Hernán Cattáneo

2004年百大DJ第6名、2005年百大DJ第7名、2006年百大DJ第15名，Renaissance厂牌力捧的南美阿根廷新生代电舞宗师Hernan Cattaneo，在短短数年间异军突起，在各大电音好手与前辈环伺的百大DJ排行榜中窜出，似乎天生就是吃DJ这行饭的他，在十多年前因缘际会下从朋友身边接触了由纽约带回的黑胶唱片后，开启了他通往DJ的大门。然而被Perfecto厂牌创办人暨知名DJ Paul Oakenfold收纳旗下，于02年所发表的个人首张混音辑《Perfecto Pres. Hernan Cattaneo－South America》，则曙光乍现开启他挥洒自成一格的优雅浪漫前卫浩室格局。   04年开始Hernan Cattaneo受Renaissance厂牌网罗，发行的个人首张“Renaissance－The Masters Series”为他一举豪夺年终百大DJ第6名，而相继一年后的《Renaissance－The Masters Series: Hernan Cattaneo Vol. 2》，与去年Renaissance厂牌特地为Hernan Cattaneo打造的个人混音辑《Sequential》，则是继当代英伦传奇DJ John Digeweed后于此厂牌拥有个人系列混音选的新生代代表人物，由此可知，Hernan Cattaneo的电音宗师地位更为明确。   如今，睽违一年《Sequential Vol. 2》再起，并带著全球巡回后的宏观视野及不拘泥于传统型式的前卫浩室风情，以优雅华丽Progressive景致为基调完美融入Deep／Tech／Electro等电舞物种的后Progressive House格局。并与来自世界各地诸如以色列的Chaim、罗马尼亚的Livio & Roby等不为人熟知的杰出电音创作人才合作，交出足能与欧陆名家分庭抗礼的电舞作品，平衡且明确演绎出Hernan Cattaneo特有的电舞诗歌才情。CD1开幕曲〈Sweep〉再经由Hernan Cattaneo与录音室伙伴John Tonks重新炮制后，静谧空灵的情境氛围与背景女Vocal所吞吐出情绪铺陈，彷彿就像骤雨来临前空气中布满零星水气分子的幽闭感，而隐身遁出的低音重拍逐渐由弱转强的细腻混音手法，逐一勾勒出抽象不著边际的音乐蓝图。除此之外，近来出现于《GU31 Taipei》与《Renaissance Pres. Nic Fanciulli Vol. 2》中的Francois Du Bois〈I Try〉一曲，则是经由Nic Fanciulli加持过后的全新版本。而乐迷们所熟知的16 Bit Lolitas、Marco Bailey、Kosmas Epsilon等名家亦都纷纷尽出为其抬轿，并随著专辑时间的行进，愈能感受到兼容细微电气颗粒、放肆电流乱窜与恣情挥洒于弹指之间收放自如的稳健混音功架。承接起CD1末曲舞池情绪的CD2开场Oliverio〈The Second Angel Is Here (Sequential Mix)〉，随著乖张放肆的节拍亦步亦趋的朝向舞池前来。之后接棒的Spencer Parker〈Neon (Guy Gerber & David K Mix)〉与James Harcourt〈Arachnofunk〉则一举推向Electro／Tech House的局面，再交由希腊电气创作人Steve Mill〈Lia〉一曲拉回至Progressive的步伐，整张Set就在这样Deep／Tech／Electro／Progressive错综交置的行进间挑逗著听觉神经、触发起深层的跳舞基因。假若说性感、挑逗、浪漫、热情、诱惑是阿根廷人与生俱来的音乐人文风情，那么Hernan Cattaneo应是当中的个中翘楚，毫无疑问的，身为一位优雅浪漫的诗人DJ，与赐予人欲望的魔术师。   For some DJs, music is more than just their passion or occupation – it’s the reason for their existence, the thing that keeps their world turning. Hernan Cattaneo is that special breed. Across his three decade journey through music, the legendary South American DJ has lived his life through the music that inspires him; inspiring thousands of electronic music lovers across the globe in the process.   As a respected label owner and producer, Cattaneo’s creative output remains as plentiful as ever. In just two years, his Sudbeat label has risen up as a leading light in melodic electronic music – regularly releasing material from names like Guy J, Henry Saiz, Nick Warren and Danny Howells. Hernan’s own tracks have provided other highlights in the label’s growing discography, with the Argentinean electronic music ambassador currently working on many studio projects.   Sharing these sounds – and those that inspire him – is at the heart of Hernan’s musical mission and is something he achieves through his relentless touring schedule. A resident at the UK’s longest running weekly event The Gallery @ London’s Ministry of Sound, Hernan’s DJ passport is stamped with the most respected dance events on the planet. From Serbia’s Exit to Las Vegas Electric Daisy Carnival, Spain’s Monegros to Holland’s Dance Valley, just about every major dance event has been graced by Hernan’s expertly weaved DJ journeys.   Blessed with a deeply ingrained knowledge of house music and its many electronic roots, Hernan’s own DJ journey can be traced back to the mid-80s in Buenos Aires. Fascinated by pioneering synth-pop and post-punk bands like Depeche Mode and New Order, Cattaneo soon became consumed by imported 12”s from the likes of Frankie Knuckles, Derrick May and Inner City. Before long, the young music lover’s instinctive desire to DJ and share this new found love of Chicago and Detroit based sounds had lead him to his first – and now legendary – residency at Buenos Aires Clubland.   Clubland became the epicentre of Argentina’s burgeoning dance scene and Hernan rose up as its spiritual leader. It is here where he earned the respect – and friendship – of legendary DJs like John Digweed, Sasha, and – most significantly – Perfecto boss Paul Oakenfold, who invited Cattaneo to join him on Perfecto.   With the window of global opportunity opened, the Argentinean ambassador impressed at every turn. Club giants Cream soon recruited Cattaneo as their South American resident and were impressed enough to install him as international resident at Cream Liverpool & Ibiza. Rapidly gaining a taste and skill for the larger stage, Hernan soon followed with appearances at festivals like Nevada’s legendary Burning Man as well as key debuts at European institutions like Homelands, Bedrock, Pacha and Fabric. By the time, Hernan had mixed Perfecto’s first international mix CD – South America volume – he was confirmed as one of those rare DJs able to transform the DJ set into a true art form. Each individual set became a complex voyage through genres, emotions and sound.   Both a true DJs DJ and a people’s favourite, Hernan’s popularity has spiralled in the years since. Now respected as one of electronic music’s true legends, Cattaneo stands proud as a DJ, producer and ambassador of the highest pedigree. From John Digweed’s standard bearing Bedrock imprint to Manchester´s Hacienda Records or the legendary Ministry of Sound, a host of electronic music’s most pioneering labels have all called on Hernan’s studio skills at some point over the past years. He is also one of a select breed of DJs to have enjoyed more than a decade in the DJ Magazine Top 100 poll.   Known for his love of all music, regardless of genre, Hernan’s unique ability to weave stories from sounds are also responsible for some of the most celebrated mix CDs of recent years. Back in 2005, it spoke volumes on Hernan’s rising stock that he was hand-picked to succeed DJ legends like John Digweed, Deep Dish and Sasha on the aptly named Masters series. Seizing the opportunity, Hernan’s debut marked him out as a legend in his own right. Widely loved and acclaimed, his individual mix shifted seamlessly through genres and was coloured with both the rich seam of melody and lush lulling groove that his fans have come to love and know him for.   In the year since, he has followed with four more mix CDs for the globally renowned Renaissance – including their 50th ever album in 2009 and his acclaimed 2010 album ‘Parallel’, which featured no less than 12 of his own productions and remixes.   For the many thousands of music lovers that lap up their sounds the world over, these CDs provide a perfect snapshot of what Cattaneo is all about. It’s that human connection that drives Cattaneo further through music. And whether he’s taking crowd on an epic journey at festivals like Coachella, Exit and Creamfields or beaming his sounds across the globe through his weekly podcast and radio show on Delta FM 90.3, Buenos aires,he is able to be inspired and inspire in equal measure.