In Search of a Word...

Now On Podomatic!

2010-09-05T22:09:00.008+01:00

Ok, so it's not really a "podcast" per se, but hopefully it will serve as a welcomed alternatively to the occasionally malfunctioning Soundcloud player.

http://kpit6.podomatic.com/entry/2010-09-05T14_08_22-07_00

Nightdoctor - Menelik (Race 12")
Black Uhuru - Leaving To Zion (Black Rose LP)
Jah Shaka - Giver Of Life (Jah Shaka 12")
Sound Iration & Tena Stelin - Give Thanks & Praise (WAU/Mr Modo 12")
Eek A Mouse - Noah's Ark (Greensleeves 12")
Junior Delgado - Sons Of Slaves (Disco Cork 12")
Dandy Lion - Vives (Kulumi 7")
The Skulls - Black Slavery Days (Ruby's Records 7")
Fabian - Prophecy (Black Swan 12")
Stephanie Samuels - Africa We Want To Go (Channel 1 7")
Junior Reid - If I (Negus Roots 12")

Enjoy!

Soundcloud Steppers Mix

2010-09-04T16:31:00.009+01:00

In a vain attempt to re-create the original soundsystem vibe, using the finest steppers records at my disposal, I have cobbled together short mix for your edification. Complete with infectious melodies, mind-altering dubs and the message of jah, please enjoy the work of some of the most underrated talents in all of roots reggae (and of course, some of the well-known giants).

Dub Shadow - Steppers Mix 4/9/2010 by Alias B

1. Sylford Walker - Jah Golden Pen (Gibbs 7" RP)

An artist that has enjoyed the Glen Brown/King Tubby treatment on many of his tracks. See the Termination Dub LP. This repress is still widely available.

2. Roots Wanda - Solomone (Big Head 12")

A very rare canadian pressing, originally purchased by me at lionvibes.co.uk for a crippling sum of money. Given it's condition and rariety, it's hardly surprising. For people who haven't an arm or a leg to spare, check out the following CD to find the aforementioned tune and it's wicked b-side 'Mount Zion'...

http://p-a-todareggae.blogspot.com/2009/11/va-king-culture-produced-singles-from.html

3. Freddie McKay - Take My Hand Oh Jah (Yah Congo 12" RP)

Naggo Morris rocks the b-side on this wonderful repress. Both tracks are extended mixes. You can still buy the vinyl from decent retailers for a slightly elevated price. If not try musicstack, discogs etc...

4. Clinton Senior - Son Of Man (Stonehouse 7" RP)

I have been besotted with this track since SamCeMar of Youtube fame uploaded it. Wicked jangling organ melody with solid vocals.

5. Desi Roots - Warning (DEB 7")

Shaka killer! Originally released on Desi's LP 'Doing It Right' as well as a 12" on the Hawkeye label. There is a little deterioration at the beginning of my copy as I have knackered it out through criminal misuse and excessive plays. Probably my favourite tune in this mix.

6. Keith Poppin - Hold Not Thy Dub (Taurus 7")

Originally released on the JB label as a 12", this silent but deadly stepper defines low-end.

7. Johnny Clarke - Every Knee Shall Bow (Glimmer 10")

Another scorcher from the guys and gals at Glimmer. This 10" also featured the timeless 'Play Fool Fe Get Wise'.

8. The Revolutionaries - Kunte Kinte (Channel 1 7")

The most famous and referred tune in all of soundsystem culture? Perhaps. The haunting flute melody has been borrowed by electro punk giants The Prodigy as well as dubstep icon Rusko. This vinyl is still hot off the press, so grab yourself a copy if you haven't already.

9. Musically Intemidators - Bad More Than That (Stars 12" RP)

Ear-damaging drums and bass (in a good way, of course). Not sure of the original track, if anyone has anymore info, let us know. This 12" shouldn't be too hard to find.

10. Jah Shaka - Hunter (Dub Commandments 3: Lions Share of Dub LP)

One of Shaka's most popular dubs. I love his style as it is, but the addition of the digital bleeps and boops take this tune from deep to mesmerising.

11. Junior Delgado - Poverty (Incredible Jux 12")

My favourite reggae artist on top form on this original pressing from '95. Jux strains his voice with the usual conviction and paints a picture of the sombre reality of ghetto life. This record is also available as a 45.

Juno Dub Chart

2010-06-20T01:00:00.004+01:00

These are some top of the range dubs, to be enjoyed in all weathers.

Heavyweight Roots Selection

2010-06-19T01:13:00.001+01:00

Heavyweight selection from Reggae On Top & Jah Shaka.

June's Juno Chart

2010-06-18T22:01:00.002+01:00

Because I haven't done one in a while, here is the latest and greatest of the present and future, guaranteed to get any party pumping!

Dubstep 2 House

2010-06-18T20:05:00.002+01:00

Must have tunes for an alternative summer rave!

Dancehall Selection!

2010-06-18T00:03:00.003+01:00

It's not all dancehall, there is some roots amd dub poking about in there somewhere. However, this selection contains mostly dancehall a la Jammy$ and King Tubby's Firehouse.

These are well worth a listen!

Nick Manasseh Sound Iration Mix

2010-06-03T18:23:00.006+01:00

MANASSEH Sound Iration DJ Mix by Year Zero

Remember the cutting edge dub sounds of the late eighties? Acclaimed and highly recognised dub outfit Sound Iration (Nick Manesseh and Steve 'Scruff' Guilder) have re-released their masterpiece on Year Zero records, accompanied by a second CD of dubplates. Featured above is an exclusive mix by Manesseh himself.

Don't delay, get your copy today!

http://futurenoisemusic.com/product.aspx?id=658

Available at Juno, Boomkat, SoundoftheUniverse, Phonica and other good retailers.

Roots & Culture Playlist!

2010-05-26T22:46:00.001+01:00

Chimpo - Children Of Israel MP3

2010-05-15T16:23:00.002+01:00

Here is a fantastic piece of dubstep that samples the Dennis Brown classic of the same name.

Enjoy!

http://www.mediafire.com/?dzytmkjdizn

Crucial & Precious

2010-04-28T22:13:00.002+01:00

Below is a selection of some of the finest and rarest cuts reggae has to offer. Look about for releases on Dub Store Japan.

Funk, Soul, Reggae and much more

2010-04-27T20:15:00.002+01:00

The much anticipated Analog Africa no.7 is available on CD and 2xLP now!

TheBigK's Reggae Mix No.2

2010-04-27T19:11:00.000+01:00

HUGE NEW MR SCRUFF TRACK!

2010-04-23T17:12:00.005+01:00

Mr Scruff Vs Kirsty Almeida 'Pickled Spider' by Mr Scruff

After the success of his last album 'Ninja Tuna' and the subsequent barnstorming tour of the UK, North America and Europe, Mr Scruff is back with heaped helpings of bassline just in time for the summer. Due for release 'soon' as a 1-sided 12" on the Ninja Tune record label, 'Pickled Spider' is bass laden stepper with a catchy female vocal refrain, courtesy of manc folk singer Kirsty Almeida.

The 12" will be available soon at all good outlets such as juno and boomkat. So, keep your eyes peeled!

TheBigK's Reggae Mini Mix

2010-04-19T17:58:00.000+01:00

Hip Hop, Soul and Leftfield Chart

2010-04-18T18:38:00.002+01:00

Cool down in the impending summer heat with this fine selection of tunes!

The Reggae Chart

2010-04-12T15:49:00.002+01:00

It's beginning to warm up here in southern England, so it's time for some reggae.

Jazzy Breaks

2010-04-09T16:48:00.002+01:00

TheBigK - Jazzy Breaks Mix by thebigk

Following on from yesterday's topsy turvy mix is this; a more high tempo breakbeat effort. Enjoy!

The Topsy Turvy Mix

2010-04-08T21:10:00.003+01:00

Some rare and unreleased gems in this mix. Upgraded the ol' soundcloud account so I can upload a little more music. Peace!

Jazzed Out Juno

2010-04-07T16:21:00.001+01:00

April part 2.

Juno Chart: April 2010

2010-03-27T23:40:00.002Z

A selection of the new, old, weird and wonderful. Check it out!

March 2010: Juno Chart

2010-03-02T16:53:00.003Z

It's been a while, but here is another chart. A nice mix of soul, dubstep, reggae, house and funky afro sounds this time. Enjoy!

The Big K's Twisted Beats Mix

2010-01-23T18:08:00.003Z

The Big K's Twisted Beats Mix by thebigk

A quick mix consisting of some new releases and some old, rare stuff. Enjoy!

New Year's Beats

2009-12-29T15:52:00.004Z

Some fine tunes from around the world that will adorn my turntables in the new year.

Funky Gems!

2009-12-12T12:41:00.002Z

Gone a bit 'funk mad' recently, so I thought I'd make yet another chart.

Christmas Beats

2009-12-05T11:22:00.004Z

Here are some more new essentials. Enjoy!

Hip Hop Mini Mix

2009-12-04T17:41:00.003Z

thebigk's hip hop mini mix by thebigk

1. Sa Ra Creative Partners - Melodee N Mynor
2. Aardvarck - Water
3. J-Live - Longevity
4. Q Ball & Curt Cazel - Boon Dox
5. Mr Scruff - Ug w/DJ Vadim - Terrorist acapella.

While getting the hang of my new gear, a Numark 5000fx mixer and a couple Vestax CDX-05's, I thought I'd do a spur of the moment mini mix. A couple of the tunes I hadn't heard in a while, so it was nice to give them an airing.

The Juno Player!

2009-12-03T16:17:00.006Z

Seeing as blogger wouldnt let me publish my chart properly, I thought I might as well share some tunes that I have been spinning recently. The selection includes a heathly dose of house, jazz afrobeat, funk, jazz, dubstep, reggae and wonky stuff.

First up, a 12" from the dream team of house music, Chez Damier and Ron Trent. There isn't a tracklisting, but I would recommend the last two tracks. One relies on a powerful african sound while the other, more mellow track gets the listener involved with some souful vox from an unidentified singer.

Next, the 'Pigstyle' mini LP from Aardvarck. Some real weird shit on this one, some of the tracks are just ominous tones, but the real winner for me is the greasy, wobbly hip hop of 'Water'.

The new Peverelist LP. Wow, just got this today and I can not possibly describe in words how powerful the bass is. So I chose the track that sent the richter up to 10, a delicious piece of dubstep entitled 'Bluez'. The title track is a real winner as well.

Now, more dubstep with a reggae influence from RSD. This is the most expensive 10" I have ever purchased, but it was money well spent. 'You To Know' is whistful and calm, while the dubbier 'Herbman Hustle' (which samples Sugar Minott's 'Herbman Hustlin') is a darker and somehow cheekier take on an old reggae classic.

The Sugar Minott LP. Two words; 'No' and 'Vacancy'. A terrific roots jam!

The Afro Baby compilation is a top collection of african party starters, suitable for fans of Fela and Tony Allen. I believe I recommended it in a post last month. Well, now I'm recommending it again. Check out 'Ire' by The Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination.

Next up from champion crate diggers Jazzman, it is the Lloyd Miller LP. Solid album from track to track, yet inaccessible at times. The first side of this album really blew me away. My pick of the album is 'Guzel Gozler (Amber Eyes)'. CAUTION! LISTEN TO WITH A VERY OPEN MIND.

Rare Reggae!

2009-11-30T13:24:00.008Z

Not many things in this world are truly worth it's weight in gold (yes, it was that expensive). However, this copy of a near impossible-to-find record by the man with the sweetest voice in reggae, Gregory Isaacs, was worth every penny. Released two years after the seminal 'Night Nurse' on the African Museum record label, which he founded with fellow vocalist Errol Dunkley, this moving piece of reggae is tailor made for the dancehall as it exists solely as a 12" disco mix. In my humble opinion, the way it should be.

Mr Isaacs was once said to be "the most exquisite vocalist in reggae" by the New York Times. No reggae fan would dispute this, but I also believe that he his lyrics could be rated a close second behind Bob Marley's. Take the phenomenol 'Top Ten' for example. Mr Isaacs begins the song with "though she isn't in my top ten, still she is on my chart" and then follows with "cause I don't care whose books shes been using, she still takes her lessons from me". It's double entendres galore, yet Gregory's voice coupled with the jaunty, upbeat melody makes it seem like a nursery rhyme.

Mr Isaacs is still stepping, even today. Not bad for a guy aged 58 and who's material has appeared on over 500 albums (wow!)

This (below) is the next on my hit list. Another, relatively obscure, super expensive, slow burning piece of reggae on the Tafari record label. I'm after the heavy dub of this wicked tune. It is not listed as available on discogs yet, but someone on ebay wants to sell it for about £75. Madness!

Albert Malawi - Looking For Signs

Dubstep: A Darker Dance Revolution Just Waiting to Happen

2009-11-26T20:25:00.014Z

It seems that every decade has it's own dance revolution. UK garage and drum and bass being the last ones in and subsequently the first to go down the drain. Now, I love a bit of garage and some decent drum and bass, but the problem with the two is that over the years, producers have pushed the boundries as far as heavy beats and devastating bass lines go. What they should have been doing was creating different rhythms, tones, pads and what have you. The result of this was that the listening public became immune to the more mellow tunes and due to the over exposure of heavy D&B and garage in clubs and on commercial radio, they demanded that they become heavier and heavier.

Now, to me a true 'bass-head' is not someone who craves a sludgy bassline, but someone who can appreciate the emotions and feelings connected with the sound, the roots of which are alligned with jamaican dub music. Dub/reggae did not incite a caribbean, jump up vibe, rather a shifting primal movement, no-one had to look to someone else to know what the moves were, their moves were their own. The same applies to dubstep and therein is where it's main problem lies. It is drum and bass driven music designed for clubs, but commercial 'chain clubs' are having trouble picking it up, because their clientelle do not know how to dance to it. Why? Dubstep has had no commercial success thus far, no one has put dubstep in a video with dancing girls. We want to be choreographed by these videos, we won't let the music move us.

Now, I find it difficult dancing to your average, generic, club tunes. I am not one for bumping and grinding or big fish, little fish etc..., it's just not my cup of tea but it is widely accepted as a form of dancing. Fair enough! It is difficult enough not feeling like the nerdy white guy on the dancefloor, let alone looking like one. Perhaps we are too uptight? That is supposedly a British trait. Or perhaps it is not me. Perhaps it is because the music is so damn souless and drab that I can not bring myself to have a boogie. There is no subtlety or rhythm, it is like getting slapped in the ear, hard, with a dead fish. It is the same old stuff at the same bpm. I have not once, recently, stepped on to a dancefloor and thought something was new and exciting. This is why I think dubstep may be the way forward. It is as loud and in your face as it needs to be to make the club scene, it is still reletively new, it proudly boasts influences from other genres and can help introduce a whole new way of clubbing all together. The Kevin amd Perry era was great while it lasted, now please let it go!

The point of this post is to introduce you to some decent, new dance music in the form of dubstep. Hopefully, you will find something you like. After you have heard it, ask yourself 'would I dance to this?'

Untold - Anaconda

Ramadanman - Humber

Pangaea - Memories

RSD - Good Energy

Mungo's Hi Fi feat. Earl 16 - International Roots (LD Remix)

Who Put the 'C' in Rap?

2009-11-26T16:52:00.013Z

This has been troubling me for a long time. As a fan of 'real' hip hop for many years, I can not fathom where the line was drawn between great rhythmic lyricists and the spewers of garbage (or 50 Cent as he is otherwise known). When did hip hop go from being about a man's/woman's struggle in the ghetto along with their dreams and aspirations, to gratutitous bragging about wealth and attainment? I don't know either. Where did the funky samples go? I wish they would come back.

There are still some glimmers of hope in existence to day, but still their best work is created on the premise of grief, struggle, loss etc... Eminem is really an prime example of what troubles me. His best work is often morose, depressing if you will (see 'Cleaning Out My Closet' or ' Kim') whilst his comedic work will sell sell sell, it can't possibly be taken seriously.

And then....then there is 50 Cent, known to his mum as Curtis. His music is, to me atleast, the antithesis of what good hip hop is. It is slow, the loops he uses sound aggressive and he can barely string a rhyme together and even when he manages to do so, it is delivered with all the vigour and conviction of someone who is told that they have five minutes left to live. The same applies to his half arsed G-Unit trio who were met by a barrage of urine filled bottles at the Reading Festival in 2006.

So it's time to look back, search outside of commercial hip hop and head for the underground. For the best part of this century there has been great music churned out by many UK artists such as Broke 'n' English, Dirty Diggers, Styly Cee, Asaviour, Jehst, Wordsmith, TY, Braintax and of course Roots Manuva. Who's listening?! Well, luckily I have and I am going to post links below to some of the best UK hip hop (no grime I'm afraid) of today aswell as some rather fine joints and jams from the 90's.

Listen and learn.

Animal Pharm - The Brink http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szewc206278

Tragically overlooked 90's hip hop, featuring one of the illest vocal refrains I have ever heard.

Broke 'n' English - Tryin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4od0GmSPw_E

Highlight of their debut album, this is quintessentially British hip hop at it's best.

Dirty Diggers - For the Haters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J_jqHJfd7g

White british males delivering rhymes quicker than the mind can think over an infectious loop.

Styly Cee & Cappo - Tell Them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRY7ee612w0&feature=related

Explosive UK hip hop featuring some a well known sample and some fierce scratching.

Lords of the Underground - Funky Child http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-eMDCliY6s

Classic hip hop from 1992.

J-Live - Longevity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBB79iV5vgk

Real smooth hip hop from 1996. This was J-Live's first single, also featured on the first installment in the Mushroom Jazz series.

For more uk hip hop, visit suspect-packages.com, juno, soundsoftheuniverse, boomkat, piccadilly records etc...

Support homegrown talent!

Juno Chart

2009-11-26T16:33:00.006Z

Thought this would be a decent way to share my interest in some of the stuff I am listening to right now.

Hope you enjoy!

Panama! 3: the third installment rare gems from Soundway.

2009-11-26T14:18:00.015Z

I must confess that I stumbled upon this mini series of compilations pretty late, with number 2 being the first one that I actually purchased......a couple of days ago, so when I say "I'm not jumping on any bandwagon", I'll understand if you take it with a grain of salt.

Latin jazz is one of those genres that has had an ugly stigma placed upon it, often by people who have probably never heard much (if any) and since the passing of the late, great Tito Puente there aren't any well known modern, living exponents of the genre. Panama! 3 turns the clocks way back (1960-75 to be exact) and delivers to us another 23 rarer than rare latin gems, ranging from cool and traditional calypso 'Fire Down Below' to Caribbean percussive madness 'Gua-Jazz' to accessible rhythmic jams such as 'Bilongo'. Much like the other two releases in this series, it caters for everybody who has their own idea of what this genre should sound like, even fussies such as myself.

By no means am I saying that every track on this comp is gold, I think that half of the attraction of this album stems from the fact that the lovely people at Soundway have gone out of their way to resurrect music that was doomed to decompose over the years. I extend my gratitude to the folks at Analog Africa for the same reasons.

My pick of the album, 'El Pajaro Zum Zum' has been on heavy rotation and is a potential dance floor killer, focusing on killer accordian and vocal hooks combined with unrelenting bongo beats and a drifting guitar line (see below).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b8OPAhFzzs

Available from juno.co.uk, boomkat, soundsoftheuniverse etc...

If you like this, try these: 'Legends of Benin', Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou - 'Echos Hypnotiques', 'Tumbele!', 'Afro Baby - The Evolution of the Afro Sound in Nigeria'.