69 - Lite Music

12" EP on Planet E from 1994.

It's been a while since I stuck up a 12", but I fancied a listen to this so thought I'd rip it.

This sees Carl Craig on excellent form, so good that at least two local clubs have named themselves after tracks on it. Jam The Box is a fairly new club in Edinburgh, and My Machines has been going for a good while now in Glasgow. Is there a club called 'Microlovers'? Maybe...

The pick of the bunch for me is B1, which has that trademark Craig 'mental synth' that bends all over the place. In fact, the only straight 4/4 tune, A1, is maybe the weakest. For anyone else it would be



69 - Lite Music
A1 - Jam The Box
A2 - Desire
B2 - My Machines
B2 - Microlovr

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

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

Dave Angel - Handle With Care EP

This is part 2 of this 2-part 12" set, bought for the two excellent Carl Craig remixes.

Track A1' s a fairly decent techno track from Dave Angel, which is very exuberant and sounds not unlike Dark & Long(?) by Underworld.

The remixes, however, are where it's at. A2 sounds like a Landcruising-era Craig remix which ticks all the right boxes, but the beatless track on the flip is the money shot - check out this very enthusiastic review on Discogs. No sign of Dave Angel anywhere on these two, I wonder why Mr Craig chucked them away on this fairly low-key release...

12 minutes of sheer bliss, which should make you smile inside on an otherwise shitty Tuesday evening...

PS - just realised that the torrent linkys on the left were fucked due to the lack of Pirate Bay. I've re-upped them to Mininova and will seed till at least Xmas.



Dave Angel - Handle With Care EP
A1 - Shuffle
A2 - Take Off (Carl Craig Mix)
B - Airborne (Carl Craig's Drums Suck Mix)

Buy it here

Paperclip People - The Climax / Clear & Present

A bona fide classic for a Friday afternoon to set us up for the weekend's antics, courtesy of Mr Carl Craig from 1995.

Ripping this finally gives me the chance to fanny about with doubling up the mp3 and my 12" on the superb piano intro (might make that my new ringtone, actually), the way I heard someone do back in the day. Maybe it was Carl himself, although I doubt it as I wasn't too impressed with his DJing skills. Moggieboy TrueFact: Carl Craig was the first ever 'guest DJ' I saw play, at Pussypower at this night in 1993. Had a fuckin amazing time, but dunno how much of this was down to the snowballs, and the fact that I was very much in the honeymoon period of my relationship with this crazy machine music. Any time I saw him after this I was much more well versed in what good and bad DJing was and he didn't quite cut it. Always spun great tunes though...

Much preferred seeing him doing a live set, which happened for the first time on this occasion (Pussypower again), which was an excellent night.

What to say about this 12"? He was on fire at this point, pretty much everything he did 1992-94 blew me away. Both sides here are stunning, and you should definitely give over half an hour of your evening to listen to it in full.

I got the notion to upload this 'cos I've been listening to an old Tim Sweeney mix on the work journey today and it starts off with E2E4 (sampled on Remake Uno) and finishes with The Climax going into Cat Power(!), coupled with the fact that its big purple sleeve just jumped out at me...



Paperclip People - The Climax / Clear & Present (separate links for each track)
A - The Climax (Re-worked)
B - Clear & Present

Buy it here

Recloose - So This Is The Dining Room

Debut Planet E release for this act, aka beardy chin-stroking type Matthew Chicoine, from 1998.

This is a mixed bag, featuring a downtempo track mixed by Carl Craig (thumbs up), a jazzy track, and a classic Detroit-style track mixed by Carl Craig (big thumbs up). Guess which one's the duffer?

This 12" first came to my attention due to the big horrible-looking burger on the sleeve with hunners of reel-to-reel tape as a garnish AND an olive on top. Check it oot below, not very appetising is it? She's gonna hurt her hand on the top of that stick with the flag on it as well. She looks a bit fucked though, so might not notice till tomorrow...

Pick of the bunch for me is the B-side, which features Carl Craig's magic touch all over it. A great piece of music.

So... download the pack, listen to it in the correct order attempting the whole of A2, then more than likely delete track A2 and enjoy the magic of the other two tracks...



Recloose - So This Is The Dining Room
A1 - Dencity (mixed by Carl Craig)
A2 - Dislocate
B - MYM230 (R.I.P.) (mixed by Carl Craig)

Buy it here

Throbbing Gristle - Mutant TG

I've been a bit lazy this week what with one thing and another so here's a Saturday treat in the form of a double-pack of Throbbing Gristle remixes.

Carl Craig sets to work on a 9 minute epic version of classic Hot On The Heels Of Love on the A-side. The perfect balance between TG original and Craig's sprinkling of magic.

My first ever post was the first Sabres Of Paradise record, which was a Weatherall reworking of TG's United - two mixes which are still available to download (just right-click each link). The versions on here are completely different, having been done over 10 years later, and with Keith Tenniswood in tow. Astonishing - I'll be hammering the vocal mix tonight at the Bang Bang Club (12:30-5am at the Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh). I have a feeling things might get messy...

Track C1 sees original TG members Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti get their paws on both the above tracks to make HotHeelsUnited. This pair were VERY early on the acid scene and have continued to deliver top quality electronic music. They are on form here, with an outstanding pumping dance track.

On C2, Motor, who I recently saw supporting Depeche Mode, add their fucked up pulsing electronic touch to what was already a pretty fucked up track in the first place.

I can't quite believe who's in charge of the mix on side D - Ratcliffe, aka one half of Basement Jaxx. I'm no fan of them, in fact I'm in agreement with Mani & Bobby G here (classic car-crash pre-Glasto interview), but he turns in a very uplifting mix of Hot On The Heels Of Love. Uplifting? Throbbing Gristle? It wasn't suppoed to be so...

Anyway, this will be the last post before my first DJ gig in many a year at the Bang Bang Club. Don't expect anything tomorrow, might make it in on Monday but you never know...



Throbbing Gristle - Mutant TG
A - Hot On The Heels Of Love (Carl Craig Re-Version)
B1 - United (Two Lone Swordsmen Remix - Instrumental Version)
B1 - United (Two Lone Swordsmen Remix - Vocal Version)
C1 - HotHeelsUnited (Carter Tutti Remix)
C2 - Persuasion (Motor Remix)
D - Hot On The Heels Of Love (Ratcliffe Remix)

Buy it here

Inner City - Ahnonghay

The title's a bit of a mouthful, but here's three great mixes of Ahnonghay for ya. Dave Clarke was in the middle of his 'Red' period when he did it, and it sounds like it - take the spoken sample of the title off it and it's Red 2.5. I enjoyed Red 1 & 2 though, so this was a winner round at R-i-G towers back in the day.

It was always about the Carl Craig mix though, just for a change. It's magnificent - my interest in Craig dipped a bit after this with the Landcruising album, maybe I jut never gave it the attention it deserved but he was never an album artist in my opinion.

Still can't pronounce the title despite all the mixes featuring it. They seem to piss about with it as well, just to annoy you...



Inner City - Ahnonghay
A - Ahnonghay (Dave Clarke Mix)
B1 - Ahnonghay (Carl Craig Remix)
B2 - Ahnonghay (Original Reese Mix)

Buy it here

Kenny Larkin - Catatonic Mixes

I feel like I've been a bit Catatonic when it's come to this blog recently, but I've got hunners of extra work I need to do at home of an evening, which is interfering with valuable blogging/socialising time. It'll be over by this time next week (hopefully), so normal service should be resumed by then.

This was a bit of a departure for the R&S sound that I was used to from this period, as illustrated beautifully on the Optimo mixed CD mentioned below. Talking of which, I felt like I was back in Pure the other week at the launch party for that album. Classic after classic. It's been YEARS since I've been in a club where I knew (and have got somewhere) most of the records that got played. Cheers, Twitch!

Not even the classic R&S presentation - where's the black & silver / blue & silver Ferrari sleeve/label? The Designers' Republic as well, hmmm...

A couple of great Larkin tracks on the A-side here, Detroit-as-fuck with a helluva distorted kick drum on A1, with a beautiful melidic track afterwards. Magic!

Two great remixes on the flip, courtesy of Stacey Pullen and Carl Craig. Carl Craig's mix is up there with his best work in my opinion. No shit. Stacey Pullen adds a voice saying "the only choice" or something, another great mix. Aye, all in all a great EP - one where you can quite happily listen to all the tracks without feeling like you're getting four mixes of the same thing...



Kenny Larkin - Catatonic Mixes
A1 - First State
A2 - Second State
B1 - Third State (Carl Craig Remix)
B2 - Fourth State (Stacey Pullen Mix)

Buy it here

Paperclip People - 4 My Peepz

"This one's 4 my peepz"...

One of the last Carl Craig records I bought (from 1998), this sees him in Paperclip People mode (always a favourite pseudonym round these parts).

Quite a slow tune, it toddles along nicely for upwards of 12 mins, loads of great noises going on, and some of those trademark sudden changes of drum sound that he tends to fire into PP releases. Great remix on the flip as well, before this insane metallic sounding bonus track that's a bit nuts.

I had a laugh there when checking the stats for the blog - some Greek deviant had stumbled across the site by googling (on google.gr) "grandmothers fuck in shower" --> try clicking it, R-i-G comes up second! Hey - at least he ended up with a great Red Planet track to listen to while tugging himself off...



A - 4 My Peepz (Shot)
B1 - 4 My Peepz (Stabbed)
B2 - Untitled

Buy it here

Telex - Moskow Diskow (Remixes)

Originally a single in 1979 for Belgium's premier exponents of electronic disco pop (now THERE's a sentence I never thought I'd say), these 1998 remixes see Carl Craig take to the helm for an excellent 69-style remix (and dub), as well as a pumping Jay Denham mix complete with 'choo choo' effects...



Telex - Moskow Diskow (Remixes)
A - Moskow Diskow (Carl Craig Remix)
B1 - Moskow Diskow (Jay Denham Remix)
B2 - Moskow Diskow (Carl Craig Dub)

Buy it here

DBX - Losing Control (Remixes)

Three techno-tastic remixes of the Daniel Bell classic, courtesy of Carl Craig, Robert Hood and Richie Hawtin. They're all fairly minimal, but the original was as well so I guess that's fair enough.

A great wee tune, which I'd forgotten about until I saw it staring at me there out of a random box...



DBX - Losing Control (Remixes)
A - Carl Craig Remix
B1 - Robert Hood Remix
B2 - Richie Hawtin Remix

Buy it here

Psyche / Rhythim Is Rhythim - Relics (Album Sampler)

This Psyche track first got me into Carl Craig, played whilst he was DJing at the infamous Pussypower nights in Glasgow circa 1993. I bought a (long since departed) tape of the evening from one of the hosts (Terry) which featured this track and took the tape into various record shops until I got it. The mighty Rub-A-Dub only existed in Paisley at this point and and it wasn't worth getting stabbed to go there and get it.

I just love the fucked-up piano in it - you think it's all gone tits-up then it all just falls into place. A magnificent track - Craig at his best!

This 12" was a sampler for the 'Relics' album, so I've upped the other tracks which are both classics - a Carl Craig remix of Kao-Tic Harmony and a remix of Beyond The Dance.

They don't come much better than this - this is one of the best records I have...



A - Psyche - Crackdown (Re-Mix)
B1 - Rhythim Is Rhythim - Kao-Tic Harmony (Relic Of Relics) (Carl Craig Remix)
B2 - Rhythim Is Rhythim - Beyond The Dance (Re-Mix)

Buy it here

Various - Life Beyond Mars - Bowie Covered

Usually I run a mile from this sort of album, but the lure of Bowie being touched up by the likes of Carl Craig and Joakim was too much to resist. This is a surprisingly good set of techno / electro / fucked-up covers of tracks by David Bowie, a few unlikely track choices as well.

Mind you, I reckon the biggest Bowie fan you could find wouldn't recognise Life On Mars - I think The Thing is taking the piss with that one...



Various - Life Beyond Mars - Bowie Covered
A1 - Kelley Polar - Magic Dance (Harold And Baby O In Italy Version)
A2 - Carl Craig Presents Zoos Of Berlin - Looking For Water
A3 - Leo Minor - Ashes To Ashes
B1 - Heartbreak - Loving The Alien
B2 - Matthew Dear - Sound & Vision
B3 - Paper Jones - Sweet Thing
C1 - The Emperor Machine - Repetition
C2 - Susumu Yokota - Golden Years
C3 - Richard Walters & Faultline - Be My Wife
D1 - Joakim & The Disco - A New Career In A New Town
D2 - Au Revoir Simone - Oh! You Pretty Things
D3 - The Thing - Life On Mars

Buy it here

System 7 - Sirènes Remixes

It took me a while to get used to the concept of System 7, considering the whole Steve Hillage element. Got their first album and to be honest it was all a bit "poor man's Orb with shitey guitars" for me. I wanted it to be so much better. The second album was much better and sure enough there were a few great tracks on it. But hey - it was all about the remixes, maaan.

Acid Ted posted the Alpha Wave mixes a while back, so here's the companion 12" for Sirènes which I got free with the album (I think) - it's got a carefully 'peeled off the shrink wrap' sticker saying 'Includes Ltd Edition Sirènes 12" anyway...

Check out the remixers - three really good tracks which actually live up to their billing for once.



System 7 - Sirènes Remixes
A1 - Sirènes (Marshall Jefferson Mix)
A2 - Sirènes (Laurent Garnier Mix)
B1 - Sirènes (System 7.1) (Carl Craig)

Buy it here

Maurizio - Domina

Is this the best Maurizio release of all time? Surely must be a contender, with the sublime Carl Craig mix on one side and Moritz' own floorfiller on the flip. Nice yellow vinyl as well. 1993?? Mental...

This record blew me away when I first heard it. Not a word of a lie - I am getting goosebumps while keying this in, waiting for the Maurizio mix to do its cheeky fade then killer comeback. It happens about 7:40 in - I'm punching the air!

After a shitty Monday, this is just the ticket for putting a smile on yer face. Hallelujah!

Just found out that it is a remix of track B2 on this 1981 release by Die Dominas. I see there are a few not-very-cheap copies to be had on the Discogs marketplace. Phew!



Maurizio - Domina <-- new linky
A - Domina (Maurizio Mix)
B - Domina (C. Craig's Mind Mix)


Buy it here

Ultramarine - Hooter (Carl Craig Remix)

I was never a fan of Ultramarine, but this Carl Craig remix is top dollar. One of the few records I've got which feature a saxophone but don't let that put you off.

I was right into Carl Craig at this point, the man could do no wrong. Well, apart from the fact that he was (is?) pish at mixing, but who gives a fuck when he can knock out tracks like this for 2nd rate crusties...



Ultramarine - Hooter (Carl Craig Remix)

Buy it here

Dajae - Day By Day (Choice Remixes)

This was a 7-track remix double-pack on the legendary Cajual label from 1995. There are two Deep Dish mixes on side A which are pish - too slow and too much shitty vocal. Don't get me wrong, I've had a lot of time for Deep Dish over the years but these mixes are pure gash. Chez Damier and Ron Trent's vocal/dub mixes can get tae fuck as well...

So - here you go with a 'wheat from the chaff' version featuring an excellent Cajmere version (which keeps the vocal and uses it WAY better than either of the aforementioned cunts), a Carl Craig dub and a Green Velvet mix. These three tunes made it worth the money as they are all FAB.



Dajae - Day By Day Remixes:
1 - Carl Craig Dub
2 - Green Velvet Mix
3 - Cajmere Extended Mix

Zipped on ZShare

Buy it here

Psyche / BFC - Applied Rhythmic Technology...3

Bit of a repost here, as I'd previously fired up track B1 for downloading. Got a request from Acid Ted to get the other three up so here you go. Like I said before, three of the four tracks are fairly downbeat (in fact one is beatless), but if that floats yer boat then get stuck in. Not your average chill-out - this is pretty fucked-up shit.



A1 Psyche - Neurotic Behaviour
A2 Psyche - How The West Was Won
B1 BFC - Chicken Noodle Soup
B2 BFC - Sleep

Zipped on ZShare

Buy it here

BFC - Chicken Noodle Soup

"I WANT MY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP"... So goes the voice at the end of this track. That's you sorted if Carl Craig ever pops round for his dinner. He'd not get it in this house though, I'm more of a spicy tomato & lentil man myself.

This was always the stand-out track on this EP, the rest of it was a bit too downbeat for me. I like my Detroit techno to be dancey; leave the ambient noodling to the likes of The Orb, man.



BFC - Chicken Noodle Soup

Buy it here