Track Of The Day: Recloose - Can't Take It (Planet E)

I don’t think anything similar has been released on Planet E, and the closest comparison I can come up with is Herbert as far as the groove is concerned; (I suppose it’s no surprise that he remixed it and equalled the original’s impact). Is this a unique track then? Well, you be the judge. For me it’s a fluid blend of soul and house filtered through an abstract lens. The vocalist, Dwele, made his debut on this tune before being picked up by a major label and, in addition to Herbert, Carl Craig also turned in a very serviceable remix. Definitely one to stop dancers in their tracks and get them to take stock before they go off on a tangential rush. 

Benedikt Frey - Fastlane (ESP Institute)

 

Title: Fast Lane

Artist: Benedikt Frey

Label: ESP Institute

Cat Number: ESP103

Genre: Techno

1: Habits

2: Fast Lane

3: Crank

4: Move Me ft. Nadia d’Alo

5: Solver

6: Element

7: Gasoline

8: Industry

9: Trick Shot

10: Silverblade ft. O-Wells

11: Lost (Again)

12: 1337

‘Fastlane’ is a conceptual union of man and machine, that’s one way of interpreting the press release at least. Taking it for what it actually is, a techno album, it’s not too shabby. There is a contrast between more groove-orientated tracks ‘Fast Lane’, ‘Crank’, Industry’: break beats: ‘Habits’, ‘Move Me’, ‘Solver’, ‘Element’, ‘Gasoline’, ‘1337’ ‘Trick Shot’ and ‘Lost (Again)’ (the last couple tipping into electro territory), and ‘Silverblade ft. O-Wells’ which feels like stripped down hardcore. Anyway, it’s an interesting journey, and one which homogenously embraces its shifts in sound design. There is a feeling of travelling without moving throughout, which I imagine was one of the aims of the album,  and the use of the vocoder in ‘Solver’, spoken word in ‘Trick Shot’, vocals in both ‘Move Me ft. Nadia d’Alo’ and ‘1337’ is versatile and varied. Listening to this collection from start to finish is anything but predictable, and the surprises it reveals along its route are ample enough to give the listener food for thought and continually engages.

Silverlining @ Wiggle | An Ode to Nat (July '23)

Silverlining · Silverlining @ Wiggle | An Ode to Nat (July '23)

Closing Set, Wiggle 21st July 2023 eddie richards

 

eddie richards · Closing Set, Wiggle 21st July 2023

Track of The Day: African Head Charge - Dervish Chant (On U Sound)

‘Songs Of Praise’ is an album that featured prominently in my misspent youth. That’s not to say I have any specialist knowledge of it, or did any research into it. It was one of many. And I was wrecked most of the time while listening to it, as nature intended. The music therein though was always powerful enough to find a way through. ‘Dervish Chant’ is a repetitive, tranced out incantatory loop of concentrated, tropical psychedelia which, when the mists dissipate, reveals light within. Adrian Sherwood is a genius. That is all.

RA Live - 17.06.23 - Wata Igarashi - Sónar 2023

Resident Advisor · RA Live - 17.06.23 - Wata Igarashi - Sónar 2023

Recorded at Houghton - Tony Allen Live (2017)

Houghton Festival · Recorded at Houghton - Tony Allen Live (2017)

Recorded at Houghton - Andrew Weatherall (2017 Reggae Set)

Houghton Festival · Recorded at Houghton - Andrew Weatherall (2017 Reggae Set)

Recorded at Houghton - Versalife (2022)

 

Houghton Festival · Recorded at Houghton - Versalife (2022)

Dream. The Dream Remixes - Richard Sen (Ransom Note)

 

Title: Dream The Dream Remixes

Artist: Richard Sen

Label: Ransom Note

Cat Number: DMFPE #1R

Genre: Dark Euro Dance

1: UVX  - Elevator (Richard Sen Remix)

2: Bandulu  - Amaranth (Richard Sen Remix)

3: Mind Over Rhythm Kubital Footstorm – (Richard Sen Remix)

This here is a trio of remixes from Richard Sen’s ‘Dream The Dream (UK Techno, House And Breakbeat 1990-1994)’, and he does something quite fabulous. The original tracks are described by Sen in the press release as “UVX (trance), Bandulu (percussive ambient) and Mind Over Rhythm (progressive breakbeat)” and, in order to change them, he had to “take samples of audio from the finished originals. I added my own synth sounds and drums where necessary so they became remixes, rather than just edits.” The results are quite superb: ‘Amaranth’ becomes a mid paced. Italo-inspired arpeggiated, symphonic synth monster. ‘ Kubital Footstorm’ a soaring Moroderesque flight of fancy and ‘Elevator’ a dark descent into the inner depths of euro dance’s soul. I realise that I’ve probably over-contextualised, and I’m not personally responsible for a lot of the words in this review. So you’ll have to believe me when I say this is an absolutely blinding release that eloquently complements the original versions. TIP!

Peach at Lente Kabinet Festival 2023

https://soundcloud.com/dkmntl/peach-at-lente-kabinet-festival-2023?si=0b495ebd7b4c442ea4a8edcfe1daee3a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

DJ Voices at Lente Kabinet Festival 2023

https://soundcloud.com/dkmntl/dj-voices-at-lente-kabinet-festival-2023?si=0b495ebd7b4c442ea4a8edcfe1daee3a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

OKO DJ at Lente Kabinet Festival 2023

https://soundcloud.com/dkmntl/oko-dj-at-lente-kabinet-festival-2023?si=0b495ebd7b4c442ea4a8edcfe1daee3a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Vladimir Ivkovic & Ivan Smagghe at Lente Kabinet Festival 2023

 

https://soundcloud.com/dkmntl/vladimir-ivkovic-ivan-smagghe-at-lente-kabinet-festival-2023?si=0b495ebd7b4c442ea4a8edcfe1daee3a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Track Of The Day: Jackal & Hyde - Get Down To My Technique (Dynamix II's Old School Bastards Mix) (Hallucination)

Twenty years old, but not showing any visible signs of aging, this incredible piece of Miami Bass/electro is still a benchmark by which others shall be judged. Vocoders are out in force as are pounding beats. Dramatic and profound, have the words ”I want to see you jam. Get down to my technique” ever meant more? I’m forever catching up with stuff that I missed the first time round, this being a prime example, although trips to IQ Records on Lexington St at the end of the last century introduced me to Dynamix ll (stocked, I imagine, by Andy Jaggers). Anyway, this track should be the soundtrack to intergalactic sporting events in the future, and it needs a longer edit. Dropped at the right time, unexpectedly between tracks that contrast wildly with its feel, the results could be seismic. 

Evelyn - Tremors/Pregunta (ESP Institute)

 

Title: Tremors/Pregunta

Artist: Evelyn

Label: ESP Institute

Cat Number: ESP116

Genre: House

1: Tremors

2: Pregunta

I’m trying to put my finger on the origin of Evelyn’s rhythmic approach, but so far all I’m getting is a vague sense of dissonance that could have been spawned in any one of many different African locations, before having migrated to the new world. Because these two tracks, or “peak time tools” if you will, are begging to be the icing on the cake of any DJ discerning enough to take their crowd out on a limb for a few minutes. The approach isn’t particularly sophisticated, nor does it have to be. Loops and breaks combine in an entente cordial of organized chaos,  the masked vocal approach of ‘Tremors’ contrasting nicely with the more minimal, but nevertheless dense, sound of ‘Pregunta’. A little bit like King Sunny Ade releasing on Relief, or something.

Track Of The Day: Balil - Parasight (Rising High)

Another stormer by The Black Dog well, Ed Handley, this time under his Balil alias. ‘Parasight’ is a real trance-inducing record. Starting off like a Moroccan barrel organ on crack, the track quickly gains momentum and skilfully blends percussion, 303 acid squelches and a pervasive Maghrebian ambiance to really go off. It’s like falling into a bottomless pit and being serenaded by snake charmers on your way down. Of course I’m using the imaginary imagery loosely, so what? The only place I ever came across a snake charmer was in Marrakech and he was very friendly. Another track that is over far too soon and which defies time.

Track Of The Day: Doctor Rockit - Café De Flore (Charles Webster's Latin Lovers Mix) (Lifelike)

Herbert and Charles Webster, a match made in heaven. This used to get played at The Gold Bar, Ganton St. in days of yore. Or did it? I don’t own the record unfortunately, but I’m sure Kevin Harding, my erstwhile partner in crime, did. I remember him calling me from a gig for some reason just to tell me he was about to play something “achingly hip’, and it turned out to be this. Truth is I like this record, but it’s a massive piece of hipster Camembert. Described as many things on its Discogs page, all of which stretch the boundaries of categorisation, the closest being “deep house”, the furthest being “future jazz”. It’s anything but futuristic. It’s wine bar elevator music, if that makes any sense. Papering the walls with a soft, touristic ambience as it wends its many way through an imagined Parisian parallel universe that only exists in a brochure well, also in some very touristy areas which are best avoided. Still, it does the trick and if anything can provide an escape from this shitty British excuse for a summer, then why not?

Spaced 28 | Vass

 

Spaced · Spaced 28 | Vass

Last Magpie - World (Sounds Good Sounds)

 

Title: World

Artist: Last Magpie

Label: Sounds Good Sounds

Cat Number: SGS006

Genre: Deep House

1: World

2: World (Epic Mix)

3: World (Echosystem Remix)

Welcome to Last Magpie’s ‘World’, where persistent, shuffling, but low key beats provide the platform for slightly distorted, vocals intoning and repeating. Rarely getting out of second gear and, consequently, leaving you hanging on every syllable. That’s the original version and, for me, the best here. The ‘Epic Mix’ feels more like a DJ tool, the Elizabeth Fraser – like vocal being isolated as well as other sounds and devices, but no beats. The Echosystem remix is break beat centred and goes down the solemn route. I mean the original’s not exactly happy, but hedges its bets more and feels more inventive. 

Track Of The Day: Claude Young - Acid Wash Conflict (7th City)

With Claude Young having recently retired from DJing, here’s one of my favourite tracks by him. Funnily enough, I’ve always thought that his recorded output wrongly played second fiddle to his skills behind the decks. When reading a piece about him, it never seemed to take long to come across words that would attempt to describe his pyrotechnic style of mixing, and his ‘DJ Kicks’ mix is often name checked were seminal techno sets are concerned. This track features on said mix, and is a bouncy acid masterclass. Neither full on or timid, it hits the right note throughout and is a great mixing track, there’s so much space around the 303. Anyway, it’s not the only piece of gold on the eponymous EP. ‘Wind Up’ is a wonderful piece of tech space ambience with teeth. Like Abacus, Young has recently released on NDTAL Muzik, Kai Alce’s label. Not techno this time, but deep house. Hopefully he won’t call time on his recording career too.

Track Of The Day: The Return of DJ Duke - Release Da Tension (Power Music)

There isn’t much to this. However, its filtered approach just about predates almost all of what quickly followed it in the mid nineties. At that time filter disco was the sound. For better or worse it was unavoidable. It’s main proponents did very well out of it, and Paris, where I was living at the time, was almost its epicentre thanks to, amongst others, Daft Punk and Pepe Bradock. This is very upfront house music, stomping into your consciousness courtesy of well place vocal samples and dynamic loops. Before she knew the name of the track, my other hals thought the vocal was saying “Release The Chechens”. Oh how we laughed. Great days.

Track Of The Day: Cabaret Voltaire - Brutal But Clean (Apollo)

A day of complete procrastination so far. I didn’t go on the parkrun this morning because I couldn’t be arsed. The weather is awful, autumnal shite. We’ve even considered baking a cake, in July! Not only that, I’m short on inspiration for ‘TOTD’. “Well, there’s always Cabaret Voltaire” I said. A rich vein of brilliance that I think I may have already over exploited. Well, here we go again. ‘Brutal But Clean’ comes from ‘The Conversation’, a criminally overlooked album from 1994 when Cabaret Voltaire was Richard H. Kirk, and over its 3 slabs of vinyl, it does house music as well, if not better than any other Cabs long player. You honestly couldn’t be listening to anyone else, such is the depth and density of sound design. ‘Brutal But Clean’ is funky as and has an innate sense of imbalance and foreboding while still making you dance. Discogs prices are insane for the album, and I doubt anyone in their right mind would pay those at the higher end. However, it’s worth shelling out should you want a copy. You won’t be disappointed.

Track Of The Day: F'N'M aka. Filippo "Naughty" Moscatello - Latin Desire (Good Life)

‘Track Of The Day” is, by and large, an exercise in randomness. It’s the only way innit? How can it be planned? This track by Filippo Mioscatello, an artist that I came across by way of an early release on Ferox, is something that I don’t think I’ve played for decades. It came into my head today though, and that’s all that matters. From the ‘Hot Disco Cakes’ EP, on Good Life from Grenoble (Alex Reynaud, Oxia & The Hacker), it’s a straight forward stomper with some sutlry Spanish words on top. And that’s really all you need to bring the house down at the right moment.

Track Of The Day: Illektrolab - Dreaming Electric (Shipwrec)

While going through the vinyl archives, I was pleasantly surprised to rediscover this release. It’s not that I’d forgotten I have it, more like I’d forgotten to play it. Anyway, the while EP is superb, but I particularly like the atmosphere created by this track. From the first beats there’s a feeling of foreboding and alien power. The track throbs with insect menace and android intelligence and has a brooding confidence about it. There’s a sinister restraint, emphasised by the voice within, and its stripped back approach highlights the razor sharp sound design. One of those tunes that takes a slightly different turn the more often you listen to it.

Edsy - Zipline (Hypercolour)

 

Title: Zipline

Artist: Edsy

Label: Hypercolour

Cat Number: HYPE105-EAN

Genre: Straddling The Techno/House Divide

1: Zipline

2: Chalk Pit

3: L_Gardens

This release introduces a new alias for techno titan Ed Davenport and marks a change in direction artistically “diving headfirst into the world of UK-aligned bass music and wonky not-techno-not-house.” Which is nice. Me, I can’t tell the difference any more. ‘Zipline’ is a rhythmic maelstrom, break beats explode around a nucleus of psychedelic strings and the sound of various machine funk pistons popping, before flattening out and becoming a bit less crowded. ‘Chalk Pit’ is a more spacious, playful sounding track which, nevertheless, has the same eye for detail as its predecessor. The breaks are more emphatic, accompanied by a take the screwball sounds pioneered on Relief and early Landstrumm. ‘L_Gardens’ is a bass heavy monster whose foundations are tempered by wind chimes and vocals welded into the surroundings. All good and more than enough to keep all levels of consciousness interested.

Track Of The Day: Abacus - Opinion Rated 'R' (Guidance)

Does Abacus, aka Austin Bascom, get the respect he deserves? Probably. However, his name is still relatively unknown compared to the likes of Larry Heard. He’s also undergone a long hiatus, with a handful of releases over the last 10 years, his most recent being ‘The Lower End Theory EP’ on NDATL Music. He doesn’t waste his beats though, with most, if not all of his tracks occupying the higher echelons of depth. He is one of those rare producers who blends emotion, funk and “astral vibes” to create some truly unique moments which eloquently distill the Afro American experience into a concise sonic essence. This particular track features a spoken word sample from Tupac Shakur, (so I’ve read), and is one of four tracks on his first Guidance release. It’s timeless, and evocative house music, the type that has been there since the beginning and forever. However, even though many have tried, only few have succeeded.

Conforce - Sins of Synthesis (Delsin)

 

Title: Sins Of Synthesis 

Artist: Conforce

Label: Delsin

Cat Number: 156dsr

Genre: Electro/Breaks

A1: Charlatan

A2: Parallax

B1: Sector

B2: Fragile

Boris Bunnik, aka Conforce, has been releasing on Delsin since 2010. This release however, is his first on the label since 2019 , and his first on any this year (excusing Versalife). The four tracks herein each remain true to the general sound design he has constructed under the Conforce moniker, somber and bittersweet, but there is something to be said that maybe this release is a little gloomier than normal. The devil’s in the detail, and the ambience of some tracks can hinge on the slightest sonic tic. Overall, listening to these four compositions puts me in a similar place to that conveyed by Sound Synthesis’ last album, which cross-pollinates electro with what I believe is called “braindance” whether it’s aware if it or not. This is particularly evident in ‘Parallax’ whose volume and emotional content is kept in check by the room in which it manoeuvres. ‘Sector’ steps outside boundaries to become a fully-fledged dark rave monster. It’s Mordor calling. ‘Charlatan’ is sci – fi symphonic electro as imagined by Captain Nemo sailing the Nautilus through a parallel ocean, while ‘Fragile’ uses break beats to navigate its journey through the primal sludge. Difficult to summarise in a few words so I won’t even try. What I can say though, is that this particular interpretation of idm is becoming more commonplace, either as represented here, uptempo and dynamic, or often as more whimsical and abstract. I’m here for the beats myself, and this release does them marvellously well.

Hollow Hand - Before Tomorrow (Names Records)

 

Title: Before Tomorrow

Artist: Hollow Hand

Label: Names Records

Cat Number: 

Genre: Balearic Anthem

1: Before Tomorrow (Richard Norris’ Avalon Remix)

2: Before Tomorrow (Richard Norris’ Avalon Remix Instrumental)

3: Before Tomorrow (Richard Norris’ Avalon Remix Radio Edit)

“Hollow Hand is the psych-folk project of Max Kinghorn-Mills, based in Brighton.” I got that from Discogs. Why? Because this is the first time I have come across such music. That’s right, I’ve got my finger on the psychedelic folk-rock pulse me. Anyway, what to say about this composition? How much of it is the band and how much is it Richard Norris, and does it really matter? No, it doesn’t is the obvious answer. What does matter is that this track is heard by a larger audience. Elegant in its simplicity, panoramic at worst, galactic at best. It’s got a flute accompanying the guitar which immediately elevates it into the quintessential rural setting in your mind’s eye. Great vocals that take you back to wherever you where when you first heard them, because you have, just not quite like this. The pace is picked up and honed to a fine line of something between nostalgia and longing. It’s hippy music Jim, but not as we know it. Lovely stuff.

Track Of The Day: Holloware Squad - Moonax (Emissions Static)

The first release on Emissions Static, one of four labels set up by Andy Weatherall in the Emissions conglomerate, set up to supplant Sabres Of Paradise, and what a record. Also a very early collaborative release featuring Carl Finlow, this track gets the nod over the equally magnificent ‘Surface Intention’ because I’m sure I can remember hearing it played out a lot, either pitched up to +8, or at 45rpm. In any case, it’s a slow burning acid monster with a superior bass line and an interplanetary ambience. The bass drops and the accompanying synth melody feel more than familiar, so it would be interesting to know just how much this tune has been ripped off. It’s an influential piece for sure, expertly blending beats with the sound of worlds being born. The sound of the big bang.

Mark Broom - Hardgroove 4 Life EP (Beard Man)

 

Title: Hardgroove 4 Life EP

Artist: Mark Broom

Label: Beard Man

Cat Number: BMD033

Genre: Techno

1: Hardgroove 4 Life (Original Mix)

2:  Hardgroove 4 Life (Ben Sims Remix)

3: You Got Me (Original Mix)

4: You Got Me (DJ Love Mix)

5: Love Train

Those familiar with the Hardgroove sound will exactly what to expect from this release. An omniscient throb, the type that makes you feel you’re on a machine funk flying carpet, tribal percussion and idiosyncratic flourishes throughout. It’s an intoxicating brew of heads down, no-nonsense mindless boogie. The title track is a case in point. It’s an elongated trip into a techno trouser carnival festival, with Ben Sims, the Hardgroove originator. Stepping in to remix the track into a subtly similar direction. ‘You Got Me’ pounds with industrial, off key charm, DJ Love’s remix stripping it down somewhat. ‘Love Train’ feels a little cartoonish by the standards already set. However, this is a powerful collection of looping fun that comes laden with syncopation and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Which is nice.

Track Of The Day: Graylock - C.T.M. ( Steve Rachmad Longcut ) (EC Records)

I do like long tracks. If you don’t want to listen to it all thats fine, but at least have the option of doing so. This has become largely redundant in the digital age, as it’s possible to use the same file into infinity if so desired. This is not Steve Rachmad’s best known track in a discography chock full of monsters, probably because it’s a remix and they don’t always depart enough from the original to gain independence. For this Rachmad keeps the main synth line, but then pours a huge, quaking sub bass into what remains, and the result is incredible, especially once you get to around 7-8 minutes, when things just take off. Up to then it’s been an excellent techno banger, but then there is a sonic metamorphosis into galactic techno trance territory. This is a peak hands in the air moment and you’ll be glad you’ve stayed for the ride. Once this moment has subsided, the track regains the momentum it had before and maintains its funky, low-end shuffle until the end. In a world full of loops, this track stands out a mile and even if it’s a remix, it’s one of his best. 

Track Of The Day: The Black Dog Virtual (Black Dog Productions)

Released in 1989 and arguably never improved on, by anyone (not that this means anything other than I really like it); ‘Virtual’ is that rare type of track that contains multitudes and is far more than the sum of its parts. Is the difference between techno and house the way the beats break? If so then this is an object lesson in sound definition. ‘Virtual’ seems to pile so much into its 10 minutes or so. The breaks, the cavernous drops, the immortal synth line that feels like the soundtrack to falling into an inescapable void. The overall gothic feel. The samples: “World, world, world. I sit in my room, imagine the future”. Allan Ginsberg I believe. A track like this determines the direction of music yet to come. Still relevant after all these years.

Check this great review of the release by Kirk Degiorgio on RA from a few years ago.

Joey Beltram @TheLotRadio 07-01-2023

Track Of The Day: The He Men - Rolla (Tone Dropout)

Such a brilliant track on an equally brilliant label. As it’s name suggests, this one just rolls on its own momentum and is pitched at such a speed that it could fit in with a huge cross section of dance floors. A throbbing low end, deft and nuanced use of the 303 and a great spoken word sample; this is the type of tune that haunts the sets I’ve recently been listening to by Sean Johnston, Jaye Ward and Smagghe/Manfredas. The Tone Dropout label is full of gems, and is a contemporary home for a sound that was pioneered in the late eighties to early nineties. But while a lot of its output no doubt takes its cues from bleeps and bass, the imprint and its artists have tweaked it to such an extent that while the essence of inspiration remains, it has become imbued with a whole new vitality, and feels all the fresher for it. The sound has been reinvented and is arguably much healthier the second time around. This particular track is so voluminous and has such energy and depth that it feels like a new genre. It’s all house at the end of the day, but stuff like this is the work of a particularly twisted mind.

July 2023 mix 214

 

214 · July 2023 mix

Track Of The Day: David Bowie - Heroes (RCA)

Track of the day because this album is a classic and it belongs to my other half, inherited from her dad. I found it lost amongst shitloads of vinyl. Discogs would describe the sleeve condition as poor I think. It’s held up quite well though considering its age and the amount of punishment it’s had. Anyway, everything about this record is great, but the title track brings back special memories as I remember it being premiered on ‘Marc’, Marc Bolan’s kiddies’ hour pop show. Right in the midst of punk. Not only was this track premiered, but it was also the last piece of music played on the whole series I think, and weeks later Marc Bolan was killed in a car accident. Still impossibly young, but old to me at the time. 

Lo-za- Mihai Pol & Camelia - It's Never Too Late EP (Wonderground)

 

Title: It’s Never Too Late EP

Artist: Lo:za

Label: Wonderground

Cat Number: WNG016

Genre: Deep House

1: It’s Never Too Late

2: Gravity

3: Milieu

4: Mind Gone

5: Focus

6: It’s Never Too Late (Mihai Pol Remix)

7: It’s Never Too Late (Camelia Remix)

Both of the remixers have almost equal billing on this EP, so when buying it you could be forgiven for thinking that the whole release is a 3 way collaboration. It is most definitely a lo:za release though, and they produce a very similar sound to that of both Pol and Camelia: we’re talking deep, techy house, (not deep tech house, at least not what a lot of people’s recent take on what that actually is). In any case, lo:za, a London-based duo, have produced a quality release here, with the five original tracks all falling into a similar Mariana Trench depth of sound design. It’s proper pill music, clean, floaty and tranced out. Rough edges, there are none. Keep the strobe on in the corner, it’’s all you need when you’re dancing with the beautiful people. Camelia and Pol both turn in good remixes of the title track, with Camelia’s being that little bit more bottom heavy. They both toughen the track up though, adding an extra level of psychedelic depth in the process. However, let’s take nothing away from the original versions on this release. They are fabulous and, if there’s any justice in this world, will all be played to death on the right discerning dancefloors.

Track Of The Day: Cabaret Voltaire - Yashar (Rough Trade)

After the viral Taylor Smith TikTok, this is an obvious choice. However, it’s not ‘Soul Vine (70 Billion People)’ from ‘Plasticity’, but the original source of the famous sample, ‘Yashar’, in its first incarnation off ‘2 x 45’. We used to cane this album, as well as get caned while caning it that the tracks are indelibly branded on my cerebral cortex. This, the original version is much rawer than the more discotek friendly one with the high pitched backing vocals, and feels like a logical evolution of what was on ‘Red Mecca’ the previous album. Anyway, it’s brilliant and maybe time to give it another shot at stardom. The world wasn’t ready in 1982, but it might be now.