I'm Gonna Find A Cave

It's saying something when the words coming out from The Banana Splits, "four costumed animal characters in red helmets with yellow crests", from a psychedelic Sixties US kids' TV show sound more rational than the so-called leader of the free world.

I have a digitial copy of We're The Banana Splits, the one-off album from 1968 spun-off from the show and it's surprisingly good. Then again, given that the album allegedly features uncredited performances from Joey Levine, Al Kooper, Gene Pitney and Barry White, it should be. 

I'm Gonna Find a Cave was co-written by Jimmy Radcliffe and Buddy Scott. Depending on whether you go with Iffypedia or Secondhand Songs, it was first released in 1966 by either Charlie Starr or Miki Dallon. The Banana Splits' version is voiced by Ricky Lancelotti.

 

There have been a handful of cover versions over the years. A version by Girl Trouble popped up on the Sub Pop 200 compilation in 1988 (1989 in the UK).

There are a few more recent takes, by Naked In English Class (2018) and Dog-Sized Rat (a mere three weeks ago, at the time of this post). However, the frankly rubbish band names put me off investigating further.

Right, I've packed my bags, I'm off to Clearwell in the Forest of Dean. 

Oh crap, they're closed for another few weeks....

Dave Dreaming (For Dave S.)

Celebrating my friend Dave Scantlebury, 11th December 1957 to 20th January 2009.

We shared a birthday and a voracious, genre-defying appetite for music. We knew each other for less than a decade and a half, worked together for less, but those times were crammed full of music swaps, nights out and the occasional gig. Today's selection barely scratches the surface, yet also sums up what connected us.

Dave would have turned 69 on 11th December this year, and I'm sure he would still have been the life of the party, still doing 100-mile charity bike rides and still enthusiastically waving his latest music purchase at me, wanting to know if I'd heard it too.

I wish I'd seen Dave more often, had more days and nights out together, I wish he was still around to share music with. He still inspires.

69 Police is a rather on-the-nose reference to the age that Dave would have reached in 2026, and it's also a nod to the fact that we were both huge fans of David Holmes, pre- and post- his move into big budget Hollywood soundtracks. 

I first heard Bow Down To The Exit Sign via a CD-R rip that Dave gave me, although I bought my own legitimate copy on CD soon after. 69 Police is a joy and we were both particularly taken with Kieran Hebden's remix, then in that transitory period between leaving Fridge and finding his own audience as Four Tet.

Needless to say, we were also obsessed with everything that Andrew Weatherall did, musically speaking. Two Lone Swordsmen was perhaps very niche and bit too much for those that wanted him to repeat Screamadelica ad nauseum. That was never going to happen and we both loved these increasingly harder edged excursions into electro. 2000 album Tiny Reminders (another 'preview' rip from Dave before I got my own CD) is arguably the perfect distillation of this and one we got very excited about when it was released. 

Spiritualized was arguably a group that I liked but really grew to love through our friendship as Dave would wax lyrical in the pub over the genius of Jason Pierce. Amazing Grace in 2003 - and another 'try before you buy' gift from Dave - was an astonishing reaction to the increasingly expansive, densely orchestrated, out there albums that had been built up through the 1990s, a scuzzy, abrasive, quick-and-dirty sounding album that still followed the Spiritualized blueprint to brilliant effect.

A memorable gig that Dave and I went to in 2000 was at Fiddlers, the site of a former prison (c. 1740) in a suburb south of central Bristol. Touring their collaborative album Stop The Panic were electronic wunderkind Luke Vibert and legendary pedal steel guitar player B.J. Cole. It was as brilliant a show as it was a joy just to see the expression on their faces, especially B.J.'s, when they realised how much the audience were enjoying it.

Not only that, but the support was a set from Mike Paradinas, better known to us for his association with Aphex Twin and recordings under a plethora of aliases, most notably µ-Ziq. So, a pick from each to commemorate a great night out.

Dave selected Mott The Hoople and Culture to be played at the service celebrating his life, delivered by journalist, news presenter and interfaith minister Susan Osman. I shared the entire list in my post from 2022 and featured Two Sevens Clash by the latter, which reappears today, albeit an alternative version from a John Peel session in 1983.

Although I didn't explicitly mark Dave's passing in 2024, instead posting a 'chart history' selection from 20th January 1974, the latter also featured Mott The Hoople. I am taking this as a sign that following a two-year cycle in 2022 and 2024, Mott The Hoople had to appear again in 2026 and therefore they are also included in this selection. 

Dave and I were both at the Massive Attack gig at Bristol Harbourside in August 2004 and - you guessed it - massive fans, whilst we previously got to have an awkward exchange with Moby in February 2000 as part of the pre-show prize for my winning a pair tickets for his University of Bristol concert, courtesy of local newspaper, the Evening Post.

Dave also switched me on to DJ mix CDs, particularly the Essential Mix, Late Night Tales and Fabric series, the latter boasting an especially fine set from mutual favourites, Glasgow duo Slam. Their dub of Seventeen by Ladytron was a standout selection and I've included the full length version here.

The last gig that Dave and I went to was billed as a Green Gartside solo set, which in fact turned out to be a full band Scritti Politti gig in the intimate surround of the Arnolfini arts centre on Bristol's harbourside. It was an unforgettable experience and the few of us there, including Mrs. K and a couple of friends, knew we had witnessed something special. I had no idea that this would be the final time that I would see live music with Dave, yet it was perfect in every way.

The selection ends inevitably with another act that we both loved, and another album that Dave loaned me. We were both hooked on The Future Sound Of London and when they released The Isness as Amorphous Androgynous in 2002, it was just next-level greatness.

Even the packaging was sublime, what I can only described a Chinese puzzle box-inspired CD flip box that required some thought and effort to unlock the 'secret' drawer to reveal the shiny disc within. No CD-R preview this time, Dave lent me the precious artefact so that I could enjoy the full immersive experience.

I love The Isness and, when I finally managed to get my own copy of the limited edition CD, it became the soundtrack to my and Mrs. K's summer, shared nights sat on the somewhat precarious rooftop terrace of our home at the time, glugging red wine and enjoying the journey from sunset to warm summer night. Admittedly, occasionally interrupted by the sound and light of a police helicopter chasing down the latest car jacker, but otherwise as blissful as you could imagine.

So many happy memories, either directly with or indirectly because of Dave. He was universally loved by everyone that I knew, which I guess is evident by how his presence remains with me, to this day.

Cheers, Dave, and thanks for everything.

1) 69 Police (Kieran's Remix By Kieran Hebden): David Holmes ft. Sean Gullette (2000)

2) Death To All Culture Snitches: Two Lone Swordsmen (2000)

3) She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit): Spiritualized (2003)

4) Roy Castle: µ-Ziq (1995)

5) Hipalong Hop: Luke Vibert & B.J. Cole ft. Mexeena Carlos (2000)

6) Thunderbuck Ram: Mott The Hoople (1970)

7) Two Sevens Clash (John Peel Session): Culture (1983)

8) Daydreaming (Instrumental): Massive Attack (1990)

9) Seventeen (Slam Dub): Ladytron (2002)

10) Porcelain (Torsten Stenzel's Edited Remix): Moby (2000)

11) Robin Hood (Album Version): Scritti Politti (2006)

12) Go Tell It To The Trees Egghead: Amorphous Androgynous (2002)

1970: Mad Shadows: 6

1987: The Peel Sessions EP: 7

1990: Daydreaming EP: 8

1995: Trance Europe Express 3: 4

2000: Porcelain EP: 10

2000: 69 Police EP: 1

2000: Stop The Panic: 5

2000: Tiny Reminders: 2

2002: Seventeen EP: 9

2002: The Isness: 12

2003: Amazing Grace: 3

2006: White Bread Black Beer: 11

Dave Dreaming (For Dave S.) (58:36) (GD) (M)

You're Off Your Bleedin' Rocker

I occasionally take requests, and Mike was itching for a Fujiya & Miyagi selection, so here I am with the proverbial scratch, 45 minutes of Brighton beach motorik.

Not that I'm in any way, shape or form an expert on their music, as today's selection will demonstrate, but what I know, I like very much. 

Formed at the start of the 21st Century, Fujiya & Miyagi released nine albums between 2002 and 2022. According to their agent bio the band is "currently working on their new record which will be released in 2025."

The fact that it's not yet out at least gives me some breathing space to catch up. I missed out on debut Electro Karaoke In The Negative Style and it's companion album Remixes (and have struggled to locate a copy since), coming on board via my friend Stuart's recommendation of Transparent Things in 2006.

I got the following two albums - Lightbulbs (2008) and Ventriloquizzing (2011) - which I think are great, though that's where the trail runs cold for me. 

Therefore, this 11-song selection draws three from each of these albums, a remix by Andrew Weatherall and Keith Tenniswood as Two Lone Swordsmen, plus a brave cover of New Order recorded for a Mojo magazine cover mounted CD around the time of Ventriloquizzing.

As a measure of the consistency and quality of their music, Photocopier, a personal favourite and the lyrical inspiration for the post and selection title, didn't even make the final eleven!

Creating this mixtape has reminded what I enjoy so much about Fujiya & Miyagi and whet my appetite for more. If you're in a similar position of not keeping up with their music, then I hope today's selection has the same effect.

Most of Fujiya & Miyagi's album back catalogue, together with sessions, remixes and one-off tracks, can be found on their Bandcamp page.

1) Hundreds & Thousands (2008)

2) Pterodactyls (2008)

3) Electro Karaoke (Two Lone Swordsmen Remix) (2003)

4) Cylinders (2006)

5) Lightbulbs (2008)

6) Tinsel & Glitter (2011)

7) Ankle Injuries (2006)

8) Your Silent Face (Cover of New Order) (2011)

9) Cat Got Your Tongue (2011)

10) Collarbone (2006)

11) Sixteen Shades Of Black & Blue (2011)

2003: Remixes Sampler EP: 3

2006: Transparent Things: 4, 7, 10

2008: Lightbulbs: 1, 2, 5

2011: Power Corruption & Lies Covered (Mojo magazine promo CD): 8

2011: Ventriloquizzing: 6, 9, 12

You're Off Your Bleedin' Rocker (45:19) (GD) (M)

Disco? Get The Funk Out Of Here!

Side 2 of a C90 cassette that I recorded for Mrs. K on 21st March 2002.

I posted Side 1 in April 2023 and had thought that I'd get around to the follow up a little sooner!

Starting off in fine style with the mighty Barry White, there is no let up as Boney M. then Kool & The Gang get your boogie shoes working.

You wait ages for a bus (stop) then two come along at once! After the recent appearance of the album version of (Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop by The Fatback Band, here's the single, shorter but no less sweet.

Both Sly & The Family Stone and Curtis Mayfield appeared on Side 1, but it was impossible to limit them to one song each, so they pop up again on this side with a couple of stone cold classics.

As before, I swapped out the single edit of Curtis' contribution for the full length album version; the same with Barry White, for your extended pleasure. I've also replaced the single version  of Van McCoy's The Hustle for the 12" disco mix, to balance out the running times of both sides.

The compilation ends and it starts, with Garnett Mimms & Truckin' Company and What It Is. The vocal single version opened Side 1 and the closer here is the 12" flip side, mostly instrumental with a smattering of backing vocals and a huge dollop of disco glitter.

After two days of upbeat grooves, something a little calmer for Monday....?

1) Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up (Album Version): Barry White (1973)

2) Sunny (Single Edit) (Cover of Bobby Hebb): Boney M. (1976)

3) Celebration (Album Version): Kool & The Gang (1980)

4) (Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop (Single Version): The Fatback Band (1975)

5) Fight The Power (Part 1 & 2) (Album Version): The Isley Brothers (1975)

6) Family Affair (Album Version): Sly & The Family Stone (1971)

7) Kung Fu (Album Version): Curtis Mayfield (1974)

8) Get Down Tonight (Single Version): KC & The Sunshine Band (1975)

9) The Hustle (Disco Mix): Van McCoy ft. The Soul City Symphony (1979)

10) Take Me To The River (Album Version): Al Green (1974)

11) Don't Let Love Get You Down (Album Version): Archie Bell & The Drells (1976)

12) What It Is (Part Il) (12" Version): Garnet Mimms & Truckin' Company (1977)

1971: There's A Riot Goin' On: 6

1973: Stone Gon': 1

1974: Explores Your Mind: 10

1974: Sweet Exorcist: 7

1975: (Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop EP: 4

1975: Get Down Tonight EP: 8

1975: The Heat Is On: 5

1976: Sunny EP: 2

1976: Where Will You Go When The Party's Over: 11

1977: What It Is EP: 12

1979: THe Hustle EP: 9

1980: Celebrate!: 3

Side Two (55:54) (GD) (M)

Side One here

It's Happened Before

If like me you've had a week to forget, then a bevy of beauteous, bouncy beats is just what the doctor ordered....

....as long as the doctor is Dr. Syntax, that is, former Fluke fellows Mike Tournier and Jan Burton, whose remix of AIR-adjacent Gallic gents Mellow gets today's selection off to a rollicking start.

Staying in France briefly, Fred Falke invites German chums Axel Bartsch and Asem Shama aka VanGuard back to stay at his, the results a stuttering, juddering night in the studio.

Purple Penguin was a record shop, a label, a recording artist and a way of life in my beloved birthplace Bristol. Whilst they were never as massive as, er, Massive Attack, Tricky or Portishead, they were purveyors of mighty fine trip hop music, as debut single Passion attests.

The music of Cantoma aka Phil Mison was a relatively recent discovery for me, though the song selected here - a remix of North Shore by London boys Conrad McDonnell and Dan Tyler aka Idjut Boys - was released as a 12" single way back in 2010. Like a Balearic breeze blowing through your mind.

Pet Shop Boys really need no introduction, neither should DJ and producer Danny Tenaglia, but their coming together for a remix of 1996 single Before was really rather inspired. One of my favourite PSB tracks from that period and inspiration for the title of today's selection.

Hot Chip have been circling around in my consciousness since my post on Alexis Taylor's current single on Wednesday. In 2011, Dan Snaith took time out from his Caribou day job to put out music as Daphni. Dan was invited to remix Hot Chip's single Night And Day, a Record Store Day 12" single in 2012 which hits hard and doesn't give up.

The Other Two is a tongue-in-cheek, raspberry-blowing reference to the fact that whilst New Order stalwarts Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook were getting attention for their projects, Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris quietly got on with making music of their own. Ashley Beedle is on typically fine form on this dub remix of 1993 single Selfish.

Closing this collection are The Woodentops and, in keeping with today's title/theme, it's happened before. The remix of A Pact by Skyscraper HiFi aka Jon Dasilva and Jonas Nilsson originally featured last March on the Dubhed selection It's A Glamorous World, but that feels long enough ago to justify another appearance here. A chuggy, huggy masterpiece.

I hope that's got the blood flowing and the head cleared. If not, you may require urgent medical assistance!

1) Paris Sous La Neige (Vox Remix By Dr. Syntax) (Edit): Mellow (2000)

2) Back To Stay (VanGuard Remix): Fred Falke (2009)

3) Passion (Vocal) (Single Version): Purple Penguin (1995)

4) North Shore (Idjut Boys Version) (Instrumental): Cantoma (2010)

5) Before (Danny Tenaglia's Underground Mix): Pet Shop Boys (1996)

6) Night And Day (Daphni Mix): Hot Chip (2012)

7) Selfish (The East Village Dub): The Other Two (1993)

8) A Pact (Skyscraper HiFi Remix B): The Woodentops (2025)

It's Happened Before (45:58) (GD) (M)

Sixteen At Thirteen On The Sixteenth

On 16th January 1996, the sixth highest new entry (at #13) in the UK Top 40 was Release The Pressure by Leftfield featuring Earl Sixteen and Papa Dee.

Between the four of them, Neil Barnes, Paul Daley, Earl Daley (no relation) and Daniel Wahlgren created something really rather special and which, thirty years on, sounds as fresh and relevant as ever.

I've got to stand and fight

In this creation

Vanity I know

Can't guide I alone

I'm searching to find

A love that lasts all time

I've just got to find

Peace and unity

As a Friday bonus, here's the original 12" vocal edit from 1992...

...and a more recent tune from Earl Sixteen with Poorman Dub Sound released last August, marking the 50th anniversary of Yabby You’s 1975 classic Run Come Rally.

Blank Birthday

A very happy birthday to Boris Blank, born 15th January 1952. 

His birth certificate says Hans-Rudolf Strickler, his passport says Switzerland, his CV includes artist, composer and, writ large, co-founder of Yello.

As with my birthday tribute to fellow Yello Deiter Meier in 2024, I've tried to steer clear of the Swiss duo's most prominent work for today's selection, focusing instead on Boris' solo endeavours and extracurricular activity.

I realise that in over half a decade of Dubhed, I've yet to post a bespoke Yello selection and that will addressed in due course. In the meantime, here's one of many Yello favourites (song and video) as an aperitif, followed by a half dozen Boris show pieces below. 

Have a bloomin' brilliant day, Boris!

Who's Gone?: Yello (1991)

Baby: Billy MacKenzie (co-written & produced by Boris Blank) (1992)

Musky: Carl Cox (co-produced & mixed by Boris Blank) (1996)

I Feel It Like You: Malia & Boris Blank (2014)

Electrified: Boris Blank (2014)

Escape Route: Boris Blank (2014)

Vertigo Heroes Part I: Boris Blank (2024)

 

 

 

 

 

A Dive Into The Mystery

I confess that it took a while for me to get into Hot Chip on account of Alexis Taylor's vocals. 

Described elsewhere as "clear voiced", for me it was definitely one for the "acquired taste" category. Hot Chip's music was so irresistible though that I'm happy to say that I acquired said taste and, more importantly, grew to appreciate what a great songwriter Alexis is in his own right.

He's about to prove it all over again with his sixth solo album, Paris In This Spring, appropriately enough landing in March.

First out of the door is Out Of Phase, a collaboration with Lola Kirke, whose few songs I've heard to date have been quite definitely contemporary country, with the requisite vocal stylings, so this song seems quite a departure in terms of genre and singing style.

In short, it's a banger. 

In typical Alexis/Hot Chip fashion, rather than an in-your-face dancefloor directive, the passive but short of insidious beats get into your system and your feet may start moving in synch with the music without instruction from your brain. Alexis and Lola's voice complement one another nicely and I've found myself sticking this on repeat.

Great video too, directed by Will Kindrick, and likely to be appealing to John Medd.

Paris In The Spring sees further collaborations with artists ranging from The Avalanches to Air’s Nicolas Godin, Ewan Pearson to Étienne De Crécy, Pierre Rousseau (Paradis) to Pale Bllue's Elizabeth White. 

The one that's got me really excited though is a rare sighting in the wild by Alexis' long-time friend Green Gartside.

There's currently no preview of On A Whim - side 2, track 2 on the vinyl edition - but if their previous collaboration from nearly a decade ago is anything to go by, it'll be pretty wonderful.

 

Steady With The SAULT

It should perhaps come as no surprise that SAULT dropped another surprise new album on Friday (9th).

Titled Chapter 1 - also a characteristic tease of multiple releases in 2026? - it's a brisk, 36-minute, 10-track collection that's every bit as slick and polished as we have come to expect from the...well, no longer so mysterious collective.

And the whiff of familiarity is perhaps both a blessing and a curse on SAULT's 15 (!) album since 2019. For the devoted, Chapter 1 continues to deliver on the promise of previous albums and whilst not with an eye on dominating the airwaves or singles charts, there is something pleasingly reassuring in the overall warm hug of the album.

For the most part, it's business as usual: joining producer Inflo are seasoned SAULT professionals Cleo Sol, Jack Peñate and Melissa Young (formerly known as Kid Sister). Also present and correct is the consummate use of strings, bass and percussion to create a groovy yet heart-tugging soundscape.

On first listen, the lyrics follow a well-ploughed furrow of affirmation and/or devotion, with characteristic repetition of a few - sometimes just a single - line throughout the song. SAULT are canny enough to know how much is enough, so for me at least this never outstays it's welcome and gets boring.

There are no credits on the Bandcamp page accompanying the album, so the only other surprise is reading that US writing and production legends Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have been involved in the creation of Chapter 1. I've no idea to what extent and, if I hadn't read about it online, I'd never have guessed their presence from a casual listen. 

Chapter 1 is very much follows the SAULT template and any members of the collective fall in line with the ethos rather than stretch or pull it into different shapes.

With the increasing demystification of SAULT, including some less than favourable reviews of their live performance (only their second ever) at the All Points East festival last year, it's reasonable that even the surprise drop of a new album lacks the impact and shock value of their earlier releases.

Which would be a shame and, for all of that, Chapter 1 is a really good album and, compared to previous releases like Earth, AIR and AIIR, is designed for repeat listening. 

Is Chapter 1 likely to be my favourite SAULT album? No. 

It Chapter 1 what we need right here, right now in 2026? Absolutely.

 

Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache

I happened upon Smerz via a recommendation by Hifi Sean on Bluesky and I've been hooked ever since.

Catharina Stoltenberg and Henriette Motzfeldt are childhood friends, growing up in Norway, moving together to Denmark to study and then forming a duo to make music. 

The duo have said that the name Smerz is derived from the German word herzschmerz, or heartache in English. As of itself, schmerz translates as pain. In the best tradition of Scandi pop, Smerz songs are infectiously catchy whilst simultaneously unsettling. The videos only enhance the mood.

Third album Big City Life has been joined by an album of edits called, appropriately enough, Big City Life Edits, with Erika De Casier delivering a slowed down, after hours take on floorfiller Feisty.

You Got Time And I Got Money is the song that grabbed Hifi Sean and it takes things down even slower. And the video is just brilliant.

Of the two edits of You Got Time... on the album, the closing VVTZJ Edit featuring Boston, Massachusetts artist Clairo aka Claire Cottrill is the pick for me.

In a stroke of luck, whilst getting the You Tube links to post these videos, I discovered that Smerz are playing three UK dates in April, including one at the Lantern Hall in Bristol. Ticket duly purchased!

You can find this and previous Smerz releases on Bandcamp. I'd also recommend that whilst you're there, you try and buy music by Clairo and Erika De Casier too.