An influential force in the international funk and breaks scene, Fort Knox Five are already responsible for an arsenal of crowd bouncing singles and remixes, including monster mixes for A. Skillz and Krafty Kuts, Ursula 1000, Dynamo Productions, and Mo Horizons, as well as remixes for the legendary Tito Puente, Louis Armstrong, and Bob Marley. Showcasing their indie rock roots with a healthy dose of funk and soul, the group deliver party starting beats, yet remain ever conscious of the current social and geo-political environment in their lyrics that capture the diversity of Washington DC with wit and style. With the much awaited release of Radio Free DC, Fort Knox Five have proved that they have the Midas touch for producing heavy hitting records. This album is, in the words of Fort Knox Five, ‘music with a meaning, party with a purpose’.
Massive Attack vs Mad Professor / No Protection
One of the best re-interpretations ever. This album goes so deep you’d swear the dubs were bouncing off the inside of your skull. It should actually come with a sticker, ‘Warning: May Blow Ya Mind’.
The Kinks / One for the Road (Live)
Were they the inventors of the distorted guitar, the progenitors of punk or just a vehicle for Ray Davies’ monstrous wit? On this album, recorded in their second or third heyday in the 1980s, they prove themselves to be all three. The Beatles, Stones and Zepplin may get the lion’s share of the credit, but The Kinks are one of the five best rock bands of all time, period. ‘Celluloid Heroes’ is especially epic in this recording.
Herbaliser / Blow Your Headphones
Chunked out electric beats and fearless loop lifting. Here’s an early template for the Fort Knox sound.
Little Feat / Waiting for Columbus (Live)
Featuring the Tower of Power horns (hell yeah!) and partially recorded here in Washington, DC, this album just seems to get better with age. If you’re searching for something that mixes rock, funk and blues with a bit of whiskey-drenched swagger, then look no further. One of America’s great, under-appreciated bands.
Charles Mingus / Mingus Ah Um
If there was one musician who seemed up to the task of neglecting the barriers of jazz gentrification, it was bassist and bandleader, Charles Mingus. Soul, swing, bop, gospel, free jazz, it didn’t matter to Mingus. And on this album, you can hear it stirred together into a sizzling stew of all the heartfelt American musical roots. The song ‘Better Git it in Your Soul’, in particular, is phenomenal, a benchmark for sure.
My Bloody Valentine / Loveless
Some albums you listen to, and some you just feel. This one fits squarely in the latter. Still years ahead of it’s time, this album made noise beautiful.
Fugazi / 13 Songs
Conceived and rehearsed just two blocks away from the Fort Knox recording studios here in Washington, DC, this is the album that marked the evolution in our local hardcore punk scene. Mixing punk, politics and dub into a masterful mess, it doesn’t hit much harder than this, kids. Close your eyes while listening to Waiting Room and you can actually hear the song slither. Unreal.
AC/DC / If You Want Blood, You’ve Got It (Live)
Here is proof positive that Bon Scott was as electric a front man as there ever was. RIP, Bon! If the long, crowd-crazed intro to Riff Raff doesn’t get your heart jittering, then you need to see a doctor. It sounds like they’re in their prime, but it’s still years before they would release Back in Black. This album rocks so hard the speakers start to sweat. Plus the artwork is killer.
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