Test Pressing Podcast

Running from 1983 to 1991, hosted by Philip Salon, with DJs Jay Strongman, Tasty Tim and Mark Moore. Completely sexually and racially mixed, but "if you looked normal you would not get in”. We would attempt to disguise our normality in second-hand clothes bought from indoor markets in Kensington and Croydon. Dress shirts, waistcoats, old school ties. Shredded 501s. Steel toe-capped shoes. 50s work suits. With braces. Hats. Bottle-green felt bowlers, or plain but oversized flat caps. We had fallen in with a crowd of young girls, who had all just passed their driving tests, and so seemed more than happy to act as chauffeurs (chauffeuse?), which allowed me to drink. I went to the Mud often, but more often than not I had to be assisted into the club, dumped in a convenient corner and then collected at the end. I can remember at least one occasion when I was simply left face down in the car park for the duration of everyone else`s night out. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/resize-Mud-Club-Interior.jpg) To be honest, I`m not sure how I ended up there (the club not the car park). I was a “retired” B-Boy who had started to frequent “Indie” clubs in the attempt to find a mate. We all read I-D but it must have been the girls since I never went in for all that earnest Funk toe-flicking. The soundtrack was a mixture of Hip Hop machismo and high camp. To this day, Public Enemy have the power to clear my hangover immediately (“You`re Gonna Get Yours”), but I am not sure they were the appropriate musical accompaniment for a trouble-free night on the sauce. Public Enemy, Schooly D, Eric B & Rakim were fashionable, on the cover of NME, etc, but it must have been fairly mind-blowing to be drinking and dancing to this call to arms and then have Darryl Pandy and Divine join the party. Your mind would need to be fully open. O mind. I wish I could remember. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/resize-Mud-Club-Flyer.jpg) Strongman and Moore were both hugely important DJs in London, and Mark in particular, at the Mud, was already playing music that would form one root of the Balearic scene in the capital. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/LONDON-CLUB-PLAYLISTS-007a.jpg) All photographs copyright of Graham Smith. “We Can Be Heroes” is published by Unbound ( http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/we-can-be-heroes ) and contains some amazing examples of Graham`s work, text by Chris Sullivan and the full club playlists on which this series is based. Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/201_A_Night_In_The_Mud_Club.mp3)

So the 200th mix on Test Pressing and when a mix like this arrives on your desktop and the sun comes out then you need to get it up and out there... So Brennan Green the disco machine comes with some reggae business that came to us via Toby Tobias hearing this on a little surfing trip out with Brennan. Irie vibrations. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/200-Brennan-Green.png) Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/200_Uptown_Reggae_Mix.mp3)

It's been a little while since we posted a mix so time for a new one. Here are those chaps from the Polish Cut Outs with something across the board for everyone. Next up Brennan Green on a reggae tip to soothe the rain away. Well we hope. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/199-Kacper-Kapsa-Maciej-Zambon.png) Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/199_Biale_Wakacje_White_Summer.mp3)

Running from April 1982 to 1984, hosted by Steve Strange with DJs Rusty Egan, Colin Faver and Eddie Richards (the latter two going on to help champion House music in the capital) The Camden Palace could almost be a foot note, but a bloody big one, and a bloody lucrative one. Twice, maybe three times the size of Club For Heroes` Barracuda, it was still home to visiting film stars and the first UK club to introduce a VIP bar / lounge. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/CAMDEN-PALACE-3.jpg) Considered a Mecca for suburban New Romantics, it seemed to be full of what I would have called Goths when I was there. Pale boys in fishnet tops who already looked dated. I can also remember Dave Dorrell taking Hugh Laurie there for a night out, after teaching him how to shave correctly to achieve a perfect 5 O`Clock shadow. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/CAMDEN-PALACE-FLYER-resize.jpg) Chris Sullivan calls The Camden Palace the end of an era, the commercial peak of the wave of Blitz regulars turned Pop stars, and the start of London nightlife`s move back underground. In that respect at least the club must be cited as important for we always need something to kick against. Sullivan also calls the music played at the venue largely atrocious Pop (Blue Rondo are on the play-list) but I`ll hold my hands up for Yello, Kid Creole`s “Stool Pigeon”, as revived by Roger “The Hippie” Beard at Land Of Oz, Blue Nile`s “Tinsel Town In The Rain”, Torch Song`s “Prepare To Energize”, an original Weatherall Cockney cover-up, and Harvey`s been known to play the Shriekback tune. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/LONDON-CLUB-PLAYLISTS-006-right.png) All photographs (bar the Camden Palace exterior) copyright of Graham Smith. “We Can Be Heroes” is published by Unbound ( http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/we-can-be-heroes ) and contains some amazing examples of Graham`s work, text by Chris Sullivan and the full club playlists on which this series is based. Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/197_A_Night_In_The_Camden_Palace.mp3)

Jiro Bevis runs the fantastic Ying Yangs blog (http://yingyangs.blogspot.co.uk/) which has a keen eye on the sounds of Italo and the graphics that went alongside them as well as a large Japanese lean amongst other stuff. It's one of those ones that I check in on regularly to see what they are picking up on. Well worth checking are the Radio Jiro mixes on the site as well as Jiro's work as an illustrator (http://jirobevis.co.uk/). Enjoy the mix - it runs from Babia and Yello through to Brian Eno and China Crisis. Nice taste. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/196-JIRO-BEVIS.png) Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/196_Ooh_la_la.mp3)

For seven months in 1981, seven months after the debacle of Hell, Egan and Strange, joined by DJ Richard Law, go high-end, on a Thursday night, in Baker Street`s 700 capacity Barracuda Club. Club For Heroes. A playground for designers and models. And Pop stars. The old guard - Mick Jagger, Bryan Ferry, Michael Jackson, Pete Townshend, Phil Lynott - clinking champagne glasses with the new - Spandau Ballet, Depeche Mode, Ultravox, Adam Ant, Soft Cell, Bow Wow Wow, Haircut 100, Duran Duran, Talking Heads, Grace Jones, Debbie Harry, The Eurythmics. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/strange-on-the-door-of-club-for-heroes.jpg) Musically it could be described as Pop, and to some extent the playlist looks like it might have been determined by who had walked through the door that night, but what great Pop. And while most of it shares an electronic element, none of it sounds the same, or formularized. All of it inventive, experimental and full of enthusiasm and ambition. New Order`s “Ceremony”, Soft Cell`s “Memorablia”, Japan`s “Ghosts” and Ryuichi Sakamoto`s “Riot In Lagos” are certainly strange and subversive Pop moments. I know I`m not alone in not understanding the stadium success of Depeche Mode, but the live version of “I Just Can`t Get Enough” became a Balearic classic in the hands of Alfredo, and will always remind me of Steve Lee at The Gardening Club. “Wordy Rappinghood” is Rocky, Diesel and Ashely upstairs at a Full Circle all-dayer. I sandwiched Visage in between Prince and Can, because that`s who they sound like, Can doing Prince. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/CLUB-FOR-HEROES-MEMBERSHIP.jpg) The flash and elitism of Club For Heroes, a turn-off for many, produced a divide amongst the regulars of London`s night life and perversely helped give rise to the Dirt Box and a back to basics, crate of beer, two turntables and one red light, aesthetic. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/LONDON-CLUB-PLAYLISTS-005right.png) All photographs copyright of Graham Smith. “We Can Be Heroes” is published by Unbound ( http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/we-can-be-heroes ) and contains some amazing examples of Graham`s work, text by Chris Sullivan and the full club playlists on which this series is based. Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/195_A_Night_In_Club_For_Heroes.mp3)

Seconds is the alter ego of Markus Enochson and Luciano Leiva. Together with singer Linus Lutthi they release their first single for the Above Machine label, "Another Day" today (Monday), a folk-based balearic number. Remixes come from the lovely Lexx and Seahawks (who deliver an epic ambient number). We like them all. You can find out more about the release at Piccadilly Records here (http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/products/Seconds-AnotherDayInc.SeahawksLexxRemixes-AboveMachine-83443.html). So the time is right to run a mix from the chaps and here it is. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/194-SECONDS.png) Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/194_Welcome_To_The_Machine_2.mp3)

Le Kilt was small and on a Tuesday night, but inspired by its success, Ollie O`Donnell, an old friend of Sullivan`s, and Steve Mahoney, start a Friday night party at the larger Le Beat Route. In theory, the fun was now open to everyone, not just those who didn`t have to get out of bed on a Wednesday. In theory, because there was Ollie`s legendary door policy. You might have to queue every Friday for a month before getting the nod. And even then it wasn`t guaranteed. The DJ was Steve Lewis, a Crackers regular and big fan of the influential Mark Roman. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LE-BEAT-ROUTE-EXTERIOR.jpg) What struck me straight away, looking at Lewis` playlist for Le Beat Route, was how many (then) new records were included. All the gimmicky stuff has gone. No Aristocats. No Marilyn Monroe. Even James Brown has taken five. When you look at the playlist for Le Kilt, apart from the Post-Punk, all of it was old, even then. At Le Beat Route, 50% of the music played had come straight out of the import racks at Soho`s Groove Records. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LE-BEAT-ROUTE-MEMBERSHIP.jpg) Was (Not) Was and Ze are still huge, but other labels like Ed Bahlman`s 99, Sleeping Bag and West End, are starting to appear, and the work of Arthur Russell, Larry Levan, Francois Kevorkian and Nassau`s Compass Point All-Stars is helping to flesh out and shape a sound. A different kind of future. The playlist is so upfront that it includes Lola`s “Wax The Van”, which wasn`t released until four years after the club closed its doors. It must have been an exciting time musically, since all of these records were to some extent ground-breaking, unique, and many, also played at The Loft and The Paradise Garage, are now considered classics. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LONDON-CLUB-PLAYLISTS-004right.png) All photographs copyright of Graham Smith. “We Can Be Heroes” is published by Unbound ( http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/we-can-be-heroes ) and contains some amazing examples of Graham`s work, text by Chris Sullivan and the full club playlists on which this series is based. Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/193_A_Night_In_Le_Beat_Route.mp3)

We were lucky enough to get down to LN-CC in Dalston the other week for a bit of a sit down session with Phil Mison in control of the music all night. Starting slow and building up it was a lovely night with the music as you'd expect being top notch. LN-CC postewd the first half of the mix that was recorded yesterday which you can go and hear here (http://www.ln-cc.com/mixes/phil-mison/invt/mix040023col/) as well as some of other great mixes from our very own Dr Rob, Zsou (check their new release on LN-CC (review soon), DJ Nature and lots of other good folk from the underground. Phil is quietly getting on with recording the new Cantoma album as well as releasing music under the Reverso 68 moniker with Pete Herbert (check their lovely 'Baa Boo' (http://www.piccadillyrecords.com/shop/product.php?pid=81532) which came out recently on Is It Balearic?). Here's the second half of Phil's mix which may well be the perfect soundtrack to the weekend. Lovely. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/192-PHIL-MISON.png) Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/192_Live_At_LNCC.mp3)

If St Moritz was a short-lived knee-jerk reaction to the Futurism of The Blitz and Hell somewhere in between then Le Kilt seems to be an attempt to re-dress the balance. Claw back some sanity. At least on a musical front. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LE-KILT-PHOTO-1.jpg) Hosted again by Chris Sullivan, this time with Graham Ball, and with the “St Moritz boys”, Robert Elms and Graham Smith DJing (Strange & Egan had gone on to Club For Heroes). Again only running for five months late 1980, early `81. The music, a hip mixture of classic Jazz-Funk, Soul, and Boogaloo with the new represented by more Ze (other than James Brown, only James White and Lizzy Mercier Descloux seem to have made the transition from Hell) and angular white Post-Punk. The Lacy Lady Soul-boys largely returning to their pre-Punk roots (I`m wondering if St Moritz was just them raiding their parents record collections). (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LE-KILT-MEMBERSHIP.jpg) Despite their successful efforts to do something different I can still hear echoes of The Blitz in something like A Certain Ratio`s “Flight”. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LONDON-CLUB-PLAYLISTS-003right.png) All photographs copyright of Graham Smith. “We Can Be Heroes” is published by Unbound ( http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/we-can-be-heroes ) and contains some amazing examples of Graham`s work, text by Chris Sullivan and the full club playlists on which this series is based. Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/191_NIGHT_IN_LE_KILT.mp3)

St Moritz closes, possibly due to the influence of Soho`s nefarious underworld, possibly because it had served its purpose, in providing a musical alternative to The Blitz. Steve Strange and Rusty Egan acknowledge the competition, and everyone joins forces, briefly, in a themed (and mural-ed) club called Hell. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/HELL-PHOTO-21.jpg) Hosted for six months in 1980, by Steve Strange and Chris Sullivan, with Sullivan and Rusty Egan DJing. The music a barmy mix of St Moritz`s show tunes, 50s Rock and Roll, 70s Funk & Disco, and a touch of the mutant emerging on Ze. Accompanied by fireworks in the basement and dancing around the graveyard out back. Hot Gossip on Black Star Liners cavorting amidst the tombstones to Cerrone`s "Supernature" in a Dionysian Bacchanal. Marilyn Monroe`s "Heatwave" gets a rewind (not included here? I didn`t think you needed to hear it twice). Elvis does the Bossa Nova. For me, a track that brings back fond memories of drinking strong lager til I could hardly stand while Rocky & Diesel spun at the early days of The Heavenly Social on Great Portland Street. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/HELL-MEMBERSHIP1.jpg) T-Connection`s "Do What You Wanna Do" must have been a staple on every scene since its release in 1977. Sullivan references The Lacy Lady, but later it was also a London Balearic mainstay. I can keenly recall it being played alongside the then modern sounds of (shit like) Mombassa`s "Cry Freedom" when I DJed in a barn somewhere out West with Ronnie Turner. Sullivan playing it at Hell clearly had some impact on Egan, since he covered it in an Electro style as The Cage (included on this excellent compilation (http://www.strut-records.com/content/trevor-jackson-speaks-his-entry-london-nightlife-and-metal-dance) with interesting sleeve notes). Nina Hagen`s "African Reggae" is a classic from the boxes of legends, from Larry Levan to Alfredo Fiorito. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/LONDON-CLUB-PLAYLISTS-002right.png) All photographs copyright of Graham Smith. “We Can Be Heroes” is published by Unbound ( http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/we-can-be-heroes ) and contains some amazing examples of Graham`s work, text by Chris Sullivan and the full club playlists on which this series is based. Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/190_A_NIGHT_IN_HELL.mp3)

One of the good things about having been buying records for a long time is that you amass what can only be described as a library (one of the bad things is of course that records end up everywhere, your greed conspicuous). Tons of stuff that has been filed away and not listened to in years. Decades. When my copy Graham Smith`s book “We Can Be Heroes” arrived earlier this year, the London club playlists included sent me back to the library. While reading the book, I wanted to hear the soundtrack to the nights that Graham photographed and that Chris Sullivan describes. I also wanted to hear how that soundtrack changed over time, if any tracks remained constants, and if its evolution were “logical”. To see if a musical course from The Blitz to Acid House could be traced. The scientist, the dry academic, in me still performing experiments. Of sorts. If you want to see how the fashions changed, buy the book ( http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/we-can-be-heroes). (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/We_Can_Be_Heroes6-thumb-620x739-33170.jpg) We`ll use Graham and Chris` book as a starting point, and I hope they don`t mind, but if the experiment proves interesting it would be great to take it further. The Electric Ballroom, The Africa Centre, Demob, Raw, and Dingwalls. Maybe if we can keep the momentum we could do the House, the Balearic, and see how they have changed. Thinking now, it would also be amazing to do a similar thing for Tokyo`s nightlife. I am a little obsessed with the time that I missed. The time of Yellow, and Blue and UFO`s residencies. To me that was the original Tokyo Balearic. Anyone with playlists, contacts and stories, please get in touch. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ST-MORITZ-FLYER.jpg) Paul and Tim did The Blitz (http://testpressing.org/2011/09/blitz-playlist-mixes/) a little while ago http://testpressing.org/2011/09/blitz-playlist-mixes/ , so I am gonna begin with St. Moritz, which I have to stress is a bit of an oddball. Hosted by Chris Sullivan and Steven Mahoney, with Graham Smith and Robert Elms DJing, it was a reaction to the angular, metallic future presented by The Blitz. Still imagining a decadent Berlin, only this time not Iggy and Bowie`s Cold War bunker, but the between the wars lost generation of Christopher Isherwood`s voyeurism. St. Moritz only ran for three months in 1980, but even so, the mix of Jazz and show tunes continued to an extent right through, at least, until the Dingwalls sessions in the late 80s early 90s. Something like “House Of Bamboo”, maybe not the Earl Grant, but definitely the Andy Williams version, still being played. While listening, please try to remember that LSD was pretty much a constant (cheap, effects lasting all night) on the London club scene throughout the 80s. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/LONDON-CLUB-PLAYLISTS-001right.png) All photographs copyright of Graham Smith. “We Can Be Heroes” is published by Unbound ( http://www.unbound.co.uk/books/we-can-be-heroes ) and contains some amazing examples of Graham`s work, text by Chris Sullivan and the full club playlists on which this series is based. Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/189_A_Night_In_St_Moritz.mp3)

Back once again comes Honey K from Finger Magazine with a mix for us. We wrote about them before but if you missed it they have a magazine full of lists of music to check and a great website so if you haven't seen what it's all about go here (http://www.fingermag.com/). Watch out for the first track on this one if you're playing it through the office stereo. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/188-FINGER-MAGAZINE.png) Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/188_Come_To_Marina_Del_Rey_II.mp3)

Dr Rob goes in heavy on Lee "Scratch" Perry and can't fail... When I was a youth, reggae was the thing. I was 15 in 1981 and the Brixton riots were just around the corner, instead of thirty years ago. While at school, we went from Two Tone to toasting pretty fast. UB40 quickly ditched in favour of Rodigan On The Radio, Greensleeves 12s and Scientist LPs. Tony McDermott on the ink. Our introduction to Lee Perry probably came through tracks like “Bucky Skank” and “Return Of Django” on cheap Trojan compilations. I mentioned those Scientist LPs, but I think Lee Perry was the easiest way into Dub. You don`t need to be an expert in rhythm culture and versioning to appreciate the genius of dropping everything out of a track, destroying a lyric and introducing disgruntled cows and crying babies. Perry's remix of Terrence Trent D'Arby is still something of an anthem for anybody and everybody that has ever spent some time on the floor of my room. You don't need to know that Perry would clean tape heads with his sweater, helping to create the unique aquatic sound of bounced down bass and percussion tracks, to appreciate how damn funky everything is. You don`t need to have a fascination with the myth of The Black Ark, or some level of sympathy and understanding for the rumours of cocktails of gasoline and blackcurrant. For me, ever since those school days, Dub has informed everything. Bass, space, and sound forgotten, reduced almost to only a memory. I guess, everything in a minor key. I heard Dub when I first heard The Jungle Wonz and Sleazy D. I am in no way an expert, and I certainly don`t have a definitive collection, these are just some of my favourites. To me the music Perry makes is defiantly Pop. I don`t think he ever aimed for the underground. (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/187-LEE-SCRATCH-PERRY-FRONT.png)(http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/187-LEE-SCRATCH-PERRY-BACK.png) Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/187_The_Producers_Series_17.mp3)

Happy to have Joe's Bakery on board at Test Pressing with a mix to finish off Sunday and ease you into the week. Joe's Bakery is a Leeds based party that have been quietly getting on with doing a good thing and is run by Craig Christon & Joe Gill. The idea behind the night was to create a laid back atmosphere for friends to relax and listen to an anything goes music policy.  Originally setting up the turntables in a bakery, they now throw monthly parties in unique spaces in and around Leeds. The night combines live art, projected visuals and a laid back sound track provided by residents Craig and Joe and regular guest Moonboots. Joe's Bakery also welcomes some of the finest selectors around to join in on the decks with a free reign to play whatever they fancy. Past guests include Phoreski, Phil Mison, Jolyon Green, Soft Rocks, Coyote, Kenny Wisdom, Kelvin Andrews, Sally Rogers and Jason Boardman. All the sets have been recorded and can be found at the Joe's Bakery website (http://joesbakery.org). (http://testpressing.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/186-JOES-BAKERY.png) Download (http://testpressing.org/audio/186_joesbakey_mix.mp3)