Our Desires Still Burn

As far as understatements go, opening David Harrow's profile on Discogs with "British keyboardist" is up there with the best of them.

I've been interested in David Harrow's work for pretty much as long as I've been buying and collecting music, although admittedly this was largely subconscious to begin with. 

Our Darkness by Anne Clark made a huge impression on me, though it didn't really register that David Harrow had co-written and remixed the song until years later when his name also appeared in the credits for On-U Sound releases by Gary Clail and Barmy Army or Jah Wobble or alongside Andrew Weatherall.

David's roots in dub music resonate deeply with me, but it's also the breadth of his experimentation and, in the last couple of years, excellent collaborations with Little Annie, Hugo Nicholson and Red Snapper that continue to draw me back for me.

And, given his prodigious work rate, there's always more top notch music coming.

If you're new to David Harrow, here are nine reasons why you should get familiar. If you know what he's about, then here's 46 minutes of dub-infused excellence.

1) Revolvalution (David Harrow Circle Squared Remix): Hugo Nicolson & David Harrow (2024)

2) Fall (Lickwood Sax Dub) (Mixed By David Harrow): Deep Joy (1990)

3) Fussing And Fighting (David Harrow Mix): Bob Marley (2001)

4) Our Darkness (Remix By Anne Clark & David Harrow): Anne Clark (1984)

5) Skratchy (Level 4): Bloodsugar (Andrew Weatherall & David Harrow) (1995)

6) Tight Chest: Red Snapper ft. David Harrow (2024)

7) Loverman (Remix By James Hardway aka David Harrow): Billie Holiday (2004)

8) Maskup Dub: David Harrow (2020)

9) End Of Times (Rude Audio's Immutable Remix By Mark Ratcliff): David Harrow + Little Annie (2024)

1984: Our Darkness EP: 4

1990: Fall EP: 2

1995: Levels EP: 5

2001: In Dub & Remixed: 3

2004: Ladies Of Jazz Remixed: 7

2020: Virus Dubs: 8

2024: End Of Times EP: 9

2024: Revolvalution EP: 1

2024: Tight Chest EP: 6

Our Desires Still Burn (46:00) (GD) (M)

Waiting, Hoping And Longing

Where has the week gone?! It seems like the weekend was only a day or so ago and yet here we are, about to enter another. Is it a summer thing? As a kid, the summer felt properly long; these days, May to September seems to pass by in a blur with little to show for it. Well, apart from this blog, which at least is some evidence that I haven't slept through the last week (except for Tuesday, that is).

In an attempt to break the cycle of inertia let's, as Dame Shirley Bassey once urged, get this party started. Although I think P!NK may have got it started first. 

Today's selection doesn't feature P!NK (Darn the upper case and inverted i... or is it an exclamation mark? But I digress). Stick around though and Dame Shirley does show up for the finale.

The general theme of this mixtape is iconic female singers from the 1940s to the 1970s given the 21st century (mostly) remix treatment. Upbeat, downtempo, scratches, itches, phat beats, flat beats, nothing detracts from the huge voices on show here.

 

1) "Murder" He Says (Remix By James Hardway aka David Harrow): Dinah Shore (2004)

2) Walk On By (Mojo Filter Fly-By Re-Love) (Remix By Ben Zaven Crane): Dionne Warwick (2012)

3) Where Is Love? (Remix By James Hardway aka David Harrow): Lena Horne (2004)

4) Rock Steady (Sure Is Pure Remix By Danny Spencer & Kelvin Andrews): Aretha Franklin (1994)

5) A-Tisket A-Tasket (Remix By James Hardway aka David Harrow): Ella Fitzgerald (2004)

6) O-o-h Child (Nickodemus Remix By Nick DeSimone): Nina Simone (2007)

7) I Cover The Waterfront (Remix By James Hardway aka David Harrow): Billie Holiday (2004)

8) Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby? (Rae & Christian Remix By Mark Rae & Steve Christian): Dinah Washington (2002)

9) Goldfinger (Propellerheads Mix By Alex Gifford & Will White): Shirley Bassey (2000)

10) [applause]* 

* completely out of step with the rest of the selection, the crowd noise has been lifted from a 2014 performance of Sister Ray by John Cale & The Drone Orchestra.

1994: Rock Steady EP: 4

2000: The Remix Album...Diamonds Are Forever: 9

2002: Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby? EP: 8

2004: Ladies Of Jazz Remixed: 1, 3, 5, 7

2007: Remixed & Reimagined: 6

2012: AOR Disco Vintage Edits Vol. 2: 2

Waiting, Hoping And Longing (45:58)