Robert Racic was a vastly important figure in the evolution of the Australian dance music scene, and of Volition Records.
Robert began as a DJ in 1983 after meeting established Sydney DJ Stephen Allkins. Playing his way to the forefront of the queer club and dance party scene, he DJed at smaller inner city venues at the beginning of his career. He eventually became one of Australia’s most lauded DJs, playing to huge crowds during the dance music explosion of the mid 80s through mid 90s at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion dance parties such as Mardi Gras and Sleaze Ball, RAT, and Sweatbox.
With Volition Records, Racic wore numerous hats: as a recording artist; as a producer; as a remixer; and as a recording, mixing and mastering engineer, usually in partnership with Kathy Naunton for dB Mastering, and at times with Adrian Bolland.
One of Robert’s biggest remix achievements was the inclusion of his fantastic edit (for which he was assisted by Nick Mainsbridge) of New Order’s “Paradise” on the Australian 12″ single release of “True Faith Remix” (1987, Factory Records Australasia, Fac 183R).
Prior to his New Order edit Robert had done a brilliant remix of A Certain Ratio’s “Bootsy” for an Australia only 12″ on Factory Records Australasia, also run at the time by Volition boss Andrew Penhallow.
Robert was more than simply a remix artist. He also produced many Volition releases, including US Billboard Dance Top 10 hits for Severed Heads (‘Greater Reward’) and Boxcar (singles ‘Freemason’, ‘Insect’ and ‘Gas Stop’).
Additionally, he produced Boxcar’s much loved debut album “Vertigo”.
Working quite extensively with Severed Heads, Robert is credited as having been responsible for changing the sound of the group to one more techno and industrial dance music orientated for the period he worked with Tom Ellard.
One of my favourite releases Robert was involved with is Sydney funk/soul/synth pop band Rockmelons’ “Six On The Floor” (1988, Truetone Records TRU 791518), a six track mini album of club mixes. Five of the tracks were edited/remixed and/or coproduced by Robert.
Robert released two standalone singles for Volition: “Move It Do it” (VOLT 21 on 12″ vinyl, and VOLTCD 21 on CD maxi-single, released in 1990) as dB Love, and “Connection” (VOLT 69, on 12″ vinyl only, released in 1995) as Magicman.
A Magicman album was in the works at the time of Robert’s passing and, sadly, was never completed.
The posthumous double CD release “Robert Racic – DJ/Remixer/Producer…. Whatever” (1998, Dance Pool 487736 2, Volition Voltcd 66) features previously unreleased Magicman track “Blue”. The first disc of the set is a fabulous live recorded DJ mix by Robert; the second is the “Blue” EP, featuring the edited and extended versions of “Blue”, along with previously released Magicman and dB Love tracks.
Robert died at just 32 years of age from a brain virus, the JC virus, which led to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
You can read more about Robert’s amazing life and career, along with beautiful memories and dedications from people who knew him and worked with him, at The Legacy Of Robert Racic.
Vale Robert Racic, 8 January 1964 – 25 October 1996
