Radio Flea

The first dig of the new season took place where it all began: El Flea, the second-hand market in the Raval area of Barcelona. Mark Dix and Arnau Sabaté recorded a show of vinyl located exclusively in the market, including orchestral tracks, jazz fusion, blue-eyed soul and balearic breakbeat. The photos this month come from Clara Anton. 

Arnau Sabaté is a booker at Primavera Sound, vinyl enthusiast and founding member of Radio Flea. For the last episode of the season, the reduced team met at his flat to choose tunes in between the many records, tapes and collection of music memorabilia. 

Arnau and Mark take the Radio Flea roadshow out to Ultra-Local Records in the Poblenou neighbourhood of Barcelona. They picked out a selection of dusty vinyl including mind-bending music from Laurie Anderson, Jean-Michelle Jarre and Santana. As always, the watchful lens of Vera caught the DJs in action.

Radio Flea is free at last and this month Arnau, Mark, Mateis and Vera pay a trip to one of Barcelona's newest music merchants: the homely Barcelona City Records in the Gothic Quarter, managed by Oriol Aparicio, resident DJ at the Marula Club. The dusty discs dug up derive from jazz fusion to far out funk, vintage childrens' tunes to the smokiest student soundtracks, trademark Latin rhythms to sensational soul.

Radio Flea is recorded in three segments by its resident selectors this month, with a distinctly positive mood as the end of confinement is within sight. Arnau Sabaté opens with a mix of Catalan folk, Flea Mark follows with a mixed bag of lazy grooves from the world over and Mateis e. Aqir finishes the show with weird jazz and cosmic jams.

The friends from Radio Flea have taped some of their newest acquisitions at home for this episode, which includes dusty vinyl by Psychic TV, Fun Boy Three and Boban Petrovic.

The team take a trip to the appointment-only store Salvadiscos, nestled in the Poble Sec neighbourhood in Barcelona. Arnau Sabaté, Mateis e. aqir and Flea Mark dig through the wooden crates to find the weirdest wax which is recorded for the mix which includes tracks by Sade, the Alan Parsons Project and Kenny G. Vera Kharlamova is present as ever to document the occasion, check Radio Flea on Instagram and Facebook to check out the making of Radio Flea at Salvadiscos.

This episode of Radio Flea was recorded in the plush surroundings of the Libertine Bar at Casa Bonay, one of the few venues in Barcelona which allow for relaxed appreciation of older jams through vintage design Klipschorn speakers.Radio Flea selectors Diagonal Mark and Maties e. aqir traded tracks throughout the evening, whilst house photographer Vera Kharlamova captured the atmosphere of the evening, and you can check out images on the Radio Flea Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/radioflea/

For this month's episode of Radio Flea, a third part of the team – Mateis e. aqir – takes a trip to his native Moscow. Together with this close friend and local digger Abe Steward, he visits a local legendary spot, The Dig record store. This iconic shop is located in Bauman's Garden, surrounded by virtually untouched Moscow architecture. The guys were warmly hosted by the owners of the institution, Ivan and Petr. The name of the shop speaks for itself. Here you can find any type of music one could imagine, but for this show Mateis and Abe compiled a selection with focus on second-hand eastern block cosmic and jazz jams, plus orchestral music from the times of the Soviet Union.

Radio Flea returns for the 2020 with special live recording from Curtis: Barcelona's audiophile bar and record shop in the Eixample neighbourhood.Selectors in charge of the set were Radio Flea regular Flea Mark and special guest Aurélien Arbet, co-founder of Études Studio and host of the Wave Form show on LYL Radio.https://www.instagram.com/aurelien_arbet

On a December evening the Radio Flea research team met at Discos Volta, a cosy loft space above a bike rental shop in El Clot. Co-owner Xavi Riembau was there to guide us through his selection of new age melodies, African percussion and 80s college rock.

Radio Flea was recorded at the Galerías Olimpia: a labyrinthine paradise for diggers which includes Rhythm Control Barcelona, Vinilarium, Crokan's Mutant Store and the newly opened Glove Records Shop.  The records were chosen by Arnau Sabaté, Matéis e. aqir and Flea Mark from the bargain boxes of dusty vinyl at each of the stores and were played live to a few mezcal sipping locals at the cult spot Bar Olimpia. Check out the @radioflea Instagram for photos of the evening by Vera Kharlamova.

For this month’s recording, we asked Gerard Lopez from Discos Paradiso to set up the decks on the famous mirrored counter and arrived with a little time to dig around the 7 inch singles stacked at the back of the store. Our findings surprised us and a few people who came by to check out the set on the late october evening. We welcome Mateis e aqir onto the Radio Flea team as a new member of our selection squad, and his partner Vera Kharlamova who documented the occasion. To check out her photos of the set as well as the sleeves of the wonderful vinyl we chanced upon, check us out on Instagram, @radioflea

El Maquiniste! and Flea Mark pick out a selection of vinyl picked up this summer on trips to Sweden, Mallorca and in their usual digging spots in Barcelona. Beginning with soundtrack and childrens' music, the programme finds time for disco, new age, folk and relaxing advice for pregnant mothers. Keen listeners who recognise the mystery track at the end of the show can send their answers to @radioflea on Instagram. La Botiga dels Horros - PròlegKiu i els Seus Amics - Un dia especialLorena - Tu eres igual que los demásIan Dury & The blockheads - Dance of the screamersThe Brothers Johnson - CelebrationTango? - Danzad, Danzad MalditosMarengo - Puente de EsperanzaEl Olivo - Under the olivesEjercicios Psicofísicos Para la Preparación del Parto - RelajaciónMeditation - Vom Inneren FriedenAlex Kubetin - Between A Fine LinePaysages Interiéurs - Vent d'EstGoddess of Fortune - Govinda Mystery Track

This month's Radio Flea comes with a chat-free selection of mid tempo disco cuts from the collection of El Maquiniste! aka Arnau Sabaté. Tracklist: Antena: The Boy From IpanemaThe Rolling Stones: HeavenLa Gran Curva: TensiónDonna Summer: Love Is Just A Breath AwayLaurent Voulzy: Cocktail Chez MademoiselleWally Badarou: Back To Scales TonightAtmosphere: Dancing In Outer SpaceAnna Domino: Land Of My DreamsJoan Bibiloni Band: The BoogieJulio Iglesias: Un Día Tú, Un Día YoSpandau Ballet: Re. Paint

'Flea' Mark flies solo for the new episode of Radio Flea, compiling a dusty set of Americana inspired finds encompassing funk, rock and sixties soul. Tony Joe White - Homemade Ice CreamThe Marshall Tucker Band - Take The HighwayJoe Cocker - Woman To WomanSantana - JingoTitanic - BuscandoCrazy Elephant - PamThe Wead - By the WheyMarie Laforet - Marie Douceur - Marie ColèreLos Chichos - Amor de compra y ventaElephant’s Memory - Brief EncounterTraffic - Gimme Some Lovin’Mystery Track

Radio Flea returns to RPS2 with a fresh selection of deep cuts from vinyl you might have missed. Today's episode focuses on early inclusions of electronics in pop, new age and disco music.

Our presenters debut on Radio Primavera Sound with the first in a brand new series of oddball singles and deep album tracks foraged from flea markets and thrift stores.

Radio Flea comes to you recorded at Abaixadors 10 with a selection of second hand 20th century records as well as a special focus on finds from a recent trip to Oporto.Tracklist:José Afonso - Senhor ArcanjoShawn Phillips - I Don't Want To Leave You, I Just Came To Say Good-ByeSebastian Tapajos & Pedro Dos Santos - Cántigo del aguaAstrud Gilberto - Black MagicSecos & Molhados - VôoHerois do Mar - AmorThe Clash - Silocone on SapphireEddy Grant - Time WarpDe La Soul - This is a Recording 4 Living In A Full Time EraThe Mike Theodore Orchestra - The BullJohn Gregory and His Orchestra - JaguarSecret Track

This month’s edition is pieced together from the collection of Flea Mark and includes lucky fusion jazz finds, undervalued ambient cuts and overlooked Balearic hits that never were.  As ever, we finish with a mystery track. Write to Radio Flea via Facebook or Instagram and you’ll win a limited edition Flea Tape if you can correctly identify it. Michael Hedges - Aerial BoundariesJean Michelle Jarre - Waiting for CousteauWeather Report - Unknown SoldierDolores - EscuelaJapan - CantonKitaro - BeatLio - Petite AmazoneMystery Track