The Mag
On the record... Will Saul
The next person allowing us a glimpse at their musical make up is Simple Records boss, Will Saul, who headlines the inaugural Hybrid Life party in London this weekend.
Saul's recent Balance CD was a wide reaching musical statement which encompassed the best of minimal, dubstep, techno, house and all the shades in-between, and was mixed with a deft touch.
His ear, then, is acutely tuned in to underground electronic bombs, especially given his past as A&R man for Sony, and his continued leadership of excellent labels Aus Music and Simple Records which are home to, amongst others, the likes of Joy Orbison and Sebo K. Let's see what musically makes him tick, then...
First record you bought...
One of the Now compilations I think – I remember that I’d been saving my pocket money for it for ages at about 8 and my Mum bought it for me as a surprise just after she’d given birth to my youngest brother…I guess as kind of a pacifier to let me know that I was still important :)
Last record you bought...
‘Black Noise’ by Pantha Du Prince on Rough Trade. A very intricate and lush album.
Record you wish you'd written...
‘Cardioolgy’ by Recloose. His first album, released on Planet E. Contains one of my all time fav dance tracks – ‘Get There Tonight’. Seminal work of genius.
Record which makes you happiest...
I guess something with a happy childhood memory attached to it…’Don’t Stand So Close To Me’ by the Police was apparently the first record I danced to as a little kid….
Record which makes you saddest...
L’Apocalypse Des Animaux by Vangelis. A 70’s soundtrack to a TV documentary by the master. Very haunting and melancholic. It makes me a kind of happy sad if that’s possible….
Record you put on for sexy time...
Mmmm sexy time….I don’t need music for sexy time I prefer to hear all the glorious moans and groans!
Record you'd reach for (when DJing) if the dance floor was empty...
An unreleased Dyed Soundorom re-edit of ‘I Can’t Go For That’ by Hall & Oates. Magical.
Record you couldn't live without...
According to my I-Pod Burial is the artist I’ve listened to most over the last year. When traveling or on the move his music really helps me zone out and think but at the same time remain connected to his stunning hypnotic melodies.
Best set closing record...
There’s so many to choose from here but I’d have to say the Carl Craig remix of ‘Like A Child’ by Junior Boys. CC is the master of less is more.
Best after party record...
I’d go for something blissed out like ‘My Girls’ by Animal Collective.
Record you had your first kiss/dance to...
I’d like to think it was some classic soul record but it took place in a drunken haze at my first school disco so I’m sure it was probably something like ‘No Limit’ by 2 Unlimited…
Favourite non-electronic record...
Tricky one…..‘Free’ by Deniece Williams is one of my favorite soul records….but for some bizarre reason I keep thinking of ‘Easy Lover’ by Phil Collins....a real guilty pleasure :/
Record which had most influence on you...
There’s no one record that I can point to but growing up in Glastonbury there was a big second hand record shop that was full of old prog rock and weird and wonderful sound tracks – this was where I developed a taste for Vangelis and Tangerine Dream. I started off just picking out the most bizarre or beautiful covers and then started joining the dots. Somerset before the internet was a fairly barren place in terms of musical education.
Your own record you are most proud of...
‘Mbira’. It was my first attempt at writing something more house/techno as previously I’d been writing broken beats/breaks. I had no preconception about how it ‘should’ sound as at that point in my life I’d only just started to really get into house and techno, I think as a result it turned out ok.
Current favourite record...
I don’t really have ‘one’ record but everything Floating Points touches turns to gold at the moment….Joy Orbison is also on another level for writing lush, uncomplicated and quite brilliant hooks.