Having been quiet for the past few weeks I’m now very proud to announce that I’ve signed to Brighton’s premier independent imprint Tru Thoughts who’ve brought me into the fold to work on a series of vintage dancehall collaborations starting with the soon to be officially titled Wrongtom Meets Deemas J album.
This is a very special project for me as Deemas and I have been playing together since our teens, so an album together is well overdue. We’ve covered a multitude of styles taking in my love of dusty old dancehall and dub and linking it with Deemas’ experience in the jungle arenas and his lineage in London’s soundsystem scene.
There will be more news to come soon but whilst I’m mixing down the last couple of LP tracks, I can tell you that the album will drop in the summer. Reggae sleeve legend Tony McDermott, last seen on the Duppy Writer cover, is doing the artwork and I’m currently sorting out who’s next in line for the “Wrongtom Meets…” treatment.
In the meantime check this footage grabbed from the dj booth at our debut gig last autumn at Big Chill House…
I’m very sorry to announce that due to circumstance beyond my control, the vinyl of the Pama Intl Meets Wrongtom album wont be happening (for the foreseeable future at least). It may emerge from the rubble in digital form in the next few months but physical copies are out of the equation, so apologies to those who had ordered a copy, the company will reimburse you if they haven’t already.
On a brighter note the Wrongtom Meets Deemas J album will be coming out in all formats, details of which will finally be announced next month but I can tell you the final touches were laid down this week thanks to some top notch tooting from Jon Gilles and Paul Jordanous on horns.
Lastly, if you missed it 1st time round I’ve dug out my Correct Techniques mixtape in tribute to Stalag’s mastermind Winston Riley who sadly passed away last week. Check the technique on mixcloud…
Though I surfaced from last night’s festivities about 5 hours ago I’ve somehow done absolutely nothing bar watch a Fresh Prince marathon on the telly.
NYE was of course a stone groove, replete with all kinds of freaks dressed up for The Book Club’s Mardi Gras celebrations, and I’m not ashamed to admit I played the cheesiest set of my career, and loved every minute of it. So big ups to the Disco Shed and Big Ten Inch crew for putting it all together – here’s a candid shot of me around the midnight mark caught by the Shed’s head honcho Peepshow Paddy.
Prior to that party I dropped in on some friends in full Baron Samedi makeup, where I met the guitarist from psychedelic new wavers Doll By Doll, who told me about his cat Barry while we enjoyed a plate of quiche, which in a very tenuous way brings me to this catlike offering…
A couple of summers back I was kicking back in my friend’s dilapidated house in New Jersey when he asked me to record some vocals for a track he hadn’t yet made, resulting in “I Touch You” which you can check out below. I can’t remember the exact origins of the shiny cat reference but I think you’ll agree that Richard Science has made some grade A Prince-esque sex-funk. Richard is of course otherwise known as Ed Zed who you might recognise from his Duppy Writer contribution or the odd Skank Blog here n there if you’ve been following my runnings for the last few years, if not, obviously I hate you but feel free to give “I Touch You” a listen none the less, and Happy New Year!
Though I’m a shameless fan of a good disaster movie, I prefer a steady stress-free DJ set. Of course there’s no guarantee in this age of laptop dj’s that the decks will even work when you get to a venue but my worst disaster happened in one of the most seemingly fail safe scenarios – on stage at Wembley.
In the run up to our (now sold out) NYE celebrations at The Book Club this year, Clash Magazine asked me to share my dj horror story, which you can read here.
On the subject of disasters, don’t forget to pre-order the Pama Intl Meets Wrongtom dub LP “The Seventh Dub”. No, not a musical disaster but an armageddon themed trudge through the remnants of Pama’s “Love Filled Dub Band” LP, decimated then rebuilt with the help of some tape echo and my deejay compadre Deemas J.
If you’re not with us for NYE I’ll see you in 2012, until then here’s The Dub After Tomorrow featuring Deemas J, from The Seventh Dub.
It’s finally here! The dubs I originally started work on for Pama Intl back in 2008 are finally hitting the shops next month. Wrought by bouts of homelessness, illness and Duppy Writing, The Seventh Dub collects my versions of Pama’s 2008 album Love Filled Dub Band on strictly limited and heavyweight vinyl. Featuring members of The Specials and The Upsetters and my current recording compatriot Deemas J to name but a few star guests, I’ve taken the original LP on an apocalyptic ride through the last days of 2012.
Only 250 copies will ever get pressed on wax so don’t hesitate, get your plastic out and pre-order yours now or mark my words, there will be hell to pay. Preview a mix of tracks from The Seventh Dub below…
In other news I’ve updated my mixtapes section as many of the old links have died so you can now stream a few of my mixes via mixcloud with more from my back catalogue to come. More info here.
Last up as we’re nearly into the yuletide party season so it’s time to announce my NYE movements which thankfully this year only involve the one gig, having spent most of last year’s running between venues.
This year it’s back to the old faithful of The Book Club in Shoreditch where rhythm n blues rebels The Big Ten Inch are teaming up with the Disco Shed posse to bring you The Big Shed Inch featuring two floors of bass, boogie, jump-jive, jazz and no doubt both kinds of R&B at some point with guests including DJ Format, Jerry Dammers, and The Congo Faith Healers playing live. I’ll be holding court in the shed at midnight and there’s a New Orleans Mardi Gras theme so feel free to get dressed for the occasion, assuming you’re not perplexed by the prospect of celebrating easter at new years.
Having been quiet for the past few weeks I’m now very proud to announce that I’ve signed to Brighton’s premier independent imprint Tru Thoughts who’ve brought me into the fold to work on a series of vintage dancehall collaborations starting with the soon to be officially titled Wrongtom Meets Deemas J album.
