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

Dub '83

Body popping sure means something different to me now than it did forty years. 

 

Not that I was in any way inclined to bust a move when I saw a group of people, a boom box and a sheet of cardboard back in the day. These days, body popping is more likely the sound made by an unforgiving joint when I try to lift or reach for something. Bust a move? Bust a hip, more like.

Still, I can imagine. Here's ten songs from 1983 given the dub treatment by the likes of John 'Jellybean' Benitez, François Kevorkian, Arthur Baker, John Luongo, Martin Rushent and John Robie. 

 

A Sunday quiz for you (in no way *cough* ripping off someone else's far better executed idea): 

1) Which song featured in it's original form in the hit film Flashdance?

2) Which song was co-written with Sting?

3) Which 4AD act and song sampled Din Daa Daa by George Kranz to great effect in 1987?

4) Which act featured the namesake of this legendary English actor?

5) What do German electropop act Boytronic and English girl group Sugababes have in common?

Answers will be posted in the comments later today.

 

RIP Denis LePage, who passed away on 21st August this year.

 

1) Angel Eyes (Remix) (Dub Version By Denis LePage): Lime

2) I.O.U. (I Dub You) (Remix By Arthur Baker, John 'Jellybean' Benitez & John Robie): Freeez 

3) Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz) (Dub-Version By George Kranz & Christoph Franke): George Kranz

4) You (Dub Remixed Version By Boogietunes): Boytronic

5) Riders On The Storm (Dub Version By Wally Brill & David Anderle) (Cover of The Doors): Annabel Lamb

6) Many A Time (Dub) (Remix By Pete Shelley & Martin Rushent): Pete Shelley

7) The Key (Dub) (Remix By François Kevorkian): Wuf Ticket

8) Maniac (Dubstrumental) (Remix By John 'Jellybean' Benitez): Michael Sembello

9) Blind Vision (Instrumental/Dub Version By John Luongo): Blancmange

10) Adventures In Success (Dub) (Mixed By Steven Stanley): Will Powers

Dub '83 (1:08:17) (KF) (Mega)