April 25, 2012

Parasite- Death Sucker Rinse Out

A second brilliant mix from Parasite, featuring a range of dub tunes from his label Death$ucker Records, a set from a Wrong Music night at The Black Swan. All the big jungle breaks and breakcore tunes mashed into one massively satisfying mix.


Parasite- Pagan Breaks (Misty Rave)

A great easy listening mix by Parasite- who also runs Deathsucker Records and DJs a range of breakcore, jungle and ragga, along with the other artists on the label.  A range of good mixed tracks with a great chilled sound standardly coupled with breaks throughout.


April 24, 2012
Sound of a Silver Lining Thanks to Jamaican culture in the 50’s, today’s youth can spend time learning and enjoying the benefits of sound system culture. A collective can span from a small group of people to countless contributors, and an array of speakers, decks, amps and DJs forming the recipe for a free party. I’m from Thanet and it is truly a place with nothing to do for young people, other than the beautiful beaches, but the years of living there limit the experience. Beach parties with phone speakers  were a given but in the last year or so the amount of people having big parties with even bigger speakers had shot up, leaving the seaside humming with the sound of generators and only-just functioning amps. We originally bought speakers through eBay, on a spur of the moment thing, but after test trials it then turned to amps, to a prized ‘SinBin’ bass bin that was later added to the collection, along with a pair of decks verging on collapse and a mess of white label vinyl, perfect for any group of budding  teenagers cramped into a tiny bedroom, trying to learn how to mix. Being a group effort, it brought everyone together, and as well as learning new skills thanks to the ridiculous amount of wires and cables involved, it gave everyone a hobby to master and a regular event to look forward to. Everyone was contributing, with nights booked into actual venues too, playing a range of drum and bass, dub, breakcore, jungle and jump up. A friend’s friend is even having parties’ way across the sea in France, a hazy amount of people enjoying the calmer and more tamed side of dub music, the original kind that transpired from the sound systems in Kingston when they too first discovered the great unity.

Sound of a Silver Lining

Thanks to Jamaican culture in the 50’s, today’s youth can spend time learning and enjoying the benefits of sound system culture. A collective can span from a small group of people to countless contributors, and an array of speakers, decks, amps and DJs forming the recipe for a free party. I’m from Thanet and it is truly a place with nothing to do for young people, other than the beautiful beaches, but the years of living there limit the experience. Beach parties with phone speakers  were a given but in the last year or so the amount of people having big parties with even bigger speakers had shot up, leaving the seaside humming with the sound of generators and only-just functioning amps. We originally bought speakers through eBay, on a spur of the moment thing, but after test trials it then turned to amps, to a prized ‘SinBin’ bass bin that was later added to the collection, along with a pair of decks verging on collapse and a mess of white label vinyl, perfect for any group of budding  teenagers cramped into a tiny bedroom, trying to learn how to mix. Being a group effort, it brought everyone together, and as well as learning new skills thanks to the ridiculous amount of wires and cables involved, it gave everyone a hobby to master and a regular event to look forward to. Everyone was contributing, with nights booked into actual venues too, playing a range of drum and bass, dub, breakcore, jungle and jump up. A friend’s friend is even having parties’ way across the sea in France, a hazy amount of people enjoying the calmer and more tamed side of dub music, the original kind that transpired from the sound systems in Kingston when they too first discovered the great unity.


March 21, 2012
1977: I Hope I Go To Heaven Punk then and now.   Throughout the generations punk has made its mark on society. Albeit 40 years ago anarchy was getting its opinion out by stomping boots and yelling as loud as possible, but today it’s still around in many different sub cultures of the starting point. Beginning mid 1970’s in America and England, underground New York was to home bands such as the New York Dolls, Ramones, Blondie and The Velvet Underground but in England it was a chance for youths that felt alienated to lash out at the government in the times of industrial Britain. The likes of Bernie Rhodes and Malcolm Maclaren were to manage two of the most influential UK bands- the Sex Pistols and The Clash, along with others in the growing scene such as Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Slits. In a society growing with ferocity in style and a need for freedom to speak your mind- whether in voice or spray paint- punk was a movement with meaning beyond just the sound; it was what you meant to do with it. Everyone wanted rebellion and anarchy, with strong beliefs based around socialism and non conformity and even now the scene is still going. There is music that is still made to be shocking, in keeping with original aims- with bands such as Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, Death Grips, Rancid and Misfits. With the 35th anniversary edition of ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ coming out soon and coinciding with the queens jubilee, it’s clear even this far on that the influence was lasting.

1977: I Hope I Go To Heaven

Punk then and now.
 
Throughout the generations punk has made its mark on society. Albeit 40 years ago anarchy was getting its opinion out by stomping boots and yelling as loud as possible, but today it’s still around in many different sub cultures of the starting point. Beginning mid 1970’s in America and England, underground New York was to home bands such as the New York Dolls, Ramones, Blondie and The Velvet Underground but in England it was a chance for youths that felt alienated to lash out at the government in the times of industrial Britain.
The likes of Bernie Rhodes and Malcolm Maclaren were to manage two of the most influential UK bands- the Sex Pistols and The Clash, along with others in the growing scene such as Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Slits. In a society growing with ferocity in style and a need for freedom to speak your mind- whether in voice or spray paint- punk was a movement with meaning beyond just the sound; it was what you meant to do with it. Everyone wanted rebellion and anarchy, with strong beliefs based around socialism and non conformity and even now the scene is still going. There is music that is still made to be shocking, in keeping with original aims- with bands such as Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, Death Grips, Rancid and Misfits. With the 35th anniversary edition of ‘Never Mind The Bollocks’ coming out soon and coinciding with the queens jubilee, it’s clear even this far on that the influence was lasting.

February 6, 2012
Roman rinse-out paro! Some of Thanet and beyonds finest DJ’s are once again providing some fine mash-up entertainment this February on the Kent coast.Click the poster for Facebook details!

Roman rinse-out paro! Some of Thanet and beyonds finest DJ’s are once again providing some fine mash-up entertainment this February on the Kent coast.

Click the poster for Facebook details!



February 3, 2012

DROKKR

Furepea 1- Free EP

Furepea 1 is from Irish electronic music producer DROKKR is one of six to be released in 2012. He has a range of sound styles throughout his work, but solid bass is consistently the driving force of many of his tracks. This EP retains a simpler theme with bassy backgrounds, kooky synth melodies and varying sporadic drum beats, giving it a unique chilled tone, but still a full sound in all tunes.

http://soundcloud.com/drokkr/sets/furepea-1-free-ep


January 19, 2012

Bangface 83 Xmash Party

A night for electronic mashed up music lovers everywhere, Bangface is an event to overrule all parties. The christmas bash was one of many one night events, alongside the weekenders that take place at poor unexpecting holiday resorts. Crazy costumes galore and a whole array of stumbling grinning dancing people gathered at Electrowerks in London, a reputable location for all night events, to see a range of Bangface dj regulars and some new faces. The 16th December brought the main act of the evening Luke Vibert, a reputable connoisseur of all musical genres from jungle to ambient hip hop sample tunes. He was accompanied by Ragga Twins, with the duty of providing fine vocal mc accompaniment to the jingly jungle that filled the packed top room- home to all the main entertainment.

Amongst the 4 other floor in the mazey building, there were many other acts to behold, the highlights of which being Dankle, hailing from Off Me Nut Records and The Parliamentalist from his own self generated cult Audiobean.
Both in the middle room mostly found to be playing a range of breakcore and gabber, Dankle was a slight change in tone with a set of bouncy bassline that was in the perfect hour. The highlights continued with The Parliamentalist who played shortly before, with a range of ridiculous samples from news sources and other, to a background of fast breaks, fart noises and general silly sounds appealing largely to the mad and skittish Thanet based following and all other party people alike.


January 8, 2012

XTC- Statue of Liberty

Cannot seem to shake this song, too catchy and a really good mad English 70’s performance on Old Grey Whistle Test.

Woo-woo!


November 11, 2011

Live Review: Incubus w/ support fiN

Photograpahy by Sophie Gunes

Alexandra Palace, London

4th November 2011

The large grand interior of Alexandra Palace was buzzing with the sound of anticipating voices as fans old and new gathered to see the almost London elusive Incubus on their line of UK shows promoting their new album ‘If Not Now, When?’.

On the bill to support on the tour were fiN, an up and coming indie alt rock band hailing from Surrey comprised of Jonny Garner, Simon Harding, Luke Joyce and Kerry Lambert. With a sound that combines dark instrumental progression songs with contrasting rolling drums and chorus chants, they  filled the anticipating atmosphere well, with an obvious energy from the lead vocalist and good stage presence overall - a comfortable prelude to the main act.

Echoing a similar mixture of dark broody melodies and then more intricate faster numbers, the show was opened with ‘The Artisan’, a graduating atmospheric instrumental piece with soft wailing vocals. This song is one of two that are being released via a self-released 7” single- the sleeve adorned with pictures of famous British inventors- the other song being ‘It Changes Everything’, a juxtaposed tune that fluctuates between stark guitars and staggering drums and simple vocals to a growing mix of bass lines and dark tones, a song good for reverberating in the vast space of the venue. The audience’s  attention stuck as the tones and feel of the performance changed with each song, ‘Everybody Dies Alone’ comprises melancholic guitars and ballad-like vocals into a mix of brash guitars, while the last song of the set ‘Life is Wasted on the Living’ combines long Biffy Clyro-esque vocals with loud instrument-less chanting and full on energy.

As fiN left and the audience prepared for the main act, excitement grew again with many people keeping their positions in the crowd. The lights went off and the Californian band took to the stage, the screen behind them starting to flicker into life. They jumped straight into old heavy classic ‘Privilege’ from 1999’s critically acclaimed ‘Make Yourself’. Immediately old and newer fans alike all joined one force of singing, and from then on the show settled into an invigorating situation of singing dancing fans, guided by the positive force coming from lead singer Brandon Boyd.

They then kept the nostalgic vibe with a welcomed intro into ‘Wish You Were Here’, which incited cheers from all. The set was compiled of a comfortable mix of old and new, with the slower matured ‘Promises, Promises’ and ‘If Not Now, When’. ‘Anna Molly’ and ‘Vitamin’ were amongst some of the older tracks that caused the most ruckus from fans as well as the obvious enjoyment from the band themselves, with Boyd’s flailing dancing and passionate singing as well as the slight mouthing of lyrics coming from the other band members. The set would then combine a perfect mix of songs for a long time fan as they played some of the most well known songs ‘Drive’ and ‘Megalomaniac’ the heavy gritty guitar sound and broken drum beats that demonstrate the twist of musical genre that Incubus created. An acoustic version of ‘Love Hurts’ brought the room to a quieter moment of peace.

As the set came to an end it didn’t stop there as they returned for an encore with the heavy rap style/turntable oriented ‘A Certain Shade of Green’ much to the delight of the now heavily moving crowd. The end of the set turned the vibe down to chilled as all eyes focused on the big screen playing an array of interesting clips- all to the soundtrack of lo-fi track ‘Tomorrow’s Food’.

With each album going into a different area of experimentation- the newest being matured after a five year break, dark alternative, funk, rap-like vocals and the most popular ballads- 20 years on the circuit and they still have the cool and calculated vibe they started with.

Soundcloud for fiN’s next single “Everybody Dies Alone”- B side “Rapture. Out of 20th Jan.

http://soundcloud.com/finuk/everybody-dies-alone-ref2-02/s-xHW3G

http://soundcloud.com/finuk/rapture-ade-mix-ref2-04/s-9MQ0G


November 9, 2011

Caravan Palace- Bambous

This wonderful piece of music comes from the Parisian electro swing band Caravan Palace, one of the most lovely catchy songs that i’ve heard in a while. The bouncy tempo, squeaky trumpets and scat sample create one happy 60’s jive feel that you could listen to over and over again, something i’ve definitely been doing.