- 2024 – Great Leap Forward
Well, guess what? The last entry on this blog was, yep you guessed it, 2023’s year in review. I’m thinking that I may as well bite the bullet and admit that this is really just some kind of glorified yearbook or annual, like Shoot! But without the Paul Warhurst profiles. Anyway, in some attempt to make amends, this year I definitely, 100%, absolutely without question will try to post more often. This time, I promise.
Musically, the year was as diverse as it could be. The radio thing went in a few divergent ways. With the Voices show, I made the leap to full on digital and embraced the world of Rekordbox and all that entails. Still very much learning, so bear with, but maybe at the age of 46 it is possible to learn something new. After so long just buying and playing records, the back and the bank says it’s time to diversify. With the reviews, I am lucky enough to be on the receiving end of a lot of new promos, and these are largely digital so having that outlet for the more dance orientated music I was listening to made sense. The hour long slot also really focusses the mind on holding the attention but still getting across a bit of a story in the music. Trying to anyway – I’ll let you decide and if not you can just enjoy the moody pics of me on my way to work.
The community and togetherness at Vinyl Night Radio carried on, but in September I stepped away from doing my weekly show. It was a difficult decision after the best part of three years. While I still enjoyed putting the shows together it got harder to do them live and as time went on the feeling I wasn’t giving it the dedication it deserved grew. It was a tough decision as Morgan and Alain have been so encouraging and supportive over the years. Almost 150 shows is a lot, I mean I had nearly played all my records! Seriously though it was an honour and privilege to do that show and it taught me a lot about what is involved in building a show. I’m still very much learning, in fact largely making it up as I go, which is probably obvious, but those shows have been foundational for me. It’s not completely over, Saturdays in 2025 maybe looking a little different, watch out O’Leary I’m coming for you. In the meantime, the final instalment is below for a listen back, nostalgia and some emtion maybe involved.
Loose.fm marched on, December’s 4 hour end of year extravaganza marked three years on the station. Mark deserves huge props for keeping it going and putting so much work into the station. I think it’s been a tough year in many ways, but the new studio edges ever closer and despite some distance if the offer’s there I will be popping in to have a nosey once it’s operational. I tried to diversify it a bit more this year, so fading out my dulcet drone for some different voices.
The interviews from last year turned into a kind of label based ‘tunes and chat’ series. It was my absolute pleasure and honour to speak to some of the people behind labels I have loved for a long time. Miles from Wonderful Sounds was an absolute gent, sharing his backstory for the show. Then Enrico aka Volcov just was a lovely man, so many stories and a great depth of knowledge and passion for music. Finally Pete from On The Corner, another label that has done incredible things and will hopefully do so for many years to come. On top of that, mixes from Fairhurst and Jolyon Green made for incredible listening and certainly shaded my DJing skills by some distance. Both doing their thing in their own unique way. Huge thanks to all for their contributions, especially when it’s basically some random fella on Instagram tapping them up for their time.
Show links in the pics above and below.
In between the specials the show took a very much new music first direction. As I said, the Test Pressing gig means I am on the receiving end of a lot of new music that deserves whatever airing and support I can give. The shows hopefully reflect as much as possible the breadth of what is out there and I am constantly struggling to fit it all in. Bandcamp has become such an essential tool too in discovering new stuff, it can’t really be undersold. Saying that, the urge to subscribe to every label and artist that you come across can lead to some inbox congestion and time taken to plough through it was a little distracting.
It’s also harder than ever to be heard, the ominous Spotification of music was sad and just downright depressing. Full disclosure, I subscribe to Apple Music, is it any better? Is it really that people just want AI background rather than music made by real people? I know my daughter used to just say ‘Alexa, play some pop’ and was happy to let it do its thing. And it would appear the folks who run the show think this is how it should be. She is now asking for specific artists, and finding stuff in other ways (radio – remember!). So there’s hope yet.
This article was an honest case study in what grassroots music is up against now. If you do nothing else after reading this, switch off Spotify and buy some music. Use it or lose it. Another thing that grew for me this year was the focus also on finding tunes for the shows meant the immersive experience of albums wasn’t really there for me in the last 12 months, something to remedy in 2024 – play more albums in full. Buy more vinyl/cassettes/CDs and if nothing else, buy a download. Support artists, that is all you need to do.
On the Test Pressing front, things have fired on, reviews were the bulk of it, and hopefully they have made a difference and opened up some artists and music for people who didn’t know about it before. It did also made it very hard to pick end of year selections with the amount to choose from. Alain Briand (aka Shelter) and Payfone’s Phil Passera very kindly spoke to me for the site and meant for some fast learning on the editing front, getting their voices heard in the right way. Reviews-wise I tried to move away from just saying what music sounded like in terms of the artists a release was similar to, and get descriptive, going for the feel and sound, hopefully with a little humour and excitement of how good a certain release was chucked in. Not for me to judge on that but that was the intention anyway…
Photo Credits : Landry A – mydogispolite.com – @landry__
The TP family has grown a little over the year and Paul/Apiento continues to push the thing forward as only he can. I’m sure the new LA environs will add some new and interesting angles on all things musical. Meanwhile, I will add my two penneth from the rainy backside of Manchester, or Stockport to be more precise. It’s not the new Berlin but we like it. The site has become an institution to many many people, with the forum a vibrant talking shop of like and open minded music lovers. It’s still a daily go to for me on tips and discoveries. I still have to kind of pinch myself from time to time to check it’s not some odd fever dream to be part of it.
Gigs-wise probably the busiest yet. Various slots round and about playing vinyl tunes in their entirety with something resembling a blend between them. Does that count as a style? I enjoy it, people seem to like it. I think they’re the most important bits. Caravan, Side Street and Odioba pushed things on – 4, 5, 6 hours is a long time to play records for, but amazing fun and what to me DJing is about. Plus playing on the Isonoe was never to be sniffed at. The opportunity to share music and open a few ears along the way is something that never gets old for me. Having that time and space to go on, and I will use the dreaded ‘J’ word, journey is just a great feeling. The monthlies at Sureshot were different again. more collaborative and chilled, slotting into a roster of likeminded but hugely diverse tasting players was great. The comradery and passion for music just shining through. Alain needs to take huge credit again for carrying the station through another year, adding some great new faces to the roster and keeping the station moving forward, still with a dedication to the waxy stuff we all know and love.
The nightlife bandwidth was restricted with my own gigs filling the late night quota. That said, making the effort for Luke’s album launch at Cloudwater with a suitably cosmic doubling up finale courtesy of Ruf Dug made for some warm up to Nossa at Soup. Hannah and Isaac have created something really special and having Charlie Dark guest was just the icing on the cake. Dancefloor passion and power in equal measure. It’s not just them, Manchester’s underground is very much alive (see also Red Laser, Sprechen and Levy Downlow amongst many others), despite nightlife is taking a bit of a pummeling at the moment according to some. Just running the numbers on putting on nights, even just filling bars with a DJ is really tough. Especially if you are trying something new. But there is still the fire to do it, new places opening up and giving it a go, MO6 and Brukbank as well as Odioba just in my hometown are giving it a go, but need support to make it.
Well, that was my personal year round up waffle, what about the picks?
Radio of the Year
It’s almost like a broken record but NTS just continue to lead the pack. Mornings with Flo and Louise Chen made up for Zakia’s move to 6Music, although her Sunday night show became something of a must listen. Sofie K, Moxie, future PM Bradley Zero, Bill Bewster, John Gomez, Ruf Duf, Test Pressing of course, Chuggy, Ross Allen (still!)…. all unmissable shows. That said, I have to represent Voices of course. So many new and exciting…well voices. And a spring board and inspiration for people to go it alone, Sadiq Bello starting his Caviar Radio for one. Then the likes of Svara starting out too. Radio is in rude health. Also the aforementioned Loose.fm my home from home, of course moving to a day of programming made for a solid listen, end to end.
Radio DJ of the year – Macca (NTS) : Making Saturday mornings the best bit of the week, tune selections to die for and more than a little wit and just plain fun with none of the bullshit. One Glove!
Gigs of the Year
Live music was front and centre of my ‘plan’ for 2024. I wanted to get to a gig a month. Now, this may sound like a fairly conservative target but, life etc., made it it tricky at times. However, it was one new year’s resolution I managed. Glastonbury obviously notwithstanding, I feel like an uptick in the numbers for 2025 should be achievable. Speaking of the big one, popping G-cherry was, after 25+ years of festival going a massive highlight. It’s a cliche but there is literally so much there you can only ever scratch the surface. We nailed the big acts. Yes Coldplay, against my better judgement, was a lot of fun, Femi Kuti onstage balanced by the plain weirdness of Michael J Fox. LCD, Kiwanuka, Little Sims…yeah it was a good one. Some of the smaller things too, bouncing to Luke in a tiny tent followed by Apiento, Felix and Dave, Young Marco…I could go on but you had to be there. If you know you know etc. I have become that Glasto person. Apologies.
On the more local front, Beth Gibbons was immaculate, incredible band, incredible presence and joyous, completely blowing the high expectations out of the water. Then there was New Order, backed up by Johnny Marr, yes it was a full on Manc revival but yes, it was also moving, uplifting and life affirming and basically the best, to be listening to those songs live. They won’t be around forever so make the most of them.
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Bill Ryder-Jones are not my usual go tos, but stunning both, didn’t know any of the songs but just consummate artists at the top of their game in venues with crowds that believed. There’s a lot to be said for going in cold and seeing what the night brings. Likewise Carwyn Ellis and Ibidio Sound, fun and joyful music played from the heart. And finally Laurie Anderson, that was a push but worth battling the December illness and fatigue to see something truly unique. Part biography, part state-of-the-world address, part art piece, hard to describe and rightly so. A one off showing why she is just that.
Gig of the Year: Beth Gibbons at Albert Hall: Having seen some serious heavy hitters this year the choice was tough but if the measure of a good concert is walking out in the street with a warm glow of having seen something truly special, then Beth and her band shade it.
Releases of the Year
This is a really tough one. With the focus on the radio, albums weren’t that front and centre of how I listened to music. That said, I loved the Lefto album and that was my pick of the year for TP, J-Walk along with Kirk Degiorgio, Jack J, Common and Pete Rock, Gosha Martynov & Natasha Sinyakova and Transmission Towers made proper LPs that were more than just a collection of songs. Last year’s pick, Cleo Sol dropped a new single that was as gorgeous as anything she’s previously released and of course the mighty Sault decided to launch a new album at the end of the year.
Singles was more where it was at. Nonna Fab’s ‘We still out here’ was massive. Fritz Wentink, Wallace, Orion Agassi, Cousin, Juan Ramos and the mega Shy One, Gyallis Spiral being another pick of the year for me, plus many more firing out whatever could be described as dance music. It’s remiss not to give a mention to Parkway, but Mark deserves a special mention. Always pushing his label’s sound. Then on the more soul side, Private Joy and D.D. Mirage making their own versions of classic sounds with panache not pastiche.
On the modern tip, Tyson and Fatima brought the soul for the 21st century. The return of Quiet Village, enough said. And yes, there was this fella called Alex Kassian who did something with E2-E4 helped out by the Mad Professor, if you haven’t checked it out yet, might be worth a listen. I also love the God Colony feat. Roy, Loss is not Infinite. A Christmas hymn for now if ever there was one.
The compilation game gets more competitive every year, where to go next? Luke Una’s Everything Above the Sky , was a truly magical release. Same for Andrew Thomson’s Early Doors comp, so much of their personality and passions compressed into the choices on these. Palms Trax was enticed into selecting for the latest edition of the Love International series to great effect, and no round up is complete without mention for Balearic Mike and Kelvin Andrews’ Down to the Sea and Back Vol.3.
Special mention also to the No-one’s Listening Anyway Post Punk selections from Jason Boardman and Compassion Crew’s Sins and Dollar Bins plus the ever reliable Mr Bongo with yet another essential Record Club offering, now on Vol.7 and no diminishing in quality. Finally, although there are no doubt many more I’ve missed, Rhythm Section were ten this year and released a beautiful six disc set. Following the label’s progression and looking to the future across the tracks.
Single of the Year – God Colony – Loss is not Infinite
Album of the Year – Lefto – Motherless Father
Compilation of the Year – No-one’s Listening Anyway
Labels of the Year
There’s obviously a very strong correlation between the records mentioned above and the labels that out them out. But some have gone above and beyond, creating an ethos, sound, visual style and just a feeling that stands out. Parkway yet again made the running with the first album on the label. A super coherent intro to the label. Mark Seven excelling. Then there was Spiritual World, another new one to me and making the year all the better for it along with Baroque Sunburst. Mr Bongo, as per with Jazz Room. Again difficult to pick a single release when they all come with joys to get lost in. And then Local Dish and Peckings for the JA sounds new and vintage.
Sound Metaphors again, just pushing boundaries with new music and rediscoveries. On that tip, Isle of Jura, still there, Kevin knows what he is doing and does it so well. Neroli too, Enrico bridging the gap from broken to house. Scenic Route also, not putting out the ordinary by any stretch of the imagination. Then taking music forward, labels like Love in the Endz and Burnin‘. Jason’s Before I Die project just kept pushing forward with the Klangkollector and Khartoumb albums. Like I said, too, too many special outfits championing music and bringing it to the world. And that’s kind of where the label of the year goes, veering ever nearer to world domination, it has to be Make A Dance. Pretty much doing exactly that, I’m yet to play a record on this label and not get a reaction. They are that good.
Label of the Year – Make A Dance
Shops of the Year
Carving out that time to just browse shouldn’t be hard. Another aim for 2025, it’s worth the effort and cleanses the soul. Foreign trips are now factoring in that time, Bilbao, Bordeaux and Angers this year provided some very ripe fruit. Closer to home SK1 and All Night Flight are as good as any shops in the country and on my doorstep so have to get mentions. Piccadilly, my old faithful friend, we see each other slightly less these days but you’ll always be there. Likewise King Bee, but maybe we need to get together a bit more regularly this coming year.
Online, Boomkat, Basso’s Growing Bin and Rubadub hit the wallet where it hurts but were worth the pain. And, despite the reworks and changes, and the very obvious scalping, there’s still treasure to be found on Discogs by searching for ‘dub mix’ and filtering on 1983.
Shop of the Year – SK1 (Stockport)
Summing Up
It’s been a bit of a funny year as I write this, it feels a little like a whirlwind, a lot going on, moving forward at quick pace. But it also feels like it’s been a long one. They say the days are fast but the weeks are slow, and in some ways it felt like that. Saying that I ticked off a fair few hit list items and met even more inspiring and passionate people. What life is about right? In some ways a stepping stone in others a line being drawn for something new. Either way, looking ahead is all we can do. And keep pushing.
P.S. I still love buying records and who doesn’t love some photos of records, so here’s some I’ve dug up this year….over and out.
- 2023 What?
So this is hilarious, looking back on this blog to check what the last entry was, guess what? It was my 2022 rundown, then before that 2021’s effort. Very poor effort, especially given the number of times I’ve said to myself “I am definitely going to put more effort into the blog this year!”.
Anyway, maybe as some kind of minor redemptive effort, here goes 2023’s review…and maybe 2024 will see something a bit more regular. Either that or I’ll see you same time next year.
It was a very different and exciting year in many ways on the music front. The radio thing went up a few notches with joining the Voices night time crew. More of a lurker on the WhatsApp than contributor, but glad to be part in a small way of such a vibrant community of likeminded heads. Passionate and reaching in what they do.
Loose.fm continued to be a monthly fixture, the guys there making the break for financial stability and a new studio to continue their journey too. More news to come on that in 2024 hopefully. For my show I tried a few different things and was lucky enough to have the company of Stuart from Emotional Rescue, Kevin from Isle of Jura and Mark Seven as well as Ornella from Sounds Familiar for some musical chit chat. They are all people whose musical output I have really admired so being able to grab some of their time and get to know them a bit was really special. All were great interviewees and very much forgave my lack of experience but I think the end results stand up.
Finally Vinyl Night Radio was the weekly fixture on Tuesday nights. It’s a bit closer to home and the community behind it of music lovers continues to be warm and genuine. Two years in now and only a handful of missed shows means over 100 episodes now. Crazy.
Big plans afoot for 2024 there too, more live and more joined up efforts to expand and reach the station’s potential. Now on 24/7 and with new DJs joining plus live events in the wild – there’s plenty of irons getting hot.
The other big musical thing was my joining up with Test Pressing. As something I have avidly read over the years, to be asked to be a part of it was pretty incredible really. Paul has been so welcoming and supportive and trusting which is just a really empowering feeling. To have that encouragement from someone you really respect has certainly fired me to put myself out there and just get stuck in with the radio and gigs.
“Always push”
Evolving the format is what it’s all about so below is my end of year post match analysis and run down of the highlights of 2023.
Radio of the Year
As usual it was hard to look beyond NTS for groundbreaking radio. From the now sadly departed Zakia on Thursday/Fridays, Macca on Saturdays and then the likes of Ross Allen, John Gomez and Ruf Dug, plus Apiento (of course). It’s hard to identify another station with the breadth and adventurism of NTS. Let’s hope the changes in ownership don’t impact its approach.
Closer to home. Loose marched onwards and upwards, it’s Friday all day shows unmissable. Of course I am biased but Mark and the team keep pushing new and exciting music from a huge range of DJs, some of the TP crew included – Joe, Tom amongst others.
Internet radio is a wild and diverse place. Not all survive, Rainy City gave me a brief home and I am grateful for the hook up there while it lasted.
Voices and of course VNR are now fixtures too. And the variety of folks and tastes involved keeps those groups vibrant and welcoming.
Radio DJ of the Year – Zakia Sewell
Nights of the year
Age and something resembling responsibility means the big night outs are a bit more sparse these days but I managed a few here and there.
Luke Una at one of the many SK1 street parties and the Aficionado 25th birthday both highlights. No surprise that man like Jason Boardman was involved in both. Along with making an appearance at the Hacienda revival at the Warehouse Project. The man was almost Zelig like in his ubiquity. And that is a serious compliment.
On a more low key note, the Levy Downlow parties at the Talleyrand were considerably smaller in scale but with no less passion and dedication to that forgotten element of going out. Fun.
Going out DJ of the year – Jason Boardman
Night(s) of the Year – SK1 street parties
Nado 25 
SK1 street do 
SK1 street do 
Nam open Levy Downlow Gigs of the Year
Did ok on this front this year. Despite saying I’d do one a month, which didn’t really happen but wasn’t far off. More for 2024 required though. There really is nothing like it.
Ezra Collective were passionate and intense. Yazmin Lacey was laid back and engaging. Alfa Mist just an incredible musician with plenty more to come. Say She She showed why they went on to become something like media darlings. Sakamoto ‘live’ and Angelique Kidjo at the MIF again demonstrating that the festival can provide something new and unseen. Finally Eddie Chacon, to call him a renaissance man is to do disservice. Classic soul voice with a forward thinking approach to song writing and production in collaboration with John Carroll Kirby. What more is there to want?
Gig of the Year – Eddie Chacon at Yes
Myele Manzana 
Ezra Collective 
Eddie 
Angelique + F 
Kagami 
Alfa Mist Leftfield doing Melt at Warehouse Project Hacienda do Releases of the year
Doing reviews for TP opened up a whole extra chunk of the musical universe. Being fortunate enough to be sent music as well as seeking it out is an amazing privilege. Still can’t beat the buzz of discovering that artist or record for the first time though.
So much great music has come out this year, new or reissued picking individual tracks or albums is very difficult. So I’ve basically cheated and done a mix of the 50 or so tunes I came back to this year.
Anyway it is a year end rundown so after much deliberation and with no justification these are my picks.
Artist – Cleo Sol
From the double drop of instant classic albums to the Albert Hall and Sault live shows. The hype is not even worth discussing. The talent and pure soul is real. Just a joy to be able to watch an artist grow.
Compilation – Skyrager presents Traces of Illusion
Ridiculous year for compilations really, Nado 25, Paul Hillery’s output was unbelievable. Folk Funk 2 a highlight. Plus more Future Bounce. Happy Land, more from Sound Metaphors uncovering Goa’s dance legacy. Transmission 3 just incredible dub foundational music. Sounds Familiar up to number 2 of 3 and no sign of stopping. Plus of course Orpheu’s Love International set. It was very difficult to pick one.
Single
Still buy vinyl. Have to really kind of a muscle memory that isn’t going to go away. However being in the bandcamp means just more to access. Quantity doesn’t always mean quality. There’s a limit to how many edits of 17 Days you can want. But it’s instant and exciting mostly. But still not a record. Again, a very lazy observation that it was a good year but there were some excellent stand alone pure dancing records as well as songs. I can’t really look past Payfone though for single of the year. But very honourable mentions go to the artists below. Al Wooton and Jack J along with Mark Seven bringing the Vibes.
Single of the Year – Payfone feat Kyd Nereida “I Feel You”
Album
Jazz still big in 2023 and soul. And electronic music. And acoustic stuff. Plus numerous sub-genres I am either too old or just have too few hours in the day to get across. Doesn’t mean you can’t try though right? Out of comfort zone music is a New Year’s resolution and the Haq Haq Kingdom album is a good place to start. However as mentioned Cleo has to take the prize.
Albums of the Year – Cleo Sol “Heaven/Gold”
Label
Tricky one this as the concept of labels continues to evolve and mutate. Do they still develop artists? Just promote? When so many labels are basically the artists themselves the whole world is far more complex than when an act was signed and they were off. That said there is still that cachet and mark of quality with certain labels. When you see a release by them. You just know. Plenty to choose from who fit this definition. Mr Bongo, Before I Die (Jason again!), Leng, Isle of Jura, Emotional, ESP, Death is not the End, M.A.D., Mood Hut…
This is where my pick sits squarely and rightly so. Optimo have just continued to release music you can’t imagine having a better home. Dance music in its loosest sense. Leftfield acoustic stuff. Obscure compilations. All with a sure eye for design and feel that is only theirs. Plus a social conscience with the tapes for Glasgow food bank charities. Just a superb operation.
Label of the Year – Optimo Music
Honourable mention – Mr Bongo
Shops
It never dies. I’m no digger in the sense of the Shadows and Votels of this world. I’d probably end up divorced. Kids and wife. That said they do indulge me and holidays this year did lend themselves to a little foreign rooting. Amsterdam is just as amazing as ever, Rush Hour of course but also the delights of ?? Amongst others. Lisbon too one for a return visit. But the first trip to 586 in Gateshead was such a lovely experience. Unassuming building but great boozer round the corner wonderful owner. The full package.
Shop of the Year – 586 Records
Summing up
It’s been a lot of fun, got around UK and abroad, getting this radio lark under heavy manners, started writing and played a fair bit. Saw and heard a lot of great music by artists on the up and already hitting the heights. And most of all have been very lucky to have met some amazing individuals.
Exciting times with a lot to look forward to in 2024.
See you in a year, cheers!
p
Mix Tracks
1 Yu Su – Counterclockwise 2 Finis Africae – Pulso de la Madera 3 Wally B – Where Were We 4 Sewell & The Gong – Words 5 Huw Marc Bennett – Pinc Sunset 6 Grand Union – Morning Brings The Light 7 Daniel Sofer – Dewdrops 8 Greg Foat – Sis No Hyp 9 Mike Reed – Your Soul 10 Gal Costa – Pontos De Luz 11 Parbleu – Si Tu Veux Ou Pas 12 Ms Ray – Broken Heart Still Beats 13 Ari Lashell – Deny feat. Stefan Ringer 14 Cleo Sol – Gold 15 Say She She – Forget Me Nots 16 Dessus – Ghetto Children 17 Robert Minnott – Give me your lovin (Dub) 18 Cruisic – Pacific 707 19 Sipho Gumede – City of Gold 20 Prins Emanuel – Parnassos 21 Dan Lissvick -Heads 22 Asha Puthli – Space Talk (Dimitri From Paris Remix) 23 Ruf Dug – Thru The Night 24 Freak Heat Waves – How Do We Come Alive 25 Secret Circuit – Holding Pattern 26 Malcolm Mclaren – Call a wave (Orbital Mix) 27 Discotecas – Always Forever 28 Isis – In Essence 29 29 French Audacity Feat. Valerie – The Final One 30 Payfone – I Feel You (mudd Remix) 31 Peaking Lights – Suitcase (Massimiliamo Pagliara Vocal Remix) 32 LNS – Pizzica Tarantata 33 Escape From New York – Save our love 34 Pejzaz – Po Godzinach 35 Lexx – Gentle Rain 36 Cosmo Vitelli & Die Wilde Jagd – Elixir 37 Coral D -Shock Front 38 DJ Nivea – Somos People (Caliente Mix) 39 Harri Pierson – Bananas 40 Mark Seven – Sunsplash Vibes 41 Jo Sims – Bass The Final Frontier (David Holmes Remix) 42 Cabaret Voltaire – Soul Vine 43 Akasha System – Heat Distortion 44 K Lone – With U (Feat. Eliza Rose) 45 Chez de Milo – Geiser 46 Alexander Nut – Cherish The Day (Alex Nut Remix) 47 M Calderoni – Heavens 48 Alex from Tokyo – Wa Galaxy 49 Waq Waq Kingdom – Shogyo Mujo 50 Bianca Oblivion – Bad Gyal 51 Latrec – Kutika 52 Al Wooton – Vitus 53 MAD Edits – Cool Girls 54 Juan Ramos – Untitled Mix #1 55 Glont.Mak – Apaya (Lipelis 12” Remix) 56 Viper Patrol Flow Motion 57 Clark Sisters – Ha Ya (Mr K Edit) 58 Nev Cottee – Ring (Stringapella mix) - 2022 – Another year done
I guess the first thing to say about 2022, is where did it go? This blog, or lack thereof, is testament to a year in fast forward. Family duties, house renovations, ‘real’ work and other assorted distractions meaning this project was very much on the back burner.
That said, I did manage to pull together a mental list of highlights and memories to call out. So to make up for the general lack of activity for the rest of the year, and in no particular order, here are the awards and shout outs for the year in music.
The mix this year is my end of year Loose.fm show (more of that below) and Vinyl Night Radio – although the rules of that station mean you’ll need to be quick to catch that one.
Radio of the year
This year for me was all about radio, with a few live gigs chucked in here and there. I had two shows on the go, monthly with Loose.fm and weekly with Vinyl Night Radio, so if I can have a joint winner for station of the year, then there you go. Biased? Yes of course, but doing them has changed how I approach DJing and pushed me to be more disciplined, and above all learn to love my own voice.
The VNR guys really welcomed me in with no need for formality and let me get on with doing what I wanted with the show. I think I only missed one week without a new show which I think is not bad going for a weekly show. Koop – Waltz for Koop was my first tune live on the radio.
VNR was a real entry point to the world of radio and branched out further this year with a number of live events out in the wild. Newcastle at RPM Music was a big highlight playing records all day in a great little shop off the Bigg Market. Plus other forays into Bernie’s in Altrincham for Xmas and Stomping Ground in Heaton Moor. As ever the drive and organisation of Alain (Station Boss) is key and have to give him a big thanks for getting that all together over the year.
Loose is a bit more, well loose, based in London it’s a Dropbox relationship but they have been encouraging and easy to work with and do some great work with the socials and graphics. Maybe one day I’ll grace the studio…It’s been great putting these shows together and they are re-upped on the Mixcloud.
That said, there are some proper DJs out there who deserve a shout out, Ross Allen, Ruf Dug and John Gomez making my mornings a lot more pleasant when I can catch them. The easy style of Zakia, all on NTS. Luke Una doing what he does on the already missed Worldwide. And then the stalwarts, Gilles of course still up there and doing it weekly. However this year’s winner has to be Charlie Dark latterly on Worldwide FM but also on his own Run Dem. Vibes upon vibes – never a show without a tune I need to go and hunt down. Relentlessly positive and all round superstar without the ego.
RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR – Charlie Dark (Peace Postivity & Blessings Worldwide FM)
RADIO STATIONS OF YEAR – Vinyl Night Radio & Loose.fm
DJ of the year
This was a quiet year for going out for a number of reasons but I did make a few forays out after dark, so this run down reflects that a bit (also see clubs of the year!). Donna Leake took my breath away at Apricot Ballroom, and a very honourable mention has to go to Ashley Grimshaw before her. Just doing what a DJ is supposed to do, opening your ears to music you’ve never heard before and putting it together in a way that keeps the rhythm of the night moving forward.
Again, showing my lack of ability to escape the house, Irfan Rainy’s Community nights passed me by but I did catch him on a random night at Soup and his status as a pivotal figure in the underground dance music scene in Manchester is well earned. He also brought Joe Claussell to Manchester, more of which below.
I also caught Scruff at Bestival, who again just knows what a real DJing all about. New year’s resolution is to get out more and see what’s about. So many mini-scenes based around venues popping up – even in the previous backwater of Stockport where I live, with Jason Boardman and the SK1 Records gang doing interesting things at new venue Syndikat.
Lastly the Vinyl Nights at Feed have opened my ears to many a new DJ up and coming or just old hands who do it for the love. I’ve had the pleasure of spinning a few times for Morgan – who needs a special mention for the intro for VNR – a true gent whose passion is infectious.
So anyway back to my pick, like I say I have to stick with people I’ve seen, so it has to be Donna L.
CLUB DJ OF THE YEAR – Donna Leake
Nights of the year
Going out was a bit limited – see above, but live was more productive. A few biggies such as Bestival (family) and Primal Scream (for old times sake) mixed it with more small scale efforts.
Yes is now a go to for good live music, not a revelation for most I’m sure but it really pulls in the smaller acts on their way as well as some hidden gems. John Carroll-Kirby in March was epic in every sense of the word. One man mostly and a synth, taking you places. A return with Eddie Chacon would be nice though.
Lady Blackbird played at Band on the Wall in May which was bewitching and exciting as well as spiritual and soulful. Seeing her on Graham Norton later in the year wasn’t a surprise – watch her rise.
Same goes for Gabriels. Love and Hate is already such an iconic tune, it felt hard to see where they’d go from there, but the more I reflect on that gig the more blown away I am by the voice and delivery. Another one to watch go skywards. And it was at New Century Hall.
Out dancing twice that count this year. A poor return but they were good. Joe Clausell just was Joe Clausell at Freight Island. Sun setting on a Sunday night, dancing outside to some of the best house music played by one of the best. What more could you want?
Then flipping that round to Deptford Northern Soul again at New Century. A fun one, stretching the definition of Northern definitely – Curtis’s Move On up anyone? But still full of proper dancers, there to move and be seen moving.
On a personal note the gigs picked up a wee bit, the VNR tour meant playing out at some new places. I had a few nights at the mighty Nook which were always fun, Nordie was also a good one. Another new year’s resolution – get booked more. If you’re interested hit me up. Anyway here are some pictures of decks in random places I have played to serve as support to the above!
GIG OF THE YEAR – Gabriels (New Century Hall Manchester)
Reading Matters
Along with this blog, reading is another thing that’s taken a hit this year. But there have been a few good things I managed to get to. The return of Jockey Slut as Disco Pogo, Faith still free and providing context and forward looking artists and house. Plus to basically try and look clever my subscription to the London Review of Books.
Bookswise, Bob Stanley’s (off of St Etienne) book ‘Let’s Do It’ was worthy of scholarship in terms of it’s breadth of research and certainly opened my eyes to a number of artists, genres and movements that were totally new to me.
Last Night a DJ Saved My Life came out in a revised issue and was as funny, interesting and informative as it as ever was. Essential reading for students of the DJ form and all that geos with it.
Blogs still had a place, although sadly I succumbed to Instagram in a bigger way this year. Special mention to All My Friends, Ban Ban Ton Ton and Test Pressing on the blog front, for keeping the content coming. Test Pressing forum being a great go to for tips and tricks.
On the Insta front, Luke Una was always funny and erudite but with a heart behind it. Who’d have thought you could say that about social media. Honourable mentions also to Andy Votel, Pasta Paul and Ruf Dug for their contributions, plus many others for the record tips and heads up. No doubt it will eventually descend into the sewer like every platform before it but for now it’s still worth the effort.
Music Works
With the shows and just generally wanting to explore more this year more than any other has really led to a rapid expansion in the music I picked up. I mostly blame Instagram but the DJs from the stations totally opened my ears to new and interesting stuff as well as the old ways of digging about.
So, my new year’s resolution is to make this blog better and more current, however I am also writing this on New Year’s Eve and it’s an end of year review. This time pressure means unfortunately this bit of the review is a bit of a rush job (something else I need to address in ’23!).
Therefore to cover all the new stuff I listened to in 2022 and save time the slide show below has some of my musical highlights, streaming, vinyl and download.
Saying that, there are still some big albums and 12s I need to call out for special mention. J-Walk’s album was a real excursion into the outer reaches of electronic groove music. Totally immersive and groove filled, instant classic. The Michael J Blood album was the same, electronic but totally original, a mean feat in a crowded scene.
Soul music loomed large for me this year, new and old. Quincy, Marlena, Esther, Joe, Terry…I spent a fair bit of time and energy getting some of the catalogue in order with those albums. But new stuff in that vein was equally impressive. George Riley being the pick with an exceptional set of modern, contemporary electronic based music for the heart and head. And then there was Sault. What can you say really about a group (?) who can drop 5 albums for free in a day and every single one of the 70 odd tracks on them is an original challenging piece of music in its own right.
12s were also great this year, let’s be honest there are so many released it’s easy to get a bit snowblind. Delays on pressing mean release dates get a bit fluid. But from this year I have to call out the Nonna Fab EP on Worldwide Feelings, Semi Skinned Edits #5, the Melodies International collectors series, Foundation Music’s Lady Blackbird remixes and Bruise releases all need a call out.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR – J-Walk Mellotronique
ACT OF THE YEAR – Sault
COMPILATION OF THE YEAR – Venta Sul (Vampisoul)
LABEL OF THE YEAR – Foundation Music
Shops
Still the lifeblood of musical discovery for me, it’s been a great year for shopping! I found myself in a number of places I’d not got to before, either by luck or design. London is still great, Atlantic and Tome in Hackney were excellent spots.
An Easter trip to the city of my birth, Plymouth also found me back in an old haunt, Hairy Records still gave up a few treats. The VNR trip to Newcastle meant checking RPM in very minute detail and certainly is worth your time. Plus Sheffield has some gems too. I will be back.
Manchester still has plenty going on despite rumours of its demise the Northern Quarter can still hold its head up. The might Piccadilly records will always be a strong contender for shop of the year. I’ve been going there for nearly 25 years, so they must be doing something right. Shouts to Andy and Matt, who are always friendly and chat despite me basically doing click and collect. Eastern Bloc and Vinyl Exchange still going and worth dropping in to. Special mention also to King Bee, not to be forgotten and again somewhere you can guarantee a treat or two whenever you go.
And then to Stockport. Who’d have thought that this little satellite town could now boast two of the best shops around in All Night Flight and SK1. Well, they do. Can’t recommend them enough so what are you waiting for?
SHOP OF THE YEAR – SK1 (Stockport)
- 2021 The Awards
Here we go my end of year run down best of list to round off this slightly less odd than 2020 but still a bit rubbish and strange of years.
First heard Ross sitting in for Gilles way back in the Radio 1 days and he’s just kept doing his thing. So many records I have been put onto thanks to his ear and with the new show on NTS he’s taking it on again.
Honorary mentions – Sarah Evans (Al Hara), Moxie (NTS), Tash LC (NTS), Love Injection (Paul & Barbie) (Lot).
Not really been out so slim pickings to be fair! Bit if I had to pick one, it’d be Luke. Had a hand in two of the events of the year, Homobloc (which I did get to) and the Electric Chair’s long awaited return (which despite some efforts I did not).
Honourable mentions – Jayda G and the mighty Derrick Carter.
I listen to music mostly but sometimes you need to hear some humans and something that’s not the news or too deep. Max and Barry have an easy camaraderie that with the revolving cast of journos keeps things interesting and mostly light.
Artform, Luke Una, Balearic Breakfast, Louie Vega’s lockdown, just consistent quality any time of the day.
Honourable mentions – Hamon, Loose FM and Vinyl Night Radio
Album – Emma Jean Thackray – Yellow
Can’t really go on about this one anymore than I already have. Just a great debut, kicking on from the 12s with ambition and confidence. Quite a decent year for albums (see below) so in good company.
Honourable mentions – Carwyn Ellis, Nightmares on Wax, Vels Trio, Hard Feelings, Dos Santos, System Olympia, Lady Blackbird, Little Simz, Cleo Soul, Sault, Joy Orbison, Rebecca Vasmant, Loraine James, Raheem de Vaughan & Apollo Brown, Greentea Peng, Georgia Anne Muldrew, Altin Gun, Raf Rundell, Emanative and Liz Elensky, Valerie June.
Single – musclecars (feat. Brandon Markell Holmes) – Shelter
Cost of vinyl this year and the ease of streaming has really eroded my ability and desire to buy that many singles on 12. A sad state of affairs, there are so many great old tunes that are still to be (re)discovered but the cost and hassle of putting out records must be a nightmare for young producers who want to do things in the old way. So, my selection is a stream, and it’s great, channeling old music in a new way.
Honourable mentions – Paula Tape, Gabriels, Ruf Dug.
Compilation – DeeWee Foundations
Just an amazing package of music, all a comp should be artwork, concept, breadth. Buy if you can find it.
Honourable mentions – Under the Influence vol.9, Country Funk Vol.3, Eccentric Disco, Small Axe OST, Guts:Straight from the Decks
A super strong year for Bradley Zero, just nailing it with every release, I had to stop myself from getting too obsessive. Albums and 12s, the artwork and consistent quality made it hard to look beyond them this year.
Honourable mentions – Drum Chums/Talking Drums, Parkway, Trunk,
Documentary – The Beatles: Get Back
Well, confession time. I am a Beatles nut and this was probably the most excited I’ve been for a TV show for a long time. How was all this footage ‘lost’? Incredible insight into the process and relationships. Obviously it’s edited to tell the story and it’s ultimately a positive one which is not the previous historical version of this stage of their career, but it gives new life to the records from that period. I challenge anyone to listen to ‘Two of Us’ and not feel moved. Oh yeah, and Ringo is now the best Beatle.
Honourable mention – 1971
Night – Homobloc
Club nights are so few and far between these days and often limited to mega events to catch as many acts as possible or to make it ‘worthwhile’ but this was something else. Happy happy people being themselves to an amazing soundtrack.
I can’t choose Piccadilly every year and it’s still up there obviously but Honest Jon’s is an institution and needs recognition for still selecting some great new stuff as well as killer comps from themselves and elsewhere. Ecuadorean folk? Yes please. It’s a bit of my history too, sadly miss those Saturdays in West London ending up there after mooching down Portobello Road. Maybe one day though for now it’s online only. Great selection, good prices and excellent service.
Mix of the year…..
- 2021 a year in music
Not quite as wtf as 2020 but still an unusual one, then again aren’t they all, or should be! That’s proper living right?
Events did happen. Gigs did happen. Social life did happen. I even made it to a few. Homobloc, Green Man, Repurcussion, Chip Wickham and Joe Culpepper all highlights. The DJ thing didn’t really happen for various reasons (read ‘cos Covid basically) but there was some light at the end of the tunnel. I did a couple of turns at the lovely Morgan’s Vinyl Night at Feed which has led to a hook up with Alain who runs Vinyl Night Radio…and did a show for Mark at Loose FM which went out over Christmas.
Records-wise, there were plenty of Discogs purchases but here I’m concentrating on the new stuff. Things that came out in 2021, admittedly some are old tracks (well quite a lot!) but still 2021 releases. Looking down the lost there is a big leaning on a few labels in particular, Talking Drums on the edit front, Rhythm Section for the dance and Wonderful Sounds for…well, just wonderful sounds. And the send it to you every month. Perfect for the lazy digger!
I’ve put together an extended blended (splendid!) mix for a bit of Xmas food coma/New year party starting soundtrack business. Link below. For anyone who’s paying attention, this is a beefed up version of my show on Loose.fm without the chat for those who prefer my voice to be not heard!
As I started but failed to keep momentum on from earlier in the year there’s some pics and blurb on the various tracks for that full A/V experience. Thanks for tuning in, more to come in ‘22. …that’s a promise and as ever enjoy!
Sean La Broody – Thank you for everything feat. Oliver Paterson
Lovely Aussie jazz downtempo vibes on this one, played to death and great intro music.
Hardy Kutuk – Freudshaft
A top notch comp. from Growing Bin of various bits and pieces with a pastoral vibe throughout. Basso knows.
Ruf Dug – Future Zone
Ruffy still doing it, NTS show, productions, nights, rebuilding sound systems from BBC knock off equipment. Plus a Reddish resident. Local hero.
John Lyle – Life is a Breeze
First one from Wonderful Sounds a reissue of an obscure private press release I’d never have hear without them doing the heavy lifting diggingwise. Lovely insert too.
Emma Jean Thackray – Sun
Album of the year (see other post for my picks elsewhere) just hangs together as a single piece of work as albums should. Jazzy stompers, mellow ballads all with great playing and vocals, arrangements and swing. Sky’s the limit really for EJ.
Emanative Feat. Liz Elensky – Love and Light
Thanks again to Ross Allen for this one, again channeling some Black UK dance music history, shades of Rae & Christian, Soul II Soul but with a modern twist. Close second to Yellow.
Ndia – Celebration
Shouts 2021 came out late in the year and was a bit more ‘heavy’ than last years but no worse for it. As label showcases go this is a great window. Bradley Zero really has it going on.
Bokeni Dyer – Ke Nato
I maybe stretching the 2021 only rules, this was on the cusp, but as with everything else on Brownswood it was never dull, African inflected some real deep cuts with more dance friendly cuts. One to lose yourself in on a lazy Sunday.
Gabriels – Love and Hate in a Different Time
So they were on Jo Wiley last week, probably means I can’t like them any more (joke!). But seriously what a tune, came from nowhere really, perfectly formed modern soul with nods to the greats. Single of the year no question. Live next year too all being well.
Muchos Plus – Nassau’s Disco (Long Version)
So many versions of this, so many. But this is a cracker, straight up party music isn’t it and all the better for it. On the ever reliable Kalita, still uncovering the lost gems.
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath – MRA
Another nugget for the lazy digger. Times gone by these would be holy grails that folks like me would never get near, but thanks indeed to Kieran Hebden for sharing the love and in a wonderful package too. Pure jazz fire.
Fire Water – Twilight
Z Records have just kind of always been there, this is number 9 and the series shows no sign of slipping quality-wise. Don’t know the selecter don’t know the tunes, but now I do.
Justin Unabomber – CUT#1
A late in the year drop from half of the Unabombers (who had a bit of a year too) just a set of straight up tunes that would have blitzed it at the Chair. And still might. Sprechen have been busy all year and more to come in ’22.
Moton – Can’t Get You Down
Faith made a bit of a comeback with the mag this year and the extended family have been very busy too. More Moton releases and inaugural Faith drop (see below) showing they are still at the front of dance music culture. Looking back to see the future.
DC La Rue – Cathedrals (Greg Wilson Edit)
Versions coming out of your ears, the Jamie 3:26 was a trip but given Greg rocked the Star and Garter at Repurcussion I’ll stick his version in here. Same as per, looped to death (in a good way) for maximum tension. Still one of the best editors out there.
Plastic Bamboo – Kamboja
Speaking of labels having a moment this year, have to give some respect to the Talking Drums gang. Patch really put out some super 12s this year, unique visual image, unheard tunes all bangers.
Sylvester – Mighty Real (Soulwax Mix)
The original is peerless just a classic anthem. But then add in the Soulwax twist and it just flies somewhere else. 10 minutes of disco heaven.
Cecilia Noah – Yuku Mon Ukelele
Dimitri from Paris shared a few of his gems on this triple set from Favourite Records. And very kind of him it was too. Merci beaucoup!
Neil Diablo – High Emotion
Another local hero, Neil Diablo has been putting out dancefloor killers for years and the combo with TD was always going to hit.
Talking Drums – Under the Sky
So I maybe overegging the Talking Drums but in for a penny….seriously every release is worthc checking.
Guy One – So La Mala
More Ross tips with this one. Sneaky 7 of African heaven. New? Old? Not sure to be honest, but it sounds great.
Kaoma – Dance Togo Mago
Second dip of the needle for Dim’s Balearic Francais comps. So many to choose from but this one just builds then flies.
El Turo Nero – Las Penas
More reissue business from Phil Cooper’s Nu Northern Soul label. Probably something Harvey would play. Enough said.
P-rallel – Been Living (feat. Lord Apex)
Another borderline 2021 release, but a real sleeper, crossing styles, dub, d’n’b, house, hip hop, garage in the UK tradition.
Toulouse Low Trax – Rising Into Water
Themes for Great Cities are just quality, you can just trust. So many great tracks across tempos and sub-sub genres.
Jason Hogans – Do This Player
Sound Signature made a bit of a comeback in ’21 reissuing a few old Theo 12s but with some new artists too. The usual deep, repetitive, soulful groove but never dull.
Adam Pelts – Clusterfunk
Take 2 from Shouts 2021, again tricky to pick but this electro infused number with poetic back vocals just seemed to fit.
Paula Tape – Eclipse
Sorry, I just love Rhythm Section! Great artwork, top notch dance music with a twist. Again a late entry for 2021, but this is well worth checking.
Code Red – In Your Dreams
Il Bosco and the Red Laser chaps kept the momentum in ’21 with more selection from the Manctallo underground. Keeping the flame alive and taking it forward.
Emanuelle – Italove
Triple vinyl, exhaustive comp of some of the vast range of artists and styles the Dewaele bros have signed to DeeWee. Never dull always intriguing and pushing the boundaries.
Nicola Cruz – Supra
Also played to death and featured on a few mixes this year. Tropical dance dub with a tribal drive.
Parkwerks – Hope Dub
Mr 7 keeps going on. Inspiring the name of this blog (well stolen really) and still doing his thing on the regular. Hope Dub seemed appropriate. We all need it, and he gave it.
Brother Lee – Acid House
And finally….Wonderful Sounds rounded off the year with this lovely 7 of folk acid.
So there we go. Fairly exhaustive journey down some of the year’s new vinyl. Tricky keeping the faith with prices being what they are but we try! Happy new year and see you in ’22.
- Two years on..
It’s just under 2 year since I stopped playing at Nook…41 years to get a paying gig and then there’s a pandemic. Anyway as a reminiscent journey here’s a flavour of what I used to play (and will again). Enjoy!
- Goodbye Summer
It’s hot! So maybe it’s not over yet but rain is due and we’re almost at half way through September. I’ve been sitting on the thoughts for this one for a bit. But summer ‘got in the way’ not in a negative sense just busy.
So the intention was to get this done for the UK Bank Holiday which didn’t happen. so here’s a few tracks I’ve enjoyed over the summer old and new and a few musings to go along with them.
Electric Chair
- 200 down and still kicking
Landmarks can be pretty arbitrary things sometimes. 500 this, 75 that, but I recently hit the quite ridiculous heights of 199 mixes for the Mixcloud account. Now, while I am not comparing this with anything that really is world changing, it did make me think that for the 200 I should make a bit more effort than normal and pull out a few stops for big two tonne.
I’ve dabbled a bit with themed mixes, couple of label specials or for occasions but never something that gives a bit of a look back on my musical history. I’m not going to pretend it’s anything too original I’ll admit I lean big on some very heavy hitters but these tracks all have memories of times, places and above all people.
There are omissions, as soon as I put something in it made me think of another I’d left out but it was fun making it and I’ve tried to give the story behind some of them below….who knows if they’ll be a 300, but as ever… enjoy!
John Coltrane – Naima: A slow start, something spiritual and moving, simple yet incredibly complex in its emotion. Coltrane is a favourite and has been for a long time. The virtuosity is stunning on the bop stuff but this is one track I can always come back to. I think it was written for his wife and it comes across as a love song. Despite its slow tempo I find it uplifting and the ending just leaves you with a warmth inside.
Bill Evans – Peace Piece: This was a “what is that tune?” moment when I first heard it. It’s very simple like Naima, not much going on apparently, none of the bombast and chaos some jazz will give you. But that is why it is great and has stuck with me. The name says it all really, it’s a piece of peace.
Don Rendell Ian Carr Quintet – Blue Mosque: Bit of a recurring theme with these first three, simple motifs just very well played and paced. This track was first on a Gilles Peterson compilation, Worldwide 1 maybe, along with a few other entry point tunes like Waltz for Koop and Slowly Surely (more of which later). Anyway it just stuck with me and when he dug into the Brit Jazz history bringing to light some of those guys like Stan Tracey, Neil Ardley, Michael Garrick and the rest who had been a bit forgotten this opened up a whole new world. The culmination was the kind of all stars show at the Barbican which just blew me away. Amazing musicians in love with the music even now after 50 years+ of playing. So when this came out recently on Jazzman it had to be added to the collection. Incredible record from incredible artists.
John Martyn – Couldn’t Love You More: Everyone knows Solid Air, an album you can just rinse and repeat and I did. But, One World takes the folky/jazziness of that one and turns it up a notch adding in more electronic sounds. But the songwriting underneath is still brilliant, emotionally charged and full of fire. His singing is so restrained in a way but charged with feeling. I’m not big on lyrics in songs, I don’t really pick up on the words that often but this one….
Letta Mbulu – What Is Wrong With Groovin’: Another GP classic (not the last) kicks off the Journeys by DJ he did with Norman Jay (another big one that basically turned into a wantlist). Again so much feeling and power in the voice, it almost sounds as if its topping out on the recording. Letta went on to do more straight ahead jazz and soul stuff, and Normalizo is as balearic classic, but this is just 2 and bit minutes of drama.
Emma Jean Thackray – Open: In 25 years plus of record buying I still keep an eye out for the new, despite what this tracklist may suggest and Emma Jean just totally grabbed me when I heard her last year. So heavily talented it’s frightening really, she can sing, write and play god knows how many instruments. This EP covers a few genres and Ley Lines is also worth checking out. Album en route which is already ordered. New music!
Jill Scott – He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat): Year 2000, I’ve just come back from travelling around the world, India, Nepal, Mexico, Chile….amazing but back to earth with a bump. Spend the summer living with my travel pal and working in a warehouse in Little Hulton (no Mondays in sight sadly) and this is the soundtrack. So when Gilles (who else) put on a gig at some random East End venue for Jill’s UK debut as a competition prize it had to be entered. Of course we won then had to work out getting down, skiving work (turning up the next week and them saying they didn’t think we’d be back!) to do it. Amazing gig, never forgotten.
R.A.W. – Distant Traveller: Can’t remember exactly when I first heard this, but must have been 1997/98 maybe. I can’t say I was BIG into hip hop – I did have Timberlands but drew the line at baseball caps, but I was pretty into it for a while. Whilst a student in Liverpool the likes of Soundbombing and No Fakin’ plus Zanzibar filled the gaps between techno and house (more of which later too) and this was a real tune for me from then. Just weird and different, daft lyrics about space travel, orchestral bits all over the shop really. Still sounds great, 25 years on.
Mos Def – Habitat: Having said I don’t really clock the lyrics on tunes some do stick with me and this is one. I haven’t lived where I grew up for a long time and I don’t think I have a big emotional connection to it, and then I hear this…and maybe that’s not really true. The whole album is full of tunes. You know tunes. The things that stick in your head and you can’t get rid of them. Not because they are annoying but because they are so well crafted you don’t want to forget them. I must have listened to this on repeat for about 6 months. He never bettered it but in a way I’m glad he never tried.
A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario: Hip hop can be dark, it can be dangerous but it can just be great fun (of the breeds of the genre my personal favourite) and this is right up there. Superb hook with the almost creepy baseline intro then into the chanted chorus of “here we go yo”. Oh yeah and it has Busta Rhymes on it. Possibly the best guest slot ever.
Skitz – Domestic Science: 2001 fast forward living in Leeds (student again) and this comes out, my flat mate was still in touch with his school friends and they had a night in Halifax in the basement of a pub playing hip hop, dub, reggae and the bits inbetween so maybe it was through that. Anyway one of those where you know he has knocked this together on some basic kit and got his mates round to MC on it but somehow the sound is massive and just so full of energy and brio.
Tricky – You Don’t: The whole Bristol thing was my first proper dabbling with ‘new’ music. I say that because around the same time Oasis and Blur were definitely there too, but what’s this over here, some kind of dark, soundtrack to the south west. Growing up in Plymouth, you’d think that the Bristolian spirit would be turned up more the deeper south you got, but maybe I was going to the wrong places (likely) to see it. I do know though that after hearing Tricky on Blue Lines this was the album I was waiting for.
Rae & Christian – All I Ask: Fat City, my first record shop crush. Day trips from Liverpool to my now home of Manchester (well, Stockport) for a bit of a mission to the shops would always require a trip into the Oldham Street shop. They never ‘seemed’ to have loads in but I wanted all of it. Stick on top of that the label and it was a whole world,. So many great artists like Only Child, Mr Scruff, Tony D, Andy Votel…it felt like a cottage industry but a kind of secret one once you were in the know. Huge respect to Mark Rae and Steve Christian for all they achieved with the label. Even when they shop moved to the basement in the later days it was great going in there and chatting with Darren (I think!). Then there were the BBQs…
Phil Asher Presents Focus – Having Your Fun: London 2002, broken beat is really kicking on with proper albums and all sorts. Couldn’t get enough of it (see below) not sure what it was, maybe like Tricky ten years before it was just something new and exciting. I didn’t know enough for it to remind me of anything that had come before so it was just fresh. This is probably the housier end of things, lovely dooby doos and and shuffling rather than totally broken beats, but so infectious and, yeah fun. Sad loss with Phil passing away this year, I saw him a few times and he was a spot on DJ with a huge range of productions for someone so young. Sadly missed.
New Sector Movements – Only One: Two memories with this one. First the number one broken beat tune for me from that time. Second, finding it after maybe a year of hearing it and being so happy! Although it was already well old by then. Label looks like Music and Video Exchange, could have been Soho but I think it was Notting Hill Gate branch. Anyway, memories of the saturday digging adventures in London town from early 2000s, you could pretty much go to a different area every weekend and not do them all before a new one opened. Soho was probably the favourite, it’s a cliche and not what it was anymore but Vinyl Junkies, Flying, Mr Bongo, SOTU, IF, Music and Video, Selecta Disc, Reckless…unbelievable really to have that many in one place. But then you head to Ladbroke Grove and it’s Honest Jon’s, Intoxica, Rough Trade…even Putney had/has Soul Brother a solid Friday night stop off with my mate John.
DJ Shadow – Building Steam with a Grain of Salt: It’s hard to describe what a complete game changer/eye opener/revelation(!) this was when it came out. 1996 and he was on the cover of the NME, midst of Brit pop and grunge was this. First year in Liverpool and so much eye opening music coming out. Totally new but built on old. A proper album, total trip end to end so picking one track is not straightforward but the creeping piano line on this and the drums, amazing drums make it one that sticks out.
Sofa Rockers – Sofa Surfers (Richard Dorfmeister Mix): K&D Sessions, what can I say the soundtrack to a certain period of life….just so deep and dubby and all enveloping. Such a broad reach of tunes that they took and reworked into basically new tracks then mixed them together into this journey (sorry I will try not to use that term too often) but it really was a trip.
The Congos – Can’t Come In: One of my favourite reggae albums. That is all really. Probably got into this via the guest spot on Rae & Christian’s Sleepwalking album but totally hooked. The falsetto just grabs you and is never affected just working. Oh yeah and the cover, we’re called the Congos…so here are some congos. Perfect.
Culture – Keep On Knocking: Reggae was a late arrival in the musical make up probably early University life various folks dropping bits and bobs onto the shared stereo at certain points. I was pretty late to this and can’t really remember first time I heard it but Carnival is probably a good shout. Again there’s the obvious tune on this, but I kind of love the relentlessness of this one from the start, urgent reggae if there is such a thing.
Max Romeo – One Step Forward: Now this is definitely a Carnival memory, walking down from Royal Oak tube then hearing Channel One on a side street basically playing this all the way through..back to pick it up from Intoxica the next week. We must have done Carnival every year for a good 7+ years but it’s not for everyone. I need to go back.
Al Brown – Here I am Baby: 100% Dynamite was my first foray into the world of Souljazz Records, picked up from HMV Liverpool (on CD – no decks then) it totally opened up the ska/rocksteady world along with a lesser know comp called Liquidators (you know who you are for bringing this back from Belfast) that also did the rounds back then. Each one built on the last, not sure if there’s a 400% but so many stone cold party starters on this compilation, but since we’re heading in a soul direction , this one kind of made sense.
Ann Peebles – I’m gonna tear your playhouse down: An album I just played to death. 30 minutes of pure soul emotion.
Aretha Franklin – Daydreaming: If a record ever fitted its title, it has to be this. Intro to close out it feels like a dream. Piano hook and that voice. Aretha has done so many amazing records, from the gospel power to the George Michael duet. Never putting a foot wrong. I’ve been lucky enough to see a lot of my heroes/legends: Terry Callier, Isaac Hayes, Martha Reeves, James Brown, Prince…but this was one that got away. Never leaving the states due to fear of flying probably didn’t help mind.
Syl Johnson – Concrete Reservation: The title track is obviously the big one and certainly cannot be denied but this track is my favourite. his voice, the yearning, strained emotion, coming out. He’s feeling this music and putting it raw onto the record. Incredible.
Isley Brothers – Ohio: So another GP tip here, but also combining two of my favourites, Neil Young and the Isleys in one place. Ohio is a great song with a message, and Neil’s version is obviously so evocative of the time, but the Isleys take it in a completely new and original direction that for me, surpasses his version. But that’s not really the end of the story because you buy an album for one tune then turns out the rest is amazing. Their cover of Fire and Rain again is above James Taylor’s for me too. One I keep going back to.
Marvin Gaye – I Heard It Through the Grapevine: My Dad had Motown Chartbusters, the one with the silver cover and I wouldn’t say he played it death, but it’s definitely an early musical memory along with Sounds of the 60’s on a Saturday morning. Motown is just unbelievable really. In the search for new and obscure music, private press and the rest, this stuff gets forgotten almost. But is this one of the greatest songs ever written? Perfect 2 and half minutes of poetry, music and drama.
Rotary Connection – Hey Love: Soul music covers a lot of music, from the stomping 45 to the psychedelic and beyond. Saying that anything that moves you is soul in my book and boy does this record. Charles Stepney’s production is so rich and complex, but never fussy or overblown. There are some obvious ones again on this, and everyone knows ‘Black Gold…’ but this swings and is so carefree, you get lost in it.
James Brown – Man in the Glass: 2002 maybe, London, overpriced flat, Sundays with no money it was Norman Jay on Radio London. A musical education every week and Soul Brother round the corner certainly helped. There is a theme here, I think, just emotionally charged voices. A probably rare moment of self reflection from Mr Brown with a killer orchestral arrangement. Whole album is underrated by the way.
Freddie Hubbard – Little Sunflower: I love songs that take you on a bit of a roaming trip with different bits to dig into. McCartney knows how to to do, not always with success but you get the idea. not just a solo but vignettes or movements that work to elevate the song from just a few verses to something else. This really epitomises that, the original instrumental is beautiful but with Al Jarreau on top it just lifts it.
Parliament – Just Got Back: As well as gigs and nights it’s mixes that stick with me for hearing stuff for the first time and the Air Essential Mix was a total revelation for me. I was heavily into the weekly show, Tongy’s intro and the rest of it. All house or maybe techno then, mixed of course. Then along come these guys and do two weeks on the bounce, 4 hours and it’s not mixed really, more a random selection of tracks. Everything was in there, I’d recommend anyone to check it, loads I had heard but so many new to me. This was one, and it has just stuck with. Merci chaps.
Mark E – Formed: So another one that combines some memories here. Firstly the obvious one, Grace. Saw her after waiting about 2 hours or something at the TDK Cross festival (or something) hoola hooping and the rest of it. Then again at Sonar where it’s safe to say she blew everyone else out of the water. On a bill with James Murphy and Orbital amongst others that was good going. La Vie en rose is probably my favourite track, so what Mark does with it, is basically make it longer (this got me into edits as something worth checking – less so these days…).
Bobby Womack – I Can’t Understand It: My favourite Bobby tune and a reminder of the legend that is Nicky Siano. The only survivor from the big 3 of NYC nightlife (Mancuso and Levan the others in case you weren’t sure) and still doing it. Homobloc highlight, still playing these records and making them feel alive.
Geraldine Hunt – Can’t Fake the Feeling: So I have to ‘fess up here, if there is one musical influence, driver, shadow even that sits over my whole taste and attitude it’s Mancuso and the Loft. And it’s not just because he didn’t mix, although I’d be lying if I said the fact he never felt it was needed to make a set has stuck with me. It’s just the freedom, the spirit it embodies for me that is always there. Play what you like, dance how you like, be who you like. I could go on, but people like Cosmo Murphy and Tim Lawrence are far better at articulating the power and grace of what the Loft and Mancuso embodied. If you don’t know, you should.
Blair – Nightlife: Kind of linked to the Loft and all that, this is just an amazing record, slow and low but deeply danceable. It’s also on this compilation from one of my favourites, BBE. Pete Adarkwah’s label is still going strong putting out fresh music and important compilations, but the run they did with these opened up a whole world to me. Purchased from Disque in Islington Market back in the London days they are still up there.
Brainstorm – Journey to the Light (Ashley Beedle edit): Another one in the disco best of and with a story to tell via the man on edit duties, Mr Ashley Beedle. Black Science Orchestra did some amazing records and he’s still knocking them out. I even met him once kind of, after sneaking in backstage at an Electric Souls event at the Edge in Frodsham and making use of the kitchen facilities. It was that kind of night.
Divine Situation – Born Again: More label love here and connections. Moton are consistently digging up and putting out edits, courtesy of various contributors, helmed by Dave Jarvis. Which brings me to Faith and before my time but still influential, Boys Own. Those guys opened up so much music to me, especially via the charts and lists – love a list. And still manage to produce interesting copy, even in this post-mag world.
Marta Acuna – Dance Dance Dance: Once my daughter asked me what my favourite record was and I told her it was this. I think it still might be.
Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King – Shame: More disco, very much a banger, very much a crowd pleaser, and a go to. Another journey song with a killer chorus and middle eight to die for.
D Train – You’re the One for Me: Whisltebump boat party, heading up the Thames, maybe sometime in 2000 and 2? The disco education continues on the poop deck with Captain Francois K dropping this as we head down river. Scenes would be a good description. 20 years on its a memory that’s still alive when I hear this record.
Gladys Knight – A Better Than Good Time: So at the age of 40 something and playing records for fun, 4 months before a pandemic hit I managed to get a semi regular paying DJ gig at a little bar called Nook. Who knows if it will reopen, who knows if I’ll get another shot. Anywhere. But I played this every time I was there. And I will play it if I ever go back.
Sylvester – Over and Over: I feel a bit of a fraud sometimes, especially on this post, trying to write meaningful, interesting words about what I consider some of the greatest music made. In my opinion, obviously. But this has to be the most party, party song ever written. At the end of a night this needs to be played. Over and over.
Soul Ascendants – Tribute: Body and Soul somewhere in Kings Cross 2001. We’d heard the compilations (another tip from a mate) and now they were coming to London. What could go wrong? Nothing in all honesty, just amazing totally captured what I wanted it to be. Brixton Academy, not so much. Which goes to prove you shouldn’t try and repeat. When they say something is greater than the sum of its parts Joe, Francois and Danny are that. Plus local lad Andi Hanley used to support them in NYC, chatted to him a few times at Cutloose, great bloke.
Unknown Artists – Palmwine Disco (Hide & Smile Edit): Again, no particular memory on this, although the Sofrito nights are on the to do list definitely. Amazing artwork and music, the full package and this is one of my favourites. Just jealous that they get to find this music, but glad they are kind of enough to share.
Ray Barretto – El Nuevo Barretto: Had to have some Latin in here. Had to and this is a killer. I’m not going to pretend to be an expert. I’m not an expert in anything! But if you want to know about soul music, you need to know about Latin music.
Velvet Season and The Hearts of Gold – El Dorado: There are labels/artists who I have made the attempt to ensure I buy on sight. VS&tHoG are one of them. Joel Martin blew me away with quiet Village, then decided to do some records with Harvey’s mate…Gerry Rooney. What could go wrong. These have great memories and evoke some of the nights at Cutloose and Wildfire last throws of the clubbing dice before the kids made it better to get an early night. Mostly.
Sweet Dick Willy – Aie (A Mwana): I like a random purchase. Sometime a punt is more fun than poring over reviews and sound clips before making a decision. This was from Vinyl Junkies, amazing basement shop in Soho. No longer with us sadly, but this is of that time. The Saturday expeditions. They still happen by the way. I just need to keep some lollipops ready for my little accomplices.
Shaun Escoffery – Days Like This (Spinna & Ticklah Mix): Southport Weekender, did it like Carnival as part of the year’s planning and execution. Actual Southport, concrete bunker chalets and all then the more salubrious Minehead. If I’m honest, the upgrade worked and took it on a notch. Anyway every year there would ‘the tune’ Gregory Porter had one (you know which one) but Shaun Escoffery’s epitomised that whole feeling. Moving between rooms and it would be playing. Tying the weekend together. Great memories and one of the best crowds out there.
Point 3 FM – Picks Me Up (Your Love): So I have to give a nod to another hero, Ross Allen. First head him standing in for Gilles probably late 90’s, same ethos but different taste. Now on NTS and one of the shows I go to. I love radio, doing it well is a still and a gift and Ross can do it. So this is a musical shout out, because he’s all about the soul.
Payfone – Paradise: You know when a label comes along and everything about it just clicks, I think I’ve mentioned this before. Repetition is a failing of mine – hands up. But Golf Channel is one of those and this record is just totally on the money. Intro, hook, bassline, drums..vocal. It was also a great geek moment to see the barbers where the cover was taken. Tick.
A Vision Of Panorama – Cascade: So I couldn’t do this compilation, monologue, history, whatever without mentioning the Aficionado lot. Label and night, run by Jason Boardman and Richard Bithell, Moonboots. I have to take this opportunity to shout out Jason because he gave me a slot at Nook. It meant a lot to me, especially from someone as steeped in the nightlife history of this city as him. They have put one some amazing nights and filled my ears with so much great music. Pretty much none of it I new before they played it. Any of their releases would be a welcome addition to this list and likewise the live acts and Djs they had on over the years. the 20 was amazing. Let’s hope it can go again. Thanks Jason:)
Parkway Rhythm – Working Girl (Dub): You know Mark Seven? Come on, surely you know Mark Seven. I think maybe I’ve seen him two or three times. He doesn’t come over from Sweden much to Manchester to play house music. But one of those nights was at Islington Mill, for 4 hours it was like NYC came to MCR. Deep, jacking, funky, sweaty, and great fun. Oh yes, should also mention he has a label that is excellent too. I also nicked his phrase for my blog. Thanks Mark.
Santos – Work the Box: Chicago house music, where things get interesting with drum machines and modern dance music begins? Or mindless repetition devoid of soul and meaning. I think you can guess where I stand on this. Too young to hear it first time. I was eight, but so what.
Daniel Wang – Like Some Dream (I Can’t Stop Dreaming): I know, another comp. I do buy the 12s I promise, but there is a reason for this double up. Firstly I bought the Balihu 12 in I don’t know 2000, so it had been out a while but so great and what an introduction. Another lost shop, of a kind, the original Soul Jazz on Ingestre Place. Part 2 is Robodisco, incredible nights at Planet K, Li’l Louis one from memory. So there you go, two for the price of one.
Etienne De Crecy – Prix Choc: That French stuff, you know, Daft Punk late 90’s Liverpool with Bugged Out in full flow at Nation they were everywhere. You could pick any number of records from that time that still hold up, but this album was the best of them for me, a proper album and very French.
Silicon Soul – Right on 4 Tha Darkness: 1999 I am done at University in Liverpool, so what next? No idea, but going to T in the Park with my Scottish mate seemed a reasonable compromise. He was good enough to introduce me to so much great music (you also know who you are mate) and that I got to see Joe Strummer at the festival was great. But before we went we had a barbecue at one of his mate’s house who happened to be DJs playing all that Scottish house that was about then, then they played this and I had to get it.
Underground Resistance – Some Times I Feel Like: More Scottish techno memories, you have the tough stuff, you have the deep, the dubby and then the out there which is kind of where I am at now. UR are a phenomenon, a force of nature completely out there on their own. I saw them! Once! more like hip hop than techno but memorable all the same.
Rhythm is Rhythm – Strings (Flam-Boy-Ant Mix): I’m being obtuse here, because I have to check Derrick May, unbelievable DJ and producer who with Blue Monday made one of those tunes. So I am not including that one, here’s the other mix. Because you need to mess about some times.
Jeff Mills – The Bells: It’s 1997, 19 years old and you hear this. In a dark room in Liverpool. Before that it was Oasis and the rest with fighting and shouting and all the worst aspects of being out on a night out. This changed everything for me. If there was one record….thanks Jeff.
House Of Spirits – Holding On: We’ve peaked, the lights are up they want to shut us down, send us home but the owner says you know what, you can play a few more….I may have mentioned the joy of radio, and Tim Sweeney is another hero so here’s a double memory, Beats in Space is no more but opened my ears and this record is just so evocative of that ethos. And it’s on his label, good luck wth the kid Tim.
Dinosaur L – Go Bang#5: Can we finish without some Arthur Russell? Of course not. It could have been ‘Is It All Over My Face’, ‘Pop Yer Funk’ or anyone of many others, but this is my favourite and this is my mix, so on it goes.
The Beatles – Got To Get You Into My Life: OK, so we finish here with where it began for me. The Beatles ‘The Rock’n’Roll Years’ the first tape I remember owning, so they had always been there from the start. I know people find them dull or it’s fashionable (sometimes?) to hate them but they are geniuses. They did it first and better. I could have picked any number of tracks, Revolver is the obvious go to, and there are deeper or more popular tracks, but this one, it just makes you smile.
Thanks for reading (if you got this far) thanks for listening. Hope you enjoyed….
- Take the Train
I’m coming up on 200 mixes on Mixcloud and have been married to my good lady wife for 11 years one of those milestones is obviously way more significant than the other…
As a treat took a train
- May Day May Day
So it’s now May. Not sure how that happened really. Year seems to be flying by.
Got my vaccination last week. Feels like a step in the right direction. Mass events maybe on their way back. Test events with 3000 folks unmasked…just keeping the fingers crossed for no more obscure strains that will derail things. Maybe a corner has been turned at last.
So as soundtrack for the May Day Bank Holiday here in the UK a few tunes I’ve accumulated over the last few weeks with a couple of old ones for good measure. Not really a homage to the great Derrick May mix – wouldn’t dream of that kind of comparison but it’s a good name! Enjoy!
- Sounds for Japan
Hamon Radio is an amazing internet radio station based in Tokyo. Over the last year or so I’ve been lucky enough to contribute to their mix archive with a few selections, joining a wide gang of folks from across the world who have done the same. Check their site below and Mixcloud page for more. Some really great stuff in there from people I am honoured to be among.
My most recent mix link is below.
Tracks
Black Booby – Natural Patty;
John Cravache – Paris Roswell;
Hardy Kukuk – freindschaft;
Miko – I’m Garten;
Barthel, Brohm, Bauer – through desert plains;
Discodor – The flange; Basso – Breaking Bread;
Stabil Elite – Agent Orange; Darling – When she hates me;
Mystic Jungle – Jurakan;
Parbleu – Pas De Saints Au Paradis;
My Guinea – Je Vulesse;
Torch Song – Prepare to Energize;
Discotheque – Disco Special;
Oto Gelb – Love Comet;
Wildlife – Disco Fever;
Cynthia ‘Cookie’ Abrams – Best Part of Me;
Coldfeet- Shamefaced (Francois K Club Mix);
Dirty Jesus – Don’t Fuck with my Shit;
Covers
Enjoy!
- Spirits Up Above
This year has been tough, many many people have lost someone close to them. And yet for many others this sickness has still felt very distant. A dream almost. Life has gone on…
The restrictions on every day life have become conditioned now so as we are allowed to do more the freedom feels strange and unusual. But they are here and we have to adapt again but not forget what has gone before.
Anyway by way of tribute and celebration here are some records in a continuous blended bubbling brew. Enjoy!
- Marching On
New month new mix, down the discogs wormhole this month. You know how it is. One seller has something you want so you stick a few more in, y’know to save on postage. Anyway, 5 hours later you have cleared the free postage mark and then some. Happens to the best of us. Anyway in my view some overlooked gems from the bins blended up with usual inattention to detail with the emphasis in on fun and games. Enjoy!
What you see is what you hear…..
- Liquid February
First new mix of ‘21 comes in with the underlying feeling that not a whole much has really changed since 2020. Still in ‘lockdown’ insomuch as all the good shops are shut and any likelihood of going for a pint is still a distant prospect.
But it’s what, mid Feb? UK weather is as changeable as ever, cold, wet but some sunshine pulling through so maybe it’s not all bad. Despite saying I’d try and reign back on the vinyl it didn’t really happen this month some great releases and a few below from the vaults that seemed to fit at the time. Not promising this for every one (closing in on 200 now btw) but this was fun and hope it adds something to the listening experience so let’s see eh? As ever glad to have you along for the ride, enjoy!
Track list ⬇️
Vibration Black Finger – Empty Streets
Latest Jazzman comp(s) take a left turn for the modern end of jazz after serious mining of the vaults of Prestige and co. Some real gems and very deep music to kick things off. HMD – If I
Brownswood are one of those you kind of take for granted. GP’s label is so varied in its output these comps are rarely anything but a treasure trove of underground beauties. A lot of slower numbers but with a deep soulful theme. Young Disciples – Funky yeh funki (Mek it)
Speaking of British soul talent (with a helping US hand) Young Disciples crossed my path during some casual browsing the other day. The hits are still huge, Carleen’s voice immaculate but some of the beats are so great you need to listen in. Kelly Lee Owens – Re-wild
Piccadilly is my local, shopped there for 20+ years which is a bit scary. Latest incarnation being the Saturday PM door step pick up cycle ride combo. I love browsing but time isn’t always on my side these days so C&C is a godsend. Their annual round up comp has become a bit of a standard pick up in this house and 2020’s vintage is no different. Real nice mix of stuff I’d otherwise miss. KLO being one. Glacial beats with a touching vocal edge. Organic yet with a machine soul. Siglo XX – Moving Creatures
Cherrystones knows his onions. The last volume of this was so great. I was going through a Simon Reynolds inspired post punk phase and this took it up a few notches. Obscure, oblique, noisy, sometimes difficult but always interesting and occasionally funky. Worth the entry fee. This Siglo XX tune is more the ultra vox end of things but so good for it. Matty – Selfportrait
Mr Bongo have given me a lot of joy over the years. Was lucky enough to be in London when the original shop was around so have seen them grow. Some amazing comps over the years probably up there with Souljazz and Strut amongst others. The latest Record Club, number 4, has a bit more of a modern spin over the previous few and is none the worse for it. This Matty tune a good example but totally in tune with their vibe. Basso – Do Stay for Breakfast
Another Piccadilly staple Patch Ryder also knows what he’s talking about. Building on the triple Talking Drums releases of the last few years he’s roped in Basso for some edit/production involvement on this offshoot. Funky euro soft rock that sounds way better than that description. Farsta Kalle & Samo DJ – Tranam Rumba
You need a random punt from time to time and I know ‘of’ Samo DJ but not much else besides a Berlin connection (maybe/maybe not!) and some decent mix CDs. This is Afro editing of the highest order a lot of fun and took the edge off a wet Sunday. Praise indeed! Thatmanmonkz – track 4
Jazzy, funky, horn laden loops driving drums. Some edits are still decent and just work. Muchos Plus – Nassau’s Discos (Long Version)
Have to say I’ve not dabbled too much in the Kalita stuff. Not through any particular aversion just other bits about at the time that grabbed me more. Saying that who doesn’t love a cover of Funky Nassau. You got me. The Pearls – Groovy Beat (Jura Soundsystem Edit)
Jura have been one of my labels of the last few years, with OTC and Rhythm Section they get ‘it’ the artwork just fits with the music and the whole aesthetic is absolutely on the money. Basically you can buy on sight and not be disappointed. Saying that this one was a very gratefully received lockdown surprise from a good friend of mine. Bringing some much needed sunshine my way. Cheers Matey. Semi Skimmed Edits – Jungle Music
Again, another Piccadilly punt. Not much info to share beyond the love. Pure disco edit pleasure. Guilty? I am so. Dazzle – You Dazzle Me!!!
Edits get a bad press and fairly so in some cases, but I am a sucker for the originals too and this was picked up on a decent sounding reish pre-Xmas. So many great tracks but most will know this one. Norman used to rinse the sampled Los Jugaderos tune it steals on his Sunday shows on Radio London for those with long memories. Leroy Burgess production at its best. Soul II Soul – Back to Life (Zepherin Saint Club Edit)
Picking up the UK soul thread from YD earlier this came out last year bought in the faint hope of a new year shuffle to play it at. Serious optimism. It’s very hard to improve on the originals, Soul II Soul are one of our best, no question. In fact I’m not about to say it does, but what this tune does do is give something you’ve heard a million times a fresh angle. The wife asked what it was, a true sign of quality. Soundboy – Soulboy ( IZCO Remix)
It’s so easy to get caught in the disco-balearic-edits loop of doom. Well maybe for me anyway, so keeping an ear out elsewhere is something I need to do more. Hard to pigeon hole this one, could be hip hop but isn’t really, this track is proper stepping and sits in a mini album full of great tracks. Deep Moody-esque house, hip hop…very listenable and worth checking out. Dan Kye – Moving
One of my albums of 2020 and still going strong in this house. Following a tradition of Phlash (RIP), Recloose and even Mr Fingers of essentially dance albums with instrumental and vocal tracks that hang together as more than a series of tunes (er, an album!) this is great stuff. Tinges of broken beat, house and RnB on the ever good Rhythm Section, definitely worth your well earned. Tiago – The Source (Mudd’s Slow Rave Mix)
The ever brilliant Leng Records (the clubbier side of Paul Murphy’s Claremont world?) sneaked out their 10th anniversary set at the tail end of last year with a really solid selection of fourth gear chuggers with the added bonus of a 10″ vinyl bonus. So many good tracks to choose from the Tiago one seemed to fit with where this selection was going. Soundspecies – Balafon Jam (Wolf Muller Deep Dub Remix)
Upcoming is the Themes from Great Cities retrospective and that got me reminiscing about some of the great music that’s come from that scene and crossed over with some serious collaboration efforts into the Amsterdam scene. Wolf Muller and Young Marco have got to be some of the most forward looking and out there DJs/Producers around so a bit of a meeting of minds here to bring things in. Darling Isle of Red
Following the WM on Safe Trip, what could you want? More Safe Trip of course, another label to rely on. This Darling 12 is from a while back but felt the need to add it to the vaults and give it a rinse here. Hypnotic, trancey, bleepy and organic, doesn’t really go anywhere but takes you somewhere. Shape of Space – Manifesto
Part 2 of the lockdown gift bundle, no idea on this one either track and a version with a nice intro and beefy mid pace beat with plenty of effects to keep it interesting over the top. Thanks again matey. Mozaika – Taba Taba
Rounding off the up section this one came from the vaults. Real variety of electronic head and foot music on this one but this track just seemed to round things off nicely. Lord Power & The Trenton Spence Quartet – Let’s Do It
So, I’m fairly certain I saw some sunshine this week. 90% anyway. And in its honour we round this selection off with a slice of Mento. Overshadowed by some of Jamaica’s more obvious musical exports it really is a lovely music. After a discussion over the relative merits of the CD I came across an old car favourite. So many great tracks, but this one just worked. Enjoy! So this was fun. Hope the chat and pics add a bit more to the music, more of the same next time if I have the time. Link to mix above so check it on Mixcloud. Thanks px
- The first time
The first time you do anything it’s memorable not always for good reasons. as this enforced isolation ticks into another year, it’s easy to start reminiscing on what you’d do to once ‘it’s all over’. Usually it’s the things you miss the most and it’s those primary experiences that set your mind to what you love – and miss – the most.
Obviously music is a big part of that. Considering myself to be a ‘serious amateur’ enthusiast, suddenly not being able to go to a gig, head out and listen to someone play, or latterly play myself means a big hole in the old spare time.
I’ve tried to make up for it, 20 odd mixes on Mixcloud and plenty of new purchases went a bit of a way. Dabbling in live streaming late into the night in lockdown 1 also helped but going solo just doesn’t cut it. So maybe some reflection is required, I think it’s ok to look inward sometimes, while we wait for something resembling normal service to be resumed. Which kind of brings me to something I tried to plan earlier this month and actually got tickets for New Order at Heaton Park in September – probably more in hope than any realistic expectation.
So in an occasional series called the first time, here’s some memories of when the feeling hit. And seeing as New Order have ridden along with my from day one (shelling out in Plymouth’s Virgin Megastore for Substance on CD) why not start with them…
Temptation, if go online now is described as a festival, don’t really remember it being called that at the time. But living in Liverpool, 1 year into my degree seeing them on a line up with Laurent Garnier, Underworld and Sasha seemed too good to sniff at.
So we buzzed it over on the National Express, I think rolling into Piccadilly at Chorlton Street. I live in Manchester now but back then we were only occasional visitors so wending our way down to Victoria and the mega shed that is the MEN (as was) probably took a little longer than it should. In we go anticipation building, me and my mate who I’d corralled into chumming me along. All nighter of course, when that was an option. Sat up high to take it all in, then diving down to the floor when New Order came on. Track after track, songs I knew by heart singing out loud and looking round at the proper lads who had probably seen them many times before, smiling, just buzzing. Then done, it’s a while ago now, obviously so not even going to pretend I remember the set list. Internet tells me it was Blue Monday so, what a finish.
Thing is by this time I’d migrated out of the indie life being a sixth former in Plymouth basically landed on me by default. Cream and Voodoo in Liverpool were already standard haunts on the weekends, so seeing Underworld was as big. By now kind of flying at this night, visuals, noise, just immersive, relentless…seen them since at Mayfield year before last and they can still do it. Again google can help with the tunes, but Slippy was on at some point of course.
Then done and into Laurent. Knew the techno but this was different, African drums and singers, super tribal. In all honesty the hazy memory gets more so at this point, so dragging ourselves into a side room to catch Weatherall (maybe?) and Luke Slater (90% certain) before calling it a night to find a bus home.
So there you go, New Order. Done. Underworld. Done. Seen many other bands in better venues but like all the best experiences it’s of a time and a place. I doubt my mate would even remember it, it was one of them, but for me it was another step forward……
- 2020 Wtf the sleeves
Door to the Cosmos Dancefloor sampler - 2020, what was that?
Guess even 3 weeks in I’m kind of still processing this year just gone. Years are an arbitrary measure of time and with lockdowns rumbling on feels a bit like this year has just rolled off the last. But the end of a year does give the opportunity to look back. So here’s my run down of 2020, first with a bunch of tunes I’ve picked up over the year
Mix is HERE
or
Track list
Rune Lindbaek – San Augustin
Common Saints – Summer Sun
Discodor – Spring in Rome
Jpye & Leonidas feat. Elle – Oui Non
Alan Hawkshaw – Saturn’s Rings
Tom Of England – Song of the Sex Monk
Emma Jean Thackray – Ley Lines
Zoe Modiga – The Healer
Yvonne Archer – Checking Out The Way I Feel
Emma Jean Thackray – Movementt
Ben Tankard – Eden Celebration
The Steele Family feat. Little Sharon – Show His Lov
James Moore – I Thank You Master
Famous Ward Sisters – I’m Getting Stronger
Azwon – Paradise Island
King Sporty – Safari (Lexx Mix)
Velvet Season & The Hearts of Gold – Having Fun
Sunny Gayle – I Wanna Know
Chuck Mangione – Land of Make Believe
Twennynine – Fancy Dancer
Asher & Zaf – Boss Groove
The Vision feat. Andreya Triana – Heaven (Danny Krivit Edit)
Parbleu – Dance Cette Zik
Rosa – Sera A Posillipo
Tunblack – Caraiba (Stefano Ritteri VErsion Spaziale)
Joe Sembene – Weur Di Dane
Penya – Yale
Arp Frique – Minima Bem Li
Ali Kuru – Luna
Dukes of Chutney = Love with a few Hares
Dan Kye – Rainbow Road
David Arch – Afro Culture
Obiecany Raj – Stachy DJ Dub Wersja
Brazil – Tyoj Svijet
Guiseppe Leonardi – Acid Flower
Jitwan – Back to my Place
Virtual Roots – Sonar (Virtual Version) (Ygal Ohalon Low Gravity Edit)
Jose Marquez – La Negra Lorenza
Paula Tape – Panamerica
Park Hye Jin – Like this
Sometime Songs – BorderlineRune Lindbaek – San AugustinCommon Saints – Summer SunDiscodor – Spring in RomeJpye & Leonidas feat. Elle – Oui NonAlan Hawkshaw – Saturn’s RingsTom Of England – Song of the Sex MonkEmma Jean Thackray – Ley LinesZoe Modiga – The HealerYvonne Archer – Checking Out The Way I FeelEmma Jean Thackray – MovementtBen Tankard – Eden CelebrationThe Steele Family feat. Little Sharon – ShowClick HERE for a bit of a deeper look
Now for the awards….
Gig – Moses Boyd @ Band on the Wall (Manchester).
Slim pickings this year for obvious reasons but Moses absolutely blew me away at this one. Drumming par excellence, dancey, jazzy, funky amazing stuff at a brilliant venue. Just hope it survives. Honourable mention to my neighbours for an impromptu Christmas gig on my street.
Artist – Emma Jean Thackray
Two entries in the mix of the year from Emma. One a reissue admittedly but still amazing range of styles and rhythms. Another ‘jazz’ artist making waves. Such a good year for that genre especially the UK scene.
Album – Dukes of Chutney – Hazel
Another lockdown hero, Tim Sweeney’s BiS label doesn’t put out volume but what it does release is always top quality and The Dukes nailed it for me this year. Mixtures of K&D tripped out beats, head nodding halcyon pastoral acoustic stuff and all the bits in between it really hit the spot and hung together as a proper album. Few others to mention in dispatches, not many on record but Tom of England and Rune Lindbaek got a purchase. Streamingwise Jay Electronica, Beatrice Dillon, Double Geography, SAULT, SPAZA, Kelley Stolz, Keleketla! And numerous others made it past the track skip test.
Single – The Vision feat. Andreya Triana – Heaven
Just a great track, home or club (if they ever return) uplifting, joyous and above all soulful. Many others – see above but this one I keep putting on.
Compilation – New Horizons (Afrosynth)
I love a compilation mainly due to my time poor (read as lazy) life situation but this year had many amazing collections. My pick is the South African jazz comp, New Horizons. Afrosynth have been quietly knocking out some great jazz and the bits around it but this is full of amazing music from spiritual meditations to soulful vocal stuff. Really beautiful and full of (new to me) treasure. Special mentions to the following: Rhythm Section – Shouts, Mr Bongo – Record Club Vol.4, Bruton Brutoff, Leng/Claremont 56’s retrospectives and Jura Soundsystem – Transmission 2. Oh and those Gospel comps on Honest Jon’s….
DJ – Gilles Peterson
Maybe an obvious choice, but pushing 30 odd years in the game and still in the cutting edge. His lockdown selections from the brownswood basement were a joy and Worldwide Radio never fails to give something interesting and unusual. Special mentions too for pandemic busting home sessions from Francois Kevorkian, Colleen Murphy and Mr Ross Allen.
Label – Rhythm Section
Already called out the Shouts comp, but Dan Kye’s album and 12s across the styles make Bradley Zero’s label my number one. That said On The Corner ran them very close with the absolute classic already that is Door to the Cosmos along with stuff from Penya.
Podcast – A History of Ideas
Off the musical track for pod of the year. Amazing insight and engaging delivery of heavyweight topics by David Runciman. Food for the brain when Netflix can be a distraction worth ignoring. Honours also for Guardian Football Weekly, Adam Buxton & Test Pressing, especially the Lockdown playlists.
Shop – Piccadilly Records
What have I missed most this year? The Friday duck in to collect the tunes of the week. Seems. World away at the moment but the folks at Piccadilly are still here. Click and collect isn’t the same but if it helps them survive. We continue.
Radio – NTS
Some string contenders, internet is a big place but for pure range and passion for the music NTS are where it’s at for me.
Looking ahead
So what next? 2021 has just kind of happened. Very easy to skip on without the hard stop that a new year usually gives you. Even if you don’t make it out anywhere. Will the vaccines work? If so for how long and even with it will things ever go back? How can they. Around first lockdown time there was much talk of how this could be a new beginning, more time with family through home working and big social change. Now it just feels like survival. But things have to change. We will be living with this virus for the foreseeable future. Whether it’s like flu and you just get your jab each year or something deeper and more affecting that means we can never go back only time will tell. But whatever comes we just keep going and whatever we can do we make the best of. Music isn’t everything but it keeps going and keeps hope alive. So whatever comes, look after each other and maybe one day we can stand together in a dark room and dance. But in the meantime make the most of what we do have. Enjoy!
- Checking In
So this was meant to be number one blog post where it all kicked off. As is standard other stuff got in the way…so just a quick one to say watch this space in 2021. Music, memories, missives and a mission to be involved.
P x
This is where it starts….
pauleast77 