XMAS RUFFNEKING

What a great way to end my week of partying - down at Cosies for a night of Ruffnek Discotek niceness, proving once again that you don't need a big venue or big outta-town names to have a wicked night (although watch out for their February line-up at The Croft - it's huge!). Beavis warmed the place up with his exemplary reggae selections, then Forensics brought the dubstep flavas. Without any cd decks at his disposal (and too miserly to cut dubplates) Krys opted for a 'classic' selection spanning the past three-odd years, rather than an exclusive set, which brought back some nice memories. Then Atki2 treated us to, among other things, some intriguing examples of his new futuristic Dancehall direction, which bode well for Steak House, the new 7"-only label he and Dub Boy are starting-up next year.

A much needed increase in volume, combined with sudden influx of punters, meant that the night really kicked-off when Dub Boy went head-to-head with Brother Wetlands, firing out an irresistible hi-octane blend of bashment, grime, bassline and booty bass which, if I'm honest, was possibly the single most satisfying hour of entertainment I've had all week. The crowd response and the dj's naked enthusiasm was very infectious. Then Henry finished the night with a connoisseur's selection of Panamanian Dancehall (a kinda pre-Reggaeton vibe from the early '90s). Apparently there's not much of this stuff available on wax, but Henry cherry-picked the best cuts from CD compilations and cut his own 7" dubs, which might be considered an extravagant move, but then Henry does own and run his own dub-cutting service. Splendid evening all round and big-up all the people who created that special vibe for the last couple of hours. Good music among friends - what more do you need?

Okay, now I'm all partied-out and ready for a nice looong break. Happy Xmas etc to all readers. I'll be back sometime in the new year. Here's a few pics to finish....

Atki2 with his best friend

Brother Wetlands

The crowd goes wild for Henry's Panamanian vibes

Ruffneks 4 Life: Dub Boy, Beavis & Forensics

Life's a drag: Forensics & Atki2 'chill' in the smoking area.

H.E.N.C.H: OUR HERO'S RETURN

Yeah! Great to see Pinch back on home turf after his Japanese adventure (coincidentally, following on from my previous post, he spent most of his time in Japan hanging out with...Rupert Parkes!). The Tube was absolutely rammed for most of the night - barely enough room to shake yer ass on the dancefloor. I missed Headhunter's set cos I spent too long chatting with Doppelganger in the pub down the road, but caught most of Wedge's wibbly-wobbly vibe, which went down very well with the locals. Pinch followed with a careful blend that was part educational, part crowd-appeasing, and then Whiteboi (sporting some new facial hair) shared duties with Misoh - the first female dubstep dj I've ever seen! Nice to see a few faces I haven't bumped into for awhile, like Atki2 and Dub Boy telling me all about their various upcoming projects (more on that another day). Fell into bed at 3:30am - just like the old days! Don't think I've got the stamina for Shackleton tonight, but probably gonna be down for Ruffnek Discotek tomorrow. Party on!

Go Pinch!!

The Massif

Misoh: short but sweet

Pinch and Jabba

A WORD FROM THE WISE...

"I think that DJ and dubplate culture is the biggest thing to blame for the dip in quality control. DJs are only playing records that get an obvious response. So you may play a deep house set that people will sway and bob around to and it will change their lives - or you may hear an absolute full-on attack of warped noises that'll make people scream and bang their heads against the wall and then they'll never look back on it. Basically they wanted a release at that point and this is music that will have no effect further than that. If you're a dj it looks like they loved it because they're going mad, but that doesn't mean the people are buying the music. They'd rather spend their money on good drugs and clothes and then just go wild."

Rupert Parkes, aka Photek, interviewed in Overload magazine, late 2000. Of course he's talking about the d'n'b scene, but perhaps this line of thought could be applied to dubstep today.

SUB FM PARTY: PICS 'n SHIT

Well Pinch didn't show-up (too jet-lagged after just returning from Japanese tour)and neither did Rossi B, Jakes or Whiteboi. But what the fuck, we had a good laugh round at Wedge and Appleblim's place last night - basically a drunken Xmas house party streaming live on SubFM!

I turned-up fashionably late, but in time to catch a bit of Headhunter, Kid Kut and Gatekeeper, who all smacked it, though man of the night was surely Joker. Armed with a beer and plate of party food nibbles he really got the place hyped-up - suddenly all those stoned, docile party guests were up and bouncing around like two-year-olds, and inspired Appleblim to give it some verbal on the mic. Unfortunately the internet connection went down at about 11:45pm, just as Joker's set was reaching it's climax, and the bloody computer stubbornly refused to reconnect. It was probably a really simple problem, but Wedge and his cohorts were just too mashed to figure it out. Undaunted, the party continued without the ears of the world listening in. Peverelist arrived late, but treated us to tasty selection of dubs, including some nice bits from Rob Smith and Mala, though Pev's own latest hypnotic creation was the highlight for me (dunno what it was called, sorry). This was followed by some deeply dutty sounds from Sureskank's Sam Neek. Not sure what happened after that, cos I buggered off home to my bed.

Biggest surprise of the evening was when this little Indian-looking guy came up and started talking to me - turns out it was Jabba of Moving Ninja fame! I've been a fan for some time, but this Australian producer was the last person I expected to bump into. Turns out he's just moved from Sydney to Bristol and is working for Multiverse Music, the publishing arm of Pinch's Tectonic empire. Expect some fresh Ninja-tunes next year, quite possibly on the re-activated Subtext label. Funny to see Jabba all wrapped-up in scarf and coat, experiencing his first English winter!

On the way back from the toilet, I came across what appeared to be a large portion of Appleblim's record collection on the landing. Couldn't resist flicking through a few platters. It was all his older, pre-dubstep stuff, without any apparent logical filing system. Public Enemy next to Abba, Whitehouse next to an Iron Maiden picture disc, John Foxx's "Metamatic", some Chain Reaction, Aphex Twin, Neu!, Pere Ubu, The Kinks...and M.C. Miker G. and DJ Sven's "Holiday Rap"!?! (crap '80s euro-rap novelty hit) - "it's all about the acappela on the b-side" Laurie explained, without a trace of irony. Incidentally, so far Appleblim has had about six unsuccessful attempts to record his Dubstep Allstars mix for Tempa, but don't worry he's sure to nail it soon and I can't wait to hear the results, which I've no doubt will be a serious manifesto for new directions in dubstep for 2008. I think it's also safe to reveal that the authors of that 'mystery track' on my Blogariddims mix were in fact Appleblim and Peverelist, and is part of a collaborative project set for release on Skull Disco early next year. Another track from my mix, Pev's "Infinity Is Now", looks set for release on Tectonic at some point, along with the debut long-player from the dangerously talented Dave Huismans aka 2562.

Managed to blag a couple of freebies before I left: A cd-r of fresh Headhunter dubs that build on the more techno-orientated direction showcased on his recently-released "Initiate" EP for Tempa - on first listen I'm particularly feeling "Acid Eric" and "Axis". Also a promo 12" of the latest release from Kid Kut's Immerse imprint - featuring some dark, brooding excursions from Djunya and Borg, which you can buy here.

Top night! Here's some of my customarily crap pics...

Headhunter and Wedge

Jabba & Headhunter

Jabba, Sam Neek, Headhunter, Peverelist

Joker, Gatekeeper, Wedge

Appleblim on the mic

Pev 'pon deckle

Gatekeeper (center) holds court

Kidkut (center) passes the spliff

ANOTHER PARTY!

Friday 21st December @ Timbuk2

“The future of the past never sounded more contemporary”.

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Cuisine
Friday 21st December 07
Timbuk2, Small Street, Bristol
10pm-Late
£6adv (Rooted - Bristol Ticket Shop - Khoi)
£6 b4 11pm/ £8 after

More info @ Hijack

(This looks BIG!!)

NOTE TO SELF...

Next year, try to listen to less Deep/Dub/Mnml Techno, virtually no Dubstep and more Funky House and Bassline House.

I mean, what harm can it do?

My man Kid Kameleon, back from the dead (in blogging terms) with two on-point mixes of 'outsider dubstep'. Tip!

IT'S THE PARTY SEASON...

Its time for the HENCH show www.subfm.com xmas spectacular!!

We've hijacked subfm for 4 hours on the 18th of December to have a big xmas house party. We are broadcasting the show live from 8 until midnight, showcasing the best of the Bristol dubstep massive.

Don't miss this absolutely massive lineup of Bristol talent.

Tuesday 18th December, 8pm - 12am

PINCH

HENCH inc,

MC JAKES
HEADHUNTER
WEDGE
WHITEBOI

ROSSI B

APPLEBLIM

GATEKEEPER

PEVERELIST

JOKER

PLUS A FEW MORE DJS AND MCS TO BOOT

I may even make a few mince pies and mulled wine...nice pie

Tuesday 18th December, 8pm - 12am gmt www.subfm.com

(from Wedge)
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H.E.N.C.H. Christmas Party... with all the FAM! (except Jakes (big gig) and Komon as he's fucking off to the US on tour -BIG!)

Thursday 20th December
Tube

10-late!

With special guest...
PINCH
our very first guest back once again for our Christmas Party!

HEADHUNTER
the boy has missed a few H.E.N.C.H. nights due to being a mega tron superstar but he's back and he's H.E.N.C.H.

WHITEBOI front to front wiv MISOH
she'll be wearing something spangly, he'll wearing a hat

hosted by KOAST and BUGGSY

H.E.N.C.H residents on rotation...
Headhunter, Komonazmuk, Whiteboi, Wedge and Misoh



Jakes cannot make this after all... big gig

(from Super Sally)

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I can't believe it's fuckin christmas already. Bloody hell it's come around quick, im gonna have to start thinking about presents and all sorts soon. Blimey. Anyways as a reward for doin it I'm gonna go and get hammered at Cosies. I'd be delighted if you come join me and the crew!

RUFFNEK DISKOTEK XMAS BASH!

Drinking mulled wine and eating mince pies on the night are....

THE HEATWAVE (Punchline)
Wahay! Henry's making a rare outing from the studio to play loads of fresh original Heatwave productions, plenty of obscenely good dubplates and badass reggaeton!

ATKi2 (Steak House / Werk / Immerse)
Resident laptop don and maker of music that get's girls winding so low they touch the floor Expect all the usual bass heavy badness. Future bashment, dubstep/techno, 2step ....

FORENSICS (Dubkraft / Digital Sin)
Our London rep & Original co-founder is coming 'ome for Xmas! Bringing mean n murky dubstep beats to the confines of Cosies for a proper skank. Mix cd's giveaways will be part of the show im sure

DUB BOY b2b BROTHER WETLANDS
Bashment, grime, booty and jungle mashup. Should be interesting

BEAVIS
And of course the yout'man rootsman in session! Yes i!

SATURDAY 22nd DECEMBER @ COSIES
£2 all night, 9pm - late
www.myspace.com/ruffnekdiskotek

(from Dub Boy)

(I might be attending all or at least some of these. It's time I let my hair down!)

Well fuck me sideways! Just heard the clip of Shacklton's remix of Simian Mobile Disco over at Boomkat. Sam's gone all Dubby Techno and it sounds deeply delicious. I just had to send him a quick text of congratulation. Now I'm really looking forward to some fresh Skull Disco joints...

Some other stuff freshly on the Boomkat catalogue you should put on your Xmas list...

Substance & Vainqueur - Emerge

Headhunter - Initiate EP

MLZ - Dark Days

Forsaken - Boat Noodles

SOFTLY SOFTLY...

Well, I was planning on doing some kinda end-of-year mix, but so far I've spectacularly failed to get my shit together. But I spotted a nice mix whilst mooching around in the Discogs forums, by some fella called 8-Fx (straight outta Basingstoke) that covers most of my basses.

"A mix I made on a rainy Saturday afternoon to pass the time " he says. "It's best described as deep, techy, dubby, steppy kind of affair. Was fun putting this together, hope you enjoy listening to it......fanks".

SOFT SPEAK MIX

1hr 29mins and 46secs (123.3mb)

Soft speak

01 Spend some time - Rhythm and Sound
02 Slip - Murmur
03 Boss Man (Tikis Pure Blue Remix) - Rhythm and Sound
04 Empyrean - Deepchord
05 Credit - Andy Scott
06 Q Loop - Basic Channel
07 Puncture - Murmur
08 Pipeline - Monolake
09 Axis - Monolake
10 Stiletto Caress (For Yvette) - Convextion
11 JB - E.R.P
12 Brick Tutor - Pendle Coven
13 Sheffield Dance - Move D
14 Fear of Heights - Andy Scott
15 Dem Never Know (Sleeparchive Remix) - Rhythm and Sound
16 Quadrant Dub | Edit - Basic Channel
17 In Mcdonalds - Burial
18 Q1.1 Edit - Basic Channel
19 Dusk - Murmur
20 Isokon - Emptyset
21 CCTV - Monolake
22 Perfume Persuasion - E.R.P
23 Ceramics - Andy Scott
24 Translucent Blue Display - Convextion
25 I Wait - Digital Mystikz
26 Rise Up - Sub Version
27 Channel 2 - 2652
28 Irie - Skream
29 Unite - Burial
30 atomium - Monolake
31 Salmo - Convextion
32 The Stars My Destination - Disrupt
33 Drone - Murmur

WORLD OF ECHO

THE ORIGINAL ECHOCORD