New Age Steppers

Centering on the skills of British producer and modern dub innovator Adrian Sherwood, the New Age Steppers functioned less as a conventional group and more as an informal collective drawn from several of the United Kingdom’s leading experimental post-punk and funk acts. Participants included Ari Upp of the Slits, Mark Stewart of the Pop Group, and John Waddington along with Bruce Smith from Rip, Rig & Panic. Working alongside the familiar roster of On-U Sound contributors such as George Oban, Style Scott, and Eskimo Fox, the collective produced music defined by cut-and-paste dub techniques, swirling psychedelic elements from sampled noises, abrasive sonic juxtapositions, taut reggae rhythms, and unconventional, half-melodic singing. Far from mainstream listening, the recordings stood among the boldest and most inventive British releases of the early post-punk period, frequently sacrificing immediate appeal for originality and risk-taking. Listeners drawn to the outer edges of experimental pop are especially encouraged to explore the work.