Click for more on Mugwump

“I’m pretty concerned about all the corporations taking control of the whole world and we’re obviously the batteries that are powering them, Matrix-stylee.”

Geoffroy Mugwump started his DJing/ music-making career in the 90s, pioneering Belgium’s New Beat scene though these days is as likely to produce disco as house, techno or whatever other style catches his interest. Working as Mugwump with Kolombo (aka Olivier Grégoire) he’s also one of Belgium’s recognized international DJs, yet despite his own personal popularity admits he’s more than a little worried about 2012.

“The future looks awful,” he sighs, “With a mix of the theories developed in science fiction movies and futuristic books such as Rollerball, The Matrix and 1984, all turning into reality.” (Click here to read George Orwell’s 1984 in full: http://www.george-orwell.org/1984 )

“Besides the huge and constant crimes of the financial institutions, the food, information and pharmaceutical industries are frightening, the self-effacement of the statesmen in favor of the lobbies is a reality and the only exit looks like being in the entertainment business. It’s a sad world,” he says.

Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): What are your musical predictions for 2012?

Mugwump: “Hopefully some more really ‘forward-thinking’ and more mutant and diverse dance music will come into the spotlight again. There’s been some great e-funk house music from the (Crosstown) Rebels’ camp and its branches in there but all in all, the über-hype on mono-maniac, retro-nostalgic and generic, linear, drum-kit house music is now at saturation state. I like it deep but not dull: it’s getting ridiculous.”

Skrufff: What do you forsee is the future for dubstep: for David Guetta-style dance-pop?

Mugwump: “I have no magic ball for this but, I reckon the more young people will like mainstream pop-house music, the better it is for later as they should later progress onto more underground dance music, hopefully. As for dubstep, I’m not based in the UK nor really following it but I sometimes do play some killer cool techno dubstep stuff from the likes of Hyetal or Instra:mental.”

Skrufff: What about the financial crisis; what do you expect for next year? 

Mugwump: “Obviously a huge mess in Europe awaits. And given the fact that the Obama administration has reconfirmed all the deregulation craftsmen at decision-taking posts at the start of his mandate and since the US notation (credit rating) agencies that had a pivotal role in the 2008 crisis are now firmly playing against the euro zone, I can’t see it getting any better this year.”

Skrufff: How much do you believe in destiny/ fate generally? What’s been the biggest stroke of luck/ serendipity you’ve experienced?

Mugwump: “I have to be thankful to the fairy who’s taken care of my destiny lately, I’m very lucky really, that’s all I can disclose (smiling).”

Mugwump’s (brilliant) remix of CCC’s Acid Snow is out this January (click here for more information; http://bit.ly/vACF65 ) followed by AKA JK 26002600″ Mugwump rmx (throne of blood) in March (click here to listen: http://bit.ly/sYVmfN )

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Slap Gaddafi; click on the picture to play

Colonel Gaddafi’s right hand man Mansour Dhao Ibrahim spoke to the Guardian this week about the Libyan dictator’s final moments and revealed Gaddafi was ‘angry and disappointed’ as the rebel forces closed n.

“He thought his people should love him until the end. He felt he had done so many good things for them and for Libya,” said Ibrahim, “He also felt betrayed by men who had seemed to be his friends, like Tony Blair and Silvio Berlusconi.” (BBC: http://bbc.in/uJxMxx )

Details of Gaddafi’s disappointment came as the Guardian published an in-depth report on the rise of alternative new political parties disillusioned with mainstream politicians, including the Pirate Party and Hungary’s Lehet Más a Politika (LMP), Politics Can Be Different.

LMP won 16 seats in Hungary last year, which party leader Virag Kaufer, 36, said resulted from citizens being ‘tired of the arrogance and ignorance of the political elites and their inability to change the current situation’.

“All over Europe there is the same disillusionment with the political elite. You can see this with the Occupy Movement in Wall Street and elsewhere,” she suggested.

“People are demanding to be listened to, especially young people. They have nothing to lose – unemployment hasn’t been this bad for a long time,” she added. (Guardian; http://bit.ly/vDulQZ )

Meanwhile In America, legendary journalist Bill Moyers labeled US politicians as gangsters in a speech delivered for consumer group Public Citizen this week.

“Barack Obama criticizes bankers as “fat cats”, then invites them to dine at a pricey New York restaurant where the tasting menu runs to $195 a person. That’s now the norm, and they get away with it,” said Mr Moyers.

“The President has raised more money from banks, hedge funds, and private equity managers than any Republican candidate, including Mitt Romney. Inch by inch he has conceded ground to them while espousing populist rhetoric that his very actions betray.

Let’s name this for what it is: Democratic deviancy defined further downward. Our politicians are little more than money launderers in the trafficking of power and policy – fewer than six degrees of separation from the spirit and tactics of Tony Soprano,” he claimed. (Alternet: http://bit.ly/tT3gfp )

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff