Joey Beltram – Arena
I clearly remember getting this record. It was my first purchase from Turku-based Mind Records, the package also included a sought-after Dave Clarke’s Red 1, but despite Red 1’s classic status this one really stood out.
I really don’t know how I ended up picking up just this tune among the hundreds of others – with the most probability it was just a lucky accident for a young DJ. In the era of internet it’s hard to imagine the process you needed to go through in order to get the tracks you wanted.
First – you needed Mind Records catalogue – (also available via email, hail the new technology!;). The catalogue itself was already a classic, with mind-twisting tune descriptions like “Slammin’ percussive monotrax!” and “HOT! TIP!”. See a digital scan of the catalogue or all of them.
In the case some of the labels or producers were familiar, you picked a phone (in most cases, not a mobile phone) and phoned the store and asked to hear the record. The owner, Marko Laine, put the phone next to the speaker and played the tune for you. Talk about cool customer service here – Hot! Tip!
Joey Beltram’s Arena was also the first single sided vinyl I got – a VERY confusing moment for a young boy (“I’m sure I’ve been fooled!”). The length is only a bit more than 5 minutes, but it’s enough – it’s techno music at its best, totally timeless, funky and uplifting. Beltram sampled a really funky bassline for it, not a totally unusual thing for him if you’re familiar his early disco-influenced tech-tracks.
A nice detail: The first breakdown of the track can be actually seen on the vinyl groove.
Any thoughts of this record? Share them in the comments. See also the previous posts in “Picks from the crate” series.