Ska Blah Blah

Ska Blah Blah: Small Talk Episode 01 - Victor Axelrod

Posted on April 15th, 2008 by JJ Loy.
Categories: interviews, podcasts.

Your eyes have not deceived you- It is a new series for Ska Blah Blah. This time around, the interviews are a bit shorter and the artists are a bit newer. I’ve also broadened the focus from mere Ska Revivalism to a more encompassing umbrella of Jamaican Revivalism. This is to better fit with this millennium’s crop of bands and DJ’s.

I’m starting off strong with my interview with Victor Axelrod, but subscribe to the feed and you’ll automatically get interviews with The Impalers, Babylon Party Machine, The Aggrolites, and The Green Room Rockers as they become available.

Multi-instrumentalist, producer and Dub mixologist, Victor Axelrod isn’t quite a household name, even if you live in the hippest of households. He’s worked with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Antibalas, Easy Star All-Stars, Lily Allen, and even Amy Winehouse- so it isn’t like he’s shying away from the spotlight. However, Axelrod’s love of pseudonyms has at times prevented audiences from connecting the dots of his work. His newest solo record seeks to reconcile this by featuring a virtual soundclash between himself and his better known alias, Ticklah.

I spoke with Victor about making retro music, working with Victor Rice, and of course his newest solo record, Ticklah Vs. Axelrod.

Ticklah Vs. Axelrod is out now on Easy Star Records where you can purchase the cd or digital download LINK

National Geographic’s Podcast Interview with Ticklah LINK

Wishtank’s bit about Ticklah’s Don’t Trip Studio with lot’s of extra info LINK

Rock Paper Scissors bit about Ticklah with a great review and press pack goodies LINK

Be friends with the man himself at MySpace LINK

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Dub Online: Flash Game Makes You the DJ

Posted on January 4th, 2008 by JJ Loy.
Categories: Ska Online.

I found this site a few years ago, and quickly lost track of it. Only because of serendipitous searching has it found it’s way to my bookmarks list.

It’s Infinite Wheel, a Flash-based series of Games that puts you in the DJ drivers seat. There are 10 games in all, each with multiple riddim tracks and packed with friendly cartoon characters and urban landscapes that, when clicked, fire off signature dub FX. There is no goal to the games except executing your own track without dropping the beat.

It’s a blast! However, I’d like to see this idea expanded upon in just two ways: While the cartoony interface is fun, I’d go crazy for an interface that simply represented the mixing board. You know, a true Dub Simulator. And the main drawback to the Infinite Wheel games is the lack of record-ability. How cool would it be to carve out a flawless Dub track on IW and then export the song to show off to your friends?

Here’s the Link you’ll need, just click the different characters to play their game.

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Dub Online: NPR profiles Reggae Ice Cream Truck

Posted on January 4th, 2008 by JJ Loy.
Categories: Ska Online, npr.

The spirit of the Sound System is alive and well as evidenced by Aurelito and Shakespeare’s tricked out, 1960’s era ice cream truck. Instead of selling Bomb Pops and poorly designed sherbet on a stick, these LA DJ’s sling cds and spin vinyl for the neighborhood kids.

Get the whole story from this 2004 Day to Day segment. Link

Fans of my favorite blog, Boing Boing, might recognize the name in this story’s byline is that of the host of Boing Boing TV, Xeni Jardin. Not only does she have the hottest voice to regularly grace NPR, but she is easily the foxiest of all the BB.net editors. But we love her for her mind, of course. She brings a unique perspective to tech journalism by focusing on the cultural side of science. Yes, I’m a Ska Geek, but I’m also a Geek Geek.

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Secret Victor Rice DVD

Posted on December 10th, 2007 by JJ Loy.
Categories: video.

If you would be so kind as to remember the second episode of Conversations on a Revivalist Movement, you’d recall Victor Rice describing the mechanics of bringing studio Dub into a live venue. He also mentioned that a DVD was being produced to feature his live performance.

This has generated more inquiries than almost any other topic. Kids from all over the world have written me, trying to track down this DVD for themselves. Well, I’ve got good news and bad news. The Good: The DVD is done. The Bad: it’s not for sale, Victor uses it for promotion not profit. More Good: I have a copy, and it’s rad.

I understand Mr. Rice’s decision to not give the live show an official release; the camera is static for half of the show, and Victor’s face is obscured by shadows, almost completely. This is not the type of DVD to make a big splash at Tower Records- there’s no interviews or guest appearences, no clever editing or new release tie-ins. This is what it is: Victor Rice at the sound board, running reel-to-reels of his production work and Dubifying every beat.

And who wants marketability anyways. This is the mysterious Guru of Jamaican Revivalism giving us a glimpse of his process. Lee Perry and Mad Professor would do everything they could to keep their signature Dub techniques a secret, but Rice allows us behind the mixer to see how Dub gets done. And it is absolutely amazing.

I predict that this DVD will become what so many Ska and Reggae videos have already, a hard to find cult masterpiece. All of the ingredients are there.

PS Do not ask me for a copy, it’s not mine to give.

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02 - Victor Rice - Conversations on a Revivalist Movement

Posted on March 3rd, 2007 by JJ Loy.
Categories: interviews, podcasts.

This edition features the words and music of Victor Rice. Recorded in Sept. of ‘06, from his home in Sao Paulo, Rice talks about his early career in the NYC Ska scene, and the work he did for Moon Records and Version City. In the 90’s, Rice was a prolific producer and bassist for such bands as The Scofflaws, Mephiskapheles, New York Ska Jazz Ensemble, and many more. We also discuss some of his lesser known projects, his current work as a Dub engineer in Brazil, and the future of Samba Rocksteady.

Other Links of interest:
- Rice’s Resume
- A place to get Age of Insects
- Get music from Victor
- A place to get many of the records Rice has produced

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