A Certain Ratio - Do The Du (Peel Session) (1979)

Early ACR stiff-funk.

Obviously, the proximity of Joy Division to A Certain Ratio in the Factory family suggests connections and comparisons. However, this really is like euphoric, loose-limbed take on Joy Division's post-punk.

'Do The Du' is lithe and sexy like a peephole overcoat, betraying the love of Northern Soul that would see them cover 'Shack Up'. However, it also has an angularity that places them in the post-punk egg of the musical Venn Diagram and leads us to the flat voweled funk of New Fast Automatic Daffodils.

This Peel Session version has a roughed-up edge and added looseness compared to the strictures of the album version. Twitch along.

Download A Certain Ratio - Do The Du (Peel Session) (1979)

Simple Minds - Film Theme (Virgin, 1979)

Early Simple Minds mood piece.

It has, of course, become something of a truism to big-up Simple Minds' early work and say how good they were before went to America and started doing the stadium rock thing.

However, when they were knocking out moody, austere little homages to David Bowie's 'Low' like this instrumental, it's hard to disagree.

Download Simple Minds - Film Theme (Post Punk, mp3) (Box.net)

Sheila B. Devotion 'Spacer (12" Extended Version)' (Carrere, 1979)

Moody disco magic from the Chic Organisation.

I've always loved this record, even before it seemed acceptable to profess a love for disco, and certainly before I was aware of the full majesty of Chic. I loved it all the more since I noticed that New Order's 'Subculture' bears - to my ears, anyway - a distinct resemblence. Maybe it's just in the same key or something.

'Spacer' also brings to mind the minor key disco pop of Phoenix's 'If I Ever Feel Better', the best of the Italians Do It Better stable or the Class Actress track I posted last week.

The song opens with a spiraling minor key piano figure, building to the entry of the familiar, tight-tight-tight bass and drums that are the hallmark of a Chic production - machine-tooled precision but wholly warm and human. It begins with the chorus setting the mood, strings sweeping and groove chugging, somehow creating a track that is equal parts floorfiller and nightdrive soundtrack.

The breakdown at 3'58" enhances the moodiness of the track further, dubbing up Nile Rodgers' guitar chops and paring the track back to the minor key bones. The mood is subtly lightened as organ and piano are mixed back in, Bernard Edwards getting chance to throw-in a few slaps.

Genius.

Download Sheila B. Devotion 'Spacer (12" Extended Version)' (mp3) (Mediafire)

Public Image Limited 'Poptones (Peel Session)' (1979)

Sneering brilliance from PIL's epoch-defining 'Metal Box' album. 'Poptones' is an unsettling and unsettled track that rides on Jah Wobble's exquisite dub bass (for more of this, see the album version of Primal Scream's 'Higher Than The Sun') and is laced with keith Levene's searing, spidery guitar lines.

John Lydon intones a tale of I'm-not-quite-sure-what, but it suggests burial in a shallow woodland grave "whilst the cassette plays Poptones." Lydon's shrieking echoes away to infinity as the dub grooves relentlessly onwards - then spookily reappears front-and-centre in the mix to draw the track to a close.

Staggering and edgily brilliant, like the rest of the 'Metal Box' album.

Download Public Image Limited's 'Poptones (Peel Session, 1979)' (mp3) (Rapidshare)