Round 1
Publication date : Thursday, May 24th 2007 - 16 599 views Guiding Star vs Heartical
A look back at the duel between Heartical and Guiding Star. After answering our questions, Sir Jo and Jacob met on stage on Saturday 12 May in Vernouillet. Relive the confrontation through our full report.
Having arrived at La Scène in Vernouillet well before the start of hostilities, after what can only be called a minor odyssey, I watch the hall slowly filling up as Kawulé handles the warm-up. Next it is the turn of the sound Stand Tall to take its place behind the decks: with Mad Killa on the mic, selector Polino offers a juggling of dubplates, then a more dancehall-oriented selection. After this well-handled session, the veteran sound makes way for a fashion show set to music and dance, which gathers the crowd in front of the stage. The scheduled artists (Daddy Mory excepted) arrive in turn and each perform one or two quick songs.
It is finally time for the clash. Chine, who will referee the encounter, reminds everyone of a few rules set for this duel: no 45s, no French-language dubplates. He draws lots, which designates Heartical to open hostilities.
ROUND 1 (20 min.)
Heartical
 Accompanied by Mr Tam, Sir Jo steps on stage and warms up the hall in French. He wastes no time in teasing, claiming that Jacob needs a bit of international promotion. Handling both the mic and the mix on his own, Sir Jo opens his first set with an a cappella by Lukie D, before moving on to the Intercom riddim, again with Lukie D, then Queen Omega. He then launches the Fade away riddim with Glen Washington and then Million Stylez.
Heartical soon returns to the styles that are its strength, however: Sir Jo drops a dub by Toots, 54-46, then one by Marcia Griffiths, Feel like jumping, in clash version. He stays with the classics with the late Justin Hinds and his hit Carry go bring come, which he follows with Capleton, Hit maker, on the same riddim: a daring and original dub.
We have to wait for Sizzla and his Like mountain on the Duppy conqueror riddim, however, to see the first sizeable forward. Sir Jo manages to keep up this momentum thanks to a "regular" dub by Bushman, on the Hypocrit riddim, and the original tune. Heartical then delights fans of fast style with Papa Levy's historic Mi god mi king and moves on to Junior Reid with One blood (mixed with an intro by the Skatalites) and Fit, which Sir Jo addresses to Jacob, who is, as it happens, injured in the foot.
The selection then turns more digital with the original Tempo by Anthony Redrose, the Agony riddim with Pinchers and Burro Banton, Dangerous by Courtney Melody, and finally Jammy's Stalag with Johnny Osbourne and Wayne Smith. This segment is closed by a combination of Johnny Osbourne and Major Mackerel on the Love punany bad riddim.
Heartical has only a few minutes left to finish its round: the sound takes the opportunity to finish strongly with Collie Buddz and his Come around in clash version and Capleton, Toppa ting, which gives Heartical the chance of its first pull-up.
By alternating classic dubs and more modern versions, Heartical will have done a good job in this introductory round.
Guiding Star
 Jacob comes to the front on his crutches and starts to MC in English, accusing Sir Jo in passing of having broken one of the unwritten rules of the clash. Balo takes his place at the decks and launches the famous Robert Lee, Bang bang, in a name-specific version. The crowd reacts immediately, as it does to the next dub by Don Carlos. Guiding Star tries to string the tunes together as fast as possible: they are, moreover, well-known ones, such as Culture with See dem a come, Errol Dunkley for Black cinderella and Movie star, and Leroy Sibbles with To the top. Perhaps overwhelmed by the heat of the responses, the sound even seems disorganised for a moment. It nevertheless continues at the same pace with an obligatory stop on the Guiding star riddim, featuring Mike Brooks and the Heptones, Michael Rose and Glen Washington. Still in the "foundation" style, Guiding Star plays Alton Ellis's Breaking up and two Ken Boothe classics. Next come Clinton Fearon and U-Roy with the cover of Soul rebel, adapted as a "sound killa".
Next it is a matter of countering Heartical with a counteraction by Glen Washington on the Fade away riddim. The crowd remains very responsive to Guiding star's selection and singles out the excellent Long long time by Jah Mali, then Chronicle in a name-specific version, for the first pull-up of this round. Balo then follows with Morgan Heritage on the Java riddim, then another Morgan Heritage, Glen Washington, a combination of Mikey General and Luciano and finally Sizzla's No other like Jah, all on the Duppy conqueror riddim. The atmosphere stays intense and literally catches fire when Guiding Star drops Sizzla, Rise to the occasion on the Ease up riddim. The sound carries on with the same riddim with a formidably effective Sizzla medley: Linval Thompson's original and Luciano go almost unnoticed after this dub. Guiding Star decides to close the round on the Doctor's darling riddim with Luciano and Tanya Stephens' hit. Jacob then asks for Gregory Isaacs to be played on the riddim, but Balo cannot seem to find the track. Failing Gregory, it will therefore be Tanya Stephens in an acoustic version. Jacob leaves the stage visibly irritated. Despite this muddled end to the round, Guiding Star will nevertheless have enjoyed continuous forwards throughout its set.
Report written by Benoit Georges
Photos : Nicolas Lé
Tags : Soundclash (89), Sound system (191)
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Round 2 & Round 3
Publication date : 05-24-2007 Guiding Star vs Heartical
ROUND 2 (20 min.)
Heartical
 Sir Jo is faced with sound problems at the start of the second round. Still in French, he finally kicks off his set with a name-specific counteraction by Errol Dunkley. He then goes after Guiding Star's U-Roy with his own version, "run for cover", which ultimately proves rather unconvincing. Heartical continues with Gregory Isaacs, Night nurse, which was precisely the tune Guiding Star had been looking for to end its round.
Sir Jo interrupts his selection and rightly points out that a Japanese sound has held the name Guiding Star since 1994. On the riddim of the same name, he then launches a fiery speech by the selector of the Japanese Guiding Star: the version is quite funny, even if this argument had already been used against Guiding Star. On one of his house riddims, the Slaving, Sir Jo follows with the original tune by Lloyd Parks and Barrington Levy, Murderer, then a combination of U-Brown and Sister Carol.
More classic, the Johnny Osbourne on the Truth and rights riddim introduces Richie Spice for a good forward and finally Bounty Killer for Seek god. Under pressure from the crowd, Heartical plays the tune a second time.
The sound then moves on to a Studio 1 theme with Jah Mason, Princess gwan, on the Tribulation riddim, then on the Real rock with Willie Williams, The Silvertones and a good Capleton.
Sir Jo puts another Capleton on the turntables, Small world on the Drop leaf, then Chuck Fender, Dash dem, a good dub, which oddly fails to stir the crowd's enthusiasm. Heartical nevertheless continues in the "new roots" vein with a dub by Anthony B, Police, then Junior X.
It is finally the name-specific version of General Levy's Wicked that wakes the crowd up, as does Vybz Kartel's huge Predominant on the Sleng teng. Sir Jo closes his round on the same riddim with his "three the hard way" anthem: Shabba Ranks, Johnny Osbourne and Wayne Smith.
Audience reactions were rather uneven in this round: while some dubs were appreciated at their true worth, others went almost unnoticed despite their quality.
Guiding Star
 Jacob responds to Sir Jo's accusations and points out that a New York sound belonging to DJ Red Alert also holds the name Heartical. The argument lands even if it is a little borderline (Red Alert did indeed record special versions under the name Artikal, but only for his radio show "Artikal one").
Guiding Star launches its set with Let it be, an a cappella classic by Lukie D, then follows with Buju Banton, Murderer and, on the Heavenless riddim, Capleton, Mi deh ya and Tristan Palma Entertainment. They continue this fairly classic selection with Barrington Levy, Intercom and Ras Shiloh.
The sound then heads into "new roots" on the Triumphant riddim with Lukie D, Gyptian and a Perfect and Norris Man combination. The segment is particularly well received by the crowd. Guiding Star then continues with Perfect's Handcart boy, then with the Jah glory riddim for Jah Mali's Ruler and the Mr Flash and Fantan Mojah combination. Jacob points out, again in English, that Guiding Star was one of the first sounds to play Fantan Mojah on dubplate. He proves it with Fantan Mojah on the Drop leaf, followed by Bounty Killer, then another Fantan Mojah, this time on the Season and mixed with Natural Black.
Putting Heartical's track record into perspective, Jacob announces a counteraction and drops Collie Buddz in a name-specific version, then Shabba Ranks on the same riddim. The dub earns a big forward, obliging Guiding Star to replay it.
Next it is Beenie Man who opens the dancehall session on the Foundation riddim with Come again, then TOK and finally Bounty Killer with Bullet. The crowd is very receptive to this sequence and calls for a pull-up on the Bounty. Guiding Star therefore continues down this path with a name-specific version of Million Stylez's Miss fatty, then Mr Peppa for Hypocrits, Gangsta guerilla on the Sidewalk riddim and finally Frisco Kid on the same riddim. Guiding Star wanted to end its round on the Stage time, but the sound is cut before the tune begins.
By focusing this round on new roots and dancehall, Guiding Star put on a fine demonstration and clearly gained the upper hand over its opponent.
ROUND 3: STRICTLY VOCALS - NO CURSING (15 min.)
Heartical
 Everyone knows that this round is rather an asset for Heartical, and Sir Jo is expected to turn the tide. He starts with Pinchers, Bandelero, and offers two Ken Boothe tunes back to back: Speak softly love in clash version, on the Godfather's original instrumental, and Moving away. Heartical then plays Marcia Griffiths, then a Marcia and Bob Andy combination on the Unchained riddim. Also worth noting are the superb Riding for a fall by John Holt and Two face rasta by Cornell Campbell. Max Romeo's classic Chase the devil has its effect, as does Little Roy on the original Taxi.
Sir Jo continues with Alton Ellis, Rocksteady, Sugar Minott, then two Steel Pulse dubs, including the excellent Rally round, which are well received. He then runs into some microphone problems that spoil the end of the round. It ends with Antonio's My love is your love.
Guiding Star
 Guiding Star returns to the stage and opens its set with Robert Lee's cover of Sade's Smooth operator: the chorus takes a long time to arrive, but it has been turned into "suck your muma". The effect is devastating. While Heartical played rather "foundation", the sound bets on early digital with Admiral Tibet, Serious time, John Holt, Stealing, then Frankie Paul followed by Johnny Osbourne on the Cat Pow riddim. On the Death in the arena riddim, Guiding Star continues with Johnny Osbourne for Gangster sound and King Kong. Staying with the Jammy's theme, Guiding Star plays the Tonight riddim with Eccelecton Jarrett's Turn on the heat and Cocoa Tea's Too young. The selection continues with Cocoa Tea on the Rope in riddim followed by Cornell Campbell and Freddie McGregor. Then it is the turn of Beres Hammond with Come down father, then a Beres on the Mr Bassie riddim, which also features Horace Andy and Barrington Levy for Teach the youth. Guiding Star finally concludes its round with Chronicle in a name-specific version on the Truth and rights riddim and Michael Rose on the Cuss cuss.
Report written by Benoit Georges
Photos : Nicolas Lé
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Round 4 & Dubfidub
Publication date : 05-24-2007 Guiding Star vs Heartical
ROUND 4 (10 min.)
Heartical
 Sir Jo opens the final round with a name-specific dub by Norma Fraser, The first cut is the deepest, then Joseph Cotton, also name-specific, and Bounty Killer with Sufferer in clash version. His set is, however, hampered by recurring sound problems. Heartical plays Shabba Ranks on the 007 riddim and continues with Rebellion, We must rebel, then with its house riddim, Promise land, with Al Campbell and General Levy in a name-specific version. He follows on the Sleng Teng with another name-specific "three the hard way" combining Wayne Smith, Terry Ganzie and Major Mackerel. The dub is unfortunately interrupted by Chine, who is keeping an eye on the stopwatch.
Guiding Star
 Jacob piles on the pressure again, calling Sir Jo a "pussyhole". Guiding Star opens its set on the Stalag riddim with Barrington Levy, then a combination of Admiral Tibet, Frisco Kid and Merciless. The sound continues in a bashment vein with the Come down riddim, on which Shinehead, who gets a reaction from the crowd, Beenie Man, Spragga Benz and finally Shabba Ranks are placed.
Guiding Star carries on in the same vein with the Fresh riddim for Junior Cat, Cobra and Derrick Parker, Buss the place, then with the Punany riddim for a name-specific dub by Lady Junie. Guiding Star ends its last round with the heavy artillery: Elephant Man on the Stage time riddim for Inna your nose, another Elephant on the Tixx, Anything, and Sizzla's Get to the point. The sound leaves a crowd white-hot and prepares for the dub fi dub.
DUB FI DUB (15 dubs)
HEARTICAL: Johnny Osbourne, "No guiding star", name-specific
GUIDING STAR: The Meditations and Ranking Joe
H: The Jamaicans, Bababoom
GS: Brent Dowe, Rivers of Babylon
H: Ken Boothe, Winner
GS: Mighty Diamond
H: The Abyssinians, Satta massagana
GS: Third World, 96 degrees
H: The Silvertones, Smile
GS: Lloyd Parks, Kung fu fighting
H: Yabby You, Conquering lion
GS : Beres Hammond and Admiral Tibet, One dance can do
H : The Gaylads, Hard to confess
GS : Gregory Isaacs, medley
H : Gregory Isaacs, Can't cross the line
GS: Gregory Isaacs, Rumors
H: Gregory Isaacs, My number 1
GS: Brent Dowe & John Holt, medley
H: Cornell Campbell and Joseph Cotton, Tricks in the book
GS: Max Romeo, Three blind mice
H: Max Romeo, One step forward
GS: Leroy Sibbles
H: Norma Fraser, Respect
GS: Mike Brooks, name-specific
H: Little Roy, Tribal war, name-specific
GS: Third World, Reggae ambassadors, name-specific
H : Anthony Ellis
GS : Alton Ellis, Shame
Sir Jo thanks the crowd before the last dub and plays Steel Pulse, Stepping out, name-specific. Guiding Star replies with Marcia Griffiths and Bob Andy.
At the end of this long dub fi dub, Chine proposes an original voting method, consisting of splitting the hall into two camps. The result is unambiguous and confirms the general trend of the clash: Guiding Star is declared the winner and takes the trophy.
The two sounds put on a fine show, offering two rather different styles of play. Heartical, who was dominated in most of the rounds, nearly turned things around in the dub fi dub. While a fierce fight over foundation dubplates had been expected, the difference between the two sounds was made above all in the dancehall and new roots segments, where Guiding Star knew how to shine. This choice of selection, along with Guiding Star's more juggling-oriented approach, no doubt matched the expectations of the Parisian crowd better.
More information on the sounds:
http://www.myspace.com/hearticalparis
http://www.myspace.com/guidingstarsound
Report written by Benoit Georges
Photos : Nicolas Lé
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