Various - Börft Dance Classics Vol. 1

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  • Jan Svensson's Börft Records has always been ahead of its time. The oddball Swedish label launched in 1987 releasing cassettes that split the difference between experimental music and tracks for the dance floor. The label's initial cassette-only releases, emblazoned with DIY art, often came from artists working under obscure aliases. The label's scrappy, off-kilter take on house music is continued by Sex Tags, descendant Swedish labels like Studio Barnhus and labyrinthine collectives like Regelbau. The tracks on Börft Dance Classics Vol. 1, a compilation of tracks released between 1996 and 1998 that flew under the radar (Svensson told RA he lost his distribution deal due to poor sales), sound remarkably current. But beyond the historical importance, these tracks live up to the "classics" descriptor, and it's clear why the original 12-inches fetch kingly sums these days. Pher's "Tja Boo" and Dan Fun's "DFSS1" are delightfully whacked-out versions of '90s filter house. Looking to Detroit, Crinan's "Killimanjaro" is built around a deep chord and a wisp of a soulful vocal sample. The highlight is "Smooth Lover" from Ü, an alias of the late Gothenburg musician Joel Brindefalk. This one has it all, with bouncy pads, a catchy acid line and a climactic Yamaha DX solo. Rather than simply repressing their old, valuable 12-inches, Börft's "classics" offers a guide to vital music from a scene that deserves another look.
  • Tracklist
      A1 Pher - Tja-Boo A2 Dan Fun - DFSS1 B1 Crinan - Killimanjaro B2 Ü - Smooth Lover
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