Here's Six: Jamie Tiller of Music From Memory Shares Label Highlights

Jamie Tiller is the eagled-eared co-founder of visionary Berlin-based electronic label Music From Memory, whose fastidiously curated output has attracted worldwide acclaim since Tiller and Tako Reyenga got the ball rolling in 2013. Their label's diverse discography spans work from both the past and present, including releases from enigmatic producer Garrett (rumoured to be the alias of Dâm-Funk), Japanese sound designer Kuniyuki Takahashi and this year's fabulous Uneven Paths: Deviant Pop From Europe 1980-1991 compilation, an arcane collection of avant dance-pop that's captured the imagination of more than one local music lover.

Aucklanders are in for a treat as Tiller is playing a special DJ set at 25B Cross Street this coming Friday, alongside Good Times dance gurus Frank Booker and Samuel Harmony, for what's sure to be a head-spinning journey across a full spectrum of club sounds. We felt it was an awesome opportunity to touch base with Tiller, who shared a selection of highlights from Music From Memory's history and provided insightful commentary on each track...

1. Gigi Masin - 'Call Me'

I first discovered Gigi Masin’s music through this YouTube clip at a time when we were exploring a lot of the ambient music produced in various European countries. Obviously it made a big impact on me and my friends, getting in touch with Gigi and discovering all the work he’d made and nobody had heard was a big catalyst for starting the label.

2. The System - 'Find It Your Eyes'

The System was a long time favourite of ours dug up many years before by friends in France. Weirdly though many copies seem to have made it to Holland so it was something you found now and again and it was always just in the cheap bins for a few euro.

Actually we were in touch with the technician of Bob Lamb's studio for a number of years before - trying to make it happen. Eventually we convinced Bob to take part and he told us there was no unreleased material much to our disappointment. When the CD came through though there was this track on Find It In Your Eyes and I was like what was this on the LP and I just never noticed it?! |t’s amazing! The truth was it appeared only on the CD version and to be honest Bob wasn’t really sure what was on the LP release haha.

3. Suso Saiz - 'Un Hombre Oscuro'

Suso Saiz made a big impact on us the we discovered his music and it was amazing to be able to gather work of his from across his LPs for a compilation. We discovered through our conversations though that he had made much much more music than we imagined, and as well as some incredible cassette-only releases was this amazing track from a CD only album of live recordings made between 1990 and 1994.

4. Terekke - 'NuWav2'

I know I'm probably not supposed to say this but for me this album (even though its something of a collection of tracks) is a bit of a modern ambient masterpiece. This track is probably the icing on that cake.

5. Kuniyuki Takahashi - 'Echoes Of The Past'

Another one from a musician primarily known as a dance music producer, these come from a bit further back and for me are up there with some of the most revered ambient works of that period.

6. Richenel - 'Autumn'

This one still gives me the chills. Everything is so right about this track, raw emotional boogie funk from the drug fuelled Amsterdam arts scene back when the city was as cool as you like. If you can speak Dutch the spoken word intro is great too.

Jamie Tiller is performing this Friday 29th June at Auckland's 25B with Good Times DJs Frank Booker and Samuel Harmony, for tickets and more info head along here.