If it’s bassbin-busting tech-funk you’re after, Lee Coombs has long been the man for the job. The UK veteran’s Light & Dark album from last year proved he still hasn’t lost the touch for heavy-duty gear, and now he’s called on the talents of kindred spirits like Dopamine, Meat Katie and Maelstrom to weigh in on Light & Dark Remixed.

Ahead of his return to our clubs, we asked Lee to put together a list of the bangers close to his heart. Or in his words: “These tracks have personally influenced my input in the tech-funk sound.” Be warned though – this feature may incite uncontrollable desk-dancing.

Cybotron – Clear [1983]

“There are way too many tracks to choose from to narrow this list down to just ten, but think this is as good a place to start as any. This is one of the early electro records to really stand the test of time and still sounds fresh today. I’ve heard this track being played at every kind of event, from house to breaks to techno parties since it came out. An absolute all-time classic that defines electronic dance music as a whole.”

Bam Bam – Give It To Me [Original Version, 1988]

“An early acid house classic. This is just about as funky as you can make it with a drum machine and a TB-303. It oozes class and if ever there was a track to ‘jack your body’ to, this is it. I used to play this with breaks or house records all the time.”

Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus [Holier Than Thou Approach, 1989]

“Francois Kevorkian letting us know he is one of the great masters of production and remixing. It doesn’t sound like a house record but since it came out it has been played at clubs, raves and parties all over the world. Everyone needs this track in their collection, just in case the time is right to drop it.”

Leftfield feat. John Lydon – Open Up [Dervish Overdrive mix, 1993]

“For me, Leftfield are one of the greatest production teams ever to make dance music. They delivered tracks that were seriously underground but you could play them almost anywhere. This track was a vinyl-only mix from their Leftism album, which is a serious contender for greatest electronic dance album of all time in my opinion. This particular remix does what they do best: rockin’, hypnotic techno-breaks. This is one of the tracks that inspired me to go on and write my music the way it is.”

Lionrock – Packet of Peace [Dust Brothers remix, 1993]

“Justin Robertson’s Lionrock were on fire at this time, then they asked The Dust Brothers (now called The Chemical Brothers) to remix one of their biggest hits. There weren’t many tracks that sounded like this at the time – very early breakbeat with a techno influence.”

Halo Varga – Future! [2000]

“This period was all about the West Coast of the US for me. There was a huge wave of amazing tech-house that really influenced me when I wrote my own breaks productions. I started DJing over there regularly and really got into the scene out there. Tracks like this made me want to get the same hypnotic vibe and fuse it with a breakbeat. That’s how tech-funk was born for me.”

Uberzone and Rennie Pilgrem – Cous Cous [2002]

“Serious premier league breakbeat. Two of the scene’s finest producers come together to show us how to do it properly. One of the most vibey, energetic and awesomely produced tracks to tear up dancefloors in the breaks scene. It also crossed genres with DJs such as Sasha playing heavily.”

Matrix Vs Goldtrix – It’s Love (Trippin) [Deep mix, 2003]

“A great cover of Jill Scott’s It’s Love. This track was a big hit in the UK but the Deep mix was a big hit for us in the underground. Mark Pember, aka Meat Katie, and I used to play it everywhere. It is the kind of record that captures everybody’s imagination on the dancefloor and creates those special atmospheres. We’re all a sucker for a great vocal and this is definitely one of those tracks!”

Rulers of the Deep – The Last Survivor [Buick Project Dub mix, 2006]

“This track has it all for me: old school electro percussion, acid bassline, deep, techy groove and rolls like a rollercoaster. If you drop this one when the crowd is rockin’ you will end up with everybody on the dancefloor eating out of the palm of your hand. Fact.”

Lee Coombs – You Make Me Crazy [Atomic Drop remix, 2010]

“The sound of tech-funk in 2010. This is where we are now. A track from my new album Light and Dark Remixed. Atomic Drop have turned out a stunning remix guaranteed to rock the party every time. It’s big gnarly tech funk at its most powerful. I will be playing this on my tour of Australia in August.”

Lee Coombs plays these dates during August to promote his new album Light & Dark Remixed.

Thursday 19 Aug – Lounge, Melbourne
Friday 20 Aug – The Maram, Canberra
Saturday 21 Aug – Barsoma, Brisbane
Friday 27 Aug – Ambar, Perth
Saturday 28 Aug – Envisage @ Slip Inn, Sydney (Day event, 3-10pm)