After 2 months of blue-ish Monday mixes, I’m going to turn it around with a mix I did for Le Gammeltoft’s UNGA BUNGA radio show last Friday. Some of you might have heard it already, but now it’s up for grabs and download. I hope it’s not to too odd me doing the Q&A with myself…
Me, the journo: So, what’s in the mix today?
Me, the DJ: The Primavera Mix is in many ways a typical club mix d’Or. It starts out with a groovy, stompin’ feel, and slowly increases in tempo and intensity. It’s comprised of some of my favourite tunes to play at the discoteque; from obscure cover versions and powerful disco to epic electronic stuff, no wave and early acid house. It finishes off with Gerry Rafferty’s saxophone killer “Baker Street” as a homage to the late, great Kjeld Tolstrup, who originally co-hosted UNGA BUNGA with Le.
Me, the journo: What does primavera mean, isn’t it some kind of music festival?
Me, the DJ: Ha, well done with the research! Yes, it is an excellent festival in Barcelona. But it just means spring in Spanish, Portugese and Italian as well, and that’s where we’re at right now. Plus it’s mentioned quite a few times in the first track on the mixtape.
Me, the journo: Speaking of the tracks, which one is your favourite?
Me, the DJ: That’s a hard one – I guess all of these are favourites. I love Nancy Nova and Vivien Vee’s vocal work, and the productions of those two tracks are so obscure and mindblowing as well. The Babi Lahiri track has a special place in my heart as well; Babbi stole the bassline from Billie Jean and engulfs it in off-beat percussion, Indian happy-go-lucky vocals and, to be frank, horrible mixing and production. But if I have to pinpoint it, I’d say A Number of Names “Sharevari” is my favourite these days. It’s a dark, monotomous 1981 production, recognized as the first Detroit techno track. And the text is just straight up poetry as I see it: “Smoking on cigarette, listening to his darkest set…”
Me, the journo: Wow Christian, time flyes. We gotta stop now. To wrap it up, any upcoming gigs we should know off?
Me, the DJ: This Friday, I’ll be sharing the decks with Mikkelektrik (who did last Monday’s mixtape) at Gefährlich on Nørrebro. Saturday, I’ll be doing my monthly “Une Seléction d’Or” at Bakken in the meat packing district. Wednesday 25th, I’ll do something different at Mesteren & Lærlingen, playing ol’ soul, jazz and obscurities. It’s a listening party! Friday 28th, I’m hosting Box2 at Culture Box at Atle’s new thing called Deborah – really looking forward to that one. After this, it’s Copenhagen Distortion time, and that’s a whole chapter in itself. But for me, it starts out with Nag streetparty, Danish Bacon outside Jazzhouse and Wood Wood/Snow Potion party Wednesday. And from there, it goes straight to hell.
Me, the journo: Right. Promoting yourself a bit much there, but I asked the question anyway. And any new mixtapes?
Me, the DJ: Yes, an obscure electronic one for Tom Collins’ mixtape portal SmackCast. And later this week, I’m going to do one of the melancholic ones I usually do; part 4 of my “In Absentia” series, entitled “My Little Dreamer”. Dedicated to my daughter.
Me, the journo: That’s sweet. So you have a child and you smoke?
Me, the DJ: No, that’s just to look cool in the picture. It works, right?
Me, the journo: Absolutely.
Me, the DJ: Yes! Enjoy the tunes.
CHRISTIAN D’OR – PRIMAVERA MIX FOR UNGA BUNGA by Christian d’Or
Photo by Jason Idris Alami
