Nightmares on Wax celebrates 'Smokers Delight' 25th anniversary with album reissue, announces upcoming tour
English DJ and record producer Nightmares on Wax has given fans a host of things to look forward to in 2020: the studio album 'Smokers Delight' gets a full reissue, never-before-heard tracks and select special shows in North America and Europe. The news comes in celebration of the seminal LP's 25th anniversary. You can check the tour dates and tracklist below.
'Smokers Delight' was amongst the genre-defining albums that inspired generations of music that would follow, such as Massive Attack's 'Blue Lines', Portishead's 'Dummy' and 'Maxinquaye' by Tricky. The downbeat club album mustered all laidback energies of after-hours nightlife with smooth bassy grooves in a fusion of soul, hip-hop and dub for which Nightmares on Wax has become renowned.
Nightmares main man George Evelyn pulled his long-term collaborators, Hamlet Luton on bass, Chris Dawkins on guitar, Robin Taylor-Firth on keys and Shovell on percussion, for the LP's production. 'Smokers Delight' has remained a consistent success for the record's label, Warp, achieving Silver certification in the UK.
Evelyn explained his thought process and inspiration behind the album in an interview in 'Bass, Mids, Tops', a book by Joe Muggs, saying, “It was all the things that turned me on: reggae, soul, and through sampling and digging, hip hop was the backbone. That’s why you’ve got the dub influences on there, and the lovers rock soulful influence in there. That album is the DNA of everything that turns me on musically", adding, "At the time people used to say to me, 'You’ve definitely got a Nightmares sound', I’d be like, 'Really, what do you mean?'" In conclusion, he says, "But where I am now today, I think I understand that from a vibrational and spiritual point of view. I’m more in tune with what my heart feels and what I’m connected to when I’m making music. I know when I’m in that zone.”
Along with an alternative funk mix of ‘Dreddoverboard’ and ‘Nights Introlude’ recorded live at Concord Music Hall in Chicago in 2014, Nightmares on Wax has included two songs as 'Sonic Buds' bonus tracks, titled ‘Let’s Ascend’ and ‘Aquaself’. The 2xLP edition will feature red and green vinyl discs, a silver gatefold mirror board sleeve, exclusive roach material sheet insert, sleeve notes and a download code for the album and bonus tracks.
Following recent DJ sets around the world, including residencies in Ibiza and London, Nightmares on Wax will be performing the album in its entirety with a 14 piece orchestrated live band at special shows through 2020.
Smokers Delight 25th Anniversary Reissue Tracklist
1. 'Nights Introlude'
2. 'Dreddoverboard'
3. 'Pipes Honour'
4. 'Me + You'
5. 'Stars'
6. 'Wait a Minute/Praying for a Jeepbeat'
7. 'Groove St.'
8. 'Time (To Listen)'
9. '(Man) Tha Journey'
10. 'Bless My Soul'
11. 'Cruise (Don't Stop)'
12. 'Mission Venice'
13. 'What I'm Feelin (Good)'
14. 'Rise'
15. 'Rise (Reprise)'
16. 'Gambia Via Vagator Beach'
Listen to the official audio for 'Let's Ascend' below
‘Sonic Buds’ bonus tracks:
1. 'Aquaself'
2. 'Let's Ascend'
3. 'Dreddoverboard (Funk Mix)'
4. 'Nights Introlude (Live In Chicago)'
Smokers Delight 25th Anniversary Tour dates:
April 1 - Leeds, UK - Town Hall
April 3 - Berlin, DE - Huxley’s
April 4 - Amsterdam, NL - Melkweg
April 16 - Brooklyn, US - Great Hall - Avant Gardner
April 17 - Austin, US - Mohawke (DJ Set)
April 18 - Chicago, US - Metro
April 20 - Denver, CA - Mission Ballroom
April 23 - LA, US - Wiltern
April 24 - Seattle, US - Nectar Lounge (DJ)
April 25 - San Francisco, US - Midway