Ruff Sqwad 'White Label Classics'
Haven't seen anyone at all talking about this on here even though it was totally a landmark release and also completely amazing.
Classic grime crew from back in the day release an album compiling all their best instrumental tunes. It was a weird coincidence that it came out the same week as #KraftwerkTateFiasco as here is another band that makes electronic music which is truly steeped in emotion. For a sound that is (still) really weird and doesn't sound like anything that came before, it is so warm.
I've seen lots of people talk about how nostalgic it makes them. Obviously I wasn't hanging around at grime clubs in 2004 but what strikes me on a personal level is how melancholy it sounds. The music is forceful but also sounds very sad at the same time. It's amazing to think this stuff was made by a bunch of 13 year olds on laptops they'd had for a couple of months.
Also, the front cover is incredible. It is pretty hard to look at this photo without thinking that's what a band should look like in the 21st century http://new.assets.thequietus.com/images/articles/10535/ruff_sqwad_1351684298_crop_550x466.jpg
Here are some of my favourites:
Anna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u-9keF6Ljc
Functions On The Low http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHLPU66yLFY
Died In Your Arms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FURve5NScac
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Still waiting for my copy
Only just around to ordering it over crimbo, can't wait. I know quite a few of them from old griem sets. I could listen to Pied Piper all day.
This is pretty cool
http://www.sonicrouter.com/2012/12/recommended-ruff-sqwad-white-label-classics-no-hats-no-hoods/
There should be more of these comps I know there is a Wiley one from a while back and I think someone is doing a Newham Generals instro one too at some point but I bet there are loads more that could be done from that era. Dunno how about Nasty Crew or something?
There was that Terror Danjah one
of course
haven't got into his new album on hyperdub yet, kinda dig the last one a lot of it was good anyway, dunno.
this sounds good
It's cool that this has been released and obviously the music is flawless
but I always feel with that these instrumental grime releases only ever show half the picture. I guess its all part of the tendency to present producers as outsider auteurs or some shit. But it wrenches the music from it's very specific context, neutering grime of its powerful vocal side.
I guess they never really got together a vocal version of a lot of these since it was always mostly on radio or live
so what you gonna do release radio rips from the time or just stick to some mixtape version that prob didn't catch that radio vibe either? Best you can do is prob just release the instros so at least people have those to enjoy.
^^
I think it would be more disingenuous to put out 'definitive' vocal takes of this stuff.
Nah there are proper vocals of most of the beats.
Anna http://youtu.be/hsUoS9Q_Igs
Down http://youtu.be/ETOb8D-DwIc
Xtra http://youtu.be/0d7NLvwNCZQ
I'm from a place http://youtu.be/eLkCnVDbW6s
Died in your arms http://youtu.be/IycwjWdf_wQ
It would've been cool to include a disc of the vocal versions. It's a conscious decision to represent Grime as an instrumental music first and foremost.
ahh cool
a second CD would have been good ey. Did those vocals come out on mixtape then? If so they could be reissued I guess.
Mostly they came out on the original white labels.
There'd be a vocal on side and the instrumental on the flip. Quite a few turned up again on the Guns & Roses tapes.
...
Move 2 Dis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9wCeKupsOM
Underground http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN_KvpzN5I8
Good Old Days http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOBEpkETetQ
ruff sqwad are on board for this release,
it's not like anyone's strong-armed them.
do you reckon the rise of instrumental stuff has anything to do with the police crackdown on grime raves in the past? obviously studio and live are different things, but they run parallel. don't think elijah and skilliam said this had anything to do with butterz.
Also it one of the great tragedies of modern music that R U Double F
was lost on a broken hard drive. One of the very best.
http://youtu.be/Q3C5NMEek-E
i swear if r u double f was ever magically recovered
then humanity would instantly evolve into its next form.
and yeah, this compilation is the absolute bomb obvz. was hoping there would be more photos in the cd booklet tbh but that hardly detracts from finally having some of the best grime beats ever produced in full quality. big up magic @ no hats no hoods for getting it sorted.
I need to get this!
tho somehow I never end up relistening to instrumental grime stuff so often as I do mixtapes/MCs...
Listened to this for the first time today
It's absolutely brilliant. Any chance Burial got his name from the track on here?
Burials first release came out before it so I'd assume not.
that photo just reminds me of this:
http://www.last.fm/music/Wu-tang+Clan/+images/42839085
what with the bridge and the way they're standing/spaced
Holy crap,
seeing this thread reminded me that I saw Ruff Sqwad at the Scala with my cousin in 2007. We were there for Presets & Metronomy, but Ruff Sqwad came on afterwards and totally blew us away.
Had no idea that I had seen Tinchy Strider live...
oh man, I put that night on when I was 15
superb
Oh cool.
It was a good night. It was the first show I'd ever been to in London and I was astounded by quite how ridiculously the hipsters dressed. The lad in front of me in the queue had a teapot on a chain around his neck that he had painted neon green. Fucking new rave...
Such a good album.
I have basically been listening to Functions on the Low on repeat for about a week. Such an incredible song.
Also, Tings in Boots <3
Yay my copy finaly arrived
Boomkat you took an age but damn this is sweet.
Just ordered a copy myself
Got something to look forward to now.
i like this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bMQW1y1JTU