Based in the UK but with content contributors from across the globe, could Hectic get to grips with this new venture?

Reports of the digital revolution killing music are clearly premature but mp3s, downloading and file sharing have had their impact on record labels, shops, clubs and other media

Earth Corporation Enterprises’ founders, Robert Strauss and Nick Matthews, wanted to bring together positive and fun elements of music for the culturally inquisitive, but, to be honest, the bar of the Big Chill House with Mr. Luscombe on the decks is probably not the best place to discuss such things. Hey, you’ve got to take you’re opportunities when you can.

We know that Nick Matthews is certainly well placed to head up a global enterprise as he had big Canadian and Dutch connections and he wasn’t averse to jetting off for some DJing in the sun (see A Slice Of Paradise).

Not only that he’s been clubbing since he was 15 (and not to any old rubbish gigs, see That’s How It Is) so certainly he’s well placed to know what’s what. Not only that he was telling me that he’s also spent time in New York and they did have an office in Chicago back in 2005.

Reports of the digital revolution killing music are clearly premature but mp3s, downloading and file sharing have had their impact on record labels, shops, clubs and other media. The answer for ECE seems to be to stick to what they know and love.

They’ve just brought over the Headhunters to tour Europe for the first time in eight years. Their classic ‘Chameleon’ would have been played down at THIS and still sounds funkin’ good to me (they also had some wicked album covers — see above).

The first release on the Earth Corporation Enterprises’ label is EP1, ‘Mr. Feelings’ by Robert Strauss. One of 5 EPs before the release of the album, this is Toronto’s take on modern soul ‘n’ funk.

I recommend the ‘Party In My Body’ mix tape podcast by Jason Sanders. Recorded last month at the weekly Party In My Body in Toronto jam hosted by Richie Hennessey and Robert Strauss, it’s a particularly instructional dose of Afro, Brazilian, soulful funk and hip hop.

What with Marc Mac, one half of 4hero, (who recently released their long awaited new album Play With The Changes, there’s no shortage of talent on the books. “Other artists are being signed as we speak,” he says and there’s a new residency on the 3rd Saturday of the month at The Westbury, owned by the same people as the Old Queens Head in Essex Road. “We’ve got Aaron Jerome and Oli Burton at the first one (24th March). Expect some Soulblender gems that night and I’ll be reporting on some new remix action very soon from Mr. Jerome.

And if you’re going to the Spring Seven Festival in Graz (16-20 May), they’ll be there. Now in its six year, this is Austria’s biggest electonica music festival.

Clearly a busy time for Nick and if you are into your vinyl, a clubber or digitally tied and bound to your computer, check out the Earth Corporation Enterprises web site to check out what’s going on.

Links:
www.earthcorporationenterprises.com
www.bestkeptsecret.uk.com
www.bestkeptsecret.uk.com
www.trustthedj.com/bestkeptsecret
www.myspace.com/bksmusic
www.myspace.com/marc4hero
www.rawcanvasrecords.co.uk
www.4hero.co.uk
Gilles Peterson :: Thursday 01 February 2007
Herbie Hancock — ‘Just Around The Corner’ (Columbia)
www.myspace.com/aaronjerome
www.myspace.com/oliverburton
www.westburybar.com
www.theoldqueenshead.com
www.myspace.com/springfestivalgraz
New stats on the impact of file sharing artstechnica.com
Most say NO to digital rights management weblogs.jupiterresearch.com
NICK MATTHEWS (Best Kept Secret / Earth Corporation) + OLI BURTON (Best Kept Secret) PLUS, In the Upstairs Bar: SAMBALANCO : Saturday 3rd March 2007 MEDICINE, 89 Great Eastern Street, Shoreditch, London Nearest Tube: Old Street (Northern Line) 9 p.m - 3 a.m
www.sambalanco.co.uk www.medicinebar.net