Kosheen exploded onto the scene in the early 2000s with the album Resist, which contained classic tracks such as Hide U and Catch, and combined elements of trip-hop, drum & bass and breakbeat.
To coincide with the 25th anniversary of the release of Resist, the group are set to support Faithless at the Lloyds Amphitheatre on 24 July as part of the Siren Bristol summer series – further details are available here. Other upcoming dates are planned across Europe, including Sofia, Plovdiv, Rubigen, Zagreb and more – click here for more information.
Ahead of that, for this week’s #MyRecordBag, Kosheen vocalist Sian Evans shares her top tracks from pre- and post-rave free parties from the 90s. Over to you, Sian!
Orbital – Belfast
“The emergence of the rave scene from early acid and electronica is often depicted as dark, muddy fields with ear-bleeding sound systems. Orbital painted a different picture.
“The tenderness and sensitivity of this, and many of Orbital’s works, reminds me of the sunrises coming up and beautiful people coming down in each other’s arms, making egg butties on open fires, laughing and feeling the love.”
Underworld – Rez
“We felt like we were a part of something magical, unifying and exciting. This track always makes me feel like something wonderful is going to happen. It’s a call to the dancefloor.
“I remember bouncing through the crowds, igniting little fires of interaction and feeling the whole party lift. It’s another misconception that ravers didn’t dance together. We did, en masse, each of us a small part of one massive organism.”
Björk – Big Time Sensuality
“I can listen to this track today as if it were released yesterday: timeless production and iconic vocals. In a predominantly male musical environment at that time, this rocket of a woman spoke to me and my girls as we embraced our individuality, our identity and our sensuality.”
Massive Attack – Karmacoma
“This remains one of my top Massive Attack tracks. The video is etched in my memory. Tricky at his best.”
Adam F – It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop
“As a kid growing up in Cardiff, hip-hop was huge. By the 90s, I swapped my Adidas for platform Buffaloes, and I missed my connection to the youth club jams and breakdance battles.
“I love everything Adam has done. His ability to straddle worlds with his production is impressive. DJ Shadow is another artist whose versatility and pure joy was infectious.”
Micky Finn & Aphrodite – Bad Ass!
“One of my first experiences of jungle was at a Micky Finn gig on Shaftesbury Avenue. It was my birthday. I was wearing a white denim skin-tight jumpsuit. It blew my mind. I got lost on the Tube and walked for miles, but never looked back.”
Goldie – Inner City Life
“The beauty and the beast of this record is both mesmerising and intoxicating. Goldie and his crew’s precision is atom-splitting and so clean. Voice right up on the top of the mix where it should be, unapologetic and unprocessed.”
Faithless – Drifting Away
“Meanwhile, on the other side of the cosmos, Rollo and Ialah were filling stadiums and building Max his church. Anthemic structures and strings, timing and space.”
808 State – Oops ft. Björk
“I used to hang out with a guy called James. I can still see him on a speaker stack, throwing shapes to this. There is an innocence and authenticity in the unpolished production that is impossible to replicate, but it takes me there, and that was how we felt.
“We were imperfect but throwing everything at a wall, and I guess a lot of it stuck! The push through is sometimes claustrophobic and messy, but when it comes together – euphoria.”
Lennie De Ice – We Are IE
“We have sadly recently lost Lennie. This may be the last of my list today, but this was, and remains, my anthem for the 90s. The bass, the shots, the vocals, the ecstasy-drenched pads and that BREAK!
“Thank you for taking the time to come with me back to a field somewhere in Wales. Thank you, Lennie. We R Eeeee x”
Check out Kosheen at the Lloyds Amphitheatre on 24 July as part of the Siren Bristol series, supporting Faithless. More information can be found here. Main photo by Yagub Allahverdiyev.