“Totally Tropicana” DJ mix by Johnny Clash

Ok, ok, it’s not ‘new’ new but it’s less than a year old and that’s kinda new, right? Last year my good friend and esteemed mucker DJ Johnny Clash asked me to supply a VJ mix for a 30 minute DJ mix he was asked to provide for Uncommon Sense x Deadstream broadcast which was on Twitch on July 23rd 2022. We both waited to wait until that excellent stream had got all the views it would without detracting from it by posting up another version and, well, after 10 months I reckon we’re ok now. ;) Visuals were created in synaesthesia live in which I ran through the set end to end and recorded a few passes (to keep it with a live feel about it) and then edited with some DJ footage I asked JC to provide to give it a human touch. After all, It’s always a delight to see JC’s face :)

Tracklisting

Faizal Mostrixx - Agada Yil Kuwade [East African Records]
Ahadadream - KOYAL [R&S]
Swordman Kitala, K-Lone - Malanga Ja [Blip Discs]
OMAAR - Prince Rorro [More Time]
Sho Madjozi & She's Drunk - Amadoda (Shy One Remix) [Through My Speakers]
Griffit Vigo ft DJ Ree - Club Bang Snare [Apparel Records]
Menchess - Point Blank (gqom tech) [Gqom Oh!]
Phelimuncasi (prod DJ Nhlekzin) - I don't feel my legs [Nyege Nyege Tapes]
SNØW feat Kuenta - Yeke Yeke [More Time]
Al Wootton - Body Healthy [TRULE]

That “guitar looping thing” was known by the term ‘Frippertronics’ (although the technique was developed by Brian Eno) and was created by running tape between two reel to reel tape machines, one recording and one playing back what the other machine had recorded. This allowed for really long delay times, as much as 6 seconds of delay; something that hadn’t been achieved before. Robert Fripp used the technique to add a single notes that would repeat and via a mixing desk get rerecorded again to which Robert would apply another note and, combined with the sound degrading each time it gets recorded again on tape, over time these big ambient soundscapes would occur. If you dig out Robert Fripp‘s classic “Let The Power Fall” LP on EG you will hear recordings that he made using this technique on a solo tour of cafes, bars, record shops and hotel lobbies, but after that the technique mostly was forgotten about.

Time passes slowly… and not only does technology catch up with this idea, with digital delay pedals being capable of record minutes of delay, but so does Digital Sound Processing in modelling the sound of tape decay and now you can buy “tape delay” pedals that can create loops over 20 seconds and allow one to control the exact amount of tape wrinkle, hiss, age, wow and flutter to ones heart’s content so, I buy one - a Strymon “El Capitstan” - and I set about trying out this technique. Suffice it to say I was hooked.

Months of recordings (and hundreds of pounds of other guitar pedals) later and now I have the birth of SareemOne to declare. My old musical compadres from SCSRD - Sam and Henry (now making a glorious sound in Dog Unit) - offered me a slot opening their “Dog Unit and Friends” residency at Servant Jazz Quarters, Dom and Andy from Echaskech (who have been my sanity sounding board throughout this whole endeavour) have offered me a release on cassette and digital on their VLSI imprint which should be coming out very soon, and a couple of weeks ago Dom, Andy and I went off to a cottage Wales to do some recording…

I am ridiculously excited about the whole thing and incredibly humbled by the feedback and support I’ve been given and I really cannot wait to share with you all this music.

For more regular updates there’s a SareemOne instagram account & twitter

For now you can have a listen to some of the demo tracks on Soundcloud

Tracklisting

Lextron - Night Rider (VLSI)
Underworld - Two Months Off (Junior Boys Own)
Floating Points - Grammar (Ninja Tune)
The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar (Universal)
Wata Igarashi - Voyage (WIP)
Alex Banks - A Way Out (Mesh)
Martyn - We are you in the future (Brainfeeder)
Al Wootton - Mercia (Trule)
Ouxh - Agavaceae (Salt Mines)
Shun - Kishibi (CPU)
Shun - Digital Slave (CPU)
Floating Points - Vocoder (Ninja Tune)
KH - Looking at your Pager (Text Records)
Holden - Renata (Daphni Remix) (Border Community)
JETS - Lock Lock Key Key (Leisure System)

Tracklisting

Bunkr - Terminus 23 (VLSI)
Rival Consoles - still here (Erased Tapes
Daniel Avery - One More Morning (Phantasy Sound)
Pan-Al - Quark (Apollo)
Clocolan - Beauty, Beauty, Beauty, Beauty (Castles In Space)
The Nevermen - Mr mistake (Boards of Canada remix) (Self Released)
Loomis - Neon Drifter (part 1) (Noisy Meditation)
Sieren - Lies (Self Released)
Little dragon - Rush (Midland Remix) (Ninja Tune)
Higher Intelligence Agency - 3P (headphone)
xtal/gonno - step on the wind (Self Released)
Tipper - Off Kilter (Self Released)
Feral - Reve (Aube Rouge)
Rival Consoles - Vibrations on a string (Erased Tapes)
Wa Wu We- Ever moving in uncertainty (Hypnus)
The Field - The more we do (Kompact)
Julio Bashmore - The Moth (Fabric)
Pantha Du Prince - A Nomads Retreat (Rough Trade)
Daniel Avery - Darlinn (Phantasy Sound)
Escape Artist - Silicon Valium (Salt Mines)
Martyn - Masks (Brainfeeder)
Nereid - Undertow (Warped Core)
Kraymon -Falling (Stefan Goodchild rmx) (Triple Geek)
Prospa - Control the Party (Rave Science)
Laurence Kapinga - headrest (3024)
Onlyloveisleft - no hero (Triple Geek)
Posthuman - Ultrareal (Granthan Part Ex VIP) (Balkan)

Well, 2004 to be almost precise. This set is based on the last set I played at The Rhythm Factory in Whitechapel for SoxaN’s Airways themed party which - i think - was on New Years Eve 2004. What I can remember is it was a tonne of fun and lots and lots of hard work. SoxaN was absolutely brilliant to be involved with but with us all juggling work and Soxan It was impossible to keep it going. It did make money and we paid everybody but it sadly wasn’t sustainable.

I did knock this mix out on CDs (as it was the style at the time) and some of you might still have the CD…. I’m not sure I do (if you do please let me know so I can fill in the gaps)! So, after an afternoon shazamming my own mixes and taking stabs in discogs and youtube, here’s the

Tracklisting

High Contrast Feat. Nolay - Angels & Fly
Syncopix - General Hospital
Kanye West - Jesus Walks (Dj Zinc remix)
Q-Project - Living with Beaker
Logistcs - Kaleidoscope
High Contrast - Racing Green
Danism - Come To You (Nu:Tone remix)
Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five vs Aphrodite - The Message (Johnny Clash Mashup )
Unknown - Unknown
Fresh & Adam F - When the sun goes down
Senor Juan B Ft. Merly B - Una Cerveza!
SKC & Safir - Free my soul
A Sides Ft. MC. MC - Keep Steppin'
B-Man - Satisfaction
Beyonce - Naughty Girl (TC Big Bad Bootleg VIP Mix)
Roni Size - Strictly Social (Nu:Tone remix)
The Goon show...

Tracklisting

Skee Mask - Trackheadz
Andrea - Future Atmo
Martyn - Odds Against Us
Al Wootton - Over
No Moon - Wasp City
Pan-Al - Probe Journey
Nathan Fake - Tblisi
Nathan Fake - Eris & Dysonia
Jinje - Silicon Bubbles
Tobias - The Wisdom of no Escape
Scuba - Never Forget
Reptant - Reptilian Magnetism
Shedbug - Spiralizer
Off The Meds - Belter (Joy O Belly Mix) 
AGT Rave Cru - You Shop We Drop
96 Back - Knock Out
Stenny - Swordfish
Skee Mask - Nvivo
Al Wootton - Come Close

That set is now available for you to watch in your own time and leisure! The audio is from Echaskech’s performance at the Sundeck in Margate in 2019, i added the visual layer built out of the elements I’ve been constructing for the tracks over the years (featuring the visual work of Mantissa and Switzon S Wigfall III).

You can nip over to youtube and watch it again and again and again… (preferably from different IPs and using different yt accounts… Oh! No reason)

“Many children we work with are HIV positive. Their guardians, often elderly, ill and poor, are also in need of support, as the wellbeing of children in their care is inextricably linked to theirs.

“We know that children do best when they are supported and cared for in their own communities, among extended families, friends, and neighbours so we also help those that care for them to gain new skills and the confidence to increase their income, regain control of their lives and take care of themselves and their family.

“Awamu means ‘together’ in L'uganda, the main language spoken in Bwaise and Kikoni slum areas we work. We chose it as it reflects spirit of the women and children we are lucky enough to work in partnership with there.”

Please donate. Anything you can give will mean the world of difference.

https://www.awamu.co.uk/donate

The set, played out at 7pm on a Saturday, designed to be listened during your evening meal. It's 'Dinner Jazz" for those of you who like being sworn at by potty mouth rappers talking about inappropriate subjects while you eat your meal.

Tracklisting

00:00 - Moses Boyd - Rush Hour/Elegua (feat. Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua)
03:10 - Submerse - Power Stone
05:42 - Channel Select - Skies
07:22 - Noname - Forever (ft Ravyn Lanae)
10:48 - Open Mike Eagle - Very Much Money (Ice King Dream)
14:22 - J.Lamotta - Can’t Refuse
16:45 - Loyle Carner - Loose Ends (ft Jorja Smith )
20:49 - Oso Leone - Virtual U
23:53 - Easy Life - Earth
27: 05 - Bird Person - Salad
29:15 - Jay Z - Empire State of Mind (featuring Alicia Keys)
33:33 - Typesun - The PL
37:28 - Tycho - Skate (Pluko remix) feat. Saint Sinner 
40:09 - Phono Ghosts - A Glow in the Night
43:30 - Janelle Monae - Pynk (feat. Grimes)
47:00 - J-E-T-S - Play (feat. Mykki Blanco)
49:20 - Caribou - New Jade
52:31 - Brockhampton - Boy Bye
54:53  - Michael Kiwanuka - You ain’t the problem

(download available on the Hearthis.at page)

The set played was mostly constructed to be a 90 minute studio mix but as this gig came along just as I was ready to release it so I played it out live and added another 30 minutes to the end which really fleshed it out nicely. I did fluff a mix so I’ve actually cheated and cut in the recorded bit so, if it sound’s a bit weird around the Rob Clouth/Daniel Avery tracks - it’s that. You’ll have to trust me that it’s better this way. ;) Anyway here’s the

Tracklisting

(outro) DJ Oil - Addis (R & S)
Synkro & Arovane -  Aspen (Apollo)
Sieren -  Move On (Apollo)
Ovatow - x-dub I (syncopm data)
Duplex - Isolator (Ost Ton Gut)
Jinje: Feet Up - Feet Down (self release)
Mitch Von Arc - Skim (Planet Mooncycle)
Stefan Goodchild - Something is Missing or Invalid (self release)
Duplex - Molecular (ovatow reclock) (Frustrated Drunk)
Mikron - Ghost Node (CPU Records)
Gnork - Exoteric Massage (eXXXtended pleasure mix)(Magic Wire)
Rob Clouth - Deep Field (Leisure System)
Daniel Avery -  Glitter (Phantasy)
Donato Dozzy - 12H.5 (remix) (Spazio Disponibile)
Crossing Avenue - Ortica (Spazio Disponibile)
Buran - Modulus (Cut Recs)
Reptant - Subcommunication (Salt Mines) 
GProd - Supernova (Specimen)
Lone - Young Star Cluster (R & S)
Valentina Mora - Hualien (Spazio Disponibile)
Nathan Fake - Underberg (Cambia Instruments)
Igor Dyachenkco - Disintergration (Self Release)
See Mask -  Flyby VBR (Ilian Tape)
Lone -  How can you tell? (R & S)
No Moon - Mallett Fury (Craigie Knowes)
Reptant - reptilian Magnetism (Salt Mines)  
Echaskech -  The Lost Lies (VLSI unreleased)

A quick note to say that myself and Stuart P from Dear Boss will be taking over the Pickle Factory’s Cocktail at tonight’s (16/9/19) I Love Acid. In the main room once again the line up is super stellar with Altern 8 and Ceephax Acid Crew playing live supported by the excellent DJ talents of Posthuman and Brooklyn’s Lauren Flex (Bunker).

tickets available from Resident Advisor

https://residentadvisor.net/events/1284213

Tracklisting

D Train - You’re the One for Me 
Gnork - Yoga on E
Ramadanman/Appleblim - Void 23 (Carl Craig re-edit)
Lone - Temples
Orbital - Belfast
Jinje - Amya 
Agoria - Panta Rei (Max Cooper remix)
Steve Bug & Langenberg- Chord Cluster 
Underworld - Dark & Long 
Roza Terenzi - Up in Smoke 
Lone - From a Past Life 
No Moon - Infinite Dreams
Reptant - Liquid Aerobatics 
Lone - Pulsar

MIx should be downloadable from hearthis.at

This changes everything! I've been a fan of Japanese whiskeys and Nikka has been my favourite distillery discovery so far, but I was wary whether they could extent their talents to gin as well. Boy was I wrong about that. This gin stands out. The flavour is crisp and sharp with a delightful blend of yuzu and umeboshi with hints of tarragon and as a sipping gin it excels, but in a gnt I found it difficult to balance but with a sprinkle of mint it transcended it a lovely summery refreshment. Highly recommended. #gin #gins #ginstagram #nikka #nikkacoffeygin #nikkacoffey #ayearonthegin #gnt #booze #cocktails #alcohol #ginandtonic #mint #twitter #snapseed #iphone6plus

You know how it is: you're perusing the gin shelf looking for some inspiration, tired of the same old faces then suddenly... out of the corner of your eye... elephant gin is a German based spirit that comes in such an attractive bottle with a real actual cork and (kind of pointless) twine binding and a little lead seal and personally numbered label that it's actively waving to you from the shelf, positively wanting you to buy it and take it home. The nose is of spruce, arrowroot, orange and maybe... bergamot (?) the taste is very "gin" with a well balanced level of warm alcohol burn - it certainly has the punch of a London dry gin and enough personality to know that it was distilled with care. This is a good gin no doubt - one that warms to you the more you taste of it, but I think I would struggle to pick it out of a blind taste test. Tasting as ever using a #norlanglass #gin #gins #ginstagram #gnt #booze #elephantgin #snapseed #twitter

It was with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of John Rixon (a.k.a Amukidi) on Monday 14th January. John had suffered a stroke on Boxing Day and since then had been in hospital. 

I wrote a few word for the Echaskech facebook page to try and mark his passing:

John was instrumental in legitimising the clubbing world’s use of visual arts: as visual coordinator for the Big Chill he helped and supported numerous audio visual acts - including ourselves - to get seen and heard. He was a huge fan of electronic music and was always keen to find out what we were up to. 

His own creations were always a joy to behold. Under the alias “Amukidi” (his name coming from a track by his long time friend and collaborator Roger Eno) he blended slow moving constantly changing abstract organic shapes and textures into ever changing landscapes that encouraged the audience to stop and engage with. 

In 2010 along with Simon Wild he curated “Quiet Voices” a show at the Tate Britain gallery that featured live audio visual performances by artists such as Roger Eno, Jon Hopkins, Alucidnation and Animat (to name a small selection) and a short film programme that explored the nature of quiet. I was incredibly honoured to be selected to contribute a film. To be given the opportunity to have something that I help make be shown at one of the UK’s leading art galleries is still my highest accolade, and for that I am still humbled and will be forever grateful for the trust that John placed in me.

Though what will be missed the most will be John’s warm, friendly manner, supportive nature and his acerbic wit. Never one to mince words he always cut to the chase and let you know exactly how he felt whilst raising a smile..

My last meeting with John was at Awamu’s Together festival. We caught up and shared new musical findings he asked me what I was working on. I was reticent to bring it up because my current project (which had stalled) was so ephemeral and pointless and, when I’d discussed it with others, their eyes had glazed over. But not John - his eyes lit up and he grabbed my arm “Mark! You must finish this! I have to see it! It sounds right up my strasse!” Only John had that uncanny ability to see what I was trying to achieve! My last sight of John was of him grinning, bouncing around to a deeply ambient set by Misled Convoy, whilst mixing his beautifully intricate visuals across the screens. He never looked happier. 

Our thoughts are with all who loved John but especially to his wife Sarah and his children Pheebs and Clare.

You can happily spend hours watching John’s videos on Vimeo here

https://vimeo.com/johnrixon

Here’s the “studio” cut of a mix I performed at Awamu’s third “Together” festival. It’s pretty much what I played but I added a longer introduction to it (which might help it last longer on SoundCloud) - the opening lines are from Grant Green’s amazing “Slick! Live at Oil Can Harry’s” lp - and there is a “bonus” track at the end that I really wanted to play but I knew time wouldn’t allow it, bcut for you, dear listener, you get to experience the genius of Raj Pannu’s “FSOJ”. The third track is a mashup of Skee Mask’s “Session Amp” and MJ Cole’s UK garage classic “Sincere” with extra beats and production courtesy of the ever patient Andy G from Echaskech. 

Hope you like it! Here’s the...

Tracklisting  

Louis Cole (feat. Genevieve Artadi) - When You're Ugly
Don Froth -  A Broad Range Widescreen Mix
MJ Cole vs Skee Mask - Sincere Amp (Mach And G’s mix)
LCD Soundsystem - Oh Baby
Echaskech - Twich
Deft - One Eye Open
Jim-e stack - Moments Noticed
Gnork - U
Joe -  mph
Dolly Parton - Jolene (Todd Terje remix)
Maribou State - Turnmills Club Mix
LXURY (Feat. The Deptford Goth)- Square 1 (Vox DUB)
Nasaya  (feat. cehryl)- Orange
Telefon Tel Aviv - My Week Beats Your Year
Adam Port - Here is Why - Tonight (Adam Port Autobahn Edit)
Loidis - A Parade
Raj Pannu - FSOJ

Well here's a funny thing: this is a Marks and Spencer's commissioned gin that is being made in France who's USP is that it is "oaked aged"... which seems like a funny thing to do with a gin. Sure a brown spirit seems to loan itself to aging with it's mellow richness and a gin, with all of its spritely, fresh flavours would seem to be the opposite of that, so it was with so trepidation that I got a bottle, and I'm glad I did. The ageing has certainly mellowed the spirit but there's not an oakiness or a woodines to get in the way of the spirits botanicals. Granted it's not a "bright" gin, the aging has "simplified" the flavour profile somewhat but (and it's an significant but) this is still a very pleasant experience both on its own and in the #gnt - especially with lemon. Get on this one. #m&s #marksandspencer #gin #gins #ginstagram #booze #boozereviews #norlanglass #twitter #snapseed #anotheryearonthegin #iphone6plus