Dirtybird has always been a forward-thinking label and has always been synonymous with sweaty bass-lines, quirky ideas and funky sounds of the American west-coast and their latest CD ‘5 Years of dirtybird’ has all of these in abundance.
Since their creation in 2005 they have been throwing the best parties in San Francisco, traveling the world and releasing records.
But it all started in more humble beginnings; Barclay Crenshaw aka Claude VonStroke’s first party with fellow friend Christian Martin and his brother Justin was attended by only 7 people. But they realised that they still had the beginnings of something special.
After the party Crenshaw took inspiration from fellow Detroit legend Richie Hawtin and decided they would start their own label and create their own musical landscape in San Fransisco.
With more than a little help from his then girlfriend, now wife Aundy, who said to him “I’ll give you one year to make this record label work. I’ll pay the rent, food and bills. If you make $XX amount of dollars you can do it forever”. Five years later he is still doing it, so we can safely assume he made the money and the rest is history.
To celebrate 5-years of hard work, and partying; they’re about to release 5 Years of Dirtybird. The three CD’s don’t only reflect on the last 5-years, but also looks to the future of one America’s quirkiest imprints.
Disc one comprises of all the greatest hits and much love Dirtybird tracks, including the underground sensation ‘Who’s afraid of Detroit’ and the Martin Brothers’ ‘Stoopit’.
The second CD looks at the present; a DJ mix from Justin Martin one of the original founders of DirtyBird. Justin Martin was the first of the crew to get a release with DB001. The mix is fantastic and captures eveything that is great about dirtybird, and with a little bit of help from the 30 tracks from the Dirtybird back catalogue, as well as some future tracks. It is sure to put a smile on your face.
The final CD is all about the future the man behind the label, Claude VonStroke, who apparently spent all year AR-ing to fill the CD. He has created a smooth, deep, collection of future classics; with usual blend of quirky cuts and bouncy bass. It represents the future of the Dirtbird sound, further expanding the the label from San Fransico to Europe and beyond.
This CD is more that just a collection of music – it’s a snapshot of everything the dirtybird crew has lived, breathed and played over the last 5 years; you probably won’t come across a selection of new and old tracks that fit together so well. It’s quirky, subtle, funky tech-house, but unashamedly dirtybird. We love it.
Claude VonStroke Live in San Francisco
[podcast]http://www.mediafire.com/file/nnnlaumgxtu/CVS- live@dirtybird 5 year birthday-San Francisco, Feb 2010.mp3[/podcast]
