Inside the bag (and living room) of a Berghain resident: RA's Will Lynch sits down with the Berlin DJ in advance of his appearance at the Nuits Sonores festival to talk about a few of his favourite records.

nice interview, i love his taste of music..
cant wait for his berghain cd, very curious about it

Nice interview !!! is that Ben Klock's living room ? Has anyone got Marcel dettmann's studio picture ?

cool interview. his cd sounds good.

thanks for the cool interview! always interesting to read something about ben!

ben and shed made the best techno alben of the last years , you really can hear the evolution and how they grown up ....

This looks and reads like an Ikea catalogue.

x2

Other than the obvious visual parallels, care to elaborate?

Can I ask why you guys think it's OK to constantly bang on about the importance of lengthy and intelligent music-related discourse on your own blog, and then deem it OK to log on to RA and make comments such as this?

love how ben klock is known as a techno guy but he still plays classic chicago records in his sets. this is refreshing and really shows you how labeling a dj as 'this or that' is useless in today's world. definitely would love to see him at the berghain this summer. also looking forward for the mix cd.

because we are hypocrites...

i just feel like this was a bit of a wasted opportunity - ben is a very interesting guy and has a very distinctive sound and approach to music. this interview really stays on the surface, would have really loved to see it go a bit deeper into these selections.

I'm buying him one of these as he only has paper cups....

Nice feature! Klock is definitely one of the Dj's of our time. In Sync - 'Storm' is some eerie, hypnotic techno. Check it below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g7hGkVqD8k

Good idea for a feature, but I agree it's a little short on detail. Shame, as I've been lucky enough to meet him, and he's a really interesting guy.

ben! - i have the perfect idea for new paint in your flat - cement!

love your work.

He is my absolute favourite of all DJ’s, a very good producer and above all a very nice and friendly guy. Every time I remember his epic 10-hour-set at Berghain from the end of February it puts a smile on my face. The best set I ever heard of him or maybe of anyone at Berghain.

Ben, go on like this! I’m looking forward to see you behind the decks on Sunday.

great feature, though i agree a little short on detail, wanted to keep on reading!

i really like the way in which Ben describes the concept of minimalism in music. And i totally agree with him.

Totally agree Ryan. The incessant negativity from the mnmlssgs duo is staggering. Why do you guys read RA if you seem to hate every feature, review, or anything that gets posted on the site? Can't think why Todd agreed to that rubbish round table discussion w/Sherburne when all you guys do is slate everything that he puts his (or RA's) name to.

agreed chris and disconnect.

i mean anyone who goes to ikea for shelving must be a grade-a conformist moron.

i've built mine out of the bones of my enemies. oh, and gaffer tape. lots and lots of gaffer tape. admittedly the shelves tend to topple over, and some of the bones have rickets and can't really hold the weight of more than 10 vinyls, I've lost about half my pristine collection but hey, i'm just going for something edgier in my search for the perfect storage solution.

i could send you a photocopy of a grainy black and white photograph of it if you'd like.

although i've run into a bit of trouble, some of the earlier sandwell 12"s I have are actually made of really thin steel (in homage to the midlands traditional industrial heritage)-

unfortunately as I was trying to put them on the top shelf they slipped down and they're only after slicing into the soft skin on the palms of my hands.

i've got cuts off vinyl before but this one's just gone that little bit deeper.

i'm actually losing quite a bit of blood here.

He's a brilliant DJ, always on my playlist and a very cool humble person in real life...

Nice feature!

Expedit crew in the house!

actually the last comment i had made on a feature was this:

"best feature i've seen on RA in a while. very well done."

i've got a huge amount of respect for what todd does with RA. but that doesn't mean i like every feature that goes up. anyway, i'll leave PC to expand on the original comment more if he wants.

the focus here should be on klock. regardless of whether this feature is in depth enough or not, klock is all class, no doubt about that.

Here's one of your pleasanter comments from the Top DJ Poll:

"Posted by danzig
If anyone wants to complain about the list, please do it somewhere else. Criticizing a poll result is trashing others' taste, which is lame.


well in this case, other people's tastes fucking suck. this list is pathetic."

I take issue with the fact that if you don't happen to think Donnato Dozzy is the best thing since sliced bread, you're in line for having obscenities shouted at you, or told you're taste is shit. I like a lot of the music you guys host on your excellent blog. I also think a lot of it is boring, esoteric and at worst pretentious, but I find little need to bash yours and/or RA staff's work. I can't fathom what was so wrong with the feature. It wasn't an interview, it was called Playing Favourites. Ben picked some of his favourite tracks, and spoke about them. End of story.

good music, and he's hot! haha good sht

I did miss finn's words to be honest.

well done.

agree 100% and nice feature...Ben Klock is bloody great!!!

is it only me, or isn't the selection little bit, well, predictable? i have full respect for Ben Klock and i've seen him play fantastic sets with a lots of surprising and cool tracks. but this selection is really "what you could expect" - me thinks.

good music, of course, but when i read feautres like this i want to be surprised.

some secrets gotta stay in the box..

Ben Klock is among the best... the one thing i am really missing are links to the songs. so here are the ones i could find:

In Sync: Storm - www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWqj710vMao
Dettmann: Argon - sound clip only (soon to be released): hardwax.com/audio/60/60717/60717_A2.mp3
Tyree - nuthin wrong - go to 18min: www.letsmix.com/mix/13117/kick_in_the_bass_dance_mania_classics_1
Maurizio: M5A - www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iXCwilsgqA
Green Velvet: Destination Unknown - www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnZfBUVp-NM
DVS1: Running - www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LBPeXCFZwg
Steve Reich - Music For 18 Musicians - www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU23LqQ6LY4
Dj Hyperactive: Wide Open - www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-f5OFGKJSE
hope it helps you guys

I take your point, gas, I/we can be bitchy, and sometimes irresponsibly so, given the cottage industry (or just cottaging) that is 'dance music' these days, BUT:

I think what you mistake for remorseless negativity is actually, well, being critical about things, which includes liking some things, disliking others. I talk at length about the things I like, and I call BS on the things I don't.

Part of the problem is contextual: in part because promo dominates 'dance music' and most 'journalism' is done by young fanboys or fangirls, most of what passes for 'dancing about architecture' is just fanboy slobbering + reticulations of the press sheet + a hand outstretched awaiting its high five from all the other young dudes who always-already agree on the greatness of whatever 'it' is.

I have enormous respect for Todd and the peepz behind RA, and they *do* try to push a helluva lot of interesting stuff through what is, all too often, an extremely narrow, intolerent frame. A frame made so narrow and intolerent by most readers, who cannot tolerate anything except glib adoration and acritical praise of their favourite modular furniture.

House/techno seems to be just another lifestyle product mediated through laptops, high speed networks, civil aviation, equipment fetishism.... and Ikea furniture. I think it's a thin, pale, sterile substitute for the passion and pain of meaning in context, and actually caring enough to ask the hard questions.

"I take your point, gas, I/we can be bitchy, and sometimes irresponsibly so, given the cottage industry (or just cottaging) that is 'dance music' these days, BUT:

I think what you mistake for remorseless negativity is actually, well, being critical about things, which includes liking some things, disliking others. I talk at length about the things I like, and I call BS on the things I don't.

Part of the problem is contextual: in part because promo dominates 'dance music' and most 'journalism' is done by young fanboys or fangirls, most of what passes for 'dancing about architecture' is just fanboy slobbering + reticulations of the press sheet + a hand outstretched awaiting its high five from all the other young dudes who always-already agree on the greatness of whatever 'it' is.

I have enormous respect for Todd and the peepz behind RA, and they *do* try to push a helluva lot of interesting stuff through what is, all too often, an extremely narrow, intolerent frame. A frame made so narrow and intolerent by most readers, who cannot tolerate anything except glib adoration and acritical praise of their favourite modular furniture.

House/techno seems to be just another lifestyle product mediated through laptops, high speed networks, civil aviation, equipment fetishism.... and Ikea furniture. I think it's a thin, pale, sterile substitute for the passion and pain of meaning in context, and actually caring enough to ask the hard questions.
"

Fuck i didnt understand that, but i liked One By Ben Klock

I think you're right that the dance scene suffers from a surplus of backlapping and very little critical writing, that said, I think people get frustrated b/c the negativity coming out of the SSGS camp seems to be hurled at anything that doesn't fit the tight boundaries of dark / industrially-tinged / classicist techno... Read Clom's post above... I think beyond being hysterical it actually illustrates something which several other readers of RA / SSGS are feeling...

A couple of points. Unlike your blog, RA is a vast dance music resource. Most people I know never even read the features and use it simply to work out where they want to go dancing on the weekends. I imagine even less people read the reviews. Accordingly, RA has to work for fans of every type of dance music. Thus you will find (a surprisingly enjoyable) article on Tiga rubbing shoulders with one on Ben Klock. Unlike your blog, it is in their interests to appeal to as wide a fan base as possible.

As far as the fanboy comment goes, I really am not sure how you can make that comment when all the content you guys host is the MOST fanboy articulated stuff about. Great swathes of text are taken up with you guys talking about how great friends you are with the DJs and producers that grace the pages of your (and I stress again, excellent) blog. In terms of "fanboy slobbering" you guys are guiltier than most, having created an ecosystem that is based on shared music tastes. But that's fine. It's your blog and you are entitled to do that. RA is not a blog, and as such, cannot work within those parameters. The writers/editors/anyone involved in the website may privately love PVH and slam M_nus, but there will be a Ritchie Hawtin article as well as a PVH article on there.

Accordingly, I don't see why decent features have to be brushed aside with casual, cutting deference. It strikes me as puerile and reeks of the playground. And this is not the first time either. This is taken from the message board of your own blog after the RA Top DJ Poll 2009, coming form one of your readers:

"Getting all angry about it and cussing it for not representing ones own taste and opinion is totally missing the point imo. Also I think that defining your self as fighting in the name of "good taste" against "mediocrity" is an arrogant move. Stick to humbly and venerably representing the music you do like. The people who like Britney Spears, the Dj mag top 100 or the ra top 100 dj's aren't necessarily deluded or lost. Maybe they just genuinely like that stuff."

I stress again, I love your blog, read it regularly. However, you both have powerful voices within this community. Use them responsibly.

As for this:

"House/techno seems to be just another lifestyle product mediated through laptops, high speed networks, civil aviation, equipment fetishism.... and Ikea furniture. I think it's a thin, pale, sterile substitute for the passion and pain of meaning in context, and actually caring enough to ask the hard questions."

Honestly haven't a clue.

fwiw, i think PC/disconnect have a broader perspective than the industrial/classic hingme. my post is just a brief, terrifying glimpse into a creaky, dusty, ikea-free corner of my tiny tiny mind.

my hand is a bit better now, the doctor says i'll never EQ again though. btw. in sync. ya bas.

Well said!

not going to bother defending SSGS here or trying to illustrate that it is much broader some seem to be suggesting. but this isnt really relevant because our comments here were about the sound - ie klock - as we are definitely supporters of his. so i'm not sure what complaining about the narrow-ness of the artist we support has anything to do with our issues about this feature. i have no problem with ben klock being chosen, far from it.

in regards to the comment about it being playing favourites, i guess i/we found something like this more interesting. the format of the feature need not limit it to the surface:

www.residentadvisor.net/feature.aspx?1134

saying that, there are some fair criticisms of SSGS, they have been noted. thank you. if you have any criticisms or suggestions about the blog, feel free to get in touch with us. we are always open to feedback, preferably constructive.

so what exactly are you guys doing that is different from this? if i have to hear someone metaphorically blow Peter Van Hoesen one more time I'M GOING TO LOSE MY FUCKING MIND.

what's funny about this is that the ssgs guys seem to rant on and on about stuff that is already being heavily covered everywhere. PVH? Sandwell District? Redshape? Oni Ayhun? even the more underground and esoteric shit they deal with is still largely within the realm of what is commonly discussed on "techno" sites.

back in the early days of ISM, we were rather vocal about our criticisms of the kinds of things being reviewed and covered in places like RA. now RA is regularly reviewing and having features on many black american producers as well as the various other worldwide doing soulful music. RA is consistently knocking it out on those fronts, as well as others, so the complaints on my part at least have dropped off considerably.

what it really boils down to for me is that i want people to be exposed to the shit i dig. as long as that is happening, it's all good! i don't expect RA to suddenly become infinitestatemachine2, what would be the point? but in the worldwide discussion on house and techno, as long as the shit i like is held in as high regard as other styles by the major players that's all i need to be happy. i always strive to be way out in front of everyone else in my styles of choice, something like that cannot be expected to be the mainstream.

@ Pipecock: I haven't written a post about techno in months, actually.

I take several of the points made so far about SSGs, and it's true to some extent, especially about the notion of using a voice responsibly.

The blog such as it is is the material effect of a conversation between people, mostly Chris and I at the moment. Chris and I disagree about a helluva lot, especially about techno.

But/and: my understanding of SSGs is that it is a place or frame of reference within which a loose conversation can unfold. For me, I don't think music is about music really. Music is also about the way we interact, it's a medium as much as a message, a means to an end, and having a music-based blog is about what I/we can foster through that space.

@ Some other comments: personally I am not imputing any ill will toward RA in general; I actually think RA is far more generous in its range and depth than many of its readers, which is precisely the problem.

Key among these is the way in which any reviewer on this site who publishes a review which is even slightly critical of an artist gets pilloried, often in a personal and insulting way, by forum readers.

On the one hand, people treat their favourite artists like sacred cows and will brook no criticism of their work. They see criticism of a published piece of artistic expression as a personal insult which, somehow, reflects on them, I suppose because they've taken that artist on as part of their identity.

On the other hand, those same people who descry any criticism of a work as negativity about an artist, a scene, and the reader, think nothing of 'reviewing the review' and insulting the reviewer.

To me, this seems proof that 'dance music' is weirdly hostile to criticism, and prefers its 'coverage' to also be the kind of gentle screening that shows the full catalogue of modular lifestyle units in its most favourable lighting.

But this is also why I want to engage. I don't fully understand it, and I want to disagree in a productive way with you all.

I should add that I'm not happy with the 'coverage' of electronic music at the moment, not anyone's, including my own. There is very little journalism, very little analysis, very little constructive, engaged work that looks at the broader contexts of the music.

Part of the genius of Terre Thaemlitz/Sprinkles' 'Midtown 120' was the way it reminds us of this.

I also think of Loscil's incredible 'Endless Falls' and the Black Dog's new 'Music for Real Airports'.
www.musicforrealairports.com/live/
Q: do we want the music journalism equivalent of 'Music of Airports' or 'Music for Real Airports'.

This, in a way, is the stake I see here.

Is techno about laptops, airports, networks and commodities, or is it about passion, expression, love, hate, sacrifice, history, etc.... we can make that political choice...

...as much as I disagree with you, Pipecock, I laud your unyielding emphasis on the black context of US groove-based electronic music...

Slagging the way the guy's apartment looks doesn't sound very "supportive" to me. Just extremely immature. If you were actually supportive of what he does, you would have refrained from making such a douche comment. Or been a bit more constructive.

Anyway, thanks for the feature and to Mr. Klock for the good taste.

You sure seem to generalise a lot. I don't exactly get what you were trying to prove with your first comment, seems like you guys love to bitch a lot about stuff. I love your blog and the music/artists it brings to exposure, but just try to do a little effort to not jump in every other feature comment thread and impose your idealistic vision of a review. RA is a dance music magazine, not a blog such as yours who's one of its purpose is to debate and openly discuss music in whichever shape, form and depth that you wish. Keep things where they belong. Discussing tastes in music never leads to anything good in general.

Boy has this thread been hijacked!

DJ Hyperactive - Wide Open was first released on Missile Records...

OK, useless info ^^

Not all useless! Thanks for catching that, fabiostug. The year was incorrect as well. Both have been fixed now.

I think the nebulous notion of 'good taste' and its consensual cultural signifiers - sleek laptop, smooth pad - may just be the issue here...

Will laptops ever sound as good as vinyls? Reason is because I noticed last year when Shed finished his Live set in Womb, Tokyo then Ben Klock took over playing vinyls only, the sound got warmer and better!...I'm not an expert audiophile but can someone explain this phenomenon.