Monday, July 9, 2012

mnml ssgs mx fnl - peter van hoesen


After more than 4 years of doing mixes deciding how to finish should have been difficult, but somehow the answer presented itself in a very easy and natural manner. The two artists that have most strongly shaped and defined MNML SSGS have been Donato Dozzy and Peter Van Hoesen. It is fitting that Donato opened our fnl series, and now with Peter we close our mixes.

The mix that PVH has provided is the live recording from last year's 'Enter the Labyrinth' party, which was held at Unit, Tokyo on 3 May 2011. The context for this set is vital: it took place during Golden Week, approximately 7 weeks after the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan. The weeks that followed March 11 were incredibly difficult for those of us here: discovering the extent of the damage to the Tōhoku region, dealing with the way this tragedy had impacted on loved ones, watching the disaster unfold at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, trying to stay calm amidst the constant aftershocks. Life in Japan was not normal, far from it, yet the people here did their best to manage in these tough circumstances. Within our circle, the majority of the electronic music community was incredibly generous and supportive during these difficult times. Slowly things got easier, but still there was a strong sense of unease. Golden Week - a traditional holiday period in Japan around the end of April / start of May - felt like an important turning point when a greater level of normality began to return. One sign - at least for us - was that people felt like it was ok to start going to parties again. This was the setting for the Mindgames party, which featured Eric Cloutier and Peter Van Hoesen. After Eric gracefully warmed up the Unit dancefloor with his distinctive deep-burning take on techno, it was Peter's turn. Over the following hours PVH constructed one of the most beautiful, emotional and powerful sets of techno music I have had the fortune of experiencing. The defining element of his set was how incredibly fluid and natural it was. The music snaked through the night, changing styles and BPMs, with the crowd following the whole way. After all the sadness, the anger, the stress, the fear, on this night we were together and we shared something very special. Often live recordings fail to do justice to what actually happened. But sometimes, just sometimes, the magic carries over.

Some words from PVH:

The last mnml ssgs mix. Here it is. I've been asked to provide some words to go along with it. Let me see. There are so many things to write about, as the connection with my ssg friends over in Japan and Australia is a multi-layered one. I could write about Japan in the aftermath of the Tohoku quake. I could write about courage, stamina and the will to persevere and to party on in the face of adversity. I could write about being supported in a heartfelt way. I could write about opinions and how you can disagree and enjoy the disagreement. I could write about a place up in the mountains. I could write about witnessing people developing a particular taste and share it with others. I could write about music, tying us all together, without end. But let's not. All I want to say is that May 3rd 2011 was a very special night for many reasons, linked to a unique group of people. It is a pleasure to present this mix to my friends from mnml ssgs and their loyal readership. Most of all I dedicate this mix to the people who were there at Unit, that special night. Let's do it again, soon. 
Peter





PC and I would like to thank Peter for this recording and his previous ssg mixes, as well as Mindgames who put on the party and kindly agreed to let us use the recording. Once again we would also like to express our most sincere thanks to all the artists who have contributed mixes over the years, to official.fm for their incredible support, and to all of you for trusting us and listening. Doing these mixes has been an incredibly powerful and worthwhile experience, and we are incredibly grateful to have been able to do this. Thank you.

42 comments:

  1. So long and thanks for all the fish.

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  2. Great listen so far, as usual. Thanks for all the music!

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  3. Great series. Big thanks !

    Filip

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  4. WOW what a journey ! Thank you PVH, Labyrinth and the ssgs.

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  5. Truly a shame to see a close to this most wonderful of mix series. I wish all of you the best and hope to see future developments bearing the quality of the ssgs.

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  6. As your mix series ends...I would like to thank you guys for introducing me to all the quality music that I didn't know existed and most importantly for introducing me to a community of people who cherish the music as much as I do and for pushing me to think about the music in ways I never thought possible....I truly thank you....Cheers....

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  7. It's been emotional. Many thanks for everything!

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  8. Always a smart selection on artists in here )

    Thank you for sharing all this cool and quality music and the nice and sharp article you write sometimes)
    K

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  9. A fitting end to an astounding mix series. This blog and its mixes have had such a profound effect on me, I would like to extend a gargantuan thank you to all involved.

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  10. Thank you MNML SSGS for all your mixes. I know I'll still be listening to many of them years from now - so thank you for curating / creating something really special.

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  11. & as a P.S., I hope you'll still be keeping the blog open & writing, making recomendations & generally passing time here occasionally.

    Thanks again

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  13. sad to see the series end, but all good things must.

    but its great to see this recording surface. was an absolutely brilliant night with peter at unit that night. emotional on so many levels.

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  14. Going out with a 'banger'. I thank you. I'm here all week!

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  15. This is the first time I write, I think maybe the last, I have been hooked up since the donato dozzy mix from labyrinth 2008. I would like to thank you for all the great mixes and the thoughtful comments and ideas expressed on the state of things in contemporary electronic music. You ssgs are some truly philosophers of the sounds. Good luck in your next adventure.

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  16. Thanks for all the excellent music mnml ssgs, keep the recommendations coming.

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  18. Your blog has shaped my entire life these past years. Thanks for the journey. Fare forward
    x

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  19. Cheers, and thank you. Great mix as well.

    Please try to keep the site and its mixes up for as long into the future as you can so that people of the future can discover the magic.

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  20. thank you sausages for these for years, sure have shaped my listening a lot.

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  21. Thank you and the artists for all the great music throughout the years.

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  22. Sublime mix. A treat for the ears. Although I always expect a bit more when it comes to PvH (and he usually delivers), this mix, especially the last part of the second mix, was truly special. Gourmet Techno of the highest calibre. Peter proofs he is on top of the game.

    And of course, this is a chance to say a big Thank You to the Chris and Peter for four years of versatile and excellent mixes, lots of them have become personal favourites as for example the Dozzy mixes, the ones from Eric Cloutier, Cios mix, the Nuel mix, the ever brilliant boys from n./e.system, Kettenkarrussel and of course Peter van Hoesen. Long live the SSGS.

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  23. that set in unit was a blast!! thanks for everything ssgs!! see you in labyrinth

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  24. The first track on this PVH mix is possibly one of the most emotive pieces of techno... both for the circumstance of that night, and for the context it is being used in now. I salute you, ssgs!

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  25. dived straight in the deep end

    struggling to come up for air

    this is great

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  26. Very nice set from start to end!!
    Nicely diverse with cool break tunes too! What a pleasant ride! Thanks! :]

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  27. any changes of getting tracklist of this materpiece?

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  28. pleeeeaaase can someone id the tune at 52 mins in part 1, the garagey one with the "power" vocals... i will be eternally grateful!

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  29. Reg: it's Head High (Shed) http://youtu.be/MexqcPGxtoU

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  30. Wow. Thank you for the mix.

    I've been sloooowly digesting these FNL mixes and playing and replaying the Bill Kouligas and Svreca (both over ten times no doubt) I made it to this one. Thank you for your effort. I would love a track ID (two actually). Does anybody know part 1 21:00 and part 1 1:02:00?

    Thanks!!!

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  31. To clarify the second one, I realllllllly want to the "give me some power" track. Please! Thank you!

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  32. If people really want a tracklist / tune IDs the place to get it is to start a thread in the Track IDs group at discogs; http://www.discogs.com/groups/9 , unless someone already has? I will if I ever get time... ;)

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Say something constructive, bitte. Or if you're gonna take a swipe, at least sharpen your nails.

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