Bicycle Corporation presents Roots episode 029 on Scientific Sound Asia, a programme first aired on 5 April 2020. Scientific Sound Asia is an Asian electronic music radio station, DJ agency and promoter that also operates as a 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.
Marco began his musical path in the early 1990s, drawn to the emergence of electronic and Afrocentric music. After that introduction, he helped run nights with the Urban People collective across Italy.
His work on the decks brought wider recognition and led to a residency at Pacha in Egypt. The residency brought international bookings and began a musical mission that took him around the world.
Born and raised in Torino, Italy, Stefano showed strong musical ability from an early age. He studied classical piano, percussion and drums with commitment, while also developing an interest in Chopin and West African djembe.
As he grew older, Stefano's interest in music developed into a fascination with the electronic DJ energising a crowd. The electronic beats that were difficult to hear on Italian radio in the 1990s opened a new chapter in his life.
The selection below represents the Roots of Bicycle Corporation's sound and the influences that inform their electronic releases, including Funk, Disco, Soul, Afrobeat, Electro, Rare Groove and Hip Hop. Bicycle Corporation are available for booking via our DJ agency for Asia.
Bicycle Corporation's Roots episode 029 programme opens with Barry De Vorzon's Theme From The Warriors on A&M before Jean-Luc Ponty's Mirage on Rhino Atlantic brings Jazz into view. Joe Jackson's soundtrack piece Zémio, issued by A&M Records, and Serge Gainsbourg's Psychastenie on Universal Music Division Label Panthéon give the opening a pop and soundtrack-led contrast.
Milton Nascimento's Notícias Do Brasil on Abril Coleções introduces a Brazilian Jazz thread, followed by Jorge Ben's Apareceu Aparecida and Oba, Lá Vem Ela. Zaka Percussion's Lagos Nigeria on Le Chant Du Monde and Charlis Samson Adande's Alleluiya on Celluloid place Afrobeat rhythms at the centre of the early section.
James Brown appears with Get Up Offa That Thing on Volcano and Soul Power on Polydor, bringing Funk into contact with the episode's Nu-Disco and Disco leanings. Gary Criss's Rio De Janeiro on Salsoul Records and Claudja Barry's Sweet Dynamite extend the dancefloor focus before Azymuth, DJ Meme and Marcos Valle arrive with Jazz Carnival on Far Out Recordings.
Chicago's Street Player in the Cailum Staats Club Dub shifts the original recording into a House Music setting, while Jermaine Jackson's Erucu on UNI/MOTOWN adds an R&B turn. War's Youngblood (Livin' In The Streets) on Avenue Records and Ze Carlos's instrumental No Meu Brazil then keep the selection moving between rock, Brazilian material and extended club-minded versions.
XTC's It's Nearly Africa on Virgin Records leads into the New Wave character of David Thomas & The Pedestrians' The Crickets In The Flats on Rough Trade. Carte De Sejour's Ouadou and Skatt Bros.' Walk The Night on Universal Records bring African and Indie Dance references into the later stretch, before The Jackson Five's Hum Along And Dance returns to R&B.
Vangelis's Dervish D on RCA Records opens the experimental and ambient passage, followed by The Ganges Orchestra's The Dream on Emotional Rescue. Elis Regina's Caxangá closes the Brazilian strand before Fela Kuti's Rofrofo Flight gives Roots 029 a final Afrobeat statement.
Roots 029 show 5th April 2020
Arry De Vorzon - Theme From The Warriors
Jean-Luc Ponty - Mirage
Joe Jackson - Zémio
Serge Gainsbourg - Psychastenie
Milton Nascimento - Notícias Do Brasil
Jorge Ben - Apareceu Aparecida
Jorge Ben - Oba, Lá Vem Ela
Zaka Percussion - Lagos Nigeria
Charlis Samson Adande - Alleluiya
James Brown - Get Up Offa That Thing
James Brown - Soul Power
Gary Criss - Rio De Janeiro
Claudja Barry - Sweet Dynamite
Azymuth, Feat DJ Meme, Feat. Marcos Valle - Jazz Carnival
Chicago - Street Player (Cailum Staats Club Dub)
Jermaine Jackson - Erucu
War - Youngblood (Livin' In The Streets)
Ze Carlos - No Meu Brazil (Instrumental Version)
XTC - It's Nearly Africa
David Thomas & The Pedestrians - The Crickets In The Flats
Carte De Sejour - Ouadou
Skatt Bros. - Walk The Night
The Jackson Five - Hum Along And Dance
Vangelis - Dervish D
The Ganges Orchestra - The Dream
Elis Regina - Caxangá
Fela Kuti - Rofrofo Flight
Listen on Mixcloud here.