“THE key word here is ‘brothers’ and that’s all. You have one blood, you know everything about each other and it helps to work together,” explain the Russian duo, Pavel and Vitaly Khvaleev, on the secret of their success. “It’s easier than many people think. We have almost similar opinions on certain things. Of course, sometimes we have conflicts but after a while we can find some solution.” Describing themselves as graceful, elegant, exotic and muscular, Moonbeam enter the Top 100 for the fourth year in a row. “We think that this is like some indicator of the devotion of our fans and listeners. Big thanks to all of them for their support during the year.”
PAUL KALKBRENNER
AS ever, enigmatic techno producer Paul Kalkbrenner chooses to keep his cards close to his chest, dedicating himself to his music and little else at present. The prolific Kalkbrenner has, once again, been locked away in his studio for a big chunk of 2012, putting the finishing touches to his new album — an activity which has, understandably, eaten up all of his time of late.
Despite this, Kalkbrenner took in a lot of live shows throughout the year, touring heavily around Europe and also playing in Asia and the US, making plenty of festival appearances along the way. An extensive world tour is also promised for 2013. As for new material, the lo-fi tech journey of ‘Das Gezabel’ — released midway through the year — was the first single to appear on his Paul Kalkbrenner Music label (after leaving BPitch Control at the end of 2009), and the first new material released since 2011’s ‘Icke Wieder’ album.
‘Icke Wieder’ was, in fact, Kalkbrenner’s first studio album since his soundtrack to the 2008 seminal cult Berlin clubbing flick Berlin Calling (in which Kalkbrenner
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Style: “Techno, trance, progressive, deep minimal and tech.” Best known for: “Mixing and merging of different styles.” Tune of 2012: “A*S*Y*S ‘Acid Glitch’.” Breakthrough DJ/producer of 2012: “Kairo Kingdom.”
It’s been an impressively creative year that’s seen them working on their first full-length movie The Random, and writing the soundtrack for it for Black Hole Recordings. Taking inspiration from their recent tour of Japan with four Russian singers, there are plans to hold a super-sized concert tour in the New Year. HELENE STOKES
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If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be? “To be able to fly without a plane like Superman. It will be very useful to play in dif- ferent countries or cities during one day or night.” Should you play to the crowd or for yourself? “It is important to keep balance between these two sides.” What does EDM mean to you? “Life.” Should ce- lebrities be DJs? “If they can do it well, why not?” Have you ever been thrown off the decks? “No.” Where’s the next dance mu- sic capital? “Maybe some Asian city? That’s a hard question.”
also played the lead role), a project which still resonates with both Kalkbrenner and wider Germany, it seems; as of summer 2012, ‘Sky And Sand’ — the film’s unmistakably melodic woozy title track — had been in the German Top 100 singles chart for well over 100 weeks, making it the longest-charting track in the country’s Top 100 for 35 years.
In May, Kalkbrenner announced that he wouldn’t be adding further dates to his summer live schedule, in order to work on the new album, due for release in late autumn of 2012. “The recording sessions for the album have absolute priority. It is supposed to be good, isn’t it? And you can be sure: it will be worth it,” said Kalkbrenner in May. And you know what? We reckon he’ll be proved right. TRISTAN PARKER