Ultra Stereo Field Dub Mixes

Side 2 of a mixtape, compiled 23rd January 2002, and showcasing the remixing and production talents of Leftfield aka Neil Barnes and Paul Daley. 

 

Side 1 of Ultra Stereo Field Mixes was labelled 'Vocalfield', this side 'Dubfield' so you'll have a good idea what to expect from today's selection. Drawing heavily on debut album Leftism and their prolific remix period in the early 1990s when record label entanglements prevented Leftfield from releasing their own music, this is as good a snapshot as any of why the duo were at the forefront of electonic/dance music and remain hugely influential to this day.

The selection opens with the Leftism version of Release The Pressure, led by Earl Sixteen and one of the best opening album tracks ever. The remixes of Sunscreem and If? are (I think) ones that pop up infrequently, compilers opting for the longer main mixes with more vocals, but I have a great love for these variations. And the two remixes of Unforgiven compelled me to buy a D:Ream single against my better judgement at the time, and I wasn't disappointed. Add two other Leftism classics and a brilliant remix of React 2 Rhythm's Intoxication and how can you wrong? If your body isn't moved by these rolling beats in the next three quarters of an hour, you may need to check your pulse and seek urgent medical attention.

 

1) Release The Pressure (Album Version): Leftfield ft. Earl Sixteen & Papa Dee (1995)

2) Unforgiven (Leftfield Hands Mix): D:Ream (1993)

3) Melt (Album Version): Leftfield (1995)

4) Perfect Motion (One Down Mix By Leftfield): Sunscreem (1992)

5) Everything And More (Leftfield Dub Ranch): If? (1992)

6) Song Of Life (Album Version): Leftfield (1995)

7) Intoxication (Dubfield Mix By Leftfield): React 2 Rhythm (1992)

Side Two (45:55) 

You can find Side One here

Ultra Stereo Field Mixes

Side 1 of a mixtape, compiled 23rd January 2002, and showcasing the remixing and production talents of Leftfield aka Neil Barnes and Paul Daley. 

 

I think the first thing I heard by Leftfield was their Vocalfield Mix of Open Up Your Head by If? in 1991 and I was hooked from there on, trying to get hold of anything I could. Due to a legal dispute with record label Rhythm King, Leftfield could not release their own music for several years, focusing instead on remixing and producing other artists: Stereo MCs, Sandals, Ultra Naté, React 2 Rhythm, Adamski, Inner City... all classics. Open Up, 1993's collaboration with John  Lydon, was a game changer and when debut album Leftism appeared in 1995, it more than lived up to the weight of expectation. 

 

Side One (46:19)

1) I Am Free (Leftfield Escape From Da Da Mix): Morgan King (1994)

2) Space Shanty (Tribal Mix): Leftfield (1995)

3) Body Medusa (The Leftfield Remix): Supereal (1991)

4) Afro-Left (Album Version): Leftfield ft. Djum Djum (1995)

5) Not Forgotten (Hard Hands Mix): Leftfield (1991)

6) Open Up (Full Vocal Mix): Leftfield / Lydon (1993) 

 

Space Shanty (Tribal Mix) originally appeared on the excellent 1997 compilation Foundations: Coming Up From The Streets but suffered from a mastering fault/skip a couple of minutes in. I was able to find a version online without the skip but which cuts out abruptly at the end. The version included here is a (hopefully) sympathetic edit of the two recordings.

Tracks 3 & 5 are edits from the 1996 compilation [Progressive House Classics]. Whilst I now have the full length versions of both, I've kept with the edits to maintain the original mixtape running time.

This is Open Up's third appearance on this blog, albeit in different versions which you can find here and here.

 

Side One (46:19)