A loose studio collective centred around the musical partnership of producer Adrian Sherwood and Ari Up from Slits, New Age Steppers existed on and off from 1980 to 2012.
Notable for bringing together musicians from the post-punk and reggae scenes together, their records feature contributions from members of Aswad, Creation Rebel, Flying Lizards, PiL, The Pop Group, Raincoats and Roots Radics.
This reissue campaign features their classic studio albums — New Age Steppers, Action Battlefield and Foundation Steppers — on vinyl for the first time since the early 80s and the 2012 album Love Forever on vinyl for the first time.
New sleevenotes by Oli Warwick featuring interviews with Adrian Sherwood and other key players.
New Age Steppers launched the influential On-U Sound label with their debut album and single, and it's fitting to reissue these brilliant records as On-U Sound celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2021.
Shedding a few of the more experimental flourishes of their debut, Action Battlefield still contains multitudes of post-punk approaches nestled in among tighter structures, making it a release that is surprisingly accessible for its wayward strangeness.
While the mix remains as spacious as all great dub works, the crackling echo of drums leads into some of the group’s brightest tunes.
Action Battlefield finds New Age Steppers open up to the potentialities of pop.
Tracklist
Hide Credits
A1 My Whole World 5:21
A2 Observe Life 5:15
A3 Got To Get Away 4:55
A4 My Love
Lead Vocals – Neneh*
Vocals [Harmony] – Bim Sherman
Lead Vocals – Neneh*
Vocals [Harmony] – Bim Sherman
7:02
B1 Problems 7:34
B2 Nuclear Zulu 6:26
B3 Guiding Star 6:30
