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The Trip: Tom Middleton
REVIEW "After the success of the ‘All back to mine’, ‘Anotherlatenight’, ‘Under The Influence’ and Badmeaninggood’ series, record labels seem to be becoming even more aware that listeners are after a more diverse range of tunes to listen, relax, dance and be inspired by. Specific mixes of genres like chillout, house, and hip hop are becoming increasingly quickly dated so what’s the alternative? Well ‘The Trip’ is a new series from Family Recordings where a specially invited guest DJ has ‘carte blanche’ to create a unique album based around their personal record collection. There are no barriers, no strict musical guidelines – the only stipulation is that the album should reflect its title: The Trip. So I guess the success of a compilation like this is dependant on the musical knowledge, diversity of styles and influences of its creator. Luckily Tom Middleton has got a phenomenal musical pedigree. A classically trained pianist and cellist, Tom co-produced a track for the 'Aphex Twin’s Analogue Bubblebath' EP. Together with Mark Pritchard, the pair formed several pseudonyms including the electro revivalising ‘Jedi Knights’, who inspired everyone from The Prodigy & The Chemical Brothers to Daft Punk. As ‘Global Communcation’ the pair released the seminal ambient album 76:14 and absolute house classic ‘The Way / The Deep’. He is currently working on his Cosmos LP- with collaborators as unlikely as The Cures Robert Smith and Ex-smith Johnny Marr. This double CD is a truly eclectic mix, using re-edits, decks and effects to mix over 50 years of tunes. ‘The Trip’ features rare and exotic disco/punk/funk/soul/samba/reggae cover versions of classic songs interspersed with the odd 80’s classic and snippets of sounds from kid’s TV. A bold and triumphant balance of familiar and obscure is a revelation to hear. CD 1 opens with the theme tune to Pearl & Dean and Star Wars mixed into a funky Sammy Davis Jr and already you know you are in for a far from ordinary musical journey. Before you know it you’ve heard a soul/funk version of Creams ‘Sunshine of your love’ and Japanese House mix of ‘Sex Machine’. I’d totally forgotten all about the good time electro/pop/funk of the Tom Tom Club’s ‘Wordyrappinghood’ and am so pleased to hear it again. The every changing styles and tempos makes this listening experience so much more interesting. Senor Coconut’s version of the Sade classic ‘Smooth Operator’ is totally floaty – then suddenly Usha Uthup’s bollywood rendition of Michael Jackson’s ‘Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough’ appears to make you want to through some serious shapes – superb choices. More samba comes in the form of Ray Berrettos Stevie Wonder cover, then it’s the Verve’s Bitter Sweet Symphony that gets the sample treatment, fused into the bass shaking simplicity and beauty of Danny Breaks ‘The Jellyfish’. When the soul funk of Shirley Ellis’s version of the playground classic ‘The Clapping Song’ hits the speakers I am again just so pleased by some of these selections it’s wonderful – To then effortlessly mix it to the drum and bass of Lenny Fontana’s soulful ‘Spreadlove’ is a real treat. To finish of clips of Bod, Newsround and Grange Hill just emphasises what a good surreal time you’ve just had. CD 2 starts with the Close Encounters theme tune and a quality exclusive downtempo track by Ulrich Schnauss. The funky discoesque ‘Space Talk’ is lush, whilst the breathy soulful vocal of Lewis Taylor’s ‘Lovelight’ is another sublime cut. Again the sequencing of this with Common’s soulful hip hop and the ace ‘Long Hot Summer’ is inspiring. To have the odd almost singalong tune is a nice touch – however great some of the more obscure tracks are - before long I’m also singing to a great version of ‘Knock on Wood’. With a bit of downtempo vocal jazz, a haunting piano and orchestral version of the Beatles ‘Dear Prudence’ introduces the final chapter of this ‘Trip’. This CD is the far more chilled of the two and it’s slo-mo all the way from here. The spaced-out grooves and ethereal sounds of Shu Ri Nan and Amba’s ‘Astral Projection’ just make you feel like its time to lie down and take it very, very easy. Whilst the final three tracks of beautiful minimalist piano, bass and space is a very fitting ending from Mr. Global Communication. The last word comes from courtesy of The Magic Roundabout – ‘It’s time for bed’. A very appropriate ending to a very exceptional double album. Hope the Cosmos album is as good as this." - Toby Austin
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