Their first major hit as Coldcut was the house-inflected People Hold On, featuring a then-unknown Lisa Stansfield. The single took the U.K. by a storm, and the subsequent album featured such luminaries as Junior Reid (on the single "Stop This Crazy Thing") and Queen Latifah.
In 1991 they started their own record label, Ninja Tune, which continues to release groundbreaking and extremely diverse music by a small army of like-minded artists. In 1997 the duo unveiled their own real time video manipulation software, VJamm. Coldcut's current live and DJ sets rely on video as much as records, taking the concept of multimedia performance into largely uncharted territory.
Conceptually, Coldcut owes as much to the ideas of beat writer and cut-up theorist William S. Burroughs, 1970s art / industrial group Throbbing Gristle, and the religious writings of J. R. "Bob" Dobbs as much as to hip-hop originators like Grandmaster Flash or later innovators Double D and Steinski.
Recognizing the power inherent in Burroughs' cut-up technique and its presence in hip hop music, More and Black have relentlessly pushed the D.I.Y. ethic and an understanding of play as a means of fostering greater interaction with and understanding of the world around you. The similarities between this ethos and that of hacking need hardly be stated. Ninja Tune uses a corporate facade to communicate via the marketplace itself, an idea first implemented by Throbbing Gristle via their own Industrial Records imprint.
One of the key aspects of the Ninja Tune ethos, Stealth, implies that their following of DJs and listeners are "agents" in a Burroughsian sense, propagating the D.I.Y. ethic of play as an essentially subversive act by replaying and manipulating media under the radar of mainstream culture. Nowadays Coldcut reach a worldwide audience through their syndicated radio show Solid Steel. Black has recently (2003) worked with Penny Rimbaud (ex Crass) on Crass Agenda's Savage Utopia project.
In 2006, Coldcut released their fifth album, Sound Mirrors. single True Skool featured rapper Roots Manuva and featured an Indian sample from a cult Bollywood era, making the track popular on the bhangra and desi scene and with most of the British Asian urban nation.
Jam On Revenge
Coldcut Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
its cosmo
woof woof
hey boogie hey boogie boogie
boss, de plane de plane
yo cosmo man, why dont you let me rock the mic man
Im bad with the mic man
you see
well check this out
well boss, lets take the train
hotel motel
holiday inn
uhh oh
whos that again
you know this groove aint so bad
one for the trouble two for the test
come on and rock the
uh oh
its cosmo
jam on
because we get enough
jam on jam on
wit yo funky stuff
The lyrics to Coldcut's "Jam On Revenge" may seem like a collection of seemingly random phrases and sounds, but they actually create a vibrant and energetic atmosphere that is emblematic of the song's style. The beginning of the song features a playful and fun exchange between two figures, Cosmo and the Boss, who trade off lines and end with a series of "wiki wiki wiki" sounds reminiscent of a turntable scratch. This playful banter sets the stage for the rest of the song, which is an upbeat and funky jam that encourages listeners to get up and dance.
The refrain of the song, "jam on," is repeated multiple times, emphasizing the drive behind the song's rhythm and energy. The lyrics also feature references to some classic phrases from popular culture, such as "de plane, de plane" from the 70s TV show "Fantasy Island," as well as the famous line "one for the trouble, two for the bass" from Grandmaster Flash's "The Message." These references help to further tie "Jam On Revenge" to the larger cultural context of hip hop and dance music.
Overall, the lyrics to "Jam On Revenge" help to create an atmosphere of fun and excitement, with lighthearted banter and upbeat rhythms combining to make a song that is perfect for getting up and dancing.
Line by Line Meaning
oh no
Oh my goodness
its cosmo
Cosmo is here
woof woof
Sound of a dog barking
hey boogie hey boogie boogie
Let's dance
boss, de plane de plane
Reference to a TV show called Fantasy Island
yo cosmo man, why dont you let me rock the mic man
Can I perform on the microphone instead of Cosmo?
Im bad with the mic man
I'm not very skilled with the microphone
you see
Do you understand?
wiki wiki wiki
Sound of a record scratching
well check this out
Listen to this
well boss, lets take the train
Let's take the train, boss
hotel motel
holiday inn
Reference to a song by Rapper's Delight
uhh oh
Oh no
whos that again
Who is that once more?
you know this groove aint so bad
This song has a good rhythm
one for the trouble two for the test
Reference to a song by Whodini
come on and rock the
Let's dance
uh oh
Oh no
its cosmo
Cosmo is still here
jam on
Keep going with the music
because we get enough
We're having fun
jam on jam on
wit yo funky stuff
Keep dancing to the beat
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MAURICE BENJAMIN CENAC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vladfisun7412
It is still a Grail,
and a way for DJs to understand their mission, vision, and possibilities. If they would like to)
@spectrum_archives
This changed every conception of what a mix cd could be and still has rarely been equalled to this day. An absolute masterpiece of cut and paste art.
@donnydarko7624
So true. But just the thought of putting that much time and energy into something this complex seems like it would only lead to heartbreak, due to how we've all been conditioned to view music as such a disposable commodity. Like we all will continue to come back to old music, but I feel like anything new regardless of how amazing it is just feels more disposable somehow where I'd rather put the effort into smaller and more fully my creation that still takes a lot of time but the prospect of it reaching an audience versus a DJ mix thats 70 minutes long that isn't a boiler room live set seems so much possible., that we are a dead frog in a boiling pot of water, but maybe thats just my perspective, although I even feel this as someone who cherishes their record collection, and has bought new releases on vinyl within the the last 12 months even, and DJ, and produce my own music. Say not even thinking about monetary gain, As an artist there's this desire at least for me for it to resonate with others, and I that prospect seems to be at least slightly more achievable through thigs that don't require over an hour of a person's attention these days.
@nicklloyd9291
I am a nobody that has never sought to make any financial gain from music.. But conversely, and being born with a burning passion for music. In my early teens (89-92) I spent much of my time digging through the vinyl of the local record shops in south east essex.. Coldcut were, not my only, but among my greatest inspirations..To me, Matt Black and Johnathan Moore are true legends of our time, and this the greatest mix!
@spectrum_archives
Much credit to Strictly Kev / DJ Food for adding some of the most killer mixes ever put together!
@Calla57
@@spectrum_archives
Absolut Righ❤
@renweb1332
You are NOT a 'nobody'. I spent my late teens (76-79) as part of the Cambridge music scene and digging through the local vinyl like you. Remember Jay's Records? A decade later, I found myself working in the live music industry and discovered 'dance music'. Coldcut (Ninja Tune) and On-U Sound became my regular choices at the time, and still are. I'm getting on a bit! :-)
This particular mix is my most-played ever since and the sentiment behind it does seem to be coming true?
Heard the latest version of the Jello segment? A re-mix required, I think? Best wishes 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYy4mdw8GEc
@asjking
Thanks to TFTM. I had never heard this, but I am all over this now. What a mix.
@peyot86
This CD has introduced me to underground electronic music over 15 years ago and changed my life. Remember listening to it on my boombox, will never forget.
@kentonjackson7993
4m-8.37m is about as perfect as music gets. That was the backdrop to soooo many of the parties I went to in the mid 90's. Great times x