Bastard Jazz is proud to present the next installment of our long running Tempo Dreams compilation series. As with previous volumes of the compilation, we've tapped an established artist that we're big fans of to shine a light on their personal favorite producers, and compile an album up of all unreleased music from emerging & underrated young talent. And with Volume 5, we're happy to welcome in the Los Angeles based but globetrotting selection of Free The Robots.
Rooted in Santa Ana, CA, Chris Alfaro aka Free the Robots has spent over a decade taking his craft to audiences around the globe. Known as one of the pioneering artists to come out of LA's infamous beat movement, the energy and technical skill behind his live performances have landed him among the greats, sharing stages with Dj Shadow, Prefuse 73, Flying Lotus, to Afrika Bambaataa. Crafting stories to tell with his ever-evolving solo project Free the Robots, he has always had the ability to jump in and out of other worlds inspiring a unique signature sound that hints at jazz, psych, electronic, and hip hop, while remaining un-genre-fiable.
Staying almost permanently on the road, Chris has come across an array of artists and scenes around the world. Different tours and temporary living situations have landed him in the middle of both the DIY underground and more mainstream clubs and stages. Some artists he's connected with have either kept it proudly local or breached international borders. Underrated, unknown, or already on the brink; these are just a few of the people that have crossed paths with Free The Robots. He's chosen these songs as a representation of some of the vibes that inspire his music: Jazz, Psychedelia, Dirtwave, Beats, and a little bit of Future Funk make up Volume 5 of his Tempo Dreams series.
As with all previous volumes, the compiler has produced a track exclusively for the album, which Chris delivers in the bass heavy, South East Asian vibes of "Nasi Goreng" (also available on a limited edition 7" with another unreleased FTR track). Other producers included on the album include Mophono, Never Ending Echo, Kuromoji, RSI-MSK, The Breathing Effect, Cazal Organism, Lefto, Chubby Boss, Caliph8, TITLE, Nois IV, The Heavy Twelves, Mu. and Markey Funk.
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Lance Ferguson's Raregroove Spectrum is a collection of newly recorded versions of classic funk, soul, jazz and latin vinyl rarities, which features some of Melbourne's finest musicians across the album, including past and present members of The Bamboos, The Putbacks and Hiatus Kaiyote.
This 2 track single provides just a hint of what delights the full Raregroove Spectrum album contains - Lance explains that much of the inspiration for the re-works comes from his experience as a DJ; "Some of these versions can almost be looked at as DJ re-edits, sometimes we're extending what may be a really short track into something longer, or teasing out the elements in a song that really make it work on a dance-floor. It's essentially what someone does with a club re-edit, except we went the extra step and re-recorded the whole thing with a live band".
First up is a reinterpretation of a super obscure deep funk acetate 45 released by Keb Darge, Egg Roll - the follow on track is Lance's take on The Soul Vibrations The Dump.
The forthcoming album reaches further - and includes James Mason's 'Sweet Power, Your Embrace' as a sun-drenched Samba, or Anderson Paak's sure shot tune 'Am I Wrong' given an 1980's style Boogie/Jazz Funk makeover to the epic, widescreen Jazz-Funk of Pleasure's 'Joyous' - Rare Groove Spectrum provides new perspectives on the obscure to the well-loved, from old-school to new sounds - this is rare grooves re-grooved... beautifully.
Return of the UK producer Allen Saei aka Aubrey on the mighty Barba label is another bold statement in the discography of this well-versed artist. Building on the relationship with the Burek/Barba/Pomalo family established through remixes of Information Ghetto's "Inspiration" track (Burek 2013), DJ Stingray's "Communication System" (Barba 2015) and his solo "Clock Funk EP" (Barba 2017), for this record Aubrey presents us with a continuation of his previous Barba release, simplistically titled "Clock Funk 2" EP. As is to be expected from a guy who's been spending time in the studio for better part of the last three decades, this 12" is pure techno, in the best sense of the word. As mature and consistent as the previous record of the series, we have Aubrey building on that ground and expanding the range into more abrasive and rough on one side, and even more subtle and humane on the other. A1, titled "Clock Funk 2" is among the subtle ones. Beautiful cascading keys, glitchy synth bleeps and lead lines intertwine into a gorgeous composition grounded by a driving bassline and counterpinted with distorted ride cymbals. Uniquely sounding track which draws influences from many corners of the planet. A2, titled "Sel Moulo" sets a point for the other side of the spectrum. The heaviest and roughest, it locks the frame in which this EP works. Direct, abstract and firmly aimed towards the dancefloor, this cut is for the peak moment of the night when its combination of jacking beats and trippy leads will just push the craziness off the edge. B1, the most humane and gentle track on the EP, "Triads" is a perfect match for the A1 cut, although slower and calmer. Again, the similar approach is used, where the perfectly tuned combination of small synth and keys elements form a complex image which will stay ingrained into anyone's mind once you play it in the right moment. Again, it's hard not to reach for the word "beautiful" when describing this one. B2, Ghost Mist, is on the other hand a match for the heavy A2, but also not as intense. A repetitive affair, with abstract synth lines and disharmonic pads serving as an emotion injection just when they're needed. Common thread moving through all four cuts is an infectious groove intertwined with synth lines that would not be misplaced amongst the best examples of space-influenced techno music firmly grounded on the floor. All that, pressed onto a heavy duty 180 gram vinyl and beautifully packaged in an original artwork by local artist EmaEmaEma.
Slender Man Tells The Story Of A Tall, Thin, Horrifying Figure With Unnaturally Long Arms And A Featureless Face, Who Is Reputed To Be Responsible For The Haunting And Disappearance Of Countless Children And Teens. The Album Features The Film's Original Music Composed By Ramin Djawadi (game Of Thrones, Westworld, Iron Man) And Brandon Campbell (the Thinning). The Motifs Are Thin And Sneaky And Not Too Heavy. It Just Fits Perfect In The Dense Tension Of The Storyline. The Classic Horror Sound Is Present At Some Moments, But It's Mostly The Melodies Of String That Pulls The Soundtrack To The Right Direction.
The Slender Man package contains a min-poster and you'll find secret inscriptions in the run-out groove. The album is available as a limited Halloween edition of 666 numbered copies on coloured (transparent & black swirled) vinyl.
-180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL
-PVC PROTECTIVE SLEEVE
-SCORE BY BRANDON CAMPBELL & RAMIN DJAWADI (GAME OF THRONES / WESTWORLD)
-CONTAINS MINI-POSTER
-SECRET INSCRIPTIONS IN RUN-OUT GROOVE BRAND NEW 2018 HORROR MOVIE
-LIMITED HALLOWEEN EDITION OF 666 NUMBERED COPIES ON COLOURED (TRANSPARENT & BLACK SWIRLED) VINYL
The spiritual and uplifting music of Clifford White is highlighted with two of his most sought after songs, taken from his 1989 album The Lifespring, and presented here in a special extended 12" for the first time. Starting in music production at just 15, White could be described as a protegee, however his take is that they were part of a music journey that continues today. With a centre found in electronic music and spirituality, his progress, from simple home use 4-track stereo to working in professional 16-tracks studios was swift, but matched by a deeper appreciation, greater confidence and wider palette of music styles. Utilising his love of early samplers, his first use of the Akai S612 to accompany and expand his keyboard recordings saw continued development from his debut album at just 17 with Ascension (1985), to the follow up Spring Fantasy (1987) and on to The Lifespring (1989). A small review in the local paper literally led to a knock at the door and offer of a deal from the Start (State Of The Art ) label to record his next album. With a subsequent advance, professional studio equipment was hired and out of these sessions his sound expanded to include ambient, orchestral, synth pop and even ballads. From this both Lifestream and Rain Trek emerged. With a love of Jean Michel Jarre's Oxygene in mind, Lifestream's smooth beginning soon gives way to the pulse of an arpeggio driven groove. Aiming for "relaxation with an edge", the track has become a secret play for the more Balearic minded DJ in the decades since and now sees the LP trade for dizzying sums. However, the original is achingly brief, gracefully fading as part of the album's journey. Here though, with DJs and collectors in mind, White returns to the song to craft a specially extended version that completes the song and will be appreciated at sunsets across the globe. Seeking to take the music and listener to another place, Rain Trek took White's interest in Sci-Fi and the mystic powers of water to a rightful conclusion. The healing nature of his music is apparent, the mystery, yearning and travelling, all emotions evident, but with a kick that will grace the more enlightened dance.
By track two we've already blitzed Cutty Ranks samples via Dawn Of The Dead chatter through Street Fighter vamps and Pulse X resurrection subs. All you can do with Mars89's mesh of gutter sonics is pick out the landmarks you recognise: 'oh yeah that's kinda drill, mmmm gqom, oooo Night Slugs' but like the best hallucinations you just shut your eyes and ride it.End of The Deathsounds like it comes from no place in particular.
Slotting way outside of the current batch of hard-to-describe club music that we're all struggling with, End of The Deathis the Tokyo native's third release, his 2nd for Bokeh (after 2017's Lucid DreamEP) and his first official appearance on wax (after a run of 30 'Biological Tides'/'Poltergeist' dubplates). Bokeh pays full respect to Mars89's futuristic intent with a bad acid Akira sleeve airbrushed by Patrick Savile and a limited VR headset edition - accompanied by a 360° video environment by Seth de Silva.
Bokeh Edwards and Mars89 met at the Bokeh Versions x Diskotopia night in Tangram hairdressers, Tokyo (sponsored by Pioneer) in October 2016. He's a crucial member of the Tokyo's Chopstick Killahz, a self-described "Post Tribal DJ Unit" lurking on the fringes of the city's grime scene. Mars89's self released his debut EP East End Chaos in 2016 on a limited run of zines. He's also recently composed music for Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo 2017A/W and started a residency at Bristol's Noods Radio to highlight DJ and production talent elsewhere in Asia.
The fourth instalment of Moxie's compilation series is back, presenting this exclusive 4 track vinyl sampler thoughtfully curated line-up of artists. Featuring friends of On Loop, up-and-coming producers and prominent names alike. Stepping up to open this 12' sampler is The Maghreban, adding his trademark touch to an off-kilter remix of Steve Spacek's 'Gimmi Da Love'. Lisbon's Violet is up next, laying down her energetic signature breakbeat sound on 'Antifa Beats'. Flipping over, the B-side begins with Nathan Micay's infectious builder 'Basic Plumbing', paving the way for Louise Chen's 'Reach (Raw Mix) a solid house number. On Loop has continued on a straight upward trajectory since it began, with 2017's Volume 3 securing a nomination in DJ Mag's end of year awards for Best Compilation, and the imprint earning a place in Mixmag's 20 Best Record Labels of 2017. As the label steps things up, so does Moxie's NTS radio show, now moving to a weekly slot and cementing its place as a staple dance show for the station with regular parties at Manchester's Soup Kitchen, Edinburgh's Sneaky Pete's and London's Pickle Factory. With an international tour to be announced this year, things are just getting started for the DJ & Radio host.
A A1 | Steve Spacek - Gimmi Da Love (The Maghreban Remix)
Fernando Sanz has been steadfastly dedicated to the craft of beats and breaks since he was a young sprout of 14 years in the sun baked southern Spanish port city of Algeciras. Under the imprint Orbe Records, Sanz has cultivated his own thriving techno community as artist and label head. Since 2014 Orbe Records has been lashing the block rocking techno of Sanz's comrades Eduardo De La Calle and Steve Stoll, but mostly of Sanz's own prolific moniker, Orbe. As DJ and producer Orbe keeps the mood surreal and dreamy while deploying understated drum machine patterns to hammer the platonic solids that keep his beloved community in tact.
His forthcoming 3-track 'Hohenheim' EP for the Barcelona label, Lone Romantic, keeps the Orbe buzz rolling. 'Hohenheim' kicks the record into motion with the resounding thuds of a multilayered big-room kick while bright synths and sharp edged sci-fi machinery climb the walls in obscure and narcotic patterns. 'Shimano's Tribute' is a study in the fundaments of techno that lull the listener with an extended 4X4 intro into a state of high mental absorption, just in time to drop the centre piece of the track, an eloquently ovular stutter sliced percussion sample. 'Edelweiss' sets the record on a outward course for somewhere between the hypnotic dance floor bliss of a pre-dawn Sunday morning and the impending angst beholden to glimpsing the dystopian sprawl of civilisation when flying out Monday morning.
"Oozing.. oozing soul, oozing feel, oozing the essence of rhythm and the body. This is what Elbee Bad is about. A native New Yorker who has long since transplanted himself in Berlin, Elbee Bad AKA The Prince of Dance is back on Thema Recordings with a masterclass mini album that will resonate for years to come. "Crossing Dimensions" is more than just a record, it is a philosophy on turntablism and what it means to be engaged in this culture. Sitting comfortably on the shelf next to artists like Mr. G, Moodymann, and DJ Sprinkles, Elbee recalls this genuine house feeling while adding a spice that could only be summoned out of his creative nuance. From the anthemic knowledge of "Request Monster" to the bass blistering sonnets of "Crossing Dimensions", Elbee showcases the sound of an artist who is deeply in touch with himself, the crowd, and the history of this music. No filler, no bullshit, just truth, love, and HOUSE.
Text by: Nathan Levenson"
Dusty archives, the backrooms of record stores, private reel to reel stashes, master tapes - these are the environs of the Dynamic Range experience.Dynamic Range is a new label focused on unearthing deep Soul, Funk and Disco jams that continue to resonate with todays dancers and DJ's. Time spent scouring the bowels of the majors and independents has unsurprisingly resulted in numerous gems being added to the DR wants list. High quality, fully licensed reissues are the order of the day, always taken from the correct master source and re-presented to hungry record heads the world over. To repeat, this is a fully legit operation - Avoid the sharks at all costs!
The debut release on the label is a real doozy - New Birth, the mighty Detroit Funk outfit who operated from 1970 onwards are first up to bat. Their late 70's rarity 'Deeper' is a real monster lifted from their killer 'Behold The Mighty Army' LP. Produced by legendary Motown stalwart Frank Wilson this is some straight-up Disco-fied Funk for sure! One of those solid, mid-tempo groovers that just ignites a dance-floor at any time, any place. Side-A is the glorious full-side Disco mix and we're treated to the full instrumental version on the flip. No lazy edits here, just the full Funk and nothing but the Funk, just as the group intended! This is one of many soulful treats that Dynamic Range will be presenting in the coming months, stay tuned for more - 'Ain't It Something'. All music selected by the Dynamic Range team / Licensed and reissued by Above Board distribution in conjunction with Warner Music.
Remastered with love by Optimum Mastering, Bristol UK. Artwork and design by Atelier Superplus. 2018.
Harlem's legendary Disco label Queen Constance has long been a cult favourite among fans of underground dance music for decades.
One of many labels operating under the equally legendary P&P family of imprints Queen Constance was operated by one Peter Brown, a truly colossal figure in NYC's music scene, it's catalogue still fascinates music lovers to this day. Covering a wide range of styles including Gospel, early Rap and Disco the label's output continually finds it way into the playlists of respected DJ's and selectors across the globe. High Fidelity will be the first in a series of Queen Constance rarities to be reissued, an extremely rare and coveted record that can change hands on the second hand market for big big money, avoid those low rent bootlegs that are out there and cop this fully licensed repress.
The group's self-titled sole long-player is a fantastic 6 track set of gritty, soulful and uplifting funky Disco with a DIY edge. Not too much is known about the artists themselves, or even when the record was performed, recorded or released but it certainly sounds like a group who knew their craft inside out. The energy is high across the record and the group sound like they're on fire, just check the outrageously funkified 'Magic Carpet' and you'll see what we mean. Amazing. The whole project has that enchanting lo-fi, back-street feel to it in terms of production and the mind boggles as to how such a record would have come off had it been recorded at a Motown or any other 'big' studio, but no matter as this release is perfect the way it is, an essential piece of street-level NYC Disco straight from the underground.
This is a 100% legit reissue, made in conjunction with Above Board distribution and the Demon Music group, lovingly remastered with love by Optimum Mastering, Bristol UK.
Very LIMITED album discs available now:
This is the first album Oscar Mulero has released under his own name, after two acclaimed LPs under the moniker Trolley Route. Well known for his skills as a hard-edged, raw and floor-orientated techno dj, his productions go far beyond, digging deep into the intricate landscape of intelligent techno, floating moods, reminiscent atmospheres, harmony and detail.
Grey Fades To Green is the affirmation of his maturity as a producer, using both hardware and software in the pursuit of a highly coherent and diverse album.
The concept is split into two parts: The Grey and The Green, each one with its own character. The first part is rougher and meant for the dance floor, although pays full attention to detail and complexity. The second part is quieter, has a slower pace and is best enjoyed at home.
In The Green Oscar goes deep into the intellectual side of techno music and is heavily influenced by the post rave sound emerging from the UK in the nineties: Aphex Twin, Gescom, B12, Plaid, Autechre.. but with a contemporary approach.
This part of the album brings you melodies, harmonies, endless atmospheres, and hours of studio work. Each sound has been carefully constructed, nothing is left to chance: Every stereo panning, every change to the synth's parameters has been meticulously designed for your listening pleasure; just what you want when you listen to techno on headphones. Futuristic music made with the utmost care.
'Last Regrets' shows how melancholic harmonies can be a perfect match for abstract beats and a dub-step reminiscence. A fine piece of sci-fi techno.
'Grey Fades To Green' makes a clean break by offering us an industrial drum'n' bass piece with a techno approach that mutates as the minutes tick by. A dub-step melodic track. Futuristic breakbeat for the decades to come.
The final track of The Green, 'Silent Air', picks up the homage to the intelligent techno sound of the beginning and returns to random grooves, crunchy samples, impossible hi-hats and massive synthesizer and step sequencer routines. A perfect ending to this sound journey from the heart of the dance floor to the core of your mind.
A mature work that confirms Oscar Mulero as one of the most qualified studio animals on the techno landscape.
Producer Okzharp and vocalist-artist-dancer Manthe Ribane both hail from South Africa, where Manthe still resides, while Okzharp lives in the London where he is a DJ and producer, initially cutting his teeth in LV, who in 2007 were one of the very first acts signed to Hyperdub. Manthe has been at the forefront of South Africa's cutting edge fashion, art and dance worlds for over a decade. After leaving LV, Okzharp and Manthe started collaborating, going on to release two well-received EPs on Hyperdub, 'Dumella 113' and 'Tell Your Vision', recorded in Joburg and London respectively. The recording of 'Closer Apart' reflects the title. Okzharp says 'Most of the music came out of headphone moments in hotel rooms, planes and airports in the brief periods of time that we spent together.' Describing Manthe as a co -producer, he continues 'She selected instrumental sketches and we developed them together, sometimes just keeping the bare bones or a melody or rhythm, or trying different elements or sounds.' Even though the album was built long distance, the short periods they spent together were the ground zero for creativity. Okzharp recalls 'One particular moment in Milan last year, we had a whole free day before our flight so we visited the Salone di Mobile design show. We were so inspired by an installation there just walking around, listening to the amazing soundtrack. That evening our flight was delayed, so we sat on the floor of the airport terminal putting musical ideas down for 'Time Machine' on the laptop speakers and writing the lyrics. "Tic Toc time, we'll be fine / Airport queues, cerulean blues / Viper trails cross the skies / Lights reflect in your eyes...' ' 'Closer Apart' has a softness and openness that contrasts the tougher sound of the EPs. Manthe explains, 'The new music is a 360 turn, an expression of my 'Lady' side. I grew up listening to Jazz, Classic and Gospel, I am a very soft spoken person, and it resonates with being confident with that. It's been crazy finding balance and finding a smart way to strengthen my weaknesses, I had to trust the process.'
3x12"
Mark Archer aka DJ Nex returns to Music Mondays for a limited edition, bespoke, shrink wrapped, collector's item, triple pack vinyl album of his legendry DJ Nex EP's.
Originally released in 1992 and 1993 The Nex EP and Poundstretcher EP have become incredibly sort after on vinyl. However, The Poundstretcher EP was always cut to low with 4 tracks aside. We are now taking both EP's and remastering them to 3 loud pieces of vinyl.
The sleeve will be a specially designed piece of art just for this project, while the label on the 3 records will represent the original releases, keeping that authentic DJ Nex vibe!!!
Three years after presenting an original idea of arranging his own music live by using a standard DJ setup and a drum machine, Strahil Velchev alias KiNK is ready to premiere the very first EP-outing of his new project entitled kirilik.
Created with obscure studio equipment and backed by an array of sonics out of his extensive line-up of machinery, Kirilik successfully transfers to the record that unique level of levity and immediacy that his live act has already become renowned for.
Loopy and thus infinite in nature, sometimes seemingly spiraling themselves out of control even, these tracks are as versatile as they are just fun to play around with! Fittingly enough, Infinity Is Not A Number comes complete with an added bonus of four additional endless loops, edged into the final grooves of each side...
Fresh off the back of the languorous poolside disco and tropical pop of their debut album 'Shapes On Shapes' released last November, LA based duo Wild & Free return with a collection of essential remixes from label mates and influences alike by revisiting the heady disco of recent single 'Ferns and Stuff'.
Both multi-instrumentalists, singers and producers in their own right, Wild & Free duo Drew Kramer and George Cochrane came together in 2015 and have spent the past 2 years crafting a series of acclaimed EPs and remixes (for the likes of Joe Goddard (Hot Chip), Panama, Gigamesh, RAC and Ben Browning of Cut/Copy) that saw them tipped by the likes of Spin, XLR8R, Indie Shuffle, Clash Magazine, Data Transmission and many more and take their live show on the road playing alongside the likes of Brooklyn's Body Language.After releasing a few solid ep's and two full lengths album's Xinobi has gained real recognition among established and well-known artists and opinion-makers, and his underground cult has amplified. What has followed is remixes, edits and reworks for artists such as Sbtrkt, The Avener, John Grant, Toro Y Moi, Nicolas Jaar, Agnes Obel, Kris Menace and Tensnake.Along with Moullinex and Mr. Mitsuhirato he gave birth to the still-growing-influent Discotexas who here lend their label mates their expert musical arrangement skills with 'Discotexas Club Mix' thrown in for good measure. And it doesn't stop there, with legendary New Yorker Justin Strauss, who has produced and mixed records and remixes for the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Beyonce, La Roux and Goldfrapp contributing a 'Whatever/Whatever' mix as part of the slick and hugely influential production duo he formed with Bryan Mette.
Already noticed for his remixes and array of collaborators and with several releases under his belt (including a track on the 'Bonjour Colette' compilation), Tokyo-based Yuki Abe AKA producer/DJ Boys Get Hurt gets his inspiration from the melancholic feelings the end of summer inevitably brings about, a personal and evocative sensibility in tune with the land of the rising sun's delicate culture. Yuki expertly crafts bouncy disco-house music with sprinklings of electronica, indie, ambient, hip-hop and R&B. Here he adds a mix with a loose and joyful feel that fits the sentiments of what Wild and Free represent perfectly.
- A1: The Hell Raisers - Syd Dale
- A2: The Eyelash - Johnny Hawksworth
- A3: Walk In A Nightmare - Syd Dale
- A4: Beat Street - Johnny Hawksworth
- A5: Walk And Talk - Syd Dale
- A6: Big Bass Guitar - Bill Martin / Phil Coulter
- A7: Mr. Chestertons Dog - Bill Martin / Phil Coulter
- A8: Mods & Rockers - Bill Martin / Phil Coulter
- A9: L.s.d. - Bill Martin / Phil Coulter
- B1: Stand By - David Lindup
- B2: Take A Goosie Gander - Syd Dale
- B3: Juggernaut - David Lindup
- B4: Grand Prix - Johnny Pearson
- B5: Veiled Threat - David Lindup
- B6: Sixth Sense - David Lindup
- B7: Funky Flight - Keith Mansfield
- B8: Raver - Alan Hawkshaw
- B9: The Washington Affair - Syd Dale
Way back in 1967, an animated superhero cartoon was released into the world. It was created by Grantray-Lawrence Animation and was based on a web-spinning, crime fighting blue and red dressed character that had originated in1962, in Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. This amazing series (that we're not allowed to mention the name of for legal reasons) ran on ABC TV in the USA, then Canada, then a few years later started to spread its web further, running here in the UK throughout summer holidays, after school and possibly early mornings at weekends in the late 1970s. The series then got released on VHS video (and probably Betamax too) in the mid 1980s and still continues to spin its animated magic around the world through further broadcasts, YouTube and DVDs.
The series was notoriously low budget, with animated errors everywhere and numerous scenes, sequences and backgrounds being re-used all the time, often across the same episode. Even a certain spider logo on a costume would appear with six legs, then eight legs later on, then back to six again in the same show.
Series One opened with a newly written spider theme, a classic, hooky song all about doing whatever spiders can, and had, as Big George (RIP) once pointed out to me, a set of session singers falling slightly out of time with the backing track after the first verse. Series One also featured background music by jobbing composers Bob Harris and Ray Ellis but these cues and master tapes are now believed to be lost.
After Series One the company Grantray-Lawrence went bankrupt, so the amazing spider series (that we're not allowed to mention for legal reasons) was taken on by producer Steve Krantz. He brought in new talent, including animation director Ralph Bakshi who later went on to turn a Robert Crumb strip cartoon into the feature Fritz The Cat. Krantz also slashed the already cripplingly small spider budget, and brought in the idea of using economic library music. Here, thanks possibly to an independent sync agent (it has been suggested that a company called Music Sound Track Services may have been the one) production turned to the KPM catalogue. This was one of the few really established library catalogues around at the time with a modern edge, it was full of fabulous, modern dramatic music tracks - often all on the same LP. But more importantly all the tracks were far longer than the one minute musical cuts that many of the fledgling USA library companies were issuing at the time. Not only would this KPM music be efficient, affordable and very easy to use, it would also mean syndication worldwide would not be held up by any future musical issues. Krantz produced two amazing spider series (that we're not allowed to mention for legal reasons), and both were smothered with KPM music. In fact barely a spider second goes by without music playing in either the background or foreground.
For many years I - and many nostalgic others - have been thinking about putting this vinyl album together. For many enthusiasts this really is formative music - a junior foray into hip swinging crime jazz and esoteric musical grooviness. I've also read on line accounts by DJs from WFMU on the trail of original spider master tapes, and there's even a whole forum dedicated to Spidey-Jazz'. Then recently I was looking at an old spider tracklist and realized that several of my favourite KPM cues were there including Syd Dale's Hell Raisers' and Walk And Talk', both from one of the most elusive and desirable KPM albums of all time (yes, you just try and find yourself a copy of KPM 1002 right now), so I decided to push on and get the album made.
So, what features on this Spider-Jazz Lp Well it's music from the amazing TV series we are not allowed to mention for legal reasons, BUT, not music from Series One. No, but it is all from Series Two and Series Three. From looking at archival cue sheets, over 50 tracks from various early KPM 1000 series albums were used across episodes. I've distilled this down into one exciting and enthralling LP, and if this works a further Spider Jazz album may well swing in to production. If you're interested (and I'm sure you may well be) cues here came from KPM1001, KPM1002, KPM1015, KPM1017, KPM1018 and KPM1043 and were composed by master library composers of the era - Dale, Hawkshaw, Hawksworth, Mansfield etc.
And if you are listening over there in the USA, you may well recognize many of the cues here not just from the amazing TV series (that we're not allowed to mention for legal reasons) but also from classic 1960s and 1970s NFL highlight shows that we are allowed to mention.
Now, these tracks do one thing: they are meant for the club and in the club they should stay. A somewhat sweaty enviroment, like 150 people and a good analog soundsystem... something along those lines. The aim is at a real track-y, immediate vibe - without diving too deep to the autistic side of disco edits. Just trying to master the ancient art of elevating a piece of music by cutting and pasting.
The Saqqara Ep Is A Multilayered, Sonic Canvas From The Mind Of Chris Barratt, As He Launches His New Alias, Baratt, For Life And Death. Fine Brushstrokes Move From All Areas Of His Musical Hideout, Spreading Over Five, Varied, Aural Sculptures, Each One Warping And Weaving On Its Own Cosmic Trajectory. Pooling From Key Aspects Of His Eagles & Butterflies Project, Barratt Induces New Musical Shades, Hinting At Moments Of Disco And Funk, Through A Lens Of Psychedelia. The Title Track Is A Late-night Floor-filler - A Bold Yet Uniquely Personal Necropolis Built From Riveting Delays And Arpeggiators. Time Bending Sees Dj Tennis Join In, Stepping Up With His Trademark, Rough Around The Edges Production Aesthetic, En Route To Unknown Destinations. Barratt Hones-in On A Confident, Stripped-down Style On Khaos - Rhythm Versus Melody - Just In Time For Festival Season. 1983 Soundtracks A Ride To Utopia On A Rocket-fueled Vespa, Leading To Collider, The Land Of Un-quantised Madness, Where The Most Treasured Of Synthesisers Live Amongst Their Drum Machine Counterparts. Flowing Yet Incredibly Interconnected, Saqqara Is Best Interpreted As A Mini Artist Album - The First Of Many Barratt Offerings.
* Pioneers of the electronic music scene, Music Producer and Finiflex Studio Owner, John Vick and DJ, Davie Miller are working together on a new project . . . . FINIFLEX
* TA TA OO HA was the first single to be released from the much anticipated forthcoming album SUILVEN, slated for release in May 2018.
* FINIFLEX have been playing the new material live since the end of 2016 with gigs in Edinburgh (Neu Reekie), Glasgow (Let's Go Way Back) Skye (Non Stop Easter Weekender) Barcelona (Kosmopolis), Dundee (Carnival 56) and the TA TA OO HA Single Launch Party (TRANSMISSION) in Glasgow.
The show itself is an immersive experience featuring lights, live projections and video graphics, basically a super slick production rammed with back to back bangers.
* These new releases may by the first in 20 years but in reality it's not been such a long period of silence. The almost a secret FINIFLEX Studio Complex (FINIFLEX HQ) based in Leith, Edinburgh has continued to work away with some of the best in the genre including the likes of Justin Robertson, Lord Of The Isles, DJ Rolando, Andrew Weatherall, Sparks, Billy McKenzie, Jon Pleased Wimmin, Paul Oakenfold, Dave Ball (Soft Cell) to name a few.
It's a given that their past assures their pedigree within the electronic music arena but with the release of TA TA TA OO HA . . . . . FINIFLEX brought it all rushing into the future. . . . . .




















