OK not strictly hip-hop (although Ryder’s other band, Black Grape, were definitely influenced by the genre) this is more about about the inspired genius of inviting the Happy Mondays into ITV’s Ghost Hunting show. Inevitably the thrills, spills (and of course pills) are brought not by the ghosts but Ryder and Bez. The chaotic couple, two people you’d quite clearly never want as your next-door neighbors, ham it up, with every other word an expletive. This has cult classic written all over it.
Who got the funk? Egon. A whole shed-load. In fact a stockpile and probably far more than one man should have in his life. The man could probably spin funk and soul 45s continuously one after another between now and this time next year and still only be a quarter into his collection. His obsession, thanks to the wonderful Now Again Records label, is our gain. Read the blurb on the 6th Sept entry (its re-affriming that being a celebrity doesn’t mean that you can get into everywhere) and then download the mix and put a bit of funk into your Friday.
PURE EVIL’s work is as playful as it provocative, enthralling some with his mischievous DIY aesthetic, and enraging others (see some of the bitter comments).
Following on from international shows in Beijing, Sydney, Berlin and Sao Paulo PURE EVIL presents his first London solo show in 2 years at the Pure Evil Gallery in Leonard Street. The exhibition features 5 American landscape paintings and a series of artworks titled; Lost Innocence. So, take a trip into the darkest reaches of PURE EVIL’s mind, a kaleidoscopic journey where vivid imagery and dark gallows humour combine to create truly original artwork.
Using the DJ Hero post as a cue, artistically lets go completely the other way and dust off some hand-crafted, uber-rare, bonafide classics with a visit to Pearson Towers. Essentially a library for mix tapes, this community based site offers a wide variety of aural delights that demand to be played through your headphones. Loud. The Psychonauts Essential Mix, recorded back in December 1996, is one of our favourites. 13 years on this set remains a stone-baked classic that puts the bar so high that most DJs might as well pack up their flight cases and find a new career. Interweaving ludicrously rare white label joints, moody atmospherics from the usual Mo’Wax suspects, Britpop-era Oasis and dialogue cut from films such as Star Wars, The Andromeda Strain and Psycho, this is truly some cinematic music. Aurally and technically this mix is from another dimension; do-do-do believe the hype. Other bits worth grabbing are Breezeblock mixes by Portishead and RJD2, various off-cuts from the prolific Diplo and a DJ Shadow Miami Bass Mix (whaaaaaattttt?!?).
DJ Hero will be an innovative and fun way to get into DJ-ing but if anyone is looking for inspiration and a real insight into putting a mix together this is the site to visit. A must for hip-hop headz and music fans generally.
It would make a change from brewing very average beer, although some advertising bright spark came up with a ridiculously versatile slogan that is perfect for taglines such as this. ‘Neurosonics Audiomedical Labs Inc.’ Directed by Chris Cairns, featuring Scratch Perverts, Foreign Beggars, Dr Syntax and Stig. Enjoy.
