Billboard Magazine Article

An article Dave wrote back in 1988 for Billboard magazine - reprinted here 20 years later!

The Acid Reign 1988

In the UK 1988 will be remembered as the year of the acid house explosion. A year when an exciting new scene was born out of underground clubs and snowballed to such proportions that it became a national talking point, making even the government
take notice. It was undoubtedly the most aggressive and refreshing entity to hit the clubs since the notorious punk mpovement, but in contrast it revolved around a message of love and peace similar o that of the late 60’s psychedelia period.

So, why did it cause so much controversy? Because the pathetic
side to the British media decided to glorify it’s very confined relationship with drugs.

It was during the infancy of the summer that the scene really
started to take shape, arriving on the back of the ‘Baleric Beat’ 
as a clique of London DJ’s returned from their holidays on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza, with the intention of importing the Ibizan club scene they had left behind. London clubs such as Schoom and Spectrum pioneered the whole thing, under the direction of DJ’s Danny Rampling and Paul Oakenfold, and by May were the centre of the media hype which promoted a new kind of music  with a new kind of lifestyle.  In truth, the music wasn’t new at all and didn’t originate from Ibiza either
(Chicago invented acid with Sleazy D’s “I’ve Lost Control” being
the earliest record of it’s kind). Ibiza, however was responsible
for creating the lifestyle which did play a big part in attracting
people to the scene.  The idea of going to clubs just to dance
(or should that be manically wave your arms in the air) dressing down in baggy t –shirts, loose denims and All Star Converse boots, and in some quarters dropping a tab of Ectasy or LSD, spread 


like wildfire. The venues didn’t seem to matter, the darker
and more derelict it looked was an advantage. 
Old warehouses became a favourite with just three ingredients needed to make the perfect recipe – a dry ice machine, powerful strobe light and a heavy duty sound system. Before long,
there were more acid house records released in a week
than any other format of dance music  and consequently,
the word spread into even the most pop orientated of clubs
where less discerning clubbers  latched onto the fun aspects
of the scene (i.e the crazy dancing and the infamous repetetive chanting of “Aciieeed”). As it became more and more commercial however, the underground feel did get slightly deadened,
signalling that maybe it was just a craze and would phase
out of vogue once drained of all it’s qualities. The demise
would have certainly been a much longer  and more
drawn out process though, if it had been left to run it’s
course without having nails hammered into it’s coffin.

As records such as D Mobs ‘ We Call it Acieed’ and Jolly Rogers
‘Acid Man’ crossed over into the national charts , the dangerous
side to the British Media , who live on scandal and slander,
dug deep ito the scene’s roots to discover the fact that it was
born out of clubs renowned for being drug bases.  In their eyes
they had struck gold and proceeded to expsose the drug taking
that went on in only a handful of acid venues – places that have always, and  will always be involved with drugs! That was no consolation as those ignorant to the real truth read newspaper headlines such as “Drug Explosion amonsgt kids due to new music”.  Of course the ignorant ones happened to be the people in positions of power and took actions.  The music was banned in certain clubs around the coutnry and record companies became
a little more cautious  at promoting the music for fear of bad publicity from the anti-acid press.  The shot had been fired and
acid house was dying.

Despite the wound, many clubs up and down the country still continue to incorporate acid into their music policies, although
the more upfront  venues have now moved onto the garage/deep house sound suggesting that this is the direction in which our
musical futue lies. If so, very soon, all we will be left with is the memory of the acid house explosion and the reassurance
that the club scene will always keep attracting new excitement.

Dave Seaman

Out Now

If the old adage is correct that time flies when you're having fun, I must have had one hell of a blast over the last twenty years because it's passed quicker than Lewis Hamilton in a rocket! But it's true, this CD coincides with my twentieth anniversary in the music industry. It was October 1987 that as a starry eyed teenager, I packed up my hopes and fears and left home in search of my fame and fortune in the "big smoke" of London. I started as a tea boy/ record reviewer at Mixmag and within six months unexpectedly found myself sitting in the editors chair. The rest, as they say, is history and also a bit of a blur. But then that's par for the course in this business.

Somewhere along the way though, I do know that I did the very first legal DJ mix compilation. Along with Carl Cox in 1991, little did we know that Mixmag Live Volume 1 would be such a groundbreaking landmark opening the floodgates to such an extent that these days, you can probably find a segued collection of 'Ethiopian lesbian biker two step' if you look hard enough.

This is now my 23rd mix compilation and really, the process hasn't changed too much over the years. Sure, new technology has opened up endless possibilities in creativity (long gone are the days of recording a set live from vinyl) but fundamentally it's still about those weeks of digging around for the best music available and carefully constructing it into a audio collage.

This collection is no different. Two CDs crammed full of the finest cherry picked tunes I could find, some of which you will probably know, some you may not. A veritable feast from the electronic dance music buffet taking in ambient, minimal, tribal, tech, deep, progressive, techno, trance and even some good old fashioned balearic along the way. Of course, it's all acid house to me but that's probably a topic best saved for another day.

So there you have it. Two decades on and at least my Mum & Dad have stopped asking me "When are you going to get a proper job?" I already have and it's the best job in the world. Here's to the next twenty years. Zimmer frame and all!

Until next time, love, peace and "Fight Your Mind!"

Dave

Full Tracklisting:

Out Now on Audio Therapy:

Spring/ Summer Edition 2007

We love it when a plan comes together and plans rarely come together as perfectly as the Audio Therapy Spring Summer '07 sampler. One of our New Years resolutions here at Therapy Towers was to shake things up a bit and breath some new life into our already pretty healthy roster.

A truly international affair, we present 10 exclusive tracks from around the globe from some names you will know and others you will not. Australia, Denmark, Holland, Israel, Italy, Romania and the UK are all represented creating a beautiful collection that explores virtually every corner of electronic house music and then some.

This is a CD that refuses to be pigeonholed, compiled with tender loving care and wears it's heart on it's sleeve. We hope you enjoy it as much as us.

Tracklisting

ATCD7

1.Neil Quigley & Nick Muir Feat. Nadine Khouri - Feedback From The City (Vocal Mix)
2.16 Bit Lolita's - Neptune
3.Jamie McHugh ­ Wrong
4.Anthony Middleton - Weitzidea
5.Guy J & Roy Brizman - Avant-Garde
6.Ost & Kjex - Thru With Being Bad
7.Guy J - Shiver
8.Dan Mangan & Danny Bonnici ­ F**k Dude
9.Adrian Consta - Trippin
10.AMB - Shut


AT035 Limited Edition Vinyl Release

A1.Guy J - Shiver
A2.Anthony Middleton - Weitzidea
B1.Dan Mangan & Danny Bonnici ­ F**k Dude
B2.Jamie McHugh - Wrong

Opinion Piece~

One mans trance is another mans techno......

365 Mags Response....

DAVE SEAMAN SPEAKS OUT AGAINST 'GENREFICATION'
Article: News   (2007-02-20)

"Stop the obsession with labeling, pigeonholing and the
general sub dividing of dance music" - Dave Seaman
It's a well known fact that the strict division between
styles within electronic music is a thing of the past.
These days,techno DJ's tend to include minimal into their sets, whereas the former 'progressive' DJ's find solace in neotrance, minimal, electro and electrohouse. Time for labelhoncho Dave Seaman to make a statement about all these styles, urging the press to stop “the obsession with labeling, pigeonholing and the general sub dividing of dance music”.


As many have pointed out before, Seaman states that the borders between genres have been fading to such an extent
that they have become obsolete. It is the term progressive house that bothers him the most. "I often joke about my
current sound being Swedish Acid Lesbian 2 step but many
a true word is spoken in jest. One of our recent Audio Therapy releases was labeled "nu-prog" by one magazine.
Give me a break. What the hell is that? Old prog dressed up
with a prefix to make it palatable for the painfully cool?
In fact, while we're on the subject, I'm getting a bit tired of the term 'Progressive house' being used as a dumping ground
for any old lifeless, generic rubbish that comes along.
Like every other style (although I always thought progressive
to be more of a spirit than a genre) there's both good and bad
if you can be bothered to get off your arse and find the good stuff."

Our advice to Dave is to take a break, or go on a holiday… Who says we have to label everything?

Dave's Final Words on the Matter....

What? Us? The Media? Pigeonholing? How very dare you!
Well, we'll see how long it lasts shall we? I know you won't be able to resist sooner or later, it goes with the job. And besides, everything is safer in a box.

By the way the holiday was great. Thanks.

"Sublime... It'll be wedged on the

speakers for months to come, mark

our words"
DJ Mag Xmas Issue 2006

First of all, let me give you a brief history. Therapy Sessions Volume One featuring Australian legend Phil K and yours truly is released March 2004 and is voted amongst the Top 20 compilations of the year by DJ Magazine. Nice. Forward to March 2005 and its another “ozzie”, Luke Chable, that joins me for Therapy Sessions Two which goes on to be voted in the Top 10 compilations of the year by DJ mag. This not only brought another wave of smug self satisfaction to the office but also made up our minds on whether we should do Volume Three. Well, it would be just plain rude not to, wouldn’t it?!

Since the release of the first two parts of this series, the humble little label we like to call Audio Therapy has seen a big shift in the marketplace which has enforced us to put most of our efforts into CD compilations. Put quite simply, there’s no future in selling vinyl and until such time that digital downloads start to generate the kind of revenue needed to sustain an independent dance label such as ours, it’s CDs that must become our focus. So, if you are reading this, I’m presuming you have purchased the CD (You bloody better have!!) and therefore, thank you for your support.

This instalment is an all English affair (Northern England to be exact) as I’ve invited those canny Geordie stalwarts Lexicon Avenue to take care of Disc one and boy, do they deliver! The guys behind one of the UKs finest long running club nights, Newcastle’s Shindig, as well as the well respected Forensic label have always been able to straddle the genres with ease as they’re legendary remixes have shown and their mix perfectly showcases this. From the 80’s influenced funkiness of Spirtcatcher’s ‘Glow’ to the techno drumfest of Richie Hawtin’s Plastikman through the anthemic analogue classic that is Ame’s ‘Rej’ and the dirty acid madness of Nick & Danny Chatelain’s ‘Killing me’, this mix is truly something special that will grace your collection for many years to come.

Taking a leaf out of Lexicon Avenue’s book, I’ve also tried to incorporate some of my big tunes of the year and not put so much emphasis on everything having to be brand new unreleased material. After all, in 6 months who’ll remember what was new and what wasn’t anyway? So stick that up your messageboard and smoke it! So watch out for Ellen Alien & Apparat’s sublime ‘Jet’ and Steve Angello & Sebastian Ingrosso’s massive ‘Click’ amidst hot new stuff from Shiloh, Lewie Day and 16 bit Lolita’s to name but a few.

Anyway, there you have it. I rest my case. Robert’s your father’s brother and Fanny’s his marital spouse. All that remains to be said is, enjoy the music and we hope to see you on the dancefloor when the Therapy circus rolls into a town near you soon. Until next time, love, respect and fight your mind!

Dave Seaman

Dave becomes a father again...

"It's just not in a DJ's DNA to be up at 7 in the morning, unless of course you're just getting in" says Dave Seaman talking about the new hours he's been keeping since he became a father. "Sleepless nights have taken on a new meaning for me", he jokes. "Ironically I get more sleep when I go away at the weekend than I do when I'm at home these days."

As he celebrated the arrival of his second baby boy last month, you may be forgiven for thinking family life might start to take it's toll on his non stop touring schedule, but you'd be wrong. " I've probably done as much touring as any DJ over the last 10 years and still really enjoy it but having a family obviously means I now don't want to be away for long periods of time. So there was only one thing for it, we've all been touring together. It's not very rock 'n roll having to ask for cots instead of Jack Daniels on my rider but that's the way it is."

If it's not exactly what Dave originally had in mind when he first dreamed of travelling with an entourage, there are some definite advantages. " The best thing is being able to jump queues at the airport and you're always first on the plane. And If nothing else", he says "at least now I have a bone fide excuse for my terrible dancing. Fathers simply can't dance, it's the law!"

Autumn Top 10 2006

These are a few of our favourite things

1.Flash Mobbing - The impromptu gathering of a large number of MP3 users who all turn up their players in a public place and have a silent disco as seen recently in many a London train station. A surreal experience.

2.TV Solid Gold - Extra's, Sleeper Cell, X Factor, Entourage etc - Staying in is the new black, apparently.

3. Mixmag- Wahey, someone got their spine back- literally and metephorically. So pleased to see my baby back on track.

4.Little Miss Sunshine- Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' laugh out loud comedy of the year. No contest.

5.Cooper Brown - Another reason (as if you needed one!) to buy The Indpendent. The Coop is my hero.

6.You Tube - Hours of fun for all the family. Soon to host every music video ever made. A phenomenon.

7.Creative Put Downs -Numbnut, Dingbat, Bint , etc. Much more fun than your average expletive.

8.Vinyl Heaven - My newly refurbished original 1962 Wurlitzer jukebox. Eat your heart out i Tunes!

9.Leffe - Banana beer from Belgian monks and a non too shabby 7.5% proof to boot!

10.Ryder Cup - I don't know what it is but I still don't get bored of us spanking the yanks, again!

THE MASTERS SERIES

OUT NOW

Click for the eflyer

Dave's long awaited and much talked about mix compilation Renaissance Masters Vol. 7 is out now. Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of the first truly essential mix CD of the year. Don't take our word for it - look at what the critics said:

"Compilation of the month"

"Exactly how a mix should be - 8 out of 10"

"This double CD is blinding...
             The best Masters of the lot."       

"First rate - 4 stars"       

"Not a wasted moment on two solidly packed discs.
              This compilation demands attention."

"Compilation of the week. A truly outstanding pair of             mixes - house music heaven awaits"

Tracklisting

CD1

1. Charlie May - Seal Clubbing [Sasha Remix]
2. Buick Project - Lumiere
3. Oliver Moldan presents Prawler - Phat Lace
4. Thievery Corporation feat. David Byrne -The Heart's A Lonely Hunter
5. Slacker - Memory Man
6. Skystate - Soundflower One
7. Hawaii - Pure [Janicki Mix]
8. Nufrequency - Buy Me [Dub Mix]
9. Chab - Sunrise
10. Phonique ft Erland Øye - For The Time Being
(Montero's Exclusive Masters Dub)
11. Luke Dzierzek - Echo [John Dahlback Remix]
12. Matthew Dekay & Roob V - 2 Da Groove
13. Gabriel & Dresden - Tracking Treasure Down[(Dave Seaman's Group Therapy]

CD2

1. Paradise Soul - Spirit of the Turning Tables Part 1
2. Luke Dzierzek & Liousias present Fling - Randoms
3. Killahurtz - Don't Walk Away
4. Suicide Sports Club - I Don¿t Know [Luke Dzierzek Remix]
5. Sean Quinn & Andy Page - SQAP
6. Sultan & Ned Shepard feat. Stereomovers - Connected [Dub] 7. 16 Bit Lolita's - Sedna
8. Chris Lake - Hype c/w King Unique - Flashing Lights [Acapella]
9. Rowan & Jaytech - Tomorrow
10. Bedrock - Santiago [Dave Seaman's Group Therapy Mix]
11. Shiloh - Dream On [Luke Chable Remix]
12. Guy Gerber - Stoppage Time [Osamu M Emagine Mix]

Renaissance

 What's Hot And What's Not in Dave's World......

First published November, 1st, 2005

Shit Hot....