The Bristolian DJ and beatmaker, Boca 45, is back with a new album, Forty Five. Here, he walks us through the records that have made a difference to him…
Edan – Beauty And The Beat
“Boston-born Edan, now residing in Brooklyn, made the perfect LP for my musical ears in 2005. It’s a HEAVY hip-hop record put together like a psychedelic patchwork quilt. Edan does it all (the beats, the music, the raps, the artwork!). He’s a bad ass DJ, too, check out his radio shows.”
Various Artists – Street Sounds Electro 3
“Everything changed when I got this record. Yeah, it’s a comp, but it’s 1984, I was 10 and it was the first time I really heard hip hop, and the only way I could delve into that genre. It sounded like music from outer space and I loved it and everything it stood for.”
Massive Attack – Blue Lines
“In 1985, at the Graffiti Festival in Bristol, there was a crew there playing called The Wild Bunch. They were from Bristol and were like GODS. In 1991, three members of this crew made this classic and it paved the way for the rest of us Bristolians to make waves in this music game.”
PJ Harvey – The Hope Six Demolition Project
“Polly travelled to war-torn countries and wrote notes, which became the words to the LP, then set up recording sessions as art installations where people could see and hear what was going on. The result is not just a brilliant record, but a political statement.”
The Avalanches – Wildflower
“Since I Left You, The Avalanches’ first LP, came out in 2000. It took another 16 years for this one to be released and
it was worth the wait. It’s wonky, and references post-Pet Sounds Beach Boys as much as it does J-Dilla, which is a musical match made in heaven. The perfect Summer LP.”
Quasimoto – The Unseen
“Madlib is a massive influence. The term ‘genius’ isn’t always deserved, but this guy is one. His discography is HUGE. This album was made when he was on mushrooms. He’s experimenting all over the shop. On the record, he acts as his own nemesis (Quasimoto) by pitching up his vocal. Timeless.”
The Beatles – The White Album Super Deluxe
“I’m a B-Boy who has earnt his B-Boy stripes, but I’m also a Beatles nut. When they reissued this last year, I approached it with some obvious suspicion, but including the Esher Demos was a genius move and totally validated how much creative juice was pumping out of them in 1968.”
Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty
“I read that Beastie Boys book recently, it comes highly recommended and reminds us how fantastic all of their albums up to this one are. Hello Nasty is like a mixtape, with so many styles and sounds morphed together perfectly. My favourites on this LP are the non hip-hop ones, like I Don’t Know.”
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
“What a brave man he must have been to have made this album. He took it to his label, they hated the political message and didn’t get behind it. In the UK, we lapped it up and gave it the recognition it deserved. I cross reference the production on this record, as the space between tracks is perfect.”
Primal Scream – Screamadelica
“The Primals spent a load of time locked away, learning how to use samplers and sequencers after going to acid house parties but still shoe-horned their love of late 60s/early 70s Stones LP by hiring producer Jimmy Miller on tracks like Movin’ On Up and Damaged. This album is a masterpiece.”