BosBos.net - embrace the sub-culture » Blog Archive » Vintage Solid Steel: PC Via Josephine/Coldcut Meet Jean Jacques Perry

A mixed bag (aren’t they all ‘mixed’ bags?) here, but quality assured nonetheless. PC returns to the shores of bosbos.net yet again with ‘Via Josephine’, and we’re more than happy to accomodate him. And what’s this? Jean Jacques Perry turning up along with Coldcut for a natter? The only thing to improve this wonderful listening experience would be a nice cup of tea. Go make yourself one while you’re downloading the goodness, and make us one too while you’re there, won’t you?

PC - Via Josephine Parts 1-3 TX: 15/6/97: PC takes the lion’s share of the classic material this week with the three part ‘Via Josephine’ session from 1997 that I found in a box marked ‘to be sorted’. This is typical PC - a DAT with no info save for the title but unmistakably him once you press play. He was always happiest when given time to stretch out and do his own thing and this was probably recorded in his home studio because of the title on the tape. He used to live on Josephine Avenue in Brixton and named his studio ‘Via Joe’, it was here that the bulk of his mid to late 90’s output was created.

The sets incorporate his trademark Boss delay pedal, spoken word, Jazz, Music Concréte, Drum & Bass and heavy beats, all sew together so seamlessly that it’s impossible to tell the joins. His mastery of the art of DJing never ceases to amaze me as his style is extremely musical but instinctive too, no surprise that he went on to his position in the Cinematic Orchestra. He’s never flashy, preferring subtlety that is evident on repeated listens but always riding the rhythm and aware of the space around or within a track. Also he’s not afraid to let things breathe, if there’s a space he doesn’t always have to fill it (something I’m guilty of), even leaving silence occasionally - a rarity in DJ sets these days.

Coldcut Meet Jean Jacques Perry TX: mid 1997 Seeing as there are only 90 minutes on this DAT (the show aired on 15/06/97 with a preceding 30 minutes from myself which has not been found yet) we round up the session with Coldcut meet Jean Jacques Perry. This occurred in early 1997, at their Spacelab studio in the old Ninja HQ in Clink St. (now luxury flats with a Starbucks underneath). E.V.A. was enjoying a huge revival as the soundtrack to a Lucozade commercial and Moog, Easy Listening and Music Concréte were all back in vogue. Jean Jacques was promoting the reissue of the track and playing his first gigs for years. Matt Black had recently acquired three huge Korg PS3300’s, was deep into his analogue kit and instantly struck up a rapport (Richard James would later buy one of the Korgs from him when studio space grew tight). Music is kept to a minimum but what JJ has to say about his working methods pre-sampling is fascinating. I’ve included a piece that ran in the NME shortly after and a shot of the cassette Matt talks about which contains unreleased material including a storming version of ‘Sunny’ and even some proto-rave tracks (!) from the year before.

Strictly Kev

Podcast: PC - Via Josephine (Parts 1+2) (18/07/2008 Show)

Download: PC - Via Josephine (Part 3) (23mins)

Download: Coldcut Meet Jean Jacques Perry (30mins)

Tracklisting

PC - Via Josephine (Parts 1+2)