Brett Johnson & Lance De Sardi - Future, Present, Past

Lance DeSardi waxes (semi-)poetic about his early days in the dance music Diaspora of Texas, he and Brett Johnson’s present-day shenanigans with their label Bang The Box, and what the future might hold as we stare down the cold barrel of 2012.

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They say everything’s bigger in Texas–I’d say that’s mostly true, but it’s definitely not the case with underground dance music. What is true, however, is that the Lone Star state has been home to some of the best talent this side of the Mississippi. Quality, not quantity, me thinks… Whether it’s Maceo Plex (who’s label Ellum is an homage to the district in Dallas called Deep Ellum, where most of us cut our teeth as DJs), Mathew Dear, JT Donaldson, the Coco Machete Records crew, Brett Johnson and myself, or hell, even Wolfgang Gartner, who used to be a house DJ back in Austin, albeit with a name that was a little more Americana. Yes, we’ve seen a bit of everything where I’m from. It reminds me of a saying I used to hear down south: It takes all kinds.

I can’t speak for everyone else who’s lived in Texas and participated in dance music, but for Brett and myself, the roots go back to a venue in Dallas called the Starck club. It’s where most of our mentors used to frequent as young club goers and drug experimenters. The club had a play list of 80’s and early 90’s proto-house and techno, and was one of the last places in the country where you could buy ecstasy legally, right over the bar (talk about a hoedown). I wasn’t old enough to ever make it inside, but from what I hear, it was as crazy as a dog in a hubcap factory (yes, that’s good ol’ fashioned Texas simile).

Out of that club scene of the early 90’s sprang a pretty amazing warehouse party and rave culture, where House and Techno really came alive as the preeminent music of the underground. We did parties everywhere–an abandoned factory we called Paperlove, an old rock quarry, spots like Club One and SOA, and too many derelict warehouses to remember. This is where I got my start as a DJ and producer, and I feel like most of the artists from our area– and of that era–have managed to stay true to the vibe, or at least kept one toe in that proverbial pond.

Brett and I started our label Bang The Box to pay homage to the regional music culture that’s helped shape who we are musically, and as people. Even if I’ve long since moved to San Francisco and started parties of the same name with our other partners Solar and Christian Mora, and Brett’s done quite a bit of moving around himself, we still like to think our hometown is where our hearts are. But that’s what’s great about today’s worldwide music cesspool; you can be anywhere on Earth and still show ‘em how it is where you come from.

So, to make a long story, well, semi-concise and mostly incomplete, there you have it. On our podcast Future, Present, Past, we hope we’ve shown our roots, and where we think dance music is headed in the future. We’ve included a couple short reviews of records from today and yesteryear that we like. We hope you like ‘em too… The computer music age has had its shares of ups and (mostly) downs but I feel like these days things are looking up. It’s deep, musical, and forward thinking again. So If 2012 really is our last year on Earth, I’d say I’m pretty happy with where our music’s come, and definitely where it’s been - Lance DeSardi

This mix is a combination of tracks I grew up with and some I've hunted for years. They are a good representation of what I was into in the early '90s. Like most DJ’s at the time, I was focused on what was coming out of New York and Chicago. Growing up in Dallas when I did and being apart of a rather potent underground music movement was a great experience. It has hard wired a sound and feeling inside me that I still, to this day, draw on when I'm working on music. I'm very happy to running Bang The Box with Lance DeSardi ‘cause we share a love and passion for a similar sound. Over the next several months you will hear releases from us that touch on that sound. Bang The Box is our chance to share some insight with you about where we come from and what moves us. Go Bang! - Brett Johnson

Pillow Talk – Strange Love – Bang The Box

Lance: This is the newest release for our aformentioned label, Bang The Box. Pillow Talk is an awesome new band from San Francisco that’s been blowing up lately. They have releases on a bunch of high profile labels like Visionquest and Wolf & Lamb, so make sure to check ‘em out, because they’re just getting warmed up. I’ve only included the acapella here, but the original is a slow house stormer that’s been killing it far and wide. Be on the look out in February of 2012.

Mr. James Barth – Music Is The Key – Svek

Lance: This record eluded me for a long time, but I finally got my hands on it (The album is called My Old Blues Suits). I think the whole Svek sound was pretty much the 90’s prototype for where production in house music has come today. I used to hear this record at almost every good party I went to in San Fran, so it has that nostalgic feel we all know and love (i.e. pill flashbacks). Oh, and if you get a chance, check the first 20 or so releases on the Svek. They put on a clinic.

Chez Damier - I Never Knew Love" - KMS 

Brett: Anyone who loves house music should know Chez Damier's name. Growing up, my friends and I always played and loved Chez's music. It always had the right balance of underground weird and soulful house music. I had the pleasure of having him stay with me for a week in '96. He was the same inspirational person his music suggests. He encouraged my desire to start writing music and turned me on to tons of music. He’s a class act! 

Mirage Feat. Gary L. - Everything Is Gonna Be Alright - Sub-Urban

Brett: I was, and still am a big Victor Simonelli fan; the early Sub-Urban records were a big influence on me. The Dallas scene has always been a big vocal and groove city. If you’re playing a quality example of either you'll get people moving. While my sound/sets can travel into very techno/electronic places, its vocals like these that always bring it all together. BJ

Part 1 – Lance DeSardi

Jackmaster – Bang A Pella – Jack
Tom Trago – Life in Dubs – Iris In Dub – Rush Hour
Erik Ericksson – Somebody Else – Planet E
Mr. James Barth – Music Is The Key – Svek
Prommer & Bark - Journey (KINK remix) – Derwin
Cosmin TRG – Liebe Suende – Rush Hour
Axel Bowman – Naomi – Glasstable
Gus Gus – Deep Inside (Gluteus Maximus Remix) – Kompakt
VFB – Love Prescription (Dirty Dub) – Delusions OF Grandeur
Lance DeSardi – Only You! – Bang The Box
Dead Seal – Have They Any Wool? (Lance DeSardi Remix) – Bang The Box
Pillow Talk – Strange Love (Brett Johnson Acapell) – Bang The Box
Martyn – Miniluv – Osgut Ton
Carl Craig – Modular Pursuits (Daphni Chejman Dub) – Planet E
Gerd – Palm Leaves – Royal Oak

Part 2 – Brett Johnson

Jack Master - Bang A Pella
DJ Pierre - I'm Feeling Good
Mike "Hitman" Wilson - Makin' House Music
Westbam - "...And Conga"
Bobby Konders - I Want You
Chez Damier - "I Never Knew Love"
Tech Nine - Slam Jam
Eddie S. - Dance
Mirage Feat. Gary L. - Everythings Gonna Be Alright
Bucketheads - "These Sounds" Bonus Beats
Public Domain - Make It Rock
"Filthy" Rich Criso - U're Mine
Larry Heard - A Path (A Capella)
Eddie S. - Give Ya Love
House Of Blues - Loneliness

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