The Emotional Hooligan (Promo) 12"

Simply a great track, off a great album.

As a Dub Syndicate stalwart, I view this is the very lovable red-headed step-child of a collaboration; the album reverberates with Style and co.'s quality. Melded with Clail's left-leaning Bristolian-accented lyrics, still makes me smile 16 years later.

This 12", which teems with surreal dog bark samples, is irresistible. I defy anyone not to find their lower limbs at least twitching to this:

A1. The Emotional Hooligan

B1. Crocodile Eyes
B2. The Emotional Hooligan (Dub Wize Mix)

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On-U Sound...

Along with the subjects of earlier posts, there has been a common thread running through my musical life, that being the On-U Sound label/collective/sound system.

Much has been written of the genius of Senor Sherwood, and I doubt that I can add to the more erudite musings of others, so I won't try.

What I will do, however, is post some of what I hope is the finer output of said label/collective/sound system. I am sure I will also post some slightly more questionable On-U Sound productions, for the sake of completeness...

There are a number of things of which I am certain:

1. Not all of it will be to everyone's liking.
2. All of what I will post is to my liking.

Will begin with a series of Gary Clail-centric posts, not least because he is the closest Adrian and co. had to a cross-over act...

Death Is Not The End

Having heard Green Man (Rum & Black Mix) on XL Recordings: The Third Chapter, and in various other remixes in clubs etc., it was with some confusion that I contemplated this CD whilst standing in yet another charity shop.

The reason for this confusion? I did not have my iPod with me, so I was not sure if this was the Shut Up & Dance that I thought it was; this combined with the odd album title, even odder cover artwork, and even odder still the inner sleeve shot (see below) which made me think that this could be some sort of jazz-funk nightmare or the like.



Having taken the chance, I'm glad I did because:

a) They are the Shut Up & Dance I thought they were.
b) It's a really interesting mix of dance, rap and hard to describe music.

It's hard to pick out favourites here because it's so eclectic, so it depends on what mood you're in. So, based on my mood at the time of posting, I'd recommend Here Comes A Different Type Of Rap Track, Not The Usual 4 Bar Loop Crap and Down The Barrel Of A Gun.

Java Bass will suit you whatever your state of mind, great bass line...

1. Death Is Not The End
2. Raving I'm Raving (Remix)
3. Autobiography Of A Crackhead (Acoustic Version)
4. Cape Fear
5. Here Comes A Different Type Of Rap Track, Not The Usual 4 Bar Loop Crap
6. The Green Man
7. Java Bass
8. So What You Smoking?
9. Runaways
10. Blue Colour Climax
11. Pure White Black Life
12. The Art Of Moving Butts
13. Down The Barrel Of A Gun
14. My C-Lab Crashed & Did This

Download

Way In My Brain (Remix)/Drumbeats

Another CD single acquired in Swindon, but at a different time and in a different shop to On A Ragga Tip.

Apart from track 3, the others sounds somewhat dated, and dare I say it formulaic?

Anyway, this one is dedicated to Musical Coco Basket, who has, apparently, had to sell music for food in the past. Hope this fills your stomach...

1. Way In My Brain (Remix Edit)
2. Drumbeats
3. Aftershock
4. S.L.Ectro

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On A Ragga Tip

Having posted XL Recordings: The Third Chapter, thought I'd see what I've got by any artists that were on it, and it turns out to be not much.

The one exception to that is The Prodigy, but it's not as if millions of others haven't posted on Liam and co., so I'll not bother.

The second exception is SL2. Although I'm not personally a huge fan, nor do I normally post anything but vinyl rips, wanted to post this CD single (picked up in a charity shop in Swindon of all places) for The Double K, in recognition of his kind comments.

For my money both tracks 2 and 3 are better than the title tracks - maybe that's just because I've heard On A Ragga Tip too many times.

Here it is:

1. On A Ragga Tip (Edit)
2. Pleasure (Original Mix)
3. Changing Trax (Original Mix)
4. On A Ragga Tip (Original Mix)

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Kingdom

This is the last of the vinyl that I have which was purchased as a result of my original Live At The Brain acquisitions. As mentioned earlier, I thought there was more, but if there was I don't know where it's gone.

I really (and I mean really) like British Summertime, a true classic if ever there was. The album it's from (Every Man & Woman Is A Star) is pretty damn good too, and I bought the album as a result of hearing British Summertime on Live At The Brain 2.

I applied the same logic to this purchase, but sadly the results do not compare. I know that Nolan Micron feels this is a ground-breaking piece of work, and I have to admit that I am not overly familiar with the 'folktronic' movement.

However, in my humble opinion, this is a piece of over-indulgent, pretentious, up-its-own backside piece of work if ever there was.

So, having given you every reason to not bother checking it out, here it is.

Utter tosh, but posted for completeness...

A1 Kingdom

B1 Goldcrest
B2 Kingdom (Extended Mix)

Download

Truly Ashamed...

...it's been over two months since my last post.

Got the turntable back on it's feet, so will post in the next day or two...