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.

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)