Beat Line - graphic

Beat Line was an electronic music netlabel I ran from June 2019 until May 2020 in the spirit of the "classic" French house labels of the 90s (Poumtchak, etc.). In that time, four releases saw the light of day, ranging from sample-based downtempo to deep house to darkwave electro, all by either myself or my good friend Laurent Brett (REDONDANCE, Mr BRETT).

A companion radio show, Beat Line Sound, ran for five episodes from October 2019 until January 2020. Consisting of either non-realtime "DJ mixes" or cleverly transitioned playlists of the kind of electronic music that inspired the label, each episode aired first on Coog Radio (University of Houston's campus internet radio station) with introductory commentary by me, later uploaded on Mixcloud with the commentary removed.

Beat Line predates my current interest in cultivating "underground" practices, thus, despite its (continued) lack of any sort of mass appeal, many of the label's activities were decidedly "overground." For example, releases were promoted heavily on Instagram and posted on YouTube and SoundCloud.

While the Instagram page has since been taken down, the existence of music that is not my own in the label's catalog compels me to keep the YouTube and SoundCloud pages online. The Beat Line Mixcloud page likewise remains.

Interested parties are strongly encouraged to interact with the Beat Line catalog on this website or Bandcamp.



release catalog

LINE 001	Slipstream - The Tempo Effect EP released June 25, 2019	buy Bandcamp
LINE 002	Laurent Brett - PWRS 20yrs Anniv. (P.1) released September 26, 2019	free download Bandcamp	free download ZIP archive (16-bit/44.1 kHz AIFF, 114.3 MB)
LINE 003	Laurent Brett - PWRS 20yrs Anniv. (P.2) released December 12, 2019	free download Bandcamp	free download ZIP archive (16-bit/44.1 kHz AIFF, 103.4 MB)
LINE 004	Hunt One - Skyblue/Representin' released May 25, 2020	buy Bandcamp

Beat Line Sound

Before COVID confinement restricted Coog Radio studio access to only the station director (Reduction.'s airings were facilitated entirely remotely), one's physical presence was required in the studio to deliver any broadcast files, insert them into the playlist, and man the mixer.

Beat Line Sound aired largely without ado, with the notable exception of Episode 3 - Halloween Special. A student who had just found out about Coog Radio stopped by to visit the studio while the episode was on air (and playing quite loudly through the studio monitors). When he entered, he froze for a moment, then said "Holy shit, what is this? I've never heard music like this before."


episodes

Episode 1 - Filtered Bombs Slamming mix full of disco house bangers !	Originally aired on Coog Radio on October 16, 2019	stream Mixcloud
Episode 2 - French Touch I Smooth playlist of classic French touch !	Originally aired on Coog Radio on October 23, 2019	stream Mixcloud
Episode 3 - Halloween Special Haunting mix of classic tracks from 90s Dutch hardcore label Ruffneck Records !	Originally aired on Coog Radio on October 30, 2019	stream Mixcloud
Episode 4 - Demon Eyes Slick playlist of hits and deep cuts from house legend Demon !	Originally aired on Coog Radio on November 13, 2019	stream Mixcloud
Episode 5 - French Touch II Another funked out playlist of classic French touch !	Originally aired on Coog Radio on January 8(?), 2020	stream Mixcloud
Episode 6 - Jackpot ! Breakneck mix of classic French house from Black Jack and Riviera !	Mixcloud exclusive, likely uploaded January 28, 2020	stream Mixcloud