Exploring the outskirts of the electronic underground took us in the most remote corners of our world, yet this visit to Bahrain, a tiny Middle East country, is our first. It’s where we met Salah‘s unexpected perspective on house music. Coloured in bright deep house nuances, sometimes filled with experiments from the electro realms or progressive house patterns, Salah’s sound is deeply rooted in his passion for electronic music and for collecting records. Salah’s eclecticism shaped his versatile record selector persona, adapted to the environment, from Amsterdam Dance Event to small venues across Europe and Asia.
He recently teamed up with Dust for a proper sunny remix released on Ada Kaleh x Wareika Nocturne EP and hosted by Techfui, Salah’s own imprint. Backed also by a solid Thomas Melkior remix, Nocturne double EP has an atmospheric feel born out of an unlikely studio effort between Romania’s Ada Kaleh and Wareika.
Until you go shopping for some spicy Techfui music, you need to meet Salah’s vinyl alter ego to better understand why we say he’s a selector full of surprises ;)
A second hand dig I’m most proud of
Various – Volume 4 Program 1 – ABBA – Lay All Your Love On Me (A Raul Dance Mix)
A very rare and super hard to find remix that was introduced to me by my homie Hani J, it set me off on a mission.
The record I’d love to see it repressed
Cultural Vibe – Ma Foom Bey – [With some remastering and maybe some new dubs. I know it had some updates, but they didn’t do it justice]
The label I’d buy all their releases without even listening to them
PERLON! Ah yes there are a few of these, my collection would suggest PERLON, but RAWAX is in too.
The record artwork that blows my mind every time I look at it
Idris Ackamoor – The Pyramids – Afro Futuristic Dreams
This is the one top of my mind right now. There are more for sure.
The record that triggers childhood memories
Level 42 – Starchild
I have got a copy too and love to drop it as a closer when the occasion fits
The record shop I would spend my whole savings in
Killa Cutz – My brother Richard there knows his shit!
One record from my early DJ career that I still play today
Upadhmaniya – Wake Up!
They actually just rereleased the other side ‘Hasiya’ with remixes.
The record that never leaves my DJ bag
One of them is Upadhmaniya, but another is …Kaori – Good Life
Last record I checked its price on discogs
Everywhere You Go – Ricardo Villalobos
I had gifted my copy to a Bacho in Tbilisi, only to realise it was hard to get and prices hiked. Incidentally a friend gifted me a sealed copy in Amsterdam. Never opened it since.
One record that sounded way ahead of its time when it was released.
Ricardo Villalobos – Fools Garden (Black Conga)
The guy is communicating with another galaxy here. It is my favourite track from the album, it was never on the vinyl I don’t know why. If I want to be inspired this is the track.
Last record I bought for my home listening pleasure
Wilson Tanner – 69
Funny thing it came with a little paper inside for a recipe. Spaghetti Ala Zinger e Pomodoro e lavora.
The record closest to my heart from my entire collection.
Greed – Laurent Garnier
It actually has the Ashley Beedle Remix of Man with the Red Face – Which in Bahrain became my signature track to play. Eventually I got to DJ alongside both these beautiful gentlemen and according to Ashley it is the only copy ever signed by both of them.
The record that perfectly captures the Detroit vibe
Abdul – TAX12004
A gem I found in a store, I believe Killacutz. All round great release.
The non dancefloor record that proved to be perfect for clubs, also!
The Sonic Aesthetic – Tales From The Nocturn – Dark Of The Moon
Ok this might be embarrassing, but on this EP when I got it for over a year I was playing this track as a nice progressive house track and loving it. Till one day I saw it on YouTube and realised I was playing it on the wrong RPM.
A now defunct record label from which you luckily own a few records
TOUCHÉ
Trancesetters – Roaches
51 Days – Paper Moon
Booka Shade – Silk [From 1996]
The Gems! I think they did a little something in 2023 but nothing that stuck.
One record that’s so good, you even bought a copy to keep it in mint condition
Larry Heard – Andromeda One
I actually bought 3, one to gift, which is still with me!