Their songs are a riot of 1960s samples, including Donovan, The Zombies and The Moody Blues. The opening track on this selection, Moira Jane's Café, is built around a grab from Gloria by Them.
Their choice of remixers was also impeccable: Stereo MC's production alias Ultimatum, Streets Ahead aka Shem McCauley, Marc Kinchen, Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry, Norman Cook. There were a few unexpected choices too: 1996 single Child, a personal favourite, was remixed by Robin Guthrie and Jah Wobble.
Today's selection is drawn from my rather paltry collection of singles - I really must track down their albums - and is surprisingly missing Pass The Vibes, which reached #23 in 1995.
(I'm certain I had this single on CD, so it must have fallen victim to a flat move or inadvertently bundled up with a charity shop purge at some point).
Rise Like The Sun appeared on the 1991 compilation Give Peace A Dance! raising awareness and funds for CND aka the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. A YouTube trawl has unearthed this rather fine session for John Peel, recorded 30th December 1990.
It's been a crappy week so far, but I'm already feeling better for listening to this. The energy's flowing, my friend, time to pass the vibes.
1) Moira Jane's Café (Original Mix) (1990)
2) Aint Saying Nothing (1992)
3) What Are You Under (Groove Mix By Definition Of Sound ft. Mark MacPherson) (1992)
4) Rise Like The Sun (Album Version) (1991)
5) Child (Robin Guthrie Mix) (1996)
6) Now Is Tomorrow (I Want To Be An Oilfire Firefighter Mix) (1991)
7) Wear Your Love Like Heaven (Ultimatum Mix By Stereo MC's) (1991)
8) When A Lion Awakens (Full Length Version) (1991)
9) Dream Girl (Excursion On The Version) (Remix By Norman Cook) (1991)
10) I Don't Know Nothin 'Bout Daisies (1991)
I had long forgotten 'Pass The Vibes' - didn't think I knew it at all until suddenly I realised I was singing along, isn't it strange how these holes in our memories can patch themselves up in an unexpected instant?! Didn't know anything about DoS either so thanks for the background info.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you've been having a crappy week, hope it improved and you can enjoy the weekend. Love the cat pic too, btw (the cat and the angle!)
Thanks, C, Definition Of Sound were an underrated band in my opinion. Their timing was spot on, but they seem to be often overlooked in favour of their Stateside contemporaries De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.
DeleteThis is our cat, seven years old with the mind of a kitten, adopted from Bath Cats & Dogs Home as ball of fluff that could sit in the palm of your hand. Completely lacking in any common sense or instinctual cat skills but very photogenic!