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Tales From A Disappearing City

Controlled Weirdness
Tales From A Disappearing City
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5 of 28
  • Episode 28 - Cereal Box Beats, UK Garage, Radio & Drum and Bass - special guest - Dexta
    Send us a textIn the first of a two-part conversation, we sit down with Chris (aka Dexta), co-founder of Planet Wax, a legendary record shop, bar, venue, and radio station in New Cross dedicated to underground dance music and its surrounding culture and community. This episode explores Dexta's journey through the UK music scene from the late 1990s to early 2010s. Growing up in North London, his musical passion began with compilation albums and cassette tapes, with a particular affinity for The Prodigy and UK garage. Dexta recalls his first production experiments using basic software that came free in a cereal box, before transitioning to DJing after acquiring a pair of belt-drive turntables. The conversation traces his evolution through various music scenes—from UK garage to grime, and eventually to drum and bass. He shares his experiences with pirate radio, first as a listener of Y2K Radio, then as a presenter hosting his own shows on stations like Rush FM, Elite Radio, and UK Bass Radio. These platforms allowed him to connect with fellow DJs and build an audience while honing his skills both as a DJ and presenter.Dexta recounts his early club experiences, including his first gig at age 16 where he played a 15-minute set as part of "Solid Jam Cartel" (SJC). He discusses frequenting iconic London venues like Fabric, The End, and Bar Rumba, where he discovered various subgenres of drum and bass. His musical tastes gradually shifted from "jump up" drum and bass to darker, more underground sounds.Throughout the episode, Dexta reflects on technological changes in music production and distribution—from early software like Mixman and Fruity Loops to the transition of record shops moving online. He also touches on his brief relocation to Bournemouth, where he discovered even darker drum and bass sounds, before returning to London with ambitions to launch his own record label.Support the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdnesshttps://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOIhttps://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streetshttps://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffuktHosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...
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  • Episode 27 - 80's Ibiza, Ecstacy & Acid House - special guest - Ian St Paul
    Send us a textIn part two of our conversation, Ian St. Paul shares his remarkable journey through some of the most influential moments in dance music history. Beginning with his first trip to Ibiza in 1984, Ian recounts how what started as a holiday transformed into a life-changing adventure that would shape club culture for decades to come.The conversation traces Ian's evolution from running bars in Ibiza to becoming a pivotal figure in London's acid house scene, where he founded legendary clubs like Future, Spectrum, and Land of Oz. Ian provides an insider's perspective on the emergence of ecstasy culture, the development of the Balearic sound, and how he helped bring these experiences back to the UK, kickstarting the acid house movement. Beyond the acid house era, Ian discusses his ventures into trance music with Dragonfly Records and TIP, his seven years in Japan building the scene there, and later adventures in Goa, Nepal, and back to Ibiza. Throughout the episode, Ian offers candid insights about the personalities, music, and cultural shifts that defined these revolutionary moments in dance music history, providing a rare first-hand account from someone who was not only present but instrumental in creating these movements.Support the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdnesshttps://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOIhttps://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streetshttps://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffuktHosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...
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  • Episode 26 - 70's London Soulboy Scene & Paradise Garage - special guest - Ian St Paul
    Send us a textIn this captivating first installment of our two-part conversation, Ian shares his remarkable coming-of-age story: from his teenage years in South London's vibrant soul scene of the 1970s to living in New York from 1980 to 1983, concluding as he departs for Ibiza in 1984.Ian St Paul stands as a genuine pioneer of London's underground music scene. Raised on the Roundshaw Estate in South London, he discovered soul records at age 13, igniting a lifelong passion for music. He quickly became a fixture at iconic London soul venues like Crackers and the Lacy Lady, absorbing the vibrant club culture of the era. At just 15, Ian embarked on an extraordinary journey to New York City with friend Paul Oakenfold, immersing himself in the legendary club scene that would later profoundly influence UK dance music. Upon returning to London, he founded "Candy Box," a youth club that hosted early performances by then-unknown DJs including Giles Peterson and Oakenfold. Ian's influence expanded when he moved to Ibiza in 1984, diving deep into the island's emerging club culture alongside his DJ cousin Trevor Fung. His pivotal moment came in 1987 when Oakenfold visited him in Ibiza with fellow DJs; Ian introduced them to the island's revolutionary party scene, taking them to Amnesia and exposing them to the nascent ecstasy culture.In 1988, Ian returned to London where he promoted the legendary Acid House nights Future and Spectrum—events that kickstarted the UK's acid house revolution. His journey continued into the 90s when he relocated to Goa, India, where he managed trance music pioneers Juno Reactor.Support the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdnesshttps://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOIhttps://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streetshttps://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffuktHosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...
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  • Episode 25 - Pushing Boundaries: Playing Across Genres and Styles - special guest - Warlock
    Send us a textIn part two of my conversation with DJ/producer Warlock, we explore his fascinating musical evolution and contributions to UK electronic music. The episode traces his journey from playing UK hardcore in the early 90s to embracing the harder European techno scene as well as a multitude of other underground genres and styles over the years.Jason shares his experiences working at Kickin Records alongside Peter Harris, where he handled A&R and compilation licensing. He then discusses co-founding Rag & Bone Records with Stacey (NoYeahNo). Throughout his career, Jason has produced music under various aliases including Warlock, Lorenz Attractor, Han Do Jin, and Hooverian Blur.The conversation offers an intimate look at the golden era of UK club culture, featuring stories from legendary parties such as Knowledge at SW1 in Victoria and the influential FWD nights at Plastic People. Beyond nostalgic reminiscence, Jason provides insightful perspectives on contemporary electronic music, discussing the current jungle revival and how a new generation of producers is breaking down traditional genre boundaries. He emphasises the importance of maintaining musical open-mindedness rather than becoming confined to a single genre.Support the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdnesshttps://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOIhttps://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streetshttps://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffuktHosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...
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  • Episode 24 - Raves, Record Shops and Pirate Radio Stories - special guest - Warlock
    Send us a textJoin me for part one of my two-part conversation with Warlock. A raw, unfiltered journey through the golden age of pirate radio, and the birth of jungle.  In this episode, Jason takes us deep into the underground scene of early 90s London. From running pirate radio in student halls to getting caught by the DTI live on air. This episode is a raw slice of UK dance music history.Some of the many topics discussed include:His journey from Watford to Stafford and eventually down to LondonInvolvement in pirate radio (Mental FM, Pulse FM) in the early 90sStories about De Underground record shop in Forest Gate and its importance to the jungle sceneGetting busted by the DTI while broadcasting live on Pirate RadioMemories of early hardcore and jungle production techniquesInsights into the evolution from hip-hop to hardcore and junglePart two coming soon.Support the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdnesshttps://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOIhttps://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streetshttps://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffuktHosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...
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About Tales From A Disappearing City

Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the early 80’s. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throughout Europe and beyond and has an eclectic and seriously deep collection of music built up over time that reflects an appreciation of all elements of the London groove. Neil currently runs Presence Unknown, a vinyl and digital label dedicated to releasing music influenced by his love of Electro, Acid House and Rave. He also does a fortnightly radio show live from Planet Wax record store in New Cross where his aim as always is to play you some amazing music that you have never heard before. 
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