Covert Operations is DEAD

Does anybody really give a shit?

Maybe they do, maybe they don't. Maybe they'll look back on this in ten years and wish things could have been different, mourning the loss of a great bastion to the underground fag drum & bass music sub sub sub genre, in the same way they currently regard the loss of Good Looking Records as losing a bastard child or perhaps a half brother.

I ask again, does anybody really give a shit?

In a scene where people vehemently live in the past perhaps the death of Covert Operations is a good thing. It could be like when an artist dies poor, then years later his works are worth millions but he sees fuck all return. You know, because he's dead and all.

Is that kind of fame Covert Operations is looking for?

Maybe this is part of label owner ASC's master plan.

Maybe he wants to give this infamy thing a shot, and plot a comeback in a few years time to take advantage of the whining fans.

Or maybe he just realises this scene is so insanely past it that to cater for the 3 (I've rounded that figure up) fans who still actually buy atmospheric drum & bass as opposed to downloading shit-sounding LTJ Bukem mixes with terrible dubplates that didn’t make it to release for good reason, is simply not time or cost effective. Is there any point fighting a cause that doesn't exist anymore?

Or has he just moved on to bigger and better things leaving Covert Operations deservedly in the gutter for the bigger boys to kick street trash at?

Your guess is as good as mine, people.

DOA meets... ASC

DOA meets… ASC

Words by Khal

DOA - It truly is a pleasure to meet such an esteemed producer in the scene.

ASC - It would be more of a pleasure if you gave me some fucking respect.

DOA - But I'm a big fan of your music and your label Covert Operations, we've always feature your work heavily on DOA and you are continually mentioned as an unsung hero of the scene, I'm not sure what you're getting at?

ASC - I'm fucking walking out of here if you don't give me some fucking respect, Khal.

DOA - OK OK chill… Tell me a little about your plan to 'bring back the old school vibes' in drum & bass?

ASC - Oh that's over with now.

DOA - How so? We thought you had a master plan for this, to take lost mentality long since abandoned, to re-inject that classic atmosphere, offering new life to drum & bass in the process? You have an album coming out on Horizons don't you?

ASC - We couldn't agree terms, Khal.

DOA - Oh. I guess that means you're the 245th artist to have a release dropped by Horizons due to that.

ASC - It's funny isn't it.

DOA - Yes. Perhaps the plan to release 6 million albums in 2 years was a little flawed.

ASC - Look are we here to talk about Horizons or are we here to talk about me?

DOA - Sorry for the digression, so what are your plans for the future?

ASC - That's my fucking business.

DOA - Right. Um, what do you want to talk about?

ASC - Not a lot Khal. I don't have fucking time for this. I have work to do. I'm preparing Global Connections 34, so just tell people to watch out for that. I'm out of here.

DOA - Big respect to ASC for dropping by, and what a wonderful chap he is. Watch out next week for our exclusive interview with Paradox, as he takes us through his step by step guide to re-releasing the same tune 13 times and hoping nobody will notice.

Going somewhere?

Shanghaist: Interview with LTJ Bukem & MC Conrad

Shanghaist catch up with Good Looking Records' LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad to find up what they've been getting up to in 2008 and what the future may hold.

Did you have a good year in 2008 ?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

Any special events in 2008 that are worth mentioning?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

What are your favourite tunes from 2008 ?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

Do you think D&B is still very underground?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

You play the piano, drums and trumpet. Have you picked up any other skills lately? Maybe a mandoline?
Conrad laughs
Bukem : Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

What makes a good DJ?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

If you have all the time in the world you would ... ?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

An Asian producer, Kiat, just got signed with Metalheadz. He's been DJing for 15 years and has been learning production, whilst maintaining his job at the same time. And only now -- 10 years later -- his track is out. What advice would you give to budding producers with regards to getting their music out there?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

Tell me about your relationship.
Conrad: Love/hate. We fight alot.

Who is Golden Girl?
Conrad: Golden Girl is all the girls that have been to our gigs.

It's hard to pin-point the origins of D&B. In the future, what do you think music will sound like? Will it bear resemblance to what we are hearing now, or will it be completely different?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!
Conrad: Yeah but there will be new ways of listening to music. There'll be new sounds that sound like old sounds.
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!
Conrad: Just add water. The music, melody and grooves will all be the same but made with new instruments and with new technology.
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

True. But isn't the production really good?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

Why don't you guys try making music like that for the sake of it?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!
Conrad: We tried in the studio but we couldn't do it.
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!
Conrad: We can't do it. Outkast, yeah? I wouldn't say I like them or their individual songs but when you listen to their album they're different. It's funky and jazzy.

When is your next event in Japan?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

Which clubs have you played at in Japan, and what was the scene like?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!

What about Shanghai? What are you expecting tonight?
Bukem: Good Looking has not closed, we just had what most people have twice or maybe 3 times a year if your lucky, and what we haven't had for 13 years.... A HOLIDAY!
Conrad: Man speakdem truth.

With thanks to Otorok for the interview

D&B STARLET FANU HITS RELATIONSHIP TROUBLE

Clipping courtesy of the Daily Mirror's "Dear Miriam" Column

-------------------------------

Dear Miriam,

I hope you can help me. The other day, I set off for a gig leaving the internet in the house watching the TV. I hadn't driven more than a mile down the road when the engine failed and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get the internet's help.

When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. The internet was in our bedroom with the neighbour's daughter. I am 32, the internet is 34, and the neighbour's daughter is 22. We have been married for ten years. I had suspected the internet had been lying to me in recent times but I wasn't ready for this. When I confronted it, the internet broke down and admitted that it had been having an affair for the past six months. I told it to stop or I would leave it. The internet was made redundant six months ago and it says it has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love the internet very much, but ever since I gave it the ultimatum it has become increasingly distant. It won't go to counselling and I'm afraid I can't get through to it anymore.

I'm slowly going out of my mind. Can you help?

Sincerely,
Fanu

-------------------------------

Miriam says:

Dear Fanu,

The internet is rebelling against you because of your obsessive ways and I'm sorry to say it is no surprise that you are in the situation you are in. It also sounds like you are too willing to forgive, though it is clear you are trying hard to save your marriage. Some may advise you to pay more attention to the internet, but in this case I feel that is exactly what is holding you back. I propose that you take a break from seeing the internet, and perhaps this will remind the internet how much it needs you, and give you both perspective on your relationship. You should keep your friends around you during this period for support. If things continue to descend and the internet carries on cheating, I fear the only way you may regain your dignity would be to leave the internet, and pursue a relationship outside of cyberspace, however daunting this may seem.

Please get back in touch to let me know how you are getting on, and best of luck.

Miriam

DOA meets... Future Engineers

Words by Khal

DOA - So, what have you been doing for the last ten years or so?

FE - Well, we did a world tour at a small venue in Germany, we've been lucky enough to enjoy similarly talentless producers attempting to recreate our watery sound because it's pretty easy to do it, we've had a string of releases out due to some label owners being inexplicably attracted to us, and we've managed to lose ourselves in false superiority by believing the hype generated by a handful of scatter-brained internet whores. We still get actual gigs sometimes which baffles us, but we enjoy it so we keep putting ourselves out there. Things are going great!

DOA - Wow. That's brilliant. So what does the future hold for you?

FE - Good question, I guess we'll keep updating our website for no apparent reason, and of course we have the small matter of our new label Transference.

DOA - Tell us more...

FE - Well, we had the idea about 6 years ago to start our own label. We felt the best way to do it was to take things step by step, so 2 years later we came up with a name, and another 3 years after that we decided that we would take some time to consider our next move. The next stage of the process was to make some t-shirts, which are selling well (one of our mates has already took one for his son) and maybe in a few years time we'll think about generating some more hype, and look into getting some mp3s out or something.

DOA - That's going to be big!

FE - Yeah, that's why we're taking it one step at a time. It's a lot of work, it really is.

DOA - Well best of luck with that, so any final words?

FE - No, I think I've covered everything. I must get off, I've got a gig round at a friend's house, I'm demoing our new dubplate. We have to keep the volume down though because his wife is making dinner for her book club. It's a vegan buffet I think.

DOA - Might get some leftovers?

FE - Ha ha! No, I don't think she likes us very much to be honest. Thanks!

DOA - Future Engineers there. Next week we have an exclusive up front interview with Bigworm, who will be taking us through his plans for naming a star after his label Black Reign, and his revolutionary plan to sign 300 tunes by the first 300 posters to a thread on DOA and seeing what happens.