Clapham Common
30.06.06 – 02.07.06
What struck me immediately was that this year’s Urban Games was nowhere near as packed as it has been for the past few years and it was a strange sight to see hardly anyone milling around. Even from the start when we went to watch some of the skaters practise runs, walking past the BMX and the vert ramp, there weren’t many people watching and it felt as though we’d turned up a few hours too early.
What must be commended though is the music put on, especially on the Friday. Even though the crowd was quite sparse, Sway‘s demeanour always endears him to his audience and because there weren’t as many people as you’d expect, it gave Mr DaSafo the chance to have a chat with people at the front, asking who was going to buy his album and picking out the people who said they were going to illegally download it. He was even so much at ease that he told the crowd he was due to do a song with DJ Yoda but that he hadn’t learnt the words just yet so he was going to have to pass. But throughout his set, the people that were watching were enjoying themselves and the sound was very good for a small stage.
After Sway, the crowd were treated to a brilliant set by the ever innovative DJ Yoda. Not many people can stand there and mix in Johnny Cash with Motown and Crunk but Yoda did it without breaking a sweat, something of a feat considering just how hot and sticky it was in South London over the weekend. Whether he was knocking out the oldies or mixing up new stuff, Yoda always makes you get your hand to your mouth in admiration and sitting in the shade listening to him was a perfect way to spend an afternoon.
The UK b-boys were out in full effect on the Friday and despite the lack of crowd, the energy levels were high, the music was bumping [maybe Wireless can learn a thing or two from here about how to make the music sound loud] and everyone involved seemed to having a load of fun. Whilst Derby’s Trinity won the UK event, big props need to be given out to Flow Mavericks and Ghetto Lowlifes.
The next day was just as hot and a little fuller and though many people’s minds were on the football [which you could gather by the number of people gathered round a tiny TV set] it seemed as though everyone was having a blast. Skate novice though I am, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the vert comp, especially Terence Bougdour who was absolutely killing it during the time I was watching and who I couldn’t believe didn’t win!
The breaking was the highlight of the day again for me though, with the international crews getting involved. From our position sitting right by the stage, we were able to see just how technically sound every single member of each crew was and it was amazing to be as close to the action as we were. The style of every battler was amazing, and I was particularly taken by one member of the Japanese crew in his proper old skool 80s steez including fat pink laces. But it was Denmark’s Natural Effects who took the title and their moves proved that no-one could challenge that decision. Big mention also to Mouse and Blanca for grabbing the 2 on 2 crown, absolutely wicked.
It was a great weekend for the breakdancing, with the UK representing to the fullest, and the music was absolutely banging, which made for a wicked atmosphere, loads of smiles and some definitively ill moves. If the event was as packed for all 3 days as it had been for the past few years, it would have been a phenomenal success. As it was, the lack of people meant that it felt like a little bit of an anti-climax.
Besitval has added to its line up for 2006 and it promises to be a brilliant time! Rob Da Bank has been booking the best bands around, including no less than 14 local bands from the Isle Of Wight. The added bands are:
The Hedrons are releasing their debut single Be My Friend, on July 31st, which will be taken from their upcoming album, due in August. Make sure you catch them at one of the following dates:
Take one multi-Scribble Jam winning emcee, one member of exquisite turntable crew Animal Crackers and mix them up with the beats of a prolific and forever-innovative producer and you’ll get Glue. Rapper Adeem proves time and again that he’s not just limited to battling, with his well thought out and always interesting lyrics, flowing over Maker‘s incredible beats and with DJ DQ up on the cuts, you can’t go far wrong.
Those of you who skated in the early 90’s with Zac, Richie Hopson, Gorm etc may well have bumped into our friend Richard File skating curbs and ledges schralping in Sutton and Croydon with Curtis McCann and Paul Shier. Since then, he has shared duties with James Lavelle on the U.N.K.L.E project, released a bunch of stuff on Mo’Wax Records and has also co-written the film score to cult film Sexy Beast.
Abjekt is rejoicing! Atlanta’s Mars Ill have not only produced the best album of the year so far with their Pro Pain record but they have also announced they’re releasing a DVD with videos of tracks like Breathe Slow, Sound Off and More.
It’s almost two years since Razorlight stormed up the charts with ‘Up All Night’ and they’re back stronger than ever with the first single off their as yet unnamed album, set for release on 17th July. Co-written by frontman Johnny Borrell and drummer Andy Burrows, who only joined the band on the eve of their last album release, its clear that that this song writing partnership has only added another arrow to their bow.
Following their No5 single ‘Naïve‘, Brighton’s brightest export The Kooks return to the front line with the second single taken from their almost platinum album ‘ Inside In/Inside Out’ – ‘She Moves in Her Own Way’. Looking for a track for balmy summer evenings? Look no further.
It’s easy to become disillusioned with emo/indie at the moment, with everything starting to sound the same – and in this smog Derby four piece The Little Explorer are a very pleasant surprise indeed. ‘Chair Legs’ is set for release on Reveal Records , and is a fast paced little indie package, which seems at first to simply be a very tight instrumentals – but is actually just an excessively long intro. The tempo grows and grows, before the vocals swoop in by surprise, back up by shattering screamo tendencies. Growling guitars, an upbeat tempo atmosphere that twists and turns with new resonance – this is short and sweet and leaves you hungry for more. Sit back, turn the volume up and smile – bands like ‘The Little Explorer’ show there’s life in the old emo dog yet. 
The Holloways have been bubbling under in North London for the last few years, and now their deal with TVT Records they’re striking out with new single ‘Two Left Feet’, following up from their self released infectious exemplar singles ‘ Happiness and Penniless’ and ‘Generator’. At first I had to check I had the right CD in – the sounds initially nothing like what we’ve grown to expect from The Holloways, who’ve blasted their way through killer sets across the UK with their tight, punk driven bouncing tracks.
If you liked ‘Bang Bang You’re Dead’ then Dirty Pretty Thing‘s follow up, taken from their album ‘Waterloo to Anywhere’ is going to make you very happy indeed. It’s a blinder of a track, literally – it races in, lets loose around you, spinning around you faster and faster out of control, then quick as a flash it’s gone, leave you dazed and thrilled. Whilst purists would argue that it’s not as good as The Libertines, it does have the same wonderfully arrogant swagger, the same cockiness to Barat’s vocals.
Those who resented AFI’s increasing love of experimentation on previous album ‘Sing The Sorrow’ may as well stop reading now, because ‘Decemberunderground’ sees the Californian quartet venture even further from their straightforward hardcore punk past. Recent single ‘Miss Murder‘ is one of the more direct tracks on an album that owes as much to 80’s metal and electronica as it does to the likes of Black Flag; with songs like ‘Love Like Winter’ and ‘37mm‘ featuring stadium-sized choruses, along with looped beats and samples. It sounds odd at first, but ‘Decemberunderground‘ will soon grow on you, given the chance.
This, my friends, is London street music at its finest; a young quartet from Hackney armed with acoustic guitars, a ukulele and a renegade attitude. The King Blues play honest and intelligent folk-punk, with elements of dub, ska and hip-hop thrown in for good measure, and in ‘Under The Fog’, they’ve produced an absolute stunner of a debut album. With socially conscious lyrics, sweet harmonies and hooks that will lodge themselves firmly in your brain, this is the album of the summer, and sure to be amongst the best of 2006. Essential.
This is Andy Cairns and co’s 11th (!) studio album, and whilst it’s a more polished affair than previous record ‘Never Apologise, Never Explain’, the songs are still typically twisted affairs. ‘Sprung‘ is built around a brilliantly spiky riff, ‘Dopamine, Seratonin, Adrenaline’ is a darkly melodic ballad, whilst ‘Our White Noise’ is a suitably cynical ode to human indifference towards others’ misfortune. Therapy? have never been content to merely recycle the sounds of their previous records, and ‘One Cure Fits All’ continues that tradition in fine style.
My award for Guilty Pleasure Of 2006 surely has to go to this bunch of shameless sleaze-punk urchins. Sounding like the bastard offspring of Sham 69 and Motley Crue, Towers Of London are about as intelligent and credible as Blink 182 (not to mention twice as profane), but fuck me sideways if they haven’t gone and created the perfect soundtrack to a night of booze n’ vomit-drenched mayhem. Songs like ‘Kill The Pop Scene’ and ‘On A Noose’ are bursting with sloppy guitars and terrace-chant choruses, so pop your brain back into its spongebag for a while and enjoy.
One can only imagine what inspired Zao to make such an enthrallingly dark, bleak and furious record as ‘The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here’. Like their compatriots the Dillinger Escape Plan, Zao have little regard for conventional song structures, throwing off-kilter rhythms, powerhouse drumming, and amazingly intricate guitar work into the mixing pot – all with a suitably raw production courtesy of the infamous Steve Albini. This is a record that constantly treads the line between innovative extreme music and pure sonic warfare, and does so brilliantly.
With a career that spans 25 years, Sonic Youth have influenced some of the finest bands around in recent times. With bands like Nirvana, Babes In Toyland, dEUS, Placebo and Bloc Party all citing Sonic Youth as inspiration, it’s clear just what a formidable force Sonic Youth were and still continue to be. ‘Rather Ripped’ is amazingly the bands 20th album and as usual, is far from ordinary. Every song feels like a soundtrack to the summer, dreamily flowing together with effortless precision. Add to that the ethereal quality of Kim Gordon’s voice and what spills out of your speakers is nothing short of exquisite.
Considering the greatness of Pearl Jam, it would be easy to just fall to the floor and give a Wayne’s World ‘We’re not worthy’ style bow instead of a review. But, to be fair their past few studio albums, have not been the best. This long awaited eighth release however proves that Pearl Jam have found their creative juices once again and continue to move with the times. Covering a broad spectrum of sounds and emotions from the angry, political first single ‘World Wide Suicide’ to the anguish and aching melody wrapped around Eddie Vedders naked vocal on ‘Come Back’, it’s the ‘Yellow Ledbetter’ of the album. The more you listen, the more it invites you in to an overwhelming mix of introspective song writing and consistently well-balanced musicianship. Truly outstanding.
Rapidly snowballing into a band with a huge following, Southern Californian based Bullets & Octane have been working hard out on the road making a name for themselves with bands like Flogging Molly, Avenged Sevenfold and most recently a set at this years Download festival. The end of May saw them release their second album ‘In the Mouth Of the Young’ which was produced by Page Hamilton, front man with Helmet. Running through these 12 tracks is a punk-inspired backbone and when teamed with jagged riffs and pummelling drums, B&O appear somewhat less polished than many of the bands around today. They are scuzzy yet ballsy and with Gene Louis’ impeccable vocals carried out with just the right intensity, it’s a winning formula. Notable tracks include ‘Bathroom Floor’ which is as close to a ballad as it gets, and opener ‘Going Blind’ which effortlessly rises above many of the other tracks on the album. You can hear hints of Billy Idol, Therapy?, The Almighty and even Motorhead in the mix. It’s fast, anthemic and rocks like a motherfucker. Go get.
Since releasing their phenomenal second album ‘Throwing Copper’ in 1994, Pennsylvanian quartet Live have always seemed to be playing catch up. Because, truth be told, from that point on, nothing they have released has ever managed to come remotely close to their 12 million selling masterpiece.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of discovering Northern Ireland’s The Answer yet, then there is obviously something wrong with you. As if having recently been voted Best New Band by Classic Rock after only their second single wasn’t enough, the band have had live supporting slots with legends Deep Purple, Whitesnake and The Who nonetheless. On hearing the album it’s clear they were perfect choices to open for those acts.
Let’s face it, the world is not short on old punk bands reforming for one last desperate attempt to re-live their youths or to milk those last few pounds. The ones that count, however, are the bands that can reform and continue to mean something now rather than then. Mission Of Burma are one such band. This is no useless exercise in nostalgia and this collection of new songs is all the proof you’ll need. Back in the early eighties, these Boston based art-punks stretched the limitations of punk rock and exposed the scene to new sounds and new ideas, constantly on a quest to push things forward (read their chapter in the incredible history of the American music underground ‘Our Band Could Be Your Life’ for the full story) and ‘The Obliterati’ features fourteen brand new reasons why you need this band in your life. Each song bristles with fresh ideas, spine tingling melodies and crushing noise. Like the book said, this band could be your life.
Suns Of The Tundra evolved from the early-90s cult UK rock band Peach, famous for featuring Tool bassist Justin Chancellor. Combined with members of Mint 400 and Cortizone, Suns Of The Tundra enter a new era of progressive rock with their second full length album ‘Tunguska’ and it’s huge! A sprawling mass of sonic noise and grooves, these guys successfully take rock to the next level and every second of this CD is epic in it’s scope and sound. If you were lazy you could call them the UK equivalent of Tool, but we’re not and we won’t. Just be safe in the knowledge that Suns Of The Tundra will grow to Radiohead proportions or sink into obscurity because they’re just too damn clever for the lowest common denominator that you need to appeal too for success in the mainstream. Either way, this is a fucking great record.
While vinyl will always rule within the world of underground DIY hardcore and punk, these CD discography compilations are perfect for those who want to hear all of the music in one go or missed out on the original limited runs of singles. Boxed In specialise in bursts of high-speed hardcore noise that will knock you flat off your feet. Taking their cues from classic eighties hardcore acts like Anti Cimex and Poison Idea and the UK punk of Discharge, between 2001 and 2005 (as the title cleverly suggests), Boxed In tore up and down the country screaming their throats raw in squats and the back rooms of pubs as people bounced off the walls. Need a wake up call? This is it. 
I know it’s been said a million times before but when talking about Winnebago Deal it’s still impossible not to exclaim in a loud and excitable voice ‘how the fuck do two people alone make such a screeching rock n’roll racket?’. Raised on a diet of Black Flag, Black Sabbath (all the blacks) and a endless parade of obnoxious rock n’roll, the two Bens (that’s Ben Perrier vocals, guitar and Ben Thomas on drums) return here with the first release on Fierce Panda records and scorch through fifteen tracks of high voltage rock n’roll that will melt your skin off. Produced by Seattle producer extraordinaire and the king of grunge Jack Endino, the is the Deal at their best, finally delivering the record they’ve been threatening to make for years. Plus, it ends with a suitably belligerent version of Black Flag’s ‘Revenge’. Perfect.
Are Black Sabbath the greatest and first heavy metal band of all time? Yes they fucking are. It’s not often you can pinpoint the exact moment when a whole genre of music starts but it’s fair to say that when Sabbath’s first ground-breaking album was unleashed from the beast in 1970, Iommi’s demonic riffs kick started metal. The real beauty of Sabbath is despite how old these records are, they still sound absolutely amazing. This, their first album, is as good a place to start as any, kicking off with their signature tune that sets the scene with a gigantic doom-laden riff that killed the peace and love hippy era dead with one burst of distortion, housed in a record sleeve that is genuinely creepy. In short, if you don’t have this and the rest of Sabbath’s Ozzy era albums then you’re not into metal my friend.
Their fifth and reportedly last ever album, Canadian maniacal mob Strapping Young Lad have produced what may also be their best in the form of forthcoming masterpiece ‘The New Black’. Packed full of grinding riffs, rampant drum bursts, hilariously insane lyrics and even a sprinkling of jazz flute; this is already without doubt an easy contender for metal album of the year. Jaw-dropping and utterly fucked up chaos.
While 2004’s ‘The War Within’ received mixed reviews from metal’s mainstream music press, it would still go on to become one of Century Media’s biggest selling albums – smashing its way into the US Top 20 in the process. Although little more than a contractual obligation before beginning work on their Roadrunner/Atlantic debut, ‘Fallout From The War’ continues the band’s trademark retro metal sound, smashing together a collection of covers, rarities and typically awesome fresh cuts. A fitting appetiser of things to come. 
Having drafted in Killswitch Engage guitarist and respected genre producer Adam D to give both vocals and guitars a kick up the backside of the most epic proportions, the result of this follow-up to 2004’s mega-selling ‘They’re Only Chasing Safety’ is a career defining album that oozes quality and drips emotion from every pore. From the all-out assault of ‘In Regards To Myself’ to the piano-led ‘To Whom It May Concern’, the result is never anyting less than spectacular. 
Hailing from the emo sweep-ridden metropolis of Reading, Exit Ten are fast becoming one of the UK’s hottest properties. Following on from high profile appearances at the Download Festival and support slots with everyone from Sikth to Avenged Sevenfold – this Andy Sneap produced EP offers little in originality but bucket loads in potential, adding a melodic twist to otherwise raging metalcore that hints at bigger things to come. 
What do you get when you combine members of Pantera, Eyehategod, Crowbar and Corrosion of Conformity with a shitload of whisky and more than their fair share of marijuana? The answer is possibly THE definitive metal album of the last decade, rammed full of stunning grooves, mellowed-out southern American harmonies and a vocal performance little short of incredible courtesy of one Philip H. Anselmo. If you were unlucky or just plain stupid enough to miss their recent whirlwind tour of the UK, consider this album your ‘get out of jail free’ card. 
Rye Coalition have been around since 1994 or thereabouts and over the years have released cool records with an edge that would turn the ears of people that were into hardcore and alternative rock. The last record they released that I thought was great was “On Top“, where the band had a distinctly heavy sound that featured Steve Albini at the recording session.
Those of you who skated in the early 90’s with Zac, Richie Hopson, Gorm etc may well have bumped into our friend Richard File skating curbs and ledges schralping in Sutton and Croydon with Curtis McCann and Paul Shier. Since then, he has shared duties with James Lavelle on the U.N.K.L.E project, released a bunch of stuff on Mo’Wax Records and has also co-written the film score to cult film Sexy Beast.
Adult Swim, who were behind the animated voices of Dangerdoom, have put out another freebie on their website – Chocolate Swim.
Lightyear have confirmed they’ll be appearing at Truckfest 2006, which has already sold out. However, they will also be touring in July at the following places:
Not much news on the film itself, but there’s a clip on Youtube.com which gives snippets of what to expect. If you wanna be hypnotised by the Wu, then click the link below.