Ripped In Glasgow - 2009-2009

Better to burn out than to fade away, eh?

Ripped In Glasgow was initially planned as a year long project, and this seems to be the perfect place to put a full stop on it. It's been an amazing ride from the word go and I've fuckin LOVED digging out all the old records again.

There might be the occasional future post, such as a Conemelt video that's in the pipeline, and the occasional live set or radio rip so it's maybe worth keeping me in your RSS feed or whatever. I can't keep up with this (almost) daily posting though - I've got other plans for 2010.

When I started up I was hoping for maybe 100 hits or so a day, didn't think there would be much demand for 15yr old dance records but there you go - I've been averaging 1500 for the last few months which has been insane.

a HUGE thanks to the acts who have supplied me with material - PWOG, Corridor, Conemelt, Optimo, Ivan Smagghe - who'd have thought THAT would happen? Also, anyone who has ever sent me a link to other stuff, honourable mentions to the Sabres Peel Session and the PWOG tape amongst various DJ sets - you people are too good. In fact, here's one which popped in yesterday just to say 'cheerio', a Two Lone Swordsmen set from the Tiny/Further Reminders period recorded off the radio from the Voodoo, Liverpool (thanks Mark - he's even hosting it for you).

Apologies to Andrew Weatherall for ripping off a huge chunk of your back catalogue and attributing your name to a fictitious Russ Abbot remix but that's rock'n'roll I guess (and bizarrely one of my biggest 'hits').

Finally, thanks to anyone who has ever left a comment - believe me, it makes blogging much more fun when there's a bit of interaction with you lot.

So - not dead, only sleeping and will wake occasionally for a different type of blogging - who knows what's round the corner...

Happy New Year when it comes...

PS - I'll keep the links live for as long as it takes - if there are any dead ones just leave a comment and I'll re-up as necessary.

PPS - both the torrents over on the left are now WORKING again just in case anyone's after them.

Ivan Smagghe - Ivan's Lost Classics for Ripped In Glasgow

The final festive treat for you regular viewers...

I couldn't fuckin believe it a month or so ago when I got a number of emails out of the blue from Mr Smagghe, the last of which finished with this nugget: "I could do a playlist of rare personal classics for people to download... would that be cool?"

Hmmm, let me think about that one will you?

This all happened just as I was getting my shit together to go to work so off I skipped with a smile on my face (a rare occurrence), only to arrive home and get the link and this chat from the man himself.

Ivan, I don't quite know what to say apart from the fact that I am completely bowled over by this - thanks a fucking million...

I do not know what is wrong with Glasgow... Or rather, I know what is right about it: music fanaticism coupled with hard knuckled hedonism. One needs places like Glasgow, and places like here. Where knowledge never is stuck up, obsession only fair. Had heard about "Ripped in Glasgow" from the usual suspects (Jonnie Wilkes I think), it always slipped my mind to actually check it. I finally did and I saw quite a few things very close from home (Lord Sabre, German acid, a worthy mention of Wladimir M, a lost hero of mine etc...). The least I could do was putting a few things up there, for all those who care to grab.

Classics may be classics, they still change all the time. Here are ten that kind of stick to the back of my box, lost or not, all quite personal, avoiding the obvious ones. I hope they'll do justice to this gritty haven.

In no particular order...

Annette-Dream 17 (Derrick May remix)-Deconstruction
"North-The Sound of Dance Underground" was the first house record I bought. This is from the remix 12" that came out a bit later. My fave Derrick May remix (yes, Dee-Lite's Wild Times came close)...

Zeus-Cowboys on the Beach (extended)- original version: Aladin
Zeus B. Held also produced all the Gina X stuff. Great great album. This is an extended version that you will not find anywhere because...

Delkom-Superjack Infusion One (instrumental)-Wau/Mr Modo
If Zeus was pretty cool, my german producer uber god is Conny Plank. He did not do this, but you feel how much Gaby Delgado was under the influence...

Logic System-Crash (Kaos edit)-original Version: EMI
Two major influences in the beginning: The Lone Swordsman and nu-beat. Here's this Boccacio hit (proving how pushed the limits were). Edit by Kaos...

Robert Hood-Minus (Combo edit)
I sometimes find "classics" playlist a bit too respectful. This is not. And it's from 2009. It turns Hood's frantic hypnotic techno grinder into a 105 bpm almost krautrock monster. One of my track of this year...

Melody Boy 2000-Sound Stealer-Monotone Musique
Electroclash before it even was. From that period, if there was only one... Maybe this...

Asja Auf Capri-Contre Temps-Difficult Fun
One brilliant album about 6 years ago. Then vanished. Lost indeed...

Aaron Carl-Homoerotic (Detroit Mix Show ext)
Here, I had to put something Weatherall related, Rather than my fave AW remix (MBV's Soon-not very original), this is a track that definitely reminds me of him...

Dark Day-No, Nothing, Never-Lus/unlust
And my hat off to Stirmonster. I did not know this incredible 1980 track (and brilliant album) until fairly recently. Sums up what I like about electronics and rock n'roll...

Sex Attac-Eteronout-White Label
You know those records... The white label you've had for years but no nothing about? Sometimes nice to leave it like that...

And there you have it. Many thanks to Ivan for putting this together and firing it in my direction.

I'm off to do the Christmas nonsense with m'lady's family - provided I don't get stranded up in Aberdeenshire there'll be more posts about the 28th.

Happy holidays...



Ivan Smagghe - Ivan's Lost Classics for Ripped In Glasgow
1 - Aaron Carl - Homoerotic - Detroit Mix Show Extended
1 - Annette - Dream 17 (Derrick May Remix)
3 - Asja Auf Capri - Contre Temps
4 - Dark Day - No, Nothing, Ever
5 - Logic System - Crash (Kaos Edit)
6 - Delkom - Superjack Infustion One (Instrumental)
7 - Melody Boy 2000 - Sound Stealer (Original Mix)
8 - Robert Hood - Minus (Combo ReEdit)
9 - Sex Attac - Eteronout (Original Mix)
10 - Zeus - Cowboys On The Beach (Extended)

Check out Ivan's myspazz

Giorgio Moroder - Chase

One of the best tracks of all time, in its full original 13 min glory.

What can I say? No party round at R-i-G towers would be complete without me sticking this on at some point and dancing around the flat like a fanny before falling into something/someone. You can tell it's been played right enough, it's a wee bit crackle-tastic at the start but you soon forget about it and get swept away in Giorgio's atmospheric electronic majesty.

I made myself watch the movie again before heading off to Thailand earlier this year just in case I got any ideas. I'm sure Thai prisons aren't any more pleasant than their Turkish counterparts.

The first time I heard Chase in a club was when Juan Atkins played it at Club 69 in Paisley, which was also the same night as I first heard 'The Bomb' by The Bucketheads. How the fuck do I remember such nonsense when I couldn't tell you what I did yesterday...?



Giorgio Moroder - Chase
A - Chase
B - Love's Theme

Buy it here

The Corridor - Dark Arythmatic

Yet another bunch of unreleased Corridor goodies, thanks again to main man Chris Barter. I kept a couple back for the festive season - no sleigh bells or Billy Idol here...

This time round, I would describe things as 'sinister listening music' - some ambience, lots of mental sounds, some creepy distorted spoken word, and some NOISE.

I still can't believe that some of the acts I've posted have got in touch with me, and have provided such gems like these unreleased nuggets for me to post. Above and beyond the call of duty.

Doffs cap...



The Corridor - Dark Arythmatic
1 - Injected Body Amplifier
2 - T-MEC 9
3 - Phobos
4 - The Man Who Uses Telephones
5 - Sputter Napalm
6 - Kingolaz
7 - Borg

Check The Corridor out on myspazz here

Various - UR Battlepak Vol. 1

Here's a wee Ripped In Glasgow mp3 mixing competition, for the UR hardcore, heh heh.

"DJ Buzz "Bangin" Goree, UR's veteran hitman assembles and loops his favorite UR tracks! One minutes slices of the mysterious madness! These battlepaks are designed for daring DJ's on a mission! Not for the faint of heart!"

I must admit I hadn't heard of this bizarre UR record until I picked it up for the princely sum of £1.99 in the Rub-A-Dub sale the other day. You get two copies of the same record - each one featuring 16 loops that last exactly one minute. WTF?!?!?

There's a volume 2 as well, and no I've not got it. So, here's the challenge for when you get bored over Xmas - shove 'em into your mp3 DJ-ing software of choice and fire up the results. Easy! The prize? My copy of the double-pack of course...



Various - UR Battlepak Vol. 1
A1 - Underground Resistance - Nannytown
A2 - Suburban Knight - Maroon
A3 - Pervtech - Webcam Freakshow
A4 - Mad Mike - Moor Horseman On Bolarus 5
A5 - Underground Resistance - Electronic Warfare
A6 - The Aquanauts - Spawn
A7 - Underground Resistance - Message To The Majors
A8 - Underground Resistance - Riot
B1 - Mad Mike - The Actuator
B2 - Remote - Protecting My Hive
B3 - Underground Resistance - Twista (The Dance)
B4 - Underground Resistance - Soul Power
B5 - Mr. Bubble - Bubble Beats
B6 - Underground Resistance - Fiber Optic Commando
B7 - DJ Rolando - Mi Raza
B8 - Mad Mike - Soul Circuits

Don't buy it here, get it out RAD instead

Various - Machine Funk Specialists (Parts 1 & 2)

An excellent pair of 12"s on Rotters from 2002.

It's been a while since there was any Weatherall round these parts. Well fear not - this pair should sort you out for a fix, along with a nice wee video - part three of your festive treats (let's brush over yesterday's wine-induced Billy Idol post).

Part 1 is all Weatherall and Tenniswood, under different guises, on SUPERB form. Part 2 also has them on the brilliantly titled A2, and they are working together on B3. It's not all the Swordsmen though, you get two Decal tracks and a tune by Craig Walsh.

An excellent package, Part 1 is all about the breaks and Part 2 is split between breaks and 4/4. Seriously - they are on top form throughout this package. I was annoyed to learn that both records are available on one CD, which features extra tracks. Grrr.

Regular viewers might remember that I went to see Mr Weatherall at Glasgow Stereo a couple of months ago. Well, I managed to find a site which was streaming a 16 minute video clip of that evening, interspersed with great clips of a revealing interview which was recorded at the Jury's Inn(!) in Glasgow. You can see me dancing about like a fanny on more than one occasion in the club, but it's a nice wee souvenir of what has been a vintage year Weatherall-wise. I managed to grab the code and download the clip from the site (I can't remember which site it was), and have been sitting on it for a while. Here you go then, uploaded to Sendspace as it's a biggie. It's m4v format so will play fine in iTunes. **EDIT** you can view the original article and video here, courtesy of the people over at EQ-mag.

This should keep the Weatherall wolf from the door for a wee while...



Various - Machine Funk Specialists (Part 1)
A1 - Rude Solo - M.F.S.
A2 - Klart - Bootybill
B1 - Rude Solo - Slate Resk
B2 - Aramchek - Driver
B3 - Frisch Und Munter - Road Tested

Buy it here



Various - Machine Funk Specialists (Part 2)
A1 - Decal - Giver
A2 - Hold, The - You Can Take My Glowstick...But Don't Touch The White Glove
B1 - Decal - Reaper
B2 - Craig Walsh - Redust
B3 - Radioactive Man - The Mezz (The Chairmans Remix)

Buy it here

Billy Idol - Happy Holidays

If this doesn't get you in the mood then nothing will...

Thanks to my friend DG (official 'Ripped' site designer) posting a picture of the outrageous cover to this, I felt compelled to check it out and a quick search on Filecrop sorted me out.

All yer festive favourites are here, sung in Billy's unique style, complete with backing from a band who change their style for every track. There are a few spoken word moments where he perfects the voice of a sexual predator with an unhealthy interest in children. Something for everyone then.

I downloaded it for a laugh and am listening to it just now, but it's become a bit more-ish and I now feel compelled to give it a run through till the end and offer it to you as a masochistic treat for your festive eardrums.

I've not bothered with the usual tagging and other pish so you can have the same download linky that I found. Merry Xmas, pop pickers...

*kisses credibility goodbye*

Nice day for a white Christmas...



Billy Idol - Happy Holidays
1. Frosty The Snowman
2. Silver Bells
3. Happy Holiday
4. Merry Christmas Baby
5. White Christmas
6. Here Comes Santa Claus
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
8. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
9. Let It Snow
10. Winter Wonderland
11. Run Rudolph Run
12. Blue Christmas
13. Jingle Bell Rock
14. Christmas Love
15. O Christmas Tree
16. Silent Night
17. Auld Lang Syne

Various - Monstrueux & Magnifiques

2003 compilation on Invasion Planète Recordings.

Regular viewers will know that I'm quite a fan of dark, sinister electronic music and that I was a bit of an old goth back in the day. This compilation covers both these bases! Don't think I'm doing anyone an injustice by firing this up as it was a vinyl-only limited pressing of 624 individually hand-numbered copies (mine's number 267).

Check out the crazy track titles, especially A5. Mental. It comes with a nice wee insert thing that I've scanned in and you can see here.

Track-wise it's very hard to describe - wee bits of electro, some fucked-up noises, weird-as-hell vocals, lo-fi nonsense, sinister sounds - all these boxes get ticked.

This is definitely worth a punt, one of the oddest records I've got...



Various - Monstrueux & Magnifiques
A1 - I.A.V. - Base 1 (1983)
A2 - Silent Signals - Hate You xxx
A3 - Anti Trust - Chagrin
A4 - Perverse Teens - Teen Lust
A5 - Count Tickula - Creepy Smile Of Self-Satisfaction
B1 - Krom-Y - Garçons Dans Le Brouillard
B2 - Perverse Teens - Numéro Zéro
B3 - I.A.V. - Le Maître Du Monde (1985)
B4 - Le Syndicat Electronique - Entrevue Misanthropique
B5 - Anti Trust - Brennendes Land

Buy it here

Zodiacyouth - Fast Forward The Future

... aka Zodiac Mindwarp and Youth, aka Mark Manning and Martin Glover, from 1991.

Comin-atcha like a big KLF kopycat, this is pure 'stadium house' in its element. I suppose if anyone can get away with ripping off the KLF it's this pair, right enough.

If you ever want to read a totally insane depraved book, go check out Bad Wisdom by Bill Drummond and Mark Manning - check out this Amazon review, the guy's got it pretty much spot-on. It's the accounts of when BD & MM (and the ever-present Gimpo) set out to take a picture of Elvis to the North Pole, "to release the divine Presley-esque vibes" onto a troubled world. Nuff said - get the book on your Xmas list, Amazon will deliver before the big day.

I've had a complete mental block on what the vocal sample on this was used on more recently - it's something really fucking obvious and I can't put my finger on it. Help me out, please...



Zodiacyouth - Fast Forward The Future
A - Fast Forward The Future (Witch-Hunt Mix)
B1 - Fast Forward The Future (Zodiac Rising Mix)
B2 - Fast Forward The Future (Chill Out Mix)

Buy it here

Glenn Underground Featuring Cei-Bei - Take Me Back

12" remixes released on Cajual in 1995.

This time in GU-land we are blessed with the vocal talents of Cei-Bei on a track that's spread over four pretty darn hot remixes. The A1 mix has that trademark GU production - the synth line over the crisp yet jumpy percussion that I love so much. The instrumental track on B2 has the spoken title but nae singing.

I much prefer the mixes on the flip - nice wee guitar on B1 makes me feel all summery, just when it's trying to snow outside. It's got that really nice trebley phased sound that kinda comes in and out of tune. I fuckin love it.

THE BOO WILLIAMS MIX FUCKIN' ROCKS - like a lost relative of Preacher Man-era Green Velvet with it's distorted shouty vocals, with Relief-style percussion and some of those "break down a wee bit then come back in on the off-beat" tricks that I love. Worth the download for this mix alone, cheekily sneaked on at the end.

Aye, glad I dug this one out...



Glenn Underground Featuring Cei-Bei - Take Me Back
A1 - Take Me Back (Underground Root Mix)
A2 - Take Me Back (Moogstrimental Mix)
B1 - Take Me Back (Glenn Underground's Chicago Lives Mix)
B2 - Take Me Back (Boo Williams's Take Me Back Or Else Mix)

Buy it here

Conemelt - Confuse And Destroy

Second Conemelt album, this time on Emissions, also from 1995, part two of your Ripped In Glasgow Xmas treats.

Two double albums in a year? How prolific is THAT??

Before I posted this up, I got in touch with Ashley and Nat from the band just to make sure it was OK to post it, and they were more than accommodating. Here's the conversation highlights, which I think make an interesting read. I'll go blue, Nat can go red and Ashley can go green:

I've just ripped and tagged up the Confuse & Destroy album but thought I'd run it past you before putting it up for the troops. What do you think? If you're cool with it I'll put it up soon, and do you have any comments or anecdotes about any of the tracks?

I hadn't listened to it for a while and had forgotten how good it was, especially the likes of Cuckoo Clock Rock, Espionage and BIG and Clever Track.

Anyway, lemme know what you think.

- moggieboy

Sounds good to me. I haven't listened to it for a while either.

Anecdotally, these tracks were all recorded at the old New Ground Records office that Ashley was renting behind Infectious Records - Tonbridge's dance music shop (from '92-'95) which was run by Spencer Vitnen - he is the man behind the voice that we processed on the Floating Bloke 12" - the 'bonus' track after Mandible Man....talking about mushrooms "tuned in fucking lovely"...a larger than life fellow, and very supportive.

Far better than 'Fuckers' in my opinion and maybe our best. Influences filtering through were more widespread from getting into electric Miles and digging on more contemporary artists like Basic Channel. Flashermac is a reference to Eddie Flashin Fowlkes for example. There's improvisation within the structure - Grant was employing random elements. Very much a case of getting the right take. A highly satisfying voyage of discovery, busy all the time with music... wonderful times...

Interesting - I can definitely hear the EFF on Flashermac.

It's true what Ash says about electric Miles and the Detroit stuff being major listening. Also at that time we were big into the first Shellac 7"s (referenced on the Floating Bloke 12") and the ongoing influence of industrial, T.G. etc. - you can hear that in 'Pushbutton Twist' which is from an older industrial tape that Grant made pre-Conemelt, when all was industrial in Southborough. But I remember Bitches Brew and Jack Johnson and other electric Miles being played a lot in the New Ground office as well as Eddie Fowlkes, Infiniti - Game One, UR, Parliament and lots of other Detroit stuff that Ashley was gobbling up and we were dead into. We tried to combine all those elements into our own thing...

Sounds like a winning combination.

I've just (last night) finished reading the Wreckers Of Civilisation TG/COUM book - insane stuff, TG are my gig of the year for 2009 though, a magnificent show at Glasgow Tramway.

Miles Davis though, wouldn't have guessed that one...

All of Confuse and Destroy was recorded live to 2-track tape. We used TDK SA-90 and then mastered directly from that.

A TDK SA-90?? Wow - that's lo-fi right enough, mind you at least you took the 'chrome' option.

Yeah, big TG fans. I've got my Sordide Sentimental 'We Hate You Little Guys' 7" close to hand as I type!

Aye? That should fund the reunion tour then...

What a nice bunch of guys. Compliments of the season to ya...



Conemelt - Confuse And Destroy
A1 - Misty Traincrash
A2 - Flashermac
B1 - Cuckoo Clock Rock
B2 - Joys Of Surface Noise
C1 - Big Up The Conemelt / Overbite Nightmare
C2 - Espionage
D1 - BIG And Clever Track
D2 - Motorskating
D3 - Pushbutton Twist

Buy it here

Love And Rockets - Resurrection Hex (Remixes By Deep Dish)

Remix 12" released 1998 on 'Red Ant Entertainment' records.

Love And Rockets? That would be Daniel Ash and David J from Bauhaus, along with David J's wee bruv Kevin. All remixed by Deep Dish (who I was going through a wee phase of at this point).

I was always amazed at the success Love And Rockets had in the USA, as they had fuck all here. I remember they even attempted a scary/comedy/novelty record in the UK called The Bubblemen Are Coming which I duly bought - it was pish though, as you'll realise if you clicked the link there.

What are the mixes like? Well, the A side's an epic dubby, smoky, hissy 12 minute journey with lots of sampled vocal whispers and a big ole bass hook that goes right through you. Despite the name of the mix, there's no samples of "Kick In The Eye" on B1, but instead another fab dub-house mix that goes easy on the vocals this time. B2 is one of those bonus beats/breaks things that I've just stuck on for completion - not much worth bothering about there.

This one goes out to Nolan Micron from the mighty Castles In Space blog, now with added Spinsters Rock. Welcome back to the planet, old son...



Love And Rockets - Resurrection Hex (Remixes By Deep Dish)
A - Resurrection Hex (Deep Dish Luv 'N' Dub Mix)
B1 - Resurrection Hex (Deep Dish Kick In The Eye Dub)
B2 - Resurrection Hex (Deep Dish Hex Beats)

Buy it here

Karin Dreijer Andersson - 6 Mix 12 December 2009

... aka "that bird out The Knife and Fever Ray".

This one's a two-parter: a 2006 Knife Archive Mix from 2006 by her brother Olof Dreijer, then a bang-up-to date Winter Solstice Mix by Karin.

There's a bit of the Mac computer voice explaining what's what, I guess to keep the mystique of the pair of them. Perish the thought that we'd actually get to hear either of them talking. The setlist is looking suitably diverse and should keep my iPod going for a couple of days work travelling.

I've put separate links up for each mix so you can take one, the other or both - whatever floats yer boat. Just the thing to stick on when you've got the post-weekend blues...



The Knife Archive Mix (First broadcast on BBC 6 Music in February 2006)
1 - Intro
2 - Pier Bucci — Jess
3 - The Knife — Silent Shout
4 - The Sun God — Ancient Echoes
5 - Hieroglyphic Being — Linux
6 - DJ Koze — Estrella
7 - Âme — Rej
8 - John Tejada & Arian Leviste — From Empty Words
9 - Jean Michel Jarre Featuring Laurie Andersson — Diva
10 - Jean Michel Jarre — Zoolook
11 - The Sabres of Paradise — Wilmot
12 - Theme From the Film 'Cherbourg'
13 - The Horrorist — The Real Word
14 - Plastikman — Ping-Pong
15 - James T. Cotton — A Long Way Down
16 - James T. Cotton — Distant Trip

Fever Ray Winter Solstice Mix
1 - Intro
2 - Laurie Anderson — White Lilly
3 - Electrelane — The Valleys
4 - Sonic Youth — Shadow Of A Doubt
5 - Plastikman — Disconnect
6 - Silverbullit — Winter Coat
7 - Fennesz — Transit
8 - Charlotte Gainsbourg — Irm
9 - Stina Nordenstam — Parliment Square (The Knife Remix)
10 - Lydia Lunch — Some Boys
11 - Afrirampo — Natsu Ga Kita
12 - Martin Rev — Mari
13 - Skriet — Fåglarna
14 - Tomahawk — Omaha Dance
15 - Laurie Anderson — Radar
16 - Goblin — Suspiria
17 - Converge — Worms Will Feed, Rats Will Feast

Buy Fever Ray stuff here

The Velvet Underground - Singles 1966-69

An early Xmas present to myself, and now to you too...

Must admit, got a bit of a hard-on when I saw this 7x7" box set in the shop the other day. Especially when the sales guy said that the pressings were amazing and that they were designed to be played LOUD. The attention to detail in the label design and the sleeves is outstanding - I've just sat and scanned the whole lot in and included it in the download.

I know it's only just out but it's not the kind of thing that's won't sell just because some prick's put it up on the internet. I've justified this to myself in my head. If anyone from Sundazed music's reading this and wants me to pull it then fair do's.

Get the lowdown on all the recordings here on the Discogs page - this is something else! My all-time favourite band and I've finally got the All Tomorrows Parties single, which is one of only two records that I've got on my Discogs wantlist and it's never come up the whole time I've been on it (this is the other one - offered a guy £120 for it and he said no, he was after £199 and it didn't even have the insert - cunt).

These are the original mono recordings, and all are different to their album equivalents. Being the sad cunt that I am, I ripped both White Light/White Heats and both sides of Single 7, despite each side being the same. Didn't want you to feel that you were missing out on anything.

Stay tuned for some more festive treats over the coming weeks...




The Velvet Underground - Singles 1966-69
Single One
A - All Tomorrow's Parties
B - I'll Be Your Mirror

Single Two
A - Sunday Morning
B - Femme Fatale

Single Three
A - White Light/White Heat
B - Here She Comes Now

Single Four
A - White Light/White Heat
B - I Heard Her Call My Name (Alternate Mono Mix)

Single Five
A - Temptation Inside Your Heart
B - Stephanie Says

Single Six
A - What Goes On
B - Jesus

Single Seven
A - VU Radio Spot
B - VU Radio Spot

Buy it here

Depeche Mode - See You

1982 12" from Basildon's finest.

Synth-pop era DM, back when 12"s were a pure rip off, as per the track times on this 12" - two tracks each coming in at under 5mins? Get tae fuck. Just as well I bought it way after the event and paid under the odds, then.

It's not so much about the A-side which I'm sure you'll be familiar with (albeit with its 'regular' timing), this one's all about the flip where the backing track sounds like it's being played too fast until the vocal comes in. It's a lost gem of a DM track - just the ticket to get you in the mood if you're off to see them on the current tour.

When I saw them earlier in the year it was in a stadium with a great sound system in a beautiful city in the summer. How it'll fair at the aircraft hangar that is the SECC in pissing wet misty Glasgow in darkest December's anyone's guess. I'll still be there tomorrow night though, might even venture down the front...



Depeche Mode - See You
A - See You (Extended Version)
B - Now, This Is Fun (Extended Version)

Buy it here

Greater Than One - I Don't Need God

12" on WaxTrax from 1989.

The missing link between the KLF and the Revolting Cocks? Well, that's what I reckon so make of that what you will... This would fit onto all sorts of early 90s dancefloors, and is perfectly mixable today. A great big dirty 4/4 kickdrum along with various vocal snippets, a Sex Pistols sample, and a noise that sounds a bit like the intro to this Pure anthem.

This lot morphed into Pure favourites GTO, Church Of Extacy, Tricky Disco, and *yikes* Technohead, amongst many others. Go check it out if you've got any interest in the KLF or Waxtrax stuff - it's a winner...



Greater Than One - I Don't Need God
A - I Don't Need God
B - Ignorance Is The Agent Of Fear

Buy it here

R-Tyme - Use Me

Derrick May goes house, circa 1993 on Trance Fusion records.

"Oh, that's the same moniker he used for R-Theme", I thought when I saw this in the shop not long after I got into dance music, figuring it would be a prime slab of Detroit techno like that great tune I had on the Retro Techno album (an early purchase - wish I could find THAT). Fuck me, Derrick May and Darryl Wynn on a pure house trip. The A1 mix by Mark Kinchen is an early Cajmere-style tune, with vocal snippets tossed over a great old-skool track. A2 is on a similar kinda trip with a wee bit of piano, but the Carl Craig mixes are where the real fun is to be had.

CARL CRAIG IS FUCKING ON FIRE HERE. These are a couple of the earliest Craig mixes I have and each one is fucking special. You've gotta check this out if you're a fan. All the trademark sounds are present, in early form - they're a great snapshot of where he was at back then.

There's a weird squeaky sound coming off the groove at the end of the B2 track, but I've done a fade so it's not too noticeable.

Wow - had forgotten about this one, glad I dug it out...



R-Tyme - Use Me
A1 - Use Me (M.K. Mix)
A2 - Use Me (D Wynn's 12 Inch Mix)
B1 - Use Me (Carl Craigs Piano Mix)
B2 - Use Me (Carl Craigs R Tyme Groove)

Buy it here

Jeff Mills - Changes Of Life

World Techno Day you say?

OK here's a techno-as-hell track from Mr Mills, as hammered to fuck by him at Pure any time I saw him, although he only played it for about 20 seconds before sticking something else on. He did keep coming back to this one though, and a tape I used to have of his set had the riff from this one right through it. The cunt must have averaged about 30 records every 10 minutes, I shit you not.

It's taken from one of the best techno compilations I've got - will stick it all up sometime if anyone is up for it. There's a great Maurizio track on it (TT/FF) that can be played at any speed (hence the name).

I think this is my favourite Mills track - that distorted piano and the clunky pitch up/pitch down of the riff gets me every time.

Right, now for that online Xmas shopping I've been too lazy to do...



Jeff Mills - Changes Of Life

Buy that album here, or just wait until I fire it up

I:Cube - Disco Cubizm

Dancefloor classic from 1996 on Versatile Records.

Well, it was all about the Daft Punk remix, wasn't it? That big siren breakdown in the middle brings back memories of stumbling around dark dancefloors in Paisley and Glasgow. Saying that, can't say I ever listened to the other tracks that much (at all?) - the original mix of Disco Cubizm is speeded up a bit from the Daft Punk version, and has a bit of funky guitar and what sounds like a kazoo fired right up in the mix. B2's all bit jazzy, breakbeaty and certainly isn't what I'd listen to out of choice but it's here for your perusal. It's got a wee acid line that sneaks in after a while though, so it's not all bad.

Just noticed it's world techno day, so I'd better get this one done and fire up some techno (well, it's been a while)...



I:Cube - Disco Cubizm
A1 - Disco Cubizm
A2 - Listen 2 The Bass
B - Disco Cubizm (Daft Punk Mix)

Buy it here

The Klaxons / Alan Vega / No Bra - Sweetheart (Suicide Covers Series)

*EDIT* FUCKS SAKE - I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD THIS WAS UP AS THE KLAZONS - SPELLING MISTAKE NO.1 = NOT ACCEPTABLE - APOLS ALL ROUND***********

Sixth release in the Suicide covers series, which started around a year ago.

Not one for uploading current/recent releases but these are very limited and always sell out so I should be OK with this one. I've put them all up apart from the Primal Scream one as I thought it would get pulled, but will put it up at some point as the coast seems to be clear on this lot.

This bridges nicely between the ATP malarkey at the weekend (full review here if anyone's interested) and the traditional Ripped In Glasgow fayre. Never thought I'd see the day when I bought a Klaxons record but there you go - this year's new year's resolution #1 was to buy all the Suicide 10"s, and #2 was to to this blog so I'm doing no bad...

This one follows the usual format of well-known band doing Suicide cover on the A-side, an Alan Vega rarity on B1 then a lesser known act doing a Suicide tune on B2. All very good, and an odd pick there from No Bra - that only appeared on reissues of the second album. Folk seem to be shying away from the first album, understandable I guess as it's such a classic. According to the website, the current releases in production are from Peaches, Mogwai and Glasvegas - they're all 'First Album' tracks so I guess that's that theory oot the windae...



The Klazons / Alan Vega / No Bra - Sweetheart (Suicide Covers Series)
A - The Klaxons - Sweetheart
B2 - Alan Vega - Speedway
B2 - No Bra - Super Subway Comedian

Buy it here

PRML SCRM - Live In Japan

Japan-only live CD, released in 2003.

Hopefully this won't get pulled as it's hardly available in the west. Here we see our heroes recorded at the Zepp, Tokyo over three nights 16/11/02 - 18/11/02. My birthday is the middle night but I didn't make it to the gig, although I did buy the CD in Japan if that counts.

I was quite disappointed that the obligatory (legally required) Japanese lyric booklet didn't have any humorous 'lost in translation' moments (plenty of mistakes, mind) like I've seen in a few others down the years, such as this MC5 gem: "And presently, brothers and sisters, it is time for the kicking out of the fruit preserves"...

The reason for this post is that I'll be seeing them tomorrow night for the first time this year at the ATP festival. Cannae fuckin wait. We'll no doubt get treated to some of the tracks below, I'm holding out for Kevin Shields to come on and work his magic on Shoot Speed / Kill Light seeing as how it's his fuckin festival and all that.

Over the course of the weekend I'll finally get to see The Horrors, and plenty more besides. My Bloody Valentine are playing every night (including a rehearsal tonight) and you've to name your night and get a wristband that guarantees entry to your night, but they'll open the doors to all and sundry after five mins or so so we might manage more than one. Maybe my ears will say otherwise though, they're still recovering from an MBV double-header last summer.

Set-wise, this is pretty much what they played for a few years - they used to be cunts for not changing it about too much, but this sees a great wee cover of the Johnny Thunders classic Born To Lose at the end.

So, ATP is finally here then. I'll not be home till late Monday night, gotta work Tuesday so posting is looking doubtful before Wednesday. So long, pop pickers...



PRML SCRM - Live In Japan
1 - Accelerator
2 - Miss Lucifer
3 - Rise
4 - Shoot Speed/Kill Light
5 - Pills
6 - Autobahn 66
7 - City
8 - Rocks
9 - Kowalski
10 - Swastika Eyes
11 - Skull X
12 - Higher Than The Sun
13 - Jailbird
14 - Movin' On Up
15 - Medication
16 - Born To Lose

Buy it here

Leg Action - Tailgate

An obscure 12" from the Conemelt brigade, released on Two Straight Roads in 1995.

This is the work of Ashley and Nat from Conemelt, and was on the same label as this early post. Two very bizarre tracks, with unusual rhythms and percussion. Not in the sinister category, more just 'WTF'. Nice squelchy acidy bass on the AA side right enough.

Check out what Ashley's been up to recently over on Myspazz - Mr Prolific never seems to stop.

Hmmm... Leg Action, Chemical Imbalance - sounds like last weekend all over again...



Leg Action - Tailgate
A - Tailgate
AA - Chemical Imbalance

Buy it here

La Cienda Honduras - Lumpen

Double pack 10" on the Swedish Gungeligung label from 1997.

I know precisely fuck-all about this pair, apart from the fact that they are Martin Venetjoki and Tony Senghore - Swedish fellas by the look of it. This was one of those "sounds alright in the shop and it's a double pack 10" so I'll buy it" kinda purchases. It's quite a grower though - lots of different styles.

Sides A & B are quite light, breezy house music, then sides C & D hit you with a WALLOP - lots of hard stuttery kick drums and filtered bits. All done very tastefully, as is the Swedish way.

Get this - I managed to look out my stuff for ATP, even iron some clothes and tidy up the midden that is R-i-G towers while that was ripping - multitasking or what...



La Cienda Honduras - Lumpen
A - Chok-chol Tequila Combo
B - Brevet Fran Östersund
C - När Ingen Vill
D - Hej Tjejjen!

Buy it here

Porter Ricks - Port Of Transition / Port Of Call

Third release on Chain Reaction, from 1996.

It's been a while since I put up any of this sort of stuff, and this one is a cracker. The A-side starts off with the familiar muffled hiss and bass kick, then kinda electronic static noises come in and before you know it they're washing all over you. This is an epic piece of minimal dub techno, a fine addition to the CR stable. On the flip, things start off a bit more quietly before the noise kicks in. This one's got an extra bit of bass-related activity.

If you like the 'Ricks then head on over to Friendsound where you can download their album which includes Port Of Call, along with another couple of 'Port'-related tracks. There's always been a nautical theme to their music apparently, including their moniker which comes from a character in the TV show 'Flipper'.

Right - off to start stage one of getting my shit together for ATP, bus leaves at 6am Friday and out for pints tomorrow...



Porter Ricks - Port Of Transition / Port Of Call
A - Port Of Transition
B - Port Of Call

Buy it here

Robert Armani - The Best Of

Bizarre 'partially mixed' EP from 1997 on ACV.

So... you're Robert Armani, every cunt knows the Hardfloor mix of Circus Bells and most others know the tracks off THAT remix double-pack, but what about your own stuff? Why not release a 12" with three studio tracks, a 'live' track and a megamix of 9 other tracks? Call it a 'best of'? Aye go on then...

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of all the Armani nonsense, it just seems a kinda weird thing to chuck out on your own label.

The megamix, however, is outstanding! Makes you hanker for the original versions of all the tracks. I had a CD of all this stuff at one point but it bit the dust. Will need to hunt it down again.

Some great pounding rhythmic techno here to liven up an otherwise grim Tuesday evening...



Robert Armani - The Best Of
A1 - Ambulance Two
A2 - Circus Bells Rmx
A3 - Armani Trax Part Two
A4 - Watch It (Live In Rome)
B - Megamix:
- Ambulance Two
- Remote Control
- Muzic Man
- Over Load
- Watch It Rmx
- Frequency
- Armani Tracks Part Two
- Circus Bells
- Moon Light

Buy it here

Miss Kittin & The Hacker - Intimités EP

Early release from this pair, released in 1999 on Gigolos.

Hmmm. The bubble burst on this 'scene' fairly quickly, but this 12" caught Miss Kittin & The Hacker before it went stale. Ignore the pointless Kittin Intro and cut straight to the three big tracks contained within.

A2 has a really simple 3-note keyboard riff and some great distorted kick-drum before some detuned synths creep in over the top Great stuff indeed. A3 is billed as a 'bonus track' (aye right - in the middle of an EP?) and is a cover of the Eurythmics track of the same name. I was never a fan of Eurythmics but this does the job nicely. After about two minutes of a breakbeat and not a lot else, the Sweet Dreams riff comes in and it actually works, the bass hook in particular.

For me though, the big tune is B1 - I've had a google to see who J.M. Wicker is/was and the best I can get is this scientific document, published in 1999 on the subject of Acoustic Waves, so there you go. It's just a really simple hook that they fanny about with over the course of 11mins or so, with a few words thrown on top for good measure. It's got a sample of the drum fill from Promised Land as well (or it sounds like that to me). The detuned synth sound is present here as well, it all fits together perfectly.

Sssshh, nobody mention 'electroclash'...



Miss Kittin & The Hacker - Intimités EP
A1 - Kittin Intro
A2 - Uno
A3 - Sweet Dreams
B1 - Flexibility (A Tribute To J.M. Wicker)
B2 - The Hacker Outro

Buy it here

Julian Cope - Live Japan '91

Superb live set from 1991, released 'to undermine the current slew of mediocre Cope bootleg recordings available, with handsomely packaged alternative releases', according to the Head Heritage website.

Well fuck me, this is classic Cope from his Peggy Suicide tour. I couldn't believe it when this popped up to buy (briefly) on his site. Check the set out - a nice wee mix of Peggy stuff with a few oldies thrown in as well. I like the fact that the CD lists Out Of My Mind On Dope And Speed as 'Of Rope And Speed' -> lost in translation perhaps...

I'm sitting here nursing a great rock'n'roll scar as my eyebrow got burst by the neck of a guitar last night during a Monotonix gig - didn't realise it was bleeding until my girlfriend put a hanky on my face and showed me it - totally red. Magic! Felt a bit dizzy for a wee while but it's OK today. Another sedate set from the most insane band I've ever seen.

Anyway - this Cope set is magnificent. It's nice to hear "Out Of My Mind..." with a bass on it for once, as he 'forgot' to put one on it on the original Skellington version. A great extended workout of Sleeping Gas as well, as he was prone to playing back then.

Right - head starting to hurt now. Only one solution...



Julian Cope - Live Japan '91
1 - Hanging Out And Hung Up On The Line
2 - You Think It's Love
3 - East Easy Rider
4 - Pristeen / Double Vegetation
5 - Promised Land
6 - Leperskin
7 - Yeah Yeah Yeah
8 - Bill Drummond Said
9 - Beautiful Love
10 - Sleeping Gas
11 - Sunspots
12 - Out Of My Mind Of Rope And Speed
13 - World Shut Your Mouth

Buy Cope stuff here

Fujiya & Miyagi - Remixes

Collection of remixes from the Electro Karaoke In The Negative Style album, from 2003 on Massive Advance.

I was gutted to miss this lot earlier in the year - I was all set to go and see them at Stereo then they cancelled at the last minute. When the show was rescheduled I couldn't make it. Maybe next year, eh guys?

Remix-wise, Weatherall and Tenniswood stay in tune with the Neu-style teutonic rhythms of the original, whilst adding loads of trademark noises over the top. Excellent stuff in my unbiased opinion.

Despite using possibly the worst moniker this side of Limp Bizkit, Wevie Stonder actually turns in a pretty good mix of a track which came in at under two minutes in its original form - some stuttery drums and plinky plonky noises adding to the synth/vocal combo of the original.

Pilote puts a nice shuffley drum over New Accounts Analysis and adds a beautiful synth riff over it - a great remix. The final track? Aye - check it out, dunno quite how to describe it but this whole thing is a great wee remix package, and worth exploring beyond the carrot of the TLS mix at the start.

Here's a Spotify playlist of the original versions of these four if you want to see just what's been done to the originals. Don't say I'm not good to you...



Fujiya & Miyagi - Remixes
A1 - Electro Karaoke (Two Lone Swordsmen Remix)
A2 - King Holer (Wevie Stonder Remix)
B1 - New Accounts Analysis (Pilote Remix)
B2 - Rot (Chungking's Making A Fool Of Me Mix)

Buy it here

Hardkiss - Delusions Of Grandeur

Compilation from 1995 licensed to L'Attitude Records.

Howzabout some Californian sunshine to brighten up the gloom of a pissing wet November...? A beautiful set of Hardkiss tracks from the early 90s, I can't big this up enough. I was slightly miffed to learn that the US version of this has different tracks, and that the CD has extra tracks. Mind you, you can't fault the ones they've chosen for this version. Somehow this album has managed to get to 2009 in perfect condition as well, so it's one of the best rips I've done.

It's great to hear this again - takes me back to a psychedelic summer in a flat up Broomhill way, all sorts of nonsense going down. I'd forgotten how amazing the production is. Every tune's a winner - something for everyone guaranteed.

I've re-ripped Raincry as it's a better copy than from the first time I posted it. Also, the buggers did a lock-groove at the end of track C2 so I've done a wee fade on that.

If you're not familiar with Hardkiss then there are some excellent reviews of this album on Discogs which you should check out.

I wish I could find my 'California Dreaming' album which would complement this nicely. Anyone...?



Hardkiss - Delusions Of Grandeur
A1 - Rabbit In The Moon - Out Of Body Experience (Original)
A2 - Hawke - 3 Nudes In A Purple Garden
B1 - God Within - Raincry (Spiritual Thirst)
B2 - Hawke - Pacific Coast Highway #1
C1 - God Within - Daylight (Dreamerdreamsalone)
C2 - Rabbit In The Moon - Out Of Body Experience (Burning Spear)
D1 - God Within - The Phoenix (Someday My Plane Will Crash)
D2 - Hawke - 3 Nudes (Having Sax On Acid)

Buy it here

Various - Stranger Than Fiction

What would you do with £80??

Let me see... some vinyl, tickets, booze & 'miscellaneous' perhaps? A new jacket? A ticket for a decent European festival?

Nope. All wrong. My girlfriend in a semi-pissed state in the pub, having just finished yet another book about The Cure, announced that she wanted to buy this album but it wasn't on eBay. 5 minutes later I'd got it off Discogs for her on my iPhone. £80! That would be the unreleased Cure track then? No - she's got it on the Join The Dots compilation. How about the unreleased Tim Pope track that features The Cure as the backing band? Nope, she bought the 12" of that at the same time (a mere £25 - it was payday Friday). I got her the Cult Hero 7" as a pressie a few years back. The Associates tune is easily available as well. She must be a closet Eat or Die Warzau fan then? Nope - just daft about all things Cure/Fiction and had to have this limited edition (1000) promo CD.

It's great to have someone who is as hardcore about collecting music as I am, but CDs - no emotional attachment in my book. Whatever floats her boat I guess...



Various - Stranger Than Fiction
1 - Cult Hero - I Dig You
2 - The Associates - Janice
3 - Tim Pope - I Want To Be A Tree
4 - The Cure - To The Sky
5 - Eat - Fat Man
6 - Die Warzau - Shakedown

No buy it now due to the above story...

Pete Shelley - Homosapien II (Techno Mix)

Bit of an oddity here, from 1989 on Immaculate Records.

After hearing the original of this on the radio the other day, I'd forgotten how much it sounded like North American Scum by LCD Soundsystem (well it did to me anyway). I remembered I had this white label 12" remix thing and out it popped today as I flicked through a shelf.

I never had a clue who this was by, but thanks to the magic of Discogs it appears the mixes were done by Power, Wonder & Love - they of Afro Acid fame. Fuck me - that's a bit of a weird connection is it not?

So to the mixes. I don't know whether I've tagged them properly but I think the mix names are correct - the way I've done it the Techno mix is the vocal one, seeing as how it's on the side that's got the stamp on it. The flip has an instrumental version that's not quite the same track - maybe someone could fire an acapella of the LCD tune over it to see if it works. I always liked the song, and this mix really works, can't believe it's 20 years old, the gang did a great remix now that you look at it. Aye, I'll definitely be playing this one a bit more now.

I saw the Buzzcocks earlier this year and they raced through the first two albums in full before coming back on for a Singles Going Steady encore. Magnificent stuff, and I can't wait to see them at ATP in a couple of weeks. Fuck me - that's in a week and a bit. It always seemed like ages away in the future...



Pete Shelley - Homosapien II (Techno Mix)
A - Homosapien II (Techno Mix)
B - Homosapien II (Icon Mix)

Buy it here

Manuel And Clive - Warp EP

A clear, black & red 10" that plays inside out, from 1994.

A FUCKING INTENSE couple of tracks from Manuel and Clive, aka The Advent, this was limited to 1,000 and was never repressed. That'll be the pension fund sorted then. Oh - you can pick it up for a tenner on Discogs. Cheers, internet!

Excellent stuff on both sides, particularly the B-side, most rewarding when I initially bought it for aesthetics alone (I'm a sucker for a good vinyl gimmick). Should appeal to anyone who's into Labworks / hard acid techno. I've definitely heard both sides played out, most likely at Pure or Club 69.

Ideal for clearing out any post-weekend cobwebs that may be lurking around...



Manuel And Clive - Warp EP
A - Warp # 1
B - Warp # 2

Buy it here

Fur Bible - Fur Bible

A 12" single on New Rose records, released in 1985.

Check out the lineup for this short-lived act: Kid Congo Powers (Bad Seeds, Cramps & Gun Club), Patricia Morrison (Gun Club, Sisterhood, Sisters Of Mercy) and Murray Mitchell (not a lot else but he did go on to produce a Primal Scream track). To top it all, the EP is produced by Jim (Foetus) Thirwell.

Usually projects like this (I don't wanna use the term 'supergroup' as it conjures up mental images of the Travelling Wilburys and suchlike) have a habit of being a bit of a let down, but this one works. It should appeal to anyone who digs any of the above acts (apart from the Travelling Wilburys).

I just found out that Kid Congo is playing a mega-rare Glasgow gig this Thursday at the Soundhaus (flyer here). Fuck me! He's had a recent album out but will hopefully be delving into the past for a few treats along the way. Tickets are a mere £8 as well. See you down the front...



Fur Bible - Fur Bible
A1 - Plunder the Tombs
B1 - Headbolt
B2 - Fumble Fist

Buy it here

Conemelt - You Fuckers Fuck

A personal classic, from 1995 on New Ground Dance Division.

Phew - dunno what to say about this lot except they've shaped my musical horizons quite unlike any other dance act. This is one of the best electronic albums that I have ever heard.

I'm really struggling after too much goth juice last night and am suffering from a bit of writer's block. If you have even a bawhair of interest in all the Conemelt/Corridor/New Ground stuff I've put up then you need to download this.

Nuff said...



Conemelt - You Fuckers Fuck
A1 - Step Two
A2 - Flymo
A3 - Agnostic Stomp (Punx Not Dead!)
B1 - Wallop's Girlfriend
B2 - Trap Set and Sock
C1 - Dronemelt
C2 - Driving Miss Hairy
C3 - The Preachers
D1 - Shiny Woman
D2 - Step Three

Buy it here

Bowery Electric - Lushlife

Promo 12" on Beggars Banquet from 1999.

Two tracks of hazy downbeat guitar and breakbeat with whispery female vocals. What do you mean it's Friday afternoon? Aye well, just fancied it that's all. As previously heard on this Spacemen 3 tribute album, this features two tracks with heavy-as-hell bass that makes me wanna go and smoke something that I currently don't have. Weekend before payday as well. Grrr.

Just a quickie post tonight as I'm off out early doors, to an ill-advised reunion of an old Glasgow goth club I used to go to 20 years ago. Gonna get drunk on snakebite and blackcurrant before we go in, see how badly everyone has aged (us excluded of course), then fuck off. Probably.

Stay tuned tomorrow though, as I should have something a few folk have asked for if I get the right email response back before then...



Bowery Electric - Lushlife
A - Lushlife
B - Floating World

Buy it here

Fumiya Tanaka - Time EP

Great minimal Japanese EP from 1997 on Torema Records.

I don't really know much about this dude so I had a look at his biography and it turns out he started Japan's first independent dance label in 1993. He seems to have been pretty instrumental in the club scene in Tokyo and Osaka (one of the most insane places I've ever been to).

The EP's in the same vein as Jeff Mills, Steve Bicknell etc. Hey - just read on his Discogs page that someone else compared him to Steve Bicknell so there you go.

Actually, ripping it just now it's sounding WAY better than I ever remember it, especially the B-sides. This was the whole reason I started the blog so I'm glad I picked this one up.

Bit of a shitty label scan - usually I can grab them from Discogs but had to scan this one and it's turned out a bit skew-wiff and blurry but it's got to sit at a kinda half in/half out angle on the scanner. How do folk get them so flush - do they have a scanner that can take a full 12" sitting flat? Fuck me.

Definitely worth a whirl, this one...



Fumiya Tanaka - Time EP
A1 - Gloss
A2 - Insistence
B1 - Jammi'n
B2 - Ungloss

Buy it here

The Sisterhood - Gift

A lost classic 'gothtro' album from 1986.

This was a "fuck you" to Wayne Hussey for daring to call his post-Sisters band The Sisterhood, as Andrew Eldritch rushed this out just as Wayne & co were embarking on a UK tour as The Sisterhood circa 1986. I used to actually have a bootleg of the night where he went, "we're not gonna be called The Sisterhood any more, we're called The Mission", in amongst way too many other goth-related bootleg tapes.

The whole album is littered with references to the lawsuits with The Mission and the record company at the time.

This, on the other hand, features Andrew Eldritch, Lucas Fox from Motorhead, Patricia Morrison from The Gun Club and Alan Vega from R-i-G favourites, Suicide. Fuck me - I never knew Vega was involved until this week when I had a rummage for info about it. I'd completely forgotten about this whole 'project' until my friend Borg posted a video for Giving Ground on Facebook the other day and I tried to find this album. Didn't have any luck but managed to acquire it off the internet and that's what you're getting, albeit with better tags and cover art.

I got this back in the day and listened to it a few times but then it got put to the side. What was I thinking? It's magnificent - you can see what the likes of Ministry must've been listening to at this point. It still sounds fairly up to date I reckon, it's certainly aged better than any Sisters Of Mercy or Mission stuff has. Electronic music fans - you'd be foolish not to give this a bash - fits in nicely with all the dark Corridor-style electronics I've been posting lately.

For a completely WTF?!?! reference, check out the last paragraph of the Wikipedia article regarding an episode of UK tv show, Spooks...



The Sisterhood - Gift
1 - Jihad
2 - Colours
3 - Giving Ground
4 - Finland Red, Egypt White
5 - Rain From Heaven

Buy it here

Kosmic Messenger - Eye 2 Eye

aka Stacey Pullen, this was released on Plink Plonk in 1995.

I fuckin loved this record - it had all the right ingredients for me: spacey beats and cymbals, flange, crisp clean bass sound, liquid flow, and most importantly it was British which meant a fiver rather than £7.50 down at the local vinyl emporium. Sorted!

Anyone who's not heard Stacey's old DJ Kicks mix CD from around this period should check it out. Superb mixing, and a superb set to boot. I had the CD first time round but it got a nasty sticky spillage on the wrong side of the disc. Haven't listened to it for ages but I'll be listening to it tomorrow morning thanks to the magic of the internet.

It's a bit of an odd pressing - the bit at the start where you put the needle down is massive, and one track per side allows the grooves to be that wee bit further apart making for a much better pressing. I'm a sad cunt aren't I.

The Mr C mix on the other side is ace as well - more crisp clean flowing liquid techno that I could sit and listen to all day.

Only the one post today as it's my birthday and I've been promised a romantic meal out at a Malaysian restaurant...



Kosmic Messenger - Eye 2 Eye
A - Eye 2 Eye
B - Sea 2 Sea / Mr C Remix

Buy it here

PWOG - Peel Session

Vinyl release of the Peel Session which was broadcast on 10th June 1994.

This features alternate recordings of Pull & Break from the Rhythms Vol 1 double-pack I posted last week, and a different version of Dust from the Out Now! 12".

Track B1 has to be listened to on headphones as it moves from left to right and back again - a good demonstration of the concept of 'stereo' for someone who doesn't understand it. It merges into scary ambient B2 as one track so I've left it as one track on the mp3.

Fuck knows what the John Peel listeners made of this, I know he played some mental stuff but this is out there. Bet he fuckin loved it though. I still miss the old cunt, although one of his sons (using the original 'Ravenscroft' name) has been on 6music a few times filling in for people and he's been like a chip off the old block music-wise. Banter's not bad either, but I've yet to hear him play a record at the wrong speed...



PWOG - Peel Session
A - Pull
B1 - Break
B2 - Dust

Buy it here

Optimo Podcast 3 - Take A Stroll Through Your Mind

Number 3 already? That's almost prolific.

A bit different this time round, very different in fact. You might not think it's to your taste given the blurb below but I'd say give it a blast - it's opened my ears to world music anyway.

It's the work of JD Twitch this time round:

"This Podcast is called "Take a stroll through your mind" and is a selection of songs with a psychedelic feel from around the world. All of the music is from the late 1960s and early 70s (1967 - 1975) when psychedelic sounds spread to all corners of the globe. There is something about the warmth and the tone of this music, especially that fuzz guitar that sends me into ecstasy. It make me feel as if I am wrapped in cotton wool. While psychedelic music can often sound like a bunch of stoners making a freaked out racket, all of the songs here are exquisitely joyous, beautifully crafted pieces of music, often with ideas and production that still sounds ahead of the curve. Not all of these tracks are intentionally psychedelic, but all have that certain something that can transport one to another place and another time. All the tracks were recorded from vinyl and in some cases the records aren't in tip top condition or were fairly poor pressings to begin with (especially the African records), so apologies for the fidelity in a few places. Hopefully the wonder of the music still shines through. Once again we aren't making a tracklisting available for the podcast but if you want to know what anything is, feel free to get in touch and we will let you know. None of the tracks are mixed but are all segued together. In order, the tracks are from the following countries - USA / Zambia / USA / USA / USA / UK / Algeria / Egypt / Brazil / Nigeria / Mexico / Mexico / USA. The mix contains 13 tracks and lasts 69 minutes and the download is a 192kbps mp3 (90mb). Enjoy."

So there you have it, not your average Ripped In Glasgow post but we'll see how it goes down...



Optimo Podcast 3 - Take A Stroll Through Your Mind <-- right-click, direct link to Optimo site

Subscribe to Optimo podcasts here

Various - Blueprints For Modern (Techno)logy Vol. 1

AMAZING Plus 8 compilation from 1991.

You need to download this - it's a star-studded trip through the beginning of the Plus 8 label, featuring all the usual suspects. One of the first dance compilations I bought (pre decks so on CD as well!) - just check out that tracklisting.

I hadn't listened to this for about 15 years at a rough guess, until the other day when I dug it out. It's been on quite a few times since then, and hasn't lost any of its edge. So much so that I can't offer a pick o'the bunch as they're all fuckin fantastic.

If you want to know the producers behind the pseudonyms check out the Discogs listing here.

Proper fucking old-school techno...



Various - Blueprints For Modern (Techno)logy Vol. 1
1 - States Of Mind - Elements Of Tone (J's A Mix)
2 - Kenny Larkin - We Shall Overcome (Richie's Loonie Mix)
3 - Cybersonik - Technarchy
4 - F.U.S.E. - Technotropic
5 - Speedy J - Wicked Saw
6 - Psyance - Motion
7 - Cybersonik - Backlash (Radio Edit)
8 - Kenny Larkin - Colonize
9 - Speedy J - Pullover (Remix #2)
10 - Final Exposure - Vortex
11 - Speedy J - Evolution
12 - F.U.S.E. - F.U.2 (Re-edit)
13 - Circuit Breaker - Overkill

Buy it here

Sonic Boom - Angel

Debut solo single from the other main man in Spacemen 3, released in 1989 on Silvertone (who I'm sure were concentrating their marketing budget on another band at this time).

I spent nearly 20 years believing that Sonic Boom was the son of Mr Kipling (he of 'exceedingly good cakes' fame) after having been told this nugget of information by two different 'reliable' sources. It made sense - real name was Pete Kember, Kember / Kipling - not that much of a difference, eh? Pete Kipling = not very rock'n'roll. How else did such a smackhead afford all of his guitars? Heir to the Kipling empire, that's how.

.. and so it went on, and I used to tell this to other Spacemen 3 types I met along the way - "you mean you didn't know? oh aye - makes sense, doesn't it?" FUCKING HELL WHAT WAS I THINKING??

Anyway, the tunes? Aye - much better than the stuff he started peddling after this. All that EAR stuff was a bit hard to get into, and the last time I saw him he was in a right old state - on his own at Stereo in Glasgow, loads of old keyboards and knobs, kept hassling the sound guy for no apparent reason. Sounded pish, although I was informed that a later full-band Spectrum show was 'back on form'. They're playing ATP in December so will check 'em out and we'll see...



Sonic Boom - Angel
1 - Angel
2 - Angel (Extended Mix)
3 - Help Me Please (Drum Mix)

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Aquarhythms - Bodyjazz Bodyfusion

Bizarre double-pack of remixes from 1995.

Picked this up for the two Carl Craig mixes and the Rabbit On The Moon one. The word 'bodyjazz' sent shivers down my spine at first but when I put the records on the fear went out the window.

Carl Craig's first mix is downbeat with a female vocal, Rabbit In The Moon's mix is techno-tastic and Craig's second mix is outstanding. A beautifully produced track that sounds 'lush' as hell. Pure quality, maaan.

Dunno anything about the actual act themselves, there are a few aliases on Discogs that I've never heard of.

The other mixes are fairly pish so I didn't bother uploading them. Lots noodly ambient noises that you've heard a million times before. You wouldn't like it sugar, as Optimo might say.

Right - off to have a massive curry banquet with pals at the best Indian in town. Is it sensible to have a wee 'livener' for the road? OK, go on then...



Aquarhythms - Bodyjazz Bodyfusion
A1 - Bodyjazz Bodyfusion (Carl Craig Experience)
B - Bodyjazz Bodyfusion (Rabbit In The Moon Heart Rmx)
C - Bodyjazz Bodyfusion (Carl Craig Straight Mix)

Buy it here

16B - Falling

Nice set of mixes here, released on Eye Q(!) in 1998.

Quite chilled for a Friday afternoon as well, but that's the way I'm feeling after a couple of nights of midweek nonsense. Work was scarily a piece of piss as well, maybe I should do it a bit more often. Gonna recharge the batteries tonight before the Bang Bang tomorrow.

This was bought for the Two Lone Swordsmen mix (I had the 16B album already), but I was getting quite into Deep Dish at the time so that was a nice wee double-header on the remix front.

Each remixer has their trademark sounds stamped all over their mix. Actually, now that I'm listening to it that Deep Dish tune would go down very nicely in a dark smoky club just as you're coming up on your medication (mind you, there's plenty of tunes fit that bill nicely).

Aye well, it's been a while since any Weatherall round here...



16B - Falling
A1 - Falling (Original Mix)
A2 - Falling (Two Lone Swordsmen Remix)
B - Falling (16B & Deep Dish Collaboration Mix)

Buy it here

Green Velvet - Never Satisfied

*** NOW WITH THE CORRECT TRACKS ON THE RIP - YES I AM A FUD ***

Released on the Cajual offshoot 'Live' in 1997.

Check this out: a one-sided 12" with two tracks on the A-side? What the fuck's going on there then? Mind you, I love that kinda shit.

This is very heavy on the percussion, with a wee keyboard hook that uses the same sound from that 'Popcorn' tune (or it did to me anyway).

According to someone on Discogs, the Studio 54 remix is based around a sample from Lou Rawls "You'll never find another love like mine". Very cleverly used, almost in a "wild pitch'-kinda style. Wild pitch, eh? I'll need to dig out some DJ Pierre stuff, there's so much stuff that I've got no idea where it is but it'll be lurking somewhere. I'm not familiar with anything else this Studio 54 brigade have done but might go check 'em out after listening to this again - it's a great remix.

Better than the original?? ... or will that get me struck down in flames by the Green Velvet hardcore...



Green Velvet - Never Satisfied
A1 - Never Satisfied (Original)
A2 - Never Satisfied (Studio 54 Re-Re Mix)

Buy it here

DJ Omegamale - Erection Section Selection

Regular viewers may remember that I started 'banging' on about the Bang Bang Club back in August.

I DJ'ed in there during one of their nights during the Edinburgh Festival. It's been all quiet since then, until now. This weekend sees the relaunch of the Bang Bang Club at the Electric Circus in Edinburgh on Saturday night. It's an amazing venue, and this time round they're gonna be split between typical Bang Bang nonsense and yer actual dance tunes. Kris Wasabi from Wasabi Disco will be helping out with spinning the tunes for the (re)launch night so things should be bouncing along nicely.

BUT - this new club has a second room, The Erection Section, where they're gonna be playing less likely (but still killer) tracks. Check out this mix from DJ Omegamale for an idea of what's in store for this part of the club.

The Fringe club got rave reviews, and the special guests were outstanding (one in particular springs to mind) - it's certainly got the debauched atmosphere down to a tee. Check out the manifesto for the relaunch here.

Shameless promotion for pals I know, but you could do a lot worse than getting the fuck down here on Saturday. Feel free to buy me a pint (or a Kiss Kiss Bang Bang cocktail) if you do...



DJ Omegamale - Erection Section Selection
1 - The Girl With The Sun In Her Hair - John Barry
2 - Paper Bag - Goldfrapp
3 - The Rip - Portishead
4 - How Do (Willow's Song) - Sneaker Pimps
5 - Oh Yeah, Oh No - Add N To (X)
6 - Girl - Suicide
7 - I Can't See Your Face In My Mind - The Doors
8 - This Is Hardcore - Pulp
9 - The Ghost Of Love - David Lynch
10 - I'll Never Fall In Love Again - Tom Jones
11 - Ballad De Melody Nelson - Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin
12 - Vingt A Trente Mille Jours - Francoiz Breut
13 - Sweet Harmony - The Beloved
14 - I'm Comin' Down - Primal Scream
15 - Memory Of A Free Festival - David Bowie

Check out their Myspazz here

Johan Bacto - March

Part three of a Swedish concept label which was set up to release a record each month during 1999 until the year 2000. It was called Countdown 2000 - wonder how long they spent on that one?

I only have the March release - seem to remember buying on a whim one Saturday morning from Fopp in Byres Road (back when they used to sell vinyl) - the morning after the night that was still continuing.

Anyways, this is quality techno - A side featuring some backward stuff that sounds all out of sync till it comes together, accompanied by what sounds suspiciously like a slap bass chugging along. I realise that this is not selling it at all here, and I'm now getting images of Mark King from Level 42 standing in the production suite. Yikes!

Side B is equally tip-top and flows very well. No slap bass this time, thank fuck, but another great use of that noise that sounds like one of those armadillo things you used to scrape a stick up.

Just the one post today, as it's the third anniversary of the first time I got it on with my girlfriend and I want to do something special before she comes home from work. I had guest passes for the Vileevils (ex Pop Will Eat Itself) at Glasgow Barfly (check the date here) and she was the only person mug enough to come with me. I was in a pretty dark place at the time, as was she. Cue copious amounts of sambuca, backstage drinking absinthe with the band, then Crash, Bang, Wallop - we've had the best three years ever! Awww...



Johan Bacto - March
A - Untitled
B - Untitled

Buy it here

Transglobal Underground - International Times

"Ex-peri-mental, ex-peri-mental, ex-peri-mental, ex-peri-mental"

That was the refrain of the Justin Robertson remix of this tune from 1995. I was never a great fan of TGU but this remix got played to death in the mid 90s. Coincided with me getting my decks, and it was a piece of piss to fanny about with so go figure...

Aki from Fun-Da-Mental (and early goth favourites Southern Death Cult from back in 1982!) gets in on the remix action on the flip, which is all a bit worldy music with a breakbeat. It's got some good backwards noises on it though, and a wee bit of flange sneaking in so it's ticking the right boxes round these parts. Does go on a bit, mind (nearly 13 minutes!), so I'd personally stick to the A-side and ditch this one.

Mind how I said things would return to normal this week? I've got a cunt of a day at work tomorrow and won't get back home till at least 9:30pm which means no posts. See you Wednesday...



Transglobal Underground - International Times
A - International Times (International Stomp)
B - International Times (Fun-Da-Mental Remix)

Buy it here

Alien Sex Fiend - I'm Doing Time In A Maximum Security Twilight Home

Who says goths don't have sense of humour?

From their own biography: "Paranormal pulsations began to emanate from the environs of North London - a strange and unholy grafting together of percolating synth rhythms and a ghoulish, theatric aesthetic. Primed by Nik Fiend's phantasmagoric vocals, Mrs Fiend's highly original use of trippy drum machines and inscrutable electronic gear became a trademark - often imitated, never duplicated."

So there you go - prototype dark electronica from the mid 80s. Could I even go as far as to say that tracks B2 & B3 wouldn't sound out of place on some of The Corridor stuff I've been posting of late? Aye! Why the fuck not *awaits backlash*...

They became full-on electronic for a bit after this, and ended up doing music for video games in the early 90s. I think they've brought back the guitars of late, but they've been off my radar now for about 20 years.

Another weekend credibility-killer on Ripped In Glasgow...



Alien Sex Fiend - I'm Doing Time In A Maximum Security Twilight Home
A - I'm Doing Time In A Maximum Security Twilight Home
B1 - I'm Doing Time (Version)
B2 - In And Out Of My Mind (Version)
B3 - Backward Beaver

Buy it here