Justin Robertson – Deadstock 33S Influences

Simplicity and primal rhythms are something i dig, and its one aspect of the Deadstock sound, not minimal but only using what’s essential, stripped back and lean, its been the backbone of all good dancing music from whatever era. Plus i love the lyrics on this number its proper outlaw tackle.

One of those records that has stuck with me since i was a tiny counter culture acolyte . Before i discovered long macs and nihilism i was known to go barefoot and had very long hair for a while, this was the soundtrack to those heady days, but in recent years i’ve found it very inspiring again. Its all washy and spacey but with an almost Jeff Mills like demonic riff.

Again something i’ve come back to in recent years, we used to love this on the Lionrock tour bus back in the 90’s, but it has a new relevance for me now i think, hypnotic and sensual, tight but loose.

Surrealist dystopian visionary, i love his take on the madness of the modern world , and his often terrifying imagining of our possible future. Atrocity Exhibition, Drowned World and Highrise were all re read and absorbed recently, the new album is called ‘’Everything is Turbulence’’ quite a Ballard like observation perhaps?

Ex Blondie bass player come chronicler of the esoteric, I’m certainly not in anyway a mystical man, i like a robe, but have never owned a wand, i do find the world of mysticism and cultish behaviour fascinating, some of it is silly, some of it is simply sinister. Gary Lachman really gets to the heart of some of these subjects, i especially liked his book ‘’Turn off your mind ‘’ about the dark side of the sixties, and he’s done a good one on Jung, not sure what relevance it has to my music, but i find it interesting, even if i don’t hold with its beliefs .

I love Bob Calvert he was a troubled genius. Hawkwind kind of deterioreted into a silly heavy rock band , but in their early days they had a heavy Krautrock cosmic feel to them, and in the mid 70’s were ahead to the pack in terms of new wave vibes, one of John Lydon’s favourite bands. I’ve covered ‘’Spirit of the Age ‘’ on the new long player.

I do like to dig from time to time, its all so much less exciting with the power of the internet, but it is easier on the fingers if not the bank balance. Inspiration from the cosmos is plentiful, and quirky gems like this keep sending me back to the drawing board.

Proto House from 1978 i think? like a version of Cat Stevens ‘’Was Dog a Doughnut’’, its perfectly odd and sleazy, one for Electric Elephant , maybe a twisty beach party or an urban sex dungeon, its versatile you know?

My computer exploded recently, and this enforced techno free zone tempted me to pick up my paintbrush again, i’ve been dabbling in Deathly Icons, 50’s sci-fi freaks and medieval woodland Rites, my art tastes are quite broad, i’m no expert , but its very important to me. I go every month to look at the Turners in the Tate Britain, just for inspiration and a bit of head space, I’ve been getting into Philip Guston of late and i love Geraldine Swayne, and this chap Daniel Martin Diaz, its magical, mystical and timeless. I love his exploration of the power of symbols, its fascinating gothic alchemy. Maybe i’m trying to summon that spirit of mystery to my wonky house records!

I’d actually finished the album before i got this, but i love all the Cute Heels stuff, again its raw and restlessly inventive, my favourite track from the new album is the nu beat style ‘’ Watch the Neon’’, but i couldn’t find a video for it, but this is cracking too, so deep joy.Music like this defies easy categorisation , though it has been attempted! there is so much fresh stuff around just now, but I’m certainly not going to try and label it, just flipping good.