DJ Slipmatt. We all know him. This well known DJ and producer, who's been in the scene for many, many years, has done some incredible things over the years. Played at the biggest events, had many successful hits (on his own or part of SL2), and is overall a very nice guy. He can tell stories like no other, and if you were around during they heydays of Rave music, you would have seen him perform. His sets are among the best you can find in the Rave scene, and are still adored by plenty. Being in the scene for 35 years, that's an achievement on its own!
Resident Advisor asked him to produce a mix, which is accompanied by a short interview. So if you are interested in what is happening in Slipmatt's life, you should read it. You can find the link below this review, which will take you to RA's page. But now a brief explanation on how Slipmatt became part of my life, in a weird way.
As many of you know, I lived in the Netherlands for most of my life, and I was too young when the Rave scene exponentially grew to something uncontrollable by the government. But growing up, I obviously knew the song 'On A Ragga Tip', which was a hit everywhere. But Slipmatt became a name I would remember, after I heard his remix of JDS' ''Higher Love''. That is still one of the finest Happy Hardcore tracks ever made.
Being a blogger/reviewer, you start expanding your knowledge, and you start to use the internet. It did come with a lot of perks: you could actually start following artists, and not like in the old days, where you could only see them at events, or maybe on TV shows. You could communicate with them, and as his name already rang many bells, I became hooked on something he called ''The Facebook Sessions''. I think that's what it was called. He also had other radio shows, but the Facebook Sessions were massive. Only a short period of time was it a thing, but it made me realise that this man is just more than that bloke who remixed ''Higher Love''.
I did meet him on a few occasions, and his sets were as dope as you could imagine them to be. Always focussed on the oldschool sound, which I adore. I was too young to remember or acknowledge, but through artists such as Slipmatt, would I get a sense on how awesome the late 80s and early 90s were. But Slipmatt does so much more.
He is still very active in the scene, and he has a reach, far beyond the UK. His importance in the scene has been acknowledge, and people praise him for his continued support of both the early stuff, and the present day music too. For this mix he decided to not only focus on the oldschool sound, but basically everything that him the individual he is.
It's a bit of an insight mix to what makes Slipmatt tick. But don't worry: there's plenty of Oldskool for the fanatics in here. Let's go on a ride, a journey through Slipmatt's rich history as a DJ and producer:
Adonis - No Way Back (Greg Wilson Edit)
Landlord - I Like It
Nitro Deluxe - Let's Get Brutal
Fallout - The Morning After (Sunrise Mix)
Armando - Land Of Confusion
Rhythim Is Rhythim - The Dance
Reese & Santonio - The Sound (Re-mix)
Swan Lake - In The Name Of Love
Man Machine - Man Machine
Nightmares Of Wax - Dextrous
Robin Wants Revenge - Robin Wants Revenge
Joey Beltram - Energy Flash
Second Phase - Mentasm
B-Sides - Magic Orchestra
Greed - Give-Me (Hypersonic Remake)
Clubland feat Quartz - Let's Get Busy
SL2 - DJs Take Control
Altern8 - Activ-8 (Come With Me)
2 Bad Mice - Bombscare
K-Klass - Let Me Show You Love
The Bucketheads - These Sounds Fall Into My Mind (Mazella Bistro Mix)
Tori Amos - Professional Widow
Express Of Sound - Real Vibration (Want Love)
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar (Da Bruck & Klein Remix)
Southside Spinners - Luvstruck
Mauro Picotto - Lizard (Gonna Get Ya)
Ariel - A9
Quo Vadis - Sonic Boom (Life's Too Short)
Agnelli & Nelson - Everyday (Alex Gold Vocal Mix)
Alex Neri - Hoursetrack (Antoine Clamaran Hard Bass Remix)
Philippe B - Can You Feel It
Bootleg - Put Ur Hands Up 4 Education (Mashup)
Liquid - Sweet Harmony (Dave Spoon & James Talk Remix)
Micha Moor - Space (Klaas Club Mix)
CoCo Star - Miracle (Funkda's Playing With Knives Mix)
Awesome 3 feat Lizzie Curious - Don't Go (Hoxton Whores Remix)
Crazibiza vs Eddie Amador - House Music (Jerome Robins Simple Mashup Mix)
Alexis Raphael - It's Kinda Jazzy (Original Mix)
Sooney - Hit The Dance Floor
Reza & Tom Chubb - Anthem (Club Mix)
Jacq (UK) - Fall Back (Original Mix)
Bessey - Non Stop (Club Mix)
Jose De Mara - To My Beat (Extended Mix)
Tony Cortez - Losing My Mind (Extended Mix)
Frank De Wulf - The Tape (Pig Snatchers & M-Staffs Anthem Remix)
This is one hell of a tracklist. And one that wasn't easy to type, but I've done it. But what is also easy to spot, is the fact that Slipmatt takes you on a journey. As said before, not just the oldskool stuff, but literally everything. As he's a master of the decks, he knows what the audience wants to hear, wherever it is he plays. And as of now, 12.7k+ plays show that people love this mix, and what he does.
I like the diversity of this mix. It's literally whatever Slipmatt wanted to play. Old, new, and everything in between. Some of these versions I've not even heard before. But being in the game for 35 years, you do create a big collection. And his collection must be big.
His journey is a pleasant one. It is nice that he plays multiple styles, but if I'm being brutally honest, I do prefer the older stuff. As I wasn't around (I was alive though) to experience it, I always listen to mixes that play the early stuff. It's the decade I unfortunately miss, which probably has the best anthems ever. Yes, later years had some excellent tunes too, but nothing can beat the late 80s/early 90s. Nothing.
And obviously the track that did the most damage to my eardrums, has to be 'Energy Flash'. I still remember hearing that track for the first time, and I didn't understood the power behind the track. That would only become apparent later in life. But what a brilliant track. The follow up record, 'Mentasm', is also a Rave classic.
A wonderful mix. 2 hours of Slipmatt. Couldn't wish for more.
DJ: Slipmatt
Genre/Style: Rave, House, Trance
Mix Info: R.A. 958 Slipmatt
Length Mix: 02:08:44
Tracks: 46 (fourty-six)
Download/Listen (via Soundcloud): STREAM HERE
File Size: 294 MB
File Type: mp3
Audio: Stereo
Bit Rate: 320kbps
Release Year: 2024
More Information: Resident Advisor - Slipmatt Interview
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