The Shamen - Pro>gen Remix FLAC

As far as Progen is concerned, it's all about the C-Mix Dub. Some might call it hip-house due to Mr. C's short rap, but it's not really enough to push it over that boundary in my opinion. It certainly isn't acid house as submitted here on this release page.

This is the version I'd first heard, in the warehouses and on pirate radio. Still contains the vocals but much less so. More underground. The days when heavy serious basslines were at the forefront of house and techno production. Straight to the point. Kicking straight off with the bassline and bass drum. Dirtier, grittier than the subsequent more commercial, remixed, polished cheesier versions which eventually after months of playtime ended up hitting the mainstream charts in 1991. Mr. C's MCing vocal also sounds more natural, relaxed and live than on the remixes.

I remember Mr. C himself from the Shamen spinning it on pre-release for the first time on London pirate radio station Dance 93.0 FM lateish '89. Mixed it up with some really rough freestyle electro track with him Mcing over the top. Later played quite extensively at the Barn in Braintree, Essex. With all other versions. But my first social experience of it was with a couple of mates at some dive in central London somewhere, I can't remember where and what the place was called but it was cramped in there, hot and quite a few people didn't smell very hygienic. I believe Mr. C and maybe Eddie Richards were actually playing there if I'm not mistaken although I can't clearly recall much (apart from that pungent, funky odour) and that heavy bassline boring a deep hole in my chest, as I was otherwise sufficiently inebriated.

Damn, I had a recording of when it was first played on his pirate radio show. The original cassette went missing like hundreds of other tapes! Probably to eventually be dubbed over in later years with crap cheesy pop house or chipmunk happy jungle tunes, notably by a certain someone I know. You know it cousin you crafty git ... :(

One of those types of tunes which really comes alive (come alive! come alive!) on a big hefty sound system. Don't judge it if you're playing it on some cheap, crappy (hi-fi) or supposed boom box. This needs to be heard on a good quality club sound system to be fully appreciated.

Lightspan Soundwave is a good track. Sounds nice in a warehouse scenario. Purely instrumental. Unfortunately, the remixes, can't remember which ones, contain too many unnecessary vocal samples.