Party / Aficionado With Phil Mison, Jason Boardman and Moonboots

Bit of a nice line up here for what sounds like a lovely party.It’s all been a bit slow around Test Pressing for reasons that’ll become apparent next week but if you’re north then this looks a safe bet to sink a Pernod and kick off your shoes…

Party: Phil Mison / An Evening With & Mixtape

Be rude not to write about this one… A whole night with Phil playing music for just over a fiver will be brilliant from the off. I’ll not say much more but recommend heavily and for more information you can go here.

While on the subject of Phil, Faith Fanzine asked Phil to do them a mix tape for the last issue and here it is. You can also listen to it here. Here’s the piece…

What other DJ can claim to have been resident at Cafe del Mar during its peak period of the ‘Chill out’ phenomenon, paving the way for all those festivals full of Guardian-reading, lentil-munching folk who went to school with David Cameron? Actually that’s not his fault as he is one fucking hell of a DJ with a deep knowledge and love of the music and a party. Phil didn’t choose this mixtape for you to play while you lay back and chill as your Cath Kidston, welly-wearing wife keeps Oliver and Lucinda out of the circus tent, but for you and your skanky pals to munch on a couple of little green fellas and a cold Union beer.

Pastor TL Barrett – Like a Ship (Light in the Attic)
An obscure gospel album recently re-issued on Light in the Attic. Made by Pastor Barrett in 1971 to attract people to his church in Chicago, I heard this and instantly loved it. I’m sure there are hundreds of amazing privately pressed gospel albums that I’ll never hear, but I’m just happy discovering this one.

Eloise Laws – Love Factory (Inferno)
Taken from the ‘Out on the Floor’ compilation by Neil Rushton, I first heard my friend’s older brother playing this when I was about 12. Everything from the cover artwork with a map of England showing mysterious places like the Twisted Wheel, Samanthas, and the Catacombs, to the incredible music made me rush out and buy a copy, even though I knew nothing about northern soul.

Jackie Lee – Darkest Days (Kent)
An emotional, raw, soulful track about a man going through a hard time. After ‘Out on the Floor’ I bought the first few Kent compilations. This is from number seven ‘Floorshakers’. I started venturing up to London and remember going to Grapevine Records in an indoor market off Carnaby Street. Seemed like a big adventure at the time, like going to another planet.

Ten City – Devotion (Atlantic)
The first time I went to Groove Records in about November ‘87 I bought this and Masters at Work ‘Alright Alright’. That started years of wandering West End record shops, if I didn’t go at least once a week I used to panic that I’d missed out on something. I bought anything that had Marshall Jefferson’s name on it, after Devotion came ‘Right Back to You’, it just blew me away.

William Onyeabor – Fantastic Man (Wilfims)
A friend went to New York a few years ago for a record fair, I gave him some money and in the pile he bought back was this. A Nigerian disco album from ‘79, the cover is knackered and the vinyl is pretty scratched, still sounds good when you play it out though.

West India Company – Ave Maria (London)
In about 2003/4 myself and my friend Oscar put on monthly Sunday afternoon parties at a bar in West Hampstead. One of our regular guests was DJ Gareth, ex Market Tavern / Love Muscle. I could have picked any one of his tracks, Melba Moore ‘Standing Right Here’, It’s Immaterial ‘Space’, Dennis Parker ‘Like an Eagle’, but Ave Maria was always played when it was most busy and people had had a few cocktails too many. Detroit Spinners ‘Ghetto Child’ always went down well too.

Teaspoon and the Waves- O Yeh Soweto (Sofrito)
A super rare track from their 1980 LP, re-issued by Sofrito. A kind of cover version of Back To My Roots (same music, different vocals), this sounded good the other week at Ross Allen’s Meltdown down the Social.

Gil Scott Heron – Angola Louisiana (Arista)
From his Secrets album, this is about the state prison in Louisiana, the largest in the US. It’s Gil imagining how grim it must be to be in there. Fond memories of hearing this at Chris’s afterhours in San Diego, a private club built in an office on the outskirts of San Diego. Thanks to Hugh for taking me there!

Eric Kupper – Planet K (Tribal)
Muzik magazine organised a tour of Portugal in 1995 with a few DJ’s from England, Portugal and the U.S. Elliot Eastwick played this on the first night at the Kremlin in Lisbon and it just sounded brilliant. The week ended with Tony Humphries playing in the courtyard of a castle and Phil Perry finding an unmanned bar with free beer (a highlight of the week).

Angelique Kidjo – Batonga (Club mix)
A record I used to play a lot at the beginning of my, fairly unintentional, DJ career. Reminds me of too many vodka jellys at the Milk Bar, freezing in the bar at the Ministry and playing it most nights in Ibiza as it’s pretty long and was good to put on and nip to the loo. Heard Mark 7 play it at Disco Bloodbath last year, still sounded good.

The Crow – Your Autumn of Tommorow (Inferno)
Couldn’t resist putting another one on from the Out on the Floor album. Was either this or the Carstairs ‘It Really Does Hurt Me Girl’ which still gives me goosebumps when i hear the intro. ‘Your Autumn of Tomorrow’ is a strange piece of psychedelic funk which, according to the sleeve notes, was massive at the Blackpool Mecca.

Maxx Mann – Bloody and Blue (Red Dog)
‘This is a hot, new album by a New York City artist Maxx Mann. The music is beyond new wave and punk. People who enjoy late hour dancing will certainly crowd the floor for more than one cut of this record’… or so says the press release from this 1982 oddball disco release.

Jorge Ben – Curumin Chama (Orio)
I always thought Brazil was the land of gentle bossa nova, cocktails and exotic women. I recently saw a documentary on the history of Brazilian music, in which quite a few musicians had to seek refuge in London in the 70’s as they were being persecuted by the government (which was a military dictatorship) for being too political and subversive. Fantastic track which is generally known as “that one with the dog on the cover”.

Shuggie Otis – Aht Uh Mu Head (Resolution)
Best known for Strawberry Letter 23, first heard this on a Blessed Blackness compilation. I used to do the warm up sometimes at Plastic People, when it was in Oxford Street and the decks were on washing machines. Harri was the resident, he was always there early, I used to stick this on and have a chat. Nice bloke, very good DJ.

Jon Lucien – Listen Love (Verve)
Was aware of this first from a Jazz Juice compilation, but it didn’t really make sense until I heard Dave Henley play it one sunny afternoon at a Boys Own party. I was lucky enough to see him live at Dingwalls before he sadly passed away.

Pat Metheny – Last Train Home (Geffen)
I’m a big Pat Metheny fan, could have picked quite a few of his tracks to put on here. From the letters from home album, I’ll always remember playing this and a friend walking up and saying ‘ whats this?.. sounds like the theme from crossroads’.

Marvin Gaye – Where Are We Going (Motown)
Originally on a bootleg 12, this was finally released on a best of CD, a great track that could have fitted nicely onto whats going on. Years ago i saw a documentary where he goes to Belgium to get away from it all and sort his life out. At one point he goes into a church and sings the lords prayer, im not religious but that really got to me. Thanks to Moonboots for playing me this.

Wim Mertens – The Scene (Les Disques du Crepsucule)
Don’t know much about Wim Mertens apart from his Belgian and his music was used in the ‘belly of an architect’. Some of his tracks are bit too avant garde for me, but he’s done some real gems too, would love to see him in concert. This track reminds me of Ibiza.

Thanks to Faith.

[Apiento]

Party: An Evening With Matthew & Jolyon

While we are on the subject of Claremont this weekend long time residents at Lowlife and favourites at Aficionado in Manchester, Matthew and Jolyon, are overseeing their next ‘An Evening With…’ night. The venue in Aldgate East is the same as before and I am sure (its the last party to be held there I think) it’s going to be a good one.

I think the tickets are moving pretty quickly so if you fancy it then send £7 via Paypal to simon@claremontinc.co.uk. More details on Facebook and Resident Advisor. While on the subject Jolyon’s recent ‘Passport To Eternity’ mix for us is an absolute beauty if you haven’t heard it yet.

[Apiento]

Party: No Ordinary Monkey / New York

Tonight it’s birthday time for No Ordinary Monkey… And check their website. They have Whatever We Want Records and other stuff coming.

[Apiento]

Party: World Unknown

Quick post to say that World Unknown is happening this Friday in Brixton with Joe Hart and Mr Andy Blake. If you are interested head over to their website and if you fancy the party email them here and they’ll sort you with the location. It’s always fun in a ‘lets get heads down and have some fun and do what you like along the way’ kind of fashion and they’ve gone even more hippy on the lights (think a Pink Floyd light show from the 60s crossed with some nu-beat strobe business).

[Apiento]

Party: Golf Channel And LN-CC Present…

This is a good one for anyone in London. On February 17th LN-CC welcome label owner Phil South and Ghost Note’s Anton Esteban for an evening of music in LN-CC’s club space to celebrate the launch of Ghost Note’s latest release, “Ghost Note II – Kapwa/Abularyo”. From 7-9pm, will be screening a short video made to accompany the Ghost Note release.

In addition to the screening, LN-CC will be selling advance copies of the latest single exclusively in store. From 9pm onwards, Phil and Anton, the duo behind New York’s celebrated “No Ordinary Monkey” party (alongside Carlos from influential label “Whatever We Want”), will both DJ in the LN-CC club space.

If you are in London and would like to attend this event, please RSVP here.

While we are all Golf Channel’d up it’s probably a good time to remind you about Bad Passion… You know the deal. Go here for more details on the party.

[Apiento]

Party: Bad Mouthin’ With Rahaan & Al Kent

Bad Mouthin’ were the first club to bring Rahann to the UK and they’ve got him back to Glasgow. Expect twisted disco, heavily influenced by the original Chicago house music pioneers he grew up listening to, played with an infectious enthusiasm. For more information click here.

[Apiento]

Party: A Night With Andrew Weatherall

All a bit Weatherall-centric round here recently but anyway, I think this one is getting near to selling out so if you are interested click through to the Ransome Note and get involved…

[Apiento]

Party: Bad Passion

Always good and Felix is playing…

[Apiento]

Party: Fabric4X

This one’s a charity event with a great line-up (and me). It’s happening this Thursday and should be a fun one. Come down and support a good cause if you’re in the area.

[Apiento]

Party: Lil Louis & Pepe Bradock @ Corsica Studios

Not much introduction needed on this one. Lil Louis is playing in London and with a great supporting line up too. Hopefully a mix coming from Joe Hart of Body Hammer and World Unknown soon…

[Apiento]

Party: No Ordinary Monkey (NYC) 10/09/10

NYC’s No Ordinary Monkey is happening again this coming Friday with Portugal’s Gala Drop, fresh from supporting Holger Czuukay, playing live. Get there if you can. More information on the forthcoming Gala Drop album coming soon too.

[Apiento]

Faith Summer T-Shirt / Boy’s Own Party

Couple of bits to tell you about regarding the Faith/Boy’s Own gang. First up, the new Faith summer T-shirt (above) is now available and comes with their ‘Black Cowboy’ mix (only available with the T shirt). Its looking good and is available here.

Secondly, a heads up on the forthcoming Boy’s Own party on September 11th at Cymon Eckles new Shoreditch venue. DJs include Andrew Weatherall, Dorian Paic and Vera from Frankfurt’s Cocoon and Robert Johnson clubs, Jon Marsh (mix coming from him at some point), Horse Meat’s Severino, Rocky and Diesel, Heller & Farley and Darren and Spencer from Kubikle. That sounds like a proper party. Tickets on sale from next week at Phonica, The Griffin pub in Leonard St (East London) or Ticketweb. Get them when you can as it’ll sell out pretty sharpish.

[Apiento]

Party: World Unknown

Heads up on World Unknown happening this Friday in Brixton with Joe Hart, Duncan Clark, Andy Blake and a wicked old reggae system. If you are interested head over to the World Unknown website and if you fancy the party email them here and they’ll sort you with the location.

[Apiento]

Party: Balearic Mystique

Terrible name for a party but this one needs a heads up as half of our mates are playing at it. Check the Sunday below. You probably won’t get such a nice line up in town for a while (Phil Mison, Moonboots, Balearic Mike, Ross Allen etc…). If the suns out I strongly suggest heading over, grabbing a beer and getting down. [Update] Saying that I just re-read the Saturday night and thinking about it that looks like loads of fun as well. Sheffield’s Chris Duckenfield and Winston Hazel worth the admission alone. Then you have Alfredo, Nancy Noise etc all doing their thing as well. Nice work DJ booker man.

[Apiento]

Parties: World Unkown (Friday) & Bad Passion (Saturday)

First up for the party recommendations this weekend is World Unknown – the night brought to you by Dissident’s Andy Blake and Body Hammer’s Joe Hart, at a Brixton venue that you’ll have to click here to find out about if you don’t already know the deal. We went last month and the music was spot on, from drum tracks to the more modern darker sounds of balearic beat. Very relaxed venue as well ; ).

Next up on Saturday night is Bad Passion with Crue-l Records main man and Japanese underground hero Kenji Takimi all the way in from Japan. Bound to be in an interesting venue knowing this lot. Details on the flyer below.

[Apiento]

Party: Afternoon Sessions – Cantoma Album Launch (London) / No Ordinary Monkey (NYC)

(EDIT: CORRECTED DATE!) First up London… Saturday, the 8th, sees the 5th birthday party as well as the album launch for the forthcoming Cantoma album on Claremont with Phil Mison, Moonboots and Steve Terry playing lovely records in a lovely old pub. See you there.

Now one for our NYC cousins. Stretch out and go…

[Apiento]