Archive for June, 2006

This Sunday at the age of 74, the legendary producer Arif Mardin has died. We all know Arif was responsible for producing several Scritti songs, for example the still stunningly slick and sexy sounding Wood Beez.

Arif has produced many records for Chaka Khan and I think most listeners will recognize the influences he had on Scritti’s music. For example his style of drum-programming and his use of modern MIDI-sequencing. But let’s not forget that his skills go way back. He worked with some of the old bebop cats, like for example the innovators Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie (left person on photo). We also should never forget the work he has done for Aretha Franklin.

Arif’s place in history should be put in line with people like Duke Ellington, Gil Evans and Quincy Jones. Arif has always changed his style and adopted it to modern times. An orchestra, a drum-machine or a synth; a set of tools he used for creating his own art.

Further reading: Music producer Mardin dies at 74

A celebrity playlist in the UK iTunes Musicstore gives Green’s 15 favourite songs with a small explanation added. It was possible for me to switch from the Dutch to the UK one, not sure though that’s possible for everyone. The list goes from the classic Beach Boys through 70’s Bowie and punk to hip-hop and beyond. May i join in praising Sufjan Stevens’ Illinoise! Got to know this album through an interview with Green, and it became one of my favourite albums this year.

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On last night’s show the Weekender on BBC Radio 2 Green was interviewed by Matthew Right. You can listen again, but as these streams tend to dispappear into thin air, you’d better listen right here at bibbly-o-tek. It’s basically the same story rehashed, but it’s sure is nice to listen to Green’s voice. Which makes me think, in the old days, i used to wonder if his speaking voice would sound the same as his singing voice. Quite happy to say it doesn’t.

BBC 2 Weekender interview

“Last time I looked, I was a handsome young man”

Happy birthday Green!

and cheers!

Ellen, Ernst, John and Marco

I have always been a huge fan of Chaka Khan. She sings high and very loud, a combination which is a serious killer for most singers.

Years ago when I was working on an album with Dave Green (yes, I know!), a former band-member of the UK-band Icicle Works, we had a discussion about Chaka. Dave asked me if I had ever heard Chaka’s ‘Naughty’ album. And no, I did not. I think it was only officially released in Japan or something like that. But anyway: ‘Naughty‘ (buy at Amazon.com) is the best Chaka has ever done. Gives me chills all over!

But okay back to the Chaka-Green connection…

The song Green wrote for Chaka, ‘Love Of A Lifetime’, also has an interesting story:

He is also finishing writing a song for Chaka Khan, called ‘Love Of A Lifetime’. It is the first he’s written for somebody else, and he will sing on it with Chaka and co-produce it. Chaka had contacted Green and asked him to do it. They have met previously and Chaka likes the Scritti stuff very much.

(source)

Sound-wise Perfect Way has that typical 80’s sound. And sure, Scritti is responsible for that

The thing that still does it for me is the way the song modulates from the intro into the verse and then finally into the refrain. My head is still popping off when I hear it and I am sure the same thing happened to Miles Davis. Miles did a cover of Perfect Way on his album Tutu.

This might be the most complete Scritti Politti collection i’ve ever seen, ranging from the very first singles to special editions of Anomie & Bonhomie. Multiple versions of each single, album, cd limited editions, posters… even a gold record for Cupid & Psyche. John got all these photo’s from Mitsuo from Japan.

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Tim Chipping pointed us to this very amusing interview he did with Green Gartside for the Channel 4 website. This proves ; if you ask the man interesting questions you get interesting answers !

Also, for the Dutchies, this interview on the VPRO 3voor12 website. There is an audio stream of the interview also, which is of course in English (just press the little speaker button, you’ll figure it out). The stream will be in our archives, soon, as well. Thanks to VPRO’s Erwin Blom for pointing this interview out to us.

We’re very happy we can publish the director’s cut of the interview with Green by Simon Reynolds, published in a shorter version in the Guardian.

GREEN
by Simon Reynolds

“We went to Marylebone Registry Office, because that’s where McCartney got married,” recalls Green Gartside of his wedding a couple of months ago. “We chose the shortest service, just a couple of sentences, and we didn’t really tell anyone, so we had one witness each. But this pudding of a teenager, with two different speech impediments, officiated, and he read the standard script that goes ‘thank you all for coming, it means so much to Alice and Green that all their friends and family are here’. We couldn’t really stop him as he lisped his way through it! But, no, it was a very lovely thing. I think I might even have had a tear in my eye.”

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Relieved to see we were right with the dates we announced last tuesday! Today www.doublegandthetraitorous3.com announced all dates this summer in the UK and Japan. Ifyou’re not already on the mailinglist, you should subscribe, then you get handy information like this delivered to you. Even though you read it here on bibbly first. I already booked my ticket for the Scala gig today!

Thursday July 6th – Brighton Concorde 2
Saturday July 8th – Oxford Zodiac
Monday July 10th – Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
Tuesday July 11th – London Scala
Monday July 17th – Norwich UEA

Saturday August 5th – Big Chill Festival, Eastnor Castle
Monday August 7th – Edinburgh Liquid Rooms
Thursday August 10th – Tokyo, Club Quattro
Saturday August 12th – Tokyo, Summersonic Festival
Sunday August 13th – Osaka, Summersonic Festival
Monday August 14th – Osaka, Club Quattro

Tickets:
July tour, Big Chill, Edinburgh, Summersonic:

A couple of review printed in magazines. There is a very positive on in Uncut, July 2006.

One in Q Magazine.

Kay send us a scan of a review posted in Intro in Germany, it’s a review of the 5th February gig in The Luminaire.

And finally a review in the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad.


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Taken from the Norwegian paper Dagsavisen, a very cool picture of Green Gartside, and an interview (by Geir Rakvaag), from which these are apparently the highlights:

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Some dates of the Scritti Politti tour through the UK are seeping through. As yet unconfirmed! Some other venues might be added.

6th July - Brighton - BC2
8th July - Oxford - ZODIAC
10th July - Portsmouth - WEDGEWOOD
11th July - London - SCALA
17th July - Norwich - UEA

Tickets are 16.50 (LONDON SCALA: 17.50)

The Dutch VPRO (broadcasting for TV,radio and Internet) has recorded a video of Green performing 3 songs in the elevator of Hotel Vondel in Amsterdam on May 11th 2006. Very cool.

Here’s the Real Audio stream. And a bit of info in Dutch at the VPRO website.

Update: The Real Audio stream contained some bad characters. I have corrected the link.

This sunday 11th June on BBC Radio Wales an interview with Green will be broadcasted on the Adam Walton programme at 10pm. It’s possible to listen live through the internet or through the Listen Again option. We at bibbly-o-tek will of course capture the stream and post it here after the show!

BBC Wales interview - part 1

BBC Wales interview - part 2

Finally, at long last, i’ve got the official cd of White Bread Black Beer! It’s the digipack version, with extra nice images. So for you to enjoy, the booklet with all the lyrics, in Green’s handwriting. Looking at the back, the tracklist looks to me like embroidered text, probably done with a sewing machine.

Remembering my initial disappointed response when i saw the little thumbnail of the packaging, i’ve completely changed my mind. The front works good in a shop, and the images on the digipack and background images in the booklet are very delicate with lots of texture. Perfectly fits the album.

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Franck Slakmon from Paris has send us the above photo, taken by Julien Bourgeois during the Planet Claire session.

Scritti Politti will perform at the Summer Sonic Festival 2006 in Japan. Two times in Tokyo and Osaka on the 12th and 13th of August 2006.

More info at Summersonic.com.

We’re still trying to find out whether or not Scritti will perform in Holland again someday soon. We hope so of course. Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague are our favorite places to see Scritti perform. If so, we will wear our wooden shoes, holding a windmill in our right hand, an Absolute vodka in our left and wearing a green shirt…

Update: We have just recieved an email from the Dutch Rough Trade department, De Konkurrent. Scritti Politti will perform in Holland and Belgium in September!

Some more video’s added to the video section. Boom There She Was and a japanese video of Umm, which is mostly a re-edit of the Making of Anomie & Bonhomie. More japanese footage, an interview, another interview and a talk about Scritti Politti, with no subtitles, so your japanese has got to be quite good!

Some journalists have all the luck. You get to sit in the sunshine opposite Green Gartside talking at length about White Bread Black Beer, playing live, favourite music, the Double G website, the past and future plans.

Some interesting points pass along, like an idea of recording a disco album with David Gamson and playing with Massive Attack in Hyde Park - would that be on the Wireless Festival in June perhaps? There is nothing on the Wireless website, so it seems unlikely.

The recording sometimes has some funny noises in it, but overall it’s a good listen. I like all the background rumour and the soft tickling on the guitar Green had with him.

Full interview (29 minutes, 27 mb)

Just got home from work and my usual trip to Velet record store in Rotterdam, where i don’t need to say what I’m coming for. And no, nothing yet, but they assured me the CD and vinyl version are definitely going to be on friday. So now a quick post on some new reviews and interviews, just before dinner. Reading earlier reviews, White Bread Black Beer get a good reception, with the added note it’s regarded as an uncommercial record. Personally, i don’t much care. I love the music, and can be quite an evangelist about it (this website is proof of that!), but a huge commercial success might chase Green back into hiding. Even though it seems a thing of the past.

Anyway, time for some links! There is a really interesting interview at Incendiary Magazine, where finally someone asks some original questions. The same website has a review as well. On the Dutch 3voor12 website there is a review as well, albeit in Dutch. I’ll translate it maybe later this evening and add it in the comments of this post. The well-respected 3voor12 site also has White Bread Black Beer on the listening post, which is really good publicity.

Some news on upcoming gigs as well! Scritti Politti will play on Bestival, which takes place on the Isle of Wight 8-10 September, and on the Big Chill festival at Eastnor Castle Deer Park 2006, 4-6 August. Apparently this place is between the Cotswolds and the Welsh Marches.

Yes, it is official now; our own bibbly-o-tek album preview page for WBBB!

Thanks to Chris Norris: Daily Telegraph’s review of White Bread, Black Beer. Short but neat!

These are the first pics I have seen from the Hay Fest last week. Thanks Sam for these camera phone pics from the Hay Festival!

Some more from Gavin!

(A Perfect Hay??? hmmm? too corny…)

John Hyde
bibbly-o-tek.com

I have seen Miles Davis perform Perfect Way many times here in The Hague, Holland, at the North Sea Jazz Festival. The best gigs for me were those with John Scofield on guitar. But this speedy version is also right on the money I must say!

An interview by John Lewis with Green in the London TimeOut. There is also a short review on White Bread Black Beer.

Scritti Politti: Interview
Scritti Politti’s Green Gartside tells Time Out about his colourful journey from post-punk squat-dweller to ’80s R&B technician to Hackney ‘pub rocker’, and how he learned to play live again

As an adolescent, Green was obsessed with folk…

‘At school, I used to go to a folk club in the Newport docks area. Martin Carthy was my hero. He’s a seriously funky guitarist! At art college in Leeds, I followed Carthy around the country. I was once stranded in the middle of nowhere after one of his gigs, and Martin and Norma went completely out of their way to give me a lift home, which was lovely of them.’

He liked the way that old men urinated at folk clubs…

‘They had a way of holding their cocks while they were pissing. I found that fascinating. I wrote a lyric about it on the first album. “He held it like a cigarette/ Behind a squaddie’s back/He held it so he hid its length/And so he hid its lack.”’

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First review from the Scritti Politti gig at the Hay Literary Festival 02-06-2006, by Karren Ablaze

The birth of Scritti Politti

Here’s a review-ette of the Clyro Court gig… somewhere in the middle of Wales, last night… it took place in a large purpose built venue at the back of a Shelock Holmes-themed hotel, the crowd seemed to be mainly literary festival attendees. They didn’t dance, but they were REALLY into it… The Double G posse, now consciously calling themselves Scritti Politti, seemed kind of edgy at first - there’d not been as much time as they would have liked to set up and soundcheck (and they like to do LONG soundchecks). I was worried about them, but when they came onstage what struck me was they LOOKED so good. Ranging personalities and styles, no uniform, but nevertheless they had definitely gelled into a group and were a pleasure to watch. Alyssa is a focal point of gorgeousness there at the front, and opposite her, Dicky looked suave, his performance dreamlike. Dave took on the role of setting up Green’s lyrics on the music stand for each song, and his manner of doing it was a performance in itself, seeming to whistle as he loped across the stage, self-assured and loving evey minute. Green’s appearance is chimeric - who is he? what is he? is he really there? But as a group, as a team, is seems that they have BECOME Scritti Politti. This show was evidence of that birth.

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Hear hear. Green in The Sun !
Here’s our juicy girl-free version.

By SIMON COSYNS

As his name might suggest, Green Gartside is a colourful character. Back in 1976 while at Leeds Polytechnic, he was inspired by the twin influences of The Sex Pistols and Karl Marx.

By the end of the Seventies, he was making intelligent, politicised post-punk music as founder and leader of Scritti Politti.

The band were based at their squat in Camden and were subsequently signed to one of the most imaginative indie labels of the day.

Rough Trade run by Geoff Travis. What set Green’s music apart was an unerring eye for a killer tune and a willingness for sonic exploration only equalled among peers by The Clash.

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Nonesuch Records put up Scritti Politti’s biography again, written by Nick Hasted. We, at bibbly. are very happy they allow us to post it here too!

Green Gartside is back, having been away, once again, for some time. Back with his first album in seven years, back on Rough Trade after 24 (Nonesuch/Rough Trade in North America), back on stage after 26. The man who is Scritti Politti has always been inclined to absence more than presence, questions more than answers, contradictions he spends years happily lost in. His is a story, after all, that begins watching the Sex Pistols in Leeds in 1977; continues for a period in early 80s Camden squat land, where attempts at a pop commune produced Peel-loved, post-punk singles; made a daring break into pop with the deathless “The ‘Sweetest’ Girl”; moved to New York to become a full-fledged MTV star, and sonic inspiration to future R&B; almost went mad from the effort; retreated to Wales and returned making hip-hop; and now, aged 50, has produced one more intricate, self-questioning pop master class, White Bread Black Beer, recorded alone, in his Hackney back room.

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We have just opened the shop-o-tek. You can order the CD of White Bread, Black Beer and the Boom Boom Bap CD-single straight away. And by doing so you’re helping both Scritti and the bibbly-o-tek team. We’re trying to build the best Scritti source we can imagine. This takes times and money. So if you’re considering buying the new Scritti Politti album online please consider using the shop-o-tek.

Please go ahead: shop-o-tek is here!

Any suggestions about this are very welcome of course!

Update: We’ve just added a new affiliate partner, eil.com, who sells White Bread, Black Beer on VINYL!