WAHCD024

Out 23/09/13

Hackney Colliery Band need very little introduction. Since the release of their eponymous debut in 2011, this brass juggernaut have blown their way into the public consciousness, as well as some of the more discerning dance floors, with their cunning cover versions (in particular Africa and No Diggity) and catchy original recordings. 

Over the past two years the band have earned themselves an army of loyal fans, including a number of big names, and have played at some very special events indeed. From live collaborations with the late Amy Winehouse and more recently Eliza Doolittle, to headlining the Manchester Jazz and Durham Brass Festivals, and in 2012 being the only fully live band to play at the Closing Ceremony of the London Olympics, they haven’t paused for breath. 

Add to that an ongoing partnership with the Roundhouse, a recent Balkan tour where they played to capacity crowds in Slovenia, Kosovo and Montenegro and relentless touring in the UK and Europe, and it becomes obvious why the critics have described them as 'an inspired musical collision' (The Times), 'one of our favourite performers on the London scene today' (The Upcoming) and 'the most enjoyable, fun live music I know of’ (The Observer).

With a tongue-in-cheek, yet respectful, nod to the great tradition of British brass bands, Hackney Colliery's influences are as diverse as the London borough that gave them their name. Mixing rock, afro-beat, hip hop, Balkan beats, contemporary jazz and soul, the new album Common Decency is a uniquely British take on the modern brass band sound. The opener, A Bit Of Common Decency, builds from a delicately brooding intro to an almost punky rock groove, and with its imploring whispers and shouts for 'a bit of common decency' sets the tone of the album: by turns polite and forceful, mellow and fiery, energetic and, well, even more energetic. By the closing track, Prodigy Medley (a favourite of club and radio DJs all over the world), the listener can be left with little doubt that HCB’s time has come.

Engineered by the appropriately-named Tristan Hackney (Katy B, Bjork, U2) and mixed by Luke Buttery (Mark Ronson, Alice Russell, Noel Gallagher) at Ray Davies' Konk studios in North London, Common Decency was recorded almost entirely 'as live' with the band all playing in the same room at the same time; a rare and high-risk method indeed, but the only one that could hope to capture the energy and passion of one of HCB's live shows. 

Fortunately, with musicians whose credits include the likes of Bonobo, Cinematic Orchestra and even the Royal Opera House, there was no danger of this compromising the quality or detail of the performances. Add a little extra honk from Melt Yourself Down and Acoustic Ladyland head honcho Pete Wareham on the track Superhero Disco and there is no shortage of virtuoso playing. Which is lucky, because HCB aren't a simple 'brass n beats' groove band. Writers Olly Blackman, Luke Christie and Steve Pretty have between them penned unquestionably the outfit's strongest material to date ¬– powerful original compositions that sit alongside unexpected drum n bass, soul and hip hop covers; a tour de force of screaming energy and masterly writing. As intricate as it is energetic, as virtuosic as it is passionate, Common Decency marks HCB's arrival as a leading light in the global brass band scene.

As front-man Steve Pretty puts it, "When we started out back in 2008 our mission was to create a uniquely British take on the modern brass band and to prove that with nothing but some bits of twisted metal, wood and plastic we could get any party started. We've had an incredible couple of years and Common Decency is the realisation of those ambitions”.


Hackney Colliery Band - Prodigy Medley

Winding refix of the Fat Freddie's classic.

Fat Freddie's Drop - Roady (Nextmen Walnut Mix)

The Nextmen - Bootleg -  Break the Superstition

Fab Samperi aka The Captain does Patti Drew, just a sampler of the full track.  Out soon on Goodgroove Rec

The Captain - H2H

Mari B - Fear

The Make It Funky Radio show runs from 2pm to 4pm UK time every Sunday. Details below. Join us for some laid back Sunday funkiness:
https://www.facebook.com/events/992116821310581/

Maze providing the funk with the infectious Color Blind, Snoop Dogg and Pharell Williams waxing lyrical with the classic "Drop it like its hot". Various tweaking to beef it up and give it some extra grooviness...

For links to WAV and 320 kbps downloads visit: http://www.facebook.com/pages/James-DB/232044596877361?v=app_239549166105537

James DB - Drop It Like It's Colour Blind (Make It Funky Remix)

Etta James - I'd Rather Go Blind (kASPLATTY REMIX)

Taken from the Hip Hop Remixes & Re-takes Vol 3 album available now on Bandcamp:
https://listenlikethieves.bandcamp.com/album/copycats-hip-hop-remixes-re-edits-vol-3

Featuring 12 Remixes & Re-takes:
3rd Bass - Derelicts Of Dialect [Copycat Re-take] 
Roots Manuva - True Skool [Copycat Re-take] 
Public Enemy - Make Love Fuck War [Copycat Re-take] 
Hijack - Outta Jail [Copycat Re-take]
Chuck Chill-Out & Kool Chip - Time To Rhyme Remix [Copycat Re-take] 
T - La Rock - It's Yours [Copycat Re-take] 
Double Trouble - Stoop Rap [Copycat Re-take]
Silver Bullet - 20 Seconds To Comply [Copycat Re-take] 
Kool G Rap - Men At Work [Copycat Re-take]
Othello & Dj Vajra - Same Team Suckaz [Copycat Re-take] 
Latyrx - 4 Point Agenda [Copycat Re-take] 
Rebel MC - Just Keep Rockin [Copycat Re-take]

Silver Bullet - 20 Seconds To Comply [Copycat Re-take]

Review:
The mysterious Belabouche is back after top releases on the likes of Paper Disco, OBM Rec. and Thunder Jam in recent times. For Katakana Edits' 64th edition, he serves up a bunch of respectful edits here optimsed for maximum dancefloor potential. First up is "Sneakin Up Behind You" and indeed its groove certainly will in super lo-slung fashion. Some deep down and dirty funk action awaits you on the sexy-sleazy "Once You Get It" and prepare to venture into the exotic on the sultry latin action of "O Preguicoso" featuring some mad rhythms.

Buy links:
https://katakanaedits.bandcamp.com/album/katakana-edits-vol-64

https://www.junodownload.com/products/belabouche-katakana-edits-vol-64/3760035-02/

Katakana Edits Vol 64 (teaser)

The single 'Heartbreaker' taken from our debut EP getting some air time love from 6 Music's Craig Charles. 

Special thanks to Craig, Rob Da Bank and everyone else who has supported the EP. 

Silver Bullet - 20 Seconds To Comply [Copycat Re-take]

COPYCAT