This week's Ninja Tune XX giveaway comes courtesy of a true Ninja legend, and one of our most charismatic, multi-faceted artists. Mr. Scruff released his first record on Ninja Tune way back in 1998, going on to create one of the label's all time most successful albums - 'Keep It Unreal' - the following year. He'd been making music and mixing records for years previously however, as demonstrated by side one of this ultra-rare mixtape from 1992. Originally limited to a mere 20 copies, and sold in Manchester's Funky Banana record shop, it hasn't been available anywhere since. Unless you're one of the 20 prescient people who bought it originally, this MP3 is truly a hidden treasure. Side two will remain so, at least for now!
The mix reveals Scruff's early passion for hip-hop, and takes in tracks from A Tribe Called Quest, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Main Source, Digable Planets, Organised Konfusion and many more of rap music's innovators. Add in a touch of jazz in the form of Art Blakey and Charles Mingus, and you have the origins of the sound that Mr. Scruff made all his own.
Fans will already know that alongside his music, Mr. Scruff's idiosyncratic, instantly recognisable visual art has become as much of a trademark as his sound. Included in the download is the original artwork for the mixtape, featuring early versions of the characters now featured on everything from umbrellas to tins of fair-trade tea.
Mr Scruff will be hosting a room at the Ninja Tune XX party at London Ewer Street, and playing various other shows around the world. There will also be two new songs on the Ninja Tune XX compilation (one on 7" vinyl only).
'A Town Called Obsolete' is an obliquely upbeat and heartfelt plea for patience and faith in the face of indifference. Triana’s voice is perfect for this mixture of longing and hope, smokey, beautiful and tonally perfect. Bonobo, meanwhile, hooks up dusty break-drumming, thrumming electric bass and a horn part that peaks at just the right times.
Remix duties are taken care of by the hotly-tipped Mount Kimbie. Labelmates of Joy Orbison on Hotflush Records, the duo string Andreya’s backing vox over melancholy pads like Christmas lights round the screen of a lovelorn mainframe. Computer-soul never sounded so melancholy.
The package is rounded out by a live recording of Andreya performing 'A Town Called Obsolete' at Worldwide Awards 2010 at The Garage, London on 6th February. Her band that night featured Bonobo on bass and Fink on guitar!
01 A Town Called Obsolete (Album Version) 02 A Town Called Obsolete (Radio Edit) 03 A Town Called Obsolete (Mount Kimbie Remix) 04 A Town Called Obsolete (Live)
30.07.10Vote for Roots Manuva to Win Steve Lamacq's Rebel Playlist
Having played our part in saving 6Music (chaining ourselves to random railings, going on cake-strike for an hour etc etc) it's payback time. Only we kind of need you to do the paying back for us.
The new Roots Manuva meets Wrongtom single, "Jah Warriors" (featuring the mellifluous tones of Ricky Ranking) is on Steve Lamacq's Rebel Playlist this week, which means if enough of us vote, "Jah Warriors" will be pumped out to the discerning masses every day for a week and all that good stuff. You see, we can make a difference! It's an exercise in democracy! Ooh, I'm getting tired even thinking about it. Maybe I'll just lie down here and eat a deep-fried Mars Bar...
Solid Steel in association with Serato (30th July) DK takes charge of hour 1 and straight in with two hot new tracks from Big Dada. New signing DELS with the excellent 'Shapeshift' (and a great video to match), followed by the grandaddy of UK hip hop, Roots Manuva with at track from his upcoming EP alongside Wrongtom. A nod to Melvin Bliss (RIP) and his well sampled track 'Synthetic substitution', before we up the pace with Flore and Total Science & S.P.Y. Chali 2na hits the button marked dubstep, plus more wobbles from Cakeboy and Toddla T remixed by Benga. Big Daddy Kane and PE represent the old skool (and a taste of the second hour) and it sounds like Fred Wesley's 'Blow your head' inspired an African version by 'Rob' on the superb Afro-Beat Airways compilation. Mount Kimbie, L VIS 1990, Sepalcure and Bunny on Acid bring the first hour to a lush close.
It's another epic session in hour 2 with Mr Wyse and a selection that could be the soundtrack to 'DK the early years' and all the other ageing B-Boys. Not much past the year 2000 here, but what you get is a snapshot of music from the 80's and 90's that clearly influenced Mr Wyse and is lovingly sliced together. Electro flavours from Davy dmx, Captain Rock and Aleem, reggae from Sister nancy, sound dimension and Wayne Smith and the soulful side is dealt with by Barbara Mason, Inner life and Soul II soul. Warp, Ninja Tune and Rephlex are present, as is Eno, Kenny Larkin and The Orb (and even a couple of guilty pleasure from Shakatak and Shalamar). Sit back and enjoy.
27.07.10Help Fund Kid Koala's Residency at MASS MoCA!
In December 2010, Kid Koala will come to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), www.massmoca.org, for a week-long creative residency to develop a family-oriented live show based on his graphic novel/soundtrack project Space Cadet. During the residency, Kid Koala and his five-member creative team will live in the museum’s artist housing, build a set with the production staff, and perform the show (along with a Q&A session) on Saturday, December 11.
For his show at MASS MoCA, Kid Koala will perform Space Cadet’s soundtrack on six turntables and a piano. At the same time, images from the book will be recreated live on custom-made screens to create an all-encompassing experience. MASS MoCA’s black box theater will be transformed into an intimate, living-room-like environment, allowing the audience to have a personal experience of the work while sharing the space with others. The audience will watch the projections on stage while listening to Kid Koala’s performance of the soundtrack using headphones. All donations will help fund residency and production costs, including artist housing and accommodations, equipment, and technical services.
The MASS MoCA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and all gifts we receive are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
26.07.10Toddla T 'Sky Surfing' feat. Wayne Marshall
Video for Toddla T 'Sky Surfing' feat. Wayne Marshall. Probably the craziest video in the land right now!
'Sky Surfing' remixes EP out 31 August 2010 on 12" vinyl & download - includes remixes from Benga and Douster.
Video directed by Ollie Evans and produced by The Knocking Shop theknockingshop.tv
