BREAKS
SHUT UP AND DANCE Shake The Disease at the Soundhaus, Glasgow, Sat 26 Jan
As early as 1989, proto-jungle pioneers Shut Up and Dance - aka PJ and Smiley - were using breakbeat to inject a bit of urgency into dance music. Responding to the combination of ecstasy and speed, these mad-ass north east Londoners sped up the beats from hip hop’s standard 80—90bpm to 130bpm on early tracks such as ‘£10 To Get In’ and ‘Green Man’, creating a sound that was a kind of slow-motion jungle before the fact.
Although too often overlooked, SUAD were featured in the recent Channel 4 documentary series Pump Up The Volume, where they were given due credit for their rudimentary experiments in dance music. ‘A lot of people have been going on about that, but I haven’t even seen it,’ says Smiley. ‘We don’t really pay attention to the press, but if you’re going to talk about where jungle started, then obviously we have to be mentioned. And that’s why people said that programme was good - because it was accurate.’
Despite SUAD having being limited by the equipment of the time, PJ and Smiley’s experiment in breakbeat paid off in May 1992 when they charted at no 2 with ‘Raving, I’m Raving’, a track that’s since been recognised in The Guinness Book Of Records for maximum sales in minimum time. ‘The ideas were good back then
but they weren’t technically great,’ says Smiley. ‘That wasn’t the style though; it’s not as tight as it is now. At first we thought people might laugh at it or wouldn’t go
with it but we just went overnight.’
In the ten years since, SUAD have continued with their pioneering escapades in drum & bass and breakbeat. Their last single ‘No Doubt’ made a dramatic impact on the UK garage scene, a success soon to be consolidated by the new single ‘Movin’ Up’ and a
HOUSE
FUNKEY MAGIC
The Cocteau Lounge, Edinburgh, Fri 25 Jan
How do you Choose a name for your Club night? Poll the trend setters? Peruse the style rags? Or lll‘.’(}lll a pun around a bizarre late 70s Japanese TV series featuring one very tough monkey?
For the men behind Funkey Magic. there was only going to be one option. 'I got the Video of Monkey Mag/r: from my brother for Christmas last year,‘ says promoter Jaeko Justice. 'and when we put on a one-off night for our friends we decided to use the name Funkey Magic. When that one did well we ended up keeping the name for the monthly nights. Looking back, if we'd ‘~.'-/;.inte(.l to be cool we definitely wouldn't have called it Funkey lvlagie. but it's only a bit of fun."
The night was set up last January by The Hoff PFOJOCl. a group of friends who number Stukid. Jules "our German friend; and Springfelloixr
Shut Up And Dance - looks like they mean it
forthcoming album. Too busy in the studio to waste time on retrospection, Smiley’s got some words for the wise on the wave of
misty nostalgia in the form of the acid house revival.
Bromley)
among lll(}l" DJing w.ng. Their soundtrack of soul-tuelled deep house is given a twist by regular percussionist Pete 'lagg. ‘.'.’ll|l(3 this i‘ionth's birthday bash, in an experiment that may beeome ;; regular teature. also features a saxophonist.
It all sounds refreshingly low-w key and. according to Stukid iaka Stuart
‘lt’s not a revival. It’s just fuckin’ major labels trying to sell old records and the media’s eating the whole thing for dinner. It’s nothing to do with no revival — it’s an old music game scam. Trust me mate, l’d know.’ (Catherine
(from left) Live percussionist Tagg, Stukid and Jules
Mori'isi. the organisers wouldn't hax'e it any other n'xa‘ya "the night's got a great little yibe.' he says. ‘As a DJ in the (Ioeteau l ounge you're "l(_)tll among the crowd. it's not like you're up on a pedestal or anything. Plus theie's a lisl: tank as ‘~.'.rell. i.'./hi(:h is (:()()l.' Best take their word tor it. lJaines Smart)
The latest club news...
RESPECTED GLASGOW HIP hop night Hi-Karate will re- launch at the end of the month with a new residency at the Riverside Club. Taking up the Iast-Saturday-of—the- month slot previously occupied by Mish Mash, the night kicks off with a residents’ showcase hosted by Neil McMillan and Andrew Divine on 26 January. See listings for full details. PLANS ARE AFOOT FOR Edinburgh and Glasgow Club nights to pledge support to \y"‘.’or?d DJ Day. due to take pfaee ()'l Saturday 3} March. The event ’llkU Chriire'i ll‘ Need, only ‘.'.’illl()t.‘i Gaby Roswi‘i gin/HI nix/owe DJs z "o ll‘il the word don-at "g a night's ‘.'.'ages to children's charities 'r‘<:ruo-'ig Nordot‘v- Roobii‘s Musir: Tl‘ei‘apy \‘Vifll tundrais rig not restricted to the one night only. its noped that
r: so 'litl"ffs i-" E<l|"l)ti’§ll‘i and G'asgo's.‘ ‘l o" ‘ov'<:es to make lo ".1 cont" l:..t ::"s to the cause. Pron‘otei‘s ng to get ‘nyo‘x'eo shoud (:oi‘taet {iéilljifiyCl).lii‘,f)"(l(?l'.(1{).tir< Fume-gr: I)" ‘o" F: “burg.” and G asgox. The Lle offices a: (1.lllf3CilSl.(It).tiK.
RADIO FORTH HAS extended its weekend dance coverage to include exclusive weekly shows from Sublime’s Kev Wright and ex-Hacienda jock Graeme Park . Featuring the best in up-front house, Park’s show will go out every Saturday from 9—1 1 pm, swiftly followed by the Sublime show (11pm—1am) featuring Kev Wright’s superior blend of trance and minimal techno.
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'. .‘ THE LIST 59