DJ Tiesto and Armin van Buuren recently defended Trance when thier critics claimed it was “Cheesy” or “Rubbish” taking a stab at those “too cool to dance” clubbers who aren’t there to have fun but rather to look cool and do coke.  Or something like that.

Full story: Trackitdown.net

Hercules just released this new wireless DJ controller which is a good idea, but where does this company hire it’s design team from?  This thing looks like it took a page out of the Playskool design book.  It kinda reminds me of my little Brother label printer, oh now if this thing could also print labels I think they could appeal to a wider audience for sure.  Technically it seems to have all of the proper bells and whistles to make this a functional piece of gear for the digital DJ but damn it’s ugly!

From the Hercules website:

The first wireless DJ mixing mini-controller (for PC – laptop and desktop). House parties, BBQs and family functions will be even more fun than ever.

KEY FEATURES

• 2 deck controller: Mix, scratch and synchronize MP3 and WMA files (DJ software included)
• Integrated double LCD screen: Mix your music away from the PC using the integrated double LCD screen which displays the tracks you’re mixing
• Wireless: Absolutely NO WIRES. Dance with the crowd and mix at the same time!
• Ultra-compact & lightweight:
  • 17cm x 15cm x 3cm / 6.8” x 6” x 1.2”
  • below 500 grams (1.1 pound), with batteries weight (not delivered)
• Fun Sounds & Effects: Add fun effects such as applause, loops and much more.

Dual DJing decks

Mix 2 tracks with

• 2 jog wheels (emulating 2 CD/vinyl decks)
• 1 cross fader, 2 volume & pitch sliders, 2 wheels
• 25 controls (buttons)

Double LCD screen

1 screen per deck, displaying:

• artist name
• track name
• beats/minute, elapsed time, track length

100% easy

• Automatic linking and mixing
• Push button sounds and effects

100% mobile

• Compact: you can mix while moving around
• 100% wireless mixer

USB radio receiver

• Mixer controls the PC via a radio receiver on the USB port

product page: Hercules.com

The sixth studio album from the Chemical Brothers, “We Are the Night”, will be available in June with tour dates to follow. Recorded in a South London bomb shelter, the album “evokes the dancefloors of Manchester and Minneapolis in the early eighties and London of 2007.”

The new release features guest vocalists and players, including: nu-ravers Klaxons,Willy Mason, and Midlake.

Track Listing:

1. No Path to Follow
2. We Are the Night
3. All Rights Reversed featuring Klaxons
4. Saturate
5. Do It Again featuring Ali Love
6. Das Spiegel
7. The Salmon Dance featuring Fatlip
8. Burst Generator
9. A Modern Midnight Conversation
10. Battle Scars featuring Willy Mason
11. Harpoons
12. The Pills Won’t Help You Now featuring Midlake

The Chemical Brothers will hit the festival and club circuit this summer with a tour of the US in September. The first single “Do It Again”, featuring Ali Love, will hit shelves on June 4th.

Chemical’s website: TheChemicalBrothers.com

Zero-G has announced the launch of an online Sample Download Store. The store, something that Zero-G should have done years ago, contains many classic and previously hard-to-find Zero-G titles, as well as all their new releases.

Features:
• Numerous titles which have been discontinued on CD/DVD.
• Many early titles (e.g. from the early 1990’s) that have become hard to find, or are not always stocked by some Zero-G CD distributors.
• Some titles that were previously only available as part of a plug-in software instrument, but are now provided as a sample library only (for example, Altered States, Beats Working In Cuba, Sounds Of The 70s, Nu Jointz). These titles are typically very large and some have been divided into a series of Download Packs.
• You will also find one completely new release - CLUB TECHNO - which is only available by download (no CD/DVD version is planned).

More information on the Zero-G Online Sample Store.

One of Holland’s largest radio stations Radio 538 have announced that Tiësto will host a new weekly show titled ‘Club Nouveau’. The show will broadcast every Friday evening, beginning April 6th, from 10 pm to Midnight.

‘With ‘Club Nouveau’ I can reach a worldwide audience on a weekly basis. For me it’s a way to experiment with the variety of styles which dance music has to offer’ - Tiësto

Tiësto’s show will be split in two parts. The first hour will feature a mix of current hits, and in the second hour Tiësto will present a mixture of genres from minimal, house and trance. The second hour will also feature the most exclusive upfront releases in advance alongside a section where Tiësto will give an upcoming DJ the opportunity to have their ‘15 minutes of fame’. Tiësto’s show will also be available in an English podcast that you can download now!

Tiësto also releases his third full artist album ‘Elements Of Life’ this week. Featuring eleven news tracks including collaborations with Maxi Jazz (Faithless) Jes (Motorcycle) Christian Burns (BBMak) Julie Thompson (Holden & Thompson) and Charlotte Martin ‘Elements Of Life’ is Tiësto’s most accomplished album yet.

http://www.radio538.nl/clubnouveau

via: DanceNova

I recently had the chance to preview this movie in Hollwood and I found myself laughing at the witty dialog, wincing at the “ouch” moments and feeling like I knew many of the characters in the film. One can’t help to find the similarities to many of the characters if you’ve ever been into the club or afterparty scene. Everything from power hungry bouncers to getting free drinks to drugs and sex. I definitely enjoyed this film and recommend it for some good laughs. Check out their website listed below for showtimes and trailers.

From the filmmakers:

All over the world, kids are getting down. They are getting down at the club, at work, in the car, at the party, in the alley and at your front door. And chances are, if youre a kid, you want to get down too.

Part documentary, part narrative, part instructional film THE BOYS AND GIRLS GUIDE TO GETTING DOWN teaches kids about the things they’ll need in order to get down things like vodka and drugs while showing them how to avoid some of the pitfalls associated with this lifestyle like the police and getting sick.

Learn the real reason people go to bars. Marvel at the ways to gain entrance to the coolest club in town. And learn what not to say to that girl whos been eyeing you across the bar.

Years of painstaking research have gone into the creation of The Boys and Girls Guide to Getting Down - from Dr Heizakeit’s experiments with alcohol and mice to observations of Hollywood hipsters in a party environment. The Guide truly gets into the science of getting down and is replete with charts, graphs and kick ass graphics.

THE BOYS AND GIRLS GUIDE TO GETTING DOWN is written and directed by Paul Sapiano. The film was edited by master editor Enrique Aguirre at King Cut in Venice, California. All the films graphics were done by design marvel Larimie Garcia of Gigspot.

Official website: www.guidetogettingdown.com

Microsoft might be taking a page from the mobile phone playbook, offering cheap or free Zunes for customers willing to sign up for a long-term service contract. Zune marketing director Jason Reindorp stated that they were looking at using the all-you-can-eat Zune Pass subscription like a phone contract.

This is a really interesting idea, and it could be the thing that finally makes the Zune stand out when compared with the iPod (besides the pretty useless “social” WiFi features). The idea of being able to download as much music as you want and getting a free or cheap player out of the deal makes a subscription service seem pretty sweet.

If given the option between spending $250 on a 30GB iPod that you need to fill yourself, or a free Zune that you’re locked into paying what would work out to $360 for over two years (at current rates) that you get a subscription service with, what would you choose?

via: Gizmodo

Back for its 7th year, Diesel-U-Music launches its 2007 international search for finding the best unsigned talent across the globe. The first international new music contest in the world, Diesel-U-Music has pioneered a proven formula in discovering and supporting some of the best breaking artists in music today. No matter where the artist lives be it in Dublin or Dubai, they will all have the same chance and opportunity win this truly global and international competition. To enter the competition, applicants should visit the official website, http://www.diesel-u-music.com, which launches on 2nd April and closes on 15th May.

During the six week entry period, online applicants from every corner of the globe will be accepted on the official website. Musicians from around the world should upload their music, biographies and photos for the delectation of our esteemed judging partners, who are made up of some of the most influential bods of the music media and record industry. Last year, DUM received over 8,000 entries and word continues to spread!

Renzo Rosso, President and Founder of Diesel, commented “At Diesel we have always been committed to supporting new talents throughout the arts. Diesel-U-Music is the perfect platform for finding upcoming musicians from all over the world, offering them concrete opportunities.”

Past international winners of Diesel-U-Music Awards include some of the most exciting new artists in music today, which includes Duke Dumont, Mylo, The Pistolas, We Are Scientists, Tom Vek (as Souvenir), Infadels and DJ Yoda. Based on this impeccable track record, artists are encouraged to enter under one of these three genres: Indie/Rock, Urban/Hip Hop and Electronic.

The UK finalists from the three genres will be announced at an exclusive launch event on 16 May and will go on tour playing at some of the UK’s most legendary venues from May until June. Finalists from around the world will be chosen and announced in June and go on to the star-studded Diesel-U-Music Awards, which will be held again in London in October (TBA).

All of the 2007 international finalists will gain local support and press coverage from their specific country’s DUM structure. This includes a £2,000 support fund, studio time with a producer, legal advice, ongoing media support, publicity, a possible commercial release and much more.

Based on the success of last year, DUM will again encourage anyone from across the globe to cast their vote for their favourite nominee from any territory and in the Diesel-U-Music Public Vote. Please visit www.diesel-u-music.com for more details.

The Diesel-U-Music Awards are to be held in London in October 2007 (TBA) (full details to be announced at a later date). The exciting international event will see all the winning artists from each genre presented with their awards. Additional accolades are awarded for Outstanding Contribution To Music and Music Icon Award and presented to important figures in music, which include last year’s winners Mick Rock and Roxy Music.

Award winners will take to the stage to perform alongside some of the biggest and brightest established acts in music today and all will enjoy a truly fabulous after show, whose attendees will include past winners, members of the media and the glitterati of the international music and entertainment scene. It will be a night to be remembered!

To enter the Diesel-U-Music 2007 competition, go to www.diesel-u-music.com from 2 April – 11 May.

via: DanceNova