Asad Rizvi aka Silverlining is what we call a veteran of the electronic underground. Spanning over close to 30 years, his producer career crafted over 200 vinyl releases, some of them launched at his very own imprint, Silverlining Dubs, and yes, many of them with sky-rocketting prices on discogs.
It goes without saying that a compilation containing a few of his early collaborations is something anyone must add to their personal record collection. Silverlining & Friends – Collaborations (1996 – 2001), a collection of legendary deep house, minimal house, deep tech and breakbeat cuts is available now on Deejay.de, Juno or at your favourite record shop.
Back to Asad and his passion for vinyl records, we challenged him to reveal his own Vinyl Alter Ego and this is how it looks and sounds like 👇 A few dancefloor bangers that went under the radar when released, some iconic albums (Global Communications included!) and a few LPs with a strong emotional bond to his musical universe, as diverse as it gets. This selection turned out to one of the best we’ve hosted until now at our Vinyl Alter Ego series. Dig in!
A second-hand dig I’m most proud of:
Bizarre Tracks: “Sensory Delight” (Lemon Sol) – 1992
I picked this up recently from the treasure trove that is Killacutz in Amsterdam, and it’s been on repeat ever since. Somehow, it’s simultaneously a breakbeat, deep house, and progressive record. Whatever we might call it, it’s a lush end-of-nighter that’s going to get a lot of play from me.
A record I’d love to see repressed:
Princess: “I Wanna Feel You” (Roy B) – 1992
My friend DJ Margeir from Iceland introduced me to this when I was over there. Ultra-rare 90s house music from South Africa, and the prices reflect this.
The label I’d buy all their releases without even listening to them:
Jus’ Trax – 1993-1998
The Junior Boys Own underground off-shot that’s home to many a weapon and also one of the classiest label designs in house history. There are too many to mention, but here’s one from Sheffield’s Swag that got a lot of rotation back in the day:
The record artwork that blows my mind every time I look at it:
Richard H. Kirk: “Virtual State” (Warp) -1994
Posting this incredible artwork by the Designer’s Republic, who developed the iconic Warp identity among many others. The sleeve seems to be inspired by Vaughan Oliver’s seminal pre-digital sleeves from the ‘80s. The album is also a masterpiece that I still listen to at home to this day.
The record that triggers childhood memories:
Various Artists: “Electro 6” (Street Sounds) – 1985
I was 8 years old when I walked into Our Price with my dad—having only heard rumours about this things called ‘electro’ from other brats in my class—I pestered my dad to buy this album for me blind. I ended up listening to it hundreds of times, having no idea how these scratching noises were made. I imagined it all to have been made with one grand space-age machine with rappers jamming at some sort of street party, not realising that they were studio records mixed together by a DJ. It certainly sounded that way to a kid, though.
The record shop I would spend my whole savings in:
Palace Vinyl, London
This has conveniently been my local for the last few years of living in South London before I moved away. It’s the contemporary equivalent of Croydon’s Swag Records, except with second-hand records. You’re always guaranteed to find a gem with a warm welcome from the lovely staff there. Here are Peach and Prosumer having a dig there recently:
One record from my early DJ career that I still play today:
The Stickmen: “Summer Of 87 EP” (Stickmen) – 1993
I think I bought this at Container Records in Hamburg when I was on a school German language exchange when first discovering house. It’s as much a deep house record as it is a warehouse stomper with a nod to the Sheffield Bleep sound. The other side is fab as well.
The record that never leaves my DJ bag:
Miles Atmospheric: “Heal” (Common Dreams) – 2017
Right before the pandemic hit, I bumped into my talented friend Miles Sagnia at a house party, and he gave me this deep yet volatile techno beaut of a 10”. I’ve played it so much since then that I’ll need a new copy soon.
Last record I checked its price on Discogs:
The Question: “Rip Tear Blow” (Black Sunshine) – 1995
I initially picked this up in the wonderful Wax Material van and played it lots last year, but unfortunately my copy vanished so I just ordered another. Still only £1.50 for a VG+! This YouTube rip is a bit crunchy, but you’ll get the idea…
One record that sounded way ahead of its time when it was released:
Reload: “A Collection of Short Stories” (Infonet) – 1993
Still a marvel of an album to this day by the Global Communication boys. A piece of modern classical music that oscillates between abstract industrial soundscapes and lush, heartwarming melodies. Here’s one of my favourites from there:
The last record I bought for my home listening pleasure:
ARP Frique “Nos Magia” (Rush Hour Store Jams) – 2017
I had to do my homework on this, as I knew nothing about it until I recently picked it up. Despite sounding like a reissue of some untouchable African rarity, it was actually made by a Dutch producer, Niels Nieuborg, in 2017 in collaboration with Nigerian Orlando Julius and Cape-Verdean Americo Brito. Absolute fire.
The record closest to my heart from my entire collection:
Miles Davis: “In a Silent Way” (Columbia) – 1969
There are so many, but I’ll pick this mediative journey of quasi-religious proportions by the great MD. Just so beautiful. Here’s a link, but try to listen off vinyl if you can for the full experience.
