BBC Radio 2 DJ OJ Borg on Phenomenal Handclap Band's Judge Not (Ray Mang Special Mix).
Right now, I’m finding new things in the music I’ve been enjoying for the last few years: namely, the world of re-edits. These are great songs that have been given a disco-y haircut and let loose onto whatever streaming platform is closest.
A re-edit trumps a remix for me, as it preserves the integrity of the song. Instead of redesigning it, it reimagines it in a way that the original artist might have done, had they had a load more caffeine the day they recorded it. My current earworms include Ray Mang’s special mix of the Phenomenal Handclap Band’s Judge Not, from 2018.
I’m a sucker for a piano break and this one comes so late that my brother Jordan (who, disastrously for my ego, is cooler than I am) told me to persevere with it as I’d originally given it the shrug treatment. Also, Hot Chip’s cover of William Onyeabor’s Atomic Bomb is still making me a hot mess. Finally, I remain addicted to Heavy California from Jungle’s latest album and – strike me down with your hipster lighting bolt – I’ve got Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield back on heavy rotation.
