Why is consciousness not popular in the dance???

[stepping razor]

When the dance got going non-stop dubplates.
Peace

[leggo rocker]

We sshould all remember that Jah Glu is a youthman from Denmark. Sex isn't dealt with in an uptight manner in that country. They are in fact very sensible and open about it. I don't have a problem with that.

But I don't find boasting about sexual performance on records at all tasteful.

Records about guns? The other members here have pointed some out.

I agree, the bleed of the hip-hop thing over into reggae derived music is not a positive vibe.

And even if you don't really check the words to a song, they go into your mind and the mind is very impressionable. It will have an effect. Ask any advertiser, they use this science to brainwash us.

[ital kemar]

re consciousness in the dancehall. i would also say that the cocaine epidemic thats sweeping the world, and other chemicals are having a lot to do with the lack of consciousness not only in the dance but everywhere. drugs are causing havoc with youngsters' minds. and as long as they remain available, things will get worse.

ital kemar

[stepping razor]

The thing im finding is that since the smoking ban the herb smokers have been pushed out (outside with that), and the dance is now over run by pill-popers,alchos,powder takers and drunks and because the crowd is now like that, the dj feels he has to cater for them with badman tunes, otherwise the crowd gets bored on their naughty drug.
Before the smoking ban it was much more peacfull and was good vibes and people were happy to be at a dance getting away from the grinding work of the week.
It is known that the herb makes for peacefull dances.
But yet again the real roots reggaes got a bad name with deep roots and consciousness peace & unity and the so called (wicked) herb.
So in the end you get a watered down version of reggae. The drum & bass violence that enters reggae. it may sound rough but its not.
Going for a night out with music is like being a social worker and that some people need to go to rehab. (so you need me to tell you that). then the trouble starts.

Peace

[leggo rocker]

I can totally agree witht he chemical drug problem viewpoint.

So much trouble is coming from these bad drugs. And much of it isn't even fully out in the open yet. I've had close experience of this problem lately, not my own, but far too close for comfort.

There's stuff out there that even the drug squad isn't wise to and these chemicals are cheap and extremely destructive to mind and body.

[Guest]

Leggo and others, check out the video of the crew at work in a dancehall with consciousness. I went to that one it was really good vibes in the dance and people were getting into the music and dancing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G9uvRisl5Y

they are playing cd and the (2) turntables are spinning with nothing on it. it's great to see that good dances have nothing to do with vinyl or cd, one turntable or two.

[stepping razor]

So!
Its peace

[leggo rocker]

The quality of the dance has everything to do with the quality of the selecting.

One deck or two? Who cares? I use two, other sounds use one.

If you want to use CDs go ahead. I wouldn't want to as I don't favour them and you simply can't get the sheer quantity of quality tunes on CD, especially those all important 7s with versions and 12 inch 45s. So you're going to restrict your choice by shunning vinyl.

And you need a REALLY good CD transport to avoid harshness in the sound. Cheapo CD decks get worse with club amplification. Reggae vinyl just sounds better and better the more power you amp it with and SL1200s are relatively cheap. And MP3s just get worse and worse until they are literally unbearable with power amplification.

And sorry, but visually that dance looks crap. I am probably being unfair as it is such a short (and badly filmed) clip. But the guys are all wandering around behind the decks aimlessly. Come on, even simple DJ'ing should also be a great visual stage act. If people only go to a dance to listen then why does everyone almost always face the crew?

The Sound System I've been following lately would make this lot look (and sound) very, very lame.

[stepping razor]

It was very early in the dance warming up thats the only clip i could find, i dont know who film it, but it looked so dark.We dont let people film it. filming is banded uness been asked to film it proper.
You would have to hear my recording to get a reel taste of the soundsystem and dance.

The sound surported Lee Perry in november and the crowd were bored stiff with Perry and booing him off stage.
Then the sound system blew the crowd and perry away.
The sound held up Perrys dance not to be a failure for everyone wanting their money back feeling ripped off from perrys antics.The once great Lee Perry.


Peace

[leggo rocker]

OK Steppah. Point taken. And my apologies are offered to the crew for firing off my opinion without thinking about it first!

Please upload a good mix onto my mixtape site so I can get a proper feel for this Sound crew as I don't think this little clip is doing it any justice. Same goes for Highness, if I uploaded a shot video of them in session in the first few minutes it would give a poor impression of their actual abilities.

Especially as their valve amps would sound thin before they get properly warmed up! I've noticed that the sound of the Highness rig is TOTALLY different after one hour of playing! The first time I saw them I arrived as they span the very first disk. I thought "Oh dear, I have more bass than this on my hi-fi." BUT I was very wrong! A couple of hours later the entire building was literally shaking to the bass!

The venue in that clip looks interesting! Where is it?

I'd really like to come to see, and hear, one of your Sounds perform. Can you link us to some dates?

Better still, I'd like to bring a box of records and join in! I tend to enjoy dances MUCH more from behind a pair of SL1200s nowadays!