SKEEWIFF: Skeewiff vs. Amphonic (2013)

“Us? Let loose in the Amphonic vaults? With our reputation?…” Giving Skeewiff the keys to the vaults of Syd Dale’s Amphonic library music label was always going to be bit like a music production equivalent of parachuting Russell Brand into a lingerie party at the Playboy Mansion. Skeewiff have made a more than decade-long career out of sampling decades old library music while Amphonic was set up in 1971 as a go-to label when 70s TV, radio and advertising media wanted incidental instrumental music. In order for Skeewiff to have freedom to sample whatever they wanted (from one of their favourite sources of samples) though, there was, of course, a price. They were required to take on the arduous task of doing a few remixes of Amphonic library tunes. Or in Brand/Playboy mansion terms ‘you can shag who you like, when you like, in any way you like, as long as you shag some people a bit longer than others.’ Reminds me of the time that Blue Note gave cheeky samplers Us3 similar unfettered access to their back catalogue back in the day.

Skeewiff vs Amphonic is fifteen tracks of Skeewiff running rampant in a party breaks stylee with music originally composed by Syd Dale, Dick Walter, Stephen Gray, Gerry Butler, Les Reed, as well as none other than Keith ‘Funky Fanfare’ Mansfield and Alan ‘Champ’ Hawkshaw. Expect a psychedelically-funky gumbo of swinging-latin-breaks-boogaloo-step n bass, then. Preview audio below…
(Out 1 May on Pedigree Cuts)

4 responses

  1. There’s a wealth of excellent library music that has been uploaded to YouTube over the last few years and I decided today it would be nice to put together a selection of my favourite tracks for your listening pleasure. This compilation features a diverse range of pieces from labels such as De Wolfe, Bruton, Patchwork, Selected Sound, KPM and Montparnasse. There’s plenty of uptempo grooves to be found, interspersed with some more relaxed synth tracks and a couple of quirky oddities thrown in for good measure. Give it a download and let me know what you think. Many thanks go to the original uploaders who continue to graciously share these musical gems with a wider audience. http://reciclablepiensaverde.wordpress.com/

  2. Ester’s comment is, hands down, the most remarkably well-written and contextually appropriate piece of low-down dirty comment spam I’ve ever seen.

    Who would have predicted that in the year 2013, robots would post fake messages to message boards attempting to trick fans of British 60s and 70s library music to view fashion advertisements in Spanish?

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