Cosmo Vitelli: The Ransom Note Mix

 
Music

If you are a cliche then I am a cliche. Perhaps we are all cliches?

Cosmo Vitelli is a man of the world, an eager traveller and a musical craftsman unbound by stereotypes within electronic music culture. As the founder of I'm A Cliché he has been responsible for releasing some music from some of the now most influential names in the community. Moscoman, Red Axes, Simian Mobile Disco, Azari & III and many, many more have all appeared on the label since it's formation in 2004 some thirteen odd years ago. Cosmo himself, real name Benjamin Boguet, has released an array of of material on the label: oddball electronics with post punk undertones amidst faster acid cuts go a long way. 

We caught up with him as he contributes to our humble mix series. 


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

My artist, producer, dj, whatever name happens to be Cosmo Vitelli. My civil name is Benjamin Boguet. Pick the one you prefer.
I'm currently listening to Ivan Smagghe & Manfredas nice NTS show as I'm answering your questions. Sounds pretty cool I must say 

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?  

I can't draw. But if I could it might look something like this.

I’m A Cliche, what was the inspiration?

In terms of name it's obviously a reference to Poly Styrene and X Ray Spex, that I love, and to the wave of punk and diy bands from the late 70s.
To a certain extent, it also refers to the british indie music that I've always been into, punk, post punk, dub or early industrial, later Factory, C86 too, etc… Important stuff for me back then.

Are we all cliches?

I'm afraid we are.

Travel is important to you, why so?

I don't know where you get that from, but yes, my ideal life would be to move every year to a new place. Somehow I like to feel like a tourist everywhere. I don't need to feel like being part of a community, I see myself as an outsider and a spectator.

When will the train stop?

I don't know, I don't speak German.

How many house tracks have you got in your cemetery? 

You're refering to my title, "The cemetery of unsigned house tracks". I was wondering what happened to those billions of deep house tracks produced (this also works for every genre in club music) and sent desperately to labels which are never released. Maybe there's a cemetery where they all end up. That must be absolute desolation.

Where was the mix recorded?

At home.

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

If you could find between 1 and 3 speakers, that would help.

What should we be wearing?

Nothing. And send the picture to: info@imacliche.com

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

It could be a cosy little club with a sort of hifi soundsystem. For instance I like this venue called Charlie in Munchen, Germany, owned by a friend. That would be a nice place to record mixes.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

I don't have favourite ones. Maybe I will still listen to some of them in years, like this track from Alan Vega's last solo album, "Why couldn't it be you". Or Algebra's Suicide's "Gist" and June11's "Who Is Still Dreaming"…Am I mentioning all the non uptempo 4/4 tracks?

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

I don't do that, but I think I could listen again to the one I did a couple of years ago for Radio Comeme, cause it's totally what I listen to at home. But it could also be one of the radio shows we're doing with Dj Sundae, "No Weapon Is Absolute", which are now hosted by NTS.

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

Probably still Ron Hardy, even if I'm a bit far musically from that at the moment. But pure fun and versatility, and probably the "historical" dj that I know  the best. But come on, who wouldn't let Ron Hardy play alone!

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

Very first? Shitty Gemini mixer and turntables. Now? Nothing anymore, I don't need to mix in front of an empty living room. I borrow gear or go somewhere else if needed. 

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

Totally the track I start on.

What were the first and last records you bought?

Outside of an embarassing 7" that I forgot the name of, I think that my first bought record was Pink Floyd's Obscured by cloud (I didn't know it, but it was cheaper than The Wall that I initially wanted, and I thought it would be the same. It happened to be musch better, but I realised that many years later). The last one was an old 7" to edit, weird early 80's ny electro hip hop, Peter Pryor "The Red Spot".

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

Beetroot. You're not really sure if it's a fruit or a vegetable.

If it was an animal what would it be?

An Otter, what else?

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

I couldn't find any. Maybe my first single ever, "J'insiste". I still don't understand where the beginning and the end of this track are. 

Upcoming in the world of… 

A new Edit Service on vinyl on the label – by moscow producer Blind Rape. Remixes from me, and  an album I'm currently working on.


Follow Cosmo Vitelli on Facebook HERE.Photography courtesy of Brieuc Le Meur. 

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