Wednesday, February 20, 2008

One Hundred Project : Andy Burge



What is on your stereo at the moment?
A Certain Ratio Early Years
RZA Ghost Dog: The Way of The Samurai

3 records that changed your life. Why?
Three experiences musically changed my life in terms of listening and being exposed to music.
1. Being introduced to the Two-Tone sound and post punk music by mod revivalists in my first year of high school.
2. Not long after being exposed to graffiti culture, break dancing and electro/hip hop in the early to mid 80s and all that went with that.
3. Experiencing house music for the first time, which profoundly changed my life.

OK, now to the actual records. Due to there being too many I've picked one from each defining movement. Off the top of my head.

Talking Heads - Remain In Light - Sire 1980 LP
Quite possibly my favourite band of all time. From Fear of Music, Remain In Light to Speaking In Tongues they're hard to split, overall this just edges out in front. I never get sick of this album and its polyrhythmic, funk appeal mind blowing.

Various - Beat Street: Soundtrack Volume 1 & 2 - Atlantic 1984 LP
This was the soundtrack to my youth. In hindsight this was the commercial end of this culture bat at the time it was the newest, freshest thing we'd heard as kids. We listened, watched and immersed ourselves in this daily.

Rhythim is Rhythim - Nude Photo - Transmat 1987 12"
This was just simply from another world. Perhaps Kraftwerk fans felt this in the 70s but for me this changed the entire game plan along with Model 500 and Underground Resistance releases.

What are you looking forward to?
Paul 'Mudd' Murphy playing in Sydney next month.

What couldn’t you live without? Why?
My fiancee, record collection and friends. I think the above speaks for itself. Also, maps, tea and mexican food, not necessarily combined.

Most memorable gig?
This is a hard one, virtually impossible to pick! However, I'd have to say hearing Tony Humphries on top form during the 90s when I was living in New York City was a stand out. Also, Mark Rae at Chinese Laundry in Sydney 1997 comes to mind. One the band front there have been plenty, Massive Attack at the Enmore Theatre in the 1990s and The Pixies last year in Sydney.

Who/what are your influences?
Where do I start with this? Production wise I'm into stuff that ranges Norman Whitfield to Sly & Robbie, from Bill Laswell to Arthur Russell and all in between.

What is the best and worst thing about the city that you live in?
The best thing about Sydney is the harbour and surrounding water. The worst thing is its lack of record stores and corporate club culture (which is where its at now, not back in the day). Thankfully, we have a few parties kicking against the pricks keep us going, Paradise Lost and Funk Inc.

Given the accelerated pace of modern culture, what are we due a revival in?
I think African music is making a comeback in all its nuances. Also, perhaps we'll see a revival in proper garage music and more people garage music and more people putting on parties that have less to do with money and more to with underground culture.

Hero? Why?
We don't need another hero! The most heroic deeds are done by average, anonymous, everyday people in my book.

Is there anything else that you feel that we should know?
We have just started our weekly radio show on 2RRR 88.5FM in Sydney. It's a community radio show that we did 10 years ago and have just started up again. We intend to get a blog up and running and a space for people to download our shows.

Andy Burge has been involved in and around the Sydney electronic music scene for the past 20 years as a punter, DJ, and promoter, and has played regularly at underground clubs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane as well as worldwide throughout venues in the U.S.A and Canada.

In the 1990's and early noughties Andy lived and Djed in New York City working for Francois K's legendary Wave Music imprint which left a profound effect on his musical direction. Although his love for Chicago house is well noted, he now feels that his passion lays in the convergence of underground disco (both old and new) and electronic funk. Citing a broad and diverse range of artists such as Patrick Adams, ESG, Larry Heard, Carl Craig, August Darnell, and Talking Heads as major influences. Similarly new artists such as those from the Bear Funk label, Lindstrom, Idjuts, and Brennan Green tickle his fancy.

Both Andy and Mike Delahunty co-ran Break Even Crew website and the Jam The Box parties with DJ Venturian in venues from The Globe to Moulin Rouge to Club 77, that broke artists such as Diz, Inland Knights, East Coast Boogiemen, Little Beasties, and Jason Hodges to the Sydney house public.

These days, he feels his future is in small intimate venues and back rooms where the original ethos of this music can shine through. Expect Soul, Funk, Disco, Early House and Leftfield electronic music!


Andy Burge One Hundred Project mix

TRACKLISTING

1. African Head Charge - Heading To Glory - On-U-Sound 1993
2. Black Uhuru - Botanical Roots - Island 1984
3. 23 Skidoo - Vegas El Bandito - Illuminated 1984
4. Tim Thaler OST - Wetten Dass? - Diggler 1979
5. Nona Hendryx - Tranformation - RCA 1983
6. Camaro's Gang - Cornflakes - ZYX 1986
7. Tony Monn Concept - Who Built The Pyramids - Ariola 1982
8. Jah Wobble & Bill Haswell - Alsema Dub - Palm Pictures 2001
9. Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports - Siam - Harvest 1981
10. Holger Czukay - Witches' Multiplication Table - EMI Electrola 1981
11. Can - Future Days - UA 1973
12. Quantum Jump - Barracuda - Electric Record Company 1979
13. ELO - The Whale - UA 1977
14. BBC Shipping Forecast
15. Robert Wyatt - At Last I Am Free - Rough Trade 1980

Download the mix here.

No comments: