Pure Water

I haven't listened to Leftield's second album Rhythm And Stealth in quite a while. Swords was the third and final single and in fact proved to be their last single/new song for a decade and a half, when Universal Everything signalled Leftfield's return in 2015.

I bought Swords in June 2000, opting for just one of the CD singles offered as part of the typical multi-format deal that prevailed at the time. I was surprised to find out when prepping this post that Swords apparently failed to crack the UK singles chart. 

An unusual choice for a single perhaps, menacing, downtempo, Nicole Willis' vocals down in the mix, but I think it's a standout song.

I've never seen the video before, the song itself almost relegated to a soundtrack of an engrossing series of car (and one motorbike) based vignettes. I've picked the 'long version' which extends the narrative by a further minute which accentuates to sense of unease and tension amongst the ensemble cast. It's brilliant.

It will be no surprise to regular visitors that my choice of the two CD singles on offer was the one featuring a remix by Andrew Weatherall and Keith Tenniswood aka Two Lone Swordsmen. Not the first time Lord Sabre had remixed Leftfield, but with a song title like Swords, it would have been foolish not to ask, right?

Vocals removed, electro beats added, it's very much akin to what Two Lone Swordsmen were releasing under their own name at this time, yet retaining the spirit of the Leftfield original. This is what remixes are all about.

Leftield's return in 2015 (albeit Neil Barnes without co-founder Paul Daley) included a session for Lauren Laverne's Radio 6 at Maida Vale, where a spectacular 8-minute version of Swords was performed, fronted by singer Ofei. Well worth your attention.

As it's the first Bandcamp Friday of 2026 tomorrow, I've managed to find two 21st Century 'bootleg' remixes of Swords, both available as a Name Your Price purchase. 

Nothing radical about either, more a layering of beats and a slight tinkering, which Swords is more than capable of handling. Nebulist aka Baz Popiolek goes for "hard and deep" breakbeats, whilst Moth Equals captures a "trip hop" vibe. Both worth your pennies, if you like the song in the first place.

 

 

Sixteen At Thirteen On The Sixteenth

On 16th January 1996, the sixth highest new entry (at #13) in the UK Top 40 was Release The Pressure by Leftfield featuring Earl Sixteen and Papa Dee.

Between the four of them, Neil Barnes, Paul Daley, Earl Daley (no relation) and Daniel Wahlgren created something really rather special and which, thirty years on, sounds as fresh and relevant as ever.

I've got to stand and fight

In this creation

Vanity I know

Can't guide I alone

I'm searching to find

A love that lasts all time

I've just got to find

Peace and unity

As a Friday bonus, here's the original 12" vocal edit from 1992...

...and a more recent tune from Earl Sixteen with Poorman Dub Sound released last August, marking the 50th anniversary of Yabby You’s 1975 classic Run Come Rally.

Decadance III: 1995

Side 2 of a time-travel mixtape, crashing in at 1995.

This series is whizzing by, more than half way through already and exactly 30 years ago. My brain cannot compute, so much of this music still feels 'recent' to me!

Very little evidence in this selection of Britpop, Trip Hop or Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop, although I think Scatman John was the sole proponent of the latter, anyway. 

However, in 1995 everything was big: the beats, the brass, the strings, the voices. And so were the hits: all but one of the songs in today's selection made the Top 30, four the Top 10, though the #1 position proved elusive for all.

Pulp nearly made it, with Common People getting all the way to #2, held off the top spot by effing Robson and effing Jerome, whose risible cover of Unchained Melody floated at the top like a turd in a toilet bowl for a mind-boggling seven weeks.

Several artists from Decade, my previous series of 80s mixtapes, make a welcome reappearance here: Marc Almond, Julian Cope and, perhaps the most surprising, Edwyn Collins. 

A Girl Like You was first released in December 1994 and didn't make much of a dent in the UK charts, but there was a groundswell of interest in Europe, leading to re-release here in June 1995. A month later and it was at #4. It also boosted the accompanying album Gorgeous George to #8 in July 1995, twelve months after it came out.

Leftfield had been tied up in contractual hell with their former label, which meant that they could little more than remix other artists for several years. Finally free to release their own material, their monumental debut album Leftism crashed in at #3 in February 1995. 

Leftism contained a version of Open Up, their 1993 comeback single with John Lydon, and collaborations with Djum Djum and Lemn Sissay. Leftfield's first single of 1995 was another collaboration, this time time with Toni Halliday of Curve on the sublime Original. Thirty years on, both it and the album sound as fresh and exciting as they did back then.

Another single by The Sabres Of Paradise for the MAW selection. Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner and Gary Burns had previously remixed Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons music as The Dust Brothers. When the original Dust Brothers required Tom and Ed to cease and desist nicking their name, The Chemical Brothers were born.  

 

The Sabres Of Paradise remixed their debut single Leave Home, itself a Top 20 hit in June 1995. The previous month, the favour was (p)repaid when The Chemical Brothers refashioned Tow Truck, one of several tracks from Haunted Dancehall reworked for the Versus EP. When I say 'refashioned', it's basically a Chemical Brothers track, but the original Sabres components shine through.

 

Describing Fluke's beats as big and bouncy sounds smuttier than it's supposed to, but that's what always springs to mind when I think of their music. Ironically, The Dust Brothers (the original, that is, not Tom & Ed's knock off) remixed today's featured single Bullet, though nothing tops Fluke's own versions. In a box somewhere in the loft, I have Fluke promo plastic bag, which itself ripped off the Tesco carriers of the time. Never used it.

 

Thirty years before he released possibly the best album of 2025 with Hifi Sean, David McAlmont launched another wildly creative and successful partnership, with Bernard Butler. Yes was the perfect introduction, all Wall-of-Sound meets Sylvester meets Suede and a deserved Top 10 smash. 

 

Bernard of course used to be in Suede with Brett Anderson, who co-founded the band with Justine Frischmann, who went on to form Elastica. You'd almost believe I wasn't winging it and had some kind of plan, wouldn't you? 

Elastica were brilliant, even if they did have a habit of getting old rockers riled up and litigious over their songs. Waking Up is a case in point: who cares if it's reminiscent of No More Heroes by The Stranglers? Well, The Stranglers did obviously.

 

The music press were already getting into a lather about Radiohead, though The Bends was the album that hooked me in. There were tons of singles from the album, though admittedly it so full of great songs, that it was difficult to argue that none of them were worthy picks. It all started off with a double A-single of High And Dry and Planet Telex, the latter's abrasive squall offset by the former's soft-yet-brittle side. 

There was very nearly two helpings of Tracey Thorn. Reluctantly, Massive Attack's Protection had to go, justified by the fact that they appeared in the 1994 selection. Of the two picks, in the end it just had to be the Todd Terry remix of Missing by Everything But The Girl. 

I loved the original and the remixes that accompanied the single's original release in 1994. Todd Terry gave the song a whole new lease of life - and audience - when his remix rocketed Missing to #3 in the UK in November 1995. And with that, the confidence for Everything But The Girl to take a divergent musical path that led to a run of great albums in subsequent years.

 

Given the three decade anniversary, I was keen to include something from the UK Top 40 as at 16th February 1995. But jeez, the record buying public didn't half make it difficult.

 

Celine Dion and Annie Lennox at #1 and #2 respectively. Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex and cover of Total Eclipse Of The Heart (I mean, why?) by Nicki French in the Top 10. A few places down, Jimmy Nail and Sting both with songs about cowboys (though at least Jimmy's was written by Paddy McAloon). It's not until #20 that the first half decent song appears, with Mansize Rooster by Supergrass. 

Thankfully, a new entry that week at #38 saved the day. Down By The Water by Polly Jean Harvey was the first single from third album To Bring You My Love and ends this 1995 mixtape on a suitably sinister note.

 

It's no spoiler to say that next weekend will look at 1996 and 1997. Life-changing in so many ways...but was the music any good?

 

Well, if I mention Spice Girls, Babylon Zoo, Gina G, Elton John, Aqua and Teletubbies, you'll no doubt be thrilled to know that none of them will be appearing here!

 

1) Original (Radio Edit): Leftfield ft. Toni Halliday

2) Tow Truck (Chemical Brothers Mix): The Sabres Of Paradise

3) Bullet (Bitten 7"): Fluke

4) Adored And Explored (7" Edit By The Beatmasters): Marc Almond

5) Waking Up (Album Version): Elastica

6) Yes (Edit): McAlmont & Butler

7) High And Dry (Album Version): Radiohead

8) Missing (Todd Terry Club Mix) (Blanco/Eternal Radio Edit): Everything But The Girl

9) Common People (7" Edit): Pulp

10) Try, Try, Try (Album Version): Julian Cope

11) A Girl Like You (Album Version): Edwyn Collins

12) Down By The Water (Album Version): PJ Harvey

12th February 1995: To Bring You My Love (#38): 12

19th February 1995: Elastica (#13): 5

5th March 1995: The Bends (#17): 7

19th March 1995: Original EP (#18): 1

7th May 1995: Fantastic Star (#25): 4

7th May 1995: Versus EP (#77): 2

28th May 1995: Common People EP (#2): 9

28th May 1995: Yes EP (#8): 6

16th July 1995: Gorgeous George (#4): 11

23rd July 1995: Bullet EP (#23): 3

6th August 1995: 20 Mothers (#24): 10

19th November 1995: Missing EP (#3): 8

Side Two (46:11) (GD) (M)

Decadance II: 1992

Side 1 of a mixtape mockery, focusing on the 1990s and today in particular, 1992. It's also Dubhed post number 1,400, whatever that's worth.

 

1992 was a weird year in that, after a few years working and travelling, I decided to go back to college. I originally went to college straight from school, had a really crap time, dropped out half way through and vowed 'never again'. How fickle we human beings are, eh?

 

It was slightly better the second time around, although my outsider status was maintained by being older than the majority of my fellows, though I would hesitate to describe myself as a 'mature student'. Mature I most definitely was not. 

 

I wasn't even the oldest student there. That dubious honour was reserved for a forty-something woman in my English Literature class who frequently expressed her frustration at the juvenile antics of her peers.

 

I wouldn't say that I had the time of my life, but I enjoyed the classes, liked most of the people, fell in love with a girl, and got to make some horrendous fashion choices on a daily basis. Oh, and I had a part-time job so that I could afford to run a car and have a social life. Critical, considering that I was back home living with my parents out in the sticks.

 

Music-wise, I was out of sync with my contemporaries. The college jukebox was great, but invariably had Nirvana, Soundgarden or Pearl effing Jam on constant rotation. Whenever I got the opportunity, I would stick on Don't Fight It, Feel It by Primal Scream, the 7 minute Andrew Weatherall Scat Mix on the B-side, naturally, Denise Johnson's voice resounding around the room to general indifference. Philistines!

 

Today's eclectic selection reflects the times and my tastes. I was still leaning heavily into dance music (literally, on some club nights when I'd been at it for hours without a break) but I was still knocked for six by a new indie tune. I was just as inclined to listen to Pete Tong's Essential Selection as I was John Peel or Annie Nightingale's Request Show.

 

Opening song, the Kate Bush-sampling Something Good by Utah Saints is the only one from 1992's Top 40 best-selling UK singles, scraping in at #36. 

 

Another sacrilegious sample carries Messiah's Temple Of Dreams, it's shameless lift of This Mortal Coil's cover of Song To The Siren giving Elizabeth Fraser an unexpected (and uncredited) #20 hit in June 1992.

 

Less contentious is Orbital's use of Kirsty Hawkshaw's la la la's from Opus III's It's A Fine Day on the sublime Halcyon. The dictionary definition "denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful" is in keeping with the tone of the tune. However, the song is dedicated to Phil and Paul Hartnoll's mother, who was addicted to the tranquilliser Halcion (Triazolam) for many years.

 

A couple of songs were technically contenders for the previous year. Lithium first appeared on Nirvana's gargantuan album Nevermind in 1991, but wasn't released as a single until the following July. 

 

Hit by The Sugarcubes was officially on sale as a single on 30th December 1991, though it's prophetic (optimistic?) title was fulfilled a couple of weeks later, in January 1992.

 

Whilst you are thankfully spared big hitters (is that a typo?) by Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men, Jimmy Nail, Wet Wet Wet and Billy Ray Cyrus, a ridiculously big shortlist means that R.E.M., Beastie Boys, PJ Harvey, Suede and Neneh Cherry also failed to make the final dozen.

I had to find a place for Julian Cope, though. The Arch Drude released his magnum opus Jehovahkill in 1992, and lead/sole single Fear Loves This Place is as good a single as Julian's released at any point in his career. 

1992's MAW (Mandatory Andrew Weatherall) is Papua New Guinea by The Future Sound Of London, a ground breaking song in it's own right, transformed into an 11-minute aural odyssey by Mr. W. As with Finitribe last week, even the 3-minute edit featured here (found on the B-side of the 7" single) is epic.

 

Representing indie discos were a couple of absolute classics, the minute they burst onto the airwaves. Weirdo by The Charlatans, with it's juddering intro that sounded like the noise my car made, trying to get it started on a cold morning, remains one of my favourites by Tim and the band. 

 

As for The Auteurs, what better song than Showgirl as a statement of intent. How was this not a huge hit in 1992?!

 

Rounding things up, The Age Of Love released their eponymous single multiple times though it was another five years before it became a UK hit. 1992 however saw the debut of the superb remixes by Jam & Spoon, which for me remain the definitive versions of the song.

 

Bassheads burned briefly but brightly, and I thought they were great. A clutch of singles, an album and a handful of remixes and that was it. Back To The Old School is itself now old school, yet still gets the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. And when the beat kicks in... perfection.

More Nineties nonsense tomorrow. Who will win? Who will lose? And which Weatherall shall I choose?

1) Something Good (7-Inch): Utah Saints ft. Doctor Douglas
2) Weirdo (Album Version By Flood): The Charlatans
3) Hit (Album Version): The Sugarcubes
4) Showgirl (Single Version): The Auteurs
5) Back To The Old School (Edit): Bassheads

6) Temple Of Dreams (U.S. Edit By Messiah & Ralph P. Ruppert): Messiah

7) Halcyon (Edit): Orbital

8) Papua New Guinea (Andrew Weatherall Mix) (7" Edit): The Future Sound Of London

9) The Age Of Love (Jam & Spoon Radio Edit): The Age Of Love

10) Lithium (Album Version): Nirvana

11) Fear Loves This Place (Album Version): Julian Cope

12) Hallelujah (Leftfield Edit): Inner City

19th January 1992: Stick Around For Joy (#17): 3

19th March 1992: Weirdo EP (#19): 2

5th April 1992: Hallelujah '92 EP (#22): 12

24th May 1992: Papua New Guinea EP (#22): 8

31st May 1992: Back To The Old School EP (#12): 5

21st June 1992: Something Good EP (#4): 1

28th June 1992: Temple Of Dreams EP (#20): 6 

26th July 1992: Nevermind (#11): 10

27th July 1992: The Age Of Love EP (# n/a): 9

20th September 1992: Radiccio EP (#37): 7

18th October 1992: Jehovahkill (#42): 11

November 1992: Showgirl EP (# n/a): 4

Side One (46:09) (GD) (M)

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

All I Want To Hear...

...is some Andrew Weatherall to get my day off to a good start. 

 

Here are ten tracks, five seconds shy of one hour, featuring Lord Sabre collaborations and remixes, none of which (I'm 99% certain) have previously featured on this blog.

 

1) Hall Of Mirrors (Andrew Weatherall Remix II): The Early Years (2017)

2) Stack Up: Two Lone Swordsmen (2004)

3) Blue Pole Dancer: Lino Squares (1997)

4) Deep Down & Dirty (Two Lone Swordsmen Remix By Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood): Stereo MC's (2001)

5) Tears (Remix By II Lone Rotters aka Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood) (Album Version): Slab (1999)

6) Kevin (1989) (Andrew Weatherall Remix): Battant (2007)

7) Exodus (Sabres Of Paradise Mix 2 By Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): Scorn (1992)

8) One Minute's Silence (Ivan Smagghe Remix): The Asphodells (2013)

9) Open Up (Open Dub) (Remix By The Sabres Of Paradise aka Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns) (Edit): Leftfield ft. John Lydon (1993)

10) Mother India (Sabres At Dawn) (Remix By Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): Fun-Da-Mental (1994)

 

1994: Mother India EP: 10

1997: Deliverance EP (Expanded Edition): 7

1997: The Role Of Linoleum EP: 3

1999: Ripsnorter: 5

2001: Deep Down & Dirty EP: 4 

2001: Sonic Mook Experiment: 9

2004: From The Double Gone Chapel: 2 

2007: Kevin (1989) EP: 6

2013: The Asphodells Remixed: 8

2017: remIIxes EP: 1

 

All I Want To Hear... (59:55) (KF) (Mega)

The D:Ream I Could Believe

D:Ream aka Peter Cunnah and Al Mackenzie appeared in my 2021 round up with their rather fine comeback single Meet Me At Midnight and (no spoiler alert) they've done it again this year. 

 

Pedestal was released as a single in September and this month saw a rather fine remix package featuring, amongst others, Dubhed favourites Jezebell aka Jesse Fahnestock and Darren Bell. Jezebell were also in my 2021 list and (no spoiler alert), they'll be in this year's round up, which I'll be sharing after Christmas.

 

It's been a great couple of years if you're a fan of either or both. D:Ream's fourth album (and first in a decade) came out in 2021. Peter and Al also got the rights back to their third album In Memory Of..., gave it the love and attention it lacked first time around and re-released it into the world. Alongside both albums came a trio of remix packages available as a 'name your price' download via Bandcamp. Needless to say, an embarrassment of riches to be found across all.

 

So, in case you're already weary of Paul McCartney, Elton John, East 17 and Mariah Carey, here's a D:Ream selection of remixes, mostly from the past two years but also dipping back into the 1990s for a trio of classics by Leftfield, Sasha and Development Corporation. The remix of Unforgiven previously appeared on a Leftfield selection posted in February this year, but when it's this good, why apologise for repetition?

 

I'm loving the 21st century remixes too: Pete Herbert never disappoints and any of Al Mackenzie's remixes as Retroforward have been spot on. And that Jezebell remix is just sublime.

 

One more sleep to go until Christmas, but I hope this might encourage you to stay up a little later and dance around the Christmas tree. Keep scrolling to the bottom for an extra Christmas treat.

 

This one's especially dedicated to Jez, genius behind the A History Of Dubious Taste music blog. Wishing you all the best for your recovery.

 

1) Many Hands (Shape Of Space Remix By Paul Greendale & Chris Stevenson) (2021)

2) Unforgiven (Leftfield Hands Mix By Neil Barnes & Paul Daley) (1993)

3) I Used To Believe In Love (Ashley Beedle's NSW Love & Joy Vocal Mix) (2021)

4) U R The Best Thing (Sasha Dub) (Remix By Alexander Coe & Tom Frederikse) (1992)

5) Pedestal (Jezebell's Dizzy Heights Remix By Jesse Fahnestock & Darren Bell) (2022)

6) Drop Beatz Not Bombs (Deepchild Remix By Rick Bull) (2011)

7) All Things To All Men (Pete Herbert Remix) (2011)

8) Meet Me At Midnight (Retroforward Plays Pop Remix By Al Mackenzie) (2021)

9) Things Can Only Get Better (Superfly Development Vocal) (Remix By Development Corporation) (1993) 

10) Make Love Cool Again (RMN vs Jus Jez Remix) (2021)

The D:Ream I Could Believe (1:04:46) (KF) (Mega)

 

Pedestal

Please tell me how, please tell me how
It’s come to this again?
Tell me it aint so
I gotta know, I gotta know
Are we on again?
Maybe? I don’t know

What answer leaves you racked in doubt
Can’t figure you, can’t work it out
I’m wondering, "What the hell it all means"?

I put you up on a pedestal
You were the dream I could believe but you just kept on deceiving me
Well I held you above me
You just looked down on me

Tell it to the child, like you tell a child
You’re not making sense
Tell me, I must know
Give him a name. Give, give him a name
Just say his name
Tell me. I got a right to know

Come share another ecstasy
We’ll make love so tenderly
We’ll make love ‘til our bodies ache

I put you up on a pedestal
You were the dream I could believe but you just kept on deceiving me
I put you way up on a pedestal
I worshipped the ground you walked upon
But you just kept walking over me
Well I held you above me
You just looked down on me

My head, my hands aint got no feeling
In my head, my hands, you just don’t mean it
In my head, my hands I can’t believe it
I just can’t

I put you up on a pedestal
You were the dream I could believe but you just kept on deceiving me
I put you way up on a pedestal
I worshipped the ground you walked upon
But you just kept walking over me
Well I held you above me
You just looked down on me

 

Jesse Fahnestock, one half of Jezebell, is also 100% of 10:40 and has featured on this blog many times including the 2021 round up and (no spoiler alert) will be popping up again next week. Clearing the decks for a new album in 2023, Jesse has been posting a rather wonderful 10:40 advent calendar, containing previous album tracks, singles and remixes, all for free. I've been a fan since first discovering 10:40 during the pandemic and created my own Dubhed selection of 10:40 and Jezebell gems back in May. Many of the 10:40 tracks have re-appeared in the advent calendar so if you haven't got them already, I'd strongly recommend you get over there today!

 

Last Christmas Eve, I posted the latest festive offering from Martin Jenkins aka Pye Corner Audio. 2022 is no exception and Martin has provided another free/name your price chiller in the shape of Satan's Slay.  

 

It's going to be tough Christmas for many, I know. However you're spending your time this weekend, love and very best wishes from me. Your visits to this blog and comments on my musical ramblings have been a constant source of encouragement and support when I've found things difficult and I hope in some small way, I can pay some of this forward. 

A brief, prepared post for tomorrow. Normal business should resume on Boxing Day.

The Perception Of The Movement Of One's Own Body

Side 2 of a mixtape entitled Kinesthesia, originally compiled in 1998 for my brother and sister-in-law and re-recorded for my own collection on 13th and 14th May 1999.

Whereas Side 1 was a straight reproduction of the track listing, for some long-forgotten reason I decided to tweak Side 2, swapping a remix of the opening track by Radiohead for the album version and replacing Saint Etienne for Mulu. 

 

Guitars at the forefront of this selection, even with the remixes, Massive Attack roughing up Manic Street Preachers, Rosetta Stone adding a touch of Goth to Mulu and Sub Sub on the cusp of throwing off their club clothes and dressing up as Doves, with assistance from Tricky. 

 

A few beat-heavy classic tracks from Armand Van Helden, Djum Djum and Leftfield and Fatboy Slim's tribute to former Beats International colleague Lindy Layton to add some spice to the mix. Pulp go full on sonic assault with Party Hard whilst Bran Van 3000 up the ante with an escalating, squalling closer, proving they could have been more than one-hit wonders.

1) Planet Telex (Album Version): Radiohead (1995)

2) If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next (Massive Attack Remix): Manic Street Preachers (1996)

3) Daaboodaa Munks: Armand Van Helden (1997)

4) Difference (Steng Mix By Djum Djum, Leftfield & Mat Clark) (Edit): Djum Djum (1990)

5) Pussycat (Rosetta Stone Mix By Porl King & Karl North): Mulu (1997)

6) Song For Lindy: Fatboy Slim (1996)

7) Smoking Beagles: Sub Sub ft. Tricky (1996)

8) Reflection: Massive Attack (1998)

9) Party Hard (Album Version): Pulp (1998)

10) Forest (Album Remix): Bran Van 3000 (1998)

1995: The Bends: 1

1996: Better Living Through Chemistry: 6

1996: If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next EP: 2

1996: [Progressive House Classics]: 4

1996: Smoking Beagles EP by Sub Sub / Tricky Kid EP by Tricky: 7

1997: Pussycat EP: 5

1997: Sampleslaya: Enter The Meatmarket: 3

1998: Glee (UK Edition): 10

1998: Inertia Creeps EP: 8

1998: This Is Hardcore: 9

Side Two (46:52) (Box) (Mega)

Side One here

Whatever Lurks In Your Mind

Side 1 of a mixtape, compiled October 1996 and featuring Secret Knowledge aka Kris Needs and Wonder Schneider.

 

I posted the previous side of this cassette compilation back in January, so it seems only right that the flip side appears as I again find myself in need of some bangers to blast away the cold, dark wintry days.

Side 1 starts as Side 2 ended, with One Dove and the wonderful vocals of Dot Allison. Why Don't You Take Me originally appeared on the soundtrack to the film Shopping, starring Sadie Frost, Jude Law and Sean Pertwee.

 

Dave Ball and Richard Norris aka The Grid get a thorough rinsing from Kris. It was only when researching this post that I realised to my surprise and delight that Diablo's Spanish vocals are provided by none other than Vanessa Contenay-Quiñones, who is long overdue a Dubhed selection of her own.

 

Nan Vernon used to perform with Dave Stewart & The Spiritual Cowboys and released one album and a clutch of singles on his Anxious label. Elvis Waits... was the last of these and features great remixes from Kris Needs and Steve B-Zet/Recycle Or Die. These days, Nan is better known for her film and TV soundtrack work, including Guardians Of The Galaxy, Bates Motel and Rob Zombie's Halloween.

Morgan Fisher first came to prominence in Mott The Hoople and has gone on to carve a varied and individual musical path. Humtone #4 was a one-off 12" single released on Cherry Red's dance spin-off label, MFF, in 1994 with a Kris Needs remix up front on the A-side.

 

Delta Lady was a side project for Kris and Wonder in 1993/94, releasing two singles on Leftfield's Hard Hands label, Swamp Fever and Anything You Want, the latter closing out this selection. Neil Barnes & Paul Daley join Kris on the mix for this belting remix, eleven and a half minutes of club dub to bring things to a satisfying conclusion.

 

I have had to tweak the tracklist for this recreation. The original cassette featured the six-minute Volume Vocal Mix of Anything You Want, which featured on the Volume Seven and Wasted: The Best Of Volume compilations in 1993 and 1995 respectively. 

 

The mixtape then finished off with Nuttin' Dub, a version of Too Much Of Nuttin' from Secret Knowledge's album, So Hard. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find my copy of The Serious Road Trip CD which features the dub and the album vocal version just wasn't a good fit.

 

So, I've removed the final track and included the Delta Dub Charge remix of Anything You Want. I didn't own this back in 1996 but if I had, I may well have gone for this version instead. 

 

I hope this goes some way to banishing the November blues and sets you up nicely for the weekend.

 

1) Why Don't You Take Me (Secret Knowledge Remix): One Dove (1993)

2) Diablo (Secret Knowledge Atomic Bidet Mix): The Grid ft. Vanessa Contenay-Quiñones (1995)

3) Elvis Waits... (Secret Knowledge Aaron Mix): Nan Vernon (1994)

4) Humtone #4 (Sea Diver Mix By Kris Needs): Morgan Fisher (1994)

5) Anything You Want (Delta Dub Charge) (Remix By Kris Needs & Leftfield): Delta Lady (1993)

Side One (45:30) (Box) (Mega)

Side Two here