Live Review: SOUNDCLOUD WRAP: Isbjorn

Lachy MacNeill and Arron McKay make up ISBJORN and together they are one of the most versatile DJ artists in Sydney, incorporating many different styles of dance music into their sets from all over the world.

They are residents at the popular weekly Sosueme parties at Beach Road Hotel, as well as Kit and Kaboodle and the ABE parties at Ching-a-Lings. The highly cultured and unpredictable ISBJORN play sets which are always interesting, inspiring and extremely danceable.

In this Soundcloud Wrap, they’ll take you on a music lover’s holiday, with fascinating descriptions of why they’ve mentioned these tracks as some of their favourites. Over to you, ISBJORN!

SUBMERGE & RICARDO GARDUNO - ARGUS (HANS BOUFFMYHRE REMIX)

The Scottish winter is cold, wet and everlasting, as I discovered whilst living in Glasgow for the second half of 2011. To combat this, the Scottish head underground and let techno bass warm their souls. One night after seeing minimal pioneer Robert Hood play at my favourite club in the world, Sub Club, I met Hans Bouffmyhre at the semi legal after party Substance. 8am, behind a small door under the train tracks on the wrong side of the river, I finally understood techno.

SILICONE SOUL - I AM

The same year I was invited to the Soma Records Christmas party. It was a civilised event, drinking tea and listening to Mozart (or something like that) with some legendary Scottish producers including Slam, Gary Beck and Silicone Soul. I had spent countless nights underneath Glasgow Central Station in the UK's number one club, The Arches, losing my mind to their soulful house beats. It turns out they’re also really nice guys too.

CRIOLO - MARIO

After Glasgow, I moved to Portugal and shook off the techno chill in the warmer climates. Working as a tour guide in the cobbled streets and bohemian air of Lisboa, I met many Brazilians and fell in love with the hip hop of their Portuguese speaking nation. My favourite track of the latest album by São Paulo artist Criolo is 'Nó na Orelha'. Samba beats. The album can be downloaded for free on his website.

PONTO DE EQUILIBRIO - STAY ALIVE (FEAT. DON CARLOS)

Whilst in Lisbon, one of my jobs was running pub crawls and we always went straight to Bica Arte where we drank as much as we could in one hour. One day I found out that I'd missed seeing my favourite reggae band Ponto de Equlibrio from Rio de Janiero play at Bica Arte. I obviously wasn't working or I would have been there. Fodasse. This is off their latest album ‘Dia após dia Lutando’ and features reggae and dub legend Don Carlos. Reggae a vida com amor.

CHACHO - NUESTRO AYER (MAKALA REMIX)

Following Portugal I spent some time travelling the north of Spain and in the amazing beach town San Sebastian, I found DJ Makala playing Latin beats in a backstreet pintxo bar. I love his music because he takes styles such as Cumbia, Rumba and Calypso and puts smooth electronic beats behind, staying true to the original sound whilst producing catchy music you can't help but dance to. This is a remix of a song by the Prime Minister of Rumba.

ABILLION - BEING WITH YOU (The whole album is rad)

Meanwhile, on the other side of earth, aBillion are unsigned Sydney boys who released their album ‘Invert’ on Soundcloud (for free!) about 4 months ago and I've been listening to it non-stop since then. I don't know how these guys have managed to remain unsigned because I think they made some of the most sophisticated house tunes of last year. Enjoy with a Bottle of Merlot. Keep a second bottle of Merlot on hand just in case. I always do.

LEADERBOY - BY & BY

Keeping it local again, Leaderboy are an anonymous Sydney duo that I am definitely keeping my eye on. They have released four or five tracks to date and each one has a unique sound. Remember 2008? Ed Banger? Souwax? Leaderboy reminds me of the few memories I have left of that time in my life and I love them for it!

ROBOSONIC AND ADANA TWINS - LA FIQUE

I first heard this song last year at Harbourlife when Adana Twins played it and it was only released just last month. It’s a smooth and soulful little disco house number. It feels warm and cruisy in a set of headphones, but really thumps on some good club speakers. It sounds good in my ear holes. Thumbs up!

MIDLAKE - ROSCOE (BEYOND THE WIZARD'S SLEEVE REMIX)

Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve is Erol Alkan and Richard Norris. I found this in Groove Armada's Late Night Tales Mixtape. The original version of this song by Midlake is like a stressed out nine-to-fiver stuck in a dead-end job, working for a boss that doesn't show him any respect. Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve take it on a tropical holiday, give it a massage, a cocktail and a pair of shorts. The result is a beautiful track that reminds me of sunshine and days off. Cheers Erol.

WAFF - JO JOHNSON

This is a strange one. There are certain songs that only really impact you when you hear them on a big sound system and this is one of them. HNQO played this at Terminal Projekt (Vivid Sydney) in the Overseas Passenger Terminal and it blew my head off! I love the loose drum fills that are peppered throughout the track. A relentless groove, great for the middle of a tech house set.

Before we go, we have to give an honourable mention to 'Surface To Air' by The Chemical Brothers, the best song that has ever been made. It couldn't be included within the 10 because we couldn't find a Soundcloud link for it.

If you like what you heard, catch ISBJORN DJing at The Clarence Hotel this Saturday 24th August in Sydney, where they'll be hosting 'SOLUA Presents: Welcome to the Clarence'.

Words by Tony Kingston.

CHECK OUT MORE SOUNDCLOUD WRAPS HERE

SEE ALSO:

SOUNDCLOUD WRAP: PACES
SOUNDCLOUD WRAP: LIGHT YEAR
SOUNDCLOUD WRAP: HARRIS ROBOTIS