Jazzanova's Paul Van Dyk Joke Isn't Funny Anymore

Alexander Barck from ultra-hip jazz/ hip hop sextet Jazzanova chatted to Skrufff this week and revealed that he used to share a fanatical passion for The Smiths with fellow Berlin DJ Paul Van Dyk.

"I've known Paul from the 80s when we both lived in the East before the Wall came down," Alex told Skrufff, "we used to be the biggest Smiths fans in East Berlin."

"He was the co-DJ of a very bad mobile disco and they used to travel around the city in their little vans with speakers," he recalled.

"Whenever the main DJ was ill, Paul used to play but he'd only ever play The Smiths or Morrissey songs, for us. Then he escaped to the West and when he next came back he told me that techno is the new thing. I remember saying to him 'huh, what's that- He replied; 'imagine music with the drum beat always the same' to which I replied 'are you nuts, man- Think about The Smiths."

While Van Dyk continued to specialise in techno and trance, Alex turned towards jazz, hip hop and soul, going on to found Jazzanova, who ironically have become as critically credible nowadays as Paul Van Dyk is famous. However, despite the fact both DJs still live in Berlin, their paths rarely cross, said Alex.

"I met him once and he didn't want to remember really, I'm not sure what tip he was on," he said.

"He's different; he became a business guy like many others. Which is OK, but it's not my thing."

Jazzanova release their first ever mix CD, Mixing, shortly, on Sonar Kollectiv.
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• paul van dyk
• jazzanova