A true fan of all things Kraftwerk, Strictly Kev has built a large collection of cover versions over the years which walk a fine line between sublime homage and downright absurdity. Rock, chiptune, classical and many more styles beyond feature in Kev’s Kraftwerk Kover Kollection. Volumes 1-4 have been available from bosbos.net for some time, but with Kev unleashing volume 6 onto an unsuspecting listening public, it was a good time to round them all up into one neat package for your convenience. Start by downloading the brilliant high-res cover artwork (by Kev, of course) and tracklists here, then fill your boots with the krafty mix werk below…

Kev’s Kraftwerk Kover Kollection: Volume 1

Download: Strictly Kev – KKKK1 (1hr, 82MB)

Tracklisting

1. Michael Bailey – And Finally Here’s Music
2. Fearless 4 – Rockin’ It
3. Pelding – It’s More Fun To Compute
4. Trouble Funk – Trouble Funk Express
5. Makoto Inoue – Europe Endless/Neon Lights
6. Unknown – Radioactivity
7. Senor Coconut – Trans Europe Express
8. Senor Coconut – The Man Machine
9. Souxsie & The Banshees – Hall Of Mirrors
10. Senor Coconut – The Robots
11. Balanescu Quartet – The Robots
12. Tafkafb – Waltz Mit Der Robot
13. Apoptygma Berzerk – Ohm Sweet Ohm
14. Frenchbloke & Son – Neon Love (cha cha cha)
15. Jason Moran – Planet Rock
16. Tremelo Beeer Gut – Das Model
17. Big Black – The Model
18. Rammstein – Das Model
19. Ride – The Model
20. Frenchbloke & Son – Sexy Model
21. Buffalo Daughter – Autobahn
22. Dark Side Of The Autobahn – Dark Side Of The Autobahn
23. Rot Front Trikont – The Robots
24. Senor Coconut – Showroom Dummies
25. Girls On Top – I Want To Dance With Numbers
26. Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock (Elecktric Music Classic Mix)
27. Coptic Rain – The Robots
28. Erasure – Blue Savannah (Remix)
29. Dmx Krew – Showroom Dummies
30. Melt Banana – Showroom Dummies
31. Aqua Vista – The Model
32. Senor Coconut – Home Computer
33. Senor Coconut – Tour De France
34. Elakelaiset – Poro (Reindeer/Robots)

Kev’s Kraftwerk Kover Kollection: Volume 2

Download: Strictly Kev – KKKK2 (1hr, 55MB)

Tracklisting

1. Das Erste Wiener Gemueseorchester (First Viennese Vegetable Orchestra) – Radio Activity
2. Casio VL80 Calculator – Computer World
3. April Nine – Radioactivity
4. Papa Dee – The Model
5. Laether Strip  – Showroom Dummies
6. P.O.D. – Die Roboter
7. The One You Love – Trans Europe Express
8. Uter – Ohm Sweet Ohm
9. Terre Thaemlitz – Ruckzuck
10. The Manatees – The Model + Jerky Boys – The Gay Model
11. Chris Whitely – The Model
12. Hikashu -The Model
13. The Treble Spankers – The Model
14. Miladojka Youneed – Pocket Calculator (Live)
15. Satoru Wono (Feat. Meiwa Denki) – Dentaku
16. Black Wedding – Taschenrechner
17. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – Pocket Calculator (Live)
18. Senor Coconut – Radioactivity
19. Diplo – Percao (Feat. Pantera Os Danadinhos)
20. Drop Da Bomb  – Computerworld
21. Dhiva – Tashenrechner
22. P.M. Dawn – If I Wuz U
23. The Balanescu Quartet – Pocket Calculator
24. Erasure – Blue Savannah (Die Deutchse Remix)
25. Laiboforcen – Numbers
26. Anthony Rother – Numbers/Computerwelt
27. Dynamix II – Techno Bass
28. Le Juan Love Feat. DJ Man – Mega Mix (House Style)
29. Anthony Rother – Trans Europe Express
30. Kurtis Mantronik – Original Electron
31. Snakefinger – The Model
32. Galaxy Sound Orchestra – The Model
33. David Byrne & The Balanescu Quartet – The Model (Live)
34. Frenchbloke & Son – Sexy Model (Strings)
35. Electric Six – The Model
36. Westbam – Monkey Say, Monkey Do
37. Think Tank – Hack Attack
38. The Balanescu Quartet – Computer Love

Kev’s Kraftwerk Kover Kollection: Volume 3

Download: Strictly Kev – KKKK3 (1hr, 55MB)

Tracklisting

1. Skanfrom – Phon Sweet Phon
2. Compulsion – Home Computer (Live)
3. Evil Twin – The Lady & The Lake
4. DJ Danielson – Partisans Of The Lesser Known
5. Mannequin Depressives – The Model
6. The Cardigans – Das Model
7. Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble Of Shadows – Modela
8. Jack n Madness – I Like Percussion
9. Z-Entropa – Antenna
10. U2 – Neon Lights
11. Makoto Inoue – Europe Endless/Neon Lights
12. Koto – Trans Europe Express
13. Empire State Human – Hall Of Mirrors
14. Terre Thaemlitz – Schaufensterpuppen
15. Bowery Electric – Freedom Fighter (Remix)
16. X-Ecutioners – A Journey Into Sound
17. Jay-Z – (Always Be My) Sunshine
18. MC Lyte – Cha Cha Cha
19. 2 Live Crew – My Dick Almighty
20. Mitja V.S. – Neon Lights
21. Frenchbloke & Son – No Expo
22. Terre Thaemlitz – Mensche Machine
23. Fink – Autobahn
24. Tragic Comedy – Autobahn
25. Gary Lucas – Autobahn
26. Kimitaka Matumae – Atem/Harmonika
27. Beitthron – Airwaves
28. Teruo Nakano – Computer Love
29. Alva Noto – Man Machine
30. Xcranium – The Man Machine
31. Terre Thaemlitz – Tour De France
32. Terre Thaemlitz – Morgen Spazergang
33. Skanfrom – Phon Sweet Phon
34. Xingu Hill – Electric Cafe

Kev’s Kraftwerk Kover Kollection: Volume 4

Download: Strictly Kev – KKKK4 (1hr, 83MB)

Tracklisting

1. DJ Flywheel – Solid Steel Intro
2. Bigg Ocean Mobb IV-1-5 – Gangster Driven
3. Wagon Christ – Unknown Studio Session
4. Coldplay – Talk (Instrumental Demo)
5. MC Duke – I’m Riffin’
6. X-Men – It’s More Fun To Sample
7. DMX Krew – Homecomputer
8. Luke Vibert – Homewerk
9. P.L – Transeuropa Express
10. Rodney Baker – Numbers
11. Torul – It’s More Fun To Compute
12. Alenia – Home Computer
13. LCD Soundsystem – Disco Infiltrator
14. MAW Electronic – Tranz
15. Love Tractor – Neon Lights
16. Bass Junkie – Robotechno
17. Coldplay – Talk (Thin White Duke Remix)
18. Beck – Get Real Paid
19. Poison Clan – Dance All Nite
20. Audio Science – Trans Europe Express
21. Yoshinori Sunahara – The Telephone Call
22. Biochip C – Steal It And Deal It (DMX Krew Edit)
23. Zoot Woman – The Model
24. Partia – Das Model
25. King Automatic – The Model
26. Top of the Pops – Autobahn
27. Gorefest – Autobahn
28. Balanescu Quartet – Autobahn
29. Roni Size (Feat. Rahzel) – Out Of Breath
30. DJ Godfather – Ping Pong/Ping Beatz
31. Ionic Vision – Tour De France
32. Fresh Prince And Ready Rock C – Live At Union Sq. Outtake
33. DJ Craze – DMC 2000 Final Routine
34. Morocco Moe – Task & The Beat Konductor – Open (Space)
35. Trans Am – Man Machine (Live)
36. Coldcut – Everything’s Under Control (Theory 0.1)
37. Rozmarinke – Radioactivity
38. Videosex – Spacelab (Gus Gus Remix)
39. Albert Kuvezin And Yat-kha – Man Machine

Kev’s Kraftwerk Kover Kollection: Volume 5

Download: Strictly Kev – KKKK5 (1hr, 139MB)

Tracklisting

1. Samarkan – Solid Steel Intro
2. Turf Talk (Feat. E-40 & Young Mugzi) – Do The Robot
3. Wallenstein – Exis O1 Intro
4. Kollo – Franz Schubert (Kollo Remix)
5. LCD Soundsystem – Get Innocuous (Soulwax Version)
6. Bit Weapon – Spacelab
7. Bubblyfish – It’s More Fun To Compute
8. Death In Vegas – Kontroll
9. Para One – Showroom Dummies
10. Crazy Girl – Showroom Dummies
11. Breakout – Planet Rock (Jazz version)
12. Kollo – Autobahn (Kollo Remix)
13. Bit Shifter – Antenna
14. Primal Scream – Autobahn 66
15. Sany Pitbull – Funk Alemao
16. Aurelius (Feat. Ashanti) – My Number Babe
17. Modified Toy Orchestra – Pocket Calculator
18. Clones – Clones
19. 6Blocc – Digits
20. Fink – The Model
21. Terre Thaemlitz – Die Roboter
22. Kalyanji Anandji – Y.O.G.A.
23. El Aviador Dro – El Modelo
24. Fatboy Slim – Radioactivity
25. Cha Cha 2000 – Autobahn
26. San Jose Cow Muzak – Autobahn
27. Case Managers – Autobahn

Kev’s Kraftwerk Kover Kollection: Volume 6

Download: Strictly Kev – KKKK6 (1hr, 138MB)

Tracklisting

1. New David – Computer Love (mp3)
2. Glass Candy – Computer Love (Italians Do It Better)
3. 8-bit Operators – Computer Love (Astralwerks)
4. Kraftwerk – It’s More Fun To Compute (Busy P remix) (mp3)
5. DJ Tameil – Trans Newark Express (Money Studies)
6. Between The Sheets – Late Night Radio (Bootlegs)
7. Keith Mansfield – Electromatics (A&B) (KPM)
8. The Simonsound – Tour De Mars (Project Blue Book)
9. 8-Bit Operators – The Robots (Die Roboter) (Astralwerks)
10. Santogold – Anne (Switch mix) (CDR)
11. Dreamland Happy Times For All – Showroom Dummies (Spill)
12. Christian Prommer – Trans Europa Express (Sonar Kollektiv)
13. Doormouse – Werkin’ It (Addict Records)
14. Para One – It’s More Fun To Compute (Phonofile.dk/The Orchard)
15. 8-Bit Operators - Pocket Calculator (Astralwerks)
16. Hajime Fukuma – Musique Non Stop (FGL Productions)
17. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet – Autobahn (mp3)
18. New David – Autobahn (mp3)
19. Antediluvian Rocking Horse – Craft Work Out (Spill)
20. Fleetwood Mac – The Chain (Warner Brothers)
21. Vibravoid – Ruckzuck (Fruits De Mer)
22. Clowns Smiling Backwards – Hall Of Mirrors (Spill)
23. The Cure – Like Cockatoos (Rhino/WEA)
24. Death in Vegas – Zugaga (Drone)
25. Soma Mestizo – Trans Europe Express (Soma Mestizo)
26. Two Litre Dolby With Chris Smith – Radioactivity (Spill)
27. Huon – Upfield Bike Path (Spill)
28. New David – Expo 2000 (mp3)

Tracklisting

1. Unknown – Unknown
2. Drum Corps – Down (Ad Noiseam)
3. Total Science – Junglism (Metalheads)
4. King Cannibal – Aragami Style (Ninja Tune)
5. Scorn – Super Mantis (King Cannibal Remix) (Combat Recordings)
6. Various Productions – Driver (Various Productions)
7. Deville – Stamina (Senseless)
8. Misc – Hoooked (Lost Souls Recordings)
9. Top Billin’ – Boy Angles (Top Billin’)
10. Mundo – I Stand Rasta (Dub Assembly)
11. Peverlist – The Grid (Scape)
12. Skream – Percression (Tectonic)
13. Round One – I’m Your Brother (Chicago Mix) (Main Street Recordings)
14. 2562 – Techno Dread (Tectonic)
15. Kraftwerk – Numbers (Warner Bros Records)
16. Matty G – 50,0000 Watts (Argon)
17. Aaron Spectre – Say More Fire (Rag & Bone Records)
18. Vex’d – Killing Floor (Planet Mu)
19. Lil Jon – Throw It Up (Acapella) (TVT)
20. Distance – Fallen (Vex’d Remix) (Planet Mu)
21. Babylon Systems – Loaded (Argon)
22. Rudeez – Champion (White Label)
23. Deville – Rumble (Senseless)
24. Kanji Kinetic – Crazy Pills (Rag & Bone Records)
25. Seldom Felt – A1 (Seldom Felt)
26. Amand Van Heldon – Witch Doktor (Strictly Rhythm)
27. Andy Stott – Hostile (Modern Love)
28. Paul Kalk Brenner – Keule (BPitch)
29. J-Kenzo – Tekno Bass (Soul Shakerz)
30. Modeselektor – Hyper Hyper (BPitch)
31. Shitmat – More Fire (’93 Ting Mix) (Planet Mu)
32. TRG – Horny (Subway)
33. Asylum – Da Base 2 Dark (Metalheadz)
34. Photek – Age Of Empires (Metalheadz)
35. Dillinja – In The Grind (Valve)
36. 2 Player – Extreme Possibilities (Ninja Tune)
37. Ed Rush & Optical – Funktion VIP (V Records)
38. Special Forces – Rinsa (Tekdbz)
39. Special Forces – Satisfy (Metalheadz)
40. Ruffige Kru – Rhythm Killa (Metalheadz)
41. Special Forces – Something Else… The Bleeps Tune (Photek Productions)
42. Goldie – Angel (Teebee Remix) (Metalheadz)
43. Spirit – Siren (Hive Remix) (Inneractive Music)
44. Photek – Ni-Ten-Ichi-Ryu (Teebee Remix) (Photek Productions)
45. J Majik – Your Sound (Remix) (Razors Edge)
46. Boymerang – Mind Control (Regal Recordings)
47. Dj Krust – Kloakin Device (Full Cycle)
48. M Beat – Incredible (Renk)
49. Remarc – R.I.P (Remarc Remix) (Planet Mu)
50. Remarc – Drum N Bass Wise (Planet Mu)

To illustrate the mix the image was taken at a place called ‘The Treasury’ in Johannesburg, South Africa. I took the fifteen images that make it up nearly ten years ago, the whole 5th floor of a warehouse was filled with records which Amon Tobin, Kid Koala, PC and myself got the chance to raid one afternoon back in ’99. The other floors were filled with books, antiques and vintage recording gear, it was a truly daunting place and I doubt it’s still there. I found albums of African percussion alongside complete runs of KPM library records, all in pristine condition. There were side rooms with filing cabinets full of 78′s and 45s in boxes all over, just way too much to take in.

Strictly Kev

Strictly Kev – The Solid Steel Sound Museum (Part 1)
Download: The Solid Steel Sound Museum (1st Hour) (1hr, 77MB)

Strictly Kev – The Solid Steel Sound Museum (Part 2)
Download: The Solid Steel Sound Museum (2nd Hour) (1hr, 89MB)

Tracklisting

Part 1

1. Steinski – Theatre Of The Mind (CDR)/Ken Nordine – The Sound Museum Pt. 1 (Dot)
2. DJ Food – Raiding The 20th Century (Part 1 Excerpt) (CDR)
3. The The – Infected (energy mix) (Some Bizarre)
4. Sigue Sigue Sputnik – Hackattack (EMI)/Negativland – Downloading (SSR)
5. Sigue Sigue Sputnik – Love Missile F1-11 (EMI)
6. Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On? (Motown)
7. Gwen McCrae – Compared To What? (Atlantic)
8. Timmy Thomas – Why Can’t We Live Together? (Polydor)/KLF – America No More (KLF Communications)
9. Pepe Deluxe – Go For Blue (Viva Voce Remix) (Catskills)
10. Pink Floyd – Goodbye Blue Sky (Harvest)
11. Coldcut Vs The Orb Intro (Cassette)
12. DJ Food – Raiding The 20th Century (Part 3/4 excerpt) (CDR)
13. Black Sheep – Strobelight Honey (Coldcut Remix) (Unreleased)
14. Mark The 45 King – 900 Number (Tuff City)
15. Spacepimp – K9 Law (Clear)
16. De La Soul – You Got (Red Lion Ent)
17. Bobby Byrd – I Know You Got Soul (King)
18. Aretha Franklin – Respect (Atlantic)
19. The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (EMI)
20. The Beastie Boys – Sounds Of Science (Capitol)
21. The Breakbeatles – Feel Alright (Yipe!)
22. Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun (Virgin)
23. The Smiths – London (Rough Trade)
24. Pigbag – Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag (Y Records)
25. Ken Nordine – The Sound Museum Pt. 2 (Dot)
26. DJ Food – Raiding The 20th Century (Part 1 excerpt) (CDR)
27. Japan – Life Without Buildings (Virgin)
28. MIchael Brook – Albino Alligator (4AD)
29. Andrew Poppy – Goodbye Mr. G (ZTT)
30. Nino Nardini – Catch That Man (Lo)
31. *Commercial Break*
32. Steinski  -Theatre Of The Mind (CDR)
33. Strictly Kev – Back In Town Intro (CDR)
34. Robert Klein – Every Record Ever Recorded (Brut)
35. The Herbaliser – Something Wicked (Bossa Remix) (Ninja Tune)/EEC – K-Tel Greensleeves Ad
36. J Star – No Diggity (White)
37. The Meters – Hand Clapping Song (Josie)
38. Shirley Ellis – The Clapping Song (MCA)
39. Malcolm & The Humphries Singers  – The Clapping Song (CBS)
40. Ray Russell – The Clapping Song (DJM Records)
41. Les Surfs – Claptape (MP3)
42. Anita Harris – The Clapping Song (CBS)
43. Josie & The Pussycats – Clapping Song (Rhino)

Part 2

1. DJ Shadow & The Grooverobbers – Hardcore Instrumental Hip Hop (Mo Wax Excursions)
2. Samson & Deliilah – There’s A DJ In Your Town (indigo)
3. DJ Shadow & the Grooverobbers – Hardcore Instrumental Hip Hop (Mo Wax Excursions)/Bionic Booger Breaks (Dirtsyle)
4. Meat Beat Manifesto – Electro The Robot (PIAS)
5. Kraftwerk – The Robots (EMI)
6. West Bam – Monkey Say, Monkey Do (Flaresnasch)
7. Think Tank – Hackattack (Tommy Boy)
8. Wookie – Scrappy (Manchu)
9. 808 State – Cubik (ZTT)
10. Strictly Hardcore Advert
11. Circuit Breaker – Overkill (Probe)
12. The Space Race Dialogue
13. Circuit Breaker – Frenz-e (Probe)
14. Public Works – Blue Beautiful Place (Staalplaat)
15. ELO – Mr Blue Sky (Rocket)/Ken Nordine – Blue (Phillips)
16. David Sylvian & Robert Fripp – Bringing Down The Light (Virgin)
17. David Sylvian & Holger Czukay – Plight & Premonition (Virgin)
18. Leonard Nimoy – Quequeg And I (Living Music)
19. Barbarella – Barbarella (Irresistible Force remix) (Rising High)
20. David Sylvian – Gone To Earth (Virgin)
21. This Mortail Coil – Firebrothers (4AD)
22. B12 – Theme From Space (Warp)
23. Sequential – Mission (Rising High)
24. Ken Nordine – The Sound Museum Pt 3 (Dot)
25. Frederic Galliano – Espaces Barouques Part 1 (F Comm)
26. Coldcut – Timber (Bundy K Brown Remix) (Ninja Tune)
27. Skylab – Knickers Of A Girl (Eye Q)
28. Nightmares on Wax – Night’s Interlude (Warp)/ George Carlin – God (Little David)
29. The Orb – Star 6,7,8,9 (Big Life)
30. Boards of Canada – Happy Cycling (Warp)
31. Boards of Canada – Sometime In The Future (Geoghaddi Minimix) (CDR)
32. Boards of Canada – Aquarius (Peel Session) (Warp)
33. Ken Nordine – Orange (Phillips)
34. DJ Shadow – Press Cuttings (The Private Press Minimix) (CDR)
35. Ken Nordine – The Sound Museum Pt. 4 (Dot)
36. War – Four Cornered Room (United Artists)
37. Phlabby – So Much About Music (Freq Music)

What we finally turned out was head and shoulders above the original version and during the process we created twice as much material as we needed. Come the time of the eventual release – nearly a year to the day from the original Xen Cuts – we compiled a 2 hour ‘Director’s Cut’ of music that we had discarded, mixes that we liked but didn’t make the grade and tracks we couldn’t license. We included Ollie Teeba’s contribution (from Jazzy Jay to The Herbalier’s own Shocker Zulu) as it was originally integral to the mix and the original mix ending (from Steve miller to Starvue). For my money there are sections here that would have made the version we finally released even better, the Simon Says/Addams Family routine, the inclusion of Lorez Alexandra, 10cc and Vangelis but these were all refused or the licenses unobtainable.

Unfortunately the CD was released on Sept 22nd 2001, ten days after 9/11 and we had DJ Vadim’s ‘the Terrorist” acappella in the mix. Being that it would have been highly inappropriate to include it in a radio broadcast at the time, it was removed and a compilation of excerpts from various interviews we had given were inserted over ‘Ug’. PC had recorded lots of us doing simultaneous interviews over speaker phone only a few weeks earlier so I chopped them up and replaced the offending acappella at the 11th hour. There was also another Director’s Cut, again 2 hours long, that we prepared for the London Xpress show on XFM which was subtly different again with variations on some mixes. Also an online Groovetech session that DK and I did which was us performing the ‘live’ version of the mix that we toured later including much more music, parts of the this version and more, OK nerdfest over…

Strictly Kev

DJ Food & DK – “Now, Listen!” (The Director’s Cut) (1st Hour)
Podcast: Available via Solid Steel Podcast (05/12/2008 show)

1. Jeru the Damaja – Come Clean (Payday)
2. Cinematic Orchestra – Channel 1 Suite (Ninja Tune)
3. DJ Shadow – Changeling (Mo Wax)
4. Mr Scruff – Ug (Ninja Tune)
5. The Grooverobbers (Feat. DJ Shadow) – Hardcore Instrumental Hip Hop (Mo Wax)
6. Pharoahe Monch – Simon Says (instr) (Rawkus)
7. Sabu Martinez – Hotel Alyssa-Soussie, Tunisia (Vintage Class)
8. Boards of Canada – Happy Cycling (Warp)
9. Grandmaster Flash – The Message (Sugarhill)
10. Jazzy Jay – Cold Chillin’ In the Spot (Def Jam)
11. Wildstyle Breakbeats – Gangbusters (Mr Bongos)
12. The Creators – Hard Margin (Instrumental) (Bad Magic)
13. The Herbaliser (Feat. Bahamadia) – When I Shine (Acappella) (Ninja Tune)
14. The Creators – Hard Margin (Bad Magic)
15. The Nextmen – Mental Alchemy (Instrumental) (Scenario)
16. The Herbaliser (Feat. Latyrx) – 8 pt Agenda (Acappella) (Ninja Tune)
17. Slick Rick – It’s a Boy (Remix) (Instrumental) (Def Jam)
18. Common – Resurrection (Unknown)
19. The Herbaliser – Shocker Zulu (Ninja Tune)
20. Walt Kraemer – Pinball Number Count (Sesame Workshop/Ninja Tune)
21. Boards of Canada – Aquarius (Warp)
22. Blackalicous – Alphabet Aerobics (Mo Wax)
23. Four Tet – Glasshead (Output)
24. Camping Gaz & Digi Random – Circus World (Novaphonic)
25. Starship – Unknown (Unknown)
26. Four Tet – Glasshead (Output)
27. Herbie Hancock – Nobu (Sony Japan)

DJ Food & DK – “Now, Listen!” (The Director’s Cut) (2nd Hour)
Download: Now, Listen (The Director’s Cut) (2nd Hour) (1hr, 84MB)

1. Link – Arcadian (Evolution)
2. Lorez Alexandra – Baltimore Oriole (Discovery)
3. Art of Noise – Moments in Love (ZTT)
4. Boards of Canada – The Colour Of The Fire (Warp)
5. Vangelis – Let It Happen (Vertigo)
6. Air – Modular Mix (Scource)
7. Coldcut – Autumn Leaves (Accapella) (Arista)
8. 10cc – I’m Not In Love (Mercury)
9. Art of Noise – Moments In Love (ZTT)
10. Kung Fu Soundtrack – Ancient Warrior Theme (Warner Bros)
11. Bionic Booger Breaks – Unknown (Dirtstyle)
12. Esther Marrow – He Don’t Appreciate It (Polydor)
13. Bionic Booger Breaks – Unknown (Dirtstyle)
14. Furry Phreaks – Soothe (Prisoners Mix) (FSUK)
15. X-Men – Musica Negra (Acappella) (Asphodel)
16. Steve Miller – Fly Like An Eagle (Capitol)
17. Handsome Boy Modeling School – Holy Calamity (Tommy Boy)
18. Superlover Cee – I Got A Good Thing (Elektra)
19. DJ Food – Dark Lady (Ninja Tune)
20. Mandingo – Black Rite (Studio 2)
21. DJ Food – Spiral Dub (Ninja Tune)
22. Johnny & Orquestra Rodrigues – African Woman (Negram)
23. Starvue – Body Fusion (Midwest Int.)

Kev takes us on a different trip, off into outer space with large helpings of electronica and easy listening held together with excerpts from John Carpenter’s Dark Star soundtrack. Stereolab offshoot Turn On appear several times as does George Harrison from his solo album on Zapple. John Williams, Neil Norman and Lalo Schifrin take care of the soundtrack side of things, and the emphasis is on leftfield experimentation with Autechre sampling glass and Dick Hyman emitting Moon Gas.

PC – African Steel (TX: ??/06/1996)
Podcast: Available via Solid Steel Podcast (21/11/2008 show)

*No Tracklisting*

Strictly Kev – Dark Star Sci-Fi Sex Up (TX: 14/09/1997)
Download: DSSFSU (56mins, 77MB)

Part 1: The Sphere
1. Neil Norman – Dark Star (GNP/Cresendo)
2. Kirsty Hawkshaw – Sci-clone (Raw Dog Mix) (Coalition)
3. Spiritualized – C Phase (Spaceman)
4. George Harrison – No Time Or Space (Zapple)
5. Si Begg – Sing Circle System (Noodles)
6. Turn On – Electrocation Of Fire Ants (Duophonic UHF Discs)
7. Excerpt From Dark Star – Listening Pleasure (Citadel)
8. Meat Beat Manifesto – Placebo (PIAS)
9. 2 Player & DJ Vadim – White Painted Roads (Lo Recordings)
10. John Williams – The Conversation (Arista)

Part 2: The Bomb
1. Turn On – Ru Tenone (Duophonic UHF Discs)
2. Microstoria – Microlab Endless Summer (Thrill Jockey)
3. Air – Le Soleil Est Pres De Moi (Sourcelab)
4. Lalo Schifrin – Commando Opus (MGM)
5. Mr Mahoney – Harmonica Storm (Noodles)
6. Beck – Strange Invitation (Geffen)
7. Turn On – Delimiting (Duophonic UHF Discs)
8. Turn On – Glangerous (Duophonic UHF Discs)
9. Autechre – Krib (Warp)
10. George Harrison – Under The Mersey Wall (Zapple)
11. Excerpt From Dark Star – Bomb Speech (Citadel)
12. Dick Hyman – Moon Gas (Actione)

Coldcut: Essential Mix
In 2006 Coldcut were given a 2 hour Essential mix slot on Pete Tong’s Saturday night Radio 1 show, possibly the most listened-to weekly dance show on the airwaves in the UK. They used the time to smash headlong through over two decades of party classics with rock and pop thrown in as well as the occasional children’s record. Jon More headed up the mix with new tour recruit Raj Pannu on scratches and it got such an enthusiastic reception it was later repeated in two separate shows on Solid Steel.

Coldcut – Essential Mix Part 1 (TX: 17/02/2006)
Podcast: Available via Solid Steel Podcast (07/11/2008 show)

1. Adam F – Unknown (White)
2. Will.I.Am – Who Am I? (White)
3. DJ Vadim – The Terrorist (Acapella) (Ninja Tune)
4. Supercat – Don Dada (Wild Apache)
5. Kenny Dope – Don Dada (Big Beat)
6. Lou Reed – Walk On The Wild Side (RCA)
7. A Tribe Called Quest – Can I Kick It? (Jive)
8. Mr Scruff – Trouser Jazz (Ninja Tune)
9. The Party Party.com – Imagine (Mp3)
10. Boogie Down Productions – Dope Beat (B Boy Records)
11. AC/DC – Back In Black (Atlantic)
12. Harry Hall – Teddy Bears’ Picnic (unknown)
13. KRS One – Sound Of Da Police (Jive)
14. Lumidee – Never Leave (Universal)
15. Eric B & Rakim – I Know U Got Soul (4th & B’Way)
16. Eric B & Rakim – Paid In Full (4th & B’Way)
17. Zebra Breaks – Unknown (White)
18. Coldcut feat Queen Latifah – Smoke This One (Big Life)
19. The Soul Searchers – Ashley’s Roachclip (Sussex)
20. Playschool – Bang On A Drum (BBC)
21. Disco 3 – Stick Em (White)
22. Cutty Ranks – The Stopper (Fashion)
23. Slim – It’s In The Mix (DETT records)
24. Method Man – Release Yo’ Self (Prodigy Remix) (Def Jam)
25. Saul Williams – Not In Our Name (Ninja Tune)
26. Rare Earth – I’m Losing You (Rare Earth)
27. Jeremy Stieg – Howlin’ For July (Solid State)
28. Beastie Boys – Sure Shot (Grand Royal)
29. The Majesticons – Suburb Party (Big Dada)
30. Tickle 3 – I Got What U Need (White)
31. DJ Z-Trip – Listen To The DJ (Hollywood)
32. The Invada – Showtime (White)
33. J Rocc – Dirty Fingered B-Boy (Ninja Tune)
34. Part 2 – One Of Dem Days (Big Dada)
35. Yummy – It’s Good To You (White)
36. Harmonic 33 – The Shape Shifter (Warp)
37. Pizzy Yelliot – Could You Be Loved (Disco)
38. Harmonic 33 – Funky Duck (Warp)
39. Coldcut – Mr Nichols (Ninja Tune)

Coldcut – Essential Mix Part 2 (TX: 17/02/2006)
Download: Part 2 (1hr, 82MB)

1. McKay – Take Me Over (Go Beat)
2. Dave & Ansel Collins – Double Barrel (Trojan)
3. Philorene – Bola (Organico)
4. Antipop Consortium – 38303 (Antipop)
5. Ganja Kru – Super Sharp Shooter (Ganja)
6. Wayne Smith – Sleng Teng (Greensleeves)
7. Junior Reid – One Blood (Big Life)
8. Krust – Warhead (Full Cycle)
9. Slymoo – Police & Thieves (Arista)
10. Coldcut – Everything’s Under Control (Ninja Tune)
11. Coldcut – Re:volution (Ninja Tune)
12. Cage – Grand Old Party Mix (Def Jux)
13. Sun Ra Arkestra – Yahyahs Resonance FM Rap (Continue To Explore)
14. Baba Brooks – Twilight Zone (Proper)
15. Diplo feat Sandra Melody – Newsflash (Big Dada)
16. Temperance 7 – Charley My Boy (Lake)
17. Crazy Titch vs Coldcut – 1 hr To Make This (White)
18. Lee Sratch Perry – Cloak And Dagger (BE)
19. Franz Ferdinand – This Fire (Domino)
20. King Tubby – Base Dub (Music Club)
21. Alan Watts – Listen (White)
22. Björk – Hidden Place (One Little Indian)
23. The Congos – Open Up The Gates Of Zion (Go-Feet)
24. King Tubby – Confusion Dub (Snapper)
25. Son Kite – Other Side (Tribal Tribe)
26. Iggy Pop & The Stooges – Down On The Street (Elektra)

DK’s choice this time round and he sums up these selections thus: “These are probably my favourite Solid Steel mixes, early days in the show for me and some great ‘moments’ in them….” He obviously liked them because as well as appearing on the 19/10/97, 06/06/99 and 27/06/99 shows they also popped up in his best of the year and best of the millenium (??!!) round ups at the end of ’99. In the first hour PC flirts with breaks, beats and boom bap before switching to bass, bleeps and bushflange (such a great name). Using his delay pedal to great effect he tears the beats apart and breaks it down to a dub workout at one point after some 3 deck mixing. I start out all downtempo and sombre before taking things double time for a quick rush of drum n bass/acid. Then it’s back into Hip Hop territory before some electronic polyrhythmic niceness as only Gescom know how.

Remember this was back in the KISS FM days and everything was one take and on the fly, if the decks wobbled they didn’t fall down. The Blue Note (the club where Ninja had their Stealth residency) was winding down after pressure from local residents but the 333 across the square had been refitted and was now the new Hoxton destination of choice. Although it would never scale the giddy heights of the Blue Note it hosted a few memorable events when Ninja set up their ‘Kungfusion’ night there in ’98. The layout of the place never quite made it the classic venue it could have been, visuals were a nightmare and it always seemed to be a bit dirty or in need of a paint (even after they’d had it refitted a second time). The music here is largely the music of that time, people were just starting to discover that Moog and Library music had a wealth of untapped sample potential and the first compilations were being issued. Drum and Bass was getting darker (and more formulaic) and UK Hip Hop was at last finding it feet and it’s voice.

The second half of this selection was part of a GLR show with Coldcut sitting in for Ross Allen (you can even hear the jingles!) with PC and I providing two mixes to accompany. Patrick’s is all jazz and funk, then turns into a drum n bass n 2 Tone affair. Mine is more sober, playing downtempo hip hop against ambience and electronics. In places you can hear us gearing up for 2001′s ‘Now, Listen’ Solid Steel release (it was actually scheduled for 2000 for the tenth anniversary). The ‘Mirror In The Bathroom/Square Off’ duet appears as does Jeru’s ‘Come Clean’ before that evergreen Steel regular ‘Aquarius’ by Boards of Canada hovers into view.

Finally, the images here are two of my favourite of our 4 deck DJ excursions, the top one was shot at one of the first Stealth nights at the Blue Note by Martin Le Santo Smith. He was running a small fanzine called Phasis and he squeezed between the decks and the back wall of the club and fired off this lone shot. It perfectly captures the way the club was laid out and in front you can see none other than Benji B who was doing work experience at Ninja at the time but later went on to work with Giles Peterson before fronting his own radio show. The second image was shot in Ottawa, Canada on the first US/Canadian tour in ’96 and I seem to remember it was a pretty good show as well. The promoter of the club shot it, again from behind the decks, and sent it to us after the show, signing it Scallen.

Strictly Kev

Part 1
Podcast: Available via Solid Steel Podcast (24/10/2008 show)

PC (TX: 19/10/97)

1. A Tribe Called Quest – If The Papes Come (Jive)
2. Les Baxter – Hogin’ Machine (Dusty Fingers)
3. Jackson 5 – It’s Great To Be Here (Motown)
4. Eric B & Rakim – Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em (MCA)
5. LFO – Them (Warp)
6. Up, Bustle & Out – Aqui No Mas (Ninja Tune)
7. Slowly – On The Loose (Autechre Remix) (Chill Out label)
8. Bushflange – Redokov (Hard Hands)
9. Hardhouse – Yo Chuck (Warlock)
10. David Holmes – Gritty Shaker (Go Beat)

Strictly Kev (TX: 17/05/98)

1. Sam Spence – Sunken Ship version 2 (BBE)
2. The Senators – Psychedelic Senate (Tower)
3. Wolfgang Dauner – Tuning Spread (MPS)
4. Dynamic Syncopation – Stealth (Ninja Tune)
5. Peshay – Miles From Home (Underdog remix) (Mo wax)
6. Caustic Visions – Unknown (Caustic Visions)
7. Mark B & Blade – Use Your Head (instr.) (Jazz Fudge)
8. DJ Shadow vs Depeche Mode – Painkiller (Mo Wax)
9. Just Ice – Turbo Charged (Fresh/Sleeping Bag)
10. Dick Hyman – Kolumbo (Command)
11. Push Button Objects – Non-Existant (Keyed In By Gescom) (Chocolate Industries)

Part 2
Download: Part 2 (56mins, 76MB)

PC (TX: 27/06/99)

1. The Galactic Force Band – Spacedust (Springboard International)
2. Roy Ayers – Brother Green (Polydor)
3. Trouble Funk – The Beat (TF Records)
4. Jungle Brothers – Beyond This World (Warner Bros)
5. Red Snapper – The Last One (DJ Food Remix) (Warp)
6. Courtney Pine – Tryin’ Times (Talkin’ Loud)
7. Ace ‘N Action – Letter To The Better (Prism)
8. The Beat – Mirror In The Bathroom (Go Feet)
9. Mask – Square Off (Dope Dragon)
10. Overseer – Signing On (Soundclash)
11. The Specials – Do Nothing (2 Tone)

Strictly Kev (TX: 06/06/99)

1. E.A.R. -Sputnik (Via Satellite)
2. Yussef Lateef – Lowland Lullaby (Atlantic)
3. Jeru the Damaja – Come Clean (Payday)
4. Mark B – Underworld Connection (Jazz Fudge)
5. This Mortal Coil – Andialu (4AD)
6. Stetsasonic -On Fire (Tommy Boy)
7. Amon Tobin – Like Regular Chickens (Ninja Tune)
8. Boards of Canada – Aquarius (Warp)
9. Skylab – Bite This! (Eye Q)

To say DK and I were excited about this meeting would be an understatement of galactic proportions only equalled by the size of Herbie’s afro in the seventies. From our first encounter with him via ‘Rockit’ (along with virtually every B-Boy-to-be outside of the States in the 80′s) to his jazz, electronic, funk and disco eras we would later discover, this was a very big deal.

He was on a trip to promote his new record with Bill Laswell, The Future, and, after quizzing him about this, we delved back far into his 70′s incarnations asking all kinds of trainspottery questions about lost soundtracks, sampling, Sextant and Sesame Street. You could not hope for a more gracious and forthcoming subject and he really got into things by the end, having to be virtually dragged from the studio by his PA in order not to miss his next appointment. The final programme was a full on collaboration between DK and I as we pooled our collections and found all the different pieces of the jigsaw that would illustrate the interview he had given us.

The cover of the CD was made up of slices from all of the records we discussed, each one showing part of a face from the original cover. DK liked it so much he had me make up a poster for his studio and we made a small run of CDs as before, one of which we sent to Herbie but we don’t know if he ever received it.

Solid Steel – The David Axelrod Interview (TX: 02/07/2001)

This was DK’s gig the whole way although he was accompanied by his musical partner from Arc, Dean Smith, during the meeting as they are both rabid fans of ‘The Axe’. DK’s resulting mix was a labour of love taking in obscure productions along with the better known ones and a plethora of hip hop records that had sampled the Axeman over the years. At one point, when discussing a Miriam Makeba album, Axelrod cut him dead saying, “How did you know that I arranged for Miriam Makeba?” He knew that he had done the recording, but had never seen a copy of the record and so surprised that anyone else knew about it. Fortunately, DK had two copies of the record and so managed to get a copy to him later that day.

Axelrod recounted many stories from the music industry over the years, letting us in on his influences, favourite session musicians, thoughts on his music being sampled and even revealing the fact that a film he scored was actually credited to another producer (a fact we couldn’t reveal in the broadcast). When it came time to make some CDs, he photographed some of his collection relating to the interview against his old stereogram and we had some suitably retro artwork.

Strictly Kev

Solid Steel – The Herbie Hancock Interview

Podcast: Available via Solid Steel Podcast (10/10/2008 show)

1. Herbie Hancock – US Megamix (Solid Steel Remix) (CBS)
2. Herbie Hancock – Kebero Pt. 1 (Transparent)
3. Herbie Hancock – Wisdom (Transparent)
4. Herbie Hancock – The Essence (Transparent)
5. Herbie Hancock – Black Gravity (Transparent)
6. Herbie Hancock – Virtual Hornets (Transparent)
7. Herbie Hancock – Raindance (CBS)
8. Herbie Hancock – Rockit CBS)
9. Malcolm Mclaren – Buffalo Girls (Charisma)
10. Herbie Hancock – Nobu (Sony Japan)
11. Kimiko Kasai – Sunlight (Sony Japan)
12. Herbie Hancock – Thought It Was You (CBS)
13. Herbie Hancock – Ostinato (Suite For Angela) (Warner Brothers)
14. Herbie Hancock – Water Torture (Warner Brothers)
15. Herbie Hancock – Watermelon Man (Blue Note)
16. Fred Wesley & The JBs – Watermelon Man (Polydor)
17. Earl Hines Quartet – Watermelon Man (Charioscuro Records)
18. Moe Koffman Quartet – Watermelon Man (Radio Canada)
19. Herbie Hancock – Watermelon Man (Columbia)
20. Miles Davis – In A Silent Way (Columbia)
21. Herbie Hancock  – Chameleon (Columbia)
22. The Headhunters – God Make Me Funky (Arista)
23. Jungle Brothers – Braggin’ & Boastin’ (Warlock)
24. The Mighty Bop – Infrarouge (Yellow)
25. US 3 – Cantaloupe (Capitol)
26. Ballistic Brothers – Blacker (Delancy Street)
27. Organized Konfusion – Walk Into The Sun (Hollywood Basic)
28. King Bee – Back By Dope Demand (First Bass)
29. Ski Oakenfull – Fifths (Primaudial)
30. Deeelite – Groove Is In The Heart (Elektra)
31. Herbie Hancock – Bring Down The Birds (Odean)
32. Herbie Hancock – Jammin’ With Herbie (TCB)
33. Herbie Hancock – Unknown (Vinlange)
34. Herbie Hancock – The Spook Who Sat Behind The Door (Unknown)
35. Bobby Hutcherson – Maiden Voyage (Blue Note)

Solid Steel – The David Axelrod Interview

Download: Solid Steel – The David Axelrod Interview (1hr, 82MB)

1. David Axelrod – The Warning (Capitol)
2. David Mccallum – House Of Mirrors (Capitol)
3. Myriam Makeba – Quit It (Disque Esperance)
4. Art Tatum – Willow Weep For Me (Verve)
5. Lou Reed – Walk On The Wild Side (RCA)
6. David Axelrod – Holy Thursday (Capitol)
7. Black Sheep – Without A Doubt (Mercury)
8. DJ Shadow – Midnight In A Perfect World (Mo Wax)
9. David Axelrod – The Human Abstract (Capitol)
10. David McCallum – The Edge (Capitol)
11. Howard Roberts – Dirty Old Bossa Nova (Capitol)
12. Tribe Called Quest – Jam (Jive)
13. Howard Roberts – Gasoline Alley (Capitol)
14. Cannonball Adderley – Space Spiritual (Capitol)
15. Sly And The Family Stone – If You Want Me To Stay (Epic)
16. David Axelrod – Crystal Ball (Mo Wax)
17. The Electric Prunes – Holy Are You (Reprise)
18. David Axelrod – Jimmy T (Mo Wax)
19. David Rose – Main Title From Exodus (Capitol)
20. Lou Rawls – Life Time Monologue (Capitol)
21. David Axelrod – The Little Children (Mo Wax)

Strictly Kev

Coldcut, PC – It’s Time For House (TX: 28/02/1993)

Podcast: 1st Hour (available via Solid Steel Podcast, 12/09/2008 show)

1. Unknown – 4 The Hard Way (Unknown)
2. Cabalsuan – Mysterie De Voix Bulgaire (Unknown)
3. Bodelaire – Flower of Evil (Unknown)
4. Dina Bryant – Heat (Unknown)
5. Sergio Mendes – Frantic Samba (A & M)
6. United Future Organisation – Loud Minority (Talkin’ Loud)
7. Jazz Jupiter – Living Brain (Acid Jazz)
8. KT And Hex – Global Chaos (Ninja Tune)
9. Coldcut – Info War (Ninja Tune)
10. Coldcut – Necronomicon (Ninja Tune)
11. Coldcut – Digital Love Opus 1 (Ninja Tune)
12. Coldcut – Tickle (Ninja Tune)
13. Sandoz – Steel Tabanacle (Touch)

Download: Coldcut, PC – It’s Time For House (2nd Hour) (53mins, 73MB)

1. Unknown – Unknown
2. Unknown – Unknown
3. Unknown – Wigsy
4. Curious – Walk Like a Duck
5. DJ Food (Feat. Jupiter Jam) – Total Funkitivity
6. Digital Underground – No Nose Job
7. Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry – Too Grabalicious
8. Jim Brown & Rapper Robert – Unknown
9. People’s Choice – Unknown
10. Unknown – Unknown
11. Led Zeppelin – The Crunge
12. Jimi Hendrix – Foxy Lady
13. DJ Food/Coldcut – Thermo Nuclear Funk

Download: Coldcut, PC – Solid Wood (2nd Hour) (1hr, 82MB)

Listening to this today it’s still hard to pinpoint a radio show that would put such a playlist together, let alone it happening 12 years ago, such were the lack of restrictions of a late night Kiss FM slot. This tracklist is taken from the spoken trackback in the show and all spellings should be treated as suspect as I was trying to guess their already suspect pronounciation.

Strictly Kev

Coldcut, PC – Solid Wood (TX: 16/08/96)

Podcast: 1st Hour (available via Solid Steel Podcast, 26/09/2008 show)

Tracklisting (1st Hour)

1. Yues Riveness & Michael Brook – Dance (Unknown)
2. Little Axe – Hear My Cry (On-u Sound)
3. Tuck & Patty – Live In The Light (Sony)
4. Bahia Black – Gwagwa O De (Axiom)
5. Ben Harper – Don’t Take That Attitude To Your Grave (EMI)
6. Norman Brown – Acoustic Time (Mo Jazz)
7. Raleigh Moon – Professor Stephanof (Unknown)
8. Flora Purim – Cravo A Canela (Milestone)
9. Stanley Clarke – Spanish Phrases For Strings And Bass (Polydor)
10. Arvo Part Cantus – In Memory Of Benjamin Britten (EMI)

Download: Coldcut, PC – Solid Wood (2nd Hour) (1hr, 82MB)

Tracklisting (2nd Hour)

1. Trilok Gurtu – A Blessing In Disguise (Times Square)
2. Byron Wallen – Unknown (Twilight Jaguar)
3. Youssou N’Dour – Undecided (Columbia)
4. Les Papans – Tiambla La Tera (Unknown)
5. Dollar Brand – African Marketplace (Elektra)
6. Sebastian Rocher – Gingawah (Unknown)
7. Alice Coltrane & Carlos Santana – Angel Of The Air (Impulse)
8. Unknown – Unknown (Unknown)
9. Unknown – Unknown (Unknown)
10. Unknown – Unknown (Unknown)
11. Unknown – Unknown (Unknown)