Welcome to Jumble Sale Radio. We're fanatical music enthusiasts who play the best in new and old music. Underground, overground, Wombling free.
So come check out our wares, let your ears have a browse and hopefully grab a bargain or two. Ultimately, we hope you discover something that you never knew existed but is right up your street, though we'll be happy to just shift some of this clutter.
We put out shows most weeks, play for NOODS radio Bristol every four weeks on Saturday. On FB, Twitter, Instagram etc.
Occasional dub nights in Bath. Deep dives into genre, artist etc.
Sunday, 29 December 2013
Tracklist
30 Favorites of 2013
1. Julia Holter - This Is A True Heart
2. Factory Floor - Fall Back
3. Laurel Halo - Thrax
4. Lil Herb & Lil Bibby - Kill Shit
5. Wolf Eyes - Chattering Lead
6. Richard Dawson - Poor Old Horse
7. Demdike Stare - Collision
8. RP Boo - Speakers R-4 (Sounds)
9. Dean Blunt - Papi
10. Pev & Kowton - Raw Code
11. Aidonia - Fi Di Jockey
12. Grumbling Fur - Ballad Of Roy Batty
13. Steve Arrington & Dam Funk - I Be Trippin'
14. Oneohtrix Point Never - Boring Angel
15. John Foxx & The Belbury Circle - Empty Avenues
16. Shit & Shine - Blowhannon
17. Royal T - I Know You Want Me
18. Tessela - Nancy's Pantry
19. The Stranger - Where Are Our Monsters Now, Where Are Our Friends?
20. Tim Hecker - Live Room
21. Tricky - Valentine (Andy Stott Remix)
22. Okkyung Lee - Strictly Vertical
23. Pusha T - Nosestagia
24. Da Mafia 6ix - Beacon N Blender
25. Ciara - Body Party
26. Gnaw - Of Embers
27. Kowton & Bashmore - Mirror Song
28. Floorplan - Never Grow Old
29. Bill Callahan - Ride My Arrow
30. Kahn & Neek - Chevy
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Tracklist
1. Shit & Shine - Panther Piss
2. Rachael - Okada
3. Mel-O-Dots feat. Ricky Wells - One More Time
4. The Syncopators - River Stay Away From My Door
5. Richard Dawson - William & His Mother Visit The Museum
6. Jah Lion & The Upsetters - Truth & Rights
7. Delia Derbyshire & Anthony Newly - Moogies Bloogies
8. The World Of Twist - The Storm
9. Da Mafia 6ix - Beacon N Blender
10. Demdike Stare - Null Results
11. RANDOMIZER - Ben Butter & Moped
12. Lumbar - Day One
13. Bastard Noise - Horned Beetle Conflict
14. Craig Leon - Donkeys Bearing Cups
15. Joe - Punters Step Out
16. Flava D - Hold On VIP
17. Elephant Man - Miley Cyrus (Twerk)
Folk Primer Part 4 (Acid Folk)
18. The Incredible String Band - Waltz Of The New Moon
19. C.O.B. - Heart Dancer
20. The Strawbs - Witchwood
21. Forest - Graveyard
22. Mellow Candle - Sheep Season
23. Synanthesia - Mnemosyne
24. Fresh Maggots - Rosemary Hill
25. The Sallyangie - Love In Ice Crystals
26. Vashti Bunyan - Winter Is Blues
27. Shelagh McDonald - Dowie Dens Of Yarrow
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Tracklist
1. Hodge - Prototype Fear
2. DVA - Chilli Burrito
3. Da Mafia Six - Stash Spot
4. The Body - Failure To Desire To Communicate
5. Starlito & Don Trip - Caesar & Brutus (Chopped & Screwed)
6. Lil Durk - Dis Ain't What You Want
7. Prince - Da Bourgeous
8. J-Zone - Black Weirdo
9. The Dovells - Bristol Stomp
10. Raekwon - A Rainy Day
11. Death Grips - This Is Violence Now (Don't Get Me Wrong)
12. FIS - Magiser Nunns
13. Jan Jelinek - Toton
14. Ryoji Ikeda - Supercodex 16
15. Bernard Parmegiani - Points Contre Champs
16. RANDOMIZER - Killing Joke ?
17. Laraaji - Sun Zither
18. Logos - Surface Area
19. Om Unit - Nagual
20. FIS - DMT Usher
21. eMMplekz - Tethered To My Hotspot
22. Teeth Of The Sea - Responder
23. Junior Murvin & Dillinger - Roots Train
24. Junior Murvin - Tedious
25. Junior Murvin with Welton Irie & Prince Weedy - Cool Out Son / Nice Up The Party
26. Junior Murvin - Bad Weed (Discomix)
27. Police & Thieves Radio ad
Saturday, 16 November 2013
Tracklist
1. Bardo Pond - Taste
2. Throwing Muses - Morning Birds 1
3. Bill Orcutt - Spanish Is The Loving Tongue
4. Melt Banana - My Missing Link
5. The Fall - Rowche Rumble
6. Death Grips - You Might Think...
7. Gnaw - Of Embers
8. Bardo Pond - Kali Yuga Blues
9. MUTation - Mutations
10. Fat White Family - Heaven On Earth
11. Sten Hanson - Revolution
12. Prefab Sprout - Devil Came A Calling
13. The Lyttle Folk - A 'Soalin'
14. Tim Hecker - Live Room
15. William Onyeabor - Heaven & Hell
16. Prince - Scarlet Pussy
17. Donna Summer - Dinner With Gershwin
18. Funkadelic - Funky Dollar Bill
19. Sam Binga feat. Redders - AYO
20. Oval feat. Albrieu - Sediment
21. Jan Jelinek - Do You Know Otahiti?
22. David Bowie - Love Is Lost (James Murphy Remix)
23. Special Request - Deflowered (Hieroglyphic Being Remix)
24. A Made Up Sound - After Hours
25. Laurel Halo - Thrax
26. Peverelist & Asusu - Surge
27. DJ Rashad & Spinn - Drank, Kush, Barz
28. Tommy McCook - Grass Roots
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Tracklist
1. The Velvet Underground - Rock and Roll
2. Ornette Coleman - Lonely Woman
3. Like A Possum
4. The Paragons - Twilight
5. The Primitives - The Ostrich
6. Big Star - Femme Fatale
7. I Can't Stand It
8. The Blue Mask
9. Antony And The Johnsons - Fistful Of Love
10. Ecstacy
11. The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes
12. Sad Song
13. Fire Music
14. Downtown Dirt
15. William S Burroughs - Words Of Advice
16. Disco Mystic
17. Egg Cream
18. Heroin
19. Lou Reed & Metallica - The View
20. RANDOMIZER - Sword Of Damocles
21. Wagon Wheel
22. The Original Wrapper
23. The Velvet Underground - I Heard Her Call My Name
24. Nico - Frozen Warnings
25. Galaxie 500 - Here She Comes Now
26. Dreamin'
27. Halloween Parade
28. Walk On The Wild Side
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Tracklist
1. Shit & Shine - Blowhannon
2. Dennis Brown - Three Meals A Day
3. Joe - Maximum Busy Muscle
4. Autechre - Tac Lacora / M39 Diffain
5. Imbogodom - Shape Of Everyone
6. Helen - Felt This Way
7. War Dubs feat. Footsie, Khan & Neek, Ikkle, Preditah
8. RANDOMIZER - Popol Vuh - Morgengruss
9. Tindersticks - If You're Looking For A Way Out
10. John Foxx And The Belbury Circle - Empty Avenues
11. Belbury Poly & Spacedog - Quiet Industry
12. The Stranger - Where Are Our Monsters Now, Where Are Our Friends?
13. Al Cisneros - Ark Procession
14. Sasha Go Hard feat. Tink - Problem
15. Don Trip & Starlito - Pimp C 3000
Folk Primer Part 4 (Fly Up Thy Cock)
16. Fairport Convention - Tam Lin
17. Steeleye Span - The Blacksmith
18. Maddy Prior & Tim Hart - Bring Us In Good Ale
19. Heron - Lord And Master
20. Bill Fay - Goodnight Stan
21. Albion Country Band - Murder Of Maria Marten
22. Sandy Denny - Late November
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Tracklist
1. Helm - Silencer
2. Rene Bendali - Tanki Tanki (Rabih Beaini edit)
3. Pev & Kowton - Vapors
4. Lee Bannon - Bound 3
5. Tesela - Gateway
6. Nipsey Hussle feat. Z-Ro & Slim Thug - Go Low
7. Joker - Arabian Nights
8. King Fifi - Oh Baby
9. Paul St. Hilaire -Nah Ina It
10. Al Cisneros - Jericho
11. Bill Callahan - Seagull
12. Lou Johnson - A Time To Love, A Time To Cry
13. RANDOMIZER Grand Funk Railroad - Heartbreaker (Live)
FOLK PRIMER PART 2 (Pagan Poetry)
14. Young Tradition - Lyke Wake Dirge
15. Mike & Lal Waterson - Red Wine Promises
16. Pentangle - Cruel Sister
17. Bert Jansch - Reynardine
18. John Renbourn - Lamento Di Tristan / La Rotta
19. Meic Stevens - Yorric
20. Shirley Collins - The Cruel Mother
21. Shirley & Dolly Collins - God Dog
22. Shit & Shine - Blowhannon
23. Prince - Big Tall Wall
24. Belbury Poly & Spacedog - Find Me
25. Pet Shop Boys - Thursday
26. Legowelt - Teen Romance
27. Four Tet - Buchla
28. The Stranger - About To Enter A Strange New Period
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Tracklist
1. Bill Orcutt - Black Betty
2. Pusha T - Numbers On The Boards
3. Four Tet - Aerial
4. Bass Clef - Stenaline Metranil Solar Flare (Pev Mix)
5. Matana Roberts - Invocation
6. Robert Wyatt - Chelsea
FOLK PRIMER PART 1 (the early years)
7. Margaret Barry - The Factory Girl
8. Bob & Ron Copper - Spencer The Rover
9. Ewan McColl - Dirty Old Town
10. Shirley Collins & Davy Graham - Pretty Saro
11. Anne Briggs - Fine Horseman
12. Jackson C Frank - My Name Is Carnaval
13. Mick Softley - The War Drags On
14. Donovan - Gunevere
15. The Watersons - Rap Her To Bank
16. Heslington Primary School - Autumn
17. Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick - Prince Heathen
18. RANDOMIZER - Short Commercial Break - Smarties (Peel Session)
19. Paul St. Hilaire - Love Jah Now
20. Danny Brown feat. A$AP Rocky & Zeloperz - Kush Coma
21. The Field - Black Sea
22. Oneohtrix Point Never - Zebra
23. RZA - Holocaust (Silkworm)
24. 0010110000010011 (Cancer) - Naonian Style
25. Powerpill - Pacman
26. Traxman - Pacman
27. Tessela - Nancy's Pantry
28. Breezy Montana - Designer Belt
29. Faron Young - I Miss You Already
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Tracklist
1. Alton Ellis - Ain't That Loving You
2. Mark Pritchard - Lock Off
3. Marvellous Cain - Hitman
4. Mark Pritchard - Soundboy Fuck Off
5. Om Unit - Sleepwalkers
6. Pev & Kowton - End Point
7. The Smoke - My Friend Jack
8. Sleaford Mods - The Last 3 Digits On The Card
9. Fiend - Fiend-Maria Sharapova
10. The Cookies - Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)
11. The Donays - Devil In His Heart
12. John Coltrane - Ascent (Take 8)
13. Oneohtrix Point Never - Boring Angel
14. Om Unit - Grey Skies Over Chicago
15. RANDOMISER - Ripple - The Beat Goes On
16. Suicide Dada - Waiting For September
17. Factory Floor - Two Different Ways
18. Floorplan - Never Grow Old
19. Colin Newman - Metarkest
20. Tim Burgess - The Economy
21. Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - Autumn's Child
22. Waka Flocka - Ice Cream Cone
23. Migos feat. Peewee Longway - Rocky Balboa
24. Tink feat. Mikey Dollaz - Money Money
25. Boss - Deeper
26. General Narco - Ironside
27. Talisman - Help Yourself
29. Bass Clef - Stenaline Metranil Solar Flare
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Tracklist
1. Sleaford Mods - Tramps, Stamps and Trendy Bollocks
2. Pusha T & Kendrick Lamar - Nosetalgia
3. Ideals - The Gorilla
4. letthemusicplay feat. Kate Tempest - Our Town (Joe Goddard Dub)
5. Silver Apples - Whirly Bird
6. Tricky - Valentine (Andy Stott Remix)
7. Talisman - Help Yourself
8. Altered Natives - Once Bitten Twice Removed
9. Mr. Mitch - Catford
10. Helm - Bergamo
11. Call Super - Dewsbury Severance
12. Factory Floor - How You Say
13. The Dead C - Courage
14. RANDOMIZER - Kevin Drumm
15. Vybz Kartel - School
16. J Capri & Konshens - Pull Up To Mi Bumper
17. Mazzy Star - California
18. Yoko Ono & The Plastic Ono Band - Talbetai
19. Mantana Roberts - Por Piti
20. Vito & The Salutations - Unchanged Melody
21. Thundercat / Ruslan - Bowzers Ballad
22. Melt Banana - Vertigo Game
23. Om Unit - The Hand
24. Jesu - Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came
25. Body/Head - Last Mistress
26. Bill Callahan - Ride My Arrow
27. Midday Veil - Great Cold Of The Night
Sunday, 15 September 2013
Tracklist
1. Babyshambles - Fireman
2. Arctic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High
3. The Afghan Whigs - Be Sweet
4. Total - What About Us? (feat Missy Elliot)
5. Janelle Monae - Givin 'Em What They Love (feat Prince)
6. Kenny Carter - Showdown
7. Factory Floor - Turn It Up
8. Hodge - Pressure
___________________________________
PRINCE JAZZBO SPECIAL
9. Crabwalking
10. For Star
11. Mr. Funny
12. It Dread Inna Youth
13. Gal Boy I-Roy
14. Step Forward Youth
15. Croaking Lizard
_________________________________
16. RANDOMIZER - ABBA
17. Grumbling Fur - The Ballad Of Roy Batty
18. The Fall - Hit The North Pt.2
19. The Clash - The Magnificent Dance
20. Rome Fortune - Four Flats
21. A$AP Ferg - Hood Pope
22. The J.B.'s - The Grunt
23. Led Zeppelin - The Battle Of Evermore
24. Bob Dylan - Tattle O'Day
25. The Icarus Line - Laying Down For The Man
26. Omar Souleyman - Wenu Wenu
27. Meridian Brothers - Cancion De Invierno
28. Visionist & Fatima - Al Quadiri
29. Prince - Breakfas Can Wait
30. Sly & The Family Stone - Underdog
31. Scott Walker - Rhymes Of Goodbye
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Tracklist
1. Meridian Brothers - El Ganadero Del Futuro
2. Angelo Badalamenti & David Lynch - I'm Hurt Bad
3. Forest Swords - An Hour
4. Visionist - Pain
5. Migos - Versace
6. Robert Wyatt - Rhymic Melodies
7. Meridian Brothers - Cancion Del Moderno Tempiario
A new Robert Wyatt album is always a huge occasion for any lovers of British music. He stands almost alone as an UK OG psychedelic pop innovator from the Hendrix & Floyd era, who continues to consistently produce amazing work, whilst remaining consistent to his original visions and never compromising one iota.
Cuckooland was especially welcome coming six years after his last full length Shleep, also an excellent release. Not a huge departure from Shleep, Cuckooland contained the usual collaborations (Brian Eno, Paul Weller, Phil Mazanera, and Wyatt's wife Alfreda Benge supplying both artworks and co-writing credits). However, Wyatt lovers want nothing but the same jazz tinged melodies, beautiful high pitched vocal, intelligent lyrics that combine the political, philosophical and personal in a way that characters like Billy Bragg can't approach, and most songwriters wouldn't even try.
Listening back to this era of Wyatt's music it is also interesting how he can make startling use of keyboard sounds and timbres that other more fashionable artists wouldn't have touched with a barge-pole due to their supposed in-authenticity like synth washes and tinkles most associated with 80's new age music and big Pop productions. It occurs that Wyatt simply used any sound making technology available and found good use for it, also he never stopped using this stuff, due to any return to the source movements, but simply embraced sound in a kid/sweet shop approach that is commendable and reminds me of Prince. The artists of the hypnogogic scene such as, Oneohtrix Point Never and James Ferraro were at the start of this decade being hailed for rescuing unfashionable and hated synth sounds, and making then listenable and interesting again. Wyatt never had this problem, as his innate way with a song and musical imagination means that he could surely produce beauty with any musical means available to him.
So to describe the music therein, I shall make my attempt:
Just A Bit is dedicated to Richard Dawkins and reaffirms Wyatt's atheism, although instead of using Dawkins aggressive anti religion, Wyatt's sounds a much harder path to non belief, each verse saturated in atheism defying sweetness, and at each melancholic dismissal of God and superstition you feel aware that hope becomes more elusive and intangible.
Old Europe evokes 1950's Paris, specifically Paris' love affair with jazz. Miles Davis' extended Parisian vacation and affair with Juliette Greco. Wyatt's first love was jazz, and this album is filled with jazz instrumentation. Don't forget, Soft Machines initial aims largely involved grafting a jazz sensibility into pop thereby helping birth psychedelia. Wyatt has got better with age however, and at this stage is the equal of heroes like Miles Davis and The Beatles. He has a similar melodic inventiveness and taste of a UK Joni Mitchell, but unlike her has remained interesting.
Tom Hay's Fox contains synth tones that in 2003 was only used by drum 'n' bass producers for the 2min intro and inevitable breakdown section!
Forest is a significant work, featuring old friends Eno and Gilmore (who these days both need Wyatt's touch to produce magic). This Grimms fairy-tale nightmare follows a gypsy girl in her trials from Czech Republic persecution, to danger filled travel to an unwelcoming Dover. Backing vocals and guitar build ominously like so many branches enclosing her.
Beware continues the foreboding feel, with an smiling faces style warning, of the inherent un-trustworthiness of people. Great trumpet and drum breaks on this one, if isolated would make great sample material.
Cuckoo Madame and Raining In My Heart is more bittersweet sadness perfectly suited to Wyatt's humanist sensibility. The standard, Raining In My Heart is instrumental with lyric printed on the sleeve, I believe the intention is for listeners to sing along.
Lullaby For Hamza ends the first half with further solemnity. Hamza was a child born as the first bombs dropped in the first Gulf war, damaging the hospital in which Hamza was born. This song then is written, inspired by a letter from Hamza's mother expressing concern on how the second war would affect him, the lullaby swing in the track feels different when faced with data on the amount of children who are prescribed Valium to aid sleep in Baghdad due to bombing trauma, 'the worlds gone wrong again, I need a lullaby'. Of course, Wyatt can make all this trauma sound like bliss wrapped up in trombone and accordion.
This track is then proceeded on the CD versh by 30 seconds of silence 'for those with tired ears to pause and resume listening later' how considerate Robert!
Trickle Down looks inward again, thinks about the act of listening, and might reference Wyatt's accident which left him unable to stand, with lines like 'press on your window, why some people float sometimes are floored'.
Insensatez is a bossanova Jobim cover, and a heart-breaker duet with Karen Mantler, daughter of jazz singer Carla Bley.
Mister E utilizes those synth tones again, which may even be the pan-pipe setting! Remarkably Wyatt makes it sound cool.
Lullaloop features Paul Weller on guitar, and is written by Alfreda. Funny and tender, this album highlight features Wyatt as a grumpy old man complaining about the noise, 'night's for lying down'.
Foreign Accents uses circular blocks of repeated motifs 'Hiroshima / Nagasaki / Avigato / Konnichiwa / Vanunu / Mossadegh', the last four words meaning, thank you, hello, the surname of an politically imprisoned Israeli scientist who leaked details of stockpiles of nuclear weaponry, and the democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister ousted by British/American secret services only to be succeeded by 25 years of pro western 'oil friendly' dictatorship. This track works in a hypnotic Phillip Glass/Terry Riley style.
Brian The Fox puts to great use Wyatt's delicate vocals in long tones, stretched until you can hear the grain of his voice beginning to crack.
La Ahada Yalam (No-One Knows) finishes this album and massive accomplishment, continuing the themes of the human tragedy of war, with an Arabic instrumental dripping in middle eastern trauma.
Even without the themes and thinking behind Wyatt's work (which definitely enrich it), his music can be enjoyed as simply beautiful on it's own terms, and this is what makes this album so special, I never tire of hearing it.
The third (final?) Ghostface Killah album to appear in this list is The Pretty Toney Album, which he released without the Killah title. It may seem controversial picking this one above Fishscale, which received all the plaudits and was widely considered his best work since Supreme Clientele. The thing is...I love the Pretty Toney Album. It came at a time when the extended Wu-Tang were at their lowest ebb, most members had a failed album behind them, and it had been years since the Wu had collaborated as a group. Ghost's previous effort Bulletproof Wallets had been dogged by sample clearance issues, and the resulting release was a compromised effort, and sold poorly. Pretty Toney then represented the moment when Ghost would step out from the shadows of the Wu, and begin to seem more important as a solo act than with his RZA helmed group. Importantly this time Ghost would bring along his own producers and rap crew the Theodore Unit (in true crap hip-hop acronym fashion, apparently meaning The Open Door). Only two RZA productions would feature and no Wu members.
Ghost had always featured 70's deep soul and Philly samples on his tracks, and this style was now amped up, and made as Ghost's own (Meth had blunted dusty beats, RZA had digital noise, Raekwon had the gangsta mafioso thing, GZA had chess and kung-fu, who knows what U-God had!). Pretty Toney kept our interest in all things Wu during these lean times. He also showed a new found maturity in subject matter, as along with the stream of conscious slang and ghetto brutality were feelings rarely expressed in hardcore hip hop; of male weaknesses, failure and at one point he even begs a woman to take him back, a brave move for a self proclaimed don-king who rocks a six inch high solid gold eagle on his arm, and a king tut piece about the size of 'lil Maurece.
So sit back, kick off your blue and cream wallabies, and get your mouth watered on some marvelous shit.
Biscuits kicks off proceedings with it's Sam & Dave sample. Ghost introduces his main foil for this and the subsequent 718 album, Trife Diesel. The track begins with Ghost admonishing some poor dude for getting him chocolate instead of a banana nutriment, and eager to succeed Ghost threatens, 'We gon get our money, If he front, They gon read about the rocks in his tummy'.
Kunta Fly Shit is one of two RZA productions, and is a short track containing pure aggression, 'Flambey his brains, Hanging out his onion'
Beat The Clock features Ghost rapping three verses in quick succession (hence: beat the clock), It's amazing the variety of different rhythms and flows he puts together on this, using sing song stylings and double time maneuvers. Among Ghosts free association wordplay he claims that 'feeds dolphins', and that he has a diamond encrusted condom 'for pussies that's golden'!
Metal Lungies is slang for bullets, as in 'ask the clique yo, they spit metal lungies'. This provides the metaphor for guest rappers Styles P and Sheek Louch.
We then have to endure a skit whereby we hear Ghost bathed by a woman, whilst The Delphonics play in the background. It's what they invented a skip button for.
Save Me Dear's lengthy Freddie Scott soul sample runs dangerously long, then Ghost starts rapping, and you realise, he's just gonna rhyme straight over it, as you imagine he would have when learning how to rap by just putting on a record and rapping in time over it. Ghost's, grown man approach makes itself known here, when he raps the usual list of desirable female attributes, cooking, not snitching to cops, good in bed etc.. However added to the list this time are, being a friend as well as a lover, talking down his low moods and stupid ideas and making up following arguments. A Killah that can communicate might just be a dangerous proposition.
It's Over expands on this new found maturity, and finds Ghost noting that when everything seems to be going so well, the world can crash around you. Verse one is reminiscing over the peak Wu-Tang era, with money no object, Ghost is in a daze of drugs and girls and is too preoccupied enjoying himself to notice that he is being watched. The murder of some crew members and a drug bust is the result. Verse two, tells of a girl that Ghost trusted who had access to personal data and robbed him.
Tush is underrated and is the lead single from the album. Featuring Missy Elliot as a perfect match for Ghost, and is a funky sexy P Diddy production, similar to prime Biggie or Ma$e productions. It's basically a sex track, but funny and as gritty as you'd imagine a tryst between Ghost and Missy would be. It's unusual for Missy to do sexual subject matter, as she says in the track 'you would think it was Lil Kim's lips ugggghhh', It is also a pleasure to Missy twist her syllables, 'Now shush, in my bush, And I can give you what you want, make a whoosh, Just throw it, i'll show you how to push, Kinky sex, tie ropes round your wroosts'.
Last Night contains Ester Williams, The 900 number and some pure filth.
Holla expands upon Save Me Dear's extended sample by just playing the whole of La La La Means I Love You by The Delphonics and letting Ghost run rampant over the top, a brilliant idea which has now been copied so many times. Keeping it real like '77, 'all we need is a drum, like fuck it he can rhyme, I'll sing'.
Ghostface is an attempt to repeat the success of Cherez La Ghost from Supreme Clientele, and uses a very similar palette of sounds.
Be This Way is a thumping soul stomper, Ghost paints vivid pictures of grimey Staten Island ghettos and corrupt cops getting backhanders from dealers. He then flips this on the second verse to a first person account of a crack dealer doling out fear and murder with the clinical coldness of a hardened gangster, 'We could do magic, splatter faggots in lobbies, the heat burn off their eyelashes, real tragic, forensic scientists called in to display graphics, the brain and spleen is left all over a fiends mattress'. A pained Billy Stewart sample loops in the background unable to decide between 'it's gonna always be this way', and 'It doesn't have to always be this way'. My gosh!
The Letter is a skit of Ghost choking up as he reads a letter; this then leads to Tooken Back, as Ghost and Jackie O in turn ask and beg to be taken back and forgiven their weaknesses. Ghost finishes with the advice, 'Don't be afraid to ask', I can't think of another hip hop album where this could happen.
Run was the big hitter, the track Westwood played. And although it featured a banging RZA beat and prime hip hop subject matter (running from the cops), it also addressed the subject in a way that felt un-glamorous and real. Whilst running from the cops Ghost drops his drugs, loses his trainers 'If you getting chased with no shoes on', and running on pure adrenaline hastly decisions are contemplated. Jadakiss who provides an excellent asthmatic verse (why are so many rappers asthmatic?) considers whether shooting at the cops is a good idea, whilst Ghost is running into all the wrong places 'If you see me coming get the fuck out the entrance'. Alongside these factors they hardly seem like successful criminals 'If you selling drugs in the school zone'.
Love finishes the album with some uplifting soul, but it's too little too late and we still can't wash that metallic taste from our mouths.
Alongside Pretty Toney came an album from Ghost's new crew The Theodore Unit called 718. The tracks were all recorded during the Pretty Toney sessions, the highlights of which are worthy of your consideration.
Ghost's verses on 718 are less thematic, just rapping, like he feels less pressured to find a concept and can loosen up. Which is Ghost's art really, and he can be heard at his best sometimes when freestyling nonsense and bragging over tough beats.
Guerrilla Hood sets out 718 promise to deliver 'Big stupid bangers'
'88 Freestyle puts Ghost over Big Daddy Kane's super fast Set It Off.
The Drummer is the only Ghost tune of this era to feature another Wu-Tang member, Method Man. Features a nice scratchy vinyl loop, and Meth quite rightly (and touchingly) raps to Ghost, 'The most important MC in the whole wide world is you, and you hardly even know it'.
Who Are We contains a shouty Bonecrusher chorus (exactly the reason why MF Doom said 'rappers shouting all in our ear like we're deaf!') over a punishing stomp.
Paychecks is a 'back when I was broke' rookie crime saga, whereby the Theodore Unit threaten young pretenders and entry level rappers with 'back then we was beatin the shit outta niggas, shaking niggas upside down on some cartoon shit'
Of the Theodore Unit, Trife is always worth a listen, but as for the others, basically skip any track that doesn't feature Ghost.
The 44 spot goes to a duo of MF Doom albums released during a period when Doom was on fire. 1999's Operation Doomsday had been hailed as a classic (and released a few months later it would have made the top 5 of this list). Intrigued heads excited by the debut had dug back into the KMD discography, understood the significance of the non-release of Black Bastards due to it's cover art, and the subsequent death of Doom's (Daniel Dumile) brother and musical partner in KMD. In the years that followed Doomsday a trickle of singles and KMD bootlegs came out, and anticipation for new Doom material was huge. Then from 2003 - 2006 we had four albums recorded under various aliases (three collaborations with other producers), one album under the MF Doom moniker, many guest appearances for other artists and an overseer/producer role for albums by MF Grimm and Monster Island Czars! A release schedule like the fucking Monkees! We were truly spoilt. This run ended with Doom's MM...Food and his collaboration with Dangermouse, The Mouse and the Mask. Since this he has slowed down significantly.
Viktor Vaughn and Madvillian were both non Doom productions, with Vik handled by a bunch of next level, futuristic hip hop scions (King Honey, Heat Sensor) based at the Sound-ink label, and Madvillain a collaboration with Madlib (hence the name).
Aliases seem to be used by Doom mainly as a springboard for rhyming, others have looked for significant differences in theme between Doom, Vik, and King Geedorah. However, other that all being comic book villiains, the references Doom uses remain pretty constant through all his work; the mythology of the mask (he can be a hero, villain, hiding his identity, ugly), an underlying sadness or damage both from the streets, racism, and the loss of his brother. Doom also often raps about his hobo/bum lifestyle; he is influenced by Bukowski, with frequent references to heavy drinking, being over weight, a disconnect with emotion, failed relationships and looking like shit. All of this meaning is hidden beneath Dooms buttery flow, slang, funny and clever lyrics and can be missed easily, but importantly still enjoyed. Just like the comics and cartoons Doom loves, his music can be understood and enjoyed on many levels. Fans of Doom look deep into the lyrics and love his multiple puns, references to old hip hop culture, complex metaphors, unbelievable rhyme skills (if you think it sounds laid-back and simple, just try rapping along), references to where he wrote a verse (on Vaudeville Villain's creepy voodoo rap Lickupon he 'wrote this rhyme sick in bed, with his dick head inside a chicken's head') and Dooms fondness for twisting common phrases to making them different in a way you hadn't previously imagined. For a detailed analysis of every Doom lyric (I shit you not!) look for the nerds at www.rapgenius.com.
Vaudeville Villain begins with the title track, where Vik stamps his rhyming superiority over the competition early, 'Viktor the director flips a script like Rob Reiner, The way a lotta dudes rhyme their name should be knob shiner, For a buck they likely dance the jig or do the Hucklebuck, To Vik it's no big deal, They're just a bunch of knucklefucks'. Vik later proclaims himself 'A really big fan of Dan Akroyd' as only a Ghostbusters child could possibly do. Vik is also unafraid to demonstrate the amount of hard work which has gone into being this damn good, 'He study rhymes and patter-ins, with climbs so steep sometimes the beats don't be matterin'.
Lactose & Lecithin which follows refers to the duff coke he buys from Mexican gangsters in this Ghostface like crime caper. A Dead Mouse features a great sitar sample whilst Vik uses cat and mouse metaphors to describe his rhyming skill. Raedawn was the first single of the album, and was a new sound for Doom, eschewing the soul samples for a synthetic, glitchy hip hop, Vik threatens challengers with a 'Triple shot of gnac with a chaser of bongwater'; it's ok Vik, you can have the mic!
Let Me Watch is one of the most interesting cuts featuring Apani B as Nikki and Doom as Vic, it starts as a tale of blossoming love, with Vic initially charming the cautious Nikki 'Heard he was the type to do her name in graffiti'. Things quickly unravel as Vik, inpatient for sex, casually calls her a Ho, he then tries to make up, as even the deeply flawed Vik kinda knows she was a good thing for him, Vik then seals the deal by asking Nikki if she could pick up 'two dutch' (for making joints), leaving Nikki declaring, 'I'd rather masturbate than fuck with Vik Vaughn', however Vik not knowing when he's beaten chips in with a desperate 'Let me watch'. Hip Hop gold.
Saliva is produced by RJD2 and stands as his finest contribution to hip hop, fast paced and traditionally funkier than the rest of the album, Vik details his mic skills in fine fashion, 'Hold it like a drunk driver hold a CB on a sharp turn, Still clutching his chest from the heartburn'.
Open Mic Night is probably funner for those who attend such things, with comedy rappers, and over earnest rappers upstaged by Vic and members of the Monsta Island Czars, who were Dooms crew at the time, each named after Godzilla monsters and having their own flow style of tricksy time signatures and hardcore subject matter.
Mr Clean features a nice cut up organ lick and scratch effect and was the second single, coming with a video where Doom nearly shows his face.
The final track is Change The Beat and does just that, flipping beats three times to showcase Vik's skills, almost every Doom line is great but a personal favorite on this track is 'If the pants fit, sport em but rock em low'. Doom can appeal to backpacking rap nerds, reference the old skool and rare gear and do cleverer than thou raps with the best, however what makes him more important is that underneath the swagger his rhymes cover a subject matter both personal and as ghetto as say M.O.P or the Wu-Tang, his art therefore contains more danger and intellect than indie rap types who wear the lifestyle like a fashion accessory. Doom is Hip Hop.
If you could criticize Vaudeville villain for anything it would be that some of the production quality did not match Dooms rhymes. Madvillany, Madlibs project with Doom promised to sort this, with his music already highly respected. Madlibs smoother, eccentric west coast jazz funk beat duggery shares the spotlight more equally with Doom and both styles are well represented.
The twenty two short tracks are typical of Madlibs style, quick switches, never allowing the beat to settle for long enough to become hypnotic, like George Clinton with an attention deficit disorder. Five minutes flies past, leaving your brain processing the accordion sample, the sample from Frank Zappa's Uncle Meat classic 'Sleeping In A Jar', and you've probably missed already some of Dooms most visionary couplets; did he refer to himself in the third person again 'When he got the mic, you don't go next', did he refer to someone as 'Borderline schizo, sorta fine tits tho', and then 'The old man preaches bout the gold sand beaches, while the cold hand reaches for the old tan Elllesses....Jesus', wow we really are a bunch of shallow motherfuckers!
Americas Most Blunted was a bonafide smash, sampling Steve Reich's tape loop experiment Come Out, for the service of a stoner anthem, 'One day he might grow a barn full, recent research say it's not so darn harmful'. The album carries on in this fashion, with Doom rapping in a lower register, it's easy to let the whole thing wash over you, as it's one of the most blissful hip hop albums since the days of prime Native Tongues, 'The best emcee with no chain ya ever heard'. Lord Quas also features on a few tracks as Madlibs high voiced alter ego, notably on Shadows of Tomorrow, based upon Sun-Ra's Space is the Place movie. Strange ways concerns white collar criminality and government criminality, namely the Iraq war.
Fancy Clown is heartbroken but hard and cynical, denying hurt in exchange for sex and violence, a cheating song, appropriately sampling a ZZ Hill/Swamp Dogg tune. In anger Vik raps 'Like all foul men at times I hit ya moms off, I told he knock it off, But she had to set the rocket off'.
All Caps reaffirms Dooms mastery over a chemically altered horn sample, hiccups and piano loop.
The album finishes with two of the best tracks, Great Day and Rhinestone Cowboy. Great Day includes some great Doom cadences 'This one he wrote in cold blood with a toothpick, One thing this party could use is more...Booze, Put ya'self in your own shoes'. Rhinestone Cowboy is just one great line after another as Doom squeezes in The Grand Old Opry, jalopies, and seemingly effortless bragging. The problem with writing about Doom is that simply transcribing lines like 'Goony goo goo loony koo-koo like Gary Gnu of New Zoo Review, But who knew the mask had a loose screw? Hell could hardly tell, Had to tighten it up, Like the Drells and Archie Bell', could never actually prepare you for how good it sounds when heard rapped by Doom.
Unfortunately due to a lice infestation at our usual church hall venue, we have had to relocate this week. Mrs Harvey has kindly let us use the cellar beneath the church hall, and although she insists upon keeping us locked down there (something to do with Rev Bryants wandering habits), she certainly keeps the supply of bread pudding up. The unusual smell we're reassured is only dried ectoplasm (God knows why they cook seafood down here?).
Well done Mrs. Harvey (could really do with some of that bread pudding right now!)
Sup Jumblers? preperations for show 3 are in full flow. We popped round to the church this morning to confirm our place at the next jumble and bumped into Mrs Harvey while we were there. Mrs Harvey is a jumble veteran and always manages to pick up a bargain, she told us that the entire outfit she was wearing, she purchased from last weeks jumble for less than £1.50. We were glad to hear that she has enjoyed the first two shows which her grandson kindly put on her eye patch (her terminology for an Ipod) for her. Of the two she prefers the second show, her preference is electronic,down tempo and hip hop she explained, or to use her exact words, "I like my beats funky and hard, like 3 day old dog shit". We found the description a little graphic but good for you Mrs Harvey, we hope you enjoy the third show even more.
It has come to the attention of Jumble Sale Radio, that Show 2 (The Church Hall Stand In Show) contains potentially harmful levels of Isopropylmethylpyrazolyl dimethylcarbamate. DO NOT BE ALARMED. It is unlikely that you will suffer any ill effect, however if you experience symptoms of nausea, vertigo, thirst or an irrational fear of squirrels, it is suggested that you consult with your GP, taking this hazard warning notice with you. It may be of some comfort to you that early tests have indicated that these symptoms, if experienced can be reversed by listening to the show again BACKWARDS. Please don't let this ruin your experience of Jumble Sale Radio, for show three we have arranged with our benefactors the use of a compound which we are assured is harmless to the population. Keep it on the Jumble!
All of us at Jumble Sale Radio would like to extend our warmest thanks, to all the kind ladies of Kingswood parish woman's institute for their kind donation of this bread pudding.
We're sure to enjoy this treat during the conception of show number two.
Yum yum!
Bad news for fans of dear old Mrs Brewers home baking and refreshments. Unfortunately she picked up some kind of lurgy on a coach trip to Weston Super Mare last Sunday and is not well enough to attend the jumble sale at the church hall this week. On a plus note, we have accepted an offer to take her place. Which means show 2 is just a few days away jumblers. Shame about Mrs Brewer though, were big fans of her Victoria Sponge.
Welcome to Jumble Sale Radio, we'll be producing some fairly eclectic mixes of our combined record collections for your listening pleasure. Weve been a bit frustrated with the delay in getting started. Unfortunately the recent bad weather has resulted in the cancellation of all the town hall jumbles, but were finally up and running and the first mix is now available in the broadcasts section.
