Words & Photo by Ben Cardew

For underground musicians, chart success can be a double-edged sword, which brings in money and fame as it destroys your experimental credentials. Few bands know this as much as The Shamen, the Scottish psychedelic indie band turned rave pop stars, who are best known these days as the jokers who smuggled a pro-ecstasy song to the top of the UK charts via the leaden punning of Ebeneezer Goode.

There’s nothing wrong with that, of course. There was undoubtedly something subversive in what The Shamen achieved with Ebeneezer Goode and when people think of the band it is generally with a wry smile and a warm heart.

But this rampant chart success – and The Shamen were genuinely massive in the 90s – means that the group’s background as psychedelic warriors and dance rock crossover pioneers gets lost under a litany of naughty-naughty camera winks and nostalgic delights. Because way back before the Happy Mondays dropped the W.F.L. dance-floor mixes and The Stone Roses released Fools Gold, The Shamen were mixing up electronic sounds with guitars, rock vocals and political intent, making them a genuinely revolutionary band. As their pivotal album, In Gorbachev We Trust, turns 35, what better time to celebrate them?

“The Shamen started out as a guitar band, gorging on fungal fruits and tuning into psychedelia,” the band’s guitarist, vocalist and leader Colin Angus told The Guardian in 2012. You can hear this on their 1987 debut album, Drop, a work of elegant psychedelic rock, which suggests 60s acid trips, more than 90s acid house. “As the personnel changed,” Angus continued, “we played around Scotland and picked up a few tricks with sequencers, samplers and drum machines.”

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photo credit: spencer rowell

haroon shamsher – joi – tribute anniversary event –  8th july – new venue

The tribute event to celebrate the anniversary of Haroon from Joi Soundsystem, premature passing away, will now take place in the Brady Arts centre, on 192-196 Hanbury st, ( round the corner from Haroon’s Blue plaque in Brick Lane ) on the 8th July 2017.

This musical celebration of his life achievements, contribution to culture and to commemorate his blue plaque honour, is open to all – family, friends and fans.

Farook will join you to honour and toast Haroons creativity, with music, food and drink.

Event:     “Haroon Shamsher -Joi tribute anniversary event”

Date:       8th July

Place :     Brady Arts Centre,

Address: 192 -196 Hanbury St, London E1 HU

Time:      18.00-12.00 midnight

Admission: Free

fb event:    https://www.facebook.com/events/1028546150613432/

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The Shamen also made experimental ambient and electronic music that was more underground than their big hits.

‘Dead Mexico’ is focusing on these tracks for this 2 hour Shamen Special.

Enjoy.

https://www.mixcloud.com/deadmexico/dead-mexico-shamen-special/

Shamen Special by “Dead Mexico” on FutureMusic Fm.

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the documentary features farook from joi, adf aki nation, bally sagoo, bobby friction, bombay jungle, dj ritu, hustlers convention, reju sharma, riz ahmed and many more in celebration of the musical and social phenomenon of british asian rave, the anthem for many second generation british south asians during the 1990s as they negotiated their britishness

directed by william williamson and made by archers mark for dazed magazine.

the film features audio from two joi songs; ‘asian vibes‘ & ‘a desert storm‘, includes farook being interviewed and clips the video for ‘asian vibes‘.

‘asian vibes‘ – a single taken from the joi album ‘one and one is one‘ released on real world records.

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guardian culture : “…music nation … the best tv show about music in years.”

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