Proper Records Birthday Party

BIRTH
MR QUEST and THE RAGGA TWINS
Morecambe Dome and Waterfront Bar
Saturday July 5 2003

presented by Proper Records and Acme Bass.

reviewed for Virtual-Lancaster by Perksy Jobsworth

The Ragga Twins Interview - below

At the Morecambe Dome and Waterfront Bar on Saturday July 5 MR QUEST and THE RAGGA TWINS headlined BIRTH, presented in fine style by Proper Records and Acme Bass. The whole night was a luxury experience for the senses, and incredibly good value – two rooms rammed with all the sound you could want to hear! 15 top class DJs playing Drum & Bass, Breaks, House, Techno and Tribal, and the Ragga Twins taking the crowd by storm in the main arena, with Ricochet leaping around urging us even further in our frenzy.

Lights - Photo by KAZ

The lights and projections throughout both rooms made a big difference to this challenging space. The Waterfront Bar, where House, Tribal and Techno reigned supreme, was softened with décor, whilst the dancefloor of the Dome itself remained stern and dark but was absolutely filled with the power of the music. Dancers had such a great night! The only problem was – HOW CAN YOU BE IN TWO PLACES AT THE SAME TIME! Partygoers solved the problem of course by doing much happy to-ing & fro-ing. Perksy Jobsworth was beside herself with pleasure!

Mr Quest + The Ragga Twins Photo by KAZ

In the main room between 2 and 4 AM, The Ragga Twins tore it up bouncing lyrics around, whilst their DJs of the night, DJ SuperDan and Mr Quest played a blinder with all kinds of goodies on the agenda from much loved tunes (Bring Forth the Guillotine!) to early and cutting edge D&B. The dance floor was packed – and the stage got a little crowded too… Flinty Badman and Deman Rockers were sincerely appreciated by girls wanting a closer encounter! Lots of fun, exhibition dancing, and sexy, sweaty clubbing enthusiasm.

The partygoers had been well prepared by luscious sounds and sexy dark rhythms from Big G, DJ Wild and Gez, and we were spoiled from the word go by Spoona, Bent Coppa and Maff Foster.

DJ Imran Photo by Ruth Quaglieri.

Each of these DJs deserves and commands very special attention, as do the big talents operating in the Waterfront Bar. So much to appreciate – The Whip (watch this man and you'll understand the name!),

Jay Ball, Imran, Bladey, Guy C, Matt Proper, Ash n Tray … You are urged to seek these people out and dance to their magic!

BIRTH is a top quality night in this area, and the next one can't come soon enough. Do we really have to wait til November for the next one? A little dancing bird has told Perksy that Proper Records and Acme Bass are even now preparing to come up with a night which will SHOCK, ASTOUND, & DELIGHT US ALL. Watch this space

 

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Demons of the mic
INTERVIEW WITH THE RAGGA TWINS
At BIRTH
by Perksy Jobsworth

The Ragga Twins – Flinty Badman and DeMan Rocker met up with Perksy Jobsworth before their storming set at Birth on Saturday July 9th, in a dimly lit dressing room backstage at the Dome -we couldn't find the light switch which made the 3 of us laugh straight off. D&B was loud in the Dome throughout the interview, and we found ourselves singing ‘Lies Ain't Workin'… These were two really professional, approachable, friendly guys who just happen to be DEMONS OF THE MIC. We know that they enjoyed their time up North cos they didn't get right back on the road. They went on to 2 local parties after the Dome shut – these men know how to enjoy themselves, which is obvious to anyone who has had the Ragga Twins experience.

Photo by Ruth Quaglieri.

PJ Have you been to Lancaster or Morecambe before?
FB No. We've been up to Manchester and Liverpool often. We'll come up here more often!

PJ Do ya have any connections with the North?
FB Well we have now! And Ricochet who's also on the bill, I hear he's been up here a few times.

PJ Where are you from? Tell me a bit about the Ragga Twins…
FB We're originally from North London. The Ragga twins have been around since about '90, and before that me and Deman worked separately in a sound system called UNITY.

PJ Are you actually related?
FB Yeah! We're brothers, and DJ SuperDan is another brother. In fact we're a close family; see a lot of each other and our other brother and 2 sisters. We're all into music!
PJ (fluttering eyelashes despite the near-darkness) My family too.

PJ What was the first music you owned?
FB Can't really remember. Oh all right then, me mum bought me something by T Rex!
DR I bought Shaka V Fatman soundclash! Producer Prince Jammi.

PJ How about yr early musical influences?
FB Reggae dancehall. And DJs like Yelloman and Ringo
DR Bob Marley! Our mum listened to Bob Marley. Kinky Reggae! Big Youth also influenced me.

PJ What music are you listening to now?
FB All sorts. Hip Hop, R&B, D&B. Love Bashment!
(PJ: Back in the day we called em Blues…)
DR The same! I love roots reggae an all.

PJ What musical medium feeds yr need at home?
DR Don't really own any vinyl, it's mainly CDs round our house.

PJ What influenced you both to MC?
Both: LOVE OF MUSIC!

PJ Tell me about your involvement with SHUT UP AND DANCE.
FB SUAD originally wanted to sample Deman on a track called Lamborghini, in about 1990. They went round to the record shop where he was working at the time to ask his permission and we all got together. It was SUAD that suggested Deman and me work together, and The Ragga Twins were born.

PJ What equipment makes the Ragga Twins happy?
Both: Give me a mic and good crisp sound. We don't need nothin else.

PJ The next move for the Ragga Twins?
DR We're busy making tracks for an album.

PJ How do you feel when you get recognised in the street?
FB Love it! We got time for everybody.
DR We get a lot of questions from men especially, people who'd like a go themselves.

PJ What's yr rider
DR 2 mics!

PJ You've got a lot of fans here tonight!
Both: We love the people on the dance floor. We are equal with them and they're equal with us.

PJ Any message?
Both: BIG UP TO THE MORECAMBE AND LANCASTER CREW! WE LOVE YOU!