A Winter Cuppa with SSS

Statik Sound System formed in the early part of 1994 after band members had been in a variety of noise, Dub & breakbeat acts. Statik Sound System signed to Bristol's own Cup of Tea Records. They produced 2 albums, a Remix album, 6 singles/EPs, & appeared on countless compilation albums. 

They have been remixed by the likes of Mr Scruff, Cut la Roc, Spring Heel Jack, More Rockers, The Egg, Tao, Ian Simmonds, The Bullitnuts, & Aim to name but a few. They have toured around the globe with a bizarre mixture of bands as diverse as Spiritualized, Black Francis, Receiver & Smith and Mighty.

After putting together their own studio in 1998 they released their last album, My Ooh-Zik in 2001 which I shared here. 

Some sweet Dubbed-out trip-hop on this, their debut...

Statik Sound System - The Winter Collection, Cup of Tea Records COT016CDS, 1995.
all decryption codes in comments

Vacuum    
The Sunlight in Your Eyes    
In Our Own Time (Horizontal mix)    
Revolutionary Pilot (More Rockers Dubmix)
Revolutionary Pilot (Rob Smith mix)
Revolutionary Pilot (Pete D mix)
Revolutionary Pilot (Spring Heel Jack mix)
Revolutionary Pilot (Spring Heel Jack Slow Dub) 

 

 

On Remix Selectiion, Statik Sound System's Tempesta (here) gets put through the wringer, by a bevy of trip-hop luminaries. Here's a mixture of trip-hop/breaks/downtempo/big bea.

Statik Sound System - Remix Selection, Cup of Tea Records COTCD009, 1997.

Living in Essential Times (Statik Sound System remix)
Sonar (Tao remix)
Essential Times (The Bullitnuts remix)
Dreams of Mine (Cut le Roc remix)
Amazed by You (Spacer remix)
Jack (Kushti remix)
Dr. Wheeler (Mr. Scruff remix)
Valentine (Kid Loops remix)
Amazed by You (Aim remix)
Free to Choose (Juryman remix)
Outside Now

 

 

 

 

Here's a final EP from SSS...

 

 

Statik Sound System - The Essential Times EP, Cup of Tea Records COT12“035, 1997.

Side A -
Living in Essential Times    
Hear My Plea    

Side B -
Seven Shades    
Dreams of Mine (Cut la Roc Big Beat Boutique mix)

 

 

 

 

See you On the Tee,
NØ

A Cup of Tea & a Crust a Tion

Here's my next offering from Cup of Tea Records

I'm a big fan of the band Crustation. I've shared them twice before, here & here. Both times the band was fronted by the fantastic chanteuse Bronagh Slevin. Before hooking up with Ms. Slevin, the group was a Bristol  DJ trip-hop trio consisting of Ian Dark, Stig Manley, & Mark Tayler.

 

Before releasing Bloom w/ Bronagh Slevin (probably one of the best trip-hop albums ever made, containing gems such as "Purple" & "Flame"), the British trip-hop band Crustation have released two 12"-only EPs on the legendary Cup of Tea Records: Foot Damage & Now 'Til Never. With the promise of bringing Foot Damage EP to the site in the near future, I am now presenting you Now 'Til Never, a too-short, yet interesting EP with lots of danceable beats. These three songs are instrumental pieces with lots of vocal samples; track 3 is nearly entirely based on samples from the previous tracks.

 

 

Crustation - Now 'til Never EP, Cup of Tea Records COT007, 1995.
decryption code in comments

Side A -        
Now 'til Never

Side B -
Big Bong Theory
Molecular Thing

 

 

 

See you On the Tee,
NØ

Cup of Tea Makes P.P.

Third out of the gate from Cup of Tea Records 

In the past I've shared Purple Penguin here.

The duo was a mainstay in the Cup of Tea Records roster. Just a couple of Bristol boys, hip-hop / breaks producers who got together & make a Purple Penguin. Scott Hendy & Ben Dubuisson produced some of the finest Cup of Tea sounds out there.

Here's an early EP... 

 

Purple Penguin - Passion / Trihuwan, Cup of Tea Records COT003, 1995.
decryption code in comments 

a side -
Passion (vocal)
Passion (Moon & Sun Dub)
Tribhuwan (Taxi mix)

b side -
Tribhuwan (Atlas mix)
Tribhuwan (Himalayan Dub)
Tribhuwan (Crust mix)

 

 

See you On the Tee,
NØ

Tea is for Trad

The second offering from the great Cup of Tea Records. 

 

Spaceways was a seven-piece outfit complete with horn section, the group formed in 1989 at the height of the UK acid jazz craze. Their roots in acid jazz influenced Trip-hop are evident in their first full-length debut, Trad.

Spaceways played a groove-based, live-sounding integration of funky, sequenced beats, live percussion with lots of brass, guitars, stand-up bass, & other instrumental affects not normally associated with electronic dance music, Spaceways were part of  a new crop of artists re-exploring dance music's roots through live performance.

Spaceways - Trad, Cup of Tea Records COTCD002, 1996.
decryption code in comments

Time Changes Space    
At Home with the Snake    
City    
Charlie X    
Pink Panza    
Rice    
Requiem for Ra    
Kurosawa Meets Slow Charlie    
Crimes    
Riding on the Tip    
The Man Who Fell to Easton    
Death of a Silent Planet    
Pinhead Plutonium    
Better    
Tyner 

 

 

 

See you On the Tee,
NØ

Enjoying a Cuppa

Well, it's started to cool off. Passing the dogs off to you all quieted their barking around here, so I'm just gonna sit back, kick it for a while with a nice cup of tea. 

 

 

Last month when I shared Grantby - Timebooth, I had this to sez about Cup of Tea Records:
     "Cup of Tea Records released some of the highest quality tracks of slo-mo beat excursions & weirdelic sound collages in the time from 1994 to 1999. The label, founded by Pip Diaz in Bristol, started with the release of "The Mudskipper EP" by a band called Junkwaffel, remixed by Bristol royalty Portishead. Leading up to this, Cup of Tea had made a name for itself by providing Bristol with the most upfront in club DJ's & bands, putting on everything from jungle to hip hop, from jazz-funk to dub. Their catalogue included releases from Crustation, Purple Penguin, Spaceways, The Federation, Slick Sixty, Tammy Payne, Statik Sound System, Grantby, The Disciples, Mr. Scruff, Monk & Canatella, & many more."

I decided that I'd follow up with this, seemed only logical considering my last few shares. Junkwaffel - The Mudskipper EP was released in 1995 as Planet Dog Bark014T.

Well, it was also released as Cup of Tea Records initial offering, COT001 the previous year. No better place to begin than at the beginning. 

 

Junkwaffel - The Mud Skipper EP, Cup of Tea Records COT 001, 1994.
decryption code in comments

Side A -
Mud Skipper (original)
Mud Skipper (Henry & Louis Steppers mix)
Mud Skipper (Portishead So-so mix)

Side B - 
Sub Strata (Eat Static mix)
Sub Strata (original)

 

  

Enjoying a cuppa,
NØ

Got Time for a Shard?

TimeShard were comprised of Steve Angstrom, Psy, & Gobber

 

The three got together to experiment sonically in 1988, sharing a common interest in creating a new kind of "shamanic trance music" with tapes loops & synthetic noises, an audio collage of found sounds from radio or film, edited sounds over burbling distorted rhythms, creating a new kind of mythic music concrete. TimeShard wanted to explore the untapped potential in creating a new kind of psychedelic state. At the time technology was considered "cold & impersonal", far from magical. TimeShard saw that the crystals which drove much of this equipment could have a deep power to inspire & to conjure something new, something weirdly powerful. TimeShard experimented with tape, borrowed multitracks, cheap downtime in local recording studios, borrowed synthesizers.

At first they performed some very strange dub inflected trance music for confused listeners. Their early music was a synthesis of dub with the pulsating sounds of Kraftwerk or the slower influence of Brian Eno. Their signature sound was analogue synthesizers, sequencers, & drum machines overlaid with glissando guitars along with an electric sitar. During their first five years Gobber, Psi, & Angstrom became known as one of the UK's first live acid house acts. During this time they developed a sound which later became known as Psychedelic trance although at the time they were often described as producing Ambient or Shamanic Trance music.

Liverpool dance music shop / record label 3Beat offered the Shardies a chance to record an album. The three hairy weirdos along with their friends & their manager travelled down to London to record in a state of the art recording studio. Though 3Beat had paid for the recording of Timeshard's Crystal Oscillations album, the fit was just not right. 3beat was a more traditional dance label favouring charty dance hits.

Lucky for everyone, Gobber's time running Sound Systems had put him in touch with the members of Eat Static & their friends at MegaDog right at the perfect time.  DJ Michael Dog had decided to start a label to release the sounds of that unique festival-influenced scene. Michael met with the TimeShard crew at the London headquarters of Planet Dog/Ultimate records. A few joints & a handshake later  everything was ironed out. An agreement was reached to release the psychedelic electronic Crystal Oscillations. It was a perfect fit with the Planet Dog / Megadog family.

 

 

Timeshard - Crystal Oscillations, Planet Dog BARKCD004, 1994.
decryption codes in comments

Voodoo Chronometer    
25th Century    
Psionic Lattice    
Metamind    
Oracle    
Cosmic Carrot    
Crystal Oscillations    
Human Error    
Secret Song of the Sea    
The Others

 

 

 

 

This CD single came out the following year... 

Timeshard - Zero (Ouroboros), Planet Dog BARK008CDS, 1995.

Photon (Wave)
Photon (Particle)
Zero
X-Ray Ears

 

 

 

Who let the dogs out,
NØ

Let's Get Sirius...An Entire Planet of Dog

While the rest of the Planet Dog roster was made up of bands that were a vital part of the UK festival scene at the time, Children of the Bong were more of a studio act (although they gave many live performances - their first gig being at Rainbow Farm).

Daniel sez:
       "We supported Banco De Gaia in Birmingham. After the gig, Toby Marks (BDG) asked us to support him on his UK tour, which having just turned 18 was a bit of a coup for us!  On this tour we met Michael Dog, head man at Planet Dog Records, who said he was interested in signing us. This was great, however, we also had interest from China records and Andy Weatherall (who weirdly, wanted us to change our name). We considered the options and although China had offered a big advance and Weatherall could do no wrong,  I don't think Children of the Bong would have been at home anywhere but Planet Dog!"

Made up of Daniel Goganian & Rob Henry, who had met at Harrow College, Rob had a new-age tape of music from the Andes that had a song called "Children of the Bong". He decided that was a perfect name for their band. Children of the Bong created Dub, hip-hop, & ambient music in the privacy of Rob's bedroom musical studio, working through the nights experimenting, developing the Bong style: weird sounds; crazy beats; languid melodies; lunar soundscapes; all with "a dollop of cheek!". 

 

Children of the Bong - Sirius Sounds 2xLP + 10". Planet Dog BARKLP012S, 1995.
decryption codes in comments

Side one -
This side -
Polyphase
Ionospheric State
Other side -
Interface Reality
The Veil...

Side three -
This side -
Underwater Dub
Life on Planet Earth
Other side -
Squigglasonica
Visitor

10" -
This side -
Underwater Dub (Full on, Drums & Bass All Hands on Deck Roots mix...!)
Other side -
Underwater Dub (Analogical Roots mix)

 

 

Well, everybody, the Children are back better than ever, bringing back the high holy days of 90s ambient dub/techno/hybridtronica. Everything you expect from CotB: heavy heavy basslines; fat Moog/synth vibrations; & immersive rhythms. Welcome to the 21st Century, Dog...

 

Children of the Bong - (Not Sirius), Disco Gecko GKOCD041, 2023.

Eleven Dimension Super Gravity    
Babylon 3    
Dubber FX
Feedback Returns
U.V.F. (Ultraviolet Frequencies)    
Cosmic Flash    
Elefunk    
Babylon 4    
In Flight Trance    
Breathe

 

 

 

Enjoy the chill,
NØ

Dog Day Afternoon

The days between July 3rd & August 11 this year are the dog days of summer. This afternoon they've been hounding me.

The dog days are these hot, sultry days of summer historically following the rising of the star system Sirius (known colloquially as the "Dog Star"). Greek astrology connected the dog days with heat, drought, sudden thunderstorms, lethargy, fever, mad dogs, & bad luck. They are now taken to be the hottest, most uncomfortable part of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Well the raging fevers & howling mad dogs have been plaguing me big time so I'll dump some Planet Dog on you to start out August, see if I can appease my troubled mind. Those damn dogs, this afternoon they've been on my trail. 

 

Before I hit the Planet, how about a little slaughter... 

 

Slaughter & the Dogs - A Dog Day Afternoon, TKO Records TKO ROUND 113, 2003.
decryption code in comments

Twist & Turn
Who Are the Mystery Girls?
Runaway
Boston Babies
Saturday Night Till Sunday Morning
Situations
Blow
Hell in New York
Welcome to Our Town
I'm Mad
Quick Joey Small
Where Have All the Bootboys Gone?
White Light, White Heat
The Bitch
Cranked Up Really High

 

 

 

Enjoy the heat,
NØ

Day Trippin'

This is the last share that popped out of the Various Artists compilations from last month. I want to thank all the Frenz for their requests & suggestions. They sure helped with my choices thru-out. I’ll be gone Day Trippin' for the next few. I'll be back for August's craziness. While I'm gone, take a look around at past posts (there's a list of nearly everything on the right under the Labels heading or use the search box in the upper left). You just might find something you missed. & please let me know if you find dead links. I'll try to fix 'em.

But onward...

 

Tor.Ma is the moniker of Rafael Hernandez, a Dubtempo artist from Playa del Carmen, Mexico. His music incorporates elements of psy-Dub / steppa / downtempo / psychill.

The hypnotic rhythms of psychedelic electronica collide with the surreal / twisted atmosphere of global Dub in the musical creations of Mexico's Tor.Ma in Dub. Born from the sweaty dance floors of the psytrance movement, Tor.Ma's sonic styling takes shape as a kaleidoscopic montage of old-school / new-school sounds careening through the psychedelic expanse, each broken apart then  reshuffled to create a funky, bass-driven interpretation of 21st-century Dub music. Pulling from his roots as a trance producer, Tor.Ma in Dub's stylish compositions brandish a driving, psychedelic edge set atop an intoxicating dance-inducing beat, militant percussion, & heavy bass. Drenched in the dark fragmented tones of classic Dub, these arrangements converge as a portrait of sound projected through a psychedelic lens & beamed into the very heart of dance floor culture. Revelrous, capable of hurdling listeners across time / space with the flip of a switch, Tor.Ma in Dub's approach to production promises adventure & wildness to all who partake in his musical visions.

Primed equally for live experiences as for the confines of one's private quarters, Tor.Ma in Dub is an invitation to peel back the layers of separation between genres, to cross over into a space beyond rules, where tempo / style ebb & flow without control. 

 

Tor.Ma in Dub - Jump High (from the Roots to the Stars), Beats & Pieces BNP002, 2010.
all decryption codes in comments

Prayer    
Izel    
Out of There    
This Way (live edit)    
Subconscious    
Gaia    
Times a Billion    
Smile    
Metamorph
Impulse    
Dark Dub    
Biocircuit    
Raining Dub (special breaks edit) 

 

 

 

Tor.Ma in Dub - Delirious Experiences & Echoes, self-released, 2014.

Ya Basta    
The Time is Now    
No Difference Between I & I - Tor.Ma in Dub
Reverdeciendo (Tor.Ma in Dub remix) - Lengualerta
Infront of Me    
Night Dub - Tor.Ma in Dub    
Engines On (Tor.Ma in Dub remix) - Loud
Lucid Dream    
Scatattack    
Into the Water - Tor.Ma in Dub

 

 

 

 

 

Tor.Ma in Dub - Secret Message, self-released, 2014.

.​.​.​And the Story Goes (part II)    
Rain on the Moon    
Duff Duff Dub    
Sacred Smoke    
The Secret Message    
Bridge to Zion
And Beyond
Dubbers March
Victory Walk
Energy Boost    
Light & Smoke
Anahata    
Smile (live with the Sonic Vibes Army Band)

 

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

Time for Our A.A. Meeting

 

Amorphous Androgynous is one of the Future Sound of London's most well-known aliases. Used for their early 90s album Tales of Ephidrina. FSoL had a string of early 00s psychedelic releases [The Isness (2002), Alice in Ultraland (2005),  The Peppermint Tree & The Seeds of Superconsciousness (2008)]. These later psychedelic releases generally add a 'The' to the name to differentiate from the '90s electronic material.

This psychedelic classic has added vocal support from Doree Jackson. 

 

FSoL present The Amorphous Androgynous - Alice in Ultraland, Harvest 2005.
decryption code in comments

The Emptiness of Nothingness
The Witchfinder
The Witch Hunt
All is Harvest
The Prophet
Indian Swing
The Seasons Turn
High & Dry
Yes My Brother - You've Gotta Turn Yourself Around
In the Summertime of Consciousness
Billy the Onion
Another Fairy Tale Ending
The World is Full of Plankton
The Wicker Doll

 

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

William Smiles

 Left to right: John Giorno, William Burroughs, Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk 

 

 

Sandoz was one of the most prominent solo monikers of Richard H. Kirk since 1992. After Caberet Voltaire, Kirk focussed on solo projects such as Sandoz & Sweet Exorcist, his collaboration with Richard Barratt (aka DJ Parrot). With Sandoz he had the most post CV success.  As Sandoz, Kirk produced (after twenty years of listening to Jamaican music) contemporary electronic Dance music with Jamaican Reggae / Dub influences as well as other ethnic styles. 

 

In 2021 Richard H. Kirk died. His label, Mute, confirmed the news, giving no cause of death. Kirk was 65 years old.

Here's one of his earlier releases using the Sandoz nom de musique after a series of singles & EPs. Intensely Radioactive... 

 

Sandoz - Intensely Radioactive, Touch TO23, 1994.
decryption codes in comments

Beneath the City Streets
Inner Rhythms    
Exoskeleton    
Intensely Radioactive    
Atro City Reaction    
Intelligence    
Revolution    
Luminous 

 

 

Try these catchy rhythms / beats mixed with haunting tribal chants.

Sandoz - Afrocentris, Intone INTONECD001, 2001.

Spooks inna Congo    
Nye (We are Silent)    
I'm not Afraid    
Dissolved (in Acid)    
Beaucoup de Gris Gris, Beaucoup de Talisman    
Terminator Chop & Clean    
Na Panza    
Bring Me Joy    
Nye (....mix)    
O Technique ff Transformation    
Panza    
Phaseur

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

And a Third from Third

 

Another short-lived band with little infornation that were signed to the legendary Third Mind label. Electro new wave duo made up of Christopher Read - guitar, bass, keyboards, drum programming & John Hassett.- vocals with ocassional additional synthesizer by Curtis Schwartz.. Their sound is dense, paranoid, & ethereal, entirely synth driven. It features heavy grooves...upbeat with a very classic bass-driven wave sound that is both claustrophobic & psychedelic. 

 

Intimate Obsessions - Assassin 12" 45, Third Mind Records TMS06, 1985
decryption code in comments

Side A -
Assassin (Grinding remix)
Why Can't I

Side AA -
Why Can't I (extended mix)
Assassin 

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

Another from Third Mind

Not much information about this short-lived band. Scottish indie pop / synth pop duo made up of brother / sister Mervyn & Heather Wright.

Heather later joined Beautiful Pea Green Boat. (I've shared their Still Life album on the first C'est la Mort post here.)

This is another rarity from the great Third Mind Records label.

God Said - Off the Plot, Third Mind Records TMLP23, 1988.
decryption code in comments

Side 1 -
Slip into Gear
House G
Absurdly Obsessed
A Thousand Tears
Reunion

Side 2 -
The Man Who Said Yes
Out of Time
Hear Them
Slowly

 

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

Request by A Different Dave

When I shared Sounds of the Unexpexted last month, A different Dave sez:
       "...my artist pick from the compilations to get more of would be The Tornados. I only ever hear single tracks of theirs, but I always find them exciting."  

I have quite a bit of The Tornados. The original "Telstar". Couldn't decide what to share, but because A different Dave (not Mr.Dave) asked so nicely, I think I'll hit' em hard with this double CD anthology (contains "Hot Pot" from Weird & Wacky...

The Tornados were an English instrumental rock group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions. They were also the backing band for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK & US no. 1 "Telstar" (named after the satellite, composed & produced by Meek). "Telstar" was the first US no. 1 single by a British group. Their instrumental material often featured a futuristic sound, reflecting Meek's interest in electronics & sound manipulation. 

 

The Tornados - Ridin' the Wind-The Anthology 2xCD, Castle Music CMDDD428, 2002.
decryption codes in comments

CD 1 -
Love & Fury
Popeye Twist
Telstar
Jungle Fever
Globetrotter
Locomotion with Me
Ridin' the Wind (US version)
The Breeze & I
Robot
Life on Venus
The Ice Cream Man
Theme from 'The Scales of Justice'
Dragonfly
Hymn for Teenagers
Joystick
Hot Pot
Monte Carlo
Blue, Blue Beat
Exodus
Blackpool Rock
Granada
Ragunboneman
Early Bird
Stompin' Through the Rye
Stingray
Aqua Marina
Pop Art Goes Mozart
Too Much in Love to Hear
Is That a Ship I Hear?
Do You Come Here Often?

CD 2 -
Ridin' the Wind (UK version)
Dreaming on a Cloud
Red Roses & a Sky of Blue
Earthy
All the Stars in the Sky
Swinging Beefeater
Chasing Moonbeams
Theme from 'A Summer Place'
Ready Teddy
My Babe
Blue Moon of Kentucky
Long Tall Sally
Indian Brave
Flycatcher
Dreams Do Come True
Lullaby for Gulia
Costa Monger
Lonely Paradise
Chattanooga Choo Choo
Rip it Up
Alan's Tune
Cootenanny
Night Rider
Lullaby of the Stars
Shakedown
Party Spirit
Sidewalk Serenade
Alright
Fortune Teller
Telstar (live)
Exodus (live)
Czardas (live)
Lawrence of Arabia
No More You & Me

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

Join the Army, Skate the World

J.F.A. or JFA is the common notation for the Phoenix, Arizona skatepunk band Jodie Foster's Army (a twisted reference to John Hinckley's attempt at murdering Reagan just days before the band formed). 

 

The band was made up of skater friends Brian Brannon - vocals, Don Redondo - guitar, Mike Cornelius - bass, & Mike ‘Bam Bam' Sversvold - drums. One of the footnotes to this great band is that Sun City Girls alum Alan Bishop played bass for the band at one time (1984-1986). 

JFA was hugely responsible for the rise & enjoyment of skatepunk.Their first gig was opening for Black Flag. JFA's first national tour was in the summer of 1983 following the release of their first full-length album Valley of the Yakes. 

 

JFA - Valley of the Yakes, Placebo Records PLA401, 1983.
decryption code in comments

Frontside -     
Kick You
Great Equalizer
Preppy
Little Big Man
Johnny D
Walk Don't Run
I Don't like You

Backside -     
Baja
Skateboard
We Know You Suck
Too Late
Sadistic Release
Axed at Howards
I-10
Guess What?

 

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

From the Third Mind

 

Bill Pritchard was born in 1964 in Lichfield, Staffordshire, UK. Pritchard is a singer-songwriter, instrumentalist (guitars, keyboards), musical arranger, & producer.

His eponymous debut album was released in 1987 on the Third Mind label. Bill Pritchard's music at this early stage of his musical career was heavily reminiscent of the new wave/post-punk of the early 80s. Characteristic of his music are his fantastic baritone vocals & his elaborate introspective lyrics.

Bill Pritchard - Bill Pritchard, Third Mind Records TMLP19, 1987.
decryption code in comments

Side One -
Black Souls Under White Skies
Sheltered Life
Pas de Plaisanterie
White City

Side Two -
Arsenic & Old Lace
Dimanche Soir
Grey Parade
Greek Street
Impact of the Cities

 

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

A Stitch in Time

 

Jah Stitch was born Melbourne James in Kingston, Jamaica. He honed his vocal skills in the same singing yard as Roy Shirley, Stranger Cole, & The Heptones. Together with a friend called Finger he started the Fingertone Sound System. That Sound would later evolve to Lord Tippertone Sound System. Around this time Jah Stitch met Bunny Lee. They started a musical &  personal friendship. Stitch's first release however was produced by Errol Holt as the single “Danger Zone Chapter 3“. Jah Stitch soon left Tippertone. He joined Black Harmony Sound which resulted in the shooting of Stitch outside of Bob Marleys shop in Kingston’s Beeston Street. This incident would lead to Jah Stitch reinventing his deejay style. He cut “No Dread Can't Dead” where he had an almost spoken delivery.

In the 80s he changed his name to Major Stitch. He also joined Sugar Minott's Youth Promotion focusing on Selecting for the Sound as well as supervising the cutting of dubplates. He was responsible for the first recording efforts of Yami Bolo, Nitty Gritty, Pinchers, & Tenor Saw.

Jah Stitch died April 28, 2019.

Dread inna Jamdown was recorded in the late 70s at Harry J's, Randy's Studio 17 & Channel 1 in Kingston, Jamaica. Musicians involved include: Earl 'Chinna' Smith & Tony Chin - guitars; Winston Wright - organ; Aston 'Family Man' Barrett & Robbie Shakespeare - bass; Carlton 'Santa' Davis, Carlton Barrett, & SlyDunbar - drums; Tommy McCook & Lennox Brown - saxophone; Vin Gordon - trombone; & Bobby Ellis - trumpet...all cream of the crop. The best by any test.

Jah Stitch - Dread inna Jamdown, Kingston Sounds KSCD012, 2007.
decryption code in comments

Dread inna Jamdown    
Dem Seek Natty Everywhere    
Make a Joyful Noise    
Serious Thing    
The Best by Any Test    
Natty Dread Skanking    
From Dusk to Dawn    
Hold on Tight    
Love for Everyone    
Rock to the Beat    
Natty Going on So    
Live Together in Harmony    
Tune into Jumpers    
Channel 1 Lesson

 

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

From an Insight by Mr.Dave

 

The Plugz, formed in the barrios of East L.A. (or Hollywood) in 1978, were the first Latino punk band. They created a blend of punk & Hispanic sounds unknown at that time that honored punk without trashing their Latino heritage.They covered pop-songs like "La Bamba" at break neck speed as well as writing their own original material. 

At the height of their popularity, the Plugz came close to signing a major label deal, but singer / band leader Tito Larriva believed in the punk DIY aesthetic.

Tito sez:
       "I looked in the Yellow Pages ... and found the Alberti pressing plant. Manufacturing each single cost 29 cents, and sleeves cost a penny. It was a mom and pop organization, with two Latinos in the back room pressing records by hand in what looked like a tortilla press. We ordered 500 right off." 

That was the start of Fatima Records in 1979, a joint venture between Larriva, Yolanda Ferrer (who came through with the money), & Richard Duardo. Together, the three produced the Plugz's Electrify Me & Better Luck, as well as The Brat's first & only self-titled album.

The Plugz hold a seminal spot in the annals of punk, having shared the stage with groups such as X & the Circle Jerks at notorious punk clubs like Madame Wong's & the Masque. 

 

The Plugz - Electrify Me, Plug Records PR001, 1979.
decryption code in comments

Plugz Side -
A Gain - A Loss
The Cause
Electrify Me
Satisfied Die
La Bamba


Electrified Side -
Adolescent
Braintime
Wordless
Let Go
Infection
Berserktown

bonus tracks -
Revolution
Mindless Contentment

 

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

I Get Maximum Joy Out of Sharing These

 

Formed in 1979 from the ashes of another favorite of mine, Glaxo Babies by Tony Wrafter (saxophonist / trumpeter), Charlie Llewellin (drums), & Dan Catsis (bass). Catsis had been in The Pop Group as well as Glaxo Babies & brought along fellow Pop Group alum John Waddington (guitar). With Janine Rainforth at the helm as vocalist & co-founder along with Wrafter, Maximum Joy released a number of cult groove classic singles.

Maximum Joy - I Can't Stand it Here on Quiet Nights: Singles 1981-82 2x12",
Silent Street SSR001, 2017.
decryption codes in comments

Side A -
Silent Street / Silent Dub    

Side B -
White & Green Place (Extraterrestrial mix)    
In the Air (12“ mix)

Side C -
Building Bridges / Building Dub    
Simmer ‘til Done    

Side D -
Stretch (7" mix)    
Do it Today

 

 

 

The band toured extensively. In 1982 they released Station MXJY, an album produced by Adrian Sherwood. 

Maximum Joy - Station MXJY, Y Records Y28, 1982;

Catch 1 -    
Dancing on My Boomerang
Do it Today
Let it Take You There
Searching for a Feeling

Throw 2 -    
Where's Deke?
Temple Bomb Twist
Mouse an' Me
All Wrapped Up!

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ 

On the Delta

 

Delta 5 were an English post-punk band from Leeds, West Yorkshire. Part of the Leeds art/music scene in the late 70s that launched The Gang of Four & The Mekons, Delta 5 was signed to Rough Trade after only a few months in existence. They released their first single recording, "Mind Your Own Business/Now That You've Gone" in 1979. BBC host / producer John Peel received an advance copy of the single & played it twice the same night he got it. He then requested that the band do a "Sessions" gig for him. With this, the band was officially on its way. Relentless gigging with The Gang of Four, Echo & the Bunnymen, B52s, Specials, Teardrop Explodes, U2 put the band on the map worldwide. They continued touring / recording until various members departed in late 1981, when they recorded one last single. They broke up for good in 1982.

Delta 5 - Singles & Sessions 1979-81, Kill Rock Stars KRS415CD, 2006.
decryption code in comments

Mind Your Own Business
Now That You've Gone
Anticipation
You
Try
Colour
Delta 5    
Make Up    
Triangle    
Innocenti    
Train Song    
Final Scene    
Singing the Praises    
Shadow
Circuit
Journey

 

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ

Coming to a Future Near You

                                                                   Teletubbies Darkwave

A War of Attrition

 

Attrition began after Martin Bowes issued, as part of a fanzine covering the Coventry music scene, a vinyl compilation. Subsequently he met Julia Niblock at a resulting music festival. After a handful of demos, fully-formed tracks by Attrition began to appear on several notable cassette compilations, such as the Rising from the Red Sand series from the fledging Third Mind label.

In 1983 their vinyl breakthrough came with the inclusion of "Dreamsleep" on the influential The Elephant Table Album here alongside notable experimental artists such as Nurse with Wound, Chris & Cosey, Portion Control. Coil even opened for them at their first London show.

I've shared their cassette release Death House that they released that same year here.

They toured several times with The Legendary Pink Dots in 1984 & 1985. Here's a cassette split recorded live during the Terminal Kaleidoscope Tour from March 29 - April 15, 1985 in Holland & Switzerland. 

 

The Legendary Pink Dots/Attrition - The Terminal Kaleidoscope cassette,
Ding Dong Records & Tapes DDC011, 1985.
decryption code in comments

Terminal Side -
Flowers for the Silverman
Lust for Powder
Kitto
Tower 4
Neon Gladiators - The Legendary Pink Dots

Kaleidoscope Side -
Reflections
Redoubt of Light
The Next Day
Across the Divide
Beast of Burden
Surge & Run - Attrition

 

 

 

Attrition were set slightly apart from their experimental & industrial contemporaries by the combination of punk aesthetics with EBM-styled beats but also the inclusion of ethereal / classical touches that permeate nearly all of their repertoire. After initial releases which moved from eerily constructed ambience into standard dancefloor electro sounds, the band soon developed their distinctive texture, based on haunting synthesizer washes, strong beats, fretless bass backing, & Martin Bowes's deep growls contrasted with Julia Niblock's operatic soprano flourishes.

 

 

Attrition - Take Five, Support Fonografici SF018, 1987.

Side 1 -
Take Five
This Final Push
Shotgun

Side 2 -
For Julie
The Wrecking Ground

 

 

 

Look what the spice dragged in,
NØ