Mr. Scruff – ‘Friendly Bacteria’ Lp Influences

This is the first tune I saw him play live, which explains very well why I asked him if he wanted to collaborate! The way he works with loops to build up layers to create an intriguing soulful fog is a joy to behold, and bear in mind that this video is nearly 7 years old, so imagine what he is like live now!

Matt has been very busy both with his own recordings, live shows & running his own label, Gondwana records. His sparse, peaceful arrangements are things of great beauty. When he played on my album, he was very keen to avoid a traditional jazz sound, preferring to disguise his trumpet with effects. I suppose that with collaborations, you are always looking for ways to escape your own stylistic boundaries. I did manage to coax some jazz out of him for the final track though!

Phil released his solo album last year, and the title track has haunted me (in a good way) since i first heard it. One of simple pieces of music that gets people craning their necks at club gigs to see what it is called. I phoned him up one day at 9am, and at an hours notice, he came down to studio & stunned us all with some stupendous double bass, right after he apologised for being rusty.

It may seem odd to include one of my own productions as an influence, but Kirsty’s odd little song inspired me to create a curious half/double time steppers hybrid monster, with a touch of ’80’s compass point era Sly & Robbie influence, and I explored this sound further on the title track of the album.

It is difficult to choose a favourite Robert Owens song, but this tune has always hovered around the top spot. His work with Fingers Inc was a soundtrack to my youth. Needless to say when he agreed to sing on one of my tunes, I was extremely pleased.

Vanessa has released tons of music, both under own name, and with the Reel People, Baker Brothers, Dego, Kaidi Tatham & many others. Very soulful and versatile, and always a pleasure to spend time with.

Bad tune. I love Kaidi as a person and as a musician, deep with a real sense of fun. I love music that sounds like it was fun to make, and Kaidi is one fun chap to have in the studio. he only played a bit on ‘Come find me’, but enough to make me shrug my shoulders in time & pull faces. I want to get in the Studio with him again soon!

Very silly tune with a killer, low-slung Jah Wobble bassline, robotic drums & daft vocals. An amazing groove which partly inspired ‘Where am I?’ on the new album. I would love a dub or instrumental of this version of Fodderstompf, although there was a great instrumental re-recording on their Death Disco 12″.