Basement Jaxx - "Galatical"

If you have ever checked out my blog before, you will know that I am a huge fan of Basement Jaxx. Their seventh album "Junto" was released on August 25th in the UK and is another entry into their amazing back catalogue! It will be live when they tour later in the autumn where I and thousands of others will feel the true power of the Jaxx as it is in that environment that they thrive! The track "Galactical" is a bonus track that features on special editions of the album. An aspect of Basement Jaxx that maybe isn't talked about often enough is the amazing set of visuals they have consistently bought to the table. The video for "Galactical" features a Japanese dance troupe called Wrecking Crew Orchestra. It is one of those things that you can imagine will be amazing when it is featured in the live element, because of the illuminating lights that the dance troupe feature in this performance. The song is obviously great, but this is the type of video that makes me super-excited for when I will catch them at the O2 later in the year!

New Cross Music Crawl/The British Class - 28th August 2014

New Cross Crawl/The British Class by Johnni Lightning on Mixcloud

On Thursday 28th August 2014 at 9.30pm at The Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6TY it will be the launch night of The British Class club night! This will be the after-party of the New Cross Music Crawl, which will be an amazing night of music. So to celebrate and promote this I have composed a 30 minute mix. Here's some details: Track 1: Billy & The No Mates - "Dreadnought" - One of the acts that will feature at the Crawl. A garage-rock/jams band. Track 2: Soundacity - "Mama Aura". This group is based in London, but their music is a fusion of Colombia, Andean music, nature, rock and digital sounds. Felipe Duarte will be performing an acoustic set on the night. Track 3: Edit/Select - "Palm" - This band will be concluding the Crawl at The Amersham Arms. They are an alternative/indie band from SE London. There is something uplifting about "Palm" which made me want to highlight it on this mix. It then segues into... Track 4: Basement Jaxx - "Where's Your Head At" - They are the band I have watched in concert the most. They are such a great example of British music. So diverse, so much energy. If you have caught them live, you'll know that this track is a real energy moment! Track 5: Audio Bullys - "We Don't Care" - There's a punky attitude to this track, in a similar vein to "Where's Your Head At?" I love the delivery of the vocals. Track 6: The Prodigy - "Breathe" - If you're going to make a mix of British music, you need The Prodigy! They're another act who have such an amazing live performance. "The Fat of the Land" was the first album that Keith Flint provided vocals on. It was also their international breakthrough album, reaching number 1 in America. Track 7: Plan B - "Ill Manors Remix" - Plan B in my opinion is the greatest British rapper of all-time. And an amazing singer. "Ill Manors" is amazing, but The Prodigy remix adds a little extra to it. Track 8: Boy Better Know - "Too Many Man" - So many times this is a sentiment I've felt in the club! The fact this track has a great sense of humour with a banging beat makes it quintessentially British! Track 9: Calvin Harris - "The Girls" - There is a kind of Benny Hill feeling to this track, the way the different types of girls are listed. But it's an example, when British artists do tracks about getting lots of girls, it's done in a playful way! Track 10: Cooly G - "What Airtime" - Highlighting the fact Britain has superb female producers this track is off Cooly G's Hyperdub album "Playin Me". The way I'd describe this track is dark UK funky. Track 11: Jessie Ware - "Running (Disclosure Remix)" Jessie Ware is one of those singers whose wonderful voice seems to have been featured in so many places recently, including on Disclosure's "Settle". I have a soft spot for Disclosure as they grew up in Reigate, like I did. Plus they make amazing music! So there it is. An explanation of my mix. The British Class launch night will be a great night. Make sure you come down to The Amersham Arms to check it out!

Basement Jaxx - "Never Say Never"

Basement Jaxx are my favourite British act. I have lost count of the amount of times I have seen them live! Whichever setting I have been able to witness them live it has always been an amazing experience; whether that has been in a packed Brixton Academy, on a lovely summer's evening at Somerset House or re-interpreting their extensive back catalogue with the Metropole Orkfest orchestra. It was after the gig with the Orkfest that I was lucky enough to run into Felix Buxton and engage in a 5 minute conversation with him. He was still buzzing after hearing the amazing interpolation of their work, yet he was kind and courteous and was an advert for meeting your heroes. Tickets went on sale today for their run of dates in November/December in the UK and once again I will be excited to see them. I'll be going to see them in London at the O2 Arena. If you have never seen them in a live setting you really need to! Amazing music, part DJ set, part carnival, with a powerful cast of rotating singers and general craziness! The tour will be to promote their seventh album "Junto", which is due for release on 25 August. A couple of tracks have dropped; the latest being "Never Say Never", which features ETML on vocals. It's one of those Jaxx tracks that is gentler and has a feeling behind the words. As well as the party starters that make people go mad such as "Where's Your Head At" or "Jump and SHout" Basement Jaxx have always done mellow feeling tracks really well and this is another continuation of that. One other thing they have done amazingly through their distinguished career is introduce new vocalists to a wider audience and they have done this again with Londoner ETML, AKA Elliott Marshall. I can't wait to catch this uplifting track live in December!

Basement Jaxx - Romeo

Basement Jaxx. The act I have seen the most times live in my life. Last year I was even lucky enough to have a conversation with Felix Buxton for 5 minutes at the conclusion of Basement Jaxx vs Metropole Orkest, which was probably the most amazing experience of my life!

Romeo is my favourite track (closely followed by Good Luck). The Jaxx have always featured predominantly female vocalists. A quote from Felix in an interview given to www.skiddle.com explains.
"We write from the male perspective and switch it round by giving it a female vocal, changing the gender gives it a different meaning from a different psyche, it flips the meaning."


I always love the 1st single from second albums. It is the one that answers so many questions about whether this band is a Klaxons flash-in-the-pan or an act that will have longevity such as The Jaxx. When I first heard "Romeo" I loved it instantly. I love the yearning and heartfelt confusion in Kele Le Roc's sultry vocal and the pounding, but soulful house beat. And what an amazing video! The song has an eastern edge to it and when the video was revealed it captured this feeling perfectly.


The best thing about Basement Jaxx is their live act. It is a mixture of a rave, concert, topped off with a revolving cast of amazing female singers. They may not be selling as many records these days, but live is where they live and I can't wait to catch them live again!