Cyndi Lauper - "Change Of Heart" (12" extended club remix) (7:52)
Pet Shop Boys - "West End Girls" (The Shep Pettibone Mastermix) (8:23)
Alisha - "Baby Talk" (extended dance mix) (6:43)
The B-52's - "Summer Of Love" (Summer party mix) (6:07)
Huey Lewis & The News - "Hip To Be Square" (dance mix) (6:00)
New Order - "Bizarre Love Triangle" (Shep Pettibone 12" remix) (6:43)
Depeche Mode - "Behind The Wheel" (Shep Pettibone mix) (5:56)
Erasure - "Chains Of Love" (Unfettered mix 2009 Remaster) (8:25)
Elton John - "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" (The Shep Pettibone mix) (7:20)
Review: Arthur Baker is the perfect host for this new series from Demon Music which focuses on the famous extended remixes of the 80s. Each series will be a multi-disc, various artist collection that is united by one remixer, and there can be few better to kick it off than the legend that is Shep Pettibone. He was a hugely in demand studio hand who reworked multiple genres and everyone from Pet Shop Boys to Duran Duran, New Order to Level 42, George Michael to Erasure. This ambitious, widescreen collection takes in all manner of golden remixes from the world of soul, pop, synth and more.
Review: LSD’s Remixes EP channels the group’s genre-blurring ethos into a collection that thrives on reinvention. Lil Wayne’s charged verse on ‘Genius’ adds grit without overshadowing the original’s playful intensity. MK’s remix of ‘Thunderclouds’ transforms its soaring vocals into a deep house anthem, all pulsing bass and late-night allure. Banx & Ranx’s reggae-infused take on ‘Genius’ radiates sun-soaked warmth, while Dombresky’s remix of ‘No New Friends’ packs a punch with relentless house energy. CID’s rework of ‘Audio’ dials up crisp, percussive beats that slice through its melodic core. Meanwhile, The Aston Shuffle injects ‘Heaven Can Wait’ with shimmering synth layers, balancing nostalgia with dancefloor readiness. Lost Frequencies’ remix of ‘Thunderclouds’ closes the record on a euphoric high, reframing its introspection with bright, festival-ready optimism. This is LSD’s universe expanded — familiar yet thrillingly unpredictable.
Review: Melike Sahin's latest release is a compelling fusion of traditional Anatolian pop and contemporary production. Recorded live in London with producer Martin Terefe, the album features a diverse ensemble, including guitarists Dave Okumu and violinist Raven Bush. Tracks like 'Sag Salim' and 'Ortak' showcase Sahin's powerful vocals and poignant lyrics, resonating with themes of survival and empowerment. The album's orchestral grandeur and dramatic flair reflect Sahin's deep connection to her cultural roots, while the modern production injects urgency and relevance. This release reaffirms Sahin's status as a leading voice in contemporary Turkish music.
Review: Wewantsounds continues to respond to that request with another benchmark reissue following Egyptian musician and composer Ammar El Sherei's Oriental Music. This time taking one of the definitive releases in Ryuichi Sakamoto's extensive oeuvre and making it shiny and new. Or at least giving it a dusting down, not that the contents were ever going to sound anything other than fresh.
Hidari... was such a groundbreaking album at the time because of the pop sensibilities Sakamoto actively looked to root the album in by way of enlisting British producer Robin Scott and American guitarist Adrian Belew in addition to members of his Yellow Magic Orchestra. The result sounds like intoxicating downtempo electronica, jerky elec-house, 1980s fantasy movie soundtracks and Far Eastern percussive exoticism. So apparently a marriage of styles and places that we consider striking today does sound even better 39 years later.
Review: Having previously worked with SBTRKT, Kanye West, Drake, Jesse Ware and Frank Ocean, amongst others, Sampha is no newcomer. This, though, is the British singer, songwriter and producer's debut album, and it's something of an understated gem. One particularly enthusiastic reviewer called it "an R&B album for the ages"; while that may be pushing it a bit, there's no denying that Process is an impressive collection of tracks. The beats are inventive, the electronics crisp, the samples carefully chosen, and the musical touches pitched just right. At the centre of it all stands Sampha, delivering thoughtful, heartfelt and sometimes poignant lyrics in his wonderfully evocative voice.
Review: It may be true that not many UK music fans are aware of Savage Garden, but that truth says nothing about the undeniable quality of their uniquely trip-hoppy dream-pop-rock sound. Their 1997 self-titled debut album gave rise to the sung-rap songs 'Truly Madly Deeply' and 'I Want You', which have since become exemplary slices of the '90s sonic cake. Lead singer Darren Hayes' soaring vocals are backed by lush, cinematic production, resulting in an album that is both bombastic and intimate. The pair's sultry leather-jacketed image has aged just as well.
Review: Follow Me is the second album from celebrated actress Yasuko Sawaguchi, whose look as well as vocal talent made her a beloved icon of the 1980s. Originally released in 1988, this album features ten tracks including the standout theme song 'Follow Me' from her starring role in the drama Exciting Rock 'n' Roll Street. With acclaimed composer Tetsuya Komuro contributing his musical talents, 'Follow Me' captures the vibrant energy of the era by blending pop melodies with Sawaguchi's unique charm. This release is a nostalgic nod to her career and an essential addition for fans of 80s Japanese pop culture.
Review: Rina Sawayama follows up her whirlwind debut album 'Sawayama' with a new one for Dirty Hit, leaning further into gargantuan weirdo pop music for a more up-to-date take on the sound she established several years ago. Featuring collaborations with producers Clarence Clarity, Stuart Price and Lauren Aquilina, 'Hold The Girl' hears Sawayama reckon with her own past so as to move forward, in what might be best described as maximalist pop therapy.
Review: Testament to Rina Sawayama's showstopping success in the alternative pop market over the past few years, her most recent album Hold The Girl has already seen a reissue via its original label Dirty Hit, just one year after its release in 2022. While Sawayama's earliest releases channelled a more elusive pop sound, Hold The Girl opted for a much less abashed genre tour, working in every influennce from Kelly Clarkson to Clarence Clarity, amounting to an ultimately hugely-maximal pop record which veritably penetrated the dance-pop landscape, despite the absurd and senseless fan backlash about its original album cover. This new reissue follows up not one, but two concert tours in promotion of the album, evidencing its universal acclaim in the mainstream critical sphere.
Review: Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their self-titled debut album, this iconic release, which was the UK's best-selling album of 2004, returns on a limited green edition coloured vinyl. Known for their eccentric style and high-energy, feel-good lyrics, the album's original release on February 2, 2004 propelled the band to global fame. Featuring fan favourites like 'Take Your Mama,' 'Laura,' and 'Filthy/Gorgeous,' the album has sold nearly four million copies worldwide, racked up 300 million streams and won 'Best International Album' at the 2005 Brits.
The World You Understand (Is Over & Over & Over) (3:11)
Here Come July (3:56)
Prince Among Men (4:46)
Brushed With Oil, Dusted With Powder (5:57)
Review: If you've never been to Leeds then let's put it like this i Scritti Politti make a lot of sense if you know the city well enough. Long before 'the first Harvey Nichols outside London' and the refurbishment of the historic arcades there was dereliction and squats. If you look hard enough, you'll still find them, but it's out of that 1970s economic woe that Scritti Politti emerged, kicking, screaming and squatting while blending various spheres of influence into a punk framework.
Within a decade, though, they would leave that rough and ready remit behind, at least in part, and adopt a more mainstream pop approach. Anomie & Bonhomie, released in 1999 after no less than an 11 year hiatus, marries both chart friendliness with an alternative edge, in moments sounding like Let Loose, at other times the forgotten Kid Rock demos.
Review: Seal's self-titled debut album, especially in its deluxe reissue, showcases a diverse range of influences from soul and r&b to dance and even hints of country. While standout tracks like 'Killer' and 'Crazy' remain timeless dance floor classics, other songs have aged quite well. The production, helmed by Trevor Horn, still stands out today, with tracks like 'Whirlpool' displaying layers of gospel and soul. The deluxe edition offers a glimpse into the late 80s and early 90s dance and offers some great bonus material. Seal's debut album remains a compelling listen, especially for those interested in exploring the musical landscape of the early 90s.
Gimme The Light (feat Busta Rhymes - Pass The Dro-Voisier remix) (3:24)
Bubble (feat Farenheit) (3:51)
Shake That Thing (3:57)
Esa Loca (feat Tony Touch & ROBB) (3:46)
Punkie (Espanol) (3:31)
Baby Girl (3:40)
Review: Jamaican reggae and dancehall star Sean Paul did a lot to popularise the genre in the UK and US way before the current wave of artists who dominate. Dusty Rock is his seance album from back in November 2022 and it spawned plenty of chart-climbing singles that helped it, and Paul, go on to become a worldwide phenomenon. Of course, the standout single that still gets plenty of hammer is 'Gimme The Light' while 'Like Glue,' 'I'm Still In Love With You' and 'Get Busy' are all bangers, too, on a record full of big hooks, fresh rhythms and big energy.
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