Loft in Space
January 12th, 2007 by rui
Mixmaster Morris is a bona fide ambient legend. Find out more about his Big Chill House monthly…
What’s your night called?
Loft in Space
What have you been up to, before Loft in Space?
I made lots of records as The Irresistible Force, wrote for NME, i-D and Mixmag, did radio shows for Kiss FM, LBC and BBC London, held down residencies at influential clubs like Megatripolis, Lost and Stealth. Won Chillout DJ of the Year twice at Pacha Ibiza DJ Awards. Worked extensively with Coldcut & Ninja Tune, who released my last LP ‘It’s Tomorrow Already‘. Toured all over the world from America to Zambia. I also play monthly in Brick Lane at Nubient.
What’s the music policy for Loft in Space?
LOFT IN SPACE is more about exploring musical history, and I play a lot of old vinyl. As we’ve got a dancefloor, it’s a bit more funky and uptempo than Nubient, and as the club is still new we’re exploring the perimeters of jazz, broken beats, latin and even RnB in the quest for a new sound. Last month I did a special tribute to the late James Brown, but we might equally focus on a modern artist. I’m also going to nominate an Album of the Month for each night and promote it via a new webpage.
Who has played, or is going to play at Loft in Space?
We would be happy to have guests like Domu, Jamie Odell, IG Culture, King Britt, Ian O’Brien, Jinadu, Mark Pritchard…
If money was no object, and you could book any line-up of DJs and bands living or dead, who would play?
I’d like Robert Wyatt to come and sing his entire back catalogue accompanied by Thelonious Monk on the piano. Minnie Ripperton and Leon Thomas can do the backing vocals… Lee Scratch Perry would be on the mixing desk, with Brian Eno on additional FX and Sun Ra on the Moog ..
What are your current top 5 tunes?
Georgia Anne Muldrow – Olesi CD (Stones Throw)
Brotherly – Searching (Monumental)
Nightmares on Wax – African Pirates (Troubleman remix)
Mr Scruff – Big Chill Classics
Bernie Maupin – Quasar
What three things would your ideal bar have to have?
Great Djs playing great music is the first requirement. A decent sound system is also a must, with loud and quiet areas – a wide range of premium beer wine & spirits we can take for granted! The absence of crappy gaming machines is a blessing, but I have a personal fondness for pinball machines…and old-fashioned bar games.
I’m just on my way to the bar – what I get you?
Reposado Patron Tequila on the rocks, and make it a double. No salt puh-lease!!
Ideal evening chilling at home?
A couple of good friends, endless green tea, a stack of ambient mixes and my Shmangle beanbag!
Ideal evening chilling out?
Sunday night at the Sanctuary Stage
Favourite places?
Japan, San Francisco, London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Hawaii …
What are you reading these days?
Simon Napier Bell – Black Vinyl White Powder
Richard Neville – Hippy Hippy Shake
John Szwed – Sun Ra: Space is the Place
I need to get some new books!
What are you working on at present?
Been working on a new album for some time now with Jonah Sharp in SF, and starting a DJ residency in the trendy MMORPG ‘Second Life‘
Compiling tracks for a new mix compilation for The Agriculture label in NY.
What would most like to achieve over the next five years?
First priority is to get that new Irresistible Force album out! Ultimately I want to get back to live gigs as I haven’t done any for a few years…
What would you like to see change most in the world over the next five years?
Regime change in the USA, Iran, Poland, Zimbabwe, N Korea.
People losing interest in tedious celebretards.
Stem cells research offer cure for all illnesses.
Internal combustion engine becomes obsolete.
More $$$ spent on poverty reduction and less on bombs.
Highlight of your life?
Winning Ibiza DJ awards in 1999 was pretty amazing, as was walking around Glastonbury with John Peel carrying my record box, and marching at the front of the Love Parade with Dr Motte. Sharing a DJ box with Derrick May, Aphex Twin, Carl Cox, Lenny Ibizarre, Norman Cook, Perry Farrell, Alex Patterson, Gilles Peterson, Tom Middleton, Jazzanova, DJ Craze, Laurent Garnier etc. has been an education.
Seeing the Clash play to 100,000 in Victoria Park won’t be forgotten, nor gigs by Captain Beefheart, Prince, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, This Heat, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Laurie Anderson, Kraftwerk, Tom Waits, Ryuichi Sakamoto, The Pop Group…
At a festival – tent, B&B, or hotel for you, and why?
Usually I don’t get much sleeping done! I do have a big new tent for 2007. I would much rather have an Airstream bus… dream on!
What was your Top Big Chill moment?
Swimming in the river at Black Mountains
Herbert making music from Cheese Sandwiches at Larmer Tree
All-night set by the pool at Naxos
Monday morning sets on BCFM
Love-In at Baskeville Hall
Big hugs at the Union Chapel
Knitting Circle at Larmer Tree
Kirk Degiorgio trainspotting my jazz records in 2006
Secret jam session at Norfolk washout
Cutting up Pete’s XFM interview in 2005
Crossfade authors reading on sunday morning
Insane conversations with people who have lost it completely
Jony Easterby installations like amplified ice blocks melting
Max Eastley installation at Union Chapel
AMBA with a full choir
Describe the essence of The Big Chill in a few words…
Good people, good music, good times.
Loft in Space with Mixmaster Morris
Monthly @ The Big Chill House
Check The House listings for the date of the next Loft in Space.
