A regular on NRK, Urban Torque and Large Music, the Irish vinyl junkie, Scope has seen a pretty packed out year; along with a plethora of vinyl only releases on Kolour Ltd, Carry On, Solardisco and Sccucci Manucci he has also spent the year releasing tracks by Huxley, Russ Gabriel, Cottam and more through his brand new imprint, Seven Music. His remix catalogue includes Tom Middleton, Milton Jackson, and Inxec, whilst being remixed himself by Steve Bug, The Revenge and Martin Dawson. Unsurprising then, that Chicago’s legendary Large Music label hold the keys to his debut Album, Seven Reasons. Here are Scopes (five) reasons as to why he keeps these tracks in his record bag, and probably will do forever…
Didier Sinclair – Lovely Flight – Eukahouse [2001]
Out of the 5 tracks I’ve selected, this one has been in my life the longest. I remember hearing it on a regional BBC Radio dance music show called ‘Across The Line’ (hosted by a local DJ called Paul McClean). I checked the playlist of the show the next day and bought the record straight away! The strange thing is, I don’t think I actually ever played my vinyl copy out. When ever everything turned digital and I started using CDJs, I remember ripping lots of my record collection to play out. This is when I started playing it regularly and the effect is always devastating. I’ve probably played it out hundreds of times now. I tend to drop it quite early in my sets as it really sets the mood! The stabs at the start build anticipation perfectly and then when the bassline drops its a proper heads down groover. This record comes from the period when ‘Tech House’ really came about. The ‘West Coast’ house scene was in full effect and this was the U.K’s take on it. Eukahouse was an unstoppable label back then. Sadly I hear Didier passed away in 1998. R.I.P
Kerri Chandler – Return 2 Acid – Large Music [2005]
I’ve regularly been buying records on Large Music since about 1997/98. This isn’t nessecilarly my favourite track on Large, but it works so good in my DJ sets. It’s a proper club track essentially! I was saying to a friend recently, once you’ve heard one acid/303 track, you’ve heard them all. There is some truth to that imo, but once in a while you get a special one! The lyrics performed by K.C are a bit cliche. I see them more of an atmospheric element rather than a ‘vocal’. It’s all about the beats, stabs, acid and general mood this track sets. Classic Large and classic Chandler!
Cheek – Venus (Sunshine People) (DJ Gregory Remix) – Versatile Records [1996] I’m a massive DJ Gregory fan. I could have easily put 5 DJ Gregory tracks in here. Funnily enough this is a some what ‘wild card’ choice for me though. I had heard all the big French DJs playing this lots years ago. I found it at a record fair back in 2003 I think. Again, I never really played this out on vinyl. I heard Carter or Sneak play it out a few years back and thought, “damn, I’m gonna start playing that out”. I find this track works best towards the end of my sets. With DJ Gregory you normally expect some Afro/Latin vibes or even some electronic style Disco, but this is just full on filtered house goodness. Most filtered house from the late 90′s and early 00′s sounds horrendous now, but this is timeless!
Madnus & Scogil – Carpet Vole – Unfold Recordings [2008]
Aw this is such a track. Sean, my DJ/Production partner in South West Seven and also runs Seven Music with me, got me onto this record about 3 or 4 years ago. It’s quite a long track with a ‘different’ arrangement, so we edited it slightly, to play out. This is mid set territory for me. I like to knock it out a bit at the start and then once the mood has been set I feel comfortable moving into more soulful vibes like this. BUT, this really is an ‘anytime’ record. It just oozes class and positivity. When the piano chords drop with the hi-hat and the track gets going people just smile. In fact, I’ve never seen people smile as much to any record in a club. You just can’t help feel happy when you hear it. It has real cross over appeal too. I’ve heard Jazzanova and Gilles drop this as well as lots of Balearic and Disco DJ’s. Not to forget all the House heads too!
Huxley – Zapp Morriz – Unknown [2010]
This is the only real recent track I’ve decided to include, but a track i seem to be playing out all the time! Huxley is a wonder producer and the re-editing and additional productions skills on show here are testament to the man’s talents! This track is unreleased and one of the many gems I’ve got from soundcloud. I know Huxley and have chatted to him about about the track before. I kinda don’t want to give out anymore details incase he decides to put it out in the future. What I will say though is that it’s a phenomenal track. It’s got a great progression and drive to it also. Another track people just smile when they hear and I always feel confident and excited about playing out so people can hear it!
Words: Scope
