Decayed I: 2001

Side 2 of an imaginary compilation cassette, travelling through the 2000s.

Troubling the upper reaches of the UK's best-selling singles of 2001 were Shaggy, Atomic Kitten and S Club 7. Not to forget yesterday's reference to Westshite, who must have had a sideline commission on bar stools, the amount of time they spent with their arses glued to them whilst inflicting another ballad or cover version (or both) on us.

Yet, there was hope. Kylie Minogue was experiencing a purple patch of perfect pop songs, arguably none more so than Can't Get You Out Of My Head. Bucking the trend of one-week-only #1s, Ms. Minogue spent four weeks at the top, seven in the Top 10 and the best part of six months in the Top 75. 

Can't Get You Out Of My Head was apparently offered first to S Club 7 (well, their manager) then Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who both turned it down. I bet they've been kicking themselves ever since.

Basement Jaxx were also wanting to know Where's Your Head At, cracking the UK Top 10 in December. Featuring Damien Peachey on vocals, the song is built on the riff from Gary Numan's 1979 song M.E. and was accompanied by a memorable video.

Speaking of samples, there's a serendipitous connection between today's playlist and the original Decade mixtape series. In October 2001, Felix Da Housecat charted with the single Harlot, sampling the synth percussion of The Sound Of The Crowd by The Human League. That very song featured in my 1981 selection, having reached #12 in May of that year. It's almost like I planned it...!

Missy Elliott had previously scored a UK #1 in 1998, but it was a guest on ex-Spice Girl Melanie B's single I Want You Back. Get UR Freak On got to #4 in April 2001 and would prove to be Missy's highest charting single in the UK as a solo artist. It's a magnificent record, and Timbaland's production and the tabla frenzy underpinning the song cannot be underestimated. Yet, it wouldn't be half as good without Missy herself: her delivery is spot on and a breath of fresh air compared to many of her male contemporaries.

This was the year that we were introduced to The Strokes. I wasn't as blown away by them as the gushing music press appeared to be, though I found myself morbidly fascinated by Last Nite, both the video and the song. Both were unashamedly retro, yet there was something compelleing about their sound and look, even to an old cynic like me.

2001 also saw the first collaboration between Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams, a partnership that would really pay off a decade and a half later. Here, The Neptunes (Pharrell and Chad Hugo) get their hands on Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger and take it in a completely new direction.

The Charlatans, Depeche Mode, Faithless and Damon Albarn all came back with strong songs, reasserting their relevance in the 21st century. Albarn especially so, as in a radical departure from Blur, he co-created 'virtual' band Gorillaz to great critical and commercial acclaim. 

Trevor Jackson is the brains behind Playgroup, the only non-charting single in today's picks. Never heard of him? Break 4 Love by Raze or House Of Lovers by The Rapture? Two of the many record sleeves Trevor designed. The Underdog remixes of Massive Attack, House Of Pain, U2 or Everything But The Girl? That's Trevor. Late 1990s releases by Fridge and Four Tet (Kieran Hebden) on the Output label? Trevor ran it.

Playgroup's self-titled debut album is a thing of wonder and I will write about it at some point, here or elsewhere. Suffice to say that both it and the various singles should have been smash hits. Front 2 Back is featured here, with a strong lead from KC Flightt and a wonderful guest spot from Edwyn Collins on guitar, who nails it.

Robert Miles had a #2 hit with Children in January 1996. Nina Miranda, fronting Smoke City, got to #4 with Underwater Love in April 1997.  On paper, a collaboration between the two had 'hit' written all over it, surely? Sadly not. 

Paths is a great song, but managed just one week at #74 in July 2001. The Future Sound Of London aka Brian Dougans and Garry Cobain were no strangers to the UK charts themselves in the 1990s and they provide a stunning remix here. There is a full-length 7+ minute version on the 12" single, though everything you need is captured here in two hundred and twenty eight wonderful seconds.

Although labelled as a remix by The Future Sound Of London, Brian and Garry were revisiting another of their aliases, and this remix signposted their new direction. Stay tuned, as you'll find out what they were up to next week.

For your further listening pleasure, you may wish to head back to 1981 and 1991.

1) Love Is The Key (Album Version): The Charlatans
2) 19/2000 (Soulchild Remix By Damien Mendis & Stuart Bradbury): Gorillaz
3) I Feel Loved (Single Version): Depeche Mode
4) Get Ur Freak On (Edit By Timbaland & Jimmy Douglass): Missy Elliott
5) Harlot (Edit): Felix Da Housecat ft. Melistar
6) Muhammad Ali (Radio Edit By Rollo & Sister Bliss): Faithless ft. Pauline Taylor
7) Last Nite (Album Version): The Strokes
8) Front 2 Back (Album Version): Playgroup ft. KC Flightt & Edwyn Collins
9) Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (The Neptunes Remix Edit By Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo): Daft Punk
10) Where's Your Head At (Radio Edit): Basement Jaxx ft. Damien Peachey
11) Can't Get You Out Of My Head (Album Version): Kylie Minogue
12) Paths (Future Sound Of London 'Cosmic Jukebox' Remix (Edit)): Robert Miles ft. Nina Miranda, Garry Cobain & Justin Gibson

22nd April 2001: Miss E ...So Addictive (#4): 4

1st July 2001: Gorillaz (#6): 2

22nd July 2001: Organik Remixes (#74): 12

5th August 2001: Exciter (#12): 3

2nd September 2001: Wonderland (#16): 1

23rd September 2001: Outrospective (#29): 6

23rd September 2001: Fever (#1): 11

21st October 2001: Kittenz And Thee Glitz (#79): 5

21st October 2001: Playgroup (# n/a): 8 *

11th November 2001: Is This It (#14): 7

11th November 2001: Discovery (#25): 9

2nd December 2001: Rooty (#9): 10

Side Two (45:05) (GD) (M)

* Front 2 Back failed to chart as a single, but Playgroup's self-titled album got to #94 in this week.

The Third Best Band From Bristol Ever

...is Shoes For Industry, at least according to Jonny Zchivago over at Die Or D.I.Y.? in June 2017.

 

(If you're interested, #'s 1 and 2 are The Pop Group and Glaxo Babies respectively, with "the dreadful" Massive Attack in pole position as "the most boring band [he] ever saw live") 

I don't know a lot about Shoes For Industry to be honest, but the fates conspired and converged to inspire today's post.

Firstly, Walter over at A Few Good Times In My Life put the spotlight on The Bristol Post Punk Explosion Vol 2 (1979-1986) last Saturday. It's another top notch compilation from Bristol Archive Records, officially due out on vinyl in October but available digitally right now. 

However, available in physical and digital formats today (12th) is it's predecessor, The Bristol Post Punk Explosion (1978-1982), promising that "Bristol Boys Make More Noise!" You can even buy the T-shirt.

This 12-track compilation just the one Shoes For industry song, Jerusalem (which opens this post), but it's a goodie. Scratchy, angular guitar, Paul Bassett Davies' raspy vocals, bouncing bass and disco synths all making for a vibrant and exciting four minutes. Apparently the singer used to wear "an exploding brain wig" at gigs and I can think of no better "you had to be there" endorsement. 

If you're feeling sufficiently inspired on the back of that, then check out The Best Of Fried Egg Records (Bristol 1979-1980), also on Bristol Archive Records, offering up 20 post-punk songs released on the titular label, including three from Shoes For Industry. Jerusalem opens the compilation, followed a third of the way through by this one.

"We interrupt your regular broadcast to bring you news of a seaborne disaster approaching the shores of Great Britain.

A huge oily slick, several hundred miles wide, leaving from the coast of France.

All coastal dwellers and alert citizens are warned to prepare for the

Invasion Of The French Boyfriends!"

 

The second unexpected reference to Shoes For Industry came a couple of days ago, when I was listening to Playgroup's self-titled debut album from twenty-odd years ago. This Playgroup is not Adrian Sherwood's (arguably better known) collective but an alias of the multi-talented Trevor Jackson. Three quarters of the way through, the deeply dubby track Surface To Air is built around a sample of this Shoes For Industry excursion on the version.

  

I don't think there are many songs inspired by bygone BBC TV staple One Man And His Dog but it should come as no surprise that arbiter of good taste, Ernie at 27 Leggies, was on the case with Bristol Archive Records years ago and featured Sheepdog Trial Inna Babylon as far back as February 2012. I remain in awe.

Hanging On

Gosh, these weekends seem to be coming around quickly...! Here's another uptempo mix to round off the week and usher in a couple of days' respite from what has been a rather full on seven days.

The typically loose theme of today's selection is guest appearances galore. Where else are you likely to find Pharrell Williams rubbing shoulders with Steve Ignorant, Half Pint, Billie Ray Martin, John Grant, Vanessa Contenay-Quiñones, Peter Murphy, Emma Pollock, Zip Rapper, Alison Goldfrapp, KC Flightt, not to mention Carry On film legend Sid James and yesterday's birthday boy Greg Dulli?

The music is largely rooted in the 21st Century, with the occasional dip back into the 1990s, with a smattering of cover versions of Pink Floyd, The Clash and Julee Cruise.

Now all I need is a black coffee and some damn fine cherry pie...

1) A.D.D. S.U.V. (Armand Van Helden Vocal Remix): Uffie ft. Pharrell Williams (2010)

2) Diablo (The Devil Rides Out Mix By Dave Ball & Richard Norris): The Grid ft. Vanessa Contenay-Quiñones (1995)

3) I Try To Talk To You (Ha-Ze Factory's Mucho Elegante Rework): Hercules & Love Affair ft. John Grant (2012)

4) Falling (Log Lady Mix - Short Version By Kjeld Tolstrup & Per Holm) (Cover of Julee Cruise): One-Eyed Jacks ft. Zip Rapper (1991)

5) Somebody Needs You: Lo Fidelity Allstars ft. Greg Dulli (2002)

6) Heavy Game (Night Excursion): Hifi Sean ft. Billie Ray Martin (2017)

7) Front 2 Back (Todd Terry Unreleased Mix): Playgroup ft. KC Flightt (2006)

8) Bike (Steve James Mix) (Cover of Pink Floyd): Fortran 5 ft. Sid James (1991)

9) Paper (AXOR Remix By Sam Barker): Starless ft. Emma Pollock (2020)

10) Bankrobber (Cellar Mix) (Cover of The Clash): Audioweb ft. Half Pint (1996)

11) Are We Here? (Industry Standard?): Orbital ft. Alison Goldfrapp (1994)

12) Who D'You Think You're Talking To?: Buscemi ft. Steve Ignorant (2021)

13) We Dive: Rambient ft. Peter Murphy (2001)

 

Hanging On (1:02:47) (Box) (Mega)

From Conception To The Grave

Today's selection is a nod to the genre-hopping genius that is Dubmaster Dennis Bovell MBE. Lovers Rock, Dub, Post-Punk, Pop, Reggae, Poetry all threaded together by a singular talent.

 

Aside from his legendary work with Janet Kay, The Slits and The Pop Group, Dennis Bovell has been synonymous with Linton Kwesi Johnson's musical career. Another frequent collaborator has been Edwyn Collins, from Orange Juice to Collins solo, and taking in a shared guest spot on Trevor Jackson's Playgroup project along the way. 

 

In the summer, Dennis Bovell released a cover of What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. He has also recently dubbed up The Pop Group's 1979 debut album. Y In Dub is available via Bandcamp and various other outlets on 29th October.
 

1) Surrey With The Fringe On Top (Ska Be Doo Za): Black Beard (1978)

2) You'll Never Know (Dub) (Remix By Dennis Bovell): Edwyn Collins (2007)

3) Reality Poem (Album Version By Linton Kwesi Johnson & Dennis Bovell): Linton Kwesi Johnson (1979)

4) Feel No Way (Album Version By Dennis Bovell): Janet Kay (1980)

5) Forces Of Oppression (Edit By Dennis Bovell): The Pop Group (1980) 

6) Swanky Modes (Dennis Bovell DubMix): JARV IS... (2021)

7) 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover (Album Version By Trevor Jackson & Mark 'Spike' Stent) (Cover of Paul Simon): Playgroup ft. Shinehead, Dennis Bovell & Edwyn Collins (2001)

8) Make Believe (Let's Pretend) (Special Extended Version By Dennis Bovell): Thompson Twins (1981)

9) Clichéd Dub Slave: Adrian Sherwood ft. Dennis Bovell (2007)

10) Flesh Of My Flesh (Long Version By Dennis Bovell): Orange Juice (1983)

11) Empire Road: Matumbi (1978)

12) Tell Tale Signs (Extended Version By Dennis Bovell): Bananarama (1983)

13) Dub Her In (Version By Dennis Bovell): Steve Mason (2011)

14) Love Und Romance (Album Version By Dennis Bovell): The Slits (1979)

15) Africa (Is Our Land) (12" Mix By Dennis Bovell): Joshua Moses (1978)

16) Silly Dub: Dennis Bovell ft. Janet Kay (1993)

From Conception To The Grave (1:03:41) (GD) (M)