Over the past 20 or so years, I've built an enormous collection of records. In very general terms, the records represent the musical genre broadly known as "electronica," or more recently, "Electronic Dance Music." But to be even more specific, my collection covers various genres of dance music including: downtempo, acid jazz, trip hop, nu-jazz, breakbeat, drum & bass (or jungle), and more recently, dubstep.
One of the questions people often ask me if how I select the music I do. How do I know what to buy? That’s not an easy answer, of course, but there are a few aspects I look for in a record, a few things I consider when poring over new-release lists.
One of the first things I consider when purchasing a record, obviously, is the sound. While I can’t precisely describe my “sound,” I tend to collect instrumental music that has an affinity to jazz or soul music. In other words, most of my house music records tend to be on the jazzier side, and much of my collection of drum & bass records is of the “liquid-funk” variety, a style known for its melodic qualities, in large part because the producers draw on jazz, disco, and soul for both samples and inspiration. So, while the style may be different, the overall sound of my collection is similar.
Another aspect I consider when purchasing records is the record label. If a record appeals to me, and it’s the first release of a new label, I will almost certainly buy it. First releases are often produced in very short runs, making them more collectible. And that may be the only release that label puts out, making it even more rare. There are also record labels I’ve been following for a very long time. These include such venerable labels as Ninja Tune, Eighteenth Street Lounge, Hospital Records, and Compost Records. While my collection does not, and probably could not, include EVERY release from these labels, I tend to purchase records from labels I’ve liked, and purchased from, in the past.
Below are some mixes I've made from records in my collection