Bicycle Corporation presents episode 041 of Roots on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across the region and internationally.
The Italian production and DJ duo Bicycle Corporation consists of Marco MEI and Stefano Ugliano, also known as 6884. Together, they have released more than 50 original tracks and remixes across House, Techno, French House, Tech House and other styles.
At the beginning of the 1990s, Marco began his musical work as a DJ and producer with fellow electronic-music enthusiasts in the promoting company Urban People. The collective toured throughout Italy and built a strong reputation, while Marco developed his own standing behind the decks.
Through this work, Marco earned a residency at Pacha in Egypt. It led to international DJ bookings and took his musical work far beyond Italy.
Stefano was born in Torino, Italy, and had gained recognition for his ability with classical and ethnic music before he was 10 years old. He loved Chopin and West African djembes, studying classical piano, percussion and drums with dedication.
As he grew older, the image of a lone DJ in the booth became increasingly alluring to Stefano. The electronic rhythms that were largely absent from Italian radio in the 1990s opened a new chapter for him when he met Marco.
The playlist for this show presents the roots of Bicycle Corporation's sound and the genres from which they have drawn ideas for their electronic releases. Those reference points include Funk, Disco, Soul, Afrobeat, Electro, Rare Groove, Hip Hop and Afrocentric music.
Bicycle Corporation is available for international booking through our DJ agency for Asia. Roots gives the duo space to share records and influences that sit beyond their electronic productions.
Bicycle Corporation's Roots episode 041 programme opens with Loose Joints' Is It All Over My Face in the Kons Duet Mix, issued on West End Records, establishing a Disco-led beginning. James Brown's It's Too Funky In Here, released through Universal Records, follows with the R&B and Funk foundations that inform much of the selection.
The Fatback Band featuring Sinner & James brings We Had Disco into the early run, before Hamilton Bohannon's Me And The Gang appears in the KF Edit. Hotmood's Sound Of Fela introduces the episode's Afrobeat reference, while Mike Simonetti's Bossa Nova in the Civic Club Bootleg takes the set towards a different rhythmic frame.
Yolo featuring James Brown's Normal Thing leads into Bill Withers' You Got It in the Lafleur Edit, keeping Soul close to the centre of the programme. Gayle Adams' Love Fever in the Kmell Edit and James Brown's Get Up (Sex Machine) in the Robby Bergmann Remix extend the sequence of edits around familiar vocal records.
Stargard's Which Way Is Up in the T.G.I.D. & Barry Harris Edit is followed by Irakere's Añung Añunga in the Superprince Edit. Chico Hamilton's Alekasam, released on Rhino/Elektra, brings Jazz Music into the set before Rose Royce's Do Your Dance on Rhino/Warner Records returns to R&B.
Vaughan Mason & Crew's Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll, issued on Crimson, keeps the R&B thread in place before Anne Clark's Our Darkness on Virgin introduces Rock, Synth Pop and New Wave elements. Bombers' Everybody Get Dancin' in the Chewy Rubs Edit then makes way for Joe Tex's Just Begun in the Lego Edit Dub, returning the focus to dancefloor-minded edits.
Nazaré Pereira's Flecha de Fogo, released under her own name, brings Brazilian music into the final stretch. Giulio Camarca & Trinidad's Manha on Shirak closes the programme with Brazilian Bossa Nova and jazz-inflected colour, giving the final records a warm, celebratory feel.
Bicycle Corporation Roots 041 show 28th June 2020
Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face (Kons Duet Mix)
James Brown - It's Too Funky In Here
Fatback Band Feat. Sinner & James - We Had Disco
Hamilton Bohannon - Me And The Gang (KF Edit)
Hotmood - Sound Of Fela
Mike Simonetti - Bossa Nova (Civic Club Bootleg)
Yolo Feat. James Brown - Normal Thing
Bill Withers - You Got It (Lafleur Edit)
Gayle Adams - Love Fever (Kmell Edit)
James Brown - Get Up (Sex Machine (Robby Bergmann Remix)
Stargard - Which Way Is Up" (T.G.I.D. & Barry Harris Edit)
Irakere - Añung Añunga (Superprince Edit)
Chico Hamilton - Alekasam
Rose Royce - Do Your Dance
Vaughan Mason & Crew - Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll
Anne Clark - Our Darkness
Bombers - Everybody Get Dancin' (Chewy Rubs Edit)
Joe Tex - Just Begun (Lego Edit Dub)
Nazare Pereira - Flecha De Fogo
Giulio Camarca & Trinidad - Manha
Listen on Mixcloud here.