Bicycle Corporation presented Roots 11, episode 11 of the programme, on Scientific Sound Asia on 5 May 2019. 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 collaboration between Italian DJ and producer Marco Mei and Stefano Ugliano, also known as 6884. Formed in 2009, the project has released more than fifty productions and remixes across Deep House, Tech House, French House and Techno.
Marco Mei began DJing in Turin in 1991 and became associated with the Urban People collective. His work as a DJ, promoter and event organiser placed him within Italy’s early underground House and Techno culture.
That period led to a residency at Pacha in Sharm el-Sheikh and further international appearances. His venue history has included Woo Bar in Bali, The Mansion in Shanghai, Fuse in Brussels and The Observatory in Ho Chi Minh City.
Ugliano was born in Turin and developed his musical grounding through classical piano, percussion and drums. His interests also included the rhythmic traditions of West African music and the work of Chopin.
Electronic music became an important part of Ugliano’s interests during the late 1990s, when unfamiliar sounds on Italian radio opened up another field of listening. Those foundations gave Bicycle Corporation a partnership combining DJ experience, production and formal musical training.
The duo’s releases have appeared through labels including Alchemy, Miniatures, WL77, Suka and GrooveTraxx. Their catalogue is rooted in electronic music, while Roots gave them space to present records outside a strictly club-focused format.
Mei is based in Taipei and works across a wider South East Asian network. He is available for bookings through the Scientific Sound Asia DJ agency and broadcasts weekly through its radio station.
Bicycle Corporation’s Roots 11 on Scientific Sound Asia presents an archive selection linking Disco, Funk, Jazz Music, Electronica, Soul, Brazilian music and Synth Pop. The episode features music from Africa Djolé, Nazaré Pereira, Walter Wanderley, Donald Byrd, Papa Levi, Herb Alpert, K.I.D., Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Depeche Mode and Clive Stevens.
Africa Djolé opens with Wassahoumba, placing African rhythm at the front of the episode before Nazaré Pereira moves into Brazilian material with Moutinho. Carmel then bring a Soul entry with Easy For You, followed by Walter Wanderley’s Os Grilos (The Crickets Sing For Anamaria).
Carl Sherlock Holmes adds a Funk turn with Modesa, before Black Man introduces an electronic entry through White Storm - AEO. Donald Byrd’s You & Music then moves the programme into Jazz Music, followed by Brooklyn Dreams with the disco-led Street Man.
Papa Levi’s Massive ’N’ Hard brings Reggae into the tracklist before Fellowmen return the set to Funk with Under My Fat Things. Yase’s Cosmic Lions and The Tubes’ Drums then widen the episode through electronic and rock-rooted material.
Sunlight Square’s I Believe In Miracles brings the programme back to Funk before Runaway adds Don’t Let Go. Haysi Fantayzee’s Jimmy Jive and Richard Wahnfried’s Time Actor then move the middle section through new wave and Electronica.
Secession’s Touch introduces Synth Pop before Herb Alpert’s Bullish returns the episode to Jazz Music. Queen Samantha, The Michael Zager Band and K.I.D. then build a Disco section with Take A Chance, Like A Tiger and Don’t Stop.
George McCrae’s Don’t You Feel My Love adds a Soul entry before La Batterie’s Let There Be Drums returns the selection to Disco. Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin then bring Before It’s Too Late, placing the late section back inside jazz and fusion territory.
The Stranglers’ Paradise and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Dark Star add rock and new wave references to the closing stretch. Depeche Mode’s Shout, Anna’s System Break, Herb Alpert’s Rotation and Clive Stevens’ Mystery Man close Roots 11 across Synth Pop, Electronica and Jazz Music.
Bicycle Corporation Roots 11
Africa Djole ’ - Wassahoumba
Nazare’ Pereira - Moutinho
Carmel - Easy for You
Walter Wanderley - Os Grilos(The Crickets Sing For Anamaria)
Carl Sherlock Holmes - Modesa
Black Man - White Storm -AEO
Donald Byrd - You & Music
Brooklyn Dreams - Street Man
Papa Levi - Massive ’N’’ Hard
Fellowmen - Under My Fat Things
Yase - Cosmic Lions
The Tubes - Drums
Sunlight Square - I Believe in Miracles
Runaway - Don’t Let Go Runaway
Haysi Fantayzee - Jimmy Jive
Richard Wahnfried - Time Actor
Secession - Touch
Herb Alpert - Bullish
Queen Samantha - Take A Chance
Michael Zager Band - “Like A Tiger
K.I.D. - Don't Stop
George Mc Crea - Don't you feel my love
La Batterie - Let There Be Drums
Lee Ritenour Dave Grusin - Before It's Too Late
The Stranglers - Paradise
Crosby, Still, Nash & Young - Dark Star
Depeche Mode - Shout
Anna - System Break
Herb Alpert - Rotation
Clive Stevens - Mystery Man
Listen on Mixcloud Here.