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
this blog started out as a way for me to share my music, and perhaps justify the money I was spending on vynil. About 90% of that music would have been reggae, untill last week!
Thanks to the kind heart of my friends sister, Aofie, I now have almost the entire back catalogue of warp records and a good heap IDM, rave, jungle and d&b.
So I'll be posting as many new mixes as possible, and they'll probably all reflect the confusion and excitment this new selection has given me, by throwing genre's and tracks together that only I think works, hurrah!
oh yeah, and she gave me a new set of decks and a mixer too. I shall bake her a cake in appreciation.
tracklist: Prince Buster: Chubby Aphex twin: To cure a weakling child Junior Dan: Sawpo Skank Boards of Canada: An eagle in your mind Prince Jammy: Martian Encounter Venetian Snares: Dance like your selling nails Tiger: when Murry Man: Nuff wolf
Here's a new selection of 70's roots and rockers tracks. A mixture of rasta love songs and dreadlock anthems from the ghetto.
Opening on Version of I'm in love by King tubby, then straight in to the vocal cut with Jacob miller. This is a record I just dont get to listen to enought these days. It was a present from Carl Finnely, big up Carly!
It then moves into a Bunny Lee cut of Barry Browns Leggo Jah Jah Children, realesed on the Jamican Recordings label. A great selection of jamaican music dubbed to perfectoion. The quality of presongs can vary alot though. Don Carlos steps in with Roots man Party, another heavy roots track form the same era with a subtle dub production and killer one drops.
Stepping out of the dub and into Studio One, Cebric Im brooks delivers a beautiful rendition of Picture on the Wall by Freddie McKay. Following this is one of my favourite tracks of all time, Carlton and the Shoes "Love me forever". So many memories! This comes on a great pressing from the Studio One Classics release from Soul Jazz. This leads us on to a heavey but minimalist dub mix of the Techniques track "Queen Majesty". The pressing really doesn't do it justice though, sorry about that.
Onto a better quality pressing, but an equally great track, we have Alton Ellis with "Too late". This came off a repress from the pressure sounds label. Pressure Sounds a must for anyone who has a taste for 70's roots and dub. Very wide selection and also pretty affordable. How could I survived as a student without them!
From here we go to "Cool Rasta", by the Heptones and "Coming in from the Rock" by Prince Far I. Both solid dreadlock anthems.
Don Carlos again makes an appearence, this time showcaes by Jamican Recordings label and the dub stylings of Bunny Lee. nice one again Bunny. This is complimented by Cross Over the Border and a killer dub straight from the vaults of Kind Tubbys.
I have started to wrap this mix up with two tunes that hit the spot for me every time I hear them; Mr Fire Coal Man by the Wailing Souls and Pick up the Pieces from The Royals, both released through Studio One. There's even a lovely Prince Jazzbo mix of Mr Fire Coal Man in there for good measure.
Lival Thompson puts it down with "Dread on the Go" as the final track on the mix. I thought it would be good to keep things upbeat and forward thinking after a mix of such heart breakers and chants of sufferation. It comes off his Train to Zion album and does the job quite well me thinks.
(this is also the first mix I did straight from d mixer into my laptop, the rest were all done straight from d mixer into an mp3 player. Hence the sloppy levels! This is still a sight issue but I'm gettin there)
Hope you enjoy:)
Thursday, June 5, 2008
no new posts in ages? whats dat all about
was moving house and have been kept supa busy in work over the last few weeks, but I've got a new box of records coming soon so der be loadsa more to play with!
I'm also playing at a fund raisor in McGruders on Thomas Street on the 15th, and supporting the mighty Intinn on the 19th in the Turks Head. nice up d dance!
heres a collection of b sides and versions from 80's 45s and 12s. The ones from the 45s were mostly from jammies 45s, so I cant give the names of the riddims off hand. I was lucky enough to come across the 12s from a mate that I was in played wth for a while. he had spent quite a bit of time in london around the eighties and picked up some gems. after a few years n thailand he decided he wanted to get rid of a few of the ones he never listened to. so I bagged a lump a of original press 12s and lps from the 80s! fuppin legend. and they were in better condition than most 45s you get new from jamaica;)
(you'll here the collection slippin into the mixes every now and then)
Im loving this mix as it gives me the oppportunity to really listen to these versions properly, seen as they were lost on d flip side for so long! (hence d name of the podcast)
tracklisting: Fisherman Riddim> Micheal Rose: Let Your Love, Congos: Dub, Early One, Jig Jig Jig I love King Selassie Riddim> Black Uhuru: I love King Selassie Ras Shilo: Rastaman To Africa Sam Bramwell: It a go dread ina Babylon Black Uhuru: Plastic Smile Ganja Camp Riddim> Reggie Stepper: Chalice Jr. Cat: A That We Love Baba Tunde> Luciano: Punchline Capelton: Who am I Lutan Fyah, Princess Menen, Khari Kill - Why, Why, Why Lutan Fyah: Spiritual Revival Prince Alla: One Bright Day Big Youth: Daniel In The Lion's Den Echo Ranks: Dreadlocks Jah Marnyah: Ghetto Life Dandelion: Gold Chain Culture Freeman: King from Birth Dandelion: Adversary Singer Blue: Bangshaka Culture Freeman: On a mission Culture Freeman: Kingsmarch Sinead O'Conor: Jah no Dead
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