uncarved.org blog » woofah http://www.uncarved.org/blog John Eden: BM Box 3641, London, WC1N 3XX, England UK Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:40:17 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 2003-2008 eden@uncarved.org (John Eden) eden@uncarved.org (John Eden) dub communism 1440 http://www.uncarved.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/jet144.jpg uncarved.org blog http://www.uncarved.org/blog 144 144 uncarved.org podcasts The audio equivalent of the uncarved.org blog, including mixes, RSI Radio Show, documentary snippets. reggae, grime, occulture, fanzines, uncarved.org, dissensus, blogariddims, woofah John Eden John Eden eden@uncarved.org no yes Invasion of the Mysteron Killer Sounds radio play and interviews http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2011/07/invasion-of-the-mysteron-killer-sounds-radio-play-and-interviews/ http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2011/07/invasion-of-the-mysteron-killer-sounds-radio-play-and-interviews/#comments Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:42:21 +0000 john http://www.uncarved.org/blog/?p=4609 “I dub from inner to outer space. The sound I get out of Black Ark studio, I don’t really get it out of no other studio.
It was like a space craft. You could hear the space in the tracks.”

Lee Perry

Kevin Martin (The Bug, King Midas Sound) and Stuart Baker (Soul Jazz, 100% Dynamite, Sounds of the Universe) have compiled this ace double CD and quadruple vinyl set of electronic dancehall riddims. A bad-ass selection with some undoubted classics like Street Sweeper and Peanie Peanie alongside more outre examples of JA music at its eeriest. Also some more modern and UK produced fare like Kevin’s own Aktion Pak riddim.

I’ve had mixed feelings about the concept. On the one had I was championing the reggae/ragga afronaut connection a decade ago as part of the Association of Autonomous Astronauts and one of my first ever reggae DJ sets was at the Garage in Highbury during an AAA night as part of the 10 day Space 1999 festival. I even did an AAA presentation on dub as the basis for a new intergalactic architecture at a conference organised by Kodwo Eshun in Austria. More recently Wayne and Wax has produced an incredible critical survey of rasta imagery in science fiction in issue 4 of Woofah.

On the other hand, I’ve previously been forthright in my condemnation of people who only seem to like their dancehall with the sounds of black voices erased. I think, on reflection, this criticism is hugely unfair on the curators of the current comp (and indeed Basic Replay who I previously tore into) who have done more than most to promote reggae music in its ancient and modern forms over many many years. But I have always come across a few techno fans who seem to hate ragga vocals and that seems a bit… odd.

The conclusion I’ve come to is that a bass-driven sci-fi is a great alternate window to look at dancehall productions through, and this compilation seems like an excellent launchpad into that world, featuring a mad comic about aliens and bashment beats.

The comic was originally planned to be a radio play, but apparently time and budget didn’t allow this. But the street finds its uses for everything, as the old cyberpunk saying goes, so I was chuffed to hear that Dino Lalič and the Sensi Smile crew at Radio Student Ljubljana were going to remix the source material from the comp and its comic back into a radio play last weekend. I think they’ve done a terrific job – the accented narration adds to the spookiness and conjurs up cosmonauts of yesteryear to my ears. I love the blending of ragga with more Joe Meek-esque sixties futurism and dubwise material as well.

The Invasion of the Mysteron Killer Sounds Radio Play was part of a whole evening’s entertainment on the station, which also included interviews with Stuart Baker, Paolo Parisi (the comic’s creator) and my good self. Mine was a live telephone interview, and listening to it again I am amused to find myself being an old fart talking about that yearning for the sonic future…

Much of the commentary is in Slovenian, so may not be decipherable to many of my readers, although the tunes are obviously universal – not to say outernational! Here are some time marks for you for the English language stuff:

1:23:00 Stuart Baker

1:51:30 Paolo Parisi

2:03:32 The Radio Play

3:08:22 John Eden

]]> http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2011/07/invasion-of-the-mysteron-killer-sounds-radio-play-and-interviews/feed/ 11 0:06:37 “I dub from inner to outer space. The sound I get out of Black Ark studio, I don’t really get it out of no other studio. It was like a space craft. You could hear the space in the tracks.” Lee Perry Kevin Martin (The Bug, King Mid[...] “I dub from inner to outer space. The sound I get out of Black Ark studio, I don’t really get it out of no other studio. It was like a space craft. You could hear the space in the tracks.” Lee Perry Kevin Martin (The Bug, King Midas Sound) and Stuart Baker (Soul Jazz, 100% Dynamite, Sounds of the Universe) have compiled this ace double CD and quadruple vinyl set of electronic dancehall riddims. A bad-ass selection with some undoubted classics like Street Sweeper and Peanie Peanie alongside more outre examples of JA music at its eeriest. Also some more modern and UK produced fare like Kevin’s own Aktion Pak riddim. I’ve had mixed feelings about the concept. On the one had I was championing the reggae/ragga afronaut connection a decade ago as part of the Association of Autonomous Astronauts and one of my first ever reggae DJ sets was at the Garage in Highbury during an AAA night as part of the 10 day Space 1999 festival. I even did an AAA presentation on dub as the basis for a new intergalactic architecture at a conference organised by Kodwo Eshun in Austria. More recently Wayne and Wax has produced an incredible critical survey of rasta imagery in science fiction in issue 4 of Woofah. On the other hand, I’ve previously been forthright in my condemnation of people who only seem to like their dancehall with the sounds of black voices erased. I think, on reflection, this criticism is hugely unfair on the curators of the current comp (and indeed Basic Replay who I previously tore into) who have done more than most to promote reggae music in its ancient and modern forms over many many years. But I have always come across a few techno fans who seem to hate ragga vocals and that seems a bit… odd. The conclusion I’ve come to is that a bass-driven sci-fi is a great alternate window to look at dancehall productions through, and this compilation seems like an excellent launchpad into that world, featuring a mad comic about aliens and bashment beats. The comic was originally planned to be a radio play, but apparently time and budget didn’t allow this. But the street finds its uses for everything, as the old cyberpunk saying goes, so I was chuffed to hear that Dino Lalič and the Sensi Smile crew at Radio Student Ljubljana were going to remix the source material from the comp and its comic back into a radio play last weekend. I think they’ve done a terrific job – the accented narration adds to the spookiness and conjurs up cosmonauts of yesteryear to my ears. I love the blending of ragga with more Joe Meek-esque sixties futurism and dubwise material as well. The Invasion of the Mysteron Killer Sounds Radio Play was part of a whole evening’s entertainment on the station, which also included interviews with Stuart Baker, Paolo Parisi (the comic’s creator) and my good self. Mine was a live telephone interview, and listening to it again I am amused to find myself being an old fart talking about that yearning for the sonic future… Much of the commentary is in Slovenian, so may not be decipherable to many of my readers, although the tunes are obviously universal – not to say outernational! Here are some time marks for you for the English language stuff: 1:23:00 Stuart Baker 1:51:30 Paolo Parisi 2:03:32 The Radio Play 3:08:22 John Eden Tweet podcast, reggae, woofah John Eden yes no Woofah magazine needs designers http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2011/05/woofah-magazine-needs-designers/ http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2011/05/woofah-magazine-needs-designers/#comments Tue, 03 May 2011 19:40:35 +0000 john http://www.uncarved.org/blog/?p=4540

Awesome fanzine seeks bass-head designers for mutual layout fun

Can you help?

Woofah is an independently produced magazine covering reggae, grime, dubstep and all points in between.

Last year we published our 4th issue featuring Untold, The Newham Generals, the last days of Studio One, London dubplate cutting houses, Hessle Audio, YT and a whole lot more – see website for details: http://www.woofahmag.com

Our fifth and final issue is now written and ready to be designed but we need help with this!

If you:

  • Are into the idea and look of the magazine
  • Have some experience of design but would like more
  • Know your way around Quark/Indesign and can work with templates
  • Are passionate about the music we cover and want to help promote it
  • Are willing to work to an agreed deadline

then, please get in touch!

If you have any examples of your work to show us, send some links or samples.

Nobody gets paid to produce Woofah, but working on the mag will get your work published and help get the word out about the artists and their music. Everyone who contributes receives a full credit in the magazine and on our website.

We are hoping to get a few designers on board to work on a spread each (2-5 pages)  – or more, so that the magazine can go out with a bang.

Get in touch and we’ll find you something to your taste to work on.

All enquiries to info at woofahmag dot com, via our website – or to us directly.

John Eden / Droid

]]> http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2011/05/woofah-magazine-needs-designers/feed/ 3 Woofah: Kvalitet lönar sig http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/06/woofah-kvalitet-lonar-sig/ http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/06/woofah-kvalitet-lonar-sig/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:01:35 +0000 john http://www.uncarved.org/blog/?p=3664

Swedish Massive!

Droid and I are interviewed about Woofah magazine in the new issue of Reggae Galore.

(English massive – Kvalitet lönar sig translates as “quality pays off” – damn straight.)

]]> http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/06/woofah-kvalitet-lonar-sig/feed/ 2 “COLGATE-GATE”: OR Why WOOFAH Four Was Late http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/03/colgate-gate-or-why-woofah-four-was-late/ http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/03/colgate-gate-or-why-woofah-four-was-late/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:01:12 +0000 john http://www.uncarved.org/blog/?p=3264

Woofah editor Droid's bathroom cabinet, yesterday.

BEYOND THE iMPL♥DE: WOOFAH 4.

Martin spills the beans on the delayed printing of the world’s best reggae / grime / dubstep magazine.

Which is still available direct from http://www.woofahmag.com and from all good stockists.

Half of the print run has gone out to shops and punters in the fortnight since it was published, so don’t hang about…

]]> http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/03/colgate-gate-or-why-woofah-four-was-late/feed/ 0 Red Bull Music Academy – London 2010 http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/red-bull-music-academy-london-2010-blog/ http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/red-bull-music-academy-london-2010-blog/#comments Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:39:37 +0000 john http://www.uncarved.org/blog/?p=3236

I’ve not had a chance to write about the Red Bull Music Academy events, or their daily newspaper which is an omission on my part.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I was too knackered to make the now legendary 4 way soundclash between DMZ, Trojan, Soul To Soul and Metalheadz at the Roundhouse last week, but is sounded wicked. Check Laurent’s write up and the only-to-be-expected disagreements in the comments.

You can listen to the four rounds of the clash here (no downloads tho).

The most recent Daily Note includes a nice piece on fanzines which mentions Woofah and says it has: “consistently proved that informed, considered and informative journalism continues to exist outside the internet and mainstream monthly music titles”

Which is the sort of thing which makes it all worthwhile! One for the Woofah Love page I think!

Previous issues of the Daily Note have included a two part piece by Melissa Bradshaw on the history of UK Soundsystem,  Dan Hancox on the cops and grime, a cool Weatherall interview and a series of pieces on different areas of London, including Hackney. It’s all available for download as pdfs on the RBMA site.

]]> http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/red-bull-music-academy-london-2010-blog/feed/ 5 my week in boxes http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/my-week-in-boxes/ http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/my-week-in-boxes/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:43:42 +0000 john http://www.uncarved.org/blog/?p=3215

Our fearsome Security Kitty patrols Woofah HQ

I’ve been neglecting the blog recently, but updates have been appearing regularly in the sidebar cos of my new twitter feed. Apologies to all the people who’ve left comments here, especially NagHammadiEye, for my lack of responses…

My suspicion is that short updates and links will appear there from now on and bigger pieces will be blogged. I have mixed feelings about this but it seems like the easiest option with not much time available…

So the new issue of Woofah is being warmly received. All contributor copies have been mailed out now and tonight I will tackle the backlog of orders. London shops will get copies after work tomorrow.

As many of you will know, Woofah was conceived on the dancefloor of BASH – the reggae/grime/dubstep club run by The Bug and Loefah at Plastic People. Plastic People is an awesome venue probably best known for its regular FWD nights – FWD is to dubstep what Metalheadz at the Blue Note was to drum ‘n’ bass I suppose.

Plastic People’s soundsystem and its selection of promotions has made it legendary. I first went there for some nights run by the Manasseh crew which included Sugar Minott and the late Junior Delgado toasting over records selected by folks like Dave Hendley and Manasseh themselves. It was an incredible experience being literally feet away from some reggae legends with the full weight of PP’s soundsystem.

The club is now under threat as its licencing regime is challenged by the Metropolitan Police and reviewed by Hackney Council.

More news on that soon (and the campaign to keep it open), but it should go without saying that I would be gutted if it closed.

As History Is Made At Night has pointed out, this has to be seen in the context of the wider gentrification of the south of Hackney – the City moving slowly north.

]]> http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/my-week-in-boxes/feed/ 0 WOOFAH #4 OUT NOW! http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/woofah-4-out-now/ http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/woofah-4-out-now/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:52:22 +0000 john http://www.uncarved.org/blog/?p=3208

woofahmag.com

I can barely believe I’m saying it but the new issue is here and ready to get out to you all!

Believe me it’s worth the wait – up to a massive 92 pages this time and some incredible content that I am completely amazed we managed to secure. And it’s still the same price!

In the shops next week, but you can order direct NOW:

woofah magazine » Buy.

(copies to contributors and allies will be mailed out early next week, or can be got from me in person)

]]> http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/woofah-4-out-now/feed/ 0 WOOFAH 4 http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/woofah-4/ http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/woofah-4/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:18:25 +0000 john http://www.uncarved.org/blog/?p=3184

weareie: Finally!!.

Woofah issue 4 just landed at Chateau Droid. The shipment will now cross the Irish sea and reach London early next week.

Hit the link for more info or stay tuned to this channel…

I’m excited – you should be too!

]]> http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2010/02/woofah-4/feed/ 8 the return of deeptime http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2009/10/the-return-of-deeptime/ http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2009/10/the-return-of-deeptime/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:51:03 +0000 john http://www.uncarved.org/blog/?p=2747 deeptime.

Yay! Paul’s back on it…

]]> http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2009/10/the-return-of-deeptime/feed/ 0 Fanzines – The scene that smells of zine spirit http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2009/09/fanzines-the-scene-that-smells-of-zine-spirit-features-music/ http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2009/09/fanzines-the-scene-that-smells-of-zine-spirit-features-music/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:15:41 +0000 john http://www.uncarved.org/blog/?p=2725 Fanzines – The scene that smells of zine spirit – Features, Music – The Independent.

Mark Perry and me – interviewed in the Indie today!

]]> http://www.uncarved.org/blog/2009/09/fanzines-the-scene-that-smells-of-zine-spirit-features-music/feed/ 4