Is It Obvious? Or Is It Delirium?

Last Sunday's post summed up some of the great music in 2025 so far and tomorrow will complete the 25 For 25 set.

That selection has focused on what I would loosely describe as 'alternative' music, whereas I have featured several selections this year that are more electronic / beats based.

And there's so much of it, I can't keep up, to be honest. Exhibit A: another 90-minute, 15 song pick that refuses to be pigeonholed.

There is something of a nostalgic feel to this one. The All Seeing I have released an expanded version on their 1999 album Pickled Eggs And Sherbert, including 4 reworkings by founder member Richard Barratt aka Crooked Man, which you can also buy as a standalone EP. Of course I had to pick 1st Man In Space featuring living legend Phil Oakey.

Phil's in good company. The following song La Musica was originally released in 2014 by Munk and re-released this year as a collaboration with Kapote...although they are one and the same person, Mathias Modica. The version here features George Kranz, heavily incorporating his 1983 song Din Daa Daa.

Oh, and Yoko Ono pops up in the next song by the brilliant Jezebell,  Dub Narcotic Sound System's 1994 single Fuck Shit Up gets a makeover by hi-falutin' Hifi Sean and you'll hear a familiar snippet of Peter Fonda amongst the guess-the-sample offering by Follytechnic Music Library aka Paul Southgate. Paul's seemingly unstoppable output of edits and mash-ups deserves a post of its own. I must get to it.

It's not all reflective, though. If you've been following this blog all year, you will have twigged that I like Airsine's Like Fire EP. I mean, a lot. Three of the four versions have now appeared on 2025 round-up selections, so I guess I'd better save the remaining one for the 'best of the year' round up.

senses appear for the second time in a week with the same song. The original 'indie' version has a charm all of its own, but there was no way I was leaving out Andy Bell's GLOK remix. 

Likewise, Let Yourself Go by Una Camille & Dr. No (well, Richard Norris in disguise actually) popped up previously with one of his own remixes, but I had to make room here for the super Acid Mix by Leo Zero. 

Leo's been pretty busy himself this year, as I found to my (literal) cost last Bandcamp Friday, so there will be more from him here soon. 

Other gifts that keep giving since their release are albums by Hifi Sean and David McAlmont and 100 Poems aka Mike Wilson. Hugo Nicholson is in a real purple patch at the moment, Pete Bones too, here with a remix of Nick Hook for a charity fundraiser EP.

Relatively recent discoveries are Greendoxyn (here with Lyubava), via the ever reliable NEIN Records label,  and London duo Mermaid Chunky, who I found via their collaboration with Orbury Common in 2022.

Rounding things out is sLEdger, who got my attention with an excellent remix of Fluke in 2024, and have kept it with some top notch and brilliantly titled releases. Trippy Ass God Funk indeed.

Please come back on Sunday for more 2025 highlights.

1) 1st Crooked Man In Space (Remix By Richard Barratt): The All Seeing I ft. Phil Oakey (Return Of The Crooked Cat EP)

2) La Musica (Din Daa Daa Version): Munk & Kapote ft. George Kranz (La Musica EP)

3) Turn It Yes: Jezebell (Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2)

4) Like Fire (Single Version): Airsine (Like Fire EP)

5) Spanner: Hugo Nicolson (Black Stick EP)

6) have you ever had a broken heart? (Andy Bell/GLOK Remix): senses (have you ever had a broken heart? EP)

7) Sleeping Pill (Album Version): Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (Twilight)

8) Waiting For An Angel: Greendoxyn & Lyubava (Waiting For An Angel EP)

9) Viva Palestina (Pete Bones Remix): Nick Hook (Viva Palestina (Dance For Peace Remixes) EP)

10) chaperone (Peach's 2Good 2Be Remix): Mermaid Chunky (chaperone EP)

11) Fuck Shit Up (Hifi Sean Mix): Dub Narcotic Sound System (Fuck Shit Up EP)

12) Let The Horse Run Free: 100 Poems (Let The Horse Run Free)

13) Surfer Man Got Loaded: Follytechnic Music Library (FML25 Baggy Ravers 3)

14) Let Yourself Go (Leo Zero Acid Mix): Una Camille & Dr No (Let Yourself Go EP)

15) Trippy Ass God Funk: sLEdger (Funk From The Portal EP)

Is It Obvious? Or Is It Delirium? (1:30:45) (GD) (M)

And if you missed the previous 2025 So Far selections...

28th March: It's A Glamorous World 

11th May: Doused In Dopamine

4th July: Staring Into Air

It's A Glamorous World

My new music purchases have been relatively modest so far this year, but here's a 10-song selection of 2025 bangers.

I'm running late this morning, so expect some expanded sleeve notes over the weekend. 
 
In the meantime, happy listening!

1) High With You (Night Version): Hifi Sean & David McAlmont

2) The Ballad Of Josey Wales: 100 Poems

3) The Man Behind The Counter (Timmy Stewart's York Street Collision Mix): The Vendetta Suite

4) A Pact (Skyscraper HiFi Remix B By Jon Dasilva & Jonas Nilsson): The Woodentops

5) The Ouija Board (MAN2.0's Kill Us For The Sport Remix By Mark Bailey): Legoheads

6) Let Yourself Go (Richard Norris Main Mix): Una Camille & Dr No

7) I'm In Love... (Justin Robertson's Deadstock 33s Remix): Andy Bell ft. Dot Allison & Michael Rother

8) Toronto Street (The Vendetta Suite's Hope Street Diversion Mix By Gary Irwin): Timmy Stewart

9) Beneath The Waves: 10:40

10) Breaker City (Jezebell's Nice 'n' Slow Remix By Jesse Fahnestock & Darren Bell): Parvale

It's A Glamorous World (1:01:53) (GD) (M)

[Postscript, 11th May 2025]

I never did get around to those expanded sleeve notes, did I? Suffice to say, this is all killer no filler!

Songs For A Friend I've Never Met

Sending love, strength and best wishes.

1) Pray For Me (Acts Of Faith: Act 9, Part 1): SAULT

2) Hello My Friends (Part 2): Hardway Bros ft. Roses Sabra

3) Joyness Magnificent (We'll Find The Light Together) (Live): 100 Poems

4) Loved: Four Tet

5) Pass A Wish (Single Version): Pandit Pam Pam

6) Lovely Day (Cover of Bill Withers): Pepe Link

7) Moving Forward (Cosmodelica Remix - Full Length): Bryony Jarman-Pinto

Songs For A Friend I've Never Met (37:25) (KF) (Mega)

A Song For You

Another selection of 2024 highlights, the theme being names in song titles.

 

Many of the usual suspects - Barry Adamson, Momus, Julian Cope, HANN - and a couple appearing here for the first time, with 100 Poems (aka Mike Wilson) and Mat Ducasse (best known to me for his work with Skylab). 

 

A Man Called Adam originally released Estelle in 1998 and it reappeared again this year with some new versions and contemporary remixes that had been gathering dust in a box for decades. I've included the traditional 7" version here, a reminder of summers past and the summer that never quite materialised here in 2024.

Another 'comeback' of sorts was China Crisis, who revisited their back catalogue with lush orchestral arrangements, a common practice these days perhaps, but not always successful. No such worry here though, China Greatness is a delight. A second CD supplied alternative mixes of the album tracks, including Christian, which closes today's selection.

I'll be coming back to some of the artists featured here over the next week, to wax lyrical about their respective albums. Gosh, it's been a good year, musically speaking.

 

1) Amen White Jesus: Barry Adamson (Cut To Black)

2) Trump: Momus (20 Frisky Whiskies)

3) Iris: Future Islands (People Who Aren’t There Anymore)

4) Estelle (7 Inch Edit): A Man Called Adam (Estelle EP)

5) Four Jehovahs In A Volvo Estate: Julian Cope (Friar Tuck)

6) Song For Claire (Your Life Is Your Life) (Album Version): 100 Poems (Balearic As A System Of Belief)

7) Rebecca's Desk: Xan Tyler (Holding Up Half The Sky)

8) Reka: Kito Jempere ft. Moral Kiosk & LINAMARI (Part Time Chaos Part Time Calmness)

9) Steve: Billy Reeves (Steve (A Weekend In Egham, 1996))

10) This Is Liam: HANN (Forever In A Glance)

11) Song For David (Single Version): Mat Ducasse (Song For David EP)

12) Christian (WW1 Mix): China Crisis (China Greatness)

A Song For You (47:30) (KF) (Mega)