How you say...ahead of its Time?

02  Doug Wimbish – 	Life In The Arena (Version 1)

Another Science Fiction Dancehall Classic! Originally released in 1984, this is one of the most envelope-pushing records on the On-U Sound label: a rhythmic collision of noise, dub and electronics. Adrian Sherwood pushed the possibilities of the studio to the limit, capturing dystopian mid-80s cold war menace with layers of spatially-disorientating percussion, alien keyboard sounds and teeth-rattling distortion. Features vocal contributions from Shara Nelson (Massive Attack) and Annie Anxiety (Crass Records).

Re-cut at dubplates & mastering in Berlin for maximum bass pressure. Includes a fold-out poster insert, and download card for full album plus a previously unreleased extended mix of “Ace Of Wands”, their contribution to the classic first volume of the longrunning Pay It All Back series.
Pre-order link: http://bit.ly/1hWUoEm


The Missing Brazilians - Ace Of Wands (unreleased extended mix)

Ahead of the release of the SCIENCE FICTION DANCEHALL CLASSICS compilation on 2 October, On-U Sound is proud to drop this ultra-limited 1-sided 12", with the On-U logo laser-etched onto the b-side, featuring edits of the demo recordings Adrian Sherwood produced for the classic "Akabu Theme", heard in finished form on the iconic PAY IT ALL BACK VOL 1 collection in 1984. As edited for maximum impact by DJ and audio-visual artist Trevor Jackson, these tracks are a startling discovery, and connect the dots between what On-U Sound was doing in the early-80s, and the modern day output of labels such as L.I.E.S, The Trilogy Tapes and Future Times.

Available 18th Sep

Akabu Edits - Raw Dub + Bonus Beats (short preview)

A metal dance deconstruction of a Prince classic, recorded in 1987.

Adrian’s mid-80s productions with the Tackhead axis were some of the most innovative of the period in their sheer sonic extremity - creating huge walls of sound with skull-crushing beats, a Dadaist collage of vocal samples, and instruments pushed way into the red. Distortion became another colour in his sonic palette, just as echo, reverb and parametric EQ had been to his dub productions. These records caught the ears of musicians from the emerging second wave industrial scene - an international affair taking inspiration from earlier groups like Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Voltaire but applying it to tracks intended for a dancefloor or rock club. The hybrid would be dubbed ‘electronic body music’, and Sherwood very much had a hand in shaping the sound, being invited to work with the likes of Einstürzende Neubauten, Ministry, KMFDM, Nitzer Ebb and Nine Inch Nails.

Pankow were from Florence, Italy and Adrian made their acquaintance after producing fellow hometown act Rinf (also featured on this comp). Pankow's early synth and drum machine excursions such as “Das Vodkalied” have become a seminal touchstone for modern techno producers such as Helena Hauff in recent years, with their heavier late-80s productions with Adrian Sherwood being championed as metal dance classics by On-U compiler Trevor Jackson. They also ended up having their records released in the states by Wax Trax!, and worked on two albums with Adrian, Freiheit Für Die Sklaven(Freedom For The Slaves) and Gisela. This irreverent deconstruction of a Prince song is a highlight of their time working together and appeared in extended form on the humorously titled EP, Pankow Play The Hits Of The Nineties.

More: www.smarturl.it/satcvol2


Pankow - Girls & Boys

An unreleased gem from the On-U archives that features on the forthcoming 'Sherwood At The Controls Volume 2: 1985 - 1990' compilation.

Brought together through the efforts of BBC Radio DJ Steve 'On The Wire' Barker, the sessions that birthed this track saw Adrian work with one of his heroes and big influences for the first time. Working alongside Style Scott and Dub Syndicate, they cooked up a fresh batch of rhythms for the Upsetter to voice, resulting in the critically acclaimed Time Boom X De Devil Dead LP which came out on On-U Sound in 1987. This alternate mix of the track "Music & Science Lovers" is heard here for the first time.

More about the compilation here: www.smarturl.it/satcvol2

Lee 'Scratch' Perry - Music & Science Madness

As featured on Sherwood At The Controls Vol 2: 1985 - 1990, a slice of future funk laid down by Doug Wimbish, Skip McDonald and Keith LeBlanc (aka The Sugarhill Gang) in collaboration with UK dub producer Adrian Sherwood. Exclusive edit by On-U archivist and DJ Patrick Dokter.

Order Sherwood At The Controls Vol 2: http://amzn.to/28MJS3p

02 Doug Wimbish – Life In The Arena (Version 1)

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