Pressure

Released originally in 2003 on Richard 'AFX' James Rephlex label(Subsequently licensed to Kid 606 TIgerbeat6 and Austria's Klein label), 'PRESSURE' was recorded/mixed in North West London, at a time i was obsessed with frequenting black wax 7" reggae emporiums in Notting Hill/Harlesden/Wembley/Stonebridge Park etc, in the eternal quest to keep track of the maddest riddims being transmitted from Jamaica's explosive dancehall reggae arena. Having been irresistibly stung by Steely & Clevie's 'Streetsweeper Riddim' and the incendiary verses of Burro Banton/Capleton etc riding that beat, i would become infatuated by the bionic gyrations of ragga rhythms. At that time i was hangin with DJ Scud, and he was the only friend i had, who was equally enchanted by the fearsome bashment barrages flying out of Ja. The island was nonchalently spitting the most futuristic music, as succesive future shocks hit me weekly on import, with each new batch of wtf riddims. Made in the bedroom of a tiny house in Alperton, referencing on my cheap Tannoy home speakers, with the cheapest Mackie Desk and an EMU 64 sampler, i barely had a clue what i was doing technically, but knew i wanted to engineer a collision of electronic brutality/density to match the intense lyricism of the finest Jamaican/Carib vocalists. It was mad to me that later on, the likes of Grace Jones, Thom Yorke and Massive Attack, amongst others, would step up and praise tracks from this album, when at the time it seemed like barely anyone gave a f-ck commercially. In tryin to forge my own original path, i had no real clue if the music would resonate with anyone at all. I just knew i was compelled to try and originate a culture clash that i couldnt find anywhere else... Sound system reggae parties by the likes of Shaka/Aba-Shanti had re-arranged my dna, Rhythm & Sound had shown me that you could pay homage to genius, by doing it respectfully your way, and not copying/pasting another culture. The aim was to find my voice, and generate a style that would move bodies and minds without compromise, freshly... The Rootsman, Ann Marie Shields Grant/Richard Rephlex, were all crucial in making this album happen. And especially the singers/mcs and poet who adorn this album, i thank you deeply... And major props to Dave Cochrane who did the graphics amidst suggestions and interference from me over his shoulder continuously...lol (PS I decided to include the Aktion Pak/Gun Disease singles here, as they were very much part of my aesthetic from that time... 'Fuck Version' was included instead of 'Fuck Yerself' to avoid false accusations..The album also includes 'Riddim to your soul', a previously unreleased song from the album sessions on the 'Thief of dreams' beat)) Bug photo c/o Caroline Lessire