Music
Ernie Hines achieved belated recognition when Our Generation was famously sampled by Pete Rock and CL Smooth on their 1992 hip-hop classic Straighten It Out.
Andy Kershaw introduced me – us – to so much new music, making him second only to John Peel in terms of influence on my own formative tastes.
It remains a source of regret that the one time I went to see Pavement, on the NME’s Brat Tour back in 1997, I spent most of their set chatting to friends in the bar.
Kenny Knots is far from a household name, even in specialist reggae circles, but was a regular one on the sound system scene in the UK in general, and Hackney in particular.
The narcotic country twang and angelic vocal of Widowspeak put me in mind of Mazzy Star. And that’s never a bad thing.
Family Stereo is the stage name of Blake Watt, son of Everthing But The Girl duo Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt.
The first time I heard of Asha Bhosle was when she became the subject of Cornershop’s chart-topping song Brimful Of Asha. I dare say the same is true of you.
Electro-funk would not have existed without this landmark tune from back in 1982, blending krautrock with the embryonic genre of hip-hop.
Here’s some classic conscious reggae from Rod Taylor, produced by Mikey Dread, released back in 1978 and sounding just as great today.
Revolting Cocks paid tribute to Blade Runner in the Chicago band’s thunderous party anthem Attack Ships On Fire.