New Mix: Live at Awamu Together 2020 House Party

This is a set recorded live for Awamu’s Together House Party 2020 - a virtual weekend festival fundraiser for the excellent Awamu Charity who’s purpose is to ensure children in the slums of Kampala, Uganda, gain the education and skills that are vital to their future:

“Many children we work with are HIV positive. Their guardians, often elderly, ill and poor, are also in need of support, as the wellbeing of children in their care is inextricably linked to theirs.

“We know that children do best when they are supported and cared for in their own communities, among extended families, friends, and neighbours so we also help those that care for them to gain new skills and the confidence to increase their income, regain control of their lives and take care of themselves and their family.

“Awamu means ‘together’ in L'uganda, the main language spoken in Bwaise and Kikoni slum areas we work. We chose it as it reflects spirit of the women and children we are lucky enough to work in partnership with there.”

Please donate. Anything you can give will mean the world of difference.

https://www.awamu.co.uk/donate

The set, played out at 7pm on a Saturday, designed to be listened during your evening meal. It's 'Dinner Jazz" for those of you who like being sworn at by potty mouth rappers talking about inappropriate subjects while you eat your meal.

Tracklisting

00:00 - Moses Boyd - Rush Hour/Elegua (feat. Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua)
03:10 - Submerse - Power Stone
05:42 - Channel Select - Skies
07:22 - Noname - Forever (ft Ravyn Lanae)
10:48 - Open Mike Eagle - Very Much Money (Ice King Dream)
14:22 - J.Lamotta - Can’t Refuse
16:45 - Loyle Carner - Loose Ends (ft Jorja Smith )
20:49 - Oso Leone - Virtual U
23:53 - Easy Life - Earth
27: 05 - Bird Person - Salad
29:15 - Jay Z - Empire State of Mind (featuring Alicia Keys)
33:33 - Typesun - The PL
37:28 - Tycho - Skate (Pluko remix) feat. Saint Sinner 
40:09 - Phono Ghosts - A Glow in the Night
43:30 - Janelle Monae - Pynk (feat. Grimes)
47:00 - J-E-T-S - Play (feat. Mykki Blanco)
49:20 - Caribou - New Jade
52:31 - Brockhampton - Boy Bye
54:53  - Michael Kiwanuka - You ain’t the problem

(download available on the Hearthis.at page)

Obituary: John Rixon (a.k.a Amukidi)

It was with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of John Rixon (a.k.a Amukidi) on Monday 14th January. John had suffered a stroke on Boxing Day and since then had been in hospital. 

I wrote a few word for the Echaskech facebook page to try and mark his passing:

John was instrumental in legitimising the clubbing world’s use of visual arts: as visual coordinator for the Big Chill he helped and supported numerous audio visual acts - including ourselves - to get seen and heard. He was a huge fan of electronic music and was always keen to find out what we were up to. 

His own creations were always a joy to behold. Under the alias “Amukidi” (his name coming from a track by his long time friend and collaborator Roger Eno) he blended slow moving constantly changing abstract organic shapes and textures into ever changing landscapes that encouraged the audience to stop and engage with. 

In 2010 along with Simon Wild he curated “Quiet Voices” a show at the Tate Britain gallery that featured live audio visual performances by artists such as Roger Eno, Jon Hopkins, Alucidnation and Animat (to name a small selection) and a short film programme that explored the nature of quiet. I was incredibly honoured to be selected to contribute a film. To be given the opportunity to have something that I help make be shown at one of the UK’s leading art galleries is still my highest accolade, and for that I am still humbled and will be forever grateful for the trust that John placed in me.

Though what will be missed the most will be John’s warm, friendly manner, supportive nature and his acerbic wit. Never one to mince words he always cut to the chase and let you know exactly how he felt whilst raising a smile..

My last meeting with John was at Awamu’s Together festival. We caught up and shared new musical findings he asked me what I was working on. I was reticent to bring it up because my current project (which had stalled) was so ephemeral and pointless and, when I’d discussed it with others, their eyes had glazed over. But not John - his eyes lit up and he grabbed my arm “Mark! You must finish this! I have to see it! It sounds right up my strasse!” Only John had that uncanny ability to see what I was trying to achieve! My last sight of John was of him grinning, bouncing around to a deeply ambient set by Misled Convoy, whilst mixing his beautifully intricate visuals across the screens. He never looked happier. 

Our thoughts are with all who loved John but especially to his wife Sarah and his children Pheebs and Clare.

You can happily spend hours watching John’s videos on Vimeo here

https://vimeo.com/johnrixon

New Mix: A Broad Range - Together 2018

“Here it is the groove slightly transformed Just a bit of a break from the norm
Just a little somethin' to break the monotony
Of all that hardcore dance that has gotten to be
A little bit out of control it's cool to dance
But what about the groove that soothes that moves romance
Give me a soft subtle mix...”

Here’s the “studio” cut of a mix I performed at Awamu’s third “Together” festival. It’s pretty much what I played but I added a longer introduction to it (which might help it last longer on SoundCloud) - the opening lines are from Grant Green’s amazing “Slick! Live at Oil Can Harry’s” lp - and there is a “bonus” track at the end that I really wanted to play but I knew time wouldn’t allow it, bcut for you, dear listener, you get to experience the genius of Raj Pannu’s “FSOJ”. The third track is a mashup of Skee Mask’s “Session Amp” and MJ Cole’s UK garage classic “Sincere” with extra beats and production courtesy of the ever patient Andy G from Echaskech. 

Hope you like it! Here’s the...

Tracklisting  

Louis Cole (feat. Genevieve Artadi) - When You're Ugly
Don Froth -  A Broad Range Widescreen Mix
MJ Cole vs Skee Mask - Sincere Amp (Mach And G’s mix)
LCD Soundsystem - Oh Baby
Echaskech - Twich
Deft - One Eye Open
Jim-e stack - Moments Noticed
Gnork - U
Joe -  mph
Dolly Parton - Jolene (Todd Terje remix)
Maribou State - Turnmills Club Mix
LXURY (Feat. The Deptford Goth)- Square 1 (Vox DUB)
Nasaya  (feat. cehryl)- Orange
Telefon Tel Aviv - My Week Beats Your Year
Adam Port - Here is Why - Tonight (Adam Port Autobahn Edit)
Loidis - A Parade
Raj Pannu - FSOJ

New Video: Watch Echaskech's 'The Knowledge' (live version)

Hi all! It gives me great pleasure to let you know about this video of Echaskech's 'The Knowledge" which was premiered at this years Awamu at Together's festival. Hope you enjoy it!