In dance music as in fashion there's a special sort of pleasure to be had as life moves on and neglected bits of this or that bubble up to the surface, recontextualised into a new landscape. Faulkner's quip that the past is never dead, it's not even past is dead on. Some classics never leave the mainstream, others might lay dormant in the greater consciousness, biding their time. If Manuel Gottsching's seminal opening chess gambit (nicely 'referenced' by Alex Kassian last year) is the former, certainly Spooky's "Orange Coloured Liquid" could be of the latter.

So it's been nice seeing the best bits of 90s progressive house float back up, whether it's an expanded Record Store Day release of Underworld mixes of "Black Sky", the new Tornado Wallace giving 'Northern Exposure' vibes, or Spooky's "Orange Coloured Liquid" popping up on compilations put out by selectors like Mark Barrott and Young Marco.

"Orange Coloured Liquid" is to my ears pretty much as perfect piece of music as there ever was--just over five minutes of glistening electronics that wash over you, each crescendo a gentle pull of a warm tide. The 90s penchant for samples coming through with a few tasteful words from a from a hypnotist's tape. Originally appearing on Spooky's 1993 progressive house gesamtkunstwerk Gargantuan, it's a breather set alongside classic prog bangers like "Land of Oz", "Little Bullet", and "Aqualung". It was a beautiful moment in dance music and it's easy to make the case for a revisit from a deft hand--expanding and reinterpreting, as well as bringing the original to a new audience.

Alex Kassian seems to be everywhere right now with loads of gigs and strong releases on Second Circle, Pinchy & Friends, and, er, Test Pressing. Alex plays guitar and piano as well as producing, and his releases have a certain distinctness to them, instantly recognisable regardless of genre. The second in a series of reinterpretations of classic tracks, Kassian's take on "Orange Coloured Liquid" is a mix of two halves spread over an A-side. Part I layers Duncan Forbes and Charlie May's sonic bubblebath over uptempo breaks and bass, augmenting with trademark Kassian piano vibes and bendy guitar. It really needs to be played loud. I particularly love the way he uses reverb-y piano to foreground the melodic trill bit from the original. Part II drops the percussion, bringing us back into the glorious ambience of the original. The B-side brings a lovely remix from John Beltran in his Placid Angles guise blending parts I & II; looking heavenward with a choral vamp. Finally we get the OG in all its lysergic glory; hearing through new ears after the preceding variations. Cosmic.

Alex Kassian x Spooky's 'Orange Coloured Liquid' is released on Test Pressing Recordings on 23/05/25 and is available via Bandcamp and all good record stores.

And here's a bonus review of the new Alex Kassian release on Pinchy & Friends which is just out...

Alex Kassian - Body Singer (Pinchy & Friends)

Here we are with some lovely mellow business from Alex Kassian to take us straight into summer. Building on his previous EPs for Pinch & Friends "Leave Your Life" and "Strings of Eden" now comes "Body Singer"--five pieces exuding a filmic, kraut-inflected sensibility. "Body Singer" leads off--a stoned west coast vibe with an edge. Drums that recall the opening to "Don't Worry Baby", hazy guitar, winds, a vocal mantra.

"Kinship" and "Skinship" are complementary sketches; a pool of warm synth leading into a smoky jam of distorted guitar and electronics.

"Trippy Gas" has a laidback percussive garage rock vibe, intoxicated laughter bubbling up from underneath a guitar vamp.

Cosmic closer "Mirror of the Heart" is one for the balearic heads. Paradisiacal percussion, swooning vocals, sax, and the trademark Kassian piano chords. Wistful bliss.

Body Singer is available from Pinchy & Friends. Don't sleep!