In 1998 the first of a highly renowned series of colour-coded vinyl singles appeared in record stores: Orange. Green. Blue. A new production duo were born, Circulation, and they delivered a sound uniquely theirs (for more info check our profile article here). Check the past releases on labels from Hooj Choons to End Recordings; an amalgamation of deep tech and moody hypnotic house, it’s a sound that doesn’t quite fit into any neat categorisation. They continued their chromatically named ways until 2005 when the duo parted. Now, Paul Davis flys the Circulation flag solo, regularly releasing on labels from Bedrock to Selador. As this Balance Selections podcast showcase, his take on dance music is still as cerebral and mood-inflected as it was 20 years ago.

Balance Selections 273: Circulation

1. Ryan McCormack – Maxim (Circulation Remix) ASTIR Recordings
2. David Kitt – Till the End (XPress2 12-inch Remix) RE-WARM
3. Yoko Duo – Blowfish (Lake People Remix) Fauxpas Music
4. Acid Paul, Nico Stojan – Huch (Original Mix) Ouie
5. Darper – Indigo (Original Mix) Sound Avenue
6. Butane, Andras Toth – Caste (Original Mix) Extrasketch
7. Circulation – Moonshake (Original Mix) Keep Thinking Music
8. Paul Davis – Betrayed
9. Gutto Serta – Dual Saw (Original Mix) Bar 25 Music
10. Pornbugs – Cielos (Dachshund Remix) Bondage Music
11. Tale of Us – Dark Song (Original Mix) Visionquest
12. Daniel Weil, Lucapulco – Cactus Drive (Original Mix) Disco Tabu
13. Jamie Stevens – Traag (Original Mix) Late Night Music
14. Tom Swarbrick – Movement
15. Circulation – Swank (Original Mix) Mango Alley
16. D Diggler – Nowhere to Hide (Original Mix) Seven Villas
17. The Human Touch – So Invincible (James Teej Dub) Human Touch Music
18. ID – ID (Circulation Remix)

Balance Selections Q+A

Name: Circulation
Location: London
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Labels affiliated with: Bedrock Records, Selador, Stripped Recordings, Strange Town Recordings, Voodoo & Prayers, Keep Thinking, Ray of Light Records, Fall From Grace, ASTIR Recordings, Mirabilis Records, Sound Avenue

My last 3 releases:

Circulation – Moonshake ( Keep Thinking)

Circulation – Reindeers & Beer (Voodoo & Prayers)

Ryan McCormack Maxim (Circulation Remix) (ASTIR Recordings)

What music did you listen to as a child?

My first memories consist of listening to my parents’ music, which included artists such as David Bowie, Elton John, and Fleetwood Mac, to name a few. At school, I was drawn to bands like OMD, Depeche Mode, and Gary Numan, which I would categorize as electronic music. From the early ’80s, my interest shifted towards jazz-funk and disco, leading me to bands like Brass Construction. Later on, acts like Raze emerged, serving as precursors to early house music.

When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?

My earliest memory was when I was 16 years old. It happened at Gossips on Dean Street, during the early to mid-80s. There, I heard SOS Band‘s ‘Just Be Good to Me‘ and Herbie Hancock‘s ‘Rockit‘, both of which completely blew me away.

Which producers/artists/acts inspire you

If I had to choose one producer who inspired me and whom I tried to emulate, it would be Carl Craig.

What was the last album you downloaded/purchased?

Last album I bought is part of the Late Night Tales series. After Dark – Vespertine compiled by Bill Brewster.

What is your current production and DJ set up like?

My home studio setup is quite simple: just a Mac with a MIDI interface and keyboard. All my tracks are mixed down by my friend Justin Drake (of Peace Division) at his studio. Currently, my go-to synth is Pigments by Arturia. For DJing, I use Pioneer equipment and Technics turntables.

What releases do you have on the horizon?

I have upcoming releases on Mango Alley, Steve Lawler’s VivaMusic imprint, Proton’s Particles label, and I’ve just confirmed a 4-track EP for your good selves on Balance.

Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?

Unlike the last two mixes I did for John Digweed’s Transitions and Selador, which I created using Ableton, this one was a straight-up DJ mix on Pioneers, which I enjoyed. I absolutely love the ‘Blow Fish’ track featured in this mix.