Tag: Ravescene Magazine

FEATURED ARTICLE – Production House

Driving towards Production House headquarters, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, having been a successful record label for some years I imagined egos to be big and attitudes rife. How wrong I was.

My first impression on arrival was how relaxed and friendly everybody was. The atmosphere there is like that of a close knit family (no trace of star-struck egotistical maniacs here!)

Floyd Dice, better known as ‘Dice’ appears to be the backbone of The Production House Crew. Having been with them since the beginning I asked him about his involvement with the label.

DICE: My main act is the House Crew, that is totally mine, as I engineer the studio and produce, but I am involved with most acts signed to the label, so I thought I would take one act for myself.

As well as engineer and produce Dice actually writes and sings as well, quite an asset to the label and modest too (his name can be found credited on nearly all Production House’s releases). Dice’s latest track, currently tearing it up around the clubs is called ‘Let Me Be Your Fantasy’ and  although credited to Baby D, it was actually written and produced by Dice. ‘Let Me Be Your Fantasy’ is on a more mellow tip with a soulful feel to it.

DICE: Rave is changing, it’s becoming more vocally orientated, and these vocals are being sampled from old soul records. My strongest influence is soul music, hence the Baby D track, the vocals are soulful, and they have been put together over a hard drumbeat. Soul is still around, maybe in a slightly different form, like swing or mellow house, but it is still there.

During the interview there is a constant buzz of activity going on around us. Acen pops in to say hello, DMS is running around, his face split into a huge grin, waving a cheque. Friendly banter flows between everyone, Acen offers to make me a cup of coffee. I asked Dice his opinion on the media.

DICE: The trouble with having ‘fame’ 1s you are open to criticism, the media can be very harsh and the public believe it. The media can destroy acts and people’s egos. I hope the media doesn’t do to rave what it did to the acid scene. It would be such a shame to kill off rave now, as itis such a big industry.

The most astonishing thing about Production House is that they are self-distributed, no other label in the country can boast the success of this independent company. Off of their own back they sell their music on its pure class and having been around so long, only points to the fact that they are a rated amongst the top three dance labels in the country.

By Tash

LABEL PROFILE – Third PARTY RECORDS

Back from their first 2 EPs all licensed to separate compilations including one in Canada, Third Party look to be going somewhere fast. Building their experience through 14 releases on the renowned Ibiza label, their operation has been established to communicate the musical mastery of the Noise Factory. Since the label began, it has been no accident that with each new release they have sold more and more copies. So with all this in mind, I took the opportunity to ask Tel, Jim and Kevin why their music was so in demand.

“T could talk through our tracks like a story. Our records build up and have lots of different  things in them and then they breakdown so DJ’s can mix into the next tune. I think it’s also  because our EP’s include a variety of styles so everyone is happy then”

How would you describe your music?

“Our music has always got a reggae element somewhere, it’s hidden and you might not hear it at first, but if you listen closely it’s there. However we’ve come away from sampling reggae direct because everyone 1s doing that now. People are simply sampling the raggae stuff because they know this will get their record played. Nowadays you hear a whole reggae track with a fast break behind it and this a sign of people getting lazy — this ain’t good for whats happening”.

Even though Noise Factory get distressed at the volume of poor quality material being released they do hope for the future of the breakbeat sound particularly on an international scale, “The breakbeat sound ain’t so well in the rest of the world yet, but it’s going to come through slowly. In LA, they’re going mad for British material and Canada is now getting into it too. They say we are behind but really they are the ones that are behind”.

So what are your plans for the future?

“We’re planning on using more live vocals than samples and including more melodies. We’re looking to the future in this way because I seriously think this music is drying down”.

As a final question I asked Noise Factory what advice they would give to up and coming music makers out There?

“Be creative with your samples and make your samples mean something. Don’t follow, lead the way, stay one step ahead because there’s so much competition out there. Never pirate, do it so it makes sense.”

ADVERTS

• Up Front Totally Hardcore Mix Tapes From The USA
• Double Dipped ‘An Underwater Experience’
• Hardcore Zone @ Wax City Records
• Labrynth T-Shirts for sale
• Desire 92 – The Fourth Birthday Party
• The Promised Land – Free Rave @ Lea Valley Trading Estate, London N18

RAVE LISTINGS

• Fantazia Friday 27th November. Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet
• Rave In Holland 13, 14, 1Sth November
• World Dance Saturday 5th December. Lydd International Airport, Kent
• Heaven On Earth Friday 13th November. The Hummingbird, Birmingham
• Armageddon Saturday 14th November. Enstone Aerodrome, 10 miles North of Oxford off A34,  Oxfordshire
• Middle Earth Saturday 14th November. Occans Night Club, Barbican, London
• Raveworld IV Friday 27th November. Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way. Stevenage, Herts
• Universe Friday 4th December. Westpoint Exhibition Centre, Clyst St Mary, Near Exeter, Devon. (off Junction 30, M5)
• Desire ‘92 Saturday 21st November. The Roller Express, Lea Valley Trading Estate, Edmonton, N18
• Universe Thursday 31st December. Westpoint Exhibition Centre, Nr Exeter, Devon
• Love Of Life Saturday 14th November. Kelsey Kerridge Sports Centre, Gonville Place. Parkside, Cambridge
• New Age Saturday 21st November. Stantonbury Leisure Complex, Purbeck Close, Milton Keynes, Beds
• The Sanctuary Opening Night Friday 11th December. Denbigh Leisure Centre, V7 Saxon Gate, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Beds.
• Shammanarchy At Whirl-Y-Gig Sunday November 22nd. Shoreditch Town Hall, London
• Double Dipped ‘Trip Under the Sea’ Saturday 12th December, Labrynth, 12 Dalston Lane E8
• The Promised Land Saturday 21st November Bass Box. Lea Valley Trading Estate, Harbet Road. N18
• Urge Saturday 5th December Vox Club, Brixton
• Ibiza Reunion Party Saturday November 21st David Lloyd Centre, Southall Lane, Heston, middx