(Dance group, 1994–present) Producers, DJs and remixers Basement Jaxx (duo Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe) rose to prominence in the mid-1990s, on the back of initial success at various south London club nights – most notably their highly eclectic but always uplifting Rooty evenings. On record, their sound lies somewhere between a carnival sound system and more conventional house music, but all with a telling urban bite. Debut album Remedy (1999) found ...
(Vocals, b. 1981) Initially inspired by a musical father (a reggae bass guitarist), Craig David’s first appearance on the music scene to those outside the Southampton club circuit was his vocal for Artful Dodger’s ‘Rewind’ (1999). Subsequently signing to Telstar, David made his name with melodic, often acoustically laced R&B that reflected his casanova lifestyle in a down-to-earth fashion. ‘Fill Me In’ (2000) detailed suspicion over a girlfriend’s monogamy, while ‘Walking ...
(Rapper, b. 1985) Dizzee Rascal (real name Dylan Mills) has become known as something of a young godfather of the emergent ‘grime’ music scene, swiftly delivering a new kind of rap, quickly spoken and aggressive, over synthetic, staccato rhythms. His critical acclaim stems from a wide understanding of music (he cites Nirvana’s In Utero as his favourite) and a deft sociological wordplay. Boy In Da Corner (2003) won the Mercury Music ...
(Singer-songwriter, b. 1986) London-based singer-songwriter Jamie T (Jamie Alexander Treays) fared favourably with critics since his debut in January 2007 when his frenetic, garage-cum-indie debut Panic Prevention reached No. 4 in the UK. He released second album Kings & Queens nearly three years later, which did even better. His dry and witty observational lyrics on tracks like ‘Sheila’ and ‘Calm Down Dearest’ has made him one of the most popular artists ...
(Vocal group, 2001–05) Although starting life as a quartet, Sabrina Washington, Alesha Dixon and Su-Elise Nash are how Londoners Mis-Teeq are more commonly remembered. Releasing just two albums and a greatest hits in their short career, the group found fame through a suggestive stage presence and tight harmonies. ‘One Night Stand’ (2001) is perhaps the best example of their work, a cross between 1960s girl groups, the rhythms of club culture ...
(Vocals, b. 1981) Born Niomi McLean-Daley, Ms. Dynamite emerged in 2002 with her debut A Little Deeper. The record won the prestigious Mercury Award the following year. A rapper who worked with So Solid Crew, Ms. Dynamite sang about issues facing young women, with backing tracks often beautifully produced instrumentals in their own right. Subsequent legal troubles in 2006 surrounding a nightclub altercation seemed to put her career on hold, but ...
(Vocal group, 2001–04) A staggeringly expansive outlet for a collective of south London MCs, DJs, producers and singers trading in an early incarnation of grime music, So Solid Crew were formed from the popular Sunday afternoon pirate radio shows on Delight FM. Debut album They Don’t Know (2001) has achieved platinum status, although the fortunes of certain members of the 40+ group have been less attractive, with both Asher D. and ...
(Vocals, b. 1978) Mike Skinner sings the sound of honesty, set to a music that stems from the clubs of his beloved south London. Early singles like ‘Let’s Push Things Forward’ set the template well, with minimal beats and piano snippets topped with observations on modern life. At times too acute to be a wholly comfortable listen (particularly on 2006’s ‘rehab’ album The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living), Skinner’s ...
The UK garage scene began in London in the 1990s when enterprising DJ’s such as Norris ‘Da Bass’ Windross and Karl ‘Tuff Enuff’ Brown set up after-hours parties in the capital’s pubs for clubbers reluctant to end the revelry after spending the evening at one of London’s new superclubs, such as The Ministry Of Sound. ‘We used to pitch it up a bit, give it a bit more energy cos people ...
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An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...
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Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.
David Bowie
Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers
his life, music, art and movies, with a
sweep of incredible photographs.