Tackhead 

Tackhead is the vanishing point, the vortex, at the end of many years of formative, experimental collaborations between the innovative British producer and mixologist extraordinaire Adrian Sherwood and the American trio of musicians: guitarist Skip McDonald, bassist Doug Wimbish and drummer Keith LeBlanc. Wimbish and McDonald, whose partnership goes back to the mid-70s disco boom first met up with Keith in 1979 on the newly-formed Sugarhill Records.

They soon became the label’s house band, providing backing for the ground-breaking Sugarhill Gang (“Rapper’s Delight”), Grandmaster Flash (“The Message”) and Melle Mel (“White Lines”), helping to launch the onslaught of 80s rap. After the demise of Sugarhill, the three musicians continued to work on various projects. Described by the New York Times as, “one of today’s most extraordinary rhythm sections”, these included recordings for Tom Silverman’s Tommy Boy label.

Mark Stewart and the Maffia

Mark Stewart remains one On-U Sound’s most influential acts, having made peerless, arresting and skull splintering music for almost as long as anyone can remember.

Adrian Sherwood

For forty-odd years now, forward-thinking sound scientist and mixologist Adrian Sherwood has been dubbing it up, keeping the faith when others have fallen away, blowing minds and speakers alike.

Producer, remixer, and undisputed patriarch of the British dub collective/record label On-U Sound, Adrian Sherwood has long been regarded as one of the most innovative and influential artists in contemporary dance and modern reggae music. His talent for creating musical space, suspense, sensations and textures have enabled him to pioneer a distinctive fusion of dub, rock, reggae and dance that challenges tradition not only in roots circles, but also in the pop world at large.