Check these out quick before I repost them on Dangerous Minds with expanded text. They're two different BBC documentaries about rave culture, the first a World In Action special from 1988 (some of this footage has been widely circulated, such as two old cockney ladies talking about flashing lights), the other a BBC North production form 1992 following the set up of a legal rave in a field near Newcastle.
Coming from the BBC, both these programmes contain a typically patronising voice over, but it is interesting to note the difference in tone in both shows. The earlier World In Action special, while coming form 1988, has a more balanced approach, with even a spokesperson for the police admitting that ecstasy use is not that widespread, certainly not as much as the press suggest. The "Rave" programme, even though it is covering a fully legal, licensed rave, is more obviously influenced by an anti-rave/anti-drug press bias that the figures in the show feel they have to counteract.
This being the late 80s/early 90s there are some BAAAD clothes on display, and of course the music is pretty damn aweosme:
WORLD IN ACTION "A Trip Round Acid House" 1988 Part 1
This is one of the sickest basslines I have heard in a while - the lfo work is outstanding! Waaaay better than the original, this will tear any dancefloor up, as witnessed at Che Camille's Edinburgh Fringe show back in August.
Mr Figure has been a really really nice man and put the track up for download.
See - an important part of Glasgow's clubbing history! See - local characters complain about the licensing law that threatened to ruin everything! See - some badly dated clothes and graphics! See - Judge Jules being a complete bellend - even back then!
Throbbing Gristle seem to be everywhere in the press lately. That's no bad thing, as they are actually pretty interesting, but it got me thinking of this remix of TG's proto-Italo classic by one half of Basement Jaxx. Now, pioneers of cold, hard industrial music may not seem like a good match for Brixton's salsa-house party monsters, but this really works. Especially when coupled with some great video footage zooming through the streets of Paris at dawn:
Co-op Club is a new weekly club which lauches tonight at the Sub Club. It's a collaborative effort between Glasgow based promoters Dirty Noise, Mount Heart Attack and Orderly Disorder and comes with the student-friendly entry price of £2/3. The guys have posted a wee "war" themed minimix to promo Co-Op, and it's definitely worth a listen:
There's plenty of aural fireworks happening in Glasgow tonight - ho ho - though I would mention a few. So if you're looking for somewhere to go, you could check one of these out:
Local post-rock legend Graeme Ronald's ace bong-pop outfit release a new EP, and also celebrate Graeme 30th birthday, with support from North American War, and Mogwai Djs.
And this is my pic of the bunch, the Glasgow debut of 19 year old Jack Hamill from Belfast, who makes lush disco-tronica as Space Dimension Controller. Here's another mix, by Jelly Roll Soul resident Jamie:
