Editors’ Letter

When the first issue of Disco Pogo started landing on people’s doormats (soon moving to their coffee tables - so many stylish coffee tables) we have to admit we were slightly nervous. We felt we’d produced something substantial, but you never really know how it’s going to be received. So, when the overwhelmingly positive posts started going up across social media - and we were pleased to see our publication on a number of poolside sun loungers, mercifully without any sunburned torsos - we were blown away by the reaction. We’ve also been chuffed to see Disco Pogo pop up in record, magazine and coffee shops across the world - from New York to Barcelona and Los Angeles to Milan. We even have a stockist in South Korea. We are truly thankful.

What that has meant of course is the pressure of following up that first issue with something just as good – if not, hopefully, better. Think of it as the magazine equivalent of the age-old ‘difficult second-album syndrome’.

So, here we are. Issue two. Much like the first issue we’ve tried to keep the mix of articles – and artists featured – as broad as possible. If you liked what you saw first time around and have come back for more, or even if you’re reading Disco Pogo for the first time (if so, welcome), we’re pretty sure your listening habits will reflect such an all-encompassing state of mind. It’s certainly an ideal mirrored in our subject matter. Our goal is to celebrate the best leftfield electronic and dance music of all shades – and sometimes to go even further and wider than that. Across a variety of features there’s an explicit acknowledgement from those interviewed of music from across the board. We think this is important.

There are other shared themes too. On numerous occasions, the DJs, producers and bands featured refer to not taking what they do for granted. This is often born of experience – but it’s a notion some of the younger artists recognise too. More than once, the phrase “this is the best job in the world” is uttered. Likewise the idea of community. Listening to music – whether that be cutting loose on the dancefloor or soaking up the sounds at home – allows people a sense of community. It provides people – of all ages – with an identity. A tribe. This shines through in the fantastic deep dive features on Flesh, The Haçienda’s monthly Queer bacchanal, and Trash, Erol Alkan’s Monday night shindig that took London clubbing by storm in the late-90s and early-00s. There’s also a sense of shared friendships, the power of dancing and growing older, if not disgracefully, then with a sense of optimism rather than dread. And this is perhaps best exemplified in the power of love. The love of music, of people, of sharing a dancefloor with strangers… right now, love is most certainly what we need.

So, what else is in? Courtesy of Richard Norris, we go back to the 80s and reveal the fascinating story behind Malcolm McLaren’s ‘Duck Rock’ album and its memorable sleeve. Balearic Mike recounts the enduring legacy of Donna Summer’s take on ‘State of Independence’ and we uncover jungle’s origin story in the 90s. Staying in the same decade, former NME dance editor Sherman writes his first feature in years as he recalls the birth of Warp’s influential ‘Artificial Intelligence’ compilation and explains why he was banned from the guitar-obsessed paper’s stereo.

But it’s not all about the past. Our cover stars, Daniel Avery and I. JORDAN are two of dance music’s most important contemporary artists. Both features offer illuminating insights into what it means to be creative in this day and age. TSHA, Jonny Banger, Bradley Zero and Lou Hayter also bring the modern flavours.

As for experience and endurance – some old favourites including Kerri Chandler, Ron Trent, Laurent Garnier, Ashley Beedle, Dave Angel, Honey Dijon, Hot Chip, David Holmes and Eddie Chacon bring plenty of that. Rounding everything off, Johnno gets out his Haçienda bollard and Harold Heath has a peek into the murky world of record filing.

So, much like a great line-up at one of the country’s top electronic club nights or festivals, we like to think issue two has something for everyone.

Viva acid house!

Paul Benney & John Burgess

Jim Butler

Chris Jones

Harriet Jones

Ben Cardew, Manu Ekanayake, Paul Flynn, Sean Griffiths, Harold Heath, Richard Hector-Jones, Mark Hooper, Tara Joshi, Tracy Kawalik, Felicity Martin, Erica McKoy, Balearic Mike, Jacob Munday, Richard Norris, Gemma Samways, Sherman, Anton Spice, Jonas Stone, Anthony Teasdale, Julia Toppin, Emma Warren, Steve Yates

Theo Ammann, Teodora Andrisan, Mark Benney, Tilman Brembs, Wolfgang Brückner, Jake Curtis, Adam Dewhurst, Joe Finch, Lydia Garnett, Vanessa Goldschmidt, Pooneh Ghana, Ricardo Gomes, Bob Gruen, Steve Gullick, Adam Hampton-Matthews, Alice Hepple, G.V. Horst, Rob Jones, Simon King, Benno Krähahn, David Lake, Bazil Lamy, Chris Lopez, Tuca Milan, Pav Modelski, Ro Murphy, Nicole Ngai, Sarah Norris, Eddie Otchere, Jon Shard, Robin Stanley, Oliver Wia

Erol Alkan, Cally, Gary Crowley, Adam Dewhurst, Nick Egan, Colm Forde, Nick Haeffner, Lauren @ Modern Matters, Nathan Thursting, Ron West

Daniel Avery by Vanessa Goldschmidt I. JORDAN by Lydia Garnett

Jones Design Create

Published twice per year by Disco Pogo Ltd Distributed by MMS London All distribution and stockist enquiries: info@discopogo.co All advertising enquiries: info@discopogo.co

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First Edition 2022

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