Blurb Vision Pt.1 by Richard Bamford

Gazing lazily into nothing.

It's dark and cold, but I'm not afraid.

The time has come for my mind to be my maid.

Seeking solace in the gaze.

Rolling downwards through the glade.

Thoughts of Slowly smothering something litters my loneliness.

BBC West Midlands broadcast on JEM's own Kenny Baraka's The Rememberers.

While we wait patiently for our very own Kenny Baraka to "exorcise a narrative demon" and contribute his much respected words of wisdom to our humble pages, I thought I'd first share this recent news story on his live hip-hop, science fiction graphic novel, The Rememberers; which is written and performed by Kenny using rap narration, music and projected comic's as illustration.

"Norflyn. People’s Defence Training Basecamp half 

a mile west of Norcon’s central facility.

Join Kia – leader of the Found, guardian of the Rememberers – as he tells the story of 16-year-old 7’s discovery that she holds the key to humankind’s future.

Earth’s vital signs are weakening and the Rememberers can wait no longer to battle against the sinister NorCon Corporation lead by the demonic Don Marquis, in order to save the planet.

With fresh water soon to run out and the enemy on her tail, will 7 accept her fate, 

and will she be able to call back Hope before it’s too late?"

"Norflyn. People’s Defence Training Basecamp half 

a mile west of Norcon’s central facility.

Join Kia – leader of the Found, guardian of the Rememberers – as he tells the story of 16-year-old 7’s discovery that she holds the key to humankind’s future.

Earth’s vital signs are weakening and the Rememberers can wait no longer to battle against the sinister NorCon Corporation lead by the demonic Don Marquis, in order to save the planet.

With fresh water soon to run out and the enemy on her tail, will 7 accept her fate, 

Check the original news post here:Check the news post here:and will she be able to call back Hope before it’s too late?"

Check the original news post here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYRQhDHWE0Q

Creator & performer Kenny Baraka rehearsing The Rememberers. Photo by  Jonathan Oppong-Wiafe.






http://applesandsnakesblog.org/therememberers/

Beenie Man: Beenz on Toast by Richard Bamford

Beenie Man was built for this. From an extremely early age the Cool Calm Rider (Born Moses Anthony Davis or MAD as he likes to think his English name is) was performing with King Jammys’ Volcano Sound System and had already won the Teeny Talent show in his native Jamaica. It wasn’t long before Bunny “Striker” Lee had a hit for the ten-year-old Deejay Wonder and from then on his rough and rugged verse has been found on many a hit record the world over proving that this Dude is truly “the roughest, toughest bumba-clart badman outta Jamaica”.

You started toasting at the age of five – was it your uncle [who played drums for Jimmy Cliff] that got you into the music game?

I think I was born to do music but my uncle did the sound systems and that gave me the opportunity to become an artist fully. He was the one that keep the firs’ show that I performed on, even though my Mum pop my ass after[wards].

So from that young age you knew that this was your calling?

From the time I reach the stage I knew that was my life and it felt right.

You certainly weren’t an everyday, regular kid – by the time you were eight you were working with King Jammys and Bunny Lee weren’t you?

I was working with King Tubby, King Jammys and Bunny Lee but I knew them all my life. This was an eight-year –old kid thinking he fifteen. I was eight but I was already thinking about playing on the radio and being a star like Bob Marley. I was a big man trapped in a little boys body.

And that has some connection to your name doesn’t it?

The name Beenie Man comes ‘cos I was a kid with all these reasonings and it was like you be talking to a 25-year-old.

But initially you were known as DJ Wonder, which is a name Bunny Lee told me he gave you, right?

Yeah man. Bunny gave me that name but I was always called Beenie Man ya see, ‘cos Beenie is a boy and Beenie Man is a kid that think he a man; the words that he speak, the things that he says, the type of songs that he sings. Instead of saying little big man they call you Beenie Man.

How has the scene changed since your earlier days in the game?

It’s changed a lot. In the early days it was roots rock reggae, y’know, with Peter Tosh,  Jimmy Clif, and now it’s Buju Banton and me and Bounty Killer for about eleven years. Everyone that came from Jamaica came under me and Bounty Killer’s regime; Sean Paul came under my regime and Elephant Man come from Bounty Killer’s. Sean Paul is international because he show his respeck and he remember where he is from. Bounty Killer raise stars because he is a star and I am a super-star – we are different but that’s what makes dancehall music what it is today.

So what’s your secret then?

Well it’s just about knowing what is important. It’s not for the people to love the songs that you sing but for people to love the individual – when people love the individual you have more comfort to write and you think like the people and then sing what the people wanna hear. Instead of cussing the problem, find a solution. Everybody ‘ave sex; lesbian have sex, gay people ‘ave sex and straight people ‘ave sex – you go with sex and you never wrong. Everybody want their proper fix.

Your proper fix once upon a time was having sex with the downtown girls rather than the uptown girls, wasn’t it?

[laughs] That was my song Slam. Well I am from the ghetto and I’d never export to uptown love so I had to sing about what I knew about.

Do you class yourself as a reggae artist or a dancehall artist?

I’m a dancehall artist. Reggae is for people like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff.

But the trends chop and change. I’d class Sizzla as dancehall, but he’s done as many roots albums of late.

He coming back to his roots ‘cos he make dancehall change. He wasn’t a dancehall artist ten all of a sudden he came one. It’s nice though, nice to mix it all up. Capleton’s not changing though. He changed roots to rock, now he change back to dancehall and he straight dancehall now.

If you make it big in Jamaica you’re a star. If you make it big elsewhere you must be...?

A God. I am a God in music.

Maybe not just in music – you did survive a car-crash?

Yeah man – I can’t die. I live through a car –crash and I got shot at the same dayI got bullet-proof windows for my car in Jamaica.

Would you say you were the finest toaster?

There’s too much others. Sizzla is wicked; lyrically and mentally –everything. Trust me, he is wicked. Bounty Killer not lyrically ‘cos he don’t write; ya know, people write some of his material. Vybz Kartel is wicked; he say some shit that me can’t believe. And then there’s me and me and me again [laughs]. Papa San; he say too much, but he is truly wicked!

Would you say King Jammys is the king of dancehall?

King Jammys is the starter of dancehall but Dave Kelly is the king of producing ‘cos he have the most hit[s].

So how’s the acting idea coming along?

Acting and directing my gangster movie called Delilah. I can’t give you nothing else ‘cos people will read it and tek my idea. [Laughs]

Nice to chat to you again, ‘obbit. Reespeck!

And with that, he picked up the keys to his Beema and was gone.

Gill Scott Heron's XXtra release imminent:

The Jamie XX remixes of Gill Scott Heron's I'm New Here is to be relased Monday 21st February.

Jamie Smith

After the success of Jamie (The XX) Smith's remix of Gill Scott's NY is Killing Me From GSH's 2010 album, I'm New Here, he's only gone and remixed thirteen of the original album sessions, which'll be lovingly entitled We're New Here!

Gill Scott

Those lovely liberals at The Guardian have given away a streamed version, which is new here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2011/feb/14/gil-scott-heron-jamie-xx

XL Recordings and the album's official website has announced the proper release for 21st February 2011

http://www.werenewhere.com/

Black Swan Bum Scandal

I'm reading Russell Brand's Bookywook 2, and I must admit I'm fair charmed by the boy's self-effacing tone and awareness. It reminds me greatly of Julian Cope's HEAD ON, and that mon amis is no small compliment. Seldom do I laugh aloud on the train, unless I see a grown man wearing a DrizaBone coat, so it's fair to say I've been enjoying it. What did jump out was a Bill Hicks quotation, which I'd heard somewhere before; "It's always funny until someone gets hurt, and then it's just hilarious". I heard it on a Faith No More album. This realisation prompted the following audiovisual offering. Mike Patton. Pencil Moustache. What's not to love?
Ooh; while I'm here, if anyone finds a headstock from a bass guitar, can you let the guy from Muse know? His went missing at the grammys, and he feels a proper charlie without it.

BBC Radio 1's Benji B Tribute to Dilla and exploring future music

 

Bullion live in the studio with Benji

“Bullion joins Benji live in the studio and presents an exclusive mix. Also featuring a tribute to J Dilla on the fifth anniversary of his passing.”
BBC Radio 1 Benji B Exploring future 2011-02-10 Bullion live in the studio with Benji [Hotfile download]

Tracklist:
Various — Dedicated To J Dilla
Jaydee — Think Twice [BBE]
Slum Village — Untitled [Capitol]
J Dilla — Over The Breaks [BBE]
J Dilla — Let’s Take It Back [Mummy]
Common — Heat [Geffen]
J Dilla — Go! Go! Beat [CD-R]
Erykah Badu — Love [Motown]
J Dilla — You And Your Smile [CD-R]
J Dilla — Look! [CD-R]
J Dilla — L.Nyro [CD-R]
Gil-Scott Heron & Jamie XX — Running [XL]
Hounds of Hate — Trident [Unreleased]
Hype Williams — Your Girl Smells Chung When She Wears Dior [Untitled]
Kode 9 & The Spaceape — Otherman [forthcoming Hyperdub]
Objekt — Tinderbox [Objekt]
Teeth — Shawty [forthcoming 502 Recordings]
Africa Hitech — Cave Man Style [forthcoming Warp Records]
John Barry — From Russia With Love [Capitol]
Bullion — Long Promised [Pet Sounds]
Bullion — Young Heartache [One-Handed Music]
Bullion — Caroline-No [Pet Sounds]
Bullion — Get Familiar [One-Handed Music]
Bullion — You Still Believe In Dee [Pet Sound]
BULLION MIX
Bullion — You Drive Me To Plastic (Intro) [Young Turks]
Bullion — Another Chance To Dance [Unreleased]
Bullion — Stepping Stone (Transition) [Unreleased]
Bullion — Good News On Her [Young Turks]
Bullion — With Your Mind Open [Unreleased]
Bullion — Lol Express [Young Turks]
Bullion — Crystal Maze [Unreleased]
Bullion with Sampha — I’d Never Dance With You [Unreleased]
Bullion — Thoughts Of Music [Unreleased]
Bullion — Too Right (Alternative Ending) [Unreleased]
Bullion — You Still Believe In Dee [Pet Sound]
Paul White — Hustle (Bullion Remix) [One-Handed Music]
James Blake — I Mind [ATLAS]
Jesse Ware & Sampha — Valentine [Young Turks]
Photek — Zuma aka 101 (Boddika’s Drum Machine Remix) [Dubplate]
[unknown] — Sicko Cell [Swamp81 Dubplate

Radiohead's In Rainbows. What is it, Scotch Mist?

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you Radiohead’s underrated, but, in our opinion,  best work: In Rainbows/Scotch Mist.

Taking themselves apart for Kid A & the rest of it,  they movedthemselves away from the arena friendly rock that The  Bends had lead them toward.  This was a return to songwriting. Period.

Being able to arse about with electronica for a number of years has  given them back the sense of space in the music. There’s now as much  sonic texture as there is emotive ennui. 

This is the same band that Alicia Silverstone once correctly described as ‘complaint rock’.  They’ve come a long way, baby.

Scotch Mist took place on New Year's Eve 2007, as a streamed webcast, a private concert filmed at Radiohead's Oxford studios. Mostly this consisted of the band performing songs live from In Rainbows, but also poetry selected by the band as well.

If you’ve previously ignored In Rainbows in favour of their The Bends/OK Computer glory days, take heed to our guidance and revisit it. Like a fond memory that reawakens, stretches and yawns from thy mind’s slumber,  you won’t be disappointed.

Wake up and look at this thing that I bring...

It would be pretty dumb for me to say, 'you came for the Dilla, so here's some Alice Donut', right?
Hey; maybe like us, you do like diverse things. Maybe you like Onyx just as much as you like The Pooh Sticks. What do I know? I know that when cute, bookish american accented girls say barely audible things about the future of rock over a whirlwind of fuzz glam jizzaroo I get all excited. For further details please see 'Mylar' by Goblin Cock. Crazy name, crazy guys. sigh If only Crazy Penis were actually any good, instead of just softknob house peddlars. Can you imagine? What would have happened if the Jackson 5, or the Mamas and the Papas had insisted on being called Crazy Penis?! That's right; it sure makes you think. Hmm.



I know that there are many songs worth listening to just because of one tiny moment, be it the intro, the outro or deathbyumbongo.
I might bring the noise. I may also bring the quiet. Cocky Rocky shall stand shoulder to shoulder with Jangly Dangly.
O yes.
There shall be evidence of crossover, but I mean more 'Kim Gordon meets Chuck D' than 'Michael Stipe (up yer pipe, you look like a bollock and yer plums ain't ripe) meets KRS-1'. Y'get me? No? Good.
I know what 'sturm und drang' means (but only just).

Kenny Baraka's Rememberers: The Recon'’ Chronicles

...and so, a little something from one of Jem's contributors; Mr. Kenny Baraka.

Here's an excerpt from one of his fantastic graphic novels, The Rememberers:



Chapter 1

The ship took off and flashed a light so bright that it could only have been compared with those first rays that baptise us into this world.


The streaking of a lithium coloured leopard, high into the sky.


‘Maybe it’ll stay there for the night,’ she thought.
‘Up there safe in the clouds.’


It was her first memory.
The first one she could remember having.
The bright lights pressed her eyes shut.
The brightest of lights followed by the darkest of times.


Way up in the sky
Watched it go up
Lept from off the earth
In one burst
It’ll come down
Back to the future
From the past
Meet in the present
Infinity aint given us
enough time
to get there
it stepped onto the clouds like
its stairway
to heaven…
dis feel
like its hell
fell a long way from grace broke the promise
casted out the first garden for thieving
rape, pillage and burning ever since then
still aint learned our lesson
deaths’ accomplice
nature made man to make some mischief
Man made machine to master nature,
see the humour?


Chapter 2


The dream - or vision, as he would later overstand - always stopped there.
Blinding illumination that belied and disproved Nature’s separation of dark and light.
This vision – the launching of the spaceship Hope, the glare of The Light - were important to him now only because of their context.
If he could place where he had been, in relation to where he now was then he could easily figure how to get where he needed to go.
And he’d, ‘livinitely been here before…’
He preferred the –liv’ prefix to that of the –def’.
Reminded him that despite his death-like, solitary existence, if he wasn’t, at least alive now, he had once been.
The Light he’d shadowed in vain was painfully reminiscent of something he’d known before.
“De ja vu…”
Only time he ever thought in another language.

Kenny Baraka

/

http://www.therememberers.org/

Wax Poetics: Take a train to Sugar Hill

Taken from Wax Poestics 'Today In History'

http://www.waxpoetics.com/2011/02/take-the-a-train-to-sugar-hill/

Duke Ellington (left) and Billy Strayhorn (right)

It’s been seventy years since Duke Ellington recorded Take the A Train, an album that includes one of the most important American musical works of the twentieth century. The title track has become a jazz standard that stirs up memories of Old New York, when Harlem was experiencing its renaissance. Today, the A train remains one of New York City’s most heavily traveled lines, taking straphangers from 207th Street in the Bronx to Far Rockaway in Queens, nearly thirty-one miles away. With stops in areas like Sugar Hill and Jamaica, it’s no surprise that many hip-hop artists have referenced the A train in their lyrics, including Jeru the Damaja on Gang Starr’s “Speak Ya Clout.”

Huey Morgan's last week on BBC6 Music

So, it's former Fun Lovin' Criminal, Huey Morgan's last week covering for Lauren Laverne's morning show on BBC6 Music.

Huey, in my opinion, is one of the best radio DJs around. He gets the mix of not being annoying and easy on the ear along with playing a broad, bright and refreshing selection of music expertly: Within an hour of this-morning's show, he'd played Led Zepplin, ACDC, A Tribe Called Quest, Python Lee Jackson and Dr Dre & Snoop. He also took the micky out of next year's Glasto’ headliners, quipping: "So the headline acts for Glastonbury next year have been confirmed: We[‘ve] got Beyonce, Coldplay and U2. Wow, that'll be exciting. I guess it's too late for the guys that got their tickets early to demand a refund, right?"

The man has a cool, on-air persona, aided by his snugly smooth voice; which he doesn't overuse. He has a respectful opinion, and manages to juggle the 6Music playlist along with his own, educated selections adeptly. Yes, I know he still has his Sunday Afternoon show, The Huey Show - Cool as a Cucumber (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ds8lp), but, the airwaves really need more talented radio DJs like him more regularly and widely available. Lauren’s cute ‘n’ all, but at times her selection does seem to be plugging more pennies into the wannabee contemporary Cure jukebox than anything else. Yes, Huey’s about my age, so our tastes are bound to’ve trodden the same patch of grass before, but, even when he plays stuff I don’t necessarily like, I stick with it, safe in the knowledge that good ol’ Morgan will soon facilitate my need for hip hop, funk and reggae blissfully blended with higher esteem held hits from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and two-thousand’s. It’s surely not much to ask for, is it?

If you know of such shows hit the JEM team up.

Check out Huey latest via his talent agent: http://www.wisebuddah.com/?p=profile&id=113&refer=talent

I thank you!

HBO News.

Season 1 of HBO's Post Katrina, New Orleans based drama, Treme, starts in the UK on Sunday on Sky Atlantic.

http://skyatlantic.sky.com/treme

The shows creators, David Simon, of The Wire and  Eric Overmyer, writer from Homicide: Life on the Streets, start the story in the Autumn of 2005, three months after Katrina. It depicts how the varying types of residents of the New Orleans community attempt to rebuild their lives, homes and unique culture in the aftermath of the hurricane. As with The Wire, Simon is not afraid to tell the truth, exposing the various government incompetence's: Firstly displaying that, in overall, the flooding occurred as a result of the Levee's not being strong enough to withstand such an onslaught, mainly 'coz the flood detection system had failed. Secondly: their selective re-housing; where African American home-owners were denied the right to return to their undamaged homes so that the Bush administration could clench a grubby fist around a community that would've, primarily, voted Democrat. It's sad, yet insightful and informative.

Here's the trailer:
Treme season 1 trailer



The Home Box Office Network has also announced today that Season 2 will  premier in the US on Sunday, April 24 2011.

WATCH: Treme: The Buzz at Tulane

Reggae Britannia on BBC4 9pm 11/02/2011.

On February 9th, 1962 Jamaica signed an agreement to become an independent nation within the British commonwealth.

In an bid to celebrate this, BBC4 brings us an evening of Jamaican Reggae. This'll include a documentary that promises to delve into the world of reggae; examining everything from the music, the bass lines and the spliff - culminating in a collection of concert footage and a 1979 gig from The Specials.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/01_january/04/reggae.shtml

If yer missed it, catch it on the beeb's Iplayer or here: http://www.tvcatchup.com/

Return of the D'jango!

A Wonderful Welcome

Hello my fellow worldwidewebbers and good music followers.

Here, on our humble blogspot, we're hoping to just be ourselves; to share our opinions, our views and hopefully some enlightenment. We'll spout and rant. We'll love and enjoy. Mostly, the subject matter will be themed on our passion for music; but, from time-to-time, we may discuss a particular issue with THE MAN; or we may just want to share our own mental or physical issues, by a means of virtual cognitive therapy. We'll see.

So, what makes us different to the umpteen other blogs and pages out there? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. You read, or you don't read. But, if you like what you read and it inspires you to write, read or listen to something we've had to say, then that will serve our purpose.

So, once again, welcome to our blog; our JEM.

Read, write, listen and sanctify.

The Just Elemental Music Team.

...and, by way of celebrating Dilla Month, here's the first part of the fantastic Dilla Doc, Still Shining: