Thursday 23 April 2009

Some vinyl we like (old and new)

First off is the new Joker 12” on Kapsize, Bristols man of the moment Joker is quite frankly, brilliant! This follows on from last years work with Rustie and keeps the same winning formula of Synth driven Dubstep and off beat basslines, Unique dubtep from a producer with a very bright future.
http://www.discogs.com/Joker-Do-It-Psychedelic-Runway/release/1734894

Next up is a track by Fred Ventura – “I’m not ready” on the mighty Clone. This is full on Italo disco originally released back in the 80's. Sadly this will be one of Clone records last release but them and I-F have re-issued this on glorious white vinyl and it sounds utterly amazing on a club sound system. This is vocal heavy with no break down, it just keeps going and going. A firm favourite @ Jam the Box.
http://www.discogs.com/I-f-ft-Fred-Ventura-Fred-Ventura-I-Cut-My-Heart-Out-Im-Not-Ready/release/1657543

Currently the techno market has been awash with expensive yet collectable dub techno. Many releases that have failed to push our bottons however this 2 track EP from Syrinx – “Million light years” on Rush Hour is certainly deep but very much dance floor friendly. Syrinx are Dutch and new on the scene (we think) although this release oozes experience on the production front and if they keep this up we'll be around for a long time.
http://www.discogs.com/Syrinx-A-Million-Lightyears/release/1638364

Detroits Aesthetic Audio run by the ever impressive Keith Worthy is known for their Beatdown sound but their latest offering by Tony Lionni – “5th Cycle” on the label is a sure fire techno thriller. Chopped vocal and punching four to the floor bass make this a proper peak time hit.
http://www.discogs.com/Tony-Lionni-The-Chronicles-Noir/release/1570024

This next track was originally released back in 1983, this defines the sound Electro for us. A simple groove with catching vocals. this got repressed after featuring on a Fabric Mix CD, think Egyptian Lover and Arabian Prince and you'll have a rough idea of what this classic record sounds like. Sexual Harrasment - I need a Freak - JDC Record
http://www.discogs.com/Sexual-Harrassment-I-Need-A-Freak/release/1113273

I have to admit, its taken me a while to get my hands this track by Mayer Hawthorne & The Country, its on super limited, super sexy red heart-shaped vinyl. Both sides of this are tremendous and sound like they were recorded in the late 60’s, “Just Ain't Gonna Work Out” is the winner for me and whats even more impressive is Mayer plays all the instruments and sings himself, signed to Stones Throw is is an instant classic and even label boss Peanut Butter Wolf took a while to realise just how unique this release was ““He showed me two songs and I didn’t understand what I was listening to,” Wolf recalls. “I asked him if they were old songs that he did re-edits of – I couldn’t believe they were new songs and that he played all the instruments.”
http://www.discogs.com/release/1536624

The next is actually 2 separate records, they’ve both been causing a serious impact on the floor and are as good as each other so thought I’d mention both! It’s the Equalized 12’s, so far there’s been 2 of them (001 and 002) with nothing more than a marking that says Equalized 001 or Equalized 002 stamped on one side of a white label, they are both seriously heavy, driving synth based techno with a very distict Berlin / Detroit feel about them, both are absolutely essential, these are produced by Shed who has been one of my favourite techno producers for a while now, his productions seem to capture the dark funk of Detroit perfectly, I really hope this series runs for a while!
http://www.discogs.com/label/Equalized

This one is an album I picked up recently by Fred Wesley & The Horny Horns - A Blow For Me, A Toot For You, this is one of what seems like an unlimited Parliament/Funkadelic off-shoots that George Clinton worked on in the late '70s, originally released in 1977 its classic ‘P-Funk’ produced by Bootsy Collins and George Clinton, it’s pretty much a dream line up of musicians including Maceo Parker amongst others, although the album is pretty much straight up Funk there are a few Jazz-Funk instrumental tracks on it that make it a great all round album for anyone into that 70’s Clinton sound!
http://www.discogs.com/Fred-Wesley-The-Horny-Horns-A-Blow-For-Me-A-Toot-For-You/release/475890

Friday 17 April 2009

Pictures from Jam the Box ... goes live

Here is some of the pictures from our last party...

The 10:04's





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The High Lines




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Lewis Gibson & the Midas Touch




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Andrew Jamieson



Monday 6 April 2009

A big thanks

Just wanted to say a big thanks to all the bands that made the last Jam the Box so unique, it worked much better than we could ever have hoped.

Hope to see you all at the next one on 2nd May,

We’re also going to start using this Blog to host mixes by the Jam the Box residents as well as giving a bit of a write up on the Vinyl we buy each week,

Stay tuned for more information to follow,

JTB HQ