Throughout January and February 2004, Wall of Sound’s Mark Jones and Gee Street founder, Jon Baker ferried the world’s leading electronic producers out to the Blue Mountain’s best-kept secret, Gee Jam studios. Here, each producer brought his own unique production style into the studio to pair, face to face, with some of Jamaica’s most talented dancehall, ska & reggae vocalists and musicians.

The project has been christened ‘Two Culture Clash’; a title not only referring to the name of the album, but also to the group of musicians involved.

The idea behind Two Culture Clash was born from a chance meeting between Jones and Baker late last year. The project has since developed at a rapid pace and in such a spontaneous, creative way that Two Culture Clash should be seen as one of 2004’s most exciting musical ventures.

Two Culture Clash aims to highlight the close link between dancehall and electronic music. The project also serves as a launch pad for new talent breaking through, helping to give new artists the recognition they deserve as well as bringing the spirit of Jamaica – with its history of influence on music and culture to a wider audience and level of awareness.

Download the first single 'How Do You Love?' produced by Jon Carter and receive a bonus track from the forthcoming album . Available from (9th August 04). It also includes bonus track 'Fly High'
and full length video - all for £1.99!. Click Here To Download Now

After four months, the album is now complete and due for release on 23rd August. A full DVD documentary on the making of the album is being directed by Rick Elgood (Dancehall Queen/ One Love) which will be released alongside the CD. The first single will be How Do You Love? featuring Patra & Danny English and produced by Jon Carter - released on 9th August as a digital download only.

The Two Culture Clash cast list:
Jamaican dancehall/ reggae/ ska vocal talent contributing to the album includes an impressive list of both classic and contemporary stars; HORACE ANDY, EARNEST RANGLIN, MISS THING, PATRA, WARD 21, BLING DAWG, GENERAL DEGREE, CE’CILE, SPRAGGA BENZ, BIG YOUTH, DANNY ENGLISH, DETERMINE, NADINE SUTHERLAND, TANYA STEVENS, INNOCENT KRU and BARRINGTON LEVY.

The line up of electronic artists has been selected for their originality, quality and musical influence. They include: JACQUES LU CONT, CITY HIFI, RONI SIZE, JON CARTER, DJ GREGORY, KID 606, SOULCHILD, MOTORBASS, MARK RAE, SWITCH, WEST LONDON DEEP, HOWIE B and JUSTIN ROBERTSON.

The driving force behind Two Culture Clash are kindred souls and A&R pioneers, Wall of Sound’s MARK JONES and Gee Street founder, JON BAKER. Both are musical entrepreneurs, both share a love of Jamaica, and both are famous for breaking musical boundaries. Jon explains their working relationship: “Mark basically was responsible for choosing the DJs/producers that came from Europe; I was responsible for the Jamaican performers. That is the co-A&R dynamic in our relationship.”

Inspiration behind this immense project came from both a love of Jamaica and a desire to create something new, a completely fresh sound and style of music. Mark explains the concept behind the album:

“The idea came to me of bringing together two cultures and musical forms that, since time, have influenced each other in their development and being. From the era of experimental dub and the masters of reggae through to million-selling modern day productions, from the sound systems evolvement to worldwide ‘dj’ culture, electronics and the sound of Jamaica have forever been linked. The island has an inherent magnetic musical aura that draws you in… music pulses through everyone’s veins. It’s intrinsically built into culture and society.

The ideals and vision of this project is to assimilate leading artists from both genres into a face-to-face environment and create an album that brings experimentalism and accessibility, the world famous and the underground together, ‘live’ in Jamaica. This is a record that has to be made, for musical history’s sake.”

Come with us, as…
TWO CULTURES CLASH
SOON COME ON WALL OF SOUND

A series of live Two Culture Clash events are now being programmed throughout the summer - including London’s Notting Hill Carnival as well as a TCC sound system at Fabric in London on 3rd September. A press release with a complete list of events will follow.

http://www.twocultureclash.com
http://www.wallofsound.net
http://www.geejamstudios.com