Ahead of their Dublin show this weekend, The German dance duo Digitalism are the latest to contribute to our guestlist series.
Digitalism are a duo, Jens Moelle and İsmail Tüfekçi, who released their breakthrough album Idealism in 2007, and since then their brand of techno, indie rock, disco and dance-pop have lead to collaborations with artists like Daft Punk, Superorganism and Depeche Mode, and a full-bodied discography.
Digitalism have recently been performing Idealism in full, and they are coming to Dublin this weekend for a special late-night DJ set, ahead of the 20th Anniversary Edition re-release of the album.
Here are Digitalism’s 10 tracks to get you ready for the return of their legendary album in April, and their gig this weekend, and they play a late DJ show at The Grand Social in Dublin this Saturday March 2nd.
1.
Mute
Never (Gerd Janson Edit)
Gerd Janson is a great DJ and we’ve already released two EPs on his label Running Back. The moody vibe on this edit reminds us of the records we used to play when we started DJing. What a groove on this one.
2.
The Chemical Brothers
Feels Like I Am Dreaming
OK, honestly — this is one of our definite dance floor weapons. So so epic. We first heard this track during the Chem’s Coachella set a year ago and had been waiting till the second we could play it. This goes from 0-60mph in a few seconds, just how we like it.
3.
Jamie 3:26
Magnifique
This is a great edit from Jamie’s amazing Dancefloor Damage Volumes.
We come from a lot of disco records, whether original or as sampled loops on white labels. We did a version of our song ‘Zdarlight’ early in 2005 that went down this route, it’s called the “Discodrome Version”. It’s about rolling through the dance floor on and on, like a train… A long train.
4.
Felix Da Housecat
Watching Cars Go By
Felix has been a pioneer of electroclash and an inspiration to us since our beginnings. We’ve been lucky to be playing alongside with him at several occasions. He made guitars work in techno and electro tracks like it was a natural match. This timeless one is from his 2004 album Devin Dazzle & The Neon Fever, which came out right in the midst of us making our first tracks as Digitalism.
5.
Fango
Admire
We grew up listening to a lot of French House. Most of those tracks were about a clever loop with an ever more clever big bassline. These tracks could go on forever or just stop right around the corner – you never know. This track is from 2018 but still feels fresh now.
6.
David Bay
<3 Beat (Digitalism on the level Remix)
This remix we did for our friend David Bay dropped just in January this year. We went “back to the original level” from the early 2000s (hence the name) and used production techniques from back then. Sampler, slicing, a drum machine, lots of compression.. voilá!
7.
RAC
Killer (with Savoir Adore)
RAC is great – he knows how to combine pop and warm electronic sounds. Once he made a remix for us for our track “Wolves”. He’s always a step ahead when it comes to technology.
8.
Erol Alkan
Automatic (Palms Trax Remix)
The good old auto filter! This one has not only a banging groove but uses this tool so much that it reminds of those big late-90s filter records like Cheek’s ‘Venus Sunshine People’.
9.
Phillipi
Hacido
Our friend Phillipi releases on Deewee, 2ManyDJs’ label, and he knows how to make a sexy dance floor hit after hit. This is perfect electronic disco — vocal chops vs. more pushing electronic sounds. If we were to make a new version of our track ‘Magnets’, it might sound more like this!
10.
Romy
She’s On My Mind
We love Romy. Period. And this bassline… Wow.
Digitalism play a late DJ show at The Grand Social in Dublin this Saturday March 2nd.
