Dynamic duos are everywhere in dance music, but they don’t come much dynamic than Dudley Strangeways and Michael McLardy. The Leftback boys share a unique chemistry in the way they approach music, DJ and run the label together and from that perspective their initiation here into the Back 2 Mine series is most certainly merited. With that in mind they both picked a few tracks here. As you’d expect, it’s an amalgamation of uptempo, down tempo and chill out tracks. Sounds about as idiosyncratic as the guys’ music if you ask us…
Serge Gainsbourg – Cargo Culte
D – One of my all-time favourite tracks, the production is amazing. There’s definitely something about the way music was recorded in the early seventies that gives it that ‘you can almost taste it feel’ with massive separation in the instruments and the mix. The dynamics of the track are also really special as it just builds and builds towards the end with some of the vocals being way too loud in the mix but it all just works perfectly. It’s very trippy and one for later on in the night when everyone’s a little more twisted!
Cigarettes After Sex – Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby
M – I discovered this band by accident when listening to music on Youtube and fell in love with Greg Gonzalez’s voice. I bought a 12” EP they’d self-released in 2012 from the bands website which included this track and have seen them perform live since. The music has a certain romance and is very melancholy and raw sounding and they’re now touring all over the world so would highly recommend going to see them play.
King Tubby – Flag Dub
D – I’m a massive Dub and Roots Reggae nut and a huge sucker for a spring reverb and a tape delay; not forgetting the bass lines and the syncopated guitars. It’s hard to pick a favourite but this is up there for sure, King Tubby never fails.
Chromatics – In the City
M – I discovered this record after hearing the ‘Lost River’ movie soundtrack and then listening to the earlier releases on Johnny Jewels Italian’s Do It Better label. Its modern synth pop with a bit of a 1980’s feel to it and this track featured on an EP by the Chromatics released on 2010 amongst 6 other tracks including an instrumental version of ‘In the City’. It’s not ground breaking but very enjoyable to listen to.
Jimi Hendrix – Hey Joe
D – I’ve always had a massive soft spot for this record and it’s a similar production quality to the “Cargo Culte” track. The production is real thick and I just love the roughness of Jimi’s voice, the guitar solos and vocal harmonies are also something else.
Kings of Leon – Knocked Up
M – I’ve been a big Kings of Leon fan for a lot of years now and this is one of my favourite records they’ve made from their third album ‘Because of the Times’. I’ve heard criticism from older fans regarding the new material not being as good and I can understand why as their sound has progressed however personally I love all of their records.
Happy Mondays – Step On
D – I think I must have something for people who don’t have the most perfectly pitched vocals. I do love the whole ethos behind the Mondays, that they don’t really care and this comes across in their music, it just portrays that they’re just having a good time and let’s face it who doesn’t want to have fun. The piano riff that runs through the track is very 90’s rave I’m still upset that I was too young to visit the Hacienda and experience the whole Factory Records era first hand. One of my ‘invite anyone dead or alive to a dinner party’ would 100% be Tony Wilson, what a legend.
Traumprinz – 2 Bad (DJ Metatron ‘What If Madness Is The Only Relief’ Rework)
M – I speak for both of us when I say this record reminds us of playing in Tulum, Mexico for Comunite last year. After almost not making it to the festival we heard Traumprinz playing his new album from the terrace outside of our room whilst sat in the sun and this track was a moment of pure bliss.
Roots Manuva – Witness the Fitness
D – Not much to say about this apart from it’s an absolute banger! It’s always good to have a little skank. Taken from his second album released in 2001 on Ninja Tune & Big Dada.
Aphex Twin – Rhubarb
M – This is one of my all-time favourite ambient works alongside ‘Music for Airports’ by Brian Eno and ‘Far Away Trains Passing By’ by Ulrich Schnauss. I picked this track due to the sheer simplicity of the music. It changes very subtly with very little to it but still manages to resonate a huge amount of emotion and plunges you into a moment of quiet reflection – In my opinion anyway. An ideal end of the afters track when no one has the energy to talk to each other anymore.
