urbansteve (Hot Sauce) and Kevin Reigh bring you the finest Reggae, Dancehall, Bashment & Bass sounds. Combining the old shots with the adventerous future styles!

Strictly heavyweight tunes. All killers and floor fillers.

Special Guests:

Lord Foundry (aka Roland Gonzales)
Earl Grey

NO COVER

229 Geary Avenue (at Dufferin, North of Dupont)
late night eats and beats

Check out Bass Kultcha’s radio show at Studiofeed.com. Episode# 6 is here
Click here for the Bass Kultcha event page on facebook

StudioFeed Radio – The Bass Kulture Show: Episode #1 from StudioFeed on Vimeo.

Here is the complete tracklist for sticklers like ourselves:

Scientist Meets The Roots Radics – Whip Them
Mikey Dread – Go-Go Girls
Burning Spear – Down By The Riverside
Johnny Clarke – No Woman No Cry
Johnny Clarke – Left w/ a Broken Heart
Johnny Clarke/I-Roy – Do You Love Me
Johnny Osbourne – On The Right Track
Lt. Stitchie – Wear Yu Size
Yellowman & Fat Head – Operation Radication
Sly & Robbie ft. Sheila Hylton – Bed’s Too Big Without You
John Holt – Sweetie Come Brush Me
Gregory Isaacs – Night Nurse
The Mighty Diamonds – Have Mercy
Max Romeo & The Upsetters – War Ina Babylon
Rapper Robert & Jim Brown – Minister For Ganja
Dennis Brown – Some Like It Hot
Johnny Osbourne – Ready Or Not
Ken Boothe – Everything I Own
Ken Boothe – Silver Words
Delroy Wilson – Cool Operator
Susan Cadogan – It Hurts So Good
Susan Cadogan – Do It Baby (Nice & Easy)
John Holt – For The Love Of You
Hortense Ellis – Woman of the Ghetto
Randy’s All-Stars – Guns in The Ghetto
Barrington Levy – Prison Oval Rock
The Heptones – Book of Rules
Toots & The Maytals – Time Tough
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Natty Dread
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Small Axe (Paul & Price remix)
Bob Marley – Mr. Brown (DJ Spooky remix)
Solo Banton – Music Addict
Toots & The Maytals – Take Me Home, Country Road

25. Mogwai
Hardcore Will Never Die
[Sub Pop]

Good to hear Mogwai bounce back from a disappointing The Hawk is Howling. Mogwai barely etches out their post-rock protégés of sorts Explosions in The Sky’s Take Care Take Care Take Care- a band whose previous three albums are some of my all time favourites. Top tracks: “Rano Pano”, “George Thatcher Square Death Party”
Listen

24. Sully
Carrier
[Keysound Recordings]

A dark stuttered beat affair that held my ADD ears most of the way. Top tracks: “Let You” and “Bonnafide”.
Listen

23. Mr Raoul K
Introducing My World
[Mule Musiq]

Authentic percussive house from Cote D’Ivorie ex-pat, Mr Raoul K. Mule Musiq and its sublabel Mule Electronic- run out of Tokyo- never fail to release top quality music. Top Tracks: “The African Government”, “Japan Japon” Listen

22. Determine
“Born Pressurizer”
[Jammys]

Underated dancehall reggae artist determined to make an impact with this album of tuff riddims and fast-flowing lyrics. Top Tracks: “In The Shop”, “Born Pressurizer”.
listen

21. Young Montana?
“Limerence”
[Alpha Pup Records]

So much is going on in EVERY track on this album by beat/electronic/anything-goes wonderkid from Coventry,Uk. An ever-present groove- albeit a hyperactive, chopped up groove- make this a fantastic listen every time. Top tracks: “Sacre Cool”, “Mynnd”.
Listen

20. Pinch & Shackelton
Pinch & Shackelton
[Honest Jon's]

A serious slice of haunted darkness and Middle Eastern sounding percussion from these two original dubstep innovators- you know, when dubstep was interesting before it mutated into heavy metal-step. Top Tracks: “Cracks in The Pleaseuredome”, “Torn & Submerged”.
Listen

19. Young Galaxy
Shapeshifting
[Paper Bag]

Montreal Indie Synthwavers, Young Galaxy are what I imagine more well known bands like Cut Copy and Friendly Fires to sound like- only more Canadian (which means cooler these days). I have not heard CC and FF’s 2011 albums yet, but Young Galaxy’s infectious cold pop sensibilities made this a morning drive favourite on my way to work.
Listen

18. The Kills
Blood Pressures
[Domino]

Blood Pressures is a dirty, gritty, garage-y, big drums, rock-out album. “Satellite” even uses the riff from the reggae classic “Fisherman” by The Congos. Top Tracks: “Future Starts Slow”, “DNA”.
Listen

17. The Streets
“Computers and Blues”
[679 Recordings]

Mike Skinner’s fifth and final album of The Streets. While not as strong as the brilliant first two albums, Computers and Blues still has the witty, charming lyrics and fun story telling that most of us have come to love. I don’t care what other critics say- not for everyone, but definitely for me! Top Tracks: “Trust Me”, “Soldiers”.
Listen

16. Bibio
Mind Bokeh
[Domino]

Despite the horrible, Phoenix satire, “Take off Your Shirt”, Bibio put together another eclectic beat/folk inspired full length popular on road trips and at cottages all summer. Top tracks: “Artists’ Valley”, “K is For Kelson”.
Listen

15. Cosmin TRG
Simulat
[50 Weapons]

Releasing on a wide range of respected labels like Rush Hour, Hessle Audio, Tempa and now on Modeselektor’s 50 Weapons- Simulat is a staight-laced four-to-the-floor album that has the depth and weight reminiscent of an updated classic Surgeon album from the 90s. Top Tracks: “Ritmat”, “Form Over Function”.
Listen

14. Panda Bear
Tomboy
[Domino]

Heavy reverberated angelic hymns with drones that I am compelled to hum along with (even though I have no idea what Noah Lennox is saying). Top Tracks : “Last Night at The Jetty”, “Surfer’s Hymn”.
Listen

13. Handsome Furs
“Sound Kapital”
[Sub Pop]

Punchy,electronic indie, 80′s sounding songs with a fresh sense of urgency and history. Fellow Québécois, Men Without Hats only wish their shit was this cool back in the day. Top Tracks: “When I Get Back Home”, “Repatriated”.
Listen

12. Cornershop featuring Bubbley Kaur
Cornershop & The Double ‘O’ Groove Of
[Ample Play]

Before you roll your eyes and say, “Where have Cornershop been since Brimful of Asha?”, I urge you to listen to this whole album. Tjinder Singh and Ben Ayres collobrated with Punjabi female folk singer, Bubbley Kaur to make a remarkable record with funky drum breaks, soulful basslines and resounding horns. But its Kaur’s vocals that make this album shine on all ten tracks. Top Tracks: “Topknot”,”Natch”,”Supercomputed”.
Listen

11. The Weeknd
House of Ballons
[XO]

Wow, an R&B-based album with edge that was able to captivate and unite fans of all genres- from hip hop, R&B, pop, indie rock- even the techno/electronic headz went apeshit for the Scarborough-raised, The Weeknd. When I first heard the Siouxsie and the Banshees “Happy House” sample on the title track I was instantly intrigued with The Weeknd’s appoach to messing with formulas. The sex/drugs/party lyrics and that smooth Weeknd voice were definitely dope! Top Tracks: “House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls”, “The Morning”, “The Party and the After Party”.
Listen

10. tUnE-yArDs
w h o k i l l
[4AD]

Merrill Garbus created an album that sounds all her own. This album got constant play in my car and made me drive faster and faster. w h o k i l l is dangerous. Top tracks: “My Country”, “Gangsta”, “Bizness”.
Listen

9. Sepalcure
Sepalcure
[Hotflush Recordings]

The Sepalcure duo are on a roll now with two excellent eps and this even better full length. Genuine bass emotion and buried melodies are somehow wrung out of all these flowing sounds. Top Tracks: “Eternally Yrs”, Breezin’”, “Pencil Pimp”.
Listen

8. Zomby
Dedication
[4AD]

This shit is scary! Like eerie don’t mess with Zomby’s dark, evil-ass scary. Zomby would for sure kick Satan’s ass if Satan/Lucifer ever released an album. Top tracks: “Things Fall Apart”, “Natalia’s Song”.
Listen if you dare

7. Moomin
The Story About You
[Smallville]

Deep, deep house with a German kick. This album seduced me from start to finish. We are now going steady. Shhh…don’t tell the other albums. Top tracks: “I Wanna”, “Watermelon”.
Listen

6. Damu
Unity
[Keysound Recordings]

Whoa! where the ef did this guy come from? Melodic madness, chunky beats, wonky pitched vocals and epic synths. Let’s have seizures! Top tracks: “Plasm”, “L.O.V.E.”. Damu’s so far unreleased tracks on his XLR8R podcast are even better, but we’ll talk about that next year.
Listen

5. Peaking Lights
936
[Weird World]

Dub-heavy, narco-psych hazy music from…Wisconsin! Top tracks: “All The Sun That Shines”, “Tiger Eyes (Laid Back)”, “Marshmellow Yellow”. Just writing this made me kinda high. Wicked remix of “Marshmellow Yellow” by Ital just came out and is a must hear!
Listen

4. Conforce
Escapism
[Delsin]

Deep, emotive tech house by Holland’s finest underground producer. No gimmicks here. See my review on this album here.
Listen

3. Robag Wruhme
Thora Vukk
[Pampa]

Not only is Robag Wruhme (formerly of the Wighnomy Brothers) one of my favourite DJs, but also he is one of my favourite producers. This time Robag slows down the pace and centres the album around beautiful piano pieces combined with field recordings and serene almost hypnotic sounds. A proper album that should be listened in sequence for full effect. This was a stunning complement to my favorite mix cd of the year, Robag Wruhme’s Wuppdeckmischmampflow Top tracks: “Thora Vukk”, “Pnom Gobal”, “Ende”.
Listen

2. Omar S
It Can Be Done But Only I Can Do It
[FXHE]

Detroit techno/house with some dark acid lines, dubbed out washes, and everything done the non-compromising Omar S way. Top tracks: “Ganymede”, “Here’s Your Trance Now Dance”, “Solely Supported”.
Listen

1. Martyn
Ghost People
[Brainfeeder]

A solid album from Bass/Techno/Dubstep chameleon, Martyn. Having heard his eclectic Fabric mix cd and reading that Ghost People would be coming out on the acclaimed label Brainfeeder (Samiyam, Flying Lotus, Daedelus, Tokimonsta)- I knew something weird and innovative was in store. The spoken word intro by Spaceape is only a small premonition for the blistering masterpiece that follows. Having previously forged the blueprint with his hybrid garage/techno/house/dubstep sound that so many producers successfully followed afterwards- Martyn surpasses that and sets a new template while paying homage to breakbeat/rave origins with “We are you in the Future”. This album closer captures everything exciting about electronic music from the last 20 years over the course of 9 minutes. For real!
Top tracks: “We are you in the Future”, “Masks”, “Popgun”
Listen

Honourable Mentions

Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care [Temporary Residence]
Beans – End It All [Anticon]
Braids - Native Speaker [Kanine]
Shabazz Palaces – Black Up [Sub Pop]
Helixir – Undivided [7even]
Co.Fee - Easy Listening [My Hollow Drum]

Onra – Long Distance [All City] (listen)
This was hands down my favourite, most listened to album of 2010. Seems I’m not the only one -  it’s been appearing on many a ‘best of’ list all over the ‘net. Check out my album review for Juno Plus here and my interview with Onra here.

Take – Only Mountain [Alpha Pup] (listen)
To me, this album is the cream of the leftfield beat scene crop for 2010 (the types of sounds being created by the likes of Flying Lotus, Daedelus, Tokimonsta, Teebs, Hudson Mohawke and others of that ilk.. with LA featuring very prominently, of course). I’m really enjoying this relatively new direction of beat/bass music (especially live!) and look forward to seeing how it further develops over the next few years.

Deepchord Presents Echospace – Liumin [Modern Love] (listen)
Continuing from where The Coldest Season left off in 2007, this one’s deep, dubby and understated riddims will draw you in and quench some of those Basic Channel style cravings. I love this!

John Roberts – Glass Eights [Dial] (listen)
For a young guy releasing his very first full length album, this is quite the surprise. The album is mature beyond his years. I seldomly feel moved enough by entire albums of straight up house music to have them earn a spot on my favourites list, but this one did.. though I certainly wouldn’t call it straight up!

Four Tet – There Is Love In You [Domino] (listen)
This was the runner up for the coveted number one spot on my favourite albums list (yes, being my fave is so important that it’s coveted). Check out my write up on the album here.

Chromeo – Business Casual [Atlantic] (listen)
This one doesn’t push any envelopes and has received many a lukewarm review by music journalists, but whatever, ya’ll are just haters. Fun still has its place! Chromeo always makes me wanna sing along while dancing under the neon sign to their catchy, good time tunes.

The Roots – How I Got Over [Def Jam] (listen)
I once commented to a friend that I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like The Roots.. so let it be known. The album features a variety of guests – even Joanna Newsom with her strange voice!

Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy [Roc-A-Fella] (listen)
As I got ready to listen to this album for the first time, I was getting all ready to diss it ’cause I have this thing against Kanye (except when he declared on TV that George Bush didn’t care about black people during the Hurricane Katrina aftermath), but I found myself really enjoying it. This album is a true performance from beginning to end – the kind of thing that filthy rich pop culture icons should be delivering to entertain us all.

Honourable Mentions:

There are undoubtedly some albums below that belong on a “best of” list more than some I listed above (ahem, Chromeo) but these lists are not about the “best albums”.. they’re about the ones I personally enjoyed the most. These honourable mentions represent albums that I really liked, but just not as much to make it to the MissRuckus’ Personal A-List above.

Glimpse – Runner [Crosstown Rebels]
Scuba – Triangulation [Hotflush]
Pulshar – Inside [Desolat]
Shigeto – Full Circle [Ghostly International]
Teebs – Ardour [Brainfeeder]
Maylee Todd – Choose Your Own Adventure [Do Right!]
Shed – The Traveller [Ostgut Ton]
Pantha Du Prince – Black Noise [Rough Trade]

p.s. See my favourite tracks of 2010 (aka: Best of 2010, Part 1) here.

15. Horsepower Productions - Quest for the Sonic Bounty [Tempa]


Dubstep pioneers load up on quirky film samples and minimal beats to reset the course of dubstep back to its roots. Lee Perry reworked track included! listen

14. Cee Lo Green – The Lady Killler [Warner Brothers]


Aside from the annoying FU song, this hook filled album was amazing in small doses. “Satisfied” and “Wild Flower” are fine examples that pop music doesn’t always have to suck listen

13. Deepchord presents Echospace – Liumin [Modern Love]


Low-end, dubby techno full of crackles, snaps, and thumps. Deepchord keep the Basic Channel fire burning deeply for those who missed it the first time around. listen

12. Sascha Dive – Restless Nights [Deep Vibes]


US-deep house inspired tracks from this German dude with the groove. Check out “Jus Groove”, “The Jam” or “Black Man” to know what i’m talking about. listen

11. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat the Devil’s Tattoo [Abstract Dragon]


One of my favourite bands storm back to relevance with 13 rockin’, bluesy, rootsy, noisy songs. yeah! listen

10. Fluxion – Perfused [Echocord]


Straight up proper dub-techno – nothing more, nothing less. That’s how we like it. Listen carefully

9. The Chemical Brothers – Further [Astralwerks]


The album no one really blogged or cared about – partly because The Chemical Brothers have been doing the same sound since the mid-nineties. Whatever, this album sounded great! No guest vocalists on this one, just eight uplifting tunes that dust fellow nineties “electronica” luminaries Underworld, Prodigy and Daft Punk – all of whom put out new material the past year and a half. listen to “Swoon”

8. Wolf Parade – Expo 86 [Sub Pop]


Dark, fuzzy synths with all that monotone vocals and indie rock guitar stuff. Cool album cover too! Listen.

7. Bonobo – Black Sands [Ninja Tune]


Beautifully constructed songs meshing real instrumentation and vocals with dope beats. “We Could Forever” and “All in Forms” are my favourites. Listen.

6. The Black Angels – Phospene Dream [Blue Horizon]


More fuzzy, hypnotic psych rock stuff that i tend to go for. Saw them play in Oct. 2010 and was completely blown away by their live versions of all “Phospene Dream” songs. listen

5. Four Tet – There is Love in You [Domino]


Whimsical well-crafted songs for the headphones or the floor. “Angel Echoes” is a perfect set opener for any DJ – no matter what genre you play. listen

4. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker [Modular Recordings]


Dreamy, psychedelia from these Australian newcomers. Kinda like Flaming Lips vs. the Shins but with more drugs and catchier hooks involved. For those who think the Black Angels are too heavy. Listen.

3. Glimpse – Runner [Crosstown Rebels]


Blogged all about this album on this site: here I don’t even want to play all the remixes because the original tracks are wicked enough. listen

2. Martin Buttrich – Crash Test [Desolat]


From Boomkat.com: “…encompasses the entire spectrum between dreaminess, intuition, warmth, melancholy, and highly calibrated dancefloor precision…Crash Test is a long player, a four to the floor album that can be listened to from start to finish; an organic sequence of shifting moods to sublimate existing minimal house or techno paradigms.”
I don’t talk like this, but after repeated listens, you precisely get what they mean. listen

1. Pulshar – Inside [Desolat]


I played this album countless times last year and still love hearing it its entirety. Such a serene blend of dub, downtempo and electronics that truly gets inside your head, heart and soul. Read the Hot Sauce entry about Pulshar here and listen to my most played album of 2010 here.

Some other albums I really enjoyed but listened to slightly less than the ones above include:

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – I Learned the Hard Way [Daptone]
John Robert – Glass Eights [Dial]
Pantha du Prince – Black Noise [Rough Trade]
Pawel – Pawel [Dial]
Pezzner – The Tracks are Alive [Freerange]
Actress – Splazsh [Honest Jon's]
Mount Kimbie – Crooks & Lovers [Hotflush]
Konono No. 1 – Assume Crash Position [Crammed]
Mogwai – Special Moves [Rock Action Records]

* All albums available from Slinky Music in Toronto. Paul will sort you out!

Four Tet – Angel Echoes [Domino] (listen)

Joy Orbison – So Derobe [Aus Music] (listen)
Joy Orbison – The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow [Aus Music] (listen)

Four Tet – Sing (Floating Points remix) [Domino] (listen)

Onra – Long Distance (ft. Olivier Daysoul) [All City] (listen)
Onra – Send Me Your Love [All City] (listen)

Chromeo – Don’t Turn The Lights On [Atlantic] (listen)

Crystal Castles – Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith) [Fiction] (listen)

Take – Neon Beams [Alpha Pup] (listen)

Floating Points Ensemble – Post Suite [Ninja Tune] (listen)

Pariah – Detroit Falls [R&S] (listen)

Henrik Schwarz & Kuniyuki – Once Again (Henrik Schwarz Version) [Mule Musiq] (listen)

Mount Kimbie – Serged (FaltyDL remix) [Hotflush] (listen)

Flying Lotus – Computer Face / Pure Being [Warp] (listen)

Mayer Hawthorne – Thin Moon (cover of James Pants) [Stones Throw] (listen)

James Blake – Limit To Your Love (cover of Feist) [Atlas] (listen)

Phonat – Intimate Confessions [Mofo HiFi] (listen)

Jamie Woon – Night Air (Ramadanman Refix) [Candent Songs] (listen)

Scuba – Tense (Ramadanman Remix) [Abucs] (listen)

Ramadanman / Midland – Yours Words Matter [Aus Music] (listen)

Ramadanman – Glut [Hemlock] (listen)

Kassem Mosse – Untitled [Laid] (listen)

Sepalcure – Love Pressure [Hotflush] (listen)

Matthew Dear – Little People (Black City) [Ghostly International] (listen)

Fluxion – Perfuse (Deadbeat remix) [Echocord] (listen)

Bilal – All Matter [Plug Research] (listen)

Giant – Drumstick VIP [H.E.N.C.H.] (listen)

This was the third mix on our special party giveaway cds. Furiously laying down 12 tracks on a 27 minute mix was quite a task- even for an ADD dj like myself! This was a snapshot of what I’ve been listening to at the moment. The serene washes of tech dubbiness, the fractured beats of UK Funky and the straight up tech-house stormers all shine before bringing it all Home…guess that this must be the place. Hope you enjoy.

Pulshar are Barcelona based duo of producer Pablo Bolivar and composer/singer/visual artist Aphro. Their new album Inside, on Loco Dice and Martin Buttrich’s fine Desolat label, is a hauntingly beautiful dubbed-out affair that should be listened to in its entirety. Some albums are best to be heard rather than described. Listen here to all 12 tracks on the new album. The following clip from 2008 is a personal favourite for its soothing, utter blissfulness (based on an original on Lee Perry’s Black Ark Upsetter label). The images were taken from Koyaanisqatsi (1982) directed by Godfrey Reggio.