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A Guy Galled Gerald (aka Gerald Simpson)
recently launched two new independent labels, Protechshon and Sugoi, and
plans to re-release the majority of his back catalogue through the
imprints. The Berlin based producer has also just released a drum & bass
12" entitled 'Is Man In Danger'. Frontlines takes a closer look...
Protechshon was established to cater for Gerald's own individual sound,
and is billed as a breaks and d&b label. He describes the labels music
policy as, "Freedom to bang my drum." Rather than signing other artists,
Gerald will be providing 100% of the music for his labels: "It's a way of
keeping out of hot water. I need to release music. I started on my own and
it seems to be the best way". The first release comes in the shape of 'Is
Man In Danger' (featuring Gerald's brother David Simpson on vocals), and
features a d&b track on one side, with a breakbeat mix on the other. The
second release planned for Protechshon is 'Anything Can Happen', an old
Juice Box classic, and will feature a remix from Bailey.
Gerald's other label Sugoi was established for his more house/techno
flavoured material, and recently released a 12" called 'Flo-ride'. Gerald
also plans to bring out some of his older material: "I feel the need to
re-establish myself on all levels now that it's possible, so I'll be
putting out back catalogue on Sugoi as well. It would seem a shame to
totally dismiss all my musical roots. When I look into the vaults I find
music from all genres. A lot of the material was actually made before
jungle/d&b was in existence. I feel it's a missing link - people need to
hear where urban dance music in the UK was conceived. It's been nearly
twenty years, and when I sit down and think about it, the progression of
where I actually come from in the scheme of things in urban British dance
music and then the mark of this music on the rest of the world, it got me
thinking that it's best to compile it and put it out myself. Part of the
goal of Sugoi and Protechshon is to release this back catalogue between
the two labels.
"There's a big list of material and I'm doing it all independently with no
financial backers, so it's taking some time to pull together. I'm aiming
to put out the entire remaster series '92-'98 from mid 2006. You can check
the discography on my website - I'm going to try and make most of this
stuff available." Fans and crate diggers will be pleased to know his 1992
Juice Box album '28 Gun Bad Boy' will also be re-released, it's on the
list and will be out in 2006!
Gerald has purposely chosen to go the indie route rather than deal with
major labels. "For over fifteen years there's not a major who would come
within ten miles of me. When I escaped from house music, I started working
with jungle because in them days it was somewhere I knew that major labels
didn't want to go - It was too black, too aggressive. It's now all been
mellowed out, everyone around the world knows what it is. It's been in car
adverts and earned millions for certain artists, but for me this is
survival music. This is my personal resonance. It didn't come from
Jamaica, it didn't come from America, it came from the inner cities of
working class minorities in the UK. Three years ago I was stepping through
sleepy arsed Brooklyn listening to my jungle. This is my protechshon!"
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