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On-U-Sound 30th Birthday

Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh
5 stars
Legendary Scots funkateer Jesse Rae is guarding the mixing desk in full
kilt, claymore and helmet regalia, there's mirror balls throwing static
shapes and an oddly muted reggae underscoring the chit-chat. When a
Fred Perry shirted bald geezer slips behind the desk, however, one
flick of a switch is all it takes for the volume to double and the
atmosphere to change in an instant. The gentleman in question is Adrian
Sherwood, producer and, for the last three decades, proprietor of
On-U-Sound Records, home to some of the most out-there mash-ups of UK
post-punk sci-fi Dub to zoom from a sound system.

Choosing Edinburgh to celebrate the anniversary was inspired, as it was
here in the 1980s that hosted regular sojourns by Tackhead, the former
Sugarhill Records house band of drummer Keith Leblanc, bassist Doug
Wimbush and guitarist Skip McDonald with vocalist Bernard Fowler.
Tonight, Tackhead are in the house for the first time in twenty-one
years, with Leblanc setting up a crisp backbeat before Wimbush adds
urgent slap bass overladen by McDonald's metal blues guitar to create a
blistering funky stew for Edwards to croon over.

All feelgood tendencies are put to one side as the core musical trio
return with Pop Group vocalist Mark Stewart as Mark and the Mafia for
a coruscating assault of accusatory agit-prop anthems wrapped up in a
disorientating sensurround goo of punk-funk Dubstep Techno that hits
you from all sides, especially with Sherwood throwing in sonic hand
grenades from the back of the room. It's relentless, exhausting and an
utterly thrilling experience that puts politics on the dancefloor in a
way that's designed to leave you shellshocked.

The Herald, April 15th 2011

ends
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