Innersound Music Blog - Episode 4
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Welcome to the fourth installment of the innersound music blog, where i scour the depths of the music scene for the gems that you may never of heard, or you have heard and forgot about.
I'm a bit late with this episode, but we are here delving deep into the vibes, any music could be current and brand new or from a year, 5 years or 10+ years ago. Time is unimportant when it comes to music.
So here goes!
St Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart
First on the list is a classic cover track of a Neil Young song, expertly recreated by the brilliant band St Etienne of the 90s. I remember buying this on tape from ASDA when it came out and to be honest, never even bothered listening to the Neil Young Original, even to this day.
Break - Last Goodbye
Here is something brand spanking new from a drum and bass artist who i consider to be the most consistent as of right now, and by that i mean consistently on form. Break seemingly puts out 2 or 3 tracks every week, i struggle to keep up with his output, and he's been around for a minute. What attracted me to Breaks music was his style of production, he makes top notch dnb without the frills, and he's always incredibly versatile. Break is one of the best producers in drum and bass right now, owing largely to the many years of grinding away in the studio, putting out tune after tune. He's now reaping the rewards for all his hard work, no doubt. He can literally put his hands to anything, any style and recreate it within the drum and bass format. A master!
RAM TRILOGY - Screamer
Here's an old classic banger (not me) that was the biggest thing since sliced bread back in 2003! Ram Trilogy consisted of the trio, Andy C, Ant Miles and Shimon all hailing from the now world famous and legendary label camp, RAM Records. These guys were some of the original pioneers of the jungle/drum and bass scene and are still going today. Back in my own raving days, the track "Screamer" started to be played at raves and it was like being abducted by an alien race, the production techniques, in particular, the bass and vocals and the way the vocal was programmed was something that i had certainly never heard before, ahead of it's time. The track was belted out in every set throughout the night at every rave for well over a year up to it's release in 2003. Many dnb tracks back then would come out on white label vinyl as a test press, say 500 or 1000 copies, no artwork, just the tune and be snapped up instantly. But on the rave circuit, these white labels would be played by all the big dj's for up to a year, sometimes longer before getting a full release with all the artwork. It was always like that with almost every track, now it is more instant for obvious reasons, but you'd be a rich man back then if you could get your hands on some of these white label vinyls. But even to this day, the vocals in this track are still mad as fuck! timeless classic.
Shy FX - Roll The Dice feat. Stamina MC & Lily Allen
Talking of legends, here is another one, Shy Fx, another pioneer of the early jungle/drum &bass scene. Shy Fx famously created possibly one the all time classic jungle tracks in "Original Nuttah" but went on to produce some incredible tracks, many of which were a synthesis of dnb and reggae which always works so well. He even charted back in 2002 with "Shake Your Body" which was the track which really propelled Shy Fx into the limelight more. That track was literally everywhere for 2 YEARS before it was released and even hit the charts and top of the pops.
So just recently Shy Fx once again teamed up with Stamina MC and Lily allen and i hear the kids playing this in house parties where i live, so it's no surprise to me that this goes off. It works so well and of course i'm biased because i've been following and watching shy and stamina, many times live over the years.
When you get older, the real key is to not get emotionally attached to anyone or anything, and just observe. Be a good friend, be supportive, but be more like a ghost. This is how i learn. The youth also will teach you much, but only if you are comfortable with growing older, take an interest in them, listen to them and have no agendas. If they sense you are an old fart in spirit, or a super old twat with no creative talent in anything, but just hanging around the youth, who have so much potential, just to sell them cocaine, you will not learn from them, they will shun you in the end and you'll end up on the scrapheap. Especially if you blow dry your hair backwards and wear copious amounts of gold to make out you are some sort of real gangster man in a tiny backwards town, you've never left.
Distinkt - Shegs
Came across this banger a couple weeks ago, might not be to everyone's taste, but it's unique and rougher than a night in a ditch beside a river full of kwik save trolley's, used johnnies and a burnt out austin maestro in deep Coventry. The track name is also brilliant. Love the sampling, the bass, the build up. So many styles amalgamated into one tune. Sure the yoot would love this. Sounds like a dirtier Dj Zinc.
Mystique - All I want
Mystique were the UK equivalent of destiny's child, but way better. Mystique had Alesha Dixon who started out as an MC i believe. And the band's early tunes were remixed by some of the big Garage producers back then, in this case, Sunship produced all i want and we ended up with this high energy pop come garage track, the tune was largely a commercial result of the healthy underground garage scene, but i always liked Alesha Dixon because she was quite a talented MC and singer.
Rebekah - First Response [Sleaze Records]
Probably the best techno track i've heard over the last year. This is a track with arguably the greatest kick drums EVER! but yeah, what a banger! nuff said.
MissTwist - Bow Down
I came across Miss Twist almost 10 years ago on soundcloud, she's an underground MC, singer and musician from Bristol, uk. She's as underground as you can possibly get, but supremely talented and mainly known as a grime and garage MC, she can flex her talent over drum and bass, hip hop and anything else equally well. But one time about 8 years ago, she put out an acoustic song, with her singing, if i remember rightly she also plays the guitar here. I love artists that kill it in one genre or scene and then completely surprise you by going the opposite route musically. To me, this is my favorite track by Miss Twist, who is an amazing MC and lyricist. Check her out.
https://soundcloud.com/misstwist
KELSEYLU - Shades of Blue
I discovered this a few weeks ago and had it on constant repeat, what a talent this girl has. This is the sort of music that doesn't go mainstream but absolutely blitzes all mainstream music. Kelseylu hails from New York and is a proper talent, a wonderful musician.
https://soundcloud.com/kelseylu
Duran Duran - The Chauffeur
Duran Duran were a brummy band out of Birmingham who formed in 1984 and went on to have unbounded success throughout the 80s and then revived in the late 90s with equal success. Known for their new wave, synthpop sound, they also achieved great success in the states. They have sold over 100 million records around the world and for me, "The Chauffeur" is their best track.
I & I - Don't Get Me Wrong (Ray Keith rmx)
Finally, here's a drum & bass track remixed by Ray Keith, another legend and pioneer. He was the one who wrote "The Terrorist". To be honest, i never liked that track, but his remix of "Don't Get Me Wrong" by I & I peaked my interest back in 2002-3. I remember Nicky Blackmarket always playing this in his sets for a couple of years, always about 5-6 am towards the end of a big rave, perfect type of tune for that time of night, very uplifting to send all of us prescription junkies back home to our beds for the next 2 days in a good mood, before the doom of Monday morning.
Thanks for reading and listening, i hope you enjoyed my selections.
Keep dancing!
With love,
Jon.