New Age Steppers

New Age Steppers
Origin	United Kingdom
Genres	Dub,[1] post punk[2]
Years active	1980–2012
Labels	On-U Sound
Members	Adrian Sherwood Mark Stewart
Past members	Ari Up Steve Beresford Bruce Smith George Oban Viv Albertine Vivien Goldman John Waddington Style Scott Eskimo Fox Jarrett Tomlinson Kishi Yamamoto Neneh Cherry Keith Levene Bim Sherman Vicky Aspinall Sean Oliver Antonio Phillips Dan Sheals Stephen "Shooz" New Errol Holt Eric "Bingy Bunny" Lamont Michael "Bami" Rose Nick Plytas Peter Stroud Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah Vin Gordon

New Age Steppers were a dub collective from the United Kingdom, formed by producer Adrian Sherwood and featuring members of various prominent 1970s UK post-punk groups, including Ari Up and Viv Albertine of the Slits, Mark Stewart and Bruce Smith of The Pop Group, Keith Levene of Public Image Ltd, John Waddington of Rip Rig + Panic, and Vicky Aspinall of The Raincoats.^[1] Other musicians included associates of Sherwood's On-U Sound label, including Errol Holt, George Oban, Bim Sherman, Style Scott, and Eskimo Fox.^[3]

History

New Age Steppers released the self-titled debut album on On-U Sound in 1980.^[4] It was followed by Action Battlefield in 1981.^[5] The third album, Foundation Steppers, was released in 1982.^[6]

Love Forever, an album of songs which the late Ari Up and Adrian Sherwood had recorded together until the death of Ari Up, was released in 2012.^[7]

Style and influences

John Dougan of AllMusic said, "the sound of the New Age Steppers was that of cut-and-paste dub mixing, psychedelic swirls of found sounds, dissonant aural collages, sinewy reggae riddims, and odd, semi-tuneful vocals."^[3]

Discography

Studio albums

• The New Age Steppers (1980)
• Action Battlefield (1981)
• Foundation Steppers (1982)
• Love Forever (2012)

Compilation albums

• Crucial Ninety (1981)
• Massive Hits Vol. 1 (1994)
• Trifecta (2011)
• Stepping into a New Age Box Set (2021)

Singles

• "Fade Away" (1980)
• "My Love" (1981)
• "My Nerves (Punk)" (2012)

References

1. Raymer, Miles (2 May 2014). "Creation Rebel / New Age Steppers: Threat to Creation". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
2. Karan, Tim (21 October 2010). "In Memoriam: Ari Up of the Slits". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
3. Dougan, John. "New Age Steppers - Biiography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
4. Kellman, Andy. "The New Age Steppers". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
5. Kellman, Andy. "Action Battlefield". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
6. Thompson, Deva. "Foundation Steppers". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
7. Anderson, Rick. "Love Forever". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 October 2014.

External links

• New Age Steppers discography at Discogs
• interview with New Age Steppers' drummer, Eskimo Fox