Welcome to The FTT.
We are The Funkier Than Thou Network, or The FTT for short.
We've been online since December 2000, showcasing various artists, musicians and writers, and updating sporadically over the past eight years.
A little history... in August 2000, both web designer evil:cat and writer Nitricboy launched their respective web site galleries. Noting the crossover between the two, they teamed up with drummer/DJ/producer Dr. Rubberfunk to create The FTT. They recruited a further four members - Mark Yen, Blunted, Madsm and RPG. Nils created the logo, and we were set to go! The site went live on December 4th 2000. Over the next 12 months, we made lots of friends and gained contributors (notably writers John Book and Jimmy Green, artist/musician Dr Jones and artist Josh Riggs), we got to know the Consumers label, Rubberfunk's band Mr Guder, and a whole bunch of other interesting folks.
A year after the launch we threw a big party in London, with Rubberfunk and Zilla DJing, and the first live performance of Mr Guder.
Over the years, people moved on and new members arrived. In 2002, Rubberfunk focused on getting his debut LP, The First Cut, out, while Rob co-launched the award winning blog, The Big Smoker. Alan concentrated on his web design career. It wasn't long before interest renewed, and although updates between 2003 and 2008 were sporadic, we made some more great friends who hooked us up with yet more interesting characters. Special menthion should go to Toon Botwin, who introduced us to a host of artists who joined us in 2006, including Mark Snyder, doram and Gregory Slick.
If you've ever contributed to the site, we'd like to thank you for your hard work over the years, asnd rest assured, there's always room at the FTT Inn for your work. Just email kids@funkierthanthou.net and send your stuff over.
That goes for anyone who'd like to start, too! We're not as active as we were (positively middle aged by web standards) but all good stuff will be used. Give us a shout!
Words: Articles, opinions, reviews, features, interviews.
Some literary type shit going down. Reviews, opinions, features, interviews...
It's that time of year again... by Alan Moore [evil:cat]
...When we all compile our best of lists. Here's mine, but with a difference.
k-os : Joyful Rebellion (Virgin) by Alan Moore [evil:cat]
Pop meets rock meets rap meets reggae meets... well everything.
A review of the freshest slice of hip hop in years.
Issue 14: Re by John Book
It's been a few days over a year since I wrote my last "Issues Of A Music Junkie", and for that I apologize. Many of you had written to me when I had posted previous columns, with some good comments, praise, criticisms, all of that. Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much) for doing so.
Issue 12: I Download MP3's For Minors by John Book
What is the real reason behind the Recording Industry Association of America wanting to punish music fans because of active MP3 downloading? Why do other organizations in other countries want to do the same? Plain and simple: the industry does not want fans controlling the kind of music you listen to. Seems odd though doesn't it, the fact that here is anindustry that thrives on having all types of artists and genres, yet will only throw a fit when they realize their name artists are having full length albums that are being downloaded and heard for free.
DJ Spooky Speaks... by Nitricboy
Nitric presents the full interview transcript of his interview with DJ Spooky -- this had to be trimmed to 600 words for the magazine that originally published it. Here it is, uncut.
Maybe It's A Habit: I Gotta Use It by John Book
When does record collecting become an addiction? And has the internet made the disease worse? Let's look into this, shall we?
Miles Davis : Electric by Alan Moore [evil:cat]
This month marks 10 years since the death of Miles Davis. It's only recently that his 1970s rock/funk recordings have gained recognition. Here, for the uninitiated, is a guide to some of the wildest music of the 20th Century.
Issue 10: Jugalbandi by John Book
"For us, as a family, music is like food. When you need it, you don't have to explain why, because it is basic to life." -Ali Akbar Khan
Issue 9: Tape Me, Tape Me, Tape Me by John Book
"In music there is peace, and in taping there is documentation of unique sound events."
Jurassic 5 / Supernatural / J-Rocc by Alan Moore [evil:cat]
Live Review
Manchester Academy
20th July 2001
Issue 8: Laying Down And Being Infinite by John Book
Before I begin, I want to send out my condolences to the family and friends of Miss Aaliyah Dana Haughton. Rest in peace.
And now, we begin...
Interviewing Chuck Palahniuk by Nitricboy
"This is unprecedented," says the mad old lady sat next to me.
Issue 7: It Ain't Final 'Til It's Vinyl, So Check It by John Book
Trends in hip hop come and go, but one that has been consistent is the bootleg record. We're not talking about counterfeit copies of official albums, or all of those Wu-Tang Hidden Chambers CD's on eBay.
DJ Premier - King Of The Beats by Jimmy Green
All Hail The King... Profile and Retrospective
Issue Six : No Limit Soldier by John Book
A lady named Lisa Stansfield put it best when she said "been around the world and I yai yai". When it comes to music, you cannot and should not limit yourself. If you love hip hop but only claim the East Coast as your favorite, what happens if for some reason you hear some hip hop from the South, and it moves you just as much as someone from Brooklyn? If you love hip hop, why limit yourself to just rap music? You often hear about hip hop being one of the only forms of music that takes in everything. So why not examine and explore "everything", or at least as much as you can?
Why Do We Collect? by Nitricboy
Collecting is not something you just do. It takes time and, most importantly effort. The first law of collecting states that accumulation can only occur through the expenditure of great amounts of energy, and there is absolutely no exception to this. You could stumble upon a recently widowed pensioner who (confused in her grief, bless her) is willing to part with here deceased husband's collection of priceless jazz records for twenty quid but this does not make you a jazz collector, it just makes you a very lucky (and possibly marked) individual.
Brainfreeze by Jimmy Green
Because you might be hoping that you inherit a hefty chunk of money...
The King Of Woolworths by Nitricboy
Earlier this year a grotesque maelstrom of a demo entitled 'Stalker Song' began to appear all over late night national radio. It was a nasty, grimy tune full of disturbing vocal samples and hard edged cuts and loops. But the greatest thing about this apocalyptic mini-epic was that it's architect was an unsigned Mancunian called King of Woolworths who's stuff was posted up all over MP3.com and who was clearly demented…. so obviously we interviewed him!
Issue Five : Creating Your Own Headaches by John Book
esides listening and writing about it, I also create my own music. Is this part of the "music junkie" process? I honestly don't know, but I've been creating my own sounds for over 20 years. The true definition of this is "I have my dad's cassette deck, it has a record button, let's see what I can do". I sang, spoke, and made noises with my mouth all through the mic. The Panasonic cassette player I had access to ran on a power adaptor where you could adjust the amount of power being used. Had a calculator, you could adjust it to low power. Something bigger, you could go up higher. It wasn't meant for it, but I used this as pitch control so I had a few tapes of me talking like a chipmunk when the tapes would play on regular speed.
J Live - The Best Part LP by Jimmy Green
Right. A good way to start this is that when I first bought this (you can still get it from Mr. Bongos in London), I thought it was the best debut LP since Nas's Illmatic. However, since then I've calmed down a bit.
Issue Four : 'I Wouldn't Want To Play Six Degrees With You' by John Book
My sister called me "music's biggest fan". I don't have it on a business card or anything, but outside of a small group of friends (read "I can count them on my hand"), my sister knows more than anyone my passion for music. Could this be the reason why I'm not married at my age? Nah, because DJ Shadow has over 20,000 records and I heard he just got engaged. Music junkie I am, music junkie I be.
Soundtracks (revisited) by Nitricboy
Went to see Unbreakable last week. I liked it, and the next day I trawled through a few sites just to see what opinions other people had of it. One of the comments that kept popping up concerned the use of music in the film
Issue Three : Awards Ceremonies And Catch Up by John Book
There has been a lot of talk recently about awards. Jill Scott is being nominated for a lot of things, Eminem getting blasted for being nominated for his naughty lyrics, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" opening people's guys to the world of wire-fu, it seems everybody is getting awarded and nominated for something. Why does a piece of art, or an artistic form of something, have to be a winner in order for it to be valid? If you can't hear a tree fall it didn't happen? If someone doesn't get recognized, they're not worthy?
The writing's on the wall... Part Two by Nitricboy
A reply to Nitricboy's Graf vs. Commercialism article by Buford & Susan of Artcrimes
The Art Of Mixtapes by Jimmy Green
Mixtapes have been around for decades. Putting all your newest tunes onto a tape and listening to it on a walkman is hardly new. But then since the sudden upsurge of Technics 1200s/1210s being sold, more and more people have been trying to blend tunes together for mates, or potential audiences, or customers.
The Customiser Is Always Right by Nitricboy
I was reading the paper on the way into work today and there was a short article on tattoos. It was primarily about fashionable 'body art' and presented such 'mega-stars' as Robbie Williams, David Beckham and Madonna as examples of people in the public eye who have chosen to decorate their bodies for the sake of fashion.
Issue Two : New Year Blues by John Book
Winter blues? Who cares, while half of the world suffers from the cold, the other half is enjoying the summer breeze.
Issue One : Record Collector Blues by John Book
I just turned 30, but I've been a record collector for about 21 years. Being musically curious as a kid, I would find myself going with my parents to their friends houses or apartments, only to find myself having the need to alphabetize everything.
The Writing's On The Wall... And The Jeans... And The T-shirt... by Nitricboy
The reappropiation of 'street art' as a consumer brand
Stones Throw Records (Part Two) by Nitricboy
Egon gives Nitric his Funk 45 hunting advice
Stones Throw Records (Part One) by Nitricboy
Peanut Butter Wolf talks to Nitricboy and evil:cat
QUANNUM presents SOLESIDES REUNION TOUR by Alan Moore [evil:cat]
Manchester Academy 25/11/00
Art, photography, graf.
Rocking you like Tony Hart. Here were showcase the artistry of our contibutors - digital, linocut, paint, graff, photos... anything goes.
Music.
Here's the back catalogue of FTT musical excursions. Funky beats and quirky noise.
This is the XSPF Music Player.
Dues & Credits.
The people who do all the work, and how to get in touch with them.
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Alan Moore [evil:cat]
Email Address Web Siteevil:cat is the online pseudonym of Alan Moore, a 28-year old web designer based in Chester, UK... More info
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Alder & Elius
Web SiteIn October 1997 out of the depths of Detroit came Alder and Elius: two musicians whose sound caught the ears of Manchester's Skam records... More info
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Blunted
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code_monkey
Email Address
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Cosmic Locksmith
Web SiteCosmic Locksmith is currently tending to the holographic seedlings in Garden State of America... More info
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defend
Email Address
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doram
Email Address Web Sitemy art exists simply because it does, there is not a lot of pretension to be found here... More info
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Dr Jones
Email Address
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Dr Rubberfunk
Email Address Web SiteThis is a journey... More info
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Edge Of The Desert
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Funky J
Email Address
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Gregory Slick AKA Quinn the Eskimo
Web SiteWhen Slick is not painting or snapping pictures, he runs the ramshackle entity known as Quinn the Eskimo--a nomadic art event/online gallery/source of cultural dialogue... More info
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herbcrawl
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Identity Crisis
Email AddressI am a student in Dundee, Scotland but I come from Liverpool, England... More info
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Jimmy Green
Email AddressAfter buying records since the age of 8 at car boots sales across Northampton with his grandfather, Jimmy Green realised at the tender age of 10 that Hip Hop was the world's best music... More info
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John Book
John Conrad St Francis Kealoha Puccini Almond Roca Mufalaka Jones Ashekaboolala Muffler Reef Rash Book was born in 1970... More info
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Josh Riggs (sleepsound/corporation boy)
Email Addressbio: born and raised in San Antonio, TX/now living in Boston,MA/favorite films are Texas Chainsaw Massacre-Sweetsweetbacks BaaddaasssSong-Nashville-Aguirre:Wrath Of God-The Harder They Come-and-Black Orphius... More info
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Madsm
Email Address
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Marc Snyder
Email Address Web Siteeight: 5' 7"
Weight: 125 pounds
Hair: Greying
Eyes: Brown
Build: Thin
Nationality: American
Occupation: Printmaker
Remarks: Snyder is the owner of the Fiji Island Mermaid Press - www... More info
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Mr. Guder
Email Address Web SiteFollowing the all conquering seven inch singles 'Super Guder Breaks Vol... More info
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Nils
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Nitricboy
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RPG
Email Address
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scrawl
Web SiteThere isn't much to say about scrawl... More info
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South Paw DJ
Email Address
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toon
Email Address Web Sitemaking visuals
land based in nyc... More info
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Uneeq Collective
Email Address Web SiteIn May 2003, the FTT received this message:
jt here, good to see the site back up again, tis where i first heared southpaw, which in turn pushed me to start one o them label thingies, ya know... More info
FTT Public-BB.
Feel free to post some shit here. We don't like censorship, so be responsible, mm'kay?
Posted by Jack Walker at 19:43, 06|03|2010
SEO services We would like to get your website on first page of Google. All of our processes use the most ethical \"white hat\" Search Engine Optimization techniques that will not get your website banned or penalized. Please reply and I would be happy to send you a proposal.Posted by evil:cat at 1:07, 20|09|2009
jt! how's it going?Posted by Jt here from the old uneeq collective now sunraide at 23:02, 05|09|2009
Good to see the ftt back upPosted by evil:cat at 16:18, 28|06|2009
good to hear from you blunted! not as busy as we once were, but still hanging around like it\'s 2am and the lights just went up in the club...Posted by blunted at 23:09, 15|06|2009
hello, just stopped by for the first time in a very long time! nice to see there\'s been some updates, and things are still going on over in these parts!Posted by evil:cat at 4:56, 6|04|2009
testing from IE7...Posted by evil:cat at 18:10, 15|03|2009
ok so it's taking a little longer than i expected... be done soon!Posted by evil:cat at 23:41, 24|02|2009
Finishing production, nearly time to go live!Posted by evil:cat at 20:06, 17|02|2009
I cannot believe it's been nearly 14 months since this site was active...Posted by evil:cat at 19:29, 17|02|2009
It's Alive!!Posted by sal at 12:08, 26|12|2007
belated merry christmas to all
xxx
Posted by Dr Rubberfunk at 12:14, 16|12|2007
Thanks gang - I've been trying to get a remixes / b-sides type album together for a couple of years now, but we haven't quite had the time / budget to get it sorted. I've signed to Jalapeno for the next album, and they've just done a 'Remix Sessions' album for Kraak & Smaak, so it's definitely still on the agenda :)
In other news - Volume 3 of Dr Rubberfunk's Funky Christmas is ready - check the blog on my myspace page ;)
http://www.myspace.com/drrubberfunk
Sorry - I couldn't get the hyperlinking to work :)
Merry Christmas FTT gang!
Rubs xx
Posted by evil:cat at 13:22, 05|12|2007
Since it's December, here's my list of best albums of 2007:
Abandoned Language by Dalek
Very dark hip hop noiseAndorra by Caribou
The entire summer of 67 filtered through Dan Snaith's laptopBeyond by Dinosaur Jr.
Like they never went awayCraft of the Lost Art by Shape of Broad Minds
Jneiro Jarel and his multiple personalities take hip hop into spaceDesire by Pharoahe Monch
A bit of everything. It bangs.
It's Not How Far You Fall, it's The Way You Land by Soulsavers featuring Mark Lanegan
Lanegan inspires Shadow wannabes to make the great electronic album Spiritualized never produced.Ma Fleur by The Cinematic Orchestra.
Actually, I'm not fussed on this, but Fontella Bass on 'Breathe' is astounding.Milky Disco (compilation).
Stunning nu-disco compilation. Rarities and exclusives. Great!Moog Acid by Jean Jacques Perrey and Luke Vibert.
Vibert does his things to Perrey's moog genius.Pimpoint by Soil&"Pimp" Sessions
Punk jazz to dance to.The Scenic Route by Panacea
Best summer jazz LP since People Under The StairsTrees Outside The Academy by Thurston Moore
Noise rocker goes folkie.Posted by sal at 12:52, 04|12|2007
i'd buy it too!
i'm pleased with my monthly BB lifestyle, caused mainly by the fact that i can only access this site at one job, which i'm usually too busy working at. aside from today, as i'm skiving. woo!Posted by evil:cat at 13:58, 21|11|2007
Hi, Rubs. Any chance you could make a comiplation of all your B-sides and remixes. I don't want to have to go round dozens of download sites, and anyways, a rip from a real CD sounds ten times better to my ears when I'm using Bose headphones... So put a CD out and I promise I'll buy it!
Posted by Dr Rubberfunk at 14:00, 20|11|2007
Hello! I'm still stopping by when I get a mo - in between updating a pile of social networking pages :)
Posted by evil:cat at 16:35, 15|11|2007
sal, i think you and i are the only ones in here any more... obviously you can maintain a once-monthly bulletin board relationship, then :)
Posted by sal at 8:54, 13|11|2007
and suddenly its mid November. 6 years, sheeesh, i can't even hold down a relationship never mind hope to wed! hahaha
good work!
Posted by evil:cat at 9:47, 26|10|2007
Jeez it's almost November! I will have been married 6 years on the 3rd. Yikes...
Posted by evil:cat at 15:24, 03|09|2007
You were obviously so overcome by the sight of people under the age of 21 enjoying themselves that you began to think about the strong letter of disapproval you would write and got your letters mixed up!
Posted by sal at 17:11, 24|08|2007
that SHOULD read OUR OWN
not sure what happened. hmmm.
Posted by sal at 17:10, 24|08|2007
you're not fooling anyone by claiming you're not a daily mail reader.
i know... we can smell out wown
: p
Posted by evil:cat at 3:17, 32|07|2007
True. We should all pity the pleb, with his Big Brother and Happy Slapping. Nah, fuck that, I sound like a Daily Mail reader!
Posted by sal at 18:30, 30|07|2007
what does the common man want with books these days?
Posted by evil:cat at 15:44, 16|07|2007
The library here in Chester is atrocious. Really poor. There's more CDs/DVDs than books!
Posted by sal at 15:18, 14|07|2007
i'm embarking on a one-woman crusade to revamp the profession!
Posted by evil:cat at 14:54, 12|07|2007
But you're not a quiet enough person to be a librarian... :)
Posted by sal at 21:30, 05|07|2007
aye,life is busy!!
i'm doing the whole librarian thing, still living in Glasgow and trying to keep out of trouble.
not much else really!
xxx
Posted by evil:cat at 14:59, 26|06|2007
life is... ahh... busy.
I need a rest. Or a lottery win. Neither are going to happen soon though.
What exactly are you doing with yourself now, anyways?
Posted by sal at 14:06, 25|06|2007
aye, it was funny being the only female who didn't work at mowax on that board.
is life treating you well?
i might get my arse in gear and actually DO something, rather than just chat on here. but i'm working up to that after a large chunk of inactivity.
: D
Posted by evil:cat at 11:13, 25|06|2007
Obviously I don't mean that you're scary :)
Good to know yr still alive, being about the only girl who was ever into the Mo'Wax stuff!
Posted by sal at 10:51, 25|06|2007
hahaha! what's scary about it??
i always knew you were still here, i was just doing *mumbles* there's no real excuse...
i'm obviously still cavorting around with andrew and i have a jist about who's where, but that's about it.
Posted by evil:cat at 20:03, 24|06|2007
That's scary... last time I saw you was 2001. Still in touch with the rest of the old crowd?
Posted by sal at 10:59, 22|06|2007
yes yes!
i'm sorry i went away for so long.
i think life got in the way, but i plan to rectify that!
Posted by evil:cat at 7:35, 22|06|2007
Is that Sal from the old days?
Posted by sal at 10:54, 21|06|2007
hello.
Posted by Link at 13:03, 17|06|2007
Posted by evil:cat at 13:51, 16|05|2007
frank, frank, frank... patience is a virtue :)
Seriously though, I would expect the rebuild to take about 4 weeks. Will leave the old content in, just so we have something present, but we won't be relying on old contributors (although they are always welcome).
would be nice to see a new generation of contributors, I think. Most of us originators have moved on a way since the launch 6.5 years ago.
Posted by Frank at 21:35, 15|05|2007
Ok at least i tried. Moving on.
Posted by Frank at 16:42, 14|05|2007
Thats cool, but a launch before the new year seems plausible?
And are you going from the ground up, starting contributions from zero?