Beastwars Live

Beastwars ‘Tower of Skulls’ Release Tour

San Francisco Bath House, Cuba Street, Wellington, NZ

Friday 23 November 2012

Support for local heroes (and 2012 Taite Music Prize Finalists) Beastwars, came from Arc of Ascent and Von Thundersvolt – both of whom were sadly forgettable. (They have however convinced me to not make efforts to start my own stoner rock band, which Beastwars advancing years had inspired me to do, so a sensible purpose was served).

The ‘wars (as I expect no one calls them) were involved on a brief, four date mini-tour to promote their new single, ‘Tower Of Skulls bw/ The Sleeper’.

In the relatively short space of time since I first saw Beastwars opening for Fu Manchu (I also attended a gig where they opened for Kyuss in Wellington, though I arrived as they played their last note and similarly arrived too late to see them play at a Melvins/High On Fire) I have managed to acquire two rather fantastic Beastwars T-Shirts (one of which glows in the dark) and what I understand to be the sum and whole of their (albeit small) vinyl output.

Any speculation that I might have had whether my fanboy antics might be some sort of local team supporting instinct were pretty much blown out of the water, when Beastwars came on stage on Friday and were frankly, well, awesome.

The hometown gig confirmed my feelings that not only are Beastwars a great New Zealand band, but that they’d be a great band anywhere.

I’ve read somewhere the original blueprint for the band came from a conversation between their guitarist and drummer, whereby the speculated on whether a band with the riffs of Kyuss and the anthemic chorus’ of The Cult would work.

In short, it does, (though there’s a fairly large dose of Soundgarden in their sound as well).

Downtuned, sub-Sabbath guitars, (the band’s motto is, “obey the riff”), with Tool-esque time and key changes are the norm with vocalist Matt Hyde’s individual vocals varying from a worried whimper to all out bellowing, with the range particularly evident on (my favourite Beastwars track), ‘Mihi’.

(Mihi being a maori word that describes the formal speaking structure used during powhiri, or formal meeting).

The LP’s opener ‘Damn The Sky’, which came later in their set, is probably the bands catchiest song and was a clear audience favourite at the gig (complete with some Lee Renaldo style atonal guitar jangling that doesn’t appear on the recorded version).

The mini-tour was in support of the bands new single, ‘Tower of Skulls’ and I picked up a limited edition (171/200) glow in the dark vinyl 7” version. Both tracks add a Goth element to Beastwars stoner sound, and particularly the B-side ‘Sleeper’, was another corker live.

During a recent TV interview, Hyde commented that should the band win the Taite prize, that the $10,000 prize money would be put towards tickets to Europe to tour their album, which has now seen wider release on the UK’s Witchhunter Records.

It’s fingers crossed from me, because should these guys manage to get to something like HellFest to play, they’re sure to come away with a wider European audience. 

Jump-Up Drum & Bass Backfill

An Auckland based seller that I've bought a few bits off before recently stuck up a few dancefloor bangers that I missed the first time round.

Sub Focus 'Airplane/Flamenco' Ram Records 12" Single
This came out in 2006, which was really at the end of me following (and buying most notable releases from) the drum & bass scene. I bought his 2005 'X-Ray/Scarecrow' single, which was massive in the clubs (and sounds distinctly like it samples Nirvana's 'Breed') but I have to say, I'm not really a massive Sub Focus fan. His sound is very slick, very "software" sounding techy drum & bass. I'm usually much more into more organic sounding tunes. That aside, this is pretty sedate for Sub Focus (and for the wider Ram Records stable). Andy C was hammering this around the time.

Ebony Dubsters 'Power Of Ra (Original Mix)/Power Of Ra (Original Sin Remix)' Ebony Recordings 12" Single
A 2003 slammer from Shy FX on his Ebony label. I've got a few Shy FX tunes and they're always totally dancefloor orientated. 'Power Of Ra' originally came out on a single sided, Ltd. edition etched 12", which I listened to in the shop, thought it was a bit generic and didn't buy. After then hearing it a few times out on big systems, I regretted that decision. Haven't heard the Original Sin Remix as yet, but I'm interested to see whether it's got a better run-in so I can blend it more in the mix. (That was one of the issues with buying the original).

Adam F Feat. M.O.P 'Stand Clear/Stand Clear (Origin Unknown Remix)' Kaos Recordings 12" Single
The Origin Unknown remix was a bit of a monster circa 2002. 2001 had seen the release of Adam F's 'KAOS: The Anti-Acoustic Warfare' LP. Whilst a leading producer in drum & bass circles, Adam F had assembled a stellar cast (including Redman, M.O.P, LL Cool J, Guru and more) for his first foray into Hip-Hop and was at the time being touted as the new Dr. Dre. 'Stand Clear' recycled the bassline from Adam F's drum & bass classic 'Brand New Funk' from the 1998 V Recordings 'Planet V' compilation, so had an existing drum & bass pedigree. Add to that is a trademark Ram Recordings modulated bassline and you've got the perfect track to open a dancefloor set.

Based on my purchase of the Adam F 12", the seller also offered me a vinyl copy of Adam F's 'Drum And Bass Warfare', which collected all the 2002 drum & bass remixes of the material.

To my surprise, what arrived, rather than being the standard vinyl release, was a 2 x 12" picture disk set:

Adam F Feat. Capone 'N' Noreaga 'Listen Here' (Dillinja Remix)
Without having listened to this yet, at a guess, it's going to have Dillinja screaming "Re-Mix.." into an echo chamber and then a bassline from another Dillinja tune. I'm not a huge Dillinja fan. I don't really get Dillinja tunes.

Adam F Feat. Pharoahe Monch 'Last Dayz' (Mickey Finn & L Double Remix)
Of all the artists here, Mickey Finn probably has the longest track history in doing jungle/drum & bass remixes of hip-hop tunes as part of the Urban Takeover crew alongside Aphrodite, so I'm really interested to hear what's on here. This is pretty late for Mickey Finn as well. Whilst being pretty prolific in the mid/late nineties, he was pretty quiet by this time.

Adam F Feat. M.O.P 'Stand Clear' (Matrix & Fierce Remix)
Fierce used to live round the corner from me in Bristol. Didn't know him though. Matrix is a great producer, though perhaps unfairly underrated when compared to his older brother, Optical.

Adam F Feat. L'il Mo 'Where's My' (J Majik Remix)
Interesting that it's done by Adam F's best mate, J Majik who's possibly the only second wave D&B producer as well regarded as Mr. Fenton himself. Weirdly, I picked up a 12" promo of the original hip-hop version last week in Real Groovy for $2.00.

Adam F Feat.L'il Mo 'Where's My' Kaos Promo 12"
Original, Radio Edit and Instrumental. A bit of a steal if you ask me.

I don't really go out of my way to buy picture disks usually (based on their consistently awful sound quality), but whilst unexpected, the "Drum & Bass Warfare" features the artwork from the original 'KAOS' LP inner sleeves, which link up into a cartoon style depictions of all of the artists featured on the LP:

Adam F Presents 'KAOS: The Anti-Acoustic Warfare) 3 x 12" LP
Horrifyingly, this came out 11 years ago. Whilst it's taken me a while, I think that I can safely say that I comfortably "own" the project on vinyl.

(N.B. Whilst I've not bought it on a couple of occasions that it's come up, I may well end up looking for a copy of Adam F Feat. Redman 'Smash Something' (Roni Size Remix) on 12" out of a sense of completism).

Real Groovy

Real Groovy, 438 Queen Street  Auckland, 1010

Having talked about recent visits to Real Groovy spin-off stores (http://vinylology.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/rpms-1st-birthday-01092012.html and http://vinylology.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/vinyl-countdown.html), it was auspicious that a change in my companies preferred Auckland hotel, put me staying literally over the road from Real Groovy's old head office (and only remaining site).

After work on Thursday 08th, I wandered down on the off-chance that they would be open. What I actually found, is that yes, Real Groovy is open until 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays and that the shop was actually the venue for a meet and greet with The Lizard Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lizardman). I actually slightly regret that I didn't have my photo taken with him. (It's pretty unlikely that I'm ever going to meet him again, I think).

Anyways, I had a couple of hours to kill so had a bit of a dig and came away with a few $2 bargains, as well as a couple of more pricey ($17 a piece) but equally interesting bits.

V/A ‘10.01’ Ltd. Edition Moving Shadow 12” EP & V/A ‘10.02’ Ltd. Edition Moving Shadow 12” EP.
Released as part of Moving Shadow’s 10^th anniversary celebrations in 2000, the colour covers show that these were part of the initial limited release (2500 for each). I’ve also got the ’10.04’ and ’10.06’ releases and absolutely loved the Rob Playford (Moving Shadow label owner aka Timecode) helmed 10^th anniversary mix CD, which had 30 tracks (3 for each of the ten years of Moving Shadow’s operations) crammed into a 60 minute mix. Top track on ‘10.01’ is ‘Oh, So Nice’ by Cosmo & Dibs, with ‘10.02’ being led by 2 Bad Mice’s remix of ‘Music Takes You’ by Blame. Purchasing this has really made me want to put together a breakbeat hardcore/jungle techno mix.

Peter Bouncer ‘So Here I Come’ Shut Up & Dance 12” Single.
So, it’s not ‘Raving We’re Raving’, but I thought that this was a bit of a bargain for $2.00. Still has an insert advertising SUAD merchandise (I’ve managed to convince myself that a SUAD coach’s jacket is a good idea, which is perhaps as interesting as the actual music. One for that hardcore mixtape.

Hatiras feat. Slarta John ‘Spaced Invader’ Defected 12” Single
I loved the original (non-vocalled) version of this when it came out but wasn’t yet buying house. I did however buy the single sided Defected 12” drum & bass remix, which was done by…..

J Majik Presents ‘The Lizard’ Infrared 12” Single
I remember this coming out but didn’t buy it at the time. I particularly enjoyed watching J Majik B2B with Wickaman at The Old Fire Station in Bristol. During a particularly rinsing set, he turned off Skibadees’s (the world’s most overrated drum & bass MC) microphone several times. Yeah, “Deal With Da Matter”, Skibba, you douchebag. J Majik is/was best friends with:

Adam F Presents ‘Where’s My….’ (Feat. Little Mo) EMI Promo 12” Single
I’ve got the 3 x 12” LP set of the Kaos: The Anti-Acoustic Warfare album that this is off already, but y’know – it’s Adam F and it was $2.

 Mathematics + Tactile ‘Chonga/Vibra Theme’ Social Studies 12” Single
Mathematics are a consistently strong liquid D&B act from New York and this is the first release that I’ve bought off their own label. The centre label for Social Studies is actually one of my favourites on any label.

I’ve got a bit of history with Mathematics; having really liked their ‘Jersey Deep’ 12” on Defunked, I bought ‘Black Jack/Sunday Morning’, a very early 12” on Critical and then a Frontline promo 12” of ‘Funhouse/Brass Knuckles’, which I hammered for a good eighteen months after it came out.

Dylan & Facs ‘Blowpipe/Pantsnake’ Fuze Promo 12” Single
This was again $2 and still has the response sheet in it. It’s very early Dylan (late ‘90’s, at a guess). Facs I’ve never heard of, but Dylan I know from his millenial output on Renegade Hardware and Outbreak, then later from his Therapy Sessions night in Bristol. He later moved to Philadelphia, I believe.

Culprit ‘No Need To Ask’ Exceptional 12” Single
Strange, sort of dark ambient/breakbeat. Bought almost solely for the Reso Remix on the B-Side. Worth $2 for that alone.

Phokek 'Modus Operandi' Science 3 x 12" LP

It was timely that this came up on Trade Me, after I went to a Photek live show back in September (http://vinylology.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/photek.html).

Photek was instrumental in building drum & bass' wider profile in the late 1990's, with serious muso's appreciating the technical sophistication of Parke's complex, layered music. (He later moved into movie scores, most notably scoring 'The Animatrix').

I've got lots of Parkes' other releases (including 'The Hidden Camera' EP and classic 'Ni Ten Ichi Ryu' 12") but hadn't actually ever owned 'Modus Operandi'. This came into my hands, (thanks Grant!) for just $35.

Roni Size/Reprazent 'New Forms' Talkin' Loud 4 x 12" LP

Absolutely mint condition 4 x 12" LP set of Reprazent's Mercury prize winning 'New Forms' album from 1997.

I've got a couple of the singles off of this, 'Brown Paper Bag' and 'Share The Fall' (both reissues) already but wasn't buying vinyl when this came out. (I did buy the CD single of 'Brown Paper Bag' at the time though).

I paid $40, which is a good deal considering how important this record is to me. I moved to Bristol, largely because of the music put out by the cities Full Cycle crew, (Size, DJ Krust, DJ Die and DJ Suv), all of whom feature on this LP.

Arguably, 'New Forms' is up there in the top three drum & bass LP's ever made, alongside Photek's 'Modus Operandi' and Goldie's 'Timeless'.