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”

First off, your boys Baltimoroder (Erik Pearson) and Billy Kiely run Make It New tonight at the Middlesex Lounge. If you’re looking to go out, our sophisticated yet crazy night is your cup of tea.

sQuare productions plan to screen all 6 of our still-secret clips of our movie, as well as the 10-minute extended version, which includes a captivating account of two electronic musicians (a/k/a Modeselektor) playing the gig of their lives. Speaking in Code, with 220+ hours already filmed, is looking to wrap funding this winter.

The War On The War On The Lonely is a stunning pop opera including accompanying artwork.

One of the many people we’ve met while making the movie and living and working in Boston is Juan Maclean. He makes an appearance in our Miami segment of the film as a rocker dealing with the Miami trance-party crowd. There’s a lengthy, compelling story about Juan, an artpunk from Providence and Boston making a transition to dance music and eventually landing on the the mighty hip DFA label.

Juan also used the Fotron 2000 for his album cover. The Fotron is a photo-taking robot that was partly invented by one of our Boston characters and friends: Dan Paluska. Dan is currently in Paris helping assemble a 40-ft. 8-ton robot.

Juan, Dan and the rest are few people making contributions to the dance music scene in Boston. Now living in Maine, he’s gracious enough to come down and see us and spin some world-class DJ sets. Not only does the guy have access to some of the best music in world, he can spin it like you wouldn’t believe.

Catch him tomorrow night at the Paper party, Boston’s finest D-I-Y 18+ dance party night on Boston’s famous Lansdowne Street, home to the big box clubs and right under the eye of the third-place Boston Red Sox. Yours truly will also spin records, so, you know, check us out.

If not tomorrow, cross out Thursday 19 October on your calendar, cause that night our techno night Make It New, at Cambridge’s fab Middlesex Lounge celebrates its 2nd anniversary with Juan, a live performance from popnoname and Yard from Chicago and Plong! Records.

In anticipation, here’s one of Juan’s finest remixes. A skilled producer as well as performer, Juan has done some brilliant remixes, and this is one of them. VHS or Beta are an American dance band who play house-informed dancepunk that draws significantly from French and other europeans forms for some killer live fun. Here, Juan adds a little magic touch that certainly reminds us of our friends from Koln.

VHS or Beta - “You Got Me (The Juan Maclean Remix)”

Buy his awesome full remix project here. Rave or die tonight.