Brian Not Brian (going Good) Influences

Music

Going Good is a label to get excited about. Brian Not Brian is one half of said label and he's a mighty fine record player to boot. Ahead of his appearance at Ultradisko this w/e we talked through his influences. "These selections are by no means THE definitive influences on me or Going Good, but they are cornerstones, foundations & inspirations. I keep coming back to them & they always work for me! In short they are records that I LOVE. That's it. They are also some of the tracks that made me think – "I wish I released this" – Thus forming the idea of starting a label." – Brian Morrison

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Brian Bennett - Solstice (djm Records 1978)

Some smoothed out space Funk here to kick things off from ex-Shadows drummer & UK library session stalwart Brian Bennett for the beat heads. “Solstice” was one of those tracks that got touched by various Hip Hop producers & DJ’s over the years, it even popped up on a few comps (& has probably been bootlegged a few times too!) & is quite well known within the record community but everytime I hear it it manages to take me off somewhere new. It’s epic & always fresh to these ears.

Brian Bennett - Solstice (djm Records 1978)

Some smoothed out space Funk here to kick things off from ex-Shadows drummer & UK library session stalwart Brian Bennett for the beat heads. “Solstice” was one of those tracks that got touched by various Hip Hop producers & DJ’s over the years, it even popped up on a few comps (& has probably been bootlegged a few times too!) & is quite well known within the record community but everytime I hear it it manages to take me off somewhere new. It’s epic & always fresh to these ears.
Jimmy Briscoe & The Beavers - Into The Milky Way (salsoul 1979)

An incredible piece of spaced out Disco on Salsoul with killer vocals, string arrangement & a tough mix down by the legendary NYC jock Bobby “DJ” Guttadaro. Disco is a big influence on our label, it’s pretty much part of everything we do whether it’s instantly obvious or not, it’s always in there somewhere.This record is flawless in my opinion & it pretty much hasn’t left my bag since I managed to nab a minty fresh promo 12″ copy a few years ago. A perfect warm up record that really sets the tone & never, ever gets old! I might need a second copy soon.
Hott City - Feelin' Love (butterfly 1979)

This was a track that I got turned onto some years ago by my friend James Hillard of Horse Meat Disco (Via a CD comp he had been given that had been compiled by Dom from the Stussy store). It’s an incredible, sleazy, melancholy late night Disco record that still sounds like it’s futuristic somehow. Released on LA’s Butterfly Records label in 1979 it still sounds totally fresh & strange & causes much damage on the dancefloor today, especially when that really odd percussion sound kicks in around the 1.20 mark!
Yello - La Habanera (mercury Records 1988)

Yello have so many tracks to choose from, their back catalogue is insane, but “La Habanera” has a special place in my heart. It’s such a heavy club track, everything about it is “in your face” & every element of it is so well produced. Of course it has a healthy dose of Yello weirdness but that’s what makes it special too. It even sounds almost “Ravey” in places! I have yet to see this record NOT work in a club enviornment, it’s a total “what the f**k?!” track! Excellent.
Time Zone & Afrika Bambaataa - The Wildstyle / Special New Mix Instrumental (celluloid 1983)

Insane remix of Time Zone by the legendary Francois.K, B-Side wins again! I do love the vocal version of this too but FK’s mix takes the track into unknown territory & down a much more “musical” path, it’s even almost slightly dubby & trippy while retaining that hard electronic Funk. One for the poppers & lockers & only one of the too-numerous-to-mention remixes that Francois was behind over 3 decades in the game! Respect!
John Rocca - Move / Lp Version (criminal Records 1987)

Hard as nails Chicago anthem from the production duo of John Rocca, Arthur Baker & Farley “Jackmaster” Funk. John Rocca had some success with his band Freeez (“I.O.U.” / “Southern Freeez” etc) & was behind the Balearic sleaze of Pink Rhythm’s “Melodies Of Love” as well as many other projects. Sadly this version never came out on 12″ (Farley’s mixes did though) but it was a hit with the jocks on Chicago’s legendary WBMX radio station & it still remains a firm favourite here in the Going Good camp, it’s ultra tough, stripped down House music with the Funk! Just how we like it…
Model 500 - Pick Up The Flow (metroplex 1993)

Juan Atkins is a man who should need no introduction as one of the figureheads of Detroit Techno.Again his back catalogue is immense, with so many classic records under his belt it’s tough to pick one, but “Pick Up The Flow” is (One of…) the ones for me. I had this on an old mix for years & had never managed to snare myself a copy until recently on an early Saturday morning car boot excursion with my friend JT. This is pure Detroit electro, deep, melodic & dreamlike. Masterfully crafted. Electro is a big part of Going Good, it’s a huge influence on us.
I:cube - Falling (versatile Records 2009)

A modern day classic from a modern day master! “Falling” is a record that I will %99 of the time play when I DJ, another great “warm up” track with so much vibe & feeling, built around a sample of Surface’s “Falling In Love” it doesn’t really get any better for me. Instant rewind material. I:Cube, one of the best DJ’s out there right now, a super fresh producer, totally slept on these days, the man deserves more props! The whole Versatile label & growing up with these guys music was a big influence on Going Good for sure, it’s great they are still going strong.