Firstly, thanks to DMC World for having me, and to Tony and Dave at Ten One for setting this up. Here are my selections for Back To Mine:
INXS – Need You Tonight (WEA) 1987
This is totally unique in terms of its moody, sensual vibe. Michael Hutchinson fronted the act perfectly and it seemed incredible that such an erotic sounding record could chart so highly alongside candy floss pop on daytime radio. The guitar hook alongside sparse drum programming gave it a very futuristic feel. A sleazy vibe that many house records would attempt to capture years later.
Roy Budd – Carter Catches A Train (Cargo) 1971
This is an incredibly haunting piece of music. The original film starring Michael Caine is a dark, almost soulless venture into organized crime but features some melancholic beauty on screen as well as a moving soundtrack. Lead character Jack Carter (Caine) takes a train up to Northern England to discover what happened to his brother and the music captures his venture into unknown territory so well. Bleak 1970s industrial England captured in under 3 minutes of audio.
Simple Minds – Street Fighting Years (UMG) 1989
Sticking with the train theme, I used to bunk off from school and catch the train from London to Scotland. I was enthralled by the fascinating scenery as it became ever more rugged, this album playing on my Sony Walkman. The title track of the album has three main sections, perhaps similar to how Bohemian Rhapsody is constructed, three entirely different themes that combine to make a brilliant symphony, but in fact the entire LP is sublime.
New Order – True Faith (Warners) 1987
I´m sure many other Back To Mine contributors have featured New Order. So many tracks over the years with intelligent lyrics, melodies tugging at the heart strings in the way only New Order can. I heard it a few years ago playing on a PA at a football ground, and it blew me away once more.
![New Order - True Faith (1987) (Official Music Video) [HD REMASTERED]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mfI1S0PKJR8/0.jpg)
Kraftwerk – Das Model (WMG) 1978
Had to feature Kraftwerk in this Back To Mine rundown. Das Model was just ridiculously futuristic. Was a tossup between this and Tour De France, but Das Model’s ear-worm hook just swung it for me. The understated drums give it that funky, kitsch pop vibe, the vocal purposely monotone and flat-lining in terms of emotion, the synths left to provide the heartfelt melodies that turn it into a masterpiece from another planet.
Inner City – Praise (FSOL remix) (Ten City) 1993
The club mix was a big 4/4 house record, but the Future Sound Of London remix really did it for me. For me, one of the ultimate prog records, very long and driving and with two extended breaks. Way ahead of its time. It even kept some of the original vocal too. At over 15 mins, it´s quite a trip.
Stone Roses – This Is The One (Silvertone) 1989
I went through a rough time in my personal life a while back and found myself locked in a room listening to this record over and over again for days.
Ricardo Villalobos – Dexter (Believe) 2003
Haunting, minimal sound, bordering on disturbing. The clip features the first horror movie which makes for a terrifying yet beautiful experience. I’ve tried to select tracks which illicit some deep emotional response in me, this is one such track. This is a memorizing, stoned afterhours vibe. Unique, post modernism.
Primal Scream – Don’t Fight It, Feel It (The Scat mix) (Sire) 1992
One of the late great Andrew Weatherall´s masterpieces, a stunning piece of music. Also with many themes running through it, this blew me away and it took me a while to track it down (thanks Danny Howells) in 2009.
Brothers Love Dubs – The Mighty Ming (Stress) 1992
Another one from 1992. Dave Seaman´s Brothers In Rhythm act were responsible for many cutting edge tracks (and high profile remixes of pop acts too), and this is one of my favs. The main break is just sublime with those chords, I could listen over and over and my body would maintain the same wonderful visceral response. Outstanding peak time prog from Dave and Co.
Paul Sparkes – Mc Carthy (incl. Air Jackson, ACI TONA Remixes) (Ten One Records)
Amsterdam-base d talent Paul Sparkes is a well-established DJ and producer who has headlined at clubs across the globe including Ministry Of Sound and Pacha New York whilst playing sets at Amsterdam Dance Festival and SXSW. With a history dating back to over two decades, Sparkes previous releases have seen him land on Nervous Records, Baroque Recordings and Polar Noise Records, gaining support from the likes of BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong, Mark Knight, Carl Cox and Nic Fanciulli. Following the release of his ‘Sela’ single on the label earlier this year, he now returns with ‘Mc Carthy’, accompanied by remixes from Ten One head honcho’s Air Jackson and ACI TONA this October. The pummelling ‘Mc Carthy’ fuses smooth rhythms alongside sweeping synth lines and acid arrangements to unveil an extremely captivating dancefloor-driven production. Next up, Air Jackon unveils his high-octane remix, combining slick drum licks with elevating melodies and the original’s acidic tones, whilst ACI TONA’s remix takes the production down a dark and mysterious path, integrating delicate, trippy vocals beside atmospheric pads and hard-hitting drums which contribute to the package’s moody vibe.
