On any post, if the link is no longer good, leave a comment if you want the music re-uploaded. As long as I still have the file, or the record, cd, or cassette to re-rip, I will gladly accommodate in a timely manner all such requests.

Slinging tuneage like some fried or otherwise soused short-order cook. Embiggening the earholes

17 March 2026

Singles World Cup Finals: Round 2

 Ratings Board:
ACR              3
The Shamen  1
Utah Saints    2
Dreadzone     2

 

Today's requirement limits all Teams to just a two song single. First up today, The Sha Men... 

 

 

The Shamen - Pro>gen, One Little Indian 36TP12, 1990.
all decryption codes in comments 

Pro>gen (Land of Oz mix)
Light>span (Ben Chapman mix)
 
 
 
 
Utah Saints - Star, FFRR FXXDJ268, 1996.
 
Star (Red Jerry mix)
Star (Union Jack mix)
 
 
 
 
The Dreadzone - King Dub Rock (in the Party), Functional Breaks FB037, 2005.

King Dub Rock (in the Party)
King Dub Rock (in the Party)[Tom Real vs the Rogue Element mix)
 
 
 
 

And because the Rats started off Singles World Cup Finals: Round 1, they are bringing up the rear today, with an Oldie but goody... 
 
 
A Certain Ratio - All Night Party, Factory Fac 5, 1979.

All Night Party
The Thin Boys
 
 
 

Tomorrow, Round 3,
NØ
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12 comments:

  1. NØ3/17/26, 12:04 AM

    Pro>gen
    Rki7zp0oQcYONwC3JwaLpgWHaT2rKIMHYTfN85p87c8
    Star
    2Qp2KuggrVNFATIOMi3VX_0WxnW0HLCMioWNlxSpKEY
    King Dub Rock
    BBIZILyA5H1ccH3AQ6Jjw66YIP0_AbeJrve6CP8t2pE
    All Night Party
    iQdFOLvke1tch_eJoH13hpnhQjWfub3gr6G4IlblpfA

    ReplyDelete
  2. Richard3/17/26, 3:31 AM

    Thank you, Still dizzy from the amount of ZF & R you shared. I am going to sit this one out. ACR All night party brings me back to my youth. Big yellow taxi talks about how they paved paradise etc. In Manchester, late 70s, the decay, the empty factories, smoke-blackened. The different kind of beauty that lay in these first factory releases is for me unbeaten. Give my point to ACR.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That Bloke3/17/26, 3:13 PM

    A strong showing from The Shamen, Utah Saints and Dreadzone. All polished, sequenced, "remix-sounding" dance tracks. ACR's offering is a raw almost demo like in it's presentation. An Early Work...

    The Shamen. Solid House sound, a little Trance feel here and there, an acid squelch too. Easy listening for the dance floor. I use to get home from work in the late 80's, put on my House tape at max. volume and promptly fall asleep.

    Utah Saints. OK, so this appeals - starts with no tune (I like that) just a beat. As the first track progresses it starts to sound a bit (dare I say it) generic. I think it's that I'm getting old. Track 2 improves on things. The building rhythms, sparser sound fewer vocals. If I started listening to this style of music again, I'd probably get hooked.

    Dreadzone. A track I'm familiar with. A track that wraps itself around an irresistible bassline. Introduced to me by the great Don Letts via his radio show on the BBC, I think this is the track that put me onto Dreadzone. Simple, uncomplicated, bass heavy. I'm a sucker for a bassline and the more bass the better.

    A Certain Ratio. These tracks don't belong in this lineup… It's like trying to compare apples and potatoes - there's so little common ground. A single from the 90's; from "ACR:MCR" or "Up In Downsville" would of stood up much better (and won hands down)

    I could do without listening to "The Thin Boys" again; not one of their finer moments. "All night Party" though, shows the band working through their earlier years in the late 70's. A raw sound with little of the polish of their later work. The production of this recording (and possibly the quality of the transfer to mp3) leaves something to be desired unfortunately and does the song no favours.

    I'm ging to Dreadzone this time. It only just ahead of The Shamen though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NØ3/17/26, 4:07 PM

      Thank you so much again. No one seems too thrilled with these Singles World Cup clashes so I am overjoyed with your participation so far. Also I really appreciate that you break down the pros & cons of each group. That is a great help to others who might not be familiar or sure of these. I hope to continue to hear from you.

      Delete
  4. That Bloke3/17/26, 4:37 PM

    I've been a silent regular reader of your blog for a good while now and when the singles clash featuring ACR came along I couldn't help myself. Sounds a bit daft but I'm really looking forward to the rest of this contest. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NØ3/17/26, 8:22 PM

      You've finally joined the Daft Club with myself & many Many others here. Welcome aboard. Thanks for the long time support & thanks for chiming in now.

      Delete
  5. Mister kien3/18/26, 5:27 AM

    Ok just downloaded day 2, still in, you'll have to bear with me.
    .. I found a nice article about A Certain Ratio : https://thequietus.com/interviews/strange-world-of/a-certain-ratio-interview/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NØ3/18/26, 11:36 AM

      Thanks for the Quietus link, MK. much appreciated.

      Delete
    2. Mister kien3/18/26, 12:55 PM

      I listened : Shamen and Utah saints on one side : dance music, Shamen a bit better than Yesterday, but getting worse when the strings Come in, then It loses me. I share flaccus and Mooz view ! I got more interested in ACR, I'm now curious to hear what's coming. I enjoyed that one, more post punk and bleak, even though it's recorded in a bathtub.
      Dreadzone were better than Yesterday, more sound system oriented... But the digital bassine ruines it a little for me. Not horrible (bit I went back to m'y dublicator files!)
      My vote for ACR today

      Delete
    3. NØ3/18/26, 5:10 PM

      Good to hear from you once more & really appreciste your analysis. You said ACR recorded in a bathtub & in a comment on Round 3 That Bloke sez recorded in a cave (wonder if it's a batcave???). I think you guys are on to something. We'll see if their production values improve. Thanks, MK.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous3/21/26, 12:16 AM

    Do you have the 1990 original version of the album En-Tact by The Shamen?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NØ3/21/26, 1:10 PM

      The version I have is the 1991 One Little Indian TPLP22CDUS i5 track The Shamen - En-Tact.

      Delete

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