Summer 2004 Column

Published: 29-06-2004
Author: Chris Sterio

Welcome to the second instalment of my column for www.beatfactor.net. Plenty of things to report on since spring, so here we go?..

The last few months have been pretty eventful, with the digital revolution on the horizon. Lots of download sites have began to trade, providing a healthy alternative to the vinyl format. I am hoping that both formats can operate together, there?s nothing like a bit of freshly cut vinyl!!! The advantages of the digital format are there for all to see ? no middle man, no manufacturing overheads ? just upload your track and it can be up for sale within hours?.on the flip side the amount of money that can be made from digital sales is not great, but that may change in time. It is going to be an interesting next few years that?s for sure, with many established labels looking into branching into the digital arena by setting up their own digitally exclusive label.

That leads onto the latest developments for Source of Gravity & Gravitation Records. I am really into the ambient sound at the moment, and several of our forthcoming releases have ambient reprises as part of the package. Over the next few months we have productions due for release from Blue Haze, Lynx, Orchid, Section 75, Andro, Blast Furnace, Jay Welsh and Midnight Blue. Our latest release is Blast Furnace vs. Lynx ? New Beginnings on Gravitation. It is a collaboration I have done as Blast Furnace with Steve McGrath (Lynx). The original is a metallic progressive number, and Andro has toughened things up with his mix. There is also the bonus downtempo track from ?Lynx? called ?Rainbow? to complete the package. The likes of Hernan Cattaneo, Chris Fortier, Nick Warren, Dave Begg, Fred Numf and Moshic are consistent supporters of Source of Gravity/Gravitation releases, and this is no exception. Sterio & McGrath are also currently working on some more remixes and tracks ? at the moment we are remixing a track by Alex Stealthy for the San Diego Pangea Recordings stable. Following that we will be working on some more originals and remixes. As well as remix swaps with Pangea, we are due to exchange remixes with Propulsion?s Nicholas Bennison and Mark Martini (Dubcoast/Tao). I have plenty of other potential swaps lined up, more news of those in my next column!

I am 3 months into my weekly radio show on Energy FM at the moment. The show involves all the latest progressive and underground sounds plus a classic tune of the week and a guest mix for the second hour. The guest mixes are mainly from Source of Gravity artists with the odd special guest thrown in with the occasional classic Source of Gravity DJs mixes. So far the mixes have featured the likes of Chris Fortier, Steve Porter, Sumsonic, Sean McClellan (KVK), Trey Smith, Thomas Penton and Section 75. I have mixes from Lynx, Nicholas Bennison, Orchid & Dave Begg lined up for the coming weeks. I also provide a monthly mix for Rotationz Radio in Belgium (www.rotationz.be) and Rus Stewart?s Underground Groove station in Ohio, USA. Radio is a good way to get exposure, and a good internet radio station for progressive is definitely Proton Radio (www.protonradio.com) ? there are some top shows on there. Warm Art, Solid Sounds, Profluence, Forward, West Coast Progressive Sessions, Perceptions & Phase Records presents are all shows that have been kind enough to air Source of Gravity DJs/Chris Sterio mixes to date ? cheers guys!

Final bit of news - one of our hotly tipped releases, Future Sound of Gravity EP Volume 2, which features tracks from Blue Haze, Lynx, Section 75 & Orchid, is due for release in late July/early August on Gravitation Records. The guys from Section 75 run the successful Riff Raff night at Middlesbrough Arena (www.riffraffclub.co.uk) and they have invited Steve McGrath (Lynx) and myself over to launch the release on the 31st July. Sterio, McGrath and Section 75?s Lee Pennington will hopefully getting into the studio as well so it could be a busy bank holiday weekend! We will be giving Source of Gravity vinyl away at the event so it?s going to be a big one!!!!!!

Anyway that?s enough from me ? check out my chart, release info and the tunes that are doing it for me at the moment!!!

In the mixes section of this site you can also download my ?New Beginnings?, ?Global Eclipse? & ?Emotional Progression? promo mixes?..

Until next time?.


Forthcoming Source of Gravity/Gravitation Releases

Source of Gravity Records

Midnight Blue ? Moonshine ? Original/Jay Welsh/Blind Faith mixes ? Source019 ? Out September 2004

Gravitation Records

Blast Furnace vs. Lynx ? New Beginnings/Rainbow (Original and Andro mixes) ? Grav014 - Out now
Future Sound of Gravity EP Volume 2 feat. Blue Haze, Lynx, Section 75 & Orchid ? Grav105 - Out August 2004
Lynx ? Effected EP ? Grav016 ? Out September 2004

3 Records of the Month

DJ19 & Thomas Penton ? Ima ? 19 Boxed

?A top class collaboration from Japanese DJ 19 and Florida based Thomas Penton, full of energy and drive - this release rocks big time?.?

Nicholas Bennison and Descent ? Revention (Propulsion)

?Propulsion is one of my favourite labels at the moment, Sterio & McGrath are due to a remix for them soon, and Nicholas will be doing a remix in return ? tough, driving progressive music yet again with this track ?Revention???

Within Records ? Intuition EP

?This EP has been out for a while now and features 6 tracks full off lush soundscapes and soaring strings. Timeless atmospheric music from Within Records?..?