Over the tumultuous ten years since its inception, Phonica Records has provided a constant reference point for electronic music lovers in London. Whilst the last decade has seen innumerable changes in the arcing and intermingling trajectories of dance music, the record shop – nestled in the cultural heartland of Soho – has obstinately maintained its status as a guiding musical beacon. Founded by a small collective of dance music enthusiasts that included Simon Rigg, Tom and Heidi Relleen, Will Saul and Pete Herbert, the shop quickly established itself amongst the crème de la crème of London's vinyl distributors.
With a finger firmly on the pulse of the international dance circuit Phonica became renowned for its rare collections and exotic tastes, which have been lauded by some of the most celebrated artists and music aficionados to pass through the capital.
Its unabated growth has been innately entwined with the resurgence of vinyl as the medium du jour of dance music, coupled with a consistently forward thinking music policy and musical community ethos. The launch of its own, acclaimed in-house label as well as numerous in-store gigs and parties has cemented Phonica's position as a London dance music institution.
10 Years of Phonica is a celebration of its profoundly successful first decade. Released as a triple LP or CD package, the compilation explores the multifaceted house and techno landscape of which Phonica is such a champion. The fact that each third feels as weighty and sonically satisfying as a standalone release is testament to the musical minds that have propelled Phonica Records to the forefront of London's musical consciousness.
The first two CDs consist of solely new constructions that come courtesy of both long-term Phonica favourites and a plethora of bubbling up talent. The Phonica gang have called on a prestigious slew of names including
Roman Flügel,
Trevor Jackson,
Psychemagik and
Legowelt for some truly wonderful inclusions that represent the entire electronic spectrum:
Joe Claussell's Them Days Are Gone begins proceedings on the first CD with a smoky house roller, whilst Jackson provides an otherworldly acid groove later on with RGBPM 3. Heftier material is provided by a promising
Red Rack'em collaboration with
Medlar and the up-and-coming youngster
Moire's pounding bassline on Solar Signs; but Roman Flügel's bizzare, percussive last track steals the show of the first segment. Giant Talking Vegetable is as strange and endearing as its title suggests.
Phonica has striven to include artists who support the store on a daily basis:
I:Cube, who's Chemise Africaine begins the second third, is one such character who can often be found filling his crates on Poland Street. He begins a segment that revolves around sterner stuff, with the pistoning drums of
DJ Kaos and the spaced out electronic soundscapes of Legowelt urging the compilation forwards. They are beautifully offset against Psychemagik's debut solo production, Triumph of The Gods; a refreshing slice of acoustic disco that oozes luscious strings and a deep, soulful piano line.
The tripartite compilation comes to a close with a choice selection of cuts from Phonica Records' own back catalogue over the past five years.
Steve Moore reinterprets
Iori with his trademark cinematic flourish before we are treated to one of the most underrated tunes of 2013:
Polymath's Sad City. Its ambiguous emotive appeal weaves itself around ethereally melancholic synths and disembodied vocals to provide a moment of calm introspection amongst this otherwise dancefloor-proof collation. Phonica favourite
Midland joins a
Four Tet remix and a thunderous reworking of
Special Request courtesy of
Kassem Mosse and
Mix Mup to keep things ticking over nicely, until a specially commissioned
Tom Croose remix of
Sandro Perri's tender Love and Light finishes the compilation.
Effortlessly sounding at once nostalgic and forward-thinking, this collection is a wonderful ode to an irreplaceable component of London's electronic music landscape. Phonica Records remains as relevant as ever today as it did a decade ago, mirroring the most on-point trends of our multifarious capital whilst providing the musical community with a hub of relentless activity.
10 Years of Phonica is a comprehensive reflection of this. Here's to another ten years, Phonica.
Words: Anthony Prodromou
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