À La Mode

I still haven't made up my mind whether I like Nouvelle Vague's cover of Enjoy The Silence by Depeche Mode. 

On paper, the pairing of Skye Edwards from Morcheeba and Larry Love from Alabama 3 is inspired and yet, after a few listens, it's just not doing it for me. The prospect of an entire album of covers - A Date With Depeche Mode - therefore doesn't immediately appeal.

However, it inevitably sent me down a rabbit hole of other Depeche Mode reinterpretations from the well-known and relatively obscure. 

If you can make it to the end without skipping, you're in for a treat: my online search uncovered the fabulously named Skapeche Mode, who cover the Basildon boys in a - you guessed it - ska style. 

From the live clip, it's definitely more about the entertainment value than the note perfect performance, but when the brass section are sporting angels wings and the lead singer is dressed as Mork from Ork, how can you not have a good time? 

Messrs. Gahan and Gore, take note.

1) Enjoy The Silence: Nouvelle Vague ft. Skye Edwards & Larry Love (2026)

2) I Feel You: Palm Skin Productions (2025)

3) Never Let Me Down Again: The Smashing Pumpkins (1994)

4) It's No Good: Dee Madden (2016)

5) Somebody: Veruca Salt (1998)

6) Stripped: Duncan Sheik (2020)

7) Just Can't Get Enough: The Wannadies (1995)

8) See You: Marsheaux (2015)

9) World In My Eyes: The Cure (1998)

10) People Are People: Skapeche Mode (2014)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reversion To The Aversion To The Version

Here's a novel idea. I've been listening to a lot of music circa 1995-1997, so I've picked 10 songs, found the official video on YT, then looked for a cover version or remix on Bandcamp or, failing that, an alternate version from the original release. For the latter, click on the link in the artist's name.

It's thrown up some interesting results and, of course, it's great to revisit the original videos.

I'm not sure that this has legs for repeat posts, but who knows?

First up is Where It's At by Beck, covered by Miiraposa in 2024, whose other songs include Creature Feature (It'sEatingMeAlive!), Slutt Money, Aussie Lemonade and Sprite Bitch.

Bluebeard by Combustible Edison vs. Buddy Mikro Mix by Saint Etienne

Novocaine For The Soul by Eels vs. DJ Gizmo Redrum from 2023.

Missing (Todd Terry Remix) by Everything But The Girl vs. Sad Girls Club from 2015

 

Don't Leave by Faithless vs. 2MeterSessies Version by Faithless, circa 1999.

Naked Eye by Luscious Jackson vs. IXΘΥΣ Edit from 2025.

 

Woman by Neneh Cherry vs. La Funk Mob Remix

Breathe by The Prodigy vs. Koi Child, circa 2017.

Something Changed by Pulp vs. National Death Industry from 2025.

1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins vs. The Bilinda Butchers (great name!) from 2020.

Ha Ha Hallowe'en

A spooky selection today, in a nod to Hallowe'en, whether you will ready for the hordes of Trick or Treaters, or battening down the hatches and pretending you're not in when the doorbell rings.

Inevitably, lots of Halloween-referencing songs to choose from, though dig a little deeper into some of the lyrics and you may be surprised by what you find. I've also lobbed in a few pumpkins, though they're not necessarily seasonal tunes.

I had to include some music by John Carpenter, though rather than go for the obvious with the main theme of 1978's defining moment Halloween, I've instead picked an extract from the 2018 'sequel', which Carpenter scored for director David Gordon Green. 

1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins was a classic slice of nostalgic rock until Moby got his hands on it and transformed it into a spine-tingling horrorshow. 1979 was a ripe year for horror films, with Alien, Phantasm, The Driller Killer, The Amityville Horror, The Brood, Nosferatu The Vampyre, and a(nother) remake of Dracula.

The Prisoner by Tears For Fears is the penultimate song on their debut album The Hurting and a re-recorded version of an old B-side. It gave me the chills when I listened to it as a young lad, though it was - and remains - one of the best things they've ever done.

The Basement Jaxx remix of Trick Me by Kelis is arguably far too upbeat for inclusion in this selection, but I like the jarring juxtaposition with Siouxsie & The Banshees before and Phoebe Bridgers afterwards.

And, having recently discovered EMF's unexpected but strangely compelling cover of Bauhaus' classic Bela Lugosi's Dead, it was a shoo in for this selection.

And who better to start and end proceedings than Misfits? 

1) Halloween: Misfits (1981)

2) Halloween Parade: Lou Reed (1989)

3) Halloween: Ash (1997)

4) Laurie Sees The Shape: John Carpenter (2018)

5) 1979 (Moby Mix): The Smashing Pumpkins (1996)

6) Pumpkin (Reincarnated): Tricky ft. Lucia (2023)

7) Halloween: The Gaslight Anthem (2014)

8) Pumpkin Head Xscapes: The Fall (1992)

9) Halloween: Japan (1979)

10) Halloween: Kirsty MacColl (1991)

11) Halloween: Sonic Youth (1986)

12) The Prisoner (Album Version): Tears For Fears (1983)

13) Halloween: Dead Kennedys (1982)

14) Halloween (Album Version): Siouxsie & The Banshees (1981)

15) Trick Me (Jaxxbackclash Rerub) (Remix By Basement Jaxx): Kelis (2004)

16) Halloween: Phoebe Bridgers (2020)

17) Bela Lugosi's Dead (Cover of Bauhaus): EMF (2025)

18) Halloween II: Misfits (1981)

1979: Quiet Life: 9

1981: Halloween EP: 1, 18

1981: Juju: 14

1982: Plastic Surgery Disasters: 13

1983: The Hurting: 12

1986: Flower / Halloween EP: 11

1989: New York: 2

1991: Electric Landlady: 10

1992: Ed's Babe EP: 8

1996: 1979 EP: 5

1997: A Life Less Ordinary EP: 3

2004: Trick Me EP: 15

2014: Get Hurt (Deluxe Edition): 7

2018: Halloween OST: 4

2020: Punisher: 16

2023: Maxinquaye (Reincarnated): 6

2025: Bela Lugosi's Dead EP: 17

Ha Ha Hallowe'en (1:06:08) (GD) (M)

If that's not frightening enough for you, then I've refreshed my #SpookyTunesSeason selections, originally posted on Bluesky this time last year. Follow the link for Volume One and Volume Two. 

Visceral Stuff

Celebrating producer, drummer, remixer and co-conspirator Roli Mosimann, 7th November 1955 to 15th September 2024.

If the name seems unfamiliar, but you own records by Swans, The The and The Young Gods, check out the credits and chances are you'll find him there. 

Twitter is great for getting a heads up on music news, the flipside being that it includes the sad news of someone's passing. So it was on Sunday night, when RapidEyeElectronicsLtd shared this tweet:

Roli's long-time friends Jim Thirwell and Matt Johnson paid tribute:

 

...as did many artists influenced by Roli's work, including Robin Rimbaud aka Scanner:

In time honoured tradition, I've thrown together a 10-track selection of Roli's work, pinching the title from RapidEyeElectronicsLtd's tweet. Apart from a remix of Clint Run (aka Jim Thirlwell) and Lydia Lunch's uncompromising 1988 single Stinkfist, this playlist errs on the side of Roli's more commercial mixes and production. Well, as commercial as it was ever likely to get.

Roli had a habit of popping up in the most unexpected places, whether a remix of Big Pig or The Smashing Pumpkins, and perhaps the best example being today's closing song....

Rest in peace, Roli.

 

1) Groove Check (The Stoli Mix By Roli Mosimann): That Petrol Emotion (1990)

2) Son Of Stink (Reprocessed & Edited By Roli Mosimann): Clint Ruin & Lydia Lunch (1988)

3) Breakaway (Dub Mix By Roli Mosimann): Big Pig (1988)

4) Infected (Energy Mix By Roli Mosimann): The The (1986)

5) Gasoline Man (Diesel Mix By Roli Mosimann): The Young Gods (1992)

6) 1979 (Vocal Mix By Roli Mosimann): The Smashing Pumpkins (1996)

7) Love Will Tear Us Apart (Red Version By Roli Mosimann) (Cover of Joy Division): Swans (1988)

8) Diesel Breeze (Album Version By Matt Johnson, Bruce Lampcov & Roli Mosimann): The The (2000)

9) Ashes To Ashes (Album Version By Faith No More & Roli Mosimann): Faith No More (1997)

10) The B-Side (World In Motion Remix By Roli Mosimann): England/New Order ft. Keith Allen (1990) 

Visceral Stuff (44:17) (KF) (Mega)

Alien Attack!

Side 2 of a cassette compilation, featuring some indie - and not-so-indie - tunes, recorded 22nd July 1998.

 

Tenuous link(s) time: 

 

1) Today's photo is a TV screen grab of a scene from 1982 film The Soldier, which grabbed my attention in a late-hours/should-have-gone-to-bed moment solely because the credits mentioned the soundtrack music was by Tangerine Dream. I sat through the film (I may have had a couple of micro sleeps in between) and coming to a realisation at the end that at least it was an hour and a half of my life I wouldn't have to repeat. The film's tenuous link to today's mixtape title is that whilst there clearly is an attack (one of many), there are zero aliens from start to finish. Putting aliens in the film may have actually helped.

2) Previous Friday selections have often tried to get the party started, with some upbeat music, daring some times with some actual disco (never a particularly popular choice, it seems). Today's tenuous link to Friday music is that the selection includes a song by Gavin Friday. I'm not expecting any comments that this selection has generated an uncontrollable urge to conga into the streets, banging a saucepan with a wooden spoon, whooping with delight and urging your neighbours to join the line.

For all that, much to enjoy, I hope. A couple of big hitters with Radiohead and The Smashing Pumpkins, a couple of off-shoot projects with The Sea Nymphs (Cardiacs) and Black Box Recorder (Luke Haines/The Auteurs), a couple from the 1980s with My Bloody Valentine and It's Immaterial and one 1970s alternative classic from Big Star.

 

Other than that, it's mid-late 1990s all the way with Stereolab, Leila, the aforementioned Gavin Friday, The High Llamas and The Wolfgang Press.   

 

Now, excuse me whilst I go and find a saucepan and wooden spoon, I've got me some whooping and a-hollering and, er, conga-ing to do...

 

1) (Nice Dream) (Album Version): Radiohead (1995)

2) Monstre Sacre: Stereolab (1996)

3) No More Sorry: My Bloody Valentine (1988)

4) Eye: The Smashing Pumpkins (1996)

5) Misunderstood (Album Version): Leila ft. Donna Paul (1998)

6) Dolls: Gavin Friday (1995)

7) The Sweet Life: It's Immaterial (1986)

8) Christ Alive: The Sea Nymphs (1995)

9) Showstop Hip Hop (Edit): The High Llamas (1997)

10) Kanga Roo: Big Star (1975)

11) Ideal Home: Black Box Recorder (1998)

12) Chains (Album Version): The Wolfgang Press ft. Claudia Fontaine (1995)

 

1975: 3rd: 10

1986: Life's Hard And Then You Die: 7

1988: Isn't Anything: 3

1995: The Bends: 1

1995: Funky Little Demons: 12

1995: The Sea Nymphs: 8

1995: Shag Tobacco: 6

1996: Emperor Tomato Ketchup: 2 

1996: Lost Highway OST: 4

1998: England Made Me: 11

1998: In-Car Stereo (Melody Maker promo CD): 9

1998: Like Weather: 5

 

Side Two (46:43) (Box) (Mega)