DeviationChristmasBall

If all other deviations have been roadblocks (as personal accounts always suggest  + common sense predicts), this will be something pretty special. Benji B shuns any other guests (in a good way of course) and takes to the decks for a 5hour marathon. You don't even have to bring a tux or gown.

I can't think of a better christmas ball.

Not to mention its the first deviation i will be actually attending. Very very excited.

Deviation25

You might think it a wierd combination, but it alllways goes off.

13th May 2009

broken by Put Me On It fam.

Madlib, J. Rocc, Benji B at Fabric. Does it get any bigger. .

Close to my exams. & I know I've gotta make sacrifices if I want to go certain places in life. but can I really afford to miss this?

Deviation Write Up. .

One tune that sounded so nice again last night - when Benji B dropped it out of the blue at Deviation - was Jasmine Sullivan’s “Go Brush Your Shoulders Off”. Still sounds fresh after all these years. And it begs the question (I think I asked this a few months ago): what’s happening to Jasmine? A few years back she looked all set to blow up like Jill Scott and Amerie….but she’s been strangely ‘quiet’. Anyway, big tune, still! I had a little moment to that!

Great night - and It was well busy. Got to the joint just after 10 and before I could spin around the place was choc-a-bloc!

Really loved the guy (his name escapes me) who was spinning a few tunes early-doors. He played a dope raregroove selection; Standouts for me being an old time fave favourite of mine from way back in the day: Dynasty “Adventures In The Land of Music”. Massive when I was growing up in Nigeria in the early 80s - and an original ‘London’ raregroove classic (much sampled as well!). The other tune he caught me of guard with Ethel Beatty’s “I Know You care” - Oh bwoy. Proper Boogie. This is on the flip of the much sought after “It’s Your Love” if memory serves. Roy Ayers was very adept at producing top quality boogie tunes in the 80s. Another Roy Ayers produced boogie joint we still love is Bobbi Humphrey “Baby Don’t You Know”. This always goes off! - and always sounds good at this time of the year.

Then the main man - Benji B - took to the decks. Benji B reminds me of Roger Federer in a way. His all-round game is faultless. In addition to the fact that he always drops the aces (pardon the tennis pun), his technical ability on the decks is always ‘faultless’ as well. His mixing abilities are almost second to none. And for about 45 minutes he effortlessly mixed one big tune into another to screams of pure delight. Joint tune of the night award for the biggest cheer of the night was when Benji dropped D’Angelo’s “Spanish Joint” - the whole joint went OFFFFFF. The honeys in the joint made the most noise..haha. BIG TUNE. Nice one Benji (always a pleasure). Also loved it when Benji dropped Ty’s “Do You want More” - sounded criss - and surprise surprise, who appeared out of the shadows, yes it was Ty himself (respect). Erykah Badu’s “The Healer” also went down a treat - as did Curtis Mayfield’s “Give Me Your Love” - still a big tune.
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Then we had a cameo appearance from a vocalist whose name is/was new to me: Zakki. But I tell you what, she can SING. I was mightily impressed. She did a couple of tunes (with a backing vocalist) and they were all well received. Zakki is surely a talent to keep an ear out for. Respect!
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*Rich Medina seems to be steadily making a name for himself; because last night I bumped into a few people I had not seen for an age. They told me they came to see Rich Medina. And he didn’t not disappoint. I caught the first 25 minutes of his set before I sneaked out of the joint at 12.30 (work this morning beckoned). Stevie Wonder’s “As” got everyone moving (never fails). And then Rich Medina dropped the other Joint tune of the night award for the biggest cheer of the night: Hot 8 Brass Band “Sexual Healing”. Unbelievable scenes. EVERYONE in the joint sang along to the tune - it evoked memories of when Marvin Gaye’s classic first came out and how we used to sing-along to it then. I still haven’t picked up that Hot 8 Brass Band version yet. Need to make amends - DREAD TUNE! Oh, big up The Peterson (as usual) on the Hot 8 Brass Band ‘exclusive’.

A special shout to Benji and Jude (yes rudebwoy..) - You guys are large.

Lovely night

: )

D

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Thanks to Dayo

For those with no clue. . all the prose above is with regards to Benji B's night. . See Flyer.
Details of the next one will be posted towards the end of this month.

Deviation 20/06/08

.MP3

For those who requested it. .

Get all the details here. . And listen to last weeks (27/06/08) here (Direct Link).

Deviation 09

Deviation

Benji B properly killed the show last week. . . you've got until midnight tonight to catch it on listen again, otherwise i'l hook you up with it .mp3 if anyone so desires (hit comments). . Picks are in bold like we used to roll...

LISTEN AGAIN

Cool Kids – Uno – (CDR)
Eric Lau ft Guilty Simpson – The D – (Harmonic 313 Rmx) – (CDR)
Roots Manuva – Buff Nuff – (Big Dada)
Samiyam – Moon Shoes – (Hyper Dub)
Obi Trice – Hold Up – (Shady)
Wale – The Skitz – (Ungh Ungh) – (CDR)
Wale – The Hype – (CDR)
JMB – Body Rock - (Jazzy Sport)
JMB – Benji B Special – (CDR)
Afta-1– Banana Beans – (Circulations)
Mike Slott ft Muhsinah – Deux Three - (CDR)
Daedelus ft Ommas Keith – You’re The One – (Ninja)
N.E.R.D - Yeah You - (Virgin)
2000 Black - So Right – (2000 Black)
The Woodstar Steel Band – Long Live Music – (Kon & Amir Edit) (BBE)
Loose Joints – Is It All Over My Face – (Phlash Edit) - (CDR)
Morgan Geist – 24K – (Environ Records)
Common ft Pharrell – Universal Mind Control – (Instrumental) – (Universal)
Os Borne – 5^th State - (Ghostly International)
Model 500 – Sound of Stereo – (R&S)
James Pants - My Tree – (Stones Throw)
PPP ft Karma – On A Cloud – (Ubiquity)
Solange Knowles – I Decided - (Music World)
Finn Peters – Ottanta – (Accidental)
Lokas – Beginningless – (CDR)
The Last Electro Jazz & Wind Ensemble - Waltz For Woody – (CDR)
Calibre – Reach You Everywhere – (CDR)
Martyn – Untitled – (CDR)
Kid Cudi – Day & Night – (CDR)

- - - - - - -

that finn peters is oh my god.

more soon.

Deviation Tonight. .

Los Angeles

The new fly Lo is brilliant. This is the obligatory blog posting that one must do.

Out June 10th.

Taster.... Benji B had a fly Lo deviation special last Thursday evening on 1xtra. LISTEN AGAIN here, to hear the old, the forthcoming and the unreleased. As well as chat with the man himself. Very good listen.

Favourite track at the moment has got to be 'Melt'. Crazy drum pattern.

Deviation Session No.6

Deviation for April. I'l remind nearer the date.

Service sporadic like the district line.

Ge-Ology

Start of 2008 and Benji B is continuing to up his levels. . Always worth checking out so go click the link. . Some of you may remember his Deviation residency at Gramaphone (London). . but either way some of you might be interested to know that February's special guest is none other than Brooklyn's Geology. Benji is worth the admission price alone, but this guy is huge. . if your around London at any time, you owe it to yourself to go and check them out. I didnt put up the flyer . . because of the beauty of the artwork above. but the details are here.

Deviation Session 2 Video

Quick taster video from the 2nd Deviation party @ Gramaphone. Dego, Flying Lotus the special guests.. with Resident Benji B. .

Look out for them.. the first Wednesday of every month.

In The City @ The Weekend. .

A tiny flyer is all I could find, but if your in the capital this Saturday evening you should be aware that it is Need2Soul's last night at The Key.

The venue's class should be apparent from the link, but the music is on a whole new level. For those of you who can't decipher the flyer.. The line up; Joe Claussell, Benji B, Dixon and Sundazes James Priestley. . And there aren't many times you'd find this quality in the same venue.

For Friday Night.. My pick would be over @ The End where Dj Marky is holding another '& Friends' night. Makoto and Bungle will be with him in the main room, while in the lounge Marky will play an alternative set, with support from Phil Asher among others. Details Here.

Just listening to the Marry Anne Hobbs show with 1XTRA d'n'b DJ, Bailey standing in. Definitely worth a listen if you like that moody sound. One of the first plays of Alix Perez's first ever Techno production... LISTEN / Get Tracklist Here.

When they replace that with the new show, I've got an Mp3 if people are interested. Also features a mix from Bristol based hotshot Lomax.

Deviation

Deviation 9/11

Woah. Up till the 16th...

LISTEN AGAIN

Phlash & Friends - Revolution = Solution (Neroli Dubplate)

Zed Bias – Time (Sick Trumpet CDR)

Untitled – Dancing On Holiday (Broadcite CDR)

Chow Daddy – Moxie 12 (Moxie Records)

Nightlife Unlimited – Peaches & Prunes (Ron Hardy Edit) (CDR)

Dego & Kaidi – Come With Me (Extra Freedom Limited)

Flying Lotus – Comet Course Mix 1 (Dubplate)

Theo Parrish – Downstairs (Sound Signature Dubplate)

Upchurch & Tennyson - Don’t I Know You (Kudu)

Chico Hamilton – The Morning Side Of Love (Blue Note)

Mark De-Clive Lowe - Interlude II (Freedom School Japan)

Georgia – Roses (CDR)

Unknown - Day In The Funk (Instrumental) (CDR)

Ron Trent - ‘Its Alright’ (CDR)

Steve Spacek – Mood (CDR)

Dam Funk – Burn Rubber (Baron Zen Remix) (Stones Throw)

Morgan Zarate – 48 Beat (CDR)

Bullion - Get Familiar (CDR)

Guilty Simpson - Get Riches (CDR)

Unknown – The League (Instrumental) (CDR)

Supreme Team – See – Suite (Stones Throw)

Big L – Holding It Down (Flamboyant)

Dilla – Diamonds (Dubplate)

Jill Scott – Breathe (Hidden Beach)

Snowman - Get Some (CDR)

Waajeed - Fat Bottom Girls (CDR)

Saigon ft Jay-Z – Come on Baby (Remix) (CDR)

Dr Dre – L.A. ------ (Instrumental) (Interscope)

Benji B is back

I havent had the chance to listen to this yet.. but it looooks mouthwatering. The scarface is huge as well as the Tony Allen track much later on. Its bound to be a good one, fresh back from some music conference in Canada.

LISTEN HERE

Jay Z ft Nas – Success (White)
Scarface - Girl You Know (Rap-A-Lot)
Wu Tang Clan – Take It Back (SRC)
The El Michaels Affair – Glacier Of Ice (CDR)
Designated Hitters vs Little Brother – Time Of Your Life (Remix) (Scion)
Patti Blinch – Rebel Youth With Skill (CDR)
Mr Complex & Pharaoh Monche - Scream & Shout (Chris Prolific Remix) (CDR)
Flying Lotus – Interference (CDR)
Steve Spacek – Mood (CDR)
J Davey – High Sun (CDR)
Earl Brown – Get Together (Soul Jazz Records)
Timothy McNealy – Sagittarius Black (Truth & Soul)
Bobby Hutcherson – Love Song (Blue Note)
Theo Pomsh – Untitled (Sound Signature CDR)
Nick Holder – Untitled (CDR)
Sacha – Time (NRK Records)
Zachi – Swimming (NRK Records)
Rick Wade – Shamballa (Yore Records)
Hauke Freer – My Beat (Real Soon)
Zed Bias – Time (Sick Trumpet)
Chaz Jankel – Reve De Chevres (Turk Records)
Tony Allen – Kilode (Carl Craig Remix) (Honest Jons)
Waajeed – Untitled (CDR)
Dorion Concept - Untitled (CDR)
Paul White – Untitled (CDR)
Ron Trent – Untitled (CDR)

Deviation 26/10

Domu in for Benji again. Art Bleek with my track of the week, make sure you check it out.. Definitely my sound at the moment..

LISTEN HERE

Slum Village – Zu4u (barak ent)
Dave Mathews – Sandworms (CTI)
Daz Ikue – Think 2007 (Gamm)
Kenny Dope – Get On Down (Dopewax)
Q-Tip – Work It Out (White)
Cro Magnon – Eclipse – (Jazzy Sport)
O’Boogie ft Tableek – Paper Chaser (Rush Hour)
Luna & Bazis – You & Me (Wah Wah)
Linkwood Family – Miles Away (Firecracker)
Dego & Kaidi – A Pair Of Jokers (Zooo Black)
Wanu – Don’t Sleep (Maddslinky Mix) (Tru Thought)
Swell Session & Seiji – Prepared To Go (Freerange)
Mike Dunn – Godmademephunky (Iumabad dub) (CDR)
Simbad – After The Dance (Bugz In The Attic Remix) (Raw Fusion)
Domuforce – Iz It To Be (Treble O)
Zed Bias – Rogue Frequency (Sick Trumpet)
Art Bleek – Broken Sky (CDR)
Mark De Clive Lowe ft Bembe Segue – Let Peace Be Central (Freedom School)
Ricardo Eddy Martinez – Mi Gonga Es Laque Es (Sonar Kollektiv)
Ashley Thomas – Kept On Running (Counterpoint)
Tone Control – 1 Love Thing (Small Arms Fiya Mix) (Tone Control Music)
Chris Barker – The Deez (420 East)
DJ Marin – Love Fantasy (Treble O)
Georgia Anne Muldrew – Killa Peach (Milan)
Restless Soul - Everytime (Raw Fusion)

Deviation 19/10

Domu in for Benji this week.. Still enjoyed the selection. Favourite track probably being the Moter & Adamrock, or possibly the Okino. Whoever they all are.. Domu will be in the same place at the same time next week. . before Benji B returns.

Listen Here for the next Seven days.

Lewis McCallum – Fly Or Die (Antipodean)
Moter & Adamrock ft Beivse Segue – Searching (Columbia Japan)
Jack Sample Pros – Preskryptshun (Fat City)
A Tribute To Diamond - Unknown (Shh edits)
Elektrons – Classic Cliché (Walcofsound/Pias)
Reel Peopleft Omar – Out Of Love (Papa Records)
Domu ft RKW– So Move (Treble O)
Wajeed – Tron (Bling 47)
Dego N Kaidi – Don’t Make Me Hurt You (Zoo Black)
Blackjoy – Metal Bossa (Restless Soul Mix) (Freerange)
I Soul 8 – The Way I Feel – (JuStone Mix) (Neroli)
Afronaught vs Nicole Willis – Holding On (Afro Force Dub) (AJB)
Jose James – IG Culture (Brownswood)
Shuya Okino – Thank You (Sleepwalker Mix) (Geneon)
Nu Era – Robot Moves (Treble)
Bass Clef – It’s Great In E8 (Blank Tapes)
Opolop – All Systems Down (JVC)
Zed Bias – Cottonmouth (Sick Trumpet)
Reel People – It Will Be (Papa)
Eddy Meets Yanna – U & I – (Compost)
Kool & The Gang – Open Sesame (Polydor)
Trus Me – The War E.P (Prime Numbers)
Divinity – Live Together (Woman On Wax)

Deviation 12/10

As per usual, available to listen online until the next show airs.. Picks in Bold. Absolutely love the new Jill Scott material.

LISTEN HERE

J Dilla - Diamonds (CDR)
Pete Rock – Till I Retire (CDR)
Frank’N’Dank – Clap Hands (Morgan Spacek Remix) (White)
Guilty Simpson ft J Dilla – Make It Fast (Stonesthrow)
J-Live - Practice (Spaghetti Bender Mix) (CDR)
Jay Electronica – My World (Nas Salute) (CDR)
El Michels Affair - The Duel Of The Iron Mic (Shaolins7)
Menahan Street Band – Make The Road By Walking (Dunham)
Jay Z – Roc Boys (Roc-A-Fella)
The Heliocentrics – The Oracle (Now Again)
Wu-Tang Clan ft Erykah Badu – The Heart Gently Weeps (CDR)
Jill Scott – My Love (Hidden Beach)
Me’Shell Ndegeocello - The Teaching (Maverick Records)
Timmy Regisford – African Jazz (Shelter Recordings)
Can - Future Days (United Artist)
Elmore Judd – Ultra Busy (Honest Jon)
The Dells - No Way Back (DJ Harvey Edit) (CDR)
Chow Daddy - Untitled (Moxie)
Souled - Dancing on de Holiday (CDR)
Tony Allen – Kilode (Carl Craig) (Honest Jons)
Zed Bias ft Fyza – Rogue Frequency (CDR)
DJ Gregory & Karizma - Don’t Panic (CDR)
Skream – 2-D (Tempa)
The Flying Lotus – Beginners Falafel (Warped Recordings)
Zo – Before Day (CDR)

For those who don't know. Benji B is also the guy behind the deviation parties that i've been talking about. News on the next one here.

Deviation No.2

Second Night from Benji B's residency @ the Gramaphone. Really need to get to one of these. First wednesday of every month, and for the forgetful.. i'l be reminding you nearer the date so don't worry.

Here's a mini-review from the last one.. Courtesy of RWDMag. Skream on the decks.