Back To Mine with Greg May

Essex based DJ and Producer Greg May delivers a stunning Back To Mine 10 on the eve of his new ‘Lix Mix’ EP release coming out via Hottwerk Records. A firm favourite at clubs and events across the UK plus radio stations including Kiss and Project London, this cracking EP is a cheeky, high impact selection of rockets that cannot fail to get you moving. Just like his Back To Mine selection…

Volume Ten – Pride

Although I initially grew up listening to Hip Hop this was one of the first tunes I was feeling with a more soulful vocal. The low slung beats and dub influences were unusual at the time paired with quite a commercial, yet silky smooth, vocal. There’s also plenty of long, instrumental bits to lose yourself to.  The production team, Jolley/Harris/Jolley aka Circuit released “Shelter Me” of which Bizarre Inc sampled the vocal to devastating effect in “Playing With Knives”.

Tomas – Mind Song

As with many of the classic, cherished house records they have very little elements. They just work. This is a production masterclass. I first heard it on Steve Jackson’s Kiss FM show in ‘91. That was my church back then along with Colin Dale and Colin Faver’s shows. Your ears will tell you the quality, I need say no more. Despite making this stone cold killer on the amazing Warp Records, he didn’t release any more House records, instead choosing to start UK Hip hop Label, Low Life Records, home to Jehst and Skinnyman.

DJ Tamsin & The Monk – A Better Place (DJ Trace Mix)

This literally brings tears to my eyes. It plays out like a really epic film set over a lifetime with the bells being the birth at the start and the ups and downs being depicted by the amazing micro edited amen break throughout.  The strings are so very emotional representing the good times and the life moments. I’ve never written my thoughts about this tune before and didn’t realise they went so deep! White House Records was the home to so much wicked DnB ‘93 onwards.

Chubb Rock – Treat ‘Em Right

Hip Hop is all about the flow and this flows like the Amazon! Party starting, Hip Hop at its’ best. I vividly remember the serious b-boys dancing to this in our local Rave night, The Ark, in ’91! Due to it’s 116 bpm tempo, the House DJ’s could easily mix in with the 120bpm house tempo at that time (before the rapid European Techno/Hardcore beats took over!)

Prince Jazzbo – Crab Walking

I always had a real love for reggae/dancehall/dub and this cheeky number is still certified 100% fresh despite being out of Jamaica in’72.

Maurice Joshua · Chantay Savage – I Gotta Hold On U (Steve Silk Hurley Silky Scat Dub)

A classic Steve Silk Hurley production, not quite as well known as his Kym Sims productions, but a go-to record for me. Bought in Romford’s Sounds Familiar Records in ‘92 for 20p! Props to E-Smoove and Maurice Joshua too. Re-released in digital format last year if you wants to buy now, plus lots of vinyl on Discogs!  

A.S.K. – Dream

So, this is again a forgotten gem. It was played continuously on Kiss FM’s test broadcasts when they gained their legal licence. Kirsty Hawkshaw later joined the group to form Opus III, releasing the much sampled hit “It’s A Fine Day”.

INXS – Original Sin

Prior to my electronic music addiction I was a huge INXS fan, seeing them at Wembley in November ’90. This is still a wicked song with a good message. Darryl Hall of Hall & Oates actually sings the chorus with Michael Hutchence at the request of the great, Nile Rodgers, the producer of this and many other INXS songs.    

Depeche Mode – Enjoy the Silence (The Quad: Final Mix)

Of course we all know the original, but this 15 minute, limited edition mix opened my eyes as to what a record could be as this breaks down into the most emotional, classical arrangement. When you love a record as much as I did this extravaganza was heaven to my 16 year old self! Happy tears rolling as I type this…

The KLF – What Time Is Love? (Virtual Reality Mix)

This was something I bought on release thinking it was going to be a similarly ravey remix like the original. How mistaken was I?! This was unknowingly, my introduction to ambient! I didn’t get it at first as I was a teenager into rave, but after a while it became a treasured twelve. It’s just an example of how a loose musical arrangement, seminal film dialogue, bleeps, sheep, the Dr Who Theme, ethereal vocals and various effects can amount to something truly sublime, beautiful and untouchable. A fitting end to my “Back to Mine”. Night, night, sleep tight…x