Decayed Prelude

Exactly eight months ago, I posted Decadance V: 1999, the final year in my mixtape series covering the 1990s, itself a follow on from Decade, the original cassette compilations I had recorded to sum up the 1980s.

In an attempt to create some (pre-millennial) tension, I concluded my post with a portentous - many (me included) would say pretentious - statement

I suspect that when I get around to a series on the Noughties, 

the gulf between my singles selections and the UK charts will be vast, 

yet I know that like Decadance and Decade, 

there will be many gems to be uncovered and shared. 

I'm not planning on doing it any time soon, 

possibly not even this year, though I have come up with the series name. 

Decayed. 

Well, it proved to be a scratch that I needed to itch sooner rather than later, it seems!

And so, here we are again, with a prelude to a series that will start properly next Saturday (8th) and run for the next 5 weekends.

As before, each mixtape will cover a single year via a dozen songs to fit on, in old money, one side of a C90 cassette, just like the original Decade series managed back in the day.

It turned out that "the gulf between my singles selections and the UK charts" was not as vast as I suspected and there are a fair share of UK hits, number ones even, throughout. That said, I've reserved the right to include songs that spectacularly failed to dent the Top 100, just because I think they're great songs and should've had more love at the time. Especially when you consider some of the inexorable crap polluting the upper regions of the Top 40 in this decade.

This was a decade of significant changes in my life: becoming a homeowner, a husband, a father; I gained friends and lost friends; soaring highs and deep, deep lows. And always music to discover or rediscover and rejoice in.

Today's prelude selection features ten songs, each charting in the UK in respective years from 2000 to 2009, starting and ending with a #1 hit. None of the artists featured today will appear in the main series. Yep, this is the only time that you'll hear The White Stripes or Massive Attack in the next five weeks. 

Much as I'd like to make an exception, Julian Cope will be absent from proceedings, as The Arch Drude didn't release any singles in the 2000s. Some might argue that he didn't release any decent albums either, but I will stick my fingers in my ears and sing ba ba ba ba ba if I see any of this nonsense.

A feature (gimmck, you say?) of the Decadance series was my efforts to shoehorn in a MAW (Mandatory Andrew Weatherall) track into every year, mostly remixes of other artists, which proved to be less difficult than I first thought.

No such studio trickery this time, though I can reveal that The Guv'nor will be making an appearance in this series, with a surprise Top 30 single.

But what of the ten that have made the cut?

Groovejet by Spiller was a ubiquitous tune in the summer of 2000, although in terms of chart action, it followed the growing trend of singles debuting at #1 then dropping out immediately after. In fairness, Groovejet dropped to #2, then #3, and spent 12 weeks in the Top 40, 30 weeks in the Top 100, which clearly reflected it's popularity. 

It also proved to be a relaunch for Sophie Ellis-Bextor, fresh from the break up of theaudience and about to launch a solo career that, a quarter of a century later, has seen her elevated to National Treasure status.

In 2001, The Avalanches came out of nowhere (well, Australia) with an approach to sampling and cut-ups that as dizzying as it was unsustainable. Since I Left You sounds as magical now as it did then and the album of the same name that followed was a breathtaking piece of work. I don't know the full story of the  'extended alternate version' featured here, and discovered on YouTube in 2016, but I reckon it's a DIY cut and edit job by the poster, the wonderfully named Chungus Bungus.

From two seven-minute songs to one that comes in at under two minutes, it can only be The White Stripes. It took me a while to catch on to Jack and Meg's back-to-basics music and whilst I don't love everything they did, singles like Fell In Love With A Girl were spot on, retro yet sounding fresh and exciting. I'm surprised that this stalled just outside the Top 20 in March 2002.

Massive Attack returned in 2003 with 100th Window, and lead single Special Cases, featuring Sinéad O'Connor. Only four albums in, yet a world apart from the Blue Lines album just over a decade before. I finally got to see Massive Attack live in concert the following year, appropriately enough in our shared birthplace, Bristol.

Reign was originally released on the UNKLE album Never, Never Land in 2003, then as a single, peaking at #40 in November 2004. The song features Ian Brown, at this point half a decade into his solo career, with no hope of The Stone Roses getting back together again. 

Antony & The Johnsons caused a stir in 2005 when they won the Mercury Music Prize with debut album I Am A Bird Now, qualifying in part as Antony Hegarty (now Anonhi) had been born in Chichester, West Sussex. You Are My Sister features a beautiful duet with Boy George, who also enjoyed an artistic renaissance in the 2000s.

The Automatic had a monster hit with, er. Monster in June 2006. It looks like the band called it a day in 2010, after three albums. I can confidently say that I have never knowingly heard another song by The Automatic and, much as I like Monster, I don't feel a strong urge to check out their catalogue. 

Asobi Seksu, on the other hand, were a band that I feel for as soon as I heard the single Strawberries in 2007. Clearly the record buying public didn't agree, as Strawberries managed only one week at #54 before disappearing without trace. Sadly, Asobi Seksu have been on 'indefinite hiatus' since 2013, though I hold hope of a musical reunion one day.

When I started accessing loads of free MP3s via the RCRD LBL in 2007, I discovered loads of new artists and songs as a result. Paper Planes by M.I.A. is a good example, with a plethora of official and unofficial remixes offering up for download. Roughly a year later, it was released as a physical single in the UK, cracking the Top 20 in September 2008. The mix I've picked here, by then-partner Diplo, retains The Clash sample and adds raps from Big Bun and Rich Boy. Whatever happened to them?!

Another RCRD LBL freebie in 2008 was Just Dance by Lady Gaga, remixed by the RAC (that's the Remix Artist Collective, not the motoring services company!) Just Dance subsequently scored Lady Gaga her first UK #1 in January 2009, followed a couple of months later by Poker Face. Her debut album was appropriately titled The Fame.

As with previous series, for all those info heads, I've listed the parent EP or album, and the single's peak position in the UK charts. I've also included the date it got there which sometimes, but not always, is the same week that it debuted.

If you're thinking, as I did back in March, that the 2000s was the decade that your music tastes acrimoniously parted from the UK Top 100, stick around for the next five weeks, you may be pleasantly surprised.

 

1) Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) (Spiller's Extended Vocal Mix): Spiller ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor (2000) 

2) Since I Left You (Extended Alternate Version By Chungus Bungus): The Avalanches (2016)

3) Fell In Love With A Girl: The White Stripes (2002)

4) Special Cases (Album Version): Massive Attack ft. Sinéad O'Connor (2003)

5) Reign (Album Version): UNKLE ft. Ian Brown (2004)

6) You Are My Sister: Antony & The Johnsons ft. Boy George (2005)

7) Monster (Album Version): The Automatic (2006)

8) Strawberries (Album Version): Asobi Seksu (2007)

9) Paper Planes (Diplo Street Remix): M.I.A. ft. Big Bun & Rich Boy (2008)

10) Just Dance (RAC Mix By André Allen Anjos): Lady Gaga ft. Colby O'Donis (2008)

20th August 2000: Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) EP (#1): 1

1st April 2001: Since I Left You (#16): 2

3rd March 2002: White Blood Cells (#21): 3

2nd March 2003: 100th Window (#15): 4

21st November 2004: Never, Never, Land (#40): 5

4th December 2005: I Am A Bird Now (#39): 6

11th June 2006: Not Accepted Anywhere (#4): 7

12th November 2007: Citrus (# 54): 8

28th September 2008: Kala (#19): 9

11th January 2009: The Fame (#1): 10

 

Decayed Prelude (45:37) (GD) (M)

Sixty Years Of 3D

Happy birthday to Robert Del Naja aka 3D, born 21st January 1965.

Ten songs, four official videos, one fan-made, one visualiser, four audio only, all prime examples of 3D's talent as a vocalist, producer, songwriter and remixer. 

Some of these collaborations are new to me: I had no idea 3D had worked with Mike Patton of Faith No More on his Peeping Tom, or that he's produced a remix (all eleven minutes of it) for a reimagining of McCartney III. 

And his work with Massive Attack alone is the stuff of legend, not just the music, but the activism and political drive, and the willingness to challenge conventions of live performance. 

And then there's his art.

Truly inspirational.

Have a good one, 3D!

1) False Flags: Massive Attack (2006)

2) Rabbit In Your Headlights (3D Mix-Reverse Light): UNKLE ft. Thom Yorke (1998)

3) 3 Libras (All Main Courses Mix): A Perfect Circle (2000)

4) Kill The DJ: Peeping Tom (Mike Patton) ft. Massive Attack (2006)

5) For Nothing: Euanwhosarmy ft. Lyndsey Lupe (2016)

6) Battle Box (Main Mix): 3D, Guy Garvey (2012)

7) WPIC (Higgins In 3D Remix): Higgins Waterproof black Magic Band (2014)

8) Deep Deep Feeling (3D RDN Remix): Paul McCartney (2021)

9) Kong: Neneh Cherry (2018)

10) Daydreaming: Massive Attack (1990)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

A Gazillion Brazillians

Today's selection flies the flag for Fila Brazillia aka Dave McSherry & Steve Cobby. 

The duo began to record under that name in 1990 but I think it was probably the mid-90s when I particularly became aware of Fila Brazillia via two tracks: their own song A Zed And Two L's and a remix of Cotton Wool by Lamb, which I featured here last month.

 

This selection focuses exclusively on Fila Brazillia's remix work from the late 1990s to early 2000s, a 45 minute ride taking in The Irresistible Force, King Louis, Lypid, Unitone and UNKLE. There's another great remix of a Lamb track, unreleased at the time in 1996 but which surfaced online circa 2015. The pair also bravely take on a Simple Minds classic. The original of Theme For Great Cities is unbeatable but I like what they've done, increasing the tempo but retaining enough of what makes the song so special. Busta Rhymes also gets Brazillified, the first of what turned out to be (at least) four remixes of Do My Thing across multiple releases. Kids warning on the latter, as Monsieur Rhymes is characteristically potty mouthed throughout.

 

One thing you can depend on Fila Brazillia for is bringing an irresistible groove to the party and they do not disappoint on any of the eight remixes featured here. I'll be playing this loud today to counter the midweek slump with some midweek funk. Bring it on!

 

If that's not enough Fila Brazillia for you, the boys have kindly obliged by making a large chunk of their back catalogue available on Bandcamp.

 

Today's selection was inspired by and is dedicated to the multi-talented John Medd. Thanks, John!

 

1) Nepalese Fish Dances (Remix By Fila Brazillia): The Irresistible Force (1999)

2) The Sign's Alive (Fila Brazillia Dub Mix): Lypid (2000)

3) Theme For Great Cities (Fila Brazillia Remix) (Full Length): Simple Minds (1998)

4) Berry Meditation (Fila Brazillia Mix): UNKLE (1997)

5) Do My Thing (Fila Brazillia Mix 1): Busta Rhymes (1996)

6) Dag Nabbit (Fila Brazillia Remix): Unitone (2000)

7) Lusty (Fila Brazillia Mix) (unreleased): Lamb (1996)

8) Paraplegic Soul (Fila Brazillia Remix): King Louis (2003)

 

1997: Do My Thing EP: 5

1998: Glitterball EP: 3 

1999: Brazilification: Remixes 95-99: 4

1999: Fish Dances: 1

2000: Fresh Diggings From The Claypit EP: 6

2000: The Sign's Alive EP: 2 

2003: Fila Brazillia: B2: 8

2015: Lusty (promo MP3): 7

 

A Gazillion Brazillians (45:38) (GD) (M)

Kinesthesia

Side 1 of a mixtape, compiled in 1998 for my brother and his wife, probably as a Christmas/New Year gift. 

 

The selection is essentially my 'favourites of 1998', with one or two in-year purchases thrown in for good measure. Two of the standout albums for 1998 were Like Weather and Solex vs. The Hitmeister, whilst UNKLE finally delivered their debut as an artist, Psyence Fiction, which had a impressive line-up of guests and almost - but didn't quite - live up to the hype. However, it delivered an outstanding video for Rabbit In Your Headlights and remix by 3D from Massive Attack.

 

Singles-wise, Cornershop's Sleep On The Left Side included a brace of great remixes from Ashley Beedle, plus the none-more-80s retrofit from Les Rythmes Digitales aka Stuart Price, back when he was masquerading as French DJ Jacques Lu Cont. 

 

Opening track To Ulrike M. appeared on a Select magazine promo CD; the single itself featured remixes by Zero 7 and Tosca (aka Richard Dorfmeister & Rupert Huber), which I've still yet to hear. Every time I hear this track I remind myself that I need to track down a copy, then promptly forget. This has been going on for over two decades now.

 

Likewise, the Jungle Brothers remix is another that popped up on a promo CD in 1998, this time Melody Maker, and may well have been the first music I'd heard by Midfield General aka Skint label head Damian Harris. The line-up of remixers for the single is a snapshot of 1998: Stereo MCs, Natural Born Chillers, Da Beatminerz, Hardknox, even The Fugees.

 

A couple of songs were criminally relegated to B-side/EP status, namely Barry Adamson's cinematic cover of Da Juice's 1991 club track Hear The Angels and another track tucked away on the multi-format release of Mansun's Being A Girl. I wasn't a particular fan of Mansun, although I liked the lead track, but I bought one of the two CD singles specifically for Railings, written by and featuring a guest vocal from Howard Devoto. You may not be surprised to read that, in my opinion, it's Mansun's finest song.

 

Today's photo was taken in St. John's Lane, a side street in Gloucester that leads from the main shopping area and in a roundabout way eventually connects to the cathedral and garden, where I'll often spend a lunch break, when I'm working in the city. The main grafitti quotes Martin Luther King from a speech he gave in St. Louis on 22nd March 1964. 

 

You'll have to zoom in to see it, but I was struck by the handwritten note stuck on the boarding to the left of it, which reads (sic) "If you are readin this, you and your vehicle? are being recorded on C.C.T.V." Judging by the hand prints and stains around the notice, this apparently was an irresistible invitation for some. I hope the C.C.T.V. captured their best side...

 

1) To Ulrike M. (Original Mix): Doris Days (1998)

2) Behind The Mask (The Orbital Remix): Yellow Magic Orchestra (1992)

3) Sleep On The Left Side (Paris) (Les Rythmes Digitales' Living By Numbers Mix By Stuart Price): Cornershop (1998)

4) Madam, Your Carriage Awaits: Bentley Rhythm Ace (1998)

5) Hear The Angels (Cover of Da Juice): Barry Adamson (1996)

6) Rabbit In Your Headlights (3D Mix-Reverse Light) (Remix By Robert Del Naja & Neil Davidge): UNKLE (1998)

7) Something: Leila ft. Luca Santucci (1998)

8) Brain (Midfield General Remix By Damian Harris): Jungle Brothers (1997)

9) There's A Solex On The Run: Solex (1998)

10) Railings: Mansun ft. Howard Devoto (1998)

 

1992: Hi-Tech / No Crime: 2

1997: Brain EP: 8 

1998: Being A Girl EP: 10

1998: Can't Get Loose EP: 5

1998: For Your Ears Only: 4 

1998: Like Weather: 7

1998: Rabbit In Your Headlights EP: 6

1998: Sleep On The Left Side EP: 3 

1998: Solex vs. The Hitmeister: 9

1998: To Ulrike M. EP: 1

 

 

Side One (46:14) (Box) (Mega)

Cosmic Intervention

From goth to groove in 24 hours. Today, I was up early and not in the mood to move. Thankfully, Australia's Angus Gruzman aka Dreems has remedied that with the infectious Opium Tiger, Flying Again. It's a rework of a 2019 song and all the better for it, nearly 13 minutes of groove, that changes tack about halfway. There's also a very indie guitar snippet, which got me thinking of Pink Industry at one point. The remix EP, out today, includes further versions of Flying Tiger by Japan's Zongamin and two from Canada's The Mole, all worth your time and hard earned pennies.

Opium Tiger, Flying Again: Dreems (2021)

Next up, and out earlier this month, is the UNKLE remix of Krust's Hegel Dialect from his 2020 album, The Edge Of Everything. In typical back-to-front fashion, I haven't heard the album yet, but this remix package (TEOE Remixes #3) is spot on. I think the last UNKLE remix I picked up was in 2015 so this is a welcome surprise.

Hegel Dialect (UNKLE Reconstruction): Krust (2021)

What will come as no surprise is that Sean Johnson aka Hardway Bros delivers a killer groove on his remix of French producer Margee's Wrong Dream, from the In My Sleep EP released last Friday. 11 minutes of pulsing beats and shimmering synths that feels way too short. Both the Krust and Margee packages include essential remixes from Bristol legend and founding member of The Wild Bunch, Milo Johnson, in his DJ Nature guise. 

Wrong Dream (Hardway Bros Cosmic Intervention): Margee (2021)

 

 

Dreems (Bandcamp)

Krust on Crosstown Rebels (Bandcamp)

The Edge Of Everything: Remixed (out 6th August on Bandcamp)

Margee (Soundcloud)

DJ Nature (Soundcloud)