Biography
James Hardway blends drum'n'bass with cool jazz textures yet steers clear of the purist attitudes common among many jungle producers. Before the mid-'90s he recorded under his given name David Harrow, and sources indicate a family link to Al Capone. His résumé includes extensive work alongside British figures such as Genesis P-Orridge, Adrian Sherwood, Jah Wobble, and Andrew Weatherall. In the early '80s he resided in Germany, appeared in films, and later joined Berlin's music circles, issuing a 1983 album under the name David Harrow. He also contributed to multiple releases by European electro-pop artist Anne Clark and joined Jah Wobble for continental performances before settling in London in 1986 amid the acid-house surge.
Throughout the late '80s and early '90s he split his efforts between dub projects—including Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound System and Lee Perry—and the expanding electronic scene, serving as producer for Psychic TV and additional acts. In 1995 he ventured into jungle and drum'n'bass, launching the James Hardway project with the 1996 album Deeper, Wider, Smoother, Shit. That record stood out because he performed every live instrument except flute while also handling all programming; he further demonstrated songwriting skill by co-authoring Billie Ray Martin's 1996 club single "Your Loving Arms." Following his second album, 1997's Welcome to the Neon Lounge, he secured a U.S. deal with Shadow, which assembled tracks from the first two LPs into the 1998 compilation Easy Is a Four Letter Word.
After issuing the remix set Reshuffle and Spin Again, he delivered his third studio album, A Positive Sweat. For 2001's Moors + Christians he constructed a virtual studio ensemble from field recordings gathered during travels to Cuba and Jamaica. His Technova material has appeared on Andrew Weatherall's Emissions Audio Output Records.
Throughout the late '80s and early '90s he split his efforts between dub projects—including Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound System and Lee Perry—and the expanding electronic scene, serving as producer for Psychic TV and additional acts. In 1995 he ventured into jungle and drum'n'bass, launching the James Hardway project with the 1996 album Deeper, Wider, Smoother, Shit. That record stood out because he performed every live instrument except flute while also handling all programming; he further demonstrated songwriting skill by co-authoring Billie Ray Martin's 1996 club single "Your Loving Arms." Following his second album, 1997's Welcome to the Neon Lounge, he secured a U.S. deal with Shadow, which assembled tracks from the first two LPs into the 1998 compilation Easy Is a Four Letter Word.
After issuing the remix set Reshuffle and Spin Again, he delivered his third studio album, A Positive Sweat. For 2001's Moors + Christians he constructed a virtual studio ensemble from field recordings gathered during travels to Cuba and Jamaica. His Technova material has appeared on Andrew Weatherall's Emissions Audio Output Records.
Albums
