Time to draw this series to a close. Unless I acquire a copy of volume 6, or finding my missing volume 11 CD, this is the last post of my Jockey Slut Disco Pogo for Punks in Pumps features. It’s volume 13, from December 2003. Looking at the tracklisting, it’s not the most illustrious-looking compilation in the series. Maybe things were getting a little fraught at the magazine by this time. But that’s not to say volume 13’s not without its pleasures.
You may think that a John Cale track was an odd choice for a Jockey Slut CD, and you’d be right. But it's alright really. The tracks I've posted are a real mixed bag of styles - from the electronic folkery of John Matthias, to the top-notch scratchin' and rappin' of Diverse, to the funky disco house of Jersey Street Allstars, to the darker electro rock of Midwest Project, to the utterly fabulous endpiece where Tiefschwarz keep it German by reworking Truby Trio's fine grooves and making them that wee bit dirtier.
That's a kinda good way to end, because after this issue, it only took four more months for Jockey Slut to fold. There were only two more issues. It went ‘quarterly’ before it vanished, taking the remainder of my subscription money with it. Not just a loss for my pocket, but for the British music press as a whole.
As a postscript to the whole sorry affair, some of the people behind JS made a comeback this year with Dummy Magazine, this time a quarterly which so far has been true to its word. I bought the third issue a couple of months ago, and it’s actually pretty good. Much more ‘general indie’ than Jockey Slut, but it’s still well worth a read, and it introduced me to some artists that I’d been only vaguely aware of before. More on that later. For now, enjoy this – one of the last great bastions of British ‘dance culture’.
Download: John Matthias - All The Time in The World
Download: John Cale - Bicycle
Download: Diverse - Certified
Download: Jersey Street Allstars - Burnin'
Download: Midwest Product - Dead Cat
Download: Truby Trio - Universal Love (Tiefsahwarz Mix)
After all the inevitable end of year lists stuff is over, I’ll be getting onto a new series for the new year – a journey through post-punk, I think. It’s inspired by a book I’m reading just now. Everyone (including me) is talking about post punk these days, in reference to the surfeit of young bands with spiky guitars. But what does it actually mean? I’m enjoying finding out, and when I’ve explored the music a bit more, I’ll share it with you.
Posts
4 comments:
i looked for vols 6 and 11 in DOS but all gone. sorry!
Me and thee are kindred spirits, my friend. I've got all the Disco Pogo cds somewhere. I can rip and upload the missing ones for you, if you like? Email me.
Also, I've just finished reading 'Rip It Up And Start Again' and been completely inspired by Simon Reynolds' writing. Whether I've been inspired to write better or to give up, safe in the knowledge that I'll never be able to write like him, I've yet to decide. Looking forward to your 'What Is Post Punk?' blogs.
Your post about big beat, up there, made me go all misty-eyed too. I used to go to this big beat night in Manchester called Molotov Pop around that time. Seeing Deejay Punk Roc there was one of the best nights I've ever had.
Keep up the good work.
Mate - that would be brilliant if you could send the missing tunes my way! You can get my email off the profile page. Cheers!
Right, for some reason, your profile isn't showing the Email option. You should be able to get mine through my profile though. Drop me a line at some point and I'll get them both ripped and uploaded.
Post a Comment