You Can Touch It But It Will Still Not Fade

Side 2 of a cassette compilation, recorded 11th January 1998.

When I posted Side 1 in July 2022, I described it as "eight remixes that I was unlikely to ever hear down the local indie disco, but which in their own way, kick ass." Side 2 is all that, and more.

 

If there's a duff remix of Planet Telex by Radiohead, I've yet to hear it. The UNKLE remix was possibly the first one that I heard, tucked away on one of the CD singles for Just, and it remains my favourite. 

 

Likewise, K-Klass took New Order's Ruined In A Day and elevated it to a higher plain, surpassing the original to the extent that I'm pretty sure that this was the version the band 'performed' when they appeared on Top Of The Pops. Or, at least if it's not true, that's how I prefer to remember it.

Arab Strap's reworking of Don't Die Just Yet by David Holmes has appeared here before, as well as in a guest post that I did in January 2021 for The Vinyl Villain. Again, a remarkably strong bundle of remixes from Mogwai, Delakota and Holmes himself and Messrs. Moffat and Middleton.

Mixed in are some trip hop beats from Attica Blues vs. Lightning Seeds, a bit of drum 'n' bass from Tamsin Elliott vs. Faithless and Lush taken on a gothtronica excursion by Spooky. And then there's Beck, put through the aural equivalent of a meat grinder by Aphex Twin and somehow surviving. 

 

Closing on a funky but rather more sedate pace is Jon Carter, shrugging off his Monkey Mafia mantle to mix the Manics. Phat beats and a trumpet, what more could you want?

 

1) Planet Telex (Karma Sunra Mix By UNKLE): Radiohead (1995)

2) You Showed Me (Attica Blues Vocal Mix) (Cover of The Turtles): Lightning Seeds (1997)

3) Richard's Hairpiece (Remix Of "Devil's Haircut" By Aphex Twin): Beck (1997)

4) Ruined In A Day (Reunited In A Day Remix By K-Klass): New Order (1993)

5) Reverence (Tamsin's Re-Fix By Tamsin Elliott): Faithless (1996) 

6) The Holiday Girl (Don't Die Just Yet) (Remixed By Arab Strap): David Holmes (1997)

7) Undertow (Spooky Remix By Charlie May & Duncan Forbes): Lush (1994)

8) Kevin Carter (Busts Loose) (Remixed By Jon Carter): Manic Street Preachers (1996)

 

1993: Ruined In A Day EP: 4 

1994: Hypocrite EP: 7

1995: Just EP: 1 

1996: Kevin Carter EP: 8

1996: Reverence / Irreverence (ltd 2x CD): 5 

1997: Don't Die Just Yet EP: 6

1997: The New Pollution EP: 3

1997: You Showed Me EP: 2

 

Side Two (46:02) (KF) (Mega)

Side One avaialble here

Soul Rebel Sold Out To Disco

An Imaginary Compilation Album featuring Billie Ray Martin, which JC at The Vinyl Villain kindly hosted on 17th June 2021.

It resurfaced yesterday when Billie posted a Spotify playlist link on Twitter and as I mentioned the ICA in my reply. I got this reaction.

 

I've been a big fan of Billie since the late 1980s and the ICA was my effort to shine a light on her incredible body of work, whether solo or in collaboration. The rules of the ICA are pretty straightforward: 10 songs, two sides, roughly 45 minutes or less, replicating the experience of listening to a vinyl album then flipping it over to play the other side.

It took me a long time to finish the ICA as I really struggled to whittle my short(ish) list to just 10 songs. In the end I cheated and included a "bonus 12" EP" with a further 4 songs.

JC's generosity in hosting this and other posts were a springboard to launching my own blog and The Vinyl Villain remains one of my touchstones for what a great music blog should be.

I've recreated the ICA here as a continuous, 68-minute mix. For the sleevenotes, here's the link to the original TVV post. 

 

Whilst Billie continues to work on new music, many of her releases are available digitally (several EPs in greatly expanded form) via her website or Bandcamp. All highly recommended, of course.

Side One

1) (I Spent Hours Again) Wishing You Well (Single Version By The Grid aka Dave Ball & Richard Norris): Billie Ray Martin (1993)

2) Bright Lights Fading (Original Edit): Slam ft. Billie Ray Martin (2004)

3) Heavy Game (Album Version) Hifi Sean ft. Billie Ray Martin (2016)

4) Talking With Myself (Live @ Simon Forestiero Got 2 Be Funky, Piccadilly Key 103 FM Radio Manchester) (Cover of Electribe 101): Billie Ray Martin (2002)

5) Hyper Lust (Album Version): MOTOR ft. Billie Ray Martin (2012)

Side Two

1) I've Never Been To Memphis (Radio Edit): Billie Ray Martin (2001)

2) The Crackdown (Radio Edit) (Cover of Cabaret Voltaire): Billie Ray Martin ft. Stephen Mallinder & Märtini Brös (2010)

3) No Brakes On My Rollerskates (Mark Moore & Mr. Motion Mix): Hot Skates 3000 (2003)

4) Undisco Me (Original Radio Edit): Billie Ray Martin (2007)

5) Persuasion (SpookyBillie's Ventriloquist Mix) (Cover of Throbbing Gristle): Billie Ray Martin & Spooky (1993)

Bonus 12" EP

1) Captain Drag (Album Version): Billie Ray Martin ft. Ann Peebles & Carla Thomas (2001)

2) Candy Coated Crime (Disco Bloodbath Remix): The Opiates (2012)

3) You And I (Keep Holding On) (Album Version By Billie Ray Martin & BT aka Brian Transeau): Billie Ray Martin (1996)

4) The Long And Lonely Fall (Album Version): Billie Ray Martin (2016)

1993: Persuasion EP: B5

1993: 4 Ambient Tales EP: A1

1996: Deadline For My Memories: C3

2001: I've Never Been To Memphis EP: B1 

2001: 18 Carat Garbage: C1

2003: No Brakes On My Rollerskates EP: B3

2004: Bright Lights Fading EP: A2

2007: Undisco Me EP: B4

2008: BRM Live On Manchester Radio (Unplugged) EP: A4

2010: The Crackdown Project EP: B2 

2012: Hollywood Cuts (The Remixes): C2

2012: Man Made Machine: A5

2016: Ft.: A3

2016: The Soul Tapes: C4

Soul Rebel Sold Out To Disco (1:07:52) (KF) (Mega)

Fingers & Thumbs

One of those posts where the title pretty much says it all. Today's Dubhed Dozen features songs (and one artist) with either 'finger' or 'thumb' in the title. Sometimes, that's the extent of my thought process...!

I wasn't short on choices though and I like some of the unusual bedfellows that spring from these 'themed' selections. I mean, I don't think you're going to find another mix today that has an opening salvo of His Bobness, electronic duo Spooky, rap rascals Beastie Boys and Neil Young and Crazy Horse. I think it works, but you'll be the judge of that.

I detoured from the theme to include Stiff Little Fingers because, I mean, why not? Apologies to Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers though, who just missed out in the final shortlist. Another time, Larry, another time.

 

Julian Cope of course has a song for every occasion and theme and today is no exception. Dubhed stalwart Andrew Weatherall could also have made the cut with a remix of a song by Jonny Halifax, in his day job as Honkeyfinger. Sadly, another one that didn't make the final 12 although it did pop up in one of my Weatherall mixes back in May 2021.

After a (mostly) guitar-driven run, Jenny Hval brings some calm and class and one might think a fitting close to proceedings. But no, I have to go and take the piss by bolting on a mash-up of The Beach Boys and a 1980s TV ad theme. Thanks (or insults) to Mark Vidler aka Go Home Productions, this may have been the song's sole opportunity to make an appearance on this blog so of course I had to do it.

1) Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues: Bob Dylan (1965)

2) Fingerbobs (Album Version): Spooky (1996)

3) Finger Lickin' Good (Government Cheese Mix): Beastie Boys (1992)

4) Powderfinger (Live): Neil Young & Crazy Horse (1978)

5) Soul Finger (Alternative Version) (Cover of The Bar-Kays): Dexy's Midnight Runners (1981)

6) Sore Thumb: Fujiya & Miyagi (2008)

7) Alternative Ulster: Stiff Little Fingers (1978)

8) Disposable Thumbs: Endless Boogie (2021)

9) The Air Near My Fingers: The White Stripes (2003)

10) She's Got A Ring On Her Finger (& Another One Through Her Nose): Julian Cope (2005)

11) Thumbsucker: Jenny Hval ft. Félicia Atkinson (2019)

12) Wouldn't It Be Nice To Have A Finger Of Fudge?: Go Home Productions (2008)

Fingers & Thumbs (45:55) (Box) (Mega)

Darren In The Underworld

Inspired by Swiss Adam's return visits to some classic Darren Emerson and Underworld tracks and mixes over at Bagging Area and the coincidental inclusion of an Underworld remix on the cover-mounted Depeche Mode compilation CD available with the current issue of Mojo magazine, I've thrown caution to the wind and jumped on the bandwagon.

I've cherry picked half a dozen remixes from 1993 to 2003, classics all, and generous with beats and breaks. It's impossible for me to pick a favourite from this bunch.

 

1) Human Behaviour (The Underworld Dub (1)): Björk (1993)

2) Harlequin - The Beauty And The Beast (Underworld Alternative): Sven Väth (1994)

3) Sunset (Bird Of Prey) (Darren Emerson Remix): Fatboy Slim ft. Jim Morrison (2000)

4) David (Darren Emerson's Underwater Remix): GusGus (2003)

5) Schmoo (Underworld Mix): Spooky ft. Heather Sian Wildman (1993)

6) Risingson (Underworld Mix): Massive Attack (1997)

 

Darren In The Underworld (54:39) (KF) (Mega)

The Sun Has Come Again To Hold You

Today's selection shines a spotlight on guest vocalists. All of the nine tracks have electronic leanings, veering from club to dub along the course of under an hour.

There will be some familiar names - Boy George, Texas, Elizabeth Fraser, Guy Garvey - and some less so, but they all add something unique to the song, even when put through the remix rinse.

 

Most of the artists will also be well known, with a couple of surprises tucked away. Cabana was a one-off collaboration between superstar DJ Sasha aka Alexander Coe and long-term producer Tom Frederikse. The former went on to global domination whilst the latter swapped music for law in 1999, specialising in Digital Media.

 

Battle Box was also a one-off project, this time for 3D aka Robert Del Naja, who pops up again with Massive Attack later in the selection.

 

The most unexpected pairing is perhaps Paul Weller and Boy George on One Tear in 2017. I haven't fact checked this at all, but was this their first time in the studio together since Band Aid in 1984? Whatever, it was worth the wait...!

 

1) Red Alert (Jaxx Radio Mix): Basement Jaxx ft. Blue James (1999)

2) Music Matters (Axwell Extended): Faithless ft. Cassandra Fox (2007)

3) Bailando Con Lobos (Goodmen Fresh Dub): Cabana ft. Sheila Schwok (1994)

4) Battle Box (Remix): Battle Box ft. Guy Garvey (2012)

5) The Hush (67% Mix): Rae & Christian ft. Texas (1998)

6) One Tear (Club Cut Alternative Version): Paul Weller ft. Boy George (2017)

7) Empire Ants (Miami Horror Remix): Gorillaz ft. Little Dragon (2010)

8) Group Four (Security Forces Dub) (Remix By Mad Professor): Massive Attack ft. Elizabeth Fraser (1998)

9) Strange Addiction (Bud Addiction) (Remix By Charlie May & Duncan Forbes): Spooky ft. Celestine Walcott-Gordon (2005)

The Sun Has Come Again To Hold You (58:22) (Box) (Mega)

Note: After yesterday's fiasco of accidentally leaving off Touch Me by The Doors from the Whatever Happened To Reg? selection, (running) order has been restored and you can now listen to/download the full playlist as intended. If you didn't notice the omission yesterday, please ignore this note and I may just get away with it...

It Feels So Good To Be Free

After a week of slipshod sequencing from yours truly, here's Spooky to show how it's done. This came as a freebie cover mounted mix CD with DJ magazine way back in June 2007. The title says it all: the set was mixed live at Auto Cinema in Monterrey, Mexico and is heavy with new tunes, including a mix of their own New Light, the original vocal version providing the title of today's post.

 

1) Pass The Suntan Lotion (Nic Fanciulli Mix): James Talk (2007)

2) Praise (Llorca Mix): Art Of Tones (2007)
3) Bhalobash (Original Version): Mike Monday (2006)
4) Blue Glass: Piemont (2007)

5) Umbrella (Spooky Remix): Chymera (2007)
6) Zoom In: Kupon (Matthew Roberts & Matt Thomas) (2006)

7) The Pressure (King Roc Mix): The Breakfastaz (2006)
8) Static (Satoshi Tomiie Mix): Planet Funk (2007)
9) New Light (Spooky's Strobelight Mix): Spooky ft. Celestine Walcott-Gordon (2007)

10) Latinhead (Tarrentella's Re-Edit): Soul Mekanik (Kelvin Andrews & Danny Spencer) (2006)
11) This World (Wighnomy Brothers & Robag Wruhme Bukklefipps Remix): Slam ft. Tyrone Power (2004)

Live At Auto Cinema, Monterrey, Mexico, 2007 (1:05:03)

Anybody, It Could Be Any Body

Some Saturday sleaze for you now with Persuasion, first recorded by Throbbing Gristle in 1979 and infamously covered by Spooky & Billie Ray Martin in 1993. The original featured on Throbbing Gristle's subversive album 20 Jazz Funk Greats. The cover version was intended for Electribe 101's second album which was ultimately shelved, ending up as Billie's first 'solo' single, with a slew of equally unsettling remixes.

Persuasion (Album Version): Throbbing Gristle (1979)

Persuasion USA (Live @ Kezar Pavillion, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, 29 May 1981): Throbbing Gristle

Persuasion (MOTOR Remix By Bryan Barton & Olivier Grasset): Throbbing Gristle (2004)

Persuasion (Video Edit): Billie Ray Martin & Spooky (1993/2012)

Persuasion (Alternative Remix By D.O.P.): Billie Ray Martin & Spooky (1993)

A Crawl Around The Clubs Getting High

Dusting off some sorely neglected (by me, at least) club cuts, ready for the Friday dancefloor, personally these days a patch of carpet between the sofa and the TV. I'd forgotten how much I love these songs: the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Cortney Tidwell tracks are particular delights; Fred Falke and Mark Pritchard are guaranteed to get me shaking (although there's now a simultaneous creaking and rattling); the brief detour to Japan via 5th Garden & Pizzicato Five brings a smile every time; Prins Thomas, James Zabiela & DJ Q bring some serious beats and, to cap it all off, one of my favourite ever remixes by The Orb. The original version of Home by PWEI supplies today's post title. Happy Friday, everyone!

1) Carambola (Mark Pritchard Remix): Azymuth (2000)

2) I Feel Bonnie (House Mix): Hot Chip ft. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2010)

3) Kanal (Prins Thomas Sure Oppstøt): Telephones (2010)

4) Don't Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up (Ewan Pearson's Objects In Space Vocal Remix): Cortney Tidwell (2007)

5) Candy (James Zabiela Remix): Spooky (2008)

6) Animal (Fred Falke Remix): Miike Snow (2009)

7) Cooking (Arling & Cameron High Pressure Mix): 5th Garden (1998)

8) Love's Theme (Saint Etienne Mix): Pizzicato Five (1997)

9) R U Still In To It? (DJ Q Remix): Mogwai (1998)

10) Home (Orb Sweet Sin And Salvation Mix): Pop Will Eat Itself (1995) 

A Crawl Around The Clubs Getting High (1:16:17)

United State Of Dub

13 tracks, 12" mixes, more dub, less vocal, 'nuff said.

 

1)  Hope (Cameless Rub-A-Dub): Loop Guru ft. Zahrema Di Starace & Natacha Atlas (1993)

2) Touch Me (Two Lone Swordsmen Dub) (Remix By Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood): Sweetie (2002)

3) Open Up Your Head (Trancefield Dub Mix By Leftfield): If? (1991)

4) Buddy X (Masters At Work Dub No. 1): Neneh Cherry (1993)

5) United State Of Love (Soma Dub Remix By Slam): Supereal (1992)

6) Gandhi (Dicky Trisco's Heavenly Dub): Le Corps Mince De Françoise (2010)

7) Dr. Lee PhD (Dub Mix By Mario Caldato Jr.): Beastie Boys ft. Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Money Mark (1998)

8) Silver Surfer (Dub) (Remix By François Kevorkian & Goh Hotoda): Lizzie Tear (1988)

9) One Of Our Submarines (Salz Dubmix): Thomas Dolby (2003)

10) Karmacoma (Bumper Ball Dub) (Remix By Mad Professor): Massive Attack (1994)

11) Adventures In Failure (Dub): MC 900 Ft. Jesus (1991)

12) Stupid Girl (Dreadzone Dub Version): Garbage (1996)

13) Shelter (Slow Phase) (Dub): Spooky ft. Julie Daske (2007)

 

United State Of Dub (1:20:05)

Der Trommelschlag Knackt Im Takt

A random selection for Friday, the only connection being that I haven't listened to any of these songs in far too long. The title is a German translation of 'the drum beat cracks in time', a line from The Anvil by Visage, although in the German version of the song the line becomes 'magisch schlagen die trommel' which translates into English as 'beat the drum magically'. 

 

1) Inner City Life (Rabbit In The Moon's Return To Vocalic City): Goldie ft. Diane Charlemagne (1996) 

2) Shining Bright Star (Zongamin Remix): Black Strobe (2007)

3) Kowalski (Automator Mix): Primal Scream (1997)

4) Runark (Jokers Of The Scene Remix): Congorock (2009)

5) Aqualung (Dub): Spooky (1994)

6) Der Amboss (Vocal) (Remix By Visage & John Luongo): Visage (1982)

7) Little Bit (Loving Hand Remix By Tim Goldsworthy): Lykke Li (2008)

8) Laugh (Vox-Reverse Tele) (Remix By DJ Vadim): Low (1998)

9) Teardrop (Scream Team Remix): Massive Attack ft. Elizabeth Fraser (1998)

10) Fast Forward The Future (Buckets & Bongs Mixture By The Orb) (Album Edit): Zodiac Youth (1991)

Der Trommelschlag Knackt Im Takt (1:03:26)
 

Khayem's Pan-Ambient Summer Washout Mix

40-odd minutes of odd and off-kilter ambience.

 

1) Play The Game (Alternative Acapella Version): Queen (1980)

2) The Forever Yes (Album Mix By Jesse Fahnestock): 10:40 (2021)

3) “This Tape Is Supposed To Be About Love”: Edie Sedgwick ('Girl On Fire' Soundtrack) (2010)

4) 05:10 AM / Dream I Never Had: Everything Is Recorded ft. A.K. Paul (2020)

5) The Dianaver: Queen Elizabeth (Julian Cope & Thighpaulsandra) (1997)

6) Starry Eyes: Julian Cope (1992)

7) Water (Extended Instrumental Mix): Richard Norris (2021)

8) Hidden Place (Acapella): Björk (2001)

9) Harvard Sun (Main Vocal Parts): Bon Iver (2012)

10) Bells Of Fury (Part III): Spooky (2020)

11) 100 Bars (Accapella): Spiritualized (1991)

12) Exit Through The Skylight (Jay Glass Dubs Reboot): GLOK (2020)

13) Inner Flight (Album Version By Andrew Weatherall & Hugo Nicholson): Primal Scream (1991)

14) Heartbreak Hotel (Film Version): Spinal Tap (1984)

 

Khayem's Pan-Ambient Summer Washout Mix (41:37)