John Gómez and Nick the Record Present Tangent (Vinyl 2LP)

We might be about as far away from London and the legendary club night Tangent as we can physically get, but thanks to the wonderful folks at Mr Bongo, we can finally get a taste of what DJs John Gómez and Nick the Record have been dishing up for the past decade! Two LPs of Cameroonian hip-house, disco anthems, cosmic Carribean goodness, Balaeric beats, and the best of the best of whatever this pair of party people dig up from the deepest depths of the finest crates, from the tried and tested d-floor diamonds to brand new flavours from the underground, Mr Bongo have got you covered! - Flying Out 

To celebrate 10 years of one of London’s most loved underground club nights, Tangent, Mr Bongo are thrilled to launch this new compilation series. Crafted by its two residents, John Gómez and Nick the Record, it aims to transmit a taste of Tangent’s spirit. A party rooted in inclusivity and open-mindedness, whose name captures the spontaneous switches in musical direction that are a defining element of their nights. For the compilation, the pair have cherry-picked a selection of their prized, rare and dancefloor-ready tracks from around the globe, that have soundtracked the past decade of parties.

Friends for close to 20 years, music lovers, record obsessives and internationally renowned DJs in their own right, John and Nick have two lifetimes worth of musical knowledge to draw from. John a long-standing NTS Radio resident and compiler for Music From Memory. Nick one of the UK’s go-to record dealers, resident DJ since the ‘90s at one of Japan’s pioneering parties, Life Force, and co-captain / co-edit-expert of Record Mission with Dan Tyler (Idjut Boys).

In 2014, the pair decided to bring some of Life Force’s grassroots principles to the UK, whilst channelling underground clubbing institution Plastic People’s meticulous attitude to sound. Tangent grew from being a small gathering of friends, to an established fixture in London’s nightlife, whilst always maintaining a strict no guest DJ policy. “As London’s clubs have become increasingly reliant on international guests, we wanted to emphasize the importance of a club night growing through its residents”, John and Nick reflect. With 10 years of the duo at the helm, an intimate connection between DJ and dancefloor has been built, allowing for freedom of expression on both sides of the decks.

Tangent reaches around the globe and across different eras to make connections that stimulate emotional reverberations in the unfamiliar. Where the blissfully Balearic Laberinto by Miguel Perikás, goes hand-in-hand with the Cameroonian hip-house of King B.’s Love is Crazy. The thundering Amek Amek by L'Innovateur Djoe Ahmed et le Zoukabyle, rubs shoulders with the soulful Caribbean-influenced touch of Champagn’s Bel Ti Négress. And Pellegrin El Kady’s afro-cosmic Seiva de Carnaval, crosses paths with Kajou’s Kompa disco anthem Tet Chajé.

Tangent’s longevity is in part down to it having always embraced contemporary sounds. The sub-rattling bass of Srirajah Sound System’s stunning Molam dub stepper Si Phan Don Lovers Rock and the slow, woozy mantra of leftfield dancehall explorer Androo’s Lyriso, are two shining examples.

This compilation represents an ongoing dialogue between past and present, transporting listeners to the heart of a pure musical experience, where open minds and open hearts are eager to follow the tangent. 

Tracklist:

1. Srirajah Sound System - Si Phan Don Lovers Rock feat. Molam Inteng Keawbuala
2. PERIKAS - Laberinto
3. Mac Thornhill - No Way To Control It
4. King B. - Love is Crazy
5. L'Innovateur Djoe Ahmed Et Le Zoukabyle - Amek Amek
6. Hidrogenesse - La Carta Era Muy Larga (Dub)
7. Champagn’ - Bel Ti Négress
8. Androo - Lyriso
9. Kajou - Tet Chajé
10. Conjunto Baluartes - Nira Gongo
11. Land Shark - Tie Me Up (The Nas-T Version Instrumental)
12. Pellegrin El Kady - Seiva de Carnaval
13. Lee Jackson Band - Call On Me
14. LTA (Love The Action) - What Comes To Ya?
15. Urban Volcano Sounds - Ame no Uta (Rain Song) (New Extended Version)