Copenhagen Duo Dynamoe Set R&S Alight
Danish production duo Dynamoe — Giovanni Campagna and Dennis Lee Jensen — is the current darling of the Belgian Apollo label, the dance offshoot of revered techno imprint R&S Records. Since sending the label one of three demo CDs pressed in 1998, Campagna and Jensen have been concocting breakbeat cocktails for dancefloor consumption from their studio (a converted radio station) in Noerrebroe, the multicultural quarter of Copenhagen. They will release their debut album, “Jump-Start,” July 18 in the U.K.
Drawing on a broad range of left field influences, Dynamoe fuses the traditional sounds of jazz and dub with electronica, breakbeat, and house. The continually abstract vocal elements and samples are often the focus of the duo’s tracks; just listen to the husky ramblings of Korean vocalist Christina on “Day After Tomorrow” or the Barry White tones of Adrian Wilding (with whom more collaborations are to come) on “Blindly Trusting the Eyes.”
Both producers boast successful musical careers of their own in their native Scandinavia, notching up live performances supporting the likes of the Orb and Overlords in various guises. They met whilst still involved in former ambient projects and both signed to the Hypnotic label. Campagna was with Octoscope, while Jensen was part Liquid, which also ended up signed to the label. Campagna explains, “We met, started to talk about music, and decided to do something else together.”
Despite a level of international acclaim, Dynamoe has yet to enjoy domestic success in its current incarnation. “We’ve never really been working with Danish companies, so we’ve been sort of outsiders from the dance scene,” Jensen explains. “First we were signed to Hypnotic, which is mainly released in the States, now we’re signed to another label which is in Belgium.” Additionally, in the Danish dance music scene, house still proliferates. According to Jensen, the sales of electronic music are generally not good.
However, the pair is a comfortable fit with the creatively diverse R&S roster. “We talked to them and agreed on many things so we signed with them,” Jensen says. Subsequently their style was considered more appropriate to Apollo and so it was the sub-label that released the first Dynamoe single, “TV Dinner,” in 1998. The quality of material from which they selected the 10 tracks for inclusion on the album was such that this track fails to appear. However, follow up singles “TnT@bitch and “Hang On” (originally pressed on limited red colored vinyl) do surface.
They note amongst their celebrity fans Pussyfoot label owner Howie B, who responded personally to the Dynamoe promos he was sent by R&S in spring 2000. Campagna says, “He heard our stuff and called the company asking about us and whether we would be interested in doing something together. Of course we were very excited about it.” They met B in Copenhagen while he was touring with his “Daddy Long Legs” project, but conflicting work schedules have so far prevented the collaboration from getting underway.
Currently Dynamoe is working on restructuring its live shows, which in the past have featured the two principals on stage behind a bank of complex electrical equipment. In development is a more audience-friendly set involving live musicians.
Krivit Summering In The U.K.
Legendary NYC Body and Soul jock Danny Krivit will make summer DJ appearances in the U.K. His three July dates start with hosting Strut Records’ bi-monthly shindig July 13 with a four-hour set in London’s West End. The next night Krivit will play for the first time ever in the north of England at Club Non in Huddersfield, and then July 28 in Manchester at Electric Chair’s 6th birthday celebration.
Along with Krivit, his Body & Soul partners Francois Kervokian and Joe Claussell have contributed to Strut’s “Re-Edit Series,” in which classic dance tracks are given a contemporary reworking. Krivit created the first in the series with a new version of the Salsoul classic “Everyman” by Double Exposure. The original version of the track provides the hook for M&S’ current smash, “Salsoul Nugget” (FFRR).
Timo In Ibiza
German DJ Timo Maas picked up the trophy for best trance act for his “Ubik” single (Perfecto) at last week’s DanceStar Awards (commenting, “I’m not sure it’s really trance, but thanks anyway”). He will embark upon a series of European dates throughout June and July, beginning with two shows in Germany in Neuss and Frankfurt. Maas will go on to play at least six shows in Ibiza for Cream, Perfecto, and Renaissance.
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