From The Back of The Box part 1

Again, these records aren't exactly diggers gems but I do pull them out from time to time when I need a little surge of upliftment, which usually comes after I've spent an hour or two going through the latest minimal releases in the hope of finding that one record that is worth dropping a few notes on. Minimal is the new progressive house? A lot more truth in that than some people would ever care to admit.

The first track I've chosen is by the Four Tops and it's the brilliant Reach Out (I'll Be There) which is one of those feelgood records that you can play just about anywhere. A few years ago Justin (Unabombers/Electrons/Only Child) played it at the Electric Chair after Kelvin Andrews had taken the roof off and being on the dancefloor surrounded by a couple of hundred Mancs singing their hearts out is an experience that I'll never forget.


The Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There)

The Polyphonic Spree are an interesting bunch. A few years ago they were rocking the robe look, which was giving off a bit of a cultish vibe and now they're sporting an all-black slightly militaristic look but whatever garb they choose to wear they do deliver a symphonic take on rock music that is incredibly uplifting and just the ticket for those sunrise moments that we know and love so much. Lead by the enigmatic Tim DeLaughter they number 23 members in total but have been known to have as many as 27 amongst their ranks and for my money the world of music would be a lot duller if the Spree didn't exist. Play this when you're in a bad mood or just play it at any point of the day, it's magic.


The Polyphonic Spree - Light & Day/Reach For The Sun

English hair rock from the 70s never sounded as good as when Mott The Hoople were strutting their stuff. They count David Bowie amongst their fans and it was the thin white duke who wrote their best known hit All The Young Dudes. Dragging the glam rockers kicking and screaming into the 21st Century are balearock's finest A Mountain of One who don't do many remixes/edits but when they do they invariably end up being nothing short of sublime. It would probably take a lot of balls to play this at peak-time but if anyone has then they have my unerring respect on so many levels. This track is almost worth buying a sequined jumper for. Almost.


Mott The Hoople - Bastard - A Mountain of One edit

Seu Jorge is probably best known to those outside of Brazil for playing Knockout Ned in the superb City of God back in 2002 but unbeknownst to many of us he's already a fully-fledged star in his native land for his poignant and incredibly catchy songs that traverse a number of themes and experiences with an undeniable amount of cool. This song is a cover of a Bowie's Life On Mars (another great segue, I'm on fire this week) and as much as I love the original this version is easily my favourite by a long way. I don't know what it is about it, possibly Seu's dulcet tones but it definitely strikes a chord with me whenever I play it and that is admittedly quite a lot.


Seu Jorge - Life On Mars

This is produced by one sixth of Jazzanova, Roskow Kretschmann who quite blatantly has an outstanding Afrobeat collection if this record is anything to go by. It comes on a double A-side EP with the equally good Deux Mille Deux on the flip. It's all about this percussion on this one and it's driven through the vocal snippets with nothing short of dancefloor dy-no-mite. Heavy record that when played at the right time will get the dancers throwing shapes like never before.


Sygaire - Oh Ba Ju Li