
It's actually only one of Groove Armada in the 6x6 chair - Tom Findlay, to be precise. Andy was away rounding up the troops to hit the road for their new album 'Black Light'
SIX RECORDS THAT MAKE YOU CRY
Prince & The Revolution -
Sometimes It Snows In April (Warner Bros, 1986)
"If you're feeling even a little
bit maudlin, do not go near this record! It's Prince simply
accompanied by piano and acoustic guitar, singing about a guy called
Tracey. There's this chord change in the chorus that breaks my
heart."
Marvin Gaye - What's Going On? (Tamla Motown, 1970)
"A real stone cold classic this.
In some ways it's a bit too damn life-affirming to make you cry, but
then you think what it's about with all these young men dying in the
Vietnam war and you think of his tragic death (he was shot by his dad
just in case you didn't know) and you're off again."
Al Green - Let's Stay
Together (Hi Records, 1971)
"Nothing but tears of joy for this
one. I've got many memories of this tune, but the last one is on our
last tour having a bit of a group hug /dance sort of thing in a bar
in New Zealand. Yeah, yeah, I know the idea of the group hug sounds
bad but at the time I felt life just could not get any better.
Definite tears of joy!"
Richie Rich - Salsa House
(FFRR, 1989)
"Again these are warm tears tears
of nostalgia. I was a student in Manchester and this really reminds
me of going out to the Hacienda on a Saturday night. I had a great
crew of people around me then I loved them all. Some of them live in
LA, others in south London. I miss them all."
David Bowie - Heroes
(RCA, 1977)
"Apparently Bowie wrote this
record about his producer Tony Visconti and Tony's lover. I just
think it's a beautiful thing to do, writing a tune for your friend?
It makes me admire him even more than I did before, which is quite a
lot to be honest. And then I get a bit weepy about it."
Sugardaddy - Love On The
Attack (Tune Tribe Recordings 2006)
"Bit of a blatant plug as this is
a track I did a couple of years ago with a mate of mine called Tim
Hutton. Tim just sings it so brilliantly; we recorded the vocal at
about four in the morning in my basement studio and there was a lot
going on in both of our lives then and I think it comes through."
SIX
RECORDS YOU WISH YOU'D MADE
Basement Jaxx - Jump N' Shout
(XL Recordings, 1999)
"The Remedy album as a whole was
brilliant, it took my breath away. I thought Jump N' Shout
captured what they were all about, most of all that Brixton vibe.
We've played it a thousand times and never tire of it. It's dead
simple but cool as fuck."
Major Lazer - Hold The
Line (Mad Decent, 2009)
"It's Switch and Diplo so you know
the quality you're getting here. They've incorporated that big
Jamaican dancehall vibe but there's that hip-hop feel in there, too.
It's got that Missy Elliot vibe where the production is really spare
but every note and noise is totally on the money. There's a real
genius to keeping it simple but keeping it large. I love it."
Michael Jackson - Billie
Jean (Epic, 1982)
"Well for starters, I'd be
absolutely minted, but mainly I'd have written the best dance track
the world has ever known. In the fact the whole Thriller album
is just amazing. I'm not sure if it was the first album I ever
bought, but it was definitely the first one I remember taking home
and listening to for weeks and weeks. The subject matter is weird,
it's about an obsessive fan and he reveals himself more than usual. A
very special tune - and that's before we get to the bassline and
Quincy!"
Massive Attack - Unfinished
Sympathy (Virgin, 1991)
"It's pure elation but utterly
heavy. It's one of those tracks that everyone remembers where they
were when they first heard it. You talk the greatest ever moments in
dance music, this has to be in the top three. Nuff said really."
Daft Punk - Da Funk
(Virgin, 1996)
"There are about ten Daft Punk
tracks I wish I'd written to be honest! I remember when this came
out, with the nutty dog video. It just destroyed everything. Their
production blows my mind every time. Actually I think I'm going to
play this tomorrow night - this feature's inspired me!"
LCD Soundsystem - Someone
Great (DFA, 2007)
"Enough superlatives have already
been attached to James Murphy but he's a bit feckin' good isn't he?
This one makes my speakers wobble! I'm really looking forward to
their new album."
SIX
SEDUCTION RECORDS
Barry White - Playing Your
Game Baby (20th Century Records, 1977)
"You can get too caught up in the
Walrus Of Love thing. I do love the sweaty silk hanky but put that
aside as the man is a stone cold genius. I remember going to LA for
the first time and going to this record store and seeing 20-odd
copies of this. You couldn't get it in the UK! I took it back and sat
in the jacuzzi listening to it thinking life couldn't get any better.
He doesn't let the musicians do anything but hold a groove!"
Lionel Richie - Hello
(Motown, 1983)
"Even I think this is a pretty
awful record! But the video? It's the best I've ever seen! I once
sang this to girl I fancied when I was about 11 and it totally
worked, too! If you're going to write an awful ballad you might as
well go all the way and write something as bad as this!"
Astrud Gilberto - The Girl
From Ipanema (Polydor, 1966)
"What's nice about this is that
she's just got the sexiest voice. She's Brazilian but she sings it in
English and you've never heard English sound so good. If you can't
score after playing this then you must have bad breath. I'm serious
now."
Rene And Angela - Secret
Rendezvous (Champion, 1985)
"This is more of an old classic
soul thing, but soul that really rolls. I love that 80s soul
production. It's a seduction record but one you can definitely groove
to as well. "Time for lovers", says the tune - says it all
really, doesn't it?"
Gang Starr - Lovesick
(Chrysalis, 1991)
"I didn't want to get too soppy or
sickly for this section so I've flipped the switch a bit. Guru has a
great flow all over the album Step In The Arena and the lyrics
are spot on, too. And let's face it, Premier's the guvnor when it
comes to production. This one's for the ladeez!"
Roberta Flack - Killing Me
Softly (Atlantic, 1973)
"I do like the Fugees version but
this is the real deal. Roberta is an incredible musician: she should
be rated up there with Janis Joplin. This has such a lovely folky
feel to it. There's also something really Californian and 60s about
this. If I made a video for it I'd be running through a field in soft
focus."
SIX
PEAKTIME FLOORFILLERS
Matt Star - Kuhle Fliege
[Hugo Remix] (International Freakshow, 2008)
"Everything Hugo does has this
proper bounce to it and he's developed a style and a sound which is
unique. His treatment of the end is remarkable! Sripped back and
funky: alongside Worthy he's my man of the year."
Steve Angello & Laidback Luke -
Be (Mixmash, 2007)
"I remember when we first started
playing this about 18 months ago, it was massive. I'm into the
Swedish House Mafia thing and the production on the tunes is great.
They do the main room house thing much better than most people and
this one in particular just tears the roof off."
Tony Lionni - Found A
Place (Ostgut Ton, 2009)
"My favourite house record this
year. It harks back to a classic house era but it's got an original
twist. He's been around for a long time and it's great to see him
coming through with something like this. I remember hearing this for
the first time in Berlin: it's simple but stupidly funky!"
DJ T - Dis (Get
Physical, 2009)
"The album is totally on the money
but this one stands out for me: the production is faultless. It's not
too heavy, it does what it has to in the most perfect way! I love the
Get Physical sound: it's not a sound I would make but I love the way
they've brought the funk back to Berlin."
Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van
Helden - Bonkers (Dirtee Stank Recordings, 2009)
"I've got a lot of respect for
Dizzee - he's proving that as a young black artist you don't have to
just do urban stuff. He's having a ball with it, too. I saw him do
this at Glastonbury and everything just exploded. Likewise for Van
Helden, who keeps himself current all the time. A big tune whether
you like it or loathe it."
Groove Armada - Superstylin'
(Pepper Records, 2001)
"Got to give ourselves a little
plug here! My life wouldn't be the same without this tune and it's
closed every Groove Armada gig since we wrote it. We've done a few
different versions to keep it fresh, it's got this extra bit at the
end which twists things a bit. Yeah, I get tired of it sometimes, but
I'm glad we wrote it for sure!"
SIX
RECORDS THAT NEVER LEAVE YOUR BOX
Stardust - Music Sounds Better With
You (Virgin, 1988)
"I just don't ever want to be too
far away from this record, you never know when you might want to drop it. I
remember playing it in Melbourne at this gig that just had everything
go wrong: we almost missed it, I left my CDs on the plane, just a
nightmare basically. Anyway, I played this and it sent so many shivers
up my skin! Girls can sing along, so boys should never be afraid to
drop this!"
X-Press-2 - Smoke Machine
[James Talk Mix] (Skint, 2007)
"I love James Talk's productions.
He's getting to the heart of the matter and his tunes sound massive.
It's a classic house sound! I love big simple things and this is a
great example: it delivers plain and simple. I think I've been
playing this for over 18 months now and I'm still not tired of it!"
Cirez D - Stockholm
Marathon (Mouseville, 2008)
"Eric Prydz eh? You just can't
take it away from him: he knows how to put together a monster of a
tune! Plus he keeps it on the side of cool, especially with the Cirez
D stuff. This just works: it's super-cool and works very well with an
acapella of Superstylin' on the top I must say!"
Doman & Gooding ft Dru &
Lincoln - Runnin' [Mark Knight & Funkagenda Remix] (Positiva,
2009)
"I've got a lot of respect for the
Toolroom crew. Their tunes always sound large and this one has a hell
of a hook. This has got me out of jail more times than I can
remember."
Precious System - The
Voice From Planet Love [Dixon Chic-A-Go Edit] (Running
Back, 2009)
"This hasn't been in my box too
long but I'm getting a conservatory done for it so it'll have plenty
of space! It's going to be around for a long time I promise you. I
just love the Innervisions sound especially this, it's got that
classic acid house sound but with a contemporary feel. It's a little
roller too."
Luomo - Tessio
[Ramon Tapia Mix] (Great Stuff, 2009)
"I loved this tune the first time
round, then this Ramon fellow comes along and takes it all bumpy
Berlin and minimal and I love it even more. It starts off nice and
sweet then in comes the twist - it gives everyone that big lift on
the dancefloor."
SIX
EARLY INFLUENCES
Prince - 1999
(Warner Bros, 1982)
"It's not my favourite Prince tune
but I totally remember sitting on a beanbag with a few of my mates
when the video came on and that was that! He was one of the first
black artists of that calibre who I really began to sit up and pay
attention to."
The Police - So Lonely (A&M
Records, 1978)
"My folks were into jazz but The
Police were something we could all agree on in the car. I wasn't
aware of reggae until their influences twigged on me. Out of any
Police song, this is one I'd actually come back to - it can still
kinda sound current."
The Rotary Connection - I Am The
Black Gold Of The Sun (Cadet Concept Records, 1971)
"I was getting into making music
when the acid jazz thing was about. Of all classic tunes that the
likes of Gilles P were digging out, this one really made an
impression. Masters Of Work did a brilliant cover of it, too. This
really influenced my tastes: after this I got into a lot of
psychedelic funk."
Toots & The Maytals - 54-46
That's My Number (Pyramid, 1968)
"I found a 7-inch of this in a
cottage I was staying in when I was about nine. I thought it was some
sort of buried treasure and it would make my fortune. It didn't but
it's a tune! Toots has played at Lovebox a couple of times now and
he's just an amazing live act. I love that slightly ska-ish reggae
sound he's got."
Blondie - Hanging On The Telephone
(Chrysalis 1978)
"Another one who played and
destroyed Lovebox. The place went off when she did this. I had a
proper crush on her as a kid! Did I meet her? No, I kept my distance!
Anyway she blew me away. In a way I sort of dug the disco stuff more
- Rapture, Heart Of Glass - but I remember pogoing on
my bed to this one big time!"
The Smiths - This Charming Man
(Rough Trade, 1983)
"I was into indie for a while but
looking back I always liked the stuff you could dance to like The
Smiths and The Cure. This Charming Man is like a proper dance
track: it's great for weddings and bar mitzvahs and let's face it,
Johnny Marr is a genius."
Tags: Groove Armada, Prince, Marvin Gaye, The Smiths, Steve Angello, Laidback Luke, LCD Soundsystem, David Bowie, Blondie, Tom Findlay, Lovebox, Al Green, Richie Rich, Major Lazer, Michael Jackson, Daft Punk, Massive Attack, Daft Punk, Stardust, Barry White, Lionel Richie, Astrud Gilberto, Rene And Angela, Gang Starr, Roberta Flack, DJ T, Dizzee Rascal, Armand Van Helden,