In Case of Scum

350px-2012-09_-_The_Scumfrog_@_5_Years_Robot_Heart,_Burning_ManOne of the most prolific DJ’s out there on the Playa has been Dutch techno master Jesse “The Scumfrog” Houk. Here’s his set from Robot Heart at Burning Man Fertility 2.0 2012. Where I come from we call this the DPH…DEEP PROGRESSIVE HOUSE. And we also call it the TTH – TRIBAL TECH HOUSE. If you know Steve Lawler, Danny Tenaglia, Peace Division or Lexington Avenue, you know that this is the shit. YMMV.

Scumfrog’s been going as a DJ for more than 25 years. He has just released a new album “In Case We’re All Still Here“, and I have to tell you, it’s being played very loud and very often at Burners.Me HQ. You can keep your DeadMau5 and David Guetta, thankyou very much. That stuff is amateur hour. This is a masterwork – gezellig, as they say in Amsterdam. This album is the sound of one of the world’s Uber-DJs slamming it home, someone in the zone and at the top of their musical game.

Here’s to hearing more progressive house, psy-trance, hip-hop, trance and electro out there on the Playa this year and beyond. There are more beautiful experiences to be had beyond dubstep. Scummy bring this sound and crank it! Robot Heart turn it up…I think you might need some more speakers.

Congratulations to The Scumfrog for making such a wicked album. This seems like one that will stand the test of time…$8 well spent.

From Armada Music

the-scumfrog-in-case-were-all-still-here-326x326Nearly a decade after his last artist album, the underground legend that is The Scumfrog returns. His roots firmly planted in the underground house scene, the Dutch born producer/DJ brings a new connection between the intangible and deep and the ever-growing movement that is electronic dance music. ‘In Case We’re All Still Here’ is The Scumfrog in full underground swing.

Now that the dance scene is more alive than ever before, New York based producer Jesse Houk shines a new light on the deep, techy sounds of the underground. With more than 15 years of experience, the mastermind behind classics such as ‘The Watersong’ and remixes for the likes of Armin van Buuren, Missy Elliott, New Order, Kylie Minogue and Annie Lennox, is ready to take another deep dive into the journey of music. All through the sounds of ‘In Case We’re All Still Here’.

Featuring collaborations with Sting, Static Revenger, Christian Burns, Vince Elliott, Vassy and more, ‘In Case We’re All Still Here’ is the brand new album of The Scumfrog. An eclectic affair that takes you past the entire spectrum of electronic dance music.

 Here’s another review

scumfrog_wideLast year, The Scumfrog (aka Jesse Houk) returned to the global EDM stage with 12 new tracks, mixed together in a tailor-made DJ mix called “A Place Where We Belong”. The individual tracks were released by various prestigious labels such Armin Van Buuren’s Armada, Umek’s 1605, Prok & Fitch’s Floorplay, and more. Tracks like “In Love”, “Running” and his remix of the classic “The Sky Is Not Crying” quickly found support, not only from The Scumfrog’s long-time peers, but also from the new generation of underground DJs.

This year, the Dutch born American producer continues on his path, miles away from mainstream EDM, by completing a new, full-length album for Armada Records titled “In Case We’re All Still Here”, made up of cutting edge underground Deep House and Tech House. The first single from this album is The Scumfrog’s long awaited project with Sting. Since the beginning of DJ culture, Sting has been the voice of sampling-choice for many producers, and new bootleg versions of his popular songs still surface at an ever-constant rate. But an official Dance Music release baring the 16-time Grammy Award winner’s name is rare. Last year, however, The Scumfrog received approval to remake “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You,” and the amazing result of this long awaited project is finally here. The Scumfrog has been a House Music staple in the Dance scene, releasing records since 1999. He is mostly known for his underground flavored remixes of artists like Missy Elliott, New Order, Kylie Minogue, and Annie Lennox, his Grammy nominated collaborations writing/producing techno oriented works with David Bowie and Cyndi Lauper, and his own hit singles “Music Revolution”, “Serenade”, and “Escape”. With his versions of “If I Ever Lose My Faith,” The Scumfrog returns to his deep house roots, while still giving the main vocal mix his signature mass appeal.

As a DJ, he has toured the world many times over, and since 2009 he hosts a weekly radio show/podcast Glam Scum International. http://www.glamscum.com

This is the first time you’ve ever heard Burners.Me recommending an album to you. Why this one? Think about it – there’s only one reason. It’s that good. It really stands out. It probably won’t be the last…we’ve opened a can of worms here. I have more than 16,000 albums in my record collection. What motivated us to break the proverbial seal? How good this album is, and also what a dedicated Burner the Scumfrog has been over many, many years. This is a seriously good album – I dare you to buy it and come here and tell me it sucks. I think more likely you will be so wowed that you will be in our comments going “thankyou, Burners.Me!”.

Get it, you won’t regret it.

PS. Nadia Ali is where it’s at. Check out the Scummie handiwork in this next one. Scumfrog and Nadia at Burning Man this year? Or, maybe even, one dares to dream (especially at Burning Man) all of the above plus Juno Reactor Michele Adamson Lucent Dossier Cosmic Gate and Emma Hewitt and Deekline? Dreams may come true…

pete robot heart sunrise

“Sound Wave of Love and Beats” – Robot Heart 2012, the video

photo by Peter Ruprecht

DJ Yental Beats just posted this excellent video made by Karim Tabar, documenting Robot Heart’s journey to the Playa in 2012. Featuring DJ’s 2 Gweilos, Damian Lazarus, Julian Prince, Blondish, Art Department, Scarlett Etienne.

You can download more Robot Heart 2012 mixes from our Music Page.

 

Thanks to Geo and the rest of the Robot Heart crew for providing us shelter from Hurricane Sandy, in one of the most epic all night “lock in” parties I’ve ever been to. Talk about “batten down the hatches”! Robot Heart does it right.

Now let me have a little election night rant about the absolutely stunning girl, dancing with feathers in a bad ass costume – put the video to slow motion, full zoom, look! No MOOPS. Just total, respectful, giving, Burner awesomeness.

here’s a gentleman who deserves to be at Burning Man in a rock star bus. Maybe even two gentlemen?

Feathers are fine, who the fuck would want to ban something like this? The Fun Police? I mean, where can you go in the world to even see this, let alone with DJs like Lee Burridge playing for you for free. This is where Carl Cox goes to hang out. Think about it, that’s one dude who quite literally could be at any party that is going on, anywhere on the planet. Mark Zuckerberg might know about the party, and everyone who’s there, but even he can’t say that. The owners of Burning Man and the owners of Robot Heart can’t say that. This might be hard to believe for people in the US – “surely anyone wants to meet the Facebook guy”? Well, in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, there are palaces. Castles. Superyachts. Carl has probably played most of them already. And he’s by no means the only world Top 100 DJ we get. Carl Cox loves Burning Man, loves Opulent Temple, loves Robot Heart. I bet he would enjoy the amazing dancing and costume of this girl too. In fact I feel safe to say that most of the 7 billion people on the planet would enjoy watching her, it’s beautiful.

The great thing about Burning Man is once you can get in, it’s all freaking FREE! Brought to you by your neighbors. Other people spend money for you to have this! Let this girl dance with her feathers, and enjoy. Why stop her fun, or the fun of the people who love to watch her? Why not just make a rule, clean up crew don’t have to pick up feathers, then it’s up to BLM to prove that a Burner MOOPed a feather instead of a bird. The feathers will blow away, birds have been flying over there for hundreds of millions of years before Burning Man came along and the Playa survived. I would rather see this girl dancing at Robot Heart (or the Temple, if that’s more your thing) looking like this, than not. It’s art, it’s performance art, and costumes are a huge part of it. And blending nature and the earth into our costumes is a huge part of it too. [/rant off]

Prayerformances: Rave Culture as the new manifestation of Ecstatic Trance Rituals

Thanks to Burner Alan for posting a link to this talk on our Facebook page (please support this blog and Like us).

It took me a while to get past the presenter’s bizarre, Sesame Street-style delivery. Once I did, I found the content of his presentation, and his thesis, to be interesting and thought-provoking. Festivals are touching on elements buried deep within the human psyche: fundamental, elemental, spiritual, and communal.

 

Set times for Robot ❤ Distrikt party

This weekend they’re closing the street in front of San Francisco club Public Works for a killer party, featuring Burning Man tribes Distrikt and Robot Heart. Early bird tickets have sold out, but General Admission are still available for $40.

The concert will be streamed live on the Internet, via BMIR

Outside Stage:
1pm-2pm: NoMe
2pm-3:30pm: Desyn Masiello
3:30pm-5:30pm: Marques Wyatt
5:30pm-7:30pm: The Scumfrog
7:30pm-10:00pm: Ben Seagren

Inside Downstairs:
4pm-5pm: Paul Geddes
5pm-6pm: Darren Grayson
6pm-7pm: Syd Gris
7pm-9pm: J-Rod
9pm-11pm: Matthew Kramer
11pm-1am: DJ Kramer
1am-Close: Elite Force

Inside Upstairs:
3pm-4pm: Dulce Vita
4pm-5pm: Jen Woolfe
5pm-7pm: Robb Green & Lt.D
7pm-8pm: VitaminDevo
8pm-9pm: Nikita
9pm-10pm: Worthy
10pm-12am: Layne Loomis
12am-2am: Desyn Masiello
2am-4am: Atish

Art & Playa Fashions provided by:
NoMe, Mad Dog Madigan, Tamo Design, Silver Lucy Design, SuperSugarRayRay and Minerva’s Antennae!

Live simulcast on BMIR, Burning Man Information Radio
You will be able to tune in at www.bmir.org or www.shoutingfire.com the day of the event!

robotdistrikt

Fun in the sun: Robot Heart and Distrikt shutting down the street at Public Works

Just got our tickets to this event on Saturday April 28, 1pm at the Public Works club in San Francisco. Four of my favorite things combined – the fourth being partying in the daytime. Here’s what they have to say for themselves:

Confirmed Lineup:

Elite Force, Scumfrog, Marques Wyatt, Desyn Masiello, Erica Rhone, Ben Seagren, Kramer, Matt Kramer, Layne Loomis, J-Rod, Atish Mehta and a lot more TBA!!!

We are closing Erie Street outside of Public Works from 1-10pm. Not quite enough for you? We’re also running 2 rooms of sound inside of Public Works from 3PM to 4AM. Yup. 3 areas of glorious beats.

Last time I was at Public Works the Stanton Warriors tore the roof off, the gig was fantastic but the club looked like it was undergoing renovations. Hopefully they will be finished in time, although I expect we are more likely to be outside enjoying the presence of Distrikt and Robot Heart on a closed off Erie Street.