Wow & Flutter’s Transmission From Space
This one’s been a long time in the making… Pretty much as soon as we started running this mix series, we asked Harry & Lily - AKA Wow & Flutter - to contribute one. They’re very good friends of ours, with a blinding record collection, and an almost unmatched mixing ability around these parts. We’ve personally seen Harry mix for around 8-9 hours in a sitting without dropping a single clang… But that’s a story for another time.
They’ve been working on this mix for something close to 6 months, which means so much to us, and the result is a brilliant example of what they do as a duo. High energy italo/disco pumpers, built for the dancefloor, but with a very keen ear for what sounds good on a hi-fi setup. Very us, basically… We asked them a few Qs to go along with the mix so you can get to know them a bit if you don’t already, which are just below the picture, and the tracklist for the mix is down at the very bottom.
TFS006 - Wow & Flutter
Hi guys, can you tell us a little about yourselves?
We’re Harry & Lily (aka Wow & Flutter, in that order since people started asking). We live in a flat on Ecclesall Road which is essentially one big bedroom with decks = perfect. We have a small set-up consisting of an Allen & Heath Xone:23 mixer and two Technics 1210’s. We use Ortofon Clubs after we enjoyed using the pair they had at Soup Kitchen last year. Our amp is a Quad 405 after you guys recommended them which then goes out through AudioQuest Rocket 22 cables and into a pair of 1970s Mordaunt Pageant series 2 speakers. We also have more records than we have space for, sadly only two plants remaining, and a growing collection of llamas and bucket hats.
Did you have a plan for the mix before recording?
When we get asked to put together any mix, especially from good friends, we always spend a load of time on it. We consider a beginning, a middle and an end, and always write down the tracklist as we go. As these mixes will be accessible until the end of the internet, we like them to be tight which is sometimes hard to achieve with disco as this stuff was probably played by a bunch of stoned people in the late 70s and early 80s. As such it doesn’t stay in time like all the robot music out there (which we also dig). Anyway once we’ve tried a few things, we cut out all the transitions that don’t gel, even if this means not playing records we love. This is a totally different process to playing out or playing on the radio where tight mixing either doesn’t matter as much or is hidden by a big sound system. There’s nowhere to hide on a recorded mix. The first half an hour takes you through some of the slower Italo stuff we’re into then onto a separating part of dark disco including some of our absolute favourites which include Madleen Kane, Betina and Space. After this you come out into some real power with Barbara Norris and the wonderful Mikki. Then onto the last part which is 20 minutes of pure French disco fire. Those guys were just totally awesome musicians.. people like Bernard Fèvre, Théophile Burnau and Bernard Torelli. Absolute Gs.
How have you been keeping busy through the lockdown? Any top isolation tips?
It’s been easy for us as we’re both still working, and it seems still partying almost as much despite not being able to go out. We’ve only succumbed to one family Zoom call so far and are yet to pick up any embarrassing isolation hobbies. We have also invested in one bike (bringing the grand total to two), a lot of alcohol, and a MicroFreak synthesiser.
Anything exciting coming up once the lockdown’s lifted?
Yes, but nothing set in stone so we’ll leave it as a surprise.
Check the guys out on their socials here and here, and listen to the mix here.
Tracklist:
Ann Margret - Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes
Bent Boys - Walk The Night
Xenon - Xenon Galaxy (Theme Version)
Veroniqué - Jungle Man (Jaz Edit)
The Black Angel - Change An Angel
Betina - The Hunters
Madleen Kane - I’m No Angel
Unknown Artist - H.A.N.D 05 - 120
Space - Carry On, Turn Me On
Barbara Norris - Heavy Hitter
Mikki - Dance Lover
Sipho ‘Hot Stix’ Mabuse - Break Dance
Black Devil / Prins Thomas - On Just Foot (Slide Inside)
Les Yeux Orange - Samurai
Black Devil - “H” Friend
Junior Negro - Lady Midnight (French Disco Mix)
Malibu - 80s 80s