Phoenix Studio Line — Easygroove

Catalogue note

Original early-1990s Phoenix Productions fold-out promotional leaflet centred on an Easygroove Phoenix Studio Line cassette, priced at £8.99. Inside, Phoenix describes Studio Line as DJ-planned, digitally recorded tapes and advertises double-cassette combinations by Mickey Finn/Kenny Ken, Easygroove, Mickey Finn/Simon Bassline Smith and Swan-E/Phantasy/Simon Bassline Smith. Further panels sell an MA2 flight jacket and padded record bag by mail order from Fulham Road. Specialist tape archives place the relevant Phoenix Studio Line catalogue across 1993–94, making the leaflet a strong document of the commercial mixtape and merchandise infrastructure surrounding rave culture.

Advertised programme: Easygroove is the featured Studio Line title on the cover. Other advertised Studio Line double cassettes: Mickey Finn/Kenny Ken; Easygroove; Mickey Finn/Simon 'Bassline' Smith; Swan E/Phantasy/Simon 'Bassline' Smith.

Graphic-design significance: The Easygroove/Phoenix face uses saturated purple-orange cloud texture, glossy computer-rendered spheres and a yin-yang-like Phoenix logo, characteristic of early-1990s digital rave graphics. The interior merchandise panels deliberately switch to functional monochrome catalogue photography and typography. This contrast between psychedelic music branding and practical mail-order retail design is itself revealing of the emerging professional rave economy.

Historical context: Specialist archives preserve Phoenix Studio Line mixes by major rave/jungle DJs including Easygroove, Mickey Finn, Kenny Ken and Simon Bassline Smith. Hardscore identifies Mickey Finn Phoenix Productions Volume 1 as 1993 and Easygroove Phoenix Studioline 2 Tape 2 as Spring 1994; Mixcloud also preserves an Easygroove Phoenix Studio Line Volume 1 Tape 2 set identified as 1993. The leaflet therefore belongs to a short early-1990s period when commercially duplicated DJ tapes were an important route for circulating sets outside live events and pirate radio.

Production note: Full-colour psychedelic cassette-art cover/interior panel with monochrome merchandise/order advertising panels on coated paper; exact process/stock not established.

Condition note: Very Good appearance, ungraded. Original central fold and panel folds are integral to the leaflet. Light edge/corner handling, minor rubbing and small puncture/staple-like holes near margins are visible. Colour remains vivid and text is highly legible; no major tears or significant loss.

Confidence / uncertainty: No publication date is printed. c.1993–94 is the defensible period based on independently archived Phoenix releases; the exact leaflet issue/distribution date remains unknown. The cover says Easygroove but does not identify volume/tape number, so it is not forced to a specific Easygroove cassette edition. Prices are physical retail prices, not market valuations. Existing People authorities are reused for all six named DJs.

Through the flyers

Explore the club-culture timeline to follow advertised dates, places and billed performers across the held flyers.

Event details are drawn from the held object and the qualified catalogue research above. A printed bill establishes an advertised booking, not confirmation that a performer appeared.