Straight 10/10. Wait until you see the tracklist!
Out 22nd March, ‘Meets…’ is the new compilation from producer, DJ, reggae mastermind and all round good guy, Wrongtom, released on Tru Thoughts. Continuing the legacy of the legendary ‘Wrongtom Meets…’ series, Wrongtom’s latest output is a double digital LP showcasing a cohesive and curated anthology of his finest original material and remixes to date, alongside a handpicked selection of some of his favourite artists to have remixed him.
The reworkings are intertwined with elements of Ska scattered throughout the record; a first-time dabble for Wrongtom’s career. Flowdan’s love letter to weed; “Bob Marley” is re-envisioned as a dub-poetry rework, echoing the tradition of spoken word, reggae-rhythmic heroes such as Linton Kwesi Johnson and Benjamin Zephaniah. Impressive remixes from the likes of Bazza Ranks, Benny Page, Robot Riddims and Mo’Matic embody the same ethos and originality of Wrongtom’s remixing aptitude. The release also features infamous tracks such as “Illegal Gunshot” and remixes taken from collaborative albums such as ‘In Time’, ‘In Dub’, ‘In East London’ and ‘Superteng’.’
The ‘Wrongtom Meets…’ blueprint begun with a remix back in 2005. Gaining momentum, the project exploded onto the scene when Wrongtom was handed a catalogue of music from national treasure and titan of Black British music, Roots Manuva, for a radical makeover. These pivotal remixes would eventually evolve into the ‘Duppy Writer’ LP. In Wrongtom’s own words, “Wrongtom Meets is all about finding artists and material with reggae in their DNA… If I can hear something potentially skanky going on in the original track, I’ll rip it apart and rebuild it with a reggaefied rhythm track”.
Producing over a staggering 250 remixes throughout his career, ‘Meets…’ showcases Wrongtom’s original material with the likes of The Ragga Twins, Deemas J and Tippa Irie, whilst firmly keeping his legendary remixes at the heart of the project. ‘Meets…’ includes tracks that have gone under the radar, been lost in the ether and some that are being released for the first time, shedding a light on Wrongtom’s extensive catalogue, mixed with some dub-heavy fresh new sounds.
Remixing a vast amount of tracks from the Tru Thoughts vault, Wrongtom reimagines and reassigns Hot 8 Brass Band’s “Sexual Healing” and Flowering Inferno’s “Shuffle Them Shoes” into previously unreleased dub anthems. London Posse’s“Money Mad”, one of the first remixes Wrongtom did for Tru Thoughts and a record that he has loved since his teens, is delivered as a proud homage to the original. In a remix that has become a fond fan favourite, The Seshen’s “Distant Heart” is transformed, dissected and rebuilt with a new lease of life. Elsewhere on the album, Wrongtom dabbles in ska for the first time in his career, while Flowdan’s love letter to weed; “Bob Marley” is re-envisioned as a dub-poetry rework, echoing the tradition of spoken word, reggae-rhythmic heroes such as Linton Kwesi Johnson and Benjamin Zephaniah.
Impressive remixes from the likes of Bazza Ranks, who turns “Trouble” into the biggest dancefloor tune in the package, and Benny Page, who transforms “Jump + Move + Rock”into a ragga tinged jungle/drum & bass anthem, while Robot Riddims apply their unique blend of chiptune and circuit-bent dub to “Together”, and Mo’ Matic gives “Superteng” a big beat facelift. A unifying factor throughout the remixer roster is the embodiment of the same ethos and originality of Wrongtom’s remixing aptitude. The LP also features infamous tracks such as “Illegal Gunshot” and remixes taken from collaborative albums such as ‘In Time’, ‘In Dub’ and ‘In East London’.
A prolific remixer, Wrongtom explains his delicate art that has played such an important part of his career and growth as an artist, “I don’t really think of my remixes as remixes. I’ve always approached them like they’re a track in their own right.” He continues, “Dub turned the producer into an artist, and that’s what I’ve been channelling ever since.”
With high praise throughout his career from Julie Adenuga (Beats1), Steve Lamacq, Lauren Laverne (BBC 6 Music), Toddla T (BBC R1), David Rodigan (BBC 1Xtra), Ras Kwame (Capital Xtra) and glowing print/online support from MOJO, Q, Mixmag, Clash, Vinyl Factory, NME, Resident Advisor and more; Wrongtom is kept busy performing DJ sets across the country and is continually developing his live sound.
“The strongest modern reggae set to emerge from the UK for many years” – THE WIRE | “Glorious” – THE QUIETUS | “Essential listening”– 4 STARS – MOJO |“Perfect”– 4 STARS – Q | What about that!” – DAVID RODIGAN (BBC 1XTRA) |A marriage made in soundboy heaven” – MIXMAG | “Hefty bass action for the heatwave, it’s an absolute summer scorcher” – CLASH
Side 1
1. Lakuta – Bata Boy (Wrongtom Remix)
2. The Quantic Soul Orchestra – Pushing On (Wrongtom Skanking On)
3. Hot 8 Brass Band – Sexual Healing (Wrongtom Reassignment)
4. Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno – Shuffle Them Shoes feat. Hollie Cook (Wrongtom Reshuffle)
5. Wrongtom Meets The Ragga Twins – Illegal Gunshot
6. Wrongtom Meets The Rockers – Dub Session
7. Wrongtom Meets Deemas J – Jump + Move + Rock (Wrongtom’s Relocation Rock)
8. London Posse – Money Mad (Wrongtom Remix)
9. Wrongtom Meets The Ragga Twins – Follow Fashion (Murder He Wrote Remix)
10. Wrongtom Meets The Ragga Twins – Together (Robot Riddims Remix)
11. Flowdan – Bob Marley (Wrongtom’s Tuff Wrong Remix)
12. Lost Midas – Kayla’s Lullaby (Wrongtom’s Skank)
13. The Seshen – Distant Heart (Wrongtom Remix)
Side 2
1. Wrongtom Meets Deemas J – Old Time Stylee (Wrongtom’s New Build)
2. Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno – Shuffle Them Shoes feat. Hollie Cook (Wrongtom’s Dub Shuffle)
3. Wrongtom Meets The Ragga Twins – Woah! (Shop Soiled Dub)
4. Flowdan – Bob Marley (Wrongtom’s Tuff Wrong Dub)
5. Hot 8 Brass Band – Love Will Tear Us Apart (Disassembled by Wrongtom)
6. Wrongtom Meets Deemas J feat. Ammoye – Wa Do Dance (Wrongtom’s Dub The Crown)
7. Wrongtom Meets Deemas J – See Boom, See Bye (Wrongtom’s Oystah Mix)
8. Wrongtom Meets Deemas J – Superteng (Mo’ Matic Remix)
9. Wrongtom Meets The Ragga Twins – Follow Fashion (J-Felix Remix)
10. Wrongtom Meets The Ragga Twins – Bacchanal (Lost Midas Remix)
11. Wrongtom Meets The Ragga Twins – Trouble (Bazza Ranks Remix)
12. Wrongtom Meets Deemas J – Jump + Move + Rock (Benny Page Remix)
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