Interview conducted by our favourite four-to-the-floor expert, The Insider.

Sean Johnston bravely carries the burning flame of A Love From Outer Space, the party he founded with his musical partner and blood brother, the late Andrew Weatherall. From Sabresonic to Disco Bloodbath, from Berlin’s Salon Zur Wilden Renate, to festivals in French castles and the Dalmatian coast, his partnership with Weatherall went on to be one of the most talked about club nights of recent times. 

Sean’s DJ sets are a thoughtful and detailed tapestry of dark rhythms and dusty chug monsters, that crescendo in dramatic frenzies of global gothic rhythms. If you’ve ever been to one of his parties, you’ll know what I mean. His recent productions and remixes – as Hardway Bros – have graced countless cool labels, such as Before I Die, Bytes, Golden Lion Sounds, Heavenly, Is It Balearic?, Me Me Me, Music For Dreams, and Rotters Golf Club. 

In June, Sean joins the illustrious cast at the Wild Wood Disco Festival in the UK. As a “warm-up” I asked Sean to zoom in on one of his favourite labels, BCM.

“I’ve chosen BCM – it was a late `80s German label that licensed tracks from a variety of US and European imprints. They put out house, disco, Italo, hip-house and new beat records that were at the time hard to find if you missed them on import. I discovered BCM in the sorely missed, much loved, Trax Records on Greek Street in Soho…” Sean Johnston

Die Krupps & Nitzer Ebb / The Machineries Of Joy (True Work Mix)

I’m sure that this D.A.F. homage sounded tough at the time but it now sounds delightfully camp. Wouldn’t sound out of place on Berlin label Ombra International.

Wood Allen / Airport 89

Massive on the orbital rave scene – Daniele Davoli (of “Ride On Time” fame) takes on Baldelli’s cosmic classic Rah Band jam “Electric Fling“.

The Maxx / Cocaine 

A new beat Anthem eulogising the joy’s of Columbia’s biggest illegal export.

Geraldine Hunt / Can’t Fake The Feeling

Classic early `80s disco, much loved and much sampled by Nicholas Jaar and Kenny Dixon amongst many others!

C-Bank / One More Shot

Electro freestyle with a sweet vocal – the sound of `80s youth clubs…

Various / Ethno Beats (Rhythms… From The Jungle And The Desert To The Dance Floor…)

I could write an essay about this compilation – a double album found in the racks at Trax Records in 1989. The music on it has informed my taste more than any other record – includes The Unknown Cases, Jhalib, Burundi Black, Jasper Van’t Hof. Seminal – there would be no ALFOS had I not found this record.

(I`ve written one or two bits about this incredible comp – Rob)

E.J. Robinson / Rain Man (Theme From “Rain Man” Soundtrack “Dance Version”)

Super-Emo Italo Cosmic cover of the Theme from Rain Man – does what it says on the tin…

You can catch Sean, plus sets by many celebrated others at the  Wild Wood Disco Festival  between the 21st and 23rd of June. You can purchase tickets here.