The Wizard

Erol Alkan emerged from the underground with a sound that was innovative, arresting, and charmingly psychedelic. He is fast approaching premier league status and is one of the closest watched producer’s & DJ's of the decade.

With his roots firmly locked in all that was amazing in alternative culture, Erol Alkan pretty much stands for everything I love about dance music. He takes all the sounds, artists, songs and genre's which have captured hearts in history and smashes everything together into the wonderful idea of dancing.

A few years back before all the blogs were swarming with our favourite artists and we had no idea what the hell ‘Bloc Party’or ‘Klaxons’ meant, these very musicians were down in London chillin’ at Erol Alkan’s little club Trash. I’m talking LCD Soundsystem, Peaches, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. Not to mention some killer DJ sets by the likes of Tiga, Mylo, 2manydjs and yeah you got it... anyone that mattered.

To think that I was in London not long ago when Trash was in full swing and was completely oblivious to its existence (or to anything related to the obsessions I now possess) is extremely frustrating.

Allegedly in the last 5 years of the club the last two tracks that were always played were ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ (the Smiths) & Bowie’s 'Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide'.

Erol stated in an interview "they are the two songs that best reflect the club culture, it's people and places, highs and lows and bring people together"

So I just adore Erol’s taste in music.

I would really really love to bring him out here (if he can get over his fear of flying)

Here are some of my favourite Erol Alkan Remixes:

In case you were wondering Erol has been up to since (R.I.P Trash) …well it once again makes me feel like I should smash my laptop and go actively pursue something. The guy has been producing albums for some of our favourite indie bands (Mystery Jets), getting unknown artists onto our radar (The Long Blondes), and pushing out more top-notch remixes (I really don't have time for this).

And by now you should have heard of his side project Beyond The Wizards Sleeve with Richard Norris (not to be confused with the Richard Norris that produces albums for Five and Robbie Williams)

Anyway, if you love Erol Alkan's productions just listen to some of the stuff by Beyond the Wizards Sleeve. His collaborations with Norris result in the most magical creations.

The Midlake remix is my favourite from Beyond the Wizard Sleeve. I can’t really listen to it without a heavy heart but its so god damn beautiful and painfully infectious.

You can download Erol Alkan podcasts from his website which I HIGHLY recommend. You can also waste your time in the forums if you are a super music nerd like me.

http://www.erolalkan.co.uk/music/podcasts.rss

I was actually winding down today post-weekend with Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve Live At The G Mex July2007 (feat. Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Peter Bjorn & John yummmm)

I have to say one of my best purchase decisions of all time was picking up the "A Bugged Out Mix by Erol Alkan/ A Bugged In Selection with Erol Alkan" which is composed of two discs... the first disc is an absolutely immaculate mix by Erol and the second makes for the most pleasurable home listening you could ever imagine.

Here are two tracks from A Bugged In Selection which I spontaneously selected to upload as I really think the album is best listened to as a whole. (Buy it ok? cool? cool.)

Oh, and I just spent the whole night listening to/reading about Erol Alkan.

So I am most definitely going to fail uni/ life.