By Tastemaker Erol Alkan Celebrates 100th Phantasy Sound Single
Long regarded as a tastemaker, London-based DJ and producer Erol Alkan turns out the 100th release on his own Phantasy Sound label. Automatic is out now and sees Alkan revisit and refresh a track he originally recorded over a decade ago.
“I spent some of lockdown revisiting music I’d made that I had almost forgotten had existed,” said Alkan. The label boss was searching for projects that might be worth another look. “Although I originally recorded it around 2008, Automatic immediately shone through. The track was a perfect distillation of many of the records that influenced me from around then, as well as something I’d play in a dark, sweaty club in 2020 or 2021, given the opportunity.”
High-Energy
Automatic blends elements of French touch and disco psychedelia with driving, raw percussion. It’s as charismatic and gloriously high-energy as anything from Alkan’s extensive back catalogue of productions and remixes.
“There is a certain symmetry and arc of the then into now, which made it feel like the perfect record to release as the 100th single,” said Alkan. “It feels like a natural celebration of a part of Phantasy’s sound and sensibilities running from our beginning and into our future.”
Automatic is available to download and stream digitally. There’s also a limited edition hand numbered single-sided vinyl housed in a screen-printed sleeve.
Influential
Erol Alkan was responsible for Trash club in London. Mixing up genres, the Monday night party became extremely influential. Peaches, LCD Soundsystem, Klaxons, Bloc Party, 2manydjs, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Scissor Sisters all performed there. Also a resident DJ for Bugged Out, Alkan regularly played at fabric, The End and XOYO.
Jodie Harsh invited Erol Alkan on to her Life of the Party podcast late last year. Give that a listen here.
Photo: Tom Medwell
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