Apologies for the complete lack of postage recently – I’ve just had surgery on my shoulder so typing has been a bit difficult until now. Lame but all true. Things are destined to pick up, so keep checking back for what’s in store. To fill up a few minutes of your excited wait, here’s an interesting BBC piece from Dave Haslam on Manchester’s shifting cityscape:
I fired up the turntables this week and finally got round to doing another mix for your ears and feet. Play it/download it after the jump, and feel free to burn, share and post the link up places:
1. MIA – Paper Planes (DFA remix) (XL)
2. Reverso – Piece Together (Todd Terje Spinning Star mix) (Eskimo Recordings)
3. GW Edits – Gotta Keep Workin’ It (Reactivate)
4. Amplified Orchestra – Fun Thing (Amplified)
5. Misericord – Mugwump (Misericord)
6. Phlash & Friends – Runnin (Club Mix) (Archive)
7. Tangoterje – I Want Your Love (Hello Kenny Edit) (Supreme records)
8. GW Edits – I Was A Teenage DJ Part 1 (Reactivate)
9. Runaway – Brooklyn Club Jam (DFA)
10. Mujava – Township Funk (Ashley Beedle’s Africanz on Marz Re-Edit) (This Is Music)
11. Eamon Harkin – Innit (Wurst Edits)
12. The Juan Maclean – Happy House (DFA)
13. Syclops – Where’s Jason’s K (DFA)
14. BE – Needs Love (Stilove4music)
15. Arturo Capone – Waves (Max Essa remix) (Bear Funk)
16. Icasol – Ongou (Idjut Boys Brown Thumb Mix) (Claremont 56)
You’ve got to watch this short video, really creative and inspiring! Here’s some blurb nicked from vimeo:
“Short and Sweet has teamed up with Getty Images to launch a film challenge with a twist. Getty Images approached producer Basil Stephens and Short and Sweet founder Julia Stephenson with the idea of setting up a film competition which would make use of images in Getty’s Hulton Archive. Stephenson drew from her in-depth knowledge of the short film arena to suggest a selection of talented filmmakers.
After picking out ten up-and-coming directors, she gave them the opportunity to pitch. Four of the filmmakers made it on to the shortlist and got the chance to realise their ideas. They were given three months to create their films. The challenges aim was to highlight the breadth and depth of content available at the Hulton Archive, which offers a unique resource to filmmakers and creatives alike. But rather than set a rigid brief, the challenge offered key words and phrases as prompters to guide the filmmakers creativity. Examples of these prompters included discover our past, images that shape our future, still & moving imagery, ordinary people, ordinary things and extraordinary people, extraordinary things.”
Singles:
Benga & Coki : Night : Tempa
The Juan McClean: Happy House : DFA
M.I.A. : Paper Planes : XL
Martyn : All I Have Is Memories : Apple Pips
Mugwump : Boutade : Misericord
The Revenge : Cadillac : Jiscomusic
Tangoterje : I Want Your Love : Supreme
Linkwood : R.I.P : Prime Numbers
AC Slater : Jack Got Jacked (Jack Beats Remix) : Palms Out Sounds
Fake Blood : Mars : Cheap Thrills
Albums:
Quiet Village : Silent Movie : K7
Trus’me : Working Nights : Fat City
Hercules And Love Affair : Hercules And Love Affair : DFA/EMI
Mr Scruff : Ninja Tuna : Ninja Tuna
Flying Lotus : Los Angeles : Warp
Q-Tip : The Renaissance : Universal Mowtown
Jazzanova : Of All The Things : Verve Records
James Pants : Welcome : Stones Throw
Santogold : Santogold : Atlantic
Mr Thing : Strange Breaks And Mr Thing : BBE
Mixes:
Unabombers : Electric Chair Saved My Life
Matt Moroder : New Dawn Mix
Greg Wilson’s 20:20Vision : 20:20Vision
James Murphy & Pat Mahoney : Fabriclive 36
Mark E : Blowout Mix
Diplo vs. Santogold : Top Ranking
So Obama just won the race! There was a real atmosphere of excitement during the run-up to the result. Vision championed over biography. Obviously tonight is historic – the first black President, but he could still be a new face in the office breaking old promises. Let’s hope that once in place he follows through on the hype and heads a real movement for change. Enjoy the new world! I’m off to enjoy my bed.
Now back in Manchester, I’m noticing how the change in location from South to North has coincided with returning to music I’ve not picked up for a while, and at the same time led me to look in new corners I would have passed by before. It seems like a bit more freedom exists up here to mix and match different styles together just for the sheer love of it, not just for the dancefloor but also with people’s individual tastes. Music trends are obviously still as prevalent as elsewhere but genre labels seem to me to matter less.
Also, the financial doom times we’re in at the moment can only be good for music. I’ve always held to the idea that great music is born out of hard times – Blues music during the emancipation from slavery, the desertion of inner city Detroit aiding the birth of Techno (Derrick May genius here) and rise of Manchester’s clubland, acid house growing as a reaction to late 80s Thatcherism. Music for escape more than identity.
My latest sonic travels have been with Jazzanova’s new album. Being a long-time fan of their output, especially “That Night” (with Wahoo’s amazing remix) and their remix of Mr Scruff’s “Boom Clicky Boom Klack”, I was looking forward to discovering the direction they had taken in 2008, what seems to be a year where attention is perhaps more than ever, on the producer. From sunny vibe of “Gafiera” to the Ronson-esque (but better) drum breaks of “I can see” featuring Ben Westbeech, they’re obviously pushing the jazz in Jazzanova, with production opening up a live sound rather than letting samples do the talking. There’s no overdoing it with the noodling however – this is solid soulful stuff, with vocals not just tacked on as an after thought, but entwined with the production. “Let me show ya” is one of the standouts of an album with no filler. Well worth checking.
Ok, I realise this is happening today but on the off chance that someone is actually reading this, and more outrageously, reading this today, I (Purpose B in case you missed the connection) will be joining the Roots Before Branches crew for a soul/funk/disco/rare groove/deep house fueled social session at The Salutation, Higher Chatham Street Manchester. Providing the soundtrack will be:
Kelvin Brown (Electric Chair/Eyes Down)
Andrea Ahimie (Trout)
Dave Walker (Electriks/Nish Nash Nosh)
Danny Webb (El Diablos)
Francis Wooff (That Amazing Thing!)
Neil Smallridge (On A Plate/Sankeys)
Mike O’ Mara (Development)
Agent J (Groovement Unity Radio)
Adam H (Stay Free)
Jon Freer
Purpose B
Residents: Diesler (Freestyle/Tru Thoughts), Chris Roots & Tom S
In the likely event that you’re reading this after the fact, I’ll mention the upcoming Roots Before Branches 4th Birthday, which is happening at The Roadhouse, 22 November, featuring tough new funk act Six Toys. Follow the jump to hear their massive cover of Prodigy’s Voodoo People, available on 7″ from all decent record emporiums. Also, residents Diesler, Tom S and Chris Roots will be on support duties. Don’t miss this one.
Roots Before Branches grew out of the red draped basement at Mancheter’s infamous Dry Bar in May 2004. It’s always been about the music being quality controlled, refined but fun, underground but appealing, playing the old school with the new school. Resident DJs Chris Coughlan and Tom S unearth dusty 7s and 12s with new tunes to maintain the night’s ethos of a respect for both retro ‘roots’ sounds and fresh new ‘branches’ music. Monthly parties focus on both obscure and recognisable sounds, for the trainspotters and dancers alike. RBB uprooted from the basement and settled into The Attic in 2006 with Diesler (Freestyle/Tru Thoughts) joining the resident roster. Carefully selected guests who are equally passionate about ‘good’ music join the party each month.
Previous guests include Irfan (Rainy City), Mark De Clive-Lowe, Greg Wilson, Simon Haggis (Strut), DJ Lubi, Dom Servini (Wah Wah 45s), Simbad (Marathon Men), Dr Rubberfunk, The Idjut Boys, Mad Mats (Raw Fusion), Treva Whateva (Ninja Tune) and Sam Hardaker (Zero 7). RBB continues to push the uncomprimising cuts with the accessible to deliver unique, forward thinking parties of funk, soul, boogie, disco, jazz, latin, brazilian, hip hop and deep house sounds.
Some great documentary-style photography to be found at Peter Sutherland’s site.
This is amazing. They must have got permission to rig this all up, as it must have taken ages to set. Really clever. I love street art installations that interact with their settings to make a statement about this environment and even the people using it. Found through Wooster Collective, the best street art showcase around for those who don’t already know. Watch this:
Purpose Built has been, well, built. The aim: to talk about music, art and design, fashion, tv and film – basically what’s good and going on in culture from my point of view.
Some things are too good to keep to yourself. Have a click around.