I'm proud to announce the launch of a new new netlabel: Terra Incognita Recordings. Myself and 66N have been planning this for a long time and it has finally come together. We'll be putting out all kinds of music on it: we’re not going to predefine the sound of the label, but plan to just let it evolve over time – it’s all about music that has a value in itself, not for what it might be compared to. Give our website a visit and sign up one way or another to keep in touch www.terraincognita.co.uk
The plan is that each release will be accompanied by a mix by the artist, and kicking us off for the first release we have the following:
SixtySixNorth – True North Mix
Setting the mood for his release, 66N has put together this mix of tracks that have influenced its creation. If you’re feeling these you’ll be sure to love his material too.
The first release on Terra Incognita Recordings comes from netlabel co-founder SixtySixNorth, a compilation of tracks pulled from the vault at Deep North studios. Acoustic electronica at its subtle core, the sound and instrumentation draws from a wider palette. Both filmic and lush in equal measures, the EP develops the space folk sound with grooves always to the fore.
Going to resist writing too much about London pirate radio, save to say that I love it to the bone to this day. London's history with pirate radio is deep and today London runs it redder than ever - is fair to say that London has the most vibrant pirate radio scene in the world. This is a collection of favourite pirate radio tapes from the hardcore/jungle/dnb pirates between 1991 and 1995. To read more about the pirate scene check out londonpirates.co.uk and give the excellent video above a watch too. All tapes ripped to 320kbps and eq'd where necessary - click on Side A/B to download
________________________________________________________ Faze 3 + Dark Zone + Kool FM 94.5 + 1994
Faze 3 gets into the dark, deep and orchestral selection that was around about this time. Sadly lost an amazing soulful Faze 3 alongside Navigator tape...got chewed up.
________________________________________________________ DJ Ron + Roast Style + Kool FM 94.5 + 1994
Summer '94: jungle had just blown up in the media, Fabio & Grooverider had just played their first legal shows on Kiss FM, and Ron was in the spotlight - you can feel the excitement of it all on this one, with Ron playing his unique style along side mcs Moose and a hyper Five-0 going mad on an echo unit
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There'll be some KISS FM rips down the line, featuring shows from Fabio & Grooverider, Bukem, Mannaseh, 4 Hero and more.
This one has been carbon dated to 1996, and was my first innocent stab at laying down some jamaican tunes. Thing was in those days i can't have had much more than a dozen dubwise tracks to my name - barely enough to fill a tape - what I had came mainly from dusty boxes in second hand furniture stores round my part of town. Despite that, I got lucky and picked up what I now know were some great tracks.
No tracklisting for this, but expect to hear some scientist, heptones, revolutionaries, lee perry wailers cuts, a couple of dancehall tracks, as well as some uk dub from disciples and shaka - all rounded of with a dose of junglism, including a bit of guy called gerald. Nice for me to have this for prosperity, but hope its entertaining enough a listen for you too.
This is a mix tape I put together in 1999. In those days i was glued to the decks, and directly inspired by Mix Master Max (see previous post), I got into the art of finding two tunes from different genres and mixing them through to make a remix of the two tracks - a bit like mash-ups today i guess. Over time I had a whole bunch of these, all well rehearsed, with pitch speeds memorised, and this mix is a collection of all these live remix specials. I was dead proud of this tape at the time, and made a load of copies which I gave out. Some what upsettingly for me side B of this is blank, and I know there was another 45mins of these. If I can track down a full copy I'll update this.
Peshay - Pacific
Public Enemy - Don't Believe the Hype
Shy FX - Pandoras Box
Dillinja - Tronik Funk
Peshay - Theme
Tenorfly - Roughneck Fashion
Portishead - It Could Be Sweet
Dj Buz - Slave
Poets of Thought - The Rhyme Goes On
Noise Factory - Breakage #4
Iration Steppas - Rejection
Urban Shakedown - Some Justice
Hydroponics - Here Comes The Judge
Splash - Babylon
Moodyman - Black Mahogany
Dee Patten - Who's The Bad Man
I'm in the process of digitalising what tapes have survived to see this day. Like a lot of people I recorded lots of stuff off pirate radio (theres stories of people driving to the edge of London just to listen to the weekend pirates!), and if you wanted to make a mix tape for your mates, it meant buying a stack of blanks and doing a load of copies. I'm going to post up a small selection of tapes here, starting with this one which is very important to me. Defection 89.4 was a hardcore jungle station that ran in the first half the nineties. For me it was the best of all the pirates up at that time - a professional attitude, brilliant DJs, and even great MCs too.
Mix Master Max's shows were truly special, and this tape is a fine example, which I've listened to so many times I'm amazed it still plays. Max was full of tricks: scratches, juggling doubles, and playing dancehall tracks and mixing hardcore tunes over the top - this in particular was a huge influence on me. Most importantly the selection was impeccable and unique. I heard him live once back in the day at Roller Express (Future Myth), and he did all the tricks live too. He pops up now and again at a few oldskool nights. A legend in my book.
Nothing but love to all Defection crew: Chunks, Miley, Chattabox, Mix Master Max, DJ Wicked, Sonic, Nitro, Sketch,Wise, Ram, Flight, Nicklebee, King Size, Force of One crew, not forgetting Kemistry, Storm and the rest, and extra big shout to Lt Stitch. Oh, and big up Akt, who'd blam anything that moved, including the label of this tape!
An essential guest mix from Cid Poitier here, showcasing the very finest in deep, mellow and melodic dubstep. As the scene continues its rise into the mainstream its been the upfront stuff that has come to dominate - kick drum rolls into breakdowns and distorted leads are all well and good from time to time, but what first impressed me with the music was its subtlety and depth. Cid's selection is true to that original blueprint, and fresh to boot - I can't get enough of it.
True skool survivor, lyrical innovator, eternal outsider, surreal originator, boundary pusher, industry ignorer, brain stormer, mind feeder, taste challenger, nonsense channeller, plastic melter, ego popper. Keith all the way: new-to-the-old, rolling out on some ultramagnetic magic. Turn the lights down off and step inside...
The fourth instalment of back-to-back Lee Perry gems, and there really are nothing but treasures to be heard here. Its amazing to think that so many of these tracks are only recently available, thanks to the work of a few committed music lovers, whose efforts have seen so much of Lee's work being rescued from dusty tapes and put out on a host of compilations. Were it no for them this music may have been lost for good. Bearing that in mind, this one is dedicated to all those diggers, distributors and preservers, making life so much the better for the rest of us.
If you havent heard them yet, parts 1,2 and 3 of my Rainford Rules! selections can be found by clicking here . Also if you want to read about all things Upsetting its all about Eternal Thunder.
Rainford Rules! Strictly Lee Perry Selection Pt.4
The Meditations - Houses Of Parliament
The Congos - Don't Blame On I
Leroy Sibbles - Rasta Far-I
The Stingers - Give Me Power
Roy Lee & King Iwah The 1st - Give Me Power No 2
The Upsetters - Tipper Special
Upsetters - Black Ipa
Upsetters - Ipa Skank
Upsetters - Key Hole
Upsetters - Freak Out Skank
The Gatherers - Start Over
Robert Palmer - River Stone
Lloyd & Devon -Wolf Out Deh
The Upsetter - Shepherd Rod
Juks Dread & Big Youth - 23rd Psalm
Zap Pow - River
Augustus Pablo - Vibrate On
The Upsetters - Vibrator
The Bluebells - Come Along
High time for a heavywieght dub mix. The selection comes in rough and tough from the off, with just a couple of one drops to ease out with, including a little taster of some forthcoming new material from me. Big big dedication on this one to Camille and all the Nizetch Hi-Fi crew over in France - yes yes - not forgetting Dr. StrangeDub over in Minnesota - thank you for the support - and much love to all dubbists tuned in around the planet and beyond!
Dub Me Higher
Kunta Kinte - The Revolutionaries
Lightning Rock - Messenjah
Patience - African Simba
Lift Me Higher - Bush Chemists
Rain and Thunder - Bush Chemists
Works to be Done - The Disciples
Spirit Dance - Manasseh
Death Row - Bush Chemists
Part 5 - Bush Chemists
No More War - Jonah Dan
Babylon is a Trap - Dub Judah
Dancing On A Rainbow - Alpha & Omega Meets The Disciples
Seven Colours Of Dub - Alpha & Omega Meets The Disciples
Elephant - Zion Train
Ephemeral Dub - Mikuś
One Drop - Twilight Circus
When I kicked off this site I had a couple of vague rules: firstly to try and keep the chat to a minimum and let the music do the talking, and secondly only to post my own mixes and productions. However, I'd like to break this second rule and share with you a guest mix from Steph J who has put together a top class selection of 95-98 UK garage, which is sounding particularly sweet in the summer sun. Trust me the selection here is as good as it gets - tune after tune after tune!
Personally, in those years i had my head deep in the drum n bass and dub, though as a pirate radio lover in london you couldn't help catching some bumpy garage vibes. London Underground, Freek and Ice FM were all pushing it hard, and it goes down as another great era in London music. Steph J is a pirate radio-junkie too, and she's got some more pirate style mixes lined up, so watch this space for those. In the meantime check out the sound of some proper undergound UK garage before it all went mainstream and was reduced to tedious remixes of big R'n'B tunes. Special dedi to all the east london crew!
Sunday Scene - Steph J
Grant Nelson - In My Soul (Nice'n'Ripe)
Ordinary People - Keep Your Love (Social Circles)
Tuff & Jam - Feel My Love (Unda-Vybe)
R.I.P. Productions - Deep Inspiration (Ice Cream Records)
Underground Solution - Release The Pressure (Sound of Underground London)
London Connection - I Wanna Get High (Industry Standard)
MJ Cole & Daryl B - Too Late (E1 Recordings)
Groove Chronicles - Epic (Dat Pressure Records)
Smokin Beats - Dreams (Smokin Beats)
Nu-Birth - Anytime (Locked On)
Dem 2 - Sleepless (New York Soundclash Records)
Big Bird - Flava (City Dub Traxx)
Scott Garcia - Wicked Mind (dubplate)
Baffled - Going On (Urban Beat)
Colours - Hold On SE22 Mix (Inspiration Records)
Some heatwave music, taking you to the balearic mediterranean, passing through south america and on to the carribean and harlem.
Hottest Day of the Year
1. Loco Dice - Minia Brasiliera
2. Maxence Syric -Sueno Latino
3. Sueno Latino - Sueno Latino
4. Tullio de Piscopo - Stop Bajon (Primavera)
5. Azymuth - Free as a Bird
6. Bitty McLean & The Supersonics - Cruisin'
7. Deodato - Superstrut
8. The Main Ingerdient - Happiness is Just Around the Bend
9. Burning Spear - We Are Free
One more on an african flex, this time checking out the funk and jazz side of things. If you want to check out some more amazing and most often ultra-rare afro-funk, this blog is your mecca: http://voodoofunk.blogspot.com.
Weya!
Fela Kuti - Equalisation of Trouser and Pant
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra - Si, Se Puede
Tony Allen - The Same Blood
Lekan Babalola - Kabioye
Manu Dibango - Weya
Babatunde Olantunji - Takuta
Mulatu Astataque - Yegelle Tezeta
Bantous Jazz Watchi Wara
Wali and the Afro Caravan - Hail the King
More wonders from the many worlds of african music. As last time, check the liner notes text file for what little info i can share with you regarding these tracks. By the way, one artist i really wanted to feature was Franco, but I cant find the CD for the life of me. If you want to buy one african recording let me recommend 'Franco: the Very Best of the Rumba Giant of Zaire' - an overview of his career, all of which was fantastic.
Shubahada! Pt.2
Maleem Mahmoud Ghania with Pharoah Sanders - La Allah Dayim Moulenah
Tony Allen - Gbedu
Miguel Castro - Toque A Egun
Brice Wassy - Mystic
Kwodwo Tawiah - Otwee Emporo
T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo - I.O.A
Youssou N'Dour et le Super Etoile de Dakar - Mouride
Ebaahi - Okrabitst
Ensemble Instrumental National du Mali - Unknown Title
King Sunny Ade - Mo Ti Mo
Manu Dibango - Camp Yabassi Echoes
This is the first of a two-part mix taking in some sweet african music. I haven't travelled that much, and have never been south of the mediterranean, so partly i love this music for its escapism, but its not just that, these pieces of music tick all the key boxes for me: centrality of drums, rhythm and trance, a valuing of the quality of sounds, a good dose of transcendentalism, and a direct way of self-expressing that never seems contrived. Also, the music is never rushed, and if it takes ten minutes to work it out, so be it - modern living is way too fast so it always feels like a home-coming to get into a world where time is there to be taken up with playing.
In case you would like to know more about the tracks there's a little text file of liner notes you can grab along with this mix. Im no expert, and finding out is half the fun, so what little I know about the music here I'll write down. There's more goodness coming up in part two, and there'll be a dedicated afro-jazz-funk mix at some point too.
Shubahada! Pt.1
Hukwe Zawose - Sisitizo la Amani Duniani
Foday Musa Suso with Herbie Hancock - Kumbasara
Momo Wandel Soumah - Tamo
Waaberi - Shubahada
Ali Farka Touré - Allah Uya
Tinariwen- Amassakoul 'n' Tenere
Cheikh Lo - M'Beddemi
Toumani Diabate & the Symetrical Orchestra - Boulevard de L'Independance
Gokh- Bi System - Xaesal
Les Frères Coulibaly - Unknown title
Bajourou - I Ka Di Nye
The third instalment of deep dub goodness from me. You know the drill - serious bass, echoing percussion and stepping rhythms. This release has a spiritual/shamanic thing going on, with an extra dose of Indian flavour on top - hope you like!
Mikuś Musik: broadcasting from South London and coming with a personal selection of the music i love most - featuring the best from the worlds of dub, reggae, dnb, old skool hardcore, jazz, funk & soul, hindi soundtracks, african jamz, and a lot more besides, including my own dubwise productions, available for free on a 320kbps bass-quaking download, under the Creative Commons license and courtesy of netlabel Planet Terror.
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