FBS heads parade of ‘Then/Now’ hits

So much more than a label compilation. Skint proclaim ‘We Are Skint’ with a double CD of ‘That Was Then’ and ‘This Is Now’. Classics that started it all from Fatboy Slim, Bentley Rhythm Ace, and X-Press 2 on one CD, with the second CD looking ahead with exclusive cuts Dave Clarke, Freq Nasty and Midfield General.

Plus there is a duel DVD release, as the label presents ‘We Are Skint - The Videos’. A label first, the DVD brings together 26 of Skint’s videos (the great and the not so great), plus a huge number of special features. The UK’s finest independent label leading the way yet again. 'We Are Skint', indeed!

Damian Harris, the head of the label (also recording under the name of Midfield General: “We Are Skint’ is the collective, but hopefully not too pompous name for our bumper collection of music and videos that we are releasing. The basic idea is this. A double CD - the first is a greatest hits type affair and the second is all new music.”

“We’ve had a nightmare coming up with a name/concept for it, ‘Skint: Backward & Forwards’ was a working title but we decided calling our greatest hits ‘Backwards’ could be misinterpreted. So we’ve settled on ‘That Was Then’ and ‘This Is Now’... ok it might not win us any awards but it stopped the headaches. ‘That Was Then’ is self-explanatory, though must say it’s odd hearing ‘Rockafeller Skank’ after such a long time. ‘This Is Now’ is 12 tracks of new records, including our first new track from Dave Clarke, a brand new Freq Nasty tune, Koma & Bones superb (and very limited) remix of X-Press 2’s ‘Smoke Machine’, and some new songs from the Space Raiders, Roland Clark, Artificial Funk and a lovely little thing we’ve just signed from German band International Pony.”

“The second part of the package is a collection of 26 of our videos and some stunning extra features on a DVD. As far as we know, we are the first label to try this. Ooh get us! Over the years we’ve managed to get ourselves quite a good collection of promos. Some will be familiar. Some only got shown the once (if that). Some cost a fortune. Some cost f**k-all – often the cheapest are the most interesting. And no, we haven’t got all the Fatboy Slim ones on there. We’ve included two – and yes, we are saving the others for a Fatboy Slim DVD collection (we might as well be honest with you).”

“The Extras are quite impressive. We have a Hall Of Shame, with out 3 shiftiest videos, ten minutes of Reg-umentary we had made about our Reg’s graffiti, the Midfield General’s Tour of Skint-related Brighton Landmarks, an interview with David Byrne and X-Press 2, a bumper package of Brighton & Hove Albion action (well, we do sponsor the victorious team). Plus, rounding if all off the Midfield General and Skint’s video commissioner John Hassay providing an insightful audio commentary (without getting into an argument in the process).).”

So, why are we doing this collection, when:

1. we have no particular anniversary to celebrate (it’ll be 7 years and 8 months if we manage to make the release date).
2. the last thing the world needs now is another compilation album.
3. even my Dad knows that Dance music is in a bit of a recession…

Well…

1. We do get asked a lot for our greatest hits, no really…
2. We’ve got lots of great new records
3. 3. We’ve finally got enough videos to make a good DVD collection
4. We haven’t done a compilation in ages
5. We fancied a new logo
6. We wanted to show it’s not all shit out there.

‘We Are Skint’ CD Compilation tracklisting:

CD1 – ‘That Was Then’

1. Fatboy Slim – ‘Santa Cruz’
2. Bentley Rhythm Ace – ‘Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out’
3. Lo-Fidelity Allstars featuring Pigeonhed – ‘Battleflag’
4. X-Press 2 feat. David Byrne – ‘Lazy’
5. Midfield General feat. Linda Lewis – ‘Reach Out’
6.Space Raiders – ‘Beautiful Crazy’
7.Indian Ropeman – ‘Indian Ropeman’
8. Freq Nasty – ‘Amped’
9. Fatboy Slim –‘Rockafeller Skank’
10. Cut La Roc – ‘Freeze’
11. Dave Clarke – ‘Compass’
12. Hardknox – ‘Coz I Can’

CD2 – ‘This Is Now’

1. Dave Clarke – ‘The Wolf’ *
2. Fatboy Slim – ‘Star 69’ (Timo Maas remix)
3. X-Press 2 – ‘Smoke Machine’ (Koma & Bones Mix) *
4. Midfield General – ‘Noel’s House Party’ *
5. Artificial Funk – ‘Together’ (Dub) *
6. Lo-Fidelity Allstars – ‘Dark Is Easy’
7. International Pony – ‘Leaving Home’ *
8. Space Raiders – ‘Stay (In The Honeytree)’ *
9. Freq Nasty – ‘Dog Choon’ *
10. Danmass – ‘Haze’ (Original Mix)
11. Roland Clark – ‘Time Of The Night’ *
12. Phil Kieran – ‘My House’

(* Denotes an exclusive)

7/10