If Ever The Devil Was Born Without A Pair Of Horns, It Was You Jezebell, It Was You

Like buses, you wait for a Jezebell-related release for a while, then three come along at once. I'll cover the new music later but just over a week ago, I received the long awaited double vinyl edition of the superb Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 compilation.

Bearing in mind that Jesse Fahnestock and Darren Bell released Jezebell's debut single Thrill Me in 2021, issuing a 'greatest hits' in August 2023 and labelling it 'Volume 1' may have seemed rather ambitious, cocky even. Yet, even with a digital edition packed with 20 tracks, the duo still had to leave out many mixes and versions that could easily have made the cut. It's really that good. 

Even more mind blowing is that the compilation, with a run time of over two hours, was - and still is - available as a 'name your price' purchase on Bandcamp.

I've hugely enjoyed all of the Jezebell music as it's emerged, whether under their own name, remixes for other artists or re-edits that in reality remake and remodel the source material into something so different that it's essentially a brand new song. So, when it was announced that a limited vinyl pressing of Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 would be available, I didn't hesitate in ordering it.

Given the timing constraints of four sides of vinyl - only Side 3 nudges above the 25/26-minute mark - the track list and running order varies a fair bit from the digital edition, making for an equally rewarding and essential listening experience.

The digital edition opens with the full length widescreen version of Jezebelle Et Moi, their 3-part cover of Max Berlin's 1978 song. At nearly 12 minutes, it's swapped on the vinyl version for one of the variations, Le Funk Et Moi, with no less impact as a statement of intent. The following three songs match on both editions, including the (kind of) title tracks and re-titled re-edits of Tullio De Piscopo and Laurie Anderson. 

I should add at this point that though I purchased many of these songs at the time of their original release, the versions on Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 have been given a re-master by Rich Lane.

For the remaining three sides, the ordering is mixed up more considerably, not least because the vinyl version contains 16 tracks compared with the digital edition's 20. So, track 5 on the latter - a superb re-edit of The Notorious B.I.G. - opens Side 4 of the former. "Bed Heads", Jezebell's contribution to Shelter Me: The Album in 2022, is track 17 on digital but closes the vinyl album in fine style.

At the time of posting, there are 9 copies of the one-time only vinyl pressing left on Bandcamp. If you miss out and haven't bought the digital edition yet, then what are you waiting for? The compilation cover by Rick Oliver is based on Dave Little's artwork for the seminal Balearic Beats: The Album Vol 1 collection and believe me, the music on this Jezebell compilation is every bit as good.

 

Side 1

1) Le Funk Et Moi (Remix) (Cover of 'Elle Et Moi' by Max Berlin's): Jezebell (2022)

2) Jezebellearic: Jezebell ft. Alfredo (2023)

3) Spring Calling aka Stop Bajon (Primavera) (Jezebell Edit): Tullio De Piscopo (2022)

4) Re-Birth aka Born Never Asked (Jezebell Edit): Laurie Anderson (2022)

Side 2

5) Pedestal (Jezebell's Dizzy Heights Dub): D:Ream (2022)

6) Thrill Me (Original Version): Jezebell (2021)

7) Hush Hush aka Too Shy (Jezebell Edit): Kajagoogoo (2022)

8) Hypnorise (Jezebell Edit): Herb Alpert (2022)

Side 3

9) Concurrence (Original Version): Jezebell (2021)

10) Swamp Shuffle: Jezebell (2023)

11) Jezeblue (Full Length Version): Jezebell (2023)

12) Red Shift (Jezebell's Inner Child Mix): MAN2.0 (2022)

Side 4

13) Vibrations aka Baby Let Me Kiss You (Jezebell's Hitachi Dub): The Notorious B.I.G. (2022)

14) Trading Places (3PM) (Remix): Jezebell (2023)

15) Burning Bush: Jezebell (2023)

16) "Bed Heads": Jezebell (2022)  

 

I've cobbled together a half-hour Dubhed Selection EP, selecting one song from each side of the vinyl edition, plus A Dangerous Side, the bonus digital track offered as an exclusive to those purchasing Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 on vinyl. 

 

 

Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 (Dubhed Selection EP) (32:11) (KF) (Mega)

....but that's not all, oh no. Paisley Dark Records recently released the third compilation album in the Shelter Me series, and made the other two (plus a bonus remix) available again for purchase via Bandcamp.

The Shelter Me compilations raise funds for housing and homeless charities, the latest compilation focusing on Crisis, which does incredible work across the UK. Even if it wasn't for a good cause, these albums are chock-full of great music that you should want to buy, regardless.

Jezebell contribute again to Shelter Me: In Crisis with the brilliantly titled Perfect Din, which has got me scratching my head trying to work out what samples they've expertly woven into 408 seconds of groovy sounds.

 

 

Jesse Fahnestock has also reunited with Emilia Harmony for another excursion on the version as Electric Blue Vision. Trance Stance was released last week, via the empathetically named Electric Wardrobe Records. The single version is described as "a hooky and seductive electronic slow-dive [which] hypnotically conjures up the story of dance-floor attraction with all the anticipation, posturing and human behavior that comes with it."

 

I think that pretty much nails it, but see what you think.

 

if you like that, just feel the quality of the three accompanying remixes. 

 

At a glance, The Time Machine Dropouts was an unfamiliar name, until I read that this a duo of Matt Gunn and legendary DJ Chad Jackson. An inter generational soundclash that provides breakbeats, funky guitar, Moroder-esque synths, shades of M's Pop Muzik and Emilia's vocals right up front. Great stuff.

San Francisco-based drummer Cole Odin is another name that's new to me. A lovely, syncopated synth-washed rinse with Emilia's treated vocals swirling in and out of your ears. Jesse himself brings things to a close with 10:40's sunshine skank reprise. All in all, another top notch release and perfect for what's proving to be a sun-kissed bank holiday weekend here at Casa K.