DJ Shadow: Muzik Mag, MARCH 2003
Guide to DJ SHADOW !
'Hey you in the skater's hat-wanna buy some rare Josh Davis slates ?'
Californian hip hop hero Josh Davis is a incredibly talented individual who, as a solo artist, Dj & producer, has made some of the most era-definig &
genre-defining dance music of the past decade. He's also been responsible for more geeky kids with horrible little beards getting into hip hop than you can shake a Glock at. But hey - nobodies perfect....
Davis began on the US label Hollywood Basic between 1991-92 with a remix of Lifers Group's 'Real Deal', backed by 'Lesson 4' & the 'Legitimate Mix' of 'Zibabwe Legit', which led to Davis being signed up to James Lavelles Mo'Wax label in 1993, subsequently releasing 'In/Flux' as Shadow & The Groove Robbers (his pet name for his decks). He debuted on the US label Sole Sides in the same year with 'Entropy'.
He dropped the 'Groove Robbers' tag in 1994, & his next Mo'Wax 12-inches 'Lost & Found', 'What Does YourSoul Look Like ?', & '89.9 Megamix' created an army of admirers & imitators. 1996 saw the release of the stunning debut LP 'Entroducing', voted Muziks 'dance album of all time' two years ago.
From '97-'99, Shadow concentrated on remixes, touring, compilations & his UNKLE collaboration with James Lavelle. It wasnt untill 2002 that his second solo album, 'The Private Press' was released alongside two limited 12-inch LP tracks 'Monosylabik' & 'Six Days'. We await his next raising of the bar with breath baited.
SHADY DEALING'S -
1) LIFERS GROUP - Raw Deal (£150 or £15, Hollywood Basics 12-inch 1991)
Big bucks if you have the original 12-inch, not so big if you have the
re-issue/bootleg twelve. Either way you'll own Shadows 'Lesson 4' update of
the classic Lessons1,2 & 3 from Double D & Stienski.
2) DJ SHADOW & THE GROOVE ROBBERS - Entropy (£30 Sole Sides 12-inch 1993)
Shadows 18 minute ode to the slow death of hip hop culture & gangsta rap.
Its backed by Asia Borns 'Send Them' & Shadows dub mix of 'Count &
Estimate'.
3) DJ SHADOW & THE GROOVE ROBBERS - In/Flux (£60 Mo'Wax Picture Disc 12-inch
1993)
This picture disc is as rare as hens'teeth & the original black vinyl is
also pretty scarce. Breifly re-issued in 1995 with a different sleeve, this
is classic Shadow.
4) DJ SHADOW - Lost & Found (£20 Mo'Wax 12-inch 1994)
Shadow's second Mo'Wax release drifts hazily round an incessant drum role
sampled from U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'. James Lavelle had kittens when he
found out the sample source. legend has it.
5) DJ SHADOW - What Does Your Soul Look Like ? (£60 3x 10-inch 1994)
Parts 1,3 & 4 spread over three promo only, blue vinyl ten-inches. And when
you join all teh sleeves together in order, they spell 'Dj Shadow', what fun
!
6) DJ SHADOW - 89.9 Megamix (£20 Mo'Wax 12-inch 1995)
An introspective, soul searching, instrumental collage of obsure samples &
lo-fi turntablism that illustrated Shadow's growing confidence with both his
equipment & his own prodigious talent.
7) DJ SHADOW - Midnight In A Perfect World - (£25 US FFRR 12-inch 1997)
Originally released in 1996, this US issue has different tracks from the UK
pressing, but if your a real rare vinyl junkie, it's worth it just for the
alternative sleeve.
8) DJ SHADOW - Number Song - (£30 Mo'Wax promo 12-inch 1998)
A promo only Cut Chemist remix, backed by Shadows 'Kill The Pain' mix of
Depeche Modes 'Painkiller', which eventualy got a official Mute release.
9) DJ SHADOW & CUT CHEMIST - Brainfreeze - (£20 Sixty7 Records 12-inch 1999)
A bootleg of the spinning a selection of thier favourite seven-inches while
on tour in the US. Was limited to 1,000 copies but, as is the nature of
bootlegs, someone will bootleg it again, so keep your eyes peeled.
10) DJ SHADOW - Mononsylabik (£50 Mo'Wax 12-ich 2002)
A limited promo, of which there were only ever 1,000 copies worldwide. There
were ten differnt versions of the hand made sleeves & you have to collect
them all before you can call yourself a true Shadow fan. No joke.
Guide to DJ SHADOW !
'Hey you in the skater's hat-wanna buy some rare Josh Davis slates ?'
Californian hip hop hero Josh Davis is a incredibly talented individual who, as a solo artist, Dj & producer, has made some of the most era-definig &
genre-defining dance music of the past decade. He's also been responsible for more geeky kids with horrible little beards getting into hip hop than you can shake a Glock at. But hey - nobodies perfect....
Davis began on the US label Hollywood Basic between 1991-92 with a remix of Lifers Group's 'Real Deal', backed by 'Lesson 4' & the 'Legitimate Mix' of 'Zibabwe Legit', which led to Davis being signed up to James Lavelles Mo'Wax label in 1993, subsequently releasing 'In/Flux' as Shadow & The Groove Robbers (his pet name for his decks). He debuted on the US label Sole Sides in the same year with 'Entropy'.
He dropped the 'Groove Robbers' tag in 1994, & his next Mo'Wax 12-inches 'Lost & Found', 'What Does YourSoul Look Like ?', & '89.9 Megamix' created an army of admirers & imitators. 1996 saw the release of the stunning debut LP 'Entroducing', voted Muziks 'dance album of all time' two years ago.
From '97-'99, Shadow concentrated on remixes, touring, compilations & his UNKLE collaboration with James Lavelle. It wasnt untill 2002 that his second solo album, 'The Private Press' was released alongside two limited 12-inch LP tracks 'Monosylabik' & 'Six Days'. We await his next raising of the bar with breath baited.
SHADY DEALING'S -
1) LIFERS GROUP - Raw Deal (£150 or £15, Hollywood Basics 12-inch 1991)
Big bucks if you have the original 12-inch, not so big if you have the
re-issue/bootleg twelve. Either way you'll own Shadows 'Lesson 4' update of
the classic Lessons1,2 & 3 from Double D & Stienski.
2) DJ SHADOW & THE GROOVE ROBBERS - Entropy (£30 Sole Sides 12-inch 1993)
Shadows 18 minute ode to the slow death of hip hop culture & gangsta rap.
Its backed by Asia Borns 'Send Them' & Shadows dub mix of 'Count &
Estimate'.
3) DJ SHADOW & THE GROOVE ROBBERS - In/Flux (£60 Mo'Wax Picture Disc 12-inch
1993)
This picture disc is as rare as hens'teeth & the original black vinyl is
also pretty scarce. Breifly re-issued in 1995 with a different sleeve, this
is classic Shadow.
4) DJ SHADOW - Lost & Found (£20 Mo'Wax 12-inch 1994)
Shadow's second Mo'Wax release drifts hazily round an incessant drum role
sampled from U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'. James Lavelle had kittens when he
found out the sample source. legend has it.
5) DJ SHADOW - What Does Your Soul Look Like ? (£60 3x 10-inch 1994)
Parts 1,3 & 4 spread over three promo only, blue vinyl ten-inches. And when
you join all teh sleeves together in order, they spell 'Dj Shadow', what fun
!
6) DJ SHADOW - 89.9 Megamix (£20 Mo'Wax 12-inch 1995)
An introspective, soul searching, instrumental collage of obsure samples &
lo-fi turntablism that illustrated Shadow's growing confidence with both his
equipment & his own prodigious talent.
7) DJ SHADOW - Midnight In A Perfect World - (£25 US FFRR 12-inch 1997)
Originally released in 1996, this US issue has different tracks from the UK
pressing, but if your a real rare vinyl junkie, it's worth it just for the
alternative sleeve.
8) DJ SHADOW - Number Song - (£30 Mo'Wax promo 12-inch 1998)
A promo only Cut Chemist remix, backed by Shadows 'Kill The Pain' mix of
Depeche Modes 'Painkiller', which eventualy got a official Mute release.
9) DJ SHADOW & CUT CHEMIST - Brainfreeze - (£20 Sixty7 Records 12-inch 1999)
A bootleg of the spinning a selection of thier favourite seven-inches while
on tour in the US. Was limited to 1,000 copies but, as is the nature of
bootlegs, someone will bootleg it again, so keep your eyes peeled.
10) DJ SHADOW - Mononsylabik (£50 Mo'Wax 12-ich 2002)
A limited promo, of which there were only ever 1,000 copies worldwide. There
were ten differnt versions of the hand made sleeves & you have to collect
them all before you can call yourself a true Shadow fan. No joke.
