Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Goldie’s legacy is Timeless brilliance
Sky Arts, The Agony and The Ecstasy documentary is all the rave
It was released earlier this year to massive acclaim but we found ourselves knee deep this week again in The Agony and The Ecstasy, a remarkably brilliant three-part documentary on Sky Arts.
It charts the history of rave culture and dance music in the UK as told by the main protagonists, charact ers, movers, shakers, players, promoters and innovators.
It recounts the burgeoning scene as it exploded in the late 1980’s, transfixed an entire generation in a sea of smiley faces, oneness and love, and even inadvertently helped with football hooliganism (honestly, watch it to hear a retired police officer explain how).
Then came it’s inevitable decline as a concerned Thatcher government shut down warehouse parties via the Criminal Justice Act and its infamous criminalisation of unlicensed events involving “the emission of a succession of repetitive beats.”
The final episode is narrated by Paul Oakenfold and brings the story up to date, shining a light on the people and events that turned dance music into the multibillionpound industry it is today.
One of the most interesting and entertaining contributors to the documentary was DNB legend and all round boundary-pusher, Goldie.
Originally flexing his creativity via graffiti and breakdancing, Goldie was introduced to the emerging underground jungle and breakbeat sounds by girlfriend DJ Kemistry in the early 90’s.
Captivated, he immersed himself in the scene, creating artwork, A&ring and producing. Hi s enduring profile rose to incredible promin ence during the 90s through pivotal albums and collaborations with everyone from David Bowie to KRS-ONE and the launching of his (still operational) Metalheadz label - but hi s seminal moment remains to be his masterful debut album,1995’s Timeless.
A complex debut album, Timeless founded a new chapter in the history of the electronic genre; originally reaching No.7 in the charts and since been celebrated for its unique blend of sublime strings, beautiful atmospheres and sophisticated vocals.
Inarguably an ambitious blueprint at the time; Goldie’s production in 1995, fashioned the edgy rhythms and bass of jungle into a newly futuristic model, now globally admired as drum & bass.
Timeless is officially 25 years old now and to mark the occasion, Goldie announced this week new remixes of the iconic album track and classic, “Inner City Life”.
The remix package features Binary State and Roni Size on duty, alongside a beautiful re:jazz version that wouldn’t be out of sorts at afternoon tea in the Merchant – granted, a world away from the foundations of early rave but these are extraordinary times, aren’t they?
Goldie’s brilliant Inner City Life (Timeless 25 re-master) is available now from wherever you stream/buy your music.
Captivated, he immersed himself in the scene, creating artwork, A&ring and producing.