Color: Clear with Black Smoke. Limited to 200 copies. UPC: 5052571223116 Although other acts would be the ones to see huge worldwide success with the Bristol Sound the combination of reggae infused basslines, elements of hip hop, female and male vocals and a laid-back tempo were pioneered on Ashley Road, St. Paul's at the Three Stripe studio by Rob Smith and Ray Mighty. "We started out in the 80's. A couple of young guys on the dole with a bit of a knack for making original DIY, Lo-Fi beats, and basslines. with just one ambition, to make a record. Everything else was a bonus and to be frank, came as a complete surprise." - Rob Smith. One of Bristol Archive's earliest and most satisfying releases "The Three Stripe Collection 1985-1990" did a great job of covering those first records, the period before Smith and Mighty signed a major deal with London FFRR and includes many important and now classic tracks that helped inspire so many artists and producers both locally and further afield. In the mid-eighties and early nineties their Ashley Road studio was a hive of activity and their open-door approach to collaboration as well as nurturing talent, would see them record with numerous local singers and musicians as well as directly inspire future members of Massive Attack, Full Cycle and Way Out West among others. Ashley Road was ground zero for the Bristol Sound. With so much collaboration and experimentation, only a fraction of the finished tracks could be pressed up and released, leaving a library of unreleased music that adds an additional layer to the story. "Compiled from salvaged DAT tapes and cassettes, these are some of the lesser-known beats and pieces we were making at the time." In proper Bristolian style we have taken our time to continue documenting the Smith and Mighty and Three Stripe Story with this our follow up album, "Connected Sequences." The new album was recorded between 1985 and 1992 and features a few names familiar to fans of both Smith and Mighty and Bristol Archive Records. Side A is a mixture of hip hop and regg...