Damian Lazarus offers Burning Man mix, Crosstown Rebels’ L.A. gig

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British electronic producer and DJ Damian Lazarus, who relocated to Echo Park a few years ago, has had a great run of late. His record label, Crosstown Rebels, is home to some of the world’s most acclaimed deep house and techno producers -- Detroit’s Seth Troxler, London’s Deniz Kurtel, Art Department, and Lazarus himself, who evolved from electronic music A&R man in the 1990s to DJ to producer to label head to, most recently, Burning Man devotee.

Crosstown Rebels’ most recent collection, ‘Rebel Rave,’ is an apt title, and the label will celebrate its success -- along with Lazarus’s most recent mix, ‘Get Lost 4’ -- on Saturday night at the Music Box, where much of its roster, including Lazarus, Kurtel, L.A.-based Droog, Troxler (who will be debuting in L.A. his Visionquest collaboration, which includes fellow Detroiters Lee Curtiss, Ryan Crosson and Shaun Reeves) and others, will throw an all-night party featuring both live performances and DJ sets.

But Black Rock City is on Lazarus’ mind, where in 2010, he explains at the beginning of his two-hour mix, LazPod 22, ‘I got to experience a truly inspirational festival. Being there last year made a huge impression on me, and this music that I put together for you has been fermenting since that time, and I now feel ready to offer it. It may not make easy listening for everyone -- the following does go to some magnificantly weird places, and it was inspired by a very special arts gathering in the desert.’

Lazarus spent the year since last Burning Man working on this most recent LazPod, the 22nd mix in his ongoing series, and it moves all over the place, from New York City to the Middle East to London and folkie England. “If you are going to the festival,’ he wrote in an email, ‘please upload this mix for your journey or maybe plug in your headpieces and take me in your ears as you ride your bike out on your desert voyage. And for those not coming on this quest, please feel free to find a suitable alternative space and time in which to give this session a listen.”

Download: Damian Lazarus - LazPod 22

Going to the playa this year? You can check Lazarus, Art Department, Jamie Jones, Magda, Heidi, Deniz Kurtel and Mr C on Wednsday night at the Liquid Sky party with the Robot Heart Sound System.

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-- Randall Roberts