Crate Diggin': Steve Bug Presents 5 Tracks From His 5 Favourite London Labels

Despite being best known for pioneering the techno informed minimal sound of turn of the century Germany with his Poker Flat label, Steve Bug has always kept the remit wide when it comes to the sounds he employs in his sets. It’s a predilection that Bug’s fully reflected in his other label projects with Dessous and Audiomatique, standing as imprints he established to house classic rooted house and more contemporary sonic aesthetics respectively. That scope and breadth is exactly what The General himself explores in our latest Crate Diggin’ piece as he looks to find inspiration in the output of the city he’ll be visiting this Saturday when he touches down in London. Here Bug picks out five tracks from five of his favourite labels from our fair capital…

Gemini - In My Head [Classic]

Steve Bug: This is rather minimal, but very groovy. It’s a forward driving house track with great trippy vocals! If I'm thinking of London labels then Classic Recordings has to be a part of it. With its 100 releases counting backwards at the time, they've been accompanying me for a big part of my career. This one is still one of my favorite releases from the label. I had the chance to work with Spencer but unfortunately we never finished the track we worked on. I've also heard that he has not been very well recently, so I want to wish him all the best.

Annie Erez - Discovery Inn [Mosaic]

Dub techno... I think that is what people call it these days... well, this is it at its best! Dry rhythms with big chords and delays. Mosaic is very well known for its deeper, repetitive and hypnotic grooves. I did a remix for them a long time ago and then the label disappeared for a few years, but it came back recently with a bunch of strong releases. This track is one of my favourites of the newer ones, it's been in my bag for a little while now.

Simian Mobile Disco & Roman Flügel - Hachinoko [Delicacies]

A super complex, rather electronic sounding long term builder with bleepy sounds and an amazing arrangement. 5 years young, the Delicacies label mostly releases stuff by the SMD guys - and there have been plenty of great releases - but this collaboration with Roman Flügel is absolutely outstanding. It is definitely one of the top tracks to have come out of the last few years for me; it still hasn’t grown old.

Delano Smith - Something For Myself [Third Ear]

Floating deep house tune with a simple vocals. Third Ear is another one of my favorite labels from London. They release various sounds, which I like because there is a lot of good music to find. This track by Delano Smith is a true classic. It has a great atmosphere and carries you away. The perfect track to be get lost on the dancefloor with closed eyes!

Bas Amro - Across The Street [Freerange]

Modern, but timeless deep house with great vocals by Kennifer. Freerange has been there when I started my first label, Raw Elements back in ’96 and it's still going strong. With so many awesome releases on it the label had to be a part of the list. I picked Bas Amro's 'Across The Street' as it is one of those tunes that I like to play at the end of a perfect night to leave people with something beautiful.