‘Return to the Island’ has been repressed and is in stock on Bandcamp and out now in all good record stores. Originally released in 2022 the album touches upon Ambient, Downtempo, Nu Disco and Deep House. The LP was recorded in my garden studio in Moana, Adelaide. I’m deep in the trenches finishing off the next one, which will hopefully be released before the end of 2025.
Instrumental Dubs #3 is out now in all good record stores and in stock on the IOJ Bandcamp, another deep dive into the Dub version and beyond. Side one explores the axis of UK Street Soul and Reggae with the opening two tracks produced by Howard Hill and originally released on his Passion Enterprises label in the late eighties. Both ‘Versions’ have a machine lead rhythm section paired with a reggae skank and snippets of soulful vox. The Proto House of Protek’s ‘I Love to Dance With You’ featured on a Jura Soundsystem DJ Mix for Planet Trip, a one off single from the now sadly deceased Errol Parkes that’s been re-edited with love by The Nightlark from Edinburgh. The B side features The Cool Notes ‘Natural Energy’, which isn’t strictly speaking a Dub Version, but it has that vibe with a primarily instrumental backing track featuring sparse vocals and spacey FX. The album closes with a secret weapon of Ilija Rudman ‘Dub 4 Love’ that pays homage to a famous track from Acid House’s heyday. Pressed on 180g Heavyweight Vinyl with full sleeve jacket design by Bradley Pinkerton.
‘Freediving in the Tropical Zone’ features on the new Cafe Del Mar Chillout mix which you can stream here on Spotify. I remember buying the first Cafe Del Mar CD compiled by Jose Padilla that i played endlessly in my bedroom, it was a classic for me (Cafe Penguin Orchestra’s ‘Music for a Found Harmonium’ still gets me emotionally every time) so to appear on one of the albums in the series feels great.
New playlist for Test Pressing‘s new series. Dive in here. Consistently one of my favourite music blogs, always on point with reviews and recommendations and Paul ‘Apiento’ Byrne is an absolute don.
I contribute an extended Dub mix of ‘So Hot’ on the next D.D. Mirage 12″ single which is released next week. The 12″ is available to pre-order here.
As part of Vermelho Wonder’s Vinyl 12″ debut single I contributed a Special Version of ‘Se Voce’, dubbing out the vocal parts and adding some fills and reverb. A 300 pressing which is very nearly sold out, the last few are on Bandcamp.
My Selects playlist is refreshed on the first Friday of the month with 25 new tracks. The playlist features 100 tracks in total with the new ones added at the top, its an eclectic selection of Ambient, Reggae, Dub, Disco, House, anything i’m vibing off in the office. Spark up an incense and dive in here.
The next release is a remix 12″ featuring interpretations of 3 Jura Soundsystem classics by Quiet Village, Tapes and Good Block. I have to say (yes i am biased) it’s a killer 12″ with some variety and just really strong music. Quiet Village have nailed a deep and hypnotic house mix of ‘Carafe Denim’ which sounds simultaneously classic and futuristic. Tapes does Dub House better than anyone else and his remix is a total bassbin rattler! Last but by no means least Good Block have gone the extra mile taking the minimalist ‘Linn Fun’ from my album into Ambient House territory.
This is the first time i’ve commissioned remixes for the label, a rare occurrence as i usually like the focus to be on the original songs, but the timing felt right and reminded me of my Tsuba days where pretty much every release had a remix. That was fun but soon became quite exhausting and i pretty much ran out of steam. I won’t be going down that road again, so enjoy this remix 12″ as it could be many years before the next one! Buy the 12″ on my Bandcamp here. You can stream on Spotify here.
I head to Melbourne tomorrow for show at Angel Music Bar 1-4am for Proto Exotica. I gave a quick fire interview with the boys here.
I headed to Bali for the first time with 2 gigs for Le Bajo, you can see some pics from my travels here.
