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)

Tryna' Keep Cool

Today I'm in the mood for rap, rhymes and beats. Spanning 1986 to 2023, ten blistering tracks covering old school greats, stone cold classics, genre-mashing, effing and jeffing and a chunk of words and music that I've only discovered in the last few years. And enough spare tape on the C90 to add your own favourites to the mixtape.

 

1) I Don't Know Nothin 'Bout Daisies: Definition Of Sound (1991)

2) Dedicated To The City (Album Version): Subsonic 2 (1991)

3) Moment Of Clarity: Jay-Z (2003)

4) Summer Nights: Statik ft. Tom Paddington, Ears & Scorcher (2007)

5) GOB (David Andrew Sitek Remix): Dels ft. Jack Davey (2011)

6) Bite Back: Algiers ft. Billy Woods & Backxwash (2023)

7) Kids...: A Tribe Called Quest ft. André 3000 (2016)

8) Rollin Stone (Live @ Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6Music): Little Simz (2021)

9) Paul Revere (Vocal) (Remix By Rick Rubin): Beastie Boys (1986)

10) Brain Washed Follower (Single Version): De La Soul (1989)

1986: It's The New Style EP: 9

1989: Me Myself And I EP: 10

1991: Include Me Out: 2

1991: Wear Your Love Like Heaven EP: 1

2003: The Black Album: 3

2007: Love Music, Hate Racism (NME promo CD+MP3): 4

2011: GOB EP: 5

2016: We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service: 7

2021: Live, Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6Music, 15 June 2021: 8

2023: Shook: 6

Tryna' Keep Cool (38:00) (KF) (Mega)

Rollin Stone (BBC6 'Clean' Version) by Little Simz

I was in São Paulo
Eatin' palm hearts and I couldn't believe my surroundings (no)
True, I got the Ends in me, listenin' to Headie
Gettin' gassed in the mountains (yeah)
No time for the thirst trap, I'm quenched
I drink from a different fountain (sip)
Hard food when I serve that
All these likkle fish get fried and your yam get pounded (pounded yam)

 

Mm, might be a brat for a bit 

Want my farm and I want my chicks
Want my suit tailored by Gucci
First-class to Shibuya for the sushi
Give me my cheques and give me my plaques
Want breakdowns and I want my stats, pronto (now, now)

 
Yеah, yeah, God flow
Make you wanna dance all day likе Alfonso (move your body)
Wanna talk about P's, wanna talk about wage, 

but can you do the job though? (can you?)
I can't vouch for a man that ain't got the talent and business combo (no)
It's all a sport, flow on archery, don't get hit with the crossbow

 

Stayed to myself, been true to the core (stay to myself, man, I stay to myself)
I was always the illest, there's never been no cure (no medication)
Callin' shots like I call in favours, facts (true)
My fellas got me if I ever need that

Still, there's things I'm faced with
Stormz' ain't lyin', man, these fools audacious (yeah)
Might demonstrate frustration
Tryna' keep cool, but I'm losin' patience (ayy)
Hmm, no cap, we hate snakes and we hate rats
You can have opinions, just don't mislead the youth in your raps 

(please, please, please, please, please)

 

Mummy handled business, Papa was a rollin' stone
I'm a mix of both, there ain't no snitch-boy in my bones
Coming for this dough like say it's pizza
You can't get in Italia, Fashion Week, huh
Shut down Milan down to Rome

Lookin' like the future, got you fearin' the unknown
I got stories regardin' your chick I won't disclose
Picture perfect, nothing picture perfect here, I know
All illusion, why the world confusing? I don't know

You can't diss me three-time, pull up behind, you'll never see I
I'm probably the reason why your bosses has had to resign
They all follow my step, read about me like I'm Eli
I just book a flight only to land and have some me-time
Let me be, I'm (let me be, I'm)
Takin' time out, hold my spot, go through your time now (hey)

 

Huh, pull up at your spot, they're throwin' roses at my feet, yeah, yeah
What do you mean? In the presence of a queen
Bad, say that she wanna know what's underneath
I could show you things in private, know I hate to cause a scene, yeah

Range black just to match the colour of my skin
Last year, pen was crazy, this year tougher with the ink (yeah)
Know the people miss me, they like, "Where the hell you been?" (yeah)
Counted all my losses, manifested all my wins (yeah)

Can't believe it's Simbi here that's had you listenin'
Well, that chick for now, you didn't know she had a twin (yeah)
I've been in my zone, movin' lowkey in Berlin, ah
You can get the smoke, yeah yeah, das ist kein Problem, ah
Where do I begin? ah
You might just find out real soon, go through your time now

 

Rollin' stone
Rollin' stone
Rollin' stone
Rollin' stone

The Energy's Flowing, My Friend

Here's some Definition Of Sound to bring some good vibes into your world. Formed by Donald Weekes and Kevin Clark, who had previously released music as Top Billin, Definition Of Sound enjoyed 3 Top 40 singles in the UK in the early to mid Nineties before calling it a day in 1997, with a fourth album remaining unreleased.

Their songs are a riot of 1960s samples, including Donovan, The Zombies and The Moody Blues. The opening track on this selection, Moira Jane's Café, is built around a grab from Gloria by Them.

 

Their choice of remixers was also impeccable: Stereo MC's production alias Ultimatum, Streets Ahead aka Shem McCauley, Marc Kinchen, Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry, Norman Cook. There were a few unexpected choices too: 1996 single Child, a personal favourite, was remixed by Robin Guthrie and Jah Wobble.

Today's selection is drawn from my rather paltry collection of singles - I really must track down their albums - and is surprisingly missing Pass The Vibes, which reached #23 in 1995.

(I'm certain I had this single on CD, so it must have fallen victim to a flat move or inadvertently bundled up with a charity shop purge at some point).

Rise Like The Sun appeared on the 1991 compilation Give Peace A Dance! raising awareness and funds for CND aka the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. A YouTube trawl has unearthed this rather fine session for John Peel, recorded 30th December 1990.

 

It's been a crappy week so far, but I'm already feeling better for listening to this. The energy's flowing, my friend, time to pass the vibes.

 

1) Moira Jane's Café (Original Mix) (1990)

2) Aint Saying Nothing (1992)

3) What Are You Under (Groove Mix By Definition Of Sound ft. Mark MacPherson) (1992)

4) Rise Like The Sun (Album Version) (1991)

5) Child (Robin Guthrie Mix) (1996)

6) Now Is Tomorrow (I Want To Be An Oilfire Firefighter Mix) (1991)

7) Wear Your Love Like Heaven (Ultimatum Mix By Stereo MC's) (1991)

8) When A Lion Awakens (Full Length Version) (1991)

9) Dream Girl (Excursion On The Version) (Remix By Norman Cook) (1991)

10) I Don't Know Nothin 'Bout Daisies (1991)

 

Energy's Flowing (46:35) (Box) (Mega)

Insanity By One Man Jury

Beats and rhymes for these uncertain times.

 

With apologies for the potty mouth language throughout.

 

1) War: Chuck D vs. Ticc-Tacc ft. Ambersunshower (1998)

2) Appetite For Destruction: N.W.A. (1991)

3) Woman: Little Simz ft. Cleo Sol (2021)

4) Now Is Tomorrow (Shabba Soul Mix By Donwon & Rimsky Korsokov IV): Definition Of Sound (1991)

5) Mankind (Part 2): Jalal (1993)

6) Spectacular (Kaos Remix By Tucker): Fantastic Plastic Machine ft. Verbal & Afra (2003)

7) Sylvie: Mr. Oizo & Phra ft. Frah Quintale (2022)

8) Females (Get On Up) (12" Edit By The Beatmasters): The Cookie Crew (1987)

9) Another Sound Mission (Mystic Handyman Pt 2) (Single Version By Green Gartside, David Gamson & DJ Revolution): Scritti Politti & Likwit Crew ft. Defari & Tash (1999)

10) California Über Alles (Album Version) (Cover of Dead Kennedys): The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy (1992)

11) Ain't The Devil Happy (Tiny Desk (Home) Concert): Jeru The Damaja (2020)

12) Pink Matter (Remix): Frank Ocean ft. Andre 3000 & Big Boi (2013)

13) Make My: The Roots (2011)
 

Insanity By One Man Jury (56:14)