MINT

The eighteenth release on Second Circle is the label's second exploration into an artists archival works; this time presenting a selection of four early tracks by theatre, film and music producer Can Oral under his Khan alias.Can moved to Williamsburg, New York in the early 90's along with good friend and fellow musician Jimi Tenor. Born in Germany of Turkish-Finnish parents, he would frantically start buying equipment (such as a TR808, TB303 and Korg Polysix) from junk shops across New York, becoming greatly prolific in his recordings which he would work on throughout the night. During the daytime though, Can set up and ran the now defunct Temple Records, a seminal Soho record store, and later label, largely importing Techno and Acid from Europe. Though a small store, Temple Records would count musicians and DJs such as Björk, Tricky, Dee-Lite, Josh Wink and Joey Beltram among its regular customers. Also he would host many such guests to play live or DJ at his weekly Techno party “Killer” which was held at Save The Robots in New York’s East Village.Can Oral's nightly studio sessions eventually led to an almost inexhaustible discography with over a dozen monikers each representing a different aspect of his productions. SC018 focuses then on his early electronic works as Khan.Named after the color painted studio where the EP was produced between 1993-1996, 'Blue Box Sessions' is a collection of four analogue machine driven cuts, covering different tempos and ethos within electronic music. Initially live recorded to an old DAT recorder, and without any overdubs, SC018 is a lost and found artefact to Khan's unquestioned raw talent and timeless relevance.

The Soweto Soul Orchestra project boasts a variety of funky tracks, all marked with that jazzy South-African sound.Repress from this early eighties album.

AKTSHUN is an offspring of the Mothership Connection, a sound that oozes out of the hidden basement of Studio 54, made for the roller skate rink of the "Main Jaune" in Paris. Mini tennis shorts, a tight tank top and pointy nipples, sexy hi-fiving butt cheeks, furious hairdos and heavily coloured eyelids hidden behind big sunglasses... It's the return of a frenetic Disco that gets down with Boogie Down Funk, a feverish Deep House caressing a wild P funk. It's the ambition of Marotti and Marrrtin, the duo behind this vast emergency plan to save the dancefloors, from Venice Beach to Shibuya. With this 4 tracks EP, the two friends will convince your grandparents to lock and pop, make your banker look like a drug dealer out of Miami Vice.Aktshun, duo comprised of Marotti (Dj, Deep House producer and owner of Meso records) and Marrrrtin (Dj, Hip Hop producer as well as Breakdance with the group Funky Bijou and manager of the Stereophonk label). The two friends are here reunited by their common love for House, Disco and Boogie Down Funk.This first vinyl contains 4 tracks which present a palette of influences, such as the track "Owned" with its jazzy sound presented by an acoustic bass line, B3 organ and the delicious flute of Antoine Laloux from The Selenites Band. On the second track, "Do the Jungle" we clearly feel the influence of Big Funk/P Funk with solid percussions, crazy synths and a nasty bassline... The B side "Somebody Say Yeah" brings us in a mix between Disco and Detroit House channelling the like of Moodyman or Wajeed... Finally, the smoothest track "U know (Baby)" features Rhodes chords, strings and a melodic bassline sending us straight back to New York House. Don't miss this one.