June 16, 2014On the sound system tip as always, had to share this live session we cam across last week. Aba Shanti-I Sound System recorded live on to cassette circa ’91-’92, digitised last year and upped to Mad Mungos Radio Soul for sharing. It’s something special, built to be played out loud, and not in the background. While a normal Aba Shanti-I…
June 14, 2014For the London based, make sure you get down to this today at 2pm. As part of the ‘African Odysseys‘ programme run this month, BFI Southbank are playing back-to-back two pieces of essential viewing about reggae and soundsystem culture. You’ve even got one of the director’s in attendance, all for £6.50 a ticket: http://bit.ly/1myVuqq Released last year, I Am The Gorgon:…
June 13, 2014Regrettable to be reporting on the recent passing of Count Suckle, an originator of UK sound system culture, credited with introducing ska to Britain, and perhaps even more importantly was a foundation for creating social sound in the UK. It was 1954 when he stowed away on a boat from Jamaica, accompanied with the late-great Duke Vin aka The Tickler,…
June 12, 2014Well hyped to be getting this, having waited pretty damn eagerly ever since the photocopied ‘forthcoming’ announcement that arrived in record box many weeks back. Since it’s inception in 2012 the NoCorner label has become one of my favourite imprints. Cassette only, buy-on-site releases that we always try and pick-up through RewindForward (RwdFwd) upon release, dropped in limited quantities and occasionally…
June 10, 2014So in case you haven’t noticed, we’re still playing a bit of catch-up, having been away from the platters for a week or two. It’s been a quality few days of music consumption however, with so much goodness having dropped last month and only just reaching our ears now. Tri Angle Records have really kicked things up a notch lately,…
June 9, 2014We don’t shout about Theo Parrish that much in this space. The Detroit legend gets plenty of hype on any release or mix bearing his name, and out of everyone buying his records there’s a load of people who can do better things with them than I could. That’s not to say we don’t appreciate the ones we do pick-up,…
June 7, 2014It’s been impossible to go past Itinerant Dubs across the last 12 months. Still a production name shrouded in mystery, we can only assume that the duo (taken from what little we do know) have been in the studio releasing for years. And now with constant quality plates coming under this moniker, the artists have set a new standard for…
June 2, 2014It was soon after she was announced as the first female artist on the Stones Throw roster that I encountered Georgia Anne Muldrow. Given a day to absorb the album before interviewing over the phone, I still remember clearly how much those early few listens of her music moved me. Calling friends, playing it to them down the phone, it…
May 29, 2014Stepped back in to the studios at FBi Radio last week, taking over Liquid Electric for one night in Andy Maxam’s absence. As I’ve said a million times before, FBi Radio is where everything started for me, producing breakfast before stepping on to my own show every Wednesday night. Going back there is like a pilgrimage home each time. Had…
May 27, 2014A bit more of a heads up on this one than last time, and I’ve promised to keep the hype down. Jimmy Monsta Funk and crew are headed back down to what’s becoming their regular monthly residency. ‘In The Heat Of The Night‘ returns to Snugg in Brixton the weekend after next; heads-know vibes all the way. To be honest, I’m still…