Wednesday, January 1, 2020

CULTCHA Clash Outer National's Top 10(ish) LP's of 2019


Vinyl Encounters Of The... Rewind and Selecta J-Cut present...

CULTCHA Clash Outer National's 

Top 10(ish) LP's of 2019


Haven't gotten around to very many album reviews over the last few months so I thought I'd put together a "best of 2019" list to include some of those that weren't covered.

(In no particular order.)


Lee "Scratch" Perry - Heavy Rain (On-U Sound)
Lee "Scratch" Perry - Rainford (On-U Sound)














I'm putting these two together because they are a pair, Heavy Rain being the dub version of Rainford, which was released earlier this year. Both albums have been widely acclaimed and Heavy Rain earned Perry his first #1 Billboard spot! 






Swans - Leaving Meaning (Young God Records / Mute)


Michael Gira returns with another incarnation of Swans, this time bringing in a host of collaborators and the intensity that the band is known for.






Saul Williams - Encrypted & Vulnerable (Pirates Blend)


This is the second LP of the "graphic novel and sci-fi cinema" trilogy that started with 2016's Fader Label release, Marty Loser King,  by poet and musician, Saul Williams.

The conceptualized project tells the story of hacker, Neptune Frost.








Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen (Ghosteen, Ltd.)

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Ghosteen (Ghosteen, Ltd.)

The latest effort finds the wordsmith crooning over organic and electronic soundscapes.



Pay It All Back Volume 7 (On-U Sound)

Various Artists - Pay It All Back Volume 7 (On-U Sound)

Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm an avid On-U Sound enthusiast, check out this compilation for a sample of upcoming releases from the label, and producer Adrian Sherwood. This one features tunes from Horace Andy, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Congo Natty and much more.
"Disturbing the comfortable, comforting the disturbed."








Meat Beat Manifesto - Opaque Couche (Flexidisc)

Meat Beat Manifesto - Opaque Couché (Flexidisc)

Producer and musician Jack Dangers has been at it for well over 30 years now and his latest LP is an excellent example of his unique talents.




Solypsis - Hybrids (Component Records)


This is a compilation of James Miller aka Solypsis tracks remixed by the likes of Meat Beat Manifesto, Justin K. Broadrick and cEvin Key. They're released for the first time on vinyl with this release. 





Black Moon - Rise Of Da Moon (Duck Down)

Black Moon - Rise Of Da Moon (Duck Down)

When it comes to real, gritty, hardcore, underground Hip-Hop, few are more respected than Brooklyn's Boot Camp Clik, led by Black Moon aka 5 Ft. Accelerator, Buckshot Shorty and DJ Evil D (providing actual cuts, something few and far between in modern rap music). The crew is back with a new album that will not disappoint.






Dub Trio - The Shape Of Dub To Come (New Damage Records)


The latest album from this NYC band further pushes boundaries with their unique blend of avant-garde dub and alternative metal.





Zonal - Wrecked (Relapse Records) 

Zonal - Wrecked (Relapse Records)

This collaboration between Justin Broadrick (Godflesh / JK Flesh) and Kevin Martin (The Bug / King Midas Sound) comes as a double-vinyl set with vocals by Moor Mother on 6 of the 12 tunes. Also worthy of mention is Sirens from Kevin Richard Martin, who has been quite prolific lately with more releases on the Pressure label and a new King Midas Sound LP, Solitude. 






2019 Reissues Bonus Feature

Here are some noteworthy reissues that were released during 2019...



The Pop Group - Y (Definitive Edition) (Mute)


Mark Stewart & The Maffia - Learning To Cope With Cowardice / The Lost Tapes (Mute)



Jah Division - Dub Will Tear Us Apart (Ernest Jenning Record Co.)



Massive Attack v Mad Professor - Part II (Mezzanine Remix Tapes '98)


Can - Ege Bamyasi (Mute / Spoon Records)

Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel - Deaf (Ectopic Ents)

Thursday, November 21, 2019

CULTCHA Clash Outer National Record Review: Jah Wobble - A Very British Coup

CULTCHA Clash Outer National Record Review

Jah Wobble ft. Keith Levene, Richard Dudanski, Mark Stewart, Andrew Weatherall & Youth - A Very British Coup

(2019 Cadiz Music)


Jah Wobble - A Very British Coup (2019 Cadiz Music)

This one finally came out after an apparent legal delay. Jah Wobble has put together quite an impressive roster on this tribute to "Brexit," and the political debacle which has since ensued.
Wobble's former P.I.L. bandmate, Keith Levene lends his unique guitar skills to the effort, along with Richard Dudanski on drums, Killing Joke's Youth on additional bass and keys, mixmaster, Andrew Weatherall providing loops, and vocals by Mark Stewart (The Pop Group / Mark Stewart & The Maffia).

The supergroup does not disappoint with this release, an irresistible groove, with the lower tempo dub version aka the "Dogma Mix," and the manic diatribe that Mark Stewart has long been known for. It cleverly critiques the political fuckery that abounds, and further illustrates the fallacies that we're exposed to and victimized by from the ruling elites on both sides of the Atlantic... 

The 12" single is pressed on yellow vinyl by Cadiz Music. 

Unfortunately, it does not appear that it can be purchased at this time, presumably due to the legal dispute.

A Very British Coup


All digital avenues of listening have apparently been blocked, too. The "Dogma Mix" was included on episode 2 of my weekly show on CULTCHA Clash Outer National - Global-Community-Radio, The Dublight Zone, and can be heard on the link below, for the time being.







Upcoming Event: Groovetribe Family Reunion

Upcoming Event: 

Groovetribe United Positivity Family Reunion

November 28 - December 1, 2019, Phoenix, AZ




Groovetribe Family Reunion 

Groovetribe and United Positivity present Family Reunion

50 DJ's & 7 Live Acts - at 3 Downtown Phoenix venues

The event starts on Thursday, November 28 at Monarch Theater from 9 pm - 2 am

Thanks Given

 featuring:

William Reed (Sticky Fingers, L.A., CA)
Soloman & Jas (Groovetribe / Kind)
Nothing But Al (Candyman / Liquid Media, Denver, CO)
DBS & Puma (aka Aural Aesthetic) (PDX / FL)
Mykill - Jared Alan - Kevin Brown
Jefe - Wonder - Morley
Vanessa

It continues on Friday, November 29 at Barsmith from noon to 9 pm

Kind 

featuring:

Jon Lemon (Viva, Seattle)
Brick Lee (Treehouse, Denver, CO)
Anton (!Chupa¡ / United Positivity)
Jane Vanderbilt (Sheeva - Miami)
Coppé (Japan) & Groovetribe Live (Illektrolab - scratch & fx, Cameron - beats, Jas - trumpet)
Step Up DJ's: Morley - Atom - Snail
Emile ft. Mr. Puma MC
Live Art by: Matt Brown - Banding Hendrix
Maji
Sipping Soma reunion
Wow & Flutter (live trip hop)

On November 30, Old School Saturday is happening at Park Bar 11 am - 10 pm

Old School Saturday

 featuring:

DJ Shy (Greg Mack Show, S.D., CA) & DJ Perry hosted by Ruben S
Simply Jeff (Astralwerks / Moonshine, L.A., CA)
Jesse Brooks (Fresh Produce, L.A., CA)
Illektrolab (aka Lego) (Tresor - Berlin)
Emile (Lone Romantic / Swell Records, L.A., CA)
Gigi (Swell Records / Groovetribe, San Diego)
PRG (Swell Records / Ground Zero, Florida)
Rephil - Louder - Morley

Plotz & Lil Ernie Groove
Transcendental
Inertia (Dream Music, Seattle, WA)
CL McSpadden (Hot Mix / Plastik Records)
Michael (aka Mykill) DTS (Desert Trance Society)
Matt Dunn (Squad Up / DRP)
Nth (DTS)
Sketchnician (Swell Records / United Positivity)
Jonboy (Plastik Records / DTS)
Tranzit (Relentless Beats)


Festivities continue on Saturday night from 9 pm - 3 am @

 Solstice

 featuring:

Pete Salaz, Senbad & The AZ Deep House All-Stars (tentatively Eddie Amador, Chris Flores and more tba)

Sunday, December 1, the party returns to Park Bar for One More Time, from 11 am - 7 pm, featuring:

Nothing But Al (Denver, CO)
Illektrolab (Tresor - Berlin)
Soloman - Dehga - Gary B - Deepfreq & Napp-e
Randy & Duane
Slipp-E (Hot Chick / Relentless Beats)
J Alan
Soloman
Morley
Tranzit

Sponsored by Plurclothing

featured vendors: Butterfly's Buttons - Third Eye Rave Gear - Nirvana Massage




Check HERE for more information.

Groovetribe United Positivity Family Reunion
TBA



Sunday, October 13, 2019

CULTCHA Clash Outer National Record Review: Massive Attack v. Mad Professor - Part II (Mezzanine Remixes)

CULTCHA Clash Outer National Record Review

Massive Attack v. Mad Professor - 
Part II (Mezzanine Remix Tapes '98)

Virgin EMI Records


Massive Attack v. Mad Professor - Part II (Mezzanine Remix Tapes '98)
Reviewed by Selecta J-Cut

This is the second collaborative LP between Bristol, U.K.'s Trip-Hop innovators, Massive Attack and digital-dub maestro, Mad Professor. On 1995's No Protection, Massive Attack's 1994 album, Protection was reconstructed by Mad Professor at his Ariwa studio (where members of Massive Attack and Soul II Soul had previously recorded as The Wild Bunch).

Part II (originally from 1998 but this is the first time that it's been released as an LP) finds the tunes from Mezzanine stripped down to their raw cores, frequencies tweaked and peaked with psychosis-inducing bass and a cosmic array of effects. Fans won't be disappointed by this one, from start to finish.

Starting off on an eery note, the haunting "Metal Banshee (Mad Professor Mix One)" is a standout cut, without a doubt.

"Angel (Angel Dust)" rides along on a steppers style riddim, wandering in a zone that exists between electronica and dancehall.



The exotic, ambient groove of "Teardrop (Mazaruni Dub One)" is another pick of mine.




Side E (as the first side of the vinyl release is labeled) is wrapped up with the bubbling dancehall riddim, "Inertia Creeps (Floating On Dubwise)".

Side F (side 2) starts with "Risingson (Setting Sun Dub Two)" which is saturated in delays and a galloping hi-hat driving an ethereal journey. 

"Exchange (Mountain Steppers Dub" is another that nimbly walks the line between roots dub and electronic dance music.

"Wire (Leaping Dub)" comes next, showcasing the production techniques of Mad Professor as well as Massive Attack unique musical style.

The final tune, "Group Four (Security Forces Dub)" is ambient-psychedelic dub at it's finest.



Get the Pink Vinyl LP from Massive Attack online.




Friday, October 4, 2019

CULTCHA Clash Outer National Upcoming Event: 1st Cumbia Rock Reggae Fest

CULTCHA Clash Outer National Upcoming Event: 1st Cumbia Rock Reggae Fest

Presented by Revista Ser Latino

Friday, October 18, 2019 @ Stratus Event Center
4344 W. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85031

1st Cumbia Rock Reggae Fest - Friday, October 18



Featuring:


La Inedita (Lima, Perú)



Vox Urbana (Tucson, AZ)



Kill Babylon Coalition (Camp Verde, AZ)



Santa Pachita (Tucson, AZ)



Bianca Ciocca (Berlin, Germany)



DJ's:

 El Nuevo Sound (Lima, Perú)






Pre-Sale Tickets $10 available at Eventbrite
$15 at the door

VIP Reservations:
(480) 204-7481

Design & Production:
Esquina Rock