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

[James]

yay! glad Tara Kemp made the list. :) I have her only two hits on my ipod. she rocked

[Meghan]

ah mazing.

[chikochevere]

Where is the "Moroder compilation"?? Please??

[Steph]

Rich, I love you! These songs take me back to jr high when all I wanted to do was move to NYC - luckily got here in 95 but god I have always wanted to hear this stuff out. Also have you checked the video for Tara Kemp? It's z'amazing!!

[sarah]

what if we're on a mac? no download? sad face.

[Tony]

Time machine: Sitting on my front porch, boombox in the window, people watching, and gettin' down, and pitching a fit because I wanted to hear the "mix at 6", but my brother's wanted to listen to Domino. Yeah...time machine.

[Lara]

@sarah - why would you not be able to download on a MAC? that's weird

Rich - thank you! I love your mixes so much.

[jojo]

I know I'm going to love this mix, I have fond memories of so much of the music-save one. Tom's Diner makes me want to stab my eardrums. So I'll just skip that part, lol. Thanks!

[Francis]

Fantastic! Wow does this music bring back memories or what. I just can't believe how powerful music is.

[deeness]

I am broke, my iPod is dead and this mix may keep me from getting stabby at work.

[adam matthews]

how do i download it im on a mac - the right click save thing dont work for me

[Dio]

@ adam matthews
apple + click worked for me

[Stephsteph]

Rich, I rarely comment, but had to this time: WOW! Thanks!!!

This is going to make hills on the 'mill ever so much more bearable. You're the best. I'll be back in high school in no time!

[Erin]

I LOVE THIS.

I will be wearing an Alice band, bodysuit, and high-waisted mom jeans with suede ballet flats and trying to pick up boys at the Haywood Mall in Greenville, SC if any of y'all need to find me.

[Kimberly]

I did not know how much I needed this until you posted it - a. a new mix, and b. an awesome one. Hurray!!! Thanks!

[bevskid1]

What a fun coincidence... I used to mix Keep on Movin' with the Tom's Diner remix. Thanks for the music. It's headed to my phone as I write.

[nycmami]

Frankie Knuckles' ultimate masterpiece?? Tears w/Satoshi Tomie. You hear god in that song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de8llppzrHc&feature=related

[SJ]

Thank you good sir!

[John]

this is such a fantastic mix rich. thank you so much. it's putting a huge smile on my face to have this playing right now :)

[miks]

massive attack and siouxsie!! highlights - thank you.

[John]

I'm loving this mix! Thank you! Mid-tempo dance music from this period never really resonate with me until later. I literally tuned anything below 120bpm out back then. So many great songs I (almost) missed out on as a result.

[heyhey]

The fact that this is a 90s comp and the woman is everywhere right now, I read that as "Sha-day-ness". As opposed to (Marquis De?) "Sahd-ness".

[Hi-Vis Jackets]

Informative and well written. It'll be interesting to see the developments in the coming years!

[Air Jordans]

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