'm aware of thus far) surrounding his death. 

I'd met Shem a number of times between 2001 and 2008 while he was working under his 'Slacker' alias, and always thought he was extremely courteous and professional, but also just a really nice bloke. During the early 2000's I'd come across his deep, dark progressive remixes, of artists such as Breeder and Moby, as a dance music fan, and whilst deep driving prog wasn't always my choice music, I can't deny that that sound had a profound impact on my musical taste as a young person going to clubs like Tangled and Tribal Sessions. 

Ironically, the occasions when I could have really spoken to Shem and got to know him better than I did was during the nights he'd come to DJ for Phil and Terry at Tangled in Manchester, where Shem had become a stalwart booking during the late 90's. For a five year period I was the sober eyes and ears of Phil and Terry during these incredible parties, ensuring the fun flowed accordingly, the door was run effectively, and our guest DJs got paid and looked after, so I only ever really made small talk with him and chatted about DJing and his music, but nevertheless I always remembered him as one of the good guys. After all, if he hadn't been, he wouldn't have continued to be booked, that was sort of Tangled policy. No arsehole guest DJs! 

The photo above was taken around 2007 at Turnmills in London (now defunct, for any younger readers), when James (HeavyFeet) and I were down to play at The Gallery (pre-HeavyFeet) for The Gallery, when James was pursuing DJing as a solo venture (and I was looking after his bookings). James was warming up for Shem, who very nicely came down early to say 'hi' to us with his mate Pete, pictured above. Somewhere I have his business card for the last venture he was embarking upon, Jukebox In the Sky. That night was the last time I saw Shem. 

This really makes me quite sad thinking about it. Despite not knowing him all that well, when you have any rapport with a person who works and thrives in a similar industry to you, and they leave the world so suddenly, you can't help wishing you'd gotten to know that person that bit better. 

I'll leave you with a Slacker remix that I used to really enjoy...

Shem McCauley - gone but not forgotten. Rest In Peace.

Mike HF

Filed under  //   Breeder   Manchester   Shem McCauley   Slacker   Tangled   Turnmills  

Video for our new single 'Back Foot'!

HeavyFeet & Nate James - Back Foot (Wideboys Video Edit)
Released March 18th on Champion Records

Here's the radio edit of the original mix...

 

Some massive remixes coming soon!

Mike HF

Filed under  //   Back Foot   Champion Records   Music Video   Nate James   Wideboys  

The HeavyFeet Show - 21.01.12

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The Beats, Breaks & Bass show - presented by HeavyFeet
Saturday night 11pm-1am, Unity Radio 92.8FM (Manchester, UK)

21.01.12

Tiesto - Maximal Crazy [Musical Freedom]
Diplo & Oliver Twizt - Go [Mad Decent]
A-Trak & Zinc - Stingray [Fool's Gold]
DJ Cra$y - Just E (Breach Mix) [Dirty Bird]
Jeuce - As We Move (Kastle Remix) [Noise Kitten]
Drums Of Death - Venice Beach [Civil]
Joey Negro & Gramophonedzie feat. Shea Soul - No Sugar (Zed Bias Remix) [Z]
Skepta - Hold On (Jacob Plant Dub) [3 Beat]
Reso - Vanquish [Civil]
Sofi feat. Noisia - Again Sometime (Extended Mix) [Mau5trap]
Florence & The Machine - No Light, No Light (Breakage Remix) [Island]
Wilkinson - Tonight [RAM]

NAPT - Treatise [Red Sugar]
DJ Zinc - Unlike Me [Rinse]
Mord Fustang - We Are Connected [Plasmapool]
Trumpdisco feat. Airwolf - Cut & Paste (Club Edit) [Sweat it Out]
Erick Morillo feat. Harry Romero & Jose Nunez - Build It Up (In Your Face Mix) [Subliminal]
Bonsai Kat - Bla Bla [Grand Hotel]
Kill The Noise - Kill The Noise (Alvin Risk Remix) [OWSLA]
Nadastrom - Diabluma Theme (Tittsworth Remix) [T&A]

Flight Facilities - Crave You (Cassian Remix) [Bang Gang]
Ian Pooley & Spencer Parker - Feel The Same [Tsuba]
Tesla Boy - In Your Eyes (Radio Edit) [Kitsune]
Bird Peterson & Ocelot - Soul Survivor (Craze Remix) [T&A]
Catz N' Dogz - Jon Bovi [Pets]
Plump DJs - Gobbstopper [Grand Hotel]
Krafty Kuts feat Dynamite MC - Pounding [Instant Vibes]
Tomb Crew - Watch This (Bert On Beats Remix) [Black Butter]


Dub Phizix & Skeptical feat. Strategy - Marka [Exit]
Adam F vs. Sonic C - In The Air [3Beat]
Gold - 45 War [Subslayers]

Phlo Finister - Crown Gold EP (free download)

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So, I was listening to MistaJam on BBC 1Xtra the other night whilst I was having my tea, and he dropped 'Shades'. I just sort of sat there and let it hit me. There's something about the track that's very Timbaland. M.J was saying how he thought the vocal was very Aaliyah, and maybe so, thats a reasonable comparison, but aside from this, the song is pretty damn slick in my book. 'Shades' is definitely the pick of the Crown Gold EP for me, but there's some growers on there like 'Bang Bang', (which, unsurprisingly, is a solid cover of Nancy Sinatra's classic) and 'Riders On The Storm' (which vocally is VERY Aaliyah, and a tiny bit The Weeknd), which is a lush vocal on top of Dr Dre's 'Explosive' beat from his 2001 album. A pretty fresh take on a classic beat, I've gotta say, considering the original version of 'Riders On The Storm' is by The Doors (which comes in at the very end). 

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Phlo Finister is shaping up to be a don. Grab the Crown Gold EP here.

Mike HF

Filed under  //   Crown Gold EP   Phlo Finister   Shades  

The HeavyFeet Show - 14.01.12

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The Beats, Breaks & Bass show - presented by HeavyFeet
Saturday night 11pm-1am, Unity Radio 92.8FM (Manchester, UK)

14.01.12

Stanton Warriors - Shoot Me Down (Pyramid Remix) [Punks]
Stereo MCs - Sunny Day (The Living Graham Bond Dub) [K7]
Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party - Antidote [Virgin]
The 2 Bears - Work (Franky Rizardo Remix) [Southern Fried]
Monkey Safari - Fat Papa [Sweat It Out]
DJ Cra$y - I Need You (Breach Mix) [Dirtybird]
Champion - Turn Up Di Bass [Formula]
Nino - Play Dance [Top Billin]

Dirty Bits:

Chiddy Bang - Ray Charles (Jackwob Remix)
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die (Marcus Intalex Remix) [Polydor]
Enei feat. MC DRS - Obsession [Critical]
TC - Last Frontier [Hospital]

In The Mix:

Zombie Disco Squad feat. Spoek Mathambo - We Should Bang (Organ Mix) [Jackmode]
Sandy B - Feel Like Singin' (Matthew Codek Remix) [Nervous]
John Dahlback - Are You Nervous (Rene Amesz Remix) [Spinnin]
Nouveau Yorican - Nueva (John Roman Remix) [Defected]
ATFC feat. Lisa Shaw - Walk Away (ATFC's Lektrosoul Vocal) [Defected]
The Shapeshufters - Chime [Nocturnal Groove]
Trent Cantrelle - I Want A Freak [Toolroom]

Solomun - Girl Slow Down [Supernature]
Paper Crows - Cloudbusting (Christophe & Lukas Remix) [FFRR]
Parachute Youth - Awake Now [Sweat It Out]

Bird Peterson & Ocelot - Soul Survivor (Craze Remix) [T&A]
Jordan & Santero feat. Illaman - We Bring The Vibes [Sugarbeat]
Joey Negro & Gramophonedzie feat. Shea Soul - No Sugar (Zed Bias Remix) [Z]
NAPT - King Jitter [Red Sugar]

Top 3:

Ed Solo & Deekline - Blow Out [Sludge]
Dub Phizix & Skeptical feat. Strategy - Marka [Exit]
Adam F vs. Sonic C - In The Air [3Beat]

KCat - So Many (video)

So, following on the success of the recent Mike Delinquent ft. KCat (and Donaeo) single, 'Out Of Control' (like us, Mike is also releasing on Champion Records at present), KCat, actually pronounced 'Cat', for those of you that have been saying 'Kay-Cat' (like we were!) for far too long, now has a brand new solo venture, produced by Mike, coming out on (his label) Mindset Records. It's a banger, Mike has killed the beat, and KCat (Cat, remember...) has delivered an insane vocal line. Mindset Records, definitely a label to watch out for 2012.

Mike HF
  

Filed under  //   KCat   Mike Delinquent   Mindset Records   So Many  

NEWS: Our first single of 2012...

All is unveiled... (more to come soon though!)

Mike HF

Filed under  //   Back Foot   Champion Records   HeavyFeet   Nate James  

HeavyFeet music video teaser...

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If you've been hiding under a rock (IE not on Facebook or Twitter for a week or so...) and missed these, here's a couple of little teaser images from the forthcoming video for our new single, featuring the marvellous Nate James! 

Mike HF

Filed under  //   Back Foot   Champion Records   HeavyFeet   Music Video   Nate James  

18yrs of Tangled (book)

As some of you will know, James and I were involved with the Mancunian clubbing institution, Tangled, for several years during the 'noughties'. Terry (founder) and Steve have just released a hardback book simply entitled, 'Tangled', which documents the 18yrs that Tangled has existed. For us, the years that we were involved in Tangled are fondly remembered, and it was amazing place to learn a trade as and event manager, and James, as a resident DJ. Whilst we have had no input into the book itself, I'd imagine for those old-skool Manc ravers, this is certainly worthy of a purchase, and is a must to relive those treasured memories of one of Manchester's most intimate and amazing parties. 

You can preview and buy the book here.

Mike HF 

Filed under  //   HeavyFeet   Manchester   Steve Thorpe   Tangled   Tangled Breaks   Terry Pointon  

Chiddy Bang - Ray Charles (video)

The new single from my favourite East Coast duo, Chiddy Bang. I love these guys.

Get your shades on and fall asleep, preferably at a piano. 

Mike HF

Filed under  //   Chiddy Bang   Ray Charles