We are proud to present, for your remixing pleasure, the second Akanda vs. Cookshop Records remix competition!

When Akanda first started out it was Cookshop who, devoid of all sense and reason, decided to be our first remix competition. From that first fateful competition Akanda has gone from strength to strength, and in the intervening months Cookshop has also grown in stature, putting out some truly excellent releases.

We felt it high time to cross paths again, and what better reason than to celebrate the critically acclaimed debut  LP " Utters From A Cluttered Mind" by Cookshop co-founder Lost Idol. "We Can Find Love" is a sublime track. Haunting, delicate and ultimately uplifting. First and foremost, this track was selected because we love it! But also, and most importantly because we feel you guys are going to have great fun working on it. We’re looking forward to some really varied entries that make the most of all the different elements available.


James Dean, the Lost Idol, likes to think his unique and often unpredictable psychedelic downtempo sound stems from happy studio accidents. When it comes to making music, he gets his kicks from doing something different, paying little regard to fashion or formula.
Thankfully others appreciated this attitude and enabled him to release early Lost Idol creations on pioneering independent label Pork Recordings. He then went on to channel his open minded ethos into the establishing of his own record label Cookshop with fellow conspirator Emily Cracknell (La Femme) back in 2002. Utilizing Cookshop as an unrestrictive vehicle he released a string of acclaimed headphone orientated releases of not only his own music, but also others who were righteously digging their own field.

Cut to the present day and Lost Idol has just released his debut album “Utters From A Cluttered Mind” on Cookshop to great acclaim. As cluttered as his mind may be, unfocused it is not.

Aside from his label and studio pursuits Lost Idol is an avid DJ and has played extensively over the UK and abroad spreading the Cookshop gospel, as well as recording DJ mixes for Ninja Tune’s Solid Steel show and Samurai FM. He also co-hosts the Morning Glory radio show weekly on Brighton’s Juice 107.2FM and online at Totally Radio.
Cookshop began its foraging into the world of leftfield experimental beats back in 2002. Setup by recording artists/producers Lost Idol (Pork / Nature) and La Femme the vision for the label was an unrestrictive output for quality and diverse musical styles inspired by fierce independents such as Pork, Ninja Tune, Memphis Industries and Warp.

Following a much needed relocation out of London town’s bustle and grime Cookshop headed south to the coastal town of Brighton and have since flourished adding artists Jonathan Krisp, Digital Midgets and Outerlectuals to its permanent artist rota.

Additionally, Lost Idol and La Femme host their weekly radio show Morning Glory every Sunday on Brighton’s Juice 107.2FM and online at cookshopmusic.co.uk championing the weird, the wonderful, and most definitely the wonkier side of the groove.

31/05/07
Days left -
download the sample pack here
Cookshop Records - cookshopmusic.co.uk AKA001