Trainspotting With Blanka Barbara

On Friday 22 March, following a now sold-out screening of films that explore the links between rave culture and contemporary art in Poland in the 1990, Concrete Lates x Rave: Recharge take over Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, with DJ sets from Catz n Dogz, GW Harrison and Blanka Barbara. Blanka Barbara’s genre is best described as deep and textured melodic house – perfect for taking crowds on a carefully steered playful and musically adventurous journey. Her productions have been supported by the leading names in the industry, including Lane 8, Marsh, Patrice Baumel and Hernan Cattaneo. Ahead of the event, Blanka has put together a Trainspotting featured inspired by Polish producers.

Catz ‘n Dogz & Nala – Me Me Me – Diynamic

This erotic picture laid on the brute bass beat will no doubt make its way into Catz ’n Dogz’s DJ set during Rave: Recharge at Southbank Centre on the 22nd of March. Dubbed ‘Polish Rave’, this will be a hot gig at one of the UK’s most iconic venues in the heart of London, and the “Me Me Me” track’s dark and sultry energy is a fantastic testimony to the future of Rave culture in Europe.

Martin Gore – Howler (ANNA Remix) – MUTE

ANNA is one of the female producers I turn to for inspiration quite often. I treasure the harmonies and the creative synth work on the miscellaneous elements in this remix. Eargasm.

An On Bast – Land of Smiles – Awesome Soundwave

If you haven’t heard of her before and enjoy lots of raw experimental and ambient genres, you surely should take a listen to this. An On Bast is the moniker of the female Polish electronic music producer Anna Suda. Her utilisation of hardware instruments is brave and fascinating.

Shiffer – Phantom Phenomena – Siamese

If your taste is anything like mine, you will enjoy this magical tune. Groovy, with intelligent percussion, challenging harmonies, and that ghostly demon voice recorded somewhere on the other side of human existence – everything is perfect here. If I ever get a chance to play at a shamanic rave party (or Burning Man!) – this will be the tune ideal for the occasion.

IKARVS – szach-mat (MIHVU & Sonik Remix) – self-released

Oscillating around the hypnotic downtempo and minimalistic melodic techno, this tasty Polish duo create some seducing soundworlds. This particular remix reminds me of darker tunes often played by ingenious DJ conjurers in the cosier clubrooms.

Maetrik – The Poem – ELLUM

Speaking of DJ conjurers, Eric Estornel’s Maetrik moniker is full of incredible, imaginative, sexy tunes. Seriously one of my favourite DJs I have ever seen live and the greatest creative mind, Maestro Estornel has been contributing to the musical world around him since the 90s. The wealth of experience and boldness of production techniques is what will never stop drawing me to his music.

Eugeniusz Rudnik – Bumcykcyki – Requiem Records

I have always loved digging deeper into the core of the electronic music phenomenon. Eugeniusz Rudnik, a pioneering Polish composer and engineer, entered the avant-garde music scene in 1955 when he started working for Polish Radio. I cherish tunes like “Bumcykcyki”, where the creativity is honest and true.

Mïus – Broken Words feat. Laura Hahn (Mooryc Remix) – Sonar Kollektiv

Captivating and clever production from a fellow countryman – Polish producer and multi-instrumentalist Maurycy Zimmermann (Mooryc). I adore the reserved and cool nature of the remix and the velvety emotions that come with it.

Moonchild – Variations on a Theme (Eats Everything Rework) – Pets Recordings

I love this deep house banger from Polish duo Catz ’n Dogz’s own label Pets Recordings. Featuring some chopped classic house ‘work your body’ vocal samples, this tune, rightly described as “bootylicious”, is inspired by the 90s Rave culture and is perfectly crafted by the pivotal figure in reshaping the electronic music landscape over the past 3 decades – Eats Everything.

Blanka Barbara – Forgotten Pharaoh feat. Jinadu – ICONYC

I couldn’t leave you without an uplifting production of my own, now could I? “Nothing’s gonna stop me running wild!” This new EP on ICONYC feels totally ‘me’: fantastic rock-inspired topline, lyrics with deep meaning, and mature melodic house remixes courtesy of Jas/t and Aaron Suiss. I would be sure to play one of them at the Rave: Recharge gig at Southbank Centre – building up enough energy to pass the dancefloor on to headliners Catz ’n Dogz and the British tech house wizard GW Harrison.

Event ticket available from Dice:

https://dice.fm/event/378mx-concrete-lates-x-rave-recharge-22nd-mar-southbank-centre-london-queen-elizabeth-hall-foyer-southbank-centre-london-tickets