Episodes
Join me for part one of my two-part conversation with Warlock. A raw, unfiltered journey through the golden age of pirate radio, and the birth of jungle. In this episode, Jason takes us deep into the underground scene of early 90s London. From running pirate radio in student halls to getting caught by the DTI live on air. This episode is a raw slice of UK dance music history.Some of the many topics discussed include:His journey from Watford to Stafford and eventually down to LondonInvol...
Published 11/13/24
This is the second part of my two-part conversation with Jerome Hill, a DJ and producer renowned for his exceptional skills behind the turntables. Since his first gig in 1990, Jerome has been mixing and scratching a wide variety of sounds, always bringing a selection guaranteed to energize any party.In this episode, we discuss several key topics, including:Club UK: A nightclub in Wandsworth, London, active in the early to mid-1990s, where Jerome was introduced to the harder sounds of techno t...
Published 09/25/24
Join me for part one of my two-part conversation with Jerome Hill, a DJ and producer renowned for his top-notch skills behind the turntables. Since his first gig back in 1990, Jerome has been mixing and scratching up an eclectic storm, always armed with a selection guaranteed to rock any party. Jerome also runs a diverse range of record labels across multiple genres and styles. These include:Don't for f****d up party technoSuper Rhythm Trax for acid, bleeps, and house groovesHornsey Hardcore ...
Published 09/05/24
Join me for the second part of my conversation with Gizelle, a key figure in London's 1990s underground acid techno scene. Starting in 1990, we explore the evolution of acid house and the emergence of multiple new genres in the UK music landscape. In this episode, Gizelle shares her experiences on:Her involvement with the Zero Gravity collective and underground party organisationProtests against the Criminal Justice BillEarly music production, collaborating with Henry (Dave the Drummer) and G...
Published 07/31/24
Join us for the first part of our captivating conversation with Gizelle, a pioneering female DJ who witnessed the birth of London's acid house scene. From her roots in Lovers Rock to becoming a trailblazing DJ, Gizelle takes us on a nostalgic trip through late 80s and early 90s club culture. In this episode some of the many topics we discuss are:Gizelle's musical beginnings with Charisma, a Lovers Rock groupHer first DJ gig at Winston's Bar in Deptford (1987)Discovering and incorporating acid...
Published 07/10/24
In this second instalment of our two-part conversation, we discuss Rachel's expanding career as a DJ, playing at more venues in London, including the influential Movement at Rumba and Herbal in Shoreditch. We talk about her job at the legendary Soho record shop Black Market and how she immersed herself in various scenes across multiple genres and subcultures. This includes helping to set up the London Underground venue at the Glastonbury Festival, playing in clubs and warehouses, and performi...
Published 06/05/24
Welcome to Episode 18, where I sit down for a lively chat with Rachel, better known as Miss Pink. Our connection dates back to the mid-1990s, a time when I frequented record stores like Ambient Soho on Berwick Street and Black Market Records on D'Arbly Street, places where Rachel's passion for music shone brightly. Throughout the 90s, she made her mark as a revered jungle DJ, spinning tunes at underground warehouse raves and mainstream venues alike.In this first instalment of our two-part con...
Published 05/15/24
In Episode 17, I speak again with my old friend and fellow rave war veteran, Phil Klein, also known as Bass Junkie. Phil is a highly respected UK music producer, having crafted tunes since the late 1980s, and is known for his deep love of Electro and Miami Bass. In this second of our two part discussion, we delve into his experiences with underground parties in the 1990s, his ventures to Miami for production collaborations with his Electro heroes Dynamix II, the establishment of his record...
Published 04/24/24
In Episode 16, I speak with my old friend and fellow rave war veteran, Phil Klein, also known as Bass Junkie. Phil is a highly respected UK music producer, having crafted tunes since the late 1980s, and is known for his deep love of Electro and Miami Bass. In this first of our two part discussion, we delve into his early music recollections, highlighting the pivotal moment when his cousin introduced him to the Street Sounds Electro series in 1983, an encounter that significantly altered the...
Published 04/03/24
In Episode 15, I speak with Uncle G, also known as Urban Intelligence. Godfrey has been deeply embedded in South London's music culture since his family relocated to South East London from the tumultuous and politically unstable climate of Chile in the 1970s. Growing up on the Morris Walk estate in Woolwich, he was exposed to music from various angles, starting with all-night Caribbean-influenced blues parties in his local community. These were DIY events where a sound system and a bar were...
Published 02/21/24
In Episode 14, the second part of my conversation with Brandon Spivey, an old friend and cultural provocateur, we delve into his experiences traveling to Europe in the mid-1980s. During this time, he actively participated in several riots in Berlin as a member of the Black Bloc—an anarchist organization committed to confronting governments and the banking system through direct action. Our discussion extends to his discovery of Dada art, particularly his appreciation for the works of George...
Published 12/20/23
In episode 13, I am joined by my old mate and cultural hooligan, Brandon Spivey. We delve into his initiation into radical music and subculture, recounting his upbringing in 1970s Macclesfield and subsequent relocation to Manchester in the 80s. As a class-conscious anarchist and anti-authoritarian, he actively opposed the system and confronted fascists on the streets, participating in protests and riots across the UK and wider Europe. Our conversation explores the impact of punk rock,...
Published 11/29/23
Episode 12 contains the second part of my conversation with Christoph Fringeli. We discuss his move to South London from Basel at the start of the 90's and how he started a new record label called Praxis in order to release some of the harder electronic music he was making and hearing at parties and on the radio airwaves in the city. We also chat about Dead by Dawn, the legendary monthly party, held at the 121 Centre in Railton Road, Brixton during the mid 90's that combined all night techno...
Published 10/18/23
80's Countercultural Explorations in Basel and London
For the eleventh episode of "Tales From A Disappearing City," I am joined by my long-time friend, Christoph Fringeli, who runs Praxis Records and produces Datacide magazine. Christoph started Praxis in 1992, and since then, he has released a constant stream of cutting-edge experimental music that spans across all genres of electronica. The tunes he creates and releases can be described as harsh and abrasive but are designed to be played...
Published 09/20/23
For the tenth episode of "Tales From A Disappearing City," I am once again joined by Ben McCusker, a member of the Dead Silence Syndicate and co-founder of Audio Illusion Recordings. In the second part of our conversation, we delve into the discussion of how, following several parties in the woods and commons of Surrey, and with winter approaching, the Fear Teachers sound system transitioned indoors, initiating a series of notorious and musically eclectic all-night events at various illegal...
Published 08/23/23
For the ninth episode of Tales From A Disappearing City I am joined by Ben McCusker, member of the Dead Silence Syndicate and co founder of Audio Illusion Recordings. We first met in the 90's at an illegal warehouse party and have been good friends ever since. In this episode we discuss Ben's early music influences including attending with his brother and his mum, the legendary UK Fresh event at Wembley Arena in 1986. This was a showcase for all the underground Electro and rap music that...
Published 08/02/23
For the eighth episode of Tales From A Disappearing City I am joined by my old mate Simon Brown aka The Dexorcist. We first met at an illegal rave in the mid 90's and instantly bonded over our love of old school electro, acid house and rave culture. In this episode we discuss Simon's formative music years, growing up in Shepperton, listening to jazz funk before discovering electro and the importance of Our Price Records in his musical journey. We take in some Surrey balearic nights and also...
Published 07/12/23
For the seventh episode of Tales From A Disappearing City I am joined again by
Neil who produces a couple of respected blogs that have consistently documented all aspects of what we cover on TFADC. "Transpontine" features all things subcultural from the South side of the river whilst "History is Made at Night" turns it's attention to the after hours. In this episode we discuss Neil's move from Luton to the London squat scene in 1987, his subsequent experiences dancing all night during the...
Published 06/21/23
For the sixth episode of Tales From A Disappearing City I am joined by
Neil who produces a couple of highly respected and long running blogs that have consistently documented all aspects of what we cover on TFADC and so it was essential to touch base and hear some stories and history. "Transpontine" covers all things subcultural from the South side of the river whilst "History is Made at Night" turns it's attention to the after hours. I first met Neil at the Dead by Dawn night in the 90's in...
Published 06/07/23
For the fifth episode of Tales From A Disappearing City I am joined once again by my good friend Howard Slater aka Flint Michigan. I first met Howard in the mid 90's at Dead by Dawn which was a legendary monthly party that took place at the 121 squatted art and community Centre in Railton Road, Brixton. In this episode we discuss TechNet, his collaboration with Jason Skeet that produced a series of essential written communiques from the frontline of 90's subculture. We then talk about his...
Published 05/17/23
For the fourth episode of Tales From A Disappearing City I am joined by my good friend Howard Slater aka Flint Michigan. I first met Howard in the mid 90's at Dead by Dawn which was a legendary monthly party that took place at the 121 squatted art and community Centre in Railton Road, Brixton. Howard has written extensively about his experiences within various strands of subculture in a wide variety of underground magazines. This journey began with his early love of independent labels such...
Published 05/03/23
For the third episode of Tales From A Disappearing City I am joined once more by my good friend Ian aka Blackmass Plastics. This is the final part of our recent chat. We talk about how free parties and festivals joined with the emerging rave movement in the 90's in the UK as well as the rise of a wide variety of autonomous sound systems. We also discuss how a network of events across Europe and beyond allowed the promotion of underground music through a DIY scene reminiscent of punk in the...
Published 04/18/23
For this second episode of Tales From A Disappearing City I am joined again by my good friend Ian aka Blackmass Plastics to discuss our memories of 90's record shops as well as key parties and raves. This is part two of our chat and we start in the early 1990's and finish as free parties and alternative underground ways of distributing music start to become more important. We discuss influential clubs such as Pyramid, Club Dog, Knowledge and AWOL as well legendary DJ's such as Colin Favor and...
Published 04/04/23
For this first episode of Tales From A Disappearing City I am joined by my good friend Ian aka Blackmass Plastics to discuss our early memories of buying vinyl and visiting record shops. This is part one of our chat and we start in the 1970's and finish as the 1990's begin. We discuss the importance of Woolworths and WH Smiths as well as topics such as did Metal Mickey invent techno and electro. We also discuss the early electro and jazz funk scene in South London and the importance of...
Published 03/19/23