Mic Waters

Sounds like light. Sounds like magic. Sounds like sufficiently advanced technology.

#all50rts #35
💽 Light & Magic | Ladytron
💿 Light & Magic [2002]
🎞️ youtu.be/WAWGXEJf8v8

My fav Doctor and Companion

(or Companion and Doctor rather).

Reinvented herself so successfully so often that there were several other songs from several other periods that I could've picked across these challenges...

The album art for drukQs by Aphex Twin. A close-up colour photo of the innards of a 1998 Yamaha C1 Disklavier (a computer-interfacing prepared piano) used on drukQs; the words Aphex Twin are written on the damper underlevers, and drukQs on the solenoids.

A perfectly normal colour photo of Aphex Twin's face. Printed on the front of a hoodie.

I just love listening to these two together; the way the hesitant, fragile prepared piano switches up into manic, skittering, heartracing drum'n'bass... that's that Aphex acid.

#all50rts #33 & 34
🔮 Jynweythek | Aphex Twin
🔮 Vordhosbn | Aphex Twin
💿 drukQs [2001]
🔊 youtu.be/bc2HCxUQ12s&...

I reckon I've "wasted" half of my #all50rts picks. That is, they're certain 10-pointers.

But coming up we have the most wasteful: 2 tracks by the same artist. From the same album. Tracks 1 & 2! But not a suite!

And not even 💠...

Is it a mistake to admit that it was this album by an 80s legend (and an exhibition at the V&A) that really opened my ears to 21st century pop?

It's just so... fevered.

#all50rts #32
❄️💽 Fever | Kylie Minogue
💿 Fever [2001]
🔊 youtu.be/F3aoTeQg-aA

Yes... As the poll had gone on, I've increasingly been "Which soul song is this? Ha ha ha, it's the crazy one, YES!"

I first heard "White Punks on Dope" on, hmm, The Best Punk Album in the World... Ever! Hmm. Not really punk, is it - but weird enough to stay fun for all seven minutes!

Though looking at that photo you've found, that does actually look pretty punk...

Love it when vocalists switch genders halfway through a line. It's like a next-level chord change, a real "Did I hear that?" ear-opener.

(See also the Magnetic Fields' "Papa Was a Rodeo" or that Lady Gaga/Bradley Cooper song.)

Seems the female singer was Evette Benton of the Sweethearts of Sigma!

I was clearly so confused by Sant(i)gold's name change that I failed to pick any of her songs for either #FearOfMu21C or #all50rts. Guess I'll just have to remedy that for #TheN0ughtie5...

YouTube video by TheDeathTechno DT:Recommends | Dave Clarke - World Service - Techno (2001) Mix CD 1

It's good! World Service is one of my absolute favourite albums. It's a double CD - CD1 is proper no-nonsense hammering techno; and CD2 is eclectic electro nonsense (in the very best way). CD2 also features some rather unexpected tunes...

🔊 CD1: youtu.be/c4r5BNY7UfY
🔊 CD2: youtu.be/QoXHcMpW3UA

Does this mesh well with yesterday's pick? Well, there's the building intro - the samples - the weird vibrations - and the epiphany in the dark of the night.

#all50rts #31
❄️ The Sexual Loneliness of Jesus Christ | Jackie Leven
💿 Creatures of Light & Darkness [2001]
🔊 youtu.be/UEU9qbgY3iE

I imagine it's harder to fuck the pain away when one is single!

Ah, fancy seeing this here!

OK, time for the bangingest album that ever did bang: Dave Clarke's World Service.

It's a mix album & they do tend to be full of singles… but there is this particularly crunchy B-side:

#all50rts #30
💽 Z.W.A.M | Dexter
💿 World Service [2001], I Don't Care B-side [2000]
🔊 youtu.be/QoXHcMpW3UA&t=1550

Such a seductive song. But UB40 sound like they're thinking about breakfast more than bed...

Aha! I can tell it's a good pick when it's causing chaos! 😉

Now that's a peachy spoiler!

That sounds familiar... I think...

I fear I may have partied my memory away!

Weird that this song was never released as a single, or played on the radio much.

My favourite part is the thrashing of the cymbals.

#all50rts #29
❄️ Fuck the Pain Away | Peaches
💿 The Teaches of Peaches [2000]
🎞️ youtu.be/DgYSM91vJko

Ah, a second pick, wonderful! Though I think there must be a fair chance that we still end up with 69 different Stephin Merritt songs!

How to get multiple entries in my #all50rts: You release 69-song albums. You form more bands for more songs. You vary vocalists. You play with words. You write lovely songs.

#all50rts #28
❄️💽 You You You You You | The 6ths w/ Katharine Whalen
💿 Hyacinths and Thistles [2000]
🔊 youtu.be/uT0Qbi3BmoQ

Nostalgic, evocative and dreamlike. But not really a nice dream.

"Obviously, doctor, you've never been a thirteen year old girl."

#all50rts #27
💽🎬 Suicide Underground | Air
💿 The Virgin Suicides [score] [2000]
🔊 youtu.be/qquFdHCxArA

I'm pretty certain that Perfect Day was only a B-side. But I think I've seen plenty of votes for it too, so I'm sure Lou'll survive missing out on one HM!

Back to our pick'n'mix of #all50rts across the decades! And speaking of picking and mixing, here's the first mashup I ever heard, still my favourite - a tasty mix of pop-rock, hip hop and the indie dancefloor!

#all50rts #26
❄️ I Wish I Was a Tiger | 2manydjs
💿 [1999 bootleg]
🔊 youtu.be/yg1wycY9W88

Think I've got a good mix of honourable mentions now. Two near misses, two new discoveries - and one I love but inexplicably forgot. 🤦

It's the way the strings come in and it feels like we're taking off…

#all50rts HM #5
🖐️ Tonight We Fly | The Divine Comedy
💿 Promenade [1994]
🔊 youtu.be/b76ZUC3byfE

That's right, it's the wee small hours, and I'm following Screwed with Now I'm All Messed Up. Because you can't have electro without the cold and the dark and the loneliness.

#all50rts HM #4
🖐️ Now I'm All Messed Up | Tegan and Sara
💿 Heartthrob [2013]
🔊 youtu.be/cksZLD0y5WU

There are a few popular artists round here who I've never quite *loved*. Prince, Stevie Wonder… Turns out I just needed a electro-intoned bridge -

Everything is sex: except sex, which is power.

#all50rts HM #3
🖐️ Screwed | Janelle Monáe ft. Zoë Kravitz
💿 Dirty Computer [2018]
🎞️ youtu.be/BLPV55zXwJM

Sorry - had some unexpected distractions over the last couple of days.

(Also possibly been trying to listen to too many of everyone else's picks!)

But I'll definitely be getting you the last three by tomorrow afternoon.

Nice choice! I shall be picking another mash-up in a few days.