Still Jammin' On The Moon(s)

My shortlist for yesterday's Justin Robertson mixtape ran to 26 tracks, enough for two 86-minute Dubhed selections, so why keep you waiting?

More of an even split between the 20th and 21st centuries, there are some classic remixes of Finitribe and Stereo MC's, a rare B-side from Justin's late 90s alias Gentleman Thief, a deep cut from Lionrock's hugely underrated second album, plenty from The Deadstock 33s and collaborations with Dot Allison, Michael Rother, Nadine Sutherland, Ernie Ranglin and Brix Smith.

More nourishing than a Sunday roast, well, spiritually at least... enjoy the feast!

1) Arikanto (Justin Robertson Remix): DJ Shine (2011)

2) Forevergreen (Forevermost Excellent Mix By Justin Robertson, Mr. Samples & Phunky Torso): Finitribe (1992)

3) I'm In Love... (Justin Robertson's Deadstock 33s Remix) (Cover of The Passions): Andy Bell ft. Dot Allison & Michael Rother (2025)

4) Who Are You? (Sleuth Mix By Justin Robertson & Richard Hector-Jones): Larceny (1995)

5) The Liquidator: Lionrock 1997)

6) Spain (The Deadstock 33's Edit By Justin Robertson): The Stranglers (2010)

7) Creation (Justin Robertson Instrumental): Stereo MC's (1993)

8) At Peace In The Barber's Chair: Gentleman Thief (1999)

9) Brix Goes Tubular (Extended Version): Justin Robertson's Deadstock 33s & Brix Smith (2022)

10) Ramvong (Justin Robertson Deadstock 33's Remix): Richard Rossa (2014)

11) Seventeen (Justin Robertson Mix): Ladytron (2009)

12) Lost In Space (Lionrock Galactic Boogie Mix By Justin Robertson) (Cover of John Williams): Apollo 440 (1998)

13) Save Me (Album Version By Justin Robertson): Two Culture Clash ft. Nadine Sutherland & Ernie Ranglin (2004) 

1992: Forevergreen (The Justin Robertson Mixes) EP: 2

1993: Creation EP: 7

1995: Who Are You? EP: 4

1997: City Delirious: 5

1998: Lost In Space EP: 12

1999: We Generate Love EP: 8

2004: Two Culture Clash: 13

2009: Light & Magic: Remixed & Rare: 11

2010: Spain EP: 6

2011: Arikanto EP: 1

2014: Ramvong EP: 10

2022: Brix Goes Tubular EP: 9

2025: I'm In Love... EP: 3

Jammin' On The Moon(s) Vol. 2 (1:25:41) (GD) (M)

If you've still got room for desert, please indulge yourself with this trio of JR selections from the Dubhed archives:

 

Truth In The Palm Of Her Hands (Lionrock singles and remixes 1992-1997)

Dip Your Hip (JR/Deadstock 33s tracks and remixes, 2001-2023)

Deadstock Holiday (JR remixes 1990-2023)

Wob Almighty

Any day is a good day to listen to Jah Wobble, so here's a fresh 75-minute Dubhed selection of 12 songs that have been touched by the hand of Wob.

Spanning 1991 to 2002, this is a globe-trotting expedition taking in artists from Australia, Brazil, Jamaica, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, with frequent rest stops in blighted Blighty.

Turn up the bass, dial up the volume and prepare to immerse yourself in an eclectic mix, including a UK #1 single!

As it's Friday, I've reposted more Jah Wobble wonderment, including a previous Wob-heavy Dubhed selection from 2022.

1) Paths (Jah Wobble Remix): Robert Miles ft. Nina Miranda (2001)

2) Chains (Wobble Mix By Jah Wobble): The Wolfgang Press (1994)

3) Familus Horribilus (Mega Wob 2) (Remix By Jah Wobble): Pop Will Eat Itself (1993)

4) Go Into The Light (Celestial Dub Mix By Jah Wobble): Ian McNabb (1993)

5) Kiss Kiss (Jah Wobble Remix) (Single Version): Holly Valance (2002)

6) Night Nurse (Jah Wobble 12" Mix) (Cover of Gregory Isaacs): Sly & Robbie ft. Simply Red (1997)

7) Child (Jah Wobble Mix): Definition Of Sound (1996)

8) So Let Me Go Far (So Let Me Wobble Jah) (Remix By Jah Wobble): Dodgy (1994)

9) Texture (Remixed By Jah Wobble): Soft Ballet (1992)

10) Liquid Cool (Jah Wobble Remix): Apollo 440 (1994)

11) Chinatown New York (Wobble Mix By Jah Wobble): Bebop 90 (1991)

12) Ĉuovgi Liekkas (Jah Wobble Remix II): Mari Boine (2001)

1991: Fuse II: World Dance Music: 11

1992: Alter Ego: 9

1993: Familus Horribilus / RSVP EP: 3

1993: Go Into The Light EP: 4

1994: Going South EP: 2

1994: Liquid Cool EP: 10

1994: So Let Me Go Far EP: 8

1996: Child EP: 7

1997: Night Nurse EP: 6

2001: Paths EP: 1

2001: Remixed / Oðða Hámis: 12

2002: Kiss Kiss EP: 5

Wob Almighty (1:14:49) (GD) (M)

In Wob We Trust (January 2022)

Wob Three Times (August 2023)

Kicking Down The Khazi (December 2023)

...Everybody Listen! Something Exciting Is About To Happen!

Side 2 of a cassette compilation recorded 22nd January 1997.

 

Ditching the pumpkins and the 21st Century for some banging 90s beats. Across the 14 mixes and two sides of the original cassette, 1993 is heavily represented. I'm not quite sure why this year was resonating quite so much with me in early 1997, but it was clearly a good year for club music.

Not that any of the other selections are sloppy seconds. 

Traci Lords successfully made a career switch from the US porn industry to the UK club scene, teaming up with Juno Reactor for the 1995 album 1000 Fires and getting Paul Oakenfold in to remix her single Fallen Angel. The song was apparently inspired by her childhood journals and Kurt Cobain's suicide the previous year. 

Fluke seemed to be everywhere in 1996, including the video games market. Even to non-gamers like me, the soundtrack to Wipeout 2097 was pretty amazing and Fluke's single Atom Bomb was all over it. There were 8 versions across 2 CD singles, which was enough to push it into the UK Top 20.

The Source aka John Truelove aka John Rush hit the motherlode when he paired a 1986 Candi Station with Frankie Knuckles & Jamie Principle's Your Love to create You Got The Love. Initially a bootleg in 1989, further variations cracked the UK Top 10 in 1991, 1997 and 2006. Unfortunately, it kind of threw everything else into the shade, including 1993 single Sanctuary Of Love.

 

Sanctuary Of Love follows a simple plan, taking an underground club track by US artist Zhana Saunders and transforming into a hard house anthem. Tall Paul's remix ramps up the epic feel, but it remained one for the clubs, making no impact whatsoever on the UK singles chart.

Mark Moore had the unenviable task of following up a smash hit debut album with S'Express. Eschewing the previous rotating cast of vocalists for a single artist, Mark's pairing with Sonia Clarke aka Sonique was inspired, even if it didn't bring the same commercial success. Personally, I think the follow up album Intercourse is hugely underappreciated and lead single Nothing To Lose is as good as anything that had come before. 

Usura was an Italian combo who enjoyed a UK #7 hit in January 1993 with Open Your Mind. I don't think follow up single Tear It Up even dented the charts, which is a shame as it's an equally compelling track, with an earthy, compelling vocal. Tear It Up was a co-write with Rollo, yet to find global fame with Faithless, but renowned for his remixes and he really delivers the goods on this one.

Apollo 440 was birthed in 1990 by brothers Howard Gray and Trevor Gray, along with James Gardner and Noko aka Norman Fisher-Jones. Building a reputation though remixes and singles in the early 1990s, they released Millennium Fever, the first of five albums, in 1994. Noko was previously one half of Luxuria with Howard Devoto, who contributed lyrics to Apollo 440's debut album. The pair were reunited when Noko joined the reformed Magazine in 2009.

Closing side 2 and the mixtape is a remix of Culture Club's Miss Me Blind by Ramp aka Shem McCauley and Simon Rogers. Originally released on the Colour By Numbers album in 1983, and as a single outside of the UK, this remix first appeared on US editions of Boy George's single Everything I Own in 1993. I got my mitts on it via The Devil In Sister George EP, which featured updated versions of 5 old songs, aimed squarely at the dancefloor. This one knocks the Culture Club original out of the park.

 

1) Fallen Angel (Perfecto Mix By Paul Oakenfold) (Single Edit): Traci Lords (1995)

2) Atom Bomb (Atomix 6): Fluke (1996)

3) Sanctuary Of Love (Tall Paul's Jiant Revamp) (Remix By Paul Newman): The Source ft. Zhana Saunders (1993)

4) Nothing To Lose (Original Mix By Mark Moore): S'Express ft. Sonique (1990)

5) Tear It Up (Big, Bold And Sassy Mix By Rollo): Usura (1993)

6) Rumble (12” Version): Apollo 440 (1993)

7) Miss Me Blind (Return To Gender Mix By Ramp): Culture Club (1993)

Side Two (46:19) (KF) (Mega)

Versions Galore

Side 1 of a cover versions cassette compilation, recorded 26th November 1999.

Preparing for the end of the millennium party with a mixtape of songs transformed or tortured by (then) contemporary. Who would have thought a quarter of a century on, many of these artists would still be recording and touring?

I recorded a trio of CD-Rs titled Hokey Karaoke for my friend Stuart in 2008 and posted the first of these on here in 2022. Only two duplications with this track list, one of them being the closer to this side by My Bloody Valentine which,, coincidentally, opens up the companion collection.

Great to be reminded of these songs, especially that superb O.M.D. bassline, Republica's OTT take on Gary Numan and what an awesome live act Senser were.

 

1) Waiting For The Man (Single Version): O.M.D. vs. The Velvet Underground (1980)

2) Stepping Stone (Ghost Dance Mix By Terry Farley & Mr. Suggs): The Farm vs. The Monkees (1991)

3) (Don't Fear) The Reaper (Single Version): Apollo 440 vs. Blue Öyster Cult (1995)

4) Children Of The Revolution (7" Mix): Baby Ford vs. T. Rex (1989)

5) Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun (Live @ Reading Festival): Senser vs. Beastie Boys (1993)

6) Hanging Around (Album Version By Tony Visconti): Hazel O'Connor vs. The Stranglers (1981)

7) Sexual Healing: Anita Lane ft. Mick Harvey & Barry Adamson vs. Marvin Gaye (1993)

8) Jacky (7" Version By Trevor Horn & Brian Malouf): Marc Almond vs. Jacques Brel / Scott Walker (1991)

9) Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds vs. Gene Pitney (1986)

10) Are 'Friends' Electric?: Republica vs. Tubeway Army (1997)

11) We Have All The Time In The World: My Bloody Valentine vs. Louis Armstrong (1993)

1980: Messages EP: 1

1981: Cover Plus: 6

1986: Kicking Against The Pricks: 9

1989: Children Of The Revolution EP: 4

1991: Stepping Stone EP: 2

1991: Tenement Symphony: 8

1993: Dirty Pearl: 7

1993: Peace Together: 11

1994: Age Of Panic EP: 5

1995: (Don't Fear) The Reaper EP: 3

1997: Random: 10

 

Side One (47:20) (GD) (M)

You can find Hokey Karaoke (Volume One) here

There's Always Help, If You Know Where To Look

Side 1 of a mixtape, recorded sometime in 1998. 

 

If it's Tuesday, it must be time for trance, with four epic slabs of sonic bliss. I posted side 2 back in February 2022, commenting that I'd discovered the track listing whilst sorting through a box of paperwork, the original C90 long since lost or given away. 

 

Starting things off is one of the best remixes that Underworld ever produced, Sound System by Drum Club stretched out over nearly 12 minutes with vocals from Wonder Schneider dropping in. 

Visions Of Shiva aka Cosmic Baby and Paul Van Dyk up next with a remix of L'Esperanza that ups the ante (and the tempo). The first Sven Väth record that I ever bought, fact fans.

The video for Liquid Cool by Apollo 440 was featured here in May, along with a YouTube posting of the 2CD single release with 9 - count 'em, 9 - mixes. Here's one of 'em, the 14-minute Space Colonization by Rhythm Of Space.

Finally, Suzuki K1 aka Keiichi Suzuki with Satellite Serenad, which I originally bought on CD without hearing a note, as it included a couple of remixes by The Orb which was reason enough to buy back in 1994. This version also came as a pair with - you guessed it - the Sunday Mix, both by Ryoji Oba and Simon Posford. All good, but I don't think I've heard any of Suzuki's music apart from this one song.

 

1) Sound System (Underworld Mix By Darren Emerson & Rick Smith): Drum Club ft. Wonder (1993)

2) L'Esperanza (Hope Will Move Mountains Mix By Visions Of Shiva aka Harald Blüchel & Paul Van Dyk): Sven Väth (1993)

3) Liquid Cool (Space Colonization Remix By Rhythm Of Space aka Steve Musham, Simon Lord & Jonathan Podmore): Apollo 440 (1994)

4) Satellite Serenade (Saturday Mix (With Japanese It's All Right Song) By Oba & Simon Posford): Suzuki K1 (1994)

 

Side Two (45:37) (KF) (Mega)

Side One here

Themes For Cryonic Suspension

Liquid Cool by Apollo 440 popped onto my playlist, prompting a discovery on YouTube of the accompanying video for the single from three decades ago. A bit disappointing to be honest (the video, I mean) but a testament to modest budgets and what you can come up with when all you've got is a corridor, a gurney, a chair and a small box of props and costumes.

 

To give the song it's full 'proper' title, Liquid Cool (Theme For Cryonic Suspension) closed side 1 of Apollo 440's debut album Millennium Fever in 1993 and a remix appeared on the B-side of the Rumble EP the same year.

In September 1994, a promo triple pack 12" started doing the rounds, following by the then de rigeur single release across two CDs, all packed with remixes. 

 

I bought the latter shiny discs, containing 9 versions in total, which Additive Sphere has thoughtfully collected as posted as one album-length experience.

 

Probably a bit much as a single listening experience but, mindful of that, there are jumping on points for each of the individual mixes. Deep Forest was very much in vogue at the time so you get three from them (tracks 2, 6 & 8). Of more interest to me at the time were the remixes by The Future Sound Of London and Jah Wobble, the latter dipping into drum 'n' bass waters, whilst the legendary bass floats over the top. 

 

There are a couple of versions by Apollo 440 themselves and rounding out the CD package, two by Rhythm Of Space, the Space Colonization Remix providing nearly 14 minutes of deep techno. 

 

The second is titled Space -320°F Biostatic Ambient Mix Part 1 and is just over eleven minutes of, you guessed it, dub-heavy ambient sounds. As the title suggests, it's a truncated version of the full-length excursion to be found on side 4 of the promo 12" vinyl and runs to twenty four and a half minutes. Ultra evolution? Not half!

Dripping Onto My Tongue

Side 1 of a mixtape compiled 11th January 2003. Back to the old school - well, early 1990s at least - for today's selection of end-of-week bangers.

Bolting from the gate is Apollo 440 with Liquid Cool, which came with a plethora of mixes, including The Future Sound Of London and Jah Wobble and several from French duo Deep Forest. I wasn't a huge fan of the latter's music at the time but they turned out some pretty satisfying if safe remixes of this standout from the Millennium Fever album.

Dutch DJ/producer Patrick Prins was the brains behind Subliminal Cuts, originally releasing Le Voie Le Soleil in 1994. It was re-released in 1996 with further remixes, including this one by obvious fans of The Simpsons, Itchy & Scratchy. A duo of Seb Fontaine and Julian Peake, the latter had further chart success as Jules Vern, one half of Stretch & Vern.

 

Volcano were a trio of Norwegian DJs/producers, Ole Mjøs, Bjørn Torske and Rune Lindbæk, who teamed up with Sam Cartwright for a few singles on the Deconstruction label. Only Bjørn Torske and Rune Lindbæk are familiar to me from their later output. If you're into re-edits of 1980s classics, Rune Lindbæk offered up a 50-track smorgasbord including Thomas Dolby, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Amanda Lear and Toto. The whole collection is available as a name your price download from Bandcamp. 

 

Edinburgh meets Glasgow on the next track, Botany 5 representing the former, the legendary Slam the latter. Love Bomb is a match made in heaven, well, Scotland but what's the difference really? Botany 5 sadly didn't get beyond a debut album and handful of singles but it would be an understatement to say that Slam have done pretty well since then. 

 

Speaking of which, William Orbit was already well on the way to global domination when Water From A Vine Leaf was released in 1993. Featuring Beth Orton on vocals (although not noticeable here) and a stunning remix from Underworld (one of two), both of whom had even greater things ahead of them. This remix comes in at just under 12 minutes and really, just isn't long enough.

 

Keeping it short and sweet for the closer then is 808 State, with a scuzzy mix of Open Your Mind, a double A-side with Lift which just about cracked the UK Top 40 (#38) in August 1991, continuing their on/off relationship with singles-buying public. I bought this on CD single for pennies a couple of years later from a music stall in the Eagle Shopping Centre in Derby. Great times...!

 

1) Liquid Cool (Deep Forest Trans-Afrique Life Extension Express) (Remix By Eric Mouquet & Michel Sanchez): Apollo 440 (1994)

2) Le Voie Le Soleil (Itchy & Scratchy Mix By Julian Peake & Seb Fontaine): Subliminal Cuts (1996)

3) More To Love (K-Klass Pharmacy Dub): Volcano (1994)

4) Love Bomb (The Slam Production) (Remix By Stuart McMillan & Orde Meikle): Botany 5 (1990)

5) Water From A Vine Leaf (Underwater Mix Part 2 By Underworld): William Orbit ft. Beth Orton (1993)

6) Open Your Mind (Sound Garden Mix): 808 State (1991)

Side One (46:11) (KF) (Mega)

This Guitar Kills Metaphor

Astral America by Apollo 440 popped up on my playlist this weekend, a tune I've not heard in a while. I think I'd only seen the video once only release in 1994, so it was over to YouTube to find it.

It's very much a mid-90s beast, full of jump cuts, rotating camera, archive news footage and on-screen soundbite slogans. And so much PVC that the sound of squeaking must have nearly drowned out the music itself.

 

I was an early adopter of Apollo 440 because it featured Noko (aka Norman Fisher-Jones) who had been Howard Devoto's foil in Luxuria a few years previously, a hugely underrated (and sadly commercially unsuccessful) band in my opinion. 

 

Apollo 440 had built up interest with their remixes of Scritti Politti, U2, Banderas, Holly Johnson and EMF and an early run of singles, but without denting the UK charts. Fifth single Astral America was a very clear and direct attempt to do this, with synth parts riffing on West Side Story's America and lyrics ("A God-shaped hole in a God-shaped land", "Blow me away like J.F.K.") that could have been ripped from The Jesus & Mary Chain's songbook. 

 

It worked: Astral America was Apollo 440's first single to crack the UK Top 40 singles chart (for one week, at least) in January 1994, beginning a run of hits throughout the 1990s.

 

The Apollo 440 line-up for this song and video is Noko, Howard Gray, Trevor Gray plus double drums from Simon Hoare and Cliff Hewitt. What a blast.

Loop Da Loop Da Loop

Side 1 of a mixtape, recorded sometime in 1999 and bringing another half dozen tracks with rolling beats and repetitive rhythms.

 

The selection starts off with Mark Pritchard reuniting with former Global Communication partner Tom Middleton for a remix/edit of the latter's Summer In Space, released in 1999 under his Cosmos moniker. It's a jazzy, syncopated saunter along the starways. 

 

The boys are back later on with one of their final releases as Global Communication, here remixed by DJ/artist Davidson Ospina, born and raised in Queens, New York and bringing some pulsing, insistent grooves to the floor.

 

Over in Washington DC, Jean-Phillippe Aviance and Victor Imbres aka Alcatraz take on Apollo 440's tribute to Gene Krupa. A cracking tune in it's original form, the remix stretches out the ride to nearly 11 minutes without missing a beat. 

Meanwhile in Europe... German duo Hardfloor meet Dutch duo Work for a meeting of the minds on 1995 single Mahogany Roots, with suitably explosive results.

Side 2 opens with Ben Watkins aka Juno Reactor, but his first appearance on this mixtape is as co-writer (with Wonder Schneider, one half of Secret Knowledge) of Traci Lords' 1994 single Control. Traci first gained notoriety in the adult film industry before moving into mainstream acting and then music, duetting with Manic Street Preachers in 1992 then releasing a solo album (produced by Watkins) called 1000 Fires a couple of years later. 

Bringing this side to a close in spectacular fashion is Leftfield with Afro Ride, as remix of Leftism album highlight Afro-Left and featuring Djum Djum, who they'd previously collaborated with on the 1990 single Difference. Afro Ride takes the original, takes it for a night on the tiles and ends up at a heaving club, nine minutes feeling like it could go on forever.

1) Summer In Space (Mark Pritchard Edit): Cosmos ft. David Laudat (1999)

2) Mahogany Roots (Work Remix By Olav Basoski & Erick Eerdhuijzen): Hardfloor (1995)

3) Krupa (Alcatraz Within The Joint Remix vs. @440) (Remix By Jean-Phillippe Aviance & Victor Imbres): Apollo 440 (1996)

4) The Way (Davidson Ospina Mix): Global Communication (1996)

5) Control (DJ E FX San Frandisco Dub): Traci Lords (1994)

6) Afro-Left (Afro Ride) (Remix By Neil Barnes & Paul Daley): Leftfield ft. Djum Djum (1995)

 

Side Two (45:31) (Box) (Mega)

Side One here

Camouflage Conviction Continued

Side 1 of a Manic Street Preachers mixtape, compiled 1st April 1999. 

This may well be the longest gap to date between two sides of a cassette compilation, a year and week since I posted Side 2 to commiserate the fact that I was unable to see the Manics live at The Forum in Bath. There was a happy ending to that sorry tale, in that fellow blogosphere traveller Mike was able to use my ticket and had a great time (note: and I finally got to see my first gig at The Forum last night, but that's another post for the weekend).

As before, this side gathers together album versions, live performances, remixes and B-sides from the relatively few Manic Street Preachers singles that I owned at the end of the last century. I was in the crowd for their live rendition of From Despair To Where, opening up a blistering set at the inaugural Phoenix Festival in Stratford-Upon-Avon in 1993. The remix of La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh) by The Dust Brothers (aka Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands, before they had to go all Chemical on us) is my favourite version of the song, whilst Too Cold Here is another example of the treasure that could be found tucked away on their singles and EPs.

 

Turn the volume up for this one.

1) Australia (Album Version) (1996)

2) She Is Suffering (7" Radio Edit) (1994)

3) The Everlasting (Deadly Avenger's Psalm 315) (1998)

4) From Despair To Where (Live @ Phoenix Festival, Stratford-Upon-Avon, 18th July 1993) *

5) Too Cold Here (1994)

6) La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh) (Vocal Mix By The Dust Brothers aka Ed Simons & Tom Rowlands) **

7) P.C.P. (Live @ Glastonbury Festival, 24th June 1994)

8) Kevin Carter (Stealth Sonic Orchestra Soundtrack) (Remix By Apollo 440) (1996)

9) If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next (Album Version) (1998)

10) You Love Us (Single Version aka Original Heavenly Version) (1991)

1991: You Love Us EP: 10

1993: Five Alive Take Three (Melody Maker promo cassette): 4 *

1994: Revol EP: 5, 10

1994: She Is Suffering EP: 2, 6

1994: Volume Eleven: 7

1996: Everything Must Go (1996) / Australia EP: 1

1996: Kevin Carter EP: 8

1998: The Everlasting EP: 3 

1998: This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours / If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next EP: 9

 

* This version also popped up on the various artists' compilation Phoenix The Album in 1997

** This is a similar but different version from the Sunday Social Mix that appeared on the M.S.P. Done & Dusted 12" single in 1994.

 

Side One (46:11)

Side Two here

Camouflage Conviction

Another in the (hopefully only very occasional) series of "gigs I got tickets for, but never made it to" brings Manic Street Preachers. I had a ticket to see their gig at Bath Forum tonight (13th), a great chance to see the band in a smaller venue. I was also looking forward to seeing the support act, The Anchoress aka Catherine Anne Davies, whose albums I've discovered and really enjoyed in the past year.

Alas, it was not meant to be. Sadly, Catherine had to withdraw from all 2021 tour commitments a while back on health grounds. After making the decision not to see Scritti Politti in London a couple of weeks ago, I was in a similar situation this weekend, knowing that there's no way I'd make it tonight.

 

Unlike the much-missed-but-never-seen John Grant, I at least had the great fortune to see Manic Street Preachers once before, at the first Phoenix Festival near Stratford-upon-Avon, 18th July 1993. Richey on guitar, bottle blond James, Nicky Wire in a flowery dress, fourth on the main stage bill but acting like the headliners and deservedly so. I remember it was a fantastic weekend of good friends, good times and good music and the Manics were one of the highlights. There's a ropey quality but energetic VHS recording of the full set on YouTube. There's also a rip of the BBC Radio 1 broadcast: audio only, but much better quality though it sadly drops 2 of the 10 songs (Repeat (UK) and Stay Beautiful).

 

So, to celebrate / commiserate, here's Side 2 of a Manics mixtape that I cut and pasted together on 1st April 1999. Twenty songs, ten per side, mostly culled from singles. The original mixtape cropped the remix of ...Tolerate This... at both ends to roughly 8 minutes. I've lopped off most of the intro, but let it play out at the end to provide a slightly better segueway. Cassette running times be damned! My Little Empire featured on Q magazine's Best Of 1998 cover mounted CD. Faster was originally released as a bootleg 12" when Tom & Ed were known as The Dust Brothers. By the time I picked it up on an official release, both the mix and the DJ's had been renamed... No apologies for including three Stealth Sonic Orchestra/Apollo 440 remixes, for they are truly majestic. Whenever I listen to Motorcycle Emptiness, I'm reminded of a sweeping, cinematic cousin to Street Hassle by Lou Reed. 

Looking at the Setlist website for previous dates on this tour, chances are a fair few of these will get an airing, albeit in their full-on, kick-ass, rock 'n' roll versions. In the meantime, enjoy this camouflaged collection, hiding in plain sight.

 

Side Two (46:54)

1) Love's Sweet Exile (Live @ BK Hall, Bangkok, Thailand, April 1994)

2) You Stole The Sun From My Heart (Album Version By Mike Hedges) (1998)

3) If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next (The Class Reunion Of The Sunset Marquis Mix By David Holmes & Tim Goldsworthy) (1998)

4) My Little Empire (1998)

5) Motorcycle Emptiness (Stealth Sonic Orchestra Remix By Apollo 440) (1996)

6) Revol (Album Version By Mark Freegard) (1994)

7) Faster (Cosmos Mix By The Dust Brothers aka Ed Simons & Tom Rowlands) *

8) Everything Must Go (Stealth Sonic Orchestra Remix By Apollo 440) (1996)

9) Kevin Carter (Album Version By Mike Hedges) (1996)

10) A Design For Life (Stealth Sonic Orchestra Version By Apollo 440) (1996)

 

1994: The Holy Bible: 6 

1994: M.S.P. Done & Dusted EP: 7 *

1994: Revol EP: 1

1996: Everything Must Go: 9 

1996: A Design For Life EP: 10

1996: Everything Must Go EP: 8

1996: Australia EP: 5

1998: This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours: 2, 4

1998: If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next EP: 3

* aka Faster (Vocal Mix) by The Chemical Brothers on A Design For Life EP, 1996

 
Side Two (46:54)

Your Consciousness Is The Only Censorship

Ten long songs, all bubbling under the ten minute mark and mostly from the mid 1990s, before leaping into the 21st century. The opening track was originally released as a Mark Van Hoen side project, though I first heard the remixed versions released under his more familiar Locust moniker in 1998. I really like the Biff & Memphis remix of New Order for the nod to Blue Monday and the cheeky cameo from Divine tucked away in the mix. The Apollo 440 song is from their excellent first album, Millennium Fever, was co-written with Howard Devoto, and provides the title for today's post. Underworld deliver a brace of excellent remixes, of Dreadzone and themselves, whilst Wet Signals aka Coventry DJ, musician and producer Carl Platt released a self-titled EP back in April, which I'm currently enjoying very much. I (re)discovered Archive relatively recently, having only previously been aware of their 1996 debut Londinium. They've had at least a dozen albums since and this selection's closing track is taken from their (I think) sixth album, Noise. Immerse yourself and enjoy.

 

1) No-One In The World (Edit): W.F.O. ft. Wendy Roberts (1993)

2) Touched By The Hand Of God (Biff & Memphis Remix By Richard Stannard & Matt Rowe): New Order (1995)

3) Pain Is A Close Up: Apollo 440 (1994)

4) Tong Poo (Planet Of The Crossing Mix By The Orb): Yellow Magic Orchestra (1993)

5) Zion Youth (Underworld Mix): Dreadzone (1995)

6) I Dig Your Ass (Remix By Derrick Carter & Luke Solomon): Secret Knowledge (1996)

7) Born Slippy.Nuxx (Deep Pan): Underworld (1996)

8) Crimes: Wet Signals (2021)

9) Blue Drive: Oneohtrix Point Never (2009)

10) Waste: Archive (2004)

 

Your Consciousness Is The Only Censorship (1:39:14)
 

Too Much Trouble And Not Enough Time!

Side 2 of a 1997 mixtape, rescued from the loft. Going South was the hit that should have been for The Wolfgang Press. The Sabres Of Paradise and The Grid had their biggest UK chart successes, with Wilmot crashing in at #36 and Swamp Thing achieving the dizzy heights of #3. Apollo 440 and Björk both made the Top 10, whilst the single version of Open Up by Leftfield / Lydon reached #13 in 1993. Together with Side 1, possibly the closest I got to a "Now That's What I Call Dance Music" hits compilation.

 

1) Wilmot (Full Length Version By The Sabres Of Paradise & Mr. Scruff): The Sabres Of Paradise ft. Wonder (1994) 

2) Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Dub (Joey The Butcher Remix): Apollo 440 (1997)

3) Hyperballad (Subtle Abuse Mix By Outcast aka Beaumont Hannant & Richard Brown): Björk (1996)

4) Open Up (Album Version): Leftfield / Lydon (1995)

5) Swamp Thing (Deep Piece Mix By Stuart Crichton & Michael Kilkie): The Grid (1994)

6) Going South (@440 Mix By Apollo 440): The Wolfgang Press (1994)

 

Side Two (46:02)