Nice that everyone already has a few points. John sending PSB obviously not a shock but I do think the track fits. :)

Meteor Seven – Signs of Life - Dobbo

 

 

12 Benyamin S ft. Ida Royani - Bul Bul Efendi

10 Goldie - Inner City Life

08 Gina X Performance - Nice Mover

07 Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet

06 Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind the Mask

05 Cybotron – Clear (Jose “Animal” Diaz Remix)

04 Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel

03 Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver

02 Th' Faith Healers - Reptile Smile

01 Pet Shop Boys - The Sound of the Atom Splitting

 

30; Goldie – Inner City Life

25; Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind the Mask

23; The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)

18; Gina X Performance - Nice Mover

17; Benyamin S ft. Ida Royani - Bul Bul Efendi

16; Cybotron – Clear (Jose “Animal” Diaz Remix)

15; Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet

15; Pet Shop Boys - The Sound of the Atom Splitting (Popchartfreak)

12; Negativland - Helter Stupid

11; Björk - Unravel

10; Godley & Creme - I Pity Inanimate Objects

08; Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Cup Of Dreams

08; Thomas Newman – To The Shock of Miss Louise

07; Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel (Jade)

06; Th' Faith Healers - Reptile Smile (AH Gold)

05; The Jesus & Mary Chain – Upside Down

03; Meteor Seven - Signs Of Life (Dobbo)

03; Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver

 

Dobbo sent an 'experimental hardcore rave/trance tune' from 1994, you can certainly hear the rave and trance influences as the genres were thriving at the time and it fits in wonderfully. It contains a sample of Mike Oldfield's Talk About Your Life.

 

Goldie receives yet another high score which keeps them in the lead, but Yellow Magic Orchestra and Electric Prunes are still close behind, Bul Bul Efendi lepas up following a 12 and Primus getting points ensures everyone's off the mark!

 

Surreal snowmen next, who sent The Jesus and Mary Chain?

 

Meteor Seven sounding like an early Scooter influence, a bit of a banger x (didn't know about the Mike Oldfield sample though oh my)

The Jesus & Mary Chain – Upside Down - jimwatts

 

 

The Jesus and Mary Chain's debut single was the first minor success (it reached #164 x) for Creation Records, paving the way for Primal Scream (especially with drummer Bobby Gillespie becoming their lead singer) and My Bloody Valentine, as well as later being the home of Oasis, quite a legacy for a song I still enjoy - however I did read about it before first listening so had a good idea of how it would sound, which other participants wouldn't have had, so perhaps it's a bit too incendiary for a competition where songs are judged on one listen, we'll see I guess...

 

12 Th' Faith Healers - Reptile Smile

10 Meteor Seven - Signs Of Life

08 Gina X Performance - Nice Mover

07 Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel

06 Goldie - Inner City Life

05 Benyamin S ft. Ida Royani - Bul Bul Efendi

04 Godley & Creme - I Pity Inanimate Objects

03 The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)

02 Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Cup Of Dreams

01 Björk - Unravel

 

36; Goldie – Inner City Life

26; The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)

26; Gina X Performance - Nice Mover

25; Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind the Mask

22; Benyamin S ft. Ida Royani - Bul Bul Efendi

18; Th' Faith Healers - Reptile Smile (AH Gold)

16; Cybotron – Clear (Jose “Animal” Diaz Remix)

15; Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet

15; Pet Shop Boys - The Sound of the Atom Splitting (Popchartfreak)

14; Godley & Creme - I Pity Inanimate Objects

14; Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel (Jade)

13; Meteor Seven - Signs Of Life (Dobbo)

12; Negativland - Helter Stupid

12; Björk - Unravel

10; Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Cup Of Dreams

08; Thomas Newman – To The Shock of Miss Louise

05; The Jesus & Mary Chain – Upside Down (jimwatts)

03; Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver

 

Jim sent the slightly less longer Jesus linked entry and has provided a handy commentary to boot, this track makes use of 'amp feedback as firestorm art' and it's certainly a hard, feedback-heavy listen that's intriguing and a great forerunner to the more experimental rock of the later decade. Sadly, it's only second last so far but there's still plenty of time to improve.

 

Goldie are really raking in the top 5 scores, a six sees them maintain their lead to a comfortable ten points, with Gina X joining the fray

 

A classic surrealist painting that puts a dark spin on Mozart, who sent Godley & Creme?

 

Wouldn't be surprised to add 16th to my 2nd/4th/6th/11th collection in this contest. Thanks AH for getting me off the mark anyway

'Upside Down' was definitely one of the more challenging listens on here so quite a bold choice! Ngl I didn't think it quite hit the mark for me (even after being a fan of the similarly ear splitting Scotland 2 BJSC entry last month oop) but still an interesting one and not bad x

 

Godley & Creme will surely be Rollo.

Godley & Creme – I Pity Inanimate Objects – King Rollo

 

 

There were some great experimental entries here and I'm giving my 12 points to Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet. I first came across it when Chez sent me a playlist of '1001 Songs You Must Listen To Before You Die' as a prize for entering the Never Mind The Buzzjacks quiz he hosted in 2019 so I'm guessing that the song is Chez's entry. I listened to the whole playlist over a few months and that particular song was certainly one of the most memorable out of the ones I didn't know. This is my full vote:

 

12pts - Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet

10 - Pet Shop Boys - The Sound of the Atom Splitting

8 - Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind the Mask

7 - Negativland - Helter Stupid

6 - The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)

5 - Th' Faith Healers - Reptile Smile

4 - Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel

3 - Gina X Performance - Nice Mover

2 - The Jesus and Mary Chain - Upside Down

1 - Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Cup Of Dreams

 

 

36; Goldie – Inner City Life

33; Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind the Mask

32; The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)

29; Gina X Performance - Nice Mover

27; Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet

25; Pet Shop Boys - The Sound of the Atom Splitting (Popchartfreak)

23; Th' Faith Healers - Reptile Smile (AH Gold)

22; Benyamin S ft. Ida Royani - Bul Bul Efendi

19; Negativland - Helter Stupid

18; Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel (Jade)

16; Cybotron – Clear (Jose “Animal” Diaz Remix)

14; Godley & Creme - I Pity Inanimate Objects (King Rollo)

13; Meteor Seven - Signs Of Life (Dobbo)

12; Björk - Unravel

11; Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Cup Of Dreams

08; Thomas Newman – To The Shock of Miss Louise

07; The Jesus & Mary Chain – Upside Down (jimwatts)

03; Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver

 

It's probably not too surprising to see Rollo send the 10CC adjacent track but what a listen it was. He writes: 'The 1979 song uses a new piece of equipment called a harmoniser which is basically autotune almost 20 years before it was actually invented, there are also some crazy lyrics.' The harmoniser allowed notes on instruments or vocals possible that weren't initially. It was also inanimate which also partly inspired the title, it reads like an existential crisis by a sentient plant and is the sort of strange, unsettling listen I really love.

 

Rollo's votes don't shake up the top of the scoreboard a lot but the more out-there entries certainly get a boost up and it's closer up top. I cannot possibly comment on whether Gavin Bryars is me...

 

...But we'll find out next! Let's play the African Sonata x

 

Yay thanks Dobbo, Jim and Rollo for the points ^_^ pretty decent start so far. 'I Pity Inanimate Objects' was a particularly brilliant discovery :wub:

I think most of you would have guessed that was me. Thanks to Jade and Jim for the points so far.

Gavin Bryars – Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet – Chez Wombat

 

 

12; Godley & Creme - I Pity Inanimate Objects

10; Negativland - Helter Stupid

08; Pet Shop Boys - The Sound of the Atom Splitting

07; Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel

06; Gina X Performance - Nice Mover

05; Meteor Seven - Signs Of Life

04; Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Cup Of Dreams

03; The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)

02; Th' Faith Healers - Reptile Smile

01; Björk - Unravel

 

36; Goldie – Inner City Life

35; The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)

35; Gina X Performance - Nice Mover

33; Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind the Mask

33; Pet Shop Boys - The Sound of the Atom Splitting (Popchartfreak)

29; Negativland - Helter Stupid

27; Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (Chez Wombat)

26; Godley & Creme - I Pity Inanimate Objects (King Rollo)

25; Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel (Jade)

25; Th' Faith Healers - Reptile Smile (AH Gold)

22; Benyamin S ft. Ida Royani - Bul Bul Efendi

18; Meteor Seven - Signs Of Life (Dobbo)

16; Cybotron – Clear (Jose “Animal” Diaz Remix)

15; Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Cup Of Dreams

13; Björk - Unravel

08; Thomas Newman – To The Shock of Miss Louise

07; The Jesus & Mary Chain – Upside Down (jimwatts)

03; Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver

 

So yes, it was me that is the public enemy of some of you now :cheeseblock: As Rollo alluded to, I discovered this in my 1001 Songs... book a few years back and it was one of the most striking and unique finds. It is based on a single improvised stanza based on an ancient hymn from an unnamed homeless man from a documentary, the footage was never used and Bryars kept it and finding it fit his piano loop better than expected, he set the loop to an orchestra that builds and builds with new instruments being added as the song progresses (so whoever said it had no progression at the listen through, think again x -_). He limited this to 25 minutes for the original, but for later releases expanded to 60 and 74 minutes with many other reworkings surfacing over the years. It was shortlisted for the 1993 Mercury nomination.

 

I didn't send this to troll, it is genuinely one of the most moving, innovative pieces of music I have ever heard and brings me on the brink of tears sometimes, it's such a shame the homeless man died long before his impact could be felt but it still stands as a timeless declaration of hope in a hopeless situation, I can't comment on my performance at the end but the fact even some of you have put it in your top 3 and it's not just me that's so affected by it means I've succeeded already :wub:

 

Anyway, sorry for the ramble, I don't do much to change the scoreboard with nothing to the leader but Electric Prunes and Gina X are within touching distance.

 

Cybotron are next to be unmasked, what will mother nature have in store for them

 

Aside from mild groaning at the lack of creativity in sending Pet Shop Boys yet again :P it was a really good song from them and does fit the theme well enough so fair play John x

 

Ha, thanks Bre, :) I wanted expectations to be challenged rather than use it as an opportunity for PSB's to be in the competition. I was originally going with The Monkees' Porpoise Song for the same reason, but decided it wasn't quite out-there enough, though it was def experimental for 1968 and helped kill their career stone dead (along with the psychedelic movie it came from) x :lol:

I actually surprisingly found myself enjoying the Gavin Bryars song more on second listen, it is quite entrancing (although sad backstory behind it). Haha at Rollo exposing you just before your own reveal x

The length of 'Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet' didn't bother me at all despite the looped vocal, was a very moving piece. Awesome pick Chez, was my bronze medal and I see my top two were also yours but the other way around *.* almost an exact point swap there with 7, thank you! ^_^

Cybotron – Clear (Jose “Animal” Diaz Remix) - awardinary

 

 

Here they are;

+12 Goldie – Inner City Life

+10 Thomas Newman – To The Shock of Miss Louise

+8 Primus – Jerry Was A Race Car Driver

+7 Yellow Magic Orchestra – Behind the Mask

+6 Björk – Unravel

+5 Pet Shop Boys – The Sound of the Atom Splitting

+4 Meteor Seven – Signs Of Life

+3 Th' Faith Healers – Reptile Smile

+2 The Electric Prunes – I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)

+1 Godley & Creme – I Pity Inanimate Objects

 

48; Goldie – Inner City Life

40; Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind the Mask

38; Pet Shop Boys - The Sound of the Atom Splitting (Popchartfreak)

37; The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)

35; Gina X Performance - Nice Mover

29; Negativland - Helter Stupid

28; Th' Faith Healers - Reptile Smile (AH Gold)

27; Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (Chez Wombat)

27; Godley & Creme - I Pity Inanimate Objects (King Rollo)

25; Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel (Jade)

22; Benyamin S ft. Ida Royani - Bul Bul Efendi

22; Meteor Seven - Signs Of Life (Dobbo)

19; Björk - Unravel

18; Thomas Newman – To The Shock of Miss Louise

16; Cybotron – Clear (Jose “Animal” Diaz Remix) (awardinary)

15; Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Cup Of Dreams

11; Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver

07; The Jesus & Mary Chain – Upside Down (jimwatts)

 

Wardy's futuristic sounding entry was originally released in 1983 and, taken from Spotify, “processes dance music tropes spawned from its very own blueprint with a meta-tactical precision out of sync with our current rave new world.” I don't know how soon after the original this remix came, but it's Kraftwerk samples, synth loops and pitched vocals proved early precursors to detroit techno and the loop has gained fame in particular sampled by many rappers, most notably by Missy Elliott for Lose Control.

 

He's sadly not doing too well atm, but at least his top pointer gets another boost as Goldie now takes an eight point lead, and gives Thomas Newman a needed boost as well x

 

Now it really is time for the Electric Prunes (I hope none of you were quick to see my edit mistake :kink:)

 

Surprised that Björk isn't doing better at this point, I know it's not one of her biggest hits or anything but it's from one of her albums that is solid throughout - plus the lady herself clearly loves it as she included it on her version of her best of that was realeased alongside the main one (Family Tree)

A twelve points swap with Chez. I'm glad you made a great discovery out of 'I Pity Inanimate Objects'. :cheer:

I think I spotted Wardy listening to that song on my Spotify sidebar before the contest went up so no surprise there :whistle: interesting to learn the instrumental of 'Lose Control' was a sample, pretty good song x

 

Goldie leading at this stage is fine for the song but have to say it's probably one of the less fitting songs to the theme.

I'd probably agree that Goldie is the one that fits the theme the least (no offence whoever sent it)

 

 

Enjoyed your choice Wardy, I too had no idea that Lose Control contained such an obvious sample in the production

The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) - JulianT

 

 

12 Godley & Creme - Pity Inanimate Objects

10 Cybotron - Clear

8 Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Cup Of Dreams

7 Th’ Faith Healers - Reptile Smile

6 Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind The Mask

5 Primus - Gerry Was A Race Car Driver

4 Pet Shop Boys - The Sound Of The Atom Splitting

3 Meteor Seven - Signs Of Life

2 The Jesus And Mary Chain - Upside Down

1 Björk - Unravel

 

48; Goldie – Inner City Life

46; Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind the Mask

42; Pet Shop Boys - The Sound of the Atom Splitting (Popchartfreak)

39; Godley & Creme - I Pity Inanimate Objects (King Rollo)

37; The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) (JulianT)

35; Gina X Performance - Nice Mover

35; Th' Faith Healers - Reptile Smile (AH Gold)

29; Negativland - Helter Stupid

27; Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (Chez Wombat)

26; Cybotron – Clear (Jose “Animal” Diaz Remix) (awardinary)

25; Autechre - Second Bad Vilbel (Jade)

25; Meteor Seven - Signs Of Life (Dobbo)

23; Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 - Cup Of Dreams

22; Benyamin S ft. Ida Royani - Bul Bul Efendi

20; Björk - Unravel

18; Thomas Newman – To The Shock of Miss Louise

16; Primus - Jerry Was A Race Car Driver

09; The Jesus & Mary Chain – Upside Down (jimwatts)

 

The only 60s representation here comes from Julian, with this psychedelic rock song which makes particular use of weird guitar effects. The band themselves were very influential in the incorporating psychedelia and elements of electronic rock which were still developing, the band's sound was marked by innovative recording techniques with fuzz-toned guitars and oscillating sound effects and 'singer James Lowe's concept of "free-form garage music" provided the band with a richer sonic palette and exploratory lyrical structure than many of their contemporaries. This particular song wasn't too big a hit, only reaching 49, but it made steady progress in the US, eventually reaching 11 and granting them a gateway to have further success, even if sadly this was never fully realised as they split in 1968, being clearly too ahead of their time when recording some of their albums as they weren't able to record them to their fullest extent.

 

Julian has been doing very well here and deservedly so, he gives nothing to Goldie so YMO & PSBs are hot on their heels. Next to be revealed, Gina X Performance, remember it?

 

The JAMC just missed my points, I'm a fan of their feedback goth singles of the 80's/90's - in fact they (or just "he" these days?) just made my personal chart top 10 with the very fab JAMCOD and a ripping guitar riff, recommended.

 

Godley & Creme also faves just missing points, I remember when this one was new and fresh and yes Rollo was never in doubt for that one. It sort of puzzled me at the time, but I generally liked their singles with or without 10CC, and some I worshipped the ground they walked on. Still do, Kev Godley had a collab with Graham Gouldman on Iain Hornal's Say The Word in 2019 which is good, and Godley/Gouldman had a 10CC career review track Son Of Man back in 2006 that was fab. I'm off to see 10CC in a couple of months on their (sob!) "farewell tour" (sob!).