It's been a really shit week for music news, with Douglas' passing the third obituary in the last few days. However, whereas Sly Stone and Brian Wilson were in their 80s, Douglas is gone at the ridiculously young age of 58.
In the late 1980s, it was Douglas rather than Sly or Brian who would be easily found in my record collection, thanks to the brutal(ist) sound of Nitzer Ebb. Not much of a leap at all from my love of Depeche Mode, Nitzer Ebb had a harder edge, not least due to McCarthy's distinctive vocals and a style which he self-deprecatingly described as "shouting and pointing".
Douglas got to work wth Alan Wilder after the latter left Depeche Mode and recorded music as Recoil. Their first collaboration was a cover of Faith Healer by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
Today's 12-song selection cherry picks choice 12" mixes, singles, B-sides and collaborations, showcasing Douglas' impact and influence with Nitzer Ebb and beyond.
Rest in peace, Douglas.
1) Shame (Mix No 2 William Orbit) (1988)
2) Lakeside Drive (Remix By Flood) (1992)
3) Fun To Be Had (Zulu Mix By The Dust Brothers aka Mike Simpson & John King) (1990)
4) Once You Say (Pouppée Fabrikk Mix By Christiaan Riemslag, Henrik Björkk & Jonas Aneheim) (2010)
5) Control I'm Here (Hardcore Mix By Flood Nitzer Ebb) (1988)
6) Ascend (Anonymous Mix By Vince Clarke) (1992)
7) Murderous (Phil Kieran Remix) (2003)
8) Join In The Chant (Burn!) (Remix By Phil Harding) (1988)
9) Lightning Man (Barry Adamson Mix) (1990)
10) Noise (Hardway Bros Axis Force Dub By Sean Johnston): Headman ft. Douglas McCarthy (2013)
11) The Machineries Of Joy (Rhönrad-Mix By Die Krupps): Nitzer Ebb & Die Krupps (1989)
12) Faith Healer (LP Version By Alan Wilder & Steve Lyon) (Cover of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band): Recoil ft. Douglas McCarthy (1992)
Sad his life ended the way it did. The music is still better than most of what is made these days. Thanks for your blog.
ReplyDeleteRIP. Sad news.
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