Bicycle Corporation present Roots episode 38 on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across Asia and internationally.
Bicycle Corporation is the Italian partnership of DJ and producer Marco Mei and Stefano Ugliano, also known as 6884. Together, they have released more than 50 original productions and remixes across House Music and Techno.
During the early 1990s, Marco began his musical path as a DJ, inspired by the emergence of electronic and Afrocentric music. He subsequently held House Music and Techno events throughout Italy with the Urban People collective.
His DJ work led to a residency at the Pacha nightclub franchise in Egypt. The residency also opened opportunities for international DJ appearances and expanded his musical work beyond Italy.
Born and raised in Torino, Italy, Stefano showed musical ability from an early age through studies in classical piano, percussion and drums. He also developed an appreciation for Chopin's work alongside the rhythms of West African djembe.
As his interest in music developed, Stefano was particularly drawn to the electronic DJ's ability to engage an audience. The electronic beats rarely heard on 1990s Italian radio opened a new direction in his life.
The track list below represents the roots of Bicycle Corporation's sound and the influences that inform their electronic releases. These include Funk, Disco, Soul, Afrobeat, Electro, Rare Groove, Dub, Reggae, Brazilian music, Hip Hop and Afrocentric music. Bicycle Corporation are available for booking through the Scientific Sound Asia DJ agency for Asia.
Bicycle Corporation's Roots episode 38 opens with Africa 1 Dance & Theatre's Drum Dance, released on Makossa, before Manu Dibango's Lagos Rework brings an Afrobeat reference into view. Johnny Hammond's Fantasy (Faze Action '79 Disco Edit), on Juno, follows with a disco-focused reworking of the original recording.
Modena featuring Maceo Parker's The Rattlesnake and Average White Band's Work To Do (Petes Doozer Rework) keep the early section connected to the funk and soul sources behind the programme. 1gnition's Secret Sunday Lover (Greg Wilson Edit), released by Love Is War Music, adds an Indie Dance turn before The Yardbirds' For Your Love (Todd Terje Re-Edit) and Mike Simonetti featuring KC & Sunshine Band's Midnight Or Late Afternoon.
Black Soul's Ahoë (Mangous Yé), issued through Wagram Music, returns the selection to Afrobeat-inflected rhythms. Easy Going's Baby I Love You on Fulltime Production, Ray Mang's Toffee on Eskimo Recordings and G.A.N.G.'s Incantations (Vocal Version) on Discomagic Records establish an Italo Disco stretch.
Thompson Twins' Nurse Shark, released by BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd., introduces the synthetic textures of Synth Pop. Disgooo Band's Disgooo (Beppe Loda Cut) and Kongas' Tattoo Woman, released by Malligator Productions and Because Music, shift the emphasis through disco into Nu-Disco.
The Sinsay Sound Bwoy's Furious Drums makes room for Timmy Thomas' Afrikano, bringing the programme back towards Afrobeat. Telex's Voice then revisits the episode's Synth Pop element before Voyage's Point Zero, on BMG Rights Management France SARL, returns to Nu-Disco.
Voilaaa's Manu Écoute Ça, released on Favorite Recordings, brings African Music into the final section. Yello's Goldrush on Polydor closes the episode with a pop-oriented electronic finish, completing the varied set aired on 7 June 2020.
Bicycle Corporation Roots 038 show 7th June 2020
Africa 1 Dance & Theatre - Drum Dance
Manu Dibango - Lagos Rework
Johnny Hammond - Fantasy (Faze Action -79 Disco Edit)
Modena Feat. Maceo Parker - The Rattlesnake
Average White Band - Work To Do (Petes Doozer Rework)
Ignition - Secret Sunday Lover (Greg Wilson Edit)
The Yarbirds - For Your Love ( Todd Terje Re-Edit)
Mike Simonetti Feat. Kc & Sunshine Band - Midnight Or Late Afternoon
Black Soul - Ahoë (Mangous Yé)
Easy Going - Baby I Love You
Ray Mang - Toffee
G.A.N.G. - Incantations (Vocal Version)
Thompson Twins - Nurse Shark
Disgooo Band - Disgooo (Beppe Loda Cut)
Kongas - Tatoo Woman
The Sinsay Sound Bwoy - Furious Drums
Timmy Thomas - Afrikano
Telex - Voice
Voyage - Point Zero
Voilaaa - Manu Écoute Ça
Yello - Goldrush
Listen on Mixcloud here.