altrok main 5/4/2005

for May 4, 2005

Matt Would've Played That... V
by Stiffy Biceptz

In early 1990, Dee-Lite had a huge dance floor smash with "Groove is in the Heart". It was a funky, catchy track from the hip retro-modern trio. Whether or not it was being played in every dance club in town didn't matter; Pinfield knew a great Melody "guilty pleasure" dance tune when he heard it, and Groove was a nightly staple for many months. Besides, the only real dancing was being done at the Melody anyway, so why waste it?

The same can be said for Gwen Stefani's last single "Rich Girl". I have to admit the first time I heard it I didn't like it, but after a few spins, the fun dance vibe from this silly, sugary sweet track becomes irresistible. "No Doubt" Matt would have played this fun, yet seductive track at the Melody, and the floor would have been rollicking every time. Gwen just gets better and better.

Depeche Mode and New Order are just two of the bigger bands that shaped what we knew in the 80's and 90's as synthpop. Keyboards, synthesizers and drum machines were combined with melancholy lyrics and dark moods to produce some amazing music. In that same spirit, the German outfit of Beborn Beton created their own sounds in a similar vein to the aforementioned English bands. Their huge 1997 hit, "Another World" is a dance floor masterpiece that Stiffy Biceptz must confess discovered only in 2003 at the Goth music dance night, Sin Thursdays, at the Conduit in Trenton. The tune feels straight out of the late 80's but at the same time isn't dated. Without question, Matt would have had this as a nightly highlight for months if not years at the Melody. It's the kind of track that we would never have gotten tired of hearing.

You've heard it on TV commercials and VH1 station ID's. It's that song from some unknown artist that just sounds so cool. For those of us from the Melody, it sounds straight out of Manchester circa 1990. Indeed, this artist produced the Happy Mondays and the connection is clear. The song is "Starry Eyed Surprise" by Paul Oakenfold. This is the ultimate trippy, funky dance-trance treat that even the most rhythm challenged Ordinaries couldn't fail to be able to dance to, or at least bob their heads to. This would have been a signature track at the Melody that would have had every regular moving as one beautiful mass. Some more than others of course. Very likely Matt would have been the first to play this at a club, having always been so far ahead of the curve especially in regards to music from the UK.

Thanks for listening.