Gabber Eleganza, AKA Alberto Guerrini, is launching a new mixed-media label called Never Sleep.
Its focus will cover music, clothing, books and zines, and it’s set to launch next month with the release of Hardcore Soul – a book and mixtape concept put together by Italian Guerrini, alongside photographer Ewen Spencer and Mark Leckey, which explores the northern soul and rave scenes.
The roots of Hardcore Soul, Guerrini explains, can be traced back to 2017 when he met Spencer in a Dalston pub. "Having seen his series on northern soul weekenders and hardcore raves, shot over a period of several years, the idea to create something together came very naturally, emerging out of these two seemingly dissimilar scenes.
"This is how Hardcore Soul was born. A publication that explores the analogies between two worlds, appearing as they do entirely at odds with one another, yet through a shared devotion, rhythmic frenzy and euphoria, both offering on-lookers a key to understanding them."
A book which will be released in an edition of 500, will feature photos taken by Spencer during the northern soul and ’90s rave eras, as well as a conversation between him and Mark Leckey. Guerrini’s mixtape will be made available on cassette in an edition of 50.
You can listen to a preview of Guerrini’s mixtape above. Hardcore Soul is released on May 19.
