The Beatlesのツアー帯同歌手を姉に持ち、シドニー地下シーンを揺るがし2009年に他界したMC/プロデューサーAli Omar。彼が遺した自主制作音源を編纂し、アラビックな響きと重厚なダブ／ベースが交錯する追悼コンピレーション・ヴァイナル 英国リヴァプール出身でアラブ系のルーツを持ち、マンチェスターの黄金期を経てシドニーへ渡ったMC／プロデューサーAli Omar。ダウンビート・デュオAtoneの活動や現地クラブでのMCとしてハウス、ダブ、ジャングル、ベース・ミュージックの現場を牽引し、2009年に他界した彼が1998〜2004年に自主レーベルHashish Studiosから発表していた音源を編纂した追悼作品『Hashish Hits』。 AkaiサンプラーとAtariを駆使し、ライヴ・セッションをDATへ直接記録した独自のプロダクション。Muslimgauzeを彷彿とさせるスモーキーな緊張感漂う「Suicide Bomber」、Gina Mitchellの妖艶なヴォーカルが映える「On Release」、Wicked Beat Sound SystemのKyeを迎えた「Poor Man Beggar Man Thief」など、跳ね返すディレイと深い残響が空間を引き伸ばす重厚なサウンドを凝縮した1枚。 A1. HashishA2. The Last StrawA3. Nu Stone GrooveA4. On ReleaseB1. Poor Man Beggar Man Thief (Feat Kye)B2. Suicide BomberB3. Roll UpB4. For Love's Sake Efficient Space honours the memory of producer and MC Ali Omar with Hashish Hits, a posthumous selection from the dub rebel’s self-released discography.One of ten children in working-class Liverpool, Omar drew deep influence from his father's Arabic heritage—a thread central to his identity and sample origins. After art school and a spell clubbing during Manchester's halcyon days, he relocated to Sydney, where he co-founded the blunted downbeat duo Atone with fellow British expatriate Andy Fitzgerald. As an MC, he infiltrated the city’s house, dub, jungle, and bass circuits, becoming a regular fixture at the Bentley Bar, where he commanded the mic with his versatile, rumbling baritone and charisma.Freakishly talented in the studio, Omar was a pioneer of the Akai sampler and Atari, deftly recording live sessions straight to DAT. Drawing on industry insights from his sister, Merseybeat firebrand Beryl Marsden—who supported The Beatles on their final UK tour and was signed to Decca and Columbia—the non-conformist sought to build a self-sufficient business model. Between 1998 and 2004, he independently issued four albums on CD through his Hashish Studios imprint, hustling copies directly to local record stores and live shows for instant returns, even hand-sewing screen-printed hessian sleeves for his final release.Uncompromising in his principles and refusing to suffer fools or charlatans, Omar relished the opportunity to collaborate with those who embodied the same spirit. Hashish Hits offers a snapshot of his inner sanctum—Fitzgerald on the opening track's billowing smoke stacks, the serpentine vocals of Gina Mitchell and the magic hands of mixer Louis Mitchell on 'On Release,' and Wicked Beat Sound System’s Kye on 'Poor Man Beggar Man Thief'. Meanwhile, 'Suicide Bomber' smoulders with the tension of a lost Muslimgauze relic, as the instructional 'Roll Up' and 'The Last Straw' spiral deeper into Omar’s signature production vortex—where space stretches in slow motion and walls reverberate with ricocheting delay.A true icon of Sydney’s underground scene, the larger-than-life Omar passed away on 23 June 2009 after a valiant battle with cancer. He is remembered for his assertive spirit, larrikin humour, wild anarchic personality, and enduring mantra: “Love and live your life”.
