An ode to The Shamen, dance rock pioneers who never got their due

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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moship : a2e ft michael horowitz (ambience)

drops : today (03 may 2023)   – stream here

out now : a2e (ambience) available on spotify, apple music, amazon, deezer and other digital platforms

stream here now 👉

‘a2e (ambience)’ equals magnificent moship acidic debut, minus big n bouncy beats plus extra atmospheric treats.

moship’s ‘a2e’ now leaks in ambient versions on a new 3 track ep – a more relaxed reflection on ‘the antidote to everything’ :

01: a2e (radio rental un-strumental mix) 06:43

02: a2e (radio rental instrumental mix) 06:43

03: a2e (bdrm produca edit) 02:41

the lyrics to a2e are an extended mix of a talk michael gave at the world psychedelic forum in basel in 2006 honouring hofmann.

moship : a2e ft michael horowitz (rhythms)

drops : today (26 april 2023)   – stream here

out now : a2e (rhythms) available on spotify, apple music, amazon, deezer and other digital platforms

stream here now 👉

moship’s ‘a2e’ now drops in some alternative “rhythms” flavours at around 126 bpm, with more uplifting chilled house vibes, a breakbeat version, an instrumental of the original and some bonus acapellas for beat meisters & bedroom producas

4 track ep:

01: a2e (lieb sich dich mix) 07:03

02: a2e (crystal mµze mix) 03:43

03: a2e (original instrumental mix) 11:52

04: a2e (bedroom produca edit) 02:52

the lyrics to a2e are an extended mix of a talk michael gave at the world psychedelic forum in basel in 2006 honouring hofmann.

moship : a2e ft michael horowitz (original version)

drops : 19/04/23 – bicycle day   – stream here

out now : a2e (original version) available on spotify, apple music, amazon, deezer and other digital platforms

stream here now 👉

11:51 minutes celebrating the power of psychoactive substances available on the 80th anniversary of “bicycle day” (the original lab leak), when acid godfather dr albert hofmann wobbled home on two wheels, inceptively experiencing the full spectrum of psychedelic effects from the nascent lsd-25 he had recently synthesized and imbibed.

the lyrics to a2e are an extended mix of a talk michael gave at the world psychedelic forum in basel in 2006 honouring hofmann.

moship : a2e

out : 19/04/2023

take a sneak peak at moship’s debut release, ‘a2e’ ft michael horowitz….

shamen : on spotify

you can follow the shamen on spotify here…

Here’s a wee Shamen intro playlist for you: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3UYALt0TrMTBsk9Jmo4Ij4?si=E8zP5Ki4QACJ6J-Ms1O2AQ

the shamen : boss drum revisited

it’s been 25 years since the release of the shamen’s “boss drum” album, which won them a highly coveted ivor novello award for songwriters of the year, went double platinum album and of course spawned the sometimes controversial no1 Single for four ( yes count them) weeks “ebeneezer goode” alongside the hit singles “lsi”, “boss drum”, “phorever people”, ‘re-evolution’ and “comin; On” , some rather fine mixes &  more….. which seems like a good reason to mention it.

you can hear it here

or here

Follow The Shamen on Spotify

the shamen : 25 years after ‘ebeenezer goode’

25 years after the shamen’s single release “ebeneezer goode” was banned,  then sent scurrying up the charts to no1 where it remained for 4 weeks until we deleted it.  here’s some more palaver on how it came to be, in case anyone missed it last time:

how we made … ebeneezer goode by the shamen

with some more gratuitous rug references.. especially for anyone that hated it 😉

listen links here

more carry on at the shamen’s facebook page.

Heres some of the flava it came in

ebeneezer goode – beat edit  : the shamen

ebeneezer goode – south of detroit vocal  : the shamen

ebeneezer goode – shamen dub  : the shamen

follow the shamen on spotify

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

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
Quotes: on Haroon Shamsher Blue plaque:

Pandit G ( Asian Dub Foundation (Official) Sound System )
Haroon was one of the pioneers. I remember seeing Joi Bangla Sound System down Bass Clef back in the 80s. The music , the vibe, the crowd. I knew then something new was going to happen, bringing together not just our origins – but where we find ourselves today.

Bobby Friction (DJ Presenter – BBC Asian Network )
Haroon Shamsher changed British Music forever Haroon Shamsher changed Britain Forever

Jon Coxon ( SpringHeelJack/ Producer)
“Haroon was a musical agitator, with no respect for musical boundaries”

Mark Strippel (Head of BBC Radio 1Xtra / Asian Network )
Haroon Shamsher continues to be an inspiration. He made a profound difference throughout his career, from the origins of Joi Bangla as a youth movement in the East End to the evolution into groundbreaking music collective Joi. The group changed the British music landscape and his cultural impact lives on today.”

Aki Nawaz ( Nation Records, Fun-Da-Mental )
Haroon was a hero and acknowledgement to him and Joi collective is a absolute Joy

Mushtaq Omar Uddin (Producer, Songwriter, Amy Winehouse, Skepta)
I remember his (Haroon’s) shyness, quietness and reluctance to limelight. Very loud qualities that most others in that microcosm seemed to lack. A true genius of his time. I used to look up to him.