Although the kids demand the vast majority of my time, energy and ...'interest', what little remains is squandered on the usual malarky; Music and Film (below), spinning vinyl, Backgammon (usually at GamesGrid.com - user names: Dubla and AppleMakda), Poker, Fitness, the Beach ...anything that keeps me out of trouble!!
Bill Hicks (The Prophet), Eddie Murphy, Dave Gilmour, Andre Young, Bender, Monica Bellucci (Dang!), Antony Robbins (so he could whip me into shape), Richard Prior, John Belushi, Dave Chappelle (Bitches!), Samantha Morton, Chris Rock (surely the comedian of the day), Jack Black, Craig Charles, Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant, Omar Sheriff (at the Casino), Larry Levan, all London Crew...and this guy (we're not worthy!!)
In short: "...messages of soul with a solid beat". This usually manifests itself as US (style) Deep House. Artits such as; MAW (the Pioneers!!), Moodyman, Vincenzo K, Kerri Chandler, Ronin, Pete Moss, Chris Brann (Wamdue), Soul Sonic Orchestra, Boo Williams & Glenn Underground (SJU), Fresh n' Low, MJ Cole, Mood II Swing, Circulation, Mateo and Matos, 95 North, House of 909, Smokin' Beats, Playing for the City, Ashley Beedle (in all his guises)...you get the gist?.
Also quality Dance labels such as; Guidance, Nuphonic, Open, Distant Music, Wave, Groove On, Strictly Rhythm, F-Comm, Moving Shadow, Dessous, Paper, Glasgow Underground, Very Important Plastic, Large, Defender, Nice 'n Ripe, Soma, Svek...etc. Old-Skool Reggae/Lovers/Dub and 70/80's Rare Groove, Soul and Funk.
ALL TIME FAVORITE ALBUMS INCLUDE:
Recently... The Prestige (US/UK), Children of Men (UK), Thank You for Smoking (US) & Rain (NZ). All time... way too many to mention but Withnail and I, Bladerunner, Jesus' Son, Amores Perros, The Big Lebowski, Hero, When We Were Kings, The King of New York, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Butterfly Effect, all spring to mind + ANY of the movies by; The Cohen Bros, Jim Jarmusch, Spike Lee, Larry Clark, Terry Gilliam, Cronenberg, Tarantino, Innarito, Junet/Caro, Spike Jonez, Nick Broomfiled, Chris Cinningham, Kubrick, Aranofski, PT Anderson and Ridley Scott.
The League of Gentleman, Red Dwarf, The Mighty Boosh, Spaced, Monkey, Chapelle's Show, Survivor (I know, I know), Only Fools and Horses, Star Trek; Voyager, Cracker (only Robbie's though), Rage, The Office, Extras, Bo Selecta, Hot Docs, The Cutting Edge, Futurama, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and any serious News (usually SBS).
Keeping things simple...in DJ terms: it would have to be Harvey - you can never be sure which direction he's gonna take but you can always count on the quality. Others that inspired me to fritter away countless hours and a small fortune on vinyl, include: Jay Roberts, Fabio Paras, Tasha the Killer Pussy (Club-UK days; wherever did the Pop Art Room crowd disappear to?), Eric Rugg, Billy Nasty, Laurent Garnier, Carl Cox, Sasha, Darren Emerson, Carl 'Tuff Enuff' Brown (who had more energy behind the decks than ANYONE), Robert Owens and of course, the all mighty, Frankie Knuckles (the 4/Floor Maestro!)