1. Bjork – “Batchelorette” (Alec Empire Remix) – Digital Hardcore/OneLittleIndian
The Ice Princess at her most haunting. Noise God Alec Empire at his most ferocious! a criminally underrated sensory assault I dare to listen to at full volume. Simply mind-blowing!
2. Acen – “A Trip to the Moon” – Production House Records
This is a seemingly forgotten classic from the last great british music movement. Forget “New Rave” This is the real deal!
3. The Cure – “A Forest” – Fiction Records
A pre-makeup Robert Smith shows early greatness in this drum machine driven, post punk tour de force.
4. Arvo Part – “Fratres” – ECM
Stirring minimalist piano and violin from the Estonian living legend. At 73, he’s still composing and just gets better and better with age.
5. Kraftwerk – “Radioactivity” – EMI
To me, this is Kraftwerk’s Melancholic masterpiece. Taken from the album of the same name, there have been some unfortunate remixes over the years but the original still shines as bright as ever.
6. Joni Mitchell – “The Circle Game” – Reprise
While Big Yellow Taxi is this album’s pop hit, This superb closer is a subtle and beautiful ode to life. Lahaim.
7. Mercury Rev – “Holes” – V2
Mercury Rev’s finest moment. Epic, cinematic and heart-wrenching. Five minutes and fifty six seconds of spine tingling brilliance.
8. Egyptian Empire – “The Horn Track” – Music Worx
Breakbeat terror of unrivalled brutality. To think, this was a top 10 single back in ’92. Times have sadly changed.
9. Shigeru Umebayashi – “Yumeji’s Theme” – Block 2 Pictures
From the classic ‘In The Mood For Love’, a hypnotic waltz you’ll lose yourself inside of every time you hear it
10. Shangri-Las – “Remember (walking in the sand)” – San Juan Music
The original blue-eyed soul girls delivering their trade mark atitude-pop.
Check the seagull samples around 56 seconds in-and this was back in 1964! Fantastic!!
Zan Lyons is performing in Underdrome at the Roundhouse on 22nd until 24th May. Tickets available from the Roundhouse: http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/productions/underdrome-2957
