Black Star Liner

Black Star Liner

Black Star Liner are a group from Leeds, United Kingdom, formed in 1994 and active until 2001. They are associated with ambient house, dub, electronic, house, reggae and techno, and their sound combines Asian music such as sitar and tabla with dance music and dub reggae.

Early releases and record deals

The group forms Soundclash Records to issue its early recordings, including the Smoke the Prophets EP and High Turkish Influence. After Smoke the Prophets is named single of the week by NME, the group records three Peel sessions, with the first broadcast in April 1995. That exposure leads to a record deal with EXP, the label run by Feargal Sharkey of The Undertones and Richard Norris of The Grid.

Albums and recognition

Black Star Liner release their debut album, Yemen Cutta Connection, in 1996. The album has a launch event on Dartmoor involving Jimmy Cauty and Bill Drummond of The KLF, and it receives critical praise, including album of the week in The Guardian. After EXP ends, Rob Dickens of WEA signs the group, and they record their second album, Bengali Bantam Youth Experience. That album includes the single Superfly and Bindi and is nominated for the 1999 Mercury Music Prize.

Scene and collaborations

The group is labelled as part of the Asian Underground. They also work with Tjinder Singh's Cornershop and are featured in the book Brimful of Asia. Their live act is also praised alongside their recorded work.