For hip hop heads, trip-hoppers and clubbers in the 90’s, there was a DJ/Compilation Mix that was ubiquitous on late night after (and occasionally pre) party CD players, Andy Smith’s “The Document”.
An eclectic mix of funk, soul and hip hop lovingly pieced together by Andy which represented his live DJ sets of the time (to be followed by the even more diverse Document II and III releases), incorporating and demonstrating his skills on the decks with recorded scratches, cuts and juggles. The eclecticism presented often becoming a blueprint for DJ’s (including myself) looking to offer something more than a single music genre club or bar DJ set, as one friend said to me “anything goes, in small amounts…”
Andy Smith’s name is synonymous to some (rightly or wrongly) with fellow Bristolians Portishead, having accompanied them on tour as their support DJ and providing the producer Geoff Barrow with source material for samples for the first two albums. Whilst this association opened some doors in the form of bookings, it also was the basis of frustration, as Andy was keen to forge his own solo sound, and also produce with Scott Hendy (aka Boca45, who provided us with an exclusive live mix with Dj Woody as Bocawoody) as Dynamo Productions. Not having worked with Portishead since 1998, he’s keen to put the past to rest, to the point of asking promoters not to include the “Portishead DJ” moniker on flyers, which to me is understandable, it’s the equivalent of being introduced to a new group of people, and your opening including “And he worked in Tesco 20 years ago…”
Following single and album releases under Dynamo, Andy has also continued to release DJ mixes, incorporating dub and reggae (Trojan Document) and Northern Soul, constantly performing DJ sets all over the UK and further afield, which brings us up to our GCASFM Hospital Radio mix. Recorded on a tropical (and by that I mean warm and pissing down with rain) summer’s evening in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Andy (along with 45Live stable mate Smoove, another artist to kindly donate a mix and interview to us) played one of a series of nights hosted by One20. The recording we present to you is recorded completely live, with no overdubs, showcasing Andy’s skill and expertise as a technical performer but as a selector as well.
You can catch Andy regularly at his 'Friday Fish Fry’ at Joe’s Bar, Chalk Farm Road in London and this year's New Years Eve bonanza at his residency Boombox @ The Horse & Groom in Shoreditch London.
For more information on up and coming nights, mixes and music check out Andy's website, Mixcloud, Instagram, Facebook and be sure to tune in to his Soho Radio show every other Monday, as well as catching him on 45Live!
So grab a cocktail, put on a raincoat and enjoy our final guest Hospital Radio mix for 2016, here’s to 2017. Enjoy....
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Words: Matt Strutt & Flint & Steel
Images & Video: Various
Contributors: Aaron Darveniza
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