A long time friend of Emotional Pop, Elliott, is a man with a penchant for the type of music we’re all about here.
His club night, Naive Melody, set the bar for sweaty. tops-off, man-on-man disco action and his mixes regularly contain enough power tracks to take down a charging Bison.
In this mix Elliott turns the lights down low, removes his vest and gets to work.
Here’s his guide to the mix…
1. Talc – Modern Sleep Over
Talc (great band name) members Dr Fun and the Gift (not so great) released this gem back in 2005 on Wah Wah 45s. I don’t know much else about them, but the Roger Troutman-esque talk box vocals are pure wowzer in the trouser.
2. Hall & Oates – One on One
“Oh oh I can feel the magic of your touchAnd when you move in close a little bit means so much”
It could only be John Oates and Daryll Hall. A perfect balance of raw sexual power and pitch perfect delicacy.
3. Yukihiro Takahashi – Disposable Love
A beautiful song from a golden era of Japanese pop music. Yukihiro of Yellow Magic Orchestra is on top form. Possibly my favourite track on the mix and the competition was pretty stiff (oooooh…).
4. Roxy Music – Lover
Little known B-side from “The Same Old Scene” single. Definitely wading into Bourgeois pop territory now. Best listened to in the back of a Bentley, wearing a tuxedo, half cut, on the way home to your flat in Chelsea. Needles to say, Ferry’s vocals are outstanding, genius.
5. Metro – Gemini
Pop-stalwart Peter Godwin is bang on the money here. Top strut-worthy guitar and bass work and when the drums kick in you can really give it large in your dandy pants. Again, incredible vocals, it knocks me out every time.
6. Naked Eyes – Promises Promises
Always loved this, Naked Eyes remind me of Bros but minus the 13 year old fan-base. Heartthrob JellyBean Benitez doing his thing in the studio and earning his bread by inviting Madonna to feature on vocals (I think they were “going steady” at the time).
7. Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe met by chance in a Hi-Fi shop on the Kings road. A match made in heaven you could say.
In 1992 the pair filled in for Simon Bates’ on his Radio 1 show for an entire week, they played “The Age of Love” Watch Out for Stella remix every morning. I’d love to hear those recordings.
8. Stefano Pulga – Love Taker
Ok, I’m pushing it here with a later period up-tempo Stefano Pulga single. You probably don’t here music like this in clubs anymore for a good reason. However, if we got rid of all the chaff and replaced them with hairy stallions and women in lycra, then we wouldn’t have a problem.
9. Prince – Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad
It wouldn’t harm you at this point to whip your top off, try not to notice your inferior physique and focus all your energy on playing air-guitar during Prince’s epic solo.
10. Tatsuro Yamashita – Someday
It’s all about the rolling bassline and Yamashita’s effortless vocals on this. Great sunny day record for hanging round the pool with the lads.
11. Rik Kenton – Bungalow Love
Ooooh yeah, just how I like it. Junk-shop Glam at it’s best. Rik Kenton played guitar in Roxy and some other top bands. You can’t make music like this unless you’ve done a lot of gear.
12. Nuala – Make Up
German’s are good at making visceral, edgy, uber cool music that gets you sexually excited. Pogo around your bedroom until the record stops, then weep because the lead singer is so unattainably beautiful that she would never, ever talk to you.
13. Todd Rundgren – Izzat Love?
Part angel, part spaceboy, Todd Rundgren I am your biggest fan. He should be bottled in case of a nuclear war, one day we’ll need to remember what pop music was all about. If my memory is correct, Neon Indian sampled this record a couple of years ago on their hype machine smash, Deadbeat Summer.
14. Phil Manzanera – Island
As you step on to the treadmill press play, by the time it finishes you will be a new man, believe.
15. Passengers – The Last Romantic
I assume that you appreciate an end of the night roof-raiser when you hear one. If you’re still propping up the bar when the pianos start on this, pop down a button or two, head for the floor and think MACHO.
Elliott (Naive Melody) – A Perfect Winning Smile
- Talc – Modern Love
- Hall and Oates – One on One
- Yukihiro Takahashi – Disposable Love
- Roxy Music – Lover
- Metro – Gemini
- Naked Eyes (ft. Madonna) – Promises Promises
- Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly
- Stefano Pulga – Love Taker
- Prince – Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad
- Tatsuro Yamashita – Someday
- Rik Kenton – Bungalow Love
- Nuala – Make Up
- Todd Rundgren – Izzat Love?
- Phil Manzanera – Island
- The Passengers – The Last Romantic
That Talc track is one of my personal faves. Post-modern Steely Dan… Nice work Elliot… :)
What happened to Talc?
There’s a good pun here somewhere…