Brussels to Manchester

Stop sniffing that shiny plastic and lend me your ears for a moment. Pull up a chair, that's it....a little closer, for I am going to tell you a story. Perhaps you should close your eyes...now picture a young DJ Rules. A handsome Mancunian rascal of, dare I say 13 years old, on his first trip to alien shores. A camping trip to France and Belgium, very exotic in that kind of 1980s "people like us aren't meant to do this kind of thing" type way. Aspirational would perhaps be the better term.
This trip was a mere day or so after I had come into close physical contact with Siouxsie at the Apollo and my young heart was full of wonder, my trousers full of magic and my aspirational pockets very empty. Most of my "spends" had gone on nasty miniature bottles of Vodka, Gin and Whisky on the boat along with supplies of French Gaspers and dibs on a share of good quality continental porn. So...we arrive on a coach in Brussels, twenty innocent rascals and chancers, given rather generously and somewhat foolishly 3 hours to have a look at the sights "be back on time" ...yeah mate sure we will.

Now DJ Rules at 13 already had the joy coursing through his youthful veins and of course found himself in Brussels finest vinyl emporium. A world of import wonders before me, a belly full of joy and empty pockets. What's a resourceful scamp to do but utilise his fine mind in planning to remove records from the shop without intruding on the counter staff or tills. These were the days of limited intercontinental travel my friends, and a commotion of 6 Mancunian teenagers arguing loudly and shoving each other was certainly distraction enough for the sly boy Rules to sidle out of the shop with Siouxsie and the Banshees-Once Upon a Time Stories and David Bowie-Live...to name a few! Beating a hasty retreat to the local bench we managed to clear a good half of the miniature mixers stock and had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon flirting with Brussels beauties....oh those days. And yes, dear reader I still have the records and will indeed post a picture of said items with the original Belgian Franc price stickers.

So onto contemporary matters I hope you enjoyed the Anagram Jam tunes, I believe a very very limited release (69 vinyl only) from Andy Votel's Finders Keepers label. A great all round package with fantastic artwork (see orange sleeve above). Jaunty felt hats off to those fellas. The Norwegian dub ('Manna-Salma I Dub'. Record shown above) was an interesting find and has kept my head nodding for many a night, you can find out more at http://www.smartpatrol.no/.
I love the simplicity of the tracks particularly refreshing after hearing the new Disrupt album..the best dub is often very simple in DJ Rules book. Finally the Anthony Valdez track was a real treat of pure soulful hip-hop with the beats coming from those Flying Lotus guys who seem to have their sticky fingers in every pie at present. Its a 7-inch on the recordbreakin.com label, one of the best; putting it our there in a wonky soulful way. Previous releases include the delightful Kissy Asplund and DJ Junior.

Enjoy the new show people and as the man Curtis says "stay a believer". Peace and joy to you all....now get your nose back into the shiny wax!! The man Rules with big love to the Big Toes and Mungo's Gang...the future is in the north...Tak