Cherry Picks

I had an email just after 3.00pm on Friday with the welcome news that Fluke have released a brand new album, The Second Bite.

A dozen songs from their catalogue, revisited and recreated for 2026. And on gatefold double vinyl too. I needed no further persuasion.

I got home a few hours later, had a bite to eat with Clan K and then logged into Bandcamp to buy the album. 

Sold out.

Gutted.

I've had to console myself for now with a digital download, but may end up buying the vinyl from a record shop when it's generally released on 26th June.

Atom Bomb has also been blessed with two remixes by Daniel Avery, the first of which is available now.

And, as further consolation, today's Dubhed selection is a companion piece to The Second Bite in that it mirrors the album tracklisting, but draws on versions from the original singles and albums. I've also split Cherry Picks into two 40-odd minute 'sides'.

Side One

1) Bullet (Cannonball) (1995)

2) Slid (Glidub) (Single Version) (1993)

3) Absurd (Landslide) (1997)

4) Electric Guitar (Sunburst) (1993)

5) Atom Bomb (Atomix 3) (1996)

6) Absurd (Reeferendrum) (Single Version) (1997)

Side Two

1) Groovy Feeling (Mr Whippy) (Remix By Atlas) (1993)

2) Tosh (Cosh) (1995)

3) Electric Blue (Album Version) (2003)

4) Freak (Album Version) (1995)

5) The Bells (Mix 3) (1991)

6) Life Support (Album Version) (1993)

Side One (43:48) (GD) (M)

Side Two (42:09) (GD) (M)

If that's still not enough, here are both of my Fluke mixtapes from 1997 and a selection that I posted earlier this year.

Fluke (Singles) Side One and Side Two

Fluke (Mixes) Side One and Side Two

A Beauty To Behold

All This Confusion's Stressing Me Out In My Mind

Not a personal reflection, but an amended lyric from Cypress Hill, for their MTV-adjusted video accompanying 1995 single Illusions.

It's fair to say that a large chunk of the lyrics below are either swapped or silenced. 

The visuals and the choice phrases haven't aged well in places, but the production is hot and the Q-Tip remix is a bass-heavy behemoth.

What I hadn't realised before now is that Cypress Hill performed their classic album Black Sunday in it's entirety at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 10th July 2024. The show was released as an album in June 2025. Oh, I forgot to mention that the lads invited the London Symphony Orchestra along to play with them.

So, this is the orchestral version of Illusion...no, not an illusion...as performed on the night.

Lyrics not censored for this performance. 

Some people tell me that I need help

Some people can fuck off and go to hell

God damn, why they criticize me

Now shit is on the rise so my family despise me

Fuck 'em! And feed 'em, 'cause I don't need 'em

I won't join 'em if I can beat 'em

They don't understand my logic

To my gat to my money and I'm hooked on chronic

I never wanted to hurt a nigga

Unless ya come flexin' that trigger, I dig ya

That grave on the east side of town

Lay ya six feet underground

From man, to the dust to the ashes

All I remember tell me where the cash is

Click-clack, barrel at my dome

Give all your loot or you ain't goin' home

But I ain't goin' out with a bang

Wa da da dang, wa dada daa dang

I'm havin' illusions, all this confusion's drivin' me mad inside

I'm havin' illusions, all this confusion's fuckin' me up in my mind

I'm havin' illusions, all this confusion's drivin' me mad inside

I'm havin' illusions, all this confusion's fuckin' me up in my mind

Motherfuckers be drivin' me up the walls

Hopin' that I fall but they can lick my balls

Straight jacket, strap it

In a padded room when some punk niggas can't hack it

Distracted from all reality

Now I'm let out on a minor technicality

(Ah) They all fucked up now

'Cause they let a nigga back on the streets somehow

I'm lookin' for someone like me

Livin' in my own world to my own degree

On the loose in the city lookin' at the ho wit' the big titties

Lookin' at me and I feel shitty

A little tensed up gettin' hot

'Cause she looks like my girl who got smoked at the crack spot

I'm tryin' to find ways to cope

But I ain't fuckin' 'round with the gauge or a rope

I'm havin' illusions, all this confusion's drivin' me mad inside

I'm havin' illusions, all this confusion's fuckin' me up in my mind

I'm havin' illusions, all this confusion's drivin' me mad inside

I'm havin' illusions, all this confusion's fuckin' me up in my mind

I'm havin' illusions

I'm havin' illusions

I'm havin' illusions

I'm havin' illusions

I'm havin' illusions

I'm havin' illusions

I'm havin' illusions

I'm havin' illusions

Steady As It Goes...It's The Way It Goes

When things in the world seem so uncertain, you can at least rely on Johnny Marr.

Spin heralds the arrival of The Age Of Everything, Johnny's first studio album since Fever Dreams Pts. 1-4 in 2022. 

Whilst I don't expect the ground breaking, envelope-pushing sonics of the years with his former band, this is reliable, quality music with Marr seeming increasingly comfortable with the sound of his own voice as his solo career has progressed.

I feel like I'm damning Spin with faint praise, it's a good not great song, but it's a welcome return nevertheless. Sometimes, certainty is all that's needed.

A Brace Of Birthdays

A barrage of birthdays on 17th June and, tempted though I was by Barry Manilow and Lee Ryan from Blue, I've opted to pair Kendrick Lamar (1987) and Jello Biafra (1958).

Born nearly three decades apart but linked by a razor sharp political awareness and a drive to comment on the world around that have resulted in era-defining music as well as controversy and criticism.

Here's a timeless message from Jello's former band, Dead Kennedys.

Musically, another link between two is jazz. No, seriously. Check out this snippet from the same Dead Kennedys session, incorporating one of their greatest songs.

And For Free? from To Pimp A Butterfly.

I'll admit that I haven't listened to much of The Dead Kennedys beyond the 'hits' and nothing really from Jello's career since. And everything I know about Kendrick L:amar is thanks to SWC over at No Badger Required. 

I will get around to both eventually, I promise.

In the meantime, happy birthday, lads!

Hit It, Flip It, Switch It, Drag It

Oui is the first single and video I've encountered by South Korean band Balming Tiger.

Like a Pepsi ad directed by David Cronenberg, channeling the Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons.

I'm going to come back later and make sure that i haven't had a breakdown and hallucinated the whole thing...

Respectable Swindon?

This is a treat: Andy Partridge of XTC taking viewers on a tour of his home town Swindon, circa 1981.

This was the year that R.P.M., a magazine programme for the BBC West region, launched. It was sandwiched in the weekday early evening BBC1 schedule between Points West and the prime time schedule. 

I remember R.P.M. for three things:

1) Presenter Andy Batten-Foster, which would have put Kevin Keegan's poodle perm to shame;

2) Krek Bristle, a parady sketch starring Tony Robinson, based on Derek Robinson's book; and

3) The music features, which were frequently awkward and/or terribly stilted, but at least exposed me to new music.

Andy is great fun and whilst Swindon is a much-changed place - The Brunel shopping centre lasted more than 5 minutes, the Oasis is standing empty and festering - it's a fascinating snap shot.

And here's Respectable Street, which is referenced but not featured in the R.P.M. clip.

Ambient Andrew Again

Another sixty (one) minute selection of Andrew Weatherall's ambient excursions which, unsurprisingly, take the listener down the less trodden path.

If you caught last Sunday's post, you'll know that this was created from the same shortlist as Volume 1, but to be clear this is no 'leftovers' compilation. 

A slight shift by twelve months, too. Whereas Volume 1 spanned 1991 to 2016, Volume 2 covers 1992 to 2017. A complete accident, but I like it.

As before, there's room for Andrew's solo work, The Sabres Of Paradise and Two Lone Swordsmen, plus a second collaboration with Keith Tenniswood from the 2003 release Still My World.

Woodleigh Research Facility and Nina Walsh from Volume 1 are swapped for The Asphodells and Timothy J. Fairplay in Volume 2. There are also remixes by Being, Group Rhoda and In The Nursery as well as reworks of Scorn, James, Death In Vegas and Red Snapper.

It's such a privilege and a pleasure approaching each and every Andrew Weatherall selection. His generosity of spirit embues his music, making for some unusual but natural sequencing. Any bumps or clunks in the transition are entirely down to me, hopefully offset by the magic of the music itself. 

1) Azzolini And The Branch Brothers Meet Being (Remix By Being aka Dave Paton): Two Lone Swordsmen (1996)

2) Exodus (Sabres Of Paradise Mix 1 By Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): Scorn (1992)

3) The Crescents: Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood (2003)

4) Another Heady Cocktail: Two Lone Swordsmen (1997)

5) Jam J (Phase 2: Amphetamine Pulsate) (Remix By Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): James vs. The Sabres Of Paradise (1994)

6) Another Lonely City (Group Rhoda Remix By Mara Barenbaum): The Asphodells (2013)

7) Glenn Street Assault Squad (In The Nursery Visit Glenn Street) (Remix By Klive Humberstone & Nigel Humberstone): Two Lone Swordsmen (1996)

8) Soft Estates: Andrew Weatherall (2017)

9) Rekkit (Vega Sintro) (Remix by Two Lone Swordsmen aka Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood): Death In Vegas (1997)

10) Bogeyman (Two Lone Swordsmen Blue Jam Cologne Mix By Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood): Red Snapper (1998)

1992: Deliverance EP: 2

1994: Jam J EP: 5

1996: Swimming Not Skimming: 1, 7

1997: Rekkit: Death By A Thousand Cuts EP: 9

1997: Stockwell Steppas: 4

1998: Bogeyman EP: 10

2003: Still My World: 3

2013: The Asphodells Remixed: 6

2017: Qualia: 8

Ambient Andrew Vol. 2 (1:01:38) (GD) (M)

Do You Want It?

A saucy Saturday selection sourced from Swiss-based duo In Flagranti, with a smattering of smut over sixty minutes.

Try saying that three times with a mouthful of muesli.

I first heard the Sasha Crnobrnja and Alex Gloor's early excursions as In Flagranti around 2002, on a giveaway CD with the excellent Jockey Slut magazine. Further explorations of the internet revealed a plethora of remixes and, over time, I have quietly amassed a modest selection of their music and mixes.

Today's selection focuses on the decade from 2008 to 2018, mostly their reworkings of other artists, but with a couple of their own from 2013's Headrush EP, simply because I liked the song titles (!) 

A broad range of (sub)genres here. although all designed to make you move. I like the fact that there's a distinct In Flagranti feel without pinning themselves down to a particular motif or recurring theme. 

Anyway, over to this pair of wrong 'uns to strut their stuff. Enjoy!

1) Confusion (In Flagranti Remix): Motel77 ft. MIIIA (2018)

2) Curious Red (In Flagranti Remix): I Led 3 Lives (2009)

3) Bell Common Tunnel (In Flagranti Remix): Tronik Youth (2017)

4) Kontrol Termination (In Flagranti Remix): Volta Cab (2017)

5) Disco For The Devil (In Flagranti Mix): Bottin (2009)

6) Dope As Shit (Single Version By In Flagranti & Erol Alkan): In Flagranti (2013)

7) I Love London (In Flagranti Vintage Mix): Crystal Fighters (2009)

8) Testify (In Flagranti Re-Play): Hifi Sean ft. Crystal Waters (2017)

9) Who's There? (In Flagranti Remix): Riton & Primary 1 (2009)

10) Toiletries For Bottoms (Single Version By In Flagranti & Erol Alkan): In Flagranti (2013)

11) LookLookLook (In Flagranti Remix): Golden Bug (2008)

Do You Want It? (1:00:54) (GD) (M)

From Paradise Rains To Paradise Circus

Some Massive Attack...kind of.

After yesterday's Paradise Rains by Eartheater, I'm dusting off Paradise Circus, specifically the link to the version used in The Fallen Sun, the Netflix film version of Luther from 2023. The link - not the film - has been languishing in my "must write a post about this one" file for a few weeks and now seemed to be the right time.

A brief diverson/rant before I carry on: Mrs. K and I really enjoyed Luther when it debuted on BBC1 in 2010. Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson were compelling leads, the supporting cast were excellent and Neil Cross' writing was top notch. 

Although the successive series stretched credulity to near breaking point, Luther continued to be 'must watch' viewing right up to the conclusion of series 5 in 2019.

That seemed about the right time to call it a day, but the subsequent announcement that there would be a feature film version of Luther nevertheless was something to look forward to. Except that it was being made by Netflix.

The proliferation of pay-to-view channels has been inversely proportionate to our disposable income and, frankly, whether we can be arsed to spend even more time in front of the gogglebox (as opposed to Gogglebox). So, apart from the occasional 30-day free trial that pops up, Netflix is pretty much out of our reach, and we didn't make it to any of the 'select cinemas' that screened The Fallen Sun in February 2023.

So, I also had no idea that Paradise Circus by Massive Attack had featured in the soundtrack.

Except... this is a different version, credited to Post ft. Ghostpoet. 

Post, as it transpires, is Daddy G aka Grant Marshall, founder member of Massive Attack, and Stew Jackson, who has also worked with Daddy G as Robot Club and been part of the Massive Attack collective since at least 2016.

It's a great version, and Ghostpoet is a spot on pick to provide vocals that provide the necessary grit and gravitas.

However... it's a very hard act to follow, when Massive Attack's version of Paradise Circus was co-written with and featured the incomparable voice of Hope Sandoval (sigh).

So, to reward those of you who stuck with this post to the end, here's the original version from 2010, plus a twelve-and-a-half minute reworking by Massive Attack vs. Burial the following year. 

 

The Prodigal Daughter, Fertile And Watered

Eartheater was offered up by Bandcamp as 'you might like' suggestion and you know what? HIt or miss (usually miss), on this occasion they were right.

Eartheater aka Alexandra Drewchin is another artist that has been active since the late 2000s and completely under the radar for me. 

On the strength of the two singles/videos from her new album, Heavenly Body: If I'm The Bottle You’re The Message, out on 10th July, then this is one for the shopping cart.

Although there are some truly awful examples, I am a sucker for cinematic goth with sweeping strings and soaring vocals and Eartheater has the presence to match. The album was made shortly after the birth of Alexandra's daughter and this has clearly inspired and resonated throughout the songs. 

There's a production credit for Dave Sitek and a guest spot for Oklou, another belated discovery for me late last year, 

 

I'm going to start with the album and if Heavenly Body: If I'm The Bottle You’re The Message, then a delve into Eartheater's extensive back catalogue will swiftly follow. 

The album closes with 2025 single Nova, named after Alexandra's daughter and co-produced by Nosaj Thing and Michael Andrews. 

Michael has been a long-time favourite for his film soundtracks for Me And You And Everyone We Know and Donnie Darko, the latter giving him and Gary Jules a UK #1 with their cover of Mad World by Tears For Fears. It's a vibe that inhabits Nova, to great effect.