Ten Records Played By Someone Else That “Changed My Life” – Ivan Smagghe

As played by NATHAN GREGORY WILKINS in his front room circa 2002.
These were/ are the days of pure hedonism for me and this was the record that always got played. Then the neighbour would come down. All the people who know this moment are still my friends (ish). You see, people are confused, this was our electroclash. I’d even dare to say: “electroclash was not about records, it was a state of mind” Bahahah.

As played by MY DAD in his from room circa 1977. I must have a thing for front rooms. This was the first record I got lost into. and that huge sun. I still listen to it.

As played by VLADIMIR IVKOVIC at Plastic People, 2013.
I’m not gonna do the speak about Vlad again but he’s one of the person that gave me faith into music again at the time where music was boring me. If there is one record (well there is another below) that means a lot to me, and started the whole Yugorock thing, it;s this one. Note: I only like slap bass in yugoslavian records. They alls are so odd because they never are what they seem to be.

As played by GEOFFROY around 2000-2001. Free-donism again. And Belgium again. Though the tail end towards darker days. Geoffroy and Koenie used to my favourite DJs then (I now don’t have any). This is one of my favourite “un-me” record. It has bongos and flutes which will make Ali (also known in the RSN office as “Tropical Allly”) smile. I’d drop an E right now on a beach if I could. I can’t.

As played by OPTIMO circa 2002-2004. The first “illegal” mixes from Optimo where like an epiphany. They stood where I stood. I mean there are so many things to say about Keith and Jonnie, and the work they did in Glasgow. The closing of Optimo is the only party I travelled to in years and where I saw tough guys crying. I could have picked a 1000 tracks played by them but on How to Kill the DJ Vol 2, there was this mix Liasions Dangereuses-The Cramps-Harco Pront.

As played by ANDREW WEATHERALL circa 2005, PULP Paris. Turning point. I mean Andrew was a semi-god for me but I think something clicked when he played Pulp for our Birthday. I remember him telling me: “I had forgotten there could be girls in a club”. He was playing Haywire at the time. That night may have changed him, it did changed me. And it’s also Ata and Robert Johnson obviously.

As played by DIMITRI FROM AMSTERDAM circa 1992. He was the guy I loved the most back then. So inventive. Pre-everything: IDM, Breakbeat, Detroit… We used to travel to see him. The STATIC TRACKS VOL 1-2 are some of the best mixed CD ever. Still now. I think it should be re-issued. NOW!

As played by LOIK DURY at RADIO NOVA at some point around 96-97? I did radio for years in France and Loik was my “mentor”. I was a white kid into very white music, he had piercing blue eyes and was into black music and psychedelics. I owe him a lot (Like A LOT), including being stoned on air. This blew my mind when I heard it. Now we are older, we still try to impress each other, but with movies. Respect is massively due.