Bicycle Corporation presented Roots 5 on Scientific Sound Asia, originally aired on 23 September 2018. Scientific Sound Asia operates as an Asian electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music-news platform, connecting audiences across the region and internationally.
Bicycle Corporation is the collaboration between Italian DJ and producer Marco Mei and Stefano Ugliano, also known as 6884. Formed in 2009, the partnership brought together two DJs with a shared interest in electronic music and a broad approach to selection.
Marco began DJing in Turin in 1991, during the formative years of Italy’s underground House and Techno culture. His early work was associated with the Urban People collective, through which he took part in the city’s electronic music scene.
That period gave Marco experience in DJing, promotion and event organisation before his career moved onto a wider circuit. His grounding in House Music and Techno later informed both his solo sets and the studio direction he brought to the pair.
His career later included a residency at Pacha in Sharm el-Sheikh, an important period in his international work. Marco also appeared at venues including Woo Bar in Bali, The Mansion in Shanghai, Fuse in Brussels and The Observatory in Ho Chi Minh City.
The duo’s catalogue has grown to include more than fifty productions and remixes. Their releases have covered Deep House, Tech House, French House and Techno, demonstrating the range of their studio work.
Their music has appeared through labels including Alchemy, Miniatures, WL77, Suka and GrooveTraxx. Those releases placed the project within several strands of underground electronic music while preserving the distinct roles of its two members.
Roots provided a setting for material beyond the pair’s club-oriented productions, drawing on older recordings and wide-ranging musical references. The programme’s selections moved across Jazz, Disco, House Music and Deep House, rather than following a single electronic style.
Bicycle Corporation’s Roots 5 on Scientific Sound Asia presents an archive selection linking Funk, Afrobeat, Electronica, Brazilian music, Jazz Music, Disco and Synth Pop. The episode features music from Paul Hardcastle, Jean-Michel Jarre, Konk, Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Manu Dibango, Azymuth, George Duke, Tony Allen, Depeche Mode, Koto and Hamilton Bohannon.
Paul Hardcastle opens with 19, placing the episode inside 1980s electronic pop before Hipnosis moves into Italo Disco with End Title (Blade Runner). Jean-Michel Jarre then adds Zoolookologie, keeping the opening section close to sampled voice work, electronic sequencing and studio experimentation.
Konk’s Your Life brings the set into Funk before Pierre Moerlen's Gong adds Jazz Music through Arabesque. Ozo then introduces Afrobeat with Anambra, giving the early section a percussion-led West African club direction.
Shadowfax’s Another Country moves the programme back into Jazz Music before Milton Nascimento brings Brazilian songwriting into focus with Notícias Do Brasil. Manu Dibango’s Soul Makossa then returns the episode to Afrobeat, followed by Azymuth with Tambourim, Cuíca, Ganzá, Berimbau.
George Duke’s Brazilian Love Affair links jazz fusion with Brazilian influence, while Tania Maria’s Funky Tamborim keeps the section close to rhythm-led Brazilian material. Tony Allen then brings N.E.P.A., placing Afrobeat percussion and drum language at the centre of the tracklist.
Depeche Mode’s instrumental version of Shout introduces Synth Pop before Koto returns the set to Italo Disco with Chinese Revenge. Splash Band’s The End then moves the middle section back into Electronica.
Hamilton Bohannon’s I Got To Stay Funky and Booker T. & The M.G.'s Melting Pot bring the programme back to Funk. A Fantástica Bateria then adds Ali Se Vai Ao Samba, returning the episode to Brazilian rhythm.
Allez Allez sustain the funk direction with African Queen, before St. Germain’s Percussion adds a Deep House entry. Luka Italo Perez, Hamilton Bohannon and Tribaalismo close Roots 5 through Disco and Afrobeat with Melody Of Samba, Let's Start The Dance and Mogador.
Bicycle Corporation Roots 5
Paul Hardcastle - 19
Hipnosis - End Title (Blade Runner)
Jean Michel Jarre - Zoolookologie
Konk - Your Life
Pierre Morlen's - Gong Arabesque
Ozo - Anambra
Shadowfax - Another Country
Milton Nascimento - Noticias Do Brasil
Manu Dibango - The Soulkouss 1
Azymuth - Tambourin, Cuica, Ganza, Berimbau
George Duke - Brazilian Love Affair
Tania Maria - Funky Tamborim
Tony Allen - N.E.P.A.
Depeche Mode - Shout (Instrumental)
Koto - Chinese Revenge
Splash Band - The End
Hamilton Bohannon - I Got To Stay Funky
Booker T & The MG's - Melting Pot
A Fantastica Batteria - Ali Se Vai Ao Samba
Allez Allez - African Queen (1981)
St. Germain - Percussion
Luka Italo Perez - Melody of Samba
Hamilton Bohannon - Let's Start The Dance
Tribaalismo - Mogador
Listen on Mixcloud Here.