Podcast Dusk Dubs
DD0641 Dusk Dubs - Clarkee

[ Clarkeei ]

Podcast: Dusk Dubs
Artist: Clarkee
Title: DD0641
Style: Rock, Two-Tone, Reggae, Hip-Hop, House, Techno
Time: 54 Minutes
Date: 2020-07-12

Dusk Dubs returns with another incredible journey through sounds. As always, our guest provides us with music that has a special place in their memories and in their souls. Music that moves them, that invokes images of sunrises, sunsets, good times and good people. We then play each record, in full, giving it breathing space and allowing it to shine.

This week we invite Clarkee to the Dusk Dubs family

DJ Clarkee started buying dance music in 1987 and began DJing in 1989. Originally one of the founder members and resident DJ's of the legendary ESP and Equinox at Milwaukees, throughout the 90s he went on to play at many of the biggest and best raves in the country including Raindance, Weekend World, HEAD, Diehard, Total Kaos, Club Kinetic and of course the Dreamscape and Helter Skelter raves at the Sanctuary. His Area51 label, started in 1994, put out hardcore and gabber as well as hard techno and acid releases through the nineties, leading to him being an in-demand DJ across Europe and playing Australia and the USA many times. Now residing in Spain, he still writes many forms of underground dance music and is still in demand for both new forms and oldskool sets.

You can find Clarkee HERE:

clarkee.com
facebook.com/dj.clarkee.9
soundcloud.com/dj-clarkee
discogs.com/artist/64960-DJ-Clarkee
youtube.com/channel/UC9ieDzSSY...Y8SoqN89d3nvCuw

Tracklisting

1) Fleetwood Mac - The Chain (1977)

Probably my earliest music memory, I’m always reminds me of Sunday mornings with the waft of Sunday dinner cooking, in the evenings I remember trying to DJ on a cassette deck. Never got me into Formula one though !

2) Madness - One Step Beyond (1980)

One big influence on a lot of my early tastes was holiday with my Aunty and Uncle and cousins. Neil the eldest cousin [still a year younger than me] always had good taste in music and fashion and was 'ahead of the curve'.

He was always listening to Ska so I’m thinking that’s where i heard them first [along with the selector and Specials. School disco classic, this one. Normally ended up in a dance off with the Dexies gang.

3) 2 Sisters - B Boys Beware (1983)

And then we discovered electro! Our crew never really got that good, but we had the tracksuits and even carried a piece of lino at one point. This track just sticks in my mind.

4) Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road (Thunder Road (Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London '75) (1975)

And that’s how my musical brain worked in the eighties. After another couple of holidays I was introduced to Bruce by my Aunty [RIP Aunty Sue x] and uncle. Devout fans we even sought out the bootlegs sets that he was famous for.

They even allowed me to tag along to Wembley stadium the following year. Bruces early albums are superb cinematic portraits of working town America, something that I later got to see some of whilst DJing there.

5) Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five - Step Off (1984)

With electro dance and rock ringing in my ears, i stumbled onto Hip Hop and this was the first 12" I bought. I loved the sampling creativity of early hip hop with the advent of samplers 'ANYTHING' was possible.

6) Smiley Culture - Police Officer (1984)

Another early 12" which showed me another avenue of 'urban' music. Maybe the ska influences got me. Come to think of it i still love the very early Bob Marley stuff.

7) Depeche Mode - Leave In silence (1985)

What’s this? Electronic Rock pop, where will it end!! I was hooked on the synth sounds by then and although I was never a big 'New Romantic' fan I liked the sounds on some of the stuff.

8) Darryl Pandy - Love Cant Turn Around (1986)

Cinderellas Rockerfellas. Northampton. We had been dancing to soul, r+b and commercial dance when this guy did a live PA. This new form of electronic dance grabbed me and planted a seed to what i wanted to listen to, the value of friendship and the finding my way as a young adult.

9) Frankie Knuckles - Your Love (1989)

Boom, I discovered the raves cene and acid house. New friendships, new places to go clubbing, 3 Holidays in Tenerife, I had arrived, and found myself. This is probably my all-time favourite song. Every time i hear it I miss lost friends, it fires incredible early clubbing memories and just makes me appreciate the friends I still have from those days and the CRAZY times we all had [and still do...well sometimes as long as it’s finished by 1am.....he he

10) Joey Beltram - Energy Flash (1990)

Around this time in a club in Coventry, dancing my pants off. I hear this monster techno track. I knew I wanted to DJ and be a part of this thing on a pro level. DJ Clarkee was born and along with my record collection started DJing regularly at clubs and raves.

11) Technohead - I Wanna Be A Hippy (Original Hardcore Edit)- Mokum records (1995)

Jeez who have thought this would end in full circle me, the wannabe, different, energetic punk rocker, but tree hugging skinhead hippie. As I got more into DJing and techno music, my sets got harder and the Dutch sound of the nineties boomed through, it’s what I was known for, jeez I even started a record label [Area 51 Recordings] which had a lot of releases on vinyl and who I ran with long time pal Steve Melville. I now make and play less energetic stuff generally [unless I’m asked to dig the crates out and fly back to the uk] but if me and the kids ever fancy a jump about then this is the one we choose. Then I’ll have a sit down and a cup of tea!! xx I’m sure you’ve probably turned the track off by now...or have you? hahaha

Wow a free counselling session during lockdown! I AM CLEANSED!

But thats what we got to and that where we will end it...for now. This is dedicated to my wife Ava, kids Mags and Jen and ALL my family and friends around the world. i love you all.

Peace.... Clarkee