Isolation Mix Six

I got this dramatic shot of the sky over the Mersey on Thursday night. One habit I hope I manage to maintain once this is all over, whenever that is, is taking regular walks. You miss so much sitting inside and even the most familiar and mundane places can look different when caught at a particular time. This week’s Isolation Mix is a dubwise and post punk excursion from The Clash, some dubbed out Joy Division covers, Bauhaus, The Slits, Killing Joke remixed by Thrash, a bunch of Andrew Weatherall dub versions and some On U Sound from Dub Syndicate.

The Clash: The Crooked Beat

Steve Mason: Boys Outside (Andrew Weatherall Dub 2)

Jah Division: Dub Will Tear Us Apart

Jah Division: Dub Disorder

Bauhaus: Bela Lugosi’s Dead

The Slits: I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Dub Syndicate: Ravi Shankar Part.1

Sabres Of Paradise: Ysaebud

New Order: Regret (Sabres Slow ‘n’ Lo)

Lark: Can I Colour In Your Hair (Andrew Weatherall Version)

Killing Joke: Requiem (A Floating Leaf Always Reaches The Sea Dub Mix)

Bank Holiday Monday Long Song

Released in August 1979, forty years old this month,  Bela Lugosi’s Dead was the debut release by Bauhaus, a single recorded live (or undead) in the studio during a six hour session. The song is a weird opening statement, a nine minute dub goth track that starts out with skeletal drumming, creaking sounds as if doors are opening and then the scratchy dub guitar. Peter Murphy’s vocals don’t come in for several minutes, the song unwinding slowly but with intent- ‘white on white translucent black capes/ Back on the rack/ Bela Lugosi’s dead/ The bats have left the bell tower… Bela Lugosi’s dead/undead undead undead’

Enjoy your August bank holiday in the sunshine.

Bela Lugosi’s Dead

Learning Lines In The Rain

Top goth art-rockers Bauhaus with the 12″ mix of their 1983 single She’s In Parties, with the band making full use of those extra 5 inches. There’s some great guitar work on this. The picture provides some proof this bunch were actually popstars of sorts, although how him on the right passed muster I don’t know. It was also, incidentally, the inspiration for Half Man Half Biscuit’s She’s In Broadstairs.

12 She’s in Parties [Extended Mix].wma

Release The Bats

Your honour, I’m not and never have been a goth, but like most 80s subcultures there was something going on that is worthy of credit. Exhibit A, the 12″ version of Bela Lugosi’s Dead by Bauhaus. Please note the scratchy post-punk guitars and bass and drum work reminiscent of The Bunnymen, and the ludicrous but praiseworthy vocal by Mr Murphy. I believe he is the one with the cheekbones. This may be gothic m’lud but it is also art. Fields Of The Nephilim? The Mission? No Your Honour, but Bauhaus, certainly. The defence rests.

Bela Lugosi s Dead.mp3