Like Grand Theft Auto VI, Liverpool’s first Premier League title and a hair-cut for Baggy somethings you feel will be worth the wait.

Luke Solomon, one half of UK Underground House duo the Freaks, co-owner of Classic Recordings, record shop gaffer and all round nice bloke provided us with this superb mix at the tail end of last October but owing to a house move, no internet and my legendary knack of hanging onto mixes without uploading them, it’s been gathering dust until today…!

Luke is due to release his first solo outing ‘The Difference Engine’ on Matt Edward’s ‘Rekid’ label on the 21st of January and we thought it high time we release his superb Cosmic Disco mix into the world.

Monsieur Solomon was also kind enough to indulge us in a spot of Smash Hits Q and A’s.

Cosmic Disco : Luke – thanks for taking the time to speak to us. It’s nice to have a bona fide popstar on the site.

CD : Creeps was a massive underground/deep house track – have you sold out now with the ‘chart friendly’ vocal version and how much involvement/say did you have in that?

Luke Solomon : Ha, I was waiting for that question.
Honestly, yes we did on all accounts. The reality is this. For 13 years we have been doing what we do. We have had to answer to nobody. But, financially we have suffered massive losses. I mean we are talking tens of thousands of pound. In order for us to move forward, and continue doing what we do, we have had to make a sacrifice to a part of our fan base.
We didn’t sanction the remix, it just happened. Ministry wanted to add a vocal, but we wanted Stella to sing it, and we wanted to write it because that’s where the money is.
We are now in a position where we may be heard a little more. We have about 20 new songs and an able co producer, engineer on board, the plan is to take our sound to a wider audience. Its going to be tricky, but what the hell.

CD : That’s the Freaks though and this is about yourself – you’re from Bristol – shouldn’t you be a drum and bass dj.

LS : I was born in Bristol, grew up in Weston-super–mare, went to school in Cyprus, and in the process went to about 9 different schools. I spent most of my raving years in fields in Somerset and Wiltshire in the late 80’s early 90’s, but I also grew up listening to the Wild Bunch and Massive attack. A huge amount of cross pollination I guess. And anyway, Bristol is the new Berlin, haven’t you heard.

CD : Could you tell us a bit about the djing work you’ve been doing with Baldelli - I believe you’ve had a residency with him, how did something like that come about?

LS : Yes, I have been playing at a club called Borsa, in Mantova, Itally. I had the priviledge of playing with Daniel. What a super cool guy. So down to earth. We played and he asked me to play back to back with him the first time we had ever met. That shit never happens anymore. DJ’s are too rapped up in their own egos to give any one that kind of space. And here is a man, 58 years old, legendary, giving up his space for me. A true honor, and a great f*cking night.

CD : The times I’ve seen you dj you’ve played deep Chicago house - what prompted the move into the spacey cosmic downtempo stuff that you’re playing now and has it always been something that you’ve had an interest in?

LS : I have always played other music. I guess I just get booked for the music that people know me for, which is fair enough. My roots are in sole music, black music, weird electronica, punk, rock n roll, disco, country, folk, hip hop, funk… I have a huge collection of odd shit, and I have always done mixes for friends, the MFF site, and more recently podcasts. I always played alternative music in the warm ups @ our Wednesday night at Bar Rumba, and more recently at my night @ the AKA. I am hoping to break into it a little more actually.
I have been playing what is now called cosmic for over 10 years. To me it is mid tempo dance music I guess.

CD : ‘This Modern Dance’ your project with Tim sounds interesting.
Is this your chance to be pretentious and make an album of tracks that you want to hear…?

LS : Absof*ckinglutely. This is some real art shit. A record about the end of the world, recorded for an imaginary Japanese label and only ever released in Japan. That’s something I have always dreamt about. Inspired by all the true visionary artists. David Sylvian, Robert Fripp, the Blue Nile, the Associates, Hoger Czuckay, Brian Eno to name a few. We wanted to collaborate with all out musician friends and work with Chris Nazuka and just make something a little out there. It will probably never be released , but who gives a shit.

CD : David Sylvian, Holfer Czukay, Cabaret Voltaire - was this the sound of your walkman in the eighties or were you listening to 5 Star like everyone else?

LS : I listened to it all, honestly. But I was always drawn to the stuff no one else seemed to know about. I revelled in it. I get such a kick out of playing a mind blowing record to a person that has never heard it before.. I love watching the reaction on their face, and that sudden euphoria. I mean honestly, you can’t beat it. Discovering the unknow and it immediately becoming one of the missing pieces from your life. I can relate that to books, films and art as well.. The constant quest to try and make yourself, as an artist, whole. Of course it will never happen, but its all about the chase.

CD : How are you dedicating your time between djing/Freaks/Modern Dance/being a dad etc- it must be pretty hectic and is some of it taking a back seat with the Freaks’ single being a hit.

LS : I work, that’s what I do. If I am not creating, I am unhappy. I write constantly. My brain never leaves me alone. There is so much to gain from life experiences, and it has to be noted. But its not hard, making music should never be hard if you are emotionally attached to it, the same as Djing. The travelling is hard yes, but you learn to deal with it. And the Dad bit, well, that’s what I was meant to do, that comes easily.

CD : How do you keep the two groups separate – are you not finding the sounds of each contaminating the other?

LS : They inspire each other, but I compartmentize them. If I have an idea, a song title and a concept usually. I immediately know what it will be good for. I know what Justin likes and we have a good common ground and a similar sense of humour.. With Tim, we can be proper muso’s. And as a solo artist, I can really express what I don’t want to share with anyone else.

CD : Smash hits time here Luke I’m afraid – what was the last record
a/ Bought
b/ Were Sent
c/ Took down the record store and traded ‘cause it was shit

LS :
a/ Three Dog Night- Coming Down Your way
b/ Simon Baker – Gutterlevel- 20/20 vision
c/ Most of the crap I get sent

www.myspace.com/lukesolomon
www.myspace.com/djlukesolomon
www.myspace.com/thismoderndanceuk
www.classicmusiccompany.com
www.musicforfreaks.com

So there you go.
Huge thanks to Luke for the mix and interview and humble apologies from myself for the delay in uploading it.
Enjoy the Music.

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