| |
|
So this could be construed as me going off on my regular "listen to more UK garage, you fucks" rant. But this thread is basically an opportunity to expand musical horizons and discuss music that does not tend to appeal to the "introverted occult geeks of poorly-defined sexuality" demographic.
Hence: UK Garage.
So I don't know if anyone heard the deranged geezer masterpiece that is "More Weed" by Sticky and the Surgery. If you haven't, then I say to you:
Chi-chi man no test yarda massive, sen, we cut ya up fass, ya get me?
Er yes. But this is, indeed, the real thing. The Streets? Feh. The Streets is to garage what the Specials are to real reggae. Which is to say that the Streets are not a bad act per se, but that they are a more-palatable to the mainstream variant of a darker deeper seam.
When garage is good it is full on knackers-out uninhibited ranting. Cathartic outburst of unedited street foolishness dumped on your doorstep. I love the ridiculous mashed-up combination of all things that appeal to london youth shoved together without any real thought as to whether they make a good mixture or not. This is its genius and its appeal. A good garage record can combine the pounding, grinding bass of dancehall, the distortion and bizarre sounds of electronica, the rhythmical experimentation of early drum 'n bass and the saccharine harmonies of r'n b all in one package. What's not to like?
"More Weed" then, is basically a bunch of kids rhapsodising about weed, but in an entirely different style than you've ever. heard. before. It's manic, it's deranged and it's unstoppable. And there's loads like this out there!
A good first stop would be www.dubplate.net where you can listen to some mixes. Also groovetech.com frequently has garage mixes. If you're in london, turn on your radio - there are a million pirate stations. You might not like the first track that comes on, but keep listening and I guarantee you'll hear some gems. Garage comes in all flavours - rough, smooth, sweet, raw, aggressive and silky. Keep looking around and don't let your perceptions be fucked up by only having heard So Solid Crew and Blazin Squad... |
|
|
