Author Archives: Phil

When Big Joan Sets Up 19th December – Reality Bites

This week tracks from the sort of not really but might be kinda new LP from roots reggae legends Capital Letters, new tracks from returning heroes Phillip Roebuck, Guitar Wolf,and Ballboy and we cave in to populism by playing a Christmas record from Nick Lowe‘s festive offering “Quality Street” which is as much of an object lesson in how to make a 21st century Christmas LP and still keep your reputation intact, as Bob Dylan’s was a cautionary tale. Just ‘cos it’s Christmas it doesn’t mean you have to turn into a grinning, tinsel festooned dick,kids.

Phillip Roebuck – “Lay Me Down” (LP – “The Alpine Butterly”) (Manual)
Guitar Wolf – “Saphire City” (LP – “Beast Vibrator”) (Sony)
Serial Killaz – “In Your Eyes” (Download) (Serial Killaz)
The Fall – “The Remainderer” (EP – “The Remainderer”) (Cherry Red)
Miximatosis – “You Look Divorced” (V/A LP – “Defenders of the Noise – A Tribute to Anal Cunt”) (Neurotic Anger and others)
Nick Lowe – “Children,Go Where I Send Thee” (LP – “Quality Street”) (Yep Rock)
IVVVO – “Night Forest” (EP – “Light Moving”) (Fourth Wave)
Elijah Brown – “Windin’ Ball” (V/A LP – “Which Way Does The Blood Red River Flow?”) (Mississippi)
Ballboy – “Pray For Murderers” (EP – “Merry Christmas To The Drunks,Merry Christmas To The Lovers”) (Bandcamp)
Capital Letters – “Reality” (LP – “Reality”) (Reggae Archive)
Capital Letters – “Smoking My Ganjah – Oldwah Mix” (LP – “Reality”) (Reggae Archive)
Capital Letters – “This Is Club Dance” (LP – “Reality”) (Reggae Archive)
Toy – “It’s Been So Long” (LP – “Join The Dots”) (Heavenly)
The Entrance Band – “No Needs” (LP – “Face The Sun”) (Beyond Beyond Is Beyond)
Sc@r – “Hardcore Power – Luna C Remix” (Download) (Scarred Digital)
The Scientist and Ted Sirota’s Heavyweight Dub feat. Paul Mabin – “The Struggle” (LP – The Scientist Meets Ted Sirota’s Heavyweight Dub”) (Liberated Zone)

When Big Joan Sets Up 12th December – Spring Forward – The Fall are Back!

This week, three tracks from the gods that men call The Fall and their new EP “The Remainderer” More tracks were planned but more important things took precedence…

Tabu Ley Rochereau and M’Bilia Bel feat. L’Orchestra Afrisa – “Sisi Mandela” (LP – “Nelson Mandela”) (TCK)
Pinch and Sherwood – “Music Killer” (12″) (On-U-Sound)
Kabaka Pyramid – “No Cliché” (LP – “Lead The Way”) (Bebble Rock)
Josephine Foster – “This Is Where The Dreams Head,Maude” (LP – “I’m A Dreamer”) (Fire)
AGF – “The Generations 1” (LP -“Kuuntele”) (AGF Productions)
Throat – “New Pest” (LP – “Manhole”) (Kaos Kontrol/At War With False Noise/Made In Kansas/Rejuvination Records)
Alphatec 5 and Corevax – “Music Please” (Download EP – “Stupid Commando”) (Smiley Tunes Digital)
The Fall – “Amorator!” (EP – “The Remainderer”) (Cherry Red)
The Fall – “Mister Rode” (EP – “The Remainderer”) (Cherry Red)
The Fall – “Remembrance R” (EP – “The Remainderer”) (Cherry Red)
Lord Buckley – “Subconcious Mind” (LP – “Buckley’s Best Live”) (Liberty)
Visionist – “Secrets” (12″) (RAMP Recordings)
Macka B – “Proud of Mandela” (LP – “Natural Suntan”) (Ariwa)

When Big Joan Sets Up 5th December – Camber Angle

Songs and stories from the final (for now) ATP Festival at Camber Sands plus three from the excellent Sleaford Mods LP “Austerity Dogs” and the greatest record The Fall never made.

Althea and Donna – “Loco Negril” (V/A LP – “Roaring Lion – 16 Untamed Black Ark Masters and Dubplates”) (Pressure Sounds)
Thoughtforms – “Only Hollow” (LP – “Ghost Mountain”) (Invada)
James The Fang and Serious Sam Barrett – “Birmingham Jail” (LP – “North Country Steed”) (YaDig)
Sleaford Mods – “McFlurry” (LP – “Austerity Dogs”) (Self Released)
Dom and Roland – “Unofficial Jah” (12″) (Metalheadz)
Eaux – “Hold On” (EP “i”) (Morning Ritual)
The Container Drivers – “The Ex-Members Of The Fall Club” (V/A LP – “Perverted By Mark E”) (ZickZack)
Esper Scout – “Wallet Of Brass Crowns” (EP – “Poet Curses”) (Self Released)
Sleaford Mods – “Shitstreet” (LP – “Austerity Dogs”) (Self Released)
Junior Murvin – “I Was Appointed” (LP – “Police and Thieves”) (Island)
Dawn Hunger – “Billowed Wind” (12″) (Mourning Joy)
Mary Schneider – “Post Horn Gallop Yodel” (LP – “Yodelling The Classics Volume 2”) (Koch)
Sleaford Mods – “Don’t Wanna Disco Or 2” (LP – “Austerity Dogs”) (Self Released)
J:Kenzo – “TVR” (12″) (Tempa)

When Big Joan Sets Up 28th November – Magik,Our Maurice

And with that nod to devotees of ancient YTV sitcoms, we launch once again into another hour of purifying racket featuring three from “Surrender To The Fantasy” the new LP by Magik Markers. Next week, Thora Hird says “Billy!,That’s my best jelly mould!” to Christopher Beeny as your humble DJ once again fails to get out more.

The FLK – “Red Herring” (Download EP – “The Folk Law”) (Self Released)
Mary Schneider – “Yodel and Waltz” (LP – “Yodelling The Classics”) (Koch)
The KVB – “Kill The Lights” (LP – “Minus One”) (A)
Mark Pritchard – “Make A Livin'” (EP – “Make A Livin’) (Warp)
20th Century Steel Band – “Heaven and Hell is on Earth” (LP – “Warm Heart, Cold Steel”) (Island)
Pyorrhea – “Sodomy” (LP – “I Am The War”) (Self Released)
Warrior King – “Redemption Come” (V/A LP – “Colonial War Riddim”) (Rastar)
Gardland – “Nothing But Not Zero” (LP – “Syndrome Syndrome”) (Rvng Intl)
Magik Markers – “Crebs” (LP – “Surrender To The Fantasy”) (Drag City)
Magik Markers – “Bonfire” (LP – “Surrender To The Fantasy”) (Drag City)
Magik Markers – “American Sphinx Face” (LP – “Surrender To The Fantasy”) (Drag City)
Mandy Rice-Davies – “Close Your Eyes” (V/A LP – “It’s A Scandal! – Songs For Soho Blondes”) (Fantastic Voyage)
Macka B – “Black Security” (7″) (Ariwa Japan)
Apocalypse Meow – “Bats!,Bats!,Bats!,Bats!” (Download LP – “Rad Girlfriend Records Compilation II”) (Rad Girlfriend)
Hitori Tori – “Kappatan” (EP – “Stop Self Checking”) (Peace Off)
Scott Brown – “Stylin’ (12”) (Evolution)

When Big Joan Sets Up 21st November – Ted Who?

A double header of featured LP’s on this week’s programme. Three from Luciano‘s new one and just over a third of our running time gratefully given up for a 23 and a half minute cascade of six stringed aceness from Cian Nugent and the Cosmos. But starting us off this week the undoubted single of this (or any other) year…

Girl One and The Grease Guns – “(Here Come The) Catastrophe Machines” (7″) (Squirrel)
The Reveliers – “Patch” (V/A LP – “Long Lost Honkers and Twangers”) (Ace)
Laurel Halo – “Thrax” (LP – “Chance of Rain”) (Hyperdub)
Mary Schneider – “Yodelling Overtures” (LP – “Yodelling The Classics”) (Koch)
Luciano – “Don’t Sell Out” (LP – “The Qabalah Man”) (AL.TA.FA.AN)
Luciano – “Weapons Of War” (LP – “The Qabalah Man”) (AL.TA.FA.AN)
Luciano feat U-Roy and Ziggi Ricardo – “Organize” (LP – “The Qabalah Man”) (AL.TA.FA.AN)
Cian Nugent and The Cosmos – “Houses of Parliament” (LP “Born with the Caul”) (No Quarter)
Ital Tek – “Jupiter Ascent” (EP – “Control”) (Planet Mu)

When Big Joan Sets Up 14th Nov. – Have You Met Lydia?

This week’s selection of boss tunage featured the new EP from the majestic Lydia Loveless.

Gunslingers – “Massacre Rock Deviant Inquisitors Part II” (12″) (Riot Season)
Lydia Loveless – “Boy Crazy” (EP – “Boy Crazy”) (Bloodshot)
Arovane – “Gaed Ventr” (LP – “Ve Palor”) (n5MD)
Beenie Man – “Dance Wah Cork Up” (download single) (King Sturrige)
Le Grand Kallé – “Table Ronde” (LP – “His Life,His Music”) (Sterns)
Bikini Kill – “Suck My Left One” (EP – “Bikini Kill”) (Kill Rock Stars)
The Julie Ruin – “Right Home” (LP – “Run Fast”) (Discord/TJR)
Lydia Loveless – “Lovers Spat” (EP – “Boy Crazy”) (Bloodshot)
Misty Conditions – “Demonoid” (LP – “D’zzzz”) (Planet Mu)
Linval Thomson and the Revolutionaries – “Morning Dub” (LP – “Boss Man’s Dub – The Lost 1979 Dub Album”) (Hot Milk)
DJ Format and Phil Most Chill – “Get Busy Music” (LP – “The Foremost”) (Project Blue Book)
No – “Perpective Helps” (LP – “The Great Space”) (Static Shock)
Bent Shapes – “What Do You Get?” (LP – “Feels Weird”) (Father/Daughter)
Buzzcocks – “What Do I Get?” (7″) (United Artists)
Lydia Loveless – “All I Know” (EP – “Boy Crazy”)
Ø (Phase) – “Misaligned” (LP – “Frames Of Reference’) (Token/N.E.W.S.)

When Big Joan Sets Up 7th November – Yippee I Yo

This weeks litany of loveliness included classic songs of the old west reinterpreted by psychedelic country adventurers Spindrift from their new LP “Ghost Of The West” and a host of other belters that would leave the cloth-eared Mercury Music Prize judges even more bewildered and confused than they already are.

Gesaffelstein – “Pursuit” (LP – “Aleph”) (Parlophone)
Mutation feat Mark E Smith – “Relentless Conviction” (LP – “Error 500”) (Ipecac)
The Fall – “Leave The Capitol” (LP – “13 Killers”) (Secret)
Special Request – “Soundboy Killer” (LP – “Soul Music”) (Houndstooth)
Mad Professor – “Deliverance Dub” (download single) (Ariwa Japan)
Swearin’ – “Echo Locate” (LP – “Surfing Strange”) (Witchita)
Fold feat Mr Gee – “Passing Strangers” (EP – “Salvation”) (Seth Mowshowitz)
Spindrift – “Blood On The Saddle” (LP – “Ghost Of The West”) (TeePee)
Spindrift – “Navajo Trail” (LP – “Ghost Of The West”) (TeePee)
Spindrift – “Ghost Riders In The Sky” (LP – “Ghost Of The West”) (TeePee)
Cern feat Receptor – “Formless” (EP – “Nostromo”) (Renagade Hardware)
Lightnin’ Hopkins – “Bottle Up And Go” (4CD Set – “The Acoustic Years 1959-1960”) (JSP)
Gunslingers – “Massacre Rock Deviant Inquisitors – Part 1″ (12”) (Riot Season)

When Big Joan Sets Up 31st October – Pay No More Than £2.99

This week WBJSU brought you national treasure Billy Bragg live at The Union Chapel in that London in June this year running through the whole of his first LP “Life’s A Riot With Spy Vs. Spy” in it’s 30th Anniversary year. A record which told my 12 year old brain more about socialism, love and justice in 18 minutes than a million Russell Brands wanking on on Newsnight.

Stop Press: Robbie Williams says “The War in Syria is bad and they should stop it” Twitter explodes with calls for him to be made Foreign Secretary.

Lumpy and The Dumpers – “Sex Pit” (7″) (Muckracker)
Hard Toch – “Rolling,Rolling,Rolling (Download EP – “GGM Digital 46”) (GGM Digital)
The Naturalites – “Picture On The Wall” (LP – “Picture On The Wall”) (CSA)
Thomas Grinder – “Living Dead In Poznan” (EP – “Late Train”) (Symbiosis Trax)
Whore Paint – “Trigger” (LP – “Swallow My Bones”) (Load)
Roy Rogers – “A Four Legged Friend” (LP – “30 Greatest Cowboy Songs”) (Vintage Masters Inc)
Billy Bragg – “Lovers Town Revisited – Live At The Union Chapel” (LP -“Life’s A Riot with Spy vs.Spy – 30th Anniversary Edition”) (Cooking Vinyl)
Billy Bragg – “To Have And Have Not – Live At The Union Chapel” (LP -“Life’s A Riot with Spy vs.Spy – 30th Anniversary Edition”) (Cooking Vinyl)
Billy Bragg – “The Busy Girl Buys Beauty – Live At The Union Chapel” (LP -“Life’s A Riot with Spy vs.Spy – 30th Anniversary Edition”) (Cooking Vinyl)
Billy Bragg – “The Man In The Iron Mask – Live At The Union Chapel” (LP -“Life’s A Riot with Spy vs.Spy – 30th Anniversary Edition”) (Cooking Vinyl)
Billy Bragg – “Richard – Live At The Union Chapel” (LP -“Life’s A Riot with Spy vs.Spy – 30th Anniversary Edition”) (Cooking Vinyl)
Billy Bragg – “The Milkman Of Human Kindness – Live At The Union Chapel” (LP -“Life’s A Riot with Spy vs.Spy – 30th Anniversary Edition”) (Cooking Vinyl)
Billy Bragg – “A New England – Live At The Union Chapel” (LP -“Life’s A Riot with Spy vs.Spy – 30th Anniversary Edition”) (Cooking Vinyl)
Xtrah and Break feat. DRS – “Always There” (EP – “Lost Time”) (Symmetry Recordings)
Saint Max and The Fanatics – “T-Shirt” (LP – “Saint Max Is Missing And The Fanatics Are Dead”) (Ahmelodie)
L Pierre – “Movement III” (EP – “Surface Noise”) (Melodic)
10ft Ganja Plant – “Sounding Zone” (LP – “Skycatcher”) (Reach Out International)
Swearin’ – “Dust In The Gold Sack” (download single) (Witchita)

When Big Joan Sets Up 23th October – So Hard To Beat

Three tracks tonight from “NYC Hell 3AM” the new LP by James Ferraro a man described by thequietus.com as an “absurd electronic soloist” and introduced by an equally absurd DJ were these..

Omar Souleyman – “Ya Yumma” (LP – “Wendu Wendu”) (Ribbon Music)
CTRLS – “Displacer” (EP – “Shifting States”) (Token)
Robert Wyatt – “Rivmic Melodies” (LP – “68”) (Cuneiform)
James Ferraro – “QR_JR” (LP – “NYC Hell 3AM”) (Hippos In Tanks)
Bailterspace – “Together” (LP – “Trinine”) (Fire)
Marcus Intalex – “Gripped” (12″) (Exit)
Tommy McCook – “Rock Away” (LP – Reggae In Jazz”) (Pressure Sounds)
Wolf Alice – “Nosedive” (EP – “Blush”) (Chess Club)
James Ferraro – “City Smells” (LP – “NYC Hell 3AM”) (Hippos In Tanks)
Autechre – “M39 Diffain” (EP – “L-Event”) (Warp)
Theesatisfaction – “Seattle’s Restraining Order Against The Sun” (EP – “..And That’s Your Time”) (Bandcamp)
YT – “In The Streets” (V/A LP – “Legalize Riddim”) (Friendly Fire)
Solid Attitude – “Dash-Ex” (7″) (Sweet Rot)
James Ferraro – “Vanity” (LP – “NYC Hell 3AM”) (Hippos In Tanks)
The Undertones – “Teenage Kicks” (7″) (Sire)

When Big Joan Sets Up 17th October – Tet Offensive

Three from “Beautiful Rewind” the excellent new LP from Four Tet on this week’s programme plus these beauties…

Perc and Einstürzende Neubauten – “Leibesdub” (EP – “Interpretations”) (Submit)
Mexican Knives – “Killer Snake” (EP – “Other Trams”) (Self Released)
Noel Phillips – “Money Man Skank” (V/A 4CD Set – “Rootsman Vibration at King Jammy’s”) (Greensleeves)
Four Tet – “Gong” (LP -“Beautiful Rewind”) (Text)
Gong – “Ego” (LP – “Magick Brother”) (BYG)
The Razorblades – “Let’s Go Down To Brighton” (V/A LP – “Best of the North Sea Surf Festival Since 2010”) (Bandcamp)
DJ Rashad feat. DJ Phil – “Everyday Of My Life” (LP – “Double Cup”) (Hyperdub)
The Fall – “Enigrammatic Dream” (LP – “Live in San Fransisco”) (Ozit/Dandelion)
Four Tet – “Ba Teaches Yoga” (LP -“Beautiful Rewind”) (Text)
Lord Sassafrass – “Talking Yardie” (7″) (Maffi)
Lost In The Riots – “Reset,Engage!” (LP – “Stranger In The Alps”) (Lonely Voyage)
The Young Tradition – “The Bold Fisherman” (LP – “Oberlin 1968”) (Proper)
John Zorn and Thurston Moore – “Jazz Laundromat” (LP – “@”) (Tzadik)
Lee Ranaldo and The Dust – “Key Hole” (LP – “Last Night On Earth”) (Matador)
Four Tet – “Buchla” (LP -“Beautiful Rewind”) (Text)