Comments from the Q

William Jon Curtis (71333.1707@compuserve.com)
21 Feb 96 21:50:37 EST


Hello all-

Been lurking a bit lately, even though there have been a few things I've wanted
to comment on. So I'm going to comment on them all in one big clump. Hope no one
minds.

First of all, a couple of folks wrote: "props to Q-Burn for an excellent track!"

Thanks a bunch... praise makes me feel great as I'm pretty early in the game.
Actually that version of "141 Revenge Street" on the Darker Side Of Jazz
compilation is a remix I did of it. I much prefer the original which is on the
Mephisto Records single I did with Pimp Daddy Nash (catalog number MR008, if
you're interested). I may have said this before, but this compilation is out in
Europe as The Subterranean Sound of San Francisco on SSR/Crammed. Okay- enough
of that...

Keith wrote: "In my rebellion against jungle fever I've been taking those jungle
records and slowing them down. I want my slow bpms! I remember someone else
talking about this some time ago, is anyone else doing this?"

There's no reason to rebel... just rebel against the bad/cashing in/lazy music
that is inherent in all genres, and listen only to the innovative and good.
There's plenty that's innovative and good in jungle fever. But as far as slowing
down the records, I do it, too. I actually search for drum n bass records that I
can play at 33 (as well as good ones I can play at regular speed, of course...
and then there's Bambi who plays Q-Burn's Abstract Message records at 45... but
I digress...). Some good ones that rock the house at 33 are the Big Bud 12" on
Creative Source (the side with the straight forward beat is massive at 33!) and
the Mystic Moods 12" called "Listen" (which actually sounds like Fila Brazillia
at 33). Any more?

Marc wrote: "I was digging through a local record store and a copy of Turntable
Orchestra's "Gonna Miss Me" caught my eye. I know the track from back in
the day, but then I noticed *remixes* and lo and behold, a Fila Brazillia
remix."

What is this? More information please- record label, when it came out, etc. Some
of us are Fila Brazilia completists and must have everything! Any other Fila
Brazillia remixes besides the AMAZING Lamb "Cotton Wool", Fluke's "Tosh", and
the DJ Food remix? Or any other remixes by this Cobby fellow who is behind Fila
Brazillia, under any of his various pseudonyms?

And, I'm not going to continue a ridiculous 'origin' thread, but Bubbalicious
did speak truth when he said: "I'm saying " the shit is universal, why
am I riffing about where it came from? Where's it GOING? ""

WORD. The reason I got into hip hop, and what we discuss on this list, was
because it was next shit- forward moving music that exploited technology and
merged it with tradition. When I initally heard those Eric B. + Rakim dub mixes,
I thought I was hearing music from outer space. Now hip hop is, for the most
part, repeating itself. AJ is in danger as well. Drum N Bass will meet this
danger soon. But, as technology grows, something new will certainly come along
to challenge all of our perceptions of music.

Bubbalicious added: "I really don't understand anybody coming from a purist
stance on this music. Crews say shit like " keep it real, kid", what does that
mean? There is no room for conservative viewpoints in hip-hop; if this is the
case, the shit is dead, straight up."

I'm more interested in the fusion of different genres to create something new
and blurred and escapes classification. Perhaps my crew should be saying: "Keep
it UNreal, kid" because thats where I'm coming from. "Yo! Mis-represent!" The
better AJ is like this because it draws its inspiration from sources far and
wide. This, to me, is like the best JAZZ: non-conservatism; an 'anything goes'
attitude; and an 'everything but the kitchen sink' mentality. Any other attitude
is stagnation. No respect, there... your lifespan is limited.

Hope all is well out there in list land... I've been way swamped with all I have
to do (the music as well as the shop)... but stay tuned, because the Q-Burn's
Abstract Message tape giveaway will be happening soon! Until then- PEACE

Michael Donaldson
Q-BURN'S ABSTRACT MESSAGE