Love, InsidePulse Style!

Just in time for Valentine’s Da… er, just in time for the end of February, in which Valentine’s Day falls, I’ve decided to throw my hat in for this feature, marking my return to InsidePulse after a two-month hiatus. I’m sure you’ve all been wondering what I’ve been up to, and aside from the usual eating, sleeping, and pooping, I’ve moved around a bit, bought a new car, gotten really pissed off at work, travelling to Tibet, and other exciting things1.

When I heard about this idea, I just had to jump in, because my girlfriend, Aimie, and I had just been talking about compiling a list of this exact nature. The following list contains enough songs to fill up a disc, with more songs at the end that were cut and would make good sequels.

Taucher, “Moon Over Atlantis” (2001)
Taucher is probably better known for his faster trance material, but this 10+-minute opus is not only a wonderful opening track for the German producer’s downtempo, Low Tide album, but a great way to kick off the mix. Melding elements of jazz, classical, new age, and even a dash of ’80s house, it’s an emotional song that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the set.

INXS, “Never Tear Us Apart” (1987)
This is not only my favorite INXS song, but easily one of my favorite ’80s songs as well. Along with a nice, sensual flow, it’s also got some of the most beautiful, poetic lyrics of any love song.

Jamie Myerson, “You’re My Life” (1998)
I had to throw in a breakbeat track, demonstrating how the LTJ Bukem-led “intelligent” drum and bass movement uses ambient and jazz elements to create some wonderful atmospheric background music, thanks to that wonderful Rhodes piano and a well-utilized synthesizer. One downside is that the track sort of fizzles in middle, stripping down to a simple echoing sound and sub-bass reverb, however, it shortly gets back its meat and potatoes, and still hold up as a solid track for this mix.

Fluke, “Kitten Moon” (1997)
Speaking of deep, atmospheric tracks, this one brings it the tempo down incredibly, using a slow, deep beat alongside well-placed synth washes and a nice choral sample that sets a haunting tone that would get the nod of approval from Mr. Stanley Kubrick himself if (a) he were still a live, and (b) he were to host his own chill-out night at [insert lounge/club here]. If there’s any track that can get me to type a run-on sentence and ignore grammar-check because it’s so damn good, it’s this one.

Depeche Mode, “Precious” (2005)
There were several tracks that I could have chosen from, but over the past few months, this one has kind of become “our song.” After the past few albums of relatively mediocre material, Depeche Mode hit back with an album that could have been released in 1988 and not missed a step.

Schiller, “Dream of You” [f/Peter Heppner] (2002)
Here’s a club hit that manages to be one hell of a sexy song. Peter Heppner of Wolfsheim compliments the ethereal trance beat, one that closely resembles a more determined ATB or Robert Miles track, with his classically trained, flinty vocals.

Art of Noise, “Moments in Love” (1984)
Like the aforementioned Taucher track (which could actually be the scion of this one), Art of Noise blends elements of jazz, classical, new age, and a subtle dash of early house (listen for it around the middle of the fifth minute), it’s an emotional song that’s hot tamales to boot. Seriously, as far as sensuality goes, it’s got to be up in the top ten.

Craig Armstrong, “This Love” (1997)
This song has made more appearances in chill-out mixes perhaps than anything by Thievery Corporation, and holds A-list status with lounge DJs around the world. The delicate vocals of Elizabeth Fraser gracefully dance alongside a piano loop with an odd sub-bass that hits every half minute or so. It might be too Pure Moods for some, but I think it flows nicely with the rest of the tracks thanks to that downtempo beat.

Interpol, “Untitled” (2002)
I was very close to starting off the mix with this song, since it so perfectly kicks off Turn Off the Bright Lights, but I decided that it might be better for somewhere in the middle. I’m content with my decision as it breaks up the four-track streak of electronic with some beautiful, intelligent rock music. The first time I heard this, I was just about to graduate from art school, and I thought, “Wow, this song would be perfect for making out with some indie chick as I run my fingers through her scarf.” Never did it, but it’s still a great make-out song nonetheless. Ian Curtis would be proud. Oh shit, I referenced Joy Division when talking about Interpol! Now I’ll never be able to write for SPIN! ph33r!

Duran Duran, “Come Undone” (1993)
A great deal of ’80s synth-pop bands that decide to still churn out albums at the present, trying desperately to not date themselves by attempting to leave behind a world of happy, cheese-heavy synth-pop, the results are cataclysmic (see Berlin. Specifically, 4Play; even more specifically, the cover of “Big Time”, “The Dope Show”, “Never Let Me Down Again”… Aw hell, the whole album is just f*cking ghastly). However, Duran Duran were able to explore new horizons on their self-titled “Wedding” album, and made some damn good pop music in the process. This song is probably one of my favorites from the band, ever. Plus, for me, it’s worked as a better aphrodisiac than anything in the Barry White and Al Green catalogues combined.

George Michael, “Father Figure” (1987)
In 1987, I had the Faith album on vinyl, and I’ve been unable to ditch the CD, even amid The Great CD Upheaval of 20062, because I like it that damn much. This track beat out “One More Try,” mostly because it’s got a much sexier beat to it. You might think this is absolute cheese, but if you were alive and coherent enough to enjoy pop music in 1987, you can see where I’m coming from.

Henry Mancini, “Lujon” (1961)
Oldest song in the mix, but it works incredibly well. It’s funny to think that the same man who composed the theme for What’s Happening also crafted this timeless piece of bachelor pad fare. If you’ve never heard it and don’t want to download it, just watch The Big Lebowski, as it makes an appearance in the part where Jackie Treehorn has The Dude in his living room.

Leftfield, “Original” (1995)
This one’s an overlap from my “Late Night Jukebox” segment a couple of years ago, and is one of my favorite chill-out songs. Even though it appears in the middle of this mix, I waited to do the write-up for it until last, so I’m getting sort of tired and will instead just run the one from The Saturday Swindle Sheet #18…

Besides being a great chill-out track, this is one of the sexiest songs I’ve ever heard. It has a slow, deep pulsating beat over which Toni Halliday’s vocals float perfectly. The duo combines just the right amounts of hip-hop and electronic to create an amazing downtempo track. I would be remiss not to point out that this is a perfect song to either drink, dance, and especially do the dirty deed to. In other news, 50 Cent looks like Emmanuel Lewis. The Saturday Swindle Sheet plans to look into this story and bring you any new developments as soon as they are available.

Besides being a great chill-out track, this is one of the sexiest songs I’ve ever heard. It has a slow, deep pulsating beat over which Toni Halliday’s vocals float perfectly. The duo combines just the right amounts of hip-hop and electronic to create an amazing downtempo track. I would be remiss not to point out that this is a perfect song to either drink, dance, and especially do the dirty deed to.

Peter Murphy, “I’ll Fall With Your Knife” (1995)
Here’s our song. We found a club that will play it, making it our favorite club. Peter Murphy has done some really good work in his solo career, but no other track of his gives me the same feeling as this one. It’s a wonderful love song that does everything right. I remember sometime last year a reader mailed me, saying that this song had been featured in some Katie Holmes movie, making it the only good thing that Katie Holmes has ever been associated with.

Sinéad O’Connor, “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
She might have turned out to be an absolute nutter and a walking joke, but thanks to The Artist Formerly Known As The Artist Formerly Known As Prince And Currently Known As Once Again Just Prince, Miss O’Connor was able to create a beautiful paean to love. It’s a timeless track that will forever top the list of Best Wedding Songs Ever, while it still manages to transcend the company of songs like Taylor Dayne’s “I’ll Always Love You,” which more or less solely work in that particular milieu.

Sneaker Pimps, “6 Underground” (Nellee Hooper Edit) (1996)
Here’s a song that reminds me of high school, a time when I started getting into the electronica genre thanks to some crossover acts such as The Chemical Brothers, Portishead, and the Sneaker Pimps. The latter, led by the cunning linguistics of Kelli Dayton, crafted a divine track that aptly balances trip-hop and bubblegum for a classic song for snoggin’.

Heatwave, “Always and Forever” (1977)
What better way to end a mix than with this classic R&B track? It’s the second in three that usually make appearances at weddings, because they’re just so damned romantic. Hold on… Wait, one more…

The Cure, “Lullaby” (1989)
What better way to end a mix than with The Cure? I know one of my fellow writers featured a Cure cover, and though I haven’t read anyone else’s, I’m sure they’ll make some more appearances in this feature. This is my absolutely favorite Cure song of all time, as I’ve always been partial to their darker, earlier material, and this one’s a nice throwback. Unlike sappier tracks (see “Friday I’m in Love,” which still to this date makes my teeth hurt every time I hear it), it makes little overt reference to romance but still fits nicely into the mix due to the overall sextacular tempo.

Songs that were proposed for the mix but later cut due to time constraints…

Air, “La Femme D’Argent” (1998)
The Church, “Under the Milky Way” (1988)
Climax, “Precious and Few” (1971)
Coldcut, “Autumn Leaves” (1993)
Crowded House, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” (1987)
Cyndi Lauper, “Time After Time” (1984)
D’Angelo, “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” (2000)
Echo & the Bunnymen, “The Killing Moon” (1984)
Elvin Bishop, “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” (1976)
Eric Clapton, “Wonderful Tonight” (1977)
Golden Boy & Miss Kittin, “Rippin Kittin” (2002)
Hall & Oates, “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” (1982)
Handsome Boy Modeling School, “The Truth” [f/Roisin Murphy, J-Live] (1999)
Hooverphonic, “2wicky” (1996)
Kinobe, “Slip Into Something More Comfortable” (2000)
Nightmares on Wax, “Les Nuits” (1999)
Os Mutantes, “Baby” (1971)
Outside, “Blue Skies” (1999)
Rod Stewart, “You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” (1977)
Simply Red, “Holding Back the Years” (1985)
The Sisters of Mercy, “Under the Gun” (1992)
Taucher, “No Need to Ask Baby” (2001)
Terence Trent D’Arby, “Sign Your Name” (1987)
Todd Rundgren, “Hello, It’s Me” (1973)
Toni Braxton, “You’re Making Me High” (1996)
Underworld, “Sola Sistim” (2002)
When in Rome, “The Promise” (1988)

That does it for now. You’ll see me again on this weekend, which marks the triumphant return of The Saturday Swindle Sheet. Onward and upward!

Cheers
-JF2k6!

ENDNOTES

1 Actually, one of these is a lie. In fact, they’re all lies. I was actually doing some spy work for Widro over at 411mania.com, posing as Mitch Michaels, in order to bring it down from the inside. Why do you guys think he’s been swearing so much lately?

2 Last month, I decided to sell a shitload of my CDs; mostly stuff that I’d either lost interest in, had ripped onto mp3, or just didn’t listen to anymore. I just bought a new car so I figured the money would come in handy. The total tally reached about 450, although I’ve still got about 120 that I’ve been meaning to post on Half.com.