MDC Mix Archive

Berlin house music authority Mandel lifts the lid on some scrumptious recent digs, blending up a delightfully groovin' 90 minutes of deep n dusty goodies to keep your spirits well and truly elevated! @mandel Q: What sounds, places, or feelings did you draw upon when gathering inspiration for this mix, and what listening environments could you imagine it being thoroughly enjoyed in? A: I went for a deeper sound, whichI think is always representative of me. I wanted to explore different shades of "deep" that I've enjoyed over the years, as well as e reminiscing about the first MDC mixes I discovered back in '09–'12. I could picture people listening to this at night while biking, walking, or driving through the city. That's one of my favourite ways to experience music. There's just something special about the depth of the night and the city. Q: Are there any special records or recent digs in the mix that you were especially excited to share, and what is it about these songs that resonate with you so much? A: I’ve been collecting Pete Moss for a while, and lately, I’ve been obsessively trying to finalize collecting the last pieces of his discography. I included his track "Changing Wave," which perfectly defines my idea of a deep sound. The second Loop Stew, is by my homie Snad, from his latest release on his own imprint, Spandrel (04). When he sent me the files last year, I told him we had to cut a couple of dubplates because I needed to play them at Panorama Bar. I’ve been spinning them every chance I get. The whole release is great! Q: I’ve loved getting some insight into your digging methods around Berlin with your ‘hunting for records cheaper than your snack’ series on IG! What have you enjoyed about the process of making that little series, and what potential strategies or tips have you picked up along the way while digging for these slept-on house burners? A: I started the series because I kept hearing people say they'd love to buy vinyl but found it too expensive. While it can be, there’s also so much great, affordable music out there. My budget limit is 7 euros, the average price of a döner in Berlin. You can either get a snack or a record, depends on your priorities. A record is much healthier. I love sharing my weekly routine of biking to different shops, alongside tips on labels and producers for anyone just starting out. If I've learned anything over the years, it's that consistency is key. Sometimes you find a a lot of gems, sometimes nothing, and you never know which shop will deliver. The positive feedback from people definitely keeps me doing them.

Deep in the archives of the late 90s and early 00s Dutch underground, Piepotelli threads together some sublime progressive house and deep techno. @piepotelli Q. What sounds / feelings did you draw upon when gathering inspiration for this mix? A. I wanted to be in sync with MDC but also compile something personal. The sounds that emerge have inspired me a lot lately. They relate to a variety of styles, but also to emotions and energy. I truly feel related to the sometimes abstract form of expression music can be. I tried to be expressive in the progression, as only then the mix would make sense to me. The cohesion is noticeable through deepness all over, fused with wavy coatings, mysterious tints, and progressive elements, highlighted by synth, groove, and syndicate electronic magic. Somewhere late afternoon landing into the night would be the ideal time for a whirl, as it takes time to build but would be too much for my morning peace – I prefer worldy stuff to wake up the mind (s/o John Gomez on NTS!). I guess before going out for a dance suits well, since it’s quite club-ready towards the end. Q. Are there any records in the mix that you were especially excited to share? what is it about these songs that resonate with you? Very much so! One that has been in my head for ages is The Hug Club – Round I Go (Morning Mix). Honestly, the whole EP kicks ass, but the B2 is on another level. I like several things about it. One, it’s subtle. It smoothly builds and gently brings some beautiful chord/synth layers to take the lead and make it flow. Two, it’s sensual, but not demanding. That elegance is exactly what sets this alleviating mood. Three, it’s a B2. The track that doesn’t scream for a listen. It’s there for the curious. Four, have you seen this cover? We were talking artistic expression right? That’s it right there. Take these 4 points together, and you see why it’s such a standout. Q. Tell us about the evolution of your YT channel, where you’ve been uncovering hidden gems from the 90s / early 00s, largely from obscure NL house, techno and tribal / progressive producers and labels. Had you always suspected there might be a trove of deeper cuts hidden amongst the more popular Dutch hardstyle, trance and techno records of the time? It’s funny that you mention that, because some of the quality deeper cuts originate from producers that came a long way from Trance, Hardcore and Gabber. If we take a step back, late 80s house music flew over by local DJs that felt inspired by what was going on in the US. That was for both the parties and the sound. The paradigm changed in Amsterdam as well. It had to withstand serious commotion by the crowd, but the driving forces around Club Roxy and Club iT eventually obtained their recognition. The local embracement paved the way for the evolution of many subgenres that followed. Of course music evolves globally, but it is the combination with local appreciation, local hubs, and local initiatives that gave it cultural body. It really deepened and refined what artists were able to produce. Such history gives so much color to when you are going through archives like record bins. To relate it to the YT channel, essentially what it does is making finds from the past available for listening. I think on there, you have a unique combination of archiving and curation. Archiving in the sense that it’s not as polluted as other platforms, it is straight to the point and less ego-centric. Curation in the sense that you can post something unique and commit something that was not there yet, and bring it together on a channel. Now from history we can tell that the mid-late 90s and early 00s you mention were indeed fruitful in the region. That’s how it doesn’t surprise I come along the quality cuts you’re referring to. There is still a lot to discover. Also a lot of garbage, but dig deep enough and you’ll run into hidden treasures. Along the way you learn a lot about your musical taste. That’s the fun part.

Mad Habitat’s Greville guides us on a mysterious wander through deeply tangled woods, navigating his signature minimal wobblers and dubbed-out delusions amid strange voices hiding in the fog. @grevillegreville