Against Empire: Co-conspirators Weigh In

 

 In addition to our interview with Bill Laswell, we asked some of the artists and musicians who have worked with him to share some thoughts on their work and experiences together.

These are their stories: By David Cristol

Bachir Attar

Photo by Cherie Nutting

"Bill Laswell is a wonderful producer and a great musician. We were honoured to have him come to the village of Jajouka to record Apocalypse Across the Sky with the group "The Master Musicians of Jajouka" in 1992. I remember the donkeys climbing the mountain road to the village carrying Bill’s recording equipment to my father's house where we spent three days playing our music under a sky holding a big moon. This was the first record after the 1972 recording The Master Musicians of Jajouka with my father Hadj Abdesalam Attar who led the group before me. My brothers and I were all born in this house and famous people like Ornette Coleman, Paul Bowles, William Burroughs, Brion Gysin and many others stayed. We call it the "History house" but sadly today it is falling down and it needs repair. We hope to save it someday.

We had a 3-day recording session. The old musician Mfdal was too ill to play with us but we carried him in a chair to the house and he watched everything. Later, Boujeloud, his son, danced around a big fire when we played our ghaitas.

Bill took me to America to record a solo album with Maceo Parker and Ayib Dieng. Writer and composer Paul Bowles [living in Tangier at that time] once said that Bill had "perfect pitch". We thank Bill for all he has done for me and The Master Musicians of Jajouka."

• The Master Musicians of Jajouka - Apocalypse across the sky (Axiom, 1992)
• Bachir Attar - The Next Dream (CMP, 1992)
• Various – The Road to Jajouka : a Benefit Album (Howe Records, 2013)
  With John Zorn, Marc Ribot, Medeski Martin & Wood, Mickey Hart, Lee Ranaldo, Ornette Coleman…
• The Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar with Material - Apocalypse live (M.O.D. Technologies, 2017)  

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Against Empire: an Interview with Bill Laswell

 

 

 

The Interview

By Paul Acquaro and David Cristol 

Free Jazz Blog: I'd like to start asking how are you doing? We know that you've been dealing with some health and other issues with the studio, but at the same time, you're keen on writing another chapter.

Bill Laswell: Well, yeah, I think I can get one more.

FJB: What would you like to see in there?

BL: I just want to continue. There's a lot of records that I've done that need to come out. We have to work on that. And I have wanted to do a lot of drum and bass records without so much music. Just rhythm. There are a few key people that I would work with and want to work with. But again, there's quite a few things in the can that should come out soon.

FJB: About some recent and upcoming projects. In 2020 you started getting a dazzling number of unreleased live recordings out there, from different eras and bands that you had organized.

BL: Yeah, that's still going on. It's on Bandcamp. Why do you do music in the first place? It's so people can hear it. And there is a kind of base of people that want to hear it, so, you know, I keep digging it out and we put it on Bandcamp and there's a subscription that gives access to it. You can get all that stuff from digital places.

FJB: Yeah, the subscription model is interesting. How has that been working for you?

BL: I don't monitor it so much, but I think it's going OK. It's not really selling because the thing is, it's more to do with people getting access to things that they would normally not have heard. I'm glad that people hear it and it's a good document and it measures history in a way. I like the idea.

FJB: How many recordings would you say you have unreleased?

BL: Not many. I have the things that are finished and that will be coming out soon. That's unreleased as of now. But I don't keep a lot of things around that are unreleased. I try to use all.

FJB: As you have gone back to the vaults, were there any projects that you heard differently than you remembered?

BL: All of them, you know, it’s a long time ago. There's a lot of music there and a lot of live recordings. I don't go back to my vault because I don't have a vault. And I don't know how to go back, so…

FJB: I’d like to ask about an upcoming album with The Last Poets...

BL: It should come out soon. Pharoah Sanders played on it. I've worked with The Last Poets for many years. A few years ago, I said let's make a record and go back to the original idea which is just rhythm, percussion and voice and then add a few sounds from Pharoah and Graham Haynes. And that's how this happened. The Poets have done a lot of releases, with bands and one was reggae, one was kind of fusion… We did one that was heavily funk-influenced, Holy Terror, back in the 90s. I wanted to go back to the original source, reel it in and bring it back to this kind of African concept, rhythm and voice for the most part.

 

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Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps Vol. 09

 

01. Psychonauts • Hips For Scotland
02. Calexico • Woven Birds (Stratus Remix)
03. Broadway Project • Sufi (The Soulsavers Remix)
04. Blake • Blake's Theme
05. Prefuse 73 • The End Of Biters - International
06. Aceyalone • Takeoff
07. Amateur Night In The Big Top • The Story
08. Big Two Hundred • Let It Bleed (Original)
09. Grafiti • What Is The Problem? (Zongamin Remix)
10. Duplex • Subconscious

 

Label: Jockey Slut – BP-13223
Series: Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps – Vol. 9
Format: 320
Country: UK
Released: Aug 2003
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: Electro, Downtempo

 

 

 

 

.:: The Bug - Guest Mix for Mary Anne Hobbs • 4th Dec 2020 ::.

 

Kevin Martin has been creating bass heavy and experimental music music for over 20 years working under many monikers including King Midas Sound and The Bug. He has collaborated with artists such as Earth, Moor Mother and Death Grips and appeared on labels including Rephlex, Klein and Ninja Tune. As The Bug he has recently released a new album called In Blue on Hyperdub featuring Dis Fig.

"I decided to put a mix together that's basically a homage to all the producers that inspired me to become a producer. So, people like King Tubby, Scientist, Lee Perry, Dennis Bovell, Adrian Sherwood, Rhythm & Sound. All amazing craftsmen whose music has consistently inspired me. And what also inspired me for this mix is clubs like SubDub, that I've missed, where you go into a big dark room with monolithic speakers pumping out body altering bass. And in a way this is my homage to nights like Simon up in Leeds and his SubDub parties. So thank you for the opportunity to give you this mix." - Kevin Martin

 

01. Poet And The Roots • Dread, Beat An' Blood
02. King Tubby • Dub Plague
03. Barrington Levy • Too Poor
04. Scientist • Time Passage
05. King Tubby & The Aggrovators • A Ruffer Version
06. Yabby You • Deliver Me From My Enemies
07. Vivien Goldman • Private Armies (Dub)
08. The Bug • Tune In (Version)
09. Ishan Sound feat. Ras Addis • Clash Of The Titans Dub
10. The Bug • Feedback Cycle 12
11. TNT Roots • Chant Down Babylon Verse 2
12. Primal Scream • Higher Than The Sun
      (American Spring Mix)
13. Primal Scream • Higher Than The Sun
     (A Dub Symphony In Two Parts)
14. Rhythm & Sound feat. Cornell Campbell • King In My Empire
15. The Bug feat. Dis Fig • No Return (Dub)
16. Lee Perry • Bird In Hand
17. Kevin Martin • Concrete Tunnels

Label: BBC Radio
Show: Mary Anne Hobbs 6 Music
Format: 320
Country: UK
Publication: Dec 20th 2020
Genre: Dub
Style: Electronic. Reggae, Bass

Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps Vol. 8

 1. The Cinematic Orchestra • The Awakening Of A Woman
2. Robert Hood • Upon A Millenial Moment
3. J. Xaverre • Burning Dim
4. King Geedorah • Fazers
5. Akrobatik • Cooler Headz
6. The Nextmen • Firewalking
7. Williams • Bubble Jam
8. J.A.M. • Number One
9. Clyde Feat. Capitol A • Serve It Up (Brooks' Hip House Mix Radio Edit)
10. M.A.N.D.Y. • Tonite
11. Tomorrow People • Is Anybody Listening (Scape One Remix)
12. Ferenc • Yes Sir, I Can Hardcore (M. Mayer Mix)
13. Francois De Roubaix • La Mer Est Grande (Carl Craig Remix)

 

 

Label: Jockey Slut – BP-12859
Series: Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps – Vol. 8
Format: 320
Country: UK
Released: Jul 2003
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: House, Electro, Synth-pop, Minimal, Future Jazz

 

 

 

 

Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps Vol. 7

1. The Karminsky Experience Inc. • Departures
2. John Tejada & Arian Leviste • Faux Obsolete
3. Ulrich Schnauss • On My Own
4. Mogwai • Hunted By A Freak
5. Colder • The Slow Descent
6. Boom Bip • From Left To Right
7. Decal • Funkstop
8. DM & Jemini • Ghetto Pop Life
9. The Go! Team • We Listen Everyday
10. Only Child • U Bring Me Vibes (Featuring Amp Fiddler)
11. Troubleman • Change Is What We Need
12. Karime Kendra • I Would 

 

Label: Jockey Slut – BP-12561
Series: Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps – Vol. 7
Format: 320
Country: UK
Released: Jun 2003
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: IDM, Downtempo, Tech House, Electro, Post Rock

 

 

 

Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps Vol. 6

 

1. Malcolm Joseph • I'm Your Eyes
2. Four Tet • She Moves She
3. Mugison • Ear
4. Lucien N. Luciano • Future Senses
5. Sylvie Marks & Hal 9000 • Mad Zen
6. Kiki & Silver Surfer • Etheric
7. Bangkok Impact • Masters Of The Universe Pt. I
8. Midnight Mike • Lost In A Dream (Rough Mix For Jockey Slut)
9. Glove Feat. Julia W. • Wunderbar
10. In Flagranti • Just Gazing
11. Cabaret Voltaire • Nag Nag Nag (Akufen's Karaoke Slam Mix)
12. Mylo • Destroy Rock 'N' Roll

Label: Jockey Slut – BP-12267
Series: Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps – Vol. 6
Format: 320
Country: UK
Released: May 2003
Genre: Electronic
Style: Techno, Electro, Experimental

 

 

 

 

Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps Vol. 5

 

 1. Jay Alansky • Un Maximum De Lumiere
2. Magnet • Dead Happy
3. Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band • Casino
4. Tes • New New York
5. Playgroup • Make It Happen (Exclusive Dub Version)
6. Rework • Anyway I Know You
7. LCD Soundsystem • Give It Up
8. The Rapture • I Need Your Love
9. Justin Robertson Presents Revtone • Everpresent (Original Mix)
10. Putsch '79 • 1300
11. Norken • Static (Remodelled By Simex)

 

Label: Jockey Slut – BP-11830
Series: Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps – Vol. 5
Format: 320
Country:    UK
Released: Apr 2003
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop
Style: House, Electro

 

 

Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps Vol. 4

 

 

 

Jockey Slut also aimed to be more risky in its choices. In 1993, the magazine gave The Chemical Brothers (while they were still called Dust Brothers) their first interview.^{[citation needed]} Two years later, around the time of the release of their debut album, Exit Planet Dust, Jockey Slut gave them their first magazine cover.^{[citation needed]} In 1994, Detroit techno musician and Underground Resistance’s leader “Mad” Mike Banks granted a rare exclusive interview, and was also given his first magazine cover.^{[citation needed]} Daft Punk also had their first interview in the magazine in 1993.^{[citation needed]}

 

^wiki 

<sup>1. Manitoba • Hendrix With Ko
2. Joy Zipper • Alzheimers
3. DJ Format • Ill Culinary Behaviour
4. Fallacy • Old & Grey
5. Dexter • I Don't Care
6. International Pony • Superyou
7. Audio Bullys • The Snow (Dub)
8. Freaks • 80's Throwback
9. Swag • Minidsico 2
10. Mr. C • The Birds & The Bees
11. Röyksopp • Poor Leno (Röyksopp's Istanbul Forever Mix)</sup>

 

Label: Jockey Slut – BP-11507
Series: Disco Pogo For Punks In Pumps – Vol. 4
Format: 320
Country:    UK
Released: Mar 2003
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop
Style: Techno, Electro