>

Over the last few years, UK producer Erol Alkan (holding an allergy lump above [Ed.– furry fluffy buddy]) took some of our most loved (and loathed) songs and tweaked them into some of our favorite club records. Actually, they're just some of our favorite records, club or otherwise. He totally trashed Daft Punk's "The Brainwasher" and plated Scissor Sisters' wimpy "I Don't Feel Like Dancing" in sterling silver, all the while producing original works with Richard Norris under the Beyond The Wizards Sleeve moniker. But it all began when Alkan helped start Trash in 1997, a London Monday club night noted for breaking bands and DJs and generally owning shit for the better part of a decade. Trash shuttered last year, but Alkan obviously wasn't done with the clubs just yet, as he's recently opened Trash's successor, Durrr at The End, which promises to continue the path cut by Trash. We caught up with Erol recently to ask him about Trash, Durrr and shitty weather, all of which you can read about after the jump.

For those who don't know, can you explain why you ended Trash?
The short awnser is I felt that ten years was a long enough time for Trash to exist. It has been a joy from the very beginning, and I didnt ever want that to sour, i never wanted to see it slowly die. It went out on a high which was the perfect complement to its lifetime. 3,000 people turned up and the party ran hours overtime. There was an atmosphere present which I doubt I'll ever feel again.

I also want to concentrate on other projects, something which I could never do with Trash taking up a lot of my time.

What can people expect from Durrr?
To its credit, Durrr will develop in the same way Trash did, through time and with the combined effort of the DJs and the people who come down. Although it's already considerably different in layout, music and how people interact with each other.

What else have you been working on lately?
Just remixed Midlake as Beyond The Wizards Sleeve with Richard Norris. There's the Klaxons remix, as well as some other ones which I can't mention as yet. Production wise, more work with The Long Blondes and Mystery Jets. The next Jets record is going to suprise a lot of people.

Do you see any parallels between the current club music and the heyday of Big Beat? If so, do you consciously avoid being put in that scene to avoid the inevitable wane?
I suppose there is a parallel. With regards to being part of a scene, I have friends who make music whom I may be close to. The fact that I am friends with these people is more important to me than if a scene bonds us, so I tend not to notice. By the same notion, I dont set out to befriend other DJs or musicians whom people think I am part of a scene with.

Who would you be interested in producing for or remixing that you haven't already?
I let fate create my choices. I see these things as acts of collision.

Name something you listen to a lot that no one would expect.
I'm not sure what people think of me. I dunno. I like listening to the shipping forecasts on the radio.

How's the weather?
It's grey and heavy. Depressing as per usual.