Label Profile: 3am Recordings (UK)

3am Recordings is a Manchester based house label, the brainchild of Al Bradley and Guy Williams. The two first met at University in Hull. When Guy moved to Manchester a couple of years back, starting the label seemed like it was the next logical step! As two clubbers who frequented the Hacienda and Back2Basics, they had seen how the trance sound had taken over, and so they decided to wait until that began to die down. It seemed like just the right opportunity and both decided it was time to go for it with the label, and they began setting things up around August 2002.

The music policy of the label is simply quality deep house. Some, a bit more funky, some, a bit more tech-y, and some a bit harder, but all in the deep house bracket. The philosophy of the label is just to give people good quality music, well packaged and easily identifiable, with the 3am brand a seal of quality.

Apart from their Manchurian roots and boy are they deep from back in the day! In terms of the inspiration for the label, the boys cite label’s such as 2020 Vision, Classic, Drop, Shaboom, plus Tango, Siesta, Igloo, Brique Rouge. “If we can get to a level any of them have reached, that would be wicked, but we just want to put out good music for people!” says label manager Al Bradley.

The label artists:

Atomphunk

The latest edition to the 3am family, Ged Craughwell has released tracks on quality house labels Toko and Urbantorque in the UK, as well as Deep Funk in the US. Proving that Stockport is actually turning out to be the deep house centre of the world, he is also a fellow Northerner the boys like that he is keeping things local. With funky bass, warm string sounds & quality chords, the 'Aftergroove' EP is one to treasure and everyone at 3am are looking forward to more gems from the mind of Ged.

Ciudad Feliz

Argentinean duo Fernando Pulichino and Julian Sanza are the men behind Ciudad Feliz, a name which you’ll be seeing a lot more of in the future. Having already released several tracks on labels such as Silver Network, Konk West & Soundplant, plus their work on 20:20 Vision as Silver City many of you will already be familiar with their sound. The lads describe it as ‘peak hour funky deepness’ & who are we to argue? Just listen to any of the tracks from their first 3am release ‘Buenos Aries Burning EP’ & you too will be taken in by the wicked percussion & depth of bass.

Loop Theory

Debuting on 3am Recordings, at least in the Loop Theroy guise, Manchester's Rick Lees is somewhat of an old-hand in the studio. With over a decade's worth of production in the bag, on labels like Bush, Mindfood, Satellite, Phuzz, Star 69 & releases forthcoming on Skyline and Dusted. They boys did not need much convincing of the caliber of tracks they were about to receive.” We weren't disappointed & neither will you - the 'Loop Theory VOL.1 EP' shows how the ten years have been used.”

Ben Dean

The baby of the 3am clan, Ben has been producing beats for the relatively short time of 3 years. However, that’s not to say he doesn’t know his way around the beats – listen to ‘Kung Fu Beats’ from the ‘Houseproud EP’ if you want to see for your self. Being first introduced to the house sound around the time of Van Helden’s ‘Witchdoktor’, Ben’s continued to take influences & use them to great effect.

LHK & Alex Moran

Local geezers are what LHK and Alex Moran are known as. Both are known and respected in their own right as producers – Liam ‘LHK’ Swarbrick has released tracks for Glasgow Underground, 20:20 Vision & 83 West, Alex has released & remixed on Toko, Glasgow Underground, Naked Music, Guidance & Product Deluxe. Together, they’ve been on Doubledown, Detour, Ri’que, Acoustico Music & Camouflage – and now 3am.

Releases to date:

• Ciudad Feliz "Buenos Aires Burning" EP
• LHK & Alex Moran "In It For The Money" EP

Upcoming releases:

• Loop Theory "Loop Theory Vol.1" EP
• Ciudad Feliz "Welcome Back" EP
• Atomphunk "Aftergroove" EP
• Ben Dean "Houseproud" EP
• Ciudad Feliz "How" EP

3am have been receiving support from both local and international players on the music scene - Phat Phil Cooper, Ralph Lawson, Benji Candelario, Hernan Cattaneo, Murray Richardson, Mazi, Gordon Kaye, Silicone Soul, Paul Woolford, Halo & Hipp-e, Dizzy. Their music has also been receiving support off the decks with reviews in I-DJ, plus Hype Chart placings for Ciudad Feliz (gone up 55-43-30 in DJ Mag's Hype Chart in the last 3 issues), as well as being placed at #19 in the Update Buzz Chart with LHK & Alex Moran.

Anyone who has ever clubbed in Barcelona should know the excitement that would go with having one of your tracks licensed to one of Spain’s biggest clubs. 'Hell' from "Buenos Aries Burning" licensed to a compilation for Spanish club 'La Terrazza', as mixed by Silicone Soul.

Not the only track from the label to receive hype,LHK & ALex Moran got a 5 star review in I-DJ Magazine as a 'Recommended Release" -

"Second outing for Stockport's 3AM Recordngs, with local boys LHK & Alex Moran laying down some nigh on essential funky deepness. As ever with Moran, the production is ludicrously deep yet infused with the sort of accessible funk that'll get people running to the dancefloor in droves. All three tracks work superbly, with the acid-flecked 'By Way Of B (Dub Mix 1)' and trippy 'Suburban Sax' probably just shading it. If 3AM keep releasing records this good, they're gonna be on my 'must buy' list for a long time to come.' (5 stars) Reviewed by Matt Anniss.

Local’s can catch the boys at their 3am related club night, “Audiotonic”, which is monthly at the Music Box, Oxford Street, Manchester. Which has seen LHK, Alex Moran, Ciudad Feliz, Atomphunk, Dizzy & Halo + Hipp-e playing alongside residents, Al Bradley, James Gregory & Viv so far, with Silicone Soul up next in September, after a residents 'Summer Saver' on August 9th.