This is a special tribute mix. To a night in Shoreditch I had the pleasure of djing on three occasions. The night was The Fickle Formula and run by the Italian “Our Man Flint” Gian Amat aka Weegee. Held in the dark, dare I say dingy, yeah it was pretty dingy basement bar at 3 Blind Mice situated at number 5 Ravey Street. After dropping down the flight of stairs in the quaint bar with enough room to swing and dance with your pet hamster you were greeted with a eclectic body of sounds. Walls plastered with retro posters, old flyers for nights, bit graffiti here and there, pealing wallpaper. It all added to the charm. The night gave you a pretty free template to drop your favourite records to an open and friendly gathering of like minded people. A bit of beard stroking here and there but it was all in good nature and a place filled with warmth and smiles.
Weegee the host and resident had been running this night on a monthly basis for many years. The formula was simple, 3 Djs each doing 2 x 40 minute sets. Playing all the right notes in maybe not the right order in a traditional sense but playing music you loved. Jazz, Reggae Dub, House, Soundtracks, Library Music, Ska, Punk, Soul, whatever. Pretty much anything you thought fitted the vibe and sound, adding to that formula. The DJ’s consisted of forum members from The Brownswood Forum(pretty defunked now) and Very Good Plus and friends of the good man Weegee himself.
It was my favorite place to spin. Loved it. Living outside London I didn’t get to go very often but when the chance came for a guest spot I jumped at it. A day in London with friends, visiting a few art galleries, a few beers and curry at Tayyabs. Shoreditch and Brick Lane always had a nice vibe.
Unfortunately a few years back the night finished but at the time I had been keeping a spot on my shelf where I would place a fickle set tune aside, when I came across one, for the right time. Finding that little section of records I thought it only right to do a little tribute or what I would of played that one last time. Plus hearing the sad news that the place has been gentrified and made all trendy really ripping the heart and soul out of the place. Oh well I guess at least the place will get to live on along with those cherished memories and will have new toilets you won’t be in danger of getting dysentery from!
Massive shout of respect to BOSS Gian. A fantastic selector, all round great guy and the man who can musically form a formula out of the fickle.
To him and all the past players, I dedicate this this tribute to you.
Hope you enjoy the formula.
1st set
Centry – Tribute To Lee Perry – Conscious Sounds
Alpha & Omega FT Exile – California V Powell – Alpha & Omega Records
The Irresistible Force – Nepalese Bliss (Jimpster Mix) – Ninja Tune
Wildcat – Personal Reasons (Urban Recycle Mix) – Wildcat White Label
Cybophonia – Vostok Jazz Reprise – Irma Cafe
The Marine Girls – A Place In The Sun – Cherry Red (Lazy Ways)
Rexy – Alien – Alien Records (Running Out Of Time)
Joyce and Jon Henricks – Taxi Driver
Kalima – The Smiling Hour – Factory
Liquid Loop – Slow Motion – Perfect Toy Records
Inertia – Satisfaction – Buzz Buzz (Panic In Detroit)
2nd Set
Jan Hammer Group – Don’t You Know – Nemperor Records (Melodies)
Butti 49 – Alan Accelerates (Fenomenon’s Snow Jogg 87 Remix) – Hi Fi Terapi
Nebuchadnezzar and The Pharoahs – One Two Three – Hallmark Records ( Reggae, Willing & Able)
Boz Scaggs – We Were Always Sweethearts – Columbia (Moments)
Wilbert Longmire – Scarborough Fair & Canticle – World Pacific Jazz (Revolution)
Don Sebesky – Semi Tough – CTI Records (Giant Box)
Ripple – Victorious – Salsoul Records (Sons Of The Gods)
Dandy Livingstone – Instant Music – More Cut Records
Eddie Grant – Neighbour Neighbour – Ice (Message Man)
Smiling Hour by Kalima video.
Flyers by Made In Earnest (Sid Ford)
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A few past mixes from sets from Fickle Formula
I never recorded the first time but these are the others
Mad Mongos Music 