I'm a month late on this but god I have to chip in here >> For all those who haven't been to Small Fish Records, 372 Old Street, >>London, EC1V 9LT, you >> really should! It has a lot of the old Fat Cat crew plus others,
>has to be said too, all the people down at Smallfish - Nick Fish, Clair >Focus and Lee Grainge >spring to mind, mainly cos they're the only names i can remember - are >*so* friendly. Rob is very correct, SMALLFISH rules! Great store, great taste in music, a real gem in London. Glad they are open "proper" now, they threw the UK _Techno Rebels_ party and just superb group of folks (not to mention there taste in music). Lee Grainge is also a "Top Geezer" (sorry I couldn't resist) and one of the most knowledgable guys I've ever talked to about Detroit techno and related. One of the Fat Cat headz for sure, still very active in bringing the music in the margins out into the open, label A&R and helping give voice to the experimental. Lee Grainge absolutely THREW DOWN at the (Smallfish Organized) _Techno Rebels_ party at the end of the night, those who stayed well past the Plaid live P.A. and Peter Ford were treated to a 2+ hour history of techno from the deepest roots in Detroit and Berlin. He ended his set to a screaming crowd who insisted on an encore. He tried to get out of the room but the crowd wouldn't let him. The building owners were trying to shut down the party, it was really early morning. More cheers, Lee still trying to pack up. Finally he gets back on the decks and drops the needle at the beginning of Speedy J "Rise" and let's it play straight thru and unmixed till the needle hit the label.. Fantastic encore ending I'll never forget. Hats off to Smallfish and FatCat and Lee Grainge! Great little neighborhood there too, in Shoreditch I guess is the area? you can get some milky earl grey at a bar nearby... (stopping by Smallfish you are also likely to run into amild-mannered scraggly bearded fellow smoking and talking on his "mobile", none other than the Mr. "CiM" Walley himself hanging about, a diamond geezer too who usually has a few new tracks and tricks up his sleeve) I can't wait to hear this compilation on FOCUS music, whoo. peace, Matt MacQueen
