Creamtone

Ever since I discovered Internet radio some 5 years ago, no station has quenched my musical thirst more consistently and had me beaming from ear to ear more often than SomaFM.

It is a listener-supported, commercial-free Internet radio station that is run by a bunch of guys broadcasting from a basement in San Francisco.

SomaFM boasts 7 stations broadcasting a gorgeous rainbow of musical genres, each one holding a unique personal space in my heart…

DRONE ZONE
“Served best chilled, safe with most medications. Atmospheric textures / minimal beats.”

I spent many cold winter nights in London spacing out to the intimate ambient soundscapes of Drone Zone, which was the 1st station that was launched by SomaFM. Beautiful bliss.

Tune In:
128k mp3 stream

BEAT BLENDER
“A late night blend of deep-house and downtempo chill.”

Whenever I’m in the mood for something more upbeat yet chilled, Beat Blender offers an eclectic selection of triphop, downtempo, chillout, jazz and house. Pure class.

Tune In:
128k mp3 stream

GROOVE SALAD
“A nicely chilled plate of ambient beats and grooves.”

Ahhh… The soundtrack to endless summer days, lazing on the grass with a pint of Stella in one hand. And who can forget the bikini babes?

Tune In:
128k mp3 stream

CLIQHOP IDM
“Blips’n'beeps backed mostly w/beats. Intelligent Dance Music.”

It always amazes me how digital machines — so artificial, so synthetic, so non-organic — can create soundscapes that move the soul & soothe the most savage beast.

Tune In:
128k mp3 stream

SECRET AGENT
“The soundtrack for your stylish, mysterious, dangerous life. For Spies and PIs too!”

This is where it starts to get funky and kitschy. If you’re in the mood for uber stylish tunes to match your mysterious moonlighting job as a secret agent, this is the station for you.

Tune In:
128k mp3 stream

INDIE POP ROCKS
“New and your favorite classic indie pop tracks.”

Once in a while, I like to switch off all that electronica & indulge in some frenetic air-guitar action. I swear there’s an aspiring rock-star wannabe hidden inside me.

Tune In:
128k mp3 stream

TAG’S TRANCE TRIP
“Progressive house / trance. Tip top tunes.”

Ahh, how it all began… Dancing in abandoned cathedrals in Brixton with megawatt soundsystems, gurning like mad monkeys and never wanting the music to end. Memories!

Tune In:
160k mp3 stream

After 5 years, SomaFM still kicks butt. According to their website, the name Soma is based on “the future’s perfect pleasure drug”.

Word.

2 comments

Two years? At least.

After shutting the previous website for an extended hibernation, I guess it’s time to revive Creamtone. Yes, it’s time to dust off the vinyls, hook up the bassbins, spin up the decks & party like it’s err… 1999!

Yeah, baybeh… Tonight, the Milky Bars are on me!

Funny that you mentioned 1999 (just pretend that you did), cos’ it was at the turn of the millennium when - over a post-FABRIC, greasy 7am fry-up at a tiny breakfast parlour run by hairy Greek men in Farringdon, London - my musika chillmate Roy (“Royston / Razor”) and I had an epiphany.

We should start a record label and throw the best parties in London.

Or, at least in the EC1 district.

Heck, we’d been practising hard at it for the past 3 years at Exeter Uni. with our mates in the Creamtea Collective anyway.

After years of dabbling in the scene, experimenting, organising mad parties, gaining experience and establishing contacts; we finally decided it was time for the Creamtea Collective to make a start at something official. Creamtone Records was born on May 1st, 2000. Creamtone Records began as a net label/community dedicated to showcasing creative talent, whether it be designers, producers or DJs. Our mission was to share our passion for good music and art. With our motley posse hailing from Finland, Sudan, Brunei, UK, France and Singapore; we had some truly unforgettable adventures.

Creamtone lives on, although it’s run solely by me now… the ethos remains the same and my bruthas, sistahs and I remain tight even though we hardly get a chance to meet and party anymore. Yeah, it’s hard when we’re spread out all over the world.

Kudos to my mates; here’s sending massive big-ups and heartfelt wishes to…

• Henri aka En Route (Finland)
• Mo’ aka L Sultan (Sudan)
• Roy aka Royston/Razor/Geezer (Brunei/UK/Paris/Baltimore jetsetter)
• James aka Haze (UK)
• Nathan aka Draco (UK)
• Dave aka BNZ (UK)
• Matt aka Ultra (UK)
• Samantha aka Lady J (UK)
• Wei Wei aka Cherry Garcia (Brunei/UK)

Let’s do it again. Real soon.

1 comment