Thomas Foley interview Part 2.

Thomas Foley Interview Part 2.

React was well known for its Techno roots, but became more diverse with time. What other styles did you champion, and what was the reasoning behind this?

Good question - James and I had different tastes. I had fairly narrow taste in techno, trance and tribal house genres. James was much more broad minded and sign projects like Dope On Plastic which was a genre I did not have a feel for. I was the "Technohead"! My dj signings included Jeff Mills, Laurent Garnier and Deep Dish. Some projects were a joint effort (me and James) like Carl Cox and Cafe Del Mar. James handled all D&B and happy hardcore releases. James was also very much into house and techno so we worked more closely on the A&R for these projects. Later on I signed a serioes of world music albums (Arabesque and Africanesque) with Momo (of the London restaurant) who was very knowledgeable and fascinating to work with.

What was your favourite style of music from the 90s?

My biggest influence in around 1990 was the R&S label from Belgium. My ambition was to release a single as good as R&S - that was the driver behind Age Of Love which was good enough to be on R&S (in my opinion) The Reactivate series was also created to showcase the Belgian techno sound and then later releases from Holland and Germany and a few USA tracks.

React was a big champion of Happy Hardcore. The Bonkers records were massive sellers. Did you actually like this style of music?

JAMES

What were you favourite non Reactivate mixes?

Carl Cox FACT, Jeff Mills Live at the Liquid Rooms Tokyo, Deep Dish Yoshiesque and Blu Peter Reactivate mixes, also Blu Peter and Mrs Wood Bitter and Twisted.

Biggest selling records?

Compilations - Cafe Del Mar 1-3, Carl Cox FACT, the Reactivate and Bonkers series

Singles - The Source feat Candi Staton "U Got The Love"

Most enduring records from the React label?

I think the Age Of Love Jam and Spoon remix stands the test of time. Cafe del Mar albums are classics