MXMJoY’s album P.E.A.C.E.
released on limited edition vinyl by London Field Recordings, Feb 2019
Crack Magazine 7/10
“P.E.A.C.E. maintains all of the things that made Maximum Joy’s music so good – great grooves, Slits-esque bravura and the ability to cross between genres at will – and update it with modern sonic techniques and production styles. The resulting sound takes in so much of Bristol’s rich musical history”
Bit of history & discography
Maximum Joy’s spiky joyful post-punk funk rose up from the fertile Bristol scene of the late 70’s/early 80’s, when local musicians inspired by the likes of punk, Albert Ayler, I-Roy and Funkadelic grafted their music on to the politics of punk rock. Janine Rainforth (vocals/violin/clarinet) and Tony Wrafter (saxophone/trumpet) recruited bassist Dan Catsis and drummer Charlie Llewellin from the Glaxo Babies, and guitarist John Waddington from the Pop Group, to complete the line-up. The music they made mixed punk, reggae, funk, jazz and hip-hop grooves with wild improvisation and attitude – these dance-dub tunes sound fresh and alive today.
In 2015 Rainforth spearheaded the reforming of the band to play at Bristol’s Simple Things festival – she was joined by original members Tony Wrafter and Charlie Llewellin along with new players James Byron on guitar and Marek Bero on bass.
Since then Janine and Charlie went on to release a new album P.E.A.C.E in 2018.
The demand for Maximum Joy music keeps on – their back catalogue is in constant worldwide demand.
Recent back catalogue releases:
White & Green Place – extra terrestrial mix plus additional dance tracks on Lantern
Station MXJY – reissue on 1972
I Can’t Stand It Here On Quiet Nights – Silent Street Records
“Let It Take You There” produced by Adrian Sherwood for Station MXJY – was included on Adrian Sherwood’s recent release “Sherwood at the controls: Vol 1”.
“White and Green Place” was recently featured in an exclusive Mojo cover mount CD, as part of Madonna’s NYC underground sounds.
A vinyl and CD compilation ‘Unlimited 1979-1983’ on Germany’s cult label Crippled Dick Hot Wax, entitled ‘Maximum Joy Unlimited 1979-1983’ (cdhw101) got great reviews.
Strut’s “Disco not Disco” & more recently Strut Sessions.
Station MXJY was re-released by Beatink in Japan in May 2007 (BRC-193) on CD.
Maximum Joy are a DJ and producer’s favourite:
Janine was invited into speak to Gilles Peterson for his BBC 6 Music show ‘Bristol Underground Musical History’
Legendary John Peel championed them – they recorded several sessions for his BBC Radio 1 show. Along with Kid Jensen – BBC Radio 1.
A newly remasterd version of these sessions were released in 2022.
Discography:
Stretch A”side / Silent Street B” Side – 12″ and 7″ single first release 1981 Y Records
White & Green Place / Building Bridges – 12″ and 7″ single – first release 1982 Y Records
All In The Air/ Simmer til done – 12″ and 7″ single – first release 1982 Y Records
Station MXJY – LP – first release 1982 Y Records
Why Can’t We Live Together/ Man of Tribes – 12″ and 7 ” single – first release 1983 Garage Records
P.E.A.C.E. – LP – first release 2019 London Field Recordings
Joy Again/ Bring it On / Love is Everywhere – EP – first release 2022 London Field Recordings