Saved By The Jezebell

Thanks to Jezebell, the perfect soundtrack to the summer - any summer - has arrived, with their new compilation, Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2.

Barely a year ago, on receiving the vinyl edition of Volume 1, I wrote that 

"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."

So, given that it's a mere 23 months since Volume 1 landed, have Jesse and Darren chanced their arm with another 20-track collection, with over two and a quarter hours of music?

Not a chance. These guys know what they are doing, and the confident curation of tracks captures the head spinning prolificacy of this dynamic duo.

If evidence is needed, look no further than the fact that a quarter of the collection comprises brand new and exclusive tracks, opening with Movimento Lento, closing with Turn It Yes, and sprinkling Japaneasy, Red Black & Green and Geo Metric in the mix. 

As ever, the pleasure of a Jezebell song is in repeated listening and whilst I've listened to Volume 2 a few times, I'm still nowhere near to unlocking the secrets of the new tracks, aside from Red Black & Green's pleasing hints of Zobi La Mouche by Les Negresses Vertes and the joyful voice of Yoko Ono in Turn It Yes.

What I will say is that the five new songs sit well with the previously released music, instantly recognisable as Jezebell, whilst continuing to push their sound forward, evolving into new shapes and forms. 

There are also a couple of exclusive 2025 reworkings. This can often mean either a deep love for a piece of music, or a nagging dissatisfaction leading to a pull to tweak or correct the original work. 

Jezebell originally remixed Submissive Background by Ian Vale in 2022 and I thought it was pretty damn good then. The '2025 Re-Remix' is essentially the same, but gives the music more muscle; the percussion positively booms from the speakers and the whole track sounds a little brighter, more confident of itself.

Dancing (Not Fighting) also appeated in 2022, a Jezebell EP built around a sample of Mick Jones from The Clash. The original came in four top notch mixes, In 2024 (to be precise, at 8:08 on 08/08), Jezebell released the 2-track 808 Day Exclusives EP, which included a remix of Dancing (Not Fighting). The 2025 remix appears to be a spruced up version of the latter, and is all the better for it. 

I've referred to my previous notes for some choice comments on other tracks and remixes. 

When I compiled a Jezebell selection, Clues To The Edit, last September, I referred to the 'Leave Your Lover' remix of Pandit Pam Pam's Pass A Wish "in sonic terms [as] equal parts chug and hug". Jezebell's 50 Ways Mix is cut from the same cloth, teasingly pleasing.

Two tracks from their Cream Tease EP have been included, which previously prompted me to comment that "You need more cheek than a Carry On film to name tracks Donkey and Hung, but they are bloody great" Yes. And then some!

I had a lot to say about the 2023's superb digital double pack EP Trading Places in 2023, not least for the '6PM' variation, including on the 'Daytime Versions' edition. Er, over to me.

"6PM is a revelation. After a punchy start, insistent beats, keyboard stabs and 1-2-3-4 sample, things really take an interesting turn at the 2:20 mark 

with Siouxsie Sioux's distinctive vocals kicking in. 

It's an inspired move and one which takes the music to another level. The longest track on both EPs at a smidge under seven and a half minutes, 

it feels like it could easily go on for twice as long."

Two years later and it's still a thrill to listen to.

Concurrence was an early release on When Disco Goes Wrong label in September 2021. In writing about the original version, I reflected that "To these ears, it's like hearing Sheila Chandra with John Bonham on drums and I can't get enough of it."

There were three additional remixes on the Concurrence EP, including one by Jesse with his 10:40 hat on, all excellent. In June 2022, an EP with four brand new remixes emerged, including the psychedelic epic included here by Akio Nagase.

Perfect Din was an exclusive for last year's Shelter Me: In Crisis compilation. Par for the course with Jezebell's music, Perefct Din "got me scratching my head trying to work out what samples [they'd] expertly woven into 408 seconds of groovy sounds." 

Sailing through the rest of Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2, there's the stunning 'Jezebellfast Remix' of Fitzroy Avenue by Warriors Of The Dystotheque featuring Joe Duggan, which wasn't short of a decent remix, but really, this pushed things right out there.

Likewise, Bibbles by Andres Y Xavi, which started off excellent in 2023 and somehow got even better when Jezebell got their hands on it - not once, but three times - the following year. 

I could go on, but I'll start retreading superlatives very soon. It's a testament to the power of Jezebell's sound and their refreshing approach to both their own and others' music that they can get away with two 20-track 'greatest hits' compilations in under two years. 

Not only that,  but the sequencing of the tracks is exemplary and the new songs on Volume 2, boldly proclaim that there's plenty more to come.

If all of the above hasn't had you rushing to snap up Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2 (and Volume 1, if you haven't already got it), then here's an open door. And they're both available as a 'name your price' purchase. What?!

Needless to say, if there is a vinyl edition of Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2 to follow, I will be there like a shot.

You did good, lads.

 

 

 

 

My Instinct For Survival Is To Celebrate

No mash, all bangers, as today's selection focuses on some club friendly highlights from 2024 so far.

 

Not just a nod to the artists themselves, who have all delivered some great music this year, but also to the labels that have continued to be a go to each Bandcamp Friday (and in between):

 

Electric Wardrobe Records

Higher Love Recordings

NEIN Records

Paisley Dark Records

Paper Recordings

Plastique Recordings 

Psychederek

 

Enjoy!

1) Bibbles (Craig Bratley's Cali Gold Remix): Andres Y Xavi (Lagos EP)

2) On Fire (Single Version): Stylic (PoPoPoPom EP)

3) Celebrate (Night Version): Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (Celebrate Remix E.P.)

4) Trance Stance (Cole Odin Vocal Mix): Electric Blue Vision (Trance Stance EP)

5) Tongue-Tied (Moodymanc's 'Listen To Me' Mix): Psychederek (Tongue-Tied EP)

6) Jellyfish Albino (Single Version): Elninodiablo (Infinitely Venus EP)

7) I First Learned About Shelley's Through A Magazine (Single Version): La Guardia De La Luz (México 24 EP)

My Instinct For Survival Is To Celebrate (44:10) (KF) (Mega)

I Broke The Bolt

Happy birthday, Rolo McGinty... or belated happy birthday, as I'm not 100% sure if it falls on the 14th or 15th June. Call myself a fan?!

 

Well...yes, I do, not least because earlier this year, Rolo gifted the world with a brand new album by The Woodentops, Fruits Of The Deep. Head off to Bandcamp to buy it straight away and later, you can read what I thought of it back in April.

 

To celebrate in slightly different style, I'm not posting a selection of The Woodentops' many indie classics from the 1980s, as you might reasonably have expected seeing as one of them popped up in yesterday's Indie Top 20 post.

 

Instead, I'm focusing on Rolo's beat-heavy excursions, taking in The Woodentops from 1990s and the past couple of years, and squeezing in several tracks from his other projects Pluto and Dogs Deluxe, the latter with Rob Miller. There’s also a collaboration with Andres Y Xavi and a remix for Dubversive, featuring Boy George, who also celebrated his birthday yesterday.

 

Several of the featured tracks have been gifted via Rolo's WebArchive page and remain otherwise unreleased.

 

I've chopped, sequenced, faded and edited tracks together to deliver an hour-long selection that will have you up, down, up, down...then staying down. Consider it your weekend workout!

 

Love and respect to Mr. McGinty, I hope the sun shines and all is fine. Have a good one, Rolo.

 

1) Dream On (Rolo Dub): The Woodentops (2024)

2) Stay Out Of The Light (Midi Mix): The Woodentops (1991)

3) Because Of You (Dub): The Woodentops *

4) Tainted World (Kid Batchelor Rub): The Woodentops vs. Bang The Party (1991)

5) Chainsaw: Ambient Mic **

6) Indian Runner: Pluto (1995)

7) Ambient Filth: Bad Apples ***

8) What Do You See In Me (Max Essa Dub): Andres Y Xavi ft. Rolo McGinty (2022)

9) Smokin' (Original Version): The Woodentops *

10) Police And Thieves (Dog's Deluxe Mix) (Cover of Junior Murvin): Dubversive ft. Boy George (1998)

11) Ride A Cloud (Xavi's Campfire Mix): The Woodentops ft. Kyoko Sato (2023)

12) Ride A Cloud (Rolo's Dub): The Woodentops (2024) 

 

1991: Stay Out Of The Light EP: 2 

1991: Tainted World EP: 4

1995: Rising: 6

1998: Police And Thieves EP: 10

2022: What Do You See In Me EP: 8

2023: Ride A Cloud EP: 11

2024: Dream On EP: 1 

2024: Ride A Cloud (Rolo's Dub) EP: 12

* Because Of You eventually turned up on The Woodentops' 2014 album Granular Tales. This dub and a vocal version date (I think) from the 1990s. The same goes for Smokin’.

** One of three "Experiments with video game play sounds" available online, date unknown. 

*** "A bunch of songs written with Richard Thomas and Konrad Kinard", which Rolo recorded with Richard in Somerset. Date unknown, poss. late 1990s/early 2000s.

 

I Broke The Bolt (1:00:13) (KF) (Mega)

You're Savagely Imperfect But I Love Your Style

As we fall into another weekend, some comforting mid-tempo beats to cushion your landing, sixty-two minutes of electronic gems from the last 18 months.  All highly recommended if you're making a shopping list for the next Bandcamp Friday - links below.

Happy Friday, everyone!

 

1) 20HZ Sous La Mer (Blasé Remix): Timothée Joly (2024)

2) Live With Me: Justin Robertson's Deadstock 33s (2023)

3) 100 Years On Pause: Matt Gunn (2023)

4) Loved: Four Tet (2024)

5) A Night In Siolim (Keith Forrester Remix): H​ö​gt I Tak (2023)

6) Flow (Ian Vale Breakmix): Malia Nima (2024)

7) G.E.M.: O.M.D. (2023)

8) Yeah x 3 (Sonic Boom & Panda Bear Reset Remix): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet (2023)

9) Straßenbahn (Jakob From Earth Remix): Die Zimmermänner (2023)

10) Bibbles (Baubles & Beads Mix By Jezebell aka Jesse Fahnestock & Darren Bell): Andres y Xavi (2024)

11) Sundown (Gigi Masin Remix): Eddie Chacon (2023)

 

2023: A Night In Siolim EP: 5 

2023: Bauhaus Staircase: 7

2023: Die Zimmermänner In Dub! EP: 9

2023: Mostly Fiction: 3

2023: One Lone Rider EP: 2 

2023: Sundown EP: 11

2023: Yeah X3 EP: 8 

2024: Bibbles EP: 10

2024: Flow EP: 6

2024: Three: 4

2024: UA+: 20HZ Sous La Mer EP: 1

Savagely Imperfect (1:02:00) (KF) (Mega)

Showgaze Artifacts

This is the house directly opposite Casa K, ablaze with festive cheer, morning, noon and night (yes, it really is on 24/7). This set up has been in place since before the clocks went back, so if you're not feeling the festive cheer by now you must be a real Grinch, right? 

 

The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that the main power cable is feeding through an open bedroom window on the right, so this family have been prepared to suffer some bloody cold nights for their art. Either that, or it's Santa's contigency plan given that they don't have a working chimney....

 

This time of year invariably has me thinking of (and wishing for) sunnier climes. I have managed to spend previous Christmas and New Year celebrations in Australia, Bali and the Canary Islands, the latter including Christmas 2019, little suspecting what was around the corner. However, no such plans for 2023: Clan K will be hosting at Casa K; I have one more week at work, then I won't be back there again until 2024. I cannot wait.

Whilst I may not be physically travelling south, there's plenty of music that will transport me there, not least the rather wonderful remix companion to Jazxing's debut album Pearls Of The Baltic Sea, which came out at the tail end of October. 

 

It's on the Higher Love Recordings label, so you know from the outset that you're in for a Balearic beauty and this doesn't disappoint. Mirroring the original album's sequencing, things get off to a superb start with Danilo Braca's nearly 13-minute rework of Fala. Gulls, lapping water, soothing wordless 'ooohs', saxophone and a steady, insistent beat that gently carries you forward.

 

I've selected four samples below, the opening track plus remixes by Andres y Xavi (like a lost Beth Orton backing track featuring Jah Wobble), Balearic Ultras (dialogue and synth stabs and washes in perfect harmony) and closing with Coyote (you know what to expect from this duo and you won't be disappointed). 

 

But really, it's so much more than just a remix album, it's a cohesive, considered reworking, each element working together beautifully and creating an album that's every bit as rewarding as the original.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pearls Of The Baltic Sea was originally released in September 2022 and is available to buy here. And if you're looking for further gift ideas for the one you love - even if that's yourself - then you can do no wrong by checking out the rest of the Higher Love Recordings catalogue.

 

I'd originally planned today's post to focus on film director Rob Reiner, seemingly another loss in a couple of weeks of almost-daily reports of celebrity deaths. It turns out that it was all a hoax perpetrated on Elon's social media shitshow. Ol' Musky really should have rebranded Twitter as Shitter, as that would be a more accurate description of it's current state.

 

Anyhoo, I was already some way into pulling together a Dubhed selection and it seems a waste not to finish the job and post it. No spoilers to say that if you come back tomorrow, in complete contrast to today's post, you'll get some musical nuggets with - what else? - a liberal helping of Spinal Tap.

The Further You Fall, The Higher You Fly

The next few days will be highlighting some of my favourites from 2022, beginning with a selection of great remixes from the mass of singles that I've purchased (mainly on Bandcamp Friday) this year. 

 

Many DJs and producers could have warranted a 'best of' selection in their own right, given the quantity and quality of music they've released this year. An honorable mention then to those that only have one appearance here but easily could have had several: Andy Bell & GLOK, Bedford Falls Players, David Holmes & Unloved, Hardway Bros, HiFi Sean, Joe Goddard, Richard Norris and Rude Audio.

Albums by Mattiel, A Mountain Of One and Warmduscher have come recommended and appear in other 2022 countdowns in the blogosphere. I bought a lot of albums (mostly digital) this year but these are all still on my shopping list.

Continuing the 80s indie flavour, Andres Y Xavi make an appearance for the second year running with another track/remix featuring The Woodentops' Rolo McGinty. In a delightful and unexpected move, BMX Bandits' 2017 song Razorblades & Honey, co-written by Duglas T. Stewart and Anton Newcombe, was remixed by founder member, former Soup Dragon and DJ/producer par excellence Sean Dickson aka HiFi Sean. It's even better than you'd imagine it could be.

 

Jesse Fahnestock and Darren Bell are back as Jezebell (I warned you on Christmas Eve), breaking my own rule for this selection by appearing twice. In my defence, one is a remix of another artist (Ian Vale) and the other is a remix of one of their own songs by, er, themselves. Oh, why should I justify myself? They're both excellent!

 

In addition to an excellent album and clutch of singles with Unloved, David Holmes released the stunning single It's Over, If We Run Out Of Love featuring Raven Violet on Valentines Day this year, with a stunning remix package following at the end of March. Hard to pick a favourite to be honest, but Sean Johnston's brace of remixes won out.

 

Likewise, Richard Norris' pair of remixes of Sundowning by Mark Peters featuring Dot Allison released in late October are jaw droppingly beautiful. I've ditched the beats and gone for the ambient version to close this selection. 

 

All of these are available digitally, some on physical formats, via Bandcamp and other retailers. All highly recommended. 

 

More 2022 highlights tomorrow.

 

1) Subterranean Dub (Raf Rundell's Salty Man Dub): Mattiel

2) You Feed Me (Rude Audio Remix): Field Of Dreams

3) What Do You See In Me (Xavi Dub 2) (Remix By Steve Ellis): Andres Y Xavi ft. Rolo McGinty

4) Star (Yo Miro Remix): A Mountain Of One

5) Red Shift (Bedford Falls Players Remix): MAN2.0

6) Dimension Z (Pete Bones Remix): TR20

7) Razorblades & Honey (HiFi Sean Extended Revision): BMX Bandits ft. Anton Newcombe

8) Loft Music (Jezebell's DC Metro Mix): Ian Vale

9) It's Over, If We Run Out Of Love (Hardway Bros Live At The SSL Dub): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet

10) Wavygravy (GLOK Remix): Flyying Colours

11) Dancing (Not Fighting) (The Drop Acid Not Bombs Mix): Jezebell

12) Famous (The Reflex Re√ision): Parcels

13) Fatso (Joe Goddard Remix): Warmduscher

14) Sundowning (Richard Norris Ambient Remix): Mark Peters ft. Dot Allison

The Further You Fall, The Higher You Fly (1:27:08) (Box) (Mega)

Nothing But The Chances

More beat-laden beauties to banish your mid-week blues, three quarters of an hour (give or take a minute) of music from the 2020s to enhance your day. 

I was encouraged to check out the Rough Diamond EP by TR20 aka Joshua Tobin and Jack Rutherford after they contributed to Hyena Hopscotch Remixes by Pete Bones & The Stones Of Convention. Pete returns the favour on the EP, as do Bedford Falls Players on the title track. The original version of Rough Diamond is described as an "ALFOS aligned chugger" and they're not wrong.

Yes Father are also a duo - Dino Lenny and Francesco Farfa - and I originally picked up Everything You Say last year via Justin Robertson's Deadstock 33s Remix. I went back this summer to get their own remix of the track, described as "modern dance music meets new wave disco jam that’s upbeat without compromising style". A banger, in other words.

 

I've dipped into Versions: Remixed by Archive, which is packed with goodies by Andy Bell/GLOK and Richard Norris. Lights was originally the eighteen and a half minute title track from their 2006 album, recreated as a seven minute opener for Archive's 2020 Versions album and remixed here by Darkstar aka Aiden Whalley and James Young as a three and a half minute ambient interlude, dovetailing nicely into...

...Jezebell's dub reimagining of Elle Et Moi by Max Berlin's as Jezebelle Et Moi. I'm a big fan of this track and I think I have now featured all but one of the four versions on this blog. Jezebell aka Jesse Fahnestock and Darren Bell have pulled out all the stops, delivering so many great new songs and remixes in recent months that it;s easy to forget that Jezebelle Et Moi came out in 2022. All highly recommended.

 

Walking In The Sun by Andres Y Xavi (Glenn Fallows and Steve Ellis to their family and friends) is another track that's featured here multiple times in various versions since the remix EP was released last April. Alongside remixes from Coyote and James Bright, there are are a couple of remixes by Xavi/Steve, including this lovely sunset dub.

 

From there, Sydney Minsky-Sargeant of Working Men's Club teams up with Russ Orton (ex-Fat Truckers) as Minsky Rock to take on Baxter Dury. Say Nothing is grabbed by the lapels and dragged back to the 1980s, this vocal-free version described by Dury as taking "the basic cells of a sleepy spoken word number and [turning] it into a bastard 80s electro animal". An apt description.

 

Sticking with the 1980s and Rude Boy's cover of M|A|R|R|S 1987 one-off single and global smash hit. Rude Boy is Lee Groves and Kardi Tivali, with Pump Up The Volume remixed by Robo Bass Hifi aka Markus Kamma as a dub-inflected electro chugger. 

 

Rounding things off is the mysterious (to me, at least) From Beyond with Simulated Emotions, released on the excellent Paisley Dark Records in August 2021. The EP includes a braces of remixes by Bedford Falls Players (him again) and label boss John Paynter, delivering "A Space Age Freak Out Dark Paisley" version. I've gone for the original version of the title track, a low-BPM thing of beauty, all pulsing beats, bouncing keys and synth washes. 

 

Just over forty five minutes later and you have arrived at your destination. I hope you enjoyed the ride.

 

1) Rough Diamond (Original Version): TR20 (2022)

2) Everything You Say (Dino Lenny & Francesco Farfa Mix): Yes Father (2020)

3) Lights (Darkstar Remix): Archive ft. Pollard Berrier (2020)

4) Jezebelle Et Moi (Le Dub Et Moi) (Cover of Max Berlin's): Jezebell (2022)

5) Walking In The Sun (Xavi's Dub): Andres Y Xavi ft. Rolo McGinty (2021)

6) Say Nothing (Minsky Rock Remix - Instrumental): Baxter Dury (2020)

7) Pump Up The Volume (Robo Bass Hifi Remix) (Cover of M|A|R|R|S): Rude Boy ft. Kardi Tivali (2021)

8) Simulated Emotions (Single Version): From Beyond (2021)

2020: Everything You Say EP: 2

2020: Say Nothing EP: 6

2020: Versions: Remixed: 3

2021: Pump Up The Volume / Superstylin' EP: 7

2021: Simulated Emotions EP: 8

2021: Walking In The Sun EP: 5

2022: Jezebelle Et Moi EP: 4

2022: Rough Diamond EP: 1

Nothing But The Chances (45:57) (Box) (Mega)

Thinking About All That Sunlight

Bringing the beats back home for the weekend with (just under) an hour of electronic grooves from 2022 that have got me shuffling around and throwing shapes. 

 

First up we have Steady State aka Dublin-based DJ and producer Eric Whelan with the title track (in German) of the excellent Shelter Me compilation. Out on the Paisley Dark Records label for six weeks only in May, all profits from album sales went to national housing and homelessness chariy, Shelter. A reliably brilliant selection featuring Jezebell, Richard Sen, Matt Gunn, Pete Bones and Bedford Falls Players amongst others, Beschütze Mich was the opening song and a highlight.

 

Cosmosolar is Alejandro Gamba from Argentina, who I first heard in June via his remix of Mundo D's Fight Your Enemy, which I've featured in a previous selection. I picked up Cosmosolar's All The Reasons EP on Bandcamp Friday in September, a four track feast with the title track featuring here. Another release on Nein Records, like Paisley Dark, a label that's relatively new to me that's fast become a go to for quality music.

 

Omri Smadar featured in the same selection as the Mundo D/Cosmosolar remix in July and this is another track from the rather special Phase Of Motion EP. Yuksek was on remix duties last time; this time around it's Omri himself with neighbour Obas Nenor aka Ronen Sabo.

 

I've been a fan and follower of Luxxury's music for a loooong time, initially coming via remixes and re-edits of the likes of Health, Led Zeppelin, Donna Summer, Little Boots and David Bowie. Blake Robin has also been producing his own music since the mid-2000s. Third album, Alright, came out in July and continues the theme of 1980s-inspired pop/dance tunes, drenched in Californian sunshine. 

 

A Mountain Of One also released their third album in 2022, Stars Planets Dust Me, emerging in early May. It completely passed me by until Swiss Adam highlighted the clutch of remixes accompanying second single Star over at Bagging Area in August. All highly recommended. For this selection, I've gone for the laidback grooves of Dublin DJ and producer Arveene Juthan. As an aside, today's photo/album cover is a cheeky, remixed nod to Swiss Adam's original holiday photo accompanying his post.

 

What Do You See In Me by Andres Y Xavi featuring Rolo McGinty (The Woodentops) had been out in 2021 but in March a remix package was released, including three sublime Balearic classics from Max Essa. I've previously selected the vocal mix; I've gone for the instrumental here which despite Rolo's absence is still a wonderful, blissful 8 minutes.

 

Ibibio Sound Machine released their fourth studio album Electricity in March and I completely missed it. Luckily, Jez over at A History Of Dubious Taste came to the rescue by posting a review a couple of weeks later and I immediately purchased the album in April. Produced by Hot Chip, the album is chock full of tunes that you can't help but move to. The album is still on heavy rotation, six months later.

 

You may have guessed from my review of last Saturday's Blancmange gig that (a) I like them a lot; (b) I like the post-reformation/Neil Arthur 'solo' Blancmange a lot; and (c) I like current album Private View, released at the end of September, a lot. Everything Is Connected, track seven of ten on the album, is one of the reasons why.

 

Franc Moody were completely unknown to me until I bought the 100-track EarthPercent x Earth Day Compilation Album, a digital behemoth that spawned a Dubhed Selection in early September. From what I can gather, Franc Moody are a London-based six-piece formed by Ned Franc and Jon Moody, performing a contemporary update of 70s/80s pop funk. Perhaps inevitably, they've also remixed Jamiroquai. The instrumental song featured here isn't entirely representative of the other songs I've heard but I was sufficiently intrigued to check out Franc Moody on YouTube and I'd recommend a peek.

 

The selection closes with Al Mackenzie (D:Ream, Field Of Dreams) and Sail On, his tribute to the greatly missed Andrew Weatherall. It's a beautiful song tinged with melancholy and optimism, Al's one-take vocal of the title all that needs to be said, really. The song is still available as a free/name your price download on Bandcamp, with all profit from sales going to I'm Homeless, get Me Out Of Here!, a Birmingham-based homeless charity that Al supports. Do the right thing.

 

It was only when writing the sleeve notes that I realised the link between the first and last songs, which feels even more pertinent with the departure of KamiKwasi, the return of Jeremy Hunt (if that's not Cockney rhyming slang by now, it should be) and the continued downward spiral of our un-Truss-tworthy PM. When I worked for Shelter many years ago, the aspiration was working towards a day when there was no longer a housing crisis and Shelter and other like-minded charities would no longer be needed. We're continuing to accelerate in completely the opposite direction, so thank goodness there are people and charities out there every day, trying to help and make a difference.

 

1) Beschütze Mich (from Shelter Me): Steady State

2) All The Reasons (from the eponymous EP): Cosmosolar

3) Smolyan (Night Mix) (from the Phase Of Motion EP): Omri Smadar

4) Midnight Special (Edit) (from Alright (Deluxx)): Luxxury

5) Star (Arveene Remix) (from the eponymous EP): A Mountain Of One

6) What Do You See In Me (Max Essa Extended Instrumental Mix) (from the eponymous EP): Andres Y Xavi

7) Casio (Yak Nda Nda) (from Electricity): Ibibio Sound Machine

8) Everything Is Connected (from Private View): Blancmange

9) Water (Instrumental) (from EarthPercent x Earth Day Compilation Album): Franc Moody

10) Sail On (from the eponymous single): Al Mackenzie

 

Thinking About All That Sunlight (57:00)

Can Anyone Ever Really Get The Chemistry, You Know?

This selection has been done completely on the fly this morning and entirely made up of new digital purchases in the past couple of days, mostly via Bandcamp Friday. It's a reasonably relaxed affair, with occasional musical prods to get your attention.

Swiss Adam introduced me to Andres Y Xavi last year and their collaborations with Rolo McGinty (The Woodentops) were fantastic. What Do You See In Me originally appeared as a dub and it's just been released as an EP, with two further Xavi dubs and a trio of excellent Balearic remixes from Max Essa. I've gone for the full vocal to start things off, Rolo in fine form against a gentle acoustic backdrop and the promise of a beautiful summer to come.

 

Dan Wainwright, another Bagging Area recommendation, released his latest album From The Ground Up in January. Two listens in and I'm loving it. In the promo info Dan describes this as a very personal record that "tells a story through metaphor about being neurodiverse and learning to accept and love [himself] as being unique". If you've enjoyed Dan's music as I have, then this album takes it to whole other level.

 

I stumbled across Ribas Abbas whilst down a Bandcamp rabbit hole, and I'm glad I did. Based in Amsterdam, Ribas' music appears to be a mix of originals and re-edits, all available as a free/name your price download. I've started with two re-edits, one by Christine & The Queens and the other, featured here, a re-edit of Pilooski's 2015 song Completely Sun, featuring Jarvis Cocker.

 

In fact, you get three divine JCs for your trouble (though sadly not this one). Aside from Jarvis Cocker, Julian Cope and John Cale both get the re-edit/remix treatment, courtesy of Paisley Dark Records and their excellent Edits Box series. As is there weren't reason enough to buy, on Bandcamp Friday all of the artists agreed to donate every penny spent on releases to the fund raiser United Help Ukraine, with the label match funding donations up to £100. 

 

I enthused about the new Trentemøller album, Memoria, last month but after streaming it for the last couple of weeks, I have finally got around to buying it. Lisbet Fritze is the perfect choice of vocalist for the album, as evidenced in current single, No More Kissing In The Rain. 

 

On a similar retro vibe, I belated picked up The Divine Comedy's most recent album, Office Politics. Not what I expected - in a good way - with Neil Hannon channeling his inner Goldfrapp on this song. This is preceded by Sleaford Mods, remixed by the Hartnoll brothers to great effect. Parental advisory: you might want to skip this one as, true to form, there's a lot of effin' and jeffin' going on.

 

Xan Tyler makes a welcome return to these pages, following 2021's collaboration with Mad Professor, Clarion Call, which I loved. Whilst I'm looking forward to a new Xan Tyler album this year, this selection steps back to 2020 and Let It Come Down, essentially a solo project by legendary producer Kramer. So far, just the one album - Songs We Sang in Our Dreams - predominantly instrumentals with Xan providing vocals on a couple of tracks, including this beauty.

 

Closing the selection is the wonderful Dnipro by Ukrainian duo Ptakh_Jung, which I discovered earlier this week, and the brilliant Catherine Anne Davies aka The Anchoress. Following last month's cover of R.E.M., here is a wonderful version of The Tradition by Halsey, Davies accompanied by Charlie Cawood to haunting effect. 

 

A perfect way to close the selection, and a prompt to further explore the vast musical soundscapes these artists have created. Buy now.

 

1) What Do You See In Me (Max Essa Extended Vocal Mix): Andres Y Xavi ft. Rolo McGinty (2022)

2) Underwater Cities: Dan Wainwright (2022)

3) Completely Sun (Ribas Abbas Remix): Pilooski ft. Jarvis Cocker (2020)

4) I Don't Rate You (Orbital Remix): Sleaford Mods (2021)

5) Infernal Machines (Album Version): The Divine Comedy (2019)

6) No More Kissing In The Rain: Trentemøller ft. Lisbet Fritze (2022)

7) They Were On Hard Drugs (Matt Gunn Edit): Julian Cope (2022)

8) Hush Hush: Horton Jupiter vs. John Cale (2021)

9) Don't Let It Go To Your Head: Cleo Sol (2021)

10) Pennies: Let It Come Down (Kramer & Xan Tyler) (2020)

11) Dnipro: Ptakh_Jung (2020)

12) The Tradition (Cover of Halsey): The Anchoress (2022)

 

Can Anyone Ever Really Get The Chemistry, You Know? (1:02:34)