Spooky to Release New Album in June

Release dates for Spooky's third album, Open, and its third single, "New Light," have surfaced. The single will be released on May 21st, 2007, while the album will be released on June 4th, 2007.

Spooky Re-releases & Live Set

Electronic music legends Spooky sent the following news to subscribers of their site's newsletter:

"Hi guys – just a short note to let you know that Gargantuan was re-issued today on CD and download – the current best deal we are aware of for the CD is on play.com. The downloads are available from iTunes from today. All the other download sites get it next week on the 11th December.

The Little Bullet EP is also available as a download from beatport.com and includes the 2 Underworld mixes of Schmoo as well as 3 mixes of Little Bullet. The 3 EPs Clank, Stereo and Shunt will be re-issued as downloads on 11th December. Found Sound will be re-issued now in January – download only. Hope you all have a great Christmas."

- Spooky

This is obviously great news, and any fan of electronic music would be well advised to check out these rereleases if they haven't already heard them before. Especially with regard to their first album and its respective singles, Spooky were way ahead of their time. Their sound helped shape what we now call progressive house.

In commemoration, I've uploaded a recent 30 minute Spooky set that prefaced Sasha's Cacao Beach set from July this year. You can download the set here. Here's the tracklist:

1. Spooky - Schmoodub [Guerilla]
2. Elizabeth Fraser - Underwater (New Spooky Remix) [CDR]
3. Chymera - Unknown (Spooky Remix) [Ovum Recordings]
4. Spooky - Eypes Mouth [spooky.co.uk]
   

Also, I've posted some old reviews of Spooky that I wrote a couple of years ago. You can view them by clicking the reviews button to the left. Enjoy!

Trainspotting: Elizabeth Fraser - Underwater (Charlie May Remix)

Label: None [SAM00346]
Release/Production Date: 2000

Tracklist

A Underwater (Charlie May Mix)
B Underwater (Charlie May Instrumental)

Arguably the holy grail of all rarities, Charlie May's brilliant remix of Elizabeth Fraser's "Underwater" is classic Charlie May. Quirky melodies, tight percussion, and heavenly progressions. Perhaps May's best work, and that's saying a lot. Here's what he had to say in an interview with Progressive-Sounds:

Charlie May Interview - 12/01/2001 (source: Progressive-Sounds.com)

Simon: You've recently done remixes for Liz Fraser and Orbital. When are these likely to be released and have you been approached to do any others?

Charlie: I did two mixes for Liz Fraser which never saw the light of day due to a difference of opinion between the artist and the record company. I don't mind admitting to being moderately peeved at becoming the filling in a political sandwich that ultimately means everyone loses out and two mixes are gathering dust! Napster where are you now?! Oh please don't bootleg it anyone ...

The track was featured on Parks & Wilson's Essential Mix on February 24, 2002. The copy possessed by them is one of four copies known to exist--the others belonging to John Digweed, Nick Warren, and Ian Ossia. Rumors say the track was never actually pressed to vinyl, and that only CDRs were handed out. To date, no vinyl rips or MP3 leaks have surfaced.

Classic Review: Spooky - Gargantuan

Label: Guerilla [GRCD006]
Release Date: 1993
Rating: 8/10

Along with Leftfield's Leftism, Spooky's Gargantuan helped define the progressive house that we all know and love today. There are some bonafide classics on this album. The epic "Little Bullet Part One" sounds absolutely majestic over a decade later, and so do "Little Bullet Part Two" and "Schmoo" (including the smooth Dub version), albeit to a lesser extend. These tracks are timeless classics that have aged marvelously.

Your not going to like every song though. The opening "Don't Panic" is just cheesy and annoying, and "Land Of Oz" is in the same vein saved only by an infectious bassline. The closing "Let Go" doesn't really do much for me either. But for the most part, what's here is good. Progressive house fans should pick this up for their collection, though this doesn't quite qualify as essential in my book save for "Little Bullet", which should be in everyone's collection. Also, check out the superb "Little Bullet" High Velocity remix on Sasha & John Digweed's Renaissance Mix Collection or on the single release.

Classic Review: Spooky - Schmoo

Label: Guerilla [GRRR45CD]
Release Date: 1993
Rating: 10/10

Like Spooky's other progressive house classic, "Little Bullet", "Schmoo" is absolutely irresistible. The infectious looping organ synth riff is instantly catchy, and will definitely get toes tapping wherever you play it. The two Underworld remixes are also both excellent. The Underworld Mix is a thundering industrial techno trance number with a rolling bassline and some Dirty-esque looping piano arpeggios, while the Steppin Razor Mix drops the melody and is almost entirely percussive. This release is definitely worth seeking out if you’re a fan of early Underworld/Spooky productions.

Classic Review: Spooky - Little Bullet

Label: Guerilla [GRRR56CD]
Release Date: 1993
Rating: 10/10

Spooky's "Little Bullet" is a classic progressive house song that remains as engaging and amazing today as it did over a decade ago when it was originally released. The single release includes the original Gargantuan LP release (listed as "Little Bullet, Part One"), and two excellent alternate mixes. The High Velocity mix of the "Little Bullet, Part Two" (as featured on Sasha & John Digweed's Renaissance: Mix Collection) is much more melodic and interesting than the original. The Dum Dum mix of Part One strips away the thumping percussion and adds a rhythmic synth line along with several layers of ambient musings to great effect. The incredible Live Version of "Little Bullet" featured on the Bamboo single release is actually based on the Dum Dum mix, albeit much improved.