Again it's time for the monthly update from Matt Darey. Read on for his latest news and reviews including an exclusive interview with Gabriel & Dresden.

Whilst fooling around with a pair of Technics and vinyl is one of the coolest, most fun things ever for a lot of DJ's, few would deny that digital is the future. I can finish a track on a Friday, or get emailed the next big tune... and be playing it that night. Digital music also offers significant benefits to the music fan, being cheap and instant, anywhere in the world... at any time of day. The last few years has seen an explosion in the availability of music online. The growth of big names like iTunes is well publicized, but niche players are the best bet for the true dance music enthusiast.

The best sites put the interests of the artist and buyer before the brazen pursuit of profit. Audiojelly was started by artists and songwriters, and they vowed that if music fans got a good deal, they would always be happy with how they ran their company. Newcomer DJdownload is uniquely integrated with DJMag. When tracks available on the site are reviewed in the mag, a symbol appears next to the review, yet the magazine remains editorially independent - reviews are not sales pitches for the site. One of the most established music websites is Juno - almost ten years in business and attracting over one million visitors a month, they are currently launching the digital download arm to their site.

Some labels are so pleased with the success of legal downloads they are phasing out vinyl completely. The margins on digital music however, are small, and so far, volumes are not always large enough to compensate. Most labels and artists still partly rely on the physical format. More and more labels, however, are wising up to the potential of digital music. Audiojelly have 20 to 50 new labels contacting them a week to sign up, and DJdownload adds an average of 15 labels a week.

Most sites offer the customer extra features. Audiojelly run a scheme whereby when customers spend £10.00, they get a free track... £20.00, two free tracks. DJdownload run regular competitions with prizes ranging up to the staggering level of CDJs. They are also involved in Heineken's Thirst competition seeking out global DJ talent. They support finalists by offering their track for sale and assisting them in landing a deal with one of their label partners. Juno have decided to remain single-minded in their mission to sell dance music well, and keep their site simple. The only images are those to go alongside vinyl and CD releases, and there are no adverts.

- Written by Darey / Harral


Exclusive Matt Darey Iview with Gabriel & Dresden

MD: You've achieved an awful lot considering you've only been together since 2001, what's the G&D vision for the future?

G&D: Well, at the moment we are working on our debut artist album. We have already started playing the first single "Tracking Treasure Down" at shows. The album will be released in the spring of 2006 and we will tour the world to support it.

MD: Did you realise how huge 'As The Rush Comes' would be while you were writing it?

G&D: We new it was special, but that's it. We had no idea that it would get as big as it did.

MD: Is there a tension between writing progressive house and trance, or do you happily have a foot in each camp?

G&D: Dave: It's not that we have feet in camps, but more like we are both heavily influenced by both progressive and the "first" wave of trance in the mid to late 90s.
Josh: I grew up listening to a lot of Jean Michel Jarre and when you listen back to albums like Equinox, it sounds pretty trancy, but that was 1978! We just make music and can't help what we have been influenced by. All that said there does seem to be this artificial tension across style lines, which is just silly if you think about it.

MD: Do you really not respect your own album 'Bloom' because it's ‘only' a mix album?

G&D: Bloom was a labor of love, so we have total respect for it. There are a lot of original productions on it and most of the remixes came from our studio, so it's a very personal record. Unfortunately, since it did have other peoples music on it, it was looked at as a mix CD.

MD: Pls tell us about the artist album you're currently working on? Dave already sent me the first track off your artist Album “Tracking Treasure down” which is amazing!!

G&D: We are working with a female vocalist named Molly and male vocalist named Jan. All the music is original and written for the album and produced by us. We are making music for the dance-floor. We are trying to make a record that does not turn its back to how we got here.

MD: Do you both use Ableton & how has Ableton Live changed DJing for you?

Josh: When we started DJing together, I was using Ableton and Dave was using CDs which he had almost 20 years experience on and was reluctant to leave. Now, we both use Ableton and it has transformed our DJing into more of a live show. Since most of the music we play, we make, we have access to all the parts. This means that we have drum only, voice only and other special mixes of songs to do strange things live.

MD: How does it feel when your remix completely eclipses the original, as in your remix of Above & Beyond - 'No One on Earth' ?

G&D: When approaching a remix, we just do what we think is right for the song. We will even re-arrange and time the vocal parts if we think we can get a better song structure. In the case of "No One on Earth' we really enjoyed making that remix and I think it shows in the final product. Whether is eclipses the original is a matter of personal taste.

MD: What track and artist would you like to remix most?

G&D: We would like to produce Coldplay, U2 or the Cure.

MD: Have any of the big stars you've remixed for been spoilt divas?

G&D: No. We never really get to meet them.

MD: Is it true, DJ's get all the chicks?

G&D: No. Movie stars get all the chicks, DJs get what's left.

MD: Out of Gabriel and Dresden, who would win in a fight?

G&D: Josh Gabriel.


Matt Darey Reviews

Gabriel & Dresden - Tracking Treasure Down (Organized Nature)
Always the guys with the original edge. This is the first release off the forthcoming album. Taking the essence of there recent producion sound but with a late 70's Electro edge introducing elements of Vocodered vocal and basic synthesizer sounds. Of course this is all on a backdrop of there sound of tomorrow. Catchy chorus lines and a great lead vocal from there new found vocalist Molly. Can't wait to hear the rest of the album Boys!! 5/5

Tiesto - UR (Black Hole)
The brand new release from Tiesto features an excellent progressive and rock influenced mix from Junky XL. Sounds like U2 influenced guitars and melodies along with a bit of an understated and laid back rock vocal. Its chunky progressive production and almost disco style bass line drives along nicely all the way to the breakdown. Loving it!! 4/5

TBA - SOS (W/L)
This is a bootleg that's been going around of the classic 70's number one tune “Message in a Bottle”. I dropped these a few times and it just went crazy in the club. The vocal comes in over the top of what sounds like a Sander Van Dorn style production. Tecky sounds and driving beats make this one that will cross over to most DJ sets. Already being hammered by the likes of Oakenfold and Tiesto. 5/5

Solar Stone ft Jes - Waterfall (Deep Blue)
Another classy production from Solar Stone with an excellent progressive feel and a few guitars and bass thrown in to add to the laid back feel of the tune in a similar way to “Release” which came out a couple of years back. What really puts the icing on the cake is yet another amazing vocal performance from Jes who brought us Motor cycles “When the rush Comes”. 4/5

Matt Darey ft Izzy - Eternity (Darey Products)
A touch of the classical with the sound of Goldsmiths orchestra and operatic vocals from EMI's star Izzy. This finally gets a release this month with remixes from the cream of today's producers Probspot, Alex Morph, Dave West v Inkfish, Terry Bones, Jon Flemming on a psytrance tip, Breaks from Introspective and a few others. For more info on this got to www.mattdarey.com. Judge for yourself.

Mynt - Still not Sorry (Ultra)
Fantastic remix from Mr Sam which fits perfectly into a new movement of tracks taking influence from the grooves you'd hear more in a rock tune. Still loads of synth action and massive buzzing electro riff with floating vocal melodies. For a sneaky preview go to www.mattdarey.com to listen back to my Nocturnal show's. 4/5

Hawk - Need for Cognition (Anjuna Deep)
This is the second release on Anjuna Deep to follow the massive debut Larry Mountains 54. Hawk is a Norwegian producer DJ Hakon Lofthus. Its an addictive progressive trancer with blippy riffs complimenting lush melodies and electro vocal riffs drifting over the top in a very Andy Moor Fashion. Underpinned by a chugging beat and throbbing bass line. 4/5

Sam Sharp - Hoover (Spinning)
Sam delivers another dark and twisted tech trance stomper in the classic spinning style from the man who is also behind the epic sound of Sandler. Its almost like a horror movie theme with its spooky melodies and atmospheric breakdowns. I've seen it in action on a late set and it tears up the floor. 3/5

Armin Van Buren ft Ray Wilson - Gypsy (Armada)
This is a track I've been playing on my Nocturnal Radio show taken from Armin's latest album “Shivers”. Solid production of Breaks and fat bass lines with the excellent vocal performance from rock singer Ray Wilson. Its great to see artists mainly know for there trance productions like broaden there horizons. 4/5

Troia & Love Sky – Flow Cuurve Recordings
This has to be one of my favorite prog vocal tunes at the moment. Dreamy female vocal and a cool groove with chunky bass line. Great production with a couple of breakdown moments and a bit of breaks thrown in. 5/5

Marzz - Orbiter (Detox)
Yet another techno classic from Mr Sherry. This time a remake of a track I had a few years ago. He delivers another amazing mix with all the hallmarks of his recent release Vengeance. Out come the bells with a trippy melody to sit on top of the pounding drums. Music doesn't really get more banging than this really. I gotta get this guy to remix something for me!! 4/5

Mike Koglin v Jono Grant - Sequential (Anjunabeats)
The latest offering from Trance masters Koglin & Grant from Above & Beyond. Purist trance with driving synths and uplifting melodies. Perfect follow up to there last colaboration and in very much the same vein. 4/5

Marksun & Brian - Neno Itome (Euphonic)
The Stoneface & Terminal Remix of this track is a chunky trancer with a belching bass line and a driving rhythm. Even before the track has reached the breakdown it gets the crowd hyped up. Breaks down with a new style trance riff and works up a frenzy till it kicks in with an electro disco bass line. 4/5


Darey Top 10 Nov 2005

01. TBA – SOS – W/L
02. Marksun & Brian - Neno Itome (Stoneface & Terminal Remix)
03. Troia & Love Sky – Flow
04. Matt Darey – Eternity (Dave West v Inkfish / Alex Morph) Darey Products
05. Hawk – Need for cognition – Anjuna
06. Suicide Sports Club – Last Ghost in Town – Brock
07. Tiesto V Sam sharp – Love Error CDR
08. Solar Stone ft Jes – Waterfall – Deep Blue
09. Mynt – Still not Sorry - Ultra
10. Tilt – New Day (Boom Jinx Dub) - Lost Language