Keep it Unreal returns to Band on the Wall this Saturday, after a brief summer break which saw Mr Scruff taking his sounds across the UK and Europe. As always, his record boxes will be bulging with flavoursome dance music of all classifications, jazz-soaked curiosities and tunes from of all regions of the globe. Ahead of the night, Mr Scruff gives us a taste of what he’s been digging recently…
Ndagga Rhythm Force – ‘Walo Walo Rhythm’ (Ndagga 12″)
“Dakar meets Berlin in the latest 12” from Mark Ernestus. A slinky, robotic Senegalese snake winding its way around a mixing desk. Irresistible!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dha1uV8MIF8
Various Artists – ‘Urgent Jumping!’ (Sterns Africa 2CD)
“Veteran DJ John Armstrong compiles this fantastic 27 track collection of East African dance music from 1972-82.”
Chimpo, Trigga & Fox – ‘Ram Dance Man’ (Exit records 12″)
“Slow & heavy goodness from three Manchester veterans.”
Africano – ‘Open Your Haart/Satisfactorize Your Mind’ (Suncut 7″)
“Killer reissue of Africano’s two best & most in-demand tunes on one lovely 7”. Both sit firmly in life-affirming, gritty uptempo soulful disco territory.”
Dennis Bovell – ‘Heaven’ (Optimo 12″)
Optimo pull together three killers from Blackbeard, two of them taken from his 1981 LP ‘Brain Damage’. First up is 1980’s “Heaven’, a Pigbag/Spandau/Orange Juice-ish choppy number with choppy guitars, tight horns & languid vocals, backed with the unfeasibly rotund Escape Goat Dub & finally the wriggly, synthy, almost easy-listening vibes of Smouche.
Pepe Bradock – ‘Baby Craddock’ (Atavisme 12″)
Downright odd 6-track EP. ‘Yazuke’ conjures up images of a jazz band trying to fight its way out of an oil drum. ‘Grodno 7’ Sounds like MCDE & Andres on a bad trip. At once playful & uneasy, full of ideas & energy.
Ron Trent – ‘Boogie Down’ (Music & Power 12″)
“Sprightly, mid-tempo boogie goodness from the legendary Ron Trent. The title track has a strong Roy Ayers vibe about it, and this tune ‘In the light’ is a sloppy, sparkling wriggly delight.”
