Back To Mine with Dino Lenny

With almost 30 years of releasing records under his belt, Dino Lenny has naturally built an incredible back catalogue of productions, remixes and collaborations. He’s worked with some of the biggest names in the business, yet his own productions retain a distinct, personal style that is all his own. Much in the same fashion of the last 3 decades, Lenny drops a polished, groovy dance release on hafendisko on the 6 September that will light up many floors – Camouflaged. Ahead of its release, we caught up with the man himself to get the lowdown on his after party essentials.

Massive Attack – Protection

Massive Attack were quite different from most electronic bands of their time, very intelligent and hypnotic. I have great memories living a very spiritual life in Chelsea listening to the album surrounded by candles and other stuff.

Massive Attack - Protection

Lil Louis & the World – Do U Luv Me

Club Lonely was probably a bigger album track but this one always takes my back to my days in Malta where I had to regain all possible energy after the club. I think that lil Louis is the “Prince” of Dance music. I adore him.

UBQ Project – When I Fell In Love

It’s a proper classic for me. Loved it then & love it now.

Soul To Soul – Back to Life

Club Classics Vol 1 was one of those few albums always on repeat in my early DJ days. Jazzie B was very clever and smart to put together all these great musicians. Today’s dance music needs a little bit of that fusion and intuition.

Soul II Soul - Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) (Official Music Video)

Sabres of Paradise – Smokebelch

Moving, emotional and full of flashbacks. Strange how we use to consider it a techno record. Saying that calling some of today’s tracks “Techno” is probably even stranger.

808 State – Pacific State

Same as 808 and the beginning of a new era. I remember seeing them perform on “Top of the Pops” and thinking “Here comes the Revolution”.

808 State - Pacific State (Original Extended Version)

Adam F – Circles

This one came out on Positiva i think. It samples Bob James’s “Westchester Lady”. It’s a very clever and well-educated record.

Darryl Hall & John Oates – I Can’t Go For That

My early radio days where everything was super extended. Quite the opposite of Spotify I’d say.  So many have sampled this one from De La Soul to Simply Red. Darryl Hall was another 80s hero for me.

Daryl Hall & John Oates ~ I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) 1981 Disco Purrfection Version

Goldie – Inner City Life

Not a huge fan of Goldie but I really like this one, Had to be done after Adam F.

Goldie - Inner City Life

Led Zeppeilin – No Quarter

Of course I could have mentioned so many great songs from bands that I listen to but I preferred mentioning these that were more contemporary to my life. No Quarter is the exception, but it’s a masterpiece for me.

No Quarter - Led Zeppelin HD (with lyrics)

Dino Lenny – Beg U EP (Ellum Audio)


Core Ellum Audio artist Dino Lenny returns to the label with two more of his deeply enchanting techno cuts. As well as running his own Fine Human Records, Lenny has fine credits on landmark imprints such as Cocoon, Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels, Diynamic, Innervisions and of course Ellum Audio. He is constantly evolving and honing his sound, which is atmospheric as well as infectious. His work on Ellum perfectly fits in with this label’s cinematic style and that continues here.
First up is ‘Beg U’, which is a superb seven-minute adventure in deep techno. A lead synth line is allowed plenty of time and space to make its impact, with rawness in the crashing hits and cosmic tension coming from the pads. All in all this is an utterly consuming dance floor experience finished off with an aloof vocal line that echoes Depeche Mode.
The excellent ‘Gauss’ ft Black Mami is slick future tech built on busy bass that rattles up and down the scales with real presence. Laser-like synths search across the face of the track and it all builds to a rapturous peak that will have the floor going wild.

Release: 4th October 2019 Cat No: ELL054