Jazzie B, OBE

Producer honoured

Jazzie B – Soul II Soul head honcho and sound system selecta extraordinaire, has been awarded an OBE.

On 16th May, he was bestowed with the title of Officer of the British Empire from HM Queen Elizabeth, in acknowledgement of his tremendous contributions to black British culture, and his work supporting young people in music and sport.

The central figure of the pioneering Soul II Soul Sound System, which gained massive props and a cult following due their genre-fusing blend of boogie, rare groove and reggae, through the early '80s, Jazzie B led his collective to huge success when they morphed from party rocking DJ outfit to a mould breaking recording act.

Worldwide hits 'Keep on Movin'' and 'Back II Life' are forever ingrained as bonafide classics of pop mythology, and since that time Soul II Soul have tirelessly released hit albums and rocked venues and festivals alike. Garnering Soul Train and Grammy Awards, and regularly hosting the Back II Life festival in Antigua, the funki dred is smashing it – it's about time he got his props!

Ben murphy

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Band to play Go!Zilla birthday

Hugely popular underground club Go!Zilla celebrate their third birthday this Saturday 26th July at London's Cargo, and to make the party swing in fine style, they've invited the live incarnation of Andy Meecham's Emperor Machine project to play.

Previously a studio only enterprise, Meecham has constructed a three-piece band to take his cosmic, spaced-out punk-funk grooves into the live arena. Most known for his part in dancefloor damagers Chicken Lips, he's saved his most esoteric, spaced out ideas for Emperor Machine, albums 'Aimee Tallulah is Hypnotized' and 'Vertical Tones and Horizontal Noise' becoming instant cult classics. Using live guitar, bass and obscure,'70s analogue synths, he merges elements of Krautrock, disco punk, house and the peculiar electronic soundtracks of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to mesmeric effect. On the eve of the release of their third album, this live performance should be a defining moment.

As well as Mr. Meecham's gang, Go!Zilla regular James Priestley (secretsundaze) will be spinning, fresh from his work with Will Saul's pioneering Simple Records, and there are more DJs and acts to be confirmed. Tickets are £6 before 11pm, £12 after, with NUS concessions £10. Advance tickets can be purchased from www.cargo-london.com.

Ben murphy

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