Mixmaster Morris – Ambient Tea Party Vol. 3 mix – Brixton 02.05.1993 from Fiasko One on Vimeo.
Here’s a bit of musical history I just found online, Mixmaster Morris DJing at the second Telepathic Fish party that I hosted with David Vallade, Mario Aguera and Chantal Passamonte aka Mira Calix back in 1993. This is volume 3 and I should have the other 2 volumes somewhere in the archive, one with Aphex Twin playing I think as well as my own efforts. Check the cassette inlay for some ‘of its time’ design by my own hand.
For those that aren’t familiar with it, Telepathic Fish was the name my then housemates and I gave to a series of Ambient parties that we staged in London in the early to mid 90’s. They started on a Sunday afternoon and went through to the early hours and the emphasis was on chilling out rather than dancing (although that did happen too sometimes). At some point I’m going to compile the whole Telepathic Fish experience into a series of blog posts or a small book as it was quite a formative time for me as well as the rest of the crew. For more mixes from Morris, who was a guiding light for me back then, you can now check out his brand new website here.
Also re: ambient Soho, I used to hang out there. I remember Richie Hawtin’s brother DJing there one saturday when I came back from MOS (where I worked at the time). People forget that however poncy the crowd was there, Jim Masters booked the best of Chicago, NY and Detroit on Fridays in the early days. So we’d all go to SoHo or the Ambient Cafe in Camden after to, er, chill
Just dropping by to say “I was there” and it was fab. The acid punch, Morris playing loads of Cluster, and then leaving and being struck by the blistering sunlight. And then Chantal coming back to Finchley with us afterwards to rave at Max and Anarchy’s squat which was covered in cat shit, but, to paraphrase Mark E Smith “the centimetre squared… purged fear”
You’re right Gareth, Ambient Soho was at the bottom of Berwick St. opposite side and a bit further down from where SIster Ray originally was (it’s moved further up the street these days). The laminated fish sounds about right, we made them from holographic paper and acetate.
There were a few sessions at Heaven too but only one Fish there I think, when we teamed up with the Clear label for an event in the Well (remember that?) We all played at Heaven for Megatripolis though which was on a Thursday and Chantal was heavily involved with that crowd.
Great times as you say, I’m sure similar things happen – in fact I know they do, they’re more over East London way and less central it seems. The city still holds a great well of talent and happenings, everything’s just moved around now as it has to to progress.
I went to one or two of these parties. I remember being given a laminated silver fish from an ambient record shop (Ambient Soho?) just opposite sister ray.
I can’t remember but it might have been Chantal who gave it to me?
Anyway, ColdCut deffo played and a few others I cannot remember.
I was rather ahem inebriated that day!
The music was excellent and it was reasonably comfortable.
I’m sure there was a Sunday ambient session at Heaven in central London as well which I played at once, again Chantal was involved in that.
They were great times and I kind of miss that DIY freewheeling vibe that existed, it’s not as creative these days (I sound like an old hippy!) and most things are driven by social media. There was none of that then. It was all word of mouth. I used to drag some of my friends along for the ride.
I also used to go to some of the Boys Own do’s as I had mates in both camps.
Exciting music coming out every week, buying records in FatCat, Ambient Soho, Beggars Banquet in Kingston and Putney, reggae shops in Brixton and Psychedelic 60s rock shops all over London.
Amazing now when I think of those times. So many stories.
I think that in tribute to RDJ for his win last night that Telepathic Fish Aphex Mix should be found!