Recent highlights from Steve Barker’s legendary On The Wire radio selected bySecret Soul Society‘s Cal Gibson.
Sometimes, just sometimes, when a radio show has been broadcasting for forty-two years like Steve Barker‘s beyond legendary On The Wire has, then you may find yourself having inevitably missed a few episodes.
This would doubtless be a mistake as each and every programme over the decades is packed full of esoteric, shape-shifting, dub-adjacent sounds hand-picked by Steve and wingman Fenny: this being so, the thought occurred that it’s probably worth highlighting what’s been pricking up Steve’s ears recently.
For what it’s worth, my contention would be that Steve is simply the world’s finest underground music broadcaster: the picks below from a selection of recent shows bear testimony to that claim.
And if for some reason you’ve not yet caught up with Steve’s bag of tricks fear not: it’s all archived at On the Wire – Radio Lancs in a treasure trove of bass-heavy goodness.
Forwards ever, backwards never….
Heavy duty vinyl vibrations from Tokyo: warm and wonderful.
Performances & Recordings 1998-2018 | Charles Curtis
Beautiful spiritual cello pieces from Charles Curtis: the Terry Jennings composition ‘Song’ will floor you.
ORANGE AIRMAIL | Natsu Summer | Natsu Summer & RYUSENKEI
Super-sweet city pop stylings light and delicate and fresh, a shimmery delight.
ひろった石が割れた (Hirotta ishiga wareta) | 7FO | EM Records
Wonky, crunky, teetering and tottering, the sound of civilisation shrivelling up.
Hell & Sorrow | Hortense Ellis | Death Is Not The End
Classic On The Wire feels: another Kingston 12 tuffy….
Bim One Production feat. Sr.Wilson – Easy Skanking | Bim One Production
More Tokyo reggae business: light and shade, darkness falls: cleverly put together.
A Fenny pick for one of last year’s best albums: desert blues that kicks like a mule. Full of the sharp crackle of life.
Live at the Counter Eurovision 79 | Misty In Roots
Celebrating 50 years of Misty In Roots: reissue of a classic live album. System own them: Babylon control them. Unmissable.
Dub Plates Vol. 1 | King Jammy
12 floorburners hailing the mighty King Jammy: soundbwoys beware! The rest is the rest and the best is the best…
Jah Holds The Key | Devon Russell / Zion Train | Partial Records
More roots and culture: strong and soulful, essential On The Wire characteristics.
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