Joey Beltram - Classics (2LP) R&S]

Format: 2x12" in printed sleeve.
CAT: RS96100

Few producers have had such a seismic impact on techno and rave music as Joey Beltram. Hailing from Queens, New York, Beltram was a key figure in the early nineties rave explosion and responsible for some of the most influential electronic records of the era. It was the Belgian label R&S Records who first gave a home to many of these tracks.

Originally compiled and released by R&S in 1996, Classics brings together the core of Beltram's groundbreaking early output: the Beltram Vol. 1 (1990) and Beltram Vol. 2 (1991) EPs, along with the legendary Second Phase productions “Mentasm” and “Mind To Mind” (1991), plus a selection of works under different aliases and collaborations from the same period, including tracks signed as Mental Mayhem, Open Mind, and Disorder.

Now remastered and reissued as a double vinyl set for 2025, Classics is once again available in this format for the first time since 2006, offering a long-awaited opportunity to own these timeless cuts in their purest form. Across its 13 tracks, one can perceive the strength and innovation that made Beltram a fundamental name in underground techno.

Among the standout cuts are “Jazz 303” and “Psycho Bass,” co-produced with Norwegian techno innovator Per Martinsen (aka The Alien), which stand out for their experimental and visionary sound, showcasing a futuristic edge even within Beltram’s already pioneering catalog. On the other hand, his Second Phase project with Mundo Muzique delivers the foundational “Mentasm” and “Mind To Mind,” two essential pieces that introduced the celebrated “hoover” sound to dance floors worldwide. The collection is completed by deeper tracks under his Mental Mayhem, Disorder, and Open Mind aliases, which capture the breadth of Beltram’s tireless creativity and technical mastery during his golden years at R&S.