Emperors New Clothes: Darklight (Output) 1996

This harks back to the early days of the Output label before the electro revival and their big breakthrough with the Playgroup's 'Make It Happen' . In many ways it was a more interesting label back then with diverse releases from label head Trevor Jackson's Underdog alias as well as the early releases from Kieran Hebden as part of Fridge as well as his first solo forays under the Four Tet name.
A bit of a rarity this one, a double pack 10" release that isn't mentioned on the Discogs site. This is more on the trip hop vein and is affiliated with the Acid Jazz label, but don't let that put you off. If you dig the Headz era Mo Wax releases, then you will love this. Although it was recorded by Emperor's New Clothes (?), the whole EP has been reproduced and reworked by Trevor Jackson as the Underdog. Smoking beats and a dark musical backdrop, all the mixes tread a similar path. I love the voodoo trumpet that drops in which goes so well with the heavily effected rhodes chords and the sub bass that holds it together. The other track 'Darklight' is very similar but with a wee guitar riff I have heard before - no idea where though.
Its a shame that Output went tits up and it seems unlikely that releases like this are going to see the light of day ever again. Guess Trevor Jackson went back to doing his artwork but hopefully he will reappear again.


A1. Darklight (Underdog Remix)
B1. Darklight (Sputnik Remix)
C1. Haunted Music (Underdog Version)
D1. Darklight (Beatless Mix)
D2. Darklight (Bonus Beats)

Various: Eargasms Crucialpoetics Vol. 1 Sampler (Ozone) 1997

This is one of my favourite hip hop EP's and features some of the finest moments by the hip hop elite. Closer in spirit to the Last Poets than Dr Dre, this is pretty leftfield stuff. Even if you are not a hip hop fan, you will be interested by this.
None of these tracks have appeared anywhere else to my knowledge. This EP is a sampler from the album of the same name. I have only seen it once when it first came out and at £22 for an import CD, I decided to give it a miss, so who knows what other goodies were on there. Every track is seriously good but without disrespecting any of the other artists, there are 2 standout moments for me - Saul Williams & Mos Def.
Saul Williams drops a seriously deranged rap over a sparse modern classical piece with some human beatboxing finding a groove in there. I remember playing this out a couple of times and it freaked pretty much everyone out. Listening back now, I can understand why and the passing of time hasn't made it any less challenging. Its future music, but I don't know when this future will be. It is to rap what Archie Shepp was to jazz.
Mos Def is on a jazz tip here with the sparsest of backings but his delivery is stunning. He sounds scarily like Gil Scott Heron here. How did we get from here to him starring in a film with Jack Black? Very strange.

A1. Rha Goddess - My Pen (Remix) 4:34
A2. Saul Williams - Twice The First Time 4:31
A3. Bobbito The Barber - The Cucumber 3:18
B1. Mike Ladd feat. Company Flow - Bladerunners 5:44
B2. Mos Def - A Soldier's Dream 5:25

Shiba Experiment: Hanadokei (The Flower Clock) (Bambola) 2001

Japanese releases are always sought after for numerous reasons - superb production, great pressings, gorgeous artwork and super rarity factor. Sometimes the music's good too - as in this one.
This is house music but on a kind of Pepe Braddock tip with a beautiful melody running over the top in a kinda Detroit style building the synths for nearly four minutes before the beats come in. Then we are off into the groove as the arrangement builds and drops around us. Amazing stuff. Every track here is great though. 'El Sol' is kinda similar to the A Side but possibly a bit housier with a real funky bassline and some latin percussion - still tons of melody though. The final track is on a chill out tip, with an real early 70's Miles Davis fusion feel. All in all a killer EP.
Records like this would stay in my DJ bag for ages as I would play every track off it over the space of the night. Too many labels would stick 4 track EP's out when only the lead track was worth owning. At the same time some artists would embrace the concept of an EP and make it a real trip - Underground Resistance spring to mind, especially their Nation to Galaxy trilogy.
I was bit obsessive with the Japanese scene for while, although a lot of it was indulgent jazzy
nonsense. Still a good few gems over the years though - will look some out.


A1. Hanadokei (The Flower Clock)
B1. El Sol
B2. Magus Steps

Conscious Sounds: Release The Chains (Conscious Sounds) 1995

Digi Dub? A bit of a love / hate thing at the time with many of the purists repulsed by the digital version. They did have a point in some instances as a lot of it was truly shit but when digi dub got it right, it rocked. Remember (very vaguely) going to see Jah Shaka at a reggae festival in Brighton and he played this, as well as other stuff on the Conscious Sounds label. It sounded amazing. Actually met all the Rub A dub guys that day and they gave us a lift back to our dingy hotel in some Brighton back street . It was also from their shop that this record was purchased.
This is a highly authentic dub reggae version of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' with the instantly recognisable bassline to the fore and horns hinting at the melody. Believe me, it sounds 10 times better than I am describing. There are four mixes on this EP with the lead track being the most song based, where the other versions up the effects and take it into more psychedelic areas. Version Three is my particular favourite with its 4/4 club beat and distorted guitar, it sounds like prime era Bandulu or Sabres era Weatherall.
There was an album of the same name which I seem to have lost, but this was the standout track anyway. Need to find some more early 90's digi dub to upload. The Orb's Mr Modo label put out some great stuff as well. Hopefully I haven't lost all of them.


A1. Release The Chains
A2. Version 2
B1. Version 3
B2. Version 4

Idjut Boys: 7 Inch Spesh (NOID7000001) 2002

Back at last! Sorry for the delay but the festive period is a busy time for me and I've been on catch up for the last month. Will keep this one brief, as I don't have too much info on this one. Its obviously the Idjut's again, using silly band names, but both tracks work well in that Disco Not Disco vibe. I was always a sucker for those limited 7" releases!!
Hope you enjoy and expect loads more in February.

A. Cornelius Bushbeat III - Do You Know Conchita?
B. Jeff Leopard Band - Bedroom Eyes