With December here, Ban Ban Ton Ton is looking back on the musical year. Since Japanese superstition holds 7 as her luckiest number, we’re gonna try to keep each selection tight to this total, in the hope that our conjuring of 7 X 7 X 7 X … will collectively manifest some magic for 2025. You may witness some attempts to creatively bend the rules, blur / invent genres and rinse formats, in order to squeeze in as many great releases as possible… 

As far as Ban Ban Ton Ton can see, Jason Boardman had a brilliant year. His label, Before I Die, released 3 of our favourites, in the form of E.P.s and LPs from J Walk, Khartomb and Klangkollektor. Jason also launched the offshoot, Before Indie, and compiled the cracking NO ONE’S LISTENING ANYWAY for Caroline True. Here the Mancunian musical maverick, with a seemingly unwavering enthusiasm for unearthing fresh tunes, both old and new, selects a lucky 7 x 7 x 7… from the treasure he’s found over the last 12 months. 

Super selections by Jason Boardman.

7 LPS

Jeff Parker ETA IVtet – The Way Out Of Easy – International Anthem

Holy Tongue Meets Shackleton – The Tumbling Psychic Joy Of Now – AD93

KlangKollektor – Dubtapes Volume 1 – Before I Die

J-Walk – Broken Beauty – Before I Die

Five Green Moons – Moon 1 – Pamela

Nala Sinephro – Endlessness – Warp

Thought Leadership – Ace Of Swords/Ill Of Pentacles – Darkly Inclined Tapes

7 x 7’s

Tokyo Riddim Band – Denshi Lenzi / Denshi Dub – Time Capsule

MuchaMuchaM – Mai Pen Rai – Special 10

Adjustments – Bendy A / What You Want – Before Indie lathe

Peckings Allstars – Tribute to Fela – Peckings

Andy Rantzen – Was The Lesson Intended -Paesaggi Records

Kings Of High Speed – False Start Dub – Leisure Group Recordings

Cantoma – First Nothing – Highwood Recordings

7 Reissues / Comps

No Ones Listening Anyway – UK DIY Post Punk & Dubs – Caroline True

Imhotep – Kheper Wax – Trad Vibe Records

Dennis Bovell – Sufferer Sounds – Disciples

NoHo EP – Turning The Crank – Holuzam

Escapismo – Escapismo – Escapismo Ediciones Limitadas

Arthur Russell – In The Light Of a Miracle – Be With

Dorothy Ashby – Afro Harping (universal/island)

7 x 12″

Khartomb – Swahili Lullaby – Before I Die

M Quake – Annie u r a bird – Purely Physical Teeny Tapes

Alex Kassian x Mad Professor – A Reference To E2-E4 -by Manuel Gottsching – Test Pressing

Devon Rexi – Biya Ba Man – South Of North

Bikini Body – Weird Party – Optimo Music Rocks

SKRUFF – Elders Dub – Challenger Deep

GKZ – S Composites feat LIU –  THEME LTD