A Beat Happening: Om Unit

A Beat Happening

This week we welcome another old friend to the show: Jim Coles AKA Om Unit. Jim and Laurent first met back in the early 2000s when Jim was blending youthful interests in electronic and dance music with the experimental approaches afforded by bedroom production and turntablism. Jim first attracted attention for his work in the liminal spaces between these two scenes as 2tall before eventually giving himself a fresh start at the end of the decade under the name Om Unit. As the 2010s rolled in, he was a part of the short-lived but much-loved club night Tempo Clash in London alongside Kutmah, Kidkanevil, Blue Daisy, and the late Offshore. At the same time, he also began to find a new musical voice at the intersection of UK club and dance culture, dub, and beats that earned him plaudits from peers and forebears including Fracture, Machinedrum, Mark Pritchard, Danny Breaks, Goldie, and Doc Scott.

This episode was edited and produced by Laurent Fintoni and Will Horrocks. Intro and outro music by Duke Westlake. Artwork by Kutmah. Design assistance by Paper Resistance and Brandy Flower. This show is a labor of love and if you enjoy what you hear and would like to support us in being able to continue, you can donate via PayPal at https://paypal.me/abeathappening.

In this episode we discuss...

• First meetings and the 2000s turntablist scene
• Experimenting with beats and scratching
• Tempo Clash and early 2010s eclecticism
• Searching for the shock of the new
• Different ways of listening to and for music
• Inclusivity and representation in bookings
• Using and making sample packs
• The recent Acid Dub Studies album
• How to stay supple and avoid pigeonholing

Tracklist:

• Ricci Rucker - Dirty Larry
• Rustie - Zig Zag
• Ivy Lab - Suzuki
• Om Unit - Ghosts
• 2tall - Killa

Links:

• Om Unit Bandcamp
• Cosmic Bridge Bandcamp
• DJ Mag mix and interview
• Om Unit's 10 influential records