Also this issue:

Fairies Wear Boots
Who will fight Philly’s most huggable band?
-Patrick Rapa

A Mighty Wind
Le Vent du Nord explores the regional color of the Great White North.
-Mary Armstrong

Joey Sweeney
of The Trouble With Sweeney
-Interview by Patrick Rapa

Karl Hendricks Trio
-Paul Burress

Calla
-Andrew Parks

Roy Hargrove's RH Factor
-Kyle Parker

Gillian Welch
-Sam Adams

Drive-By Truckers
-Sam Adams

June 19-25, 2003

musicpicks

Josh Wink

by Sean O’Neal

Don't expect a mix CD full of Billboard dance tunes from Josh Wink. The local superhero and international electronic music icon continues to challenge conventional DJ methods while walking a genre-less median between techno, house and electro. Wink stays true and still finds success.

The once dread-headed pacesetter topped the charts worldwide with tracks of his own (like "Higher State of Consciousness," "Don't Laugh" and "I'm Ready"). As a follow-up to 1999's mix CD, Profound Sounds Vol. 1 -- a deep and fluid joyride through tasteful tech-house -- Wink now drops Profound Sounds Vol. 2 (Ovum). Departing from the typical DJ-mix formula, Vol. 2 is the product of a two-step aural excursion: First, Wink re-edits and remixes (or "re-tailors") each featured track -- hence transforming each into a "Josh Wink version." Then, he mixes everything live using Final Scratch, effect units and samplers, pulling the listener one notch closer to his own personal construct, acting as both DJ and producer at the same time.

"Once the songs were loaded into the computer, I took a couple of weeks mixing and developing a flow of the 'new' versions," explains Wink. "After I felt comfortable with the sequencing, I recorded the mix live into a DAT machine." Spontaneity was essential while mixing up his reinterpretations of Swayzak, David Alvarado, Rino Cerrone, Mr. G, Frankie Bones and his own tracks. Vol. 2 is 73 minutes of house, techno and electro, mixed gracefully from deep and atmospheric to mesmerizing and driving, from minimal to maximal. PS2 also comes with a second bonus disc of audio and video content featuring four Wink-produced tracks previously available on vinyl only, an interview with the drug-free vegan, and live and studio footage.

CD release party for Profound Sounds Vol. 2, Wed., June 25, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., $5-$7, Fluid, 613 S. Fourth St., 215-629-0565.