The Tone Deaf Monkey talks...

Well, it was over a year ago that due to other commitments I decided to close this website down for a month or two.....funny how time just slips away sometimes! First of all a big welcome back to old friends and hello to those that are looking on here for the first time. Going to keep this first blog type offering fairly short, as frankly I'd be surprised if anybody is actually still reading. As the year is rapidly nearing it's end here's my quick lookback at 2011........

The Lows...

Personally the low point of 2011 was making the decision to end 'Move On Rare Soul Club' a monthly soul night very much focused on playing lesser known, rare and underplayed sounds from across all the genres of soul music. After running Move On with fellow co-promoter Matt Male for two and a half years we decided that it was time to, erm move on. Massive thanks to the very loyal regulars and to all the DJs who graced the decks, in particular our resident DJ Pat Bleasdale. I'm not sure there are enough people left on the UK scene with an interest in fresh sounds to make rare soul nights feasible anymore? Plenty that talk a good talk on various forums but far too few actually manage to drag themselves off the sofa to go and support venues.

The Highs...

May 13th and I found myself in Leeds city centre where I was booked to play a guest DJ spot at a night called 'Empty Bottles'. Hot, atmospheric venue and a dance floor packed with people in their 20s and 30s who are absolutely intent on having a good time.........what a superb feeling it is to cue in a record and look over to the dance floor and see that, so so different to the average soul night. At 3am it's all finished and my good mate and usual travelling companion Kev and I are buzzing, its a 2min walk to our Travelodge but a quick detour to secure smokes, drink and food mean we actually get into our room close to 5am! We manage about 3 hours sleep and then spend several hours looking around a record fair before it's time to head towards Stoke and the best nighter of them all Bidds. Where I'm guest DJing or meant to be because by now I'm feeling like death, a 10min stop at the services stretches to a little over 3 hours as we've both fallen asleep in the car! We manage to get to Bidds at a reasonable time and the music is fantastic, the atmosphere is electric and I'm feeling great again! When I first started DJing about 5 years ago my only ambition was to get the chance to DJ at Bidds, it's always been my favourite nighter and the buzz as I cued in the first of my spins and spouted some rubbish over the mic was immense. Mace, you smelly old git...thank you :)

The Record....

I toyed with picking 2 or 3 records as my choice of best 'new to me' sound for 2011 but this one stands in it's own league. I first heard this via 'Godzilla' on Soul Source who posted it in a top tip thread and it blew me away, in times like this google is your friend and a bit of searching meant I was soon the proud owner of a gospel LP by Martha Bass (mother of Fontella) titled 'Rescue Me' and track 1, side 1 is now an everpresent in my playlists....

Martha Bass - Since I've Been Born Again