An Alternative History of "Pop" Music: Part 2, 1982 -

[daf]

Corduroy ‎– Data 70



Featured on the album 'The New You!' released in April 1997

Corduroy were formed by twins Ben Addison (drums/vocals) and Scott Addison (keyboards/vocals), formerly of the band Boys Wonder. Joining the twins in the band were ex-Doctor and the Medics bassist Richard Searle and guitarist Simon Nelson-Smith. Searle had joined the final incarnation of Boys Wonder, before the band gradually evolved into Corduroy in 1991, initially forming for a one-off New Year's Eve party.



The self-dubbed "fabric four" primarily recorded in a film soundtrack style, and many of their tracks were instrumentals. On the release of their first album 'Dad Man Cat', Paul Moody wrote in the New Musical Express : "Whereas the rest of the Acid Jazz roster fidget around in a world of skinny ribbed roll-necks comparing sideburn growth, Corduroy manage to swagger through the same po-faced domain with a couldn't-care-less braggadocio... Corduroy have got their collective tongue stuck firmly in someone else's cheek here and it feels staggeringly good."

Releasing three albums on Eddie Piller's Acid Jazz Records, they received radio airplay for their single "Something in My Eye" in 1993, but chart success evaded them, although several singles from their 1993 album 'High Havoc' charted in the UK Independent Chart. Their 1994 album, 'Out of Here', reached number 73 in the UK Albums Chart.



After leaving Acid Jazz Records they signed to Big Cat Records, releasing two further albums: 'The New You!' in 1997 'Clik!' in 1999.

[Brundle-Fly]

Monkey Magic - Lucky 15.  Released on Blow Up in 1997.





Some more nineties Japanese and North London hipsters for ya' with their cover of the Monkey theme tune. There appears to be no band photo online so here is a nice picture of the TV show's cast to enjoy instead.

Lucky 15 were Shint.T, Yoshi Y, and Lola. J, backed by 'The International Playboys' - Brother Jules and Cerise Longue.

This London-based trio hailing from Japan and the UK created digital hardcore cinematica, a combination of symphonic arrangements and sultry vocals merged with heavy dance beats. Influenced by such artists as Debussy, Serge Gainsbourg and the KLF, Lucky 15 incorporate pseudo-classical ideas with authenticity, not parody. The result is exhilarating and eclectic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wrEv_A27V8

[Neomod]

Corduroy ‎– Data 70



Featured on the album 'The New You!' released in April 1997

Aww, good old Corduroy. London, England off of High Havoc was one of my favourite tracks at Blow Up. I can still remember the steam coming off the punters at the end of the night as we all piled out into Bayham street and the cold Camden winter air.

Then off for a 3am slice of Pizza with plenty of garlic sauce.

Appy Daze! 

Not a fan of that Lucky 15 track above though.

[Brundle-Fly]

Not a fan of that Lucky 15 track above though.

This is better(?) I just thought folk might like a bit of Monkey Magic on a miserable Monday morning.

Snowflakes In Hawaii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5eBKjC_OaM&t=1s

[daf]

Fantastic Everlasting Gobstopper ‎– I Am A Kitten



Featured on the album 'Songs For Marshmallow Lovers' - released in 1997

[Brundle-Fly]

Mexican Flyer - Skeewiff   Released on Jalapeno in 1997.





The crack cocaine of typical mid-nineties Loungecore Big Beat. A stomper.

Skeewiff are breakbeat DJ/ producers Alex Rizzo and Elliot Ireland AKA Shaft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip-SHThsfjg&t

[daf]

Dreadzone ‎– Earth Angel



Reached #51 in the UK charts in May 1997

[Astronaut Omens]

Capone-N=Norega- TONY (radio edit)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfkZa5lQSik

Not only did producers Nashiem Myrick & Carlos "6 July" Broady make a superbly ominous instrumental track for this hip-hop record, they also made this brilliant clean version, one of those radio mixes where the swearing gets replaced with brass stabs, guitar hits, and so many sound effects that it sounds like Dick Dastardly's buddy Clunk is on the mic. The then in-vogue trend of rappers naming themselves after real people reaches a high point on this Capone-N-Norega LP, with Castro, Musaliny and Charlemange also appearing. 

[Astronaut Omens]

Kronos Quartet-Uleg-Khem featuring Kongar-Ool Ondar (pictured), Anatoly Koolar and Kaigal-Ool Khovalyg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPCUWgxOIhU

On their LP Early Music, string quartet Kronos try their hand at some international ancient and medieval music- on this track they are joined by a trio of Tuvan Throat-singers.

[jobotic]

Fantastic Everlasting Gobstopper ‎– I Am A Kitten



Featured on the album 'Songs For Marshmallow Lovers' - released in 1997

Loving all these, although I know already. Can I bag Death By Chocolate when it's time?

[Brundle-Fly]

Loving all these, although I know already. Can I bag Death By Chocolate when it's time?

I recently discovered a friend of mine is good friends with Angie Tillet and Jason Frederick, her husband (and man behind the music of DBC). He gives my mate guitar lessons. I told him to pass on my adulation and that I knew others (ie you, jobotic)who are big fans. Apparently, it made Angie's day.  We've finally reached out.

[jobotic]

How lovely. My first ever post on CaB was about Angie Tillet.

Jez Butler is behind, or at least on, an awful lot of these records isn't he? A real unsung hero I think.

[Brundle-Fly]

Mon Coeur Balance - Katerine. Released on Blow Up in 1997.





More MOR haw hee-haw.

Katerine. AKA Philippe Blanchard. Along with performers like Dominique A. and Valérie Lemercier, singer/songwriter Philippe Katerine was among the leaders of the 'minimalist variete' movement in French pop during the mid-1990s. Drawing on influences as diverse as Burt Bacharach and Michel Legrand to The Clash and Buzzcocks, Katerine signed to the Rosebud label and debuted with the album Les Mariages Chinois.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2lyyYgzKns

[Brundle-Fly]

How lovely. My first ever post on CaB was about Angie Tillet.

Jez Butler is behind, or at least on, an awful lot of these records isn't he? A real unsung hero I think.

Aa, maybe it's Jez that teaches him guitar, now that you mention it, and he is her husband/ partner. I think I've got the men mixed up. http://www.jasonfrederick.co.uk. Confusing.

Anyway, they know Death By Chocolate lives on in our hearts.

[Mr Banlon]

Corduroy ‎– Data 70



Featured on the album 'The New You!' released in April 1997

Printed their tour t-shirts in 1994. (mostly navy blue and burgundy shirts with white print) Sponsored by Carib beer I think (There was a bottle-cap logo and the Acid Jazz logo on the back with the tour dates)

[Neomod]

This is better(?) I just thought folk might like a bit of Monkey Magic on a miserable Monday morning.

Snowflakes In Hawaii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5eBKjC_OaM&t=1s

It is.

Funny you mentioned Death By Chocolate later in the thread as this reminded me of a lo-fi Pizzicato 5/Death By Chocolate mash.

[Brundle-Fly]

Fantastic Everlasting Gobstopper ‎– I Am A Kitten



Featured on the album 'Songs For Marshmallow Lovers' - released in 1997

I've just clicked that this is a Momus song.

[Brundle-Fly]

Talking of which.

I Want You, But I Don't Need You - Momus. Released on Cherry Red in 1997.



We've covered Mr.Currie several times in these threads as far back as 1982. This is one of the few songs from his canon that has been covered by a moderately successful artist. Amanda Palmer in this instance.

Momus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9NGz31TaPE&t

Amanda Palmer's version (live)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df37unclIKs

[Astronaut Omens]

Aphex Twin- IZ-Us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLHtV_S2HZw
One of Richard's most poignant tracks, this one really deserved better than to be lost in 90s formatting hell of second CD B-side.

[Brundle-Fly]

Ritmo De Jazz - Funki Porcini. Released on Ninja Tune in 1997.





Twisted tune!

Funki Porcini AKA James Braddell is a musician and filmmaker from England. His music is a combination of Downtempo, Breakbeat and Jazz with elements of Hip hop, Drum and bass, sampling and time-stretched vocals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avSJzqKhuQM&t

[Brundle-Fly]

She Don't Use Jelly - Ben Folds Five. Released on Hollywood in 1997.



Ben Folds Five Vs Flaming Lips in Vega$.  Come on everybody, the lounge lizard swingers have taken over this thread.

Lounge-A-Palooza is a compilation album issued in 1997 by Hollywood Records. Released to capitalize on the 1990s lounge music revival, it features cover versions of songs, including classic lounge hits performed by contemporary artists and 1990s hits covered by lounge singers. We've covered BF5 before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-zhDFgGGhE

[Astronaut Omens]

Movimento Funk Club- Ah! Eh Tu Maluco!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYDhaFCjmQs
This very daft Who Let The Dogs Out?/ I Like To Move It Move it, type shouty dance number appears to have been massive in Brazil in '97, based on some of the crowd shots in this and other videos by the same group. The bit where the cartoon screws start falling out of the bloke in the video I find very strange. Video NSFW due to some Benny Hill-esque scenes in the last third or so.

[DrGreggles]

^{Been waiting for ages to catch up with this thread!}

Teenage Fanclub - Broken
(bonus track on Ain't That Enough CD1 single)



Written by Norman 'nicest man in rock' Blake at some point during the sessions for the wonderful Songs From Northern Britain album.
Never in serious consideration for a spot on the final album, as Norman wasn't sure what it was or if it was even finished, it was included on CD1 of the first single from the album; Ain't That Enough (their biggest hit).
Even though the band never played it too much in their live set initially, it became a fan favourite and is now a part of their setlist fairly regularly - especially since the 'Farewell Gerry' Creation shows of 2018.
I think it's fucking beautiful.

[Ballad of Ballard Berkley]

I think it's fucking beautiful.

It really is.

[Brundle-Fly]

Proceed With Caution/ I Love Secret Agents -The Dillinger Escape Plan. Released on Earache in 1997.





Cheating here with two tracks but they're joint at the hip, muthafucka!

The Dillinger Escape Plan are an American mathcore band based in Morris Plains, New Jersey. They merged new-school hardcore, progressive metal and free-jazz. The band was formed in March 1997 by guitarist Benjamin Weinman, bassist Adam Doll, vocalist Dimitri Minakakis and drummer Chris Pennie. The band has gone through multiple lineup changes, with Weinman being the only constant member of the band.

Opening two tracks. Fuck it, enjoy the full EP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVXutqI8Iic&t=76s

[jamiefairlie]

Alright chaps, time to close 1997, 1998 will be open for business later on Sunday.

[DrGreggles]

Super Furry Animals - Smokin' (Original Version)
(taken from a free CD given away to celebrate the Big Issue's 6th anniversary)



Smokin' was commissioned by Channel 4 for a programme about sloth presented by Howard Marks as part of a series on the seven deadly sins.
The band went into Grassroots recording studio in Cardiff in June 1997 and looped a sample of the Black Uhuru track I Love King Selassie, playing along and writing Smokin' completely spontaneously.
According to Gruff Rhys the song is really light and up as a result of being recorded in the summer. The track's lyrics refer to smoking cannabis, with Rhys stating that "it seems ridiculous that you can't do what you want with a plant that grows naturally" in reference to the drug's illegal status in many countries.
Rhys has claimed that he does not consider the track to be subversive, however — it is about the band's own drug use and he doesn't expect everyone who buys the record to do the same. "They'd be quite sad if they did."
A re-recorded version would appear on the band's Ice Hockey Hair EP the following year.

[Brundle-Fly]

Smokin' ! I forgot all about that. Good call, Doc.

[Astronaut Omens]

Wu-Tang Clan- Heaterz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzSSacr0QSo

The double CD (and quadruple LP) Wu-Tang Forever is sometimes seen as the endpoint of the group's hot streak, and it does, perhaps, contain a fair bit of filler, but alongside obvious picks like "Reunited" and "Triumph", this banger produced by RZA understudy Truemaster would feature on my imaginary single-disc version of the album. Even Cappadonna, who doesn't usually sound in the same league in the rest of the group turns in an atmospheric performance.

[Astronaut Omens]

DITC- Day One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQFGtU4qY6g

The vibraphone was THE instrument of the late nineties, wasn't it? Diggin' In The Crates Crew is a New York band founded in 1992 by producer Lord Finesse.