A Million Different People In Here

Side 1 of an cassette compilation, recorded 27th December 1997.

An end of year 'best of' with an opening song from Björk that had charted less than a fortnight previously. 

Bachelorette is an astounding song in it's original form, and the list of artists brought in to remix the single included RZA from Wu-Tang Clan. He doesn't mess with it too much, mainly a switch of beats, but it makes a big difference.

I've included the UK chart peaks for each of the singles here, which in turn highlights how many of them actually failed to crack the Top 100! 

Smoking Pot by Wubble-U is no surprise as the BBC no doubt slapped a discreet airplay on it due to it's title and sampled refrain of "Why are you children smoking pot?" Lionrock and The Aloof were robbed, though.

This was the era of multi-format CD singles and offers to buy all two (or three, in some cases) for a bargain price in order to secure that all-important chart placing. Therefore, quite a few here found that the single crashed in on the first week, and disappeared without trace by the second.

Only two Top 10s, the first from James with a more commercial punt at pop, produced by Stephen Hague, following a couple of more experimental albums with Brian Eno. 

The second was far more radical: Tori Amos' song Professional Widow was put through the garage grinder by Armand Van Helden, released as a single, and gave Tori her first #1 in the UK. The remix is of it's time admittedly, but it's still a thrilling listen.

Also thrilling, though for different reasons, were Gold Blade, fronted by John Robb (belated happy 65th birthday for 4th May!). I saw Gold Blade play a gig in the super cosy upstairs room at The Louisiana in Bristol in November 1996 and they were just brilliant, full oif energy and Robb resplendent in lamé and quiff.

As a nod to the excellent series at The Vinyl Villain, Edwyn Collins released The Magic Piper (Of Love), a one-off single that incredibly - and delightfully - found itself playing over the closing credits of smash hit movie Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery. You can read JC's thoughts on the single here.

It may be a little while before I get around to Side 2, though the mixtape's title gives a clue to one of the songs. Can you guess any of the other eleven?

1) Bachelorette (RZA Remix): Björk (Bachelorette EP) (#21, 14 December 1997)

2) She's A Star (Album Version): James (Whiplash) (#9, 27 April 1997)

3) Professional Widow (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix - Radio Edit): Tori Amos (Professional Widow EP) (#1, 12 January 1997)

4) Pussycat (Rosetta Stone Mix By Porl King & Karl North): Mulu (Pussycat EP) (#50, 27 July 1997)

5) Sinking (Radio Edit): The Aloof (Sinking EP) (#n/a, 01 June 1997)

6) Sand (Album Version) (Cover of Lee Hazlewood): OP8 ft. the ilk of Lisa Germano (Slush) (#n/a, 12 January 1997)

7) The Magic Piper (Of Love) (Edit): Edwyn Collins (The Magic Piper (Of Love) EP) (#32, 27 July 1997)

8) Not Even Jesus (Album Version): Gold Blade (Hometurf) (#86, 22 June 1997)

9) Angels Go Bald :Too (Original Mix (Edit)): Howie B. (Angels Go Bald :Too EP) (#36, 13 July 1997)

10) Smoking Pot (Original Mix): Wubble-U (Smoking Pot EP) (#n/a, 27 July 1997)

11) Wet Roads Glisten (Radio Edit): Lionrock (Wet Roads Glisten EP) (#80, 18 May 1997)

Side One (46:00) (GD) (M)

It's Party Time In Oblivion

Happy birthday to Lisa Germano, born 27th June 1958.

A supremely talented artist, whose music first came to me via the Inconsiderate Bitch EP on 4AD in 1994, then back to her previous and subsequent albums, up to No Elephants in 2013.

Criminally underrated as a storyteller and songwriter, her raw narratives can make for challenging and uncomfortable listening, whilst often wrapped up in the most delicate, beautiful melodies. 

The 4AD albums are essential listening but, if you start, don't stop there. Slush, Lisa's 1997 collaboration with OP8 aka Giant Sand aka Howe Gelb and Calexico, is wonderful and you can find her latter albums scattered but available on Bandcamp.

Sending love and best wishes, Lisa.

1) Dark Irie (1991)

2) The Prince Of Plati (2009)

3) Into Oblivion (ft. Johnny Marr) (2006)

4) We Suck (1996)

5) Cracklin' Water: OP8 ft. The Ilk Of Lisa Germano (1997)

6) Happiness (Remixed By Ivo Watts-Russell & John Fryer) (1994)

7) Tomorrowing (1998)

8) Puppet (US Album Version By Malcolm Burn & Wayne Lorenz) (1993)

9) Sexy Little Girl Princess (Album Version) (1994)

10) Apathy And The Devil (2013)

11) It's Party Time (2002) 

1991: On The Way Down From The Moon Palace: 1

1993: Happiness (USA): 8

1994: Inconsiderate Bitch EP: 6

1994: Geek The Girl: 9

1996: Excerpts From A Love Circus: 4

1997: Slush: 5

1998: Slide: 7

2002: Lullaby For Liquid Pig: 11

2006: In The Maybe World: 3

2009: Magic Neighbor: 2

2013: No Elephants: 10

It's Party Time In Oblivion (45:55) (Mega)

The Hurt In My Heart

This one happened very quickly. PJ Harvey's song came up on a shuffle and suddenly I was following a thread from one song to the other. A dozen songs later, a Dubhed selection was born.

The less obvious connection between all of these choices is that I haven't listened to the source albums in quite a while, the various EPs even more so, a timely reminder that I need to dig them out for the full experience.

 

Swansway is a gentler version of Siouxsie's debut solo single Into A Swan from 2007 and it's stunning. Likewise, the Tanya Donelly and Kristin Hersh songs, which subsequently appeared on the Lovesongs For Underdogs and Sky Motel albums respectively but which I only own due to the versions appearing on EP releases.

 

The Deep Field by Joan As Police Woman was lent to me by a friend and every listen reminds me what a great album it. As is i don’t know who needs to hear this..., the debut album from Sarah Tomberlin, a chance discovery when she supported Angel Olsen on tour a couple of years ago.

 

Rita Lynch has been a staple of the Bristol live music scene for decades and her albums have continued to capture her on-stage fire and lyrical bite, as evidenced by her eighth (I think) in 2022, Mrs. Lynch. Smile is taken from her 2010 album, What Am I?

 

Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen collaborated on a one-off single, the 80s power ballad-infused Like I Used To, so their pairing here seemed an obvious choice. I have pretty much everything that Angel has recorded; conversely relatively little by Sharon, which I need to address.

 

On a similar note, there were slim pickings in my collection for Julia Holter and Phoebe Bridgers. Both of these choices came from music magazine cover-mounted CDs and I've yet to buy the source albums in either case. Another reminder that I just don't have the time or money to keep up with all of the music that I'd like to explore more....

 

Lisa Germano first came to my attention via the Inconsiderate Bitch EP on 4AD, label boss Ivo Watts-Russell taking her debut album Happiness (at the time only released in the USA) and remixing several tracks to stunning effect before releasing it to a wider audience. Puppet is a prime example of this, the versions on the 4AD EP and album proving to be standout tracks on both releases. I got the original album many years later, which if nothing else proves that Puppet was a great song to begin with. So, what better way to wrap up this selection? 

 

1) Big Exit (Album Version): PJ Harvey (2000)

2) Les Jeux To You: Julia Holter (2018)

3) Swansway: Siouxsie (2007)

4) Smile: Rita Lynch (2010)

5) Chinese Satellite: Phoebe Bridgers (2020)

6) Nervous: Joan As Police Woman (2011)

7) Swoon: Tanya Donelly (1996)

8) collect caller: Tomberlin (2022)

9) Echo (Single Version): Kristin Hersh (1999)

10) You Shadow: Sharon Van Etten (2019)

11) Intern: Angel Olsen (2016)

12) Puppet (US Album Version): Lisa Germano (1993)

 

1993: Happiness (USA): 12

1996: Sliding And Diving EP: 7 

1999: Echo EP: 9

2000: Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea: 1

2007: Into A Swan EP: 3

2010: What Am I?: 4 

2011: The Deep Field: 6

2016: My Woman: 11

2018: Aviary: 2

2019: Remind Me Tomorrow: 10

2020: Punisher: 5

2022: i don’t know who needs to hear this...: 8

The Hurt In My Heart (46:06) (KF) (Mega)

You Brightened Up My Scene With Images Stolen From My Dreams

An all-female vocal selection for this Sunday, featuring several highlights from this year, sprinkled with choice songs from the depths of my collection. 

The selection starts with the song that triggered the idea for this post, dusted off when I was sorting through some CD singles in the attic. Sweetest Child was a one-off single that reached #45 in the UK in August 1992. The song was a collaboration between Youth (DJ, producer & Killing Joke) and Maria McKee (Lone Justice and Top Gun movie chanteuse). The Official Chart Company lists the song as a solo McKee but in fact the sleeve states "featuring Maria McKee" and doesn't actually name the act as Sweetest Child. I've gone with the latter eponymous title for simplicity's sake. I've gone for the effects-adorned accapella here, but I'll showcase one of the other mixes one day, featuring some guitar shredding from the much-missed Robert 'Throb' Young of Primal Scream.

There are a clutch of superlative remixes: Lee 'Scratch' Perry's final creative work for Dot Allison is a winner; Märtini Brös lend an indie edge to fellow Germans Toktok vs. Soffy O.; Kate Simko's beats and strings washes Bishi Bhattacharya's sweet vocals; Scotland is the last stop on the musical tour, White Label remixing a highlight from Jan Burnett's collaborative project, The Grand Gestures, featuring the wonderful voice of Emma Pollock, formerly of The Delgados.

 

A couple of cover versions are featured: Hayley Richman hails from Montreal, Canada and delivers a striking cover of Talk Talk's Life's What You Make It. Catherine Anne Davies, a Welsh artist who records as The Anchoress, similarly has a bold attempt at The Cure's Friday I'm In Love, and I love it. 

 

The selection is mostly downtempo, but includes a few more upbeat numbers. Katy J Pearson hails from my birthplace Bristol, is on the Heavenly label and drops her second album (three, if you count her lockdown mini-album of field recordings) in July. I've pre-ordered on the strength of the three singles released so far, including today's selection Alligator.

Jez from A History Of Dubious Taste recommended Ibibio Sound Machine's latest album, Electricity, and he's right, it's an absolute corker. Eno Williams is a compelling voice and frontperson and with Hot Chip on production duties, it's a winner from start to finish. 

 

I've enthused previously about Yuksek's album, Nosso Ritmo, and this is a standout track featuring Queen Rose. Parental warning: you can probably decipher the song title/acronym G.F.Y. and the F-bomb is dropped liberally throughout. 

 

I had to include a few of my other favourite female artists. Martina Topley-Bird returned last year with a fantastic album, Forever I Wait; for this selection, I've dipped back into her back catalogue for a more obscure B-side from 2003, but no less beautiful. 

 

Lisa Germano first came to my attention via the Inconsiderate Bitch EP on 4AD and Puppet was a standout song. The version featured here is from the earlier US album before Ivo & John Fryer signed up Germano and remixed several songs for the release of Happiness in the UK. 

Last, but by no means least, is Billie Ray Martin with a song from the sublime 4 Ambient Tales EP, produced by The Grid. It was one of her first releases after the demise of Electribe 101 and what's proved to be a substantive and fascinating solo career.

Today's manipulated cover image is a photo of "American left-wing political essayist, journalist, activist, feminist, and pop music critic" Ellen Willis, which I've been wanting to use for a while and seemed spot on as a accompaniment for this selection.

1) Accapella Sweetest Child (Remix By Youth): Sweetest Child ft. Maria McKee (1992)

2) Love Died In Our Arms (Lee 'Scratch' Perry Remix): Dot Allison (2022)

3) Modern Woman: Erin Rae (2021)

4) Missy Queen's Gonna Die (Märtini Brös) (Remix By Clemens Kahlcke & Michael Pagliosa): Toktok vs. Soffy O. (2002)

5) Alligator: Katy J Pearson (2022)

6) G.F.Y. (Album Version): Yuksek ft. Queen Rose (2019)

7) 17 18 19: Ibibio Sound Machine (2022)

8) Reflektions (Reworking III) (Remix By Kate Simko): Bishi (2022)

9) Life's What You Make It (Cover of Talk Talk): Hayley Richman (2015)

10) Skyscraper: Martina Topley-Bird (2003)

11) Puppet (Original US Album Version): Lisa Germano (1993)

12) This Road: Denise Sherwood (2022)

13) Friday I'm In Love (Cover of The Cure): The Anchoress (2022)

14) Hearts (Single Version By The Grid aka Dave Ball & Richard Norris): Billie Ray Martin (1993)

15) A Certain Compulsion (Remixed By White Label aka Steve Aungle, Anth Brown & Tom Doyle): The Grand Gestures ft. Emma Pollock (2016)

 

1992: Sweetest Child EP: 1

1993: 4 Ambient Tales EP: 14

1993: Happiness (USA): 11

2002: Missy Queen's Gonna Die EP: 4 

2003: Anything EP: 10

2015: Life's What You Make It EP: 9 

2016: The Grand Gestures Remixed: 15

2019: Nosso Ritmo: 6

2021: Lighten Up: 3 

2022: Electricity: 7

2022: Friday I'm In Love EP: 13

2022: Pay It All Back Vol. 8: 12

2022: Reflektions EP: 8

2022: Sound Of The Morning: 5

2022: The Entangled Remix EP: 2

Images Stolen From My Dreams (57:18)

In researching this post, I ended up revisiting (or in some cases, discovering) the official videos for several songs on YouTube. They're far too good to keep to myself so, following the track list sequencing, here are Sweetest Child ft. Maria McKee, Erin Rae, Toktok vs. Soffy O., Katy J Pearson, Yuksek ft. Queen Rose, Bishi, Hayley Richman and a very unsettling promo for Lisa Germano's Puppet. 

 

If you only have time to watch a couple, then the videos for Erin Rae and Katy J Pearson are recommended.