Al Kent

House | When Al Kent launched the Million Dollar Disco label back in the '90s Disco House was all the rage. A life spent hoarding rare soul and disco records, a keen ear for a sample and a few years of DJing already under his belt stood him in good stead when it came to making music. Inspired by labels like Azuli with their Chocolate Fudge and Disco Elements EPs he made a load of tracks by sticking house drums on top of disco samples and released somewhere in the region of twenty 12" singles, many of which found their way into top DJs' charts. Despite encouraging signs with tracks being signed to high profile labels like Z Records, Defected Hed Kandi and even his beloved Azuli, the Disco House formula soon ran its course and Al looked for a fresh challenge. So he recorded an orchestra instead. Better Days by the Million Dollar Orchestra was released as a double album by BBE in 2008, having taken the best part of two years to make. Not many producers would have the flair to go from cutting up samples to recording a 26 piece band, but Al did it with aplomb.

Despite his reputation as a digger and his background in rare soul and disco, Al is no musical snob when it comes to DJing. He knows how to move a dance-floor with music that ranges from the most obscure disco to bona-fide classics. It's his edits that elevate him beyond the normal conception of a "disco DJ" though.