| written by Jennifer Warner
Musical evangelists -- now most DJs would
shy away from a description like that one, which brings to mind
a rather extreme bunch of fanatical worshippers jumping around and
praising the lord while wiping out your pockets. But BBC Radio One
DJs Rob da Bank and Chris Coco... well for one thing, they're British,
and I don't even know if they have real bible-thumping hairspray
shellacked evangelists over there. Another is maybe their publicist
dubbed them "musical evangelists" without them even knowing,
but actually, if the daring freshness of their double disc compliation
CD is any indication, I think they'd approve of anything that would
make a jade reader - or listener - sit up and pay attention. Or,
as the title commands:
LISTEN AGAIN. Celebrated and undiscovered reveleations burst forth
from across the musical spectrum. Its fringe, leftfield, niche,
acoustic, rock n roll and some exclusive live recordings from their
BBC radio shows all rolled into one sensational sermon that has
my jaded ears yelling out "halleliha!" as I clap my hands
in joy! No seriously, this release is something different and inspiring
-- I ask you to give it a listen and post your own comments about
it the bottom of this page. But first, our little interview by email
with Mr. Rob da Bank himself!
I have to tell you, it was with a jaded sigh that I put your
CD in my player, and I was happily amazed and delighted by your
musical selections! Where did you find the incredible range of other
music you included?
Well, we both get sent an awful lot of records (I get about 300
cds a week plus vinyl!) and I pride myself on trying to track down
things no-one else plays... most of the tracks on there are things
we played on our Blue Room show on Radio 1.
What about the live recordings you include on your release?
These were sessions recorded for the show – each week we’d
take a band or singer down to the legendary BBC Maida Vale studios
where The beatles, Jimi Hendrix and The Who have all recorded and
was John Peels second home... And they'd sing us 3 or so songs.
How did you and Chris meet?
We were both asked to pilot for the show, The Blue Room, and they
couldn’t decide who they wanted to present it so we both got
it! That’s when we met
Do you play the lottery?
Nope.
For those that don’t know, how would you describe what
is Bestival?
its 3 days of magic, music, fun, fancy dress and lunacy in the sunniest
place in the UK. Some people call it a mini Glastonbury.
Why did you choose the Isle Of Wight for its location?
I grew up near there and love the south coast. There are so many
festivals in the uk now (over 200 music festivals) so you need to
find somewhere unique which we have!
For those of our readers who never had a chance to hear any
of your early Blue Room radio shows on the BBC, can they be heard
online anywhere (if not can we convince you to post them on your
websites?)
Sadly not, they have vansihed into the ether... but I have a new
show on Sunday nights that stateside listeners can tune into on
sirius... or listen again at www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank
Speaking of websites, did you know your press release has no
less than 10 website links for you all!!? Do you yourself read your
messsages on myspace?
we love the web! Im trying to get to the 10,000 friends mark on
myspace! I must admit someone reads my messages for me and then
sends the relevant ones onto me...!
Anything else you’d like to let your fans reading this
on Raves.com/DJfix.com know?
Well im looking at doing more djing in the states next year so
watch out – here comes da bank!
Thank you Rob!!
Listen Again Tracklisting:
CD1: CHRIS COCO
1 Josh Rouse – “Oh, I Need All Of The Love”
2 Skewiff – “Man Of Constant Sorrow”
3 Acid Casuals – “Bowl Me Over”
4 Hard Fi – “Cash Machine (Roots Manuva Mix)”
5 Chris Coco – “Andy Warhol”
6 Prince Fatty – “Nina's Dance”
7 Arab Strap – “Speed Date (BBC Maida Vale Session)”
8 The Freelance Hellraiser – “Want You To Know”
9 Nightmares on Wax – “The Sweetest”
10 James Yorkston – “Shipwreckers (BBC Maida Vale Session)
11 Adem – “Something’s Going To Come”
12 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – “Details Of The War”
13 Patrick & Eugene – “Feeling Groovy”
CD2: ROB DA BANK
1) Hess Is More – “Yes Boss”
2) Uffie – “Pop The Glock”
3) Kitty, Daisy, Lewis – “Going Up The Country (BBC
Maida Vale Session)”
4) Amadou & Mariam – “Realite”
5) Jose Gonzalez - “Crosses”
6) The Superimposers – “S'POSIN”
7) E Berg - “Love Your Bum”
8) Bobby Marie – “Rodeo”
9) Gogol Bordello - “Start Wearing Purple”
10) Richie Phoe – “Sinful”
11) Rainbow Family – “I Can See A Rainbow
12) King Creosote – “Nothing Compares To You (BBC Maida
Vale Session)”
For more information on “Listen Again,” Rob
da Bank and Chris Coco visit:
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