Ssg Special - Delta Funktionen: warm-up set for Jeff Mills, Doornroosje Nijmegen

If haven't yet heard Delta Funktionen's Electromagnetic Radiation II EP, please remedy this immediately. It's rare that an EP manages to do everything: here are four tracks, each with its own distinct role in a good set; but each stands on its own as a composition, as a piece of music - transforming genre-based craft into a work of art. It is the primary reason why Delta Funktionen is my favourite techno producer working at the moment. I don't make that claim likely: there's a level wisdom in all of Niels' releases that belies his age, and makes me keep returning to these recordings again and again and again. They stay with you. Maybe the difference is care? Whatever the reasons, these are wonderful records that we'll still be listening to long after 'which house' (or whatever) has been and done and gone for good (or evil).

Delta Funktionen is no slouch behind the decks, either. Alex, one of my good friends, worked his way through the ssg mixes a while back. A few months ago he commented at length on how the Delta Funktionen mix we hosted had become his favourite. 'It was just one of those mixes you could really feel,' he told me. 'Every track, track after track, from start to finish, again and again.'

See the pattern? And Niels certainly hasn't been fucking around since he recorded that mix for us sixteen months ago if this puppy is anything to go by.

DF, in his own words:

'This a 3 hour recording of my warm-up set for Jeff Mills in Doornroosje Nijmegen, The Netherlands (22 Oct 2010). It was probably one of the most difficult gigs I've played 'til now, as it was all about timing to bring the set to an end where Jeff Mills could take over from zero. Despite some small fuck ups – probably due to some nerves (and some little resonance..) – I'm very happy with the result. Nowadays it's pretty rare having an opportunity to play deep stuff like this in The Netherlands. But this was the right night to do so.

In the end, it was a legendary evening. Mills was supposed to play for three hours, but he and the crowd ended up enjoying themselves so much he played for an extra hour. From sci-fi techno, old ravey stuff, right through disco, with several 909 solos and a strobe running all night long, it was like the room was in a time machine, travelling between 1991 and the next century. I'm very glad I was part of this night and even though I'm not a big fan of live recordings, I still feel like I want to share my set with all you digital warriors.' DF.

Ssg Special - Delta Funktionen @ Doornroosje Nijmegen 22.10.2010

For more info, check Delta Funktionen's homepage and myspace. Thanks to Niels for sharing this special set with the ssgs.