Craig Bratley: The Ransom Note Mix (First Leg)

 
Music

To inaccurately paraphrase his DJ biog, Craig Bratley is doggy, unusual and atmospheric. The man behind Magic Feet rekkids and eBay's profits on the rising trade from analogue to modular synths, he has been making us dance less awkwardly and chuckle more frequently for many years now. After a relaxing winter sojourn spent on his yacht (moored off the Gibraltan coast, near Skegness), he had his PA reach out to us with, faxing us TWO mixtapes. Here is the first, ripe and fruity like one of his finest vintage Blue Nun's:


Who are you, where are you and what are you?

These are questions I am constantly asking myself, I'm afraid I have no answers.

What does your music sound like?

  

Where was the mix recorded?

At home.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

What should we be wearing?

What would be your dream setting to record a mix?

The 25th Century.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?  

Rex The Dog's 'Wasp Factory'. If you were making a track and put that vocal on, you would think it was cheesy but he just makes it work.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Probably something from my youth, an old rave tape that I listened to endlessly.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

Again back to my rave days, probably Grooverider or Top Buzz. 

What was your first DJ set up at home?

A couple of crappy turntables, with a small vari-speed slide on the front making it impossible to mix anything at all, and a mixer from Tandy. 

And what is it now?

A couple of crappy turntables, with a small vari-speed slide on the front making it impossible to mix anything at all, and a mixer from Al Bundy. 

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Usually the last one as I can never remember the first one.

What were the first and last records you bought?

I think it was Nick Kershaw, the last record was the recent African Head Charge re-issue.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

A chocolate covered marmoset.

If it was an animal what would it be?

A marmoset.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

All of them.

Upcoming in the world of Bratley?     

I've done a remix of a band called Bella Figura, which is coming out in Febuary on Claremont 56. I've got a track on the next Moon Rock compilation on Throne Of Blood,which I'm very happy about, and I've also just done a remix for a new  project by one of the guys from 40 Thieves, called Musik Nonstop, which will be coming out on Magic Feet. There are also a couple of original tracks coming out on Magic Feet 

Anything else we need to discuss?

All good bruv.


For more from Craig Bratley and Magic Feet look HERE. Photos from Andy Male & Andy Taylor.