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No Stones unturned
Timed perfectly to coincide with the Universal rollout of the new Rolling Stones Singles 1963-1965 boxed set of the group’s first 12 singles and EPs, Norton has put out a snazzy series of 15 split Stones cover sevens, pairing groups like the Jack Yarber -fronted Knaughty Knights and the Wildebeests , the Reigning Sound and Hentchmen , the 5.6.7.8’s and Church Keys , Swingin’ Neckbreakers and the Shanks and more. Among the best of the bunch is the leering
Andre Williams take on The Spider And The Fly and the Lyres ‘ boisterous Bosstown double whammy of obscure Nanker Phlege shakers Now I’ve Got A Witness and Stoned. Each Norton single comes with a cool London Records knock-off label and company sleeve. Sweeeet.
K-OS theory
Although the street date for the highly anticipated new K-OS album, Joyful Rebellion (Virgin/EMI), has been pushed back to late September, white label 12-inch singles with two joints from the album sessions are now circulating around town. And from the sound of it, Whitby’s finest rhyme stylist hasn’t yet succumbed to the lure of the jiggy side. It’s interesting that neither the marching-cadence jam Commandante nor the jazzy Crabbuckit on the flip, which swings with a loping mid-tempo groove, is slated as a single track – that’s likely to be B-Boy Stance instead. So the promo release seems to be Virgin’s way of test-marketing what promises to be a stylistically diverse album.
Really Misunderstood
The recent release of the raw and raunchy early recordings of psych legends the Misunderstood on the Lost Acetates 1965-1966 (UT Records) proves the claim that before the group left their Riverside, California, home base for England to record their trippy classic Children Of The Sun, they were actually a kick-ass garage punk combo not averse to dabbling in feedback and fuzz distortion. Who knew? Well, John Ravencroft , a DJ at San Bernadino’s KMEN, did, but unfortunately that was years before he changed his name to John Peel and became Britain’s most influential voice in alternative music.
Bollywood break
Those who enjoy a bit of Bollywood business with their hiphop should check out DJ Kam ‘s Indian Rain (Meifumado) single. Over sinister slow-rolling beats, maestro Nujeeralee drops some sick Laxmikant Pyarelal -style strings to entrancing effect, without any corny-ass rhyming to spoil the vibe. Don’t sleep, though, since Kam’s stylishly packaged Indian Rain single is strictly limited to 500 copies and the one I bought last week is number 488. info@meifumado.com
