DJ Smurphy
Summer Riddim & Montegod

tagged: dub reggae roots soundsystem steppers Bristol

Glen Ricks is one of a kind, a powerful singer and a songwriter with a unique soul tone who is known as the Al Green of Jamaica. Born in Jamaica, Glen emigrated to Canada in 1967 when he was 14 years old. Arriving in Toronto in 1969, he entered a talent contest where he met the first place winners, a group of guys from Jamaica called "The Fabulous Flames". Glen joined the group, which also featured Lloyd Lovindeer and Kirk Salmon. Soon after they went to Jamaica and did their first recording "Holly Holy", a cover of the Neil Diamond hit. The recording featuring Glen's voice was done with legendary producer Clancy Eccles. The song became a big hit, sparking the creation of their first album that spring, a second single called "Growing Up" which also became a hit. Now he joined forces with legendary producer Linval Thompson and renowned producer and musician Roberto Sánchez. Together they recorded the album you are holding in your hands right now for one of the finest international ska and rocksteady labels; Liquidator Music. Sit, listen and enjoy this musical adventure.

Elite Beat is a musical collective from Portland, Oregon with a history spanning back to 2006.'Selected Rhythms' captures the finest moments from all three of their ultra limited cassette series 'Casual Rhythms'.Packed full of DIY dub mixing, cosmic orchestration and raw, percussion driven polyrhythms, the recordings have been remastered and put to vinyl for the first time with sections from Casual Rhythms Vol. 1 being re-shaped into previously unavailable single tracks.Recording plays a big role in the Elite Beat creative process. The studio as an instrument. Much of the Elite Beat music is mixed in an all-hands-on-deck dub style approach - live with an analog mixer and loads of FX being thrown and dubbed in real time. The sound is genre-less rhythm music with an emphasis on live playing, free form expression and technique that borrows from soundsystem culture. Inspiration can be heard from all parts of time and place. Some Ethio Jazz, Black Ark psychedelia, Exotica, Malian blues, even Haight-Ashbury in the summer of love. Each member an accomplished musician in their own right, Elite Beat thrive on collaboration. 2018 saw the release of their astral-Saharan jams with celebrated Taureg guitarist Mdou Moctar.The players get together every Wednesday evening, sometimes to chat, sometimes to play. The 'record' button gets pressed when they find what they are searching for. For this crew it's all about 'Casual Rhythms / Harmonious Lifestyles' - if things don't fall under that mantra, then it's got to go. 'Less is more' for Elite Beat and their cosmic sounds.