Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2010

Courtesy of Eleven

If the words “space” and “disco” conjure images of hairy, keytar-wielding men in spandex, then head to Nishi-Azabu’s Eleven and check out Prins Thomas. The Norwegian DJ won’t look as cheesy as the ’70s forefathers of disco, but he’s one of the leading exponents of the genre’s 21st-century reinvention.

Space disco, sometimes called cosmic house, is a cousin of Krautrock but with a less flamboyant, riff-driven sound similar to that of Italo disco—think Giorgio Moroder or Manuel Göttsching hooking up with Pink Floyd.

Thomas has been DJing since the age of 10, amassing an eclectic record collection, playing bass in punk bands, and breakdancing. Along with his musical partner, fellow Norwegian Lindstrøm, he spearheaded the rise of space disco in Europe, with the two collaborating on some seminal releases, including an eponymous 2005 outing. Since then, Thomas has launched a label, Full Pupp, and become a prolific remixer for the likes of The Chemical Brothers and Juan MacLean of the DFA crew.

Thomas is featured on Japanese label Music Mine’s upcoming release, Zero Set II Reconstruct, alongside DJ Nobu and techno master Ricardo Villalobos. The four-track CD is a tribute to the short-lived Krautrock project Moebius, Plank, Neumeier, whose Afro-futurist, drum-heavy album Zero Set (1983) is regarded as a turning point in dance music.

In 2006, Villalobos caused techno heads to raise their handbags when he released a 37-minute track titled “Fizheuer Zieheuer.” And now he’s done it again: on Zero Set II Reconstruct, his version of “Mango Solo” is a whopping 33 minutes…

Keeping it Scandinavian, Sebastian Mullaert arrives at Womb on the back of his debut mix CD as a solo artist. As part of the duo Minilogue with fellow Swede Marcus Henriksson, Mullaert is known for productions inspired by imaginary creatures. His knack for mixing shines on Wa Wu We, One Love, a two-disc affair recorded the proper way—live on turntables and replete with the fractionally-out-of-sync-moments you only get spinning wax. CD 1 is a deep, house-y affair that sonically explodes at the right moments, like on the spooky “Jakata B” and on his edit of El Txef a’s “She Kissed Me First.”

CD 2 bangs harder, hinting at what’s in store for Mullaert’s appearance in Shibuya. After winging its way around Metropolis HQ, the second disc actually gets the nod over the first—we can’t get enough of those bongos, clay drums and otherworldly chants intertwined with thumping, straight-up techno. Jerome Sydenham and Dennis Ferrer’s driving “Jero” sets the tone, while Cio D’or’s “Goldbrokat” provides the beginning to a dreamy, hands-in-the-air climax.

Eleven
Soundpost. House, disco: DJs Prins Thomas, KJ a.k.a. DJ Patrol, etc. From 10pm, ¥3,000 w/1d. Nishi-Azabu. Tel: 03-5775-6206. www.go-to-eleven.com

Womb
Endless Flight. Techno: DJs Sebastian Mullaert, Kawasaki, etc. From 11pm, ¥4,000. Shibuya. Tel: 03-5459-0039. www.womb.co.jp

Zero Set II Reconstruct is available on Music Mine on Oct 20. Wa Wu We, One Love is out now on Mule Musiq.