TRICKSTYLE LAUNCH PARTY

ELECTRIC SHOWROOMS LONDON

A line of Sega consuls covers one wall of the venue with a scrum of hodded topped b-boys jostling to get a go. Non- descript jazzy sounds trickle out of carefully concealed speakers around the upstairs bar and there's people wandering around with trays giving out miniburger nibbles. Kurtis Mantronik is DJing downstairs later and that's really the hook of this bash. The connection? He's made the theme tune that features exclusive on Trickstyle. "It's a funky electro thing," Kurtis tells me, nestled in a booth round the back of the venue. We are munching on mini- pizzas and olives and swigging beers. "Yeah, it's kinda back to the'80s but updated with a nineties twist. "So it's not just a cast off track that you picked up off the studio floor and thought 'that'll do for a computer game then'? "No," retorts Kurtis, "I'm a Virgo, I couldn't do that. We Virgos are perfectionists man, very anal". So that's that out of the way then. For those who don't know, Kurtis Mantronik is a bit of legend - if the mid 80s electro scene is anything to go by. New York DJ Kurtis was the man behind the New York based electro innovators. Mantronix that came up with gems such as 'Bassline'and produced classic Joyce Sims' 'All in All'. Mantronix did two albums before being dropped by their label, Sleeping Bag, in the late 80s. Since then Kurtis has been doing bits and pieces, Nike ads, bits of DJing. He's got a new album coming out in October on PIAS called 'I sing the body electro'. It's a revisit to the 80's, " he tells DJmag. He's also just finished a remix of 'Diamonds Are Forever'. Mmmm, spooky. While Kurtis munches nibbles and prepares for his set the party is edging up a few notches. People play away at Sega pods and booze flows. When Kurtis finally gets on the decks his set is surprising. Old hip hop beats and electro tracks sit alongside Paul Johnson's 'Get Get Down'. 'He is a friend of mine," Kurtis later admits. The morning after this gig Kurtis gets booted out of the country for not having his work visa sorted. Another triumph for the gaming posse who get the exclusive Kurtis set for their party. words

Source: Claire Hughes - DJmag - edition 51