048. Annie – Don’t Stop

Record collecting is a labour intensive activity. While collections do expand organically, they do not osmotically develop. For a killer collection, you need to do your homework. Listening to other DJs is of course the easiest option. Last week, Nemone, playing on BBC 6 Music, the endangered home of intelligent, challenging and high quality alternative music, dropped the stunning Swiss Donnie Sloan Remix of Annie – Songs Remind Me Of You.

Instantly, the urge kicked in; that driving force which painful pushes each and every record collector; the desire to know exactly what your hearing, which record label its on, who produced it, and when. You need to own that record. Life won’t be complete until you do. Already you can see it sitting in the dusty collection, ready and waiting to jump out and clap you round the ears with its sheer sonic brilliance.

While the remix was nice, I was completely unprepared for the original. Firing up the youtube video for the track, the uptempo synthpop chugger made me want to buy the album instantly. Even if this was the only quality track it would be worthwhile buying. Buying blind isn’t something I’ve done in a long time.

Sadly, the LP doesn’t quite live up to the standard of this single. We’re offered a generally inoffensive wonkypop album which doesn’t quite find the same gear as Songs Remind Me Of You manages. At the end of play, you can help but be left with the sad feeling that this song would be number one if only it were performed by Xenomania’s brightest stars: Girls Aloud.

Annie - Songs Remind Me Of You by dcp84

Annie – Don’t Stop : Songs Remind Me Of You
[Smalltown Supersound : STS178LP]
(2009)

Discogs: €26.57 EUR

041. Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster

Well, that was an adventure. Normality has returned after my pretentions at becoming a camouflaged civil servant have come to an abrupt halt. The whys and wherefores are best left for another medium, but it does mean that I can now concentrate on vastly more important things; collecting records again.

I’d love to open things up with an uber-cool, rare as you like, underground techno 12” on a limited pressing white label that you’d never recognise, let alone have heard before. However, DMM is about much more than tune spotter elitism. It’s simply about good music.

So what is it about Lady Gaga then? DMM reckons she’s properly awesome. Detractors may write her off as another Madonna, but they’re failing to pick up the delightful veins of irony sparkling through her work. Her persona flirts with the borderline between the serious and ironic so as to leave her audience guessing. Is this genuine or is this all an elaborate ruse?

A more apt parallel would be made by pointing to Marilyn Manson. He sculpted a stage character, an associated vibe and contextualising backdrop, all of which combining to create a product which is more than just the music. Not only this, but both of them seem to be able to push the right buttons in public consciousness at the right time in order to get a raise, though admittedly in very different spheres of influence.

Others claim she’s unoriginal. Certainly, if you listen to a Gaga record, you’ll have heard the elements before. However, much like the KLF, or say Xenomania, she picks and chooses with intelligence, shuffling elements together to create her own work.

As always on DMM, we might be over thinking things a bit. Stripping the analysis away, all we have here are solid synth laden pop tunes with infectious lyrics. Plus, how powerful is that gothic cover photo? In and of its self, this is enough to warrant adding The Fame Monster to the collection.

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance by dcp84

Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster: Bad Romance
[Interscope : B 001382101]
(2009)

Juno: £18.79

039. Ghost Dance - Gathering Dust

As the leaves turn delightfully to myriad shades of red, orange and yellow, my running routes begin to feel extensively barren, no longer bulked out with a fleshy green padding. This annual transformation also affects my musical purchasing and playing habits too. As the days get shorter and nights become longer, the techno gets more mechanical, looped and harder, trance becomes deeper, hypnotising but with an uncomfortable edge, all the while 80s post-punk and goth storm up the playlists.

Gathering Dust is the latest purchase in the latter category. Radiating with eyeliner and big haired charm, Ghost Dance dropped into existence during the deepest darkest depths of 1985 when Anne-Marie Hurst (née Skeletal Family), and Gary Marx (née The Sisters of Mercy) got together to write some tunes after leaving their respective bands. The history of their journey can be heard clearly throughout the LP. Expect drum machine rhythms, twangly reverbed lead guitar lines, and lots of lead like work with the bass guitar. In retrospect, this almost seems generic and clichéd, but at the time this was “the” sound to have. I only wish my own musical talents could craft something similar.

Gathering Dust was a compilation LP, collating the bands collected material thus far. Sadly though, this was to mark a shift in Ghost Dance’s sound. Much like The Banshees and The Cure, by the 90’s their releases became markedly more mainstream and pop oriented.

Anne-Marie Hurst, of whom I can’t quite decide if she’s mega-hot or not, though will give the benefit of the doubt, is apparently back in the musical game. With a new line up, she will be performing both Skeletal Family and Ghost Dance tracks with some new ones thrown in for good measure. You can find out some more info here, on her myspace. Be sure to check out the youtube video of a Deeper Blue, she still sounds fantastic, her voice aging very well. I’d be very tempted, but my bank manger is less than supportive, not to mention the fact that I now know how far up the M1 Bradford really is.

Plus it's on my birthday, and will be celebrating in kind.

Ghost Dance - A Deeper Blue by dcp84

Ghost Dance – Gathering Dust: A Deeper Blue
[Karbon : KAR XL303]
(1987)

Discogs: €20.80

030. Michal David - Non Stop

When you go somewhere abroad it’s always nice to return with a souvenir as a memento of your travels. Rather than opt for a poorly moulded piece of plastic tat, or an ‘hilariously’ branded t-shirt, I think it’s much more fun to take a gamble on some indigenous music. While the adage, ‘never judge a book by its cover’ does hold some truth, when you can’t speak in local tongues, appearances and intuitions are the only tools at ones disposal.

In a dusty record shop off Old Square in central Prague, I picked up Michal David - Non Stop. Why? Because if he’s playing a keytar, it HAS to be good. David’s weapon of choice is the Roland SH-101, a powerful and sexy ‘80s analogue. During the 1980s, David quickly climbed to fame in Czechoslovakia, though by 1989 was seen as a yes-man to the Communist regime which was to rapidly lose state control. 1989 famously marked the Czech Velvet Revolution, which produced a relatively blood-free transition from Soviet controlled Communism to Democracy.

The piece lifted from this album is Zastav Můj Čas, a funky up-tempo number full of poppy goodness. As to they lyrical content one can only speculate based on the musical feel of the song. Perhaps this is a blatant piece of Communist propaganda, all profits going to the state. Or maybe this is a ‘look at me now, I bet you didn’t think I had that in me, did you?’ song. Either way, I’m not entirely sure I do want to know what he’s on about. If I did, that would destroy the magic. For now I’ll just imagine he’s singing the praises of state controlled capitalism.

Michal David - Non Stop: Zastav Můj Čas
[Supraphon : 1113 3554 H]

Music Antiquariat, Prague, Czechoslovakia: Kč 0.50

029. Depeche Mode - Sounds Of The Universe

Sounds of the Universe has sat at home in my vinyl 'in' pile for weeks since release. After the initial listen, I've procrastinated, delayed, excused and postponed sitting down, putting on the needle and writing about it. When a band of the undeniable international uber-stardom calibre of the mode require review, one is slightly reticent that the language at my disposal is adequate to do justice to their offerings. When I wrote about Construction Time Again (007), it felt forced and unnatural. This unease becomes multiplied by my own overpowering love for everything produced by the band. They are my absolute, without question, all time hero worship, without doubt mega-favourite band.

Before Sounds, their 12th studio album, 2005's Playing The Angel marked an amazing return to form. The album was dark, introspective, and sombre, but peppered with flecks of hope and redemption. Admittedly, these themes are nothing new for the mode, having made their name exploring these realms. This time, however, it seemed focused and tight, as if the band had honed their skills, the album gelling together in a cohesive unit. It was done with aplomb, precision and attention to detail, entrenching their image as the dark lords of synth-goth.

After listening, writing, re-listening, and re-writing this post, I can only really come to one conclusion: this isn’t as good as Playing The Angel. While Playing lyrically felt cutting, deep and sombre, Sounds just feels angsty, teeny and generally shallow. Playing was sonically hard and harsh, Sounds is light and fluffy. The album cover seems to echo the quality of the music: generally bland, uninspiring, and grey.

At first I though that comparison between the two was simply because of the shared producer, Ben Hillier. Then it hit me. The real problem is that Playing is my favourite mode album; the next was always going to be a let down. So, is Sounds vintage mode? Not quite, but there are some nice tracks, and well, it’s Depeche Mode, of course I still love it.


Depeche Mode - Sounds Of The Universe: Hole To Feed
[Mute : STUMM300]
(2009)

Amazon: £22.98

027. Rex The Dog - The Rex The Dog Show

In the digital age of music distribution, rarity is an elusive value. Thankfully, the digital mode of production has not as yet entirely replaced the crumbling machinery of the physical; new vinyl is being pressed. So, when one of your favourite artists puts out a release on your preferred medium in a limited edition, you really can’t afford to say no.

The Rex The Dog Show, released a few months prior on CD, makes its appearance on vinyl, delightfully restricted to a 1000 copy picture disc pressing. I have at length sung the praises of Rex The Dog: Example I, Example II. As such I’ll try and eulogize conservatively. Rex The Dog is fantastic, as is his album. There, done. Sadly though, the chiptune-esque Italian Blonde, in addition to his remix of Client’s Radio are absent. Regardless of these notable omissions there is only one fundamental message that should be taken from this 12”. This album isn’t about sitting at home. It’s about going out and hearing them on a decent size rig with accompanying visuals, played by the man himself. If this doesn’t whet the appetite nothing will. Every time I hear one of his tunes, I just want to be behind the decks, needle on the record watching the reaction as the tune drops.

With a limited pressing, might I be wise to leave this one in its sleeve for posterity? In record collecting circles, many regard the status ‘unplayed’ as the pinnacle. An entire Beatles back catalogue unplayed would probably be enough to retire on, even at my tender 24 years. This misses the point somewhat. This is collecting for collecting sake. Those who do this would be equally as content collecting any number of other miscellanea. A record collection should be there to be enjoyed, be a reflection of your own individual tastes, interests and musical explorations. Regardless how rare, how expensive or how delicate an item is, it must be played.

That doesn’t mean one should be reckless. Certainly, this will be played on rare and special occasions. Definitely, this will not be taken out to DJ with. However, one of those special moments has been captured and presented here on DMM. The problem lay in deciding which one. I could have gone anthem bashing and chosen the most well know, I could have done the decent thing and chosen an under exposed tune. In the end I just chose my favourite.

Rex The Dog - The Rex The Dog Show: Prototype
[Hundehaus : HUND001VP]
(2009)

Juno: £14.23

007. Depeche Mode - Construction Time Again

Construction Time Again marked Depeche Mode’s third full LP release. At this point, the popier, mainstream cadence of the first two albums was starting to be replaced by a thicker, darker, industrial and inherently more dramatic quality. The progeny of this sound would ultimately come to be so strongly associated with the band. Recorded six years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the cold war leaves its mark etched across the album; a muscular, sledge hammer wielding man focuses the attention on the artwork, reverberating with soviet iconography, while the perils of nuclear destruction and evils of unfettered capitalism are dealt with lyrically. The standout track has to be Everything Counts which was the first single released from the album. To this day it remains a firmly established highlight in live sets. While DM had yet to find full swing, this marks the start of their upward momentum.

Depech Mode - Construction Time Again : Everything Counts
[Mute : STUMM 13]
(1983)