Under the unassuming exteriors of both men 

There is an air of kindness and humility (not so much with Youth) that is disconcerting when you think of each man’s contribution to popular music culture

What you don’t see under the surface is the intelligence and creativity needed to remain successful and relevant in the music business for the last 40 years. 

Alex 40 years behind the flight deck of the Orb. Inventor of the genre Ambient House, producer and writer of over 40 albums 1000’s of gigs world tours and collaborations, writer (check his autobiography)  radio station host and record label owner. Always reinventing always working.


Youth a rock star whilst still a teenager with the legendary Killing Joke, turned  writer producer musician par excellence with Brilliant, Paul McCartney the Verve, Souxsie and the Banshees. Pink Floyd and many more. Record label owner, publisher, festival organiser. Tea maker. 

What you don’t expect is the down to earth kindness and humility that disconcerts you on first meeting. Both men channel a classical rumpled  English bohemian tradition that we all could learn from and should cherish.

To carry this off is not an act. 

It’s not an act because both men are wholly genuine and authentic. Were it an act, it’s one that is impossible to carry.

What you don’t see  and is revealed in strange and interesting ways is the rare intelligence and creativity needed to remain successful and relevant in the music business . For 40 years.  

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In fairness to both lads. They would say they are simply doing their own thing. This is true. But belies the fact that each in their own right has  helped shape the conversation, expanded the parameters of popular music culture. 

You do this by being the frame of reference. Finding your inner voice. Using all your gifts and being fearless with your choices  Being excellent helps. Not forgetting having rare and exquisite taste. Knowing what works.

Both men’s creative processes are rooted in difference. But result in glorious results. It’s a wonder that perhaps their individual greatest work was a shared collaboration on the Orb’s all-time classic Little Fluffy Clouds.

Ahead of its time sonically aurally technologically and most importantly cosmically.

Who’d have thought these school pals from the age of 9 would be at it 5 decades later. 

Alex is a conduit. His super keen intelligence and feeling tapping into a range of influences;  everything 

Musical, Monty Python,

Alex channels these inspirations and keeps a record of samples. Notes of inspiration loads of musical ideas are stored in his head. Wide listening helps feed his musical knowledge and curiostiy.

The 1000’s of hours DJ gigs and now legendary radio show broadcasts allow him to flesh out these ideas in real time.  In real life.  

Top tip. Go and crate gig at West Norwood record bar on a Wednesday afternoon and you will hear one of the finest DJ’s in the world quietly working through new ideas and tunes. Breaking them down. Looping cutting up, loading smaples. Whatever he does. It’s alchemy. 

Youth is a great bunch of guys, a polymath. Elegant writer (despite dyslexia) profound poet, competent musician and wonderful painter.

In the words of his late manager Jaz Coleman – ” One of the rare beasts of the musical jungle; composer, musician and producer.” He can do it all.

For me his greatest gift is empathy. Youth is deeply empathetic and understanding of the human condition, it’s vagaries and contradictions. Widely and deeply read. Self taught and led. Happily pursuing his muses. Spiritual or manifest.

 They are agitators. Always on the ‘nudge’ Always working.

Persistence the source of art. Or so my wife tells me.