What Do You Mean, This Music Has Needs?

An hour of music created or remixed by Kris Needs, topped and tailed with his collaboration with Wonder Schneider as Secret Knowledge and Delta Lady.

[Apology: I'm currently experiencing technical issues, more sleeve notes to follow!]

1) Sugar Daddy (Original Full Length Version By Kris Needs, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): Secret Knowledge (1993)

2) Anything You Want (Volume Vocal Mix By Kris Needs & Leftfield): Delta Lady (1993)

3) Rockers Dub (Remix od 'Rocks' By Kris Needs): Primal Scream (1994)

4) Toxygene (Kris Needs Up For A Fortnight Mix) (Full Length): The Orb (1997)

5) King Of My Castle (Beef Injection Mix By Kris Needs & Matt Schwartz): Wamdue Project ft. Gaelle Adisson (1998)

6) Now Is The Time (Secret Knowledge Overkill Mix By Kris Needs): The Crystal Method (1996)

7) Swamp Fever (Delta Scream Mix By Primal Scream): Delta Lady (1993)

8) Ooh Baby (Vocals Mix By Kris Needs & Ben Watkins): Secret Knowledge (1993)

This Music Has Needs (59:27) (GD) (M)

And if this doesn't quite fulfil your needs, then dive into Side 1 and Side 2 of my 1996 Secret Knowledge mixtape.

Ambient Andrew Again

Another sixty (one) minute selection of Andrew Weatherall's ambient excursions which, unsurprisingly, take the listener down the less trodden path.

If you caught last Sunday's post, you'll know that this was created from the same shortlist as Volume 1, but to be clear this is no 'leftovers' compilation. 

A slight shift by twelve months, too. Whereas Volume 1 spanned 1991 to 2016, Volume 2 covers 1992 to 2017. A complete accident, but I like it.

As before, there's room for Andrew's solo work, The Sabres Of Paradise and Two Lone Swordsmen, plus a second collaboration with Keith Tenniswood from the 2003 release Still My World.

Woodleigh Research Facility and Nina Walsh from Volume 1 are swapped for The Asphodells and Timothy J. Fairplay in Volume 2. There are also remixes by Being, Group Rhoda and In The Nursery as well as reworks of Scorn, James, Death In Vegas and Red Snapper.

It's such a privilege and a pleasure approaching each and every Andrew Weatherall selection. His generosity of spirit embues his music, making for some unusual but natural sequencing. Any bumps or clunks in the transition are entirely down to me, hopefully offset by the magic of the music itself. 

1) Azzolini And The Branch Brothers Meet Being (Remix By Being aka Dave Paton): Two Lone Swordsmen (1996)

2) Exodus (Sabres Of Paradise Mix 1 By Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): Scorn (1992)

3) The Crescents: Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood (2003)

4) Another Heady Cocktail: Two Lone Swordsmen (1997)

5) Jam J (Phase 2: Amphetamine Pulsate) (Remix By Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): James vs. The Sabres Of Paradise (1994)

6) Another Lonely City (Group Rhoda Remix By Mara Barenbaum): The Asphodells (2013)

7) Glenn Street Assault Squad (In The Nursery Visit Glenn Street) (Remix By Klive Humberstone & Nigel Humberstone): Two Lone Swordsmen (1996)

8) Soft Estates: Andrew Weatherall (2017)

9) Rekkit (Vega Sintro) (Remix by Two Lone Swordsmen aka Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood): Death In Vegas (1997)

10) Bogeyman (Two Lone Swordsmen Blue Jam Cologne Mix By Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood): Red Snapper (1998)

1992: Deliverance EP: 2

1994: Jam J EP: 5

1996: Swimming Not Skimming: 1, 7

1997: Rekkit: Death By A Thousand Cuts EP: 9

1997: Stockwell Steppas: 4

1998: Bogeyman EP: 10

2003: Still My World: 3

2013: The Asphodells Remixed: 6

2017: Qualia: 8

Ambient Andrew Vol. 2 (1:01:38) (GD) (M)

Ambient Andrew

The 'Andrew' of course being Andrew Weatherall, the 'Ambient' a little misleading perhaps, but this is the nearest you'll get, a combination of chilled and chilling to get you through this mad, mad, mad world.

I've dug deep, going into Andrew's work with Jagz Kooner and Gary Burns as The Sabres Of Paradise, Keith Tenniswood as Two Lone Swordsmen, and Nina Walsh as Woodleigh Research Facility. 

There's also his remix and production work with all of the above, plus Hugo Nicolson with Primal Scream, Peter Hook adding a bassline to The Limiñanas' Garden Of Love that calls to mind The Times' 1990 classic Manchester, and Utah Saints' I Want You transformed beyond all recognition. Oh, and vocals too, from Marie Limiñana, Nina Walsh and, to close, The Guv'nor himself.

The thing is, trawling through my collection for compilation candidates, i ended up with enough for two hour-long mixtapes. So, Vol.2 will be here soon, probably next weekend.

For now though, sit back with a brew, and immerse yourself in Weatherall's world for sixty minutes. 

1) Kicking In Part 4: Two Lone Swordsmen (1997)

2) Garden Of Love (Lundi Mouillé Mix By Andrew Weatherall & Nina Walsh): The Limiñanas ft. Peter Hook (2016)

3) Flight Path Estate: The Sabres Of Paradise (1994)

4) Tiny Reminder No. 1 (C-Pij Remix Vocal) (Remix By Nina Walsh): Two Lone Swordsmen (2001)

5) I Want You (Sabres 110) (Remix By The Sabres Of Paradise aka Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): Utah Saints (1993)

6) Akwalek: Two Lone Swordsmen (2000)

7) Theme 4: The Sabres Of Paradise (1994)

8) Emancipation Garage: Woodleigh Research Facility (2015)

9) Still My World: Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood (2003)

10) Chapel Street Market 9am: The Sabres Of Paradise (1994)

11) Inner Flight (Album Version By Andrew Weatherall & Hugo Nicolson): Primal Scream (1991)

12) Ghosts Again (Album Version By Andrew Weatherall & Nina Walsh): Andrew Weatherall (2016)

1991: Screamadelica: 11

1993: I Want You EP: 5

1994: Haunted Dancehall: 3, 7, 10

1997: Stockwell Steppas: 1

2000: Tiny Reminders: 6

2001: Further Reminders: 4

2003: Still My World: 9

2015: The Phoenix Suburb (And Other Stories): 8

2016: Convenanza: 12

2016: Garden Of Love EP: 2

Ambient Andrew Vol. 1 (59:45) (GD) (M)

Belonging Yet Longing

On this day in 2021, I posted excitedly about Dot Allison's return with Long Exposure, the lead single from Heart-Shaped Scars, her first album in 12 years.

In October 2022, I created and posted a Dot Allison selection and wondered why it had taken me so long to get around to it, given how much I love her music.

Five years on from that initial post, three years and seven months on from that Dubhed selection, and I've only just got around to creating a companion selection. Yet, it all feels like it was only yesterday, 

Ironically, I haven't included any songs from Heart-Shaped Scars per se. Instead, there's a remix of Cue The Tears by Anton Newcombe, and the original demo of The Haunted, featuring Amy Bowman. Amy also provides backing vocals to the opening song, Milk And Honey, from 2023's Consciousology. Both albums are furnished with lush string arrangements by Hannah Peel.

One Dove inevitably appear, Sirens taken from Morning Dove White, produced by The Sabres Of Paradise aka Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner and Gary Burns. Fallen is an absolute classic, this version taken from the original promo white label 12" by "Dove".

Most recently, Dot has collaborated with both Mark Peters and Andy Bell, the former transformed into an ambient excursion by Richard Norris, the latter a cover of The Passions featuring Michael Rother.

Further Dot duets include Jude Rawlins, Christian Henson and Slam, 2007 track We Medicate transporting on a satisfying Bauhaus vibe. 

Dot has always travelled comfortably in the worlds of electronic and alternative music, between the dancefloor and the folk club, from glow stick to torch song.

Although the music here spans over three decades and each of Dot's albums and collaborations have their own distinct identity, I'm amazed at how well the selected songs sit together. 

As a companion piece to my previous selection, Everywhere Yet Nowhere, I also think it works really well. Completely accidental, but both come in at 61 minutes, just five seconds separating the two. And as Everywhere Yet Nowhere begins with Dot and Christian Henson, so Belonging Yet Longing ends with the same pairing. 

I'm not in the least objective about this because I'm such a fan of Dot's music, but these are two of my favourites of the many hundreds of mixtapes I've created in the past forty years.

1) Milk And Honey: Dot Allison ft. Amy Bowman (2023)

2) Sirens: One Dove (1993)

3) Wistful Summer: Dot Allison ft. Jude Rawlins (2012)

4) I Wanna Feel The Chill: Dot Allison (1999)

5) Sundowning (Richard Norris Ambient Remix): Mark Peters ft. Dot Allison (2022)

6) Fallen (Dawn): One Dove (1991)

7) Cue The Tears (Anton Newcombe Remix): Dot Allison (2022)

8) Lo-Fi Love Song: Dot Allison (2000)

9) You Dropped Your Soul: Dot Allison (2007)

10) I'm In Love... (Album Version) (Cover of 'I'm In Love With A German Film Star' by The Passions): Andy Bell ft. Dot Allison & Michael Rother (2025)

11) We Medicate (Album Version): Slam ft. Dot Allison (2007)

12) The Haunted (Demo): Dot Allison ft. Amy Bowman (2023)

13) When Love Comes Alive: Dot Allison ft. Christian Henson (2012)

1991: Fallen EP: 6

1993: Morning Dove White: 2

1999: Afterglow: 4

2000: Substance EP: 8

2007: Exaltation Of Larks: 9

2007: Human Response: 11

2012: Pioneers 01: 3, 13

2022: The Entangled Remix EP: 7

2022: Sundowning EP: 5

2023: Consciousology: 1

2024: Demo-itis: 12

2025: Pinball Wanderer: 10

Belonging Yet Longing (1:01:21) (GD) (M)

You can find Everywhere Yet Nowhere here

This Film's Crap

How can it be that David Holmes' debut album is over 30 years old?!

This Film's Crap Let's Slash The Seats managed two weeks in the UK album charts in July 1995, peaking in its first week at #51. That said, not bad for a largely instrumental album, soundtracking imaginary movies that you may think twice before watching anyway.

The singles were no less uncompromising: Minus 61 In Detroit coming in at over nine minutes and album opener No Mans Land pushing the envelope even further, twelve minutes and forty five seconds of nerve tapping twitchiness.

Like Johnny Favourite, the non-album single that preceded them, neither single managed to break out of the Top 80 in their 1-2 week stay in the charts.

Record label Go! Beat played what I guess they thought was their trump card by following up with a third and final single the following April, with Gone. Another lengthy album track at just over eight minutes, Gone at least got a radio edit for the single release, although whether it could be described as 'radio friendly' is another matter.

Propelled by bass, guitar (courtesy of Keith Tenniswood) and a shuffling percussion, the key selling point is the guest vocal from Sarah Cracknell of Saint Etienne.

The lyrics are confined to a mere eighteen words

I'm gonna hide

She don't even know

I'm gonna run away

And you can never go on anymore

And you can never go on anymore

...although I'd always heard that final refrain as 

And you can never go home anymore

...which I prefer, but what do I know?

Gone fared slightly better than the previous three singles, although by 'better' I mean that it managed a single week in the chart at #75. 

Not that David appeared bothered in the least. Six months later, he was back with My Mate Paul, his first Top 40 hit, and a second album (Let's Get Killed) the following year, which did the same. And then he got properly into soundtracks, which was a game changer.

This Film's Crap Let's Slash The Seats is the David Holmes album I revisit the least, not because it's not much good but more that I need to be in a certain mood/frame of mind to listen to it. 

At the weekend, to mark a re-release of the album for Record Store Day, a video (and radio edit!) emerged of the kind-of-title-track Slash The Seats.

As a reminder of David's first album, and Jagz Kooner and Gary Burns' first major (co)production project following the part of The Sabres Of Paradise, it's an astonishing piece of music that still hits hard, three decades on.

Strange Sabres

On Tuesday 24th November, I saw The Sabres Of Paradise play the first date of their UK tour at Strange Brew in the heart of Bristol.

Now that's a sentence that even a year ago I never expected to string together. But I've been pinching myself for the last few weeks and I am now convinced that this actually happened and wasn't just a crazy. feverish dream.

The absence - and presence - of founder Andrew Weatherall aka Lord Sabre is keenly felt, though this celebration of the old band getting back together and recreating the past in order to continue moving ever forward.

It's entirely justified. The Sabres Of Paradise may have only existed for a few short years, released two albums (three if you count the rejigged and remodelled Sabresonic II), but they were a proper band with proper hits in the UK. A Top 30 album (Sabresonic), a Top 40 single (Wilmot) and four other Top 100 singles; the first two albums also went Top 20 in the Vinyl Albums Chart when they were reissued this summer.

I didn't see The Sabres Of Paradise when they toured between 1993 and 1996, so this was a big deal. The opportunity to see them play in one of my favourite venues, in a mind-bogglingly intimate setting, felt like a once-in-a-lifetime chance and I wasn't alone in knowing that I was about to witness something very special.

With the inevitable exception of Andrew Weatherall, the 1990s touring line-up were all there on stage: Jagz Kooner and Gary Burns with Phil Mossman (guitar), Nick Abnett (bass) and Rich Thair (percussion).

Every single one of them has a hugely impressive CV, yet coming together again after three decades demonstrating what an incredible dynamic they have. Impressive though the studio versions of tonight's set list are, the translation to a live setting was nothing short of breath taking. 

It was easy to forget that this was entirely instrumental music, with no between song banter from anyone on stage, because in spite of all that, the band and the sounds they made engaged from the opening seconds and didn't let up until the show came to an end, an hour and a half later.

Not only had I never seen The Sabres Of Paradise live in concert, but with the odd exception, I rarely heard their music in the clubs I went to in the 1990s, so there was the added joy of being immersed in the sounds and dancing my heart out. Another wonderful aspect of the live performance: even the seemingly more downbeat numbers on vinyl found their groove when released into the atmosphere of Strange Brew.

Evenly split between Sabresonic and Haunted Dancehall, all the 'hits' were there: opener Tow Truck blending into the Depth Charge remix of same, a lovely tribute to another fallen comrade, J. Saul Kane. 

From there, the cinematic sweep of Theme then Edge 6, originally a B-side of Theme then promoted to album status with the Sabresonic II reissue. Two from Haunted Dancehall, Duke Of Earlsfield followed by a triumphant, celebratory Wilmot, before a drop to the serenely beautiful Beatless Mix of Smokebelch II. 

Ballad Of Nicky Wire follows before another trio of Sabresonic tracks, Clock Factory, Ano Electro (Allegro) and Still Fighting, which samples another much-missed legend, Denise Johnson. 

And then it's over, Jagz clapping and showing his appreciation as he and the band take their leave. Has it really been over an hour? Is it really the end?

Of course not. In time honoured tradition, the band return to the stage to rapturous applause and cheering to play - what else? - the David Holmes Remix of Smokebelch II.

As with every song that preceded it, and impressive though that would still have been, this is no mere reproduction of the studio version. Every one of The Sabres Of Paradise brings something unique and special to the stage and together they are unstoppable.

Fifteen minutes later and I didn't want the music to stop. It was incredible from start to finish and all the more wondrous that I could never have imagined that it would ever happen. But it did, and I was there, and I will never forget it.

Gig of the year, no question. 

1) Intro / Tow Truck (Album Version)

2) Tow Truck (Depth Charge Mix)

3) Theme

4) Edge 6

5) Duke Of Earlsfield

6) Wilmot

7) Smokebelch II (Beatless Mix)

8) Ballad Of Nicky McGuire

9) Clock Factory

10) Ano Electro (Allegro)

11) Still Fighting

12) Smokebelch II (David Holmes Remix)

Rather than create a Dubhed selection for this set, I'm instead pointing you to Bandcamp where you can listen to all of the songs via the parent albums, Sabresonic, Haunted Dancehall and Sabresonic II. Better still, buy all three albums and enjoy the full Sabres experience.

Note: Yep, another night with no photos from me. Today's lift is three pics by Adam Burrows (#3, 4 & 5) to accompany his review of the gig, published by Bristol 24/07. The first two are taken from The Sabres Of Paradise page on the Book of Faces.

Tell Me A Thousand Times

Happy, happy, happy birthday to Sarah Cracknell, born 12th April 1967.

Chanteuse, songwriter, mother, wife and all round fabulous person, today's selection celebrates Sarah's 58th with 58 minutes of Sarah singing. What could be better than that?

It's mostly Saint Etienne, with a couple of songs from Sarah's solo catalogue and collaborations with David Holmes and Mark Brown. 

There are also mixes from Masters At Work, Kid Loco, Richard X, Two Lone Swordsmen aka Andrew Weatherall and Keith Tenniswood, as well as Andrew's former compadres in The Sabres Of Paradise, Jagz Kooner and Gary Burns. All very different styles and approaches, though Sarah's voice shines through.

Here's to you, Sarah, hiope you have a good one.

1) Aussie Soap Girl: Sarah Cracknell (1997)

2) Method Of Modern Love (Radio Edit By Richard X & Pete Hofmann): Saint Etienne (2009)

3) Nothing Can Stop Us (Masters At Work Dub) (Remix By Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez & 'Little' Louie Vega): Saint Etienne (1992)

4) Goodnight Jack: Saint Etienne (1998)

5) Message In A Bottle: Saint Etienne (1995)

6) Stop And Think It Over (Kid Loco Mix): Saint Etienne (2002)

7) Penlop (Album Version By Pete Wiggs): Saint Etienne (2021)

8) Some Place Else: Saint Etienne (1992)

9) Gone (Edit By David Holmes, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): David Holmes ft. Sarah Cracknell (1995)

10) I Threw It All Away: Saint Etienne (2012)

11) Sleepytown: Sarah Cracknell (2015)

12) Like A Motorway (Japanese Version): Saint Etienne (1994)

13) The Journey Continues (Vocal Radio Edit): Mark Brown ft. Sarah Cracknell (2007)

14) Andersen Unbound: Saint Etienne (2002)

15) Heart Failed (In The Back Of A Taxi) (Two Lone Swordsmen Mix By Andrew Weatherall & Keith Tenniswood): Saint Etienne (2000)

1992: Avenue EP: 8

1992: Nothing Can Stop Us EP: 3

1995: Gone EP: 9

1995: Xmas 95 EP: 5

1997: Goldie EP: 1

1998: Good Humor: 4

2000: Heart Failed (In The Back Of A Taxi) EP: 15

2002: Action EP: 14

2007: The Journey Continues EP: 13

2009: Method Of Modern Love EP: 2

2009: Now 4 EP: 12

2010: Finisterre (Deluxe Edition) (2x CD): 6

2012: Words And Music By Saint Etienne: 10

2015: Take The Silver EP: 11

2021: I've Been Trying To Tell You: 7

Tell Me A Thousand Times (58:22) (KF) (Mega)

If that's left you hungry for more Sarah, I've resurrected my 1997 Saint Etienne C90 side which I posted last year. You can find it here.

After All These Years, Audrey Is Still A Little Bit Partial

Side 1 of an Andrew Weatherall compilation, recorded 8th December 1996.

Dusting off and representing Dubhed selections yesterday brought the sobering revelation that I posted Side 2 of the Audrey Is A Little Bit Partial mixtape on 17th February 2022 and then promptly forgot to follow up with the other side.

So, three years and two days later, here's the opening side to complete the set.

Given the year of recording, this C90 is very firmly rooted in the early to mid-1990s, with a heavy emphasis on Andrew's music with Jagz Kooner and Gary Burns as The Sabres Of Paradise. 

Four of the five tracks on this side are remixes of other artists, with a solitary Sabres song to round things off. Edge 6 was originally a B-side on the Theme EP, getting a promotion when Sabresonic II, a substantial overhaul of The Sabres Of Paradise's debut album, was released in 1995.

The remixes take the original songs on a long journey, the destination largely unrecognisable from the starting point. 

I first discovered the remix of Give Me Some Love by Love Corporation, aka Edward Ball of The Times, on a Creation label compilation and it's ten minutes of chiming chug-before-chug is one of Andrew's finest moments. 

Always delivering value for money, Andrew, Jagz and Gary delivered three remixes of Conquistador to Espiritu in 1993. I've gone for Mix No. 2, at just under eight minutes the shortest of the lot, but not lesser in any other respect. This one is from vinyl and the only one of the three not to get a CD/digital release, as far as I'm aware, so please excuse the added crackles and pops.

I'd never heard anything by Irish band Bumble before - or, to be honest, after - I picked up a 12" of their single West In Motion for the sole reason that the label stated that it included an Andrew Weatherall mix (one of two, in fact, with a different remix on the CD single). The other mixes on the 12" are so-so but Weatherall's is worth the price alone, twelve minutes of shivery, spooky spaced out grooves.

I've featured The Sabres Of Paradise remix of Brixton by Renegade Soundwave before, when I created a Dubhed selection of their own music. I love RSW's original and dub versions, but this is the business: nine minutes of incessant, propulsive loops built around a sample of Gary Asquith stating, "I'm checking out her rhythms". Great stuff.

1) Give Me Some Love (Remix By Andrew Weatherall): Love Corporation (1991)
2) Conquistador (Sabres Of Paradise Mix No. 2): Espiritu (1993)

3) West In Motion (Andrew Weatherall Mix): Bumble (1992)

4) Brixton (Sabres Of Paradise Mix): Renegade Soundwave (1995)

5) Edge 6: The Sabres Of Paradise (1994)

Side One (45:40) (KF) (Mega)

Side Two here

As If All This Would Do, When All We Want To Have Is Fun

A double celebration today, and an excuse (not that any is needed) for an hour of Andrew Weatherall.

Lady K will see this as further evidence of my ongoing stumble into irrelevance and decrepitude, but somehow another year has passed and I enter my 54th year on this swirling, twirling, constantly confounding and exciting plane of existence. 

 

Also, a slightly belated cheer for this here blog, which first emerged blinking into the artificial light of the blogoverse on 7th December 2020. Thanks to all those who have joined the ride along the way, and continue to inspire and encourage me. 

I've created loads of Andrew Weatherall selections in the past four years, and yet there's so much to choose from that it's still relatively easy to come up with a mix of music (or versions) that hasn't featured on this blog before. In fact, I was convinced that several of today's tracks had appeared here, but with one very deliberate exception, as far as I can tell, it's first time for all of the rest.

All eight songs are Andrew remixing other artists, not quite going back to the very beginning but starting relatively early in 1991 and going right to one of the very last remixes that he produced, before his passing in 2020. 

By accident not design, I've inadvertantly skipped any of the remixes Andrew did with Keith Tenniswood as Two Lone Swordsmen or Timothy J. Fairplay as The Asphodells, but there are other collaborations here: The Sabres Of Paradise (of course) with Jagz Kooner and Gary Burns, plus David Harrow and Hugo Nicolson.

 

David Holmes is another inevitable inclusion; the instrumental mix of I Heard Wonders has previously appeared, here is Weatherall's full vocal version. Holmes has been a key figure in keeping the Weatherall flame burning and embodying the same spirit of curiosity, adventure and inclusion that typified The Guv'nor's approach to his craft.

 

Andrew previously remixed Jungle Bill by Yello in the early 1990s, and returned over twenty years later to refashion Frautonium. 

 

It was common for Andrew to deliver multiple versions in one go: Ohm's Tribal Tone got three, Sleeper by Audioweb got two, as did Son Sur Son by The Venetians. Value for money would be an understatement, none of the remixes were ever 'dialled in' and each has a character of their own.

 

One Dove and Andrew Weatherall were inextricably linked on their early singles and monumental debut, Morning Dove White. There are lots of mixes of Fallen, but the Nancy & Lee Mix was so epic that it was adapted for inclusion on the album.

 

I started this blog in 2020 with 50@50, a series of Dubhed selections, charting key songs from 1970 to 2020, each 'side' covering roughly 5 years. Andrew Weatherall dominated the 1990-1994 selection, with 3 of the 5 tracks being his remixes of Primal Scream, Finitribe and the Nancy & Lee Mix of Fallen by One Dove.

 

On 11th December 2020, I pulled all of the sides together and sequenced them together into an epic four-hour selection. So, to celebrate four years to the day since Fallen (Nancy & Lee Mix) by One Dove and Andrew Weatherall appeared on this blog, here it is again to close out today's selection.

 

Less self-promotion and more (of the usual) nonsense tomorrow.

1) The Drum (12" Mix By Andrew Weatherall & Hugo Nicolson) (Cover of Slapp Happy): The Impossibles (1991)

2) Tribal Tone (Sabres Mix #1 By Sabres Of Paradise aka Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): Ohm (1993)

3) I Heard Wonders (Andrew Weatherall Vocal Mix): David Holmes (2008)

4) Frautonium (Battery) (Remix by Andrew Weatherall): Yello (2017)

5) Sleeper (Emissions No.5) (Remix By Andrew Weatherall & David Harrow): Audioweb (1995)

6) Son Sur Son (A.W. Edition Due) (Remix By Andrew Weatherall): The Venetians (2020)

7) Sweet Love For Planet Earth (Andrew Weatherall Remix): Fuck Buttons (2008)

8) Fallen (Nancy & Lee Mix By Andrew Weatherall & One Dove): One Dove (1992) 

 

All We Want To Have Is Fun (58:54) (KF) (Mega)

Chemical Dust

If you like your beats big, then you can't wrong with The Chemical Brothers.

Today's selection is three quarters of an hour of remixes circa 1994 to 1996, when Manchester Uni pals Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands were breaking big as The Dust Brothers and inevitably drawing attention from Michael Simpson and John King aka the original Dust Brothers. Some legal chit chat, a handshake and a name change later, and Ed and Tom continued as The Chemical Brothers.

Something big was happening (and I don't just mean Big Beat) but even then could the pair have imagined that they'd become even bigger, release albums into double digits and still be a significant musical force, three decades later? Quite something, when you think about it.

To these ears, whilst the music takes me back to experiences in a past, younger life, I still get the rush of the new when listening to these tracks.

 

Ed and Tom did a whole bunch of remixes for Manic Street Preachers and whilst La Tristesse Durera raised the bar impossibly high, their rework of Everything Must Go is an underrated banger. 

Likewise, there was a quid pro quo with The Sabres Of Paradise, Weatherall, Kooner and Burns remixing the Brothers and vice versa. Tow Truck was a speaker shredding monster from an EP of remixes from the Haunted Dancehall album.

Justin Warfield pops up twice, firstly with Bomb The Bass and the seminal track Bug Powder Dust, then on his own with Pick It Up Y'All. I really enjoyed the Rap/Hip Hop/Big Beat crossover that was firing up around this time and these two are prime examples.

 

I missed The Chemical Brothers' remixes of Republica first time around as a vinyl-only issue. Thankfully, the mid-late 1990s were a time of multiple formats, with 2-3 CD singles per release offering remixes, rarities and live versions to prise your pennies away. This rather fine dub of Out Of This World resurfaced on the Drop Dead Gorgeous single.

A standout from The Chemical Brothers debut album was Life Is Sweet which featured The Charlatans' Tim Burgess on vocals (Ed and Tom were also at the forefront of the Indie/Dance revival). Again, multiple formats for the inevitable single release but I've opted here for a rarer remix which featured on the essential Trance Europe Express compilation series. It's a Big Beat frenzy with a smattering of Tim's vocals left in for good measure.

The selection closes out with what I still think of as one of their finest moment as either The Dust Brothers or The Chemical Brothers. In 1994, they dusted up Saint Etienne's Like A Motorway. The competition was tough: David Holmes and Autechre both submitted remixes at the top of their game. However, Ed and Tom's Chekhov Warp mix is something else entirely, nine minutes of acid-drenched bleeps and squiggles, samples and dirty beats that leave you wanting to hear it all over again. There is a vocal version available but for me, the dub is the essential mix.

Pick it up y'all, we can make it to the weekend!

 

1) Everything Must Go (The Chemical Brothers Remix): Manic Street Preachers (1996)

2) Out Of This World (Chemical Brothers Dub): Republica (1995)

3) Bug Powder Dust (Dust Brothers Remix): Bomb The Bass ft. Justin Warfield (1994)

4) Tow Truck (The Chemical Brothers Mix): The Sabres Of Paradise (1995)

5) Life Is Sweet (Delik 1) (Remix By The Chemical Brothers, Steve Dub & Tim Holmes): The Chemical Brothers ft. Tim Burgess (1995)

6) Pick It Up Y'All (Dust Brothers Dub): Justin Warfield (1994)

7) Like A Motorway (Chekhov Warp Dub) (Remix By The Dust Brothers): Saint Etienne (1994)

Chemical Dust (45:21) (GD) (M)

You can find Shake This Feeling, another 45-minute selection of The Chemical Brothers from July 2022, right here.

Believe (For Adam And Andrew)

Over at Bagging Area for the past six months, it's been Weatherall Remix Friday, a veritable treasure trove of deep cuts and 'lost' classics from the mighty Lord Sabre.

As a tribute and thank you to Swiss Adam and Andrew Weatherall, here's a 65-minute excursion on the version, some early(ish) favourites from 1990 to 1993 with an additional tip of the hat to Jagz Kooner, Gary Burns and Hugo Nicholson.

Apologies for the shonky quality of some of the vinyl rips (not all mine) and the slipshod segues (all mine), hopefully compensated in part by the great tunes and smattering of audio Easter eggs, courtesy of this excellent 2013 interview with Mr. Weatherall.

Peace and love to you all.

 

1) Imperfect List (Unlisted Version By Andrew Weatherall & Hugo Nicolson): Big Hard Excellent Fish (1990)

2) What It Is (Ain't Losin Control) (The Big Bottom End Mix By Andrew Weatherall): Word Of Mouth ft. Linda Love (1990)

3) Regret (Sabres Slow 'n' Lo - Dub Half) (Remix By Sabres Of Paradise aka Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): New Order (1993)

4) Everything (Everything's Gone Quiet Remix By The Sabres Of Paradise aka Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): Stereo MC's (1993)

5) Transient Truth (Death Of A Disco Dancer) (Remix By The Sabres Of Paradise aka Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): One Dove (1992)

6) Fall (Let There Be Drums) (Andrew Weatherall Mix): Deep Joy (1990)

7) Come Home (Skunk Weed Skank Mix By Andrew Weatherall): James (1991)

8) Find 'Em, Fool 'Em, Forget 'Em (The Eighth Out Mix By Andrew Weatherall): S'Express (1991)

9) Shine Like Stars (Andrew Weatherall Remix): Primal Scream (1990)

Believe (For Adam And Andrew) (1:04:55) (KF) (Mega)

Came Back And The Spooks Were Gone

Happy 60th birthday, Andrew Weatherall.

Three years since Lord Sabre sailed on, but ever present in my world of music. As a celebration of his life and a reminder of his continuing influence, here's (a smidge over) 60 minutes of music from the vaults.

 

Gone but never forgotten.

 

1) Kicking The River (Solar Bears Remix By John Kowalski & Rian Trench): Andrew Weatherall (2016)

2) Glories Yesterday: Two Lone Swordsmen (2007)

3) Tribal Tone (Sabres Mix #3 By Sabres Of Paradise aka Andrew Weatherall, Jagz Kooner & Gary Burns): Ohm (1993)

4) Why Don't You Take Me ('Shopping' Album Version By One Dove & Sabres Of Paradise): One Dove (1994)

5) I Want You (Sabres 110 Metal Dub) (Remix By The Sabres Of Paradise): Utah Saints (1993)

6) Neuflex (Dry & Heavy Remix By Shigemoto Nanao & Takeshi Akimoto): Two Lone Swordsmen (2001)

7) Hope We Never Surface (Remix By Kenny Hawkes): Two Lone Swordsmen (1999)

8) Song To The Siren (Sabres Of Paradise Mix) (Edit): The Dust Brothers (1992)

9) Theme 4 (Album Version): The Sabres Of Paradise (1994)

10) The Edge Of Wonder (Andrew Weatherall Remix): Silver Apples (2019)

Came Back And The Spooks Were Gone (1:00:52) (KF) (Mega)

 

 

Happy birthday also to Tomberlin (28) and Frank Black (58) and anyone else celebrating another year on this spinning globe today.