MARK MOORE: S’EXPRESS PLAYLIST
Having played a key part in the UK’s house music rise, Mark formed S’Express with co-producer Pascal Gabriel and was a natural progression from life as a regular on the club scene. Swept along on a huge wave of excitement for acid and rave culture, S’Express had a number one chart smash with ‘The Theme from S-Express’. This was their first of several worldwide hit records which helped thrust these new sounds into the world’s spotlight and positioned dance music/DJ culture as a viable force. Mark’s meteoric rise to fame – due in part to his flamboyance and fabulousness – paved the way for electronic dance music stars to come.
A well-respected and loved character, Mark is deeply-ingrained in the history of UK club culture, and is hugely influential on both dance and pop music. Having been around since the vibrant pre-house days of early 80s London, regularly attending cultural hotbed The Blitz, Mark first started DJ’ing at Philip Salon’s legendary Mud Club. He was one of the first supporters of Chicago house and Detroit techno in Britain(mixing it with electronic European dance music like Yello, Soft Cell and Cabaret Voltaire), alongside Colin Favor and Evil Eddie Richards. Being the first night in the UK to play house music, the venue attracted Danny Rampling, Mr C, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold, The Pet Shop Boys, and even Liza Minelli.
Here he picks some of the records that have played an integral part in his life.
MARK MOORE // S’EXPRESS PLAYLIST
The Undisputed Truth – Ball Of Confusion
Thank you Norman Whitfield. I always bow my head when I speak of you.
Bongwater – Obscene And Pornographic Art
Ann Magnuson! Ann Magnuson!
Sly & The Family Stone – Jane Is A Groupee
This reminds me of being a kid. What the hell was a groupee? Sly & The Family Stone is part of my DNA.
James Brown Live At The Apollo – Lost Someone
I was obsessed with the woman who screams at 0.56. For a few brief seconds she stole the show from master entertainer James Brown. Who was she? What was her life like? Was she ever a Freedom Rider in the Civil Rights movement? So many questions.
The The – Uncertain Smile
Which to choose? The original 12 inch or the album version with Jools Holland on piano? Both magnificent. Soul Mining is another contender for greatest album of all time. Thank you Matt Johnson.
Tantra – Hills Of Katmandu (Patrick Cowley Megamix)
Psychedelic disco. I love the smell of poppers in the morning.
The Flying Lizards – Hands To Take
Producer David Cunningham with the magnificent Patti Palladin on vocals and Micheal Nyman on piano. Yes you heard me, Micheal Nyman. Future avant-pop music from 1981. The Fourth Wall album is an all time great.
Glenn Branca – Lesson No 1 For Electric Guitar
This record made me want to go to New York.
Laurie Anderson – Let X = X
To think anything from her first album could get to number 2 in the pop charts fills me with joy. Was it arty new-wavers that put O Superman there, or a mix of them and housewives on valium? I miss when the charts were crazy.
Michael Nyman – Synchronising
Since we were talking about dear Mr Nyman… I couldn’t find the original version of Synchronising where the rock band come in at the end but this one is sublime too.
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