Remembering Larry Levan on his birthday

Raising a glass to influential club DJ/producer Larry Levan with a tribute from François K and pals David Depino & Joey Llanos. 

Multi-track tape of Atmosfear's "Dancing In Outer Space" found in garage

Now 24 years after the death of Atmosfear's Andy Sojka, the "Dancing In Outer Space" multi-track has been found in his garage.

Here's the scoop from Mr. Bongo...

A piece of dance music history right here! The original multitrack for Atmosfear’s iconic hit ‘Dancing In Outer Space’, recently discovered in Andy Sojka’s garage. A Brit-funk anthem recorded at Gateway Studio in Clapham, that soon took over the world.

Produced by Andy Sojka, Jerry Pike and Lester Batchelor, it went on to have global influence. Supported by the likes of Larry Levan and David Mancuso on the mythical dancefloors of Paradise Garage and The Loft, it was also expertly remixed by Masters At Work and François K.

Following the Mr Bongo reissue in 2018, we spoke to Lester on how the track was initially received, “In general people didn’t know how to respond to it because it was so different to anything else that was out at that time. It was very quiet for a few weeks following release... then suddenly all hell broke loose and everyone wanted to know who, where, what and why, and when can I get a copy!” 

Have a listen to the original version of Atmosfear's "Dancing In Outer Space" followed by the popular Masters At Work and François K remixes below. 

LINKS

The Guardian Andy Sojka, 1951-2000

Mr. Bongo Atmosfear

Quantic goes full-on disco with Dancing While Falling

Will Holland wanted to experiment with new sounds and grooves inspired by the work of Bohannon and Larry Levan.

 

Here's the scoop...

The new album by Quantic aka multi instrumentalist, DJ, composer and producer Will Holland is in many ways an evolution. Now 20 years into his career, ‘Dancing While Falling’ is the British born New York based artist’s most live sounding, euphoric and, in his own words, grown up release to date. 

Predominantly recorded at his own Brooklyn studio, Selva, Quantic’s initial idea for his new album was to experiment sonically. However, after a while, he changed direction and realised that the record needed to also relate to the human condition not just his “singular pandemic wormhole”. The demos, then, started off as symphonic, loosely disco era dance music a departure from his previous Latin and Spanish instrumental releases. Influenced by legendary artists in the scene like Bohannon and Larry Levan, Quantic wanted to make a disco leaning album at first. “I’m really interested in Latin music and Afro Caribbean rhythms and I think there's a really amazing point in history where the emergence of those rhythms and its combination with American soul sparked what we now know as disco,” he says.

Get a copy of Dancing While Falling via Bandcamp right here. Listen to "Run" feat. Andreya Triana, "Unconditional" feat. Rationale and the instrumental "Tikurin" below. Check out a recent Juno Daily interview with Quantic talking about the new album right here.  

Will Holland and his partner Aziza Ali at their Selva studio space in Brooklyn.

Happy 80th Birthday Lamont Dozier!

Celebrating composer Lamont Dozier's birthday with "Going Back To My Roots" and Teaspoon & The Waves' funky Soweto spin.

Happy Birthday J. Plunky Branch & Larry Levan

Here's legendary Paradise Garage DJ Larry Levan's remix of Plunky's Every Way But Loose.