A four song promo CD dating from 2000, released on V2 records to promote their re-issue programme of the Associates back catalogue (‘Sulk’, ‘Fourth Drawer Down’ and ‘Double Hipness’).
It is curious because a couple of the mixes are not the ones present on the CD albums that this release is promoting. The tracks featured on this release include
- Party Fears Two (5.09)
- Club Country (4.09)
- Love Hangover (6.08)
- The Associate (4.59)
So, ‘Party Fears Two’ and ‘Love Hangover’ are of interest.
The version of ‘Party Fears Two’ is definitely not the album version that appears on the original vinyl album (which is the same as the original 12″mix, as far as I’m aware). And it is not the remixed Mark Arthurworrey version that appeared on the American/European issues of ‘Sulk’ either (and on V2 re-issue CD of ‘Sulk’ in 2000). No, this version is very similar as per the original 7″ single version (e.g it starts up straight on into proceedings, no opening synth/keyboard textures and choral voices/echoes). But at 5’09” in duration it is a lot longer than the original 7″, but not as long as the original 12″, as it fades out while still in full flow rather than come to an end in the way that the original album/12″ mix and the Arthurworry remix do – and its stereo field panning is different compared to the 7″ mix when you get into the full-on headphones analysis. So, where does it hail from in the band’s history?
Also of interest is the version of ‘Love Hangover’ featured – is the 12″ version, whereas the 7″ mix is what appeared on the V2 re-issue of ‘Sulk’. Is this its only appearance on CD to date, I wonder? UPDATE: It is not the 12″ mix, but another variant, with a different intro! Please see the comments below…
Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. Though my Associates collection welcomes every pressing, my main thrust is unique material, and I had not seen any mention of this on the web. This one now becomes a priority.
Curious. I’ve listened to this disc and the “Love Hangover” track differs from what I understand as the “Love Hangover 12″ mix.” On ASC 3T “Love Hangover” is approximately 6:00 and begins with a descending drum pattern intro. On VVR5011563P there is instead approximately 13 seconds of 4/4 drumbeats and hi-hat the extend the arrangement somewhat. Par for course. It wouldn’t do to have any cuts from the Sulk era be anything but unique in each of their pressings. Also, the mastering is brickwalled. Sigh.