another sad day in "music-" and "djing-history" ... Panasonic has decided to end the production of our so much beloved "turntable tanks" due to a lack of demand.

i don't know if this all happens because of the fact, that everyone is using these digital interfaces nowadays thinking that everything that is digital must be better than the analog equivalent OR that the market is saturated because of the fact, that someone who has ever bought a technics would have it for a "lifetime" - even if he/she tries to scratch it to death or drown it in "cuba libre" or "gin & juice".

I doubt that because i experience a similar process in photography too, where brands like agfa, fuji, or kodak stop producing polaroids, roll- or sheet-films; not to talk about photo-paper for the analog process in b&w or color. I also want take this sad news as an opportunity to make you conscious about one more thing, that keeps running through my head: "Let's just hope this will not also happen to some of our beloved independent music producers, that can not efford making music anymore, because nobody is officially buying their releases. downloading might totally make sense to find a way in this endlessly deep ocean of sounds that came up with digital producing methods. No-one wants to buy the "katze im sack"; i don't! but if you like the music; buy it! and support artists! no matter if you're playing serrato or vinyl.

I'd like to say thank you to my "by now" over ten year old pair of technics, that has never let me down in any sense of the word ... download "dj kompact's - serrano scratch" mixtape from 2008. keep the vinyl alive ... peace, lens j

Dear friends and family ... I'm going to start rolling up a little bit of our history from now on. A history that somehow started before we even realized that it would become our's too... Cause of course some of us were still shitting in the pants back then. It was the mid 80ties, that should be the beginning of a long era in Gmunden's "Freestyle Sport" and "Creative Mindz" history ...

In the first photo (1987) you will find two of those guys responsible for lots of that ... our dear long time friends Gerald Loidl (first from the left) and former flatland world champion Richard Vobr (second from the left). Both part of the "BMX Team Gmunden". I sadly never met the others as far as I remember, but in the back you see another really good friend of ours, that would accompany us over the years in various shapes and forms: The Ghetto-Blaster! Blaaasting Hip-Hop into my ears from the first day I remember joining the "Sportplatz-Force" in 1994. There are lots of stories I could tell from here, but for now i just want to "HOLLAAA!" at those who cleared the way for generations to follow.

And that's what all you "Skaters and BMX-freestylers" out there that enjoyed this pre-heated nest in Gmunden back then and the ever growing skatepark and freestyle sport community should do too. Hold still for a moment, think back and ... "HOLLAAAA!!!"'

Without the effort of Gerald, Rick, Mario, Rudi, ... a lot would have turned out different i suppose and maybe the one or other would have worshipped anything else but a miniramp, skateboard or bicycle. I'm writing this post, because i think it's important, to bring into our mind again, that there was a time when new ramps and obstacles were not suddenly falling from the sky. A time when we used to build those wooden ramps on our own; having the will to create!  (and of course we had a ghetto blaster in 1995, what did u think?!).
I can only speak for myself, but I think I don't do any wrong by saying that a part of this possee, the various groups existing within it and the freedom we all somehow experienced together changed and shaped my life. And I also believe that this time and this place where lots of us met, was also leading some of us to what they do now ...

... being free mindz, doing whatever they do, but doing their thing, making films, taking photos, doin graphics, producing, nerding on music ... and cars of course. KEEP CREATING my friends & DO YOUR THING!!!! Thx for one part in my personal "school of life" FAM!!! And to some of our friends that got lost along the path, R.i.P ... we won't forget the time we all had together!

Finally, the new collection from SO LCH LD CLOTHING, a label specialized in strictly one off unique pieces by Rotaug´s very own TINI, has just arrived. Unique clothes at an unbeatable price. Dresses inspired by the style of the 1940s, fine blazers, overalls, leather and fabric bags, a variety of necklaces, rings and bracelets! Also a fine selection of cool shirts for men by young bangkok-based designers!

Interested? Just drop Tini a E-Mail or get in contact with her via facebook, come over and get yours... But remember, as each piece is unique, don´t sleep on this!

May the soul be with you...