(02.06.07) Silver Clouds first came out in 2004 on Computer Life Records, the only
release the label has seen to date. With this, Photocall have never been
seen again. The EP was originally limited to 300 copies. The limited number,
and track quality, gave the record almost instant cult status. Too young to
feature on the Clone Classic Cuts imprint, those nice people at Clone have
decided to re-release the record on clear vinyl.
The EP is a three tracker, with the A side devoted to the Vox mix of “Silver
Clouds” and the B featuring Dexter trying his hand at the title piece whilst
finishing up with the Hot Version of “Silver Clouds.” The “Silver Clouds
(Snippets)” that featured on the original vinyl have been done away with.
“Silver Clouds (Vox)” recently featured in Serge’s ‘Vintage Future’ mix
album, undoubtedly a taster of the plans to re-issue the full 12″. Thick
electro beats, dissected with snares and laser like keys, open the track
before bass acidic beats usher in accompanied by robotic vocals. Being the
Vox mix, vocals are central to this futuristic disco track as vocoder and
humanoid lyrics, the voice of Terryn Westbrook, work across one another. The
track is light and fresh, but with a strong electro feel. A tweaking melody
floats in before the track is echoed out. An amazingly addictive and clever
piece of electro music.
Dexter, a favourite of Clone’s, starts the B side with his take on the
track. The bass of the original is distorted and squelched up, but the great
robotic and human vocals are kept. In this version Westbrook’s lyrics are
much more audible but Dexter plays with them, chopping and resonating her
vocals as he chooses. Dexter gives the track a much more dancefloor, manic
edge, removing some of the disco and injecting more of the electro into it.
The Hot Version ends the transparent 12″ and despite its name is simply an
instrumental version of the Vox mix. All vocals are taken out, only leving
behind the crisp beats, smooth synths and bass lines. Glad to see Clone are
keeping up the tradition of ending a record on the instrumental version.
“Silver Clouds” is an excellent track, and a joy to see back in press. It’s
a pity that there is not more than just “Silver Clouds” on here, but sadly
Photocall only ever did the one track. The Dexter mix is edgy, but keeps
enough of the original to maintain the electro-disco tone. It’s great to see
Clone re-issuing these classic (if not contemporary), out of print, electro
cuts; once again the Rotterdammers are giving it back.
Silver Clouds is out now on Clone. By it at the Clone shop.
