L'art De La Discothèque, Volume 2

A 90 minute revision class in the art of the remix, courtesy of François Kevorkian.

When compiling yesterday's "Volume 1", I'd used half of my shortlist of 24 songs. More by luck than planning, the remaining 12 also clocked in at an hour and a half, so sequencing a "Volume 2" seemed a no-brainer.

This selection has a tighter time period, focusing on 1983 to 2000, but no less a collection of top tunes for that. 

From this century (just), there are 9-minute mixes of Bent and Moloko, featuring the vocal talents of Zoё Johnston and Róisín Murphy respectively. From the 1990s, Soho and Yellow Magic Orchestra. The rest are from the 1980s, points along the spectrum including Cabaret Voltaire, Scritti Politti and That Petrol Emotion. 

Perhaps a surprise for some, but even Lou Reed and King Crimson got in on the extended 12" remix lark back in the day. Not sure how often these vinyl platters were tearing up dancefloors across the globe, but François Kevorkian does a good job with both.

More a production than a remix, Snake Charmer was the opening and title track of a 5-track EP/mini-album by Jah Wobble, The Edge and Holger Czukay in 1983.

Ol' Dave Evans pops up twice here, reuniting with his regular workmates in U2 for an FK remix of Wire the following year. This track originally appeared on the NME Readers' Poll Winners '84, a cover-mounted freebie 7" EP. And being the Celtic Dub Mix, those of you with allergies can rest assured that this version of Wire contains approx. 65% less Bono Vox.

Combined, the two volumes represent a fraction of François Kevorkian's prodigious output since an uncredited 12" remix of Happy Song by Rare Earth in 1975. 

It's inevitable that a Kevorkian remix will crop up on pretty much every 1980s 12" mix selection that I compile from here on, but I will come back to a bespoke FK mixtape or two in the future.

For now, revel in the brilliance.

1) Swollen (Francois K Vocal Mix By François Kevorkian & Eric Kupper): Bent ft. Zoё Johnston (2000)

2) Perfect Way (Way Perfect Mix By François Kevorkian, Alan Meyerson & Josh Abbey) (Full Length): Scritti Politti (1985)

3) Big Decision (Jet Fuel Mix By François Kevorkian): That Petrol Emotion (1987)

4) Snake Charmer (Full Length Version By François Kevorkian): Jah Wobble, The Edge & Holger Czukay (1983)

5) Here To Go (Extended Mix By François Kevorkian): Cabaret Voltaire (1987)

6) Nostalgia (Jeux De Mixage) (Remix By François Kevorkian & Goh Hotoda): Yellow Magic Orchestra (1993)

7) My Red Joystick (Remixed Version By François Kevorkian & Jay Mark): Lou Reed (1984)

8) Don't Look Any Further (Extended Mix By François Kevorkian, Alan Friedman & Alan Gregorie) (Cover of Dennis Edwards): The Kane Gang (1987)

9) The Time Is Now (Francois K Main Vocal Mix By François Kevorkian & Rob Rives): Moloko (2000)

10) Sleepless (Dance Mix By François Kevorkian & John Potoker): King Crimson (1984)

11) Freaky (Francois' Mix By François Kevorkian): Soho (1990)

12) Wire (Celtic Dub Mix By François Kevorkian): U2 (1984)

L'art De La Discothèque, Volume 2 (1:30:18) (GD) (M)

Visceral Stuff

Celebrating producer, drummer, remixer and co-conspirator Roli Mosimann, 7th November 1955 to 15th September 2024.

If the name seems unfamiliar, but you own records by Swans, The The and The Young Gods, check out the credits and chances are you'll find him there. 

Twitter is great for getting a heads up on music news, the flipside being that it includes the sad news of someone's passing. So it was on Sunday night, when RapidEyeElectronicsLtd shared this tweet:

Roli's long-time friends Jim Thirwell and Matt Johnson paid tribute:

 

...as did many artists influenced by Roli's work, including Robin Rimbaud aka Scanner:

In time honoured tradition, I've thrown together a 10-track selection of Roli's work, pinching the title from RapidEyeElectronicsLtd's tweet. Apart from a remix of Clint Run (aka Jim Thirlwell) and Lydia Lunch's uncompromising 1988 single Stinkfist, this playlist errs on the side of Roli's more commercial mixes and production. Well, as commercial as it was ever likely to get.

Roli had a habit of popping up in the most unexpected places, whether a remix of Big Pig or The Smashing Pumpkins, and perhaps the best example being today's closing song....

Rest in peace, Roli.

 

1) Groove Check (The Stoli Mix By Roli Mosimann): That Petrol Emotion (1990)

2) Son Of Stink (Reprocessed & Edited By Roli Mosimann): Clint Ruin & Lydia Lunch (1988)

3) Breakaway (Dub Mix By Roli Mosimann): Big Pig (1988)

4) Infected (Energy Mix By Roli Mosimann): The The (1986)

5) Gasoline Man (Diesel Mix By Roli Mosimann): The Young Gods (1992)

6) 1979 (Vocal Mix By Roli Mosimann): The Smashing Pumpkins (1996)

7) Love Will Tear Us Apart (Red Version By Roli Mosimann) (Cover of Joy Division): Swans (1988)

8) Diesel Breeze (Album Version By Matt Johnson, Bruce Lampcov & Roli Mosimann): The The (2000)

9) Ashes To Ashes (Album Version By Faith No More & Roli Mosimann): Faith No More (1997)

10) The B-Side (World In Motion Remix By Roli Mosimann): England/New Order ft. Keith Allen (1990) 

Visceral Stuff (44:17) (KF) (Mega)

Indie Incidentally

...or, single word sounds from the indie underground (kind of).

Dusting off a lucky 13 songs that I haven't played in a while, all done in under 45 minutes. Happy Friday, everyone!

1) Ray: The House Of Love (1990)

2) Spangle: The Wedding Present (1994)

3) Mesh: New Order (1981)

4) Seconds: Pulp (1994)

5) Navigator: The Pogues (1985)

6) Kookaburra: Cocteau Twins (1985)

7) Ambition: The Jesus & Mary Chain (1985)

8) Lullaby: James (1993)

9) Babble: The Cure (1989)

10) Split: That Petrol Emotion (1987)

11) Hoverin': The Breeders (1993)

12) Free: Mazzy Star (1990)

13) White: The Field Mice (1989) 

 

1981: Everything's Gone Green EP: 3 

1985: Aikea-Guinea EP: 6 

1985: Never Understand EP: 7

1985: Rum, Sodomy & The Lash: 5

1987: Babble: 10

1989: Lullaby EP: 9

1989: Snowball: 13

1990: A Spy In The House Of Love: 1

1990: She Hangs Brightly: 12

1993: Divine Hammer EP: 11

1993: Laid: 8

1994: The Sisters EP: 4

1994: Watusi: 2

 

Indie Incidentally (44:29) (Box) (Mega)

Eclectic Guitar

Side 2 of a mixtape, recorded 3rd October 1999. As the name suggests, an eclectic mix with lots of guitar and a slight pun on a song title by Talking Heads, who close proceedings with their debut single. 

This may be the only place (today, at least) where you'll find INXS sandwiched by His Name Is Alive and the Fatima Mansions and Beck followed by The Pastels, with some wry slice of life observations from Jarvis Cocker and Ed Ball, alongside stone cold Seventies classics by Wire, Sparks, Blondie and the aforementioned Talking Heads. 

1) 59 Lyndhurst Grove (Inside Susan: "A Story In Three Songs...", Part 3) (Single Version): Pulp (1993)

2) Wish I Had A Wishing Ring (Album Version): His Name Is Alive (1998)

3) Heaven Sent (Album Version): INXS (1992) 

4) Something Bad: The Fatima Mansions (1992)

5) Hasta Mañana, Monsieur: Sparks (1974)

6) Primrose 0882: The Times (1993)

7) Outdoor Miner (Long Version): Wire (1978)

8) One Way Or Another (Album Version): Blondie (1978)

9) Deadweight (Edit): Beck (1997)

10) Love, It's Getting Better (Cover of The Groove): The Pastels (1995)

11) Chemicrazy (Revitalized): That Petrol Emotion (1990)

12) Love → Building On Fire: Talking Heads (1977)

 

1974: Kimono My House: 5 

1977: Love → Building On Fire EP: 12

1978: Parallel Lines: 8

1989: On Returning (1977-1979): 7

1990: Sensitize EP: 11

1992: Valhalla Avenue: 4

1992: Welcome To Wherever You Are: 3 

1993: Baby Girl EP: 6

1993: Razzmatazz EP: 1 

1995: Worlds Of Possibility EP: 10

1997: Deadweight EP: 9

1998: Ft. Lake: 2

Side Two (46:08) (KF) (Mega)

Now That's What I Call Jangly

Side 1 of a mixtape, originally compiled for me by my girlfriend, sometime around 1996.

Despite the title, it's not entirely jangly but it is resolutely indie. She was a big fan of The Wedding Present, The House Of Love and James and I was immersed in their music for a few years. 

I haven't heard many of these songs in over a decade: I'd completely forgotten about Bedflowers; there's a lovely post about them on the Cloudberry Cake Proselytism blog, which provides some backstory. 

The David Bowie track closing side 1 feels like a bit of an anachronism, though it may have been added because I loved the song so much. 

We didn't part on the best of terms - my girlfriend, that is, not Bowie and I - but this is a reminder of happier times and some great music.

 

1) Ceremony (1st Version By Martin Hannett): New Order (1981)

2) Road: The House Of Love (1988)

3) My Ex-Lover's Address: Bedflowers (1991)

4) Suck: The Wedding Present (1991)

5) Sensitive: The Field Mice (1989)

6) Push: The Cure (1985)

7) Pink Glove: Pulp (1994)

8) Five-O (Album Version By Brian Eno): James (1993)

9) The Old Main Drag (Album Version By Elvis Costello): The Pogues (1985)

10) Jesus Says: That Petrol Emotion (1986)

11) In The Heat Of The Morning (Mono Single Version): David Bowie (1967)

 

Side One (45:13) (GD) (M)