Dave Angel

Dave Angel is an electronic and techno artist from Chelsea, United Kingdom, born in 1966. He is the son of a jazz musician and begins playing music on drums at the age of eight. He spends little time at school and is drawn instead to music and to DJ culture in London.

Early DJ work and first releases

In 1988, during the rise of acid house in London, Angel plays and promotes new dance music on the pirate radio station Phaze One. He develops a reputation as a major techno figure in Britain and moves from DJing into recording. In 1989, working at home with two turntables, two tape decks and a child’s Casio keyboard, he records a remix of Eurhythmics’ “Sweet Dreams”. The track becomes popular in clubs, is taken up for official release by RCA, and reaches number 23 in the UK singles chart.

Albums, EPs and labels

Angel releases singles and EPs on Polydor/Love, OuterRythum, Fnac, Island, R S, Outrage and Apollo imprints. He is also responsible for the Sea’s Of Tranquillity EP, which is described as a landmark techno release. Later he signs to Island Records and issues the In Flight Entertainment and Handle with Care EPs. His debut album, Tales of the Unexpected, appears in 1995 and is voted number 5 in that year’s album chart. The album includes the tracks “Timeless”, “Rudiments” and “Fever”, which become club favourites. He later releases his second album, Globetrotting, also on Island Records.

Remixes and collaborations

Angel is known for remixes for Orbital, Sun Electric, Carl Cox, Robert Armani, Juan Atkins, Spooky, James, 4hero, Roni Size and Underworld. His remix work also extends to Ken Ishi and to tracks associated with DJ Krust and Roni Size. Singles from Globetrotting, including “Disco”, are remixed by Ian Pooley and the Wax Doctor. Other tracks associated with his catalogue include “Tokyo Stealth Fighter” and “Funk Music”.

Rotation Records and later releases

After leaving Island Records, Angel focuses on his own label, Rotation Records. On that label he releases Insights, which is voted single of the month by Mixmag, and the Excursions EP on Jericho Records, which is also voted single of the month by Wax. He follows with the mix compilation 39 Flavours of Tech Funk on React Records, which is named mix album of the month by Muzik magazine and is also voted one of the best mix CDs of 1998. He is nominated for the Essential Mix in the Muzik Awards. Further Rotation releases include The Knockout EP, its follow-up The Knockout, The Rematch, Ocean Dwellers and Warriors EP.

Internet releases and ongoing work

In 2001, Angel signs an exclusive internet deal with trust the dj.com. This leads to the mix compilation DA01 and the remix collection DA02: The Reworks, which gathers remixes from across roughly a decade of work. A later mix release, DA03, follows for the same platform. Across his career, Angel continues to DJ and produce, with his work rooted in Detroit-influenced techno and electronic dance music.