This show aired just over 20 years ago and was the product of a tour to Australia and New Zealand the previous year, showcasing a lot of the music I’d been given or bought from groups largely indigenous to those shores. Opening with the Bamboo Shack version of the Limp Twins’ ‘Another Day In The Life of Mr. Jones’ on Tru Thoughts – a long time record box staple – played by The Bamboos, a remix/rework that no doubt saw to them releasing many records on the label. Whilst in Auckland, New Zealand, I hooked up with Stinky Jim aka UK ex-pat Jim Pinckney of Unitone HiFi, owner of the Round Trip Mars label who furnished me with much of the music in this mix. SJD was one of his artist and ‘The Lowdown Pt.2’ is one of a couple of tracks in the mix – following is the Daly Wilson Big Band, an ensemble of up to 18 musicians who played popular jazz and cover versions. Their version of the Theme from the Rockford Files is overlaid with a load of dialogue from the show courtesy of Megatrip’s Soundbank library that we took so liberally from in the 00s.

After the first of several intros from several mix CDs Jim gave me is another Australian funk combo, Cookin’ On 3 Burners with their debut release on the Bamboo Shack label – remember the funk 45 ‘craze’ was in full swing around this time after Shadow and Cut Chemist’s ‘Brainfreeze’ mix had opened the doors and all sorts of bands were creeping out the woodwork with credibly retro-sounding songs or covers in a 60s/70s style. Mood Unit’s ‘Games?’ reminds me of Tipsy’s first album, a psychedelic lounge style not far from trip hop and came from the sole12” released on the Froth Recordings label from New Zealand. I seem to remember it was around 9 minutes long so I’ve edited it a bit for this mix – the Unit’s only other release was on a Round Trip Mars compilation.

While I was in New Zealand I visited a promoter’s house who had Dave Tipper staying as he was on some sort of tour, I’ll never forget him making beats on his laptop on the sofa and then going into the next room and performing some incredibly tight scratch cuts, I had no idea he was such a good turntablist at the time. I think he gave me a Cdr of music he was either working on or had coming out as I don’t know the title of the next track which he produced. I got him to do a guest mix for the show when I was back in the UK and you can hear some of his scratching skills during the next ‘Cut The Jibber’ section which was inserted into my set. All the scratching spoken word inserts were put on by me later – sorry Dave! I think you’ll agree, the guy has skills. After running through Mark Pritchard, DJ Vadim, Mr. Oizo and Prefuse 73 instrumentals then it’s back to me for a couple of songs, the Mudie Allstars ’10 Steps To Soul’ being from a mix Jim gave me of Harry Mudie productions.

Downsyde are a rap group from Perth and ‘Did Not You know’ is from their Land of The Giants album before we’re plunged back into the second part of the Tipper cut-fest over a Mark B instrumental. The second track from SJD – ‘Guiding Light’ – is in stark contrast to the first, a big band jazz number with vocals and it seems that Sean James Donnelly is still putting out music to this day, I’m not surprised if he could come up with this on only his second album. More Mudie next, an unlikely reggae cover of Idris Muhammad’s classic, ‘Loren’s Dance’ before we drift into the last 11 minutes of Fat Freddy’s Drop’s ‘Bluey’ from their debut 10” single in 2003. At this point the band were well known in New Zealand and it didn’t take them long to make it out onto the international circuit where they’re now festival regulars.

Track list:
The Bamboos – Another Day In The Life of Mr Jones (Bamboo Shack version)
SJD – The Lowdown Pt 2
Daly Wilson Big Band – Theme from the Rockford Files
Stinky Jim – Intro 11
Cookin’ On 3 Burners – Gravel Rash
Mood Unit – Games? (edit)
Stinky Jim – intro 14
Tipper – unknown
Tipper guest mix insert: Cut The Jibber pt 1 intro
Mark Pritchard – unknown
Tipper – Tip Hop
DJ Vadim – Friction (Instrumental)
Mr Oizo – Electro Shit Non Stop
Prefuse 73 – Eve Of Destruction
Mudie All Stars – Ten Steps To Soul
Downsyde – Did Not You Know
Tipper guest mix insert: Cut The Jibber pt 2
Si Begg – Noodles 2
Mark B & Blade – Ya Don’t See The Signs (instrumental)
Stinky Jim – intro 1
SJD – Guiding Light
Stinky Jim – intro 3
Mudie All Stars – Loren’s Dance
Fat Freddy’s Drop – Bluey