Our good friend and one half of Monkey Tennis. Lawrence Brookes has kindly made a mix and boy its a corker! We asked him a few questions to give us a brief insight into his monkey magic.

Larry, cracking mix, when did you put this together, what was happening that day, what mood were you in?

I recorded this on a sunny Saturday afternoon a few weeks back, just bought a load of new tunes that week and I was feeling… determined and ever so slightly tired and emotional.

Heavy Friday night no doubt. So the name Monkey Tennis, where is that from, Alan Partridge?

Yeah the name comes from Partridge – me and Matt (Ralph) had started a night down in South London and we needed a name for it. We both came up with a few ideas but it was a bit like that scene when Steve Coogan is at that meeting with the guy from the BBC, desparately trying to get a second series for his show and coming out with all sorts of rubbish. Backpacking with Chris Eubank, Arm Wrestling with Chas and Dave… Monkey Tennis came up and it just kind of stuck.

Apparently there’s another Monkey Tennis night in Sydney.

Yes, It looks like they have had the likes of the Inland nights guesting – Are you up for a grudge match?

You bet! As long as our air travel, hotel bill and expenses are thrown in…

Sounds great as long and we can join the tour. So what was the first piece of vinyl you bought?

First vinyl was Falco – Rock me Amadeus on 7″ from Woolworths on Finchley Road. It ended up wedged and warped down the back of mum and dad’s sofa after some vodka fuelled “parents are away for the weekend” house party. Great days, great times. First 12″ was M.A.R.R.S. – Pump up the Volume, still got that one.

What’s the most important track on your mix for you and why?

Not sure about most important but my fave track is that Hot Toddy mix of Never Gonna Reach Me by Crazy P. It’s rare to find a really good vocal house track these day in my opinion but this one’s right on the money, got a lovely sentiment and feel to it, really nice tune.

It’s funny, the other Crazy P track “The Hit” is probably one of my favourite Crazy P track. So what’s next for Monkey Tennis?

When we can get our shit together we’ll find another venue to throw a party and keep on keeping on. In an ideal world I’d find a big pot of money at the end of the garden, hire a decent space, get some of my mates and a special guest to play an all-nighter and put on a top night out.

A lot of time and energy goes into a putting a night on, lets hope we don’t have to wait too long for some more Monkey action.  Faze Action and Crazy P who both feature on your mix are performing at the Queen of Hoxton later on this month. You in?

Didn’t know that… Two of my fave producers at the moment – yeah I’m in, see you down the front!

Future Disco – Album Launch Party
Friday, 16th October 2009
Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Road, London. EC2A 3JX
Faze Action (Live), Crazy P (Live / DJ Set), Severino, Sean Brosnan, Matty J

click here for tickets or for more info on the label, click visit http://futuredisco.net/

Download Larry’s mix here;

http://www.sendspace.com/file/tlo77n

TRACKLISTING

You Can’t Hide your Love – David Joseph
Dub-In-Ham-Palace – Wildlife Edits
I’m Just a Sucker for a Pretty Face (Instrumental) – West Phillips
The Hit – Crazy P
In Your Eyes – Toby Tobias (Tensnake Remix)
Never Gonna Reach Me – Crazy P (Hot Toddy Mix)
Magnificent Disco – Disco Deviance (BC Edit)
Dance Disorder – Ilija Rudman (Faze Action Mix)
Party is the Solution – Floyd Beck
Passion – Tom Trago (MCDE Remix)
Raw Cuts 5 – MCDE
Good Loving – Faze Action (Shogone Deep Mix)
Living Without your Love – Walter Jones
P.G.B. – COMBI

Crazy P bore the more fruity name “Crazy Penis” back sometime in 2001 when I discovered their single “You started Something” and have been going from strength to strength since then. Check out their music but if you get the chance, get your dancing shoes to one of their gigs. Lead singer Danielle Moore has more energy than a vat of red bull and Chris Todd, James Baron, Tim Davies and Mat Klose are more than capable of providing a equally infectious soundtrack that will leave you dancing, spinning and making silly shapes all night long.

http://www.crazyp.co.uk/

It was great to see an old favourite Gilles Peterson return to the Isle of Wight. From a Bollywood tent containing 6, to virtual capacity in a matter of minutes the mightly lord of Brownswood is certainly a crowd puller. An educator and true representative of  modern Jazz, hip-hop and soul Gilles continues to supply a diverse and progressive alternative to the mass-audience-music that unfortunately dominates British radio. Catch up with his sound and interviews on Radio One – Wednesdays 02:00-04:00, or take away his podcasts; http://www.gillespetersonworldwide.com/podcasts.php.

Matt normally goes for glittery make-up when meeting celebrities