2024 has been quite the year for David Holmes, hasn't it?
Blind On A Galloping Horse, Holmes' album with Raven Violet and a highlight of last year, enjoyed a truckload of remixes over three companion volumes this year, all of them essential purchases.
David was also busy remixing and producing other artists, and whilst I may wait until Primal Scream's latest effort ends up in the bargain bins, I was otherwise snapping up the various EPs and singles as soon as they dropped.
All of which has resulted in a '2024 highlights' selection today that focuses solely on David Holmes. Six remixes, forty five minutes, electronica with pure heart(ache) and soul. And I didn't even include this stone cold classic remix/rework/mash-up/call-it-what-you-will of an already classic tune.
Things get off to a heavy start with Theis Thaws, an intriguing collaboration between Mike Theis and Tricky, featuring Rosa Rocca-Serra. There's a three-minute version of this remix on the standard digital release, this one gets to Fly To Ceiling and out the skylight and up to the sky, stretching its wings for nearly eight minutes.
As Ammonite, Amy Spencer delivered a remix of Emotionally Clear for Blind On A Galloping Horse (Remixes Vol. 2) back in March. David repaid the favour with a rework of You Don't Know Me for Blueprints Revisited, an EP of remixes from Ammonite's debut album, which appeared in September. Only the latter appears in today's selection, but you need both of them in your life, believe me.
Two alternative picks from the Blind On A Galloping Horse remix collections. First up, X-Press 2 aka Rocky & Diesel aka Darren House and Darren Rock, with an instrumental remix of Yeah x 3 (with apologies to Raven Violet, the vocal version was released in 2023). It's a welcome reminder of why I fell in love with X-Press 2 in the 1990s.
Smagghe & Cross are a relatively newer partnership. I'm familiar with Ivan Smagghe from his previous work, especially as a co-founder of Black Strobe. I didn't know anything about Rupert Cross, but the few Smagghe And Cross remixes I've heard have been really good, including this version of Too Muchroom, which features Raven Violet's vocals to stunning effect.
I've featured Sylvia by Lisa Moorish in a couple of previous 2024 selections, both the album version and David Holmes' vocal remix. As Peter Murphy from Bauhaus once sang, now here's the dub. One of my favourite songs of the year, in any version.
As is Aerodromes by Acid Klaus, whose P.T.S.D By Proxy EP is a treat from start to finish, featuring the various vocal talents of Philly Piper (Philly Smith to her family), Lias Saoudi, Cat Rin (Catrin Mair Robinson), Rosey PM and Maxine Peake.
The single version of Aerodromes appeared on the same highlights selection as the album version of Sylvia last week, so here are Lisa Moorish and Acid Klaus reunited again today, this time given the David Holmes treatment.
This is the second appearance of Aerodromes (David Holmes Remix), previously sitting in the middle of another 2024 highlights selection, barely a month ago. No apologies for this, it's a truly stunning eight minute masterclass in the art of the remix.
I have loved David Holmes' music since I first heard over three decades ago. 2024 has proven time and again why he remains an unstoppable force of nature, continually questing, inviting and thrilling with his work. And if you think that's mere hyperbole, stick this on for three quarters of an hour.
1) Fly To Ceiling (David Holmes Extended Remix): Theis Thaws ft. Rosa Rocca-Serra (Fly To Ceiling EP)
2) You Don't Know Me (David Holmes Remix): Ammonite (Blueprints Revisited EP)
3) Yeah x 3 (X-Press 2 Remix - Instrumental By Darren House & Darren Rock): David Holmes (Blind On A Galloping Horse (Remixes Vol. 2))
4) Sylvia (David Holmes Dub): Lisa Moorish (Sylvia EP / Divine Chaos (The Remixes))
5) Too Muchroom (Smagghe And Cross Remix By Ivan Smagghe & Rupert Cross): David Holmes ft. Raven Violet (Blind On A Galloping Horse (Remixes Vol. 3))
6) Aerodromes (David Holmes Remix): Acid Klaus ft. Philly Piper (P.T.S.D By Proxy EP)