This week’s listening

has mainly been the new albums from Jurassic 5, Bugz in the Attic, Quantic and Pharrell. Three of the four are excellent – J5’s oldschool schtick is still working well despite the departure of Cut-Chemist; Bugz are more commercial than I had expected, but it is still an incredible left-field dance album; Quantic is masterful as ever, with a wider range of influences (especially Mulatu Astataque, with whom he has recorded an album) much in evidence. The other is rather disappointing and sounds like the outtakes from other Neptunes productions – it is telling that the standout track is Can I Have It Like That.

Meanwhile 3

I happened upon Meanwhile 3 on the way to my brother’s pub from Portobello Road today. And, i have to say, I was inspired – at least 60% of the twenty or so skaters there were fat, sweaty thirty-somethings, some of whom were starting out on pristine decks and with little skill, self-conciously wheeling themselves slowly from side to side, learning rock to fakies, tailstalls and pivots. I think I could manage that, although the fear of damaging bones still remains in the back of mind, the fear of small children laughing at me scares me more. Anyway, I shall leave you with a clip of someone with far more talent than I carving the pool.

Dr Alimantado

That’s the good doctor himself, flies open on Kingston Street in 1978 or so, in Dave Hendley’s iconic photo. Anyway, today, apart from shopping and cleaning and blogging, I have been listening to ‘House of Singles’ compilation covering 1969-1978 (I think), and outstanding it is too. Many of the rhythm tracks will be immediately recognisable to fans of reggae – Lee Perry and Randy’s feature prominently, but Tado’s toasting adds an new dimension to versions of classic songs like ‘Piece of my Heart’ and ‘The First Cut is the Deepest’ – even though many of these tracks are in the early call and response DJ style, in which he echoes the lyrics and effuses in heavy patois on matters of love, life and Rastafari. Simple, but effective.

Rain

finally. I’m going out to play in the fresh air as soon as it stops – there is the most wonderful breeze coming in through the window as the rain comes down and the thunder rolls. After the weather, some news you may have missed:

Top Ten Black Metal fashion disasters

Egay can fulfil many of your needs.

Modest swimwear is the way forward.

Zoshchenko

I was reminded of Bania (Russian speakers can browse for it, if they can’t remember) on my journey home. The Tube is baking. Packed. Delayed. I caught the Piccadilly Line. No trains on my branch. Get the first to Heathrow. Hot. Standing. Packed (did I mention that already). More people got on at Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge. Had to get out at South Kensington. Wanted to get a drink. There are 2 drinks machines on the platform. The first has sold out. Fair enough. I walk down to the second, pound coin in hand, ready to get a bottle of water or Coke, or even (heaven forfend) Diet Coke. I put my money in the slot, then the following message caught my eye: Temperature too high. Now, it may seem like a strange thought, but surely a refrigerated drinks machine should be able to deal with heat? In the States I’ve seen them on the streets in Colorado and Wyoming, in greater heat than here. So I had to make do with a Cadbury’s Creme Egg bar (from a chilled machine!). It did, however, droop (as do so many things) in the heat within seconds of opening. Rnt over now. Watched the lightning in the distance walking home, hoping there will be an almighty storm tonight to clear the air.

Headache

that just won’t clear today. Making a 20 hour mix for a party over the Bank Holiday (am I mad)? Day off tomorrow. Hate Outlook – have spent too many hours over the last day and a half unpicking problems with it. Hate the individuals who break Outlook and then claim innocence. If you don’t know what you are doing, should you be doing it at all? Looking forward to the new Norman Jay MBE Good Times CD (Volume 6 now!) – released 21st August! Hate flipflops. Especially just off Oxford Street.

Serendipity

Having lost out on the mixing desk on Ebay, I took a wander down to Sounds of the Universe – one of my favourite places in London. The door was open, and from half-way down Berwick Street, I could hear the sweet sounds of Studio One wafting out from their sound system. I was not expecting anything – Jamaican vinyl has kind of fallen off my shopping list after the disappointing pressing of the two Prince Buster albums I bought a couple of months ago, and 45s are nice, but I am not a rich man, so the 20-30 I would want to buy each week are out of the question. I took a look through the reggae section – nothing much doing. Hiphop was equally lacklustre (especially as the Stones Throw albums are all on special offer elsewhere), so I took a quick look through the soul compilations section. Nothing. Then I happened upon Rewind volumes 2 & 3. I have been after these for years now – they are phantom CDs that always pass through my hands when I have no money, or I have something else more pressing to purchase. But today I didn’t. I now have the modern ska version of ‘Ring of Fire’. Now if I can just invent a time machine to take me forward to 7pm to get out of work and home to listen to them, I will be a happy man (yeah right!).

Cleaning the kitchen,

wondering how the hob gets so filthy, waiting for Tiger to start in the Open, listening to Neneh Cherry, The Jackson Sisters, Cheryl Lynn, Sister Sledge, NWA and A Tribe Called Quest (again) in a late 80’s/early 90’s club style. Playing around with my PhD proposal – who would think that 500 words to obtain funding could be so difficult to write. I suppose that the brevity is the most important thing, and that the vaule of each word has to be carefully weighed. I may haveto take a sharp intake of Chekhov to inspire me along these lines. Waiting to see if I win an Ebay auction for a mis-listed item. Sundays are fun. Back to work tomorrow.

That’s Mr Woods to you!

Tracklists

Sounds From Luke’s Hifi June 2006

Volume 1:
Alice Coltrane – Journey in Satchidananda
Charles Mingus – II B.S. (RZA’s Mingus Bounce Mix)
Nostalgia 77 – Seven Nation Army
Ghostface Killah featuring Trife – Be Easy
Quasimoto – Microphone Mathematics Remix
Grandmaster Caz – Get Down Grandmaster
Ammoncontact – Like This
Dabrye – Bloop
Osunlade featuring Erro – Everything In Its Right Place
Daedalus – Bahia
Grupo Batuque – Na Cadencia Do Samba
Luis Quintero – Acid
Ed Motta – Patidid
Marcos Valle – Estrelar
Flevans – Get Caribou
Wess and the Airdales – Vehicle
Richard McDonald – I’m Gonna Love You A Little Bit More
The Quantic Soul Orchestra – Barababatiri
The Bamboos featuring Alice Russell – Step It Up

Volume 2:
The Roots – The Seed/Melting Pot/Web
Jamaica’s Groove Band – Shaft
Ossie Hibbert Allstars – Doberman Skank
Sandoz – Monopolize And Destroy
Nightmares On Wax – Flip Ya Lid
Prince Jazzbo – Crabwalking (Discomix)
Marcia Aitken & Trinity – I’m Still In Love/Three Piece Suit
Carol Cool – Upside Down
The Peech Boys – Don’t Make Me Wait (Original 12″ Dub Mix)
Sister Sledge – Lost In Music (Special 1984 Niles Rodgers Remix)
Charanga 76 – Ain’t No Stopping Us Now