The newest album from those crazy German cats Mo’ Horizons is called Sunshine Today, and it brings with it a very summery vibe indeed: a classic, soulful and era-spanning collection of jazz-swing, dubby beats, upbeat lounge and sunshine-filled magic. A winning combination for toe-tapping, wing-tipped swingers, it comes with a Gold Star accreditation. They’ll be touring Australia this coming February and March, and ITM got to ask them some questions just for the hell of it…
So, Sunshine Today: what was the process?
The process was not different to other albums we’ve made before – they’re, how can I say it… Momentary statements, of where we are in our musical tastes. With over 25 years of DJing, we are still delving into different styles. You have Latin or jazz on the surface, and then you go further back in time. For example, on this album we’re a little in the 60s and 40s, and as you get deeper, the horizons become bigger and bigger. For Sunshine Today the difference is, the whole range is getting bigger. These are not concept albums, we don’t start with concrete ideas of where we want to go, it’s a flow producing thing. We don’t restrict ourselves to just 60s and 40s influences on this album, but they are there, and it changes as you find more.
Do you think there are places and times you still have to look to?
We have our musical tastes – in over 20 years we’ve become so settled, we’re not suddenly going to change our style too much. Latin and soul are everywhere, but it’s still very interesting… The 40s ad 60s influence on this album is a small aspect, but it’s what is happening and our tastes are still moving and changing… If you want to name it, we like Latin-jazz as ever and swing-blues right now, and at the beginning, it was more Brazilian or Latin.
You present classic genres of music history, all fully danceable. Was this important?
This is where we coming from, you know: we are DJs, so we want to create music for clubs. Our music has been on so many compilations over the last 10 years, some tracks have been released on chillout compilations, and so many people who have heard of us from these sources, associate us with chillout music, which is just not true! If you listen to any of the albums, only a few tracks are chillout. So for us, it’s mostly music absolutely for clubs and dancing, we necessarily produce what we see is missing on the market.
What has travelling and working with international musicians brought to you as producers?
It’s not a new aspect, it’s funny somehow, it seems to be something new, but I’ve been doing this for 20 years and it’s never an issue. The combination of DJs or musicians, it’s naturally what we do and have been doing for a long time.
Agogo Records is your own label – what’s the philosophy?
We were with Stereo Deluxe for a time. They were moving in another direction musically-– the last really good act on the last album was Brazilian and we decided that it was time to move on… The logical step was to start again with a new label, something new. We wanted to produce our own music of course and also give people we meet in the world good music, and give acts we like a chance to release an album on our label. Unfortunately, our worldwide distribution just went down and is now bankrupt, so we have to start again from the beginning with Agogo. We lost money but we found Una Mass Trio – the first ‘45 is out with them called Son Montuno, with an album to follow. We’ll find other good new artists, and then one day we will find new acts to take over from what we’re putting out on the label.
The summer Australian tour… What’s the plan?
“We begin the tour this summer in New Zealand, at the Splore Festival. The tour starts there on 8th February. Then we’re coming to Australia for 5 weeks. It’s our first time touring in Australia, but we have some experiences (a promo tour in 2003) and we’ve been able to influence our tour a little bit. We like the east coast, and are playing there for most of the tour. We’re also looking forward to playing Perth & Adelaide.
So the idea is to promote the label and yourselves?
Yes, our distribution is with Creative Vibes in Australia now. We were with Inertia. I think if it could run all over the world as well as it does in Australia, we would be very happy!
Anything else you’d like to say?
We’re looking forward to playing with Nikodemus in Sydney, a very special event on a boat! I think it might be the highlight of whole tour… Definitely watch out for this one. It’s going to be very special. As well as the other gigs of course such at The Prince in Melbourne where we played five years ago, and a new festival called Playground Weekender on a river north or Sydney
And it should be very special indeed: Elvis Aljus, one of Australia’s finest percussionists, is appearing with the boys on their tour and the performances will be a mix of live and electronic music inspired by the eras of classic and life-affirming musicality. The weather may be uncharacteristically wet and rainy, but you can still get some sunshine in your life this summer!
Sunshine Today is out now through Creative Vibes, and here are the Mo’Horizons tour dates…
Feb 15th – Byron Bay, Great Northern Hotel
Feb 16th – Sunshine Coast, Solbar
Feb 23rd – Brisbane, Alahmbra
Feb 23rd – Sydney, Boat Party
Feb 29th – Perth, Funk Club
Mar 1st – Adelaide, Arts Festival
Mar 7th – Melbourne, Prince Bandroom
Mar 8th – Katoomba, Blue Mountains
Mar 9th – Sydney, Playground Weekender Festival
straightup says...
can't wait. i saw these guys in Istanbul last year and they were mindblowing!