MY FIRST WINTER in Ireland comes rolling back to me in waves whenever something touches my toes. Because during December 1994, I remember the days when I could feel my toes on the days when they weren't numb. Rewind to the 15th of December 1994, when I found a charming little flat in Greystones going at a dirt cheap rate so I snapped it up and discovered the reason for its inexpensive pricing: no heat, no electrical connections for a kitchen stove, no kitchen sink. This charming little bungalow taught me more about the concept of fuel poverty in three short weeks than expert agencies would explain to me the next 14 years. I had never gone about heating a living space without simply arranging for a delivery of oil or coal. And I never tried cooking for myself while washing up everything in the bathtub. So I bought candles--lots of candles. And I also bought several varieties of space heaters, burning through piles of punts trying to get the right mix without inducing asphyxiation. Today, I walk alongside terraced houses insulated no better than that Greystones flat, knowing how cold inside walls must be to the touch, wondering when the Irish government will energise grants to retrofit homes where people living on the edge might have a warmer Christmas in the years ahead. I'll never forget how cold it was for my first Christmas in Ireland and today, I buy more candles than we'll need to help warm the memory that I have of this winter season. And I also spin the radio dial towards BBC Radio One, whose signal is quite strong along the eastern Irish coast, and I hear a mix of like the one embedded in this blog post.
Warm your earbuds with Rosko's Essential Mix [129 MB newmix] with playlist below the break.See photos of Christmas in Ireland.
x_ref125mw
Rusko's Track Listing:
1. Rusko feat Clipz - Scareware
2. Jakes - Rock The Bells
3. Rusko - Gogogadgetrusko - Sub Soldiers
4. The Quemists - Dem Na Like Me (Subscape mix) - Ninja Tune
5. Stenchman - Prime Time Swine
6. Rusko - Jahova - Sub Soldiers
7. The Prodigy - Breathe (Numbernin6 mix)
8. Rossib And Luca - Dont Cry Soundboy
9. 12th Planet - 68
10. Jonny Osbourne - Rudeboy (2008 mix)
11. Rusko - Mr Muscle - Sub Soldiers
12. Tc - Wheresmy Money (Caspa mix / Jack Beats mix) - D:Style
13. Skream - Meta-Lick
14. Skream - Horny - Tempa
15. Enur and Natasja - Calabria (Bomberman mix)
16. The Others - Kingpin - Subsoldiers
17. Redlight and The Voodoos - Superkurl
18. Stenchman - Run Rabbit Run
19. Chase and Status feat Kano - Against All Odds (dubstep Mix) - Ram
20. Rusko - To Da Floor
21. Kid Cudi - Day N Nite (Rusko big trombone mix) - MOS
22. Rusko feat Crookers - Oy!
23. Jakes - Modem - Hench
24. Rusko and Diplo - Major Lazerr
25. Rusko - Woo Boost - Civil Music
26. More Fire Crew - Oi - Go!Beat
27. Skream - Murderer (VIP)
28. Rusko - Period
29. Benny Page and Zero G - Majestic
30. The Others - Bazooka - Dub Police
31. Unitz - The Drop Vip - Dub Police
32. Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl (Rusko chapstick mix)
33. Benga - Bengas Off His Head - Tempa
34. Skream - Dutchflowers (Rusko Babylon mix) - Tempa
35. Doctor - Raise He Temperature - Souljazz
36. Chase and Status - Saxon - Ram
37. Marcus Visionary - Black Panther Riddim
38. Distinction and Kromestar - Zappah
39. Rusko - Lets Go
40. Rusko feat Lutan Fyah - Soundguy Is My Target - Subsoldiers
41. Caspa - Louder (VIP) - Subsoldiers
42. Skream - Woinky
43. Benny and Vincenzo - Burberry Boy
44. Chase and Status - Eastern Jam (VIP) - Ram
45. Rusko - Hammertime - Subsoldiers
46. Reso - If U Cant Beat Em (Rusko VIP) - Civil Music
47. Rusko feat Virus Syndicate - Dirtydirty
48. Dz - Down - Black Acre
49. Zero G - Ranzom
50. Leon - Bring It On (Rusko mix) - Island
51. Skream - Fastlane - Tempa
52. Rusko - Do U Wanna Have A Party
53. Giant - Rocker
54. Kidsister - Pronails (Rusko mix) - Atlantic
55. Bun vs Ill Bill - Choppa
56. Kid Sister - Switchboard - Atlantic
57. Benny Page - Liar Liar
58. Rusko - Moaners - Subsoldiers
59. Rusko - Cockney Thug (Buraka Som Sistema mix) - Subsoldiers
60. Marcus Visionary - Flying Dubs
61. Benga - Night (Buraka Som Sistema mix)
62. Rusko - Mr Chips - Subsoldiers
63. Rusko and Clipz - Rats In The Kitchen
64. Rusko and Clipz - Rats In The Kitchen (Clipz mix)
65. Pendulum - Showdown (Clipz mix) - Warner
66. Clipz - Offline (VIP)