It resurfaced yesterday when Billie posted a Spotify playlist link on Twitter and as I mentioned the ICA in my reply. I got this reaction.
I've been a big fan of Billie since the late 1980s and the ICA was my effort to shine a light on her incredible body of work, whether solo or in collaboration. The rules of the ICA are pretty straightforward: 10 songs, two sides, roughly 45 minutes or less, replicating the experience of listening to a vinyl album then flipping it over to play the other side.
It took me a long time to finish the ICA as I really struggled to whittle my short(ish) list to just 10 songs. In the end I cheated and included a "bonus 12" EP" with a further 4 songs.
JC's generosity in hosting this and other posts were a springboard to launching my own blog and The Vinyl Villain remains one of my touchstones for what a great music blog should be.
I've recreated the ICA here as a continuous, 68-minute mix. For the sleevenotes, here's the link to the original TVV post.
Whilst Billie continues to work on new music, many of her releases are available digitally (several EPs in greatly expanded form) via her website or Bandcamp. All highly recommended, of course.
Side One
1) (I Spent Hours Again) Wishing You Well (Single Version By The Grid aka Dave Ball & Richard Norris): Billie Ray Martin (1993)
2) Bright Lights Fading (Original Edit): Slam ft. Billie Ray Martin (2004)
3) Heavy Game (Album Version) Hifi Sean ft. Billie Ray Martin (2016)
4) Talking With Myself (Live @ Simon Forestiero Got 2 Be Funky, Piccadilly Key 103 FM Radio Manchester) (Cover of Electribe 101): Billie Ray Martin (2002)
5) Hyper Lust (Album Version): MOTOR ft. Billie Ray Martin (2012)
Side Two
1) I've Never Been To Memphis (Radio Edit): Billie Ray Martin (2001)
2) The Crackdown (Radio Edit) (Cover of Cabaret Voltaire): Billie Ray Martin ft. Stephen Mallinder & Märtini Brös (2010)
3) No Brakes On My Rollerskates (Mark Moore & Mr. Motion Mix): Hot Skates 3000 (2003)
4) Undisco Me (Original Radio Edit): Billie Ray Martin (2007)
5) Persuasion (SpookyBillie's Ventriloquist Mix) (Cover of Throbbing Gristle): Billie Ray Martin & Spooky (1993)
Bonus 12" EP
1) Captain Drag (Album Version): Billie Ray Martin ft. Ann Peebles & Carla Thomas (2001)
2) Candy Coated Crime (Disco Bloodbath Remix): The Opiates (2012)
3) You And I (Keep Holding On) (Album Version By Billie Ray Martin & BT aka Brian Transeau): Billie Ray Martin (1996)
4) The Long And Lonely Fall (Album Version): Billie Ray Martin (2016)
1993: Persuasion EP: B5
1993: 4 Ambient Tales EP: A1
1996: Deadline For My Memories: C3
2001: I've Never Been To Memphis EP: B1
2001: 18 Carat Garbage: C1
2003: No Brakes On My Rollerskates EP: B3
2004: Bright Lights Fading EP: A2
2007: Undisco Me EP: B4
2008: BRM Live On Manchester Radio (Unplugged) EP: A4
2010: The Crackdown Project EP: B2
2012: Hollywood Cuts (The Remixes): C2
2012: Man Made Machine: A5
2016: Ft.: A3
2016: The Soul Tapes: C4
Friend of the stars!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, thanks, Ernie! I think FlimFlamFan nailed it in his 2021 comment on my ICA:
Delete"I’m all but sure that if Billie had farted in an elevator in Hamburg, in 1992, Khayem will have it marked in his diary".
I think that restraining order will be reissued any day now...
Thank you, I'm not familiar with much of her work beyond the Persuasion single.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mooz. There is much to enjoy. Billie released the lost 2nd album by Electribe 101 last year which featuring their (first) attempt at Persuasion. I think the Spooky collaboration took it to another level, but it seems criminal that it - and the album - was unreleased for three decades.
DeleteFor more Billie in a similar vein, try The Crackdown Project EP and the Sold Life EP by Billie & Hard Ton. A deeper dive is worth your time though, just for the sheer breadth of musical styles and genres Billie explores.
Many thanks for the recommendations! I will certainly dive into these.
DeleteMy pleasure, Mooz
DeleteI just saw that you commented on BRM's "4 Ambient Tales" 18 (!) years ago. crazy. I was also a big fan of Electribe 101, forever linked to a specific time. However, 4 Ambient Tales passed me by in pre-internet times; I only discovered this album a few years ago, probably when it was reissued. BRM and the Grid, two wonderful things that came together back then. the grid have made an incredible number of good remixes, one of my very favorites is still Reiner's "Nod to N2O“. Until recently, I didn't realize that "The Groove Corporation", which I listened to a lot back then, consisted of the other E101 members. Have a nice day, Alex/EAR
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a blast from the past! I'm guessing you may have checked out Billie Ray Martin's catalogue on Bandcamp, her covers of Cabaret Voltaire (Just Fascination and Crackdown) also highly recommended. Electribe 101's 'lost' second album finally got a release last year and of course it's brilliant.
DeleteAnd yes, The Groove Corporation are great, aren't they? Another contender for my long list of selections to get around to!
ha, in my excitement I forgot to say that I meant the entry on discogs, 18 years ago, but you will have found out for yourself, yes..everything is great from BRM, her voice offers many backing tracks the opportunity to be something special, Tracks that might sound nice suddenly shine. the lost 2nd album: why wasn't it released then? I do not get it. company policy. groove corporation came into my life through the whole ambient dub stuff, and was welcome......the underwater world of jah custeau....
ReplyDeleteBillie's working on multiple albums at the moment, hopefully one of them will see a release in 2024...
Delete