P.O.T (The Break)

Let me indulge here with some classic synth pop from the early 90s and 80s with some Depeche Mode of course.  P.O.T The break is taken here from "Policy of Truth" was so hard to resist upon a recent vinyl listen of Violator  which was their breakthrough release that catapulted them into the stratosphere.  I realized  the appeal of the break wasn't just the base but his sort of sedated eastern sounds so I added tome other effects to enhance to the point of a syncopated and meditative sounds. There are two versions here, one is straight out and the other one over indulged by adding some parts Boy George's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" just for kicks. Enjoy!

and here is the Boy George version

 

He Is

Here I'm doing my take on spiritual house with some new agey elements from Cluster and Brian Eno and Boy George flirtations with Krishna on top of Copyright's  "He Is". Enjoy

After The Love

What do we do after the love is gone? What a disgrace this president has been!  On top of that, I've been feeling a bit down in my heart and mind for reasons of my own making of course.  I know I will get through this and get back up, however, as usually music saved my life.  I first intended to rework "Love So Special" by Ceybil but due to copyright issues I couldn't release it and post it on Soundcloud.  No worries,  I will release it as part of the Summer 18 mix which  is coming up soon. Anyway, tt's OK because the next one in line made it first. This house oddity was created by icon Boy George during his Jesus Loves You period where he went rave and house at the same time while creating a sort of new persona by producing and collaborating rather than inserting himself as the sole creator of this project. The result was interesting and obviously it's all over the place yet indeed it worked here specially with  a favorite from this era "After The Love" pays respects to house and with a little bit acid house as well. Don't you just love him! Anyhow, this is my attempt to emphasize my favorite breaks with some strings added by yours truly and taking to it the next level by infusing Indeep's "Last Night A DJ Save My Life (Acapella)" which ironically that was when Boy George  officially went DJ on us saving his and our lives. Enjoy! 

Disco TV: Steve Strange

I'm officially starting a new series called Disco TV which will be devoted to some interesting videos and documentaries devoted to disco and and dance music in general.  Here is a nice homage to the late great Steve Strange! RIP

Certain Things Are Likely

Last October,  I went out for Halloween and decided to dress up this time around as post new romantic look inspired by Boy George circa 1984. The results were hilarious and upon arriving at this local gay bar the DJ played this song that I haven't heard literally since it was released in 1987! I used to own the 12" single, dug it up and found it! Here it is in it's full glory! "Certain Things Are Likely" by KTP which was short for Kissing the Pink.  A British new wave, synthpop and dance group that had short lived success from early to mid eighties after evolving into a full on synth dance group inspired by the Human League.  This song became their most popular on the billboard dance charts and specially at the gay dance floors and it's not so hard to figure out why just by listening to the lyrics with it's ironic message of the time, along with its quirky synth house beats inviting you to sweet abandon.  Enjoy

Certain Things Are Likely (Remix) - KTP

Oh, and since I opened a can of worms here is a pic of that night along with my dear friend Matt Reynolds to my left who was dressed as Mrs. Roper. 

Disco Photography

Boy George, Andy Warhol, Marilyn and Cornelia Guest out clubbing in 1987.

Love On Love

We are having stunning weather this weekend so here is a great happy house song from the late '80s called "Love On Love" by E-Zee Posse featuring Dr. Mouthquake.  It was featured on Boy George's label More Protein and their first LP was called Closet Classics Volume 1 which includes some great tracks that by now sound more like a time capsule for that era of music.  E-Zee Posse had another club hit called "Everything Starts With an E" which was an ode to the drug Ecstasy,  the foundation of rave culture.  "Love On Love" was sort of a club anthem from 1989-1990 epitomizing this new "rave" generation in England.  It is a happy saccharine  tune with some cute piano/house samples that were popular at the time. Dr. Mouthquake is a guy called Derek Green who has worked on some of Pet Shop Boys records.  The original is more melodic and straight forward house and the Classic Piano mix features some rapping over house songs which was also very common to dance to at the clubs. Enjoy!

Love On Love - E-Zee Posse feat. Dr. Mouthquake



Love On Love (Classic Piano) - E-Zee Posse feat. Dr. Mouthquake

"The Martyr Mantras" - A 90's Classic of Magnetic Proportions

The Martyr Mantras is truly an amazing record.. Released in 1990, I remember listening to this LP on cassette to death and it became a soundtrack to my life back then. I have revisited "Generation of Love" recently after finding it on vinyl at Junk and loved the remixes but for some reason I lost that cassette of the whole LP, yes a cassette! and had forgotten how brilliant it is a whole. In his third solo effort, Boy George was at his best reinventing himself less as a pop star as he welcomed the 90's  as a cautionary post hedonistic era. It is such a  such a time capsule now! All the songs have a life of their own in this one. "I Specialize In Loneliness" is as beautiful as his voice gets. The other songs such as "After The Love", "Love Hurts", "Too Much Love" are odes to sugary house and disco. "Love's Gonna Let You Down" stands on its own with the Boy doing Smokey Robinson stylings with amazing results. "Siempre Te Amare" is cute and of course the beautiful "Bow Down Mister" and the political infused protest song "No Clause" as well. This is a great LP and needs a new listen and to be revisited. Lush, soulful, well textured sounds without being too cliche. I am loving this rediscovery!

Generations of Love (Totally Outed Mix) - Boy George









Love's Gonna Let You Down (Popcorn Mix) - Boy George