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What's on the Herbaliser's turntables? by MIREILLE SILCOTT
Various Hip Hop and Abstract Soul Vol. 1 LP (Reeplay Recordings) I was given this recently by a friend of mine in Toulouse. It features several tracks, four of which are produced by him and his friends (Audio Directions). It's those that require the most listening, particularly "Connection Est #1," which is straight-up funky instrumental hip hop with no unnecessary weirding. Simple and to the point. The Herbaliser The Blend Remixes 12" (Ninja Tune) Yes, I know it's cheeky putting on one of our own records, but I've been playing this everywhere. Features new mixes by us and Johnny Cuba (he co-produced "A Mother" and "Another Mother" with us) and San Francisco's Peanut Butter Wolf. Also has [rapper] What What from Natural Resource on vocals plus a new version of "Chombee" by DJ Food's PC. Johnny "Guitar" Watson Superman Lover 1976 ( This Record Co.) What can I say about this tune other than it is a groove classic? Many people will recognize it as the sample from Redman's "The Days of Sooperman Lover." Good party tune, seriously funky. Showbiz and AG Silence of the Lambs Remix 12" (Payday) This has not left my box in 10 years and lately, no matter how hard I try, I can't leave it at home. I better find a new copy, this one's wearing itself out. It is difficult to choose which is the most funky Show & AG tune, so I usually end up bringing several. Fierce big band Buddy Rich horns intro this track to a relentless barrage of beats and lyrics. Slammin' like iron sheets. Airto Morierra Celebrations Suite 1979 (Warner Bros) Taken from the I'm Fine How are You? album. I own very little in the way of Brazilian or Latin jazz, but even if I had thousands of those records, I figure this would still be my fave. I have never heard another tune like it. Best played as a finale (it never fails). This is the stuff that makes people dance on tables or chairs or anywhere they can find. Ollie Teeba will no doubt be packing some Showbiz & AG record at Ninja Tune's Stealth night this Friday, June 6 at Cabaret. Amon Tobin, Up Bustle & Out's Stevie Bear & Task, Gnat and Wig spin too. $15, 9pm |
Scan any music magazine you have at home and find the article or review on how hip hop is being "redefined." Chances are your magazine will say it's being redefined by Brits like the Herbaliser's Ollie Teeba and Jake Wherry, a rather obsessive duo brilliant enough to make scratchy noises sound sort of symphonic. They make breakbeats crackle with jazz and bubbling undertones of moody sound-slab, all topped with rap paraphernalia. And they're really great at it. Hell, they're redefining things here. But you've got all those magazines telling you that already. So instead, we give you the top crop of records presently on scratchmaster Ollie Teeba's travelling turntables and his reasons for putting 'em there. We figured if there is a concrete root to all of this redefinition, it's in the man's vinyl stack. Read carefully...