With March drawing to a close (actual of going to press its 7^th April, oops) and with so much music still to catch up on after our European & South African adventures, it’s time to cut to the chase with this, out third music newsletter of the month, simply entitled “Three’s Company”, but one that will bring well over three times that in music links a-plenty. So, let’s crack on with this whistle stop tour around the D.J.’s of the world, their music & their mixes, a tour that comes in no particular order so don’t be offended if your mot first!

Now talking of first, we did promise to bring you news of more tracks from German born & based Chris Bekker, this Berlin boy having gotten a big mention in our first (that word again) newsletter this month. So, here we give Chris’s track “TrIBIZA” a big shout, not least as it is making big across Europe and particularly in his home city, Berlin, where it is getting tremendous airplay. This incredibly rousing yet progressive tune, compiled alongside another Chris, Chris Montana to be exact, has the makings of a major smash & we love it, while we still await an official release, you can catch a snippet now at http://youtube.com/watch?v=NVwwRSeoH2Y.

Next up is our own “Super Swede” Per Q.X. who, like Chris, was an entry into our first newsletter this month, although having recently celebrated his birthday at Gutterslut (last Saturday 26^th March to be precise) we simply had to include him again, along with his special birthday mix devoted to this way out & whacky wonderment, Gutterslut having also recently celebrated their 3^rd birthday. Having been banging out brilliant beats for as long as we can remember, Per remains at the cutting edge of electronic, tech & funky house and this latest compilation is proof of that, one which you should grab now by going to http://soundcloud.com/perqx/per-qx-dj-mix-for-guttersluts.

Before we move on from birthday’s we had to give a special mention to another D.J. that has been treading the boards, or should we say spinning the sounds, for a few years now, although looking at hi you would hardly think he has long stepped out of school (jealously will get us nowhere!). However, one Fidel Trotman carries his age extremely well, yet keeps bang up to date with the beats of the moment, forging an alternative way with his music direction, very much like the clubbing circles his mixes within. So, serving up some sounds with a difference is his latest compilation release, “Vinyl Only Mix Vol 2”, harping back to the days of 45’s and one we definitely dig so think you will too by going to http://soundcloud.com/fidel-77

Onward and changing direction a far bit is our next mention, which goes to D.J. producer Max Sanna, the other part of the dynamic recording duo with the one & only Steve Pitron, the twosome have created some real gems in the studio together, many which have made the dancefloors of the world. However, Max is also creative with his regular compilations where he gets the chance to stamp his own style of sound, while carefully choosing tracks from renowned artists, such as Freddie Le Grand, Mark Night & Chris Lake, three whom happen to be in his latest & much awaited “Sessions” release which is out now at http://maxsanna.podbean.com/ and well worth grabbing.

Known lately more for his club promoting & Orange Group associations rather than his grass roots D.J. talent, in the last few weeks we have seen Jonny M return to the booth, more often than not at Friday nighter “Onyx”, although we were pleased to witness a wonderful set of his at Beyond “Erotica” before we headed off to South Africa. So, we are equally pleased that, in between his very hectic schedule, he has also dived into the recording studio to produce a new compilation, like Max, one that has been a long time coming, although well worth the wait. Indeed, it comes a no surprise that it is devoted to the club which he now promotes & play’s in “Beyond Wonderland” well worth a whizz by going to http://jonny_m.podomatic.com/

Now to a chap that is no stranger to our newsletters, indeed we gave Mike Kelly a big shout just a couple before, although such is the extent of his studio work activity that we simply had to include him again. Indeed hardly a month seems to go by without a new track coming out of the Kelly music making machine and while we turned our back on proceedings while in South Africa, Mike has produced not one, but two new remix offerings, “Welcome To The Fiesta” & “Sweet Tribal”, both which have been released on his Sorry Shoes recording label. But our full attention here goes to his two compilation mixes devoted to his appearances at Rome’s Gorgeous I Am club, the first recording from his  a back-to-back set with Nino Scarico, while the 2^nd is pure Mike magic, both available for download by going to http://soundcloud.com/djmikekelly.

Moving on and it’s been a while since we included this young man in our newsletters, although mentions for Tony English run through many of our other posts & reviews, not least as he is an extremely busy chap, holding down gigs a-plenty for Lovechild both here in London and across Europe. Tony also works with Logan Schmitz on SuperMartXe, masterminding his monthly podcast releases, which act as much like music newsletters on SMX issues, as well as showcasing new sounds. However, sometimes overlooked are Tony’s own compilation creations and in this “catch” up of ours, we give mention to his February edition, like previous ones, very much having a Spanish influence by welcoming Valencian born Coqui Selection into the fray. So to get your slice of Mr English in anglo Spanish mood, go now to http://tonyenglish.podomatic.com/

Next up is a guy who absolutely thrilled us with his tech style yet funky beats when we were in both Paris & Brussels back in February, Ben Manson impressing us at Spyce in the French capital, then making us feel right at home with his heavenly house at La Demence in the Belgian capital. Ben’s charming style and relaxed attitude comes through in his magnificent music choices with gusto and the same goes for his compilation productions and to match his hectic gig schedule around Europe, residencies & guest slots including with Scream, Up at Makkasar, Spyce, La Demence, Greenkohm & Salvation, Mr Manson has mixed not one but five podcasts, lifted from live performances in London, Paris, Brussels & Moscow, all of them tipping our scales, so choosing a favourite is so very difficult. So, if like us you can’t then, like us, simply add all five to your collection by going to http://benmanson.podomatic.com/ although that said, his “From Makassar With Love” is something quite special.

Neatly moving on to another La Demence resident who is also a friend of Ben’s, we give space for the superb Steven Redant, who absolutely bowled us over on that same trip to the Belgian capital in February, not just with a scintillating set, but with his amazing hospitality, so we had to repay the compliment somehow. That said, having devoted plenty a handful of focuses to the man & his music, as well as slotting him into previous newsletters, shouting for Steven & his work comes very easy to us, as well as giving pleasure and sharing the musical love, which all this is about. And Mr Redant definitely shares the musical love with us & the world by releasing regular podcast recordings from his live sets, his “Get It On” series definitely worth following, although it is his “Sydney To Miami” mix, which collects his appearances at both Sydney’s Mardi Gras Festival & Miami’s Winter Music Conference and is brimming with terrific tribal & tech tunes in euphoric Steven style, so well worth grabbing at http://stevenredant.com/. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for our next newsletter, when Mr Redant’s two latest track production works get our attention.

Continuing the long list of entrants for this, our catch up post is D.J. Michel Mizrahi, who first came to our attention in the summer of last year when he appeared for Logan Schmitz’s Matinee “Open Air Summer” parties, very much setting the standard across the inside space and impressing us with his music selections & mixing. Yet, whilst Michel’s recent appearances behind the decks on London’s scene have been a little sparse, he has very much kept his hand in by dipping into the studio to produce a new(ish) podcast titled “Mission 2011”, which kicks off with a roll call of drum beats then blending into bucket loads of rousing raptures, vivacious vocals & uplifting tones that have give you heaps of the feel good factor that we think music is all about. So, all this makes for a must addition to your collection which you can grab by going to http://michelmizrahi.podomatic.com/.

Next up is a first to our music newsletters and comes following his appearance for Lovechild back in Febraury, heading up the new concept room that was the “Tantra Lounge” is Tony Bruno, a guy that has connections with Alex Erfan’s brand stretching back to when it moved to Fire in Nov 2009, yet for some reason has not been given the chance to flex his D.J. skills there until two months ago. So, in doing so, Tony also caught our eye, despite our devotions to Brent Nicholls & Edu De La Torre in the Mirrorarch that night, although we were determined to include him here, shouting for his Lovechild devoted mix which reflects his set on the night which neatly moved from light to progressive, well worth a listen at direct link http://soundcloud.com/tonybruno/progressive-house-by-tony while, like Mr Manson, he has been a busy boy since, laying down no less than seven compilations (including another devoted to Lovechild) and each one available to download or stream by going to his Soundcloud front page at http://soundcloud.com/tonybruno/.

Now, talking of Lovechild, it’s a long while since we shouted for the cute & cuddly Phil Hewson, one of Alex Erfan’s stablemate residents who never fails to impress us with his uplifting & energetic sets, generally kicking Lovechild parties off as they mean to go on. Indeed, we always make a point of catching up with him at each Lovechild event he attends and did just that at “Muscle” when he took charge on Area’s main room and thrilled the audience with a superb set. But it is his compilations that we are pointing towards here, the first recorded following his terrific tour down under back in January, aptly titled “Afterhours Down Under” combining the sounds he played at parties like Rising, Daywash & Rogue, all squeezed in on NYD, while he also represented Lovechild in Sydney, the 13 track mix very much reflection his prolific performances there. Then there is his “Contact” mix from February, one Phil produced with Valentine’s Day in mind but for some reason was overlooked in our special music post devoted to the day (oops). So, making amends, both podcasts are worthy additions to your collection at http://funkylondon.podomatic.com/.

Before we leave Lovechild, we wanted to include a new entrant to our newsletters, Marco Gee having impressed us so much at the brands “Muscle” event three weeks ago. Indeed we went as far as saying our full review “…the task being some serious dancing and the cause being of a show stopping set from the new to Lovechild, Marco Gee, who had The Chapel Room (yes we know that’s a Beyond phrase!) packed & pumping with a glorious collection of new tunes & older tracks rehashed (very vogue!), he looking right at home with his lot and as though he had been playing for Alex’s club for ages. Indeed his neat selections between new, old, re-modelled & re-made hit complete resonance with the cavorting crowd, some atop of the podiums in partying delight, while others like us were happy to spin in serenade to his superb sounds…”. So, need we say more apart from go get his Lovechild devoted podcast now at http://marcogee.podomatic.com/ and watch this space for a full focus coming soon.

Right, we’re on the home straight now as we turn to a final trio of talents that have rocked our musical bots between them for more years than we would like to mention, the first exponent being Elliot J Brown who, back in the glory days of Barcode Soho, was a regular Monday night feature, as well as a weekend wonder on the decks. Moving out east saw Mr Brown immerse himself into the alternative scene that was spurning and along with Per Q.X. was very much a founder force for the way out & whacky Gutterslut. And it was here where Elliot could experiment & enthral with what he aptly calls “Skinny Techno” (does what is say’s on the packet!) which is very much the theme of his latest compilation offering which, if you ask him nicely, you can get hold of via http://myspace.com/djelliottjbrown.

The second of our trio is Berlin based Swede D’Johnny, another young man that was a major feature of those halcyon days at Barcode, not least on a Saturday night, when he and fellow Swede (our super Swede) Per Q.X. often the two going back-to-back and entertaining us from early doors to closing. And our adoration for Johnny’s music has continued through the scene changes, sets at places like Later, Lo-Profile &, naturally, Beyond, very much tipping our enjoyment scales. Indeed we can recall countless performances at Area in particular where he has truly set the place alight, one particular example being last May when he stole the show at Orange’s Bank Holiday bash. So talking of Orange, it came as no surprise that he was added to the select team responsible for the infamous RAW room, inspired by his back-to-back sets with original David Jimenez in Beyond’s Chapel Room, although the duo also went back-to-back at RAW in February, which Johnny recorded for posterity in a podcast, which is a sure-fire (no pun intended) addition to your collection by going to http://djohnny.podomatic.com/.  

So we come to our last, but by no means in the stretch of any imagination, the least, as this man is without doubt our original maestro D.J. who, like the two before, hit notoriety for us at Barcode Soho, with resident slots on both Friday’s & Saturday’s in the club downstairs. But Alan X has featured in a whole pile of other prolific scene parties such as Action, Crash, & Ultra, but it is Beyond and the last set in the main room at Colosseum that holds magical memories for us and saw Alan at his brilliant best. All that apart Alan has recently been part of the Gay City Rollers team, a party which returns for its 2^nd birthday this Sunday (10^th Apr), played for the Beyond B2B concept, for the huge London Global Dance Festival, For Lovechild & for Bear Necessity routed from his regular slots for Tonker. Plus his skill for graphic designing sees him as one of the scene’s leading video viral & production producers, while he is still very much active in the recording studio too. So, Alan is definitely no slouch & continues to produce the odd podcast here & there, he also getting in on the Valentine’s game, another that missed our special report radar, but gets a shout now and deservedly so, as it is crammed with vocal, progressive & much house in-between and entered our collection the second we spotted it and should yours too by going to http://djalanx.podomatic.com//

Phew, we made it, well almost, as no music newsletter of ours should go by without mentioning tip top clubbing website SeenQueen, labelled as “London’s Clubbing Bible”, but a site that also serves up selections of sounds from time to time, their music section including podcast, D.J. web page links and their very own top ten tunes, all a touch of a button away at http://seenqueen.com/web/music. And there you will find a link to D.J. Brent Nicholls’ website (a familiar entry to our music posts) where you can catch Brent’s latest article where he list our very own “Dance-tastic Top 20 Tunes of 2010” compilation as his third most downloaded of the year, no mean feat when you consider he produced a staggering 24 in 2010. So, if you happened to miss out on this mix when Brent compiled it for us back in January, go grab it now at http://djbrentnicholls.com/web/2011/01/14/disco-matts-dancetastic-top-20-of-2010/ as, if we say so ourselves, it is a damn fine collection of tracks that will surely send you into dance-tastic delight.

Right, that’s definitely it now, but with the never-ending music production line in motion, we have already gathered most of our entries for our next newsletter “April Showers Of Sensational Sounds”, but if you fancy your mix, compilation or track getting a shout then drop us a line at matt@discomatt.com or plaster our Facebook walls either via our Disco Matt group & page or via our profile at http://facebook.com/discomattlondon.

So, we hope you liked our “catch up choices” here, leaving us to say “sit back, select those sounds, turn up and the volume & let them play as music IS the answer” (DISCO MATT)