The Hockley Hustle is once again happening and its an opportunity for us to present some of the best electronic music that the Nottingham scene has to offer. I say the 'Nottingham scene' this is merely a geographical reference to where people live as we're blessed with several artists that have long since transcended their locality. One of those artists, It gives us great pleasure this year to present Geiom aka Kamal Joory, one of the best that's out there.
Geiom is an established producer of the most cultured variety. His first release was in 1995 on the Meir Label and has released under the pseudonym Hem. Several albums and singles downline and countless collaborations has demonstrated the artists diversity and staying power.
His own Berkane Sol label was closely associated with the Dubstep movement of the 2000's and has featured influential artists such as Kode 9 and Spam Chop of Wigflex.
In a world where there is almost a constant definition and redefinition of electronic music genres, where slight shifts in beat, production style and reference can determine, in some peoples eyes a new genre, Geioms work transcends this.
Whilst Geioms work is associated with influential UK movements such as Dubstep, when you sit down and listen to his music, the musical references are often much wider.
About 6 months ago, I was listening to Geioms 2009 Berkane Sol release, - No More Tears, Ely Booty and picked up on what felt like an african influence. For the last year I've been closely researching the afro, tropical remix scene led by UK labels Soundways, Mukat and Sofrito and it very much feels like Berkane Sol set some of the groundwork for this sound to flourish, and if conscious or not, is an influence on this scene.
Although this scene is often remixes or edits of existing african releases, the influence of UK electronic music is explicit, giving this scene a sound in its own right, which prehaps owes something to the unique position that artist like Geiom occupy.
What is so good to hear in Geioms music is the international influence - its electronic music with references that are so much bigger than the world in which it is too often narrowly associated.
Two things that British do well historically speaking, is make electronic music and go out and plunder other cultures around the world and bring the trophies of those cultures back. Although we've only been making electronic music for around 40 years, we've been invading other countries for centuries.
One of the positives of our brutal colonisation is the influence of the people from other parts of the world that have moved to the UK. We see international influence in our cities, food and culture all the time, which is only a good thing. It's this cultural influence, wether explicit or not that is a fundamental influence on our electronic music scene today, In a way there is irony here, as music scenes of any kind can be fiercely territorial and commercially speaking, it can be as blatant as stabbing a flag in the ground to say 'I invented that' or something equally as crass.
Whilst I'm sure some view Geioms music with a territorial attitude, - "its dub step, its grime, its trap, its wap, its Basford five step dip dop' anyone with a wider perspective, can see that it is simply, international. That's why its great.
Don't be tight, support independent music and Geioms latest releases here: