The Technics SL-1200 MK 2 record player was introduced in 1979 as a replacement of the previous model and like it’s predecessor was meant to be a high-quality player for the home market. But it’s complicated design ensured that it was relatively resistant to feedback and dampened vibrations, and it soon became the de-facto standard turntable for both discotheques and radio stations the world over. And when resourceful disc jockey’s figured out that it would continue to spin at the correct speed even when tampered with the technique of scratching was born.

Together with rapping and break-dancing the art became one of the pillars of Hip-Hop, which was rapidly gaining traction and it’s performers started to call themselves “turntablists”, to be distinguished from the standard “disc jockeys”, whose job only is to play and mix records.

Many such turntablists scourged record stores to find rare old vinyl containing wacky, bizarre and outlandish samples for their craft. Such as The Avalanches in Melbourne. They used these to produce “Frontier Psychatrist”, or what a critic called “sheer giddy pleasure of turntablist art”. It was their first commercially successful song and when the video was added, featuring musicians and actors re-enacting the music and voices to the best of their ability, they had already ensured a place in the best videos of the 2000’s shortlist when the decade had only just begun.

Note: As the 1st of August is a holiday in Switzerland where we’re based we will continue our programme on Tuesday the 2nd. Happy weekend everyone.