THE LIFE AND TIMES OF FLASH ATKINS - OUT NOW

Label boss Ben Davis has pulled on tights and cape once again to launch his debut LP for Paper "The Life and Times of Flash Atkins" and it's a belter. The first singe "Levenshulme Orphanage For Boys" had love from types such as Francois Kervorkian, Peter Kruder and Ivan Smagghe as well as glowing reviews in Mixmag and DJ Mag and the long-player has more of the same.
The tracks cover an array of musical styles from house to disco, chug funk to bass, bangers and afro rhythms to 80s influenced cosmic beats. As well as dynamic production and a keen sense of groove, the whole album is based on a short story of the life of Flash that will be published as a comic at the same time. The track and chapter titles are one and the same to provide a sensory listening experience that tells a tale reflecting the mood of the story as well as blowing up dance floors with its sonic superpowers
Says Flash of his creation. “I wanted to create an album that drew inspiration from my 20 years making music and DJing. You can hear classic disco (‘Saved By The Fall'), post dubstep (‘Forbidden Flesh’), Dirtybird (‘Summer Of Love’), Theo Parrish (‘Drug Empire’), Afro (‘Squatting’), Nu Disco (‘Badger From The North’), 90s US deep house (‘The Wilderness’), ALFOS (‘Levenshulme Orphanage For Boys’), Todd Terje (‘Acid House Creator’) and Metro Area / Balearica (‘A New Kind of Superhero’)”
There will also be a smartphone game, limited edition Flash Atkins beer called "Hops For Heroes", full colour printed comic and remix album later in the year featuring The Emperor Machine, Steve Cobby, The Revenge, Ralph Myerz, Rune Lindbaek, Sleazy McQueen and B.G. Baarregaard amongst others.
Hugely ambitious and creative in so many ways, this album is already looking like one of the highlights of the year.

Laurent Garnier - "Great compilation - Drug empire is brilliant"
Ivan Smagghe – "Plenty in there for me for sure"
The Revenge - "Lots of great stuff on here, really digging The Wilderness"
Steve Cobby - "Really digging this!"
Ray Mang - "Great work!"
The Emperor Machine – "Love it!"
Bonar Bradberry (PBR Streetgang) - "Some great sounds on this .. look forward to giving it deeper listen"
Bill Brewster - "Yeah there's some very god stuff on here"
Sean Johnston (A Love From Outer Space) - 'Size of a dog is very good!'
Sleazy McQueen - "Excellent"
Hot Toddy (Crazy P): "I love the vibe of Drug Empire...DOPE!"
Sean Johnston (ALFOS) - "Size of a Dog is very good!"
Horse Meat Disco - "YES great vibe here!"
Doc L Junior - "Dirty as it should be and crazy like a true super hero."
Rune Lindbaek - "Ace!"
Fingerman - "Sounding very tasty! Some real gems on here :)"
Billy Scurry - "Feels like I've played one of these every set for the past 20 years!! Hot stuff indeedy Mr Flash!!"
2 Billion Beats - "Top notch production throughout Flash, hard to pick a winner!"
Joe Morris (Clandestino) - "Great stuff here, very high quality LP and something for everyone. Congratulations Flash! I'm plumping for 'A New Kind of Superhero' as my fave, love the downtempo vibe on that but will defo try 'Drug Empire' out for the dance floors"

FLASH ATKINS - LEVENSHULME ORPHANAGE FOR BOYS

Flash Atkins is a drunkard, drug user and general wrong’un. A super hero who has fallen from his purple patch in the 80s to purple stains on his pants in the 00. He is also the alter go of Paper Recordings’ Ben Davis and Levenshulme Orphanage For Boys is the first single from his forthcoming album Paper album “The Life and Times of Flash Atkins”. Each track title is named after a chapter of a short story to be published as an accompaniment to the long player. 

Levenshulme Orphanage For Boys is a slo-mo tech heavy chugger that is locked down with rock sold beats and a throbbing side-chained bass. The track builds with synth lines before a sampled female vocal brings in some sparse melody and reinforces the hypnotic rhythm. An acid line adds to the tension before the reaching it’s peak with all the elements hitting home. 

The Deaf Boys Dub goes down a more stripped back route with a Moog synth riff and techy hats along with the sampled vocal. Ricocheting snares herald the arrival of the sub and things crank up a gear. It’s proper 4am lose yourself in the smoke club music as the synth riff filters in and out. 

 Doc L. Junior is a Norwegian legend who’s not been active for a while but is back with a wallop. Deep and synthy with a hint of 80s, this is big room music that brings to mind So Get Up by Underground Sound of Lisbon. 

 Finally, Richard Seaborne turns in a classic sounding remix recalling Armand Van Helden in his prime. He ups the pace, adds a brutal bottom end, chucks in a jazz break on top of the acid and vocal and it’s dance floor dynamite.

  Francois Kervorkian - 'Flashing Thunder dub is great, will definitely give this one some plays.'

  Peter Kruder (Kruder & Dorfmeister / K7) - 'Love the Original. Doc L Juniors Flashing Thunder dub is also cool. The Richard Seaborne mix also works for me'

  Sean Johnston (A Love From Outer Space) - 'Deaf Boys come on down!'

  Sleazy McQueen - 'Wow, this is super cool and vibey. I dig all four!'

  Neil Parnell (Tronik Youth) - 'Love the original and deaf boys dub great stuff'

  Vito De Luca (Aeroplane) - 'Flash's Deaf Boys Mix is great'

  Mr G - Solid EP

  Harri (Sub Club) - 'Ben sent me this a while ago...been playing a few of these out'

  Diego Cortez Salas (DC Salas / Polar) - 'Flashs Deaf Boys dub for me!'

  Bonar Bradberry - Good stuff thanks guys'

  Andrew Grant (EDEC) - 'Doc Juniors Flashing Thunder dub is hot hot hot... like the other tracks too' Brett Griffin (Droog LA / Culprit) - 'The original slow mo funk is dope'

  James Teej (Rekids) - 'Flash's deaf boys dub is really original' Phred Noir (La Dame Noir) - 'Original & Doc L for me thx !!!'

  David Scuba (Superfreq) - 'Cool tunes'

  Franck de Villeneuve (diprogress/rachdingue) - Nice original, the acid way, I like it & I'll play it'

  Alec Sander (La Royale (Electrique Music) - 'Cool tracks guys, love the original and the Flash Deaf Dub'

  Erik Rug (Rex Club) -'Flash Deaf Boys dub mix is my pick here..thanks !!'

  Neil Scott (El Diablo Social Club) - 'Great track from Flashy…Doc L Jnrs italoesque remix is ace. Solid houser from Richard Seabourne too! good ep!

  Gameboyz (Clouded Vision / Relish) - 'Fantastic! thanks a lot!!! Flashs deaf is totally madness!!'

  G-Ha - (Sunkissed) - 'Love the Doc L. Jnr mix, thanks!'