Dexter & DJ Friction - Diggin' Sonoton: Contemporary Beats & Movements Vol. 1 (2020)

Stream/Digital: prodbydexter.bandcamp.com

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of library music. For avid aficionados of the beatmaking and sampling scene, it’s no news that library records have always been a reliable source of obscure sample fodder.

Over the years, there’ve been compilations of library labels such as KPM and Bruton, but no one ever took on the extensive catalogue of German library company, Sonoton. DJ, producer and record collector DJ Friction (Freundeskreis / Four Music) got in touch with Sonoton to discuss a possible collaboration. Once they agreed, he asked Dexter (Jazz Files, The Trip) – one of the most in-demand hip-hop producers and beatmakers working right now – to join him on this journey into sound. The idea was to not only compile a number of standout tracks from the Sonoton catalogue, but to sample these old recordings and transform them into a brand new collection of beats. Luckily, Sonoton was game and allowed Frico & Dexter to dive deep into the basement of the company's HQ in Munich. Out of those 200+ LP releases from the early 80s the two producers picked their favourites and went back to the drawing board. The iconic artwork of Sonoton’s 80s releases also inspired the cover sleeve of their new collabo LP.

Dexter and DJ Friction each produced one half of Diggin’ Sonoton. The result is an eclectic, exciting, and well-rounded instrumental album that clearly displays their respective individual styles, while at the same time transferring the distinctive vibe of the original recordings into 2020. All these tracks are digitally distributed via Sonoton as well, making this ambitious beat album a new addition to the rich history of library music.