#HappyMusicVolumeTwo

This second #HappyMusic selection, gathering 15 songs I picked for Griff's music challenge on BlueSky, ending today. If you missed yesterday's post, songs were eligible if they:

-- make you happy

-- include the word "happy"

-- contain any variation of "happy" in the title, lyrics or band name

-- feature a synonym of "happy"

-- remind you of happiness

As with yesterday's selection, today's featured songs - with the exception of the closer - are not in the order that I posted them, as I was making it up as I went along. I'm pretty happy with how the two mixtapes worked out.

Today's selection gets off to a cracking start with The Icicle Works (my pick on 10th August),  and embracing The Doors, Scritti Politti, The Raveonettes, The Undertones, Madness, Confidence Man, U-Roy, Donovan and a fab cover version by The Siddeleys.

Pussycat by Mulu provided the inspiration for the album artwork for the two volumes, whilst the super final song by Al MacKenzie - one half of D:Ream - has the perfect lyrical sentiment:

"You only get one chance at life, try not to fuck it up"

I can certainly get with that.

September beckons tomorrow. What challenge will the month bring?

1) All The Daughters (Of Her Father's House) (Long Version): The Icicle Works (1985)

2) That Great Love Sound (Album Version): The Raveonettes (2003)

3) Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) (Cover of Edison Lighthouse): The Siddeleys (1990)

4) It's Going To Happen! (Album Version): The Undertones (1981)

5) Jump For Joy: U-Roy (1976)

6) Mellow Yellow: Donovan (1967)

7) Francisca (Album Version): Espiritu (1992)

8) Up, Up And Away (Happy Sexy Mix By Danny Rampling): The Beloved (1990)

9) Pussycat (François Kevorkian Mix Edit): Mulu (1997)

10) Touch Me (Album Version): The Doors (1969)

11) Wings Of A Dove (Single Version): Madness (1983)

12) Holiday (Album Version): Confidence Man (2021)

13) Boom! There She Was (Album Version): Scritti Politti ft. Roger Troutman (1988)

14) The Crunch (Part 1) (Album Version): RAH Band (1977)

15) Life Is Short, Live It Well (Vocal Mix): Al MacKenzie (2026)

1967: Mellow Yellow: 6

1969: The Soft Parade: 10

1978: The Crunch & Beyond: 14

1981: Positive Touch: 4

1983: Wings Of A Dove EP: 11

1985: All The Daughters (Of Her Father's House) EP: 1

1988: Provision: 13

1990: Alvin Lives (In Leeds): Anti Poll Tax Trax: 3

1990: Blissed Out: 8

1995: Always...: 7

1997: Pussycat EP: 9

2003: Chain Gang Of Love: 2

2005: U-Roy Meets King Tubbys: 5

2021: Tilt: 12

2026: Evil Acid Barons: 15

#HappyMusicVolumeOne (1:03:23) (GD) (M)

Okay, Who Forgot The Factor 50?

Friday's fitness workout courtesy of Janet Planet and Reggie Goodchild of Confidence Man.

Sugar Bones remains sat on his arse and Clarence McGuffie is presumably in the driver's seat, keeping the sound system going.

As for the song? Young London is could have been released on Deconstruction in 1993, with an epic remix by Fabio Paras on the flip side. 

In other words, a bangin' tune. Turn it up!

Bag It Up, I'll Take It

Bandcamp Friday beckons and my shopping bag demands to be fed yet again.

Here are a dozen hors d'oeuvres to whet your appetite. What else will I bring home?

1) Brand New Me (Brand New Me EP): Saint Etienne x Confidence Man

2) Better (All That Is Over): SPRINTS

3) Housin' (Planet Roll): Wagon Christ

4) Greasy Off The Racing Line (Tremor): Daniel Avery ft. Alison Mosshart

5) Weeping Roses (Lomond Campbell Remix) (Subconsciousology): Dot Allison

6) Tales Of Freedom (Cosmikuro Remix) (Tales Of Freedom EP): Jay-Son

7) Thinkin' Bout U (Mercury) (Thinkin' Bout U EP): Psychederek

8) A Moment Longer (Songs For Nina & Johanna): James Yorkston ft. Nina Persson

9) Militants (Atomized Dub) (Imploded Versions EP): The Bug vs Ghost Dubs

10) Under the Bed (Buddhist Hipsters): The Orb

11) Porcupine (Madder! EP): Sparks

12) Everybody Needs (On The Edge Of A Lost And Lonely World (Deluxe Edition)): Humanist ft. Emily Breeze

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Bad Santa VII

It's the last Sunday before Christmas, so time again to burden you with another slipshod Santa mix to annoy your friends, families and pets alike.

In a slight deviation from the usual festive nonsense, this one's chock full of 21st Century Christmas choons, bursting with beats, baggy, shaggy and occasionally daggy. A couple of old classics get ducked in the punch bowl courtesy of Skeewiff, Kaskade, Pocketknife, Maps and James Yuill, whilst the new/old UK Christmas #1 by Wham! gets the cover and remix treatment, because you can never have too much of a good thing.

I think the Anni Rossi holiday miniatures have popped up in other Bad Santa selections, but they all make me smile, so they're in regardless!

 

1) This Is Christmas (Intro): Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler (2011)

2) Last Christmas (Dirty Disco Youth Remix) (Cover of Wham!): The xx (2012)

3) Holiday I.D. (Spanish): Apollonia (1988)

4) Christmas Dub (Part II): Wareika (2013)

5) Son Of Turboman: Jonwayne (2018)

6) Let's Get It Together This Christmas (Skeewiff Rewiff): The Harvey Averne Band (2024)

7) Holiday Tylenol: Anni Rossi (2017)

8) White Christmas (Kaskade Mix): Bing Crosby ft. The Darby Singers (2005)

9) Christmas Is Coming (Pocketknife's Stackin' Ha'Pennies Remix) (cover of traditional song): John Denver & The Muppets (2007)

10) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Genii Remix) (cover of traditional song): Pentatonix (2020)

11) Satan's Little Helper: Pye Corner Audio (2018)

12) A Recorded Message: Daniel Johnston (1988)

13) We Met Bernard Sumner At A Christmas Party Last Night: Marsheaux (2015)

14) Lullaby (Album Version): The Free Design (1970)

15) Anorak Christmas (Club Mix): Sally Shapiro (2006)

16) Holiday Tiramasu: Anni Rossi (2017)

17) In The Bleak Midwinter (Cover of traditional song): Maps ft. Polly Scattergood (2014)

18) Santa's Comin' Down The Chimney (Gabe Gurnsey Remix): Confidence Man (2018)

19) Jingle Bells (Jingle Pints Remix) (cover of traditional song): James Yuill (2010)

20) Holiday Takeout: Anni Rossi (2017)

21) Last Christmas (Remix By Martipants): Wham! (2017)

Bad Santa VII (55:00) (GD) (M)

And, if you are hungry for more, here are the previous Bad Santa selections from 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2017 and 2016.

Irie Irie

Confidence Man, coming on like it's 1991 with new single and video Real Move Touch, featuring Sweetie Irie.

Back in the actual 1991, Sweetie Irie was at it again for the first time (?), side by side with Green Gartside on Scritti Politti's dancehall cover of Gladys Knight & The Pips' 1967 classic Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me.

Sweetie Irie (Dean Bent to his mum) has been in demand throughout his career, working with everyone from Aswad to Ed Case to Gorillaz to Ian Brown to No Doubt to Roni Size.

Confidence Man chose wisely.

Melbourne In The New S.A.

A little bit of feel good from Confidence Man, straight out of Southeastern Australia. 

I've seen very few of the Glastonbury 2024 sets and from the shortlist of shows available on iPlayer, I suspect I'll get through relatively little before they all disappear for good. 

 

However, after completely smashing up the stage (metaphorically speaking, they're not that irresponsible) in 2022, Confidence Man was a must see and they didn't disappoint.

 

Third album 3am (La La La) arrives in October, accompanied by a world tour that sees Confidence Man roam this island in November and December. Needless to say, I've already got tickets, even if I will be the oldest, most grizzled ConMan there!

 

Latest single I Can't Lose You dropped in June, the video seeing the frequently topless Sugar Bones (Aidan to his loved ones) take it to it's logical and ridiculous extreme, with Janet Planet (Grace) following suit, or lack thereof, to be more precise. London 'copter spotters were in for an eyeful that day. 

 

Thankfully, Reggie Goodchild (Lewis) and Clarence McGuffie (Sam) kept their trademark black garb and netted cowboy hats on.

 

For your further listening and viewing pleasure, here's a trio of Confidence Man classics:

 

On & On (Again): Confidence Man & Daniel Avery (2023)

Holiday (Live @ Glastonbury) (2022)

Out The Window (2018) (also available in a deeper shade of Andrew Weatherall)

 

 

 

Acts Of God And Politics Collide

Continuing with my pick of 2022's musical highlights, here is a selection of my most played songs of the year so far. 

 

Generally speaking, anything released post-September should be at a disadvantage simply because they've been available for repeated listens for relatively less time. Emily Breeze's single Ordinary Life was released at the end of September, which indicates how much I love this song.

Some rules apply: only one song per artist, to avoid the final selection being limited to two or three albums (if you're asking, that would be Andy Bell, Confidence Man and Katy J Pearson). Last year, I struggled to whittle down the selection to an even dozen, so I've avoided that altogether and gone for 18 songs, coming in at just under an hour and a half.

 

The selection is loosely divided into two halves: the first is a bit indie/pop; the second detours to the dance and chillout tents.

Aside from the artists mentioned above Momus, Andres Y Xavi and Mr. Oizo & Phra make a return visit, whilst Ibibio Sound Machine, The Anchoress and Trentemøller finally get a look in. Some of my favourite remixes of the year (and not featured on Tuesday) reappear by Max Essa, Cosmosolar, Horse Meat Disco and Lee 'Scratch' Perry (RIP). There's a nod to Paisley Dark Records' superb Shelter Me compilation via Richard Sen and in a year of top notch releases with Darren Bell as Jezebell, Jesse Fahnestock also found the time to share new music as 10:40.

 

And then there is Hifi Sean and David McAlmont. Although I've not gone with scores and ranking for my selections, The Skin I'm In is something else altogether. A perfect combination of words and music, pop and politics from two artists at the very top of their game. Single of the year for me.

We've reached the penultimate day of 2022 and my penultimate highlights selection. To pinch the album title of today's opening artist Los Bitchos, Let The Festivities Begin! Well, from 7.00pm onwards, when I get home from work...!

 

(One) more tomorrow.

 

1) Pista (Fresh Start): Los Bitchos (Let The Festivities Begin!)

2) Ordinary Life (Radio Edit): Emily Breeze (Ordinary Life EP / Rapture)

3) Sidewinder (Album Version): Andy Bell (Flicker)

4) The Skin I'm In: Hifi Sean & David McAlmont (The Skin I'm In EP / Happy Ending)

5) Stop The Body: Momus (Smudger)

6) Sweetness Follows (Cover of R.E.M.): The Anchoress (Versions/EP 2)

7) Freedom: Ibibio Sound Machine (Electricity)

8) Alligator: Katy J Pearson (Sound Of The Morning)

9) Love Died In Our Arms (Lee 'Scratch' Perry Remix): Dot Allison (The Entangled Remix EP)

10) Lata Mangeshkar: Richard Sen (Shelter Me: various artists)

11) Fight Your Enemy (Cosmosolar Remix By Alejandro Gamba): Mundo D (Your Enemy EP)

12) Hits Me (Album Version): Mr. Oizo & Phra (Voilá)

13) Luvin U Is Easy (Album Version): Confidence Man (Tilt)

14) What Do You See In Me (Max Essa Extended Vocal Mix): Andres Y Xavi ft. Rolo McGinty (What Do You See In Me EP)

15) Adama (Yuksek Remix): Omri Smadar (Phase Of Motion EP)

16) Iz Um: 10:40 (Iz Um EP / 10:40's Advent Calendar)

17) Mother's Been A Bad Girl (Horse Meat Disco Remix): Unloved (Mother's Been A Bad Girl EP)

18) Glow: Trentemøller (Memoria)

Acts Of God And Politics Collide (1:29:10) (Box) (Mega)

When You're Down, Keep Looking Up

Today's selection highlights 20 of my favourite albums from 2022. I know I probably should have tried to stretch it to 22 from '22, but time constraints meant that I only managed 10 last year so this is a big improvement and fits neatly into a mock-CD running time.

 

As with last year, I've not ranked or scored the albums, just sequenced the selected tracks in a way that I hope makes for a satisfying playlist. Again, I'm a bit tight for time, so the commentary is minimal.

I had a very long shortlist so a mention to several albums that didn't make today's selection but are excellent nevertheless: Midnight Rocker by Horace Andy; Ibibio Sound Machine's Electricity, produced by Hot Chip; Alright by Luxxury; any of the other 5 albums released by SAULT this year; The Album Club's self-titled album; Memoria by Trentemøller, the list goes on. And so many that are still on my 'must buy' list.

 

Several albums, by Andy Bell, Katy J Pearson and Confidence Man, were contenders from the moment I first heard them and have remained playlist staples ever since. A couple - Orbury Common and Tomberlin - came on the back of support slots for other artists featured in this selection that I got to see live in concert. 

 

Julian Cope and Blancmange were back with new albums, whilst Altered Images surprised me with a comeback album full of pop hooks that firmly proclaimed that they were no heritage act. A very welcome return for all.

 

Cathal Coughlan teamed up with Jacknife Lee as Telefís for not one but two albums in 2022. The news of Coughlan's death in May was - and still is - a shock, one of far too many tragic losses this year. Telefís was proof, if any needed, that Cathal was on a creative roll and had so much more to share.

 

Quite a few were late entries, the common thread being that they're all on the Late Night From Glasgow label. I invested in an annual subscription in December and, as a result, received digital copies of the year's releases including In The Forest, Monica Queen, The Bathers, André Salvador & The Von Kings. My first vinyl order/delivery from LNFG has just been dispatched. If it arrives before year end and ignoring my earlier comments about not ranking or scoring, the package will contain what will undoubtedly be my album of the year. 

 

After a gig-less 2021, I finally got back out this year. Just the four, but what a four: Madness (Westonbirt, June), Katy J Pearson (Bristol, September), Blancmange (Stroud, October) and Angel Olsen (Bath, October). All very special in their own way and with great support acts. 

 

Time prevents me from waxing lyrical about every selection but a special mention for Andy Bell, whose album Flicker came out in February and has been followed by a steady stream of singles, cover versions and remixes. These have been collected on a trio of themed EPs - I Am A Strange Loop, The Grounding Process and Untitled Film Stills - plus a compilation/companion, Strange Loops & Outer Psych. And this isn't counting Andy's remixes as GLOK! 

 

Given that Flicker itself is a double album and deservedly so, the sheer amount of quality music that Andy Bell has offered up in the last 12 months is nothing short of phenomenal. I think Flicker would otherwise be my album of the year on a list of excellent albums by Weyes Blood, Pye Corner Audio and Unloved.

 

More tomorrow.

 

1) idkwntht: Tomberlin (i don’t know who needs to hear this...)

2) Fight For Love: SAULT (11)

3) Break It Bought It (Album Version): Confidence Man (Tilt)

4) Hot In Her (Album Version) (Cover of Nelly): Mr. Oizo & Phra (Voilá)

5) Sex Bunting: Telefís (a hAon)

6) Reduced Voltage (Album Version): Blancmange (Private View)

7) Haberdashery: Orbury Common (The Traditional Dance Of Orbury Common EP)

8) Saturation Point (Album Version): Pye Corner Audio (Let’s Emerge!)

9) Waiting For The Call: In The Forest (These Four Walls)

10) Big Time (Album Version): Angel Olsen (Big Time)

11) I Want You To Stop, You're Killing Me: Monica Queen (Stop That Girl)

12) Turn Of The Screw (Album Version): Unloved ft. Raven Violet (The Pink Album)

13) Changing My Luck: Altered Images (Mascara Streakz)

14) Cape St. Vincent: The Bathers (Summer Lightning)

15) Howl: Katy J Pearson ft. Orlando Weeks (Sound Of The Morning) 

16) January: Momus (Smudger)

17) All The Yin-Yangs That Give it Away: Julian Cope (England Expectorates)

18) Dieu Du Ciel: André Salvador & The Von Kings (Draped Apes)

19) Jenny Holzer B. Goode: Andy Bell (Flicker)

20) Twin Flame: Weyes Blood (And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow)

When You're Down, Keep Looking Up (1:17:22) (Box) (Mega)

Couldn't Drag Me Away

Today's eclectic selection is linked by one thing. According to Apple Music, I last listened to these songs on 16th December in previous years. I'll leave you to surmise which ones got an airing last year and which haven't troubled a playlist since 2015 and which have fallen into varying degrees of neglect in between.

Nothing wrong with any of the songs per se, it's one of the challenges of having so much (too much?) music to listen to, with more new stuff coming in all the time, this year being no exception.

The selection opens with two of 2022's top acts, Working Men's Club and Confidence Man coming together in a remix soundclash. Prince appears in potty-mouthed abusive character from The Black Album, recorded in 1987 but shelved until an official, limited release in 1994. Another Prince - Prince Fatty, that is - pops up twice, firstly with Big Youth and Marcia Griffiths and again at the controls with Horseman. There's also a rematch between The Beatles (courtesy of My Brightest Diamond) and The Stones.

 

As I said, an eclectic selection that starts off in the club, staggers to the late night cafe and then stumbles home, regretting the excess the following morning. Perfect for a Friday going into Saturday, in that case.

1) First Class Bitch (Working Men's Club Remix): Confidence Man (2020)

2) Lararari (Canzone Felice) (Santos Disco) (Edit) (Remix By Sabino Contartese & Davide Marsilio): Santos & Sabino (1998)

3) Bob George: Prince (1987)

4) Gangster Tripping (Long Edit): Fatboy Slim (1998)

5) Of Course I'm Lying (The Truth Is) (Remix By Boris Blank & Dieter Meier): Yello (1989)

6) Steppin' Out Of Babylon: Prince Fatty ft. Big Youth & Marcia Griffiths (2019)

7) Wild Horses (Acoustic): The Rolling Stones (1971)

8) I Sold My Soul On Ebay: Swansea Sound (2020)

9) No In A Dat (Album Version): Horseman (2014)

10) Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey (Cover of The Beatles): My Brightest Diamond (2008)

 

1989: Of Course I'm Lying EP: 5

1994: The Black Album: 3

1998: Gangster Tripping EP (USA promo CDS): 4

1998: VC Recordings Summer Sampler EP: 2 

2008: The White Album Recovered (Mojo magazine promo CD): 10

2014: Dawn Of The Dread: 9

2015: Sticky Fingers (Deluxe Edition): 7

2019: In The Viper's Shadow: 6

2020: First Class Bitch EP: 1

2021: Live At The Rum Puncheon: 8

Couldn't Drag Me Away (45:19) (Box) (Mega)

It's Too Late To Go To Bed

Sunday night was the proverbial nightmare. After a busy day with Clan K, I'd started working around 9.00pm. The usual sorry reasons: it's been a really heavy couple of months for a whole host of reasons, with more of the same promised for this week. Doing "a couple of hours" on Sunday was supposed to get one particular project completed and a sense that I was well positioned for this week's onslaught.

 

Except it turned out not to be "a couple of hours" in the end. I was vaguely aware when Mrs. K called time and went to bed; I was less aware of the ticking of the clock as I carried on working. Until I looked at the time and it was a few minutes before 3.00am.

 

Three and a bit hours of sleep then straight into the weekday rush with Clan K to get out of the house and then on to work proper. It's been a loooooooong day...

When I got home, the postman had kindly delivered this pair of beauties, volumes 5 and 6 of the Heavenly Remixes collection on CD. A mix of new(ish), classics and - inevitably - Andrew Weatherall, it's another winning selection and one which I'll dip back into for a future selection.

For today, however, track 3 on Volume 6 was just the ticket. A remix by Australia's Confidence Man of Spanish garage rock duo The Parrots with the couldn't-be-more-aptly-titled It's Too Late To Go To Bed.

 

Heavenly indeed.

Easier Than A Comedown

For your weekend delectation, an hour long mix of favourite tunes from the last couple of years, with a few samples and stems thrown in to spice things/mask some dodgy segue-ways (delete as applicable).

Persevere and you will get some wonderful tunes courtesy of Róisín Murphy and The Orielles, an unexpected appearance from Annie Hogan with Kid Congo Powers, a rather good cover version/remix of Groove Armada's Superstylin' and living legends David Holmes, A Certain Ratio and Humanoid. I've also dusted off a song by Iklan featuring Law Holt. If the band name isn't familiar, you will undoubtedly have heard of them in their previous incarnation, when they had a rather big hit with this song.

 

I just went with the flow, so the mix is all over the place BPM-wise and I'm not sure if you're supposed to dance, relax or just arch your eyebrows at various points throughout. If it makes you smile, shimmy, sigh (happily not dejectedly) or, even better, all three then my job is done. You can see why I don't do this for living, can't you?!

 

1) Look For What's Looking: Alex Donofrio (2021)

2) Maneki Neko (Watch Sample): Miss Kittin (2013)

3) Into The Madness: Mundo D (2022)

4) sT8818r (Yage Remix By Brian Dougans & Garry Cobain): Humanoid (2022)

5) "...a ghost": Lord Of The Flies OST (1963)

6) Kingdom Of Ends (Album Version By Crooked Man aka Richard Barratt): Róisín Murphy (2020)

7) Stelele (Sakdat & Balaur Remix - Dub): Unu' Marika (2021)

8) No Use: Iklan ft. Law Holt (2020)

9) Superstylin' (Rob Smith aka RSD - Remix) (Cover of Groove Armada): Rude Boy ft. Kardi Tivali (2021)

10) "...you're nicked": John Thaw (The Sweeney OST) (1975)

11) It's Over, If We Run Out Of Love (Working Mens Club Remix): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet (2022)

12) Get A Grip (Maps Remix By James Chapman): A Certain Ratio ft. Maria Uzor (2021)

13) Yuka (Ranga Remix By Coen Helfenrath & Ted De Jong): Flamingods (2017)

14) My Career (Mekon Remix By John Gosling): A.M Hogan ft. Kid Congo Powers (2021)

15) Prince Introducing "Purple Rain": Prince (1984)

16) Sjaj (Dan Wainwright Remix): DJ Magija (2020)

17) Dancing Flame '21: Faint Waves (2021)

18) Bobbi's Second World (Confidence Man Remix): The Orielles (2020)

19) Looking (VC Man Swell Stem): Tosca (2013)

20) Deeper Space: Pye Corner Audio (2020)

Easier Than A Comedown (1:00:30)

 

We All Need Something To Live For, Baby

A short mix, long on uplifting beats and featuring a bunch of tunes that have had me dancing around the house - and occasionally in the garden, to the mortification of my family - this summer. 

I know very little about Mundo D, other than he's a producer from Valencia called Edmundo De Diego Del Castillo. He has released a few EPs and remixes in the past few years, including this little gem, which came out via Nein Records at the end of May. Argentinian DJ & producer Cosmosolar aka Alejandro Gamba is also new to me but the two come together wonderfully on this opening track.

 

Holiday is the only track on this selection from 2021 but I belatedly bought it this year after falling in love with Confidence Man's second album, Tilt, which came out in April. Remixers Bruise are a duo comprising Christian Campbell (Sona Vabos) and legend Darren House (aka Diesel of Rocky &... and X-Press 2 fame) and they do not disappoint on this version. If you didn't catch Confidence Man's Glastonbury set, I'd highly recommend checking it out, including this energetic version of Holiday.

 

I featured YouTube videos of Yuksek's remix of Adama by Omri Smadar in early May and Neu Tech by D.S.D. aka Damien Doherty a couple of weeks later and both tracks have remained on heavy rotation at Casa Khayem since.

Richard Sen has been particularly smashing it with some superb remixes in the last few years for Rheinzand, Unloved and GLOK. Lata Mangeshkar was his contribution to Paisley Dark Records' charity compilation Shelter Me and a highlight of a frankly superb album from start to finish. 

 

David Holmes has already released one of 2022's top tunes, It's Over, If We Run Out Of Love. Not content with that, there's a new 22-track double album from Unloved called The Pink Album, coming in September. Lead single Mother's Been A Bad Girl hit the ground running in June, with a clutch of remixes, including vocal and instrumental bangers from Horse Meat Disco.

 

Bringing things to close is a track by Luxxury aka Blake Robin that's so new, it came out in the last 24 hours. I Need Somebody features on Luxxury's brand new 11-track album Alright. If you're quick, you can pick up the digital Deluxx 27-track edition on Bandcamp for a tenner (US or UK), featuring bonus instrumental versions.

 

And, before you know it, your 45 minutes are over. Worth another spin? You'll be the judge of that. 

 

More summer sounds tomorrow.

 

1) Fight Your Enemy (Cosmosolar Remix): Mundo D (2022)

2) Holiday (Bruise Remix): Confidence Man (2021)

3) Adama (Yuksek Remix): Omri Smadar (2022)

4) Neu Tech: D.S.D. (2022)

5) Lata Mangeshkar: Richard Sen (2022)

6) Mother's Been A Bad Girl (Horse Meat Disco Remix): Unloved (2022)

7) I Need Somebody (Album Version): Luxxury (2022)

2021: Holiday EP: 2

2022: Alright: 7

2022: Mother's Been A Bad Girl EP: 6

2022: Phase Of Motion EP: 3

2022: Shelter Me: 5

2022: Thee Wild Army Vol. 6 EP: 4

2022: Your Enemy EP: 1

We All Need Something To Live For, Baby (45:00)

Every Day It Feels So, Feels So, Feels So Real

A slight change of plan today, as my intended post has now been shifted to Sunday - all will become clear. Instead, I'm having another dip into my 2022 music purchases to bring you a selection of ten tunes, spanning the globe and all with a nod and a wink towards the dancefloor. The BPMs are relatively low on many, but they're damned persistent and infectiously groovy.

Starting off with the wonderfully titled Chuggernaut from Nottingham producers and DJs Disco Rogues aka Nick Kipsy and Dave Holland, followed by Pan In The Flash from Leeds-based Cosmikuro aka Jamie Minto, a highlight from the excellent Paisley Dark Records compilation Shelter Me. All for a good cause, as is the Support Ukraine Compilation on the Toy Tonics label, which I featured recently and represented here by I Think I See by South London duo Athlete Whippet aka Aviram Barath and Robin Braum.

 

Confidence Man's album Tilt continues to be the gift that keeps on giving since it came out in April, whilst John Tejada puts a new spin on an old rave classic to great effect. Humanoid was a solo vehicle for Brian Dougans, one half of The Future Sound Of London, Amorphous Androgynous and a million other aliases.

 

Another legend, Hubert Blanc-Francard of Cassius and La Funk Mob and more recently film composer fame, appears here as Boom Bass with a wonderful remix of Glatson by Nathalie Duchene. 

 

Things close out in a dub-inflected style with one of Raf Rundell's four reworkings of songs from Mattiel's Georgia Gothic album, imbuing the music and vocals with a spaciousness and depth that provides a perfect way to wrap up the hour.

 

Happy weekend, everyone. More - but very different - fun tomorrow!

 

1) Chuggernaut: Disco Rogues

2) Pan In The Flash: Cosmikuro

3) 'The Mayor Of Malt Rave St' (Pete's Give Them Shelter Remix): Pete Bones

4) Luvin U Is Easy: Confidence Man

5) Didgital (Original): Omri Smadar

6) sT8818r (John Tejada Remix): Humanoid

7) I Think I See: Athlete Whippet

8) Glatson (Boom Bass Remix By Hubert Blanc-Francard): Nathalie Duchene

9) Island Avenue: Zillas On Acid

10) Cultural Criminal (Raf Rundell's Salty Man Dub): Mattiel

 

Every Day It Feels So, Feels So, Feels So Real (59:36)