Ike Broslovski
For most South Africans, the words Krushed’n’Sorted (K&S) are directly associated with their favourite pastime: a dope-induced suspension of reality that happens when the job is done and the toys have been scattered out to play.
In Cape Town, however, those very same concepts have been given a new dimension by drum’n’bass DJ/producers Roach and Fletcher, who have been sowing their wild tokes in the form of breaks and beats ever since anyone can remember.
Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but K&S are an institution at the tip of Africa – an outfit that has earned the respect of their peers and followers alike. Not that the two would ever call any of their audience “followers”. The word “friends” would be more appropriate in their estimation – and they wouldn’t be half wrong.
In a town where back-biting and name- calling are the order of the day when it comes to hip-hop, drum’n’bass and lounge, K&S are the perfect example of how business can easily equal an all- consuming passion.
On April 28 at Johannesburg’s club Reality, Roach and Fletcher will bring their own brand of dub/drum’n’bass/breaks to a wide audience when they perform at the release event of their debut album, Acid Made Me Do It. If the gig is anything like the crew’s headfuck of a jam at More in Cape Town on April 14, then the roof is gonna get blown completely off.
K&S started as a relatively unknown collective a couple years back, eventually playing events such as The Camel Experience, Rustler’s Valley Easter Festivals ’98 and ’99, the Ninja Tune tour and the Balearic events. They are renowned for hosting chill tents that have helped define outdoor trance and music festivals such as Summer Of Love, Vortex and Alien Safari.
The excitement generated by the release of their debut album is tangible. Walk into Cape Town on a balmy autumn afternoon, at the moment, and you’ll hear the album everywhere you go.
It’s testament to the commitment of the city to the crew, who are now getting back what they’ve given out – and to the amazing addictive quality of the album, which is an aural feast from start to finish. If it’s beats you want, you need look no further.
But the story hardly ends at the apex of a creative swirl – rather, the two have larger plans in store for the underground. Their album is the first release on African Dope Records, Roach and Fletcher’s own label, one which is truly a venture for the people, by the people.
Their intention is to open their doors to the growing number of funky homegrown hip-hop, breakbeat, dub, acid jazz and drum’n’bass acts starting to emerge all over South Africa, and especially in the Cape. It’s something that they are both very excited about, with both singing the praises of much that they’ve heard up till now.
It’s a noble cause – to provide a relatively cheap alternative to the mainstream struggle of being scalped by the record industry, to allow for a way in through the underground.
Already, MCs are emerging from the Cape flats, bands are thinking of reworking their recordings – some of these are being put through the K&S machine.
One of the their next projects is a remix album, taking bands like Blunt, Colorfields, Firing Squad, Moodphase 5ive and Dantai, adding their own blend of beats, bass and quirkiness. But it’s the digital revolution which is truly blowing the heads off K&S, the rapid transformation of technology into soundscape, the creation of music by the manifestation of an idea and translating it into zeros and ones. Acid Made Me Do It is not only a reference to the paper candy – but to a sampling programme called Acid Pro, a break-through, loop- based music production tool, which allows the user to preview any loop before adding it to the mix, automatically matching the tempo and key in real time.
It’s happening all over the country – bedrooms are being transformed into mini studios as technology becomes more accessible and easier to use. MP3s are providing a way into the exchange of technology and sounds, and K&S are rapidly becoming facilitators for these cybersound terrorists.
It’s the rolling thunder of a revolutionary sound which has blown the roof off the rest of the world. Krushed’n’Sorted have taken the beats and made them their own. It’s a mantra and a way of life.
Groove to Krushed’n’Sorted at Reality on April 28. See www.africandope.co.za for more information