Ben Balzer aka Bonjour Ben is what we like to call one of Berlin’s best kept secrets when it comes to exploring the fertile underground of the city’s electronic music scene. Part of the Freiland Festival and It Works Collective crews, Ben has been around for quite a while, crafting his own sound right at the melting point between Berlin’s heritage and Bucharest’s revigorating freshness. An avid digger and record selector, Bonjour Ben is always bringing an element of surprise to his DJ sets, so we challenged him to recall a few unique dance floor moments with a short list of minimal house edits. And, boy, what a list! Enjoy it as much as we did!
„Unknown – Sippy Cup (FLIP04)“
I’ll never forget the first time I played this record at Sisyphos (Wintergarten). People were crying on the dance floor – moments that will stay with me forever. I own all four previous releases on this label and can recommend them all without reservation. Philipp Lichtblau is the artist behind FLIP, and I can only say: Thank you, Philipp, for this fantastic edit of Melanie Martinez.
“Unknown Artist – Back in Black (ASC X)”
This song is more of a mash-up than an edit. Melchior meets Aphex Twin in a perfect minimal vibe! You definitely need the right crowd and the right sound system for this little masterpiece. I first heard this record at a Margaret Dygas clip on IG and immediately fell in love.
Unknown Artist – #A9E4FF B (ODEA9E4FF)
This record will never lose its magic. Well to be honest, we’re only talking about the masterpiece on the b-side. A 13 minute journey, carried by the beautiful voice of Tracey Thorn (EBTG). According to Discogs, one of the most expensive records I own, it’s a shame that they stopped releasing new stuff on Ode. That label was always so special.
STEDIT – Never Leave You (STEDIT02)
Now, a record for those peak-time moments. Unfortunately, I’ve played my 10inch copy so often that the needle skips and it crackles a lot. But that’s why it’s so full of memories. Lumidee reminds me of my youth, when I watched MTV every day and life was so carefree. Chessy banger.
SR.MD – Saint (CREATURE005)
To be honest, I’ve never played this record in front of people. I was too worried about missing the vibe or overwhelming the crowd. But I love playing it at home and just floating away. Shaun Reeves & Maher Daniel literally transport us to ‘heaven’ and I can imagine this track perfectly in the morning hours, for example at Waking Life or Garbicz.
Unknown Artist – Under Your Spell (CATERINCA05)
The most recent record in my selection. It may have only been released this summer, but the Discogs prices already speak volumes. The track on the A-side is largely responsible for the hype and was played by several well-known acts this year (including many Sunwaves clips on IG). However, I’m only interested in the B-side. There are already several tracks with this sample. For example, DJ Hell (GIGOLO299), a record that I also have in my collection. But I’ve never heard this Richard Butler & Westbam track better than here on Caterinca. One of my favorite closing tracks this summer.