Eddie C: The Ransom Note Mix

Roll up, roll up! We are delighted to welcome a producer and disc jockey with absolutely impeccable taste. Eddie C has been a prominent figure amidst the house, disco, balearic crossover community for a long time now and has released an impressive array of music across a wide spectrum of record labels including Lumberjacks In Hell, The Very Polish Cut-Outs, 7 Inches Of Love and more. However, he has most prominently appeared on the mule musiq affiliated record label Endless Flight where he has released many albums and EP's.

Eddie's style is sprawling and wild – tapping into an era and ethos of tape mixes and hip hop as much as it does dance and club focussed music. As such the albums draw upon playful samples, skits and intricate funk fuelled percussion aplenty. His new album is called "Green Space" and doesn't fail to disappoint. It offers as much in the home listening department as it does for the late night dancefloor. 

This mix was recorded in Japan, at the 'Good Music Party presents Rainbow Disco Club' party. It's absolute heat. 

Listen below:

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you?

Eddie C.  Collector of wax and occasional maker of the music.  Part time cross country skier.  I'm currently in the small town I was born in in Canada.

What does your music sound like?

Variations in emotional intensity on vinyl 

Can you draw what it sounds like?

I used to think that I could and attempted to do so in Grade 10 art class…

Where was the mix recorded?

Live at 'Good Music Party presents Rainbow Disco Club' – Sarushima Island, Japan, 20.07.2019

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

In location would have be ideal! 

What should we be wearing?

Something loose fitting and airy to allow easy passage from downtown Detroit to deep space and back 

What would be your dream setting to record a mix?

Anywhere comfortable and stress free where you can hear everything clearly with no distractions.. good smells help a lot. 

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Zeug Ep by Mr. TC

What's your favourite recorded mix of all time?

In a pinch such as this I'd have to go with Rodigan vs. Barry G in the JBC Radio Clash of 1985.  I really like battle DJing and sound clashes.  I hope it comes back and there's heavier competition between DJs in the future.  

If you could go back 2 back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

My old friend DJ Dry – I miss you buddy!  

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

I started with tapes and moved to the all-in-one stereo console with the plastic turntable on top and two tape decks underneath.  You could press the 'phono' and 'tape' buttons at the same time and mix while recording on the other deck. This was very exciting!  Soon after, I moved to the 2-channel Realistic mixer from Radio Shack with 3 mic inputs and two Technics belt-drive turntables with the 'dial' pitch control.  By 1993 I had my first SL-1200 that I bought with grass cutting money and used to borrow a Gemini belt drive with pitch control from my high school's radio station.  In 1994 DJ Dry also had an SL-1200 so we often got together to mix.  Our friend Joe also had a mobile DJ soundsystem and we went over to his place to party and practice all the time.  I soon graduated to either an Ecler SMAC or a Vestax 05/06 pro by 1995 and also had a second SL-1200 of my own by then as did Dry and a few of my other friends including none other than Toronto's own Roberto S!   My home set-up now is very modest and traditional.  Technics SL-1200 turntables and a Rane Empath mixer.  My speakers are quite nice and were hand made in Dusseldorf. 

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

Story telling can be fun for sure.. both can be of equal importance.  I think if you're doing the whole night yourself or closing, the ending song may have the highest dramatic impact. 

What were the first and last records you bought?

My first records I bought in 1987 at Starsound in downtown Toronto.  Pump Up The Volume and Paid In Full I believe.  Actually I bought Push It and Rock Me Amadeus on 45 in 1986 at Zellers in Cobourg as well as Raising Hell on cassette.   I was into tapes from about 1985. 

My recent purchases were in Japan at Stereo Records in Hiroshima, Mushroom Records in Takamatsu, Rare Groove in Osaka and Lighthouse in Tokyo.  I picked up mostly Japanese stuff this time around! 

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

Okonomiyaki.. Hiroshima style.. many layers

If it was an animal what would it be?

Some creature that was the result of panspermia perhaps? a green bi-pedal elephant par chance? 

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

I left an Eddy Grant 45 in the back window of my car once and it melted.. that I imagine would be quite difficult to mix now. 

Upcoming in the world of Eddie C:

Touring the US at the moment as I've just released my 4th official album 'Green Space' with Mule Musiq's sister label Endless Flight.  The US and Japan have been quite good for me this past decade yet I continue to live in Europe.  Red Motorbike is still going.. next release is number 20!  Might wait until 2020.  It'll be a big one!  

Anything else we need to discuss?

Human history is far older and far more mysterious than we can ever imagine.  Archaeology runs deep in my family and there are some very exciting recent discoveries!  Keep digging!  And be nice to each other! Unless you're in the field of battle with some whack DJ that's not where they're supposed to be.  Then eat their kids!! 

Buy the new album HERE.