Can't Stop Now, Don't You Know

Happy birthday to Vincent John Martin. Who?! Vince Clarke, of course! Born 3rd July 1960.

Here's a rapid fire trawl through the video archives, with ten songs from a day job that's now in it's fifth decade. And a rare headline photo of Vince smiling! Just don't expect the same from the following videos...

This selection features of the greatest pop songs of all time, collaborations with Feargal Sharkey, Paul Quinn, Paul Hartnoll and a reunion with Martin Gore, plus stone cold classics from Yazoo and Erasure and a single from Songs Of Silence, Vince's solo album from last year. And, coming full circle, things start and end with Depeche Mode.

Have a good one, Vince!

1) Just Can't Get Enough (Swap Shop, BBC1 TV): Depeche Mode (1981)

2) Don't Go (uncredited TV performance): Yazoo (1982)

3) Never Never (Extended Version): The Assembly (1983)

4) One Day (Official Video): Vince Clarke / Paul Quinn (1985)

5) Ship Of Fools (Official Video): Erasure (1988)

6) Lowly (Official Video): VCMG (2012)

7) Better Have A Drink To Think (Official Video): Clarke : Hartnoll (2016)

8) White Rabbit (Official Video): Vince Clarke (2023)

9) Ship Of Fools (TopPop, Dutch TV): Erasure (1986)

10) Photographic (Something Else, BBC2 TV): Depeche Mode (1981) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#SynthPopSeptember

Another of my occasional engagements with Musk's Mad World, the theme this time being thirty days of synth pop throughout September.

No surprise that the likes of Visage, Depeche Mode, Chvrches, Duran Duran, AIR, New Order, LCD Soundsystem, Blancmange, O.M.D., Goldfrapp, Bronski Beat, Hot Chip, Pet Shop Boys and The Human League were generally well represented by their best-known songs.

 

It was a lot of fun and an opportunity to offer up some lesser tweeted songs by many of the above plus Fad Gadget, Les Rythmes Digitales, Ladytron, Alan Vega, Telex, Boytronic and La Roux, several of whom have featured in posts this month.

My 30 synth pop choices in full were

1) Lady Shave (Single Version): Fad Gadget (1981)

2) Sleep On The Left Side (Les Rythmes Digitales' Living By Numbers Mix): Cornershop (1998)

3) The Black Hit Of Space (Album Version): The Human League (1980)

4) The Sun And The Rainfall (Album Version) (Cover of Depeche Mode): Marsheaux (2015)

5) Cccan't You See... (Single Version): Vicious Pink (1984)

6) Almost (Album Version): O.M.D. (1980)

7) Leave In Silence (Single Version): Depeche Mode (1982)

8) (Hey You) What's That Sound? (Album Version): Les Rythmes Digitales (1999)

9) Clean Your House (The Emperor Machine Extended Remix): Blancmange (2020)

10) Pale Green Ghosts (Album Version): John Grant (2013)

11) Synthesize (Single Version): Autumn (1981)

12) Real Thoughts In Real Time (Vince Clarke Extended Version): Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (2023)

13) Frozen Faces (Single Mix): Propaganda (1985)

14) Let's All Make A Bomb (New Version): Heaven 17 (1983)

15) Gun (Album Version): Chvrches (2013)

16) Saturn Drive (Extended / Album Version): Alan Vega (1983)

17) Seventeen (Darren Emerson Radio Edit): Ladytron (2003)

18) Stand Up (Get Down) (7" Version): Kissing The Pink (1988)

19) You (Extended Version): Boytronic (1983)

20) The Walk (Album Version): Eurythmics (1982)

21) Mixed Bizness (Nu Wave Dreamix By Les Rythmes Digitales): Beck (2000)

22) Moskow Diskow (French 12" Version): Telex (1979)

23) Glam (Album Version): Icehouse (1982)

24) Let Me Down Gently (Prins Thomas Diskomiks): La Roux (2014)

25) Disenchanted (Album Version): The Communards (1986)

26) Mister Imperator (Album Version): Telefís (2022)

27) Lies (Bigger & Better) (12" Version): Thompson Twins (1983)

28) Jackson's Last Stand (Radio Edit): Où Est Le Swimming Pool (2009)

29) When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way' (Album Version): Sparks (1994)

30) Pleasure Boys (Special Dance Mix): Visage (1982)

As my final contribution is being tweeted today, here's a random 10-song selection from the 30, spanning four decades and neatly squeezing onto an imaginary C90 cassette side. Click on the song title links for more YT goodies. Enjoy!

 

1) Pale Green Ghosts (Album Version): John Grant (2013)

2) Cccan't You See... (Single Version): Vicious Pink (1984)

3) Stand Up (Get Down) (7" Version): Kissing The Pink (1988)

4) Glam (Album Version): Icehouse (1982)

5) Frozen Faces (Single Mix): Propaganda (1985)

6) When Do I Get To Sing 'My Way' (Album Version): Sparks (1994)

7) Real Thoughts In Real Time (Vince Clarke Extended Version): Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (2023)

8) Synthesize (Single Version): Autumn (1981)

9) Mister Imperator (Album Version): Telefís (2022)

10) Clean Your House (The Emperor Machine Extended Remix): Blancmange (2020)

 

1981: Synthesize EP: 8

1982: Primitive Man: 4

1984: Cccan't You See... EP: 2

1985: p: Machinery EP / A Secret Wish (CD bonus track): 5

1988: Stand Up EP: 3 

1994: Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins: 6

2013: Pale Green Ghosts: 1

2020: Clean Your House EP: 10

2022: a hAon: 9

2023: Real Thoughts In Real Time EP: 7

 

#SynthPop September (46:02) (KF) (Mega)

Belong Forever

A belated welcome to Grenoble's finest, the unique Miss Kittin aka Caroline Hervé, singer, DJ, producer, solo artist and prolific collaborator. This post was originally intended for last Friday but it was replaced at short notice as I ran out of time to finish it. Fingers crossed it was worth the wait!

 

I first discovered Miss Kittin's music two decades ago via Felix Da Housecat's album, Kittenz And Thee Glitz, and her partnership with Michel Amato as Miss Kittin & The Hacker. Happily, the latter duo returned earlier this year with their third album titled, er, Third Album.

 

This selection mostly focuses on Miss Kittin's singles, collaborations and remixes from some top-notch artists, including Vince Clarke, John Foxx & Ben 'Benge' Edwards, Vitalic and Laurent Garnier.

 

Miss Kittin's videos are also good value so for your extended entertainment I have picked four from today's selection. Ostbahnhof, from Kittin + Hacker's Third Album, was released as a single in January and I've included the lyrics below, a love song to clubbing in Berlin and the inspiration for today's post title.

 

1) Voicemail: Felix Da Housecat ft. Miss Kittin (2001)

2) Hide (Nhar Vocal Remix By Bernhard Siefert): Kris Menace ft. Miss Kittin (2013)

3) Ride (Vince Clarke Remix): Dubfire & Kittin (2017)

4) Where Is Kittin? (John Foxx & The Maths Remix): Marc Houle ft. Miss Kittin (2013)

5) Madame Hollywood (Album Version): Felix Da Housecat ft. Miss Kittin (2001)

6) Maneki Neko (Chateau Marmont Remix): Miss Kitten (2013)

7) Hometown: Miss Kittin & The Hacker (2007)

8) Rippin Kittin (Tobi Neumann's Glove Tension Dub): Golden Boy ft. Miss Kittin (2002)

9) 1982 (Vitalic Remix By Pascal Arbez-Nicolas): Miss Kittin & The Hacker (2002)

10) Ostbahnhof (Album Version): Kittin + Hacker (2022)

11) Silver Screen - Shower Scene (Laurent Garnier Remix) (Album Edit): Felix Da Housecat ft. Miss Kittin (2001)

12) Party In My Head (Thieves Like Us Remix): Miss Kittin & The Hacker (2009)

Belong Forever (1:03:19) (Box) (Mega)

Maneki Neko: Miss Kitten (2013)

 

Hide: Kris Menace ft. Miss Kittin (2013)

 

1982 (Vitalic Remix By Pascal Arbez-Nicolas): Miss Kittin & The Hacker (2002)

 

 

Ostbahnhof (Album Version): Kittin + Hacker (2022)

 

 

2 pm on a Sunday
It's the best day they say
Flat white, toasts, shower and black sneakers
I jump in a taxi, it's playing 80's music
Time has already stopped
Destination Ostbahnhof
The wall reminds me it was real
Once there was a West and an East
I used to be just a tourist
Until I gave you more than this
I see the line, I see the light
But inside it's always dark
Line is 2 or 3 hours long at least
And I am not even on the list
So I put on my famous smile
Are you playing today they say
It's been a while, I don't know why
And I don't bother, we belong forever
Destination Ostbahnhof
I just wanna dance alone
They let me in with no sticker on my phone
I know the deal, I know the score
No pictures inside Ostbahnhof
First stop at the wardrobe
You leave a tip you start to stroll
You raise your hands you wanna pray
You ARE in the techno temple
Electric power in the power plant
I am about to disconnect from who I am
Tequila shots in my throat
Orange and cinnamon
Stairways to heaven or hell
Step by step on The Bells
I climb my way to the top
And I stop
I take a deep a breath
I lived it a thousand times
It's always the same
Are you ready?

Take A Glimpse Of The World

Dusting off more old tunes that haven't popped up on my playlist for a couple of years, predominantly propelling beats with a brief change in pace and (bendy) bass before a rousing run off into the weekend. 

 

My family is sleeping peacefully, Friday is a day off from work and I have a long weekend to look forward. So many do not have that luxury. I continually remind myself how fortunate I am. 

 

Peace be with you all.

1) Going, Going, Gone (Mindwarp Mix By Scott Christian): Information Society (1993)

2) Little Bird (The Brian McCombs Blue Jay Anthem Mix): Annie Lennox (2013)

3) San Francisco (Fred Falke Remix): Citylife ft. DD (2008)

4) The Great Commandment (Acid Commandment Vocal) (Remix By Justin Strauss): Camouflage (1988)

5) Isolation (Time Tunnel Mix By The Grid aka Dave Ball & Richard Norris): Parchman (1993)

6) Hook R: Fortran 5 (1993)

7) Bendy Bass: VCMG (Vince Clarke & Martin Gore) (2012)

8) Rapture (Armin Van Buuren Remix): iiO (2001)

Take A Glimpse Of The World (56:06)

Wise Up!

Side 2 of a mixtape, recorded December 1991 to January 1992. I'd clearly recently bought Keeping The Faith: A Creation Dance Compilation, as it features heavily on both sides. I'd also taken delivery of a box of stuff that I'd picked up during my short time living and working in Perth, which I'd packaged and shipped home via sea- and land-mail services at the end of my year in Australia. I think it took about three months to reach me but it was like an early Christmas, especially the small selection of vinyl that I'd bought over there. The Soft Cell and Cabaret Voltaire tracks definitely came from that shipment. The Julian Cope track was the third of a trilogy of Hugo Nicolson remixes, this one in a lovely picture disc in yellow packaging. A bastard to store without damaging, especially with the number of short-term rents and constant moves I had in the 1990s, it has to be said. Very few of these songs could be found on the college jukebox or were being played out in the clubs that I was going to at the time. I was probably going to the wrong clubs...

 

1) Philly (Jamorphous Mix): Fluke (1990)

2) Time Beats (Album Version): Cabaret Voltaire ft. Lorita Grahame (1990)

3) Acid Love (Original Mix By Adam & Eve): The Beloved (1988) 

4) Memorabilia (12" Version By Daniel Miller): Soft Cell (1981)

5) Hypnotonic (Promo 12" Version): Hypnotone ft. Carlos (2 Supreme) (1991)

6) Heed: Of Penetration And The City Dweller (Head Remix By Hugo Nicolson): Julian Cope (1991)

7) Repetition (Dub): Tackhead (1990)

8) W.F.L. (The Vince Clarke Mix): Happy Mondays (1989)

 

Side Two (45:49)

 

50@50, Part Two: 1980-1989

Side One (23:46)

11) Twist And Crawl (12" Version): The Beat (1980)

12) The Sound Of The Crowd (Complete) (12" Version): The Human League (1981)

13) Forever Now (Album Version By Todd Rundgren): The Psychedelic Furs (1982)

14) Rip It Up (The Intermediate Edit): Orange Juice (1983)

15) "It's One Louder, Isn't It?”: Spinal Tap (1984)

Side Two (21:25)

16) Raspberry Beret (LP Version): Prince & The Revolution (1985)

17) Summer Of Love (Single Edit By Shep Pettibone): The B-52’s (1986)

18) Just Like Heaven (Remix By Bob Clearmountain): The Cure (1987)

19) Voodoo Ray (Original Mix): A Guy Called Gerald (1988)

20) W.F.L. (The Vince Clarke Mix): Happy Mondays (1989)

Side One (23:46)

Side Two (21:25) 

The 1980s was all about the 12" single and I consumed them greedily. The Beat cheated with their reggae-inspired vocal & dub sides making up an extended version, but The Human League took the art of the 12" to the next level. The Sound Of The Crowd was always my favourite on the Radio 1 playlist and the 12" version didn't disappoint. Forever Now was the first Psychedelic Furs album I bought (I now have them all) and the title track was their greatest single that never was. Rip It Up was one of the first songs that proved that you didn't need to be able to sing in tune to have a really great tune. Spinal Tap was a life-changing movie and an endless treasure trove of quotes and moments. Prince, The B-52's and The Cure represent my own Summer Of Love in the mid-late '80s against the backdrop of imminent nuclear armageddon, but the late '80s dance revolution pointed to a more escapist but optimistic future. Everyone went for the Paul Oakenfold remixes of Happy Mondays, but the Vince Clarke remix of W.F.L. still gets me every time with its pounding, pulsing intro. As I left the 1980s, all I wanted to do was dance.