Wow. I remember when the Freskanova label started, the records sounded so sharp, fresh, fly, funky, of the moment. The Freestylers were on Freskanova (I think?). 1997. Big Beat. Hip hop and dance. It was some sort of UK interpretation of the cool kookiness of the Beastie Boys, melded with the reckless abandon of the UK clubbing scene.
I remember buying their first release, cat. no. FNT1, and thinking how lucky I was to have got in at the start of this label, and promising myself to buy everything they put out, a bit like Wall Of Sound. Their label was the mark of quality. Given that this is FNT5, their 5th release, I think I might have the first five twelves.
This reminds me of the end of my degree, the start of my PhD, running around Leeds trying to get DJ gigs, MCing, playing in clubs. Red Stripe. A brown Carhartt beany that I loved. A big brown leather jacket that I'd customised - I'd ripped out the lining as it was a bit cumbersome and snug, and cut another buttonhole into a lapel so that I could fasten it right up under my chin. In fact, that's it - this record reminds me of the smell of that brown leather jacket.
In fact, maybe the brown leather jacket is more interesting to me than the record. I loved that jacket, it really pulled my look together.
