Ninja Tune Obsession
 


The birth of Equinox Records dates back to late 2002, when long time disk jockey, producer, and record collector Günter Stöppel aka DJ Scientist founded a platform to release music for artists that shared the same ideas and visions of sound and art. Now residing in Berlin/Germany, Equinox has been able to construct a worldwide network of artists and fans.

With the first release in 2004 and the CD/2LP compilation 'Welcome to the Neo Golden Age' Equinox Records has paved its way in becoming one of the most importaint new labels in the field of urban electronic music in Germany and Europe.Many aspiring producers have joined the roster or have contributed to Equinox releases: Arcsin (New York, Uncommon/Def Jux), Deckard (Munich, Ish Rec.), Emynd (Philadelphia), Danny Decock (Vienna), DiViNCi (of Sol.illaquists of Sound, Orlando Epitaph), Mnemotrauma (Berlin, Subversiv), DJ Sept (Munich), just to name a few. The latest artist on the label is 2econd Class Citizen from England - an incredibly talented musician, whose 'Divided Reality' 12" has caused some serious ruckus in UK. His new EP 'Wyred Folk' will be released february 26th, 2007 and is Equinox Records' ninth release.

With distrubution through Kudos / Pinnacle in London (for the UK, Japan, Australia) and Hausmusik in Munich (for the German, France, Italy, US, Austria) Equinox' music gained attention from music lovers all over the planet. And the formula for the continuous success is quite simple: quality in music, quality in artwork and the fusion of both. With its exceptional and remarkable designs, including stencings, printed inlays and gatefold sleeves, the label has been getting positive press feedback in Electronica and Hip-Hop magazines all over Europe and overseas and even in design and art magazines. Equinox releases have been acclaimed very well by international radio stations and club DJs, the music pleases the home, as well as the dancefloor audience.

Future Projects:
Second part of the successful 'Sound Exposure' compilation series will drop in April 2007. It will showcase the talents of 12 different artists, including new uprising members of the Equinox family. The first official Equinox tour is planned for late summer this year. Apart from the output on vinyl and CD, Equinox Records is providing digital versions of it's complete back catalogue, such as a compilation re-work of the complete 10inch series. Besides that, Deckard is working on a exclusive online album, about to be released in the new Equinox Digital division.

Sublabel Audiac Records:
Equinox also houses a sublabel called Audiac Records, a platform to release progressive Hip-Hop music for artists from Germany and other countries.




Friday10February - 2006

Dj Scientist - Journey Goodbye [Equinox 10inch Series, #4 of 4]

Dj Scientist - Journey Goodbye
Dj Scientist - Journey Goodbye
(10") Equinox Records eqx-007, 2006

10" Tracklisting:
A1. Atarius (Original Version)
A2. Autumn Leaves
B1. Journey Goodbye
B2. Atarius (The Other Version)

Being the founder of Equinox Records and being responsible for the business side of the label as well, DJ Scientist – now living in Berlin – still finds time to dj at clubs, to release mix cds, to expand his record collection, and, last but not least, to produce music. His “Journey Goodbye EP” concludes the 10inch series, but also can be seen as an outlook on his album, that shall hit the stores in late 2006. As Instrumental Hip-Hop, which DJ Scientist still refers to, in the last years almost has become a synonym for boring music, he proves that sample based production and the need for a crashing drum beat can still sound fresh today. With tracks like “Atarius” and “Autumn Leaves” he continous to develop his own style and raises the bar for a next generation of abstract hiphop beat producers.


Friday10February - 2006

ArcSin - Uprock Citizen [Equinox 10inch Series, #3 of 4]

ArcSin - Uprock Citizen
ArcSin - Uprock Citizen
(10") Equinox Records eqx-006, 2006

10" Tracklisting:
A1. The Tomorrow People
A2. Uprock Citizen Brigade
B1. Epileptic Velvet
B2. Jar Of Mice

Brutal and melodic, two words which often don’t go together, but which perfectly capture the music of Arcsin. Drawing on influences as diverse as Captain Beefheart and Devo, his patterns and textures allude to a time when drums were hot and synthesizers were cold. With a unique and distinct sound he is able to create music that tells stories while still providing that all too necessary head nod. That “Animal Beat Drums” as he calls it, is found in almost everything he touches, and is as true to New York as corruption and good bagels. By just allowing himself to make the music he feels needs to be made, rather than what others may expect, he’s able to stay fresh and innovative.

Arcsin`s personal notes about Uprock Citizen: “The music on this record was made partly with the intent of bridging some of the gaps that exist between the techniques employed by a lot of urban composers and beat makers today, and those that are found in other styles and genres of music. The main theme behind the music was to basically storyboard some ideas about the future and society in general, and how we are all collectively being bombarded withdifferent chaotic elements and sound sources, i.e. cell phones, mp3 players etc. But out of all this chaos, there exists a melody and rhythm that is so dynamic that it‘s more often just taken for granted. Reliance on machines to play music everywhere, as well as the use of new forms of machinery in order to make it, connects in ways that people are just discovering. Whatever the outcome, the music I like to make and listen to will always have many layers to discover just like life. One dimensionality in music, art, and existence is just a void that I think nobody wants to find themselves in.

“The Tomorrow People” is my attempt at representing this as best as I could. A building and plodding trip into what I feel will be the melody of people to come. It has some sadness, some happiness, and they both exist together in the chaos. And you‘ll be there if you want to be. “Uprock Citizen Brigade” is more of a New York homage to those who are trying to be part of a cultural movement, mainly Hip Hop, but they don‘t feel connected anymore to the people who are representing it now. It‘s basically an anthem to those who get a high off the smell of a fresh pair of fat-lace superstars. “Epileptic Velvet” plays on the same underlying theme of Uprock, but on a more subdued hand clap throwback note. It‘s the type of piece that will float through my mind at night on the subway, or on the bus seeing people randomly going about their business trying to connect themselves to the city. Weird stuff. I think it‘s necessary to slow down sometimes to really see and hear the emotion. “Jar of Mice” has a lot of meanings to me, which I tried to convey and hopefully did. Most importantly that of being trapped in something you cannot escape, and the sound of tension building, that‘s when the madness sets in. The song is filled with madness, anger, redemption... all of that good stuff that makes us alive. The ending is really just a beginning.“