Goodbye handshake in the wake of the coronavirus?

coronavirus-elbow-shake

Ok you got to have a bit of fun in the wake of something which might turn out to be an epidemic. I certainly feel Vice were thinking this as they wrote the click bait headline, Seize the Coronavirus Moment and Abolish the Handshake Forever. However I got to say there is good points about the handshake.

Life desk senior staff writer Hannah Smothers recently wrote about how groups from Silicon Valley investment firms to Canadian minor-league soccer teams were banning handshakes in an effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Instead of banning handshakes, everyone could simply wash their hands—something that is always a good idea, especially when we are staring down the barrel of a global epidemic.

I disagree that we should keep on shaking hands with each other, as if the very act of doing so is not totally deranged. Think about it: You walk into a party. Someone’s like “Hey, Kristy Marceline!” (Your name is Kristy Marceline.) “Come meet my friend David.” You hold out your hand. David holds out his. You clasp hands and move your claspèd doublehand up and down and up and down with a lot of force to prove to that you’re happy to see each other. You use a lot of force, but not too much force, as shaking hands with David too strongly or too weakly will make him think that you’re a terrible person, fundamentally flawed to her core.

This is ridiculous logic, and we just accept it on a daily basis without thinking twice!

Like the writer, I get the historical reason but maybe its time for something different. For example friends of mine have been doing the elbow bump, which has some strong legacy in the outbreak space.

Kid N Play's new greeting post epidemics?

I was thinking about something quite different… something like Kid n Play’s power dance move the kickstep. Yes I can hear you laugh but heck its one of the most dirty parts of our general body space and you are still looking each other directly in the face. Although I admit theres a lot of timing needed and maybe its best done with close friends for those mis-steps? It certainly bring something to those boring meets at least.

Chemical Brothers: My first concert?

IMG_20191122_222710

Thinking back, I don’t think I have ever been to a concert for popular music with a single group; I was explaining to my partner the other day while walking to the Manchester Arena.

IMG_20191122_220529

I have been to many raves, club nights, festivals but not really a concert unless it was classical music or something like a opera. I might be wrong because I saw Portishead in Ashton Court, Bristol a long time ago but I think it was alongside other arenas.

Chemical brothers may have been my first music concert, and it was very cool. Although others disagree.

IMG_20191122_211154

I was interesting to see how the music and visuals were custom set for the chemical brothers. I imagine this is what something like Armin only is like. But to be fair Gareth Emery’s Lazerface looks amazing for this exact reason.

The underground inception mix

London underground inception map

I did this pacemaker device mix over 2 separate mini mixes while in London last year. I joined the mix together and walla you have the underground inception mix. A mixture of tech-trance reflecting the maze of some of the London underground stations.

Enjoy…

  1. Opium (Quiver remix) – Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor
  2. Open up (Full vocal mix) – Leftfield
  3. Intruder – Armin van Buuren vs M.I.K.E
  4. One for you (Oliver Klein remix) – Oliver Klein
  5. Into the dawn (James Holden remix) – Accadia
  6. Godd – Marco V
  7. Fall to pieces – Jonas Steur feat Jennifer Rene
  8. Lunacy (Extended mix) – Stoneface & Terminal
  9. Nitric (Division one remix) – Hybrid system
  10. Stellar Perspetive – Hawkwind Light Orchestra
  11. Opulence – Simon Patterson
  12. Verdi – Mauro Picotto

Updated – Saturday 23th November 2019

55th in the global tech trance

One of the highest rated mixes to date, and I don’t rate as much as the Quiver in the underground mix.

A quiver in the underground mix

I did a number of mixes while in London for Mozfest but I quite liked the feel of this one. Some familiar tunes but quite different from my usual style. Mainly recorded on the Jubilee line, I present a quiver in the London underground mix. I found the perfect picture too.

  1. Activator, I know you can (That kid chris mix) – Whatever girl
  2. Air traffic (Erik De Koning remix) – Three drives
  3. Chinook – Markus Schulz pres. Dakota
  4. Opium (Quivver remix) – Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor
  5. Surveillance – Jordon Suckley & Kutski
  6. Nitric (Division one remix) – Hybrid system
  7. Circa-Forever (Galen Behr & Organ Nilsen remix) – Rapid eye
  8. Opulence – Simon Patterson
  9. J’ai envie de toi (Protoculture remix) – Armin Van Buuren presents Gaia
  10. Z.I.T.A (M.I.K.E’s progressiva mix) – Hiver & Hammer with Funabashi
  11. Kubrick (Extended mix) – Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor

Updated… I’m 95th in the global tech trance chart on mixcloud

mixcloud chart

The Peace of mind in Brussels mix

Recorded in Brussels while taking the Eurostar, while thinking about mental awareness week at work. Nicely relaxing with a slight edge.

Enjoy…

  1. Empty Cities, Dead Ghost (Chronosapien remix) – Fictitious Riceboy
  2. Big Sky (Agnelli & Nelson remix) – John O’Callaghan feat Audrey Gallagher
  3. Bulgarian (Signum remix) – Travel
  4. Drifting away (Lange sunset dub) – Lange feat. Syke
  5. Casino Fire – Matias Faint
  6. Tears (Protoculture remix)- Markus Schulz pres. Dakota
  7. Crayons (Leama and Moor remix) – Starkid
  8. Sister Sister – Sister Bliss
  9. Floyd – Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor
  10. Key of life (Marlo remix) – Ohmna feat. Nurlaila
  11. Made of love (Extended mix) – Ferry Corsten feat. Betsie Larkin
  12. Peace of mind (Myon & Shane 54 summer of love mix) – Above & Beyond feat. Zoe
  13. Peace – Yves Deruyter
  14. Indigo – 4×4

The three cities of Belgium mix

The Atomium in Brussels

After a long weekend in Belgium, of course I got some time with the pacemaker device. I themed the mix after the 3 cities we visited. All recorded with the Pacemaker device during a delayed flight back.

Enjoy!

  1. Brussels
    1. Anomaly (CJ Art’s Underwater tales remix) – Gordey Tsukanov
    2. Daemoni Miserere – Dr. Clarke
    3. Rheinkraft (extended mix) – Oliver Klein
    4. Innocente (Mr Sam remix) – Delerium
    5. Z.I.T.A (Markus Schossow remix) – Hiver & Hammer with Funabashi
  2. Antwerp
    1. Eclipse – Neo
    2. Delores – Indecent Noise
    3. Anahera (Extended mix) – Ferry Corseten pres Gouryella
    4. The Dark Knight – KhoMha
    5. Be with me – Coast 2 coast feat Amanda Jami
    6. Deadline (Armin’s rising star mix) – Dutch Force
  3. Ghent
    1. Grotesque (Alex MORPH and RAM mix) – RAM
    2. End transmission – ReDrive & Patrick Blanes
    3. Shelter (Photographer remix) – Dash Berlin feat. Roxanne Emery
    4. Adagio for Strings (Matt Silver and Tony Burt mix) – William Orbit

 

Updated….

95th in the global tech trance chart

The rainy days travelling mix

Rain drops on a window screen
Photo credit to: josephb on flickr

It was a rainy drive down through Birmingham on Sunday but complete with the Pacemaker device and a steady driving from my partner, I was able to do a mix for the whole journey down south. Kind of gutted I didn’t include Travel (Signum mix) by Bulgarian

This time I recorded the whole mix, which was meant to be slightly more chilled as I’m sure it affected the driving speed a bit. I think its worthy of a journey with pacemaker mix and I dedicate it to my lovely partner who drove quote a bit last weekend.

Lots of new tunes and some old classics, mixed up and played over a car stereo while travelling on the motorways.

Enjoy!

  1. The Blessing – Gui Boratto
  2. Lately (The struggle dub) – Airbiscuit
  3. Suru (Martin Roth Electrance remix) – Super8 & TabArm
  4. Shoreside – Streetcleaner
  5. Rain (Cosmic Gate remix) – Armin Van Buuren feat Cathy Burton
  6. BOOM – MaRlo
  7. The Storm – Eco
  8. Breath (Blake Jarrell remix) – Anna Nalick
  9. Percussive Thinking (meat katie & elite force remix) – Forme
  10. Communication (mas mix) – Mario Piu
  11. Rosegarden 2.0 – JS16
  12. City of lights – LTN
  13. Shnorkel (Dousk Exclusive Gems Remix) – Miki Latvak & Ido Ophir
  14. Cafe Del Mar at Night (Beat Service’s Out of office mashup) – Energy 52 vs Shakedown
  15. Switch (Oliver Klein & Peter Jurgens remix) – Beckers
  16. Mirrors – Trilucid
  17. Z.I.T.A (Markus Schossow remix) – Hiver & Hammer with Funabashi
  18. Daddyrock – Sander Van Doorn
  19. Dance4life (12 inch mix) – Tiesto Feat Maxi Jazz
  20. Anjan – Angelica S
  21. Weather The Storm (Daniel Wanrooy twister remix) – Space RockerZ
  22. Cream (Paul Van Dyk remix) – Blank & Jones

The backstreets of madrid mix

Backstreets of Madrid

Following the Madrid after the sun drops mix, I was messing around with the Pacemaker on a very hot night so went for a walk to get fizzy water. I came across some… lets say interesting streets… I recorded a mix that night and it was alright but the 2nd half got pretty sketchy, maybe something to do with heat and drink. So I removed the last half and saved the first part for your listening pleasure. Its also lots of tech trance with Sander Van Doorn and Mauro Picotto appearing in the line up.

Enjoy!

  1. Airforce one (igor S mix) – igor s
  2. The Oblivious – Muhamed Sherief & WAAJII
  3. Amino Acids – Tau-Rine
  4. Blood Angels (Chris Liebing mix) – John Startlight
  5. DJ Culture (Joey Beltram remix) – Kevin Saunderson & Joey Beltram
  6. Daisy – Sander Van Doorn
  7. Ninety – Sander Van Doorn
  8. Iguana (Arabesque mix) – Mauro Picotto
  9. Opium – Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor
  10. Pulsar (letters mix) – Mauro Picotto
  11. Shnorkel (Dousk Exclusive Gems remix) – Miki Litvak & Ido Ophir
  12. Bubbly – Sebastien Leger
  13. Timeloop – Oliver Klein

Update Backstreets of Madrid hit a high of 92nd in the Tech Trance chart

Backstreets of Madrid in the techtrance chart

The knights of the old republic mix

Nice little mix of tunes including some Old Skool/Rave classics and even some Dubstep. I forgot how much I love Mogusa laser beams, so I used it twice. I recorded the mix during a delayed flight from Berlin to Manchester via Amsterdam. My pacemaker device needs a new battery installed but I can easily charge and use it with a external USB battery pack.

I’m sure I came up with a better name for the mix but after experiencing Re:publica for the first time, it seemed apt.

Enjoy the mix!

  1. Altern8 – Infiltrate 202
  2. Miki Lutvak & Ido Ophir – Shnorkel
  3. Leftfield – Open up
  4. Tomcraft – Happiness and Loneness
  5. RAM – Grotesque (Alex MORPH & RAM mix)
  6. Mogusa – Laser Beams
  7. Blaze – My Beat (Jan Driver mix)
  8. Moogwai – The Labyrinth (part one)
  9. The Prodigy – Charly
  10. Sander van Doorn – Ninety
  11. Jon Mangan – Cuckoo
  12. Kevin Saunderson and Joey Beltram – DJ Culture (Joey Beltram mix)
  13. Khomha – The Dark Knight
  14. Mogusa – Laser Beams
  15. Frequency – Kiss the Sky

My 40th Birthday pacemaker mix

Its been a while but I put together a mix of quite a few of my favourite tunes for my 40th birthday. You will recognise some of the mixes from previous ones. Its a short mix and done while travelling between locations on the train.

Enjoy!

  1. Empty Cities, Dead Ghosts – Fictitious Riceboy
  2. Shnorkel – Miki Litvak & ido Ophir
  3. Night in Motion – Cubic 22
  4. Opium – Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor
  5. Labyrinth (Paul Keyen remix) – Lee Cassells
  6. Opulence – Simon Patterson
  7. Brush Strokes – Simon Patterson
  8. We are one – Dave 202
  9. Surveillance – Jordan Suckley and Kutski
  10. Seven Cities (V-Ones living cities remix) – Solar Stone
  11. Seven Days and One Week (Club Mix) – Tomcraft
  12. Whites of her eyes – Simon Patterson
  13. Humming the lights – Armin van Buuren presents Gaia
  14. The Dark Knight – Khomha
  15. Tears (Protoculture remix) – Markus Schulz presents Dakota
  16. Orbion (Max Graham vs Protoculture remix) – Armin Van Buuren
  17. Anahera (Extended Mix) – Ferry Corsten

The call of the Barcelona sun mix

One of my mixes from Barcelona I didn’t upload first time, so I re-uploaded it for the collection. Lots of familiar tunes mixed together with some classics such as Tears and Hello. At just over the hour mark, its a nice energetic mix to add to the collection.

Enjoy!

  1. Helsinki Scorching – Super8 vs Dj Tab
  2. Against the flow (Astuni & Manuel Le Saux Extended Re Lift Dub) – Stine Grove
  3. Hello (Jerome Isma-Ae remiix) – Above & Beyond
  4. Avenue – Paul Van Dyk
  5. Labyrinth (Paul Keyen remix) – Lee Cassells
  6. Embrace (Ferry Fix) – Embrace
  7. Nebula One – Warren K
  8. Frosted (Foreign Force remix) – Kyamoto
  9. Shelter (Photographer remix) – Dash Berlin feat Roxanne Emery
  10. Ecstasy – Eddie Makabi feat Einat
  11. Tears (Protoculture remix) – Markus Schulz presents Dakota
  12. Nailed (James Dymond remix) – Paul Webster
  13. Valhalla (tonerush remix) – OneBeat
  14. Its time (ferry corsten’s flashover mix) – Ferry Corsten
  15. B29 (extended mix) – Attila Syah & LTN

Bringing down Skopje super mix

My last mix from Skopje and its a long one with lots of cool tunes. Recorded while in Skopje but I had to piece the mix together as it was in 2 pieces after my pacemakerdevice battery ran out. Suspend doesn’t last as long as I was expecting it seems.

The mix has beatmatching flaws but mainly due to loud noises while walking about. Generally its varied mix and well worth listening to with some old and new tunes mixed together.

Enjoy!

  1. Echoes (FloE edit) – Andski
  2. Beauty hides in the deep (John O’Callaghan remix) – The Doppler effect
  3. Gaurtlet – DNSProject
  4. Heal – Electrique Boutique
  5. J’ai Envie De Toi (Protoculture remix) – Armin Van Buuren pre Gaia
  6. Labyrinth (Paul Keyen remix) – Lee Cassells
  7. Kalopsia (Monogato’s Filth remix) – The Bizzard
  8. One little arab – Matt Darey
  9. Massive Motion – M.I.K.E
  10. Opium – Jerome Isma-Ae & Alastor
  11. Into the Danger (M.I.K.E remix) – M.I.K.E vs Andrew Bennett
  12. Prosac – Dj Tomcraft
  13. Kinetic 99 (Commies full edit mix) – Golden girls
  14. Rewind (Mikkas Remix) – Emma Hewitt
  15. The Oblivious – Muhamed Sherief & WAAJII
  16. Whites of her eyes – Simon Patterson
  17. Running up the that hill – Markus Schulz Presents Dakota Featuring Bev Wild
  18. Intution (Martin Roth remix) – Marninx pres Ecco
  19. Valhala (Tonerush remix) – OneBeat
  20. Love Stimulation (PVD love Club mix) – Humate
  21. Totem – Rodrigo Deem
  22. Hello (Jerome Isma-Ae remiix) – Above & Beyond
  23. Brush Strokes – Simon Patterson
  24. Delores – Indecent Noise
  25. The Evil ID – Max Graham
  26. Desoolee (Radion 6 remix) – Disfunkton
  27. Mass Noise 2015 – Fred Baker & Seb B

The Skopje Jetstream mix

Another strange mix of trance from across the spectrum of trance. Recorded from Skopje (SKP) to Berlin (SXF) recently, I tried to pick a few different tunes but also double down on the obvious as I do currently love that tune. Sound levels are not idea along with some of the mixes but a good mix generally.

I have another mix from Skopje to come but that might take some time to upload. Till then sitback, ensure your seat belts are fasten and enjoy the smooth Skopje jetstream.

  1. Love (Vocal mix) – DJ Eco Feat Lira Yin
  2. Solarcoaster (Protoculture remix) – Solarstone
  3. The Obvious – Muhamed Sherief & WAAJII
  4. The Situation (Liquid life remix) – A Situation
  5. Please save me (push remix) – Sunscream Vs Push
  6. Tears (Protoculture remix) – Markus Schulz presents Dakota
  7. Perpertual Motion – Protoculure
  8. Take me away in the night (purple haze remix) – 4 Strings
  9. Torrent – Dave 202
  10. Winter Falls – Calgar C
  11. Time of Our lives (Paul Van Dyk club mix) – Paul Van Dyk
  12. Underlying feeling (Adam K & Soha Club mix) – Sylvia Tosun
  13. The Obvious – Muhamed Sherief & WAAJII
  14. Barcelona (Gene Xander remix) – Addictive Glance
  15. In and Out of Love – Armin Van Buuren feat Sharon den Adel
  16. Humming the lights – Armin van Buuren presents Gaia

The Skopje sunset mix

Another series of trips means another series of new mixes on my pacemaker device. This one was done one evening in Skopje, Macedonia. Slightly cut short by having to get somewhere for dinner but its a different kind of mix with a number of ones I’ve played over the years.

  1. Empty Street – Late night Alumni
  2. Columbia – Paul Van Dyk
  3. Ephemeral – Nakhiya
  4. Cream – Blank & Jones
  5. Humming the lights – Armin Van Buuren pres Gaia
  6. The Dark Knight – Khomha
  7. Nailed (James Dymond remix) – Paul Webster
  8. Emotional Life (Elite Electronic Remix) – Armos
  9. Nardo (Jorn Van Deynhoven Mix) – Jorn Van Deynhoven & Manuel Le Saux
  10. Going Home (Jorn Van Deynhoven mix) – Cosmic Gate & Emma Hewitt

Enjoy!

Travels with Pacemaker… live from Skopje

Travels with Pacemaker Skopje
Taken by Adriangradinar

Its rare when I get the opportunity to Dj on a big stage in front of a crowd live but I certainly do enjoy it. This time it was live from British Council’s PlayUK 2018 in Skopje Macedonia. Someone couldn’t make it and I said well if you need a DJ I’m totally up for it.

Very enjoyable, shame I didn’t have longer and I started mixing during the sound test meaning I didn’t hit record. I did consider hitting stop and then hitting record but people were dancing and well the mix was pretty simple.