SM Soundclash 2004 venue: Uppsalareggaefestival, Uppsala date: 2004-08-07 Sound clash Sm-2004 This was probably one of the most unknown of the list of Championships crowning somebody as the Champion of Sweden - but trust me when I say it is growing faster than bushfire. 9 Sound systems from all over Sweden participated in the 1st, but far from last of Championship. Held at Uppsala Reggae festival Saturday, August 7th, only one could take home the crown. It all begun down in Jamaica during early fifties, where Clemont Coxone Dodd (RIP) had left the Island to work as a fruit labourer in America, upon his return he had brought with him an amplifier and a few Soul records which was hugely popular in Jamaica at the time. Sir Coxone as he was known got a local carpenter to build him his first speaker box, which got the Whole block out to dance, it quickly grew as Jamaicans travelled from all over the Island to hear Coxone play his tunes from the US, soon others followed. The 1st big rivalry to occur was between Coxone Dodd and Duke Reid, a former Police constable, They would both set up their sound systems in one yard, and the one who pulled the largest crowds Was the one whom played to early morning, while the other had to pack up and leave. Record labels where scratched out so the other soundmen could not see on the records what the opponent was playing this often led to charts etc being completely useless, any trick was used to stay ahead in the game. As Rock music grew popular in the US, it became harder for the Jamaican sounds to find new music To play out as the Jamaicans did not at all feel the new Rock vibes from the states. So Coxone thought he ‘d make his own records to play at his dances. The success of the “home made” music was so huge that Coxone decided to start selling his music to the public, and now the first Jamaican black music label was formed, Studio1. More and sounder systems was built, and the competition grew fiercer by the year, with Toasters (DJ’s) completing the set with spitting lyrics to intimidate the rival sound. As time went on the Dj’s slowly started to disappear from the Sound system scene, replaced by what we today call “Dub plates” and a micman who Mc’d over the tunes. A simple definition, while there are many, of a Dub plate is a recording made upon request from the Sound system where an artist redoes his lyrics of a song to suit the ordering sound, while Sound systems pay up to 1 000 us today, well lets not get into that… Since the early 90’s official world clashes has been held all over, from Jamaica, Us and Uk and Japan. Lately the interests have spread to mainland Europe where Germany has been in the forefront for quite some time now. The rules for the Sm where: Strictly dub plates (No released records) No playbacks (In other words, you can not play a tune previously played) No disrespect towards the judge/Mc The crowed decides the winner by noise, whistles and air horns and cheers, noise level judged by Judge/Mc 9 sound crew playing on 2 separate sets, divided into 3 groups. Group A Trinity (Stockholm Fast Forward (Stockholm) Boom Sound with Rastott (Gothenburg) Group B Aphex Sound (Stockholm) Axxion pack (Gothenburg) Tiger Sound (Stockholm) Group C Boom Sound Majorna Massive (Gothenburg) Crossfire (Uppsala/Luxembourg) Million vibes (Malmo) The tent where the Clash was being held was almost empty, Governor Andy, the Mc for the Clash gave the mic to Boastin from Trinity who started to call in the fans for the Clash, it sooned filled up a bit But it was still far from packed, but the Clash had to start. Governor Andy drew from a hat which group would play first, and group B started with Aphex. For an unknown sound in the Clash business, everybody in the crowd was positively impressed as some big dub plates were being played. Next came Axxion pack, one of the more experienced sounds in the clash, with a large crew of 5-6 soundmen they played with full energy and mashed Up the tent, with pure big dubs and a very energetic micman. Next was Tiger sound out of Stockholm, a one-man sound that just could not move the crowd. Axxionpack took the round without any doubt they had the crowed locked. Next up was group A. Boomsound with Rastott sure tried, but seemed out of place and I believe his nerves let him down As he clearly did not intend to play 3 dubs from King kong, he even tried a cheap trick, calling Trinity Sound to go and suck their Mother…lord how original..(sarcasm) Fast forward came up and the crowed liked what they heard with dubs from Burro Banton, Johnny Osbourne and others, but when Trinity came on it was clear which sound that had brought The largest crowd. With confidence in the pocket they really had the massive on fire and Without any disagreement took the round. Group C Unfortunately some of the Stockholm fans left the tent due to big artists performing on the main stage But the sound clash went on. Boomsound (Majorna) came on with their Trinidadian Mc (bless) who from being very quit earlier Exploded with energy, jumping up on Crossfire’s set, flying all over the place, compared only to the stage shows Elephant man gives. Nice 10 min, with a great crowd response. Time for Crossfire to step up, a 2 man sound from Luxembourg, but due to having roots In Uppsala could enter as an Uppsala sound in the competition. Crossfire Selector first took the mic explaining that before the killing starts he wants to give some Love to his Uppsala crowd by dropping one of the most exclusive dubplates for the night, Big Youth- A love we a deal with followed by the killer tune “ every night is a sound clash” From Anthony Johnson. More huge dubs followed before the 10 minutes where over. A very similar crowd response as Boom sound got followed before the last sound in the clash Started. As the Million vibes crew took the stage, unfortunately more fans left for the big stage shows outside. As they played very well indeed, they could not move the small crowd left. The Judge Governor had to call for the crowed to cheer for Crossfire and Boom sound as he felt they had got a similar crowd response, and with a much smaller crowd than earlier the Boom sound fans gave a louder noise and took the round. So we were left with Axxion pack, Trinity and Boom sound Majorna massive for the next stage of the clash. A few more people came in to join the crowd in the Clash tent, but in no way was it full. All three sounds played well, but the experience of Axxion pack and Trinity took them to the third and Final round, where each contender only play one dub plate each aka dub fi dub. Some big tunes were being dropped such as Gregory Isaacs and John Holt. Trinity came out victorious, but some Patrons believed that Axxion pack played the bigger dubs but lost due to their Mc talking abit too much bullshit trying to disrespect Trinity, but this was The Swedish championships, and the crowed did not want to listen to his passa passa. The clash was over, Trinity took the trophy and the majority of the Clash fans agreed with the decision. I am now with interests going follow the Sound clash scene in Sweden, which has been taken to new levels with thanks to the big and mighty Topaz sound system (Who organized the Sm) and whom later that evening in Uppsala took on the great sound system from London, King Tubbys. Yes King Tubbys took their trophy back to London. Bless. /Arvid