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Deconstructed Live

Deconstructed: #4.3 - Phil Marten (Turin Brakes) end of June 2008

Some forward planning involved in our Deconstructed date at Falmouth's charming Townhouse, the supremely well-appointed boutique hotel, located near the Maritime Museum in Grove Place, Falmouth. This month residents Karl Phillips and Kingsley Marshall will be playing records from 8pm, before handing over the esteemed Turin Brakes muscateer, Pangs drummer, and the soon-to-be-married Reverend Johnson Dog.

One of our favourite DJ's, his battered flight case is loaded with rarities, culled from years of mind numbing journeys having little more to do than drink bloody mary's and occupy the world's record shops as he tours the world. His first visit to Deconstructed featured a set of music so wildly obscure, it took Kingsley - no slouch on the crate digging front, through his back is not what it was - three years to identify and collect all of its records - musical magpie that he is.

After our lovely profile in The Guardian, we have the double-barrelled but singularly super Lauren Taverner Brown to thank for these kind words in 24-7. "Run from the sleepy fishing village of Flushing, this is probably the only night in the country where the DJ rows a boat to work, whizzing himself and his record bag across the bay! After eight years of running nights around the county, organiser and DJ Kingsley Marshall tells us that this is still the only one of its kind in Cornwall – or west of Hoxton. Since late 2006, Kingsley has been joined at Deconstructed by ex-film critic Karl Phillips who shares his passion for an odd selection of music - they reckon Betty Everett, Luis Bacalov and Lansing-Dreiden belong together in the mix, and neither of them have matched a beat in their lives. Didn't stop i-D calling Kingsley a great DJ. And for you fact fans, throughout the first sixty dates of Deconstructed, only three records were played twice – for a whole 140 hours! So if you like a mash-up that doesn’t repeat itself, and prides itself on being eclectic then get on down to Falmouth."

Now doesn't that sound like a party? That's true about the three records incidentally, one of which is an operatic version of Here Come the Clowns. Style bible i-D also called Kingsley a renaissance b-boy, which he's always intended to have printed on a baseball cap 'cept his heads too small to sport millenary. Pity.

"Angular beats, leftfield grooves...eclectic vibes - in Cornwall? Why not? All-round DJ/journalist Kingsley Marshall has been enticing some top drawer guests down to the deep south west...leaving them free to play basically whatever the hell they like...expect a wild and freestyle set." - NME, Club of the Week

Deconstructed: Flyers

Deconstructed: Design
DC character, posters and flyers from DC#20 designed by Darren Whittington at Radiation Monkeys, flyers for DC #1 to #19 designed by Base-8.

"The DJs are music journalist Kingsley Marshall and ex-film critic Karl Phillips, who combine an eager yet inept mixing technique with a passion for the strange. Over the last five years they've enticed names like Rob Da Bank, Chris Coco and Tom Middleton down the A30 with little more than the offer of meagre payment, real ale and a fresh fish supper. Friday's session is a residents-only affair which, in this instance, is no bad thing." - The Guardian

Deconstructed: What Is Deconstructed Live?
Deconstructed Live launched in 2001, offering over 60 dates in five venues over the subsequent years. The only night of its kind in the South West, DC prides itself on showcasing contemporary music. Guests have included some of greatest artists and independent labels from all over the UK, with their sets having ranged from deep house and hip-hop through funk, soul, salsa, reggae and Cuban sounds - anything and everything - good music remains the key.

"As far away from Homelands and the World Cup as you could get (bar Mars). But Kingsley Marshall is an ace DJ and, objectively, what's better? I'll give you a clue. This is."- The Guardian

Deconstructed: Press
DC has been heralded by everyone from the NME, i-D, Ministry, Mixmag, Muzik, Ice, Wax and 24-7 as one of the leading nights in the UK - with The Guardian going on to say that DC was, "better than Creamfields and the World Cup," and "one of those nights that nightclubbing was made for." Having been featured three times in The Guardian’s Try This section, DC eventually scored a full profile in The Guide, with John Mitchell stating that, "Deconstructed proves in some style that there's more to Cornish experimental music that the Aphex Twin. In fact, rumour has it that the man himself won't even visit this bar, which is so chilled it doesn't possess a dancefloor. The night is hosted by Kingsley Marshall, who has attracted some of the key players in the leftfield electronica and abstract breakbeat scenes. Representatives from the likes of Pork Recordings, Ninja Tune, Sunday Best and Global Communications have all made the trip west since it kicked off last August. In return, this weekly session offers scant reward except the chance to play absolutely anything and a friendly sofa to crash out on at nights end."

The night topped the Try This section four times, offering "As far away from Homelands and the World Cup as you could get (bar Mars). But Kingsley Marshall is an ace DJ and, objectively, what's better? I'll give you a clue. This is" and the charming recommendation that, "Truro's lovely. You should go. They do a great tea in the high street. Then there's Kingsley Marshall's jam. Marvellous." A date featuring the Memphis Industries label (esteemed home of The Go! Team) also caught the eye of the paper, who said, "The excellent Ollie Jacob of Memphis Industries dismantles your head and then proceeds to stomp about with glee. One of those brutal nights that nightclubbing was made for."

Ice had their own superlatives. "Banish all your preconceptions here. There's a quiet revolution going on in the South West. The first Deconstructed night kicked off in August of last year with DJ/journalist Kingsley Marshall pulling in a calibre of guests that any promoter would be proud of - having played host to the likes of Tom Middleton, Sunday Best, Pork Recordings and Ninja Tune. The bar has no dancefloor, so all guests are encouraged to play what they like. Deconstructed is a chilled out oasis and boasts that only a handful of records have ever been played twice in the last 50-odd dates (making over 150 hours of unique music). Get reconstructed at Deconstructed."

Style bible i-D kindly described the DJ'ing of reluctant DC resident Kingsley as that of an, "Orwellian era disc-jockey and romantic poetry quoting soul boy," whilst the night was also awarded the coveted Club Of The Week slot in the NME. The paper's Kieran Wyatt said, "Angular beats, leftfield grooves, eclectic vibes - in Cornwall? Why not? All-round DJ/journalist Kingsley Marshall has been enticing some top drawer guests down to the deep south west for a couple of months now, leaving them free to play basically whatever the hell they like...expect a wild and freestyle set."

"Deconstructed is hosted by Kingsley Marshall, who has attracted some of the key players in the leftfield electronica and abstract breakbeat scenes. In return, this weekly session offers scant reward except the chance to play absolutely anything and a friendly sofa to crash out on at nights end." - The Guardian

Deconstructed: The Guests
The following DJ’s and artists have travelled west since 2001:-

Deconstructed #0.1: Jamie Odell (Freerange Records)

The Bay's Jamie Odell launched DC with typical panache, reflecting the Freerange label he co-managed with Tom Roberts with a musically elusive set, deftly avoiding any application of convenient pigeon holing in favour of an all encompassing genre tag which saw warm Latin influenced beats shone upon by sun-kissed house.

Deconstructed #1: Leo Wyndham (Blu Mar Ten / Guidance, TCR, In-flight)

Blu Mar Ten cut their teeth on Bukem’s Good Looking before striking out on their own, recording for respected US house imprint Guidance in addition to Danny McMillan's In-Flight Entertainment and Exceptional. Leo played a set of bossa and heat-hazed atmospherics.

Deconstructed #2: Z-No (Streetbeats Records)

As Photek and Hidden Agenda before them, Streetbeats stepped beyond drum & bass with an acclaimed series of singles which ranged from Lalo Shiffrin inspired atmospherics right through to Ninja Tune-esque breakbeat abstraction. DJ’s Unsane & Blue offered up funk rarities and soundtrack oddities.

Deconstructed #3: Mittens & MIM (Inertia Records)

Will Nott’s superb imprint has been releasing sly, cinematic records for over five years. Hefner's debut album "Residue" coupled organic warmth and production precision with singer Josee Hurlock - who added a vocal dimension which enjoyed DJ support from Kruder & Dorfmeister & Giles Peterson, in addition to considerable commercial success.

Deconstructed #4: Tony Morley (The Leaf Label)

Described by The Times as "the most engagingly experimental label around" - Leaf have managed to keep their music experimental yet accessible. The sonic world inhabited by artists such as Susumu Yokota is a place where funk collides with electro, hip-hop with prog rock and techno with folk. Tony played a set of "otherworldly space jazz" (NME).

Deconstructed #5: Ollie Jacob (Memphis Industries)

Undoubtedly one of the most progressive independent labels operating in the UK today, if Memphis Industries act Blue States took the biscuit in terms of breakbeat orientated lounge core, then Broadway Project and The Go! Team made off with the tin. Ollie's set echoed his A&R attitude, combining DJ Shadow's cut and paste ethos, with the sixties film aesthetic of Portishead and the optimism of Saint Etienne, conjuring cinematic sense from stolen snatches of sound.

Deconstructed #6: Tom Middleton (Global Communications, Jedi Knights, Cosmos)

As Tom himself enthused, "Archbishop Benson/Truro School Old Boy returns to home town from London for a special performance at Deconstructed. International DJ and producer and has remixed the likes of All Saints, Prince, Eddy Grant, Pulp, Underworld, Leftfield, Lamb, Depeche Mode, Incognito, Spiller, Zero 7." His bi-monthly show on Kiss FM is the stuff of legend, while his session for Radio One has been nominated as the essential mix of the year and his own recordings under a swathe of pseudonyms have rocked every house in dance music.

Deconstructed #7: Clair Focus and CiM (Defocus Records)

Clair Focus began her career as a label manager with Aphex Twin's legendary Rephlex before going on to establish Clear - home of The Black Dog, Autechre, As One, Mike Paradinas and Mathew Herbert. The demise of Clear saw the dawn of Defocus, which led the charge into left of centre techno conjuring memories of Warp's Artificial Intelligence era - Lacklustre, CiM, Aphelion and +One exploring the landscapes sketched out by vast synth sections and clicking melodics.

Deconstructed #8: Icarus - LIVE (Output Records)

With so many leftfield producers making ever more embarrassing shifts towards a lowest common (often dancefloor) denominator, it is often from the fringes that inspiration comes. From their earliest material for Recordings Of Substance to their Squid Ink album for Trevor Jackson's Output, Ollie Bown and Sam Britton carved their own route through the audio jungle. Their third full-length burst from the tree line clutching the very sharpest of platinum breaks - the abstraction of 'Sake' and 'Stuzzikini' balanced by the rich instrumentation which warmed the delicate percussion of 'ZZ9,' 'Oott' and the near-perfect 'Cyan.' The cutting edge cousins arrived from a Edinburgh festival fringe show for DC's first LIVE set, which they orchestrated from two laptops.

Deconstructed #9: Paul Arnold (Certificate 18/Chew The Fat/6 Foot Stereo)

Throughout his 10-year and umpteen record history, Paul Arnold's portfolio of labels have remained one of the broadest churches in dance music. A visionary approach to A&R saw him sign Photek (as Studio Pressure), Source Direct (as Sound Of Life) and Klute before Metalheadz, countering these tracks with an impressive electronic and downbeat profile featuring Hi Ryse, Panoptica and Pilote. His own nights at London's Bug Bar and his superb Fat! imprint continue to lead the breakbeat field.

Deconstructed #10: Ian Simmonds (SSR, Studio K7)

Ian Simmonds is one of very few producers to have successfully breached the chasm which has traditionally kept DJ culture from more tangible, organic material. A musician first and foremost, he made his mark in the first half of the nineties as a founding member of influential acid jazz band The Sandals before an imploding deal with a major forced him to go it alone. As his own music gained momentum, Ian put the feelers out with his last full length for K7, "The Hill," utilising a love of beats and texture to fuse the electronic with acoustic - a series of impressive vocal performances, most notably from Tricky collaborator and Mercury-award nominee Alison Goldfrapp.

Deconstructed #11: John Shepherd (Pork Recordings)

Hull's finest, and admittedly only, beat warriors have shown a persistent reluctance to comply with neat categorisations - preferring instead to duck convenient labelling by the media in an ongoing quest to replace bland, genre-specific beats with something a great deal more wholesome. While the swirling synths which run through the "Tetris" LP are distinctly house, other elements were much harder to pin down; as the percussion wanders far from four to the floor constraints the melodics are equally freewheeling - shape-shifting from the super sharp horn samples of "Bye, Bye Baby" right through to the slippery keys of "White Russian." By way of contrast, the second half of the album gave way to a series of Nightmares On Wax inspired smokers delights; dubbed low end providing the framework for sprawling soundscapes - Tatiana Ipatova's occasional vocal touches soaked up by these all-enveloping sonic snowdrifts.

Deconstructed #12: David Harrow (James Hardway/Hydrogen Dukebox)

Nothing if not a man of many monikers, Dave Harrow's recordings as James Hardway have taken a distinctly Latin twist of late. With no electronic instruments used in the recordings of his "Moors and Christians" album, he instead lay down rhythm tracks in London before travelling to Cuba and Jamaica to employ the talents of some of the countries leading instrumentalists - the likes of Lisa Danger, Congo Ashanti Roy and Pablo Menendez all appearing on the LP. Conversely, his material under the Magnetic guise is a demonstration of minimalism - written solely with a Mac Powerbook, the beats are as raw as they come and extract vast grooves from the tiniest elements.

Deconstructed #13: Jamie Odell (Freerange Records)

Jamie Odell was the first Deconstructor to return for a second visit. With his Jimpster moniker locked down as an outlet for fusion influenced material, and his part in the awesome improvised act The Bays, Jamie created Audiomontage for tracks he has described as "more studio based, deep, funky house." The Freerange label he co-manages with Tom Roberts remains musically elusive, deftly avoiding any application of convenient pigeon holing in favour of an all encompassing genre tag which sees the intricate rhythms and improvised feel of Shur-i-kan countered by the big arrangements and abstract sonics of Yennah.

Deconstructed #14: Rephlex Records

Established in Cornwall a decade ago by Richard D. James (aka Aphex Twin) and Grant Wilson-Claridge, the legendary Rephlex imprint has built up an enviable array of artists skilled in the art of what the label describe as ‘braindance,’ subversive sonica which ranges from the careless post-folk optimism of Bogdan Raczynski right through to the rail slamming percussives and spine crumbling analogues of Squarepusher. Essential.

Deconstructed #15: Lee Jones (Hefner/Inertia)

Lee Jones released his stunning debut album under the Hefner pseudonym late last year, humanising his already characteristic blend of film noir atmospherics and precision guided beats with the pensive lyrics of singer Josee Hurlock. The rich arrangements of ‘Level Green’ and title track ‘Residue’ were as familiar as they were breathtaking, and as good an introduction as any to one of the UK’s finest independent labels.

Deconstructed #16: Superstar DJ Tat (NY Sushi)

Andy Tattersall rose from Sheffield’s musical underbelly in the late eighties, part of a movement which also spawned the Warp label and a plethora of producers. Studio excursions were accompanied by a DJ ascension which took him from pirate radio through Hard Times and Creamfields before taking up a residency at the all encompassing NY Sushi, Tat’s crate digging sets utilising phenomenal turntable skills to flit between the very best of funk, hip hop, techno and deep house.

Deconstructed #17: Rob Da Bank (Sunday Best)

Launched in 1995, Sunday Best has subsequently been hailed as the "the finest chill out club in the capital" by everyone from The Face to Pete Tong. A pioneer of what later became known as bar culture, the emphasis was less about dancing than a relaxed accompaniment to board games, chitchat and sleepy weekend pints. The inevitable label championed eased listening, pioneering material from the likes of Rob’s Lazyboy project, in addition to Groove Armada and Bent and latterly spawned the Isle of Wight's Bestival

Deconstructed #18: Will Holland (Quantic/Tru Thoughts Records)

With his authentic blend of organic beats as Quantic Soul Orchestra ripping up floors across the country and his own solo shufflers having been championed by Kruder & Dorfmeister and Groove Armada, big things are expected of Brighton’s Will Holland. An evening of funk punctuated horizontal grooves.

Deconstructed #19: Clair Focus and CiM (Defocus Records)

One time Truro resident Clair Focus follows her Deconstructed debut back in September with a return to her hometown. Her Defocus label continues to present emotional, forward thinking and futuristic techno– with recent signings Esem and Tim Koch contributing more splintered sonica to an already enviable back catalogue.

Deconstructed #20: Riton (Grand Central)

Grand Central make their first excursion west of Bristol via sonic emissary Henry Smithson. When not unleashing champion sounds through his superb Switch label, Henry can be found sketching out a strange brew of downtempo soul by way of Rae & Christian’s legendary imprint - his 'Beats Du Jour' LP as Riton described by The Face as "rocking like a submerged volcano."

Deconstructed #21: Broadway Project (Memphis Industries)

Dan Berridge’s debut album, 'Compassion,' somehow conjured widescreen sense from an already overworked sampler, whose bank of stolen sounds took in everything from modern classical, rock solos and obtuse vocals. Dan came out of DJ retirement especially for Deconstructed, for a set of thoughtful beats and wide-eyed sounds.

Deconstructed #22/23: Jon Shepherd (Pork Recordings)

Pork’s previous visit to Deconstructed resulted in a ram packed night of all-encompassing beats and pieces. With a double booking that took in both the last weekend and last night of 2001, Shped laid down a shape shifting musical menagerie where hip-hop bumped and ground with tinkling keys and gentle house.

Deconstructed #24: David Harrow (James Hardway/Hydrogen Dukebox)

David Harrow's previous visit to the Deconstructed saw an audacious set comprising of recordings culled from his sojourns to the Caribbean, an hour of his favourite jazz records and a closing selection of smoke hazed reggae. His recently released fifth album as James Hardway peppered luscious piano shorts amongst a selection of choice latin numbers.

Deconstructed #25: Dave Cridge (Up, Bustle & Out/Ninja Tune)

Having directed funds into Cuba's legendary Radio Rebelde for some time, Bristol-based sound bandits Up, Bustle & Out found themselves invited to Havana to record with an intergenerational squad of descarga players assembled by ex-Orquesta Aragon flautist Richard Egües. The subsequent Master Sessions series, which fused contemporary production with traditional instrumentation, has enjoyed favourable reviews across the board.

Deconstructed #26: Friday 18th January - Dan Snaith/Caribou (Manitoba/The Leaf Label)

The debut album from Canada's Dan Snaith underlined his status amongst the chattering electronic classes as one of the brightest talents to emerge over the course of 2001 - cooking up messed beats, lost grooves and a future jazz mentality in a single frothy disc which stabbed, hooted and crinkled its way through swathes of rich percussion.

Deconstructed #27: Nick Luscombe (XFM Flo-Motion)

With commercial radio dutifully fulfilling the endless thirst of the masses for nostalgia and pop pap, it has been left to a handful of selectors to represent the cutting edge. While Giles Peterson holds the fort at Radio One and Ross Allen maintains a show on London Live, Nick Luscombe has championed all things left of centre via his Sunday evening slot on XFM.

Deconstructed #28: Russ Jones (Victor Malloy/Inertia)

With older sibling Hefner having enjoyed a warm reception to his debut album for the West London imprint, Russ Jones certainly had his work cut out in making a splash with his own full length for the same label. The opening "Trying" typified Malloy's sound, beats hanging seamlessly from panoramic atmospheres as touches of strings tethered loosely defined instrumentation to the groove. Soundtracks for the millennial beatnik.

Deconstructed #29: Mark Blackburn (Kinobe/Pepper)

Kinobe stepped over the ever increasing crowd of downtempo hangers on with their music characterised through its use of exotic samples and lavish arrangements. The cinematic majesty of "Slip Into Something More Comfortable" brought them to the forefront of the chilled glitterati, ably assisted via a lucrative reissue tied into a certain Kronenburg advert.

Deconstructed #30: Loop Professor (Dynamic Syncopation/Ninja Tune)

Ben Allen and Herbaliser producer Jonny Cuba offered a widescreen take on the hip-hop movement. Their debut album Dynamism rocked blocks with vocal tracks featuring Mass Influence, Yeshua Da Poed & Juice Aleem scattered amongst some choice instrumental compositions, where slick brass jostled for attention amongst sophisticated orchestration.

Deconstructed #31: Hidden Agenda (Zest/Straight Ahead)

The brothers behind Hidden Agenda, Jason and Mark Goodings, emerged in 1994 with a rare groove influenced take on drum & bass which first surfaced on Goldie's Metalheadz. Their sound quickly diversified into other styles however, with their album for Switzerland's Straight Ahead using rippling percussion to shift from late night house to slippery instrumental hip-hop, reflecting the eclecticism of their own superb Zest label.

Deconstructed #32: Doug Hart (Hydrogen Dukebox)

Having felt out the Deconstructed waters with audio envoy David Harrow, Dukebox chieftain Doug Hart made his first journey to the West Country. While his own work as Chamber offers a nitro fuelled mix of sweaty breaks and low riding bass, the label has continued to purvey the finest "electronic music for heroes" via the records of James Hardway, Justice and Metamatics.

Deconstructed #33: Jon Kennedy (Tru Thoughts/Grand Central)

After ten years of drumming in local bands, Jon Kennedy moved on to produce his own music last year. The incorporation of live bass, percussion and guitar saw his early funk tinged material attracting the attention of fellow Stockport resident Mr Scruff and Brighton’s premiere downtempo label, with his debut album described as "instant acoustic sunshine" by Mixmag.

Deconstructed #34: Pedro (Melodic)

David Cooper’s Manchester based Melodic imprint has found favour with those looking for something more than breaks and bleeps out of their electronica music. Leading the charge at the label is James Rutledge, whose post-folk as Pedro has received props from the likes of Andrew Weatherall, Badly Drawn Boy and Kathryn Williams in addition to considerable press support, Wax going as far to say that "if there was a God, his hand could well have touched this."

Deconstructed #35: Datamath (Ladytron)

One of the most talked about groups of their kind in the US and Europe, Reuben Wu and the Ladytron collective have been compared to a host of artists ranging from Air to the Human League. Their broad range of influences and unique brand of retro futurism has seen reviewers left grasping at increasingly obtuse straws, with the NME offering "a teasing glimpse of how Britney Spears might have sounded, had she been born in the GDR as a heroin addict."

Deconstructed #36: Paul Arnold (Certificate 18, 6 Foot Stereo)

Paul Arnold’s ever-ambitious label has seen releases from a swathe of producers - Plaid, Photek and Autechre having contributed to an already enviable catalogue that counts Klute, Polar and Panoptica amongst its number. With Pilote’s "Turtle" accompanying the current one2one campaign, not to mention the success of Paul’s new Fat imprint (spun from his legendary Brixton breakbeat night) - this was a night not to be missed.

Deconstructed #37: Bonobo (Ninja Tune)

Simon Green’s debut single for Tru Thoughts drew the attention of both XL and Mute, though it was his eventual defection to Ninja Tune and the subsequent reissue of his sublime "Animal Magic" longplayer that brought him to the attention of the masses. A veteran of Phonic Hoop and the Big Chill, expect a night of cashmere deep chillage and dismantled funk.

Deconstructed #38: Phil Marten (Turin Brakes/Anvil Records)

Since their first release on Anvil Records in 1999, Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian’s Turin Brakes has enjoyed a meteoric rise, underlined by a Mercury Award nomination last year and up for this years Best British Newcomer gong at the Brits. The bands keyboard supremo the Reverend Johnson Dog makes the journey to Cornwall accompanied by able Anvil accomplice Phil Passera, a much talked about record collection and a brace of free vinyl gifts for the punters who nod their heads the hardest.

Deconstructed #39: Rephlex Disco Assault Systems Inc

With a roster that spans Johnny Hawk’s heart warming techno for gentle people, through the melancholic "sounds for sobbing" of Bogdan Racysynski and the post pop vocodered craziness of Cylob, the Aphex Twin’s Rephlex imprint has kept its position as one of the most advanced electronic labels for over a decade. The Disco Assaulters followed their DC debut in November with a second night of braindance.

Deconstructed #40: Mark Pritchard (Droppin' Science)

A shared love of Detroit techno and Chicago house saw Mark Pritchard and Tom Middleton form the Evolution and Universal Language labels in the early nineties. Material as Reload, Global Communication and the Jedi Knights followed, with the use of the latter prompting a rumoured phone call from an unhappy George Lucas. As Tom leaned more towards chill out and deep house, so Mark’s recordings as Use Of Weapons and Troubleman have pushed the envelope of breakbeat music.

Deconstructed #41: Lee Jones (Hefner/Inertia)

Lee Jones coincides his return to Cornwall with the release of "Reworks," a compilation which gathers together the best of his spine tingling remixes with some chugging space funk of his own, new takes of "Level Green" & "Everyday" a delectable glimpse of his sophomore album.

Deconstructed #42: Rich Thair (Toob/Red Snapper)

Although he can now be found recording as Toob, Rich is perhaps best known for his part in Red Snapper, the audio alchemists who created a hybrid of funk instrumentation & skittish electronics which culminated in a set of critically acclaimed longplayers for Warp Records.

Deconstructed #43: Clair Focus and CiM (Defocus Records)

Clair's third visit to DC sees her loading the flight case with the best house, a dash of Barry White & a scattering of techno from her Defocus imprint, the latest release from which saw Esem conjure the spirits of Carl Craig & B12 from the click & whir of his studio equipment.

Deconstructed #44: Minotaur Shock (Melodic/4AD)

David Edwards warmed up the speakers with a pair of extended players before letting fly with his life affirming "Chiff Chaff and Willow Warblers" full length last year - a record defined by the filaments of electronics, which burst from intricately constructed acoustics.

Deconstructed #45: Jon Shepherd (Pork Recordings)

Proving once again that pigeonholes are best left to the pigeons, DC alumni Shep Dog followed a barnstorming New Years Eve appearance with an all-encompassing selection of Hull honed prime cuts. The dubplate butcher.offered an evening of what he called, "post-punk gutter funk."

Deconstructed #46: Pilote (Certificate 18)

Stuart Cullen’s debut album of strip lit electronica, "Antenna," propelled dysfunctional beats through paper-thin orchestration with admirable grace. He remains best known however, for the chirpy whistling of "Turtle," which accompanied the one2one ad campaign.

Deconstructed #47: Luke Vibert (Wagonchrist/Plug)

If releasing records through such notables as Planet Mu, Mo Wax & Virgin wasn’t enough, Luke Vibert - another ex-Cornishman to take the DC dollar - shifted to the sound shaolins at Ninja Tune for "Musipal," an album which coupled chin-stroking intricacies with lithe funk and ill-mannered electro.

Deconstructed #48: Pete Lawrence (The Big Chill)

With Time Out describing him as the "chief Eskimo of kingdom chill," it was only a matter of time before the founder of the legendary Big Chill festival & well-respected label brought his smooth mood manipulation skills to Truro.

Deconstructed #49: Lee Norris (Hydrogen Dukebox/Neo Ouija)

As Lee’s work under the Metamatics & Norken monikers has been characterized by its fusion of humanized slivers to lattice like rhythm sections & fluttering melodics, so his own Neo Ouija imprint has bloomed into one of the UK’s most progressive techno outlets.

Deconstructed #50: Steve Cobby (Fila Brazillia)

Steve Cobby and Dave McSherry have provided ample soul medication over the years for those tired of the same old dance mish-mash. Jump Leads, their eighth album as Fila Brazillia, trounced an already supremely accomplished back catalogue through drifting from disco to bossa before breathing an exultant bluesy sigh by way of the closing 'Green, Green Grass of Homegrown. '

Deconstructed #51: Carl Loben (DJ Magazine)

In addition to contributing to the internationally-acclaimed DJ magazine, Carl Loben has proved himself an accomplished selector in his own right - spinning everywhere from the ICA to Ibiza, Glastonbury to Germany and the Big Chill to.Belgium. When not trotting the globe delivering sonic words to the wise, Carl can be caught preaching tribal house, dirty breaks and the odd stupid tune at his Sunday residency, The Truth.

Deconstructed #52: Nik Weston (Mukatsuku)

Having collected records for over two decades - Nik's reputation as a nu-jazz tastemaker and champion of all things Japanese has seen him throw down a selection of hard-to-find audio trinkets worldwide. His latest compilation for Jazz FM's Climate imprint broke beats over future soul, gaining full marks from the press and support from such luminaries as Bob Jones and Tom Middleton.

Deconstructed #53: Clair Focus and CiM (Defocus Records)

The first Deconstructor to make four visits to the MI Bar, Clair returns to tear her home town apart with a snake hipped set as likely to include Janet Jackson and Joy Division as the pick of the stuttering synths from her own esteemed Defocus imprint. With the ubiquitous sounds of Barry White also certain to rumble the subwoofers, this is another solid session not to be missed.

Deconstructed #54: Turbo Men (Tummy Touch)

Groove Armada discoverer and moustachioed lothario Tim Love Lee despatches Bristol hombres the Turbo Men to spread the word of his Touch Tones project - a compilation of the finest contra pop, where jaunty sampladelica and finicky trouser jazz make out with thump funk and wibbly wobbly bongo mayhem. Expect a set of crunchy disco, knob tweaking jack tracks.

Deconstructed #55: Chris Pattinson (Be Caeser/Inertia)

With new albums in the pipe from DC regulars Hefner and Victor Malloy and an acclaimed single release from hotly tipped Scandinavian scamps The Electones, Inertia label manager Chris Pattinson returns to Truro after a year in the wilderness. His work under the Caeser moniker rips up dancefloors across the country with its combination of skittish beats and cinematic orchestration.

Deconstructed #56: Jon Tye (Lo Recordings)

"Partial to anything weird and wonderful" is how Jon describes his acclaimed Lo imprint, which has released material from the likes of Japanese uber producer Susumu Yokota and Squarepusher through to Four Tet and acclaimed London trio Rothko. The output has proved something of a magical musical mystery tour, with sleuth rock rubbing shoulders with tidal ambience and skittish electronics kicking down to lowly Orleans blues.

Deconstructed #57: Phil Marten & Victor Malloy (Turin Brakes)

The Brakes keyboard supremo Reverend Johnson Dog and the elusive Monsieur Malloy return to Cornwall encore une fois, armed only with a battered flight case containing the finest "high brow but low volume" music. Expect a playlist that takes in everything from Duke Ellington to Joni Mitchell, Lonnie Smith to Neil Young, with a scattering of jazz, swing and Havana's finest sonic cohibas thrown in for good measure.

Deconstructed #58: Jonny (Trunk Recordings)

Hidden treasures are the key to the UK's most intriguing record label, with Trunk's back catalogue counting the original soundtracks of The Wicker Man, Deep Throat and The Clangers amongst its number. Having been sampled by everyone from David Holmes, House Of Pain and Pulp, whose celebrity Yorkshireman Jarvis Cocker kindly contributed the sleeve notes to the labels recently released score to Kes, this is sure to be a much talked about performance.

Deconstructed #2.1: Chris Coco (Radio One / The Blue Room)

Before becoming a globetrotting champion of chill, Chris Mellor tore up the south coast with his legendary Frenzy and Coco nights. A jack of all trades, he made up half of Warp's celebrated Coco Steel & Lovebomb, before reconnecting with melancholic electronics, dub reggae and film soundtracks as a solo artist in the mid-nineties. In addition to hosting Radio One's downtempo show The Blue Room, late Friday nights on BBC Radio One, he remains a producer of some repute with his debut solo album, Next Wave, enjoying critical acclaim last year through its connection of eased grooves with the contributions of Nick Cave, Iain Banks and legendary guitarist Peter Green. This year saw the release of the second in his accomplished Acoustic Chill series in addition to having deconstructed downbeat for none other than Hugh Hefner within the Chillin' At The Playboy Mansion compilation.

Deconstructed #2.2: Phil Marten and Phil Passera (Turin Brakes/Anvil Records)

Since making their debut on Phil Passera's Anvil imprint in 1999 with The Door EP, Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian slowly built upon the initial groundswell of support for Turin Brakes into a veritable force majeure, which resulted in their sophomore album Ether Song cracking open the UK Top 10 earlier this year. Passera is accompanied here by Brakes keyboard supremo Phil Marten, who first graced DC in April 2002 armed only with a selection of "high brow, low volume" music which featured everything from Duke Ellington to Joni Mitchell, Lonnie Smith to Neil Young, with a scattering of jazz, swing and Havana's finest sonic cohibas thrown in for good measure.

Deconstructed #2.3: Datamath (Ladytron)

Taking their name from a Roxy Music obscurity and their influence from all manner of electrickery, new wave aficionado Reuben Wu and the Ladytron collective crashed into the dance music consciousness with their acclaimed debut album 604, released on the influential Emperor Norton label in 2001. Two years on, and the London four-piece expanded on an already considerable reputation with the appropriately entitled Light & Magic, a sophomore selection where deviant robo-rhythms fought pitched ray gun battles with al all manner of synthesiser chicanery.

Deconstructed #3.1: DC Residents

With DC veteran Reverand Johnson Dog otherwise engaged, Karl Phillips graced Deconstructed with a set which notably mixed Cilla Black with the Tindersticks. Right up our street then. Throw in Kingsley's passionate plea that anything sung in French is superfly, and that Mancini, Italian natural history music, some Scandinavian hip hop shizzle and the O Jays can sit quite comfortably in the same set, a gaggle of barflies and guttersnipes who weren't afraid to nod their heads to our favourite records, and we had ourselves a winner.

Deconstructed #3.2: DC Residents

We weren't able to stretch our budget to the pre-Xmas rider demand of our nations superstar DJ's, a not wholly unreasonable request to deck out the Q Bar mezzanine with a snow bound, grotto feel. It was left then to the musically-eager-yet-inept mixing of two of Santa's little helpers, who also serve as DC residents when needs must and the devil's driving, and graced the Q Bar with some cocktail-fuelled carry. It being the middle of winter, the boys played a wholly inappropriate mix of big band Hendrix covers, surf rock, motown, records from spaghetti westerns and Australian natural history programming, some Cuban rhythms and a smattering of African hip hop.

Deconstructed #3.3: DC Residents

Tom Middleton, Ladytron, Rob Da Bank, Caribou, Luke Vibert, Ollie Jacob, Hefner, Ian Simmonds, Chris Coco, Riton, Quantic, Kinobe, Minotaur Shock, Bonobo, various members of Rephlex, Pedro and Red Snapper. All have graced the Deconstructed turntables in the past.

Unfortunately, all of these DJ's are now aware of both the vast distances and great sacrifices involved in travelling to the deepest, darkest south west. We've seen cars explode, had selectors stranded in Devon - many, many miles away - and even had to sacrifice a couple of the lesser known of them in payment to local fishermen, who proudly display them as figureheads on their boats when out hunting turbot (they tell us that "it scares the French"). Has anyone seen The Big Chill's Pete Lawrence since he played for us a couple of years ago? We didn't think so.

Until we manage to persuade a fresh gaggle of musical chancers to join us from March, our third round of Deconstructed dates has been left to the musically-eager-yet-inept mixing of alleged music journalist Kingsley Marshall and burnt out film critic Karl Phillips, who serve as DC residents when no one more competent is available. It being the middle of a Cornish winter, with gale force winds and rain flying in sideways from the channel, the boys aim to drop an ill advised mix of Bacalov, surf rock, motown, Satie, Australian natural history programming, some Cuban rhythms and a smattering of Indonesian folk music. We think that this adds up to a well orchestrated rock and roll show, which perhaps explains why we're the only night of our kind west of Hoxton and don't get invited to DJ at many weddings.

Deconstructed: #3.4 - 30 March 2007

What a lovely few weeks we've had. The Guardian's John Mitchell kindly profiled us in Saturday's Guide on 24 March which was mighty kind of him. As John puts it, "By their own admission, the Deconstructed DJs don't get many wedding gigs; with Falmouth's happy couples preferring the more trad delights of Robbie and Beyoncé. This is a shame because their wholly inappropriate sets of big band Hendrix covers, movie scores, surf rock, broken electronica, Erik Satie, Cuban rhythm and African hip-hop would surely make any post-nuptial knees-up remembered for years. The DJs are music journalist Kingsley Marshall and ex-film critic Karl Phillips, who combine an eager yet inept mixing technique with a passion for the strange. Over the last five years they've enticed names like Rob Da Bank, Chris Coco and Tom Middleton down the A30 with little more than the offer of meagre payment, real ale and a fresh fish supper. Friday's session is a residents-only affair which, in this instance, is no bad thing." Lovely crowd, who quietly enjoyed from a wholly new set from Karl and a studious few hours of rattling around the DC office crates for some crackly gems from the DC head honcho.

Deconstructed: #3.5 - 27 April 2007

This month we were joined by the first in a series of guests. Our first headliner of 2007 was Jon Tye, the artistic director of Lo Recordings: purveyors of high-quality esoterica since 1995; having released music by Aphex Twin, Susumu Yokota, Squarepusher, Red Snapper, They Came from the Stars (I Saw Them) and Rothko; as well as compiling sets of Library music by way of Luke Vibert's Nuggets and Barry 7's Connectors. As a DJ, Jon is a regular at the Big Chill, but also counts the Tate Gallery, Guido's in Rome, Barcelona's Sonar Festival and Batofar in Paris amongst his regular haunts. His own music includes the ambient house of MLO, techno as Twisted Science and Milky Globe, his most recent outing is a collaborative project, with recent singles havingfeatured Luke Vibert, James Holden and Nathan Fake.

We'll also be screening a selection of films from Mimesis, a collaboration between Lo Recordings and acclaimed film maker/photographer Donald Christie, whose experimental videos explore the links between subjective documentation and figurative abstraction, and interpretations of landscape through video and sound field recordings. Donald is currently working on collaborative projects with musicians and sound artists, Massive Attack, Icarus, Kim Hiorthoy, and Janek Scheaffer.

Deconstructed: #3.6 - 25 May 2007
Pilote (Cert 18/Exalt/Domino Records) was our second guest to join us at Falmouth's Q Bar, Stuart was thinking of relocating to the South West (from, erm, Barcelona) so we were inclined to show him a damn good time. As Dill broke out the cocktails, the residents promised something different. Kingsley has unearthed some fine Icelandic funk and rediscovered some Eastern European obscurities, while Karl threatened a disco set. Stuart's set was noticeable by its immodesty, playing material from his new album “Pop Will Make Us Free,” released in March on Exalt, together with unreleased material and favourites from previous works. Notable for his strip lit electronica, his first album "Antenna" propelled dysfunctional beats through paper-thin orchestration with admirable grace. He has since recorded for Certificate 18, Series 500, Team LG’s Kennington and the aforementioned Exalt. He also gave Karl and I some records, which was nice.

Deconstructed: #3.7 - 29 June 2007
The Rephlex Disco Assault System joined us at Falmouth's Q Bar for Deconstructed Live on Friday June 29th 2007. Kernow being their native land, we were determined to show the boys a good time. Our plans hadn't factored in the chance of the old bill turning up with environmental health in tow with those pesky noise meters, denying the Rephlex representative Grant from breaking out the second half of his set which, we were assured, would have taken the place nuclear.

Not having had that sort of attention from the long arm of the law since we used to sneak an extra hundred people through the door in a venue, long since closed for such irregularies, DC have skipped town and are currently in hiding in Panama until it all blows over. We might just have Rephlex back for a replay before the summers out, just to hear the second half of Grant's record box (and, we hope, some cheeky Morricone from an enviable collection).

Their roster spans Johnny Hawk’s heart warming techno for gentle people, through the melancholic "sounds for sobbing" of Bogdan Racysynski, the post pop vocodered craziness of Cylob and the delicate electronics of latest signings Tuss (the identity of whom has been much discussed in the music press over the last couple of months), Rephlex has retained its position as one of the most advanced electronic labels in the world for some time. The rarity of their visits to Kernow, make this an extra special treat for DC.

Deconstructed: #3.8 - 31 July 2007
Parker joined us for a three's up, four deck residents jam. Sticky.

Deconstructed: #3.9 - 31 August 2007: Russ Jones (Victor Malloy/Inertia)

Another Deconstructed veteran makes the long trip to Cornwall. Since he last Dj'd for us in 2004, Russ Jones has released Lions and Tigers and Bears, an album recorded with Kenny Mackracken and Mercury Prize nominee Fionn Regan (who has also visited DC towers before he became an international superstar). He has since locked himself in a Brighton studio producing the soon-to-be-massive The Pangs.

Russ has also turned his attention to film, with Carlos the Dog, his directorial debut, screened recently at the Cannes Film Festival and currently touring film festivals worldwide. One of DC's favourite DJ's, we still rock those MI Bar sets in the car, his flight case comes loaded with what he describes as "high brow, low volume" music. Expect a playlist that takes in Duke Ellington, Joni Mitchell and everything in between, and maybe some visual treats on the Q Bar's big screen too, before we all go fishing on Saturday morning.

Deconstructed: #3.10 - 28 September 2007: Residents Kingsley Marshall & Karl Phillips
After an epic adventure on the high seas, last months guest Captain Victor Malloy is currently resting in hospital, having gone overboard and been plucked from the sea by a Coastguard winchmen who also chastised him for his inability to row the DC fishing boat to safety, it'll be residents night at Deconstructed Live on September 28th at Falmouth's Q Bar.

As the nights begin to draw in, so the boys seek something a little moodier - with Karl lining up some modal jazz and Kingsley having emerged blurry eyed and dusty fingered from his record collection, delighting in some quite terrifying 1970s horror scores.

Deconstructed: #4.1 - 28 February 2008: Russell Jones (Victor Malloy/The Pangs)

Having had a break over Christmas, Deconstructed are launching a new series of music nights from 8pm on Thursday February 28th 2008, at the Falmouth's newest venue, the supremely well-appointed boutique hotel, Falmouth Townhouse (Grove Place, Falmouth).

Residents Karl Phillips and Kingsley Marshall will be playing records from 8pm, before making room for the special guest DJ Russell Jones. Prior to galavanting around the southern states of the US on a record finding tour, Russ spent a year locked in a Brighton recording studio producing the debut album from the soon-to-be-massive The Pangs (check their wonderful Fighterplane on Myspace, before the rest of the world discovers them).

Russ's own album Lions and Tigers and Bears, recorded with Kenny Mackracken and Mercury Prize nominee (and fellow Deconstructed veteran) Fionn Regan, is a lounge classic, and his DJ style reflects this with a playlist he describes as "high brow, low volume" - expect a little Duke Ellington and Joni Mitchell, a dash of Lonnie Smith and Neil Young, with a scattering of jazz, swing and Havana's finest sonic cohibas thrown in for good measure. On top of all that, Russ recently turned his attention to film, with Carlos the Dog, his directorial debut, screened recently at the Cannes Film Festival and currently touring film festivals worldwide. An exclusive selection of his films will also be screened on the night.

Deconstructed: #4.2 - 1 May 2008

The second date in the fourth incarnation of deconstructed took place at Falmouth's charming Townhouse, the supremely well-appointed boutique hotel, located near the Maritime Museum in Grove Place, Falmouth. This month residents Karl Phillips and Kingsley Marshall will be playing records from 8pm, before being joined by headliner Jon Tye, who last visited Kernow in April 2007. The artistic director of Lo Recordings: purveyors of high-quality esoterica since 1995; having released music by Aphex Twin, Susumu Yokota, Squarepusher, Red Snapper, They Came from the Stars (I Saw Them) and Rothko; as well as compiling sets of Library music by way of Luke Vibert's Nuggets and Barry 7's Connectors. As a DJ, Jon is a regular at the Big Chill, but also counts the Tate Gallery, Guido's in Rome, Barcelona's Sonar Festival and Batofar in Paris amongst his regular haunts. His own music includes the ambient house of MLO, techno as Twisted Science and Milky Globe, his most recent outing is a collaborative project, with recent singles havingfeatured Luke Vibert, James Holden and Nathan Fake.

After our lovely profile in The Guardian, we have the double-barrelled but singularly super Lauren Taverner Brown to thank for these kind words in 24-7. "Run from the sleepy fishing village of Flushing, this is probably the only night in the country where the DJ rows a boat to work, whizzing himself and his record bag across the bay! After eight years of running nights around the county, organiser and DJ Kingsley Marshall tells us that this is still the only one of its kind in Cornwall – or west of Hoxton. Since late 2006, Kingsley has been joined at Deconstructed by ex-film critic Karl Phillips who shares his passion for an odd selection of music - they reckon Betty Everett, Luis Bacalov and Lansing-Dreiden belong together in the mix, and neither of them have matched a beat in their lives. Didn't stop i-D calling Kingsley a great DJ. And for you fact fans, throughout the first sixty dates of Deconstructed, only three records were played twice – for a whole 140 hours! So if you like a mash-up that doesn’t repeat itself, and prides itself on being eclectic then get on down to Falmouth."

Now doesn't that sound like a party? That's true about the three records incidentally, one of which is an operatic version of Here Come the Clowns. Style bible i-D also called Kingsley a renaissance b-boy, which he's always intended to have printed on a baseball cap 'cept his heads too small to sport millenary. Pity.

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