Earlier in the summer, I immersed myself into ๐ ๐๐ข๐บ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ, ๐ข ๐๐ข๐บ ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐บ, the fascinating book by famed ethnomusicologist Gage Averill, in which he narrates how Haitiโs vibrant and expressive music has been one of the most highly charged instruments in the struggle against oppression at the hands of colonial […]
Category: News
Dance For Haiti
20 songs to celebrate 20 years in London
ย Towards the end of November 2000 I landed in London with a backpack, one cassette tape and dreams aplenty. Years have mysteriously passed (who knows where the time goes?!) and here I found myself, as Londoner as can be, celebrating twenty years of trials and tribulations in the city. For 20 days (+ 1) in […]
SOUNDS OF 2020 – THE WEIRDEST YEAR IN MUSIC
“Music is the healing force of the Universeโ This quote taken from Albert Aylerโs spiritual jazz masterpiece perhaps never sounded so accurate as it did in 2020. Most of us searched for solace in music inย even deeper ways than ever. I for one spent even more time than usual consuming music, digging, seeking out, […]
Gratien Midonet Compilation on Time Capsule
It is finally here: the project started at the tail end of 2019 has finally become reality with the release of a retrospective of Midonet’s career highlights on double vinyl and in full audiophile glory. After tracking down Gratien in Noumea, New Caledonia, we spent the best part of 2020 exchanging long emails as I […]
2018 – My Year In Music
Starting with the party scene, Beauty & the Beat has been the source and inspiration for 2 brand new, Klipschorn based parties, one in Paris called Sweet Apricโts, and the 2nd one in Sheffield called Apricot Ballroom Sound System.
Guest Mix for Ransom Note
Towards the end of 2019 I was invited by the music blog Ransom Note to deliver a mix to add to their series “The Wednesday Alternative”. As always it’s an eclectic affair, which goes from ambient to kraut rock cosmic funk to island disco to upfront gwoka, deep cadence and some more. You can […]
XTERRA WORLD CHAMPS MAUI 2018
In 2009 I was a youthful and wide-eyed triathlete, landing in Maui for my first experience of the island (and my 2nd xterra ever). I’d flown in with my steel framed Kona Caldera mountain bike and aluminium wheels (must have weighted about 12 kg at least), and within a couple of days was sent out […]
XTERRA ROMANIA 2018
Yes yes, as you can see, this is a race report, despite the fact that I officially retired from racing last September, that I have barely trained in the meantime, that…well there were countless good reasons to stop (tired body, better things to do etc), but surely there has to be a ‘come-back’ before calling […]
New Record Out – Beauty Bits Vol. 1
While we’re awaiting the 3rd release on BATB Records, we have started Beauty Bits, a sub label dedicated to re-edits/reworks. This will be strictly limited to those special edits that go further than just looping a few bars in the intro/outro, edits that not only reinvent the originals, but also which have been tried and […]
IRONMAN BARCELONA – ONE LAST HURRAH
Exactly 2 weeks on post IM Barcelona and having done no exercise whatsoever since I crossed that finish line, I find myself watching the World Champs in Kona in aย rather emotional state. Of course I can totally feel the pre race nerves on these athletes, the anticipation of a great battle ahead, but mainly […]