008 Earl Grey

DJ Earl Grey aka Nik Thorup takes us beyond the dancefloor and into the realm of the cerebral. During his month-long residency at Waxflower, Nik spun a cornucopia of captivating and unique records that always left us hungry for more.

We’re still not sure how Nik managed to intertwine so many polarising genres so effortlessly. Few DJs can stroll from ambient to jazz, from folk to dub, making it sound so organic. Maybe there’s a link to be drawn between this kind of musical curation and some of the more adventurous wine-making processes we’ve come to love at Waxflower. Skin-contact wine often leads to bolder, more intense, and less predictable palates. 

Shady wine-making comparisons aside, it was an honour for us to have Nik play for the whole month. We’ve spent plenty of time listening to his recorded sets, so it was a treat to experience his talent live at Waxflower.

Recorded live @Waxflowerbar

008 Dj Earl Grey

‘For home use only’ is an anti-club social, a chance to get to know someone/something. A series of transmissions purely dedicated to exploring the other side.

Welcome back to our inflight radio, we’re just slightly adjusting the trajectory towards the idea of imminent ecstasy. Dinner will be served in the next half an hour. Our guest for this edition of lunar landscapes is a local expert in the audible field: Citizen Maze aka Adam McCoy(no relation). A surgeon in every form of the definition, his precise and methodical approach to all things sound brings artistry to the world of DJ’ing. Or, as I like to call it “exploiting other’s artwork in a poetic manner”. His perfectionist ideals are also very apparent in his newly launched record label ‘Mirror Tapes’ (TIP!!) and the debut compilation that’s just dropped, the stunning collection of dubbed-out fairytales from around the world. (Link Below) 

Adam’s prodigious contribution is three and half hours of planet-hopping merrymaking, all whilst still having a foot in the shallow end of the rhythm section, quixotic exploits across all states of consciousness, layers upon layers of perfectly woven, history-rich tapestry. There is detailed explorations of all genres, sub-genres and even inventing new ones. It emerges as somewhat of a lecture in the field, cause and effect in full effect (big ups Ishikawa). As the mix peaks and drops, the journey to each emotional high is unique, both sides of the peak explore creative ways to not only get there but also the best way to leave. It’s impossible to really nail the mix down as a single piece, instead, I think of it as an entire exhibition at a gallery. Anyway, enough thought, just block out the next three and half hours and press play and feel. 

Don’t forget to breathe. X 

His sounds >>> https://soundcloud.com/citizenmaze

Mirror Tapes V.A >>> https://mirrortapes.bandcamp.com/album/mirror-tapes-worldwide-vol-1

FHUO # 67 // Citizen Maze

In 1967 Lloyd Barnes moved from Jamaica to New York. He worked in construction saving enough money to follow his dream and founded Wackies in 1976, one of the earliest reggae focused studios and record shops in the US. Over the years many luminous voices have passed through his magical mixing board: Horace Andy, The Heptones, Johnny Osbourne, Sugar Minott and the Love Joys, just to name a few. The Wackies catalog is vast, spanning many boroughs of the dub and reggae disapora, even touching on disco and hip hop. As a producer Lloyd Barnes is known for his hazy bass-heavy productions and wicked dubs. 

Our guide to the Wackies universe is Rob Buschgans who, through his Digikiller label, has been working with Barnes, reissuing treasures from his vast archive, including previously unreleased cuts, dub-plates and versions. For this mix Rob has focused on roots and dub cuts, and his selections are untouchable, revealing just how deep inside a song Barnes can get. Digikiller has been unearthing archives since 2009, the catalog is truly astounding, as essential as it gets. Big thanks to Rob for putting this mix together for us.

@dkr-nyc

Séance Centre Radio Episode 59 NTS - Wackies Dubs & Roots w/ RB DKR

From Oakland with love comes the 50th submission in the mix series comes by the hand of prolific producer and deejay Space Ghost (@space-ghost-1). Interview (excerpt) down below.

www.musicfrommemory.com 

MFM: Hey Sudi. How's life in California, what's been keeping you busy?

SG: Hey, not much! Just trying to enjoy the summer with friends and get in the studio when I can.

MFM: Looking at your discography it seems that you favor the LP over the EP format, having released well over a dozen albums. How come?

SG: I can’t say that I favor one over the other, just seems that as a musician you strive to write full length LPs. I enjoy LPs for home listening and it feels good to create a nice body of work that flows through a journey. Writing dance singles and eps are trickier for me. It feels harder to write 1-4 really good stand alone songs.

MFM: With such a prolific output, does writing music come easily to you? Can you tell us a bit about how you go about writing and recording, is there a certain flow or method?

SG: Hmm I wouldn’t necessarily say it comes comes easy but I’ve definitely gotten a lot better at getting ideas in my head out into my recordings. It’s still a process of getting into the studio and spending time on it. Sometimes I can spend a whole day or two just spinning my wheels and not being able to get my ideas out. But once I get that perfect dose of creativity and I’m in the right mood, then things can definitely start flowing out. When writing music I often need to start with a very specific idea based on a song I’m listening to at the time. It’s helpful for me to start out with that initial inspiration, whether some chords, style of drums, bassline or a tempo or something. Once I get a few elements working around that idea the song can start to morph and move in any direction, but I really need that specific direction to start. I find that I can often make a rudimentary idea fairly quickly this way and then if it’s inspiring me, I’ll start to try a little bit harder and flush out more of the idea.

MFM: How do you cope with not being inspired or motivated when in the studio?

SG: Honestly it can be a bummer to be in the studio and the ideas aren’t flowing. I’ll just have to step away and do something totally unrelated for a few days.

MFM: Your sound overall has a very soft and melodic touch. The mellow part may be from living close to the Pacific and nature, but where does the melodic part come from? Did you ever learn how to read and play notes?

SG: You know I’m really not sure if I can pinpoint my melodies and where they came from but ya I grew up taking music lessons of all sorts. Piano, drums, guitar, band class, all that stuff. I wasn’t the best at reading music, I learned basic stuff but eventually didn’t progress much farther. Now everything I do is by feel.

MFM: Is there some kind of masterplan for Space Ghost? Like, do you have certain goals to achieve or dreams to chase?

SG: I think my master plan would involve me getting to focus on writing music full time. Honestly I’m not really sure how to get there specifically, seems like everyone gets there on their own path so hopefully mine will end up there as well.

MFM: Tell us about the mix. How did you go about selecting and recording it? Does it have a certain theme or idea to it?

SG: I’ve been wanting to put out a nice lil ambient sort of electronic mix for awhile. Really soft deep introspective vibes. I’ve been holding on to a lot of these tunes for awhile and just listening to my playlist of ambient tunes while traveling or relaxing with friends. After coming back from my NZ/Australian tour, I was ready to play some non dance music for a sec and listen to some other stuff. This mix is just a nice break from DJing a party. I also really want to make an ambient album soon if I have the time, so there are a lot inspirations in this mix.

MFM Mix 050: Space Ghost

June (i)tunes playlist  (Athens, 06-06-24, 37°C)


Isabel Zeumer, Karl Heinz Stegmann, Heinz Becker - Abends
Th Blisks - E v E 
L'Homme Statue - Jardim Secreto
Imaginaria - A State Of Mind
Rex Ilusivii - Letenje Jedrilice
Akis - Erotica
Arp - Il Sogno Di Monica 
Akis - At Sirius
Suso Saiz - Banana Buango-Mix
Sub Sub - Coast
Peak of Normal - Hava 
Folie 2 - SG Supersound 
Alex Ho - Tell Me 
David Datunashvili - Mixed Feelings
Alex Ho - Move
Paris Bis - Unis Dans La Nuit
Ghia - Keep Your House in Disorder 
Con Act - Lucky Dog
Hiroki Ishiguro - Unity
John Beltran - Em Trancoso
Cherly Glasgow - Glued to the Spot

Music For Heat Wave I

Amsterdam selector Orpheu The Wizard connects oddball and straight forward jams from different decades and different record shelves in a monthly show.  
Find the full tracklist and related episodes on NTS: https://www.nts.live/shows/orpheu-the-wizard/episodes/orpheu-the-wizard-12th-july-2024

Orpheu The Wizard - Dub Special 120724

Chris Flanagan (Shella Records) has put together a mix of reggae recorded in Toronto to help cope with the heat this summer. Chris was already enchanted by the city’s reggae and dub culture when I met him, more than a decade ago, and works tirelessly to amplify the sounds via his excellent label Shella Records, or though his filmmaking and art practice. Recently he co-directed  a series of short docs on Toronto's Reggae history with director Graeme Mathieson produced by the National Film Board of Canada. Sounds & Pressure: Reggae In A Foreign Land is a 5 part anthology featuring Johnny Osbourne, Nana Mclean, Leroy Sibbles, Roy Panton and Yvonne Harrison.

The series will premiere in Toronto at the Paradise Cinema on August 22nd and will be available to watch in Canada on the NFB website the following day. Big thanks to Chris putting together this sizzling evergreen mix.

Séance Centre Radio Episode 76 -- Toronto Reggae Special w/ Shella Records

Bill Spencer shares weekend recordings from his living room studio in Detroit, Michigan, from where he brings a range of soulful jazz rock, and ambient sounds, spanning to electronica and psychedelic dub.
 
Find the full tracklist and related episodes on NTS: https://www.nts.live/shows/bill-spencer/episodes/bill-spencer-18th-august-2024

A Month of Sundays w/ Bill Spencer - Japanese Dub Special 180824

A dreamy chilled session from Earth Beat's very own, Extra Andrew

AM001 Extra Andrew

Kool Jah - Zis ou Tousel

Listen on Spotify

80 odd minutes of certified melters from the @good-block lads to kick off the first mix in our 1800 triiip series.

If you haven't copped their 4 corners E.P hugeeee tip to jump on it ~ https://goodblock.bandcamp.com/releases

ID requests ~ @good-block

Good Block

1800 triiip - Good Block - 001

Séance Centre is a label, publisher, and distributor conjuring timeless music from the past, present and future.

For NA distribution contact: info@seance-centre.com
For EU distribution contact: info@rushhour.nl

Séance Centre Radio Episode 76 -- Toronto Reggae Special w/ Shella Records

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