Dave Beetham – Touch (Online Album)

 Okay a bit of a plug for my mates 5th album he released the other week on Soundcloud.

https://soundcloud.com/dave-beetham/sets/touch

The miracles of modern technology makes it possible for someone to produce their own stuff, unthinkable (without a lot of dosh!) 20 years ago. He wears his influences on his sleeve with the added tongue in cheek lyrical twists. Primary a guitarist, then keyboardist and then a reluctant vocalist (he would agree with me on that!) Here is the sound of a musician at home (literally) using all the modern technological toys and just creating good songs. They all have their own hooks and feel, variety being the spice of life.

Opening with the frantic, “Losing In Control” Dave hooks an almost Jethro Tull-ish riff over a tale of hanging on to love and companionship for the stability of a relationship. The second track is my current favourite “Blood In You” about how traits can be handed down. Great vocals, driving bass and stabbing guitars. Soaring synth leads keep that link with technology.

Third track is the unusually titled “New In Box” about being protective of a new partner, Stone Roses guitar and some stinging lyrics. Up next is “Hideaway” , guitar lead with plenty of jangly 80’s effects. Quite serious in tone. “Switchblade” romps along doffing a cap to Big Country and again has a dark side.

Another favourite is the “Only Son” based on a slide guitar riff it’s an atmospheric country and western feel to it, with impassioned vocals delivering a message to an estranged son. “Rollercoaster” is simply about the joys going to the Pleasure Beach at Blackpool, simples. We get dual vocals on “Heaven Sent Me Down” and driving guitar. A homage to synthpop next with the squelchy sounds of “Winter Disco” harking back to days of the youth. Another slice of humour on the odd “Mr Squeeze” and his unsavoury habits; keeping a slow, Rockabilly tip. “Cross the Line” brings the rock guitar back to the mix with a flourish. “Monster” has a big, synth bass and vocoder fighting it out with more rock guitar, primeval love.

Finishing off we have two contrasting but equally listenable tracks. “On a Clear Day” is another slower, melancholic power ballad, with duelling synth and guitar.” The Olympics” closes the album with a bit of an indie dance shuffle.

14 tracks, so plenty for everyone!

Hats off to Dave for getting this out. I admire anyone with this amount of talent, just wish someone would pick up on it and shout it from the rooftops! Cheers mate!

David Bowie – Hallo Spaceboy (CD Single)

The one with the Pet Shop Boys from 1995. Guiltily this one of my favourite Bowie tracks it just seems to work with the grandiose synths, the 7″ remix far superior to the album version which is grittier and more industrial sounding as Bowie described at the time “like Jim Morrison meets industrial” This smoother version has Tennant alluding to “Space Oddity” on backing vocals.

With a couple of live B-sides and a more genuine attempt to be industrial with “Hearts Filthy Lesson” (which appeared in the film Se7en) This was a record company trying to desperately give fans memories of past glories, which were rapidly diminishing through Bowie’s output in the 90’s.

NEW LINK 2018

https://www109.zippyshare.com/v/FqgqOZJT/file.html

 

Arista 74321353822

1. “Hallo Spaceboy” (Pet Shop Boys remix) – 4:25
2. “Under Pressure” (live) (Mercury/Deacon/Taylor/May/Bowie) – 4:07
3. “Moonage Daydream” (live) (Bowie) – 5:25
4. “The Hearts Filthy Lesson” (Radio Edit) (Bowie/Eno/Gabrels/Kizilcay/Campbell) – 4:56

Various Artists – Volume 5 (CD Album)

 Well most seem to have enjoyed the last Volume series so here is another; again featuring a diverse set of artists and musical styles. For fans of individual bands you will find a rare mix or demo that you might not have been aware of. Coming out at the end of 1992 it sums up the various styles at the time.

It starts off with the sheer, weird brilliance of The Orb,recorded live at Aylesbury Civic Centre. Goes all dancey and electronic, then acoustica and finally turns into an Indie compilation with a very rocky Morrisey track.

NEW LINK 2022

https://gofile.io/d/siAAZF

1	Orb, The	O.O.B.E. (Live)	9:18
2	Grid, The	Cybernetic	4:25
3	Happy Mondays	Monkey In The Family (Dub Mix)	4:29
4	Fuel	Wildfire	3:30
5	Bettie Serveert	Brain-Tag (Original Version)	5:38
6	Macbeth	Help Me Lift You Up	3:34
7	Cocteau Twins	Frosty The Snowman	2:56
8	Cabaret Voltaire	Low Cool (Remix)	5:23
9	Sandals	Venice Groove	5:19
10	Consolidated	Guerillas In The Mist (Russian Hill Mix)	4:23
11	Jesus Lizard, The	Whirl (Original Version)	4:12
12	L7	Deathwish (Live)	3:03
13	Hyperhead	Easy Slide (Remix)	5:29
14	Red House Painters	Uncle Joe	5:57
15	Wedding Present, The	Signal	3:16
16	Auteurs, The	Bailed Out (Cello Mix)	3:44
17	Morrissey	Tomorrow (Steve Peck Mix)	4:15

Red Snapper – The Sleepless (12″)

From 1998 and some jazzy hip-hop on the theme of insomnia; with rap provided by MC Det. (Joseph Ellington) Red Snapper’s trademark sound featured an effects-laden Double Bass as well as break-beat percussion . The Remix gives it a softer feel much more suited for the dance floor. I prefer the much edgier original with additional production and mixing by Luke Gordon (Goldfrapp, UNKLE, The Cure) “Seeing Red” is an instrumental version of sae track that appeared on the album “Making Bones.”

http://www54.zippyshare.com/v/gq5pl7Go/file.html

http://netkups.com/?d=5fdf2b655282a

 WAP108

A1	The Sleepless (Shut Up And Dance Remix)
A2	The Sleepless
B1	Seeing Red (Instrumental)

Dawn Of The Replicants – Candlefire (10″)

A bit of a classic from Scottish Indie band, Dawn Of The Replicants. Released on the nearly indie label, EastWest, in 1998 it was backed by “Skullcrusher” remixed by the Dom , David Holmes and Tim Goldsworthy with added Melotron by Darrin Morris. This has beats aplenty and feels a bit like Ian Brown’s solo effort, very spacey!

http://netkups.com/?d=9eab8555a67a5

http://www57.zippyshare.com/v/UY7Cba9c/file.html

EW147TE

A Candlefire 4:11

B Skullcrusher (David Holmes & Tim Goldsworthy Remix) 4:49

Various ‎– Darque Fonque Part One (2×12″)

From 1997 and on the “Dubnology Presents”… series, some deep down ‘n dirty tunes on Mother Earth Recordings label. Starting with Jammin’ Unit featuring Mary S Applegate giving us a dark slice of atmospheric trip hop. The wonky techno sounds mixed with Big Beats of Futurecore are next with the first version of the title track. Monkey Mafia bring on the breaks and percussion and junglism, with guest rapper Silver Bullet, on the sub-bassed “Ward 10.”  Mindbender almost borders on slow tempo industrial with some great bass. Dust Devil (Mark Brightman) brings a touch of Aphex Twin weirdness. The solid beats of DJ Stix (Steven Hunt one half of the Dub Pistols) The funky, laidback breakbeat with unidentified Sci-Fi film sample. Essen plays with more breaks keeping it dark. Finally the strongest and most commercial track is by Raw Deal with vocals by Thiaba Daece, strong breaks over a horror film soundtrack, ice cold soul.

http://netkups.com/?d=ad55c262989f5

http://www54.zippyshare.com/v/0ITbzIvN/file.html

A1	Jammin’ Unit	Heroin	9:19
A2	Futurecore	Darque Fonque Part 1	3:17
B1	Monkey Mafia	Ward 10	6:13
B2	Mindwinder, The	Slo Mo Shoot Out (One Shot Mix)	6:18
C1	Dust Devil	They’re Coming	6:16
C2	DJ Stix	The Clock	6:13
D1	Essen	Toxic Monkey	7:52
D2	Raw Deal	Nightmare	3:32
E	Futurecore	Darque Fonque Pt. 2

Various Artists – Volume 1 (CD Album)

Back to the fish and the very first Volume series, the one with glossy book and (er) fish.

From 1991 and 17 tracks of great variety and exclusivity, I was sold on the line up and bought it from X Records in Bolton, where I lived at the time. Starting with the hypnotic and psychedelic “Love Mad” , the tracks just get better and better, with exclusive (for the time) remixes like the New Order and Orb ones. I’m chuffed to share it with you. Indeed R.I.P. Rob Deacon, the curator and visionary behind it all who sadly died in 2007.

NEW LINK 2022

https://gofile.io/d/nHYWWe

1	Meat Beat Manifesto	Love Mad	3:28
2	Papa Sprain	Flying To Vegas (Remix)	4:48
3	Nitzer Ebb	Come Alive (Remix)	5:32
4	Kitchens Of Distinction	Innocence	4:58
5	Throwing Muses	Red Shoes (Version)	3:39
6	Darkside, The	Guitar Voodoo (Live)	4:38
7	Dr Phibes & T.H.O.W.E*	Sugarblast (Edit)	5:04
8	Popguns, The	Going Under (Remix)	5:27
9	Orb, The	Reefer Spin In The Galaxy	4:59
10	New Order	Confusion (Remix)	5:35
11	Shamen, The	Hyperreal (Remix)	5:03
12	Fortran 5	XX21 (Remix)	4:59
13	My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult	Leather Sex (Remix)	5:45
14	Consolidated	The Sexual Politics Of Meat (Edit)	3:44
15	Wolfgang Press, The	Sucker (Version)	3:36
16	Daisy Chainsaw	Upmanship Down	2:45
17	L. Kage	Another Story From Raintown	3:47

KMFDM – Sucks (CD Singles Wax Trax! + Big Life)

Taking a break from the dance stuff for a few posts.

From 1992 and a bit of tongue-in-cheek industrial from those cheeky German’s, KMFDM (which means “Kein Mitleid Für die Mehrheit” (“No Pity For The Majority”) and nothing to do with killing Depeche Mode! Obviously not taking them too seriously as usual it comes with a myriad of mixes all only slightly different to the original. It hasn’t dated too well but it is 23 years old and sounded awesome then. The “Goodbye Barb Mix” is my preferred one with more creative use of the heavy metal guitar samples. A bit of fun, no more no less.

NEW LINK 2022

https://gofile.io/d/LsRg6h

Big Life – BLRD 87

1 Sucks (No Shit-Radio-Mix) – 4:01

2 Sucks (P-O-T-A-T-O-Mix) – 3:42

3 Sucks (Goodbye Barb-Mix) – 5:21

4 Sucks (Original 12″-Mix) – 4:01

And here is the WAX TRAX! CDS with an additional track (Thanks Andreas!)

“More ‘n’ Faster” came with it’s own promo vid and dates back to ’89 but this is re-recording. Guitar and techno bleeps with the female backing vox. (Dorona Alberti) It’s harder more satisfying blast!

https://www.mediafire.com/file/w0c4h7xq96o0p7k/KMFDM+Sucks+(Wax+Trax!+Records,+TVT+8703)+1992.zip/file

https://gofile.io/d/o0YjbI

Wax Trax! Records – TVT 8703

1		Sucks (No Shit-Radio-Mix)	4:11
2		Sucks (P-O-T-A-T-O-Mix)	3:47
3		Sucks (Goodbye Barb-Mix)	5:26
4		Sucks (Original 12″-Mix)	4:06
5		More ‘n’ Faster	4:21

A Wall Of Sound Retrospective Part 5 – Propellerheads – Take California (US CD Single)

Okay strictly not on the Wall Of Sound label, which it was originally but the DreamWorks Records for this re-release for the American market. Featuring a collaboration with Propellerheads and the Jungle Brothers on “Take California And Party” which works surprisingly well. The original album version is here plus the great album track “Echo And Bounce”, the other rare track here is the “Go On, Force Me Edit” of the title track, nice and compact. Time to revisit that great album methinks.

NEW LINK 2017

http://www107.zippyshare.com/v/QkrdfCw8/file.html

DRMDS-59024

1	Take California (Go On, Force Me Edit)	3:17
2	Take California And Party	5:39
3	Take California (Album Version)	7:24
4	Echo And Bounce	5:26

A Wall Of Sound Retrospective Part 4 – Mekon – Welcome To Tackletown (12″)

 Reggae tinged breaks from 1996 with some more from the Mekon, helped out by a considerable posse of Chris Blackman, Dan Peppe, Evil B, Jah Norris, Paul Wainwright, Sugar J

The Dub mix brings out the hip-hop influences. Propellerheads funk it up with a massive synth bass line and Deck Wrecka trips it out. Way before the genre of Grime.

http://netkups.com/?d=5a688c462c654

http://www41.zippyshare.com/v/qzLM9X9I/file.html

WALLT 023

A1	Welcome To Tackletown (Album Version)
A2	Welcome To Tackletown (Mekon Dub)
B1	Welcome To Tackletown (Propellerheads Remix)
B2	Welcome To Tackletown (Deck Wrecka Remix)