“Connected Sequences” – Smith & Mighty

Released on Limited Edition Clear Vinyl (300 copies) on 7th March 2025 via Bristol Archive Records

Although other acts would be the ones to see huge worldwide success with the Bristol Sound the combination of reggae infused basslines, elements of hip hop, female and male vocals and a laid-back tempo were pioneered on Ashley Road, St. Paul’s at the Three Stripe studio by Rob Smith and Ray Mighty. “We started out in the 80’s. A couple of young guys on the dole with a bit of a knack for making original DIY, Lo-Fi beats, and basslines. with just one ambition, to make a record. Everything else was a bonus and to be frank, came as a complete surprise.” – Rob Smith

One of Bristol Archive’s earliest and most satisfying releases “The Three Stripe Collection 1985-1990” did a great job of covering those first records, the period before Smith and Mighty signed a major deal with London FFRR and includes many important and now classic tracks that helped inspire so many artists and producers both locally and further afield. Unfortunately, that major deal didn’t work out, “Perhaps we weren’t ready for the attention or the new demands that followed, but we forged ahead, desperately trying to keep to our original vision. What happened after is another story.”

“This collection here though, represents moments from those early days and hopefully reflects some of the joy of being free to do anything we wanted, with only ourselves to please.” In the mid-eighties and early nineties their Ashley Road studio was a hive of activity and their open-door approach to collaboration as well as nurturing talent, would see them record with numerous local singers and musicians as well as directly inspire future members of Massive Attack, Full Cycle and Way Out West among others, Ashley Road was ground zero for the Bristol Sound.

With so much collaboration and experimentation, only a fraction of the finished tracks could be pressed up and released, leaving a library of unreleased music that adds an additional layer to the story. “Compiled from salvaged DAT tapes and cassettes, these are some of the lesser-known beats and pieces we were making at the time.” In proper Bristolian style we have taken our time to continue documenting the Smith and Mighty and Three Stripe Story with this our follow up album, “Connected Sequences.”

The new album was recorded between 1985 and 1992 and features a few names familiar to fans of both Smith and Mighty and Bristol Archive Records. Side A is a mixture of hip hop and reggae influenced tracks kicking off with local hip hop pioneers Kelz and Lynx on “Rock U Boom Kick” already demonstrating, all involved had mastered the genre and given it a Bristol spin. “Feeling Alright” is a perfect fusion of Dan Ratchet’s sweet reggae-tinged vocals with an addictive bassline and hip hop influenced backing. The reggae hip hop fusion continues more explicitly with Rudy Lee’s catchy vocal providing the counter to Kelz’s rap in “Danger.”

The first side is rounded off with a brace of reggae influenced tracks, the sample driven “Step Forward” rides a fine line between dance and reggae, sounding like it could veer off into a dancehall friendly heavy steppers dub at any moment whilst always staying just inside the dance music line, the reggae melodica and vocal sample never quite overwhelming the dance friendly backing track. “Evolve Dub” is another attempt to reconcile a reggae vocal sample and bassline with then current dance music.

“Hardly Wait” kicks offside two with the classic Smith and Mighty sound and a collaboration with Gina Foster, with Gina’s voice and a relentless bassline propelling it, this would surely have been a potential hit if released at the time. Regular Three Stripe contributor Jackie Jackson is joined by Jessica George on the upbeat and joyful “Save Us” while another regular Smith and mighty collaborator Marilyn McFarlane rounds off the trio of female vocals with her strong performance featuring on “Dub Reasons”.
With a couple of simple vocal hooks and driving beats combined with what would pass for discarded soundtrack elements “Stupid Dope Rock” hints at an unfulfilled career composing film soundtracks, if only. The album is rounded off by “Piano Twist” a dark and heavy instrumental that blends various elements to good effect.

“Connected Sequences” an album of lost, unreleased Smith and Mighty – Three Stripe productions is released on limited edition clear vinyl, (300 copies), and digital download by Bristol Archive Records on 7th March 2025, distributed by Shellshock Distribution.

“Inventing Massive Attack, Soul II Soul, Tricky, Portishead, Bjork, Mo’Wax, trip hop, The Bristol Sound, Roni Size and just about every British dance record since 1988 that has attempted to meld dub, ambient and hip-hop beats. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Smith & Mighty.” Garry Mulholland, from ‘The 500 Greatest Singles Since Punk and Disco’

“Though most people will think of Massive Attack, Portishead or even Roni Size when asked about Bristol’s influence on UK music in the late 80s and 90s, really none of them have had anywhere near as much of an impact as Smith & Mighty. With a hand in the development of jungle, dubstep and the particular of – Bristol-ness that so defined the aforementioned artists, their influence is comparable to that of the city itself.” Crack

“Smith & Mighty are producers and originators. From 1985 onwards they took lovers rock, mixed it with heavier modern beats and came up with a new sound. All you needed was the drums, the voice and that spatial dub awareness to create something special.” Test Pressing

“As ever with their productions, it’s all about the separation of sounds – the sense of size and distance between that massively present bass and the far distant subliminal instrumentation gives a sense of immersion, plunging you into an opiated dream of future cities”. – Joe Muggs

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