Released on:
Cascade
Teachings from the Electronic Brain (The Best of FSOL)
Runtime: 4:19
Never ones to do things the obvious way, Brian and Garry approached the radio edit of their first Virgin single ‘Cascade’ from an unusual angle: instead of simply cutting the main version – ‘Part 1‘ – down to three and a half minutes, they made a new four minute version out of both ‘Part 1’ and ‘Part 2‘, including the explosive segue in the middle. This means the final minute-or-so of the edit includes the conga, sample and bass loop as found in ‘Part 2’. It gives the track and oddly understated climax, but manages to work pretty well, adding in a level of detail and variation rarely heard in chart-friendly singles. The track closes on an brief exclusive environment, combining the explosion of parts 1 & 2 and the pigeon sample later used on ‘Bird Wings’ and ‘Light Forming’.
I also have a lot of time for the name, using ‘Shortform’ instead of ‘Radio Edit’ or ‘7″ Edit’. There was a fair amount of this in the ’90s, and it just adds a little personality and originality to something which could look a lot more industry-oriented. Underworld’s use of ‘Short’ and Orbital’s ‘Industry Standard’ spring to mind.
As with all of the group’s singles, the track would go on to feature on their 2006 ‘Best Of’ compilation, Teachings from the Electronic Brain.
Credits
Written & produced by The Future Sound of London.
Engineered by Yage.
Recorded at Earthbeat Studios – London 1993.
Fractional Difference 