{"product_id":"ali-omar-hashish-hits-2026-repress","title":"Ali Omar - Hashish Hits (2026 Repress)","description":"\u003cp\u003eEfficient Space honours the memory of producer and MC \u003cstrong\u003eAli Omar\u003c\/strong\u003e with \u003cem\u003eHashish Hits\u003c\/em\u003e, a posthumous selection from the dub rebel's self-released discography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of ten children in working-class Liverpool, Omar drew deep influence from his father's Arabic heritage—a thread central to his identity and sample origins. After art school and a spell clubbing during Manchester's halcyon days, he relocated to Sydney, where he co-founded the blunted downbeat duo \u003cstrong\u003eAtone\u003c\/strong\u003e with fellow British expatriate \u003cstrong\u003eAndy Fitzgerald\u003c\/strong\u003e. As an MC, he infiltrated the city's house, dub, jungle and bass circuits, becoming a regular fixture at the Bentley Bar, where he commanded the mic with his versatile, rumbling baritone and charisma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFreakishly talented in the studio, Omar was a pioneer of the Akai sampler and Atari, deftly recording live sessions straight to DAT. Drawing on industry insights from his sister, \u003cstrong\u003eBeryl Marsden\u003c\/strong\u003e—who supported \u003cstrong\u003eThe Beatles\u003c\/strong\u003e on their final UK tour and was signed to Decca and Columbia—the non-conformist sought to build a self-sufficient business model. Between 1998 and 2004, he independently issued four albums on CD through his Hashish Studios imprint, hustling copies directly to local record stores and live shows for instant returns, even hand-sewing screen-printed hessian sleeves for his final release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUncompromising in his principles and refusing to suffer fools or charlatans, Omar relished the opportunity to collaborate with those who embodied the same spirit. \u003cem\u003eHashish Hits\u003c\/em\u003e offers a snapshot of his inner sanctum—Fitzgerald on the opening track's billowing smoke stacks, the serpentine vocals of \u003cstrong\u003eGina Mitchell\u003c\/strong\u003e and the magic hands of mixer \u003cstrong\u003eLouis Mitchell\u003c\/strong\u003e on \u003cem\u003eOn Release\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eWicked Beat Sound System\u003c\/strong\u003e's \u003cstrong\u003eKye\u003c\/strong\u003e on \u003cem\u003ePoor Man Beggar Man Thief\u003c\/em\u003e. Meanwhile, \u003cem\u003eSuicide Bomber\u003c\/em\u003e smoulders with the tension of a lost \u003cstrong\u003eMuslimgauze\u003c\/strong\u003e relic, as the instructional \u003cem\u003eRoll Up\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Last Straw\u003c\/em\u003e spiral deeper into Omar's signature production vortex—where space stretches in slow motion and walls reverberate with ricocheting delay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA true icon of Sydney's underground scene, Omar passed away on 23 June 2009 after a valiant battle with cancer. He is remembered for his assertive spirit, larrikin humour, wild anarchic personality and enduring mantra: \"Love and live your life\".\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Efficient Space","offers":[{"title":"Vinyl LP (2026 Repress)","offer_id":58579394036057,"sku":"SDZ-48695","price":31.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/SRD_20260710_1757_172152_065_p_ES041_028.jpg?v=1783940772","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/ali-omar-hashish-hits-2026-repress","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}