We’d be remiss for not shouting at the latest Seekersinternational (SKRS aka Seekers aka Seekers International) project, a thirty-six minute tape which sees them mixing up mid-nineties classic Prince Blimey in it’s entirety that needs to be heard.
Back in 1996 Red Snapper debuted on Warp with a full length that helped bring ‘acid jazz’ (back when it was a tern of endearment) to the forefront of cool record purchasing. In reality, the British three piece were taking their skills on acoustic instruments (double bass, drums and guitar) and blending them live with electronic textures in the spirit of ‘punk jazz’ greats before them, building on hip-hop influences as well as dub effects for a killer sound.
Released between the likes of the Richard D. James Album, Autechre and Nightmares on Wax, the Prince Blimey LP was arguably one of the least talked about classics in Warp’s release schedule. From a band point of view each of their eight full lengths were explorations of different strands of their sound, with Prince Blimey for me being the one that captured the spirit of live jazz and the rebirth of cool beats the most.
Ultimately, it was the band’s founding members all wanting to step in to different sonic directions, and unable to agree, that lead them to going their separate ways in 2002 until a reformation in 2007 which lead to more live shows and eventually new music.
Last year represented 20 years since Prince Blimey and, as is the style now, a live tour of the album. It was at said tour’s merchandise stand that the CD of SKRS Prince Blimey Dub Reconstruction first appeared.
We’ve seen Seekers go to work on heavy dub classics, ragga radio shows, jungle tributes and of course revibe plenty of dancehall samples, but this represents them pushing themselves once again in to new territory. The signature heavyweight style somehow twists the funky underground instrumentals in to something darker and denser. No compromise, just quality.
Two tracks here, each one 18:18 in length, it’s a full redoing of the original album, fourteen tracks blended in to just two mixes. Digital pre-orders seem to be going up everywhere and a three-minute versioning seems to be circulating online, but Bleep seem to have full exclusivity over the physical copies.
There was evidently 50 copies of the CD but they only lasted a half an hour on the site, and I have to say I’m proper surprised by the fact that there’s still some of the cassettes here. The tape comes with the digital download when it’s released later in the month, but personally I love listening to Seekers work on a dusty tape. This is classic styles for listening as well as propping up in the studio, get on it quick.
via Bleep
Red Snapper’s 96 Warp debut Prince Blimey gets reconstructed by Canadian dancehall dons Seekers International. Following on from Seekers killer slew of mixtapes and records for the likes of Bokeh Versions, No Corner, ICS Library, Sneaker Social & Diskotopia. Needless to say, if these have found their way into your daily circadian rhythm, then Prince Blimey Dub Reconstruction is very much an essential port of call.
Having been back on the road for the past year touring Prince Blimey in its entirety, one of the operators at Warp had the idea to call on SKRS to offer a fresh take on the blunted classic. Singling out the elements they most enjoyed, the SKRS crew twist up the clattering trip-hop drums, smoked out mid 90’s ambient atmospheres, and the rather Smith & Mighty style drum & bass loops to turn in a version excursion that is set to have all those familiar with Snapper’s original bustling with a refreshed sense of joy. Updating the album for a generation trained on Ableton and the delights of YouTube playlist educations, Seekers chopped ‘n’ screwed mix throws in all manner of ragga and jungle sound bites and many a fine ring of the digi-dub siren delay to call out all Kangol hat wearing crews to wheel up and come again.
Those who still spin Mad Professor’s classic overhaul of Massive Attack’s Protection or Adrian Sherwood’s Primal Scream reduction concoction Echo Dek will find much to enjoy here, a (past)future trip-hop classic of the highest order.
