The Duke has a Marquess! CONGRATULATUIONS JEZ & MINA!

Crackle, crackle...

The Crackle Of Times Gone.... by Ion on Mixcloud

The times they have a'changed. Here's something a little different inspired by the crackle of those oldies we love.

Chrimbos Comedown

The Fazz-Junk Disco. by Ion on Mixcloud

So, festivities over, parties and play done and dusted, time for the Spektrum to help bring you all back down softly and clear out the dust of every day life. This month has been jazzy orchestral manouvers and disco in the house of Ion – the optimistic upbeats of Ray Davies and the Button Down Brass and Big Barry’s Love Unlimited have featured heavily, so I’m gonna say Jazz is the order of the month….the Duke said “It’s difficult to decide where jazz starts or where it stops;” Who can disagree with the Duke? His only conclusion? “Roaming through the jungle of "Ohs" and "Ahs" searching for a more agreeable noise, I live a life of primitivity with the mind of a child and an unquenchable thirst for sharps and flats.”

Try your best to stick it out until the end because Ray Davies Superstition cover is fantastic!

Afrowinter

Afrowinter by Bigface on Mixcloud

It's been a bit of an African winter for me music wise ever since Simon put me on to the Shina Williams track which I have been playing pretty much everyday and am still not getting bored of. I then got a 3 Cd of African tunes for Christmas and have selected a few off that (the first track is a kind of cross between an African Eric Clapton and an African laughing Policeman). On the 15th of January I am off to see Fela! the musical which has music from Antibalas live so that should be good. I know the last track isn't African but because of their name and the track title and the fact they are coming to Norwich in March it sneaked on! I don't think I can give Frank a run for his money yet but I'm trying. Happy New Year everyone.
Ps. Download to follow.

SOUL SPEKTRUM PUB QUIZ

Round 1 - Covers

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Duke's Head - A place to share what you're drinking right now, and for those who still like to mix cocktails, get involved.

Get yourself a drink, think of a witty team name, DOWNLOAD THIS and prepare for the very first Soul Spektrum Pub Quiz...

As you've probably noticed, I'm quite fond of a good cover. Here is a selection of 20 tributes to/improvements on/new ideas for tracks from a range of genres. It's up to you to tell me what they are and who done 'em.

The rules are easy. Points awarded for artist and title of both the original and cover versions. Bonus points for any useless trivia you might know about the music.

Using the internet is cheating - Minus 1 million points.

Answers in the comments section please.

Screamadelica LIVE

Gonna love the life I live and life the life I love...

Half a lifetime ago (well 17 years to be exact) I made a life changing journey with some lads called Nathan, Fred and Ash from the northwest to brixton academy in london. It was grand national day and I drove down in a grey skoda. That night we watched Primal Scream and Funkadelic live with DJ Andy Wetherall. An adam and eve was digested and the rest is history.

Last weekend I made the trip down to london again with Fred, Ash and Al to hook up with Nathan to watch Primal Scream do Screamadelica in full at the Olympia. It was a triumph. Cavernous warehouse style venue with 10,000 people. They did a rock n roll set then came back on to perform the whole of screamadelica. It was fuckin amazing. Powerful, soulful, drenched in funk and euphoric at times. The album translated to stage perfectly and with the live drums and sub bass from mani was actually better than the album. On Higher than the sun they broke into a 10 minute jam of Funkedelic 'I got a thing'. Come Together was beautiful with full horn section and choir. In memory of that night I had to share the following with you. I might not be living the 'gonna get high til the day I day anymore' but I sure as hell love the life especially when it involves magical moments like last saturday night.

Pre-gig screamadelica special with andy weatherall (check out 'Step on gilded splinters'...)

Trax:
Jhalib — Mysteries of the East
Los Niños Del Parque — Liaisons Dangereuses
A Certain Ratio — And Then Again
Jah Wobble — Not Another
Can — Mother Earth
Johnny Jenkins — Walk on Gilded Splinters
Chairmen of the Board — Morning Glory
Annie Anxiety — As I Lie in Your Arms
Prince Far I & The Arabs — Homeward Bound
Bill Laswell — Lost Roads
Public Image Ltd. — Radio 4
Nico — Evening of Light
Brian Eno — From The Same Hill
Gene Clark — Strength of Strings
Donnie Fritts — We Had it All
Dennis Wilson — Thoughts of You
Curtis Mayfield — Think
Pharoah Sanders — Astral Travelling
The Delfonics — Didn't I Blow Your Mind
Isaac Hayes — Walk On By

LIVE download of the friday night gig (we went sat night)

Peace and goodwill to you all, wherever you are

Matt

more house please

really feelin this one on a house tip. If anyone else has listened to any other quality house recently please point me in that direction. Especially like the robert owens track.

for those who prefer to downloand this mix and to get others like it go here