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This is Audio Therapy
Given how fast the digital revolution has progressed in the last twelve months, these days record label years are not unlike dog years. So when Rocky needs to be put down after a mere 10 years of existence, we comfort ourselves with the fact that his innings was actually a decent 70. Likewise with record labels, anyone still in business after ten or so releases deserves a good pat on the back.
Enter Audio Therapy, the label run by Dave Seaman as part of his umbrella Therapy group that has recently notched up its fifth year of existence. To celebrate "the big 5" the label has put together a compilation entitled "This Is Audio Therapy", which gives a picture of where the label is at now with a slight a nod to some of its earlier releases.
"This is Audio Therapy" is certainly no "This is Hardcore" and Dave Seaman is no Jarvis Cocker but we asked him to walk us track-by-track through the mixed CD, Disc1, of the "This is Audio Therapy" release.
When I heard the title of this release I instantly thought of Pulp's "This is Hardcore". Just out of curiosity, what was your favourite track on that album and what is your all-time favourite Pulp track?
Well we went through quite a few ideas for the title itself with ideas like Now That’s What I Call Audio Therapy but a lawsuit from EMI didn’t seem worth it. This Is Audio Therapy seemed to sum it up nicely, but getting back to Pulp I have to say that This Is Hardcore was a great follow up to Different Class with the standout track being ’Party Hard’. From the rest of their catalogue, I always had a soft spot for ‘Sorted for E’s and Wizz’ and ‘Do You Remember The First Time?’ but ‘Common People’ was the best song Jarvis ever wrote.
Speaking of Pulp - isn't Jarvis Cocker a DJ now? Any advice you'd care to pass on to him...
Stick to songwriting as a career. Make DJing a hobby. You should always play to your strengths.
So back to the release. You've stated in the press release notes that Audiotherapy is moving away from primarily releasing its singles on vinyl but will still cater to the purists with some limited edition vinyl runs. Any good ideas regarding what we should do with all those old 12 inches taking up space in the spare room (or in your case the baby's room)?
Vinyl storage has always been a nightmare and for anyone who has moved 3 times in the past 12 months like me will sympathise, so mine's moved from the spare room to the garage, baby Albert made me prioritise.
But on a serious note the formats for all music are changing at quite a rapid rate and I think dance music is just following suit. The 12" market has more or less halved in the space of 12 months , sure some of the bigger tracks still sell but on average most labels across the board are feeling the pinch. We seem at a halfway point at the moment, most professional DJs have ditched vinyl altogether this year and moved to CDs where as some others have taken it even further using software instead. The advances in technology have meant the CDJs have more or less antiquated the beloved 1210s and this has had a knock-on effect on what people are buying.
Music moves so quickly now as well and everyone wants everything so upfront that we as a company are having to come up with new ideas for our target audience. At the moment we are covering all formats but I fear it wont be long before the costs of doing vinyl will make the format uneconomical.
And any thoughts on what we should do with all the bloody sleeves ?!!?
Well they make excellent hats and UV glossed ones should stop the rain. Other than that recycle is the best option.
From a label's perspective the costs involved in producing and distributing something on vinyl is a big disincentive to continue producing stuff in that format. From a DJ's perspective, the biggest grief they have with vinyl is that it weighs too much. So, philosophically speaking, how much do you think an mp3 weighs in a digital gravity-less environment?
Suppose it depends on the bitrate really, E = Mp3. 320 rate will be heavier than a 128 rate say but overall with zero gravity it becomes irrelevant.
"E = Mp3. 320 rate will be heavier than a 128 rate say but overall with zero gravity it becomes irrelevant."
Can you now please walk us through each track on the This is Audio Therapy mixed CD, Disc 1?
01. Nick & John Dalagelis - Quiet (Stelios Is Watching)
Infusion - Legacy (Acapella)
'Quiet' is a very emotive piece of music and a great opener , we wanted to include Infusion on the CD as they were our first release and the acapella worked really well.
02. Habersham - Dryspell
Possibly my favourite Therapy release this year and one that simply had to be on the CD, it not only shows Damon’s huge talent but also shows the diversity of music we have on the label yet people still pigeon hole us as progressive house.
03. Kosmas Epsilon - Monster Puppy
Kosmas sent me this during the mixing of the CD and I played it out a few times and saw what it did in clubs so we signed it straight away and it works so well in the mix, he is doing another version and another track which we have scheduled for release next year.
04. Kosmas Epsilon - Ill Ssa (V-Sag Mix)
'Ill Ssa' was written specifically for the Across Borders – Greece album we released earlier this year. V-sag did this storming mix and we wanted to get as much new stuff on the CD as possible.
05. Kosmas Epsilon & Viton Feat Dallas - There Can Be Only One
The last part of the Kosmas fest, the production on this is fantastic – great emotion that works so well on the floor and on the CD. This will be released on our new Therapy Music label later this year.
06. Phil K & Habersham - Cloudbrake (Oliver Molden Mix)
Dave Seaman Presents Group Therapy Feat Nat Leonard - My Own Worst Enemy (Acapella)
Again Oliver’s mix and the acapella just work so well together and really marks that the music is going up a gear to the next level.
07. Oliver Moldan Presents Prawler - Marraca$h
Marraca$h is just an amazing track and it really keeps the pace going on the CD and mixes like a treat out of his Cloudbrake remix. His productions this year have just been getting stronger and stronger which is why we signed this gem up straight away. Bush IIBush have remixed it and it's released in November on Audio Therapy.
"...the production on this ['There Can Be Only One'] is fantastic – great emotion...This will be released on our new Therapy Music label later this year."
08. Stel Feat John Elliott - Finding Time (Alternate Mix)
This is a mix that Stel knocked up especially for the CD, he had been wanting to make a few changes and when we told him about the CD he got straight to work and wrote this exclusive version.
09. Killahurtz - Kiss For The Dying (Hybrid Matrix Dub)
All of us are huge fans of Hybrid at the label so it was great to get them on board for the Killahurtz release. They did this dub after our release and the energy in it is great towards the end of the CD. It’s “surreptitiously prog” according to the DJ magazine review. Ha ha...
10. Tone Depth Feat Matt Shapiro - To The Moon (Dark Dub)
Tony had done a few extra versions of 'To The Moon' for himself and this dub really picks up the pace for the mix finale. It’s a track that appealed to many different kinds of DJ.
11. Phatjak - Dirty Sunday (Dimi Phaze Mix)
Another great Greek production outfit to look out for, we picked up a track of theirs for the Across Borders CD and then they sent us some other music. The melody in this has a really great vibe and is really good for ending the CD on a high. We have put together a 4 track EP with them that is out now on Therapy Music.
What's your favourite track on the unmixed Disc 2?
Oliver Moldan’s mix of ‘Cloudbrake’.
Tell us five tracks (not necessarily dance) which might appear on a
"This is Dave Seaman" release in 2005.
01. Aimee Mann ‘ Wise Up’
02. Zero 7 ‘ Destiny’
03. Anthony & the Johnsons ‘Hope There’s Someone’
04. The Boomtown Rats ‘ I Don’t Like Mondays’
05. Lamb ‘ Gorecki’.
Finally any religious life-changing experiences you want to share? Anything else you want to blatantly plug?
Well we are starting to look at the next Across Borders CD which we will have out in the first part of 2006 as well as a Therapy Sessions 3 in the latter part of the year.
We have managed to get both my site and the Therapy site updated and start selling our releases and merchandise online for anyone having trouble getting our releases. Check the sites www.djdaveseaman.com and www.therapymusic.co.uk...
Oh, and I just became a Dad!!
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Published / Friday, 21 October 2005
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