Candese – You Took My Love

Following a series of releases using established names, Brian and Garry returned to the one-off alias approach for their fifth and final release on Debut. As with the previous 12″, the ‘So This is Love’ single, the You Took My Love EP finds the duo working within vocal house territory. Although there are no vocalists credited, the numerous different phrasings of the title within the track suggest they might well be original recordings, rather than samples.

The main song, its remixes, and the two additional tracks on the EP are all very housey, which is quite a strange direction for the band, especially given Cobain’s assertion in 1994 that he always “hated house music” because it “came from the soul generation” – an era he was totally disconnected from. Some sense might be made of it when considering Brian’s explanation in a 1994 Mixmag interview: “Before, we could listen to the radio, focus on what was selling, knock up something in that area and make money on it. We were trying to make a living.” Perhaps, then, we can see the EP as a slightly cynical money maker. If so, it’s testament to the pair’s increasing production skill that five tracks knocked out quickly for cash are so well made, sounding as danceable and slick as much of the best UK house material of the time. Indeed, relying less on the generic piano sounds of the time for the most part has meant the EP has dated far better than many of its contemporaries.

The cover is standard 1991 Buggy fare: a human face, looking much like one of those seen throughout Eurotechno, with the now characteristic block lettering. The rear sleeve omits the regular Freaky Deek logo, while the Earth Beat logo is present, albeit with some oddly off centre lettering. The technical credits are all given to FSOL, with Yage missing once again.

In some ways, You Took My Love marks the end of this era of the Dougans / Cobain story, the last record they would release on their original home, Debut, and the last major release before ‘Papua New Guinea’.

Release date: 1991

Tracklist:
12″ (DEBTX 3138)
A1. You Took My Love (Earth Mix)
A2. You Took My Love (New Yorker Mix)
B1. You Took My Love (Instrumental)
B2. It’s Takin’ Me Over
B3. I Need Somebody

Credits
Composed by Garry Cobain / Brian Dougans (Sleeve).
Composed by Brian Dougans / Garry Cockbain (Labels).
Produced and mixed by The Future Sound of London.
All tracks recorded and mixed at Earthbeat Studios – London 1991.
Art work & design Buggy G Riphead.
Published by Skratch Music Publishing.