Better Do Better Than That

Back in my previous blogging life, I ran a series called Jukebox Juicebox, which randomly reviewed my music purchases at the time. Not to be confused with The Juicebox Jukebox, who apparently "create awesomely positive, fun, educational children's music, videos, and books"

The inclusion of Better Do Better (Wrongtom Wild Inna 81 Version) by Hard-Fi in last Sunday's Dubhed Selection reminded me that I'd reviewed the single back in the day, which led me to dig out the original post from May 2006.

I'm re-presenting the whole thing, which takes in contemporary releases by Tiga and King Biscuit Time (Steve Mason) too. No edits other than the links, as several of the originals are now defunct, and some formatting here and there. 

I've also added the official videos, which I probably last saw nearly twenty years ago. Wow.

Hard-Fi "Better Do Better”

The Hard-Fi phenomenon has pretty much passed me by, not helped by the rather crap name and uninspiring sleeve designs. Yes, I know, never judge a book by it’s cover and all that… 

Anyway, this single caught my attention and it’s melody has been nagging at the back of my mind ever since. A slower number than the snippets of their Stars Of CCTV album I’ve heard so far, the song focuses on the return of an adulterous ex-girlfriend. 

Richard Archer’s lyrics are refreshingly direct - ‘Can you see me again? / Yeah right, you’ve been kicked out / Do you think that I’m that stupid?’ - and emotionally frank - ‘I cried so much / My face has never been the same’ - as the narrator realises that the wounds are still open, but steels his resolve to reject the girl he once loved. 

The flipside offers a dub by Wrongtom and The Stoneleigh Mountain Rockers, which strips both song and lyrics down to the basics – ‘You’re back, sitting on my doorstep / Your face makes me want to be sick / …it's a physical reaction...’ – making Better Do Better even more raw, in every sense of the word. 

All this, and gorgeous flourescent yellow seven-inch vinyl too. A great single that will undoubtedly repeat Hard-Fi’s success to date. 

Slow dance to this with your ex at the local disco and they'll get the message.

Tracklisting [7"]: 1. Better Do Better (Album Version) / 2. (Wrongtom Wild Inna 81 Version)

Visit the official Hard-Fi website

Jan 2025 update: I abviously didn't follow the UK singles chart at the time. Better Do Better crashed in at #14, providing the band with it's 5th Top 20 hit. However, byt the time I posted my review three weeks later, it had dropped to #46 and continued a slow but steady slide out of the Top 100. 

Tiga “(Far From) Home”

The Canadian retro-futurist pop star is back with another slice from his Sexor album, featuring the seemingly unstoppable Soulwax. 

The original version sounds like the Human League fronted by Stephen ‘Tin Tin’ Duffy, whilst veteran producer Dave Bascombe beefs up the rhythm and melody for the radio mix on the CD single. 

A clutch of remixes wisely retain the vocals, but take the song in wonderfully different directions. Chicken Lips deliver a downtempo but extremely funky take. French duo Digitalism kick off with an intro not unlike Toni Basil’s Mickey, but rapidly entering dancesloor-shredding Chemical Brothers/DFA territory. 

Speaking of the latter, The DFA provide a further trademark mix (which is no bad thing, of course). What really pushes this take over the edge is a keyboard hook that sounds naggingly like Abba’s Gimme Gimme Gimme, as recently used in Madonna’s Hung Up. Four words: It. Works. Better Here. 

A version of Move My Body, the original of which was an exclusive on Erol Alkan’s Bugged Out mix compilation, maintains the quality for the dancefloor, with vocodered vocals and a nagging electro rhythm. 

The 12” vinyl versions offer the full ten-minute DFA remix plus a further Sexor Reprise by Tiga himself. A catchy song, offered in a variety of tempting formats. What are you waiting for? Indulge yourself!

Tracklisting [7”]: 1. (Far From) Home (Album Version By Tiga & Soulwax) / 2. (Chicken Lips Mix)
[CD5]: 1. (Far From) Home (Bascombe Radio Mix) / 2. (Digitalism Remix) / 3. (DFA Remix (Joakim Edit)) / 4. Move My Body (Version 2)

Visit the official Tiga website

Jan 2025 update: Undoubtedly boosted by my buying both the single on both 7" and CD, (Far From) Home debuted at #65...then disappeared from the UK Top 100 the following week. All of the subsequent singles and album listings on the Officlal Charts listing for Tiga are actually for US rapper Tyga. Come on, OC!

King Biscuit Time "Kwangchow"

A quick Google search revealed that Kwangchow is “a city on the Zhu Jiangi delta in southern China; the capital of Guangdong province and a major deep-water port”. My knowledge of world geography and history is pretty poor, so I’m not really much the wiser. 

As King Biscuit Time is the solo project of former Beta Band frontman Steve Mason, I didn’t expect the lyrics to enlighten me either. Opening chorus ‘How do you find a head when you got no fluid? / How do you find your heart when you feel no love?’, confirmed that expection. 

It may sound like faint praise but, if you’re a fan of the Beta Band or The Flaming Lips, then you’ll love this unconditionally. For the unconvinced, it’s difficult to know how to sell Kwangchow – and bonus track Tears Dry – other than to say that Mason is producing a more concise, coherent and generally more enjoyable version of his former band’s sound. 

If you remain unconvinced, then check out the remixes. The Doctors Of Love (no, never heard of them either) beef up the drum, ‘teardrop’ keyboard and piano parts to create a song that Primal Scream would kill to inlcude on their forthcoming album. 

Meanwhile, the Suicide D.O.G.Z remix creates a naggingly familiar Eastern-sounding beat, frequently looping the vocals to hypnotic effect. An exclusive Suicide D.O.G.Z remix on the Poptones website cranks up the rhythm and dubs the vocals to birth a sweaty floorfiller. A promising taster for forthcoming King Biscuit Time album Black Gold and an introduction to a couple of remixers to watch.

Tracklisting [CD5]: 1. Kwangchow (Album Version) / 2. Tears Dry / 3. (Doctors Of Love Remix) / 4. (Suicide D.O.G.Z - Faudels Hash Den Remix)

There is no official King Biscuit Time website, so go check out Steve Mason's instead.

Jan 2025 update: Very unlikely assisted by my CD single purchase and reach of my blog review, Kwangchow charted the following week at #84, the last time that King Biscuit Time - and Steve  Mason as a solo artist - cracked the UK Top 100 singles.. There is no justice in the (music) world.

In other diappointing news, the Poptones website is long gone and I seem to have lost the exclusive download-only Suicide D.O.G.Z remix along the way. Gutted!

Someday Roots, Sunday Culture

Today's selection is by way of compensation to Ernie at 27 Leggies for last Sunday's crushing disappointment of posting a mixtape side titled Roots 'n' Culture that was completely devoid of dub and reggae.

No red herrings here, with plenty of bass-heavy rhythms amongst the genre-hopping bakers' dozen of tunes. At least one tune from each of the last six decades and, as far as I can tell, all appearing here (in these versions at least) for the first time. 

Lee 'Scratch' Perry is hidden in plain sight, collaborating with Bob Marley on the opening song and reappearing as the Upsetter on the penultimate track. 

 

There are a trio of tunes from 1982, quite by accident, featuring UB40, Rico ably accompanied by The Specials and one of the greatest voices of all time, Bim Sherman.

 

As you may have guessed, International Beat was a spin-off from The Beat, their debut album produced by none other than Ranking Roger.

 

The 21st Century is well represented by Richard Norris, Adrian Sherwood and Prince Fatty, plus Wrongtom remixing Staines skankers Hard-Fi.

There are a couple of covers, with Rico and The Special AKA taking on the title track of Japanese jazz musician's Sadao Watanabe's 1979 album Morning Island.  

 

For Me You Are by Prince Fatty, Hollie Cook and Horseman has a rather more complicated history. The song was originally titled Bei Mir Bistu Shein and written by Jacob Jacobs and Sholom Secunda in 1932 for a Yiddish language comedy musical, I Would If I Could, performed by Aaron Lebedeff and Lucy Levin.

Five years later, Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin got their hands on the song, wrote English lyrics, Germanised the song title spelling and created a global hit for The Andrews Sisters with Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (Means That You're Grand)

 

The name of Prince Fatty's 2012 remake is an approximation of the original Yiddish to English song title translation, To Me You're Beautiful. 

 

Phew, history lesson over, time to enjoy the music!

1) Keep On Skanking: Bob Marley (1972)

2) Golden Morning Song: Bim Sherman (1982)

3) Better Do Better (Wrongtom Wild Inna 81 Version): Hard-Fi (2006)

4) Rock Steady: International Beat (1989)

5) Foundation Style: Richard Norris (2024)

6) Two Versions Of The Future: Adrian Sherwood (2006)

7) I Won't Close My Eyes (Remix): UB40 (1982)

8) Jah Vengeance / Jah Bible: Yabby You & Trinity (1980)

9) For Me You Are (Single Version) (Cover of Aaron Lebedeff & Lucy Levin / Andrews Sisters): Prince Fatty ft. Hollie Cook & Horseman (2012)

10) Tapper Roots: Tapper Zukie (1979)

11) Easy Dub: Alpha & Omega (1994)

12) Rumplesteelkin: Upsetter (1973)

13) Easter Island (Cover of 'Morning Island' by Sadao Watanabe): Rico ft. The Special AKA (1982)

 

1973: Rhythm Shower: 12

1979: Tapper Roots: 10

1980: Jah Jah Way: 8

1982: Across The Red Sea: 2 

1982: Jungle Music EP: 13

1982: UB44: 7

1989: The Hitting Line: 4

1990: The Best Of Bob Marley 1968-1972: 1 

1994: Safe In The Ark: 11

2006: Becoming A Cliché: 6

2006: Better Do Better EP: 3

2012: Prince Fatty Versus The Drunken Gambler: 9

2024: Oracle Sound Volume Three: 5

Someday Roots, Sunday Culture (47:54) (KF) (Mega)

The Altruistic Southern Soul And Dub Sounds Of Happy People

Pama International and the Happy People label herald the return of some more recommendations from my 2023 shopping bag that may creep onto your Bandcamp Friday or Christmas wish lists.

 

"Hang on a minute," you might be saying, "why have you posted a YouTube clip of the opening titles and theme tune to Desmond's then?!"

 

Ah, glad you asked (well, imagine you asked anyway). Well, those lovely people at, er, Happy People also saw fit to release the theme song of the classic Channel 4 sitcom in 2021 and - somehow, I can't remember how - it was looking up this song that led me to Bandcamp and from there, discovering Happy People Records and Pama International. I enthused about the label back in April.

As an aside, what may have prompted the search was that Mrs. K and I have been revisiting Desmond's, the entirety of which is available on All4. The first series takes a little time to find it's way but it's brilliantly written throughout by creator Trix Worrell.

 

Norman Beaton plays the titular lead and also sings the theme tune, Don't Scratch My Soca, co-written by Trix and John Collins, who also produced Ghost Town by The Specials. Copies of the limited edition 7" vinyl are still available at a ridiculously low price or as a free digital download. 

 

But I digress, this is supposed to be about Pama International!

Discogs succinctly describes them as an "All-star Ska, Reggae and Dub collective starring members from The Specials, Galliano, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Special Beat, The Loafers, Pop Will Eat Itself based in London, UK" which is a good start. 

 

Core member Sean Flowerdew (ex-The Loafers) also co-founded the Happy People label with Lenny Bignell and for the full immersive experience - although I hope not literally - they also organise regular themed cruises on the Thames. If you're quick, you still be able to nab tickets for the London Intl Ska Festival Christmas Thames Cruise on 2nd December.

 

"Khayem, you're digressing again," you may be sighing at this point, "get on with it! What about the music?"

Ah well, my entry point to Pama International was a release from February this year, the rather wonderful Pama Int'l Meets Wrongtom In Dub. 

 

I'm a fan of Wrongtom's dub productions anyway, so this was a very easy purchase for me. It's a refreshing, energising listen over eight songs and half an hour, from the opening Nasty Dub (aka Lovely Wife) featuring Rico Rodriguez to the blissed out closer Dubbing In Outerspace (aka The Race For Inner Space).

Although released in 2023, the dubs were produced in 2008-09 and intended as a version companion to Pama International's 2007 album, Love Filled Dub Band. Thankfully, rescued from a dusty Peckham cupboard and available for the first time this year, Pama Int'l Meets Wrongtom In Dub has racked up many, many plays this year.

If this floats your boat, then you can also find similarly satisfying dub collisions with Pama Intl Meets Mad Professor and Pama Intl Meets Manasseh: Trojan Sessions In Dub

Don't stop there, though. Pama International's Southern Soul Of Jamaica was released last month...   

 

 

... with Return Of The Unity Rockers set to land in March 2024, alongside a promised UK tour. Bring it on!

 

For your further listening pleasure, I've re-posted the Dubby Happy People selection from April 2023.

Django Django In Dub

My shopping spree on Friday increased my existing collection of three Django Django songs (two are remixes of the same song) by 1,800%.

I belated got their debut self-titled album in it's 10th anniversary deluxe edition, the big draw being Django Django Meets Mad Professor: A Dub Rework, the entire album recycled and dubbed up a la Massive Attack's No Protection. It was probably in a review of the latter that someone opined that all albums should have a Mad Professor dub companion and I can see their point.

A few days in and I'll confess that I haven't yet listened to the parent album but the dub rework is all that I could have hoped for and then some. 

Not content with that, I also bought the remix album Hi Djinx! which accompanied the original debut, a mix of styles and genres but with a few dub inflected excursions from the likes of Adrian Sherwood and Bullion aka Nathan Taylor. 

I also  picked up a few EPs, released around the time of their second and third albums, featuring Wrongtom aka Tom Robinson and Peaking Lights aka husband and wife duo Aaron Coyes and Indra Dunis. The former is firmly rooted in dub, the latter influenced maybe but taking a more psychedelic path to close out this half hour selection.

Today's photo is The Knife Angel, which has been touring nationally since 2018 and is in Gloucester this month, in the grounds of the cathedral. Created by sculptor Alfie Bradley, it's an awe-inspiring, thought-provoking artwork that stands as a national monument against violence and aggression. You can read the story of The Knife Angel and the victims of knife crime that inspired it here and here.

1) Hand Of Man (Mad Professor Dub) (2022)

2) Fountains (The Incredible Shrinking Dub) (Remix By Wrongtom) (2018)

3) Skies Over Cairo (Mad Professor Dub) (2022)

4) Skies Over Cairo (Bullion Version) (2012)

5) WOR (Adrian Sherwood's Hey Gringo Remix) (2012)

6) First Light (Wrongtom Dub) (2015)

7) Love's Dart (Mad Professor Dub) (2022)

8) Love's Dart (Peaking Lights Remix) (2016)

Django Django In Dub (29:45) (Box) (Mega)

I Dub From Another Planet, Baby

It's Saturday, it's raining, here are some dub drenched sounds to brighten your day.

 

1) Bag A Wire Dub: The Aggrovators + King Tubby & Friends (1976)

2) Fever Dub: Horace Andy (1977)

3) Epic One Drop (Album Version By Adrian Sherwood): Playgroup (1982)

4) Share It Out Dub: Bob Andy & Mad Professor (1989)

5) Good Times Dub: The Roots Radics ft. Gladstone Anderson (1982)

6) Some A Dub: The Congos (1976)

7) Substyle: Dub Syndicate (1983)

8) Dub To My Woman: Sly & Robbie (1997)

9) We Need Love (Wrongtom Inna West London Style): Hard-Fi (2007)

10) Weeping Willow: Black Uhuru / Prince Jammy With Sly & Robbie (1982)

11) Di Black Petty Booshwah (Dub) (Version By Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1980)

12) Cool This Dub: Tapper Zukie (1977)

13) Guiding Dub: Impact All Stars (1973)

14) Dub I Just A Man (Version By Dennis Bovell): Steve Mason (2011)

15) There's Dub: Glen Brown & King Tubby (1979)

16) Slow Country (Strictly Rubbadub): Spacemonkeyz Versus Gorillaz (2002)

 

I Dub From Another Planet, Baby (58:13)
Listen to I Dub From Another Planet, Baby on Mixcloud