Juno Plus Podcast 04: Wolfram

We have Wolfram’s mum to thank for the rich melodic beauty of this Juno Plus podcast.

“When she listened to my new album she told me, ‘hey Woolfy, I didn’t know you made nice music’,” the poodle permed Austrian producer explained with a chuckle.

“Before she was listening to my house or techno tracks; she doesn’t like that. So when I came to make this mix, I decided I would make one that my mum would like. It’s basically a mix that older people can listen to. It’s not just nerdy techno tracks, it’s synthesizer music and, I think, really melodic.”

Wolfram, aka Diskokaine, recently released an impressive debut album on Permanent Vacation, featuring collaborations with Hercules & Love Affair, Haddaway (yes that Haddaway!), 80s disco don Paul Parker and former Juno Plus podcast mixer Legowelt.

Before putting together the album, he’d released very few records though he was the knob-twiddling synth genius behind Sally Shapiro’s shimmering Euro pop excursions.

Wolfram makes for a romping fusion of wobbly Italo disco, Cowley-esque Hi-NRG, Moroder-ish stomp and cheery European pop. The reaction, he said, had been positive.

“I’ve never done so many interviews. Actually, Moby interviewed me for Interview Magazine (the New York publication founded by Andy Warhol in 1969).

“He only asked me a few questions and then went off to write the article so it could just say ‘Wolfram sucks’ or it could be really nice (laughs).”

His Juno Plus mix has been on repeat in the office since it first arrived, opening with the timeless, shimmering beauty of “Gassenhauer” and ending with the epic “River Song” by former Beach Boy Dennis Wilson. In between you’ll find a couple of tracks from Wofram’s album – we’ll assume they’re his mum’s favourites – plus some killer synth-pop and disco.

Juno Plus Podcast 04 – Wolfram by Juno Plus on Mixcloud

(The download of this mix has now been archived. You can still stream it via the Mixcloud player above)

Length: 1:01:13

Tracklisting:

1. Carl Orff – Gassenhauer (Quintessence)
2. Wolfram ft. Hercules & Love Affair – Fireworks (Permanent Vacation)
3. The Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu – Down Town (KLF Communications)
4. 1000 Ohm – The Claim (Plaza Records)
5. My Favourite Toys – Life As A Toy (Virgin)
6. Wolfram – Roshi (Permanent Vacation)
7. Global Communication – 054 (Dedicated)
8. Rational Youth – City of Night (RCA)
9. Anne Clark – Our Darkness (Virgin France)
10. Karen Young -Deetour (Atlantic)
11. REM – Computer Communication (Xanadu)
12. Za za – Zauberstab (Blow Up)
13. Tony Garcia & Little Suzy – Take Me In Your Arms (Bellaphon)
14. Dennis Wilson – River Song (Caribou Records)