Scratch The Surface

Celebrating Richard H. Kirk, 21st March 1956 to 21st September 2021.

I was devastated to read that Richard H. Kirk died yesterday at the age of 65. His achievements with Cabaret Voltaire alone secure a place in music history, and his prodigious output as a solo artist, aliases including Sandoz, collaborations such as Sweet Exorcist (with Richard Barratt) and many, many remixes kept him at the cutting edge of electronic music. 

Richard H. Kirk re-established Cabaret Voltaire as a solo venture in the late Noughties with remix albums/EPs for Kora and The Tivoli and, in 2020, released the first Cabs album in 26 years with Shadow Of Fear. 

A couple of drone albums and an EP followed this year, proof if needed that Richard H. Kirk was creatively in rude health. 

I can't express how much his music has meant to me and this hastily compiled selection doesn't even begin to scratch the surface.

 

1) The Arm Of The Lord: Cabaret Voltaire (1985)

2) Diskono (Alternate): Cabaret Voltaire (1982)

3) In Slumber (Richard H. Kirk Mix): Anne Garner (2005)

4) Brain, Whisper, Head, Hate Is Noise (Remix By RHK aka Richard H. Kirk): Buck-Tick (1994)

5) Yashar (John Robie Mix 2): Cabaret Voltaire (1982)

6) Tripping On Your Love (Sweet Exorcist Mix By Richard H. Kirk & Richard Barratt): Bananarama (1990)

7) Shadow Of Funk (Edit): Cabaret Voltaire (2021)

8) Do Right (Album Version): Cabaret Voltaire (1984)

9) Kino 5 (C/V Western Re-Work: 92): Cabaret Voltaire (1992)

10) Geezer (Sweet Exorcist Remix By Richard H. Kirk & Richard Barratt): Ultramarine (1992)

11) Cockpit Country: Sandoz (1998)

12) Baader Meinhof: Cabaret Voltaire (1979)

13) Nag Nag Nag (Single Version): Cabaret Voltaire (1979)

1979: A Factory Sample EP: 12

1979: Nag Nag Nag EP: 13

1982: Yashar EP: 5

1984: Micro-Phonies: 8

1985: The Covenant, The Sword And The Arm Of The Lord: 1

1990: Tripping On Your Love EP: 6

1992: I Want You / Kino (Altern 8 Remixes/C/V Western Re-Works: 92 EP: 9

1992: Nightfall In Sweetleaf EP: 10

1994: シェイプレス: 4

1998: Sandoz In Dub: Chant To Jah: 11

2001: Conform To Deform '82-'90: The Virgin/EMI Years Archive: 2

2005: Re-Making The Pearl: 3

2021: Shadow Of Funk EP: 7

 

Scratch The Surface (1:09:07) (GD) (M)

In The Middle Of This Contagious World

If I were a stickler for observing anniversaries, I'll have just missed the boat with this mix, as it was originally transmitted on NTS Radio on 22 June 2019. This is legendary producer Adrian Sherwood giving the Warp Records label an ON-U Sound rinse. 30 years of brilliance in 40 minutes. 

The title of today's post is a line from track 2, Licking An Orchid by Yves Tumor, originally released in 2018, the words seem especially appropriate in the present time. 

1) Wilmot: The Sabres Of Paradise (1994)
2) Licking An Orchid: Yves Tumor ft. James K (2018)
3) Flip Ya Lid: Nightmares On Wax (2006)
4) Nikels And Dimes: GonjaSufi (2012)
5) Auntie's Harp: Flying Lotus (2008)
6) Leyendecker: Battles (2007)
7) Dutty Bounce: Harmonic 313 (2012)
8) Alberto Balsalm: Aphex Twin (1995)
9) We'll Take It: Oneohtrix Point Never ft. Anohni & James Blake (2012)
10) Blood And Form: Mount Kimbie (2013)
11) Now Is The Time: Nightmares On Wax (2013)
12) Lion: Harmonic 313 (2012)
13) Simon From Sydney: LFO (1991)
14) Clonk's Coming: Sweet Exorcist (1991)
15) Pen Expers: Autechre (2001)

Warp vs. On-U Sound Mix: Adrian Sherwood (39:57)