FriendBurst Blog

John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) was the perfect choice for vocals on Leftfield’s epic Open Up.  That was the track which catapulted Leftfield into the mainstream.  Prior to its release in 1993, Leftfield’s Song Of Life had failed to attract too much attention (much less the first single, Not Forgotten).  It took the London-based duo a few years to craft the quintessential progressive house album (Leftism).  The release of Open Up just over a year before was a good move.  The next single from the album was Original (with Toni Halliday on vocals) and Release The Pressure was the last single.  Afro-left was also released as an EP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJPdQfqXG_4

It took almost four years to produce the second and last album (Rhythm And Stealth).  It received mixed reviews, as expectations were very high.  Whilst it is no match for Leftism, it is by no means a poor album.  It yielded three singles (Afrika Shox, Dusted and Swords).  Leftfield also made exclusive tracks for the films Shallow Grave, Trainspotting and The Beach (all directed by Danny Boyle).  They are all available on A Final Hit (2005).  The compilation also includes More Than I Know (another non-album single).  The duo made several remixes.  A live album (Tourism) was recently released.

John Lydon’s solo album (Psycho’s Path) contains a couple of Leftfield remixes (and a great remix of Open Up by The Chemical Brothers).  It is not a particularly good album though.  A John Lydon box set was released in 2005.  It is called The Best Of British £1 Notes and contains some of his solo material plus selected Public Image Limited and Sex Pistols songs (and Open Up).  It includes a DVD.  It is for avid fans only.

Lemon Jelly’s last album came with a warning label, informing fans it was nothing like the band’s previous output.  ’64-’95 is sample-based and a couple of the tracks are a little heavier than usual (eg. The Shouty Track and Come Down On Me).  However, it’s not hugely different.  There was no need for alarm.  The duo’s first ‘album’ is actually a compilation (it includes all tracks from the first three EPs).  It also came with a courtesy sticker, advising fans not to buy the CD if they already owned the EPs.  The first proper album appeared in 2002.  Lost Horizons has a laid-back ‘down-tempo’ feel to it (much like Lemonjelly.ky).  Lemon Jelly is currently on hiatus, as Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen pursue solo projects.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZadtHGjKUSA&feature=relmfu

I stopped collecting Linkin Park after the second album.  Meteora is fairly good but Minutes To Midnight is very unappealing.  The less said about A Thousand Suns the better.  Linkin Park was awesome in the beginning.  Hybrid Theory is the ultimate nu-metal album; blending elements of pop, rock, metal, industrial, hip-hop and rap.  It was a clever formula and had broad appeal.  A crappy remix album (Reanimation) was released in 2002.  After Meteora, a crappy live album (Live In Texas) was released.  Linkin Park became irrelevant after that (just like every other nu-metal band).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMDcE24GcBE

Mancunian DJ/Producer Justin Robertson formed Lionrock, in the mid-nineties.  The first album (An Instinct For Detection) is great.  If you like The Chemical Brothers and 808 State (also from Manchester) you’ll probably like Lionrock.  The second album (City Delirious) is adequate but not too exciting – despite being sent back to Robertson for a revamp at the last minute.  The Lionrock project was ditched and Revtone was presented in 2001.  Nobody noticed.  Robertson continues to perform as a DJ.  He has made several remixes.

Last but not least, Long Range was Phil Hartnoll’s side project.  He teamed up with Nick Smith.  Together they produced a fantastic album, which ranks among my favourites.  It is called Madness And Me and features a variety of electronic tracks, ranging from minimal ambient to energised dance.  It features vocal performances from Kelly Malone and Nick Smith.  Long Range released a three track EP in 2009.  Orbital then reformed (see my previous blog, http://www.friendburst.com/blog/85968/orbital/).

Further listening