Stevie Kotey and Max Essa Present Soirée

December 2009

hen the two colossi of the Bearfunk label get together you can be sure that creative sparks will fire and the disco grooves will ooze. And so we present Stevie Kotey's and Max Essa's new album project, the cunningly titled 'Soirée'.

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Bottin - Disco For The Devil

November 2009

Hot on the heels of his well-received “Horror Disco” album Bottin delivers a fine remix package of one of the LPs standout tracks, “Disco For The Devil”. With a tongue possibly burning a hole in his cheek our favorite Venetian extends (on the torture rack of course) his Italo-disco-Thriller original into 12” remix territory.

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Bottin - Horror Disco

August 2009

Bottin, AKA Guglielmo Bottin, first crossed paths with us at the Carnival of Venice. He was playing live synth whilst Bearfunk head-bear Stevie was DJing. After more DJing & some jovial keyboard sessions and some seriously impressive listening, we knew we had just found our favorite new Venetian.

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01 Horror Disco
02 Theme From St. Mark 30124
03 No Static
04 Disco For The Devil
05 Auricola Judae
06 Venezia Violenta
07 Sciarando El Scuro
08 Magnetic Cat
09 Slashdance
10 Mary Lewis
11 Roger Bacon
12 Bianca
13 Undercover Monkey
14 Endless Mother

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Social Disco Club & Maia - The Way You Move

July 2009

Portuguese based Social Disco Club (aka Humberto Matias) delivers some laid back Mediterranean spiced disco groove. "The Way You Move" sleeks along with sultry keys, Latin groove, lazy percussion and all the flavour of an early-evening island vista.

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A1) The Way You Move (Greg Wilson Version)
B1) The Way You Move (Disk Jokke Retromix)
3) The Way You Move (Original)
4) The Way You Move (Instrumental)

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Various Artists - Hibernation Vol. 1

June 2009

We're not quite sure if Hibernation is the right title for our latest compilation album. We are definitely not sleeping! In fact we are busier than ever. So much amazing music out there... and so little time. Hibernation Volume 1 is the first of a new series of compilations. These unmixed CDs feature a few greatest hits of the previous months, the future smashes and some exclusives unavailable elsewhere.

Read more about this release and see full track listing...

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Various Artists - Hibernation Album Sampler

May 2009

A delectation of some of the choice cuts from the upcoming Hibernation CD on your favorite disco label Bearfunk.

BFKCD006 Hibernation Vol. 1 will be released late June / early July this year.

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A1) Ronda - Folana
A2) Altz - Orympia Rocks
B1) Free Disco - The Kelp Man
B2) Billy Bogus & Sal - Terror Island (Enzo Ponzio Mix)

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Soirée - Introducing Soirée EP

April 2009

When the two colossi of the Bearfunk label get together you can be sure that creative sparks will fire and the disco grooves will ooze. And so we present Stevie Kotey's and Max Essa's new project, the cunningly titled 'Soirée'.

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1) The Theme from Soirée
2) Overgroomed
3) Zim Zim Zah Zah
4) Its Disco

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Junji Masayama - Green Circle EP

March 2009

Melbourne based Junji Masayama swerves his debut Bearfunk release flying in from leftfield in the guise of his 'Green Circle' EP.

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1) Green Circle
2) Monotone Radio
3) Sponge Feet
4) Oyster

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Fratelli Riviera - Riviera's Boogie

July 2008

Thank the lord for the Italians! The cars, the food, the music, the clothes, they continue to be the No1 pleasure providers for the world.

"Riviera's Boogie" has the production of a seasoned pro, but the power packed dub disco workout is actually one of Michele Tessadri (Fratelli Riviera) first ever productions. Brought to the attention of Stevie Kotey via DJ History's very own Bill Brewster, "Riviera's Boogie" became a must have for the Bear.

Riviera's Boogie is the blueprint for the dub disco sound of now! Everything is right the drums, the synths and the bloodthirsty bassline which make compulsive listening for lovers of Fabrizio Mammrealla, Idjuts and Chicken Lips sounds .

We needed a special remix to compliment the original so we roped in the chicken lipped Dean Meredith aka GOAT DANCE to dust down his 808 and turn out a deep electronic remix that will have you getting the lino out and busting a move.

Do not sleep on this!

1. Riviers's Boogie
2. Riviers's Boogie (Goat Dance Phazer Gun Dub)
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Max Essa Hits The Beach

May 2008

Now then people, after dropping his super dope midnight garden EP in 2007. Beardo's, weirdo's and slo-mo disco lovers around the world all joined hands then watched sun go down and the moon come up. His blissful Essa magic has also found it's way on other peoples music too. Whilst working hard on his new LP for Bearfunk. He has also been busy remixing John Daly for John's own Feel Music, Rubies 'I Feel Electric' for Telle and Coyote 'Going Out' on Is It Balearic? Also don't forget his fantastic version of Arturo Capone 'Waves' up soon on Bearfunk.

On this new EP we find the first fruits from Max's hotly anticipated Continental Drift LP due to drop later this year. 'Back the the beach' pretty much sums up Max Essa, a melting pot of live bass live guitar, tip top drums, beautiful chord progressions and generous helpings of emotion that always have you thinking and dreaming about the sun.

Max also treats us with two more superb wigged out offerings 'Telepath' and 'Dead Acrobat'. Both have that deep disco wobble that Bearfunk lovers know and love, but the subtle guitar delays and arpeggio's have you completely locked in and begging for more. Expect big things from this man in 2008!

A1: Back To The Beach
A2: Dead Acrobat
B1: Telepath
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The Diaphanoids are coming back!

March 2008

Hello Earthlings, The Diaphanoids as humans are known as Andrea Bellentani and Simon Maccari. They did not arrive on your earth in normal circumstances. Whilst time travel seems like a distant dream on your earth, here on planet diaphanoid time travelling is a fun way to spend the weekend. We often go back to yesteryear and sometimes we even go forward to adjust some future discrepancies.

But these two took it too far! They always wanted more and to see if the grass was greener on other planets! This was against our wishes and way of life so we gave them a choice, Take the time machine to other planets but don't come back as we need not know how others live.

They left us in 5079 and have never been seen since, legend has it they travelled to your earth and visited 1977-1980, Berlin-Munich-London-Paris-New York.

Diaphanoids found a love for a noise you call music and began to deliver their own unique blend of spaced-out disco astro rock.

Offerings were sent to one Hans Peter Lindstrom in Oslo and he in turn handed the secret tapes to Bearfunk's Stevie Kotey. He was truly mesmerised by there approach and duly signed them. The rest is history..... or is it the future?

A1: What The Fuck Do Want With Us Earthlings?
A2: Mermaids Of Lunaris
B1: Escape From Martius 42
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BFK028

October 27, 2007

Gothenburg is Sweden’s second biggest city, a port town built by hardworking sailors known for its art schools afterparties, militant pop bands and pretentious jazz. It’s also where the most forward looking Swedish music is made.

Naturally, Gothenburg was the first Swedish city to pick up on new Scandinavian disco and made sure its citizens danced to it. While the rest of the country slept in a haze of unknowledge, names like Prins Thomas, Lindstrøm, Todd Terje and Metro Area were regular guests on the Gothenburg club scene.

In the middle of this was Sankt Göran.

Born and raised in Falun – a small town most known for cross country skiing and its old copper mine Göran Dahlström fell in love with pop music in his early teenage years. Like every ordinary Swedish teen he rumbled around in different pop constellations before Kerri Chandler and Sylvester danced in and replaced former indie heroes on his record shelf.

Not yet old enough to enter bars in Falun, Göran was already spinning at several clubs and bars. In 2001 he started to play regularly at Banken Bar & Brasserie, a spot that’s been the heart of Falun’s alternative music scene since the mid nineties.

Pretty soon Falun felt too small and Göran headed south-west to Gothenburg to form the deep house/disco combo Hermanos with his older brother Jonas.
Together with other local djs, Qlint, EdEd and JayStarSeven, they made sure to constantly renew the sound of every endlessly long Gothenburg club night. The scene they created influenced bands such as The Studio to leave their guitar-based ground and fly into discophrenia. It made people grunt about self absorbed djs, when in fact it was always about finding new ways to define and transmit dance music.

Göran’s first track Back 2 Back (yep, it’s his first production ever) instantly gained love from Japanese blogs as well as New York’s WFMUs Beats In Space and made Stevie Kotey reach out from Bear Funks headquarters, and sign him up for two 12-inches and an album.

This sent Göran back to his room, trying to compose pop music with the city nightlife of slow house music screaming for attention outside his window. This sound of sinners, of dirty concrete floors in packed afterpartys, of equally hung over and energetic pulse and a never ending struggle to play and make music that doesn’t kick you in the face, but force you to stop, listen and get caught in the groove. An instant monotony of layered melodies and a rusty hinge on the door to dance music is the music of Sankt Göran.

http://www.myspace.com/Sanktgorangbg

Rools For Rules Is Coming

October 15, 2007

‘Bear Funk has been releasing quality music since day one, and since they were the first label to show any interest for my music back in 2003, I’ll always save a special place in my heart for them’. Lindstrøm

Rools for Rules Vol.1 Mixed by Stevie Kotey & DJ Kent

At last it’s here! Bear Funk’s first compilation has been a long time coming, but it’s been well worth the wait. Started in 2000 when owner Stevie Kotey had trouble finding a suitable home for his music, so he thought lets do it our way. Uncompromising, undiluted and totally underground that’s the bear way.

Bear Funk was started in 2000 to release quality leftfield music. It has been doing so for 7 years and has an extensive catalogue of titles.

The label can proudly boast that we released some of the first productions & remixes by now very well established artists. These include such luminaries as Lindstrøm, Chicken Lips, Prins Thomas, Idjut Boys, Todd Terje, Lexx, DJ Kent, ALTZ, Fabrizio Mammarella, Ray Mang, Theo Parrish and of course productions of label boss, Stevie Kotey

The Rools for Rules idea was created in Holland when Stevie Kotey played at the legendary Melkweg (Milkyway) club Amsterdam. We were having a good chat about how liberal Holland is and my friend remarked, “it may seem liberal but in Holland they have rules for rules!” Stevie kept this quote in his mind and saved for the bear compilation series.

At Bear Funk HQ we pride ourselves on not having any rules when it comes to signing new music. Of course there has and always will be a strong link with disco & house but the label has never been scared of pushing boundaries and releasing experimental music.

CD1 mixed by Stevie Kotey has many unreleased gems including new music from 80’s electronic pioneers Research, Sweden’s bright new thing Sankt Göran and new Italian producers The Diaphanoids. The Diaphanoids member Andrea Bellentani is also a classical composer who has written for the late Luciano Pavarotti amongst others);

We also have all the usual top draw stuff you expect from Bear with Lindstrøm, Chaz Jankel, Max Essa, Prins Thomas, Emperor Machine and Lexx all making an appearance.

CD2 mixed by our good friend and Force of Nature member DJ Kent. Kent produced one of our first bearfunk releases and is such a versatile DJ. Force of Nature is one of Japan’s most sought after and popular acts. For Kent’s mix he has included music and remixes from the likes of Idjut Boys, Arturo Capone, Brennan Green, Goat Dance and LA’s Michoacan.

CD 1 Mixed by Stevie Kotey
1.Lexx “Sirocco”
2.Max Essa “I Guess You Can Get A Tan In California”
3.Goat Dance “High Voltage”
4.Sankt Göran “Angel babe the tin man” *
5.The Diaphanoids “What the fuck do you want with us earthlings?”*
6.Junji Masayama “Montone Radio”*
7.Lindstrøm Presents Plague The Kid II “Drums of life”
8.Research “Shape The System” Main mix*
9.Lordy “The Watchtower” Version Emperor Machine
10.Kotey & Mammrella “Love Sprinkle”
11.Kotey Extra Band Feat Chaz Jankel “Sooner or Later”
12.Todd Terje “Bodies” Prins Thomas Orgasmatron
13.Laj & Quakerman “Lust In Space” Beats
14.Tobor Experiment “Disco Moog”*

*Previously unreleased

CD 2 Mixed by DJ Kent
1.Fabrizio Mammarella “Allunagio” @45 rpm
2.Arturo Capone “Svolvaer”
3.Goat Dance “In the system” Kotey & Essa remix
4.Matt Kenny “The Stay”
5.Arturo Capone “Rego Dancer”
6.Altz “Tune in” Version Idjut
7.Lindstrøm Presents Plague The Kid “Jodleknappen”
8.Brennan Green “Pluto’s Retreat” Optimus Remix
9.Dj Kent “Second Moon”
10.Oorutaichi “Misen Gymnastics” Idjut Boys Full Length
11.Goat Dance “Goat Dance”
12.Michoacan “Sabor”
13.Idjut Boys Feat Rune Lindbæk “Laisn”
14.Lexx “Slow Burning

New release: Kotey & Mammarella - "Love Sprinkle" on Bear Funk Gold

June 20, 2007

Co-written by Steve Kotey and Chas Jankel - presumably as part of the Kotey Extra Band sessions - this pair of Bear Funk nuggets have been reassembled with the help of the label;s live-in Italian Fabrizio Mammarella. The result is a couple of cheeky tunes indeed. Love Sprinkles has been spliced with the musical DNA of Arthur Russell (multiple percussion tracks and those quirky touches are evident), while Tits and Assets is a spikier, spicier and more playful discoid dish.

Available now!