Sampladelic, pioneering indie-dance crossover gem from 1988.
I know nothing about Messrs. Gene and Jim and I'm pretty sure there wasn't a follow-up single, but 'Shake' is a catchy, Akai S900-powered tune that stands on its own. It fuses a four-to-the-floor beat with a slamming bassline, Batman samples, screeching guitar, a bit of Marilyn Monroe, some wicked Latin trumpet and a lush chorus.
Along with Pop Will Eat Itself, 'Shake' represents one of the parallel current in indie music in the late 1980s as dance music became an increasing influence. This hybrid of drum machine and samples followed in the wake of significant indie label hits for S'Express, Bomb The Bass (both on Mute subsidiary Rhythm King) and 4AD's 'Pump Up The Volume' by MARRS.
The other indie-dance fusion brewing, of course, was the more organic collision of euphoric, nay Ballearic, groove and indie instrumentation as evidenced by Happy Mondays, New Fast Automatic Daffodils et al.
Despite indie labels being able to rule the charts with dance crossover hits, Gene & Jim (on indie powerhouse Rough Trade) were unable to follow suit. However, their spirit lives on in the indie disco in the sky - coming up after the DJ has given Pop Will Eat Itself's 'Def Con One' another spin.
Download Gene And Jim Are Into Shakes 'Shake! (How About A Sampling, Gene?) (7" Version)' (mp3) (Box)
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