Culture Clash

Listening again to Monkey Mafia's dub-infused cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival at the weekend, go me thinking about another of Jon Carter's excursions into Jamaican culture.

This in turn prompted a delve into the archives of my old blog, and an album review from 11th February 2007, namely Two Culture Clash, an intriguing compilation first issued 23rd August 2004. 

What did my younger self think of it? Over to, er, me.

This Wall Of Sound release purports to be an innovative creative pairing of electronic music producers with (predominantly Jamaican) reggae/dancehall greats. The sleeve notes even go so far as to sniffily dismiss other efforts as a “half-baked, ham-fisted assemblage of dancehall vocals grafted onto electronic beats in a studio on the other side of the Atlantic”. 

So, has bringing the producers to Jamaica and locking them in a studio with the island’s “lyrical wordsmiths” produced the “unprecedented” success that writer David Katz clearly believes it is? Well, of course not. 

There are some undeniably great moments on this album, but be under no illusion that Two Culture Clash has resulted in something completely new. Instead, the producers seem to have moulded their sound to complement the performers, most of whom dish out the lyrical clichés that both characterise and damn the musical genre. 

If you can accept that this won’t be the earth-shattering, life-changing album that the hype suggests, then you can settle back and enjoy nearly an hour’s worth of good music. 

How Do You Love? is a deliberate shot at the charts, with Jon Carter bringing out the best in vocalists Patra (who guested on his Monkey Mafia single Work Mi Body) and Danny English*.

The two Jacques Lu Cont tracks - …And Dance and Na Na Na Na – are perhaps the album’s dancefloor highlights, with a minimal, pulsing beats that prove impossible to resist. General Degree provides vocals on both, but the addition of Ce’Cile on the latter is like a pumped up version of Cookies by Ciara. 

It should be no suprise that Roni Size doesn’t disappoint on Knock Knock, a muscular rhythm suiting Spragga Benz’s rough monotone delivery, whilst West London Deep’s Rudie No! featuring Big Youth comes on like The Specials in space. 

There are inevitably a couple of disappointments. Kid606 seems uncharacteristically restrained on This Anuh Rampin’ and it’s left to Switch on the subsequent Love Guide (featuring Ms. Thing) to take the sound in an abstract direction that the Kid is usually more than capable of. 

Phillipe Zdar (Cassius/Motorbass) injects Get Crazy with an infectious, pulsating rhythm, let down only by Innocent Kru’s tired (and tiresome) lyrics. But these are small gripes. 

Elsewhere, Howie B. and Horace Andy team up for Fly High, a dub extravaganza that is arguably the best song that Massive Attack never recorded, whilst Justin Robertson’s retro dancehall ballad Save Me closes the album. 

Showcasing a vocal from Nadine Sutherland and Ernie Ranglin, Save Me is guaranteed to send a shiver down your spine… and get you skanking uncontrollably. 

As long as you skip the sleeve notes' hyperbole , then Two Culture Clash is a great album. It's not as ground breaking as it's instigators think it is, but it is worth more than a casual listen.

As a 2025 footnote, I recall buying this CD via eBay for a few quid, as part of my quest to plug gaps in my collection of Justin Robertson's music (which I'm still trying - and failing - to do today). A look on Discogs reveals that you can still easily pick up a copy for less than a fiver, postage included.

* I was sad to discover when creating the artist links that Danny English aka Donald Cox died on 23rd January this year, aged just 54. 

You Haven't Found A Way To Kill Me Yet

Jehnny Beth has featured here plenty of times as the host of the excellent ARTE Concert series, but not once as frontperson of Savages or as a solo artist.

Time to redress that criminal oversight with a trio of songs from Jehnny's upcoming album, You Heartbreaker, You, crashing into our lives - and ears - on 29th August.

All three videos are co-created with Jehnny's partner, Johnny Hostile, and are a perfect complement to the primal energy of the music. 

Play loud, scream louder.

Immediately prior to the album release, Jehnny willl be performing two nights at the Rock 'n' Roll Circus in Sheffield. The week after, she will be in Liverpool, Nottingham, Bristol and London for a series of Rough Trade in-store signings, followed by a European tour.

 

 

Covered Dub

Back in April, I posted Under Dub Covers, a selection of reggae and dub cover versions and it was well received, so here's the follow up!

Fourteen tracks this time, a 50/50 split between reggae and dub, 60s-90s and 21st Century, but 100% certified excellent. Well, the tunes, if not the sequencing!

Some of my all-time favourite singers are featured, opening with Pat Kelly and Marcia Griffiths, taking in Horace Andy, Dennis Brown and Jackie Edwards and, more recently, Shniece McMenamin.

Sly & Robbie, Adrian Sherwood and Lee 'Scratch' Perry feature heavily throughout, whether up front or in the studio.

This week in 1985, I Got You Babe by UB40 "with guest vocals by" Chrissie Hynde first entered the UK singles chart at a modest #22. It was Top 5 a couple of weeks later and #1 a couple of weeks after that. 

There was a dub version on the flip side but no extended version on the 12", so I've taken the liberty of creating my own edit for this selection. I've literally spliced the dub intro and outro with (most of) the vocal version. A dub sandwich, if you will, crackles and all.

1) Stoned In Love (Cover of 'I'm Stone In Love With You' by The Stylistics): Pat Kelly (1979)

2) It's Too Late (Cover of Carole King): Marcia Griffiths (1974)

3) A Wonderful Version (Cover of Louis Armstrong): Rhoda Dakar ft. Natty Campbell (2023)

4) Safe From Harm (Album Version By Adrian Sherwood) (Cover of Massive Attack): Horace Andy (2022)

5) Night Nurse (Dub With Vocal) (Remix By Mick Hucknall) (Cover of Gregory Isaacs): Sly & Robbie ft. Simply Red (1997)

6) To Love Somebody (Album Version By Lee 'Scratch' Perry) (Cover of Bee Gees): Busty Brown (1969)

7) The Model Dub (Cover of 'Das Modell' by Kraftwerk): Prince Fatty ft. Shniece McMenamin (2020)

8) Chase The Devil (Adrian Sherwood Dub) (Cover of Max Romeo): Dubblestandart ft. Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Coshiva & Emch (2014)

9) I Got You Babe (Dub Sandwich Re-Edit By Khayem) (Cover of Sonny & Cher): UB40 ft. Chrissie Hynde (2025)

10) Long As I Can See The Light (Adrian Sherwood's Dub Lighting) (Cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival): Monkey Mafia ft. Shirzelle (1998)

11) Dock Of The Bay (Cover of '(Sittin' On) The Dock Of Tthe Bay' by Otis Redding): Dennis Brown (1972)

12) Everything I Own (Dub Version By Stewart Levine) (Cover of Bread): Boy George (1987)

13) All Shook Up (Cover of Elvis Presley): Jackie Edwards (1979)

14) Exodus (Dubvisionist Dub) (Remix By Felix Wolter) (Cover of Bob Marley & The Wailers): Tackhead (2011) 

1969: The Upsetter: 6

1972: Superstar: 11

1979: So Proud: 1

1980: All Shook Up EP: 13

1987: Everything I Own EP: 12

1997: Night Nurse EP: 5

1998: Long As I Can See The Light EP: 10

2011: Exodus EP: 14

2014: Dubblestandart In Dub: 8

2015: Play Me / Sweet And Nice (Expanded Edition): 2

2020: Disco Deception Dubplate LP: 7

2022: Midnight Rocker: 4

2023: What A Wonderful World EP: 3

2025: I Got You Babe (bootleg MP3): 9

Covered Dub (59:23) (GD) (M)

You can find Under Dub Covers here

A few cover versions that didn't make today's final selection were produced by the legend that is Dennis Bovell. That didn't sit right with me so, as compensation, I've restored links to the two DB-themed selections that I've previously posted. With the above, that's pretty much four hours of dub nutrition!

Weakened/Weekend In Dub (August 2023)

From Conception To The Grave (October 2021)

Two Party System

"Another Gecko Production" compilation CD-R, circa 2004, featuring some seriously heavyweight tunes.

Gecko is one of the aliases used by my brother for his mixtapes and CDs in the early 21st Century. He was living in Japan at the time, and we'd continue to swap DIY compilations with each other as a shorthand musical postcard of where we were at.

Spanning South West England to West Coast America and some wild zig zags in between, it's a reminder of how much exciting new music was coming out in the early 2000s. There are also plenty of nods to what had come in the decade before. Listening to the NaS track for the first time in a long while sent a shiver down my spine.

I've tweaked a couple of the versions included here, either because I don't have the album versions or because the remix alternative is so good. In the mid-2000s, I discovered McSleazy aka Grant Robson, who posted a load of bootleg mash-ups and remixes online. I particularly liked his darker take on the likes of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera and today's pick by Kelis. 

Likewise, the version of Dreamy Days by Roots Manuva is a low slung relick by Lotek aka Wayne Bennett that appeared on the Exclusives!, a NME cover-mounted CD in 2001.

Harmonic 33 is one of the many nom de plumes used by Mark Pritchard, after Global Communication and way before he started making music with Thom Yorke. Harmonic 33 is a collaboration with Dave Brinkworth and not to be confused with Harmonic 313, another of Mark's solo ventures. Honestly, you need a sat nav to find your way through his vast body of work...!

Great to hear Definition Of Sound again, who should have been massive beyond the handful of hit singles.  My fact-obsessed brain was fascinated to discover that Pass The Vibes - and second album Experience - was co-produced by Chris Hughes (Adam & The Ants, Tears For Fears) and Jack Hues (Wang Chung). Every day is a learning day!

The mix opens heavy with Massive Attack featuring Mos Def and closes with a Serge Gainsbourg-sampling classic from David Holmes. Not a second wasted from start to finish.

1) I Against I: Massive Attack ft. Mos Def (2002)

2) Where Have They Gone: Harmonic 33 (2002)

3) The Seed (2.0): The Roots ft. Cody ChesnuTT (2002)

4) Trick Me (McSleazy Remix By Grant Robson): Kelis (2004)

5) Dreamy Days (Lotek Bonanza Relick) (Remix By Wayne Bennett): Roots Manuva (2001)

6) What Goes Around (Album Version By Salaam Remi): Nas (2001)

7) Natural Mystic (Ital Mix By Matt Green): Bob Marley (2001)

8) Solid As A Rock (Hexadecimal Edit By Steve Osborne): Bim Sherman (1996)

9) Year 2000: Smith & Mighty ft. Niji 40 & Louise Decordova (1999)

10) Evolution Revolution Love (Album Version): Tricky ft. Ed Kowalczyk & Hawkman (2001)

11) Television, The Drug Of The Nation (Album Version By Jack Dangers & Mark Pistel) (cover of The Beatnigs): The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy (1992)

12) Pass The Vibes (Album Version): Definition Of Sound (1995)

13) California Love (Long Radio Edit): 2Pac ft. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman (1995)

14) Temple Head (Zenana Mix By Aki Nawaz & Paul Tipler): Transglobal Underground (1991)

15) Don't Die Just Yet (Album Version): David Holmes (1997)

1991: Temple Head EP: 14

1992: Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury: 11

1995: California Love EP: 13

1996: Experience: 12

1996: Solid As A Rock EP: 8

1997: Let's Get Killed: 15

1999: Big World Small World: 9

2001: Blowback: 10

2001: NME Exclusives!: 5

2001: Remixed Hits: 7

2001: Stillmatic: 6

2002: Extraordinary People: 2

2002: Phrenology: 3

2002: Special Cases EP: 1

2004: Trick Me (bootleg MP3): 4

Two Party System (1:13:35) (GD) (M)

Unselfish Love

Another "one of those weeks" which I won't be sorry to see the back, whilst simultaneously fretting that 2025 is frittering away.

Music is the cure for all that ails ye, and that goes double for disco, especially on a Friday. I'm 99.9% sure that none of today's picks have appeared in previous Dubhed selections, so wrap your ears around these beauties.

Even the tech is less laggy, compared to yesterday. Music is the answer!

1) It's A Love Thing (Album Version By The Whispers, Dick Griffey & Leon Sylvers): The Whispers (1980)

2) I Got Protection (Album Version By Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards): Chic (1980)

3) Do Or Die (A Tom Moulton Mix): Grace Jones (1978)

4) You Can Do It (Special U.S. Disco Mix): Al Hudson & The Partners (1979)

5) Never Change Lovers In The Middle Of The Night (Album Version By Frank Farian): Boney M. (1978)

6) Macho Man (Special Edit By Jacques Morali): Village People (1978)

7) Over And Over (Full Length Disco Mix By Harvey Fuqua & Wes Bradley) (Cover of Ashford & Simpson): Sylvester (1977)

1978: Do Or Die EP: 3

1978: I Am What I Am EP: 6

1978: Nightflight To Venus: 5

1979: You Can Do It EP: 4

1980: Imagination: 1

1980: Real People: 2

2002: François K: Choice: A Collection of Classics: 7

Unselfish Love (44:26) (GD) (M)

Deluded In Believing I Had Any Control

A lyric from Daniel Avery's new single, Rapture In Blue, apt because the tech has been so laggy that's taken me nearly 50 minutes to get this far with the post, despite two reboots.

Somedays, you just have to let it go...

So, no lengthy discourse on Daniel's genius as a music maker, or his ability to confidently switch - or define - genres with dizzying speed. 

Rapture In Blue is arguably Daniel's most poppy moment, mixing things up with a dash of M83, a sprinkling of Trentemøller and echoes of Rob Dougan. All providing a perfect soundscape for the voice of Cecile Believe aka Canadian artist Caila Betsy Nell Thompson-Hannant.

Oh, and a gorgeous blue video (no, not that kind of blue video), directed by Zak Watson and starring Anna Nesterova and Hana Hrzic.

An album from Daniel Avery is always something to look forward to but Tremor, appropriately enough incoming on Halloween. seems especially so. Daniel's also playing a handful of European shows to promote to album, including Manchester, Bristol and London.

Daniel describes Tremor as "a record for the post-rave comedown kids, the guitar heads and anyone else who wants to come along for the ride. Everyone is welcome.”

I'm fastening my seatbelt now.

I've Lived A Thousand Years And It Never Bothered Me

Celebrating Ozzy Osbourne, 3rd December 1948 to 22nd July 2025.

Six songs from Black Sabbath's first six albums, 1970-1975, plus a 1970 outtake. The classic line-up of Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and of course the Master of Darkness himself.

What an extraordinary life. Farewell, Ozzy.

1) Children Of The Grave (1971)

2) War Pigs (1970)

3) The Wizard (1970)

4) Planet Caravan (Alternative Lyrics Version) (1970)

5) Supernaut (1972)

6) Megalomania (1975)

7) Killing Yourself To Live (1973)

1970: Black Sabbath: 3

1970: Paranoid: 2

1971: Master Of Reality: 1

1972: Black Sabbath Vol. 4: 5

1973: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: 7

1975: Sabotage: 6

2009: Paranoid (Deluxe Edition): 4

I've Lived A Thousand Years And It Never Bothered Me (43:30) (GD) (M)

"That's Where We All Kind Of Synch Up"

Forty-odd minutes in the company of Kokoroko, preferably with headphones, refreshments, headphones, your favourite chair and a square of space to get up and get in the groove, should the fancy take you....

...I will be doing my best to imagine this, as I jump in the car for another cross-county commute on a dull, rainy Tuesday (it is still summer, isn't it?!), but Kokoroko will get me there.

Today's selection includes the second and latest single from album #2, Tuff Times Never Last, which came out a couple of weeks ago. This is followed by Three Piece Suit from the same album and originally released on the Get The Message EP last November. 

These Good Times appeared on Kokoroko's first album, Could We Be More, in August 2022, whilst Abusey Junction closed out their debut self-titled EP in March 2019.

Finally, a live session for KEXP, recorded 23rd October 2024, featuring four songs from the previous three releases.

All good stuff.

1) Da Du Dah (2025)

2) Three Piece Suit (ft. Azekel) (2024)

3) Those Good Times (2022)

4) Abusey Junction (2019)

5) Live @ KEXP (2024)

             i) Higher

             ii) My Prayer

             iii) Tojo

             iv) Ti-de

 

Somebody's Begging For Moves

Water From Your Eyes were put on my radar by SWC over at No Badger Required. And SWC's recommendations are always spot on.

Water From Your Eyes' latest single and video, Playing Classics, crams about twenty different songs into just under six minutes, and they're all brilliant. 

Rachel Brown urges the listener to shake in complete deadpan throughout the song, but it's hardly needed, as the Italo piano, squalling indie guitar (replete with bum notes) and persistent beats will get you there of your own accord.

What else? Skateboarding, a cuddly toy, lots of running around, Nate Amos skipping with a sparkler, retro Tiny Planet video effects.  What else do you need?   

There's an album, It's A Beautiful Place, available for pre-order now and an extensive tour in the autumn. Of only 5 dates in the UK, one is in Bristol but very close to a significant Clan K birthday. Someone's going to be disappointed.

Birthday Boys & Girl

Birthday Boys & Girl Wandering around Gloucester last month, seeking inspiration for John Medd's photo challenge, in a side street I came across an unexpected tribute to Chris Cornell.

Chris tragically lost his life to suicide in 2017, and I guess this street art was a heartfelt if slightly hidden acknowledgement of the Chris' work with Soundgarden, Audioslave, and as a solo artist.

The photo has been sitting there patiently, waiting for it's moment. I then discovered that it would have been Chris' 61st birthday on 20th July.

I'll be straight with you: I would struggle to create a Dubhed selection tribute to Chris Cornell: I have the sum total of three songs that he's performed on, all with Soundgarden: one Beatles cover and one 2-track CD single which I only bought because there was a Moby remix on it.

But then I had a look online and realised that there are loads of musicians all sharing a birthday on 20th July. Plenty in fact to create an eclectic (though heavy on the 1980s) Dubhed selection to bring some sunshine to your Sunday.

As the idea started with Chris Cornell, it's only right that he gets to kick off proceedings. Blow Up The Outside World appeared on 1996 album Down On The Upside, and was also released a single, remaining my sole Soundgarden purchase to date.

Kim Carnes (80 today) is perhaps (in)famous for two things: 

(1) Bette Davis Eyes, her global smash single in 1981;

(2) a voice that had Bonnie Tyler reaching to offer her packet of sore throat lozenges.

An acquired taste perhaps, but Kim was an accomplished singer/songwriter through the 1970s. Today's pick was the opening song on eighth album Café Racers. I haven't seen the video but it apparently features Ian McShane. He's got some CV, hasn't he?!

Carlos Santana (78) has recorded a gazillion albums (at least) and collaborated with at least as many artists in a long and illustrious career. All of which is poorly represented in my music collection. I have ten times more songs by Jesus Jones than Santana, for pity's sake. As such, I've had to resort to a 21st century re-rub of classic song Black Magic Woman by Mojo Filter, although I have to say that I like it very much.

I had it on good authority (well, This Day In Music) that it was Jem Finer's 70th birthday today. On checking Discogs and Iffpedia for my half-baked research, it appears that it's not until Friday (25th). As I'd already recorded and uploaded today's selection when I discovered this, I've decided that it's perfectly fine to celebrate early in Jem's case. After all, any day is a good day to listen to The Pogues...

The same could be said of JoBoxers, though sadly fewer people saying it. Still, cause for celebration today as it's singer Dig Wayne (Timothy Wayne Ball to his mum) who is marking 63 orbits of the sun. Well, if t'internet can be trusted, that is. Boxer Beat was a Top 3 UK hit in 1983, but I was also a big fan of follow up, Just Got Lucky. Ironically, I found out that I won a Lucky Dip in Saturday's Lotto. I'm listening to How To Be A Millionaire by ABC next weekend.

These days, Jim Irvin's name pops up in the pages of Mojo magazine and in songwriting credits for artists ranging from Unloved to Yungblud. In July 1986, Jim was front person with Furniture, singing Brilliant Mind on kids' TV show Razzmatazz. They had some great songs, including Love Your Shoes, presented here in it's expanded 12" single glory. Jim is 66 today... I think (that Jem Finer birth date stitch up has scarred me).

The Seatlle Grunge Scene in the 1990s shone a spotlight on Soundgarden. And Pearl Jam. I'm not a fan, though I seem to have a surprising number of odds and sods on the hard drive. It turns out that Chris Cornell is not the only Grunge guru to have a birthday on 20th July; it's also guitarist Stone Gossard's 59th. Thankfully for him - and therefore us - he's recorded music with Ani DeFranco, including the rather good single, Disorders, in 2022.

There's always a good reason to feature Talk Talk on this blog, and today's reason is that it's drummer Lee Harris' 63rd birthday. Last year, Lee lent his percussion and production skills to Beth Gibbons' superb album, Lives Outgrown, having previously worked with her on his .O.Rang project with Paul Webb. Today's pick is an obscure Talk Talk B-side, though typically one of their best songs.

Michael MacNeil (67 today) was keyboard player with Simple Minds from 1978 to 1990 co-writing many of the songs that propelled the band into global success and the "big music". So, I've unintentionally picked a song from 1979 album Life In A Day, which he didn't have a hand in writing. But his playing is a standout.

By adding Juke Box Jive to my collection especially so that I could include it in this selection, I've increased the number of songs by The Rubettes by a whopping 100%. I think you can guess what the other one is. Singer and guitarist Tony Thorpe is 78 today.

Bringing this birthday bash to a close is John Lodge, celebrating 80 years, many of them with The Moody Blues. I've opted for one of his solo outings, from his 1977 album Natural Avenue. Despite having the same title as the Isley Brothers' 1974 hit, Summer Breeze failed to replicate their success for John when it was released as a single. The UK public were more interested in Donna Summer, Hot Chocolate and Boney M...

So, eleven artists, one sadly no longer with us, ten with plenty of cause for celebration.

Here's to you (deep breath), Chris, Kim, Carlos, Jem (for Friday), Dig, Jim, Stone, Lee, Michael, Tony and John!

1) Blow Up The Outside World (Album Version): Soundgarden (1996)

2) You Make My Heart Beat Faster (And That's All That Matters) (Dance Mix By Rusty Garner): Kim Carnes (1983)

3) Black Magic Woman (Mojo Filter Smoke & Mirrors Remix By Ben Zaven Crane): Santana (2015)

4) Streams Of Whiskey (Album Version By Stan Brennan): The Pogues (1984)

5) Just Got Lucky (12" Version By Alan Shacklock): JoBoxers (1983)

6) Love Your Shoes (Expanded Mix By Mick Glossop): Furniture (1986)

7) Disorders (Single Version): Stone Gossard & Ani DiFranco (2022)

8) Pictures Of Bernadette (7" Version By Tim Friese-Greene): Talk Talk (1986)

9) All For You: Simple Minds (1979)

10) Juke Box Jive (Album Version By Wayne Bickerton): The Rubettes (1974)

11) Summer Breeze (Album Version By Tony Clarke): John Lodge (1977)

1974: We Can Do It: 10

1977: Natural Avenue: 11

1979: Life In A Day: 9

1983: Just Got Lucky EP: 5

1983: You Make My Heart Beat Faster (And That's All That Matters) EP: 2

1984: Red Roses For Me: 4

1986: Give It Up EP: 8

1986: Love Your Shoes EP: 6

1996: Down On The Upside: 1

2015: AOR Disco Vintage Edits Vol. 4: 3

2022: Disorders EP: 7

Birthday Boys & Girl (53:06) (GD) (M)

Take Good Care Of It Babe

On Saturday 18th July 1998, I saw Spiritualized play the headline slot at the annual Ashton Court Festival, or Bristol Community Festival to give it's proper name.

When I say 'saw', what I really mean is that I was there in body, but not mind, and I barely remember a thing about it. 

That was pretty much par for the course: there was the epic walk to get to Ashton Court in the first place; typically, this would be up Park Street, left at Durdham Downs and over the Suspension Bridge, having made several stops beforehand, for refreshment, supplies and generally meeting and picking up friends along the way.

This year was different, for a couple of reasons. By 1998, I'd moved across the river into south Bristol, so this would have been the first or second year that I walked to Ashton Court via Bristol City Football Club's home ground, and into the estate from 'the bottom' end, past the deer enclosure and the mansion itself. Whichever way you approached, once you got in, it was still a bloody long walk to the festival site.

This year was also different in that I was in a steady if not always stable relationship with the jangly music-loving girlfriend that I've mentioned a few times previously. So, we would have gone together, most likely meeting others once we got there, rather than en route.

This year was also different in that the substance of choice in 1998 would most likely have been red wine. Lots of it. And, being mindful of the practicalities of lugging stuff around Ashton Court, then it will almost certainly have been one or two of those boxes with tap, so we're talking between 3 and 4 litres of supermarket finest rioja. I may even have extracted the interior bags from the cardboard boxes, to lighten the load. Yep, I was the definition of classy, then as now.

I don't drink wine these days, but I was a lightweight back then, a couple of glasses usually sufficient to make me a bit squiffy. It would take no great leap of the imagination to assert that, a litre or more in with little more than an overpriced portion of chips or noodles from a food stall to soak up the alcohol, plus baking sun with little in the way of shade, and I was 100% off my shed by the time Spiritualized took to the stage.

I wondered if anyone else who was there and compos mentis had written about their experience of the Spiritualized gig and had a trawl online. I found two opposing views, which kind of sums up how Spiritualized's music generally split opinion with my friends. You either love 'em or hate 'em, it seems. 

In a 2006 thread, JTG commented that they "saw them headline Ashton Court same year as Portishead - 1998 I think. Possibly the worst spent two hours of my life, it was fucking appalling."

Sunpots was quick to reply, "Yep, it was the same year. The only bad part about it was that my girlfriend's sister insisted we had to leave halfway through Spiritualized's set. I kick myself to this day that I didn't tell her to hang on for another half hour. I was not happy."

I guess I fell somewhere between the two. I was there, but not there. I didn't leave halfway through the set, but I have very little recollection of what the hell was going on. Even looking at the setlist online didn't provide the usual memory jog. 

A pretty good set, as far as the song choices are concerned. Unsurpisingly, a fair few from still-current album, Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, one from their 1992 debut, a suitably gospel-fuelled cover version, and one of Jason's songs from his previous life with Spacemen 3.

In recreating the setlist for today's selection, I've topped and tailed with live versions from the Royal Albert Hall album, from a gig in October 1997 and released a year later, months after the Ashton Court Festival. 

Closer Cop Shoot Cop is not the only sixteen-and-a-half minute epic, as I've also spliced together parts 1 and 2 of Electric Mainline from the CD single to make a single piece of roughly the same length.

By contrast, the singles - Electricity, Come Together and I Think I'm In Love - are positively brisk, all coming in at four minutes or less.

I toyed with the idea of including the original version of Lord Can You Hear Me (with question mark) by Spacemen 3 from 1989. After all, Jason Pierce wrote and sang it, so it would fit in. However, I went for the Spiritualized recording in the end, which appeared a few years later on Let It Come Down.

And, ot mash up JTG and Sunspots' comments above, if I'd not been nursing the mother of all hangovers on Sunday 19th July, and we had made to the final day of the festival, we would have seen Portishead headline. I kick myself to this day.

1) Oh Happy Day (Live @ the Royal Albert Hall, London) (Cover of Edwin Hawkins' Singers) (1997)
2) Electric Mainline (Parts 1 & 2) (1993)
3) Electricity (Album Version) (1997)
4) Take Your Time (Album Version) (1992)
5) Lord Can You Hear Me (Cover of Spacemen 3) (2001)
6) Come Together (Single Version) (1998)
7) I Think I'm In Love (Radio Edit) (1998)
8) Cop Shoot Cop (Live @ the Royal Albert Hall, London) (1997)

1992: Lazer Guided Melodies: 4
1993: Electric Mainline EP: 2
1997: Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space: 3
1998: I Think I'm In Love EP: 7
1998: Royal Albert Hall October 10, 1997 Live: 1, 8
1998: The Abbey Road EP: 6
2001: Let It Come Down: 5

Take Good Care Of It Babe (1:01:21) (GD) (M)

Hobby Horse

Somone (probably John Medd) mentioned Fila Brazillia the other day. 

I don't often do requests, even implicit ones, but their name started bouncing around in my head until I succumbed to the urge to compile a Fila Brazillia selection, celebrating the great remixes that they've produced in the last 30 (!) years.

Fila Brazillia appeared to be rested in 2006, Dave McSherry and Steve Cobby following other pursuits not limited to making music. Except they never really went away, reactivating the FB name for a series of remixes in the 2020s, not least for shoegazers bdrmm, who also happen to be fellow citizens of Hull.

In a nod to the more recent past, I've included a track from Offshore Sunsets, the rather wonderful EP released last year by Steve Cobby & Third Attempt aka Torje Fagertun Spilde.

As I was in the midst of uploading this selection, and typing a dedication to the aforementioned Mr. Medd, I belatedly realised that I've done the very same thing in March 2023! 

Fortunately, I've only duplicated two of the eight songs on each selection, so I hope you will overlook this dereliction of due diligence on this occasion. 

Forty six minutes of phat beats and summer vibes, with a lil' bit of chill. Raising a glass to you, John! 

1) Forever Broke (Fila Brazillia Remix): The Seatbelts (1999)

2) Nepalese Fish Dances (Remix By Fila Brazillia): The Irresistible Force (1999)

3) Wild Party (Remix): Fila Brazillia vs. A Certain Ratio ft. Denise Johnson (2003)

4) The Sign's Alive (Fila Brazillia Dub Mix): Lypid (2000)

5) Be Careful (Fila Brazillia Remix): bdrmm (2023)

6) Golden Brown (Fila Brazillia Remix-Ambient) (Cover of The Stranglers): Better Daze (1997)

7) The Spy From Ankara (Fila Brazillia Remix): Snooze (1996)

8) Feeling Seen: Steve Cobby & Third Attempt (2024)

1996: The Man In The Shadow: 7

1997: Remix Project: 6

1999: Cowboy Bebop: Remixes: Music For Freelance: 1

1999: Fish Dances: 2

2000: The Sign's Alive EP: 4

2003: Fila Brazillia Versus A Certain Ratio EP: 3

2023: Be Careful EP: 5

2024: Offshore Sunsets EP: 8

Hobby Horse (46:24) (GD) (M)

You can find my previous Fila Brazillia selection, A Gazillion Brazillians, waiting for you here.

And whilst I'm name checking talented music makers, check this out.

Loveplaydarkminemammothonics

As an ignorant youth, I used to think that summer was a generally quiet period for singles, leaving space for the Ibiza (or Marbella) classics that holidaymakers brought home with them, along with a suitcase full of duty free and third degree sunburn.

Not so, especially in July 2025. The past 48 hours alone have seen a relentless surge of mail to Casa K, extolling the virtues of new music, here there and everywhere.

I've picked half a dozen which particularly grabbed my attention, mostly 'safe bets' I admit, but none the less enjoyable for all that. 

Wanna Play by Georgia is perhaps the closest of all to a banger, and I love it. The Charlatans and Jeff Tweedy have got me interested in their upcoming albums. 

Kim Deal doesn't have a new record out (at least I don't think she does), but this recent performance of Are You Mine is enough. I've never heard of Lydia Luce before now, though I will seek out more on the strength of Mammoth. 

And The Orb team up with rapper Rrome Alone, who has spent most of his adult life in prison and is currently on Death Row. Not one to celebrate, in that case, but I like the song.

1) We Are Love: The Charlatans

2) Wanna Play: Georgia

3) Out In The Dark: Jeff Tweedy

4) Are You Mine (Live @ Electric Lady Studios, Greenwich Village, New York, 5th March 2025): Kim Deal

5) Mammoth: Lydia Luce

6) Arabebonics: The Orb ft. Rrome Alone

 

 

 

 

Have A Good Time All The Time

Celebrating David Franklin Ewer aka Dave Kaffinetti aka David Kaff aka Viv Savage, 17th April 1946 to 11th July 2025.

Keyboard extraordinaire in bands since the late 1960s, his place in history was cemented with a star turn in This Is Spinal Tap in 1984. Although he left the band at the end of the year - literally and in character - and was not involved in any of the subsequent reunions (including the forthcoming sequel), David's performance was unforgettable.

Inevitably, I've included four songs from Spinal Tap, including a promo video for Hell Hole, which I'd never seen before writing this post. I've added a song each from David's pre- and post- Tap bands.

And, of course, I couldn't post a title like that without including Viv Savage's philosophy.

No time to rest in peace in that case., but thank you, David.

1) Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You (Film Intro): Spinal Tap (1984)

2) Hell Hole (Official Video): Spinal Tap (1984)

3) Heavy Duty (Film Version): Spinal Tap (1984)

4) Stonehenge (Film Version): Spinal Tap (1984)

5) As Your Mind Flies By: Rare Bird (1970)

6) Long Lost Love Affair: Fresh (1977)

7) Hold Me Close: The Linda Imperial Band (2012)