R.I.P. Michael Jackson – Still the One
Say what you want about MJ, but there is still only one. RESPECT from the Northside Crew.
RIP and Rock With You.
Soul-a-Go-Go returns! Blow your (my) own whistle!
Saturday 4th July – PBS FM presents Soul-a-Go-Go. This time around it’s gonna be MASSIVE! Special guests include KATALYST (Sydney based hip-hop, soul and funk heavyweight), soul brother JIM DANDY, the very well dressed ANDREW YOUNG, and Northside Records hype-controller MISTAREX (me! blow, blow, blow that whistle!). Katalyst will be smashing it upstairs in the funk-room with funk heavyweights MISS GOLDIE and DJ MANCHILD, whilst downstairs in the soul-room local legends VINCE ‘THE PRINCE’ PEACH (PBS Soul-Time) and PIERRE BARONI (soulgroove’66) will join Jim and Andrew to complete the full-frontal vinyl attack. Expect tunes with a 4th of July flavour and a loud and proud celebration of INDEPENDENCE (PBS-FM!!!).
On a personal note - I’ll be doing everything in my power to induce injuries on the dancefloor – backs, ankles, knees, hips and souls are all in my sights. Sensible shoes are a must! Don’t forget to limber-up before you get down. As one of my record sleeves says - “if your influences include Parliment, Stevie Wonder or be-bop, you need not apply. When it comes to gettin’ down, James Brown is the ground” (Gabriel Roth)
Soul-a-Go-Go is fast achieving a reputation as Melbourne’s (and Australia’s) premier soul and funk night, so if you haven’t been to THE LAUNDRY on the first Saturday of the month - it’s high time you put on your dancing shoes and hit the floor for a night of hot, heavy and sweaty soul and funk action. Get in early to avoid waiting in the cold. Dancers only – No wallflowers please.
While I have your attention - check out what Katalyst is up to.
SPACE INVADAS (Katalyst + Steve Spacek) It’s soul!
QUAKERS (Katalyst, Fuzzface & 7Stu7) It’s hip hop!
KATALYST It’s even a Jack Johnson remix!
Afro/Reggae/Soca Drop
Posted by Rex in Fresh stock, In the crates on June 21st, 2009
Fresh batch of second-hand just out. Afro disco - Afro funk - Soca - High Life disco - reggae and more. All in as-new condition. The highlight of the stash is a super rare Horace Andy 12″ - Get Down on Rough Trade.
Check the Rare and Hard-to-find pages of this site - or click here
Behind The Beat - Last Copies (no more reprints)
Posted by Rex in Fresh stock, News on June 12th, 2009
Word on the street is that Behind the Beat will not be reprinted. Almost 50,000 copies on – the publishers of Raph Rashid’s fine ‘Hip Hop Home Studio Book’ have decided not to proceed with a fourth edition of this essential document. Northside has a limited number of Edition 3 – featuring Volume 2 of the Behind The Beat mix CD (mixed by DJ Ransom). If you don’t have a copy of this book yet, you better act fast because you’ll never see it again. Featuring producers such as DJ Premier, Madlib, J Dilla, DJ Spinna, Skitz, The Nextmen, Taskforce, DJ Swamp, E- Swift, Beyond There, Kutmasta Kurt, Fat Jack, J Dilla, deNorthwode, Jehst, Da Beatminerz, E-Swift, DJ Shadow, DJ Design, Dan the Automator, Chief XCel, Young Einstein, Nu-mark, Cut Chemist, Thes One, J-Zone and Mario Caldato Jnr.
It’s worth noting that this was J Dilla’s last photo session before his untimely passing. The book is worth having for the Dilla pages alone! It’s the only chance you’ll get to see inside Pay-J studios and get some insights into that unique Jay Dee sound
The good news is that Volume 2 is coming! Raph is currently in Detroit shooting new studios and hooking up with all the big names who didn’t or couldn’t make the first book. Some of the producers involved in the new book are Lord Finesse, Oh No, Sa-Ra and Wajeed. DON’T SLEEP.
OVERVIEW: This book is an open invitation to step into the private world of the hip hop home studio and discover it’s inner workings. Featured are the studios and equipment of some of the most influential music creators working today. The revealing photographs found within the pages of Behind the Beat expose the creative spaces of top DJ’s and music producers from the UK, US and Australia.
Photos by Raph (aka Raph ‘Le Bump’ Boogie), layout & design by Rex, contributions for Phil Ransom and Khalil Hegarty. Melbourne worldwide!
264mm x 264mm Hardcover. 160 pages. Full Colour. Published by Gingko Press. Currently in 3rd (and final) print. $65.00 AU.
Collectable OZ + NZ Jazz Funk
Posted by Rex in In the crates on May 21st, 2009
DIGGIN’ UP YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Since Northside’s inception, one of our specialties has been Australian and NZ funk. We constantly have a comprehensive selection of some of the most sought after LPs from around Australia and New Zealand, along with the occassional OZ/NZ funk 45. The selection features seminal Australian jazz artists such as Brian Brown, Judy Bailey, Allan Lee, Col Nolan, George Golla, Bruce Clarke, John Sangster and more. Plus, there is a tasty selection of funk from the likes of Quincy Conserve, Daly Wilson Big Band, Galapagos Duck, Hot City Bump Band — and of course Melbourne’s own Bamboos and Cookin’ on 3 Burners.
If you’re familiar with compilations such as Respect Overdue and Heading in the Right Direction (Topper!) then you’ll know that there is some incredible music to be found right here in Melbourne and all over Australia — and the well hasn’t dried up yet… Come down and browse the selection for a taste of what’s on offer.
Here’s a mixtape selection of Oz Funk & shiz that one of our friends put together. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks we’ll enable audio downloads from the Northside site so you will be able to download this mix, and hopefully many more DJ mixes from the Northside Friends & Family Collective. Stay tuned.
SURE BE NICE TO MAKE SOME MONEY (MIXTAPE)
- METAPHYSICAL BREAK: PETER O’MARA
- INTERLUDE: MESSAGE FROM THE REBELS
- 3500: TODAY THIS WAY
- SURVIVOR: RON BARRY EXPRESS
- WORLD IS A GHETTO: ALAN LEE QUINTET
- WORK SONG: THE DYNAMIC JUNE SMITH
- THE GHETTO: SKYLIGHT
- BACK ON THE STREETS AGAIN: BILLY THORPE
- LOVE IS FOREVER: JEFF ST. JOHN
- BRAND NEW BAG: THE ID
- ODE TO BILLIE JOE: MARGARET ROADKNIGHT
- ALL RIGHT IN THE CITY: QUINCY CONSERVE
- IT’S JUST BEGUN: HOT CITY BUMP BAND
- MOVE ON UP: QUINCY CONSERVE
- MAXIMUM LOAD: MAXIMUM LOAD (aka JUNE SMITH)
- THEM CHANGES: RENEE
- DJERBA: BRUCE CLARKE
- I FEEL GOOD: THE QUINCY CONSERVE
- SPINNING WHEEL: WILLPOWER
- ONLY TIME WILL TELL: JEANNIE LEWIS
- ESPY SOUL STEW: DIANNA KISS
Audio download not yet available. Watch this space.
Funk 45 of the Month
Posted by Rex in Funk 45 of the Month, Recent releases on May 17th, 2009
FUNK 45 MAY 2009
HERE WE GO with what we’ll endeavour to make a monthly feature — Funk 45 of the Month + Record of the month, showcasing some of the finer new releases that are on offer at Northside. It’s been difficult to keep it to just one selection for the best 45 of the Month - so instead we offer two smokin’ hot local releases. Northside … worldwide baby !!
NATURAL RHYTHM “Salted Popcorn / Lets Groove Some Mo” (Jaycees)
WOW!! superfunky!! Maybe (definitely!) the BEST release yet from local funk label Jaycees headed by the deepest digger down under, John Idem. Natural Rhythm is a band that reside in Northern Territory, and have members from Birdwave. These tracks are vamping hammond beasts. Both sides are dancefloor numbers. Also there are messages for you in the deadwax. Look closely, they mean business!!! Local! (Chris).
Salted Popcorn aka. Dikalo — it’s a cover of Manu Dibango classic. The band hits a Meter-esque groove on this tune — the searing horns featured heavily in the original are replaced by the organ, making this version a little less intimidating than the Manu Dibango release. The flip (a-side) features nice wah-wah guitar and hammond - in the style of Speedometer or JTQ. The recording/pressing quality is far superior to previous releases making this a heavy contender for 45 of the month. Don’t sleep. (R)
CHANTAL MITVALSKY / THE PUTBACKS “Friend or Foe / Diamond Cutter” (Hope Street)
WOWWWW!!! More fresh local funk. “This is a great time for local produce”……says funk farmer Chris…..”our global footprint is shrinking…in a funky way.” If you’ve ever been to a big party in Brunswick…this is where you want to be. Hope Street, local producer Bob Nob, brings the goodness!! Funky female vocal on one side and smoking funk instrumental on the flip. Support our local musos people….they bring the love for you - on wax. Essential!! (Chris)
The Putbacks elevate this release to “45 of the Month” status. Diamond Cutter is fresh — it’s cheesy enough to make white people dance but it’s not cheesy at all… it’s got the same kinda swinging feel as Tighten Up or Razor Blade, but still grooves hard like a JB/Pee Wee Ellis 45. Party starter! CAUTION: May induce white man’s overbite! (R)
Get the down low. myspace.com/theputbacks
Record of the Month
Posted by Rex in Fresh stock, Record of the Month on May 17th, 2009
MAY 2009
EL MICHELS AFFAIR
“Walk On By” A Tribute To Black Moses (t&s)
Rarely does a record come along that leaves you begging for more — but here is one of those; El Michels Affair “Tribute To Black Moses” is essential listening for anyone who appreciates good music.
CHRIS SAID: “This is like silk…..I have listened to this on repeat since I got it a few hours ago. The El Michels affair are an amazing Brooklyn band who are at the top of the tree when it comes to new soul bands. They had done a cover of Walk on By a long time ago for Ubiquity Records, but since Isaac died this year, this tribute is fitting respect paid. This is right up there with the Menahan Street Band record…“
We’re having trouble keeping up with the demand on this record — so if you ain’t got yours, you better get it. CD also available
COMING SOON:
EL MICHELS AFFAIR
“Enter The 37th Chamber” Music Inspired By The Wu Tang (t&s)
We’ve ordered a whole crate of the upcoming El Michels Affair “Enter The 37th Chamber” Music inspired by the Wu Tang. If you’ve heard the 7 inch releases of CREAM, GLACIERS OF ICE, DUEL OF THE IRON MIC etc you know what this is all about. We expect this to be every bit as good (dope) as the Black Moses Tribute. Embrace the irony of listening to the recording of the live studio band replaying the digitally produced hip hop instrumentals, which of course came from samples of musicians and orchestras playing and recording music for records! You’ve gotta ask — who will be the first to sample this and make a hip hop beat. Shipment arriving any day now.
Check out more on the El Michels Affair at the Truth & Soul website — cop a listen + check the word on Quincy Bright, The Olympians and The Phenomenal Handclap Band.
truthandsoulrecords.com
Gotta get me one of those internets…
It’s true — it’s about time!
Northside Records has stepped up the pace with the launch of our new site and blog. All the news you want about new releases, upcoming gigs, all the new second-hand stock plus some nice stuff to look at. Thanks for stopping by to check it out, and don’t forget to check back again soon as the content and archives begin to swell with everything about and on-the-one.
Northside - worldwide baby!
who knows - with all this action the much talked about Northside T-Shirt could materialise. Hold tight — more on T-shirts coming soon. Keep on diggin’ …
45 Dink T-shirt NORTHSIDE CONCEPT © Blisterfinger 2009.
Square Deal — Now at Order of Melbourne
SATURDAY MAY 16 - ORDER OF MELBOURNE
PBS PRESENTS SQUARE DEAL
Featuring the funkiest man alive…
This Saturday night Chris Gill gets ill with the heavy 45 heads. Spinning the rarest, dopest, funkiest shiz known to man. Deep funk and super hard hitting soul on 45’s only. ORIGINAL 45’s ONLY!
Also on the mix will be Callum Flack, the DJ and Collector behind the Northside Destruction Mix CD. You can witness Callum dropping Carleen & The Groovers and all the other stupidly rare and heavy joints. Miss Goldie and Skinny Brad will busting out all the goodness and super badness. Get your dancing shoes on , get in early - don’t miss a single tune.
Cookin’ on 3 Burners
Thanks to everyone who came out to support independent record stores across Australia. Northside was lucky enough to have CO3B in the store — previewing a couple of new tunes along with dusting off a couple of our favourites.
