Avant Gardening

Rare dubs, version excursions and unreleased tracks from the vault 1980 - 1983.

In the tradition of archival On-U Sound compilations of recent years such as the ‘Return Of The Crocodile’ and ‘Churchical Chant Of The Iyabinghi’ sets for African Head Charge; and the ‘Displaced Masters’ LP of early Dub Synidcate rarities, the label have gone through the tape vaults to put together this special record of unreleased versions and rarities from the white hot early days of the New Age Steppers, the group that launched the On-U Sound label by appearing on both the first single and album.

Highlights include a restored track from their infamous and long-lost 1983 John Peel session (an ebullient cover of Atlantic Starr’s ‘Send For Me’ featuring a beautifully spirited vocal performance from the much-missed Ari Up), the Jah Woosh deejay cut of ‘Love Forever’, some rare dubs previously only available on Japanese import CDs, all bookended by two very different takes on Chaka Khan’s ‘Some Love’. An essential set for collectors of post-punk, dub and other outernational sounds.

Includes download card and printed inner featuring new sleevenotes and interviews by Oli Warwick.

Released: March 2021
Cat: ONULP147
Label: On U Sound

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Tracklist

1. Aggro Dub Version
2. Send For Me
3. Izalize
4. Unclear
5. Singing Love
6. I Scream (Rimshot)
7. Avante Gardening
8. Wide World Version
9. Some Dub