It started nicely in Ghent on Friday with Rick Wilhite playing an across the board set. Great to see the Ghent / Deinze family and some cats from Brussels.

Our Party on Saturday turned out to be better than I had hoped for. Good turnout & lots of people smiling. What do you need more ? I am satisfied with the sound, music, friendly bouncer and most other things we tried to achieve. Only the balloon thing wasn't a success. Need to ask David Mancuso how he keeps those up all night.

Big up to everyone who showed up and danced. Big up to Noah for the short PA. We need to work that out together. Big up to everyone who helped. We would be nowhere without the help of our friends. Big thanks. One last personal thanks to Nick, Yoeri, Lieve and Dieter for making this first one a success. In the days to come we'll see where we can improve, so you can expect an even better edition on April the 24th. Same place.

If you took pictures please hook us up with them.

There's a new printed music & film magazine out in Belgium called Apollo. A brave move. Printed, in Dutch & pretty niche. We love it when people take risks. It should be easy to find at a newspaper stand near you.

I, myself, am writing reviews for the website. Because my man Alex is involved and asked me nicely. This way I'm able to push the music I like a little bit more. Let it be an extra motivation to send CD's, haha.

All the best to everyone involved. We need something like this.

Almost forgot to put the track list of this week's radio show online. Been busy preparing Our Party happening this Saturday and the next edition of RELEASE. More about that shortly. We play lots of good music, fresh to old. The interview with Chris Vogado will be for later when we find room in everyone's agenda. Sorry about that.

Listen live between 10 and 11pm (Brussels time) on fm brussel (98.8fm or online) or listen to the show through streaming all week after it has been aired.

The Bamboos - On The Sly - Tru Thoughts
Maxmillion Dunbar - Wouldn't Matter - Ramp
The Impressions - We're A Winner - EMUS
The Jeff Lorber Fusion - Monster Man - Arista
Paul Hardcastle - Rain Forrest - Profile
Invisible Man's Band - All Night Thing - Mango
Bunny Sigler - Let Me Party With You - Salsoul
Crash Course In Science - Flying Turns - Stones Throw
Omar S - Up-feat-Don-Q - FXHE
Peace Orchestra - Henry (Zero dB Reconstruction) - Fluid Ounce
Dave Da Gato - El Diablo - Tru Thoughts
Levon Vincent - Late Night Jam - Ostgut Ton
Zero dB - A Pompa De Girou (Moonstarr Remix) - Tru Thought

This Friday my favourite Detroit House DJ after Theo Parrish is playing in our country. I've seen Rick Wilhite a couple of times and I was always impressed. Open-minded, swinging sets. Add Red D, San Soda and Just Nathan to that and you've got yourself a sureshot party. I'll be there handing out the last few invitations for our own party the day after.

More info here.

Due to not enough people showing up SPARK has ended. A shame really because to me it was the best thing - club-wise - that happened in Belgium since a very long time. Quality bookings, nice surrounding, the few times we've played there a nice crowd, ... . But I must also admit that I rarely made it to Antwerp when we weren't playing (Theo Parrish & Trus'me probably the only occasions) so I'm guilty too in a way. I guess the scene of clubbers liking the deeper end of things isn't that big in Belgium. A shame but life goes on.

Bruno and Will have started a new concept making room for a wider range of dj's, more local, to do their thing. It's built around particular years in time with next to music from the chosen periods support with visuals. A bit curious how this will work and I think it's quite difficult for the dj's. We do it sometimes at Bar Du Matin but that's a bar and even there people don't always get it. Anyway, we love it when it's not obvious and we'll certainly give it a try. We'll play at Café Capital on March the 6th. Don't know if it's confirmed who'll be the main act (still not got that main act status ourselves, haha ) but you'll hear it soon.

Give it a check. All info you need on the Café Capital website of course.

It has been a while since I've written a weekend report. Didn't really feel like it and we had a slow period gig-wise the first few weeks of 2010. But that's over now and we're back on track.

We started of the new year at our former heimat JH Eenders. When asked to participate in a benefit for Haiti we didn't have to think twice. Next to supporting a good cause it also felt nice to see a lot of familiar faces I hadn't seen in a long while. Good to catch up, good to see a lot of people are doing well. Also nice to notice is that the youth centre we've spent a fair share of our younger days in is thriving. And that we still can move the place. Final slice of goodness was hearing the party generated quite a lot of money to donate.

On Saturday we headed to St-Gilles and Maison Du Peuple. Didn't expect much people as it was a busy day in Brussels of the party-front but, as always, I was wrong. Good crowd, even people dancing, lots of friends came through the snow and ended the night at Emirdag for a killer Kefta. So it was all good. Got to hear very, very promising stuff from the Up High camp through Alex On-Point and played my JtotheC 7" for the first time at a gig. Great night. Big up to everyone at MDC in front and behind the bar. Even to the drunk girl nagging for Funk all night, haha.

Next weekend is all about Our Party of course. Can't wait to work that Urei / Funktion One combo.

This weekend you can catch us playing records twice. On Friday we play at the benefit for Haiti our former home JH Eenders is organising. Back to the roots. Back to Halle. We'll play between 2 and 3am. All the info you need here.

On Saturday we'll do an all-nighter at Maison Du Peuple. Free entrance and us playing banging tunes all night long.

We still got plenty of invitations for Our Party next Saturday at Belle-Vue. Come ask us one if you see us.

With Mixcloud and Soundcloud giving you a decent platform to put mixes online every fool who knows how to (mis)use Rapidshare and glue together tracks in Ableton or Garageband thinks it's a million dollar idea to add another one to the already vast amount of pointless mixes available on the net. Luckily there are exceptions. Sometimes a bit too well hidden, sometimes getting the shouts they deserve. Here's a selection of inspiring mixes I think you should check.

Mr. Peabody Records Podcast on BBE Part 1 & Part 2
As promotion for the excellent and essential compilation put together by the owners of the legendary Mr Peabody record store in Chicago.

Benny Blanco Mix on Soundcloud
From London-based Nonsense crew (party at Plastic People). Really good mix. Check it.

Bullion Fact Mix
Always love mixes by the man. Always something else.

Motor City Drum Ensemble Mix on XLR8R
Like the set he played at Nexx. Banging.

First part of our Zero dB special. Partly because I need to learn to read my mails better. Anyway, next week we talk to Chris Vogado, this week we play a couple of tracks of the upcoming compilation on Tru-Thoughts called ‘One Offs, Remixes and B Sides'. Next to that new tracks from Belgian (JtotheC, LuiGi, SubReachers) and other talent (MCDE, Bullion) we like. Plus some older tracks we like a lot.

Listen live between 10 and 11pm (Brussels time) on fm brussel (98.8fm or online) or listen to the show through streaming all week after it has been aired.

J to the C - Nono (LuiGi Remix) - On Point
Bullion - Say Goodbye To What - One-Handed
Clifton Dyson - Slow Your Body Down - Network
Mark Lane - Who's Really Listening - Stones Throw
Funk Deluxe - This Time (Dub Version) - Street Wave
J.R. Funk And The Love Machine - Feel Good Party Time (Instrumental) - Brass Records
Géraldine Hunt - It Doesn't Only Happen At Night - Carrere
Zero dB - Come Party - Tru Thoughts
Zero dB - Universe (Dave da Gato's 'F_ck-up The Festival Bounce') - Tru Thoughts
Grupo Batuque - E Ruim (Zero dB Reconstruction) - Tru Thoughts
John Kong & Moonstarr - Future Vision (Zero dB Reconstruction) - Tru Thoughts
Subreachers - sOother - CDR
Motor City Drum Ensemble - Got It - Prime Numbers
Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo (Andreas Saag's House Perspective) - CDR

It's always nice to discover brilliant music you've never heard before. It's what makes diggin' in the crates so much fun. It's what keeps me falling in love with music over and over again. It's also why I'll never be a rich man money-wise.

My first discovery of 2010 is Minimal Wave. Thanks to Peanut Butter Wolf. Together with Veronica Vasicka from the label Minimal Wave label the ever surprising Stones Throw have compiled "The Minimal Wave Tapes Vol. 1". It might be useful to explain what is meant with those 2 words I've used three times in the previous two sentences. I quote the label:

The Minimal Wave musical genre was hallmarked by the use of the analog synths and drum machines manufactured in the 70s and 80s, and characterized by simple music structures made by musicians working in the early D.I.Y. asthetic: recording on tape in their home studios, creating their own album artwork, and often collaborating via postage mail. The fanzine CLEM (Contact List Of Electronic Musicians) was very influential in creating a worldwide community for this sort of music, before digital technology and the internet came into play.

It has hints of Nu Wave, not surprisingly, Early Electro and it's actually very Funky. Check the Minimal Wave site to discover this part of the musical universe. I particularly like the Lo-Fi aspect of it. Proof that you don't need an Abbey Road like studio to produce great music. The fact that it's obscure doesn't hurt either to get my approval. I quite like the less obvious things. So expect lots of this in my sets. Probably confusing people even more but that's a good thing in my world.

If you like all things Electronic, don't mind what's called, a bit uninspired, Disco Not Disco or love the early ‘80s NYC music scene, then you should definitely check this CD and the Minimal Wave label. If Defected is your label of choice you might want to stay far away from it. For me it's the first big winner of the year.