Ready to board the time machine @thesociallondon?
Here's the soundtrack for the evening, press play at 6pm... mixcloud.com/soniccathedral…
So, it’s 1991. I have just turned 18, and the world is my oyster. Except I am stuck in the cultural desert of North Devon with just a few record shops and the music press to keep me sane...
It’s 30 years later and now I’m stuck in Northwest London. There's not much point in looking forward right now, so I've been looking back; re-reading the music press, re-listening and reminiscing. What an incredible year it was...
So, come on, let's party like it’s 1991! @thesociallondon
Dinosaur Jr – The Wagon
The first time I ever heard @dinosaurjr was on Snub TV, on January 21, 1991 when they played a snippet of ‘Freak Scene’, an interview with a very stoned J and Murph and then this, their then new single. I was in.
The first time I ever heard @dinosaurjr was on Snub TV, on January 21, 1991 when they played a snippet of ‘Freak Scene’, an interview with a very stoned J and Murph and then this, their then new single. I was in.
“There's a way I feel right now
Wish you'd help me, don't know how
We're all nuts so who helps who
Some help when no one's got a clue…”
Wish you'd help me, don't know how
We're all nuts so who helps who
Some help when no one's got a clue…”
What a tune. Hoping my cider delivery arrives soon...
The Boo Radleys – Foster’s Van
I remember hearing Peel play a track off ‘Ichabod And I’ and the very spot I was driving along on the A386 at the time, but they moved up a gear when they signed to Rough Trade and this is just glorious.
I remember hearing Peel play a track off ‘Ichabod And I’ and the very spot I was driving along on the A386 at the time, but they moved up a gear when they signed to Rough Trade and this is just glorious.
It was right here: goo.gl/maps/6K7BPpHRK…
Love the MBV-ish bit at the end of this track, it's so beautiful and sad sounding @martin_carr 💫
Anyone have any photos of themselves in 1991?
Bleach – Burn
I confess, Bleach passed me by at the time. Not sure why. @ulrichschnauss bought me their ’92 album ‘Killing Time’ in a second-hand shop in Liverpool because he couldn’t bear to see it there. This track from the ‘Snag’ EP is really powerful.
I confess, Bleach passed me by at the time. Not sure why. @ulrichschnauss bought me their ’92 album ‘Killing Time’ in a second-hand shop in Liverpool because he couldn’t bear to see it there. This track from the ‘Snag’ EP is really powerful.
Cider has just turned up!
Bleach would be massive if they came out now
The Impossibles – Delphis (Inner Space Mix)
One of only three singles the duo released – their most famous was a cover of Slapp Happy’s ‘The Drum’. Love this though, it sounds like Lush crossed with Bass-O-Matic or something. Whatever happened to them?
One of only three singles the duo released – their most famous was a cover of Slapp Happy’s ‘The Drum’. Love this though, it sounds like Lush crossed with Bass-O-Matic or something. Whatever happened to them?
The first shoegaze section endeth there. For more of that kind of thing be sure to check out @ravedownradio which is on from 7pm tonight...
Frazier Chorus – Walking On Air (Extended Mix)
Major label mistrusting teenage me ignored the chart return copies of this selling for 99p, but this Youth remix is ace. Like the Mock Turtles they featured the brother of a famous person (Martin Freeman)!
Major label mistrusting teenage me ignored the chart return copies of this selling for 99p, but this Youth remix is ace. Like the Mock Turtles they featured the brother of a famous person (Martin Freeman)!
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Kiss Them For Me (Kathak Mix)
Another Youth remix, this time of this brilliant @siouxsieandtheb single which inexplicably only got to Number 32 in May 1991:
Another Youth remix, this time of this brilliant @siouxsieandtheb single which inexplicably only got to Number 32 in May 1991:
The original version features the break from Schoolly D’s ‘P.S.K. What Does It Mean?’. Here it is:
It was also featured on another single that came out a month earlier, a stone cold shoegaze classic…
Chapterhouse – Pearl
I used to listen to my tape of @ChapterhouseUK’s debut album ‘Whirlpool’ on the bus to and from North Devon College in Barnstaple before my A-levels. I’d never heard Led Zeppelin, but it turned out their drummer was a shoegazer too!
I used to listen to my tape of @ChapterhouseUK’s debut album ‘Whirlpool’ on the bus to and from North Devon College in Barnstaple before my A-levels. I’d never heard Led Zeppelin, but it turned out their drummer was a shoegazer too!
Nice backing vocals at the end here from @RachelAGoswell, which leads us neatly on to...
Slowdive – Erik’s Song
I bought the tape of @slowdiveband’s debut album from Volume Records in Sunderland when I went up there with my Mum to find somewhere to live before uni. This weird and wonderful song was one of the highlights...
I bought the tape of @slowdiveband’s debut album from Volume Records in Sunderland when I went up there with my Mum to find somewhere to live before uni. This weird and wonderful song was one of the highlights...
Here's the tape... 
And they went on to become my favourite band ever of course 🖤
The Orb – Perpetual Dawn (Ultrabass II)
Got to have some Weatherall on here, as he was a massive looming presence behind a lot of the music I liked in 91 (and forever). This reworking of The Orb still sounds ace:
Got to have some Weatherall on here, as he was a massive looming presence behind a lot of the music I liked in 91 (and forever). This reworking of The Orb still sounds ace:
I reckon he changed the course of my life circa 90/91
Lovekittens – What Goes On (Orbient Mix)
This Velvet Underground cover is even lighter and airier in the hands of The Orb. Don't know much about this lot, were they from Norwich?
This Velvet Underground cover is even lighter and airier in the hands of The Orb. Don't know much about this lot, were they from Norwich?
They were signed to the great but short-lived Manchester label Sheer Joy, which was also home to…
Paris Angels – I Understand
One of my favourite bands ever; I love everything @ParisAngelsuk did and I'm so happy to be releasing a cover of their 1990 classic ‘Perfume’ by @Andybebop in a few months’ time. This was their third single...
One of my favourite bands ever; I love everything @ParisAngelsuk did and I'm so happy to be releasing a cover of their 1990 classic ‘Perfume’ by @Andybebop in a few months’ time. This was their third single...
Remember @erolalkan playing ‘Perfume’ at a SC night at The Legion (RIP) in 2005 and saying it was a shoegaze tune. It was, just one you could dance to!
Anyway @ParisAngelsuk played at Wearmouth Hall at @sunderlanduni just after their album ‘Sundew’ came out and I got really “overexcited” and got up on the stage... and then didn’t know what to do and so meekly climbed back down again!
They probably thought I was a right idiot, but they did sign my tape afterwards...
Hey @virginrecords get their album reissued, do a boxset. I'd buy it.
The Durutti Column – The Together Mix
If I'd only realised back then that @DuruttiColumn were one of the best bands ever I could've started collecting their records 30 years earlier. This remix by Together (of ‘Ha-Ha-Ha-Hardcore Uproar’ fame) is magical:
If I'd only realised back then that @DuruttiColumn were one of the best bands ever I could've started collecting their records 30 years earlier. This remix by Together (of ‘Ha-Ha-Ha-Hardcore Uproar’ fame) is magical:
The only @DuruttiColumn song I had back then was on the amazing Factory tape on Select magazine (RIP) which tbf I played to death. Expect to hear Cath Carroll on a future 91 mix...
Also features the BEST version of ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ (the one from the Married To The Mob soundtrack) but I'm wandering... that Old Rosie is strong.
Why aren't there statues of Vini Reilly? He's an absolute genius. Why aren't there endless articles written about how incredible he is? THERE SHOULD BE!
Like Weatherall, another big presence in my '91 (and another huge loss last year) was @TheDJohnsonR3AL thanks to Dreambeam, Screamadelica etc etc. Here she is on @acrmcr’s wonderful ‘27 Forever’:
The version on the mix is a re-edit by The Other One, aka @stephenpdmorris but that one’s not on YouTube for some reason. It's a great version, especially as it leads into...
The Other Two – Tasty Fish (Pascal Mix 12”)
Pop perfection from @gillian_gilbert and @stephenpdmorris, with echoes of @neworder’s ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’...
Pop perfection from @gillian_gilbert and @stephenpdmorris, with echoes of @neworder’s ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’...
This came out the same week I met @ClairDolphin (as did ‘Loveless’ by MBV). BIG WEEK!
Is there any truth ‘Tasty Fish’ was named after this chippy in Stockport @stephenpdmorris @gillian_gilbert ? goo.gl/maps/mqRJTXRKv…
Electronic - Free Will (12” version)
Another @neworder solo outing from 91 was Bernard hooking up with @Johnny_Marr in Electronic and making one of the BEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME. Their B-sides weren't too shabby either...
Another @neworder solo outing from 91 was Bernard hooking up with @Johnny_Marr in Electronic and making one of the BEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME. Their B-sides weren't too shabby either...
This one though... ‘The Perfect Kiss’ much? (A good thing obvs)
808 State feat. Bernard Sumner – Spanish Heart
Barney was a busy boy in '91, he also cropped up on this track from @state808’s album ‘ex:el’ which turns 30 tomorrow fact fans!
Barney was a busy boy in '91, he also cropped up on this track from @state808’s album ‘ex:el’ which turns 30 tomorrow fact fans!
David Bowie vs 808 State – Sound And Vision (808 ’Lectric Blue Instrumental)
@state808 also remixed @DavidBowieReal in 91. Don’t hate me, but I thought that DB was a bit old hat and trying a bit too hard with Tin Machine. Then I met my good friend Craig…
@state808 also remixed @DavidBowieReal in 91. Don’t hate me, but I thought that DB was a bit old hat and trying a bit too hard with Tin Machine. Then I met my good friend Craig…
Incidentally, Sound N Vision was one of the three record shops in Barnstaple where I bought most of my records in 1990/91.
Dinosaur Jr - Quicksand
To finish, we're back to where we started... J Mascis continues his obsession with Uma Thurman on this Bowie cover from the B-side of ‘The Wagon’ single
To finish, we're back to where we started... J Mascis continues his obsession with Uma Thurman on this Bowie cover from the B-side of ‘The Wagon’ single
And the wheels have just about come off our wagon, too – thanks so much for joining us and thanks to @thesociallondon for having us!
Here's the tape sleeve. FORGOT BLOODY ELECTRONIC THOUGH :-/
Same time, same place soon... and then irl in the not too distant future, eh? Your time machine has safely returned to 2021. Stay safe, be well. Cheers 🍻
unroll pls @threadreaderapp
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