Tune Into The Light

Shakespears Sister's (and/or London Records) contribution to Record Store Day 2025 was a re-release of 1992 song Black Sky on glow in the dark 12" vinyl.

Arguably the real attraction, unless you have a particular fetish for glow in the dark vinyl, was the inclusion of the contemporary Dub Extravaganza remixes by Darren Emerson and Rick Smith aka two thirds of Underworld, plus a pair of re-edits by Leo Zero.

A visualiser rather than a video has been posted for the four-minute edit of the latter

as well as the Extended Re-Edit, running at just under nine minutes.

The Underworld remixes of Black Sky were originally available on promo 12" single only, which frankly I couldn't get a sniff of back in 1992. Both got a commercial release, but as bonus tracks on two separate single releases.

The vocal-heavy Dub Extravaganza Part 1 was renamed The Green Eyed Dub and featured on the UK CD single of Goodbye Cruel World, clocking in just shy of six minutes. All ten and a half minutes of Dub Extravaganza Part 2 was one of three remixes bolstering the CD package of follow up single Hello (Turn Your Radio On). 

Both are deserving of the label 'epic' and Leo Zero also does a fine job with the updated re-edits.

 

In 2022, to mark the 30th anniversary of second album Hormonally Yours, Shakespears Sister released remastered and expanded digital versions of Stay, I Don't Care, Goodbye Cruel World, Hello (Turn Your Radio On) and Black Sky.

Black Sky offers up 10 versions for a cent under 5 Euro, including both of the Underworld remixes, five further remixes, dubs and edits by Marcella Levy and Siobhan Fahey with Alan Moulder, as well as the original album version.

There's also a live version, recorded at The Town & Country Club in London, 24th March 1992, featured on the mammoth vinyl, CD and DVD box set Our History and released on my 50th birthday in 2020. I didn't ask for it and I didn't get it and at £200+ for a pre-loved copy on Discogs, it's unlikely I ever will.

The version heading up this post is from Shakespears Sister's concert at Brighton Dome on 20th November 2019 and ample evidence of what a formidable pairing Marcy and Siobahn are, then and now.

I Know I Can Be Erratic, I Just Hope I Don't Scare You

Today's random shuffle is Sportsday Megaphone from 2009.

One of many, many bands that were added to my collection via the music sites and blogs that proliferated at the time, in this case either RCRD LBL or via Hype Machine, two which opened me up to a ton of artists and MP3s.

I know very little about Sportsday Megaphone: a "one-man electro blizzard" (that one man being Hugh Frost) producing "indie laptop-pop" or "dinky, lovely bedroom pop" depending on whether you read Mixmag or The Guardian or both at the time.

Sportsday Megaphone started as an art project at Brighton University, creating imaginary album covers, the name stuck and Hugh went on to release an album So Many Colours / So Little Time on the Sunday Best label, along with a clutch of singles and remixes.

I have just the one single, Meet Me In The Middle. Along with George Mellor, Hugh drew, animated and directed the video. 

I've included the three singles in their original and remixed form. 

The only other song in my collection is a charming cover of Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've), a Buzzcocks classic from 1978. Of course, it can't beat the original, but I don't think it tries to and is all the more enjoyable for it. 

The track originally appeared on the gargantuan 89-track Buffetlibre DJ's Rewind Mixtape 2, also a freebie download in 2009, Sadly now lost in cyberspace, you can at least pore over the tracklist here.

A quick check and So Many Colours / So Little Time is still available from the Sunday Best Bandcamp site, either in digital or CD format. One for the shopping bag this Bandcamp Friday, perhaps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short, Long, Long

A trio of tunes that buzzed in my ear at the weekend and are likely to stick around for a while. 

The Hidden Cameras are unexpectedly remixed by Pet Shop Boys - I'm hoping that there will be an extended remix to follow.

London-based duo Beyond The Struttosphere are new to me, but Rich Lane has been a familiar name in the past few years and his remix of Storming Heaven ticks all the boxes for me.

Johnson Somerset has been creating official and unofficial remixes for well over two decades now. I think I first discovered him via a Simple Minds or Duran Duran extended remix. A few days ago he posted a 10-minute rework of a Gary Numan classic, which doesn't outstay its welcome.

1) How Do You Love? (Pet Shop Boys Remix): The Hidden Cameras

2) Storming Heaven (Rich Lane's American Dream): Beyond The Struttosphere

3) Are 'Friends' Electric? (Johnson Somerset Remix): Tubeway Army

 

Music For Feeling

An hour of Richard Norris, sampling his rather wonderful Music For Healing series, plus other ambient soundtracks, to wash away your troubled thoughts.

Richard Norris is a genius. There, I said it. I have loved his work for other three decades, but I was directed to his Bandcamp page during lockdown and I've been a subscriber ever since.

The abundance - and quality - of music available is mind-boggling, and I find the arrival every month of a pair of 20-minutes pieces a joy, and something I come back to on a regular basis.

As my aim was to keep this selection to one hour, all of the picks have been heavily edited from their 15-20 minute originals, with the exception of the final track Ghost Dance, which in its full length form clocks in at a mere 3 minutes and 22 seconds.

As I say, this is but a taster; I'd highly recommend subscribing to or buying Richard's music directly from Bandcamp. 

And if the music puts you in the mood for reading a good book, how about Strange Things Are Happening by Richard himself? I read it last year and it's an absorbing and fascinating account of a life in music, and an incredible one at that.

1) April (2021)

2) Emerald (2023)

3) Low Tide (2025)

4) Water (Extended Instrumental Mix ft. Bishi Bhattacharya) (2021)

5) Freetones July 2 (2024)

6) Music For Healing 2 (2020)

7) Ghost Dance (2021)

2020: Music For Healing: The Complete Long Form Series: 6

2021: Music For Healing 2021: 1

2021: Music For Soundtracks, Vol. 1: 7

2021: Water (The Remixes) EP: 4

2023: Music For Healing: Colours: 2

2024: Music For Healing: Freetones: 5

2025: Music For Healing: Oceans: 3

Music For Feeling (1:00:00) (KF) (Mega)

And for your further listening pleasure:

Beyond The Wizards Sleeve: How Do We Start? (23rd July 2021)

The Grid: Think For Yourself And Question Authority (3rd December 2022)

Richard Norris: Clarity (6th August 2023)

Richard Norris: Happening (31st March 2024)

Double Dub '85

When posting the first Dub '85 selection in January, following on from Dub '83 in September 2023, I said that I would eventually get around to Dub '84. 

Today is not that day, however, as I revisit 1985 for another dozen dubs of popular hits (well, some of them were popular, anyway).

By the mid-80s, 12" remixes and dubs had become the norm to the extent that even James Brown and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts were getting in on the act. And, believe it or not, this is the first time that Red Hot Chili Peppers have appeared on this blog. 

Others like Pet Shop Boys, Big Audio Dynamite, Bangles and Talking Heads are much more familiar round these parts. I've included Swing Out Sister but you've been spared Simply Red on this occasion.

 

Oh, and I've managed to string out this week's ad-hoc German theme for one more day, by including Gina X and Zeus B. Held.

I dug (or should that be dubbed?) myself into a hole with the previous couple of Dub posts, by providing a slipshod facsimile of a rather wonderful Saturday morning quiz. Rol's solicitor is sending the heavies round Sunday lunchtime. Oh well, here we go....

1) It will be no surprise that Zeus B. Held, Shep Pettibone, Belouis Some and Gina X are pseudonyms. But which artist's real name is Neville?

2) What is the connection between Swing Out Sister and A Certain Ratio?

3) Which video variously features a pair of flippers, a shuttlecock, a party hat and a bird perched on a doughnut?

4) Which of today's line-up performed at Live Aid?

5) In 1985, which producer/remixer appeared in the pages of The Scum newspaper, photo depicting them smashing their TV with a hammer in protest at Doctor Who being 'rested' by Michael Grade?

Answers will be posted in the Comments below on Sunday morning.

1) Living In America (Dubstramental) (Remix By Dan Hartman): James Brown

2) Hit That Perfect Beat (Instant Dub) (Remix By Ian Levine): Bronski Beat

3) Walking Down Your Street (Dub Version By Steve Beltran): Bangles

4) Hollywood (Africa) (Dub Mix By Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero) (Cover of 'Africa' by The Meters): Red Hot Chili Peppers 

5) No G.D.M. (Dub Version By Zeus B. Held): Gina X

6) A Party (Dub) (Remix By Paul 'Groucho' Smykle) (Edit): Big Audio Dynamite

7) And She Was (Dub) (Remix By Eric 'ET' Thorngren & David Byrne): Talking Heads

8) The Broken Years (Dub) (Remix By Gary Langan): Hipsway

9) West End Dub (Remix By Shep Pettibone): Pet Shop Boys

10) Imagination (Dub Mix By Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero): Belouis Some

11) Blue Mood (Dubbed Up Mix By Paul Staveley O'Duffy): Swing Out Sister

12) Bombs Away (Dub Version By Mark Berry & Mark Richardson) (Cover of 'Cherry Bomb' by The Runaways): Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Double Dub '85 (1:11:22) (KF) (Mega)

If that's not enough 80s dub for you, I've reposted Dub '85 and Dub '83.

We Are Dancing Mechanic

Snippets of Kraftwerk, performing live for an Austrian TV special, circa 1982, on their Computerworld Tour.

Five songs in eleven and a half minutes, so very little to sink your teeth into, but still a mesmerising watch, Pocket Calculator especially.

A belated tribute to Florian Schneider, marking five years since his passing on 21st April 2020.

1) Numbers 0:20

2) Computer World 1:32

3) Pocket Calculator 2:35

4) Der Roboter (The Robots) 5:13

5) Home Computer 7:53

I Sure Do Love My Job

Staying in Germany for a second day, not only did I overlook Nina Hagen's 70th birthday on 11th March, but I've completely missed her 2010 covers album, Personal Jesus.

Fortunately, Grönland Records were on the case with both, celebrating Nina's birthday and the album's 15th anniversary by releasing Personal Jesus on vinyl for the first time.

There is a bonus track on the vinyl edition, I Am Born To Preach The Gospel, although it comes at the expense of one from the original tracklist (both are available on the digital version).

I Am Born To Preach The Gospel also comes with a simple but smart video.

I've included links to the title track, as well as the cover version dropped from the vinyl issue, the latter based on Billy Bragg & Wilco's (re)arrangement at the start of this century.

Belated happy birthday, Nina!

I Am Born To Preach The Gospel (Cover of Washington Phillips)

Personal Jesus (Cover of Depeche Mode)

All You Fascists Bound To Lose (Cover of Woody Guthrie)

Oh, and the post title is a line from the song, sadly not a personal sentiment right now.

Can Can

A double helping of Can, one (relatively) bite-sized, the other a full feast.

For starters, a 1970 performance of Paperhouse, all long hair and intense focus on their respective instruments, with the additional appeal of Damo and Holger bare chested, though I suspect the latter may have a very specific target audience. 

For mains, reportedly the earliest full concert recording of the band (I haven't fact checked this claim). From November 1970, this is eighty-four-and-a-half minutes of Can live from Soest, Rockpalast, Germany, broadcast on the TV show Karussell Für Die Jugend (Youth Carousel) in glorious monochrome.

Apart from a few sullen individuals, the audience appears to having a great time, and no wonder. I wasn't even born when Can played this gig, but their music subsequently caught up with me.

Ear Worms

A whistle stop post, with four songs that have grabbed my attention this month.

Marina (Diamandis, that is) releases 6th album Princess Of Power on 6th June. The third pre-release single is Cuntissimo, with a lavish video, a lyrical focus on female empowerment and hooks aplenty, even if mainstream daytime radio play is a non-starter. I've been a fan since her beginnings as Marina & The Diamonds, and this is great stuff.

SAULT dropped their latest album at the weekend, with little fanfare, although it apparently snuck out briefly on Spotify and was pulled, before officially reappearing on Saturday. In that short time, all of the song titles have also been reduced to acronyms. So, this is a smooth, Cleo Sol-fronted track called K.T.Y.W.S., previously named Know That You Will Survive. 

Easter Sunday saw another very welcome new release, with Jesse Fahnestock confounding expectations with 10:40 Presents Retro Fit. The 3-track single, An Alternative History, was inspired by Swiss Adam over at Bagging Area, who wrote a brilliant and fascinating post last year, imagining a divergent timeline for The Stone Roses. Jesse took that concept and has created a song that could have been, fashioning two further versions that stretch the concept whilst remaining tantalisingly within the realms of plausibility. Read about it here. Adam and Jesse, I salute you!

Last stop is Senegal-based artist Cheikh Ibra Fam's new single Xam Xam, which is "Infused with the hypnotic pulse of Caribbean zouk and Angolan kizomba, the ethereal strings of the kora, and the soul of West Africa". Fair to say that this would also sit very comfortably on an Ibiza playlist and brought a little promise of summer to a weekend at Casa K that veered wildly from sunshine to continual rain.

Xam Xam is described as "a call to embrace knowledge as the most valuable treasure of all" and, true to his word, Cheikh Ibra Fam is seen on several occasions in the video in a library and reading a book. "Libraries gave us power!" as James Dean Bradfield once sang, and he wasn't wrong. 

The Veneer Of Democracy Has Been Stripped Away

Remembering Mark Stewart, 10th August 1960 to 21st April 2023.

I posted a hastily compiled Dubhed selection as a tribute the morning after news broke of Mark's passing. In closing, I promised that  

"There will be a follow up post, 

where I try to articulate just why Mark Stewart 

is such an important figure [...]

I just can't find the words right now."

This is that follow-up post, marking two years since Mark died. I'm still not sure I have the words, but Mark's stepped up and done it for me by releasing a brilliant new single, Memory Of You.

Memory Of You is the opening track of The Fateful Symmetry, out in July and completed before Mark's untimely passing. No compromise, even in death.

I discovered Mark's music in the late 1980s via my interest in Adrian Sherwood and ON-U Sound and the Mute label, the channels leading me to his solo albums with Maffia aka Doug Wimbish, Keith LeBlanc and Skip McDonald. 

At this point, I had no idea of Mark's links to my birthplace Bristol, and was largely ignorant of The Pop Group, their significance and legacy. The past thirty-odd years have been a voyage of discovery and learning, revealing the complexity and contradictions through a career of challenge and non-conformity.

I've had a little more time to compile today's selection, compared to the ad-hoc tribute in 2023. Even so, this remains a surface-scratching exercise; there are so many layers, and Mark's work goes way beyond that with The Pop Group, Maffia and solo. The good news is that much of it is available in digital and physical formats via Mute, Bandcamp or your friendly local record shop.

Mark's music remains as crucial now as it ever has done.

1) Deep Time Dub (Mark Stewart Mix): Nohumaneye vs Mark Stewart (2022)

2) Hysteria (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Adrian Sherwood): Mark Stewart + Maffia (1990)

3) Death Trip To Tulsa ('Mark Stewart’s Exopolitix Demix'): Mark Lanegan Band (2015)

4) Where There's A Will There's A Way (Single Version By The Pop Group & Dave Anderson): The Pop Group (1980)

5) Shame And Pain (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Jim Sclavunos): Mark Stewart & Jeffrey Lee Pierce ft. Thurston Moore (2014)

6) Gustav Says (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Youth): Mark Stewart ft. Keith Levene & Achim Treu (2012)

7) Toxic Waste (Mark Stewart & Uncle Fester On Acid Remix By Mark Stewart & Patrick Dokter): Lampredonto (2022)

8) Babycino (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Youth): Mark Stewart (2012)

9) Forces Of Oppression (Album Version By The Pop Group & Dave Anderson): The Pop Group (1980)

10) 'Ndrangheta Allotmen (Mark Stewart's Spectrum Remix): Meatraffle (2018)

11) Gang War (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Youth): Mark Stewart ft. Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Keith Levene (2012)

12) A4 ####### (Mallarmé Read By Mark): Nun Gun ft. Mark Stewart (2021)

13) (Amnesty Report II) (Album Version By Dennis Bovell): The Pop Group (1979)

14) Method To The Madness (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Youth): Mark Stewart ft. Nik Void (2012)

15) Rob A Bank (Album Version By The Pop Group & Dave Anderson): The Pop Group (1980)

16) The Last Enemy (Mark Stewart Black Mix): Consolidated (2021)

17) Simulacra (Album Version By Mark Stewart & Adrian Sherwood): Mark Stewart (1995)

18) Struggle (Adrian Sherwood / Mark Stewart Mutant Disco Vocal Mix): Radio 4 (2003)

19) Savage Sea (Album Version By The Pop Group & Dennis Bovell): The Pop Group (1979)

1979: Y: 19

1980: For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder?: 9, 15

1980: In The Beginning There Was Rhythm / Where There's A Will.. EP (split 7" w/ The Slits): 4

1980: We Are Time: 13

1990: Metatron: 2

1995: Control Data: 17

2003: Eyes Wide Open / Struggle EP: 18

2012: The Politics Of Envy: 6, 11, 14

2012: Exorcism Of Envy: 8

2014: Axels & Sockets: The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project: 5

2015: A Thousand Miles Of Midnight: Phantom Radio Remixes: 3

2018: Revenge Of An 'Ndrangheta Cell, On An Allotment, In Norbury, South London EP: 10

2021: Stealth Empire In Dub: 12

2021: We're Already There (Remixes): 16

2022: King Of The Zombies EP: 1

2022: !Wasted!: 7

The Veneer Of Democracy Has Been Stripped Away (1:14:41) (KF) (Mega)

You can find Out Here On The Perimeter, Nobody Can Hear You Scream, my previous Mark Stewart tribute selection, here