Its been a long time since I've put anything up here, so long that I had loads of mixes just lying around making a nuisance of themselves. They say a problem shared is a problem halved, so I now pass these on to distract from your daily toil. I hope it brings as much happiness in listening as it did to create.
I'm going to be playing at the Life festival this weekend so bring your fog horns and lighters, the first person to shout "More Fire" wins a free T-shirt! There will also be concession prizes for people who bring aerosol cans and cigarette lighters...
Tracklist:
Tenement Yard: Jacon Miller Redda Fire: Richie Spice More Fire: I'll get back to you on that one... Fire pon a Deaddas: Bushman Youths and Youths: Luciano Marijuana: Richie Spice (ganja farmer riddim) Far East: Barry Brown Murderer: Buju Banton The Boom: Rich Quick: Mr Vegas & Bennie Man Ganja: Diesel Riddim Rude Boy Love: Pinchers Good Over Evil: Assassin 85 Riddim: Dave Kelly England Story: YT Anywhere we Go: Assassin School: Buru Banton Rock & Come in: Warrior Queen (South Rakkas Crew) Hot Sexy and Clean: Sizzla Gal Fi Get: Bounty Killa Light Up: Hallow Point Bigga Boss: Oh Mr DC: Sugar Minott
I have been a big fan of dubstep for a while now, and have been picking up records sporadically over the last two years. I don't have very many, but love the ones that I do. The frustrating thing is that a lot of the ones I really want are not even for sale yet. I blame the internet for this, as I wouldn't even know about them if it wasn't for the producers showing off their dubplate collections on various different online shows and podcasts. But respect is due as guys like DMZ, caspa, rusko and ntype have been keeping me consistently interested in this genre over the years and always encourage and inspire me to do some extra crate digging to to find those gems that are just waiting to be uncovered. Nice one lads, I'll buy you a pint sometime. Perhaps. This podcast is a collection of some of my favourite 12"s that I got over the last year, and I feel that I've been blessed with them. For me Dubstep is going through the same phase that jungle did back in its hay days of the early nineties. Lots of reggae mixes and a version for nearly every big dancehall tune out there. Sure what else could you ask for? Unfortunately most of these records were white labels so I dont have much info on them. I can however tell you that the first is a tune called Elders by Clouds, and somewhere in the mix there is a tune by Irelands very own T-Wok with Brother Culture. Im pretty lazy right now so I cant be bothered to find out the rest of them, but if you really want to know then gaddammit I will, but only if you ask nice and send a self addressed envelope to me with the price of a pint in it(all proceeds will go to possibly buying caspa a pint some day). Otherwise I would suggest that you just sit back, jack up your system, and feel the wobble!
(If you only get to listen to this on an ipod dock or headphones, try punching yourself in the chest in beat with the base to get a better sense of what you should be feeling. If this is not a favorable option, perhaps ask a friend to kick you up side the head instead.)
this is a mix that I did with a specific theme, or life skill, in mind. The sound system takeover. Otherwise known as the highjack, the jackmove, bullying, dj dictatorship, or simply "the take over".
The skill of the take over has been perfeced by many a reggae aficionado through out the years. It's the age old story. You go to a house. A few drinks, a few smokes. Everyone's having he craic, but no tunes! You step up to the plate and take control of the airwaves as if it were your god given right(which it is). But then the 'owner' of the house approaches you. There is a few different angles they might take, and some stock reactions you can whip out they might start with "yeah, reggae's alright. do you have that Bob Marley track?" to which a seasoned take over artist will say " why yes of course, its at the end of this jing kammys cd..." These people will allow for a good few tracks to be played before getting suspicious. But are generally polite and easy to distract. You'll also find people who actually do like reggae, but will insist "hey, its been half and hour! how about something a bit different?" For them, the "just one more track" line will work for a while. perhaps two more hours. Eventually your going to come across people who straight out hate reggae. This is where the take over tai-chi is most important. You have to listen to everything they say; smile, nod, crack a joke, then completely ignore their instructions. They dont really know what they want and could possibly be a complete asshole. Other excuses to make yourself feel better are, "they might grow to like it in a while", "no one else has come up and tried to wrestle me away from the ipod", "they might be confused". If this doesn't help you relax and enjoy the music, fuck 'em. They're almost definitely a complete asshole. These unfortunately will almost always become an arch nemesis by the end of the night. You must stay strong and vigilant. Do not give in. Four more hours of reggae is much more important to the world than a single second of their drivel.
Before you can go and start defending yourself from the nay-sayers, you first need to know what you need for the highjack. Obviously the first thing you need is you music. To make life easier on yourself an mp3 player is the best. After that you will need to bring a headphone jack to phono lead, a headphone jack to tape cassette converter, and a headphone jack to small FM frequency transmitter. With these in your bag your sorted. In the past it was harder as most of these cables were a pain to find, replace and carry around. And you had to bring a large stack of cd's and tapes. Nowadays there is large stereos that are purpose built for someone to just stick there ipod into! The next generation of sound system highjackers will never know how good they have it. Basically any stereo will do once you have those tools tho. A good idea in a big house party though is to find a room with an unattended sound systems. There is always one and it is your job to find it, high jack it, then defend it! If there is no other sound systems in the house, or if its a small gathering then you have no choice but to take the main one.
all you need now is a mix to get yourself started. And remember the mantra in case someone is really giving you grief "just one more tune!"
Tracklistings: Nitty Gritty - Gimme Some of your Something Little Twitch - Devil send you Come Reggie Stepper - If you want to Leave Garnet Silk - Retreat Wicked Man Courntey Melody - Ninja me Ninja Ackie - Call me Rambo Conroy Smith - Original Sound King Kong - Babylon Selah Collins - Pick A Sound Mikey Murka - Control The Dancehall BenJammin - Mexican Bean Brother Culture - Wickedness Pinchers - Bandelero Red Dragon - Good hole college Reggie Stepper - Modeling Mikey Murka - Downpressor Man Tuffest - Wey Them A Talk Bout Clement Irie - Follow me Cutty Ranks - Danger Commit Perfect - Kutchie cup Buju Banton - Talk to me Macka Diamond - Murderer Simpleton - Coca Cola Bottle Shape Tiger - When
This mix comes with a heavy emphasis on bass, from Studio 1 dancehall to modern day steppers and dubstep(even with a grime tune in there for good measure). It was not so much a concept to start with, but rather an idea of something that I wanted to be able to listen to myself. I enjoy when a mix has a nice curve or arc, and was going for that here... and feck it, I'm pretty happy with it too!
It comes mostly from Jamaica and the UK, but even features some stuff from Dublin's very own T-Woc. These are solid tracks and I was delighted to pick them up, but its even just great to see Irish dubstep getting pressed! Go on the lads, hopefully lots more of this in 2009. I'm personally very excited about an album coming from our western shores, the debut release from Intinn, Ireland's conscious warriors. If its as good as there live work we'll be in for a treat.
And check out ur man on d bike! he's tougher den Rambo wielding a bass clef! Gotta get me some of that goin for my post bike. there's time yet...
Tracklisting:
Fever Riddim: (Studio 1) Fever- Horace Andy Mama Prayed- General Smiley
This mix is pretty different than all of the mixes I've done before, because it has no reggae in all at it! That's ok though, as I've come to accept that some people actually prefer listening to music that isn't reggae. So for this mix I compiled a collection of tunes created almost completely by the amazing Warp and Rephlex records over the last few years (with one Irish fella thrown in der for good luck). This music has a dear place in my heart, and helped to keep me awake during marathon stretches of animating during college. Thanks lads. I wanted to focus on the output from these labels that had their signature frantic beats, but also had some ambient melody to them. To me they feel calm, with a playful energy. Not ideal for breaking out in a club environment, but perhaps perfect for listening to while staring into magic eye imagery and thinking of things really quickly. That of course is just a random situation I made up on the spot, have a listen and make up your own mind, for flips sake.
Tracklist! Squarepusher: Do You Know Squarepusher? 12" Bogdan Raczynski: math samuri Global Goon: business man Chris Clarke: lord of the dance Ambulance: arrive Plaid: blaah Boards of Canada: hexagon sun 12" Aphex Twin: to cure a weakling child
this mix was a joy for me, as it allowed me to re-experience and even re-explore a large amount of my collection that I had neglected for so long. It also allowed me to experience it on a completely new level, like falling in love with something all over again!
While selecting the tracks I had great fun finding my favorite ones that dealt with both outer space (and the sci-fi laser sound effects!), but also tracks that were mixed with huge chasms of space between each beat and instrument.
They 70's Jamaican producers had an amazing talent at creating space in the sound for each of the instruments, then they would pad out the sound with heavy bass and abstract sound effects. It is a very subtle and minimalist art form within music, but I love it!
The first track is Beam Down from The Scientist, off his 1981 album The Scientist versus the Space Invaders. This could be my favorite dub album of all time. And it has one of my favorite album covers of all time too. The old school comic illustrations of the scientist fighting off the space invaders is pure genius, it even has a little icon in the top left like the old marvel comics. This track is a great example of a song that leaves loads of room for each of the sounds. The snares sound at times like there were recorded in a cathedral, then snap into a shallow level of reverd to let the guitar riff have its spotlight.
From here we move into the track Saturn Bombardment by Prince Jammy, off his album Prince jammy Destroys the Space Invaders. I thought it was quite funny that he released an album with that title after The Scientists one, an obvious little tip of his hat while giving a cheeky nudge in the ribs. This track is much brighter, while also much more hectic, filling the extra space created in the mix with dub sirens and laser effects. I have a soft spot for these though so I have no problems with them using the space available to them.
The third track is a b side of a Channel One 45" called Children of Babylon by Mike Brooks. The Channel One studios were a great source of bare bones minimalist instrumental dubs in the seventies. I spent many an afternoon listening to Channel One tracks in records shops and actually getting more engrossed in what was not being said as much as what was. Their dubbing techniques could be quite subtle, with some short reverb on the snare and a gentle delay on the melody, but it gave the beautifully crafted rhythms the time and space they needed to move around in. Something which the toasters of the dancehall would later jump on.
Following on from here, Jahtari Riddim Force brings us into the new millennium with the track Depth Charge. The guys in Jahtari are a treat for some one like me who loves the vintage electronic dub, but also has a hunger for something with a more modern sound. There 7" combines their signature use of 8bit sounds with samples from 80's sci-fi films. Still unforced in its production, yet like a lot of modern dub it is much busier than the productions of early 70's Jamaican producers.
Jumping back a bit to the eighties we take a look at the dub of the Billie Jean Riddim. Although this track is more of a eighties Jamaican dancehall tune than true dub, its great to be able to listen to the b-side and appreciate the song without relying on the melody of the vocalist. What we are left with is a truly minimalist piece of art, using almost only the early electronic snare samples and square baselines.
We now move across the pond to the sound of the 80s UK dancehall from Londons Unity sound. These guys were heavyweight specialists, but used only the most simplistic of sounds. To me this sound, when listened to properly on a good reggae sound system, is like standing beside giant lego blocks. Very simple and clean but the size of a sky scraper! The bass and power behind these could knock over the walls of Babylon all by themselves. With the proper volume of course;)
Slowing down the pace a bit is a the Rootah mix of the Elders track by dubstep crew Clouds. This borrows on the aesthetics of the Unity sounds era, but with a modern dubstep edge. They have also dropped a pitched down version of the vocals from the Kilimanjaro dubplate of Cocoa Tea's track Too Young in there too for good measure. A great 12" for anyone looking for new dubstep vynil.
Skream keeps us in the dubstep vibes with his track Kut-Off. This is off his debut album Skream!. He released it when he was only about 19. fair play to him, it was my favourite dubstep album for a long time and still holds ground today, two years after its release.
Disrupt from the Jahtari Riddim Force brings us The Stars my Destination from his debut ep called Foundation Bit, released on Werk Records. It was after buying this album that I was inspired to put this mix together, so I owe him a big thanks for helping me appreciate all this music again. I feel that as a producer he shows a great understanding for the space in which dub needs to exist to be appreciated properly. He progresses the sound to a modern level, while also using a brilliant combination of old school dub techniques.
The following two tracks are lifted from 80's dancehall 12"s deep in the back of my collection. They stand up brilliantly on their own even though they would have been mainly played as the vocal versions, you can see how this would have been a treat for any toaster or MC looking for something to chat over in a heavyweight dance in the clubs of London or Kingston. The synths for and vocoders in these have a great vintage electronic feel.
The following track uses The Studio One riddim classic Drum Song riddim. This has been given a new dub mix, but Im sure by who as it comes off a 10" pressing, and they don't have any little handy info sleeves! If you know please don't be shy to pass the info on. The vocalist is Natural Vibes with his version called Sweet Sensation.
The final track is from Kenny Knots called Jah Sunshine Thru. This is on the same riddim as Melt away by Max Romeo(untitled riddem), and is produced by the Hydroponics. A heavy dub with rolling effects that lets the mix wind itself down to a nice slow pace.
Hope you enjoy listening to it as much I did creating it:)
Here's my second mix since my recent vynil collection explosion (thanks again Aoife). This one is a bit more ruckusy though, and I had a heap of fun both creating it and listening to it afterwards.
It opens on the Unity records track "ring my number" with vocals from Kenny Knots. A heavy digital soundsystem track from the eighties, followed by the heavy weight Mungos Hifi Mary Jane riddim released on Scotch Bonnet 10". Carl Meeks takes the vocals here with his version "Higher level".
Just for shits and giggles I popped the jittery jungle sounds of Aphex Twin in there for good measure. This track is from his Drukqs album which still sounds amazingly fresh for an album that hit the shelves seven years ago. On top of of this is classic, if even maybe a bit cheesy by now, but still fuppin riotous UK Apachi & Shy FX with "Original Nutta". wheres my fog horn when I need it.
Leveling things out after this is Buju Banton on the penthouse 7" with his anthem "Murderer". Slightly contradicting a lot of what he might be encouraging in the rest of his early releases, this is still a beautiful 90's cut of the Far East Riddim, more love to Buju.
That leads us into Squarepushers "Red Hot Car". I like it loads.
After that we have a few tracks that I threw in there because my mate Sean loves vocoders, hope you enjoy. Its a bit of robot funk delivered to us by Cylob with "Rewind", Viberta and Simmonds with "(This Can) Robotic" and DMX Crew with "The Glass Room".
The first bit of dubstep on the Mix is from The Bug with Killa P and Flow Dan, a very heavey and well paced track released on the Hyperdub label last year. This leads into "Ransom the Senator" with Zulu on the lyrics.
Sizzla drops it back down again on the Bob Marley Sun is Shinning Riddim with "I've Got To". The break from dubstep doesn't last long, with The Bug returning again with the Warrior Queen by his side. This track "Poison Dart" also came in a lovely yellow sleeve, isn't that nice.
A small intermission then with the volcano pressing of the Real Rock Riddim version. For some reason I thought I would like to hear Aphex Twins "Come to Daddy". A track that was never for the weak hearted or yella bellied, so I stuck a bit of the Jaws soundtrack over it for d larf. This came of a record I found in a second hand shop called "Disaster". A brilliant named record, with an even better album cover, and some ok songs. It is a complication of different soundtracks from 70' and 80's disaster movies. Fun for all the family!
After Richard is finished flippin himself off on his synths, Heavy D shows how its done with the b-boy cut of his track "Chunky but Funky". The album cover of Heavy D with his crew "the Boys" was also worth its weight in penny sweets on its own: http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=491403.
Then some memories of dodgy bootleg tapes in my childhood with "Hyperspeed" from the Prodigy. I'd love to say I remember hitting the roof of the club when this was first dropped, but it was more like getting hyper on the bus to a ceilí in Irsh college. Nonetheless it's a cracker, Im not sure if they ever really did better than that album.
Second last song is one of my favorite dubstep tracks in existence, but it seems to have gone completely under the radar! I know feck all about it other than it is the first release from the Bisto collection. It might be called "Gansta Lean", sure why not.
Then, just in case you anted to get to sleep we have Primal Scream and "Coming Down". Its a strangely named track because I always felt that it had a euphoric feel to it, but there you go. They were probably all so high on glue that they got their words confused, like when your so wasted you think you've actually sobered up.
for the download follow the link: http://www.divshare.com/download/5006404-4f6
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