- A pair of urgent, pandemic-era anthems from Modern Analysis.
- If you know where to look, Traxx has been a vital musical force throughout the pandemic. He has presented a broad, global coalition of DJs and live performers—from Antal to Sadar Bahar to Mozhgan to Delroy Edwards—via three online festivals. In between, he's played heartfelt, ridiculously deep tribute sets to fallen icons such as Richard H. Kirk, Paul Johnson and James Brown, and the music of Nirvana and Miami Vice, to name a few.
There is an urgency to Oliphant's moves right now, informed by the backdrop of legends like Johnson and Mike Huckaby perishing too soon. He recently launched a sub-label called Dirty Blends, an imprint specifically focused on the sound of four revolutionary DJs and the iconic clubs over which they presided—Ron Hardy at the Muzik Box, Larry Levan at the Paradise Garage, Daniele Baldelli at the Cosmic Club and Beppe Loda at Typhoon.
The latest chapter is Modern Analysis's Proto Rhythm EP, Traxx's new collaboration with New York native and steadfast advocate of the jakbeat sound, Alex From Queens. It's the first vinyl release on Oliphant's Nation label in five years, with a limited "no repress" policy in place. Every scene needs anthems, and "Proto Rhythm" has now traveled far and wide, caned by everyone from Ryan Elliott to Derrick Carter. It's easy to see why. On either side, Traxx and Alex work up a fervent analog din, jamming on hardware alongside recognizable voices from the past. These spectral voices remind us to remember those who no longer walk among us and work tirelessly towards a better future.