With Manual Music celebrating it’s 200th release this week, we ask label boss Paul Hazendonk to look back at his favourite moments from the label’s history in the latest edition of What’s In Your Box?
Tundra – Karplus Wrong
The magnum opus of Tundra as far as I’m concerned. We truly lost a very talented musician and great guy when he passed away a couple of years ago. I’m still playing this and will probably be playing this on a regular basis for the rest of my life.
Umek – Ricochet Effect
A lot of people might have already forgotten that after his hardgroove techno era and before his 1605 era Umek did some melodic stuff, and I was lucky enough to sign a brilliant EP by him. This song was mentioned by Umek himself as the track he was most proud of in his career. Absolutely brilliant piece of work!
Giorgos Gatzigristos – Untamed
Hands down my favorite Giorgos Gatzigristos tracks ever, or at least right up there with his Bedrock and Kompakt work, but ‘Untamed’ is in my opinion one of the most underrated Manual Music releases ever.
Eagles & Butterflies – Studio 54 (John Tejada Remix)
When you’re running a label there’s always a certain list of artists in your mind that you’d love to have on the label, and for me John Tejada was one of them. He truly delivered something special here, and this release was actually the start of the very promising career Eagles & Butterflies is having right now.
Piet van Dongen feat. Patchy – She Can’t Stop This
This was actually initially going to be released on Roy Avni’s Echoism label for which I did label management. But Roy passed away and basically so did the label, but this one was already waiting to be released and I thought it was too good for it not to see the light of day. It was also my first encounter with Patchy (Candi Godbold) from whom I later on released her debut album, and now is doing well as the singer of D/R/U/G/S
Qbical – Summer Something
Can’t have a Manual top 10 without at least one Qbical track in there, now can we? The very earliest resident of the label who has released dozens of originals and remixes. Summer Something might not be his most known track, but for me it’s still one of the strongest and catchiest. I still play it every now and then.
Eelke Kleijn – Theme For Nosey
My favorite track from Eelke’s Untold Stories album which was a brilliant piece of music all together of course. So subtle and delicate, I still enjoy every second of it!
Francesco Pico feat. Royal Sapien – You Changed My Way (Dousk Remix)
Dousk truly did something amazing with Royal Sapien’s vocal outtakes here, having used parts that Francesco didn’t even use to transform it into a unique, stand alone song.
Ofrin – How Come (Tigerskin & Phonique Vocal Mix)
Daso actually first approached me after just having remixed How Come to see if it might fit Manual Music. I really liked his remix only then to find out that Tigerskin & Phonique did a remix too. I’m still totally infatuated with both mixes, but Tigerskin & Phonique’s remix turned out to be a true evergreen in the deep house scene, so I’m picking that one here in the top 10.
Tim Engelhardt – Cara
First time Tim played this song for me I wanted to have it, but Innervisions still had it under consideration for a release on their label. I had to wait months for it, and kept on bugging Tim about it, but eventually I got it for Manual and it remains one of my recent favorites of the label. People still ask me to play it on very regular basis actually, so that’s always a good sign 😉
‘Sanction’ is out now, you can purchase the release: here
