Within the last few years, Brian has had the good fortune of traveling internationally, meeting some amazing, like-minded people along the way. Through these travels, he’s been both the opening DJ as well as the headliner, and appreciates the subtleties of both positions intensely. Production work has taken a serious step into the forefront of his life. Over the past couple of years, he’s released on a number of world-renowned domestic as well as international labels.

Finally, Brian is the owner of Siteholder Records along with Chicago natives Billy Dalesandro and Paul “Downtown” Brown. Residing in the city that gave house music its name, Siteholder strives to combine the various elements of modern techno with the jackin’ rhythms that put their hometown on the electronic music map. Siteholder has very quickly established itself as one of the most respected US techno labels in the world. As Sven Vath put it so eloquently, “Siteholder is putting Chicago back on the map”. The label has garnered some serious exposure, getting continuous support from techno giants Adam Beyer, Sven Vath, and Richie Hawtin as well as too many others to list.

Website | Discogs

Website | Discography

Siteholder Release / Bumpin’ Ugly – Work Me [SHUC006]

Originally from the USA and now relocated to Valencia Spain, Eric Estornel is making incredible leaps and strides releasing some of the most devastating yet unique music in the industry. His sudonyms Maetrik, Mariel Ito, Plaex, and now Maceo Plex are under great demand for the rich dynamic production and unique blend of techno, house, funk, and electro that only Eric can devise.

Perhaps it’s because of Eric’s clear Cuban roots or his years in the game, but without a doubt 2009 was an incredible year and only more amazing things are expected of his truly unarguable talent. 10 years since his first release on the respected Immigrant Records back in 2000 and Eric is still holding strong to his quest for the future of dance. Whether working on his “other worldly” compositions as Maetrik, his alien sounding electro as Mariel Ito, or his innovative dark house music as Maceo Plex, Eric is always putting his blood sweat and tears into everything he does. Putting aside trends and crushing genre boundaries, no one can argue that Eric has always stayed true to what comes from his heart or his sometimes choatic mind.

Watch out for more killer music on his USA homebase Claude Vonstroke’s Mothership imprint. Or devasting Europe brands Dumb Unit, Treibstoff, and Audiomatique. For now Eric’s Maceo Plex house album is a bit hush hush, but be looking for it on one of the most innovative and brightest labels out of the UK….it’ will surprise those out there that didn’t know such soul could come out of the one most call MAETRIK.

Real name / Tassilo Ippengerger, Thomas Bendix
Moniker(s) / Pan Pot

Siteholder Release: Brian Ffar – Billy Bought A Laser [SH010]

A pan-pot is a simple, workday knob, given to side-to-side flip-flopping and not much else. Pan-Pot, on the other hand, are a brilliant multi-dimensional Berlin duo currently twisting house and techno fans into rapturous fits. In just a few short years, Pan-Pot – comprised of Tassilo Ippenberger and Thomas Benedix – have developed a dominate presence amongst the top tier of electronic dance music, with an ascension paralleling the rise of their native label, mobilee records. Most recently, they demonstrated the height of their achievements with their “Confronted” EP on mobilee, which was swiftly followed by an impressive package of remixes by Adam Beyer & Jesper Dahlbäck, Slam, Martin Landsky and Dapayk.

After booking Anja Schneider for an infamously ill-fated party in 2005, the duo established a connection with Schneider’s then recently formed imprint and within weeks had released the Popy and Caste EP on mobilee – their first release and the label’s second. Graduates of Berlin’s SAE, their initial musical efforts placed a primacy on integrating electronic experimentation with minimal stylings while simultaneously establishing the ominous, murky sounds that have since become synonymous with their name. The next few years saw the release of a steady stream of original tracks and remixes on both mobilee and Einmaleins, each demonstrating the duo’s commitment to precise, undulating and kinetic grooves accompanied by a steady expansion of their sonic palate.

The defining moment of their career, however, was the release of their debut artist album, Pan-O-Rama. The first artist album to be released on mobilee, the aptly named Pan-O-Rama provided a stunning 360-degree tour of techno at its most twisted, balancing somber atmospherics with an impeccable lightness of touch. Serving as a playground for their experimental leanings, the album was a definitive statement of Pan-Pot’s past, present, and future: an affirmation of the possibility of a wider sonic spectrum that suggested a move towards stripped-down techno while simultaneously hinting towards a newly developed sense of melody.

When not in the studio writing original material or putting their unique spin on tracks by a myriad of artists, the bad-boys of impassioned, pitch-black techno can be found on the road touring at a near ceaseless level. Their dance floor oriented DJ sets see them playing back to back and are unconstrained by boundaries as they effortlessly transition between techno, house and everything in between, demonstrating an immaculate understanding of the audience’s wants and needs.

Their willingness to expand the components of their productions while staying firmly rooted in what they do best – colossal, haunting techno tracks overflowing with noise and static, throbbing bass lines, and epic builds that manage to be both tasteful and restrained – is only part of what differentiates Pan-Pot from the hordes of other techno producers currently flooding the airwaves. They may name themselves after a piece of gear, but Pan-Pot’s music is ultimately about moving bodies, not knobs, all the while giving way to an unprecedented degree of dynamism on dance floors around the world.

Peacock presents Stripped, a full-feathered presentation of feral and warm-blooded beats that boast jackin’ grooves and immaculate production skills.

Each cut on this release is uber funky and dripping with mood sweat. His big bottom end doesn’t hurt with the ladies either. You heard it here first, folks. Peacock is the one to watch in 2011!

Andrew Rasse aka Butane is a DJ and a music producer and owner of Alphahouse Records.

also appearing as:
Pisco Sour (with Dandy Jack)
Butane + Someone Else (with Sean O’neal)