Strut was one of the UK's leading record labels dedicated to unearthing the lost gems of dance music past, covering music from hard funk, underground disco, original breaks and Nigerian Afrobeat to old skool hip hop and forgotten music library classics. The label eventually shut down in 2003, but was reactivated in 2008 by the !K7 label, a leading UK dance imprint.

From this union sprung forth the Inspiration Information series, a simple initiative that plays to both Strut's and !K7's strengths, by bringing together two acts in the studio, one of whom tends to be an influential figurehead, the other a young gun with a more contemporary sound.

The series kicked off with American vocalist Amp Fiddler and the Jamaican legends Sly & Robbie and has also included Ethiopian bandleader, vibes player and father of Ethio-Jazz Mulatu Astatke, and The Heliocentrics, formerly DJ Shadow’s backing band. Sandwiched in between was a collaborative effort from Studio One reggae legend and frequent Massive Attack collaborator Horace Andy with respected UK producer and remixer Ashley Beedle (X-Press 2 / Ballistic Brothers), both of whom travel to Cork this week for a show at the Pavilion on Friday, June 12.

Recorded during an intensive five-day writing and recording session in London during September 2008, the album finds Andy in typically fine voice, musing in his own inimitable manner on a series of wry, topical commentaries around brotherhood, love and the family, all rooted in his rasta beliefs.

The album represents a production landmark for Ashley Beedle. Although known primarily for his work with X-Press 2 (creators of the 2002 hit single 'Lazy', featuring the vocals of Talking Heads David Byrne) and for his 4/4 remixes, reggae has formed a crucial part of his musical DNA since his early days running the North London Shock sound system during the '80s. On this album, he draws on all of his diverse musical influences to create a collection of fresh roots fusions, ranging from dancehall to dubstep.

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