Brendon Moeller is set to compile his three Third Ear releases onto an unmixed CD compilation later the year.
Moeller has had full-length CD releases under his Beat Pharmacy guise, but this will be the first time that Francois K's right hand man has put out an album under his own name. Packaged across two discs, Jazz Junk Safari contains both unmixed and mixed versions of the material from the vinyl EPs, with the mixed version including an exclusive remix of Guillamino, which will come out on Third Ear later this year.
Dubby house music is the order of the day, but each track has its own distinct style, with Moeller switching from smooth organic grooves ("Changes") to techier fare ("Pink Noise", "Space") with his usual polished production sheen. We caught up with Third Ear boss Guy McCreery to ask about the collection, his involvement and what the future holds for the label.How did you hook up with Brendon?
Brendon contacted me through MySpace. I always listen to the tracks on the players of those who contact Third Ear through MySpace. It's part of good A&R.
Was the intention always to compile the three EPs onto a single release?
Yes.
Were you involved at all in the track selection process?
Yes, I usually select the tracks for a Third Ear release. In Brendon's case, the four tracks on the the first EP, Jazz Space were selected from a pool of eighteen tracks; one CD of ten tracks and then a few weeks later another of eight tracks that he sent to me. On the second EP, One Man's Junk, "Changes" and "N-Train" were selected from the CD with eight tracks, with the addition of "One Man's Junk" and "Stinkin Thinkin" which Brendon sent on request for more tracks. "Slight Transition" on the Safari EP is a track from the initial CD of ten tracks Brendon sent. "Safari" and "Traffic" which are on the third EP, Safari, were sent at the same time as "Stinkin Thinkin" and "One Man's Junk" when compiling that EP. "Fixer" was a track sent on request when I felt I needed Brendon to send me a further track to complete the Safari EP. I search for a particular combination of tracks for an EP. That is why a track like "Slight Transition" can fail to make the Jazz Space EP and also get passed over for the One Man's Junk EP, but appear later on the Safari EP where it sounds right... to me!
What's coming up for Third Ear in the near future?
More newcomers and some remixes. The newcomers include Miss Dika from Austria, Demetrio Giannice from Switzerland, Ricardo Jefferson from the UK, Sarrass from Germany. Also eps from Norm Talley, Benjamin Brunn and Wbeeza. Why Sheep? delivers his new album this year, which will be preceded by an ep including remixes by Pole, Plaid and Wbeeza. That is probably the release I am most anticipating. And more Beatdown EPs.
Tracklist
CD1: Trax
01. Jazz
02. Space
03. Saviour
04. Pink Noise
05. N-Train
06. One Man's Junk
07. Changes
08. Stinkin' Thinkin'
09. Traffic (New Wiper's mix)
10. Slight Transition
11. Fixer
12. Safari
CD2: Mixed
01. Safari
02. Changes
03. Saviour (Amazing Bass Mix)
04. One Man's Junk
05. Traffic (New Wipers Mix)
06. Pink Noise
07. Space
08. N-Train
09. Guillamino - Kalimbeats (Brendon Moeller Remix)
10. Stinkin Thinkin
11. Jazz
12. Slight Transition
13. Fixer
Third Ear will release Jazz Junk Safari on May 25th, 2009.