GERMAN VERSION
First t'ings first. Lets firstly state the fact that the beginnings of Silly Walks go together with the beginnings of Dancehall and Roots in Germany. Originated in July, 1991, named after an old Monty Python play and inspired by tape mixes of various English pirate radio stations, the two dudes from Hamburg, Oliver Schrader and David Meyer - one a selector, the other a sound engineer - began throwing their own parties equipped with a few Dancehall-compilations and Studio One samplers. In the early 90s there was an event called "Urban Soundclash" on a footbridge at the Elbe in Hamburg that helped to sensitize thousands for the Sound System culture. This was not only for Silly Walks but also for the whole Reggae scene of the Hansa City, that was very small then but growing the ideal platform. Because after that was when the fight vehemently began: finding clubs, making use of every opportunity, do whatever possible to present Reggae in the Sound System context and in all it's multi-facetted movements - two and a half decades of Yardcore in other words, 360 degrees. They came upon their raw material - the latest 7" singles - on their regular shopping trips to London, where their first Dub Plates were also manufactured (a then totally unfamiliar sport in Germany!). They organized subject-oriented events, at times a King Tubby - special, or a Studio One - session and maybe most importantly their own Dub Club, which they ran successfully till the mid 90s with the help from the extended family, Ire HiFi.At this point Hamburg was known for the stronghold for heavy Roots and Dub all over Germnay. This was specifically because of Silly Walks but neither of the guys would have ever put that on their account. Roots & Culture, Conscious Reggae, Rasta-Inspirationals, call it what you want, up to this day Silly Walks guarantee a vibe associative to one of these obscure categories, although they make it a point that the interpretation doesn't get mistaken with total purity. They never allowed anyone to nail them on one category. However - a culture t'ing dem a lick, to say it in Taffari's words, one of the most talented Roots singers, after his recordings in the Silly Walks Studio in one of Hamburg's infamous districts. When you ask Oliver Schrader about the artists who inspired him and led him into his actual style he drops names such as Garnett Silk, Beres Hammond, (the early) Sizzla, Junior Kelly, Anthony B., Glen Washington and Luciano, Truth & Rights - Apostles, all of whose music can set free monumental motivation more than any other music in the world!On Easter 1994 Gentleman joined Silly Walks. It was the beginning of a symbiotic relationship - and it would be an understatement to neglect the fact that this defined Nu Classic Reggae that Oliver Schrader has been practicing did rub off on the Cologne based artist (matter of fact, this rub off-effect which has deepened in the Culture & Consciousness oriented sound on Gentleman's album "Journey to Jah" is a result of the Silly Walks Prime Time-Selection!). Especially in the years 1996 till 1998 Silly Walks were constantly on the road. They surely disliked not performing with their resident MC on out of town gigs. Only when the production on Gentleman's debut album reached its depths the cooperation ceased. Thereafter the young MC from Munich Lobstarr took over.Their current status, being the oldest still existing Sound System in Germany - in the Yard they probably will be considered as the Foundation Sound - doesn't mean much to Silly Walks. But when influential Sound Systems are getting on in years (please don't misunderstand this: big Jamaican Sounds often are 25 years and older!) something happens sooner or later: Selectors firstly become producers then to label owners. Silly Walks have been producers for 7 years (having started to produce their first tunes as a part of Hamburg's Sound Navigator - collective) now they are also label owners: they released their first singles trio, pinned on the "Forever" - Riddim on their very own Silly Walks-7"-Label.In June 2002 David & Oliver jetted to Jamaica with a selection of very fresh, classical instrumental Riddims to find artists who could suit the conceptual frame. The result is a compilation with a Showcase character. Except from Pam Hall's "Party Time Tonight" all Riddims are home grown, altogether originals, which sounds dingle and vibrate somewhere between analogue warmth of neo-classic Jamaican productions and hard as diamond digital precision. Jah Mason's "Delay Me", my personal favourite, may be representative for the essence of this album - Silly Walks' "Timba" riddim is moving like a rolling stone as Mason, the normally known for Capleton-inspired, blown up carotid artery fire-spitter sings with resinous, sorrowful voice: "working so hard in the boiling sunwork fi di old / share with the young / five youths deh a yard / one more just a come" It is a tune of raw unaffected beauty - and it is definitely a proto-typical Silly Walks tune. Meaning: if they hadn't produced it themselves, it would be on their rotation and present it from Pontius to Pilatus, simply because there are rarely samples that can define their signature sound. Actually the whole album is like that. It is a sure-shot investment for all those who love rooty One Drop-Reggae, deep and conscious, stress-revealing and nerve-hitting. - Ulli Güldner, Sept. 2002