Saved By The Jezebell

Thanks to Jezebell, the perfect soundtrack to the summer - any summer - has arrived, with their new compilation, Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2.

Barely a year ago, on receiving the vinyl edition of Volume 1, I wrote that 

"Bearing in mind that Jesse Fahnestock and Darren Bell released Jezebell's debut single Thrill Me in 2021, issuing a 'greatest hits' in August 2023 and labelling it 'Volume 1' may have seemed rather ambitious, cocky even. 

 Yet, even with a digital edition packed with 20 tracks, the duo still had to leave out many mixes and versions that could easily have made the cut. It's really that good."

So, given that it's a mere 23 months since Volume 1 landed, have Jesse and Darren chanced their arm with another 20-track collection, with over two and a quarter hours of music?

Not a chance. These guys know what they are doing, and the confident curation of tracks captures the head spinning prolificacy of this dynamic duo.

If evidence is needed, look no further than the fact that a quarter of the collection comprises brand new and exclusive tracks, opening with Movimento Lento, closing with Turn It Yes, and sprinkling Japaneasy, Red Black & Green and Geo Metric in the mix. 

As ever, the pleasure of a Jezebell song is in repeated listening and whilst I've listened to Volume 2 a few times, I'm still nowhere near to unlocking the secrets of the new tracks, aside from Red Black & Green's pleasing hints of Zobi La Mouche by Les Negresses Vertes and the joyful voice of Yoko Ono in Turn It Yes.

What I will say is that the five new songs sit well with the previously released music, instantly recognisable as Jezebell, whilst continuing to push their sound forward, evolving into new shapes and forms. 

There are also a couple of exclusive 2025 reworkings. This can often mean either a deep love for a piece of music, or a nagging dissatisfaction leading to a pull to tweak or correct the original work. 

Jezebell originally remixed Submissive Background by Ian Vale in 2022 and I thought it was pretty damn good then. The '2025 Re-Remix' is essentially the same, but gives the music more muscle; the percussion positively booms from the speakers and the whole track sounds a little brighter, more confident of itself.

Dancing (Not Fighting) also appeated in 2022, a Jezebell EP built around a sample of Mick Jones from The Clash. The original came in four top notch mixes, In 2024 (to be precise, at 8:08 on 08/08), Jezebell released the 2-track 808 Day Exclusives EP, which included a remix of Dancing (Not Fighting). The 2025 remix appears to be a spruced up version of the latter, and is all the better for it. 

I've referred to my previous notes for some choice comments on other tracks and remixes. 

When I compiled a Jezebell selection, Clues To The Edit, last September, I referred to the 'Leave Your Lover' remix of Pandit Pam Pam's Pass A Wish "in sonic terms [as] equal parts chug and hug". Jezebell's 50 Ways Mix is cut from the same cloth, teasingly pleasing.

Two tracks from their Cream Tease EP have been included, which previously prompted me to comment that "You need more cheek than a Carry On film to name tracks Donkey and Hung, but they are bloody great" Yes. And then some!

I had a lot to say about the 2023's superb digital double pack EP Trading Places in 2023, not least for the '6PM' variation, including on the 'Daytime Versions' edition. Er, over to me.

"6PM is a revelation. After a punchy start, insistent beats, keyboard stabs and 1-2-3-4 sample, things really take an interesting turn at the 2:20 mark 

with Siouxsie Sioux's distinctive vocals kicking in. 

It's an inspired move and one which takes the music to another level. The longest track on both EPs at a smidge under seven and a half minutes, 

it feels like it could easily go on for twice as long."

Two years later and it's still a thrill to listen to.

Concurrence was an early release on When Disco Goes Wrong label in September 2021. In writing about the original version, I reflected that "To these ears, it's like hearing Sheila Chandra with John Bonham on drums and I can't get enough of it."

There were three additional remixes on the Concurrence EP, including one by Jesse with his 10:40 hat on, all excellent. In June 2022, an EP with four brand new remixes emerged, including the psychedelic epic included here by Akio Nagase.

Perfect Din was an exclusive for last year's Shelter Me: In Crisis compilation. Par for the course with Jezebell's music, Perefct Din "got me scratching my head trying to work out what samples [they'd] expertly woven into 408 seconds of groovy sounds." 

Sailing through the rest of Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2, there's the stunning 'Jezebellfast Remix' of Fitzroy Avenue by Warriors Of The Dystotheque featuring Joe Duggan, which wasn't short of a decent remix, but really, this pushed things right out there.

Likewise, Bibbles by Andres Y Xavi, which started off excellent in 2023 and somehow got even better when Jezebell got their hands on it - not once, but three times - the following year. 

I could go on, but I'll start retreading superlatives very soon. It's a testament to the power of Jezebell's sound and their refreshing approach to both their own and others' music that they can get away with two 20-track 'greatest hits' compilations in under two years. 

Not only that,  but the sequencing of the tracks is exemplary and the new songs on Volume 2, boldly proclaim that there's plenty more to come.

If all of the above hasn't had you rushing to snap up Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2 (and Volume 1, if you haven't already got it), then here's an open door. And they're both available as a 'name your price' purchase. What?!

Needless to say, if there is a vinyl edition of Jezebellearic Beats Volume 2 to follow, I will be there like a shot.

You did good, lads.

 

 

 

 

A Pair Of Portmanteaus

Parvale = Neil Parnell & Ian Vale

Jezebell = Jesse Fahnestock & Darren Bell

I do love a portmanteau name and when Nein Records label head Neil Parnell teamed up with Ian Vale, Parvale was created and new EP Breaker City the first fruits.

The lead track is an unashamedly heartfelt love letter to Acid and Breakbeat, blending the best of both into 345 seconds of compelling body music. 

I've greatly enjoyed Neil's releases and remixes as Tronik Youth and relatively recently caught up with Ian's work, so I was pretty much bought into this concept before hearing the track. That first listen sealed the deal.

Who else do you turn to for a remix than Jezebell? In their own words, Breaker City is "gone cut'n'paste and pop 'n' lock", dropping the tempo but not the attitude. A recurring sample of "nice 'n' slow" provides the remix with its name and, as you might expect, it's a slick, groovy six minutes that thrills from start to finish.

Closing track Drip Dry brings the BPMs right back up, another consumate and confident example of Neil and Ian's ability to pull from the past whilst reaching forward. At once evocative of the late 80s/early 90s and fresh as a springtime flower, it's another winner for me.  

Breaker City was released on 21st February but if you hang on to Bandcamp Friday to buy, even more of your hard earned pennies will reach the artists. And whilst you're at it, check out more of the Nein Records and Jezebell back catalogue too.

Those Who Put Others Ahead Of Themselves

A Certain Ratio? A Christmas song? On my birthday?

Yes, I know I promised no shameless self-promotion today, but I wanted to say a big thank you for all the lovely messages yesterday. I had a lovely evening at Casa K and an especially lovely bonus was a brand new release from A Certain Ratio on my birthday. What could be better?

It wasn't a complete surprise, I'd had advance warning the previous month from ACR's promo mailing list, as follows:

 

Did someone say Christmas?

Yes, we too roll our eyes when we walk into the supermarket 

and see mince pies for sale in November, 

so yes it is too early to be releasing a Christmas single, 

but a Christmas single we have. 

 
Who would have thought it, 

ACR does Christmas.

 
Here is our new EP, 

another ACR surprise for 2024. T

he EP is called Christmasville UK 

and is released on December 11th. 

 

Only 500 have been pressed.

it features 3 remixes by old pals Jane Weaver & Emperor Machine 

and new pals Jezebell, 

who have all remixed tracks from It All Comes Down to This.

 
Plus the brand new track Now and Laughter, 

but we’ll tell you more about that in December.

 

The 12" vinyl sold out in no time, but I ordered the digital EP last Bandcamp Friday and the full gift was delivered and 'unwrapped' yesterday. An official video was released the day before for Now And Laughter.

What can I say? Very much in the vein of It All Comes Down to This, but Christmassy. But without jingle bells on top to gild the lily, as it were.

 

To these ears, there's a very slight relation in the chord sequence to The Pretenders' 2000 Miles, albeit in different key, with different instruments and a rumbling, almost menacing bass and fuzzy undercurrent, so this is a tenuous description to say the least! I'm trying to say it's great and very pleasing to the ears, in other words!

Now And Laughter is "dedicated to workers at the NHS, homeless charities, mental health crisis centres, care homes and all the people who give up their time to help the sick and homeless in our towns and cities" and this is reflected in the heartfelt lyrics. 

 

They also reference Christmas throughout, so the song has been automatically added to the Casa K Christmas playlist for repeated airings over the next few weeks.

 

The three remixes are no mere stocking fillers either, as the list of names above should have indicated. 

 

Jane Weaver turns Where You Coming From into a pulsating, electro earworm, all descending chords and spaced out backing vocals underpinning Jez's vocals.  

Andy Meecham aka The Emperor Machine delivers nearly nine minutes of irresistible body jerking disco funk with his rework of Out From Under, taking ACR back to 1982 and snapping them back like a rubber band into 2024. Placed in any decade, it sounds fantastic. 

The final and bonus birthday delight is the inclusion of long-time Dubhed favourites, the mighty Jezebell aka Jesse Fahnestock and Darren Bell. The dynamic duo put We All Need into the Jezebellearic blender and put the setting on 'pulse'. 

Here's what Jesse and Darren had to say about it:

 

"We've been awfully busy with remix work this year ... 

but when true pioneers come knocking, 

you answer the door. 

 

Chance has brought 

Manchester post-punk/dance legends A Certain Ratio 

and Jezebell together, 

and the results are available today."

 

And boy, do they deliver. It contains all of the elements that I've come to love about their remixes and own work, whilst losing none of A Certain Ratio's character in the mix. I'm already committed but I am confident that if this was your introduction to Jezebell, as it hopefully will be for many ACR fans, then you will want to check out the rest of their music immediately.

The advantage of music over cake (and the supremely talented Mrs K excelled herself this year) is that I can keep going back for more and more in one sitting without falling into sugar-induced unconsciousness. 

On the YouTube page for the Now And Laughter video, A Certain Ratio ask to consider donating to hometown-based initiatives Manchester Homelessness Partnership and Mustard Tree.

 

You may already contribute time and/or money to helping others in different ways. I'm a flawed, imperfect person in so many ways, but setting aside my personal challenges, putting others before myself and giving selflessly whenever and however I can is something I can get with.

 

 

You Don't Dance...Except At The Weekend

2024 has served up it's fair share of top notch electronic music and remixes and here's another eight reasons why.

Just over an hour of tunes that have been pumping on my stereo, a mix of well-known names and artists that I've heard for the first time on my many online shopping runs this year. 

All of today's selections are available to purchase digitally (links included in the song title), if you're considering a gift to yourself as a thank you for buying presents for all those other people.

1) Like This (Mindbender Remix By Mårten Attling): Stylic

2) You Don't Dance (Kenneth Bager Remix): Hess Is More

3) Ecce Homo (Apparition Remix By Michael Heffernan): Gavin Friday

4) Blind On A Galloping Horse (Sons Of Slough Remix By Duncan Gray & Ian Weatherall): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet

5) Aerodromes (David Holmes Remix): Acid Klaus ft. Philly Piper

6) Weekend Machines (Shubostar Remix By Jiyoung Bak): Jezebell

7) End Of Times (Rude Audio's Protean Remix By Mark Ratcliff): David Harrow + Little Annie

8) Real Magnificent (sLEdger Remix By Robin Dallison): Fluke ft. Leah Cleaver

You Don't Dance...Except At The Weekend (1:01:13) (KF) (Mega)

Clues To The Edit

Jezebell aka Jesse Fahnestock and Darren Bell have a new release, Cream Tease, out on 2nd October which they, er, teased on Wednesday with The Big Time.

The Big Time starts off like the frenetic, amped up relation of 2022's Visage-sampling Dumbell, building layers of sound so that as you approach the halfway mark, you think you know where this is going. Only it just gets even bigger, the titular sample dropping in a minute or so later. it's not just big, it's huge.

I've been lucky enough to receive a sneak preview of four tracks and they all deliver chug and chuckle in equal measure, with some muscular rhythms and grin-inducing samples. I mean, you need more cheek than a Carry On film to name tracks Donkey and Hung, but they are bloody great.

Donkey misdirects with a few seconds of martial drumming before switching to the more familiar stepping beats and synth flourishes, soon accompanied by an array of Spanish-flavoured samples. 

 

Hung comes in with some heavy beats, a guitar loop and dislocated vocals, like all of the music on offer, seeming like it could go on for at least twice it's seven-minute duration. An infectious track, to use a cliche.

Then there's Darren's Theme which, if were fronting a TV show, would be on at 2.00am on a subscriber-only channel with advisories about adult content. A pounding, sped-up beat straight out of 1992, we're barely 30 seconds in before the groans and sighs begin and a sampled vocal (Karen Finlay?) is making aggressive advances, with a looped response sizing up their male member. 

 

You'll either splutter tea all over the letters page of the Daily Mail, before taking up at the keyboard to type your own letter of digust. Or, like me, you'll love it. 

 

Putting the sleaze in Cream Tease, Jezebell delight in having established an instantly recognisable style but never getting complacent.

Or sleeping, it seems. It's hardly been a quiet 2024 for Jesse and Darren, with the Weekend Machines EP, remixes aplenty for other artists and a standalone (and standout) contribution to the Shelter Me - In Crisis compilation for Paisley Dark Records in April. And that's not forgetting Jesse's extracurricular activity as 10:40 and Electric Blue Vision.

So, as an added treat, I've created an (almost) hour-long mix of 2024 highlights so far. 

 

I've only included The Big Time from Cream Tease as that should be sufficient motivation to pre-order the full release. Likewise, I've left out Perfect Din from the Shelter Me - In Crisis as I (kind of) featured it in a previous post in May.

One final omission is Jezebell's remix of Bibbles by Andres y Xavi. I'd like to say it's because I featured it in a Dubhed selection back in March, but Jesse and Darren provided three great remixes. 

 

I'd also like to say that including it would have pushed today's selection over the one hour mark and I was being strict with timings.

In truth, I got confused and I thought the remixes had been released in 2023, the same as Andres y Xavi's original versions. Sorry!

 

I think the 9 tracks here more than make up for it, though. The Big Time is a strong opener and from there you get two of Jesse's 10:40 remixes, the latter of himself with Emilia Harmony on vocals. All of the Weekend Machines EP, bar a remix of the title track, get an airing as do Jezebell's 808 remixes of two of their songs, released on 808 Day, 8th August 2024.

 

Hey You by Puerto Montt City Orchestra is a cover/reimagining of a 1988 song called Hay Fever by 14 Iced Bears. Puerto Montt City Orchestra aka Angus Murray and Tim Salter persuaded frontperson Robert Sekula to re-record his vocals and, put through the 10:40 rinse, the song becomes a euphoric, uptempo excursion to a beachfront club.

 

Pandit Pam Pam is Brazilian artist Eduardo Ramos. His track Pass A Wish gets two Paul Simon-inspired (in title only, perhaps) remixes from Jezebell. The 50 Ways remix is equally excellent, but the Leave Your Lover slotted in seamlessly with the mix, in sonic terms equal parts chug and hug. 

 

I always enjoy having a crack at a Jezebell selection, but this one was an especial pleasure. Not just because everything seemed to click and naturally fall into place - this is about the closest this cack-handed amateur DJ will ever get to almost competent beat matching and cross-fades, I promise you - but because the music is just so very, very good.

 

I'll be listening to this - and the original tracks by Jesse, Darren and co. - a lot over the coming weeks. It may be thunder, lightning and torrential rain outside but whilst I'm listening to this, it's a glorious, endless summer. 

1) The Big Time: Jezebell (2024)

2) Hey You (10:40 Remix): Puerto Montt City Orchestra ft. Robert Sekula (2024) 

3) Trance Stance (10:40s Haight Steppin Remix): Electric Blue Vision (2024)

4) Autostrada: Jezebell (2024)

5) Dumbell (808 Day Remix): Jezebell (2024)

6) Weekend Machines (Single Version): Jezebell (2024)

7) Citric: Jezebell (2024)

8) Pass A Wish (Jezebell's Leave Your Lover Mix): Pandit Pam Pam (2024)

9) Dancing (Not Fighting) (808 Day Remix): Jezebell (2024)

 

Clues To The Edit (57:39) (KF) (Mega) 

You can also find May 2024's Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 (Dubhed Selection EP) right here.

We Can’t Deal With Culture We Don’t Understand

The news that there had been rioting, violence and looting following the tragedy in Southport was sadly not surprising. 

 

And when media outlets reported incidents "across the UK", in fact it appeared to be concentrated in England, with Belfast making the news but no mention of similar disturbances in Scotland and Wales, as far as I could see.

I was also sad to see Bristol named as one of the cities but then, given it's prominent anti-racist activity, it's often been a magnet for the far right. And goodness knows we have enough of the morons who were born and "bred" in the city. I grew up with, lived in the same street as and worked with a fair few of them. 

The Sky News screen grab above features a few of these fine examples of homo moronus in Bristol on Saturday, facing off against the police. Maybe you recognise some of them. If you happen to serve them at a cafe or takeaway any time soon, hawk a big flob into their food or drink with pleasure.

 

The mobs are described in the news reports as "protesters". That's far too kind a word for them. As a group gathered at a city centre hotel, I assume in the hope of forcing any immigrants within to go back where they came from, a larger group blocked them, chanting, "We are many, you are few. We are Bristol, who are you?"

 

There seems to have been some needless social media ripostes about how many of the counter group were in fact from Bristol, which I think is missing the point, or at the very least missing the scene from this classic film. On Saturday, those who turned up to challenge hate and violence were all Bristolian. 

 

I hadn't planned to write this when I started today's selection, it was supposed to be an fairly innocuous round up of some 2024 musical highlights that I haven't covered in previous posts. The post title is a line from one of the featured songs, Too Muchroom by David Holmes and Raven Violet. That, and a sense of horror at the TV news reports, seem to have guided my fingers at the keyboards as I started to type.

 

You may read some deeper meaning into some of the music choices today but I promise that any themes or connections are purely coincidental. What does link them however is that they represent what continues to be a great year, aurally speaking.

 

Fluke have been one of the comeback success stories of the year. Jack was released in May with another new song possibly titled Real Magnificent 'coming soon'. 

Jesse Fahnestock has never been away and here he is again, with two cracking collaborations, firstly with Emilia Harmony as Electric Blue Vision (and remixed by himself as 10:40). Then, Jesse returns to close the selection with his partner in crime Darren Bell as Jezebell, delivering the fruity tune Citric, freshly squeezed from their Weekend Machines EP.

Sean Johnston also makes a couple of appearances as Hardway Bros. Alessandro Sarsano aka DJALE remixes Functions For Machines from the excellent My Friends EP. Sean later reunites with Duncan Gray for another Hardway Bros Meet Monkton Uptown excursion, this time the aforementioned David Holmes and Raven Violet track.

Richard Norris released an exclusive 4-track EP (album?) in June, only available to subscribers, presenting music he'd created for a show at Paris Fashion Week. Each of the 4 mixes runs to nearly 14 minutes, so I've created a crude 8-minute edit of Mix 3 to include in this selection. 

I've been subscribing for a couple of years now. It's superb value for money and also raises funds for mental health charity MIND. I cannot recommend it enough.

Paris In The Summertime aside, Richard has a vast catalogue available on Bandcamp and in fact all of the music featured in today's selection is available to purchase there. If you like what you hear, go track them down, you will not be disappointed.

The penultimate song by Third Attempt samples from Louis Malle's 1981 film My Dinner With Andre

"You see, I keep thinking that what we need is a new language, 

a language of the heart."

 

The quoted lines are spoken by Andre Gregory, who appears opposite Wallace Shawn (if you don't know the latter's name, you will instantly recognise the face). The film is essentially two friends sharing anecdotes over a restaurant meal for the best part of two hours. They don't make 'em like that anymore. 

If you made it to the end of this post, many thanks for indulging me and I hope the music is sufficient compensation!

 

1) Jack: Fluke ft. Leah Cleaver (SW18 Sessions)

2) Trance Stance (1040s Haight Steppin Remix By Jesse Fahnestock): Electric Blue Vision (Trance Stance EP)

3) Hell Below: Acid Klaus ft. Lias Saoudi (P.T.S.D By Proxy EP)

4) Song Of Siraba (Mindbender Remix By Mårten Attling): A Space Age Freak Out (Shelter Me: In Crisis)

5) Paris In The Summertime (Mix 3 - Khayem's Olympic Edit): Richard Norris (Paris In The Summertime)

6) There’s Dust On It: Pye Corner Audio (There’s Dust On It EP)

7) Gold Rush (Dub): Break Mode ft. Nuri Orman (Boomarm Nation Family Album 2024)

8) Functions For Machines (DJALE Last Song Remix By Alessandro Sarsano): Hardway Bros (My Friends Remixes EP)

9) Waif Mentality: Orbury Common (Waif Mentality EP)

10) Too Muchroom (Hardway Bros Meet Monkton Uptown Remix By Sean Johnston & Duncan Gray): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet (Blind On A Galloping Horse (Remixes Vol. 2))

11) Language Of The Heart: Third Attempt (Offshore Sunsets EP)

12) Citric: Jezebell (Weekend Machines EP)

We Can’t Deal With Culture We Don’t Understand (1:09:56) (KF) (Mega)

If Ever The Devil Was Born Without A Pair Of Horns, It Was You Jezebell, It Was You

Like buses, you wait for a Jezebell-related release for a while, then three come along at once. I'll cover the new music later but just over a week ago, I received the long awaited double vinyl edition of the superb Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 compilation.

Bearing in mind that Jesse Fahnestock and Darren Bell released Jezebell's debut single Thrill Me in 2021, issuing a 'greatest hits' in August 2023 and labelling it 'Volume 1' may have seemed rather ambitious, cocky even. Yet, even with a digital edition packed with 20 tracks, the duo still had to leave out many mixes and versions that could easily have made the cut. It's really that good. 

Even more mind blowing is that the compilation, with a run time of over two hours, was - and still is - available as a 'name your price' purchase on Bandcamp.

I've hugely enjoyed all of the Jezebell music as it's emerged, whether under their own name, remixes for other artists or re-edits that in reality remake and remodel the source material into something so different that it's essentially a brand new song. So, when it was announced that a limited vinyl pressing of Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 would be available, I didn't hesitate in ordering it.

Given the timing constraints of four sides of vinyl - only Side 3 nudges above the 25/26-minute mark - the track list and running order varies a fair bit from the digital edition, making for an equally rewarding and essential listening experience.

The digital edition opens with the full length widescreen version of Jezebelle Et Moi, their 3-part cover of Max Berlin's 1978 song. At nearly 12 minutes, it's swapped on the vinyl version for one of the variations, Le Funk Et Moi, with no less impact as a statement of intent. The following three songs match on both editions, including the (kind of) title tracks and re-titled re-edits of Tullio De Piscopo and Laurie Anderson. 

I should add at this point that though I purchased many of these songs at the time of their original release, the versions on Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 have been given a re-master by Rich Lane.

For the remaining three sides, the ordering is mixed up more considerably, not least because the vinyl version contains 16 tracks compared with the digital edition's 20. So, track 5 on the latter - a superb re-edit of The Notorious B.I.G. - opens Side 4 of the former. "Bed Heads", Jezebell's contribution to Shelter Me: The Album in 2022, is track 17 on digital but closes the vinyl album in fine style.

At the time of posting, there are 9 copies of the one-time only vinyl pressing left on Bandcamp. If you miss out and haven't bought the digital edition yet, then what are you waiting for? The compilation cover by Rick Oliver is based on Dave Little's artwork for the seminal Balearic Beats: The Album Vol 1 collection and believe me, the music on this Jezebell compilation is every bit as good.

 

Side 1

1) Le Funk Et Moi (Remix) (Cover of 'Elle Et Moi' by Max Berlin's): Jezebell (2022)

2) Jezebellearic: Jezebell ft. Alfredo (2023)

3) Spring Calling aka Stop Bajon (Primavera) (Jezebell Edit): Tullio De Piscopo (2022)

4) Re-Birth aka Born Never Asked (Jezebell Edit): Laurie Anderson (2022)

Side 2

5) Pedestal (Jezebell's Dizzy Heights Dub): D:Ream (2022)

6) Thrill Me (Original Version): Jezebell (2021)

7) Hush Hush aka Too Shy (Jezebell Edit): Kajagoogoo (2022)

8) Hypnorise (Jezebell Edit): Herb Alpert (2022)

Side 3

9) Concurrence (Original Version): Jezebell (2021)

10) Swamp Shuffle: Jezebell (2023)

11) Jezeblue (Full Length Version): Jezebell (2023)

12) Red Shift (Jezebell's Inner Child Mix): MAN2.0 (2022)

Side 4

13) Vibrations aka Baby Let Me Kiss You (Jezebell's Hitachi Dub): The Notorious B.I.G. (2022)

14) Trading Places (3PM) (Remix): Jezebell (2023)

15) Burning Bush: Jezebell (2023)

16) "Bed Heads": Jezebell (2022)  

 

I've cobbled together a half-hour Dubhed Selection EP, selecting one song from each side of the vinyl edition, plus A Dangerous Side, the bonus digital track offered as an exclusive to those purchasing Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 on vinyl. 

 

 

Jezebellearic Beats Volume 1 (Dubhed Selection EP) (32:11) (KF) (Mega)

....but that's not all, oh no. Paisley Dark Records recently released the third compilation album in the Shelter Me series, and made the other two (plus a bonus remix) available again for purchase via Bandcamp.

The Shelter Me compilations raise funds for housing and homeless charities, the latest compilation focusing on Crisis, which does incredible work across the UK. Even if it wasn't for a good cause, these albums are chock-full of great music that you should want to buy, regardless.

Jezebell contribute again to Shelter Me: In Crisis with the brilliantly titled Perfect Din, which has got me scratching my head trying to work out what samples they've expertly woven into 408 seconds of groovy sounds.

 

 

Jesse Fahnestock has also reunited with Emilia Harmony for another excursion on the version as Electric Blue Vision. Trance Stance was released last week, via the empathetically named Electric Wardrobe Records. The single version is described as "a hooky and seductive electronic slow-dive [which] hypnotically conjures up the story of dance-floor attraction with all the anticipation, posturing and human behavior that comes with it."

 

I think that pretty much nails it, but see what you think.

 

if you like that, just feel the quality of the three accompanying remixes. 

 

At a glance, The Time Machine Dropouts was an unfamiliar name, until I read that this a duo of Matt Gunn and legendary DJ Chad Jackson. An inter generational soundclash that provides breakbeats, funky guitar, Moroder-esque synths, shades of M's Pop Muzik and Emilia's vocals right up front. Great stuff.

San Francisco-based drummer Cole Odin is another name that's new to me. A lovely, syncopated synth-washed rinse with Emilia's treated vocals swirling in and out of your ears. Jesse himself brings things to a close with 10:40's sunshine skank reprise. All in all, another top notch release and perfect for what's proving to be a sun-kissed bank holiday weekend here at Casa K.