Some records earn their place in our collection because they define a particular era, while others become special because they are permanently tied to a moment in our own lives. For me, Vibe Your Love by Maceo Plex is definitely the latter.
Released in 2010 on Damian Lazarus’s influential Crosstown Rebels label, the record arrived at an important point in the career of American producer Eric Estornel. Already established through his work as Maetrik, Estornel was beginning to develop the Maceo Plex sound that would go on to become hugely influential across house and techno. Originally from Dallas and later based in Miami before relocating to Spain, his productions drew from a wide range of influences, but Vibe Your Love demonstrated a particularly infectious side of his sound. Not only did Estornel produce the track, he also provided the distinctive vocal himself, giving the record a character that immediately sets it apart.
My connection with this record goes back to April 2012 and what was, at the time, my first international DJ gig. Well, international if we don’t count Liverpool and Australia, given that I’d lived in both! The gig took place at the recently opened Cocoon Beach Club in Bali, Indonesia, and came together almost completely by chance. I was already heading to Bali for the Easter long weekend and, after speaking to a few DJ friends who mentioned they were also making the trip, I ended up receiving a message from the promoter a couple of days later asking if I’d like to play.
The gig was split into two sets: a relaxed daytime session followed by a more club-focused night. For the afternoon, I kept things chilled, moving between alternative, chill-out, modern disco and deep house, the kind of music you want to hear while sipping a coconut mojito by the pool. For the evening, I wanted records that could gradually draw people onto the dancefloor before building towards the heavier material later in the night, which is where Vibe Your Love came into its own. Its catchy vocal draws people in, while the drums, bass, chords and melody give it enough energy to bridge the gap between listening and dancing.
Looking back, that is probably why Vibe Your Love has stayed with me for so long. It isn’t necessarily the biggest or most obvious Maceo Plex record, but every time I hear it I’m transported straight back to that weekend in Bali: preparing for my first international gig, standing behind the decks at Cocoon Beach Club and watching the crowd slowly transition from a relaxed afternoon into a proper night on the dancefloor. That’s what From the Archives is all about. The records in our collection aren’t just pieces of vinyl , they’re bookmarks in our lives. Vibe Your Love will always take me back to Bali in 2012, and to one of those completely unexpected opportunities that you never forget.