Wednesday, 8 March 2023

A Gazillion Brazillians

Today's selection flies the flag for Fila Brazillia aka Dave McSherry & Steve Cobby. 

The duo began to record under that name in 1990 but I think it was probably the mid-90s when I particularly became aware of Fila Brazillia via two tracks: their own song A Zed And Two L's and a remix of Cotton Wool by Lamb, which I featured here last month.
 
This selection focuses exclusively on Fila Brazillia's remix work from the late 1990s to early 2000s, a 45 minute ride taking in The Irresistible Force, King Louis, Lypid, Unitone and UNKLE. There's another great remix of a Lamb track, unreleased at the time in 1996 but which surfaced online circa 2015. The pair also bravely take on a Simple Minds classic. The original of Theme For Great Cities is unbeatable but I like what they've done, increasing the tempo but retaining enough of what makes the song so special. Busta Rhymes also gets Brazillified, the first of what turned out to be (at least) four remixes of Do My Thing across multiple releases. Kids warning on the latter, as Monsieur Rhymes is characteristically potty mouthed throughout.
 
One thing you can depend on Fila Brazillia for is bringing an irresistible groove to the party and they do not disappoint on any of the eight remixes featured here. I'll be playing this loud today to counter the midweek slump with some midweek funk. Bring it on!
 
If that's not enough Fila Brazillia for you, the boys have kindly obliged by making a large chunk of their back catalogue available on Bandcamp.
 
Today's selection was inspired by and is dedicated to the multi-talented John Medd. Thanks, John!
 
1) Nepalese Fish Dances (Remix By Fila Brazillia): The Irresistible Force (1999)
2) The Sign's Alive (Fila Brazillia Dub Mix): Lypid (2000)
3) Theme For Great Cities (Fila Brazillia Remix) (Full Length): Simple Minds (1998)
4) Berry Meditation (Fila Brazillia Mix): UNKLE (1997)
5) Do My Thing (Fila Brazillia Mix 1): Busta Rhymes (1996)
6) Dag Nabbit (Fila Brazillia Remix): Unitone (2000)
7) Lusty (Fila Brazillia Mix) (unreleased): Lamb (1996)
8) Paraplegic Soul (Fila Brazillia Remix): King Louis (2003)
 
1997: Do My Thing EP: 5
1998: Glitterball EP: 3 
1999: Brazilification: Remixes 95-99: 4
1999: Fish Dances: 1
2000: Fresh Diggings From The Claypit EP: 6
2000: The Sign's Alive EP: 2 
2003: Fila Brazillia: B2: 8
2015: Lusty (promo MP3): 7
 
A Gazillion Brazillians (45:38) (Box) (Mega)

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