A Detroit-tastic EP on Glasgow's own Soma label, from 1995.
I've always had a bit of a dislike of Slam (controversial!), despite breaking my clubbing cherry at the Arches way back in 1992. Don't get me wrong, they've done a lot for the Glasgow dance scene but I can pinpoint it down to one moment I was in Rub-A-Dub and Orde Meikle (one half of Slam) came in and was like, "what's this like?", holding up a copy of Red Planet - Stardancer to whoever was working at the time. Whit the fuck!?!?!? I thought every clubber in Glasgow would have known what that was, especially half of the most hyped up DJ duo in town. It had been doing the rounds (hammered to death!) at other clubs for at least a year beforehand. More like two years in fact. They always seemed to be a bit aloof as well, full of their own self-importance and up their own arses, unlike the Edinburgh based duo whose gaff I was frequenting by then...
Personalities aside, their Soma label has chucked out a few crackers over the years, and this one is no exception. A biography of the guy here reveals that he was briefly part of Bizarre Inc! After a nice wee intro on A1, we are treated to three tracks of genius emotional Detroit-style class.
Apologies to any Slam fans who are reading, but the above tale is not a word of a lie...
Envoy - Solitary Mission EP
A1 - Prologue (Envoy's Message)
A2 - Leave This World Behind
B1 - Soulmate
B2 - Heat Haze
Buy it here
Thursday 27 August 2009
Envoy - Solitary Mission EP
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6 comments:
This is a great record, especially Heat Haze. Envoy also produced an amazing record on Peacefrog as St. Vitus Dance. Cheers for posting. Good theory from the previous commentator. Martin and Wilba always stocked quality Detroit & Chicago music which Slam featured in their sets a lot around 94-95.
Aye, I'd never thought about it like that. I didn't realise how spoilt we were with Rub A Dub back then - used to make the trip to Paisley and was so glad when they opened in Glasgow. For some reason I assumed that the likes of Slam would have access to much more records than the likes of me!
Aye, some of the 'in-shop' experiences warrant posts of their own...
Mogs - perceptive comment. Maybe more to do with Orde, not Stuart?
That said, as another Friday night regular I remember a few months where there was a palpable shift in Slam's sets from a Flying / Cowboy / Leather Trews and Leftfield feel to a more four-to-the-floor head nodding detroit sound.
One week it is was a PA from the Aloof, the next Circus Bells on repeat.
My final word re. Slam: Groovelock is still a massive, sprawling spacey bastard of a tune to these ears.
Orde always looked a bit confused any time I saw him as if he was on the streets of Glasgow for the first time.
couldnae beat the arches on a friday night for a looooong time....
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