Paul with your partner in crime Alan, Liverpool born brothers who obviously have a great love for music – who were the artists that drove you into the musical dance music world in the first place?
“I got into dance music music via pop – New Order and Pet Shop boys mainly, then onto Aphex Twin and Warp Records, then Detroit Techno. I was obsessed with Detroit Techno in the 1990s. I had a picture of Derrick May above my bed in student halls!. Jeff Mills though was my number one. I loved Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson for thier records rather than their DJ sets – ditto lots of 80s Chicago House.”
Clubbing in Liverpool – looniness every time I go there… best clubs over the years?
“I used to go to Cream on the Techno nights in the 1990s. More recently just Creamfields – that’s moved to Cheshire though so it doesn’t count anymore.”
Myself and Dave Seaman used to travel up to The Hacienda from London every week, which is where me met. What were your favourite Madchester nights…?
“The Hacienda (but it was in decline when I started going), Herbal Tea Party, Bugged Out!, Megadog…”
The early part of 2000 saw you release your Shadow Dancer EP’s – Machine Code, Dirtbox and 80somethings and then snapped up by Boysnoize Records to release some crackers that were championed by the likes of Adam Freeland, Erol Alkan and 2 Many DJs. What do YOU think have been the best releases you have put out?
“As ‘Golden Traxe’ came out today, I’ll go for that. Out of the singles, I think ‘Soap/Northern’ are my favourite. Only two tracks but they’re both quality and very different from each other.”
So your new album ‘ Golden Traxe’ – talk us through it – big ups from all the big magazines…
“We got ‘Album of the Month’ in Future Music which we were thrilled by. It’s generally got good reviews, apart from Q magazine, but that doesn’t count because it’s Q. It’s 13 tracks of quality electronic music, I don’t really want to pidgeonhole it into a genre because hopefully it defies that. Oh, and there are bonus tracks on different download sites so there’s 15 tracks in all. I’m not that enamoured with different tracks on different versions but them’s the rules nowadays, apparently. At least you can dowload the bonus tracks from the different sites seperately.”
How do you feel about being quoted as the UK’s answer to Justice?
“Flattering, but I don’t really think we are and can’t really say they are much of an influence to us.”
Top ten tunes in your box at the moment?
“We’re only doing live gigs at the moment, so other DJs may balk at how out-of-date this list is, but…
Shadow Dancer ‘Together’
LFO ‘Love Is The Message’
Surkin ‘White Knight Two (Laidback Luke Remix)
Nacho Lovers ‘Acid Life’
Outlander ‘Vamp’
Hugg & Pepp ‘Pung’
Dave Clarke ‘Way of Life’
Tiga ‘Mind Dimension 2’
Deadmau5 ‘Desynchronised’
Boys Noize ‘Shine Shine’ (Shadow Dancer Remix)”
Craziest ever clubbing moment / tale?
“The on-stage dancing transvestites at Valtifest in Amsterdam. Maybe that just shows how Vanilla I am.”
What’s 2009 gonna bring us from you?
“Lots of live appearances and hopefully a Golden Traxe remix EP by the end of the year. And rocking the Dance Tent at Glastonbury. Not really, but it would be nice…”
Which artist in the world would you most like to remix?
“Jean-Michel Jarre.”
And finally, Liverpool boys…I support Everton – blue or red?
“Blue! Though I often get called a phoney because I like Liverpool to win as well (my family is half and half!).”
