Final transmission of The Big Racket! on IC Radio. Coincidentally nodding to our LP's RPMs, being the 33rd episode in 3⅓ years. A lovely farewell after 3⅓ years of aerially racketeering aural receptors, bowing out with the 5th instalment of Channeling the Spirit of Jazz, joined by Jazzmaster Phrij (co-founder of Imperial College London's Musictech Society) plus textile/visual artist, Kumi.
A double serving of afrocentric reverberations and intoxicating grooves; the first hour blessed by a waxwork of Phrij's finest funky jazz selection, the second a back-to-back stagger on a minefield of flashbacks and crack-ups with fella Kumi. (Fun fact: the 2nd track of the 2nd part was the previous record spun backwards to buy time in the search for a 45RPM adaptor, rather the curious catastrophe.)
Ears up to the penultimate tune, the mesmerizing 'Din Ya Sugri' from Ghana's Christy Azuma & Uppers International – an absolute gem uncovered in the inimitable Soundway Records's Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981 compilation.
Unexpected turns on the decks last night. Not sure what happened but the evidence is a slur of relaxation and elation, in order of appearance. Trust the jagged spirit of Madteo to interface the two halves, from a blissful wash-out to the quadro-monophonic barricade of Ike Yard.
Been on a bit of a bin binge lately... the nice folks at Honest Jons Records must be wondering why I keep coming back for more TTT (Dro Carey, MGUN, Willie Burns, phew!), pretending to hold back every time – but it's impossible. This label has really blown my socks off. Same goes for PAN, who just released the plunderphonic splendour of Jar Moff's Commercial Mouth. That and Madteo's Noi No are possibly the least expected deck staples I can imagine.
Plus a new cut from the Gaslamp Killer with Dimlite the Swiss multi-instru-mentalist chopping the keys. Nice as ice. ▶ hear here
BURNING STAR COREMysteries of the Organ
JAR MOFFCommercial Mouth
RENE HELLMeta Concrete
FENNESZBadminton Girl
MADTEOVitruvian Nightmare
MADTEORatskeller
IKE YARDNCR
DRO CAREYLeary Blips
MGUN2
WILLIE BURNSDuh Duh Dunk
MGUNWalk With Me
GASLAMP KILLER & DIMLITESeven Years of Bad Luck For Fun
