French producer and digital musicologist Stalawa has been hard at work crafting his new 7 track Boneshaker mixtape. The release contains 4 vocal tracks, alongside 3 dub versions and features veteran as well as rising microphone talent in Asher Senator, Ponchita Peligros, I Bogle and Shanti D as well as a 1 hour mix.
The EP is a tribute to the syncopated triplet style of digital dancehall that became popular in the late 1980s. Stalawa was inspired to revisit this era by some bumpy journeys on his bike to the headquarters of his friends, Mungo’s Hi Fi’s, in Glasgow. The puddles and potholes on his morning commute to Finnieston reminded him of the rhythmic feel to this distinctive production period - and the idea was born.
The Boneshaker EP kicks off with a remix - Stalawa updates a personal landmark, his first release on Mungo’s Scotch Bonnet Records. It’s a fresh remix of 2014’s Rock and Come in, featuring the lively voice of Spain’s Ponchita Peligros, over an overproof digital re-lick to Harry Mudie’s immortal Drifter backing. The title is a nod to Johnny Osbourne’s classic piece on Channel One’s interpretation of the rhythm.
There’s a more organic vibe to My Kitchen, voiced by I Bogle, who also cut the much requested title track to Mungo’s Bogle rhythm. Recorded in Kingston by Easytjam from Digital Steppaz at the home of the late dub poet George “Nazamba” Scott, with Tom Spirals on guitar, My Kitchen a mellow yet bassheavy mediation on the importance of Ital food and one’s own space.
UK sound system legend Asher Senator is unusually unsparing and direct in his assessment of the world for Babylon System. The hazy rhythm was inspired by a blend of Dancehall and the Chicago Footwork style. It’s accompanied by its sparse ambient version – bringing its sounds of jungle fauna to the fore.
The final vocal from the EP hears the return of Ponchita Peligros on a refashioning of her and Stalawa’s prowling, undulating Different Style. The remix was shaped by another Mungo’s alumni, Japan’s Aquarius.
Closing the listening session are two dub versions. Shanti D’s Ahead Of Our Time is lovingly deconstructed and reconstructed as Ahead of Our Dubz. Ponchita Peligros’ Drift and Come In is completely transformed, using proper Casio digital instrumentation to create a moody vintage 80s dub in King Jammy’s mode.
From the potholes of Glasgow to the speaker boxes of the world, the Boneshaker EP is Stalawa’s most authentic yet innovative work to date. It’s out 2nd of June on digital platforms with a run of limited edition polyvinyl cuts to follow…