Dance Trax
HERE COMES THAT SOUND: The domestic release of New Order’s latest, “Fine Time” (Qwest/Warner Bros.), is merely hours away and it’s a smoker. Always striving for something a little different, the band retraces some of its musical steps while taking quite a few forward as well. Five tasty mixes are provided by Steve “Silk” Hurley, and it’s sure to be a club favorite this season… A new “disco” mix of Pet Shop Boys’ “Left To My Own Devices” (EMI) by Robin Hancock, Trevor Horn, and Stephen Lipson has just been unleashed. Up-tempo, tastefully executed, and brilliantly produced number pumps along at a nice pace. Of interest will be the flip, “The Sound Of The Atom Splitting,” which sounds a bit like Art Of Noise on acid. Incidentally, there’s a radically different (and quite good) Frankie Knuckles mix of “Left To My Own Devices” that, not unlike underground mixes previously done for Whitney Houston and Luther Vandross, is circulating on cassette only…
BIG BEATS & LI’L PIECES: Frankie Knuckles is completing mixes on the Gap Band’s “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” for Arista… Ivan Ivan has mixed “Groove Check” for Virgin act That Petrol Emotion… C.J. McIntosh and Dave Dorrell (of M/A/R/R/S) are remixing Eric B. & Rakim’s “The R” for U.K. single release… Coldcut is rumored to have signed with Elektra here in the States. The act is presently working on a new album that will feature contributions from the Fall and (tentatively) Blue Zone U.K.’s delightful lead vocalist, Lisa Stanfield… Murray Elias is mixing “You Can Call My Heart Home” by popular songwriter and new Capitol signee Evan Rogers… Arthur Baker is busy in the U.K. remixing Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance” (Virgin) as well as “I Want Your Love” (yes, it’s the old Chic song) as interpreted by Paul Rutherford (formerly of Frankie Goes To Hollywood) for 4th & B’way… Also in the U.K., Ben Liebrand is re-remixing Art Of Noise’s “Paranoia” and Bas Noir’s brilliant “My Love Is Magic”… Producer/songwriter Raymond Jones has been keeping busy. He has recently completed projects with Patti LaBelle, E.U. (for the new Spike Lee film), and venerable act Black Ivory… Panther Records is a brand new record company specializing in dance music. For more information contact 212-333-8647.