Contact-U - Dancing Inner Space, 1982-1984

Freestyle Records

£22.50

Format: LP
Catalogue No.: FSRLP143
Barcode: 5050580781832
Release Date: 18 Nov 2022
Genre: Techno

01: Inside You - Contact-U
02: Ecuador - Contact-U
03: Inca Sacrifice - Contact-U
04: Dancing Inner Space - Contact-U
05: Dancing Inner Space (Long Distance Version) - Contact-U
06: Break It Up - Contact-U
07: Breaking Point - Contact-U

Freestyle Records drop an unmissable LP of foundational UK dance music made between 1982 to 1984, in the form of the collected output of Contact-U - aka Rick de Jongh and Andy Sojka's stripped-back electro boogie project.

At the turn of the 1980s Challenge Records was founded on North London's Holloway Road - formed by Andy Sojka & Rick de Jongh to act as a sister-label to Sojka's seminal soul & boogie-focused Elite imprint. Initially releasing a smattering of lovers rock singles, Challenge would quickly begin to focus-in on the emerging sounds of Hi-NRG & electro - with Contact-U, an alias for Rick & Andy's own stripped-back productions, becoming Challenge's first act in this vein.

Recording the sublimely wonky spaceage funk of 'Inside You' in November of 1982, de Jongh & Sojka followed this up over the next 2 years with three 12" releases for Challenge before hanging up the moniker. Providing infectious synth-based melodies & basslines with killer drum-machines & minimal but effective live percussion - and in a couple of instances (see "Inca Sacrifice" and "Breaking Point') crucial dub re-versions on their B-sides - these tracks are some of the strongest electro-funk records to come out of the UK during this period. Dig in!