Known for his eclectic party vibes, hopping between soul, funk, hip hop, jazz and reggae, Manchester’s Mr Scruff, is one of the UK’s best loved selectors. His distinct releases over the years have graced top labels such as Warp, Sirkus, Disorient, Blood & Fire, Cup Of Tea and, of course, Ninja Tune. He has remixed Nightmares On Wax and Bim Sherman and has worked with Mark Rae, among many others during his long and successful career. As his new remix of Manjeet Kondal’s proto-house banger ‘Ishkaan De Mamle’ drops on ‘Bhangra House Xtc’ on Naya Beat Records, DMCWorld goes Back To Mine with the legendary Mr Scruff.
Johnny Hammond – Gears
Simply one of the best albums ever made. Prolific keyboard player Johnny Smith released his first album in 1958, and this album is from 1975. Amazing band, Mizell Bros on production, and just a soulful, spacey delight. I have picked ‘Can’t We Smile’, but any of the 6 tracks would be a perfect choice.
Hariprasad Chaurasia – Shrishti
20 minute masterpiece for the early hours. Shrishti is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘To Create’. Flautist Hariprasad plays over a synthesiser drone rather than the traditional harmonium. A strummed guitar steps in and establishes the rhythm. It gets really interesting in the 3rd section, where a tickly drum machine and 303 style bassline set the scene, and the guitar is joined by tablas.
S.C. Sharma – Dance Music II
Incredible early electronic music from the late ’60’s/early ‘70s on the NID Tapes: Electronic Music from India 1969 – 1972 compilation that was released last year. This one sounds like a lo-fi, bubbling, stargazing Terrence Parker tune, but predates the genesis of what we know as Detroit Techno by at least 10 years. Way ahead of its time, and one for the early hours when things get a bit fuzzy.
Creation Rebel – Starship Africa
Staying with the late night space theme, this classic Adrian Sherwood-produced album was my introduction to On-U Sound in the 1980s. Weightless, slo-mo steppers with reverse effects and bold, imaginative mixing makes for an incredible piece of work; more of a suite than an album.
Stetsasonic – Talkin’ All That Jazz (Chad Jackson mix)
I remember buying this from a French record store in August 1988. I was 16 at the time, and the record was expensive (£30 for a 3 record set, and I only wanted one track) and I remember being very nervous when coming back through customs, as these DMC records were member only releases, and not for general sale. Anyway, french customs officers had more important things to do than worry about 16 year old bedroom DJs with DMC LPs. Chad Jackson was quite a hero in Manchester when I was younger (I remember him on Blue Peter in 1987) and his mixes were often played by Stu Allan on his Piccadilly radio shows. This is a really solid rework of the Stetsasonic classic.
Sheila Chandra – The Struggle
Classic tune from the legendary Sheila Chandra. Otherworldy, floaty angular. I love the composition, voice and production, really bold and individual. Sway of the Verses did a great interview with Sheila recently for his NTS Show.
Amar Singh Chamkila & Surinder Sonia – Kurti Satrang Di
Probably my favourite old school Panjabi tune. Amar Singh Chamkila is a legend, and usually duetted with Amarjyot, but I love Surinder Sonia’s voice and percussive phrasing on this tune, and the way she sticks to the rhythm like glue. There have been many remixes of this too, but for me the raw original is as hypnotic and insistent as a JBs tune.
The JBs – Blessed Blackness
‘Food for Thought’ by the JBs, another of those LPs that is amazing all the way through. I bought mine from Double 4 Records in Stockport back in 1988. There are some big club classics on there (Pass the Peas, Give Me Some More etc) but this one is a tune of 2 halves.. mega soulful and gentle first-half riding on a mellow popcorn rhythm, and suddenly Fred Wesley steps up, the drums double up and it becomes almost like a funky jazz dance tune that keeps building.
Abacus – Relics One
Austin Bascomb’s first release from 1994 on Prescription. The whole 4 track EP is a woozy, late night delight that really sounded quite unique at the time, and sounds just as good 30 years later.
Sélène Saint-Aimé – Akayé
Contrabassist Sélène’s 2nd album, ‘Potomitan’, was one of my favourite albums of 2022. This is an album that I have played from start to finish many times, and it gets better with every listen. I could try and describe the music, but it is far better if you close your eyes and listen.
‘Bhangra House Xtc EP’ is out now on Naya Beat.
