Influences: Vladimir Ivkovic
As part of his on site takeover Ivan Smagghe introduces us to Vladimir…
"I haven't known Vladimir for that long. He was introduced to me by Gilbert from Versatile in the mode of "you've got to hear this guy". Something I had heard many times before. And rarely took seriously.
I'll be quick on the DJing side of things, Vladimir is one of the best for only one reason, because he's got the ability to care not to care. He's not a show off, he will not play rare records for the sake of it, he just plays music he likes. Weird or not, hits or not, obscure or not, "dance music" or not, Coil or yes. Who cares? It's here to be passed on anyway. Vladimir gives a lot, and rarely takes. He's immune to the digger's plague. Too generous. Too humble.
I now know the guy quite well (I think). He's what I'd call a "gentle tortured soul" though he may object to that. Not many people can out-spleen me, he certainly can and I love him for that. Paradise in a garage rather than Paradise Garage.
We recently played 14 hours together at 20/44 in Belgrade (the best place I know?) and it was just the most natural thing. Even when he dropped Eurythmics' The Walk at 33rpm or Anita Lane's cover of Lost in Music at 4am. The relation he has with his hometown, Belgrade, the almost physical link between the music, the place, the people and the DJ, I have rarely seen.
Unpretentious but, urgh, "life-affirming". As this playlist reads actually."
Editor's note: http://www.nts.live/shows/guests/episodes/rex-ilusivii-special-w-offen-music-13th-september-2016
This is probably my biggest influence, a new years’s eve 1980/81 TV show. Those were strange days in Yugoslavia. On 4th of May 1980 Tito died, and there was something leaden, paralyzing in the air. Suddenly Rokenrol III happened. I still and still should check check how this was possible on a state TV. Long story short, I saw the repeat of the show on 1.1.1981 in the morning. Without any warning, alone, by accident, not even 8 years old. I knew that there was more than redneck heavy metal, Boney M or Stars on 45 records from kindergarden and school dances.I grew up in a family where this “different“ was a normality, so I had difficulties to figure out if there was something wrong with kids around me. When Rokenroler III happened, I knew I didn’t have to feel strange.
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Rokenroler IiiThis is probably my biggest influence, a new years’s eve 1980/81 TV show. Those were strange days in Yugoslavia. On 4th of May 1980 Tito died, and there was something leaden, paralyzing in the air. Suddenly Rokenrol III happened. I still and still should check check how this was possible on a state TV. Long story short, I saw the repeat of the show on 1.1.1981 in the morning. Without any warning, alone, by accident, not even 8 years old. I knew that there was more than redneck heavy metal, Boney M or Stars on 45 records from kindergarden and school dances.I grew up in a family where this “different“ was a normality, so I had difficulties to figure out if there was something wrong with kids around me. When Rokenroler III happened, I knew I didn’t have to feel strange.
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Borghesia - Cindy Sherman (1985)Borghesia – Cindy Sherman – Galleria Skuc.
From a tape, back then. It made me looking for a state where this music might have come from. Fortunately this is now widely available through Dark Entries.The track can be found at 16 minutes 49 seconds…
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Idoli - Moja Si - ( Audio )Electronics, for once, in a quite subversive mixture of pastoral chants and lyrics about solid identity crisis mode. The contribution of Goran Vejvoda here, with guitar and synths, is immense. Later he recorded „Dreambirds“ with Suba / Rex Ilusivii, but that’s another story.
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The Human League - Things That Dreams Are Made OfI got the whole album from a dear family friend who also had a discotheque, and I still have that record with the date and his dedication. I was familiar with Human League because at some point „Travelogue“ and „Dare“ were famous albums., And then I heard these versions of some of those songs. I was 9 when I heard „Things That Dreams Are Made of“ from „Love And Dancing“. It opened a few windows.
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The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? (Official Music Video)I don’t think that there is something that is not said about this one in the past 32 years. Not that it matters.
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The Fall - L.A.There was some kind of office supplies store in Belgrade that also carried school books, and in the basement they had some new records for ridiculously low prices – where I used to spend my pocket money. That’s where I found the just released „This Nation’s Saving Grace“ LP. An album that I’d bring to birthday parties where everyone would bring some music. L.A is not only amazing dance tune – but with those who liked, it I’m still in touch today.
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Cabaret Voltaire - The Covenant, The Sword, And The Arm Of The Lord - L21stOpening track of „The Covenant, The Sword And The Arm Of The Lord“, another LP from that basement. Around that time there were some (jazz) funk records in my family, that made me feel rather uncomfortable, and suddenly I found this other funk – if I was ever looking for some at all.
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My Bloody Valentine - (Please) Lose Yourself In MeThere are not many of such impressive album last songs. Soundtrack to teenage haziness and a bridge to „Isn’t Anything“, one of the most important albums ever.
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Golden Hair - Slowdive“Golden Hair“ is on one of the first 12“s that I bought when I left Belgrade and moved to Germany. Song with haunting importance – and also leads you to the Syd Barett original.
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This Mortal Coil - Late NightSyd Barett again, and same year as Slowdive. My balearic is when I remember how and where I used to walk and night and listen to „Late Night“.
