The first signs of a relationship appeared on the 'Deep Blue Freestyle' show when the Afro Art boss slipped in something listed as "Chris T King, Revelations" (see below). Some five months on, the good news is we're getting the chance to hear three different Paul Murphy mixed versions of 'Revelations'; two on 12" vinyl and one on iPod friendly download.

Paul Murphy is well known to Fly readers and Chris Thomas King is best known for the worldwide film success in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which helped make him a million-selling album artist. He continues with his acting work and recently featured in the Ray Charles biography Oscar winner, Ray.

So is it a surprise he is involved with a small UK label? There's a clue in some of his post O Brother album titles such as, Dirty South Hip-Hop Blues & The Soul Of Chris Thomas King: THE ROOTS. Thomas King is not afraid to explore the connections between funk, soul, R&B, hip hop, acoustic and electric blues. I think we can now see the affinity between this son of club-owning bluesman Rockin' Tabby Thomas of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the son of Terrence ('Joe', the original 'Rolling Stone') Murphy of North London.

Paul has his finger on the pulse again as this seem to be the right time to get all blues influenced. Last year, saw Nas rekindle interest with 'Bridging The Gap' while the likes of John Lee Hooker, Blind Willie McTell and Leadbelly are never too far away from our souls. In fact, the slide guitar of Blind Willie could be the closest answer to the question posed in 'Revelation', "Who's that rising from the depths of the seven seas?"

With a broken-blues-a-billy drumbeat and some dance production favoured by our Austrian dancehall/house friends, it'll definitely get a response wherever it is played. After seeing loads of rock-a-billy drummers recently for the day job, this has grown on me immensely! Whilst my blues references are more Jimmy Page than Robert Johnson, fans of either will feel the guitar slide of Chris Thomas King.

The 12" 'Revelations' will have the 'Dub Blues Mix' as the a-side and the 'AfroLatinBlues' on the reverse. Paul excels at getting the best afro-Latin beats into his mixes and the original b-sided Dub is a revelation (sorry!). Hence the promotion to the a-side.

Murphy's remix mastery adds further testimony of Chris's 'Revelation' as the modern King of the Blues. Now where's that bottleneck gone?

Links
May TROG Radio Show with Zeljko Kerleta: First Hour [also featured is CHRIS THOMAS KING - Revelations In Afrolatinblues rmx by Paul Murphy, BOSSA FUTURA - Sol y Luna (Furtherout Recordings) and the monstrous SUN RA - Sleeping Beauty (Art Yard). Much to enjoy]
Chris Thomas King Web Site
www.tunes.co.uk [to download the 'Radio Mix', when available]
Afro Art Records
Deep Blue Freestyle Radio Show at Ministry Of Sound Radio

Deepblue Freestyle Radio Show - 03/11/2004
Hosted by ZAK FROST with special guest PAUL MURPHY:
Mod X - The Quest (Ice & Spice Records)
Bebel Gilberto - Aganju (Spiritual South Sub Rub Vocal) (Atlantic)
Paul Murphy - Mr Cosmic (Afro Art)
Serge Gainsbourg - Requiem (Unknown)
Gerardo Frisina - Latin Seeds (Schema)
Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Running In the Streets (Deeper Soul)
Spiritual South - Green Gold (Afro Art)
Spiritual South - Slipstream (Afro Art)
Paul Murphy - Baghdad (Afro Art)
Chris T King - Revelations (Afro Art)
Paul Murphy - Jazz Room (Afro Art)
Quantic - Pushing On (Tru Thoughts)