Space Ranger Guestmix6
Posted In Full Guestmixes
Todays guest mix is from the distinctive and downright deep Space Ranger. The German trio has a wide experience and an unlimited love for music. In their previous disguises (Dublex Inc., Sneaky Fox, Bad Can, The Odd Couple…) they have released countless floorfillers and done remixes for the likes of Kool & The Gang, Sugababes and Kurtis Blow. But now they are absolutely focused on this new project. Combining sophisticated production skills, a huge range of analogue equipment and a long-term experience of what works on dance floors around the world they know how to move the crowds. By accessing to samples taken from a huge collection of old-school dance, disco and soul records they are creating the distinctive and sophisticated house and disco sound of today. They have put together a melodic and house orientated set absolutely rammed full of cosmic eccentricity that gradually increases in tempo to near lightspeed. This is certainly headphone music for all occasions, best however listened to in a space suit.
Tracklist below the interview
We caught up with Space Ranger to pick their brains.
How did the three of you meet?
I met Felix in 1998 at a theatre project where he composed music for. we soon started producing together and had our fist release in 1999 under the moniker Dublex Inc. Maybe you still have tunes like “Tango Forte” “Nifty Night” or “Tocame” in mind. That was us. One year later, in 2000, we met Rino when we hosted together a night in one of Germany’s the most innovative clubs , the Le Fonque. There we had the chance to play with legends like Jazzanova, Tim “Love” Lee, Groove Armada, Chateau Flight, Don Air, DJ Krush, Alex Dallas and many others. Also Danilo from MCDE started DJing there with us. Danilo became on of the most important artists on our label Pulver Records which we also founded in the year 2000 and run for seven years. As you see we’re working together for a pretty long time. In 2009 we produced an EP which we named Star Wash EP. Actually it started as a fun project. Also the project name was more or less a “working title”. But sometimes things don’t turn as you expect…
How did your Star Wash EP’s success affect you?
The EP opened doors for us. Manly in a creative sight. After we closed Pulver Records in 2007 and loused up our last Dublex Inc. album we felt a bit planless. We sent the EP to a couple of labels and in the end we decided to release it with Borja from Lovemonk Records. He is an old friend of of us and it was definitely the best choice. After the EP hit like a bomb we felt like coming home again.
So many people like to use the term ‘Nu-disco’, but this genre by nature relies heavily on old tracks. Do you think this term is accurate and should music be pidgeon-holed to such a degree?
Actually we never gave a dime on genres. We didn’t when produced Dublex stuff and we don’t do today. I think mainly we play House. I also like Techno, Soul, Jazz…we do what we like. That’s the only proper way to find your own style. But of course, everybody is free to name it whatever they like. I think the genres are very important for shops because they have to file it under something. But if you have a look at Juno’s “Nu-Disco” genre page you will find everything from “real” Disco to Deep House to Funkedits. The baby needs a name, That’s all.
You have had some of your tracks remixed by some of the edit scenes best producers. How does it feel having your music re-interpreted? Also whats your favourite remix of one of your own songs?
I’m always so curious! Fortunately we never had a bad remix. At this point i would like to thank all the wonderful artist who re-worked our tracks – great job! It’s amazing to see how they transforme our works into their own. I can’t really pick one because they’re all good. During the next months there are remixs coming from MCDE, Marcus Worgull, Bonar Bradberry (which is a bomb!!), Pional, Blacklodge, Linntronix (who produces for Kris Menace), George Vala & Audioprophecy, Lou Teti, First Season and many, many more…..
You use a lot of analogue equipment when making your tracks, but do you feel that digital plugins and methods are rendering analogue obselete?
No I don’t think that digital instruments could substitute analgue equiptment and the other way around. Really interesting is the combination of both. We use a lot of “old school” Roland and Yamaha keyboards and on the other side mainly digital compressors and limiters. We use a real Talkbox but digital vocoders. We do most mixing digital but loop every BUS through our Mackie 48 track analogue mixer. This way we get best and pressureful results. The trick is only to combine all these techniques.
In your opinion whats the best way to get your tracks noticed as an unknown artist?
I made good experiences with Soundcloud. it’s a cool tool to connect with the scene and bejond. But the very best way is definitely to deliver good music 
just continue releasing good stuff.
How do you find new music?
I’m checking shops nearly daily for news and I get a lot of music sent by labels and other producers. And of course i play a lot own productions. That’s what I always found so always fascinating on DJing – always questing for new sounds.
What upcoming releases and remixes can we look forward to in 2011?
Woooh, there’s a lot. There are remixes coming for our current 12″ release “Nightmoves”. We’ll release our Album in March, after that there’s another EP coming with Remixes from Bonar Bradberry, MCDE and Marcus Worgull. We just finished remixes for Luminodisco on Hell Yeah Records and Lou Teti on Deep & Disco in the USA. Maybe we will release another EP on our own label Grande Buffo Music in summer. And we started working on new tracks which we will bring out in autumn.
What was the last track that you bought?
I think it was “Nards” and “Good God” from Trusme. Both tracks are super hypnotic and have a great energy! Another “always-in-my-box” tune is Prins’ Thomas remix of “Kanal” by the Telephones
Are there any producers out there that you think we should keep our eye on?
We have a couple of releases coming up on Grande Buffo Music. Definitely worth listening is the stuff from “First Season”. He was blowing my mind when i heard his demo the first time. Also really cool is Motor Mouth and George Vala & Audioprophecy!
Thanks for your time and talent guys!
Check out their Soundcloud HERE
Buy their new releases HERE
Tracklist:
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