H's 'hosing it down' selection;
Burial x 2 - both terrific - wonderful mood on Night Bus and Archangel is as classic a record as DHS has ever seen. I would take this opportunity to say though that I've been somewhat disappointed with the recent Burial offerings that I've heard - the guy had such a distinctive and innovative sound that it was genuinely exciting to see where he'd go next but I'm left feeling a little flat...
The Cure - Plainsong - I don't need to say anything but could probably do two thousand words on it without pausing for breath. Brilliant song from a faultless album - D, I implore you to give the album another chance...
Clubroot - Closure - this guy is beautifully mining the seams that Burial unveiled - gorgeous - fits the theme of your selection wonderfully but then half a dozen others across either album would've done.
Area Forty One - PRTCTN - the only one of the five not known to me previously - like it a lot - listened to the rest of their stuff on Spot and like it too - good work...
I would close that little section by saying it is absolutely hosing it down once more as I listen to the above again and write this piffle - all five wonderfully augmented by the rain hammering off the skylights - very apt.
D's 'all about two albums' selection;
I get somewhat conflicted by dance music artist albums - when they're good they're genuinely brilliant but by and large I just don't get them - God knows I've tried over the last 20+ years but time and again band after artist after band, album after album after album, fails to hit my spot - hey ho...
Royksopp x 2 - always had Royksopp filed under 'remixes are better than originals' - and listening back to these two does nothing to shift me from that although the initial build on Alpha Male is quite buoyant - leaves me wondering how good it could be if someone remixed it...
Mogwai - got intrigued a dozen years ago always seeing Sigur Ros bracketed alongside this lot (as well as Godspeed You Black Emperor and Mum!) so I investigated - almost all of it left me chilly if not cold but a GYBE track did make it onto Terminal Moraine. Then, out of the blue, my 17 year old nephew asked me to source this, 'Rave Tapes', album for him in January, which I duly did - so this was my second opportunity to flick through the album. Nothing here to dislike but hard to find stuff to adore - their sound seems to be halfway between Sigur Ros and God Is An Astronaut and I think I prefer each of the extremes. I'd take 'No Medicine...' out of these three.
S's 'properly eclectic' selection;
OMD - Enola Gay - I was absolutely obsessed with this tune as kid in 1980 - so much so that I really wanted to know what 'Enola Gay' meant - I remember asking my teacher at school but he, nor anybody else, could help me so, pre-internet, I had to resort to getting my Dad to take me to the local library (we ran there and back together one afternoon before tea for some bizarre reason!) to research it and thus the lyrics all made sudden sense and added a greater poignancy to what I already felt as a strangely emotional tune. Arguably THE first synth-pop classic and all about what remains the only ever unequivocal usage of WMD...
Roots Manuva - Dreamy Days - so, I've thrown MacArthur Park at you both twice, firstly in the guise of Richard Harris and then Donna Summer and I did tell you it hadn't finished - you'll find a sample thereof herein! Boss tune from the best rapper this country has yet produced. And that's me finished with MacArthur Park for now...
William Onyeabor - Fantastic Man - hang onto your hats lads, this is madness... I got sent this late last year by a message board mate who wanted to use it in a mix but needed it 'warped' so it held a constant beat and wondered whether I could help. It wasn't the easiest thing I've ever warped and by the time I was finished it was burnt into my head, where it remains to this day. Absolute stone-cold bonkers mentalism.
Snuff Crew - Winter In June (Dance Disorder remix) - this wasn't in my selection till last week - for the simple reason that I hadn't heard it this time last week. Then a (completely different message board) mate posted it on his Google Plus feed and BOOM. Hooked. Completely. Still don't know if I've made the right decision going for the remix over the original but I've done so simply 'cos the remix is longer and the bliss therefore lasts slightly longer. Fantastic record.
The Farm - Altogether Now (Classical Mix) - Pachelbel innit. Lads, I promise you now - if I ever get to play one last closing set, at a half-decent venue, with a decent crowd, this is my last, closing, tune. Savagely fabulous. Thank me later...
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