Having made his reputation as a blue-eyed soul singer, Ben Westbeech is forging a fine parallel career under his alter-ego, Breach. Following the release of his collaboration with fellow UK house upstart Midland this week, Ben picks his all-time top tracks, from John Coltrane to Chas ‘n’ Dave.
What’s the first record you ever bought?
This is embarrassing but it’s ‘Snooker Loopy’ by Chas ‘n’ Dave. What a fucking record that is. I bought it from WHSmith back in the day. I was five but insisted I have the record. I actually still have it somewhere.
The first time you remember hearing electronic music?
It was on a bootleg tape of an early Dreamscape rave that I bought when I was 12. The geezers who ran my local newsagent used to sell them under the counter. I heard LTJ Bukem’s ‘Atlantis’ remix and I was hooked. All the whistles and horns had me mesmerised. What the fuck happened to whistles and horns in raves? They were amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1b9cQArti8
The guaranteed floor-filler?
‘Erotic Discourse’ by Paul Woolford. This record has continued to work for so many years. It’s one of my all-time favourite records and always works on a dancefloor wherever you are in the world. It’s just pure quality.
The guilty pleasure?
Amerie – ‘1 Thing’. Is this a guilty pleasure? I’m not sure it even counts as one, but if by guilty pleasure you mean a pop record then this is it. Rich Harrison-produced, Meters-sampling, surefire killer record.
The last track of the night?
‘Break Of Dawn’ – Rhythm On The Loose. I’ve finished with this record on so many occasions. It’s always a good choice for a last tune. The strings, the pianos, the break, the bass, then the vocal! It’s just too good. Classic.