Alphabetical Response 12"

One mixed-race, one black, one yid.

This 12" is from The Brotherhood's third album, Elementalz, and a fine slab of vinyl that is too. Let's face it, rap that name-checks Poohsticks, Worzel Gummidge, Barry Sheene and quotes Frank Bruno has to bring a smile to the face.

I've always liked British rap, but there's precious little of it that's that good, but this stands up well. What really struck me when I first heard it was that they weren't trying to out-gangsta US rappers; in fact there's no gangsta at all.

Instead, we have some clever rhymes, politically aware lyrics, and best of all a dark, brooding feel to everything.

Fine, fine music.

A1 Alphabetical Response (LP Version)
A2 Alphabetical Response (Instrumental)

B1 One³ (LP Version)
B2 One³ (Instrumental)

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Nostalgia's Not What It Used To Be...

Been catching up on things now that work is beginning to wind down for the year, and re-discovered lots of draft posts for vinyl I have digitised over the past months.

Sadly, it turns out that most of it was shite, hence the title of this post.

However, I recognise that my taste is not everyone else's, so thought I'd list the vinyl I bothered to digitise, but won't bother to post.

If anyone has a burning need for any of these, just ask nicely, you never know what might happen:

The Beatmasters: Dunno What It Is (About You) 12"

Brothers In Rhythm: Such A Good Feeling 12"

Coldcut: People Hold On (The Blaze Mix) 12"

D-Mob: We Call It Acieeed 12"

Deee-Lite: Groove Is In The Heart 12"
Deee-Lite: Power Of Love 12"

Digital Orgasm: Moog Eruption 12" (Promo)
Digital Orgasm: Running Out Of Time 12"
Digital Orgasm: Running Out Of Time (Remixes) 12"
Digital Orgasm: Startouchers 12"

Double Trouble & The Rebel MC: Just Keep Rockin' 12"

Still don't know why I ended up with so much Digital Orgasm - average at best, and that's being unkind to average...

Haunting Ground

Ah, Jarrett Tomlinson, one of the most beautiful voices in reggae.

Not only that, but he has worked with some of the best in the business:

Dub Syndicate
Horace Andy
Roots Radics

Don't normally feel comfortable with posting albums, but pretty sure this one is rare, and it's too good not to share.

Word of caution though: the vinyl looks like the rolling seas - it's on very lightweight vinyl and hasn't fared well, so the quality's not great.

Worth putting up with though, I think.

A1 Haunting Ground
A2 Life
A3 War Mongers
A4 Gold & Silver

B1 For The Future
B2 Thanks & Praises
B3 Moving
B4 Got To Get On
B5 Hang On

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Landing Party

Reminded of Radical Dance Faction by Roy Rocket's recent post, and as a result just ripped this from vinyl.

Have to admit when I first got my USB turntable, two R.D.F. albums found their way onto it fairly quickly, Borderline Cases and Wasteland. Sadly, at the time these turned out to be in the "nostalgia's not what it used to be" category, so never bothered with this 12".

Maybe I shouldn't have been so hasty. This actually stands up pretty well, once you've got used to Chris Bowsher's style, and are feeling receptive to the political/social overtones.

Gary Clail sounds like Maggie compared to this...

A1 Landing Party

B1 Landing Party (Short Version)
B2 Riverwise II

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The Afro-Left E.P.

Ah Leftfield. Unrivaled music, but so little of it...

This E.P. starts with the standard Leftism version, to remind us where we're starting from, then moves into the variants.

All three derivatives are different, but true to the original. Can't find any mix credits, so I assume they are all the product of Mr. Barnes' and Mr. Daley's hard work.

Afro Ride is more housey than tribal; Afro Sol more hypnotic; Afro Central more eclectic.

1 Afro Left
2 Afro Ride
3 Afro Sol
4 Afro Central

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Carnival

As I explained below, I had been looking for this Lionrock gem for ages, remembering wholly positive reviews by mates in the early nineties. Don't know how I missed out on getting a copy back then, but now I've got it, it's not disappointed.

Great samples (is it only me, or can I hear Thunderbirds drums in there?).

Chugs along nicely, exactly as it should.

1 Are You Ready To Testify?
2 The Guide
3 As Dawn Approaches
4 The Prankster's Mardi Gras

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P.S. not going to post Tripwire, as it's available all over the inter-web...

Escape

The last of the Clail triumvirate, and a fine way to round things off it is too.

Escape is not a straight lift off The Emotional Hooligan, as it's nearly a minute shorter. Sounds like they simply faded out the album version at around 3:30. What a strange decision.

Thankfully, Escape (On The Mix) redeems this miserliness, and things are rounded off solidly by False Leader (Parts 1 & 2), featuring the ever popular Marcus Garvey Dread sample from Big Youth's Dreadlocks Dread.

1 Escape
2 Escape (On The Mix)
3 False Leader (Parts 1 & 2)

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