Mashibeats
I spent most of the day yesterday in Manchester’s Australasia bar and restaurant, spinning on the new Emulator DJ screen with the resident DJs from the venue.
It was great to catch up with Liverpool DJ Anthony Gaskell and remember the heady days of the Annexe, Cream’s gone but not forgotten back room. (I mentioned this influential weekly session earlier this year.)
We both recalled listening to Yousef every week and having no idea where he was finding his records. These were the days before the musical immediacy provided by the internet! I can still remember the hours I spent and the frustration I felt in 3 Beat Records and HMV – knowing the sound I was looking for but unable to find the tunes that gave me those goosebumps every Saturday night.
We also talked about consistently brilliant producers and Anthony mentioned the staggering talent of New Zealand’s Mark de Clive-Lowe.
When I got home, I checked into my Soundcloud page and noticed an incoming track from MdCL, a live mix recorded at The EndUp in San Francisco this year:
I was falling asleep listening, but for the first time since Cream I couldn’t believe my ears – where was he finding these tunes?! Track after track of the most beautiful, soulful vibes. This mix is something special. I’ve just listened through again and, yes, it really is that good. I hardly recognised a thing so I really hope that he posts a track list soon.
I’ve been checking out some more mashibeats, and came across this recently uploaded recording at the Jazz Cafe in 2007. It’s from the monthly Freesoul Sessions hosted by MdCL when he lived in London, a club night of live improvised jazz-meets-electronics with a rotating cast of musicians and vocalists.
Mark de Clive-Lowe
The line up for this session was:
MdCL – MPC3000, Rhodes, piano, synth bass, FX
Richard Spaven – Drums
Byron Wallen – Trumpet
Vanessa Freeman – Vocals
Bembe Segue – Vocals
