29 May 2019

Skye Shines on the Godfrey Lads (& Us All) : Clock to Stop

When Skye/Ross came out in 2016, I was dead chuffed. 2/3s of Morcheeba. The real Morcheeba. Skye Edwards Morcheeba.

When their latest Blaze Away came out in June of last year, I was beyond elated. Recently the tides of time have swept me through the sea-beds of trip-hop once more.

So I decided to do up some Cheeba here.


The Brothers Godfrey & Lady Skye launched "Trigger Hippie" in 1995 & Morcheeba was birthed. It was upward sailing (listen to the autobiographic "We Fell Down" & I'll guarantee you'll be hooked on this great Rock 'n' Roll saga) until 2003. But that year the GBs dismissed longtime vocalist Skye Edwards. The Godfrey brothers ran through two more singers (not to Morcheeba fan's liking, however) before producing an album of all guests vocalists. They finally asked Edwards to return in 2010.

That year they released Blood like Lemonade with only Ms. Skye on vocals. It was a spectacular reunion & a tremendous album. Once more it's been an uphill ride, not without a few bumps, emotionally taxing for all concerned. Paul & Ross had not been getting on musically or personally for quite some time. Shortly after the release of the Head Up High album in 2013, Paul decided he was leaving the band. Because of the internal tensions, HUH was not the success that Lemonade had been. It was a rough journey at best, the original trio's true swansong. In 2014 Paul Godfrey left the band.

Ross & Skye announced a new project in 2016 named Skye ][ Ross. The band started as just an acoustic duo but were soon joined by  Edward's son Jaega on drums, her husband Steve Gordon on bass & Godfrey's wife Amanda Zamolo providing backing vocals. This band is now the core of Morcheeba v4.0. Edwards took responsibility for the lyrics which had been Paul's in Morcheeba. Skye had been writing her own lyrics on her four solo releases (Back to Now being a jewel in Skye's crown) after leaving Morcheeba in 2003.






Ross & Skye then went on to release Blaze Away under the old Morcheeba moniker in 2018.

I have mainly skipped most songs from 2003s Parts of the Process, a "best of" released as Skye departed. I did include a version of "Trigger Hippie", as it was their first & "World Looking In" (a fave of mine, "Otherwise"...).  I also omitted song from The Antidote & Dive Deep as they were made sans Skye, filling the void. I have included numerous tracks from Skye's solo releases as well as Skye][ Ross (if "All My Days" & "How to Fly" aren't "classic" Morcheeba tracks, I'll eat my shorts).  2018 saw the return of Morcheeba to their former glory in the form of Blaze Away.

What a long strange but vastly worthwhile trip it's been, even though...

What's wrong with me?

Look to the sky, but watch out for trigger hippies...





Morecheeba & More: Skye; Ross; & Paul - The Morcheeba Project 2xCD, 
NØ Comps, 2019.

CD1 -

Trigger Hippie (Glide Star mix) - Morcheeba
Almost Killed Me - Skye
Love Dub - M
I Believ - S
How to Fly - Skye & Ross
Slow Down - M
Clock to Stop - S
Hypnotized - M
We Fall Down - S
Small Town - M
Beat on the Drum - M
Summertime (c12 mix)
Feet First - S&R
Love Show - S
Howling - M
Love is Rare - M
Say Amen - S
World Looking In - M



CD2 -

Little Bit Lost - Skye
Crimson - Morcheeba
Public Displays of Affection - M
All My Days - Skye & Ross
Give In - S
Set Your Sails - M
Friction - M
Easier Said than Done - M
Fragments of Freedom - M
What's Wrong with Me? - S
Recipe for Disaster - M
Let It Go - M
Otherwise (Radio edit) - M
Storm - S
Light of Gold - S&R
Sweet L.A. - M
Even Though - M
Every Little Lie - S

Enjoy,

28 May 2019

Are You a Believer?



Do You Believe in the Westworld - Theatre of Hate
Ex Lion Tamer - Wire
The Rat - The Walkmen
Imagination - Sad Lovers & Giants
We Are Time - The Pop Group
Jumping Someone Else's Train - The Cure
Resurrection Joe - The Cult
Life During Wartime - Talking Heads
Nice 'n' Sleazy - The Stranglers
Blood - Editors
A Song from Under the Floorboards - Magazine
careering - Public Image Ltd.
Practice Makes Perfect - Wire
Final Solution - Pere Ubu

Enjoy,

27 May 2019

Give the People What They Want

I'll just keep' em coming for a while. I'm working on a Skye Edwards / Morcheeba overview, so until that's ready, these are fun.



(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below We're All Going to Go - Curtis Mayfield
The World is a Ghetto (La Pozze Latina remix) - War
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (live) - Gil Scott-Heron
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) - Marvin Gaye
Rich Get Richer - The O'Jays
Woman of the Ghetto - Marlena Shaw
Say It Loud (I'm Black & I'm Proud) - James Brown
Yes We Can, Part I - Lee Dorsey
Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today) - The Temptations
Yes We Can, Part II - Lee Dorsey
Power to the People (demo) - Curtis Mayfield
Get Involved -  George Soulé
People, Get it Together - Eddie Floyd
Give the People What They Want - The O'Jays
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (album version) - Gil Scott-Heron

Enjoy,

I Face the Rising Sun

Jonder, you didn’t say WHEN you were going on VayCay.

Hope this catches you in time &  traveling fancy. It’s a sweet rhapsody for the road.



Sylvia Plath - Peter Laughner
The Suit That Won’t Come Off - Fantastic Negrito
She was a Living Breathing Piece of Dirt - Shockabilly
Strange Little Girl - The Stranglers
Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness) - Donovan
& the Beat Goes On - Prince Fatty featuring Hollie Cook
Drive Me Insane - Dead Neighbors
Nothing Means Nothing Anymore - The Alley Cats
Jackie Onassis - Human Sexual Responce
Loretta Young Silks (acoustic) - Sneaker Pimps
Touch of Style - Ace & the Eights
Boomerang Doll - Katastrophy Wife
Asharaden - Tartit
Fortune Teller - Tony Jackson with the Vibrations
Rising Sun - Art-X & The Roots Addict
Jam Jar Jail - Therapy?
School Daze - Patrick Cowley

Enjoy,

26 May 2019

Time to Wake Up

Various - Party Up in Here, NØ Comps 2019.

Awakening - Phallus Dei
What Silence Knows (unreleased version) - Shara Nelson
Trigger Hippie (Newcheeba mix) - Morcheeba
Party Up in Here - The Brides of Funkenstein
Isn’t That Enough - Chaka Knan
Love Is a Bitch - Two Feet
Say My Name - Little Axe
2000 Light Years from Home - Sky Cries Mary
I Put a Spell on You - Bryan Ferry
Dangerous - Barbara Gogan & Hector Zazou
Modern Times (extended mix) - Latin Quarter
Dead Radio - Rowland S. Howard
Don’t Cha Know - Chaka Khan
Thought of You - Shara Nelson
Will You Come Now - Phallus Dei

Enjoy,

25 May 2019

Tubby Goes Digital

Got a request from Dee, a visitor here at NSS, for some 80s digital dancehall. Always try to oblige.

Although I have a much greater interest in Dub than I do reggae (or dancehall), I do have a bit of the genre.  Here is a 2001 release from Pressure Sounds of some of King Tubby's contributions to the whole scene.



Pressure Sounds PSCD34, 2001.
decryption code in comments

Temp - Anthony Red Rose
After All - King Everall
Crank Angle Part 2 - King Asha
Two Big Bull Inna One Pen - Anthony Red Rose / King Kong
Original Sound - Conroy Smith
Special Singer - King Everall
Rude Boy - Lloyd Hemmings
Dry Up Your Tears - Tinga Stewart
Dry Up Your Tears (version) - Peego / Fatman
Line Up - Johnny Osborne
Fade Away - Little John
Babylon - King Kong
Pressure Me - Lilly Melody
Automatic - King Everall
Under Me Fat Thing - Anthony Red Rose
Under Me Fat Thing (version) - Noel Davy

Enjoy,

20 May 2019

Detritus of Rebirth

Cool Whip or Smooth Cheese?
Lisa Taylor - Secrets of the Heart, Giant Records W2 24432, 1992.
any decryption codes in comments

Fallen Angel
Secrets of the Heart
Better Late than Never
Once Again Love
To Know Your Love
Make You Mine
Part of My Heart
You Could've Been with Me
I Can't Remember When
I Wanna Fall in Love Again
Did You Pray Today?

     ===================================================================

Ronny’s Got a Krush on da DJ
Ronny Jordan meets DJ Krush - Bad Brothers, Island Records PHCR-3705, 1994.

The Jackal (The Illest mix)
S**t Goes Down (but I Got Phunked Up mix)
Love I Never Had It so Good
So What! (Tuff 'N' Smooth mix)
Seasons for Change (Dawn of the Season mix)
Bad Brother (How Ya Like My Wheeel mix)

===================================

It is a Beautiful Thing, Baby
Housemartins, Beats International, Freak Power, Pizzaman, or Fatboy Slim...we all know & love him as Norman Quentin Leo Cook.. Here’s one from Fried Funk Food hisself.

Freak Power - In Dub: The Fried Funk Food EP, Island Records FREAK LP1, 1994.

Turn On, Tune In, Find Joy
At Your Own Pace
Sugar Lump
Freakpower is a Beautiful Thing, Baby
My Heart Sings
Where I’m Going


===================================

Fear of Lamb
Lamb - Fear of Fours limited edition bonus disc, Fontana 314 546 417-2, 1999.

B Line (Andy Votel mix)
Górecki  (Global Communication mix)
Cottonwool (Fila Brazillia mix)
Trans Fatty Acid (Kruder & Dorfmeister Session mix)
Gold (Hipoptimist Alchemy mix)


===================================
Karmacoma or Komacaramel?  Massive Karma.



Karmacoma (Album version)
Karmacoma (Instrumental original)
Overcome - Tricky
Karmacoma (U.N.K.L.E. Situation mix)
Karmacoma (Napoli Trip)
Karmacoma (Ventom DUB Special)
Fake the Aroma (live studio recording)
Karmacoma (U.N.K.L.E. Situation instrumental mix)
Karmacoma (Bumper Ball DUB mix)
Karmacoma (live)
Overcome - Bristol
Karmacoma (U.N.K.L.E. Situation instrumental remix)
Karmacoma (Portishead experience)

===================================
& the Real Reason I Started this Series

I've mentioned before that I'm a closet tripper-hopper, well...

''Revenge of the Number'' is that reason.

Rebirth.
Portishead - Numb single, Go! Discs GODCD 114, 1994.

Numb
Numbed in Moscow
Revenge of the Number
Earth - Linger
A Tribute to Monk & Canatella
w/ hidden track - Still Numb


===================================
Ode to C. Blackwell

''Do you think that I could forget you
After all that you done to me?
You think that I don't know
After all that I done for you?
You think that it don't show?

Efforts to build your empire,
You turned out a filthy ole liar
By shooting the stars that you fire
& I watch while the flames burn higher.

No. 1 Rip-off man
You saw the #1
You dirty rip-off man.''


Jimmy Cliff - No. 1 Rip-Off Man from Music Maker, Reprise Records MS 2188, 1974.


Enjoy,

Don’t Say Nothin'

Been gone for a while. Planting time & a big Anniversary for me has had me busy. The pause has had me rethinking a lot of things.

Thinking about Rebirth...here's the Rebirth of Cool series from 4th & Broadway / Island. There are innumerous variations on these muthas, so I'm just giving ya what I personally have in my collection. They get progressively better IMO & by Phive it's definitely alive.



Various - The Rebirth of Cool, 4th & Broadway 512 238-2, 1992
any decryption codes in comments

I've Lost My Ignorance (& Don't Know Where to Find It) - Dream Warrior & Gang Starr
Raise the Flag - X Clan
Senga Abele (Lion Roar) - Manu Dibango & MC Mell'O'
Cool & Funky - Ronny Jordan
I Should've Known Better - Mica Paris
Welcome to the Story - Galliano
Family - McKoy
Try My Love - Lalomie Washburn
Kickin' Jazz - Outlaw
Step Right On - Young Disciples
Joe's Jam - Statemaster Tate
Witness the Drift - Laquan
I Come Off - Young MC
The Slow Jam - Dodge City Productions


Volume Too duplicates material from the original release as well as adding new tracks. In this case I have posted both the complete volume & the edited volume with only the new tracks. That way you can decide if you want it as released or without the redundancy. I'll try to make the choices obvious, but the choice you choose is fully & truly yours. Completist versus drive-space...you decide. I'm just here to make things more confusing.



Various - The Rebirth of Cool Too, 4th & Broadway BRLPD 582, 1992.

I've Lost My Ignorance - Dream Warriors & Gang Starr
La Raza - Kid Frost
Senga Abele (Lion Roar) - Manu Dibango & MC Mell'O'
Cool & Funky - Ronny Jordan
I Should've Known Better - Mica Paris
All for One - Brand Nubian
One to Grow On - UMC's
Family - McKoy
Try My Love - Lalomie Washburn
Kickin' Jazz - Outlaw
Looking at the Front Door - Main Source
Free Your Feelings - Slam Slam & Gang Starr
Go With the Flow - Pete Rock & C. L. Smith
Set Me Free - The Bygraves
Black Whip - Chapter & the Verse
The Slow Jam - Dodge City Productions


Various - The Rebirth of Cool 3, 4th & Broadway BRCD 590, 1993.

Chameleon - Jazz Warrior
Life Goes Around - Courtney Pine featuring Juliet Roberts
Taurus Woman - The Subterraneans featuring Mardou Fox & Jonzi
Dominican Girdles - Dana Bryant
Don't Say Nothin' - Opaz
Fever - Stereo MC's
Bad Brother - Ronny Jordan
Good Lover (Touch mix) - D-Influence
Caroline - M.C. Solaar
Big Idea (Shortwave) - The Brecker Brothers
Did You Pray Today? (Extended R&B mix) - Lisa Taylor
Man Talk (Talkin' Loud mix) - Greg Osby
Revival (Rebirth edit) - Martine Girault
People (Come On) - Dodge City Productions
Loud Minority (Club mix) - United Future Organization
Inner City Boundaries - Freestyle Fellowship




 Various - The Rebirth of Cool 4 Most, 4th & Broadway BRCDX 607, 1994.

Just Wanna Touch Her (Stoned Jazz mix) - DJ Krush
Play My Funk - Simple E
Cantamillia - Tranquility Bass
My Favourite Things - Ronny Jordan
Aftermath - Tricky
Earthsong - Batu
Crazy - Outside
Spock with a Beard - Palm Skin Productions
World Mutation (Made in His Image) - Tone Productions
Tree, Air, & Rain on the Earth - Mondo Grosso
Great Men’s Dub - Burning Spear
Soul of the People - Bread & Butter


Various - The Rebirth of Cool Phive, 4th & Broadway BRCD 617, 1995.

Friendly Pressure - Jhelisa
Eine Kleine Hed Musik - Coldcut
Karmacoma (Portishead Experience) - Massive Attack
Boundaries - Leena Conquest & Hip Hop Finger
Whipping Boy (remix) - Ben Harper
Deep Shit (Parts 1 & 2) - Kruder & Dorfmeister
Hell is Round the Corner - Tricky
Turn On, Tune In, Find Joy - Freak Power
Revenge of the Number - Portishead
Bug Powder Dust (La Funk Mob remix) Bomb the Bass & Justin Warfield
United Future Airlines (Astral Hi-Jack mix) - United Future Organization
Iniquity Worker - D-Note
Release Yo Delf (Prodigy mix) - Methos Man
Kosmos (Lynch Mob bonus beats) - Paul Weller
Nouveau Western - M.C. Solaar
Get It Together - Beastie Boys


Various - The Rebirth of Cool 6, 4th & Broadway BRCD 620, 1996.

Underwater Love - Smoke City
Claire - IO
To Forgive but Not Forget - Outside
You Are Heaven Sent - Nicolette
Cotton Wool (Fila Brazillia mix) - Lamb
Horizons - L.T.J. Bukem
Migration - Nitin Sawhney
Ponteio - Da Lata
Jazz Garage - Akasha
Feel the Sunshine - Alex Reece
Surfin' - Ernest Ranglin
Who Could It Be (Jungle Brothers radio edit) Luciano meets The Jungle Brothers
Bittersweet - Lewis Taylor
Street Player - DJ Pulse & The Jazz Cartel
Rudiments - Dave Angel


Then 4&B'way parent Island takes over & shit goes downhill fast. Chris Blackwell (the Assassin of Cool) had already sold out to Polygram UK by 1988 but hung around for ten more years before finally splitting.

Cool 7 was one of the last stabs into a dying corpse. 4th & Broadway was shut down in 1998, shortly after Blackwell left Island Records but before the merger of the PolyGram & MCA label families that became Universal Music Group. 4th & B'way's remaining hip hop artists transferred to Def Jam Recordings, but that’s another story for another day.


Various - The Rebirth of Cool 7 2xCD,  Island Records 524 487-2, 1998

CD1 

Get Another Plan (Extended mix) - Abstract Truth
Mokey Jazz - Ian O'Brian
My Beat - Blaze
Size of an Elephant - Universal Being
Contrazoom - Spacer
The Redeemer - Underwolves
Where My Mind Is At - DJ Skitz alongside Roots Manuva
My History / Feel the Spirit (Afro History Pt 11) - New Sector Movements
Escravos de Jo - Kerrie & Joe
African Elation - Dean Fraser


 Tears for the Yazd - The Amalgamation of Soundz
Chemical Imbalance (DJ Die mix) - Karime Kendra
Elephant Ride - State of Bengal
Life (Da Lata mix) - Luciano
Plans & Designs - Faze Action
Na-Da (Featuring Manorama Prasad) - Tala Quintet
In at the Deep End - Bill Riley
Ballet Dance - Roni Size
Impressions - Fused Up
What Is It? - The Mighty Strinth

Enjoy,