Bicycle Corporation presents episode 69 of Roots on Scientific Sound Asia. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, DJ agency, promoter and music-news platform connecting audiences across the region and internationally.
Bicycle Corporation is an Italian pairing of DJ and producer Marco Mei and Stefano Ugliano, better known as 6884. The pair have amassed more than 50 releases across Techno, Deep House, House, Melodic and French House.
Marco began his career in the early 1990s as part of the crew behind events including Urban People. His work earned recognition in Italy’s music scene and led to demand throughout the country.
His profile later brought a residency with the Pacha nightclub brand. It also led to international bookings around the world.
Stefano, who is from Torino, Italy, showed musical potential from a young age and devoted much of his free time to music. He studied classical piano, percussion and drums, while developing an appreciation for Chopin’s compositions and the tribal rhythms of the West African djembe.
Alongside these interests, Stefano was especially drawn to the DJ behind the turntables. The beats that fascinated him as a teenager were rarely heard on Italian radio stations at the time.
Creating those sounds and performing them to large audiences can appear unattainable. Marco and Stefano’s hard work, dedication and tenacity ultimately brought Bicycle Corporation into being.
Marco and Stefano still acknowledge their modest origins. They have revisited some of their earlier tracks and created a Bandcamp page to share them.
Their radio show features a broad spectrum of Afrocentric music, including Funk, Afrobeat, Disco, Reggae, Hip Hop, Brazilian, Rare Groove, Latin Music, Jazz Music and Soul. Bicycle Corporation is available for bookings through the DJ agency.
Bicycle Corporation’s Roots episode 69 opens with Antena’s Camino Del Sol, before Barabbas brings Wild Safari into the sequence. Crosby, Still, Nash & Young’s Dark Star and Herb Alpert’s Rotation, issued through Rhino Atlantic and Herb Alpert Presents respectively, broaden the opening with rock and jazz-rooted material.
Kraftwerk’s Trans Europe Express on Parlophone UK introduces a landmark Electronica record. Depeche Mode’s Shout follows on Venusnote Ltd., while Liaisons Dangeroueses’ Ls Niños De Parque on Soul Sheriff Records keeps the electronic focus in place.
Hamilton Bohannon’s The Groove Machine gives way to Talking Heads’ Once In A Lifetime, released through Rhino/Warner Records. KC & The Sunshine Band’s Black Water Gold on Parlophone UK and Dance Reaction’s Disco Train on La Musique Fait La Force bring brighter pop and dancefloor material into the middle stretch.
Yello’s The Race on Polydor delivers the set’s Synth Pop moment before Paul Lewis’s Inner City Blues on Parlophone UK turns towards Nu-Disco. War’s Good Feeling, Logo’s African Dream and Martin Acuna’s Dance, Dance, Dance on Pikes Records extend that rhythmic passage.
Harry Thumann’s Underwater on Decca supplies a Eurodisco edit before The Sisay Sound Bwoy’s Furious Drums and Asphalt Jungle’s Freakin Time increase the percussive emphasis. Manu Di Bango’s Big Flow and Kongas’ Anikana - O then add further global and club-facing contrasts.
Aiuto Moreira’s Toque De Cuica on WM Brazil leads into Osunlade’s Cantos A Ochun Et Oya on Yoruba Records, bringing House Music into the final section. Gilberto Gil’s Patuscade De Gandhi on WEA Music precedes Donald Byrd’s You & The Music [BC Re-Edit], ending the programme with Brazilian rhythm and a jazz-informed re-edit.
Bicycle Corporation Roots 69
Antena - Camino Del Sol
Barabbas - Wild Safari
Crosby ,Still ,Nash & Young - Dark Star
Herb Alpert - Rotation
Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express
Depeche Mode - Shout
More Jive - Rhythm Trax
Liaisons Dangeroueses - Ls Niños De Parque
Eddy Grant - Time Warp
Hamilton Bohannon - The Groove Machine
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
KC & The Sunshine Band - Black Water Gold
Dance Reaction - Disco Train
Yello - The Race
Paul Lewis - Inner City Blues
War - Good Feeling
Logo - African Dream
Martin Acuna - Dance, Dance, Dance
Harry Thumann - Underwater
The Sisay Sound Bwoy - Furious Drums
Asphalt Jungle - Freakin Time
Manu Di Bango - Big Flow
Kongas - Anikana - O
Aiuto Moreira - Toque De Cuica
Osunlade - Cantos A Ochun Et Oya
Gilberto Gil - Patuscade De Gandhi
Donald Byrd - You & The Music [BC Re-Edit]
Listen on Mixcloud here.