In 1980 Adrian Sherwood started his On U Sound record label. The label adopted a motto, “Disturbing the comfortable, comforting the disturbed.” Over 35 years of existence on the fringes of dub and experimental music, it’s fair to say they’ve lived up to their promise.
Sherwood had emerged from the late 70s punk scene, equally enamoured with splintered guitars as he was the heavyweight bass played by the punk’s favourite DJ Don Letts. On U Sound was his attempt to bring the two together, and over the years he built a catalogue of music that restlessly explored what dub could do. He was hungry to exploit the freshest musical mutations as they occurred, splicing apocalyptic dread bass with every from the clang and clatter of early industrial drum machines to the percussive magic of African musicians.
This month On U Sound have released a new compilation looking back over their history. This being On U Sound, they haven’t cobbled together a greatest hits collection. Instead they’ve called in Trevor Jackson to pick through hours of B Sides, remixes and out takes, to put together a set that shows the startling bizarre dance music On U were making. The results still sound way ahead of most dance music being made today, hence the fitting title; Trevor Jackson presents Science Fiction Dancehall Classics.
Here’s an exclusive megamix of tracks taken from the album, and some words with Trevor about the process of pulling together.
What is your relationship with On U Sound? How did you come to the label?
It was a source of early inspiration to me and an introduction to more extreme experimental production techniques. I was fascinated at the time by Trevor Horns epic and slick productions full of technological magic as well as Martin Rushent’s New Wave Electronic Dub Disco and Arthur Baker’s dance floor driven huge NYC electro sound, but Adrian Sherwood and his On U sound label had a totally different rougher, raw DIY aesthetic that to me sounded unlike anything else I’d heard before. It was more anarchic and expressive and didn’t sound like it was recorded at million pound studios with ultra expensive equipment, most importantly it made me feel making music myself was far more achievable. I was first introduced to the label by hearing Tim Westwood play Fats Comet’s Dee Jays Program, DJ Cheese (who did the scratching on the record) had some very popular records released around the same time with the band WORD OF MOUTH. My love of hip hop and electro led to my love of On U sound, I jumped in five years after the label had already started.
What can people expect from the On U Sound back catalogue?
Non compromising, experimental, genre-melting, innovative, timeless music full of integrity, imagination and lots of attitude.
Did you have any surprises going through the catalogue to make the comp?
Having access to a huge amount of previously unreleased material led to multitudes of surprises; the Circuit track featuring Neneh Cherry in particular was very exciting to find.
Do you have any favourites, and why?
All the tracks a very special to me, equally as interesting as each other, I selected all my favourites from the catalogue. I could easily do a Volume 2 and fill it with favourites too, the catalogue is so vast.
Was there anything you had to leave out?
One of my favourite releases was by the London Underground but sadly wasn’t available to licence it to include.
There’s such experimentation in the tracks — do you think there are any contemporary labels that are pushing forward as far as Sherwood was in the 80s and 90s?
There are multitudes of artists and labels taking the musical spirit of On U Sound sound and pushing it forward into the future, many directly inspired; many unknowingly. Its legacy is everywhere.
Where and who was playing these tracks when they first came out? Were there clubs dropping them?
I heard most of the early releases on the radio played by the likes of John Peel, in clubs I heard tracks from the label and Adrian’s productions played in London by Eddie Richards and Colin Faver at the Camden Palace, DJ Wolf at Astral Flight, Coldcut, Tim Westwood as well was at Mutoid Waste Company parties.
Are there any plans for any shows based around the comp?
Yes! Keep your ears open, exciting things hopefully coming soon.
Buy it now at the On-U Store and on Bleep