Featured DJ Chart: Motor City Drum Ensemble (Best of 2009)

Don’t be fooled by the name – Motor City Drum Ensemble consists of just one man: Danilo Plessow, who hails from Germany’s very own motor city, Stuttgart. Combining a knack for clever sampling with a penchant for analogue equipment, MCDE has cultivated a style that is somehow incredibly loose and tight at the same time. To many, this man is the producer of 2009 – his ubiquitous Raw Cuts series draws on the spirit of Detroit legends like Theo Parrish, Moodymann, while other productions stray into techno territory. Add to that a slew of superb remixes for the likes of Tom Trago and DJ Sprinkles, and you have one very special producer. Here Danilo speaks to Juno Plus about the mainstays in his DJ box over the past 12 months.

1. DJ Sprinkles – Midtown 120 Blues (Mule Musiq)

“The DJ Sprinkles album was by far the best house album this year for me. It was in my car CD player for almost six months, and I never got tired of it. I was very glad to do a remix for him as well, and I think it is the best remix I have done so far.”

2. Bodycode – Immune (Spectral Sound)

“This is another great, great house album (and it is incredibly hard to make a HOUSE album!) – by one of the most talented guys out there at the moment.”

3. Levon Vincent – Double Jointed Sex Freak (Novel Sound)

“Levon Vincent was just what my DJ bag needed this year. One foot in the past, one in the future, incredibly deep, yet very good to fit in my sets and rock the floor! More, more, more please.”

4. Bocca Grande – Intensive Spot (Four Roses)

“This record differs so much from everything I’ve heard before. It’s incredibly free -it feels almost like some Sun Ra piano on a house beat. We were very glad to have this on our label Four Roses. Watch out for more of these guys next year!”

5. DJ Koze – Mrs Bojangels (Circus Company)

“Drop this at 7 in the morning and watch ‘em go crazy. Koze is the business. Oh, and “Dr Fuck” is the funniest homage to “preacher house” I have ever heard.”

Check out the full Motor City Drum Ensemble “Best of 2009” chart at Juno Records.