With this mix, Bullion has delivered us something quite unusual, but has proven once again that he’s comfortable knowing quality music regardless of the genre. Inspired by the late 1960s Canterbury scene, a genre that married progressive rock and experimental jazz in a manner most avant-garde, the West London producer has blended a variety of psychedelic numbers from the likes of Robert Wyatt and Gong into a forty-minute medley that’s smooth like butter. In his own words, he was inspired by one of the genre’s leading bands Caravan in a big way, decided to put the mix together after he began collecting all the records he could get his hands on. While this might not be your standard warm-up mix before going out, the Canterbury mix is perfect for lovers of the genre or those willing to get inspired and familiar with it.
Bullion does something very clever throughout as he entwines audio excerpts from interviews that provide context for the listener who may be unaware of the music and insight into the artists and their approach and background instead of just allowing them to make face value judgements of what they hear. The pace of the mix slows and builds throughout and chops and changes at a drop of a hat, in a way it embodies the very musical movement the mix showcases. It moves from the wild opening section which features a trio of Hatfield & The North songs to what becomes seemingly more savvy and considered with the arrival of Matching Mole’s “Instant Pussy” with its docile wave of voices and whistles and calm drums smoothly moves into the Robert Wyatt’s “Gharbadzegi”. The tempo and exploration of sound soon builds with the arrival of another trio of songs this time from Franco-British outfit Gong, the mix continues along with similar sounds until you come to the crowning jewel of the mix which comes in the form of another Robert Wyatt song “Stalin Wasn’t Stallin” which is expertly placed to stand out completely from its surrounding musical partners. It provides a catchy breather from the mix bag of progressive rock and jazz movements of its predecessors with its paired down folk sound of just hums and simple percussion and Wyatt’s distinguished vocals and memorable lyrics, its folk sound manages to underpin the Canterbury sound visited in the mix even though at first glance it seems so far removed, which is demonstrated as sits perfectly with the following tracks as well as the ones that preceded it. The parting gift of the mix is Kevin Ayer’s beautifully dreamy “Goodnight Goodnight” a perfect swan song and ode to the Canterbury scene, with its bouncy bass and percussion it drifts you off and leaves you on a very summery high.
It is always a pleasure listening to mixes of this nature from producers and DJ’s, as it allows you to peer deeper into their musical knowledge. A conversation arises automatically while you listen. They talk about some of the finest areas of their record collection, thought processes and ideas with every choice of song. A very mature and considered mix and one that deserves to be revisited time and time again.
Bullion – Canterbury Mix by Toast Press
Tracklisting (download through Fact here):
01. Hatfield & The North – Aigrette / “Intellectual Exercise” Intro
02. Hatfield & The North – Shaving Is Boring
03. Hatfield & The North – The Other Stubbs Effect / “Captain Spillage” Interlude (David Allen)
04. Steve Hillage – Octave Doctors
05. Lady June – Everythingsnothing
06. Caravan – Be All Right
07. Caravan – Memory Lain, Hugh
08. Matching Mole – Instant Pussy
09. Robert Wyatt – Gharbzadegi
10. Gong – Radio Gnome Prediction (Intro) / And You Tried So Hard
11. Gong – Flying Teapot
12. Gong – Pot Head Pixies
13. Robert Wyatt – Age Of Self
14. Fred Frith – Carnival On Wall St / “Being Defined” Interlude (Fred Frith)
15. John Greaves – Salt
16. Gong – Shamal
17. Robert Wyatt – Stalin Wasn’t Stallin’
18. Caravan – No Back Stage Pass
19. Robert Wyatt – To Carla Marsha And Caroline / “Jolly Clever” Interlude (Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge)
20. The Soft Machine – Have You Ever Bean Green? / Pataphysical Introduction PT.1
21. Kevin Ayers – Goodnight Goodnight
Written by: Ross J. Platt & Sindhuja Shyam
