Picture by Pablo Bustos Photography
For anyone with their finger on the pulse of the electronic music industry, you would have discovered by now that a particular Chilean DJ has received a barrage of abuse from a wealth of revellers from the weekends Cocoon In The Park showcase at Temple Newsam, Leeds, who expressed their hate towards his performance on the Cocoon Facebook page – highlighting that he 'killed the vibe.' The man in question is none other than Ricardo Villalobos, one of the most respected figures in electronic music quite simply because he does what he believes in, whether that be playing Star Wars – The Imperial March at fabric, or a mixup of Yazoo and Norm Talley at Sunwaves, Villalobos is more than a surprise package.
Although his antics behind the booth and party persona have come under scrutiny in the past, which are talking points in themselves, you can't help but think that it might have just been a bad day at the office for one of the world's most internationally acclaimed DJ's, or the fault of the programmers fitting him in between Carl Cox and Sven Vath. However, the response from Saturday is not even a minor blip on the minimal maestro's emphatic career and here's just some of the reasons why...
fabric36
Picture by fabric
In the words of the master - 'It is all my productions and it's a form of introducing an album as a mix. Every time you do an album and then you do the next one, people start to compare how the music is different.'
One of the mix series most compelling editions which is made up entirely of Villalobos' exclusive productions, and is one of the most significant projects that he has embarked upon and succeeded with emphatically. An absolutely timeless artifact from one of fabric's most beloved artists.
Catalogue of remixes
There is no other artist that can rework a track and embody the original sound balanced perfectly with a new interpretation and influence. With over 200 edits, here are some of his best...
He doesn't 'like to sleep'
'Some people are afraid of not being powerful enough. Some are afraid of being alone. I prefer not to sleep.'
Sleeping is the human way of functioning, but not for Villalobos...who is still a musical genius without getting even forty winks.
He discovered the young talent of Raresh
Picture by nightclubber
Ricardo Villalobos famously discovered Raresh in Bucharest, Romania in 2006. Since then, Raresh has estbalished himself as one of the worlds best DJ's. Thank you Ricardo!
He breaks down barriers
What he is renowned for is breaking down barriers of normality. His style may be pronounced as weird, articulate, eccentric and an acquired taste, but his all round ability as an artist is unparalleled and at times, mind blowing. Villalobos has formed his own dynamic sound that can never be replicated, influencing masses of other producers to attempt it. To his faithful followers, Cocoon In The Park is a untraceable dip among his career that has and continues to span years of perfection.
By Sam Quilter
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