Highlights of 2016 by Tic
The blossoming of Beatrice Dillon:
It wasn't until the Masafat festival in Cairo that I got my initiation to the true sound of Ms Dillon, which i shall describe as regal British dub techno. I adore the precision of each progressive modulation in her music, layering slow changing arrangements with the briskest of tempos.
The emergence of Ben Reed:
Sampha and Ben Reed have featured on the same two records this year, Frank Ocean's "Endless" & Bullion's Loop The Loop". Ben is my favourite musician. A multi-instrumentalist, his true flair comes to light on a unique workhorse, a fretless 70s Gibson EB-0 bass guitar. his bass and guitar performances are sometimes breathtaking and he's even drove me to tears after i requested a rendition of Thundercat's "Without You", which he transcribed by ear. For further gold from Mr Reed, check Laura Groves' "Committed Language" and stay tune for her forthcoming LP and best of all, Ben Reed's own Station Masters album, on Gare Du Nord.
Seeing Babyfather on stage last week with DJ Escrow, Triumph Allah FKA Kamelion Crying Hands AKA Lord Tusk, Gasman D, Tribe Of Colin, Olly Danger, Floss Daily, I felt the community response to the line "I came back for my niggers, I came back 'cos I love my niggers". Hip Hop parody, millennial performance piece or conscious militant music, Dean Blunt is galvanising the young black musicians of the NTS movement. Gathering Arca, Gaika, Micachu and more to the clan, he is leading us to an uncertain place of artistic emancipation... All Bound for Babyfatherland.
