Specials: Remixes And Versions From Solid Ground

About the SPECIALS
Thanks for purchasing a copy of our new release: The Black Seeds Specials: Remixes & Versions from Solid Ground

For us, this album was an opportunity to present songs from our Solid Ground LP in a new light and encourage experimentation by giving a range of artists, producers, and MC’s - some established, some up and coming, from New Zealand and around the world, a chance to put their take on a ‘Seeds’ song.

It was also an opportunity to officially release some Solid Ground B.side material, and dub and acoustic versions that we recorded during the album sessions.

The end result is a 14-track digital album which mashes up our Solid Ground LP into a huge range of styles and genres – from funk to dubstep to acoustic to electronic and back again. Some tracks have a more familiar ‘Seeds’ sound to them, while some come totally out of left field.

We’ve now begun working on our fifth studio album, which is due for release in 2011. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the Specials.

See more information below, including details about each of the featured artists.
Thanks for your support. The Black Seeds.

The Specials Featured Artists

JStar
Big up’d by the likes of Grandmaster Flash and Norman Jay, the UK’s JStar is widely known for his slick reggae & hip-hop mash-ups. He has been described as “the year’s best pure party shizzle mash up DJ, bar none," and his remixes of ‘Come to Me’ and ‘One Step at a Time’ are sure to put a smile on your face. Check out:
http://www.myspace.com/jstarmusic
http://soundcloud.com/jstar-1

Truth
Fast making a name for themselves on the international Dubstep scene, NZ based trio Truth have been receiving vast DJ support from the likes of Mala, Hatcha, and Skream, as well as airplay on the BBC's Radio One, and Kiss FM. Four of their tracks will soon be released on Skream’s label Disfigured Dubz. Check out their amazing bass-heavy rework of ‘Slingshot’. For more about Truth visit: http://www.myspace.com/truthdubstep
http://soundcloud.com/truthdubstep

Downtown Brown
Member of the Sunshine Sound System, owner of Queenstown club Subculture, and acclaimed NZ DJ Downtown Brown’s production work and addictive live sets have turned heads both here and overseas. His killer ‘NYC Movin 12”’ was selected to be the tune of the month in both iDJ and Mixmag. Check out his scorching remix of our Solid Ground track ‘Make a Move’, featuring MC’s Mighty Asterix and fellow Sunshine Sound System member MC Switch. For more info about Downtown Brown visit: www.myspace.com/sunshinesoundsystemnz
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18840781187




Frost & Wagner
Berlin-based producers Frost & Wagner have made a name for themselves through their ability to blend innovative reggae-based productions with genres such as soul, jazz, and hip hop. Check out their dark, electronica re-working of our track ‘Take Your Chances’, and then check out:
http://frostandwagner.com
www.myspace.com/frostundwagner

International Observer
‘Deeply dubby’, ‘bass heavy’, ‘gorgeously seductive’… These are all phrases used to describe the genius that is UK producer International Observer. Perpetrated by Tom Bailey of the extraordinarily successful Thompson Twins; International Observer continues to produce instrumentally lush sounds that push the boundaries of dub. Check out his remix of our track ‘Come to Me’, and then check out his latest album Felt, and new EP Popcorn Slavery:
http://www.myspace.com/internationalobserver

The Mighty Asterix
NZ’s favourite reggae MC, The Mighty Asterix has been key in spreading the reggae vibes in both NZ and Australia over the past 20 years. He helped introduce ‘soundsystem culture’ to NZ in the ‘80s and features on both Downtown Brown’s remix of ‘Make a Move’, and a new version of ‘Come To Me’, which also features his son MC Desta. For more info check out:
http://www.myspace.com/themightyasterix

D-Duff:
20-year old Wellington producer D-Duff, AKA Damian Duffy, was the first of our two remix competition winners for his heavy re-working of our Solid Ground track ‘Rotten Apple’. Now based in Christchurch, D-Duff is also a member of up and coming NZ reggae act Merchants of Flow who are currently working on their debut album. Check out more D-Duff here:
http://soundcloud.com/damian-duffy .

D-TOX:
Hailing from California, D-TOX is the second of our remix competition winners. We love how his impressive re-working of ‘Rotten Apple’ takes this Solid Ground track somewhere completely new. We’re looking forward to hearing this in the club!
www.youtube.com/user/AdamGowerMusic

Radio Riddler
Radio Riddler is a two man production team featuring Fast and Frank from US band, Fun Lovin' Criminals. Radio Riddler’s love for all things reggae shines through with their upbeat re-working of our Solid Ground track ‘Make a Move’. 2011 will see the release of their dubbed up reggae version of Prince’s Purple Rain, as well as a reggae tribute to Marvin Gaye:
http://www.myspace.com/radioriddler

Reality Chant:
Reality Chant is a NZ-based label and collective spearheaded by Gabriel ‘Messenjah’ Calcott, also the producer behind Christchurch’s Dubwize. Their new version of our Solid Ground track ‘Love Is A Radiation’, called ‘Little Sunshine’, features fellow Reality Chant member David Levi (aka Papa Levi), as well as Christchurch-based vocalist Porina. For more on Reality Chant, or to check out their newly released album Kings Highway, visit:
http://www.myspace.com/realitychant

MC Ishu
Jamaican born MC Ishu is now based in the UK after moving to London in the ‘80s to record with seminal punk band The Slits. On the Specials he adds his sublime vocals to JStar’s re-working of ‘Come to Me’. He’s also a member of UK live dance act Step 13 - who have stormed UK venues from East London's Cargo to Bristol's Clockwork, and performed at festivals such as Glastonbury, and Secret Garden: http://www.step13.co.uk/


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