Interview with Phil South from back in July 2007. James Pole chatted to Phil shortly before the formation of the estimable Golf Channel Recordings label.
Here, Phil South chats honestly and amusingly about collecting records, his forst forays into England’s clubbing scene, his move to New York City and all that went with that. There are plenty anecdotes along the way too. We’ll have another part of this interview up on Racket Racket very soon bringing the goings-on of one of the UK’s best DJs, party starters and label owners bang up to date. Keep an eye out for that.
Can you remember the first piece of music you remember picking up on and enjoying?
I remember really annoying my older brother by playing the Bay City Rollers over and over as a kid and also The Wombles. I remember looking at a lot of my elder brothers LP sleeves and listening very intently to music at around age seven. Using the hifi, listening to my brother’s records all afternoon… The Beatles LPs, The Stones – High Tide and Green Grass was a good one. All those pictures inside. My eldest brother had a lot of Genesis (I liked the sleeves but not the music) and Bowie (I liked both). Visage’s Fade To Grey I remember fondly, taped it off the top 40. A lot of memories basically.
What was the first record you bought?
I think Gangsters by Special AKA? or Tubeway Army’s Are Friends Electric. Both 7″s from Our Price in Guildford.
And the last?
Karen Findlay – Accapella
Who influenced you musically as a young teen?
I liked the Sex Pistols a lot, reading the books, the look, the outrage. London Calling. I remember The Message and White Lines from the chart and someone had a tape of that Steinski medley “hop forward, hop back, hop hop hop…” Prince, The Cure… I was always a big Rolling Stones fan too.
What age did you start buying records more seriously and what sort of stuff were you buying back then?
I think I always wanted to buy records. Income-wise it is probably still the same percentage that I spend on music now as it was when it was out of my paper round and pocket money back then.
As a young chap growing up which clubs were you going to?
I went to Spectrum once in 1989, I think, after seeing the Network 7 Acid House special! After that Shoom at Busby’s and The Park, the Joy all-nighters in Southwark, Future Later with Farley, then in Manchester… Most excellent for a long time.
Looking back, what clubs and DJs do you think schooled you the most?
Zzzzzzzz… Danny Rampling but it’s true. I missed that first wave but it was powerful enough to get me. Records played with attitude. I remember being bowled over by that energy from a record – Code 61 it was.
What parties and clubs were you involved in when you lived in the UK and sort of music were you playing then?
I did Naked Under Leather with my friend Alex and the 237 Turbo Nutters who subsequently changed their name. It was a mix of nosebleed style acid aggression, Italian scream-ups, Balearic classics, rock stuff and also a lot more hip hop, MAW 90bpm b-sides, Renegade Soundwave, we liked them a lot. It was more about keeping the energy levels up than playing a certain type of house all night. I was quite tired of house music when I left the UK in 1998. The twitching, the gurning, the same old thing, all that specialising, big bad rooms. Lots and lots and lots of money.
When and why did you move to New York?
1998 for work. Given the chance though, why wouldn’t anyone move to NY?
Did you take much of your vinyl with you or did you have to leave some at your mum’s?
Some of it is still at my mums (a lot of dodgy 12″s from 89 – 95 there). The stuff I was more attached to, LPs etc I left at my brothers and recently skipped. Still hurts to think about it.
What was the clubbing climate like when you moved over?
I was really excited to check out the hip hop. It was at the tail end of Wu Tang having killed it for the last two years or whenever it was and I had these great Premier tapes, Stretch Armstrong, Cash Money mixes from the time and I was just really disappointed. It was the same five records off the radio that week. Mainstream clubs over here I found very segregated. Straight (emphasis on pulling), gay (ditto), black (ditto). Then there was the spiritual house end of things. While I loved the atmosphere and the spectacle of The Shelter and I know I’ll be called out for this I’m sure but I never really felt it there in my body n soul. Bit too much vocal house if I’m being honest. Also very serious and spiritual like I said. Was staring to miss the gurning a bit by this point.
Did it take a while to find new musical kindred spirits to start throwing parties with?
Yeah, I guess it was more luck really. Most people my age here in the US don’t have that rave background that everyone in my circle of friends has experienced in some way in the UK. Plus 90% of Manhattan, even most of NYC, is quite boring when it comes to nightlife. A lot of similar looking folks going to similar looking places. After a while you come to understand New York and the way it works, and where it is really good, and when it is really good, it’s great. All that knowledge, the disco heritage, the love people have for it here is powerful when you do encounter it. Where else would make a record like Yellow Train a big record back when?
While I loved the atmosphere and the spectacle of The Shelter, I never really felt it there in my own body and soul. Bit too much vocal house if I’m being honest. Also very serious and spiritual. I was staring to miss the gurning a bit by this point.
Before No Ordinary Monkey there was Record Club NYC – what was the story with those parties?
Well, that was my friend Nick Griffiths. His friends in London, John Harris and Rico were hosting these parties. Ten people, each bring a bottle of wine, a pizza and 5-10 records and you take it in turns playing everyone your 10 favourite records. We decided to try it in NYC so we had a few raucous evenings round my old house before moving it out to a fantastic venue which totally fell into our lap. A rooftop in Manhattan for free. Lots of people came. I remember people’s faces when Il Veleiro came on – a truly magic moment, closing out with Water Get No Enemy. Beautiful.
How and when did Record Club evolve into No Ordinary Monkey?
It all got a bit on top after a while managing the 10-15 DJs. Getting new people each time. We did a ladies DJ night and I just stood there putting their CDs on ‘track 4’ etc… Plus we all just wanted to hear Carlos play so we kind of stripped it back and NOM was born. Carlos had a dog at the time by the name of Monkey…
Who is involved in the night and generally who does what?
Carlos, Anton and I. We share the DJing and I wont bore you with the other details. We work hard though.
Could you describe the music policy and how it changes throughout the night/morning as you guys do it right through till 7am right?
Oh god… Tough one… It really changes a lot each time. 2-4am is usually the peak of the evening. It winds down with a kind of nice sleaze session. It’s a nice varied selection and the crowd are generally up for anything.
What percentage of music do you play off vinyl and have you ever thought of switching to a laptop?
99.9% vinyl I would say. CDs are for promos that aren’t out yet. We’re purists! Having said that I bought that Beck/Villalobos boot and it sounded shit. So, I bought the CD of that. I’d like to be able to use a CDJ properly. One day I’ll buy one at home. I have mixed in once or twice with them CDJ things… Hahaha. When you hear someone like Maurice on them its incredible, but I like vinyl. Fiddling round with a computer sounds annoying. But again I’m sure some people are great at it. There’s alot of potential for people to mix in live programmed beats of their own etc… which would be nice to see someone doing really well.
What’s the setup at a typical No Ordinary Monkey night, gear/PA wise?
Low budget and high impact… Drown ’em with the smoke. Strobe till you think you’re gonna collapse and then dark, disco ball and lasers! We have sirens, a UREI and top sound. Its always a bit special thats for sure and the love we put in shows. Plus I now have the SHAKA BOX!
What, in your opinion, constitutes a good party and why do you think so many people are doing it the wrong way?
I don’t go out anymore really, certainly not to the wrong dos. I never liked affairs bigger than 3-400 people to be honest so that rules out a lot of things for me. I like the intimacy of a small place. That 25 DJs in 4 rooms for 8 hours thing I think is nightmarish. When its not about music and dancing, its WRONG. Haha!
My perfect night? Fine food, sunset, drinks, drugs, Can live, Pharaoh Sanders early on, long DJ sets from people whose records I love throughout the night, good friends, sunrise, repeat for a few days…
For any New Yorkers that haven’t been, or any visiting out-of-towners, where and when do the parties take place?
There’s this magazine I think it comes out in London, yeah? Thats the same as England yeah? Time Out? Suggest buying a copy of that for a start! Hahaha, no but I’m afraid the timing is really haphazard and we do move about. Mainly it’s a restaurant in an office buliding that we take over for the night, bring in all the lights and sound… But sometimes a park overlooking the sunset behind the skyline on a Sunday… Recently at Love, always looking really. Check the website and sign up for emails is the way to stay on top. We’re good with email.
What have been some of the more memorable parties?
Record Club on the roof of the Puck Building and hearing Il Veleiro for the first time. Harvey for New Years 2004 with his shirt off. Last month’s outside jam, that wicked spot we did on pell street a few times till the cops came. There’s been a lot. Justin Vandervolgen – a sick DJ (from !!!), Thomas & Eric, Maurice, Boat Trip for the !!! LP launch where they played live. The outside parties wih the sunset are very very special.
Have you recorded any of the past nights and if so would you ever be willing to put them online to share?
Almost all of them despite the odd technical hiccup. Colossal mountain to climb in terms of transferring from MiniDisc to MP3 though and no time to climb said mountain. One day. There’s a good picture on our site of all the MiniDiscs. Interns welcome…
Alive or dead, what DJs/bands and venue would make the perfect Monkey night?
It works as it is really. The perfect night is when the connection is right with the whole crowd, the good times make more good times. It’s exponential.
My perfect night? Fine food, sunset, drinks, drugs, Can live, Pharaoh Sanders early on, long DJ sets from people whose records I love throughout the night, good friends, sunrise, repeat for a few days… I like the idea of musicians jamming, playing records and doing stuff for a long time. All followed by a lot of time to recover. I mean a lot.
Could you give us ten classic No Ordinary Monkey tunes?
If I did I’d have to kill you! Hahaha… Nah, but some of mine would be:
925 – Really Remixed
Light of the World – Dont Stop Keep On
Nilsson -Jump Into The Fire
Luciano – Solomon’s Prayer
Peter Tosh – Buckingham Palace
Adolf Noise – Der Grundton
The Field – Things Keep Falling Down
Fuckaponydelic – Switch The Light
Talking Heads – Naive Melody (Live)
James Holden – Idiot
Dillinger – LSD
Rice & Beans Orchestra – You’ve Got Magic
Quiet Village – Can’t Be Beat
Chicago – Im A Man (Rub N Tug Edit)
I get the impression that yourselves and the Rub N Tug guys have given NYC a good shake up in the last few years. Besides your own parties who else is doing it in the Big Apple right now?
I don’t know about a good shake up! I will say that we are trying to do something a bit special and a bit different. You won’t catch us settling for some shitehole bar. We’re doing our best to reclaim what’s left of NY. Rub N Tug have had a big impact. I have nothing but respect for Eric and Thomas. They really opened me back up to a lot of music. I love their unique approach and energy. Eric’s at 205 most Fridays. Alex from Tokyo and Jason Kincade, Saheer Super Family, Roy Dank, Tim Sweeney, of course, Justine D with M-Fucker and Studio B, Rubulad, 3rd Ward Stuff, Nublu, Max Pask, Galaxie (a coke den with a bowling alley, middle of fucking nowhere… now sadly shut) there’s a lot out here in NY. The classics are still out there too – Righteous Business at The Shelter, Body N Soul revivals, PS1, Water Taxi. There a lot to choose from. I go to almost none of it though…. I have a lot of children so maybe you want to get that copy of Time Out out again!
What’s in store for No Ordinary Monkey for the rest of the year, anything special things up your sleeve?
We’re buying our own sound system. Hopefully we’re gonna have one more summer party outside with the shaka box I bought. Also an embarrassing amount spent on a WW2 hand crank siren. I’ve got a new record label, Golf Channel coming soon and a potential remix is on the cards but I won’t say any more or I’ll jinx it.
Looking forward to it to hearing that. Thank you Phil South!
Listen to this Phil South mix on Test Pressing, have a look at Golf Channel Recordings on Discogs and keep an eye on Racket Racket for more from Phil South in the near future too.