New Age Steppers
Encyclopedia
New Age Steppers, one of the On-U Sound stable, under the creative direction of Adrian Sherwood
, was a collective of musicians which varied over time. The overriding sound was a heavy and chaotic dub, with an underpinning bass guitar, and substantial use of samples, often from other On-U Sound creations.
Their first release, the eponymously titled album, New Age Steppers, was the first LP to be released on On-U Sound, and as such is an important landmark for the label, and a seminal work in dub reggae.
, George Oban, Ari Up
(of The Slits
), Steve Beresford
, Mark Stewart
(of The Pop Group
and later Mark Stewart and the Mafia), and a young Neneh Cherry
, also associated at the time with Rip Rig + Panic. Bruce Smith and Keith Levene
have also made contributions to the collective. Vivien Goldman, at the time a journalist with the NME
, provides vocals on "Private Armies".
Various singles and compilations were also released.
Adrian Sherwood
Adrian Sherwood is an English record producer best known for his work with dub music as well as for remixing a number of popular acts such as Coldcut, Depeche Mode, The Woodentops, Primal Scream, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sinéad O'Connor, and Skinny Puppy...
, was a collective of musicians which varied over time. The overriding sound was a heavy and chaotic dub, with an underpinning bass guitar, and substantial use of samples, often from other On-U Sound creations.
Their first release, the eponymously titled album, New Age Steppers, was the first LP to be released on On-U Sound, and as such is an important landmark for the label, and a seminal work in dub reggae.
Personnel
Among the known personnel of the New Age Steppers were Bim ShermanBim Sherman
Jarret Lloyd Vincent better known by one of his stage aliases Bim Sherman, was a Jamaican musician and singer-songwriter.-Biography:...
, George Oban, Ari Up
Ari Up
Ariane Daniele Forster , better known by her stage name Ari Up, was a German-born vocalist, best known as a member of the English punk group, The Slits.-Career:...
(of The Slits
The Slits
The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up , who died of cancer in October 2010, and Palmolive , with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and...
), Steve Beresford
Steve Beresford
Steve Beresford is a British musician who graduated from the University of York. He has played a variety of instruments, including piano, trumpet, euphonium, double-bass and a wide variety of toy instruments, such as the toy piano. He has also played a wide range of music...
, Mark Stewart
Mark Stewart (musician)
Mark Stewart is a British musician and founding member of The Pop Group. A pioneer of industrial hip-hop, he has recorded for On-U Sound Records and Mute Records.-Career:...
(of The Pop Group
The Pop Group
The Pop Group are a British post-punk band from Bristol, England, formed in 1978, whose dissonant sound spanned punk, free jazz, funk and dub reggae. Their lyrics were often political in nature...
and later Mark Stewart and the Mafia), and a young Neneh Cherry
Neneh Cherry
Neneh Mariann Cherry is a Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper, and occasional DJ and broadcaster...
, also associated at the time with Rip Rig + Panic. Bruce Smith and Keith Levene
Keith Levene
Keith Levene is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was an early member of The Clash, but is best known as being a founding member of Public Image Limited, along with John Lydon....
have also made contributions to the collective. Vivien Goldman, at the time a journalist with the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, provides vocals on "Private Armies".
New Age Steppers (1980)
- Fade Away
- Radial Drill
- State Assembly
- Crazy Dreams And High Ideals
- Abderhamane's Demise
- Animal Space
- Love Forever
- Private Armies
- Izalize (only on 2004 re-release)
- May I (only on 2004 re-release)
- Avante Gardening (only on 2004 re-release)
- Singing Love (only on 2004 re-release)
Action Battlefield (1981)
- My Whole World
- Observe Life
- Got To Get Away
- My Love
- Problems Pts 1 and 2
- Nuclear Zulu
- Guiding Star
- Wide World Version
- Unclear
Foundation Steppers (1983)
- Some Love
- Memories
- Dog Race
- Misplaced Love
- Dreamers
- Stabilizer
- Stormy Weather
- Vice Of My Enemies
- Mandarin
- Aggro Dub Version
- Strong Foundation
Various singles and compilations were also released.