Dusty Tapes: R Solution - Marc Mac, Dego, Kirk Degiorgio, IG Culture, Phil Asher + Patrick Forge

Another batch of rescued radio tapes here, these from the now vintage 4 Hero R Solution shows. The first 12" I ever bought was 4 Hero's 'Kirk's Nightmare', and like a lot of devotees to their sound I followed everything related to them and the rest of the camp loyally ever after, so when they got their own show - on Sunday nights, 2am to 4am on London's Kiss 100 - I was all over it.

To my ears the 4 Hero sound, be it the old hardcore stuff or new future soul material, is all about deep roots drawing water from the springs of 60s free jazz and 70s funk and soul, giving flower to music always way ahead of its time. The R Solution shows captured that whole spectrum.

R Solution only ran from 1998 to 2001 (cut short by the tragic selling-out of Kiss by new owners Emap) - three short years - but in that time the show became the home of what came to be known as the broken beat scene. Marc Mac and Dego shared the hot seat with Phil Asher and Kirk Degiorgio on rotation, each bringing their own angle.

I've upped a load of old radio tapes now - I think what all these shows have in common is that they were each a focal point for a living, breathing scene, in which listeners tuned in because the shows felt essential, building a movement, providing a testing ground for new music, and schooling on what had gone before. Couldn't be more true for R Solution.

Listening back now I cant help but feel that the music played seems more relevant and fresh than ever - where's the soul gone? If anyone knows where the home of the broken beat scene is today please post - I'm all ears. Enough chat - enjoy:
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4 Hero - World Wide - Sides A + B

I think this might be the very first 4 Hero show, in a guest spot given to them in Giles Peterson's Worldwide show (at that time also on Kiss). A warm up for what was to come.

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Phil Asher - Original Texture - Side A
Phil busting soulful broken beat nuggets

Phil Asher - Modaji Interview - Side B
Interviewing Modaji and playing some of his twilight jazz jams

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Kirk Degiorgio - Vintage Selection - Sides A+B
From disco to hip hop to jazz to afro to dub to heaven!

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4 Hero - All Good, All Love - Side A
Deep in the beats


4 Hero - All Good, All Love - Side B
Deeper still

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Kirk Degiorgio - The Mizell Brothers Special - Side A
Kirk plays a selection of strictly Mizell Brothers productions - pure quality 70s jazzfunksoul

Kirk Degiorgio - The Mizell Brothers Special - Side B 
The tribute continues - strictly Mizell Brothers; Sky High productions

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4 Hero - On the One Double Zero, Lahvley! - Sides A+B
A friend of mine sent this one over, not my tape. Thanks KP.

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IG Culture - Main Squeeze - Side A
Not strictly R Solution, this was recorded on BBC London (another once-great station now on the crimes-against-music-list), but definitely belongs here. IG digs deep in the bag...

IG Culture - Main Squeeze - Side B
Part two of IG's show, finishing up on a bit of JA music. BIG UP IG.

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Patrick Forge - Forging Ahead - Sides A+B 
As with IG, Patrick Forge isn't technically part of the R Solution thing, but a tape of one of his shows definitely belongs here. With Kiss since pirate days, and finally cutting out in 2008, the man is a radio legend - jazz cadet of the highest order. Salute!

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R Solution lives on in a different form on NuWave Radio - check it - i'm especially feeling Dez and Biz's Cybershow - definitely still solving the problem...