Browse by Artist: DJ T.

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	Fabric 51
Label:	FABRIC (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$17.00
Catalog #:	FABRIC 101CD

"Fabric 51: DJ T. serves as an unforgettable introduction to one of his astonishing DJ sets, a lively adventure full of sharp twists and unexpected turns. Deep, elegant and swelling, the mix transcends listeners to otherworldly soundscapes with a fantastically diverse ambience -- at times sunny and bright, other times wild and mystifying, and always keeping a psychedelic and cinematic feel throughout. Featuring the off-beat spontaneity of dOP, the Latin infused bounce of Matias Aguayo, the percussive retreats of Bodycode -- and plenty of hidden gems in between -- Fabric 51 is a joy of a listen, a daydream-fuelling hideaway where each track is crammed with as many soul-fuelled moments and intricate charms as the next. Thomas Koch, aka DJ T.'s, list of accolades and contributions to electronic music are irrefutable, indelible and seemingly endless. There's his editing and publishing work in the periodical world: founding Groove Magazine in 1989 and remaining its publisher and author for 15 years (Groove remains one of the longest running -- 20 years and counting -- and most respected dance music periodicals in the world). There were his projects with other likeminded souls: co-founding the legendary Monza club night in 1999 (now an Ibiza landmark) with close friend Patrik Dechent; and co-founding the triumphant Get Physical imprint with M.A.N.D.Y. and Booka Shade in 2002, which has grown to be one of the most forward-thinking, consistent and flourishing labels on the electronic map. And that's not forgetting his artistic contributions to the hungry music world; from his imagination-travelling productions to his smooth DJ sets that shimmy around the globe with an incessant run of tour dates. 'Dis,' 'Bateria,' and 'Shine On' from his second album, the critically cheered The Inner Jukebox, became international dance floor faves last year."

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	Boogie Playground
Label:	GET PHYSICAL MUSIC (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	GPM 004CD

This is Frankfurt/Berlin-based Thomas Koch's debut full-length release. DJ T., whose name first graced a record sleeve in 2000 as part of a collaboration with Steve Bug, is founder of the deephouse label Get Physical. On Boogie Playground, his passion-drenched, 13-track album, DJ T. allows his inimitable signature style to explore the scope of house. Drawing on elements and vibes from disco, funk and electro but also Chicago, Detroit, Italo and acid house, T. irreverently resurrects the spirit of his formative musical experiences between 1978-1992. Without pandering to prevalent aesthetics, DJ T. has carved his very own niche in the retro universe, but translates this into a framework of contemporary arrangements and sound design. The result: a huge range of different concepts and concoctions. On "Funk On You," Koch swirls funk, disco and Italo fragments into a very organic-sounding whole. "Dark Room" is a moody, minimal/new wave hybrid constantly in danger of drifting towards chaos. "Calling" rolls along on heavy sub bass sequences layered with hypnotic shreds of melody and vocals, while "Neon" balances forceful Chicago and playful neo-acid elements. Finally, "Rave D'amour," is a chopped-up delight with extremely crude liasons of broken beats to form a perfect old school rave chansonette.

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	Body Language 2
Label:	GET PHYSICAL MUSIC (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	GPM 008CD

2007 release. Get Physical co-founder DJ T aka Thomas Koch follows M.A.N.D.Y's first Body Language mix from last year with his first-ever mix compilation. Koch looks to Detroit for the warm, weeping bass and mournful vocal of the mix opener, The Other People Place's "Let Me Be Me" by the deceased former Drexciya member James Stinson and the euphoric Carl Craig remix of "Falling Up" by Theo Parrish midway through. In contrast, the finale is the smart acid rework by Isoleé of Villalobos' melancholic "What You Say..." and a warm, snaking remix by DJ Koze of Heiko Voss' pop techno standard, "I Think About You" combine for an exquisite, emotional climax. In between this are gems and future classics: 1998's haunting vocal house of DJ Naughty's remix of Stella's "Extralife," as well as the dirty, bleepy Chicago groove of ASP's "Reality Check." Also find the moody bass and Italo chords of Tensnake's "Around The House," and the subtle trance builds of Gui Boratto's "Arquipelago" on Kompakt. The German DJ's production skills are also in the spotlight with the inclusion of the evocative "Marsha" by Einzelkind, and so on. Of course, this ability to pick and mix the right tunes would mean nothing without presentation and context: sure, Body Language Vol. 2 is indicative of pretty much everything that is great about European electronic music -- check the fusion of stripped back minimalism and futuristic soulful vocal on the Barlz E Syntho remix of Spektrum's "Horny Pony" and the chiming, squelchy "Sweet Cow" by Chicken Lips -- but it never delves into deep self-indulgence. It's possible to enjoy this mix on a hot beach as much as you could in a sweaty basement club and that says it all about Body Language 2: it's music for the head, heart and feet for house music lovers all over the world.

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	The Inner Jukebox
Label:	GET PHYSICAL MUSIC (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	GPM 030CD

2009 release. Get Physical co-founder DJ T. returns with his second album, The Inner Jukebox, a singular and accomplished set that reflects its maker's ongoing interest in rigorously re-inventing classic sounds for modern ears and dancefloors. After four years of 12" releases and collaborative experiments, DJ T.'s full-length follow-up to 2005's Boogie Playground is upon us. While Boogie Playground was an exploration of T.'s '70s and '80s influences, a melting-pot of styles that touched upon electro, disco, Italo and funk, The Inner Jukebox draws inspiration from the '90s and is a more focused adventure -- it's T.'s vision of house music as it should be. So much "house" is really just glorified minimal techno, vibe-killing in its meticulousness; by contrast, the tracks which comprise The Inner Jukebox are bold, vivid, expressive. They're cerebral and carefully crafted, yes, but more importantly they have a bounce and sexiness to them. T. has always sought to make proper, no-nonsense dance music with real groove at its heart -- and The Inner Jukebox finds him fully realizing that ambition.

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	The Pleasure Principle
Label:	GET PHYSICAL MUSIC (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.50
Catalog #:	GPM 040CD

Get Physical's DJ T. unveils his third album which includes collaborations with Dave Aju, Jaw (dOP), James Teej, Khan, Nick Maurer and Cari Golden. The Pleasure Principle immerses itself, wholly and rapturously, into electronic music's legacy of authentic soul, helping to usher in a new renaissance of groove-heavy deepness, at a time when clinical club sounds are at their least inspired. Traces of T.'s production finesse can be found in the most soothing washes of ambient tones, the soaring vocal treatments, the murkiest late-night moments, and at the center of The Pleasure Principle's delicate melodies. "Same Plane," featuring dOP prankster Jaw and his girlfriend Amandine (aka Ginger), is a flurry of offset beats and hand claps, a rhythmic hall of mirrors that finds his deep, soulful vocals nestled at the center of stuttering staccato rhythms, woven with whispers. Nick Maurer lights up "Burning" with a twist, as he is doubled, tripled, pitched-down and distorted. "Yesterday Tomorrow" features Dave Aju's preacher man spoken-word duelling with piano stabs, combining the stomp and swagger of electro funk with an unmistakable early house framework, while "Citylife" recalls the early '80s warehouse era, and finds American vocalist Cari Golden crooning, siren-like. Jaw's second appearance "Remember The Future" is mottled with daybreak dew, and its morning rainforest sounds are illuminated by dappled shafts of sonic light, piping mid-tones and ambient, swirling organ chords. Khan adds his grizzled charm to "Leavin Me" coloring deep tech tones with a tale steeped in longing and regret, for a new take on dubby blues house. The Pleasure Principle is also interspersed with a number of instrumental productions. With its half-stepping beat and unique synth melody "Opera Buffa" evokes late nights and rain-slicked city streets, and shorter atmospheric instrumentals "Unconditional Love," "Nothing Comes Even Close" and "Pattern Exit Drama" variously take on low-slung cosmic disco, nostalgic slow jams, and proto-dancefloor moments in time. Whether it's experienced during one DJ T.'s many forthcoming live appearances, in a darkened club, in a quiet moment, at the beginning of the night, or the morning after it, The Pleasure Principle can be found at the very axis of mind and body, and musical soul.

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	Lucky Bastard
Label:	GET PHYSICAL MUSIC (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	GPM 065EP

Get Physical co-founder DJ T. aka Thomas Koch releases his long-awaited first solo 12" taken from his forthcoming album, expected in the summer of 2007. "Lucky Bastard" jacks freshly along to the sound of a cut-up vocal, glitchy percussion, deep building chords and a soaring bassline. Berlin's Prosumer takes the track to a deeper area. As the brooding riff and spiraling acid lines come to the fore, his unique use of rhythm and hissing percussion take it to another level. Finally, T.'s own "Disaster Dub" puts forth tight metallic drums that shuffle towards a series of dramatic, chord-driven breakdowns.

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	The Dawn Remixes
Label:	GET PHYSICAL MUSIC (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$10.00
Catalog #:	GPM 075EP

DJ T.'s The Dawn first appeared in early 2007, and now it's time for the remixes. First up, T. himself tackles "Jam Pot." The original was a warm and jazz-inflected take on deep minimal house, and T. retains this essence for the new version, placing different emphasis on the percussion, messing with the structure of the track, and pinching and squeezing certain elements to make it a more robust dancefloor proposition. For a fresh treatment of "The Dawn," Woody, the legendary former resident DJ at Berlin's E-Werk, draws upon the spirit of classic Berlin club music while embracing the deep, melodic minimalism which is the sound of its most discerning clubs today. This is an after-party epic.

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	Bateria
Label:	GET PHYSICAL MUSIC (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.50
Catalog #:	GPM 115EP

Deriving its name from "drum set" in Portuguese and Spanish, "Bateria" is more than just a couple of jiggles of a chocalho or the shake of a pandeiro. The cadence between the drums and percussion sounds like an ancient tribal language, and vocals are short and sweet. The dOP remix sets the drums in motion. Lastly, "Early Bird" is a deep, introspective tune that epitomizes what DJ T. stands for: layered percussion, crackling snares, and melodically-arranged synthesizer chords.

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	The Inner Jukebox Remix EP
Label:	GET PHYSICAL MUSIC (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.50
Catalog #:	GPM 129EP

The saga of DJ T.'s triumphant album The Inner Jukebox continues, embodying itself this time as a collection of reworks from two of dance music's most exciting talents. KiNK takes "Dis" into a dream state of classic Detroit strings, synths and 909 claps. Koch and Schumacher spiff up "Bateria" with their "Special Dub" version. Nicolas Jaar delivers an exceptional remix, a funk excursion that drags the original into a time machine and transports it back to the '70s.

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	Booty Call
Label:	KINDISCH (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	KD 020EP

"The once-fledgling Kindisch record label has flourished due to its focus on what the label was intended for: bumping, forward-thinking underground house music. Although the label has featured such artists as Samim, Jay Haze & Einzelkind, the last few have focused on a new breed of talent. Much of this talent has been selected by one of the label's creators, DJ T., who has helped to ennoble Kindisch to its current level. And so comes about DJ T.'s first release on the label with the help of his frequent studio whiz, Matthias Tanzmann. They have crafted the single thing everyone wants on an uneventful autumn evening: A1. 'Booty Call': the title says it all, a call for all booties -- big or small -- to migrate to the dancefloor. An orgy of percussion and low-end rumble lift you from your head-bobbing slump up against the wall and firmly plants you right in the sweet spot of the dancefloor, where the rising energy hits a climax. There is a pause, and then the most noticeable sound of the track hits: the booty call. One artist credited with invigorating the Kindisch label, is the young Frankfurt-based producer Daniel Mehlhart, whose first (and hopefully not last) release Origami was a highlight of last summer. In his 'Booty Call Remix,' one can immediately hear his style thrust into the main groove of the track, injecting it with a heavier feel and bringing forth a whole slew of new effects and sounds including a hypnotizing African vocal. This marks a small milestone as the 20th release of the label."

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	Try To Understand
Label:	KINDISCH (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	KD 029EP

"DJ T. has proved there is no substitute for experience. A career in dance music that spans three decades has trained him well in the nuances of what it takes to keep up with the demands of a grueling 2009 that included the release of his second album, embarking on six month-long worldwide tour, while still heading up the A&R for the Get Physical, Get Digital and Kindisch labels. The latter of these imprints is the worthy recipient of his, and studio partner Thomas Schumacher's final release of the year. Slow-building percussion rhythms are an effect that T. and Schumacher have mastered as a means to give 'Try To Understand' elapsing energy, rather than all balled up into four bar loops over six minutes. Putting in effort and sparing no sound of detailed individualization has a genuine lasting affect, and the main reason the tunes stay a cut above the rest. 'Try To Understand' is a seminal track that perfectly epitomizes what the Kindisch label stands for. T. calls up one of his favorite producers of this year, &ME. &why not? &ME has been smashing dance floors all year long with his tune 'F.I.R.'. He flips the script on 'Try To Understand' by adding a dash of techno, a pinch of 909 flavor and a whole lot of bass. Enough in fact to huff and puff down the walls of any club. Pierce & Jerl get nominated to grace 'Try To Understand' with their brand of 'Cologne-honed' funk. This comes in the form of slightly pitching down the vocals, to give the tune that 'turn the lights down and turn the volume up' effect. Some slight tweaks of the percussion and a bubblier bass line make 'Try To Understand' a little easier to get."

Artist:	DJ T.
Title:	After Dark
Label:	POKER FLAT (GERMANY)
Format:	12"
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	PFR 099EP

DJ T. aka Thomas Koch, has been a main-player in Germany's house and techno scene for over two decades. From his forward-thinking productions on his own Get Physical, to the high-standard-setting Groove Magazine, first published in 1989 -- of which he is still the publisher, T is a huge force. "After Dark" is a shuffling trip that phases between warm percussion and soft robot synth lines. "Before Light" has chunky bass energy and an irresistible, worthy groove. Deep.

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