Mungo's Hi Fi is a
reggae soundsystem in the original roots tradition based in Scotland. Their
dark beats have put Glasgow on the reggae and
dancehall map, and Glasgow has left its edgy, hard atmosphere on their sound. Tom Tattersall, Douglas Paine and Craig Macleod debuted in 2001 with
Wickedness feat Brother Culture on London’s Dubhead label, taking the dub world by storm and getting heavy plays from Jah Shaka and Iration Steppas. Releases on
Ninja Tune and their own label
Scotch Bonnet followed, getting airplay from Rob Da Bank, Mary-Anne Hobbs, Ras Kwame, Steve Lamacq, Brinsley Ford, John Kennedy-xfm and David Rodigan.
Named after patron saint and founder of the city of Glasgow, Saint Mungo. The recordings are made in a purpose built studio powered by the same enormous, homebuilt p.a. as their live performances, pushing their productions continuously past reggae boundaries into new frontiers. In 2008 Pama International sub label Rockers Revolt, though usually associated with older, more classic styles, released the Mungo’s debut long player,
Mungo's Hi Fi – Sound System Champions, which is an ensemble album featuring an onslaught of world class MCs & singers (Ranking Joe, Top Cat, Tippa Irie, Kenny Knots and more).
Mungo's Hi Fi have made significant inroads into the mainstream through DJs such as Mr Scruff, Andy Weatherall, and the late great John Peel, who have all championed their sound. Mr Scruff went on to include Mungo's Hi Fi's "Ing"
on his 2005
Keep it Solid Steel mix released on Ninja Tune.
Ing/Herbalist/Did You Know was originally released in 2002 on the Dubhead label. It later went into a second repress on Ninja Tune. After three outings on London's Dubhead label including their 2002 album,
Mungo's Hi Fi meets Brother Culture, they set up their own imprint in 2005 — Scotch Bonnet Records. The premier release on their Scotch Bonnet label, Belly Ska's
Rasta Meditation, featuring MC Ishu and the legendary Kenny Knots was very successful.
Mungo’s Hi Fi hold a long-standing weekly event called Dub & Grub at the Glasgow School of Art. The group broke through into dubstep proper with the inclusion of the Mungo's Hi Fi track "Babylon"
on Appleblim’s
Dubstep Allstars: Vol.06 in late 2008.
> www.myspace.com/mungoshifi
> www.scotchbonnet.net
Appearances:
> CTM.09 > JAHTARI BASS INVASION