FESTIVAL CLUBS
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Beflevethe hype
Edinburgh is bracing itself for the monster jump up drum ’n’ bass sound of DJ Hype.
DJ Hype has just got back from Tokyo and now he’s got to go to Switzerland. Our interview takes place on his mobile as he walks through Heathrow airport.
'How long is this gonna take?’ he wants to know. ’Ten minutes or so,’ is the reply. ‘OK, you've got five.’
London's DJ Hype makes various kinds of jungle/drum 'n' bass but he is best known for his fierce, hip hop-influenced, jump up style made with friends Zinc and Pascal as The Ganja Kru. Nowhere is this style more obvious than on the Method Man-sampling ’Super Sharp Shooter', one of last year's finest drum 'n' bass tunes. Their latest EP New Frontiers showcases the depth of the Kru's talent, ranging from deep and funky to ruff, aggressive and rolling.
The Ganja Kru are offered remixes at the rate of three or four a week - most of which they have to turn down due to lack of time. Most recently, they have beefed up The Prodigy and Armand Van Helden. They also run their own True Playaz label.
The important thing to understand about Hype and The Ganja Kru is that they’re making music for the average person in the street. There's no hint of pretension in their music. Hype's attitude towards life (straight up, no bullshit) is reflected in his music (straight up, no bullshit).
'I just make tunes, mate,’ he explains. 'I make tunes that my people like. There are no restrictions or boundaries or anything. If I wanna do a vocal tune, I'll do it. If I wanna do a mad, hard track, I'll do it. If I wanna do a mellow-to-fuck thing, I'll do it and I ain’t gonna let
DJ Hype and The Ganja Kru
no one, whoever they are, tell me I can't do it.’
Asked if it is strange to have his life taken over by music, he deadpans: 'I hate it. I like doin' what I do, but it's nice when you're doin' it at a pace you can handle. When you're trying to do it at my pace, it's just fucking heavy. We manage ourselves — we don't trust anyone else to do it, I remix, I produce, I engineer, I DJ, I do the radio (Kiss FM) and then I've gotta have a normal, personal life as well, y'know?
'lt is very stressful but, I wouldn't change it . . . cos there’s sod all else I'm good at. It's good, but it is too manic. Sometimes, I'm going away two or three times in one week to another country. People don't realise just how stressful going back and forth like that can be.
'Like today, on the way to the airport, I’ve already had about a 100 bloody calls on this phone. It's very difficult, sometimes you feel like you got your fingers in too many pies. I could all go on all day, man. Jim Byers . . .'
I D] Hype guests at Manga, La Belle Ange/e, Fri 22 Aug. The Ganja Kru’s New Frontiers EP is out now on True Playaz. Contact the Web site on www. TrueP/ayazcouk. for more.
A Man Called Adam
A Man Called Adam: a potent mix of jazz, house, Latin, electro. World, ambi- ence and Balearic attitude
A Man Called Adam — you probably know the name, but can you name any of their songs? DeSpite ten years in the business, they still remain something of an enigma.
In their original incarnation, A Man Called Adam were a ten-piece jazz outfit, including Paul Daley who has since found fame With Leftfield. Their first release, 1986’s 'Get Wise' on CBS, was followed by a string of cuts (starting With 1989’s 'APB/Before You Know It') on the then ultra-hip ACld Jazz imprint.
With the onset of house came a new tempo temptation for the band, bringing beats and electronic sexmess to an already potent mix of jazz, electro, World music, Balearic attitude, ambience, melodies and songs. A deal with the Big Life label, which spawned four singles and The Apple album, ended when the band were dropped for a perceived lack of commercial appeal
In response, core band members Sally Rodgers and Steve Jones formed their own independent label — Other Records —- three and a half years ago.
’We just want to be a really good British indie like Warp or Factory or Mute that puts out interesting new music,’ says vocalist and label PR Rodgers of the ethos which has delivered releases from Rosie Gaines, Sensory Productions and Coco, Steel & Lovebomb.
The last five years have seen only two A Man Called Adam singles 'Que Tal America’ on Prescription and ’Easter Song', which appeared on the second instalment of React’s Cafe Del Mar series. This year however, they have been playing live sets in clubs and preViewrng exclusive new material from their forthcoming album.
That apart, Rodgers guests on Chris & James's ‘Ghosts’ track on Stress Records, and she might work With Andrew Weatherall on a Two Lone Swordsman project Jones can be found on the fOrthcoming Black SCience Orchestra/Lisa Stansfield release. (Jim Byers)
' A Man Called Adam, Urbansole, La Belle Ange/e, Edinburgh, Sat 76, midnight—4.30am, f 7.
clubs
festival listings
Edinburgh club listings compiled b Jim Byers . For details of Glasgowc ubs see pages 119-121
EDINBURGH FRIDAYS
I Big at the Jaffacake. lOpm—Sam. £3 before midnight; £4 after. Mainstream chart sounds. with excellent booze promos. free bouncy rides. guzzle guns and plenty of drinking-related fun.
I Big Beat at La Belle Angele. llpm-Aam. £6 (£5). l5 Aug. Monthly. The Jazzcotech Jazzl)ancers from London’s Jazz Cafe do some of their funky frugging at this night of top notch soul jazz. They also bring guest DJ Paul Bradshaw (Straight No Chaser) with them. The dancers are currently regarded as the UK‘s top jazz dance troupe. Their shows combine impressive skill and athleticism with a genuine enthusiasm for the music. lixpect this one to be busy. Membership applications are available on the night.
I Cavendish 9pm—3am. £5. Over 25s only. Smart dress. No jeans. no trainers. live bands every week. Sixties and 70s music. Ground floor only.
I Cathouse at The Rocking Horse. llpm—3am. £3 (£2 with llyer). Price includes entry to Katch and Voodoo Chile. lixtremely popular night featuring post grunge-like rock sounds.
I CC. Blooms l lpm-Rain. Free. Free disco downstairs at this gay pub. seven times a week. playing a party mix of commercial dance and hi-energy house. Full to bursting at weekends.
I Century 2000 l lpm—3am. £5. ()ver l8s. Commercial dance music under Scotland‘s most expensive lights. N0 rippedjeans. steel toe-caps or trainers.
I Club Graffiti at Cafe Graffiti. llpm—3am. £6 (£5). l5 Aug. A vibing mix of live music and DJs in this excellent venue. With an older crowd and a non house music policy.
I Club Latino at the Assembly Rooms. Midnight —3.3()am. £4—£5 (£3—£4). 15 Aug. Latino continues in its fourth year at the Assembly Rooms. l-prect a lively mix of l-‘estival types and Latino regulars all enjoying the best in salsas. merengues. batucadas and jazz. Latino also runs on Sat lo and Sun l7 Aug. as well as for the rest of the Festival. Cuban live act Sonora La Calle play live. Arrive early or even buy a ticket in advance because it's sure to be mobbed. See llit list.
I Decadence at The Venue. ll).3()pm-5am. Price the. IS Aug. l-‘orinightly. (Both and New Romo.
I Electriscity at Club Mercado.
l l.3()pm—5ain. £5 before midnight; £7 after. 22 Aug. lr'ortnightly. Featuring DJs T- ] (‘rosslay Stylei' X (Solefusion) and the kick-ass freestyle house sound of Donnie Allan (Bitch. Manchester).
I Evol at the Liquid Room. l().3()pin—-5am. £4. ()ne of Edinburgh‘s busiest and longest-muning indie. alternative and pop clubs at this impressively restyled venue.
I Grease at Moray House. l()pm~5am. £5 (£4). Seventies. 80s and 90s disco. lixcellent drinks promos.
I High Rollin' at Negociants. 9pm--3am. l‘ree. Various funky sounds in the Negociants basement bar-club.
I Katch at The Rocking Horse.
l lpin 3am. £3 (£2 with l’lyer). Price
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18-21 Aug 1997 THE llST 103