Two Culture Clash compilation set for August release
Kevin Jackson, Observer writer
Friday, April 30, 2004
Mark Jones (left) from Wall of Sound UK; Steve Daggor, manager of pop band Spandau Ballet (second left); Jon Baker from Gee Jam studios Jamaica; and British businessman Guru Ganneson (right) at the launch of Two Culture Clash compilation in London.
Gee Jam studio's head honcho, Jon Baker, has revived his Gee Street Records imprint with the release of Two Culture Clash, a compilation album featuring dancehall and Reggae acts riding electronic beats. The compilation is the label's first major project in a while and it features the works of several European-based electronic music producers.
The project was launched a week ago in London at the offices of the Jamaican High Commission, and according to Gee Jam's publicist, Jade Lee of Jade Promotions, "it's a meshing of electronic music and dancehall/Reggae".
"It's an amazing album and we just launched it last week in London. We are very excited about it as it crosses all barriers, age and colour. It's very diversified," Lee said.
Electronic music has been making a major impact in Europe and North America for years, thanks to acts including Moby, Crystal Method, Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx and Tricky.
The Two Culture Clash compilation is a joint venture between the UK-based Wall of Sound label and Gee-Street Records. The compilation is due for release internationally on August 2. Among the acts featured are Barrington Levy, Innocent Kru, Tanya Stephens, Bling Dawg, Big Youth, Ward 21, Spragga Benz, Nadine Sutherland, Ce'Cile, General Degree, Danny English and Ernest Ranglin.
Baker's interest in Reggae developed back in the 1970s when as a teenager he was influenced by the works of King Tubby and Tappa Zukie among others. He began selling 12-inch vinyl records from the trunk of his motor vehicle and started Gee Street Records in 1985. He later moved the label's offices from London to New York, USA. In 1990 he entered into a joint venture with Island Records' Chris Blackwell and he became head of A&R at both Island and Gee Street, where he signed Carlene Davis, Beenie Man, Luciano, Stereo MCs, Doug E Fresh and PM Dawn, among others.
Baker left Island in 1996 and formed V2 Records. In 2000, he sold the label and moved to Jamaica where he started the Gee Jam studios in Portland.
"We underwent a two-year development of artistes since Gee Jam started. We are also about to launch Ford Recordings. I am presently in the midst of negotiating to buy back Gee Street to re-launch it for the release of the Two Culture Clash project," Baker said.
He said he decided to start a project featuring Jamaican artistes on electronic rhythms, because "I think we've got something major here. I am pretty renowned as an A&R man in rhythmic crossover music. My track record speaks for itself so I came up with an idea that can fit into the Jamaican entertainment scene, and one that can further promote Jamaican acts internationally. Relocating from Europe and spending lots of time in the US, I linked up with electronic music producers and brought them to my studio here in Jamaica. With assistance from Jade Promotions, I listened to the records and decided who would be best to work with for the project and which DJs to work with. I am convinced that we are at the forefront of a new genre which is going to be popular in future years."
Some of the international electronic producers who worked on Two Culture Clash include Dynamite, DJ Gregory, and Cassius from France. Baker said that a follow-up to Two Culture Clash will start later this year.
"We are already getting offers from producers who want to be involved in volume two of the project. Chemical Brothers and Fat Boy Slim have indicated their interest to participate," he said.
The Two Culture Clash compilation will be launched in Jamaica at the Quad in New Kingston.
