Hashim – Al Naafiysh (The Soul) [Streetwave]
Cameron : This was the original electro record that got me in techno, my neighbour used to breakdance to it out in the yard. Pure simplicity with focus on quality ingredients – bass, synths, drums and a mean robot voice, “it’s tiiiiiiiiiiiiime…..”
Information Society – Running (Instrumental) [Wide Angle]
Cameron : A Tommy Boy Records classic I picked up in Greek Street Records in Soho before it became a pouny restaurant, still in my mind the best bass sound of all time by miles, and great synths.
Scritti Politti – Boom! There She Was (Dub) And Oh Patti (12″ Extended Mix) [Virgin]
Hal : Green Gartside’s blissfully clean pop production is revealed in its full glory as fresh and funky chilled electronica in the extended and dub versions of his 80s hits.
Miles Davis – Blue In Green [Columbia]
Hal : The ultimate chill out track. The total antidote to a head full of club music.
Afrika Bambaataa – Bambaataa’s Theme [Tommy Boy]
Cameron : The first track to be based on John Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13, but to magnificent effect on this one. The perfect blend of electro And hip-hop, from the days when the two were one and the same. Was mixed brilliantly with Grandmaster Flash on Electro 13, my first ever album.
Rhythm Is Rhythm – Nude Photo [Transmat]
Cameron : Derrick May produced this shortly before the much better known Strings of Life, I prefer this as it’s more understated and subtle, a more beautiful electro track that at the time sounded unlike anything else I’d heard. (I had breakfast with this bloke after a rave in Scotland once, wasn’t till afterwards I realised who he was!)
The Police – Once Upon A Daydream [A&M]
Hal : This ultra obscure B side is an understated psychotic brooding masterpiece. The great Annie Nightingale used to play it regularly on her show. When I met her I thanked her for introducing me to this amazing piece of music. Unfortunately she didn’t seem to remember the song at all. Ho hum.
Scott Grooves – Mothership Reconnection (Daft Punk 12″ Mix) [Virgin]
Hal : Includes the greatest ever “fuck yeah!” moment in the history of dance music. At 1:46 into the track.
Just-Ice “Back to the Old School” [Fresh Records]
Hal : No not Justice. Just-Ice! This is kind of a retro double wammy, in that you go back 20 years, to find a rap record that even THEN was trying to be Old School! The real star of the show is the incredible production by the very young Kurtis Mantronic at his most edgy and innovative.
Deltawave – Strychnine And Soda Ep [Mofohifi Records]
Hal : A dark indie electropop band coming out of York at the moment, brilliantly taking the spirit of new order, human league, early depeche mode etc and updating it for the new millennium.
THE YOUNG PUNX ‘YOU’VE GOT TO…’ IS RELEASED THIS WEEK ON MOFOHIFI RECORDS.