Speaking of 2-step, here's a brand new mix by three of the most important pioneers of dubstep.
J-Da Flex was the man who first introduced me and many, many others to this world of bass through his weekly radioshow on BBC 1Xtra, which we followed almost religiously, nitpicking tracklists afterwards. OHOI! had him over for a party in 2003 or 2004, I forget, and it was just mental to have this hero of ours play to about 100-200 people in Basement next to Vega. For a while he drifted out of the scene, but has returned recently with his old partner: El-B. Together they ran the Ghost record label, which released some of the proto-dubstep stuff, a lot of it with El-B on production. El-B wandered off for a while too, but came back about the same time as J-Da. Hatcha hopefully needs no introduction. Let's just say that he was a massive influence on Benga & Skream and is still widely regarded as one of the very best DJ's in the genre. To have all three of them at once with good ol' Crazy D over the top is just too good. I haven't even listened to all of it and I'm just gushing. If this doesn't get you going, you're doing it wrong.
Get the goods here courtesy of Get Darker, which is a treasure trove of mixes and info, by the way.
It's been a while since my last post, blame it on the sunshine.
First of all there's a couple of mixes I've been listening to A LOT, that i would like to share with you peeps:
- JSL (OHOI!) did a mix in April which blew me away, as I was getting well tired of the usual harder-than-thou-wobblesteel. Sure, there's still plenty of bangers on here, but he takes it to another level. BIG MIX! Get it here.
- Macabre Unit threw some summervibes together a while back. Not technically brilliant, a few dodgy mixes here and there, but the tracks make up for it. Nice to hear som old 2-step again! Get it here.
- The old 2-step sound is generally becoming quite popular again in dubstep circles. Here's a mix with Martyn and TRG from Rob da Banks' show on BBC Radio.
Tracklist:
Martyn Mix Martyn – ‘Natural Selection’ (3024) Kloke – ‘Basement’ (Entrada Recordings) Millie & Andrea – ‘Black Hammer’ (Daphne001) Uncle Bakongo – ‘Makonde’ (Roska Kicks And Snares) Apple – ‘Seigalizer’ (Slim Ting) Hard House Banton – ‘Reign’ (SRE) Efdemin – ‘Acid Bells Martyns Dark Mix’ (Curle) Martyn – ‘Elden St.’ (3024) Karizma – ‘Groove ‘A’kordingly’ (R2 Records) 2000 And One – ‘Funk That’ (100% Pure) Adam Marshall – ‘Rose Mountain’ (Cynosure) Martyn – ‘Bridge’ (3024) Goldie – ‘Truth Ft. David Bowie’ (Ffrr) Martyn – ‘Far Away’ (3024) Uncle Bakongo – ‘Anlo Ewe’ (Roska Kicks And Snares) D-Malice – ‘Gabryelle Refix’ (White) Deadbeat – ‘Incinerate’ (Wagon Repair) Manoo – ‘Agoe’ (Earthrumental Music) Shut Up And Dance – ‘Epileptic Martyns No Strobe Mix’ (Shut Up And Dance) Martyn Ft. Dbridge – ‘These Words’ (3024)
TRG Mix Clubroot – ‘Low Pressure Zone’ (Lo Dubs) Madd – ‘I Know It’s U’ (White) Kito ft. Reija Lee – ‘LFO’ (Disfigured Dubs) TRG – ‘Just Me’ (White) Pinch – ‘Attack Of the Giant Robot Spiders’ (White) Peverelist – ‘Clunk Click Every Trip’ (Punch Drunk) Scuba – ‘Negative’ (Naked Lunch) Kalbata – ‘Oh Gosh’ (White) TRG – ‘New In Town’ (White) Kode 9 – ‘Bad’ (Hyperdub) Deekline & Wizard – ‘Back Up (Love for the Music) - TRG Remix’(Against The Grain) Joker & Ginz – ‘ReUp’ (Kapsize) TRG – ‘909 Trek’ (White)
- There's also a rather good article on the future of techno, house, dubstep and UK Funky here. Which led me to 2 rather nice mixes from some of the people behind the Hessle Audio label:
Here's one from Ramadanman along with an indepth interview.
The Hessle Audio guys are one of the few forward thinking labels in dubstep/bass, so check out their myspace.
I've had a bit of a falling out with dubstep the last couple of months. Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty of good stuff, but there's an evergrowing amount of incredibly boring wobbletracks coming out. This doesn't come as a complete surprise, as this is what generally happens in the evolution of musicgenres. As soon as a formula has been established, everybody jumps onboard and "gives it their own twist", which sounds exactly the same as what everybody else is doing. Boooooring. So where to now? Some people have started taking the BPM's down to 120-130 again, which at first horrified me, as I thought it would just end up in the same bland soup that techno and house have been in for ages, but I've heard some absolutely brilliant stuff from, amongst others, Hyperdub, Tempa and Hessle Audio. The tempo might be slower, but they keep the rythmic syncopations, bass and blatant disregard for the norm from dubstep. Fresh!
The other possibility is UK Funky House. Apart from having one of the worst names, this genre is finally starting to show some promise. The inclusion of soca rythms, grime MC's and just a general openness to all kinds of influences is slowly tickling my interest and this might be the genre to watch. So far it has produced 2 tunes i really rate, especially this summer.
First up is Maxwell D vs. Lil Silva: Blackberry Hype. Some of you might remember Maxwell from his days in So Solid Crew or just as an original UK garage Don. Anyways, he's back with a banger and some incredibly silly lyrics.
When 2000F dropped his "2000 Hype" dubplate special at Vega for the Benga gig, the whole place exploded. 'Nuff said.
Next tune is from grime masters Boy Better Know: Too Many Man. Finally it has dawned on some grime MC's that their constant verbal assaults and big boy posturing might just scare a few females away from their shows/raves. I definitely think that that is one of the main reasons for X amount of MC's jumping on the funky bandwagon... that and money, of course. Anyway, this track really gets me going. If you hear the chorus while you're out and about in CPH, it's probably me shouting it.
In other news, the biggest grime tune in ages. Tempa T/Tempz: Next Hype, the energy levels on this track are just off the chart. Quite a fun little video too with atrocious acting courtesy of UK hiphop legend Tim Westwood. You should have all seen this a million times by now, but here it is for the late bloomers.
I've also had a sweet spot for this little dancehall ditty, Laden: Inna Life. First time round it didn't do a whole lot for me, but the quirky production and housey pianos kept me coming back until the chorus embedded itself. Thanks to JG from Firehouse Sound for the tip!
As the boring city dweller that I've become, I didn't do any of the big festivals so far, but then again, the line-ups for Roskilde and Fusion weren't THAT impressive and it mostly sounds like I missed out on a hell of drug and alcohol bingeing, which hasn't really been that tempting since '95. One thing I did miss out on was the reunion of Malk De Koijn, but thanks to Ras Dollars, there's a link to DR's soundboard recording of the concert here.
Another thing i missed at Roskilde was the "friendly fire" soundclash between Universal Soundsystem, Rootsman Hi-Fi, Firehouse Sound and Kali-Ma. The best thing about this has got to be the VERY entertaining thread (in danish) on the dancehall.dk forum. Firehouse is also streaming audio from the clash on their homepage.
Finally, for those of you wondering about the title of this post, check this clip at approx. 6:12
For those of you who don't know this movie, watch it now. One of the biggest cultural influences on my life. EVER!
P.S.: It has come to our attention that Ras Dollars has started a blog war against yours truly. First blood was drawn here. Apparently, my blog is not funny. It was never meant to be funny. Soundman bidnezz is SERIOUS tingz. Lickle soundboy cyan tess dis knowledge. Richie Spice in '71? Maybe man dem should actually READ some of dem books dey flashin' on theyz uglybugly blog.
The weather is finally getting better here in CPH and the day's are getting longer. I've started riding my longboard full-time gain and if that wasn't enough, man dem like 2000F has just put up the fourth installment of his amazing King of de Dubs series of mixes and to top it all off he comes on all heavy with my personal spring anthem, Turboweekend: Something or Nothing (2000F & JKamata Remix) in a special VIP Version. The track is likely to ride on the waves of their last hit, the seminal 2000F & JKamata: You Don't Know What Love Is on the Hyperdub label, as their shared love of early 80's soul and funk shines through heavily once again, with added 00's bass and rythm sensibilities and a surprisingly soulful vocal from Turboweekends vocalist. The rest of the tracklist is, as usual, stuffed with unreleased goodies from some of the prime movers on the dubstep scene, spanning the entire spectrum of bassheavy sounds. From smooth and chilled to full-on, hard, wobble steel. Wonkers beware!
Anyway, on with the show.
2000F - King Of De Dubs IV - April 2009
tracklist: Turboweeked - Something or Nothing (2000F & JKamata Remix VIP) [dub] Joker & Ginz - Purple City [dub] Von D - Show Me [dub] Silkie - Test [dub] Goth-Trad - Cutend [dub] Simien & Obeah feat. Ilawy - Waiting (2000F VIP) [dub] Skream - Simple City [dub] JSL - Fight Dub [dub] Crissy Criss - Up and Down [dub] Ginz & Joker - Re-Up [dub] Jakes - Rock Tha Bells [dub] Sukh Knight - Lick It (2000F VIP) [dub] Eagger Stunn Gunn - Morder Dem (JSL Remix VIP) [dub] Skream & Cluekid - Sandsnake (Goth-Trad Remix) [dub] Skream - Meta-Lick [dub] JKenzo - Buzz Droid [dub] 2000F & JKamata - You Don't Know What Love Is (VIP) [dub] RSD - Naked Mario Cart [dub] RUF - Raw Love (2009 VIP) [dub] Skream - Metal Mouth [dub] Goth-Trad - Recover (Remix) [dub] Sukh Knight - Shankle [dub] Joker - Psychedelic Runway [dub] JSL - Memories [dub]
In other news, I finally checked out some of that live internet radio that DJ Reveal has been doing, for God knows how long now, on dubterrain.net and sub.fm. On todays show he had brought along his DJ buddy JB who played an excellent set that included a brand new Skream remix of one of my alltime favourite Distance tunes, Night Visions, from his debutalbum for the Planet Mu label, My Demons. This remix is just jawdroppingly awesome, and as soon as I find some audio clips of it, I'll update this post. At the very least, Reveal should be posting a recording of todays Sub.fm show, and I'll be linking to that.
Speaking of Reveal, don't forget his new club, Skank, at Rust which tonight has 2000F ripping the CDJ's apart. Last time the club was a definite success and as if the bass last time wasn't enough, this time there should be coming extra subs in tonight, just for good measure.
You can also catch yours truly spinning a very wide variety of pleasantly good and stupid music, not just dubstep, tonight AND tomorrow night at Simpelt V, Istedgade 96.
Grime og dubstep er åbenbart for alvor ved at finde sammen igen og her er endnu et grime track med seriøs bas fra én af de producere der er bedst til at fusionere de 2: Cotti.
Tak til JSL for tippet.
Fugzi Malone: Stand Out
Videoen mindede mig også meget om min tid i London. De dér broer og trapper med hegn over/omkring ser man ofte, især i de sociale boligbyggerier. Hvad er hegnene til for? Så folk ikke kaster hinanden eller sig selv over kanten? Graffittien er det mest menneskelige ved de konstruktioner. Der findes også enkelte eksempler på den slags byggeri her i DK, men på ingen måde i så stor stil som derovre og, endnu ikke, med helt de samme konsekvenser. Godt vi har DF så der snarest kan gøres noget ved vores indtil videre relativt fredelige indvandrerbefolkning. Kunne DF gå hen og være en direkte grund til mere Gangsta og Grime i DK? Ville det være godt? Discuss!
Her vil jeg så skrive, poste og linke til en masse ting der interesserer mig, nok mest musik. Jeg har i et godt stykke tid gået og syslet med tanken, da jeg altid har været en af de folk som vennerne har spurgt om det nyeste musik, osv. De sidste mange år har jeg så skrevet mails, sendt pb'er, chattet og på anden vis viderebragt alt mulig information, ofte ved at gentage migselv utallige gange. Dette er jeg simpelthen for doven til, så nu tror jeg bare at jeg fremover henviser hertil.
Nå, videre til musikken. Som de fleste af jer nok ved, lytter jeg til en hel del dubstep og har gjort det i mange år. Det viser sig nu at dette har båret frugt og hovedstaden oversvømmes af bastunge arrangementer for tiden. Wobble Squad og DJ Reveal fylder mest i horisonten og sidstnævnte starter en klub op i Rusts kælder hver anden fredag. Første gang bliver 10/4/09 med Dansk Dubstep Design Drengene og Egern fra Firehouse som MC. Egern imponerede mig forresten glimrende til OHOI! og Unity Soundsytem i skateparken i sommers. Jeg saluterer den nye klub og der er vel chancer for at man ses dernede.
Wobblefolket holder fest den 03/04 på Støberiet ved Blågårds Plads og det kunne godt se ud som om Ras Money fra Rootsman Hi-Fi skal spille et vaskeægte dubstepset den aften. Jeg ved han har pladerne til det, og det er de GODE plader. Wobble Squad har også været flinke til at promovere dem selv med mix de har lagt ud gratis rundt omkring. Jeg fandt dem inde på hifly.dk's mixforum.
Ellers lurer OHOI!'s Rum 'n' Bass IX (har der virkelig allerede været så mange?) lige rundt om hjørnet den 08/04/09 med DJ Marky fra Brasilien som hovednavn i den store sal og både Wobble Squad, Reveal OG 2000F i Stengades lille kælder. Det kan kun blive sjovt!
Sidst, men faktisk størst, kommer ingen andre end selveste Benga og spiller på Vega den 23/05/09 med OHOI! som support. Jeg har fulgt denne mand i mange år nu, og han er stadig en af mine yndlingsproducere inden for genren. Har hørt ham som DJ en enkelt gang på DMZ og nogle enkelte mix hist og her og selv om han måske ikke kan måle sig med f.eks. Hatcha, så er han ganske habil. Glæder mig sygt meget. Check Vega og OHOI!'s hjemmesider for mere info.
Fintfint, hører jeg jer fnyse, men hvor bli'r musikken af?
EDIT: Første indlæg og straks bli'r man gjort opmærksom på sine fejl og mangler. Tak Mads!
Syg Lyd holder også lige noget med noget dubstep den 04/04/09 hvor de liiige har hevet Caspa og MC Crazy D. Crazy D kommer her i KBH for nu vel 4. gang, så han kender efterhånden den danske crowd og er altid en fornøjelse at se på en scene. DubstepMC nummer 1! Caspa plejer at være lidt for meget hårdt wobblestål og for lidt andet til mig, men det er det de unge vil ha' for tiden, og det skal være dem vel ondt. 2000F vil sikkert rette lidt op på balancen og JSL vil føle sig helt på plads i det lineup. Den skal jo bare wobbles op fra slap!
Rump Recordings supplerer lige op med bl.a. Zomby den 10/04/09. Zomby er mest kendt for at ha' været med i fronten af dubstep de sidste år, men har, ifølge mig, også en kedelig side hvor han prøver at lave halvdårlig engelsk rave fra start 90'erne, Det skal han lade være med og jeg gætter også mest på at han holder sig til det første den aften. Ellers er resten af aftenen mest dedikeret den, om muligt, endnu mere nørdede Skweee genre og Rumpdrengene står altid for en hyggelig fest med interessant og god musik. Check!
