TITLE : TWENTY FIRST CENTURY SKA 2001
RELEASE DATE: JUNE 2001
FORMATS: DJ FRIENDLY DOUBLE VINYL / FULL LENGTH CD
LABEL : FREE RADICAL SOUNDS.COM
PRICE :TEN POUNDS (STERLING) PLUS POSTAGE
TWENTY FIRST CENTURY SKA 2001
21ST CENTURY SKA: 2001 is the first release on new compilation based label Free Radical Sound Recordings. Compiled by the same team of DJs & producers who put together the first 21ST CENTURY SKA album in 2000 - which sold extremely well & received much acclaim both from the music press & music fans alike. The 2001 take on Ska takes in contemporary breakbeat, electro & the funkier end of the dancefloor spectrum, while retaining the warmth & energy of Ska music with its skanking rhythms, brass & keyboard lines.
The Free Radical Sounds ethos is on new & exciting music which fuses dance, ska, dub & other forms, crossing musical boundaries. 21ST CENTURY SKA: 2001 is quite simply excellent party music, but with enough twists, turns & melodic content to warrant repeated listening, and includes contributions from established artists such Barry Ashworth (DubPistols), Justin Robertson, DJ Stix & Outcast alongside new acts & several previously unreleased tracks.
Twenty First century Ska 2001
Artist Profiles :
'PEARLY KING SKANK'
FREAKY BEANZ
Cheeky knees-up,waist shaking ,soul skankin stuff.
This is the first solo release for John Ayers - long time dub, dance & funk
DJ on the London party scene, recorded in a south London biscuit factory
and features Stephen Large on Euphonium. There's plenty more to follow from
these guys, so listen up.
Visit our interview with Avalon Jon of Freaky Beanz
'TWO TONETABLES'
HARDWIRE MIX
DJ STIX
Stephen Hunt's mash up decknology has been a prime part of ultra cool UK
label Kingsize's armoury over the last few years. Thus far he has released
one album "Different Worlds" on the label as well as a plethora of 12" hip
hop vibed plates. He is also a core member of the Dub Pistols live shows.
Fellow Kingsizers’ and Free Radical favourites Hardwire, remix Stixs’ original
into an acid tinged breakbeat monster, complete with top scratching, courtesy
of DMC mixing finalist DJ Wisdom.
'SCAR WARS'
THE WOODSHED
After two albums in "The Devil's Jukebox" and "Forty Miles Of Rough
Road" and a sackfull of 12"s, the Woodshed emerged with the Scar Wars E.P
on the Cloak and Dagger record label from who FRS have picked the title track.
This is tripped out, acid ska, especially formulated to clean up the dancefloor..
'ONE EYED GIANT'
LL NINO
LL Nino, AKA Si Denbigh has previously produced top underground dance
tracks for the now sadly defunct, but highly rated label ‘Soundclash’. A
top LL Nino track appeared on the first 21st Century Ska album and FRS just
had to ask for more for 2001. Combining an enthusiasm for original ska &
dub with an ear for maverick samples & mental beats, Si is definitely a
producer to watch out for.
'SON OF THUNDER'
JUDGEMENTAL
A former member of acclaimed breakbeat act Supercharger, Darren Pickles
is now Judgemental and weighs in with a siesmic slab of 21st Century style
Ska - thuggery. Heavy & funky in equal measures, expect to hear more of
his wicked fusions in the very near future.
'FABRIC SESSION'
RUMBLEFISH
Dub Pistol head honcho Barry Ashworth under a new pseudonym, on a
track licensed from his own label, Ugly Records. Barry's brutal beats continue
with fellow producer Bill Hensal as Rumblefish and " Fabric Session" shows
them taking ska-jacking breakbeat to new heights.
Checkout our interview with Barry Ashworth
'ASYLUM SEEKERS'
SUBCULTURE SOUNDSYSTEM
Part A&R for FRS & resident DJs for the label sound, Subculture pull
out the stops for this topical techno - ska workout, which pounds & skanks
its way into the 21st Century. Subculture also release tracks for Japanese
label PLAY & UK electronic label Law & Auder.
'SINSIMILLA'
SOUL OF MAN REMIX
STOPPA
London based Stoppa has been pioneering his skanked up sounds both as
a promoter and DJ as well as through his own label "Lacerba ". This tune
is typical of the man's approach - a skanked up paen to the 'erb, remixed
in fine style by Fingerlickin’ Records Soul Of Man. Skalicious.. best served
hot.
P.I SKANK
SKANKAROUND SOUNDSYSTEM
Hollands sonic manipulators and Melkveg DJ's sample up UK act 'Top Cats'
on this theme tune style track of epic proportions. A great example of how
the digital forces of this new millennium can meet with the more traditional
sounds of a full on live ska band.
Checkout our interview with Skankaround Soundsystem.
'THE LIQUIDATOR'
TERRY EDWARDS SKA ALLSTARS
A 2001 update on the classic ‘Liquidator’ track from Madness brass arranger
& one time Gallon Drunk man, Terry Edwards.
'TAKE HEED'
OUTCAST
Davide Arcoleo is the man behind Outcaste & Kingsize Records having
previously released one of the most under acclaimed albums "Truth to be Told"
as Adelphi. ‘Take Heed’ is a return to breakbeat, breakneck skardiac inducing
riddims - take heed indeed. His new album " The Family" is eagerly anticipated.
'SPECTRES'
GENTLEMAN THIEF
Justin Robertson top DJ & the man behind Lionrock, returns with a new
project on a new label, Master Detective. With "Spectres " Gentleman Thief
fuse a skanking rhythm with funky acid - tinged techno featuring the combined
production talents of Justin and Roger Lyons.
'SKA PLAINS DRIFTER'
PFINK
Featuring Lewis Zip Dog and the mysterious Pete Pfink, stalwarts of London’s
Conspirators in Dub night. Lewis runs the acclaimed Zip dog records label
respected for it's "Club meets Dub" releases in the 90's. ‘Ska Plains Drifter’
sees a contemporary revival of the Spaghetti Western themes originally captured
within reggae and Ska.
'JUMP JUMP'
URBAN DUB
New London digital dubsters, Urban Dub have recently released their eponymous
debut album on the Dubhead label. "Jump Jump" sees the seductive sax of
Marjorie Paris and the skankin' soul of Roop, combine in this melodic, upbeat
closer to the compilation.
Twenty First Century Ska
2001 Reviewed
