No Enigma: A mix

At last, I offer a new mix -- almost 90 minutes of late-'80s/early-'90s midtempo dance music that I call:

No Enigma (right click + download)

It's so named because I could not bring myself to include anything from the weird drum-machine druids that helped define the sound I'm exploring here. They seem crucial and yet...well, go back and try listening to them. You get pan flutes. I'm sparing you.

Anyway, I think it was really interesting that for a stretch of time, post-disco dance music was not really defined by its tempo (this mix doesn't get faster than 116 BPM and mostly hovers around 105). It's definitely similar to Cosmic in that way, although I think I kind of like this take on slowed-down dance even more because it seems trashier. Basically, this is the sound of malls and cassingles to me. Obviously, it all holds a very, very significant place in my heart.

Track list after the jump! Don't be too pissed about me leaving out M/A/R/R/S' "Pump Up the Volume" and Maxi Priest's "Close to You." I just wasn't feeling them. You can be a little pissed, though since I know you care so much about my track list!

1. Soul II Soul "Keep On Movin' (Club Mix)"
2. Sybil "Don't Make Me Over"
3. Sybil "Walk On By (Club Mix)"
4. CeCe Peniston "Crazy Love (A.R. Mix)"
5. Mary J. Blige "Reminisce (Driza Bone 12")"
6. George Michael "Freedom '90 (Back to Reality Mix)"
7. Soho "Hippychick (Extended)"
8. The Belle Stars "Iko Iko (12" Mix)"
9. Siouxsie & the Banshees "Kiss Them for Me"
10. Soul II Soul "Back to Life (Club Mix)"
11. Lisa Stansfield "All Around the World"
12. DNA featuring Suzanne Vega "Tom's Diner (12")"
13. Nikki D "Daddy's Little Girl"
14. Janet Jackson "That's the Way Love Goes (C.J. R&B 12" Mix)"
15. Tara Kemp "Hold You Tight (All Night Extended Mix)"
16. Seduction "(You're My One and Only) True Love (The Hot 7" Mix)"
17. Snap! "Oops Up (Other Mix)"
18. PM Dawn "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss"
19. S.O.U.L.S.Y.S.T.E.M. "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day (Pop Radio Edit)"
20. Madonna "Justify My Love (Orbit 12" Mix)"
21. Seal "Crazy (If I Was Trev Mix")
22. Army of Lovers "Obsession (Schizoperetta Mix)"
23. Saint Etienne "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
24. Inner City "Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin' (Master Reese Meltdown Mix)"
25. Frankie Knuckles featuring Shelton Becton "It's Hard Sometime (David Morales Classic Club)
26. Black Box "Open Your Eyes"
27. Vanessa Williams "The Comfort Zone (Frankie's Comfortable Mix)"
28. Lisa Stansfield "Change (Frankie Knuckles Mix)"
29. Electribe 101 "Talking With Myself (Frankie Knuckles 12" Mix)"
30. Queen Latifah "How Do I Love Thee?"
31. Massive Attack "Unfinished Sympathy"

Frankie Knuckles' mix of "Change" is sublime y/y? Best thing he's ever done in his starred career? Listening to it so much while working on this mix made me think so.

Comments

[*jaime]

Oh man, this is sending me spiraling down a rabbit hole to my early teens. By the end of this mix I'm going to be in a baby doll dress, curled into the fetal position. Which is to say: I LOVE THIS.

[Martha]

First a Moroder compilation, and now this? Best Interwebs Friday ever. Thank you!

[A]

Massive Attack "Unfinished Sympathy"

YES! SUCH A GOOD FINALE SONG!

[seanbperiod]

awesome rich, thanks ;)

[Noaer]

fantastic!

[Lisa]

YESSSSSSS! A little Hippychick...a little CeCe Peniston...and I'm right back in my sixth grade Jazz dance class. Sashayin' cross the room. Thanks!

[Dan Johnson]

Was it hard to avoid overlap betw this and your Ashley's Roachclip mix?

[bitchdoctrine]

hmmm... i love you more and more each day. this mix saved my life, since i got snowed in up here in toronto.

[Virtual Assistant]

Picture the Scene: The Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. Tons of newly fallen snow, dropping temperatures and power outages, with no end in sight. I'm done with the snow-thrower for the day, and am settling in for a long night of SpadeClub and No Limit Hold 'em. Lo and behold, The King of the SuperCut and The Mix has graced me, and my ears, with songs that are really taking me back. You. Are. The. Man. Thank you, Rich!

[Kristi]

Thank you! You go way above and beyond. Loved the Shar interview. You were respectful, but called her.

[warren]

you are amazing! can't thank you enough for this trip back to my pre/early teens!

[Iris]

Thank you! Despite the Palladium flashbacks that are sure to come.

[chaka]

Excuse me, but this is amazing. I'm 15 again!

[unknown8bit]

in honor of my youth that you have so successfully transported me to, i've got some new pimples. i may forgive you for that.

[Elliott]

I feel a complete dork, but is it legal for me to download this? I'm a online music virgin.

[Sandro]

Every 30 year old man should be like you. (or me)

[Jessica]

This list takes me back to my late 20s-early 30s and walking home at 1 AM past the tent city at the Coliseum. Yeah, that dates me - and shows your broad appeal! Truly an awesome mix.

[Faythe]

I always look forward to your music mixes, this one's my favorite so far. Thank you!

[Evilwilma]

ZOMG, I own like half this stuff, and it's still on my MP3 player.

Simply because I still like most of this music, and the stuff I've liked throughout my life informs who I am today, and it's only the truly wretched stuff that I don't keep (um.....Debbie Gibson....).

[Evilwilma]

It's an hour and a half of music that will make my husband twitch! Goodie! :D

[ols]

iLive! thanks

[randall]

you
are
my
hero

[Amanda]

THANK YOU.

[chikochevere]

Not feeling "Close To You"? No entiendes. Well, if you declare it, I know for sure there's a valid reason behind it. Therefore... you continue to roq my world.

Loving all u do.

[chikochevere]

OMG - "Daddy's. Little. Girl. But not the girl that daddy knew." You better dig deep in that crate dust!! Nicely done.