Re:Make Re:Model Re:Markable

Re:Make Re:Model is the latest collection of remixes by Richard Norris, a person that I've pretty much run out of superlatives for when it comes to describing the quality and impact of his music.

I've been a subscriber since 2023, receiving new digital releases at least every month, sometimes several in one go. I also buy other new or old music outside of this, remixed by or crediting Richard.  All this and still at best, I would describe myself as an 'enthusiast'; given Richard's prodigious work rate, 'completist' remains an aspiration.

Re:Make Re:Model is a classic example. Available as a 12-track double vinyl or 19-track deluxe double CD or digital compilation, spanning 2010 to 2026, 11 of the 19 selections were completely new to me.

Richard himself modestly describes Re:Make Re:Model as "a variety of Balearic and dancefloor workouts", whilst I'd go a tad further by saying that it's a breathtaking study of the art of the remix, and a stunning snapshot of a master craftsperson. 

Where else might you find such an enriching collection of music, encompassing dub, folk, acid, ambient, vocals, instrumentals, genre-splicing dancefloor workouts and polished radio friendly hits?

It's Bandcamp Friday today. If you only buy one record, make it this one. Better still, buy the album and then subscribe. It'll be the two best decisions you'll have made this week, if not this year.

Here's a sample track from each of the four vinyl sides, plus one of the CD/digital 'bonus' tracks.

1) Alphaville (The Time And Space Machine Remix): Bryan Ferry (2011)

2) Before Tomorrow (Richard Norris' Avalon Remix): Hollow Hand ft. Tim Smith (2023)

3) Mesmerize (The Time & Space Machine Remix): Temples (2013)

4) Children (Richard Norris Remix): Joe Goddard (2017)

5) Find Yourself (Richard Norris Remix): Jacco Gardner (2015)

 

 

 

 

These Things That Stir Me Will Not Deter Me

Another highlight of last week's Bandcamp Friday purchases was a new song by Jo Bartlett. 

 

Drawing A Line (ghost tape no.2) is a lovely burbling, bass-heavy number replete with cassette hiss percussion, occasional jangly guitar and Jo's vocals floating and weaving through. As the sub-title suggests, it's a track from Jo's forthcoming album Ghost Tapes 1-9, due out on 26th April. 

 

Jo also has a band, Kodiak Island, who debuted with the Play To Your Strengths EP in 2022 and followed up with a new song, Innocence, late last year.

 

Back in December, I was 'introduced' to Jo's solo music via the Hardway Bros remix of her song Camden, released earlier in 2023 and a track which immediately secured a place in my end of year Imperfect List. 

 

Jo is no stranger to the remix, however. Polaris, a track by her former group The Yellow Moon Band got The Time & Space Machine treatment from Richard Norris way back in 2009.

It was a casual click onto Jo's music site Indie Through The Looking Glass and the 'About Jo B' page that provided the forehead slapping moment when I realised that Jo's been here all along and I hadn't made the connection. 

 

Case in point: It's Jo And Danny, whose folky pop I greatly enjoyed in the early 2000s.

Not afraid of the rework and reinvention even then, Let It Happen was remixed in 2003 by King Creosote.

 

Oh and Jo Bartlett and Danny Hagan also founded the Green Man Festival. Wow. And wow.

 

If you've got free time, I'd recommend a visit to Indie Through The Looking Glass, it's a fascinating - at times frustrating, at times heartbreaking - read of Jo's journey through music. Inspiring stuff.

 

And after you're done reading, then straight back to Bandcamp. A large chunk of Jo Bartlett's back catalogue, including It's Jo And Danny, The Yellow Moon Band and C86 contenders Bluetrain, is available. Absolutely make a beeline for her material from the last 18 months and work your way back.

Clarity

Just over a month since wishing Richard Norris a happy birthday and hinting at a follow-up selection, here it is, all fifty seven and a half minutes of loveliness for a Sunday.

 

The forecast was for nothing but rain but instead the sun is streaming through the windows, with clear blue skies as far as I can see, a reminder that summer is still here.

 

Today's selection spans an incredible 35 years, from Richard's early sonic experiments with Genesis P-Orridge/Psychic TV resulting in the seminal Jack The Tab album, founding The Grid with Dave Ball and Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve with Erol Alkan, further experiments with The Time & Space Machine and currently, a prolific output in his own name, not least the Music For Healing longform series and Oracle Sound dub excursions. 

 

I am in awe.

 

It's been a year of tough choices and occasionally poor decisions, but one of my best was to take up a subscription to the Inner Mind members' club via Bandcamp. I enthused about it last time and I'd recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed this selection, particularly the opening and closing brace of tracks. It really is money well spent. Thanks, Richard!

 

1) Golden Waves (2020)

2) Coral 2 (Edit) (2022)

3) Without Your Clarity I Would Still Be Bound By Gravity (Boundless Mix By Richard Norris & Dave Ball): The Grid (1993)

4) Move With The Season (Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve Reanimation) (Remix By Richard Norris & Erol Alkan): Temples (2014)

5) Frontera Del Ensueño (Radio Edit By The Grid aka Richard Norris & Dave Ball): Rey De Copas (1989)

6) Oxygen: Griselda (Genesis P-Orridge & Richard Norris) (1988)

7) The Throw - Levitational (Remix By The Time & Space Machine aka Richard Norris): Jagwar Ma (2014)

8) After The Gold Rush (Cover of Neil Young): The Time & Space Machine ft. Raissa Khan-Panni (2010)

9) Water (Dohnavùr's Werra Foxma Remix By Alasdair O'May & Frazer Brown): Richard Norris ft. Bishi Bhattacharya (2021)

10) Free Ride: Richard Norris (2021)

11) Shark Tooth Dub Extended 2 (Edit): Richard Norris (2023)

1988: Jack The Tab: Acid Tablets Volume One: 6

1989: Frontera Del Ensueño EP: 5

1993: Crystal Clear EP: 3

2010: Set Phazer To Stun: 8

2014: Sun Restructured: 4

2014: The Time And Space Machine Dub Sessions: 7

2020: Golden Waves EP: 1

2021: Hypnotic Response: 10

2021: Water EP: 9

2022: Coral EP: 2

2023: Oracle Sound Volume One: Bonus Dubs EP: 11

Clarity (57:31) (KF) (Mega)

 

Further Dubhed selections from the archives:

The Grid (3rd December 2022)

Beyond The Wizards Sleeve (23rd July 2021)

Heavenly Weatherall

I returned late from work to find this pair of beauties dropped through my letter box: the Heavenly Remixes collection, volumes 1-4 on CD, 41 tracks in all for a bargain price. 

 

Volumes 1&2 provide a brief history of Heavenly remixes 1990-2020, from Moonflowers' Get Higher/Get Dubber to Graham Massey's remix of Working Men's Club.

Volumes 3&4 follows pretty much the same timeline, subtitled Andrew Weatherall Volume 1&2, featuring 16 of The Guv'nor's finest, from Heavenly's very first release The World According To Sly & Lovechild  through to 2019's remix of Devils Angels by Unloved (aka David Holmes and friends.

 

Each volume is also available as double vinyl set; great value but at nearly £100 for the lot, a little out of my reach. Several of the tracks are available for the first time in each respective format, so a tempting offer whichever format you prefer.

I've not had a chance to fully absorb each set or upload the fresh digital versions, so today's selection is a sampler from both, using (in some cases inferior quality) versions that I already own. Needless to say, the parent collections will be dominating this weekend's playlist.

 

1) Finally (Time & Space Machine Re-Edit By Richard Norris) (Cover of Ce Ce Peniston): Cherry Ghost (2010)

2) Gandhi (Andy Weatherall Remix II): Le Corps Mince De Françoise (2010)

3) Los Americanos (Mother Mix): Espiritu (1993)

4) Out The Window (Andrew Weatherall Remix): Confidence Man (2018)

5) Filthy (Monkey Mafia Vocal Mix By Jon Carter): Saint Etienne ft. Q-Tee (1996)

6) Compulsion (Andrew Weatherall Remix): Doves (2008)

Heavenly Weatherall (43:12)
 

Buy Heavenly Remixes volumes 1-4 on Bandcamp