Bunker Sessions #20 - 10.08.2013 (Only for the hardcore!)

Soon, Nevada’s Black Rock Desert will be transformed into a wooden city dedicated to community, art, self expression and self reliance (aka BURNING MAN). It’s a box I’ve wanted to tick since it featured on the famous early 90s docco, ‘Rave New World’ and we’re now just a week away from the inevitable chaos, over-stimulation and shamanarchy. Session #20 is a desperate attempt to prove I haven’t lost my hardcore. ;) (this is not over yet!)

Growing up in the early 90s was a privilege because it was the tail end of the analogue era; the summer of love with all its peaceful anarchy, cassette trading and phone boxes. Something very real was happening, but more importantly, this predated the Criminal Justice Act of 1994, which directly targeted the rave movement with its "repetitive beats" definition. Post-94, government controlled ‘raves’ became corporate ‘superclubs’ of the pay party era bringing the hierarchical social classes of the so-called ‘normal’ life with it. Even techno has become a white, middle class movement - but beyond the hipster swagger, the spirit remains for those who remember.

Nowadays, it’s nigh on impossible for imaginative promoters to score an all night outdoor public entertainment license without hefty corporate sponsorship to cover the escalating cost of police and council bureaucracy. Universe’s mighty ‘Tribal Gathering’ festie was perhaps the clearest case of institutional discrimination against dance culture. The ‘96 license was refused following objections around noise pollution and traffic congestion. Consultation obligations were ignored and hearing dates were set on on impossible timeframes (nine days before the event); a deliberate ploy to cause maximum disruption, damage to credibility and bankruptcy. All this, a day after permission had been granted for 150,000 people to attend a rock concert in Hyde Park (where sound levels and traffic congestion didn’t appear to be an issue - just sayin’).

If Tribal Gathering was rave in its death throes then it’s safe to say it went out on a rip-roaring, whistle blowing high after the courts requested a fresh application and Universe moved the event to Luton. Plus, as an added middle finger to the system, they went ahead with the second application, staging a September event on the original Oxford site called ‘Big Love - the ultimate victory celebration of dance culture’. Dave Angel closed the colossal ‘Starship Universe’ tent underneath a solar system of giant inflatable planets, multi-coloured lazers, VJ animations, stilt walking robots and giant ants...oh and a team of cyberpunks known as ‘Kiss My Axe' dismembering a full size rhino with chainsaws (obviously!). MC Ribbz put an end to the devastation with the words, “UNIVERSE! YOU HAVE JUST WITNESSED THE BIGGEST DANCE PARTY IN THE WORLD!” - a moment in history and there you have it. :-D

I set out to make this mix as deranged as I possibly could; tribal madness coated in a transcendental magic, climaxing with the Pump Panel (43:54 - don’t say I didn’t warn!). Laurent Garnier serves up atmospheric techno with orchestral sensibilities (the beautiful ‘Choice - Acid Eiffel’ - 32:33) and Detroit techno warlords, Underground Resistance (Jeff Mills/”Mad” Mike Banks et al) prove that they’re still head and shoulders above their contemporaries (Final Frontier - 37:17) (!!!). Just be sure to drink lots of water kids. ;) 

I’ve saved you the potted history of Chicago here because acid house revivals are as common as West Country muck. The hardcore breaks that underlined the rave era however, never seem to get replay - so this is my single handed attempt to bring it back ;)) (56:04). Jungle-techno, Proto-Drum ‘n bass - call it what you will, but this was a homegrown sound at an exciting and potent time before the music splintered into the mass of genres and micro scenes we have today (forgettable Dubstep *wub* *wub* *wub* fads included). 

Trailer Trash Queen, Hannah Holland regularly rinses era defining classics like Champion Sound (1:17:33) and Valley of the Shadows (1:19:39) at her Bastard Batty Bass night. This East London enclave had a rare old skool feel back at the Old Blue Last, finding a more recent residency at The Star of Bethnal. What’s more, they also featured Soul II Soul’s MC Chickaboo (one of the original MC’s at Fantazia! “Move your body babayyyyy”). So, by way of a tribute, I’ve included a snippet of Mama Shamone pissing around on the Bastard Batty podcast a few years ago, “babies welcome!” apparently (5:11). :-$

But before I hand over to The Williams Fairey Brass Band (discovered on a Victorian bandstand at Tribal Gathering no less), I must credit Chris Jepson for the unsettling image of yours truly in a gas mask.

Rave on...x

1. The Williams Fairey Brass Band - Day in the life/Can u party? (Medley) [Blast First] 1997*

2. Royal House - Can you party? (Club mix) [Idlers] 1988*

3. Depeche Mode - John the revelator (Dave is in the disco dub) [Sire, Reprise Records, Mute] 2006

4. Mama Shamone - Babies welcome (Batty Bass Radio 3 podcast hosted by Mama Shamone & Hannah Holland) [Unreleased] 2007*

5. No Bra - Munchausen (The Most remix) [Muskel Records] 2005

6. Humanoid - Stakker Humanoid [Westside Records] 1988

7. Sourmash - Pilgrimage to paradise (Barrel beat mix) [Prolekult] 1993*

8. Armando - Land of confusion (Confusion mix) [Westbrook Records] 1987

9. Quasistereo - Accelerator (Chicks on Speed mix) [Anodyne] 2002

10. Simon Wish Vs. Cruz + Lati - Dawn’s highway [Cocoon Recordings] 2010

11. Wighnomy Brothers - Pele Bloss [Freud Am Tanzen] 2005

12. Orbital - Impact (The Earth is burning) [Internal] 1993*

13. Underground Resistance - Hardlife (Aaron Carl remix) [Underground Resistance] 2001*

14. Choice - Acid eiffel [Fnac Music Dance Division] 1993

15. Underground Resistance - Final frontier [Underground Resistance] 1991

16. Dave Clark - Protective custody [Re-load Records] 1994

17. The Pump Panel - Ego acid [Harthouse] 1994*

18. New Order - Confusion (Pump Panel reconstruction) [FFRR] 1995*

19. Dr. Fernando - Jojoba [Music Man Records] 1993

Sample - Whizzing noise - Cevin Fisher - West End 25th Anniversary Intro [West End Records] 2001

Sample – 100 sound effects vol. 3 – Intergalactic battle (space guns) [Unreleased] 1994

20. Leo Anibaldi - Bassbar [ACV] 1991

21. Rhythm for Reasons - The e-face (Bassheavy mix) [Formation Records] 1991*

22. Sound Corp. - Dream finder [Tone Def Records] 1991

23. Reckless - Time to make the floor burn (The reckless hypermix) [Pulse-8 Records] 1992*

24. Krome & Time - This sound is for the underground [Suburban Base Records] 1992

25. Jonny L - Hurt you so (Alright) (The ‘full’ mix) [Yo!Yo! Records, Tuch Wood Records] 1992

26. LTJ Bukem - Horizons [Looking Good Records] 1995

27. Return of Q Project - Champion sound (Alliance remix) [Legend Records UK] 1993

28. Origin Unknown - Valley of the shadows [RAM Records] 1993

29. Augustus Pablo - King Tubby meets the Rockers Uptown [Island Records] 1975

30. Sluggy Ranks - Nah bow down [Guidance Recordings] 2001

31. The Orb - Towers of dub [Polydor K.K.] 1992

Bunker Sessions #20 - 10.08.2013 (Only for the hardcore!)

Robder (Rob Calcutt): Bunker Sessions

A twice monthly slot including a few of my own mixes and playlists from Bunker Sessions, a regular gathering at chez Robder, aka 'The Penthouse Bunker'.

Bunker Sessions was inspired by post club playlists with Alan Peres, the infamous Trashfab book club, various trips to Classic Album Sundays and my involvement with Lucky Cloud Sound System at Journey to the Light. Our gathering celebrates the gift of appreciating music in groups, providing a sanctuary for open minded listening to co-create playlists and explore new genres/artists. This isn’t a social - but more a chance to unearth and share music that has had an impact on our lives.

...the format is as follows:

Bring a piece of music from any genre to share. B-sides and rarities encouraged but not essential. Avoid modern pop unless that's what moves you and no 15 minute epics. The aim is to tap into a group musical flow - take that as you will. You may wish to prepare a few moods but if your definition of ‘flow’ is to supplement Joni Mitchell with some German gabber then unleash the chaos!

A talking stick (a drumstick caught at a Funkadelic gig no less!) is passed around the circle to give everyone present an opportunity to introduce their selection before giving it an airing. Be inventive! Bring your life stories, artist insights and musical knowledge. Props are encouraged - try blackout eye masks to channel the spirit of Stevie Wonder or printed lyrics to help everyone appreciate the sentiment behind a song.

Respect the space! Bunker Sessions is a compassionate space where deep sharing is encouraged and received without judgement. Emotionally charged and considered intros are as important to this gathering as the music itself. Debate, opinions and follow up discussion are welcome. Open mindedness essential and without musical prejudice; geek tendencies must never overpower or alienate.

Bunker Sessions is a place of focused listening. No conversation or mobile phones (until we've been around the circle then we can crack open a bottle, roll a spliff, relax a bit and continue in the mix). Arrive to listen and be educated. Takeaway food to avoid kitchen faffing - financial contributions welcome and bring a bottle if drinking.

The evening playlist and photos will feature on deepfrequency.com and our blog: bunkersessions.co.uk along with a Soundcloud/Mixcloud/Mixcrate player to recapture the sounds. PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO EMAIL WAV/MP3 FILES THE FOLLOWING DAY IF YOU HAVE THEM - robder@mac.com.

Bunker Sessions welcomes new members but numbers are limited. This is a gathering for proud geeks who take their listening seriously. :)

Like our page: facebook.com/bunkersessionsblog
Follow us on Twitter: @bunkersessions

More of our stuff:
http://www.deepfrequency.com/djs.php?id=105&mode=viewdj
mixcrate.com/BunkerSessions
mixcloud.com/BunkerSessions

Bunker Sessions

Popular tracks