Outta Sync 1st album by Don Letts, the man of London’s punky reggae parties

2023-10-28 08:00:03

One of the creators of the soundtrack of late 70s London is Don Letts. This DJ producer and filmmaker released his first album under his name Outta Sync at the age of 66. (Rebroadcast)

Don Letts is the first in the #secreticon video series with RFI Videos see the video.

Whether it’s working with artists like The Clash et Bob Marleyto mix genres with Big Audio Dynamitepresenting his own radio show on BBC6 Music, winning a Grammy and receiving an honorary doctorate for his contribution to culture, Don Letts seems to have done everything. Indeed, with the release of his bestselling autobiography “There and Black Again” last year and “Rebel Dread,” a film chronicling his life released this year, you’d think that’s the case. But there’s one thing the 66-year-old polymath hasn’t done…until now.

Don Letts et Bob Marley. © Don Letts archive

Today, Don Letts sharing Outta Synchis first track as a solo artist and the first taste of his debut album, also titled Outta Sync, which was produced by Gaudi and released on April 28, 2023. The album, which followed the single in Spring 2023, is a heady cocktail of heavy bass beats, island vibes, and spoken word juxtaposed with hooks and melodic harmonies. The album is exactly what you would expect from a Don Letts project. Outta Sync, the album’s title, is also notable because it is one of the few songs to present such a storied life in a single verse: “Now, because of my duality, raised on pop and the bass, it didn’t really bother me, because it’s all a matter of taste, I’m the vinyl generation, and that’s how I started, by combining clothes and music, and I transformed into art. » And that’s just the introduction! Don continues to reflect on the changing world around him and his own changing perceptions.

Duke Letts sound system & Don Letts et Duke Letts en 1964. © Don Letts archive

Ironically, he didn’t really intend to make his own music. But lockdown hit and his old friend Youth, Killing Joke’s producer and bassist, encouraged him to try, even sending him a few bass lines to work with, but Don wasn’t entirely convinced. That changed when he worked in the studio with legendary British-Italian dub producer Gaudi, another longtime friend of Don’s, known for his work with Steel Pulse, Lee “Scratch” Perry and Horace Andy, among others. them. The duo produced a remake of Big Audio Dynamite’s ‘Sightsee MC’ for dub-inspired post-punk band Megative. They later collaborated on a dub remix of BAD’s classic ‘E=MC2’ for the compilation Late Night Tales ‘Excursion Version’ from 2021. Don and Gaudi clicked sonically and ended up working together in Gaudi’s London studio for nine months, navigating both confinement and Don’s orchestral vision. The result is Letts’ debut solo album, due out next year, produced and co-written by Gaudi.

Don Letts. © Fabrice Bourgelle

With its eleven titles, mostly written by himself, Outta Sync reflects his myriad tastes and interests, as well as his unique view of the world. It also highlights an intriguing array of guests: the legendary Terry Hall of the Specials, Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips make an appearance, as does the queen of rock lovers Hollie Cook. Don co-wrote the song “ Situationist » with Zoe Devlin Love, formerly of Alabama 3. Don’s daughter, Honor, stays in the family and sings over the electronic groove ” Civilization » with sitar accents. Gaudi rounds it off by playing piano and synthesizers throughout the album. Collectively, it’s a snapshot of who Don Letts really is here and now. Letts says: “ for better or worse, that’s me, although I’m not saying I’ve got it all figured out, as the single’s chorus lyrics acknowledge. Ultimately, the album is a tape of my mind with some cool bass lines, reflecting the sum total of my cultural journey and the duality of my existence, which is black and British ».

Don Letts & BAD 1985. © Dan Donovan

Playlist

– Outta Sync Don Letts watch the clip

– Gangsters The Specials

– Punky Reggae Party Bob Marley

– Public Image PIL

– London Calling The Clash

– Civilization Don Letts (feat. Honor Letts)

– The Universe You’ve Done Don Letts (feat. Terry Hall)

– No Fooling Me Don Letts (feat Hollie Cook)

– Pass The Dutchie The Musical Youth

– Back to Life Soul2Soul

– The Guns of Brixton The Clash

– Situationist Don Letts (feat. Zoe Devlin Love/Alabama3)

– Money in my Pocket Dennis Brown.

► album Outta Sync (Cooking Vinyl 2023).

Don Letts Rebel Dread. © Don Letts archive