In the recent profile on, er, me in the Weekly Dig (click above for the large scan, complete with Terrordome make-up), editor/champion Michael Brodeur makes special mention of the old Other Music Cambridge location, a store which spun off of the New York branch in 2000 and was the reason sQuare productions came to Boston in the first place. A lot of folks were surprised or did not know we had anything to do with Other Music.

The shop hosted numerous in-store performances from the Clientele, Aesop Rock, Arab Strap, Ken Vandermark, Simian (pre Mobile Disco) and everyone in-between.

More importanly, the amazing staff included some of Boston’s leading lights: Casey Keenan and Sandra Barrett (now of Major Stars, who’ll have some big news soon!); Dan Hirsch, now music director at the Museum of Fine Arts; Gibby Miller, formerly of START! and owner of makeoutclub.com, resident music genius Tim Haslett; guitar maestro Chris Brokaw; J. Dennis, still with Other Music and still visits to DJ the Enormous Room once a month; Alise Upitis, formerly an unlockedgroove DJ and who’s wedding to friend Ben Macri is coming soon, and many others who helped out.

Ironically the storefront was replaced by a restaurant called “OM,” which looks like it can afford Harvard Square (which, by some accounts, has the most expensive retail real estate in the entire country). What began at Other Music continues at events like this Friday at the Milky Way:

Baltimoroder once recorded as State-Music, a project once carried on consignment (by Nick Follett) at the location, and Brad Rhodes, idol/friend of Morgan Louis (Hearthrob) states it was “one of the best record stores he went to and ‘they always had the coolest sh*t,’” which is true, thanks to Haslett, Follett, Hirsch et al.

Baltimoroder - “Wile Out (VIP Mix)”

Don’t sleep because DJ Chris Devlin of Spank Rock and the BBC DJs opens. Here’s a couple of mixes he grabbed from his hard drive:

Mr. Devlin - “Fabric Free Mix” (.zip)

BBC DJs - “Mix 1″

Hearthrob has long been out of stock of their amazing DVD presentation, but it is still available on Google video in all its 49-minute glory. The video was made live by Louis and Red Foxxx and the mix is Baltimoroder LIVE at the sQuareone studios. Take a listen, and a peek, here:

This is quickly followed by an event Saturday with Basstown’s long-lost father of the beat: DJ /rupture at BOUNCEMENT 2.

One of Other Music’s most popular CDR mixes was from Rupture and his “Gold Teeth Thief” mix, now available for download via his website (right click to download):

DJ/ rupture - “Gold Teeth Thief Part A”

DJ/ rupture - “Gold Teeth Thief Part B”

The other featured DJs:

DJ Flack - “Beyond the Valley of the Smurfs Mix”

Baltimoroder and Daviday - “Live Mix from PanAm Fridays”

Wayne Marshall - “Another Crunk Geneology”

In a town that continues to present itself as a rock ‘n roll bastion, this weekend will be filled with music that makes you sweat, jump, shake and bounce. And here — that will always be other music.

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Don’t sleep: Local Satellite Radio don Paul Dailey works the decks at Make It New this Thursday with resident DJs Billy Kiely and Alan Manzi.DJ David Day at the Berwick Fundraiser up the street at the Enormous Room. Thursday 28 December.

Next week, a guest appearance from new techno firebrand DJ Die Young:

DJ Die Young - Minimix 2006

Make It New.

Sorry about the delay in posts, quite a bit to tackle these days. The Phoenix Circuits column is going well, thanks to people who shout out to us over there. Makes things a lot easier (there’s 3 great mp3 mixes up there right now). We also did a story on the newest local label Cozy Music, which is really about the record label of the future.

The big news is that this Thursday Masha Qrella (pictured above) come from Berlin to play some excellent electronic pop music. Masha records for the Monika label in Berlin (home of the excellent Barbara Morgenstern), along with the Morr Music label, known for their releases of bands like Styrofoam, Lali Puna and Guther). She’ll play a live set of her music and spin some music for us. Joining her are residents Erik Pearson and Billy Kiely. Entry is $5.00 for the plane ticket.
Then there’s this:

Party we’ve been planning for some time. $7.00 for two live local acts and, yes, 7 DJs. Some of Boston’s finest in the mix.

Masha’s music is a dazzling blend of sweet songwriting and developed electronic expertise. For years, she’s been blending her songwriting with electronics and this Thursday she’ll take it up live at the Middlesex Lounge (315 Massachusetts Ave.) Here’s one of her earlier tracks, which found it’s way back on one of our first sQuare sound compilations, something people still cherish to this day. It’s blend of off-kilter mood and rhythm will make you think your MP3 player is skipping. Don’t worry, it’s not.

Masha Qrella - “I Want You To Know”

Next up at Make It New: Thursday, November 30th with international DJ Quenum.

Growing up a Boston punk, Juan Maclean probably never thought he’d be one of our country’s leading techno ambassadors, but life is funny like that.

Tonight, Juan mans the decks for our second anniversary party at the Middlesex Lounge and there’s no better person to headline. Having returned from a celebratory 5th annual DFA DJ tour, he’s now established as a premiere DJ in addition to his work in his band The Juan Maclean and can work it out better than Cathy Smith. His name, Juan, is inspired by Juan Atkins, one of the big three of Detroit who are responisble for techno’s ascendance in the world and the music he spins reflects this inspiration — deep, funky and housed to the core. Plus, he’s been with us before.

There’s a lot of people we’d like to shout out right now:

Forced Exposure, one of the world’s premier music distributors.

Unlocked Groove, Boston’s best techno enterprise and home to Mike Uzzi.

NEST, the indie music festival who’s been nice enough to include our electronic dance night in their bizzard of art happenings.

Middlesex Lounge of course, and its elite staff, who’ve housed us for 60, 70 or so nights of electronic funk.

And all the people who keep coming out time and time again to enjoy the company, the tunes, the DJs, and the vibe.

Juan Atkins, Detroit legend, retouched his man Kevin Saunderson’s techno classic and it seems a propos. See you later.

Inner City - “Good Life (Magic Juan Mix)”

Amy Grill is the director of Speaking in Code and the Manager of the Emerson Television Channels. Her work in photoanimation and experimental films is reflected in the documentary in all aspects like her 7-minute short , An American Close Up. Here it is on Google Video:

Please make it down to Middlesex Lounge this Thursday as we celebrate two years of Make It New, our weekly celebration of new creative techno and house.

We’ve added another attraction to the party, as local game theorist and outstanding photographer Ricardo Delima will set up his camera outside, starting at 9pm, to take photos of each one of our attendees. Against a backdrop, Ricardo will snap your portrait before you head into the club and put them up here. Is that great or what? Wear your most stylin duds.

Our three guests include popnoname, who has recorded for Kompakt (Pop Ambient), Italic and the overlooked Firm label. We are honored to say this will be his debut US performance. He will play live and use some vocal effects. Good neu stuff from Germany is only one the many things to expect from what will be a memorable night. Click below to download his 30+ minute lastmix

popnoname - “last mixx”

Here’s the video for his newest single - “On The Run”

popnoname - “On The Run”