Djed by Tortoise was one of the first super long songs I was introduced to at university, a whopping 20 mins and still reveals something new everytime I give it a spin.
As a keen searcher of value for money CD singles in my teens I loved the Orb's Blue Room as well as Oldfield Vs The Orb which had a great 15 minute version of Sentinel and Porcupine Tree's Voyage 34 was one half hour long song.
Love ‘Rainfall’ track, getting into a repetitive hypnotic state is essential to every day. I think many of us are just walking around sort of ill with too many disruptions, transitions, information, excitement. I have a track that’s 7 minutes and feel like I’m milking it already, but whatever it needs to be, it will be.
Yeah, the self indulgence thing is something that disrupts further development…I choose to ignore it. I have a soft spot for Led Zeppelin and they were extremely self-indulgent but at least they were themselves, albeit embellished in many ways! But that’s exactly what they represented, so it was just authentic really.
Lovely selection of examples. I hadn’t heard that Joanna Newsom album in years so thanks for the reminder.
When it comes to long dance floor records I instantly think of Joe Claussell remixes. His ‘Joaquin Runs The Voodoo Down’ remix of Cassandra Wilson, and ‘Moonrise (When Worlds Collide Version)’ of Nitin Sawhney are two that spring to mind.
yes to joe claussell! although sometimes he verges too far into the noodling zone but let's give him a pass for that.. his remix of Amadou and Mariam is also outstanding
My first experience of a long song i guess was the LP version of Frankie’s Welcome To The Pleasuredome. 13 year old me was captivated, then somewhat underwhelmed by the single version. And a lot of those ZTT 12 inches fed my appetite for longer songs to get lost in. Although subsequent ZTT remixes and reissues never quite captured that mid 80s magic for me, the exception and stand out was Brothers In Rhythm’s Pleasuredome Rollercoaster remix, especially the promo version, which straddled the original & then 90s dance floor extremely effectively.
Though not quite hitting the 10 minute mark, Fools Gold 9:53 was an awesome era defining track, which felt i was surfing its ebbs and flows on the Hacienda dance floor. Something i’d not really felt again until i encountered Green City. And thank you Brian for introducing me to the Rabbit in the moon remix, which had somehow passed me by all these years!
I think my most recent long song indulgences would be Superpitcher’s Hollywood. Is it a song or is it an album? And Terry Riley’s In C by Invisible Polytechnic.
Pharaoh Sanders' 'Harvest Time' has been played a lot recently, a whopping side-long feast. Agreed on those Fela Kuti tracks - riveting. The live takes are even longer!
100% x
Djed by Tortoise was one of the first super long songs I was introduced to at university, a whopping 20 mins and still reveals something new everytime I give it a spin.
https://tortoise.bandcamp.com/track/djed
As a keen searcher of value for money CD singles in my teens I loved the Orb's Blue Room as well as Oldfield Vs The Orb which had a great 15 minute version of Sentinel and Porcupine Tree's Voyage 34 was one half hour long song.
brilliant! Been a few decades since I listened to Djed - excellent suggestions
This is a subject very close to my heart because I love longer tracks and my friends often joke about my 10 minute tracks.
Some favourites -
Underworld - Cups
Talaboman - Discodrums
Ceephax Acid Crew - Emotinium (Roy of the Ravers Secret Mix)
DJ Ralf - Da Lord
Panoram - Seabrain (Quiet Village Remix)
Oni Ayhun - OAR003-B
Space Dimension Controller - Everything Is Better Now
Shina Williams & His African Percussionists - Agb'oju L'ogun (Original 12 " Version)
Roisin Murphy - Simulation
and your unreleased 10 minute version of Hankerchief
Thank you! Didn’t realise that long handkerchief remix wasn’t released!
Love ‘Rainfall’ track, getting into a repetitive hypnotic state is essential to every day. I think many of us are just walking around sort of ill with too many disruptions, transitions, information, excitement. I have a track that’s 7 minutes and feel like I’m milking it already, but whatever it needs to be, it will be.
Yeah it’s tricky to get over the ‘am I being totally self indulgent’ hurdle sometimes!
Yeah, the self indulgence thing is something that disrupts further development…I choose to ignore it. I have a soft spot for Led Zeppelin and they were extremely self-indulgent but at least they were themselves, albeit embellished in many ways! But that’s exactly what they represented, so it was just authentic really.
Lovely selection of examples. I hadn’t heard that Joanna Newsom album in years so thanks for the reminder.
When it comes to long dance floor records I instantly think of Joe Claussell remixes. His ‘Joaquin Runs The Voodoo Down’ remix of Cassandra Wilson, and ‘Moonrise (When Worlds Collide Version)’ of Nitin Sawhney are two that spring to mind.
yes to joe claussell! although sometimes he verges too far into the noodling zone but let's give him a pass for that.. his remix of Amadou and Mariam is also outstanding
Yep, agreed on both points. I’ve been after a copy of the Amadou and Mariam remix forever
Def one of my most played records :)
My first experience of a long song i guess was the LP version of Frankie’s Welcome To The Pleasuredome. 13 year old me was captivated, then somewhat underwhelmed by the single version. And a lot of those ZTT 12 inches fed my appetite for longer songs to get lost in. Although subsequent ZTT remixes and reissues never quite captured that mid 80s magic for me, the exception and stand out was Brothers In Rhythm’s Pleasuredome Rollercoaster remix, especially the promo version, which straddled the original & then 90s dance floor extremely effectively.
Though not quite hitting the 10 minute mark, Fools Gold 9:53 was an awesome era defining track, which felt i was surfing its ebbs and flows on the Hacienda dance floor. Something i’d not really felt again until i encountered Green City. And thank you Brian for introducing me to the Rabbit in the moon remix, which had somehow passed me by all these years!
I think my most recent long song indulgences would be Superpitcher’s Hollywood. Is it a song or is it an album? And Terry Riley’s In C by Invisible Polytechnic.
Just been checking the longest tracks I have in my Traktor library.
Here are some favourites
Jon Hopkins - Light Through The Veins (Ewan Pearson's Downtown Lights Remix) (14.35)
LUM - Aarde (Luciano mix) (13.52)
Ron Trent - Morning Factory (10.41)
DJ Koze - Candidasa (10.22)
I have a version of Orbital Halcyon that's almost 10mins! Actually a lot of tracks that are 9 mins and above but not so many over 10 mins :)
Loved this conversation Brian! Thanks for sharing x
It’s been a very long time since I have listened to Terry Riley. I’ll have to give that a listen again.
Totally love Time by Pachanga Boys, it’s nigh on perfect!
Here are some from me:
Amor - Paradise
Keiichi Suzuki - Satellite Serenade (Trans Asian Express mix)
Ashra - Ocean of Tenderness
The Nightcrawlers - Beckoning Beacon
Pharaoh Sanders' 'Harvest Time' has been played a lot recently, a whopping side-long feast. Agreed on those Fela Kuti tracks - riveting. The live takes are even longer!