Episode 13: Oak style flooring with a Khaki and Orange Colour Scheme

Well Podfans, the Medium Wave Fun-Bus has pulled into a well known UK 'Leisure complex' and Episode 13 is upon us. Press play on the PodPlayer at the top of the page and browse our extensive facilities, or read on for the full brochure.

Here is DJ Rules to tell you about some of the gramophone records he played on the show:

DJ Rules Writes:
"Mines a single malt...hep cats, beatmakers and soul breakers welcome one and all to Medium Wave episode 13. As you will know DJ Rules is a man not scared to show his love so I open my arms to you all and say don your leisure suit, slip on those free slippers and pad on down to the Medium Wave leisure complex. You can check in anytime and we offer a range of family friendly activities...bookable in advance of course with a valid credit card and copy of the Daily Mail. First off may I introduce you to Shafiq Husayn head of light entertainment and soul soaring hip hop beats. We play "Push" from the album Jank Random Vs Earl Leonne. Check out more at http://www.myspace.com/leossun"


"Over at the Medium Wave Cafe le Dysfunctionale we have the ever helpful Thee Oh Sees serving up a healthy family platter of wild garage rock with a delightful surf topping. Check out their low carb menu at http://www.myspace.com/ohsees And remember moms for every copy of "Ruby Go Home" you order Medium Wave will give you a free Kids colouring pack of favourite stills from that Disney classic 'Look Mom Hannah is a Whore'

"Once your belly is full why not slide on over to the Medium Wave bar and join mein host the Dukes of Stratosphear. Renowned for their friendly welcome and only recently returned from a highly successful Cruise Ship tour let the boys spin away your clogged artieries and help you eat your monkey mind with the cocktail classic "My Love Explodes" Find their summer schedule at http://www.xtcidearecords.co.uk/ And I have to say the album is very well modelled by Dr Volume and his somewhat Morriseyesque chin!!"

"So there you go people its always 25 o clock at the Medium Wave leisure complex...and no we don't offer a checkout facility but then why would you want to do that....Donuts to ya all ..DJ Rules head of housekeeping and tobacco supplies"

Thank you DJ Rules, and now here is Dr Volume to tell you about the noises that came out of his computer when he pressed the button marked "Music".

"I'll have a Krombacher, and get us some Peanuts would you? I've just realised if you click my link to the Krombacher Website it plays 'Belfast Child' by Simple Minds as one might imagine Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits might play it. I find that somewhat disturbing. I hope DJ Rules doesn't listen to it, as it may bring back haunting memories of his woodland Utopia. Anyway, I played some music on the Podcast too! 'Selina's Melodie Fountain' by the hugely unsung Serena Maneesh, was one of them. This lot get accused of being Shoegaze revivalists but while the lurching guitars and FX-laden production obviously nod toward My Bloody Valentine there is a Stones-esque swagger and giddy Pop sensibility to this which is more....Stargazing than Shoegazing. "


"I also played a remix of a Débruit track by Alfred Weisberg-Roberts aka Daedelus. Not only has he done a fine job of mashing up the wonkiest Gallic Hip-Hop with New Order's 'Perfect Kiss' he also sports some quite splendid sideburns which would make both Mike Nesmith and Richard O'Sullivan of 'Robin's Nest' fame quite jealous."


"Manchester Funksters A Certain Ratio featured in our 'Warm Baguette...or Mouldy Old Dough' spot this week. The result is somewhat predictable as I still feel a certain loyalty to the band I've followed for over 20 years. They have been through enough stylistic and line-up changes to earn the title of the 'Fleetwood Mac' of Post-punk. It is fair to say that at times they have tested my loyalty! They do actually have a new LP out which has been available for a few months but you can't buy it in the shops and as yet its only available on import from Son De Marquis. Its a mixed-bag of a record which references the past a lot, and I agree with my co-presenter that there is a bit too much thrown into the mix and it would be great to hear Ratio pare it down a bit.
ACR Live is another matter entirely, and if you haven't seen them play before you really should go aong and see how Cowbells were meant to be walloped. You can catch them at the Deaf Instiute in Manchester on 24 May and the fab Brudenell Club in Leeds in 4 July. More dates here".

"Finally, DJR explained to me that his post includes a reference to Hannah Montana. I had little concept of this charmless, Aryan, Disneyfied Bimbotron until I saw her on Jonathan Ross last Fiday. I can only urge that if yer kids insist on seeing her new movie that you also get them the original 'Fame' and 'Saturday Night Fever' on DVD which have good singalong songs, and also have a meaningful plot, a bit of gritty realism and Non-White people in them."

Listen with DJ Rules and Dr Volume

Well said Dr Volume!. Also worth mentioning that the Four Tet track is a collaboration with the Sa Ra Collective and, man, we are talking a far out tune. Its going to turn your toes to jelly and your eyes to ice cream...you'll wake up at a children's party being served as the pudding whilst whistling a Sore Eros tune. Seriously people this show is a killer, and the Mind on Fire Guys are about to let loose some serious beat abuse in the Manchester area...watch this space mes amies..

Keep on looking under those carpets ...DJ Rules carpet beater extraordinaire.

Episode 12 Coming Soon.

Episode 12 has now been digitized and will be up here for your listening pleasure just as soon as Dr Volume has removed all the libellous, scandalous and rubbish bits. It will almost certainly feature music by Quincy Bright, Four Tet, Cheapskate, Thomas Dolby, Move D, Bauhaus, Super Furry Animals, the jaw-dropping new single by Tim Exile and many many more.
Plus we have our special guest from the Mind Of Fire collective with news of their various exciting cultural happenings down Manchester way. Stay tuned, its gonna be a belter.

My people - Episode 11

My people were wobbly and had flowers in their hair....beat abusers, accoustic soundscapers and downright wrong'uns gather and shake those copies of the guardian for we refuse to be labelled... we come to dip our furry toes in the pool of Medium Wave. Yes, episode 11 is amongs us and what a treat of aural impudence it is. Some of DJ Rules highlights include (on my left) that electro classic COD, In the Bottle. A full on effect 1983 electro stromer of Gill Scott Herons tune with a little bit of the smurf mixed in for added head spinning. Found a great site the other day which has collected stacks of the old NYC early rap and hip hop flyers from around 79 to 85...check out http://toledohiphop.org/images/old_school_source_code/
On the more furry feet tip I can only say get out folksters and purchase your copy of the new Sore Eros album. Ethereal, celestial and all those other ials that DJ Rules loves to snuggle up with on a chilly Spring evening. Stand out tracks include, In my Heart and Lips Like Wine, the latter a little like being dipped in warm chocolate and then whispered dry by a collection of French au-pairs. http://www.myspace.com/soreeros


Yann Kesz was a real treat and I could have pretty much picked any one of the thirteen sublime wobbly hip hop/disco edits on this platter. It came out in 2007 and is another formidable from the French beats scene. Featuring Eagle Nebula, Lorett Fleur, Karim Nazem, DJ Suspect, LMNO, LD and Boddhi Sativa its on the Tradvibe label which can be found at http://www.tradvibe.fr



Finally I doff my rather jaunty Kangol hat to the Reggae and Dub pioneer Mr Dennis Bovell. Now DJ Rules is no part time sucker and he respects true talent and innovation so I say arise Sir Bovell aka Blackbeard and stand proud. From the Slits to I Roy, the Pop Group through Madness, Dennis has played that desk like a true believer. We played Electrocharge from the Blackbeard album I Wah Dub and I suggest you find a horizontal position and let the UK Dub Master take over...... http://www.myspace.com/dennisbovell

Well beautiful people thats DJ Rules on the blog letting you know where my hat is at. Keep on listening, send in comments, send us records and stay believers. Peace Dub and Flowers ...

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

DJ Rules on the cameraphone

Ok suckers in the donut shop your daddy has picked out a few select cuts for your viewing pleasure....so here we go. First off the Ras G album African Space programme...got to be the most creative and challenging album I have heard in years, spaced out on a Sun Ra vibe and mixing up jazz, soul, techno, dub n pure bass with the odd folk leaning its circulating around DJ Rules inner sanctum at present.

Next up a rollers classic Gong and Radio Gnome...man its got a pixie in a tea pot on the cover and they jam on space rock...medium wave classic all over.

Finally my good sugar munchers we have the essence of DJ Rules and its the P and P (you know Mr Adams and Brown) productions Cloud One, Funky Disco Tracks...Grandpa Rules tells me this one used to shake the paradise garage to its knees !!!! Its soaring, cheeky, rude and a delight to be with...a DJ Rules favourite every time and even better that the good Doctor dislikes it...far too happy for that miserable old shoe gazer....peace and big hats to you..Im off for a cup of tea x

The joy and how to find it ........

So......DJ Rules wraps his fingers around the cigarette paper and rolls his digits and mind to the rhythm of the joy and how to find it. You my friend will know the joy, its that moment when you hold an unknown wonderous melody, tune or bassline in your soul and melt and envelope within it...it may only last seconds, if lucky minutes and if walking in big mans shoes perhaps a whole hour...but thats rare. I found it last week when discovering the Akron/Family album and the song Love is Simple (refrain) I placed the needle on the groove and that was it...THE JOY...I searched for two hours in the local record store for the joy yesterday...nothing. Single after single, album after album, going deeper and deeper and in the same process seemingly moving further and further away. The joy seems to hold no indicators, its seldom repeated by the same artist, you can look in elusive corners and its behind you in the 50p singles, its in your friends sisters collection whilst your talking with her brother about the latest nu folk release, it sneaks up with no calling as you flick and dig and then BANG ...the JOY...

It came today in its usual innocuous slightly bemuddled manner...I had noticed a record with a bright orange sleeve sitting on the floor behind the counter at piccadilly records. It had been there for the past two weeks sat in the same place just out of clear vision. Bright orange, on the floor, watching me. And it happened, a simple sentence...."whats that on the floor" a simply reply "Oh thats some weird secret promo thing we had in, had lots of them but they all went quick dont really know why thats still there" an exchange of looks built up over the past 20 years ..."Do you want to listen to it" needle...record and JOY JOY JOY ...

So dear listener DJ Rules invites you to share this new JOY on the next show Im sure you will share my delight and until then keep digging, keep looking, keep listening and keep loving.

Peace and anagrams, its a clue!

DJ Rules