№ 129 - DJ Absolutely Shit

Both have been in the music game for a while playing in bands, operating in hip-hop production teams, or sharpening their one-off DJ skills on countless nights, melding all those rave signals with Italo bliss and rattling break crescendos as they have been doing in their own music releases since 2017. Red Laser, the label run by Christian Wood, published eight DJ Absolutely Shit vinyl Eps till today, all passing a unique take on breakbeat, hardcore, downbeat, and dance electronics.

For EDWIN MUSIC CHANNEL the duo delivered a mix recorded live at the Manchester-based club The White Hotel during the release party of their latest album “Inabiteveryoneelse”. A feverish ride, full of flashy edits, cool rewinds, rattling breaks, Italo vibes, happy hardcore moments, dub zones, and lots of their own productions. It is an enthusiastic trip that, as Woody puts it, is “everything we are both about and we have the amazing MC Chunky on mic duty making the whole mix a genuine UK rave recording and you can hear the crowd going nuts in the background. It was one of the best parties we have done. ''The vibe was wild.” To accompany their exclusive mix with some deep DJ Absolutely Shit insights, we spoke to Il Bosco and Metrodome about their foundation and artistic visions, their variegated experiences in UK’s music culture, and new musical projects.

Q. Hello Il Bosco and Metrodome, can you introduce yourself a bit to our readers? What is your first musical memory? What is your musical background?

A. Il Bosco: Yo. I'm Woody aka Il Bosco aka 1/2 DJ Absolutely Shit with Ruud aka Metrodome. I've been promoting parties, and DJing clubs since 1998. But I have been buying records since 1989 when I was 14 years old before the Breakbeat Hardcore scene exploded in the UK. Breakbeat & Hardcore became my first real underground scene and so they always had a special place for me.

A. Metrodome: My first musical memory is using ReBirth on a Windows 98 computer and Music on the PlayStation 1 to create acid jams and beats. I would experiment with sounds and record my efforts on cassette and VHS. I started making music at a very young age. My father was a music collector and guitarist, and both of my parents were active in the rave scene in the '80s. They still go out clubbing and watch me perform. I frequently visited music studios and record shops, buying vinyl from places like Fat City, Vinyl Revival, Cherrybomb, and Piccadilly Records.

Q. What made you form the DJ Absolutely Shit outfit? How did it start and what are three words, that describe it best?

A. Il Bosco: I only learned to use a desktop computer to make music during COVID. Before that I made everything using hardware. Ruud was one of the resident artists on Red Laser and started helping me finish tracks when my time was limited (i have a family and a full-time job). We enjoyed being in the studio together working on a track on my Il Bosco EP and then the next DJ Absolutely Shit record called The Pomona Island EP so, we made it a group project from that release

A. Metrodome: DJ Absolutely Shit began as a remix project for Bosco’s EP “Bridge Theory”. Originally, Bosco brought the track to my studio for an EQ job, but we ended up spending five hours adding bits and re-producing it. In the last hour, we added an old rave breakbeat, which sparked the sound that became DJ Absolutely Shit. Despite never having DJed together before, we realized it could work.

Q. What future projects are you working on right now?

A. Il Bosco: We will start the next Dj Absolutely Shit LP soon. We have finished a 4 track EP for Klasse Wrecks due this Autumn also.

A. Metrodome: I have a few more Drum & Bass releases on 1985 Music and V Recordings with Sl8r, new hip hop beats for the High Focus crew, more DJ Absolutely Shit EPs, and some techno and acid tracks. There are also several projects in progress that I can’t discuss yet.
When did you start to DJ? And what were your early passions and influences?

A. Il Bosco: I was buying records from Eastern Bloc and Spinn Inn records in Manchester in 90/91. I couldn't afford a set of turntables so would ask a friend if could I practice on his. He always would kick me off quickly though as he also wanted to use them. It wasn't till my first car crash in 92 that I was able to make a whiplash claim and use the money to pay for my first set of 1200s. Eventually, I started working at Fat City Records as they needed help with their club night. From this, we started the party Friends & Family where I was the promoter and resident DJ for 7 years. You can read about it all and see photos here: Link

A. Metrodome: I started DJing in 1998 when I was four years old. My dad bought some SoundLab CD decks for my mum, and I explored his vast collection of over 800 CDs, mixing jazz, hip-hop, house, '80s dance music, jungle, and more. We were early adopters of the internet, so when Napster, Kazaa, and other P2P programs came out, we were downloading MP3s and digging digitally too. At six, my dad’s friend Smit gave me my first SL 1210 turntable. Shortly after, another friend, Deelo (aka DJ Avidivit), moved in with us. He brought more Technics decks, a mixer, and thousands of records. I had my first proper gig at eight at Contact Theatre in November 2002, and I practised for months leading up to it. My DJ practice routine was strict, with my dad and Deelo B running it like a military camp. When I wasn’t on the decks or at school, I was on the computer making music.

Q. What are some of the most memorable DJ gigs you ever had and why?

A. Il Bosco: I've been really blessed to play some fantastic parties over the years. This year's Assembly at Glastonbury was incredible, Italoramabar at Berghain/Panorama Bar was a real moment for me. Griessmühle Berlin was an amazing venue to play but the most amazing of them all and will be very hard to beat was the Pomona Island Illegal raves we did in Manchester in 2017, 18 and 19. It was with friends Jamie Whittaker, Barry and Pharaoh Brunson who runs Red Laser with me and Matt Triggs (Matt owns Fat City Recordings and that is how we met). There's something magical when the stars align, and 2000 amazing souls turn up and dance for 2 nights none stop with the freedom to do as they please and not 1 dick head ruining the vibe. It was my paradise: Youtube link

A. Metrodome: One of my most memorable gigs was DJing at the legendary nightclub Sankeys in Manchester for a night called APE when I was 11. It was the first time I felt the energy of rocking a crowd. A two-week tour in South Africa and Botswana with Levi Love and MAKO MCR was an eye-opener, and playing at the VH1 festival in India with Levelz was pretty cool. Playing in different countries where you know no one teaches you how to adapt to your environment.

Q. Il Bosco, runs the label Red Laser Records, which is the home to many DJ Absolutely Shit music. What was the reason for launching the label in 2012 and how did it develop until today?

A. Il Bosco: I was really into Italo and there wasn't much happening in the UK outside of London with this scene. I met some Manchester-based producers on Italo groups online and we met up. Some of the scene's best new Italo producers were Starion and Kid Machine and they both lived in Manchester. I spoke to my friend and Fat City label boss Matt Triggs and he said we should just do it and he would help fund the first release with me and use Fat City's manufacturing and distribution network and we made the first EP. It was me, Starion, Kid Machine, Flemming Dalum, Ste Spandex and Sarah Bates. We expected to sell 0 as nobody in the UK except for Cyber Dance Records was making this stuff. We sold them all and kept going from there. Eventually, it evolved quickly to showcase the Manctalo style music of various club styles made in Manchester with the fearless melodies of Italo at its heart.

Q. Did you have any role models or inspirational benchmarks for the label?

A. Il Bosco: Yes, what Interference did with Intergalactic FM and Veiwlexx was a benchmark, Otto Kranens from Bordello A Parigi for sure, James Pemrose and Ali Renault with CyberDance and Centre Neptune. Franz Scala and the guys with Slow Motion Records in Berlin, Flemming Dalum, Fat City, and Atic Records are so many to remember !!

Q. How did you select the tracks for your EDWIN MUSIC CHANNEL mix?

A. Il Bosco: It's a live recording of our DJ Absolutely Shit album launch party this year. It's everything we are both about and we have the amazing MC Chunky on mic duty making the whole mix a genuine UK rave recording.

Q. What are some tracks that currently get the most rewinds?

A. Il Bosco: Tranquil Elephantizer - Trisha (Felix`s Live Drum Italo Monster Mix)

Q. Can you name us some upcoming artists, that deserve more attention?

A. Il Bosco: Cowper, BufoBufo, Zodiac Childs, Frank T Butters, Lone Saxon, Mr Ho, Luca Lozano, Bob SwanS, Tommy Walker 3, Jimmy Turnbull, Ghost Assembly, Hidden Spheres, Ten Years Lost, Parts Unknown, Fabrizio Mammarella, Franz Scala.

Q. How do you stay on top of all the new music being made right now?

A. Il Bosco: I receive it organically from recordings of club nights, mixtapes and social posts from Clone, Juno, Piccadilly Records, Phonica, Planet Wax, Logout Records and Vinyl Underground plus loads more. Bandcamp is another big spot for me for new music

A. Metrodome: I’m constantly immersed in the music scene through my projects and collaborations. Most of my friends are musicians with excellent taste, so I get a lot of recommendations from them. My girlfriend Tanya also has a great ear for music and introduces me to new tracks. Additionally, I use AI tools to discover music I might not find otherwise.

Q. Are there some records from the past that coined your musical taste of today?

A. Il Bosco: yeah loads. Maybe too many to mention but off the top of my head I'll list a few.

Any music by Shades of Rhythm
The Criminal Minds - Flynns Theme and Babtised by dub
MANIC - I'm Comin Hardcore
League Unlimited Orchestra LP
Chris & Cosey - Walking In Heaven
Funky Family - The Funk Is On
The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses LP
Yazoo - Situation (the US mix and Dub)
Aim - Cold Water Music
Portishead - Dummy LP
Imagination - Night Dubbing 
Horsebeach - Horsebeach
J. Richford And G. Stevan - Feelings
U Roy - Dread In A Babylon LP
Sizzla - Make Dem Secure
Placebo - 1973
Placebo - Ball Of Eyes

A. Metrodome: It’s hard to narrow it down and my list changes every day, but here are a few:

Frank Zappa - Joe’s Garage
Lee Scratch Perry - Arkology compilation
Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep
Herbie Hancock - Secrets
Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
Prince - Diamonds and Pearls
Quasimoto - The Unseen
Orbital - Snivilisation
Telstar’s - Jungle Mania 2 compilation
Aphex Twin - Classics R&S compilation
SWV - New Beginning
Mantronix - The Album

Q. You are from Manchester. What is cooking over there right now? What are your favourite places to play/hang out in Manchester?

A. Il Bosco: Manchester is really booming with underground quality. I don't know them, but I love seeing Blasha and Aalatt repping Salford in the way they have in recent years. Same with Blackhain and Space Afrika. The White Hotel is our home, and we are lucky to have that as it's without doubt the best club in the UK right now (if you’re a bell end you need to read that sentence as 'worst club in the UK right now' and stay away). Looks like The Loft is a great spot and putting on mega nights. The crews at Partisan, progress centre and Hidden contribute to an amazing nightlife and the DBA is the most amazing spot for queer parties in the UK along with Bent Hedonism, Freak and High Hoops. Shouts to the Rainy Heart crew for the highest standards of sound and DJ quality.

A. Metrodome: Manchester is always vibrant with lots of options for a night out. There’s quality House, Disco, Rap, Drum and Bass, and more. Bloc2Bloc crew is championing new talent in the DnB and Jungle scenes. The White Hotel and NIAMOS are cool spots too. I don’t party as much these days due to my busy schedule, but I keep an eye on the scene.

Q. What is your occupation besides being a DJ?

A. Il Bosco: I have a family with 2 kids to support one of them 15 and the other 8 years old. I work as a Commercial Program Director, or a PLC called HSS ProService. We built a B2B marketplace for hire, sales and service. I really enjoy it and work with really amazing people. I report to the Chief Commercial Officer, and we get on well. She enjoys working with a diverse bunch.

A. Metrodome: I’m a full-time musician and have been for 22 years. I handle mixing, mastering, additional production work, and session work for both major labels and independent artists and labels. Besides that, I DJ non-stop.

Q. Can you talk us through a day in your life and how music factors into it?

A. Il Bosco: I get up at 6.30am. Get go downstairs, put BBC radio 6 music on, make a cup of tea, get the kids up and ready for school, make breakfast and sit at my desk, get pissed off with the music on BBC 6, listen to mixtapes and demos while working and in between teams calls (teams is shit btw). I’ll work till 5:30 pm. We always have music on, and my wife Emerald usually has a playlist for dinner and we sit and eat listening to Soul, Boogie, Funk, Afro and Reggae. After tea I'll do some red laser bits wash the dishes, listen to demos and mixtapes etc. before bed.