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A Slow News Day Tribute To 1992 In British Dance

glowsticks.jpgIdolator has already reported on Utah Saints’ recent run up the British Charts, but as far as I’m concerned, there’s no musical micro-genre more welcome for a comeback than Britain’s dance music of the early ’90s. I have a brightly colored striped shirt and a pacifier just sitting in box waiting to be used!

1992 is referred to as one of the worst years in British chart history, partially because of a series of ABBA tributes which made runs at number one. Combine that with a great year for Simply Red, and even the Shamen start to sound good:

Although it appeared on the 1991 album Screamadelica, Primal Scream’s “Movin’ On Up” saw a single release in 1992, which is connection enough for my purposes. It’s no Loaded, but it’s still pretty great:

I’m not making the contention that this song is worth hearing again, but keep in mind that Wet Wet Wet were doing pretty well the same year. Context really is everything.

Of course, 1992 saw the farewell of geniuses KLF, marked by this brilliant BRIT Awards performance:

Is it too much to ask for “What Time Is Love ‘08″? KLF, we need you more than ever!

1992 in British Music [Wikipedia]

 
By Dan Gibson at 2:30 AM on Fri May 9 2008
Posted to: ,
  • Cam/ron

    Ah KLF, their classic "3AM Eternal" introduced a Faith No More-loving scamp like me to electronic dance music. I'm embarassed to say that I also dug that Shamen claptrap. Now excuse me while I rock out to Ned's Atomic Dustbin.

  • AcidReign

        Utah Saints? Mmm. Didn't they do "Mortal Kombat Lite?" Found out that I can still do Liu Kang's kung fu kick, recently...

  • Handsome Pete

    I just picked up the What Time Is Love? CD single nine hours ago.


    Discount electronica at the Princeton Record Exchange.


    I passed over a lot of Orb. And Orbital.


    Next time.

  • el smrtmnky

    @Tenno: nope. that's the orb. for two reasons: it says the orb at the top of the clip and two: i went into an e roll immediately after clicking on that.


    anyone got some gum?

  • loudersoft

    You know, clearly I didn't look at any of the videos before posting that "Ebeneezer Goode" video. I guess I was vibing without realizing it.

  • moomintroll

    Yeah, that's the Orb. KLF at the Brits was the whole machine gun/death metal thing. Then they were gone (sniff).

  • cyruscope

    I saw Gaye Bykers on Acid in '88 so, yeah, the grebo era (moment? blip?) began in late eighties.

  • Tenno

    Isn't the last one The Orb? Or am I just being stupid?

  • Anonymous

    The Spice must flow!!!!

  • loudersoft

    @superfluoüs_umlaut: WOW, I had completely forgotten about this song until now. Thanks for the reminder.

  • moomintroll

    Also, Shakespeare's sister were quite brilliant, and the Virgin chart means nothing.

    I'm all for this resurgence, as long as it doesn't include "groove is in the heart"

  • loudersoft

    @Lieutenant 030: To each their own. I remembered really liking that song in 1992, but at the time I was growing out of dance music. I quickly moved on to grunge, punk, and indie rock thereafter, so take my input with a grain of salt.

  • superfluoüs_umlaut

    Ooh, ooh. "On a Ragga Tip"!!! 1992 was awesome. Sigh.


    <div class="comment-video-thumb"><a class="vlink" href="javascript:toggleVideoComment('gXCN1DhHTZA')"><img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/gXCN1DhHTZA/1.jpg"></img>
    <a id="ylink_gXCN1DhHTZA" href="javascript:toggleVideoComment('gXCN1DhHTZA')">+ Watch video
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  • Lieutenant 030

    No, please, let's forget Ebeneezer Goode. Mr C single-handedly destroyed my interest in UK dance music in 1992.


    Wasn't grebo earlier than '92? The Wonder Stuff got tagged grebo, and their first album came out in 1988.

  • moomintroll

    Yes! I was exactly 10 years old living in England at this time. Obviously the Sesame Street song was highly regarded as genius by myself and my fellow 10 year old critics circle. It also led to many a prank call to Childline (a kind of samaritans phone line for kids) asking "can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street? Also, I think it's time for some Justified Ancients of Moo Moo in '08

  • loudersoft

    Let's not forget "Ebeneezer Goode"


  • futurehorse

    Can we count Saint Etienne on this? I think now, more than ever, is time for the Saint Etienne revival. Plus, fingers freaking crossed, SP20 is going to continue to blow minds and give 'em their first US shows in, what, 10 years?

  • NeverEnough

    I love The KLF like some people love Jesus. If you've not read '45' by Bill Drummond, do so immediately. GREAT book.

  • Reidicus

    Wasn't 1992 the great UK "grebo" year, with the Neds, PWEI, et. al., or was that earlier?

  • It Must Be Take a Worm for a W

    It's so true. I've got my copy of "The Manual" and my pyramid blaster at the ready. Kingboy D and Rockman Rock, give me what you got..

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