Blackpool, like other British towns got bitten by the rave bug in the early 90s and like many, the adolescent Spooner started collecting records after hearing DJ mix tapes that circulated the school common room. The order of the day then was primarily the first wave of European Hardcore, Belgian Beat and Jungle-Techno. There was also the music that most Fylde Coasters simply referred to as 'Piano'. Those slightly older and more in the know called it 'Garage' or 'Itallian House'. In any case there was plenty to go at for a while, but the musical landscape soon digressed into Happy Hardcore and Progressive House and by the eve of the mid 90s (and by the time Spooner was old enough to get into clubs), it seemed the local scene, or perhaps the scene in general had run out of steam.
Forced into trying to find his own musical path (and luckily for Spooner) Blackpool provided a great musical heritage to tap into all of it's own; Northern Soul at Tiffany's (later the Rhythm Dome) and Ian Levine's crossover genesis at The Mecca. This meant there were some tremendous records to be found in relative's private collections, car boot sales, charity shops, (the sadly deceased) Saddle Records and at (still trading) Records & Relics. With such a hotbed of 70's American soul, Disco and Jazz-Funk on his doorstep, Spooner sacked off 'dance music' for a while and went straight to the mothership, collecting vintage vinyl for the next few years, listening only to local DJ luminaries such as Pete Haig and Mike Chadwick...
It wasn't until 1997 when Spooner really discovered what house and techno was all about. Having heard a life changing record at Plastic Factory discs in Birmingham, he found a music which united all the strands of things he'd previously been into and so his attention would switch over to electronics again and since that day he has hunted and sought this music out to the best of his ability and available resources. This mix takes us into the terrain of some of Spooner's more musically experimental/improvised purchases. The mix was done during a period of upheaval in his life so it is a personal selection. It represents what Lil' Louis referrs to as "the ebb and flow" in his music; The ups and downs of life...
We hope you enjoy the direction.