Gangsters, Gangsters, Everywhere Gangsters

Gangsters, the latest single from Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke's Tall Tales album has arrived with a mesmerising / fascinating / irritating (delete as applicable) video by Jonathan Zawada.

I haven't yet heard the album, but it's piqued my curiosity and I will check it out at some point. This listen took me down a different - and more obvious - rabbit hole of songs with a gangster...with no prizes for guessing where it ends up.

A few special mentions: 

1) I've never seen the video for Gangsterville by Joe Strummer before, so that was a treat even if the audio quality is a bit hissy;

2) In case you don't already know, The Sinister Ducks were a super group, comprising Max Akropolis, Capt. José da Silva and Translucia Baboon, better known to you and me as Alex Green (Jazz Butcher), David J (Bauhaus) and Alan Moore (comics legend), with visuals by Kevin O'Neill (also a comics legend);

3) Up until about 5 minutes ago, I was convinced that the repeatedly sampled line in Gangster Trippin by Fatboy Slim was not "What we're doin' when a" but "Fluff with the women" and I am greatly disappointed to be corrected.

4) It doesn't get much better than the last song, does it?

Had I more time, I would have presented this as a Dubhed selection. Instead, enjoy the videos (where available) and some rather cracking tunes.

 
1) Gangsters: Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke (2025)

2) Big Time Gangsters: Benjamin Zephaniah (1990)

3) Gangster: Dreadzone (2010)

4) Gangster: Electronic (1992)

5) Gangster Of Love Part I & II: Jimmy Norman (1968)

6) Gangster Of Love: Talking Heads (1991)

7) Gangsterville: Joe Strummer (1989)

8) Old Gangsters Never Die: The Sinister Ducks (1983)

9) Gangster Chronicle (Live @ Green Theatre, Kiev) (Cover of London Posse): Tricky ft. Bella Gotti (2014)

10) Cowboys & Gangsters: Gichy Dan's Beachwood #9 (1981)

11) Gangster Trippin: Fatboy Slim (1998)

12) Gangsters: The Special AKA (1979)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dread Town Boundary

Dreadzone featuring Emily Capell in a video (co)directed by Don Letts? Yes, please!

 

Dread Town featured on last year's Dreadzone Presents Dubwiser Volume Two, which also included Boundary, a collaboration with Italian dub maestro (and thereminist) Gaudi.

On Friday, Gaudi released a remix of Boundary, "adding a sexy dub-tech flavour to amplify the track’s positive heart and give it more of a dancefloor focus". 

 

If that doesn't get your Monday off to a good start, maybe go back to bed and sleep it away.

Emily Capell's debut album Combat Frock is available here

Dreadzone Present Dubwizer Volume Two is available here

Dreadzone is also currently touring the UK

You Gotta Fight The Power

Dreadzone celebrate their 30th anniversary this year. Initially a duo of Greg Roberts (Big Audio Dynamite) and Tim Bran (who I knew of from his work with Julian Cope as Branno Of Gwernsey), Greg has remained the constant through three decades, along with former BAD bassist Leo Williams, who joined early on. 

The Dreadzone collective has seen an impressive number of people over the years, some briefly, some for a longer journey: Earl Sixteen, Alison Goldfrapp, MC Spee as well as former BAD compadres Dan Donovan, Mick Jones and Don Letts. The current line up for the 30th anniversary live shows is Greg Roberts, Leo Williams, Earl Sixteen, Bazil aka James Bainbridge and Blake Roberts (Greg's son).

 

I saw Dreadzone at the Bristol Community Festival aka Ashton Court Festival in July 1995. Sadly, none of the dates on their recent "Part 1" tour were relatively nearby but I'd be tempted to see them if "Part 2" offers up some accessible locations.

A new album will be landing this year. In the meantime, here's an hour-long selection of Dreadzone tracks and remixes to whet your appetite.

Older and Dubwiser indeed.

 

1) Zion Youth (Dreadzone Mix): Dreadzone (1995)

2) Gangster (She Is Danger Remix By Lena Cullen & Maya Jane Coles): Dreadzone (2010)

3) Lookee Here (Dreadzone Remix): Transglobal Underground ft. Natacha Atlas & Heitham Al-Sayed (1994)

4) The Good The Bad And The Dread (The Bad) (Remix By Tim Bran): Dreadzone ft. Alison Goldfrapp (1993)

5) Video Games (Lana Dub Rey) (Dreadzone Remix): Lana Del Rey (2012)

6) Stupid Girl (Dreadzone Dub Version): Garbage (1996)

7) Africa (Single Version): Dreadzone (1993)

8) Brazen 'Weep' (Dreadzone's Instrumental Mix): Skunk Anansie (1997)

9) Fight The Power 95: Dreadzone (1995)

You Gotta Fight The Power (1:00:41) (KF) (Mega)

Your Consciousness Is The Only Censorship

Ten long songs, all bubbling under the ten minute mark and mostly from the mid 1990s, before leaping into the 21st century. The opening track was originally released as a Mark Van Hoen side project, though I first heard the remixed versions released under his more familiar Locust moniker in 1998. I really like the Biff & Memphis remix of New Order for the nod to Blue Monday and the cheeky cameo from Divine tucked away in the mix. The Apollo 440 song is from their excellent first album, Millennium Fever, was co-written with Howard Devoto, and provides the title for today's post. Underworld deliver a brace of excellent remixes, of Dreadzone and themselves, whilst Wet Signals aka Coventry DJ, musician and producer Carl Platt released a self-titled EP back in April, which I'm currently enjoying very much. I (re)discovered Archive relatively recently, having only previously been aware of their 1996 debut Londinium. They've had at least a dozen albums since and this selection's closing track is taken from their (I think) sixth album, Noise. Immerse yourself and enjoy.

 

1) No-One In The World (Edit): W.F.O. ft. Wendy Roberts (1993)

2) Touched By The Hand Of God (Biff & Memphis Remix By Richard Stannard & Matt Rowe): New Order (1995)

3) Pain Is A Close Up: Apollo 440 (1994)

4) Tong Poo (Planet Of The Crossing Mix By The Orb): Yellow Magic Orchestra (1993)

5) Zion Youth (Underworld Mix): Dreadzone (1995)

6) I Dig Your Ass (Remix By Derrick Carter & Luke Solomon): Secret Knowledge (1996)

7) Born Slippy.Nuxx (Deep Pan): Underworld (1996)

8) Crimes: Wet Signals (2021)

9) Blue Drive: Oneohtrix Point Never (2009)

10) Waste: Archive (2004)

 

Your Consciousness Is The Only Censorship (1:39:14)
 

Hawkesbury Upton Top Ranking

I posted this homemade, slipshod DJ Mix on my Mixcloud page just over a year ago, in the early weeks of the first UK lockdown. We're currently in the latter stages of lockdown #3, and starting to re-engage with the world. Seems like a good time to give this another airing...

 

1.1) Is That You Mo-Dean? (Harpapella) (Remix By Moby): The B-52’s (1992)
1.2) Constancy: The The (2017)
1.3) A Long Hard Lazy Apprenticeship: The The (2017)
2) She's A Rainbow (Right Foot Yellow Mix By Fluke): World Of Twist (1991)
3) The Happy Song (Radio Edit): The Aliens (2007)
4) Children Of The Revolution: T.Rex (1972)
5) Ball Of Confusion (7” Mix): Love & Rockets (1987)
6) Triple Rhythm Stick (Beastie Boys vs. Ian Dury & The Blockheads): Go Home Productions (2006)
7) Lucky Number (Slavic Dance Version/Khayem Re-Edit): Lene Lovich (1978)
8) Good Times (Acapella): Chic (1979)
9) Rock With You (Feel That Heat) (Luxxury Edit): Michael Jackson (2016)
10) Everyday People: Sly & The Family Stone (1969)
11) Hey Mug (Outkast vs. The Streets): IDC (2005)
12) Elegant Chaos: Julian Cope (1984)
13.1) From Gardens Where We Feel Secure: Virginia Astley (1983)
13.2) Dub Be Good To Me (Acapella): Beats International (1990)
14) For A Reason (Single Mix): Dreadzone (2008)
15) Snobbery And Decay (That's Entertainment!): Act (1987)
16) My Own Way (Short Version): Duran Duran (1981)
17.1) Avril 14th (Album Version): Aphex Twin (2001)
17.2) I’m Not Tired: The The (2017)
17.3) Lying On My Side: The The (2017)
18) Be Thankful For What You've Got (Perfecto Mix By Paul Oakenfold & Steve Osborne) (ft. Tony Bryan): Massive Attack (1992)
19) Happiness (Quiet Village Remix By Matt Edwards & Joel Martin): Jonathan Jeremiah (2009)
20) Easter Song (Album Version): A Man Called Adam (1998)

 

And these were the inspirations for the mix title:

 

Hawkesbury Upton  

Althea & Donna - Uptown Top Ranking (1977)