Summer Feeling...

As we're halfway through the year, it's time to pause and enjoy the music that's been assailing my senses in the first 26 weeks of '26.

So, 26 songs split into two volumes, today and Sunday. And, unsurprisingly, a fair few mention summer, sunshine and sunsets. Ironically, it's pretty overcast as I create this post in the Cotswolds.

But what would we feel like, without summer? To answer that question, Maggie De Monde is back with a fab album as Scarlet Fantastic, ably assisted by Hifi Sean. The answer? Like being without someone you love, obviously.

Song Of Siraba by A Space Age Freak Out has already appeared on an earlier Dubhed selection of 2026 highlights, but both the original and the ten (count 'em, ten!) accompanying remixes are so good, I make no apology for this. Last time, it was Cosmikuro's take, this time I've gone for Viper Patrol.

Fluke's unexpected and very welcome return in 2024 has been gathering momentum, leading to the release of The Second Bite, a glorious double album reworking classics from their catalogue. Not only that, but Daniel Avery has delivered the first of two remixes of Atom Bomb. This is a dreamy delight, not least for showcasing Leah Cleaver's updated vocals.

Justin Robertson remixed Fluke back in the day and he's still turning it on, most recently as Five Green Moons on a wonderful overhaul of Freedom by Das Druid. They bang on about national treasures on the TV all the time. Justin's a national treasure, as far as I'm concerned, even if he hasn't received an award from Carol Vorderman to prove it.

Speaking of which, Mr. Richard Norris. His latest album is a soundtrack to a clutch of 8mm films that he has acquired, both described as "reflective, atmospheric, lo-fi, a bit wobbly". I've picked Dreamtime, the most blissful two minutes you're likely to experience today. 

In amongst these are a mix of sounds from King Ayisoba, produced by Adrian Sherwood (thanks, Ernie!), Erin Farley and Stephen Clarke 1980, Wrongtom, Kolegos, SAULT, 6161 and The Rotations, Nothing particularly in common, but all finding their own place and space on this selection. It perhaps shouldn't work, but it does.

The sun sets, appropriately enough, with Sunset by Doublespeak, an electronic supergroup comprising Neil Arthur, Vince Clarke and Ben Edwards aka Benge. Happy 66th birthday for yesterday (3rd), Vince!

Hopefully, this has whet your appetite for tomorrow's 13-song selection, including a couple of today's artists, back for more. But who?

1) Without Summer: Scarlet Fantastic (From Montreal To Rotherham)

2) Song Of Siraba (Viper Patrol Remix By John McIver): A Space Age Freak Out (Song Of Siraba EP)

3) False Tongue: Erin Farley & Stephen Clarke 1980 (PSC#001: The Beautiful Flowers Wait For Peace)

4) Love, Refrain (Reprise): The Rotations (Gung-Ho)

5) Bemba (Album Version By Adrian Sherwood): King Ayisoba (Pure Confusion)

6) Atom Bomb (Daniel Avery Nuclear Summer Remix): Fluke ft. Leah Cleaver (Atom Bomb EP)

7) Freedom (Justin Robertson's Five Green Moons Remix): Das Druid (Das EP)

8) One Man Army (First Dub Part II): Wrongtom Meets The Rockers (One Man Army EP)

9) Dreamtime: Richard Norris (8mm)

10) Arbeit: Kolegos (ALG EP)

11) Fulfil Your Spirit: SAULT (Chapter 1)

12) Up (Ben Nascosto Remix): 6161 (6161 (Remixes) EP)

13) Sunset: Doublespeak (Sunset / Strange Weather EP)

Summer Feeling, No Sweeter Genius Vol. 1 (58:47) (GD) (M)

Every Single Tiny Little Imperfection Has A Beauty To Behold

What better way to kick off the first Saturday selection of 2026 than with 77 minutes of Fluke?

Hands down one of my favourite artists of all time, Fluke's comeback in 2024 was a triumph and I can't wait to see/hear what comes next.

In the meantime - and for the first time - I've pulled together a selection of a dozen tunes that draws on their rich back catalogue. I don't go all the way back to the first Fluke releases in 1988; the earliest song here is from a John Peel session transmitted on 26th January 1992. However, the selection does bounce around a lot, much like their beats.

Most of the picks are Fluke's remixes of their own songs but I have included a few remixes of other artists, namely Juno Reactor, Soft Ballet and Sensation (formerly Soul Family Sensation). 

I've also included a remix of Real Magnificent by Justin Credible, who had created and posted top notch unofficial remixes via YouTube for years, until Fluke gave him the nod in 2024 and made it official.

Resolutely unofficial is the closing song, a version of Insanely Beautiful by yours truly. There's no skill or artifice in this particular mash-up. I was curious to hear Jon Fugler duet with Leah Cleaver so I literally laid the original single version and Leah's Mix together. It's a busy mix, but I love it.

2026 will hopefully see more from Fluke. I dare to dream that it will be a full album, and some live shows including Bristol or Bath would be, well, insanely beautiful.

For now though, I'm going to spend the weekend with Fluke on constant rotation and turned up loud. Everyone needs some beauty to behold.

1) Bullet (Percussion Cap) (1995)

2) I Wanna Be (All Buttons In) (2025)

3) Amp (Geographic Long Mix) (1997)

4) The Allotment Of Blighty (John Peel Session) (1992)

5) Pistolero (Fluke "Hang 'Em High" Remix): Juno Reactor ft. Mercedes Luque, Taz Alexander & Steve Stevens (1999)

6) Absurd (Whitewash) (1997)

7) Real Magnificent (JC Remix By Justin Credible ft. Leah Cleaver) (2024)

8) Spindle (The Fluke Remix): Soft Ballet (1994)

9) Atom Bomb (Atomix 1) (1996)

10) Beautiful Morning (Fluke's Magimix): Sensation (1993)

11) Setback ('Oto' Album Version) (1995)

12) Insanely Beautiful (Khayem's Double Take Mash-Up ft. Leah Cleaver) (2025)

A Beauty To Behold (1:17:20) (GD) (M)

For your further Fluke fulfilment, I've reactivated links to the couple of mixtapes that I compiled in 1997:

Fluke (Singles) Side One and Side Two

Fluke (Mixes) Side One and Side Two

Bee Happy

Last Bandcamp Friday, Fluke released an exclusive remix of upcoming single I Wanna Be.

At midnight, Fluke offered up the original vocal mix alongside a visually arresting promo. A bee-themed journey through a honeycombed hive, with an array of images, from roller skaters to Fred & Ginger to palm trees to waterfalls to wheelies to Bowie to the apocalypse. 

The video's imagery is relatively easier on the eye than the frenetic pace of previous singles Real Magnificent and Insanely Beautiful, in step with the bouncing beats of the song.

Jon Fugler reels off a list of aspirations, including :

I wanna be 

like the man that I see every night in my dreams

the me I know you always wanted to see

like the calmest, coolest, gentlest brush of breeze

someplace like paradise please

Not too much to ask for really, is it?

Jon and Mike Tournier have really delivered a comeback that respects Fluke's past, but gives the thrill of the new. Michael Rendall (The Orb) is again present and correct on the mix, and Leah Cleaver once more elevates the song with her fabulous voice.

With the promise of a new album on the horizon, and on the strength of the music so far, this is something to be very excited about.

As I often post a Dubhed selection on a Friday, it seemed as good an excuse as any to celebrate Fluke's new single by dusting off some of my late 1990s Fluke selections from the archives.

Enjoy!

Fluke (Mixes) (Side One & Side Two)

Fluke (Singles) (Side One & Side Two)

And a very happy birthday to Mike Tournier for Saturday (24th)!

You Don't Dance...Except At The Weekend

2024 has served up it's fair share of top notch electronic music and remixes and here's another eight reasons why.

Just over an hour of tunes that have been pumping on my stereo, a mix of well-known names and artists that I've heard for the first time on my many online shopping runs this year. 

All of today's selections are available to purchase digitally (links included in the song title), if you're considering a gift to yourself as a thank you for buying presents for all those other people.

1) Like This (Mindbender Remix By Mårten Attling): Stylic

2) You Don't Dance (Kenneth Bager Remix): Hess Is More

3) Ecce Homo (Apparition Remix By Michael Heffernan): Gavin Friday

4) Blind On A Galloping Horse (Sons Of Slough Remix By Duncan Gray & Ian Weatherall): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet

5) Aerodromes (David Holmes Remix): Acid Klaus ft. Philly Piper

6) Weekend Machines (Shubostar Remix By Jiyoung Bak): Jezebell

7) End Of Times (Rude Audio's Protean Remix By Mark Ratcliff): David Harrow + Little Annie

8) Real Magnificent (sLEdger Remix By Robin Dallison): Fluke ft. Leah Cleaver

You Don't Dance...Except At The Weekend (1:01:13) (KF) (Mega)