Berlin Calling
Bit of a delay in the updates at sQuare productions continues to shop the documentary, Speaking in Code, to film festivals throughout the world. Ideally, the movie will premiere at a festival, and the process to distribute the film all over the world can soon follow.
But a new trend in the film world is giving us extra confidence the film is more relevant than ever.
Berlin Calling, a fictional film starring Paul Kalkbrenner is starting to promote itself around the world. Their Facebook group is here. It’s screening this month in places like Sao Paolo, Rejkjavik, Tokyo and Toronto.
Kalkbrenner’s home record label is BPitch Control, the same label as Speaking in Code subjects Modeselektor and Ellen Allien. The film is a hyper-realistic look at the nightlife in Berlin, which drives Kalkbrenner’s character, DJ Ickarus, to madness.
Another film is a severely intimate documentary of Berlin club culture:
Released in 2006, Don’t Forget to Go Home (or Feiern) flew under the radar of film-dom, perhaps for its subject matter: the use of drugs in clubbing. This film features up-close and personal interviews with the likes of Ewan Pearson, Luciano and the elusive Ricard Villalobos. the DVD also includes a dynamite soundtrack.
Further up the mainstream, dance music is catching on. New York’s DFA Records is featured heavily in Part of the Weekend Never Dies:
Predominantly about the Belgian Soulwax production team, the documentary debuted in the US at the Montalbán Theatre in Los Angeles last Monday. It also features Erol Alkan, Tiga, Peaches and Busy P, who recently designed some shoes for Nike.
And at the top of the hype heap sit Justice:
The cleverly-titled A Cross the Universe is getting love from much of the blog world, mainly because it features Justice, the hip dance duo from France who’ve gone as far as Cadillac ads.
Speaking in Code is different from all of these films, because it peeks behind the veil of club culture, the people and performers that make electronic music their lives. While these others take a broad look and show an unparalleled amount of the party culture, Speaking in Code is more personal about the music.
Paul Kalkbrenner, however, is a different animal. For sure the man is one of the foremost producers in techno today, taking an intelligent tact when dealing with beats. There are fewer breakdowns and more complex structures. Take this live set we found on the B-Log:
Paul Kalkbrenner - Piknic Electronik Podcast #07
The tracklisting shows the depth of his production skills:
1. Paul Kalkbrenner — Gia 2000
2. Paul Kalkbrenner — Treibsand
3. Pig & Dan — Smack (Weave)
4. Paul Kalkbrenner — Far Away
5. Paul Kalkbrenner — Mein Zipperlein
6. Paul Kalkbrenner — Ick Muss Aus Dit Milieu Heraus
7. The Touch — Heart In The City (Pig & Dan Remix) (Trunkfunk Records)
8. Paul Kalkbrenner — Krank
9. Ellen Alien & Apparat — Jet (Paul Kalkbrenner Remix)
10. Paul Kalkbrenner — Seaquest
Little did we know, running into Herr Kalkbrenner during the filming of our film, he would become a movie star, although his charisma should have tipped us off.
Robag Wruhme, another character in Speaking in Code, keeps on his hectic production schedule. Most recently, he was spotted putting his signature sound on Laurie Anderson’s epic “O Superman” for Get Physical:
M.A.N.D.Y. vs. Booka Shade feat Laurie Anderson - O Superman (Robag’s Pumper Nikkel Remix)
Lately the musical exchange has been two-way. Boston’s own DJ Volvox spent time in the capital city Berlin while Jan Kruger and Shed, Panorama regulars, recently hit Boston for Make It New. The night celebrates a 4-year anniversary this week.
And of course, Berliners Modeselektor, also a subject of Speaking in Code, continue to climb the world’s rankings as producers, recently being called on by Björk. Shared by our friends at the Ill-ec-tro-nic:
Björk - Dull Flame of Desire (Modeselektor ‘For Girls’ Mix)
Meanwhile, Make It New has their eyes set on another star producer from the Kapital City, Marcel Dettman:
Scuba - From Within (Marcel Dettman Remix)
Godspeed to all the filmmakers, directors and subjects of the new breed of techno movies. Soon enough, Speaking in Code will be on your schedule.
Paul Kalkbrenner - Live Piknic Electronik Podcast 07: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download MANDY vs Booka Shade Feat. Laurie Anderson - O Superman (Robags Pumper Nikkel Remix): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Bjork - Dull Flame of Desire (Modeselektor For Girls Remix): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Scuba- From Within (Marcel Dettmann Remix): Play Now | Play in Popup | Download