DJ Marco Mei of Bicycle Corporation presents Roots 03, the third instalment of the series, on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Bicycle Corporation is the duo of DJ and producer Marco Mei and Stefano Ugliano, also known as 6884. Marco has performed at clubs including Pacha, Amnesia and Cocoricò, while Stefano works with synthesisers, keyboards and effects and has contributed to several electronic music projects.
Across their time behind the decks, the pair have released music spanning French house, progressive trance and minimal techno. Their sound combines grooves, beats, vocals and synthesised elements, and their catalogue includes releases on Piston Recordings, Natura Viva Music and Alchemy.
Bicycle Corporation works across underground and mainstream dance music contexts, with releases on a range of electronic imprints. Marco is based in Taipei, works across a wider South East Asian network, is available for bookings through the DJ agency and broadcasts weekly on the radio station.
The Roots series draws on influences that inform Bicycle Corporation's sound, including funk, soul, disco, afrobeat, electro, rare groove, hip hop and wider Afrocentric traditions. Roots 03 brings those strands together through recordings from James Brown, Johnny Pate, Jorge Ben, Manu Dibango and many other artists.
Bicycle Corporation's Roots 03 podcast episode opens with James Brown's Sex Machine on Polydor, followed by Johnny Pate's soundtrack piece Shaft in Africa on Hip-O Select. Ramsey Lewis and Earth, Wind & Fire's Sun Goddess leads into Donald Byrd's Blue Note recording You And Music, before Johnny Hammond's Fantasy on Juno introduces a Nu-Disco edge.
Amaro De Souza's A Coroa Do Rey gives way to Babatunde Olatunji's Jin Go La Ba, credited to the Music for Little People label, and Area Code 615's Stone Fox Chase on Polydor. Ralph MacDonald's Jam On The Groove on T.K. Records and James Brown's Make It Funky on Universal Records establish the funk and soul foundation, with Afrobeat and folk-rock references widening the selection.
Manu Dibango's Sabal Dance on Koka Media and Naná Vasconcelos' Rekebra on Bagaria bring African and Latin rhythms into the programme, while Mozart's Brazilart Of Moz adds another rhythmic turn. Toure Kunda's Salaly Muhamed on Virgin Music Africa LAS (S&D) precedes Jorge Ben's Ponte De Lanca Africano and Pulo, Pulo on Seven Up Records, where jazz inflections meet Brazilian samba and bossa nova.
James Brown returns with Give It Up Or Turn It Loose on Rendez-Vous Digital before Can's I Want More on Virgin introduces Krautrock textures. Chuck Brown's Berro & Sombaro follows with disco-inflected motion, while Roy Ayers' Ain't No Sunshine on Universal and Jorge Ben's Em Matogrosso Fronteira Com O Paraquay bring the set back to jazz-informed and Brazilian-rooted material.
Wally Badarou's Chief In Spector opens the later stretch before Tim Toum's Cartoon Band introduces electro elements. The Ganges Orchestra's The Dream on Emotional Rescue moves into Indie Dance, and Matt Bianco's Matt's Mood on Rhino supplies a pop contrast.
Airto Moreira's Batucada on Arista Records and Aparecida's Arue on Disques Espérance return to Brazilian percussion, before Chris Hinze's African Rapness on Keytone brings world music into focus. Tumblack's Invocation leads to Manu Dibango's New Bell Remix MAW, closing Roots 03 with African perspectives and a move towards House Music.
Bicycle Corporation Roots 3
James Brown - Sex Machine [Polydor]
Johnny Pate - Shaft in Africa [Hip-O Select]
Ramsey Lewis - Sun Goddess [Columbia/Legacy]
Donald Byrd - You And The Music [Blue Note]
Johnny Hammond - Fantasy [Juno]
Amaro De Souza - A Coroa Do Rey
Babatunde Olatunji - Jin Go La Ba [the Music for Little People label]
Area Code 615 - Stone For Chase [Polydor]
Ralph Mc Donald - Jam On The Groove [T.K. Records]
James Brown - Make It Funky [Universal Records]
Manu Dibango - Abele Dance [Koka Media]
Nana Vasconcelos - Rekebra [Bagaria]
Mozart - Brazilart Of Moz [IRMA, REC IN]
Toure Kunda - Salay Muhamed [Virgin Music Africa LAS (S&D)]
Jorge Ben - ponte De Lanca Africano
Jorge Ben - Pulo Pulo [Seven Up Records]
James Brown - Give It Up Or Turn It a Loose [Rendez-Vous Digital]
Can - I Want More And... [Virgin]
Chuck Brown - Berro & Sombaro
Roy Ayers - Ain't No Sunshine [Universal]
Jorge Ben - Em Matogrosso Fronteira Com O Paraquay
Wally Badarou - Chief In Spector
Tim Toum - Cartoon Band
Ganges Orchestra - The Dream [Emotional Rescue]
Matt Bianco - Matt's Mood [Rhino]
Airto Moreira - Batucada [Arista Records]
Aparecida - Arue' [Disques Espérance]
Chris Hinze - African Rapness [Keytone]
Tumblack - Invocation
Manu Dibango - New Bell Remix MAW
Listen on Mixcloud Here.