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Magik Johnson - Malone / Jump

Hailing from Auckland NZ, house music heavyweight Dick (AKA Magik) Johnson presents his latest dancefloor demons 'Malone' / 'Jump' - out Jan 30th on Underwater records.

Reminiscent of Laurent Garnier's 'Crispy Bacon', 'Malone' is a driving, arpeggio-led ball of energy which literally chases you round the dancefloor with its sinister de tuned keyboard stabs. Sounds of Detroit echo in the distance on the sub-bass heavy 'Jump' which manages to be deep, catchy and uplifting all at once.

"Malone is probably the hardest, most techy sounding track I've made" says Magik. "I just really wanted to make something that would appeal to the likes of Darren Emerson and Carl Cox but was still playable in a house set. I love techno but rarely get chance to play it and this one seems to work even the deep house crowd." And how did the track come about? "I made Maolne after a night drinking lots of Sake with Basti from Tiefschwarz."

Dick cut his teeth amidst the acid house madness of The Hacienda, where he was Saturday night resident alongside Graeme Park and Tom Wainright. His legendary basement sessions 'The 5th Man' became a part of club history. Residencies followed at Federation, Spice and Renaissance. In the nineties Johnson produced tracks for Cream's Olympic label, New Order's Pleasure Recordings and Paperecordings. Shortly afterwards, he established house heads' favourite Shaboom Records, getting quality producers like Fred Everything, Doc Martin and DJ Sneak on the firm. The label also became the home of Shaboom. Warner Music suggested an album, Taka Boom took vocal duties, and the result was 1999's 'Meccafunk.' The album spawned the hit singles 'Sweet Sensation' and 'If You Need Me'.

He has released tracks on Danny Tenaglia's Twisted label, End Recordings, KAOS in Portugal and Paperecordings, and remixed the likes of Crazy Penis, DJ Sneak and Human League. Magik's remix of 'Amillionsons'/. 'Misti Blu' for London Records/FFRR was a summer anthem in the UK and Ibiza, and got extensive play on Pete Tong's Essential selection, picked as Essential New Tune.

Magik J's track with Ian Pooley 'Piha' sparked a major label bidding war, won by Honchos/NRK. The track featured twice on the Essential Selection and was played by Tong at the Berlin Love Parade to one million people, going on to sell over 20,000 records. Dick's Cardboard Journey mix album met with critical acclaim and saw him compared to Mylo and The Chemical Brothers. Anyone privy to Derrick Carter's recent sets will have been brutally funked by Johnson's Feel Alright.

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