My Cerebral cortex always welcomes a new record from The Bug so it's happy days top have a 180g virgin vinyl 12" reworking of 'Ganja' featuring Killa P and Flowdan. It's no lazy skanking reggae tune to smoke to though. Instead this is a brutal and aggressive dancehall/ grime hybrid. A totally refreshing take on the age old topic of chuggin on a spliff. The production is cavernous to say the least. The tune takes me back to when I saw The Bug play live somewhere in London with Warrior Queen and Ras Bogle on the mics. My brain was shattered into smithereens. If you get the chance to see him and his crew perform you simply must take it. Even my missus got up off her ass and did some ass shakin. A relentless rush of pure energy. On the flip is 'Flying' featuring Ricky Ranking on MC duties. This tune goes deep into the spaced out realms of dub. It's typical of his recent style of not being immediately accessible but stick with it and you shall reap the rewards for it's a master class in spacious dub atmospherics and roots chattin' that subtly seep their way into your subconscious. I cannot wait for the King Midas Sound album and 12" to come out.The sleeve illustration captures the intensity of what it's like at a Bug show, Red Stripe in hand and fellow dancers mutating into creatures from the underworld. As always Kevin Martin keeps things fresh and proves he's in a league of his own.
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What their label says...
Ganja (w/ Killa P & Flowdan) Flying (w/ Ricky Ranking)
Featuring Ricky Ranking, Killa P & Flowdan. A record that clearly reaches past and brings together reference points from dancehall, grime, hip-hop, and noise onslaughts. A record that could have only come out of London sound-system culture but whose appeal spans past any singular city or scene. Additionally 'Ganja' continues Martin's explosive relationship with Roll Deep's Flowdan and Killa P, this track has been rinsed by dubstep DJ of the year N-Type and Kode 9 amongst others. Other album guests include Warrior Queen, Ricky Ranking, Space Ape, Roger Robinson and Aya. Having been publicly praised by such maverick's as Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Grace Jones, Lamb, Massive Attack, Jerry Dammers and Mark Stewart, this single is sure to increase the pressure. Essential.
