RUFF EDITS #2

Following its auspicious series launch, with the ‘Adriano Italiano’ / ‘Blue Eyed Boz’ 12′, Ruff Edits follows-up with its second instalment, an equally enticing offering, coupling ‘Scandinavian Safari’ with ‘The Messenger’.

‘Scandinavian Safari’ sees Greg Wilson cut up and overdub a track he used to play at his hometown club, New Brighton’s Golden Guinea, back in 1979 - Modern Sound Corporation’s ‘Safari’ - placing the emphasis on the superior instrumental ‘Pt 2′ version, which found favour in UK Jazz-Funk circles at the time, its unique combination of African and Caribbean flavours setting it apart as a dubbed-up percussion driven Disco hybrid.

Arriving on import via TK’s Sunshine Sound label, prior to its UK release on Epic, it was assumed that this was hot out of Miami - but there was a strange but true twist to the tale, as it turned out to be of Swedish origin, having first surfaced in this unlikely location the previous year. It was, however, remixed by Florida’s finest, Casey & Finch, from KC & The Sunshine Band.

In 2000, the Idjut Boys excavated it for their ‘Saturday Night Live’ compilation on Nuphonic, and it’s since become a much sought after eBay item.

‘The Messenger’ is Wilson’s take on OMD’s 1980 hit, ‘Messages’, a Futurist classic that was hugely popular with the weekend crowd at Wigan Pier, where he was resident 4 nights per week between 80-82 (before going on to specialise purely in black music, keeping only his Tuesday Funk slot at the Pier).

This has been a big anthemic end of night edit for Wilson during the past 18 months, and now, with festival season upon us once more, it’s the ideal time to time to share the vibes.

Enjoy the summer!

The next edition of the series will follow in the autumn.