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CULTCHA Clash Outer National: Global-Community-Radio Broadcasting, Online Marketplace, Digital Zine & Subversive Propagandist Organization.
Combatting the mundanity and commodification of human existence with Art, Music, Comedy, Social-Criticism and the Promotion of Alternatives to Corporate Culture.
This year has really flown by, I haven't been as prolific a writer as I would like to be but it's been an unusual year, so I won't make excuses, but there's no time like the present to catch up. This will be an update for the year so far, including a few releases that I didn't get a chance to review, some new releases and a few upcoming ones, as well as some other CULTCHA Clash Outer National related activities.
Coming from east of the Atlantic, my top selection this year comes from Denise Sherwood, daughter of legendary U.K. producer and dubber-extraordinaire, Adrian Sherwood. Her debut LP, This Road, on Evergreen Recordings and mixed at On-U Sound studio, is here after 17 years in-the-making.
It's well worth the wait. "Music Shall Live" sets the album off on a strong note, the marching snares transform into a drum 'n' bass rhythm accentuated by the cello of Ivan "CelloMan" Hussey and chanting from the mighty upsetter, Lee "Scratch" Perry, asserting that "the music shall echo for all time."
"Let Me In" is the second track, a sultry, soulful, melancholy tune that takes quite a different direction from the first. These songs have some pop appeal but there is nothing typical about them.
The third tune, co-written by Mark Stewart, "Amnesia Moon" is also soulful and thought provoking. As a long time On-U Sound fan and advocate, I feel like this release will push the label to new levels of "mainstream" attention, not that that's what I think the intention is... it's still "comforting to the disturbed," but perhaps more accessible than the more experimental sounds that the label is known for.
"Ghost Heart" is another standout co-written by Mark Stewart. The six-count time signature (drums by Keith LeBlanc) and eerie combination of keyboard (played by Denise) and violin (by Kerieva McCormick) give a haunted vibe. Her range of vocals are really displayed on this one. It was released previously on the On-U Sound compilation, Pay It All Back Volume 7, which was released last year.
Side B starts with "Fairy Tales" on which she reflects on childhood stories as an adult, "still waiting for my happy ending." The child's voice in the intro is reminiscent of Denise's 1991 appearance on the nursery rhyme inspired "Magic Penny" from Gary Clail & On-U Sound Systems' Emotional Hooligan LP.
"Uncertain Times" is a reggae jam, co-written by long-time On-U Sound collaborator, George Oban (who also plays bass on this tune). The drums are by the late Style Scott, and is representative of his Dub Syndicate style.
"Sunny Days" is an uptempo dancehall groove with an uplifting message.
"Won't Bow Down" and "Toughen Up" find her chanting positivity over steppers riddims provided by Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie.
The final tune, "Sweet Love," is another with pop-appeal, a dub-step intro with modulated bass builds to an exotic, driving rhythm that begs for an extended mix (On-U Sound 10" Disco Plate, perhaps?).
Overall, this album is enjoyable all of the way through. Nothing groundbreaking, but still unique and a spotlight on Denise's talent as well as a fine example of the quality of music that Adrian Sherwood has been doing for 40 years. I'm hopeful that this one will bring Denise Sherwood and On-U Sound international acclaim.
DAB - David Asher Band "Keep A Little Faith"
DAB - David Asher Band have released the first tune from the upcoming LP (coming New Years Day, 2021), "Keep A Little Faith" is available on ReverbNation, check it out below. This album will be the debut from David's new band, he's been making music since the early 1990s with Detroit reggae / rock band, The Process.
This is the Record Store Day release of two tunes from the latest Buju Banton album, his first release since serving 7 of a 10 year prison sentence in America, Upside Down 2020. I haven't had a chance to listen to the LP but if this single is any indication, Gargamel hasn't lost his edge.
"Trust" is a nice tune on a Dave Kelly riddim, but the B-side wins on this one... "Steppa" finds Buju's conscious, rude-bwoy style at it's tip-top, over a rough and rugged reconstruction of the Shank I Sheck riddim with production assistance from Jermaine "J'August" Reid.
This is an updated mix of the 1990 Wailing Souls tune, featuring Italian dancehall artist, Alborosie. The 7" single is available from VP Recordsand the version on the b-side is fyah!
De La Soul ft. Styles P, Talib Kweli, Pharoah Monch, Mysonne and Chuck D - Remove 45
Not usually the politically overt, De La Soul returns with an anti tRump anthem on which they enlisted a host of ill MCs sending a unified message over a dope beat... 45 has got to go!
Run The Jewels4, the latest Run The Jewels LP on BMG, is strong all of the way through. I've been a fan of El-P since the Company Flow days, however, this has been the first R.T.J. album that I've bought even though I have enjoyed most everything that I've heard from the rhyming duo.
This album is no exception, their style and delivery is complimentary with instrumentation as abstract as vintage Co. Flow and as futuristic as any hip-hop that I've heard.
Australian born, N.Y. based composer, musician, artist J.G.Thirlwell (Scraping Foetus Of The Wheel, Steroid Maximus, Xordox as well as soundtrack work to animated series The Venture Brothers and Archer), has teamed up with with Swedish non-musically trained musician, Simon Steensland, for a prog-rock influenced, cinematic thriller called Oscillospira. The album was released in April as a limited pressing of 1,000 double vinyl, on Ipecac Recordings.
In my eyes, Thirlwell is a musical genius who has covered a lot of ground from his early, electronic, post-punk multi-track concoctions to his more elaborate work that would emerge under a myriad of aliases, collaborative projects and soundtrack work. It may be difficult for me to review this album critically and objectively, but I'll tell you what I think about it.
From the first tune, "Catholic Deceit," there is an obvious King Crimson / prog-rock influence on this release. Set off by oboe, courtesy of Scott Bartucca, the heavy guitar builds, along with precision percussion by Morgan Agren (who plays on the entire album) segueing to a final section, with strings and a subtle serenade from Ellekari Sanderas military snare and stabbing horns push on towards the next tune. This on was written by Thirlwell, as were three more on the album.
The next track is "Heron," written by Steensland. The chunky beat sounds hip-hop-ish and is complimented by the enchanting vocals of Eva Rexed and Sami Stevens.
The compositions are complex without rigidity, they feel loose and natural - some parts reminiscent of watching a marching band, others of drifting into a nightmare. It's, no doubt, one of the strongest releases of the year.
Side A, "Paradise Underground" heeds the listener... "what you consume, consumes you." The electro-funk beat drives this track and provides a platform for the manic rantings of Mr. Stewart.
The b-side, "F.S.D. (Full Spectrum Dominance)" is a lower tempo, dub abstraction which serves as a platform to Mark's enlightened and righteous paranoia.
The label, Rizosfera, is a publishing house, as well. The limited edition (50) vinyl is housed in a 16 page, full color, booklet which further elaborates upon the philosophy of Obsolete Capitalism.
The Bug ft. Rider Shafique - Burn
One of the producers from the past few decades or so who's been responsible for the abstract, dirty, grimy, dub "alternatives" that I most like to spin, Kevin Richard Martin aka The Bug, has collaborated with grime MC, Rider Shafique, on the tune "Burn." Proceeds from the sales of this one go to I-Dentity, a charity set up by Rider Shafique to provide free books, written by Black authors, to Black children in the south west of England. Listen to it below and buy at Bandcamp.
King Midas Sound - It's Time (Intercranial Recordings)
Well worth checking out is It's Time, the latest offering from King Midas Sound, comprised of Kevin Richard Martin and dub poet, Roger Robinson. This one is a digital release, and their first since last years, amazing, Solitude.
The Bug - Pressure Versions (Pressure)
The Bug - Pressure Versions (Pressure)
Also from The Bug comes Pressure Versions on the label, Pressure. This digital release is chock full of The Bug's brand of futurist dancehall riddims, most of which are from his previous releases, Pressure (2003 Rephlex), Aktion Pak and Gun Disease. This has been another productive year for The Bug, who also release the 5 part, ambient, droning, Frequencies For Leaving Earthon his new label, Intercranial.
It's the first C.V. album in over 20 years! It's Richard H. Kirk as the sole member for this incarnation of the iconic and influential electronic / experimental music group from Sheffield, England. Pre-Order Here
Slipmat.io - Streaming Platform for DJs and Fans!
With the pandemic taking it's toll on our lives in various ways, the night club industry has been impacted in a major way. DJs have lost work and club-goers no longer have that outlet, which while maybe not deemed essential, is, nonetheless, crucial.
DJ live-streams have become commonplace on my Facebook feed. I've partaken in streaming my sets for several years, now, mostly a consequence of residing in a suburb and working nights (traveling downtown after an 8 hour shift can feel like going out of state, let alone having the energy to spin a set once I get there). Streaming on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, etc... can be better than spinning for myself, but is problematic due to content ownership and copyright infringements, the sets will inevitably be interrupted, or removed, due to these violations.
Enter Slipmat.io - Community For DJs & Music Lovers.
A friend of mine forwarded a link to me a month or so ago, it was for a live-streaming platform designed for DJs and their fans, on which they can promote themselves, discover other, like-minded DJs, spin "live' via streaming, and chat with the listeners in real time. Of course I was interested.
There is some rigamarole, initially, to get to the point that a DJ can set up an account to spin (first, you are required to set up a fan account, attend some events, interact in some related chats on the Discord app, get a DJ Mentor who will eventually send you the invite to start a DJ page), but once set up (some marginal technical ability to navigate OBS and a computer with an up-to-date operating system with adequate internet connection required), it's a pretty unique site.
There are an ever growing number of DJs spinning on Slipmat, from the home page you can browse upcoming, as well as recent, events. The DJ profile page has a list of all of the events that the particular DJ has played, and a bulletin can be attached to each event in order to share playlist, uploads, pictures or other information.
I'll be streaming a special mix of spooky treats and horror-stories on wax for Halloween weekend, This Friday, October 30, around 5 pm (MST). Tune in at Slipmat.io/JCutSelecta.
That concludes this update, check back soon for more activity.
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