From an eager teenager taping shows from underground radio, to a DJ of world standing, the last five years have seen Australian spinner DJ Perplex soar. Set for the release of volume 2 in his ultra-fly ‘Digital Killed The Vinyl Star’ Mixtape series, Perplex has also been enlisted as the spokesperson for new Nintendo DS game ‘DJ Star’.

Having made a name for himself by taking out the Australian DMC title in 3 consecutive years, then going on to claim 7th place at the world finals in London late 2008, Perplex has established himself as an in-demand DJ, regularly playing the hottest clubs and festivals across Australia, Asia and Europe.

More than just playing record after record, Perplex’s highly evolved Turntablist skills play an integral part in his DJ show, as he mixes Electro, with Soul, Funk, Hip Hop and Baltimore, with layers of atmospheric undercurrents. The result is a genre-bridging mash-up style that is as original in its delivery as it is eclectic.

Approached by Madman Interactive to be the ambassador for their new game ‘DJ Star’, Perplex only needed to play the game once and he was hooked. Simulating life as a vinyl slinger, DJ Star challenges the player to mix together over 40 available tracks, with the objective of getting the crowd dancing and reaching the dizzy heights of world stardom. You can even create your own dance floor destroyer. The more people you get up dancing, the more points you win. With 200 unique audio samples to draw from, players can create tracks in the ‘Creation Studio’, bringing them into the game or share them with friends via the Nintendo DS Wi-Fi connection.

To officially launch ‘Digital Killed The Vinyl Star – vol 2’ and ‘DJ Star’, a special Melbourne event is happening at First Floor on Friday 23rd October. Perplex will be playing for 2 hours alongside his hand picked local lineup of B.Two (Simply Bread), Mu-Gen (Slap n Dash), Scattermish (Slap n Dash) and Who (The Late Show). To add some more sugar to the mix, there will also be a massive door prize and copies of ‘DJ Star’ given away throughout the night thanks to Madman Interactive.

Not sure why I am posting this Press Release at all cause nobody has sent me a Nintendo DS and I normally hating the arse raping corperates so let’s call it a one off.

Where: First Floor, Fitzroy
When: Friday 23rd October
Doors: From 9PM
What: A night of superb DJing and loads of giveaways!
Tickets: $10 on the door

Within the first thirty seconds of Tornts third album “Hells Burn” you know exactly what you are gonna get. Scrap that, within the first 5 seconds of deep dirty bass, strings and drum loops you are taken straight into Hell with Tornts as your guide. “Tornts Is Back” picks straight up where 2006 release “Decimation Recordings” left off.

Tornts skills still lie in his dark imagery, his lyrics capture a seedier side to the city streets and put it forward in such a manner that the listener begins to look around them and start to notice exactly what Tornts is on about. Take a line out of “Final Warning” for example “Stumbling in tuned Air Max 2008 down Smith St. / Iceheads are twisted Torvill and Deans with schemes up their sleeves”. It is here the difference between those who choose to ignore or accept what is happening around them is highlighted. Certainly not preaching but painting the picture of the real world is one way of looking at Tornts lyrical matter, “It Is How It Is” is another perfect example of this style of lyricism.

Production once again is handled by Tornts himself and he has certainly progressed on this side. Still full of obscure samples and loops but this time with a heavier, bigger bass influence. Part grimy, part horrorcore, all MPC driven head nodders. Once again crafting his own soundscape works perfectly for his style of aggressive, take no prisoner hip hop. The production also suits the other emcees that appear on the album. Guest artists venture outside of the Hired Goons for the first time on a Tornts album, although not that far. With appearances from Brad Strut and 750 Rebels the verses are just as intense and aggressive and will not disappoint those who know what to expect of these beasts. Hired Goons are represented with spots for Bigfoot, Gargoyle, Fletchrock, Diem and fellow Booze Bastard Billy Bunks.

The main difference in Tornts new album are the lyrics that go that little deeper. Whilst in his past two releases it has been all about taking aim at various people who piss him off, in this there are quite a few glimpses into Tornts and his life. “Corrupt” delivers insights such as “Non forgiving psyche/ since I was a youngin rackin slyly/ raised up in the weatherboards entirely/no life of riley”. Similarly in “Rank Tale” we get a hung over tale including mistakes we have all made “I should have turned my phone off/ who did I ring/ ah fuck/ I severed those connections/ flashbacks of heckling/ and telling them I hate them”…”Torntski you’ve only got yourself to blame”. It is almost an acceptance of the negatives and consequences of certain actions. Once again this is where Hells Burn differs from the continual onslaught in past albums.

Overall this is a Tornts album, full stop. Aggressive, hateful and gritty. However this offering appears to have a more thoughtful landscape when it comes to the subject matter of the last two. No longer is it just hippies and toys within the scene being torn, Tornts is looking around the whole fucking world to pick out what he doesn’t agree with and he certainly lets it be known.

By Gareth M

Hellsburn is distributed by Shogun Entertainment and is available now in all good record stores – Go cop it, while it lasts! Ed